FRAMEWORK

O let the framework of my home, be girded up with the timber and walls of Your solid precepts,dear Lord.Fasten Your sturdy molding to fit in all the crevices and allow the radiance of Your Glory to shine throughout every room.
May every room and every meal, be filled with Your bread of life,O God of Wonder, and when I lay me down at night, would You cover me with Your blanket of protection and shelter.
From the east to the west and from the north to the south, please dwell within my house, sweet Lord, for it is Your home all the days of my life.....
Becky

ENLIST !

I grew up, on the tail end of seeing the "Uncle Sam" posters all around. I use to think that those eyes looking at you, and that finger pointing at you, would certainly entice one to enlist!
Some heard his voice and enlisted......
Others did not and paid the consequences......
I like to think of our Lord and Savior above,smiling down, and pointing His finger at each one of us, and saying:"I want you....believe in me"!
Some of us will hear His voice and follow.....
Others will not and pay the consequences.....
Have you made your choice?
I have, and I'm following!
Becky

SATAN CAN'T WIN

In the quiet of this morning, while it is still sort of dark outside, the rain has started up in full force. It sounds so good on the tin roof, here at the beach.It has been so oppressive this week,and the rain will be a refreshing change when we go outside later.
On our daily walk, we can also become bogged down with the daily things that can become so oppressive to our attitudes. We don't have the joy we are suppose to have , because satan stifles us with his oppression.
God "reigns" though, and when He pours forth His blessings, we can be sure that they will cover us, and refresh our attitudes.
Just as the rain did for the heat outside, but with this reign, you don't get wet!
Satan doesn't stand a chance around God!
He's all wet, and water evaporates when the "Son " hits it!
Becky

WHAT A DAY

What a day it has been dear Lord! Minna came over to the beach house to play bridge with Mary,Edie and Margaret. Margaret fell downstairs, while Minna and Mary were visiting upstairs, and she had to be taken to St Francis,in Charleston to be checked out.
Thank You,Lord,for watching over this whole episode, and seeing that she was only bruised, but had no broken bones......At 87, that's pretty remarkable!
I went outside to see who was calling for help next door, and it was our own Margaret, down below!
You always watch out for Your own, don't You,Father?
I'll bet she won't feel so bad as to not want to beat me at Dominoes in the morning,though....
What a day it has been.
Thank You for being with us,Lord.......
Becky

GOD FIRST

I've often wondered what made Grandmother Bouterse so special.......
She didn't go to school,I don't think.....
Her mother was Alberdeena Sleuiter Ryskamp, and I think she had 5 sisters, because I remember meeting some of them,and hearing her talk about them. I remember brother's names, but I don't remember how many. She gave me my very first white,zippered Bible, which I have given to my daughter. She even allowed me to pretend that their silver gulfstream trailer was a cruiseship, and we were cruising on it, while I would stay with her! (What an imagination I had!)
She had a Mockingbird, that she named "Petey", that would fly onto her hand and eat out of it! ........No kidding!
She got in lots of trouble in the Baptist church in Miam"uh", when she got her hair "bobbed" for the first time. As a preachers wife, you just didn't do this!!!
I think I have with me, her two greatest treasures, and probably the two most important things to her. Besides her wedding band,which I have,was her little Singer Featherlight sewing machine! There are stories that go along with this machine that would mean something only to me.....
Then, there is a little broken glass frame....not worth anything, except for what it says! This little frame was placed over her bedroom door , and is now over my kitchen sink,in the window.
It's words are what mark my grandmother as being so very special. They are the words of her character, and what made her who she was. They were her whole philosophy on life and she lived every minute of it this way......
The placque simply said: "God First"
....and she believed it with all her heart!
Becky

THE CUCKOO CLOCK

When you walked into Grandmother's trailer,from the porch,you immediately saw a little Cuckoo clock on the left wall over her hot water heater.I thought it was so neat, until it started getting late, and that little Cuckoo kept on cuckooing!
For a long time,it got pretty anoying,but if I went back into her little bedroom,I would soon get so use to it, that I would even forget it was there!I have Grandmother's clock, now, but you better believe it is put up. It is, however, a constant reminder to me,of God's word!......... Yep!
God's word should be a constant reminder of how we should be living every hour of every day! I just hope and pray we, as a nation, don't do like I did with that cuckoo clock, and get so use to God's word that it doesn't mean much to us anymore.
That would be a dreadful mistake!
Becky

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN......

