The repentent thief?

So, my dear son in California, who is in youth ministry out there, recently got ALL,
as in every bit,
of his clothing stolen from his condo's laundry mat! Poor guy!

-I remember being a college kid and wearing every stitch of clothing I had before doing a TON of laundry all in one day at the campus laundry mat. LOL
He literally had to run out and buy something to wear to church the next day, especially since he was speaking! He was so mad about this. Bless his heart!

Well, apparently since then, he put up a sarcastic sign in the laundry mat (those of you who know him can totally picture him doing this -LOL)
CONGRATULATING someone on stealing all of his clothes and asking that if anything didn't fit, that they return it!

Well, guess what? He got a bag at his door with some of his crumpled up shirts in it!

Soooo funny!
Or maybe what is even funnier is that he DIDN'T get back the socks and underwear! LOL


~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

There are some verses in Daniel 6 that hit me hard last week and became apart of my daily prayers.

"Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him..." (v.3)

"...they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him."  (v.5) 

I've been praying for an excellent spirit and that there be no fault found in my character.

And most of all, that my life would be a testimony just as Daniel's was.
I truly love how Daniel's life and character impacted King Darius.
 The morning after having him thrown in the lions' den, he "made haste" to the den, and yelled "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

What a great testimony! Daniel's life was so consistent that the king referred to Him as the God that Daniel "served continually."
Because of Daniel's walk with God, the king knew that He wasn't just an idol, but the "living God" and he was absolutely eaten up with curiosity to see if his God actually had the power to save.
I think the world still wonders the same thing.
No matter WHAT we are thrown INTO, may our lives demonstrate that "He delivers and rescues." (v.27)

~Becky

I heart Millennials

I happen to be blessed to have a bunch of young adults in my life, besides my own. On any given night, there are some hanging out at my house, usually making music. I also have a bunch of young adult co-workers that make life fun.

~They passionate and authentic people!

~They know how to 'work smarter not harder.' -One of my kids spent less than an hour with me at work one day and showed me three ways to do my job more efficiently! How great is that?!

~They know where all the cute coffee shops are! Yes, and amen!

~They are ever so techie! I'm pretty sure there isn't anything they can't figure out!

~They can tell you all the healthy places to eat.

~They are sooooo creative and talented.

~They all play an instrument or they can sing down heaven! Or both!

What an awesome generation! I can't wait to see what God does in their lives!

~Becky

Wednesday in the Word

Some encouragement from Galatians today:


"I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." 

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

"If you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."

"You are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

"...through love serve one another." 

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." 

"Let us not grown weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart."

"Let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Have a great day! 

~Becky

The celebrating

It was a lovely Mother's Day. 

There were letters, flowers and gifts. 💙 And dinner and dessert out and then we laughed until we cried while playing a game at our house. It was perfect!

~ I couldn't help but think of how proud my hubby would be at the way our kids spoiled me! He would've every bit of it!

(I wish the calendar would skip over Father's Day for their sakes! Bless their hearts, it's a hard one!)

~Becky

I get to

These verses from Psalm 84 have a special place in my heart.

"Blessed are those who dwell in Your house."

"For a day in your courts is better than a thousand,

I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

I was homeschooling our youngest son, who was in high school, when my husband died of cancer. And when I was still hurting and raw, several months later, a dear friend asked me if I wanted to fill in as the receptionist at our church for a month. I did! And one month has turned into almost two years! I don't completely 'dwell in His house' but it feels like it sometimes since I work and worship here! LOL And I definitely fit the role of a "door keeper" since I lock/unlock the doors every day! 

So, while I was new to working a full time job outside my home (believe me, raising and educating four kids was certainly a full time job -LOL) and new to being a widow/single parent and still grieving, God placed me at this job for a season of time when SO many hurting people were calling and walking in the church doors all the time. And there I was!

 I found out that it is hard to stay a shy introvert when God has other plans. : )

I realized that the cancer battle I had helped fight, had given me a new capacity for compassion that I had never had before. And in talking to people from all walks of life, I realized that so many were hurting way worse than I was! And comforting them comforted me. ❤
 How very Biblical!

