Boojoyful

It's been so, so dry the past two months. We may not get great fall color, but those leaves are still going to need to be raked. Sarah Young wrote: "...the joy in your soul gives you buoyancy, enabling you to rise above the countless problems in your life...thus your joy becomes contagious."  The word  buoyancy  takes me to thoughts of floating on the lake. All pain seems to go away in that position. The word also means an  optimistic and cheerful disposition . We all know joy is a choice, but for some people the reality of depression and anxiety in their lives over rides the ability to choose joy.  David wrote often of this overwhelmingness in his life.  He learned to cling to God. " When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."   Psalm 94:19 Whatever you are facing today, I pray that "the joy in your soul gives your buoyancy"and that God places encouragers in your path!  In Jesus' Name, with whom ...

" Do not boast about tomorrow,  for you do not know what a day may bring. "  Proverbs 27:1 This was the Biblegateway verse the day after we attended a funeral for a long time friend, who died very unexpectedly on the golf course. This man, who loved the Lord, was a real joy spreader and always had a radiant smile on his face.  I clung to my husband's hand throughout the entire service, being thankful he was beside me and recognizing we don't know what tomorrow may bring. Right now typing in the middle of the night, I take time to lean over and kiss the warm shoulder of my best friend lying beside me.  I can't stop thinking about my girlfriend and the longing in her heart for her husband. The pastor who spoke reminded us that our friend would want us to focus on the joy of where he is and not the void of what we are feeling here on earth. This verse appeared last week the day before we were to leave on an unexpected ...

This song is fabulous follow up to the devotional on positioning. I'm hesitant to post the lyrics here, because you might miss out on five minutes of worship asking God to speak to you through this song.  As you listen, ask God to reveal someone, might even be you,  who fits in some of these categories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkZE8AogDE I came to You with my heart in pieces   And found the God with healing in His hands I turned to You, put everything behind me  And found the God who makes all things new I looked to You, drowning in my questions  And found the God who holds all wisdom And I trusted You and stepped out on the ocean  You caught my hand among the waves 'Cause You're the God of all my days Chorus Each step I take  You make a way  And I will give You all my praise My seasons change, You stay the same  You're the God of all my days I ran from You, I wandered in the shadows  And found a God who ...

This little lump of love is positioned right in her father's arms and face! There are other times she is positioned at the mercy of her two year old brother! Again and again I am seeing where God places each of us, everyday, has great purpose. There are some great Old  Testament stories about being in very vulnerable situations that stick with us.  These reminders of how great our God was and is are purposefully positioned in God's Word for us.  Whether it was Daniel in the lions' den, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego surviving the fiery furnace, or Esther positioned as queen "for such a time as this," God was with these people amidst some tough places and He is with us. Stop and think how your position physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, has changed over your lifetime.  The constant is God!  He's with us and at work in us all of our days. Position -"A situation or set of circumstances, especially one that affects o...

Fleeing to Yosemite for a 9 year anniversary. I had a haunting dream the other night related to a teen being lured into a compromising situation.  Possibly the dream was prompted by praying for teens in my area attending Homecoming or a prayer request from a professional friend who shared she had been placed in an awkward, possibly compromising, situation at work and had to set boundaries to protect herself. " Flee from sexual immorality. "  1 Corinthians 6:18 " Therefore,  my beloved, flee from idolatry. "  1 Corinthians 10:14 "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."  2 Timothy 2:22 "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you ."  James 4:7 Sitting with a friend, looking out at the lake last week she shared about a marriage class she's been involved in at her church. She chucked how she and her hus...

Today's post was actually supposed to be Enjoying Life, but it came up posted below as September 27th.  I couldn't get it to post today, so you get a double hitter. "Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, better. Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy right now. Otherwise you'll run out of time." A friend sent this to me Monday morning after watching our day at church unfold. My husband says it is amazing what goes on from 8-12 on a Sunday morning. Ya, got to stay prayed up. Our grandson threw up on the way to church. His mom was already in church setting up her harp, so his amazing aunt cleaned him up in the parking lot, changed his clothes and brought the soiled clothes to me. We decided it was just best to leave the carseat outside by the car. (Bad decision, it ended up being covered by ants by the time church was over.) The little fellow headed right for the indoor play ground where he proceeded to take a big tumble...

I asked a friend last week, "Don't you wish we had the wisdom from the Lord at twenty years old that He has given us now?"  It was there for the taking, we were just living life at such a fast pace, we weren't soaking it in. Another friend called this week and asked how my husband was doing and I replied, "He's busy."  This fellow responded, "Now Boo, you are the one who taught me what busy  means.  'Buried under Satan's yoke.'"  I don't remember that one, but it is food for thought. What life has taught me is that what God is up to is usually taking place on the peripheral.  It's not what we see as the spotlighted focus. We need to ask for wisdom to have eyes to see where God is at work and ask if He wants us to join him in the process. (Wisdom from Henry Blackaby) Do you remember Jesus' conversation with His heavenly Father at Lazarus' tomb?  Jesus was aware of the people standing around Lazaraus' tom...