Boojoyful

  A very dear friend from Fort Myers, Florida was watching the sunrise (in the photo below) on her lanai with her husband and sent me the photo below. A few moments later she took a photo of the clouds in the above photo. Do you see the two people?  Looks like one is kneeling at the feet of Jesus and he is laying his hand on their head. Our daughter said, "And there is a swan on the right sneaking up on them!" And a pelican on his perch. In some round about way the friend who sent these photos started reading Boojoyful over 20 years ago. Back then it went out by email. She lived at Hilton Head at the time and read where I would be visiting my sister there at her home with a group of my friends to celebrate my 50th birthday. Having never met me, just knowing me from writing about day to day life, she invited me to bring the whole group to her home for a birthday luncheon. Ever since then she has been encouraging me to keep on keeping on for the Lord. She turned 80n this year. ...

This one is always doing something that makes us chuckle. Often I reflect on how tender, yet intuitive, God has created a mother's heart. It aches for her children. We know the impact grief has on the human heart. Jesus shares in our humanity. In the olive grove called Gethsemane with Peter, James, and John the Bible describes Jesus as "deeply troubled and distressed". Mark 14:34 says he told the disciples My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death . We know He understands our heartache and suffering. John Eldredge says this about Jesus' emotions in  Restoration Year "I'm sure chipmunks made him laugh. The Pharisees sure made him furious. He felt joy, weakness, sorrow." Today, I want to thank God for how he created laughter  and the healing factors that accompany the emotion. We were filled with laughter; and sang for joy.   Psalm 126:2 NLT My husband and I laugh a lot and I pray that continues as the aging process causes the days get tougher.  ...

  Beside Still Waters on Smith Mt Lake Back in the Spring I share I sensed the Lord calling me to a new ministry called Beside Still Waters .  One of the main focuses is to give people a place to pause and be away from distractions and seek the Lord. Every night before my husband falls asleep he recites Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters . He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me...   Cody Carnes' songs "Nothing Else" and "Firm Foundation" are perfect theme songs for this ministry. "I'm not here for blessings.  Jesus you don't owe me anything...I just want you. Nothing else will do...I just want to sit here by your feet." Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it la...

This little one attending his brother's varsity high school cross country practice  and taking the challenge to run!   Revive Our Heart ministry has a wonderful variety of "Challenges" on their site. https://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenges/?srsltid=AfmBOoossotXVVhhEmHmGhAL4vrQC3MZRYvLz75MZTzjtIVoT3uUfIUy With "Back to School" upon us, I embarked on the 10 day challenge to pray for your grandchildren. One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. —Psalm 145:4 Consider sending or giving a note to your children/grandchildren.  This is what I wrote. Dear ________, With this new school year underway I am praying for all the friends you will make, the teachers you will have and the new things you will learn.   I thanked God for the love and intention he put into creating you.   He has a specific plan for your life. He rejoices over you and delights in how uniquely He made you and I do too! Today I took time to go back throu...

These frames belonged to be precious grandmother who infested in my life with joy. I few years ago I had new lenses placed in them to fit my needs. Now as I look at them I think of all the things in our two lives that have been seen through these glasses and all the things Grandmama now sees in heaven.   An out of state girlfriend was visiting for a few days and sharing what she had been learning about the Lord in this season of life.  She posed the question that had been a six week series at her church called "Who is Jesus to You?"  Each week a different person from their congregation shared testimony on who Jesus was to them. Posing that question to myself my immediate thought is He is my All in All .  The next thought was Jesus is my go before. From the moment of my conception He has gone before whatever was next in my life. Then John 14:1-3 came to mind! Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried!  Have faith in God and have faith in me.  Ther...

Joyce and a G.R.I.T.S. sister strolling through a garden. Just think we will do that in heaven. Yesterday, I shared about the passing of a friend. I wish I had gotten these verses and the instrumental music in "The Song" below to her husband to play for her at the hospital. The music goes on for over an hour, but in my 10 minute time out with the Lord I was able to listen and record these 10 verses.  For me, as a visual learner, writing scripture places it more deeply into my mind and heart.  You might want to record these in a journal while you listen to the music. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. Psalm 149:1  You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.   Psalm 22:3    For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands I sing for joy.   Psalm 92:4 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious .  Psalm 66:1-2 Let them praise H...

  A fellow Girl Raised in the South , who is now with Jesus. Here at Smith Mt Lake there is a group called the SML G.R.I.T.S. "Girls Raised in the South."  We gather once a month to celebrate our commonalities like enjoying front porch sitting, catching lighting bugs, sweet tea and pearls.  One of our members passed away this week and the group's president asked me to write a prayer that might bring us comfort. Heavenly Father,  Your Word tells is to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in all things give thanks” (1 Thes. 5:16-18).  In our humanness we find that some days are harder than others to do that, for you created us with hearts that love and thus grieve in loss.  By faith, we rejoice because of Your love for us and the gift of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection power.  We also rejoice in the hope of heaven in Hebrews 13:14 which tells us that “This world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.”  I ...