Boojoyful

Psalm 34:18                                                          The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. More than once I've said to my husband, "Just promise me you will never leave me and love someone else." My man of few words says, "Okay." We have both hurt each other over the past 45 years, but we have never gone further apart than separate bedrooms for a few hours, because we both know the importance of forgiveness. If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you.   Matthew 6:14   It is God's intent for marriage to be a gift. It's a gift that requires a whole lot of giving.      A valued treasure requiring sacrifice and submission to protect.  When the tough times come, and they will, remember the lyrics in...

This series continues... Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. May husband would add that pets and children should also stay out of our bed. There is a sign in our yard that says, "The grass may seem greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed." When I've become frustrated with my spouse, usually over the tiniest things, like a spill left unwiped or a mess in the sink; I've learned to take the thought captive and remember, there are 20 women I will pass by today who would love to have him as their husband.  Then I stop and pray and thank the Lord for a faithful husband who has endured my idiosyncrasies and way out there personality for 45 years. The hurts we encounter are no suprise to God.  He wants to carry us through. February Heart Quote "The greatest need in the world is the transformation of human nature.  We need a new heart that will not h...

One of life's deepest hurts is when the one you love is unfaithful. Forty years ago, I remember an older friend, whose wife had been unfaithful and left him for another man saying to me..."Boo, I hope you never experience having the person you love and are married to, living 8 blocks away loving someone else." Deep hurt. They divorced. The wife of another friend of ours was having an affair with a fellow church member and a neighbor of theirs who lived 5 blocks away. She moved in with this man and our friend said one evening he was walking by the house where they were living together and saw them sitting at a table having a candlelight dinner. Ugh. The torment. I've always said it would be aweful to find out the person you were married to and  loved deeply loved another.  Hmm. We are the bride of Christ.  Is He our first love? 2 Peter 2:14 says: They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts train...

Check out these NYC milkshakes! Nike's slogan may be "Just do it!" but when it comes to marital infidelity, I say,  "Just DON'T do it." As a pastor's wife, sometimes I am call on to listen to the heart of wives when marriages are in turmoil. This month, if it works out and the Spirit leads I'd like to share a battle plan a God fearing wife and I came up with to help her in the fight to save her marraige. I challenged her to send me a song and Bible verse each week that is helping her to hold on to her marriage. Let's begin this "Protect My Marriage/Marriage Matters" series with this prayer..."Lord, keep my marriage pure. Please do not allow me or my spouse to ever look at another with eyes of longing. May we "Just Not Do It," but instead give thanks to God everyday for the gift He has given us and pray without ceasing for our marriage to strengthen every day. The marriage I referenced above is blossoming because of a wife...

  When you are baby sitting and your grands want you to play beauty parlor. LOL In this fifth week of the Abigail study we see how this wise woman had an eternal perspective on things and God used her to have David from a BIG mistake. I know, she also had the perspective of saving her family. Wolgemuth writes:"Our human nature that likes to be in control is quick to tell us what is best, where we need to live, who we need to marry, when we are treated poorly and deserve justice, or what we need for a happy ending. Followers of Jesus already have the happiest ending, but it's easy to lose sight of the glory that's coming. Fuled by our desire for control, we tend to act from our limited perspectives that lead to foolishness, discontentment, and hopelessness. These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.  Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we ke...

Jesus lets us know we are princesses. January 2024 has come to completion.That was quick! Looking in our closets we wonder, how many more chilly days will I have to wear that outfit. And for this snow lover I am praying, "Lord please send some snowy days. Time is running out." Solitarire, knitting, painting, baking, a tennis match, swim in a pool, or hike to a desination...these are all activities I enjoy because they can be completed in a short amount of time. There is satisfaction in seeing a project or activity finished.  Pregnancy produces a precious finished product, but it's a nine month time frame. There is satisfaction in writing Boojoyful for a couple reasons. One it draws me to the Lord with a listening ear and two it can usually be done in a timely fashion.  Ha, yes, I am hours late today. Some of the definitions I found for completetion were... completely carried out, fiished, thorough, and having all necessary parts. We are God's projects, His creations. ...

Birthday celebrating in my animal slippers because of a foot injury. Didn't phase this group. "Stay" you command your dog. "Stay put" you instruct  your toddler. Maybe the directive is given with encouragement to a co-worker enduring a testy job situation.  There are times in life the command "Stay put and pray" just works. We'd rather hear, "Go!"  God gave that welcome command in Exodus 33:3 "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey." And in  Joshua 6:4,  "Go" march around Jericho seven times and blow those trumpets!  Yet, God told Israel to "stay put" while they were captives in Babylon.  An angel told Joseph to "stay put" in his engagement to Mary and go ahead and take her as his wife even though she was pregnant. An amazing Moses moment came in Exodus 14:13-15..."Don't be afraid.  Just "stand still" and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will nev...