Well, it's almost that time again.....
Time for a group of mom's to come together at my beach house!
We will be missing Charlotte,and LaVonne this September, but we will certainly be thinking about them.We've had some new additions to our Mom's, this year. Each one is a sweetheart in her own right. Summertime can be a hard time, if you've lost a child.It's a family time of year and when that one link is missing, it can be really hard.Remember to spend time with any remaining children that you have, because they too, tend to feel left out.I remember when my sister died, in 1990,I was crushed.She was 56, and I was 43.My mother was expecting it, but was crushed, just the same.In her mind, she was suppose to go first!In my mind,I kept saying:..."but she's my sister,Mother....it hurts more!"
Now, having lost a child myself,I can understand how my daughter felt.This was her brother, and she adored him. I truly tried to let her know how special he was,(and is) to her .....and to me and Daddy.
This is important for you to do, with any children who are left.
In the case of those whose only child has been taken "Home".I think that those special children are given a very special mission on this earth.I firmly believe that we are given these missions,long before we are ever born, and when we accomplish them, here on earth, we will be brought Home, to where we are intended to be, in the first place!
I know! I know! My logic is so simple......It's the Dutch Baptist Grandmother Bouterse "logic"(called the word of God) that got a hold of me as a wee little girl, and told me all about this wonderful God who gave up His only Son too, so I could spend Eternity with Him! He had a choice and still gave up His Son!
I don't think any of us would have done that!
I am so grateful He did that for us, so we can see them again!
Spend time loving each other this summer.You are special to me;to those of us who have lost children, but especially to God!
Becky

BENDED KNEE

Lord God,on bended knee,have I submitted and asked You to humble my heart, so that You may fill me with Your Grace and Mercy......
Mold my countenance,sweet Lord,to fit around Your heart, for I can't go another day, without You by my side.
Fellowship with You, is as sweet and true as my next breath.
Fill me with the sweet aroma of Your redeeming love, now and forevermore.
Hasten Lord. Do not tarry......
Becky

HIDE AND SEEK

When I was a little girl,one of my very favorite games to play, was "Hide and Seek". I always thought it was so much fun to find clever places to hide, and then wait until someone found me! Being found was always the exciting part!
I loved my hiding time, but I cherished being sought after......
When I think about it,as an adult.....an adult who belongs to the Lord, I delight in my hiding time with my Lord too, but I really cherish being sought after, so much, by my Heavenly Father.
Spend time with God.......
Hide yourself with Him,today, and just relish every minute of it. It feels so very good; inside and out........
He'll seek you out, over and over and over.......
Becky

CLEAR DIRECTIONS

I can go on MapQuest, and get the most confusing set of directions, when I want to go somewhere!
Now, if I will just go to the Bible and look up the words of Jesus, He will very clearly, tell me how to get to Heaven!
Becky

WOO HOO

You can't take anything with you, when you go to Heaven......

But, if you tell enough people about theLord.......

You'll have plenty of followers,coming along behind!
Becky

AND IF???????

My Grandmother lost her first child......

My Mother lost her first child........

My sister lost her first child........

I lost my first child.........

