Boojoyful

November 1 NOVEMBER!   Life keeps going faster and faster. This month I want to challenge us to focus on being thankful.   Each day I will try to have a thankful thought. Today's photo is of the woman who raised me. She lived with us and cared for my family for over 30 years. She now has dementia and visiting her is hard, because we can't laugh and look back over the memories we shared.  I've written about her and her faith before and she is a person whom it is very easy to reference well. Galatians 5:22 makes me think of her character.  " God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful." Those qualities of a Spirit filled (not us accomplished) life make the world a little sweeter. Thankful thought: Thank God now for the people who have cared for you during your life.

Wearing her Mom's wedding dress!  Precious! October 31 While what Halloween represents doesn't thrill my heart, the Andrews family has always had fun dressing up in costumes!  During my fall clean out project I decided it's time to pass some of those costumes along.  We had 16 plastic bins full of costumes! These photographs of our granddaughter in her mother's wedding dress are magical! What a great idea. We have more than outer garments to put on each day.  Remember God sees the heart. " But Jesus told them: You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned." Luke 16:15 In our laundry room is this verse: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."   Colossians 3:12 The next time you are standing i...

October 30 Last week in Bible Study Fellowship we studied the book of Ruth.  It's a fabulous story and spoke right to my heart.  Naomi has moved to a foreign land with her husband and two sons to seek food during a famine.  Her husband dies and her two sons marry foreign women and then they die leaving three childless widows.  Naomi has learned there is food again in her homeland and decides to return, but tells her daughter in laws to go home to their parents.  One daughter in law, Ruth, decides to go with her mother in law and follow her God. As Naomi returns home she tells her friends her name is now Mara, meaning bitter.  You need to read the rest of the story and see how God provides hope and happiness through the foreign daughter in law, Ruth and her kinsman redeemer. While Naomi is sad and bitter, she misses that God is in the midst of providing life, love, and a grandchild through Ruth!  When we are suffering we need to look to Jesus,...

October 29 To say I was heavy hearted last week, after our painter fell 50 ft at our home, would be putting it mildly.  As I would drive down the driveway all I could feel was sadness for what this family is facing.  Then I heard this song on the radio and shifted my mindset.   Counting Every Blessing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Y91axwxfI Why is it the losses in life stand out so blatantly?  The blessings far outweigh the heartaches. Instead of seeing the spot where this dear man fell, I needed to shift my eyes right to the spot where many, many people have been baptized. Further to the right where the scripture trails begin and so many have found hope and healing.  Looking around the house to the left is where precious weddings have taken place and on every inch of these five acres little feet have joyously pittered and pattered and splashed and splashed.  I choose joy!  Joy that is based not on worldly activity, but on Christ and wha...

October 27-28 This is one of my all-time favorite photos. If you've ever tried to use a public bathroom facility with an infant or toddler you will instantly get it! "A brilliant invention," my daughter says. This weekend you probably have some choices of how you will spend your time.  Church or not; dedicated time to prayer or not; rest in the Lord or not; sneak off on Saturday and hang out alone with Jesus or not. Choose in ways that honor God. " Honor the wonderful name of the Lord, and worship the Lord most holy and glorious. "   Psalm 29:2 "The Lord watches over all who honor and trust his kindness."  Psalm 33:18

October 26 One of the beauties of Shiloh is the privacy here.  There is no need for curtains unless the morning sun bothers you.  Last week, the pressure washing process began in preperation for painting.  It was my "Wednesday at home alone with Jesus day." but wherever I seemed to settle a face would pop up in that window.  It became rather comical and then I realized the lesson was to remember that Jesus is always present. We can't escape His watch! " The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us."   Hebrews 13:5 I miss those painters being here.  Instead, they are taking turns keeping watch over their father's hospital bed.  If you are on Facebook you can follow the story at "Dave's Recovery".

Some people probably think hiking the Appalachian Trial gets you closer to heaven. October 25 Our pastor taught two of the best sermons I've ever heard on heaven. Both weeks our small group said they headed out calling or emailing loved ones saying, "You've got to listen to this!" I hope you will be able to access them through the links provided. http://www.franklinheights.org/sermons/   Click on 10/7 and 10/14 This line of questioning was a real show stopper as we pondered where our relationship with Christ stood. What do you think about the most? What do you talk about the most? If you had a $100, 000 what would you do with it? The pastor explained that if we are heavenly minded and heading there then... We will not be depressed about getting older. We will be found teaching our children to look forward to heaven. We will understand we've been created for heaven. So, here's to heaven!