I found out that the remarks from the really grumpy ones didn't bother me. The battle had given me some thick skin. So what people said in THEIR pain, didn't hurt my feelings like I thought it would.

Due to grief, it really felt like my brain didn't function as fast as everyone else around me in the beginning and sometimes that was hard. But I reminded myself that it was just that -grief!
And not my lack of brains ; ) and that helped get me through it.

There were times when something would trigger a wave of grief and I'd be a crying mess for no apparent reason, which was embarrassing. But no one minded. My sweet co-workers would pray with me or offer to take my place for awhile so I could regroup. -I probably spent the good part of that first year teary eyed just over the prayer requests we were praying over.

I found out that sometimes my story can come in handy. I've had distraught women say "You don't understand what it is like to be a widow" or "You don't know what it is like to have God take someone you love." Actually, I do.

I've learned that being in "His courts" can be heavy, busy, stressful, hilarious and fun all in the same day. And this is the place He chose to heal me.

Thankful,

~Becky

This song!

This song blesses my soul to no end. I play it all the time! It reminds me of the immense priviledge we have to share the Lord with others, "to call them home."

 And to "celebrate their coming home before they even start to move" about moves me to tears. It inspires me to keep believing and to never stop praying for those I know He's calling to Himself.

Give it a listen if you haven't heard it and be blessed!



~Becky

19

There was a short period of time when our four kids were teenagers all at ONCE! Now, Andrew, our youngest, has entered the last year of his teens and it is like the end of an era for me.

On the morning of his birthday he had to work, but 11 of his friends got up at the crack of dawn to take him to a diner for breakfast! So sweet!
Some of them also wanted to throw him an Olympic themed birthday party this weekend so we all helped out to make that happen. No one loves the Olympics more than he does! So, it was a great theme for a party for him.
-Even though according to Pinterest Olympic parties are mainly for four year olds. LOL

When he walked in we had the Olympic theme song playing, which was hilarious. Then everyone split up into different countries to compete in games.
Italy was the gold medal winner of the evening!

Not everyone realized that these were Olympic torches LOL 

The best game was the cheese puff throwing game. I'm sure it had a better name, I just can't remember it. I definitely enjoyed my role as the one who sprayed shower-cap-wearing kids' heads with shaving cream! Then their team mates had a certain amount of time to throw as many cheese puffs at their head as they could and they stuck. 

Hilarious!

A good time was had by all and Andrew definitely felt all the love!

Happy 19th!

~Becky 

All the allergies

So, Andrew had a birthday last weekend. And it was during a very busy weekend in which we were all serving at church for a men's conference. Bless his heart, he was exhausted when he finally got home for his birthday dinner.

This was our first celebration knowing about all the new food allergies in this family, so finding a meal to prepare that would work for all and feel celebratory was a challenge.
We have figured out that one of them is suddenly allergic to dairy (how does that happen?) and another one is allergic to, wait for it....
 dairy, wheat, seafood, nuts, soy and eggs.
So, like EVERYTHING! ; ) JK

 There were two brownie options, instead of a birthday cake. Regular brownies, and then some soy free, dairy free, gluten free brownies. And those were actually pretty good! We just had trouble getting them out of the pan LOL and for some reason they took 2 hours to cook! I'm totally planning to perfect that recipe in the near future.
And for ice cream, we had  three options! Regular ice cream, dairy free ice cream, and a sorbet that was only made of fruit and water! LOL Something for all!

So, yay us! We are learning and still celebrating over food!

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

Love this verse and pray it often:

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Ps. 19:14 ♡

And then I found this verse one morning this week, which was really convicting later that day when I got cut off on the freeway and started THINKING how dumb some drivers are. LOL
"May my mediation be sweet to Him." Ps. 104:34  Ouch!
~Sometimes I think it is only what comes out of my mouth that matters.

Here's to working on our thought lives too! In and out of traffic! ; )

~Becky