Thankful

When our kids were young, my hubby and I led a youth group for 6 years. Yesterday at the grocery store, I ran into one of the parents of two girls, who were in our group back then. And as we were catching up, she asked me where I work and I told her.
And her next question really threw me for a second, because when you tell someone that you work at a church, you don't expect them to ask

"Yeah, but are your co-workers back stabbers?"  

LOL

I'm pretty sure I looked a bit shocked and she went on to tell me how tons of people SAY they are Christians and that some of the worst people she's ever had to work with, said they were. 

So, I  had a split second to think about my co-workers and what I said was that they are
all real Christians and very kind!

Later, I wished I'd have been more eloquent with my answer or said something that might be helpful to her in her pain over the Christians she's run into.
But my simple answer really does sum up the people I work with.

From my desk, I get to see them really
live out the gospel in big and small ways, everyday.
What a blessing!

~Also, I've watched Leap Year too many times and I keep thinking of how Dublin has "back stabbing snakes."  And I'm glad I don't know any! ; )

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

It is actually Thursday, but that's okay, right?!

In case you find yourself doing hard things today:

"Watch, stand fast in the faith,be brave, be strong." 1 Cor 16:13

"Be strong and of good courage...for the Lord Your God, He is One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6

"Be strong and courageous and do the work."  1 Chron. 28:20

"Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain."  1 Cor. 15:58

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."  Eph. 6:10

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Josh. 1:9

"Wait for the Lord, be strong,and take heart and wait for the Lord." Ps. 27:114

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  Ps. 31:24


Have a brave day! 

~Becky

What will not define me

I'm sure I've mentioned here before that after my husband died, I joined the widow's support group at  church. It is a great group and I met some of the kindest ladies on the planet there. They are all about twenty years older than I am and so I was the baby of the group, so to speak. They were so interested in my life and my children that I felt like the popular kid at school. LOL

They aren't a sad group, by any means. They love to party! They also study the Word and pray for each other. They are awesome.
But it has got to be the only small group where new membership is a sad thing!

Anyway, after attending for almost a year, I realized that I didn't belong there anymore. I thought I did because that was the label that fit. Then one of my sons reminded me that my whole life isn't defined by this one thing that happened. And he was right.

During the conference this past weekend,  I was volunteering at the merch table one evening where one of our guest speakers was standing a few feet away, signing copies of her book and praying for women.

As I sat there, I was thinking that I should buy a book and get in line and have this incredible woman pray for me because I'm a widow.
And I felt the Lord put this question on my heart: "What does that have to do with anything?!"

WOAH!
 It only does if I make it, right? It doesn't have to.

Then the message the next day, rocked my world when the speaker said:

"Don't wear your valley as a badge of honor." 

Wow! How often do we do that?!
How often do I do that?

What have we let define us that we shouldn't?
 Just because it is a part of our story, it doesn't mean that is WHO we are.

"I know you don't know this about me but I'm a ______  or I've been through ______." (insert your valley) As if we need special treatment or extra grace or more ministry.

So don't let ITmistakingly become your THING.

I don't plan to let widowhood be the thing that defines my life.

Actually, I'm desperately hoping the THING that defines my life is
 JESUS!


~Becky

When I learned not to trust expiration dates

So this has been a busy season and was one of the biggest weeks for us in church life. -Okay, maybe it is a toss up between this week and CHRISTMAS, but either way, it was a huge week, in which I'd worked 4 ten hour days. And then the very night before we  hosted a three day women's conference for almost 500 women, I got food poisoning and barely slept.
Ugh, it was not fun! Next time something smell funky, I won't eat it even if ISN'T expired. LOL Why have I not learned that lesson before now?!

By the time the conference started, I felt better. It turned out to be everything we'd hoped it would be. It was amazing, and healing and so inspiring. We had incredible speakers and the Lord spoke so many things that I needed to hear, through them.

Three days of receiving and serving has got to be my max though. I was emotionally spent by the end.
So, today after church, I spent some time going over my notes and processing what I'd learned and then I went to the beach!
The beach is where I EXHALE and relax and regroup. -I need to find a fun place to do that in the winter though, because it is only fun in the summer!
Anyway, I don't live on the Atlantic side of the Florida, so a beach day with WAVES is rare.
 I jumped and laughed and got pummelled and pounded and had the best time!

Maybe because I've been introspective for 4 days straight now,  but the whole scenario reminded me of life.We face something huge and it may crash on top of us and cause us to loose our balance,
but we get back up and face what's next. And maybe we relax and float through the next five waves enjoying ourselves, until wave number six breaks right on top of us and we go under for a second. But then we pop back up to face what is next,
As I was thinking that and totally wishing I owned a Boogie board, LOL
 I was reminded that the One that has seen me through every wave of every storm, once actually WALKED on water. ❤ And He's promised never to leave us or forsake us. 

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

I found out recently that I have memorized a verse incorrectly.

On many occasions and especially in difficult times, I have quoted a verse in Job which reminds me that no matter what the circumstances are, I'm going to serve God anyway. Despite whether I understand Him or what's going on, I'm still all in.

"Though He slay me yet will I serve Him."

But here is the kicker! When I looked it up recently, I realized that it doesn't say "serve."
It says TRUST!

Ouch!

Trusting and serving are not the same.
Serving someone is WAY easier than trusting them.

But if anyone is completely TRUSTWORTHY it is Him. ❤ Sometimes we just need to concentrate on that!

Ps. 92:15 says
"He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him." He is completely good!

And speaking of Job, he got a happy ending.


"...You have heard of the patience of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." James 5:11

  "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."


He deserves our trust!

~Becky