And if you didn't believe in the Sovereignty of God, that would be a pretty hard pill to swallow, wouldn't it?
Becky

3BROTHERS & A SISTER

Grandmother Bouterse had 3 boys and a girl, and my Mama was the girl! Mama's baby brother, lived to be a retired Navy chaplain, whom I loved dearly, during the latter part of his life.He died last year at age 93. Her oldest brother, was a motor cycle cop, in Miami, who lost his legs when he was hit by a car during a routine traffic stop! He use to whittle on his artificial leg, to pass the time away.I dearly adored this uncle. I would mail him letters, with pictures of cars, that I had cut out from magazines and paste them onto a sheet of paper, so he would have something to look at when he whittled!He made me miniature glass figurines, and a wind chime. Now, the middle brother, was a caretaker on an island,off the coast of Homestead, and he was really cool! I learned to deep sea fish from him, and his wife taught me how to make those famous Cuban Sandwhiches, and Black Beans and Rice, because she was Cuban, by birth! He played the saxaphone, and when Grandmother found out he was playing in a small night club, on the side, she stopped sending him any extra spending money!She would have no part of that night club, because,to her, they were a "den of iniquity!"
When she did this, he stopped playing in the night club......
Because Grandmother stood her ground and what she believed, he realized that he was sacrificing his upbringing for other things.......
All three boys were grounded in the word of God, and knew right from wrong, because of a little lady, who loved her Lord, and His precepts so very much......
Now, my Mama's a different story, and I'm not tellin'!!!
(She was really a sweetie!) :p)
Becky

DEAR LORD

I was taught as a child to always thank my parents for everything......

Thank You, my sweet Abba Father, for all You have bestowed on me, and my household. Your graciousness abounds throughout my life, and my country.
May You and Your word be praised and glorified forever and may Your honor and glory fall from my lips all the days of my life. You are indeed a God worthy of all honor, thanks and praise, dear Lord.

TECHNICOLOR

I remember,so well, when the "Poloroid Land Camera" first came out. It was so cool to watch this picture come alive, just by being placed in the sun!
It came alive right before your very eyes!.......Cool!
The more sun your picture received, the clearer and brighter your image became, and the better you could see it!
It was pretty neat for this 'ole black and white Brownie girl!
Our lives are snapshots to other people of our walk with the Lord,too......
The pictures that people see of us, are being developed everyday, into the image of something, and hopefully, it will be a photograph, that has been left sitting under the illumination of the bright "Son".
Only then, will this snapshot truly come alive for others to see how a black and white world, can become a technicolor world, in the Lord!
Becky

THE FUNNIES

Most of you remember the journey I took you on, when I was out at my Grandmother's trailer, and I had to go down to the bath house to take a shower. She did not want me to take a shower, standing in my bare feet, so she made me stand on news print.I think I told you how I thought it was so funny, because I didn't end up with any germs on my feet, but I certainly had a good case of newsprint all over the bottoms of my feet!I always thought this was soooooooo funny!!!
Well, this got me to thinking........
If all of us, would step onto the prints of God's word, and follow His footprints, they would indeed, lead us through difficult times, and, who knows.....
We might even be able to read the funnies on the bottoms of our feet too!
Becky

NO DIGGING!

Grandmother, had an Amaryllis Lilly that was planted right outside of her trailer.It seemed to bloom all the time,in my mind! After she died,it was dug up and re-planted at my Mother's house, and there it stayed,until it moved to Aiken, with me......
Today,it rests at the bottom of my front steps, here in Beaufort, and has already bloomed once!
This plant follows me wherever I go, as a reminder of Grandmother!
The word of God will do the same thing.....
Wherever we go, it will follow us around, and will bloom in our hearts for others to see!
Once you commit it to memory, it will stay with you forever, and you don't have to "dig this one up" and transplant it either!
Becky

MUSIC WITH MATT

What a blessing this radio station,"The Light" is.....
What a blessing this music at church is.......
The choir;the orchestra......
Matt makes it a joy to sing, just by watching him.......
I could listen to his beautiful voice all day......
What a blessing for me to sing, even without a voice.....
What a blessing to have a God, who loves us so much....
I just love Him so very much......
I hope you do too......
What a blessing He is......
Becky

SO SWEET & SO DEAR

In my grandmother's little trailer, was a tiny china vase. This vase was a pink/orchid, in color, and shaped to resemble an open Bible. On the open pages were written The Lord's Prayer.
We both use to walk through the porch, where she placed the vase, and we would start singing away! (I guess I thought I was an opera star!)
This little vase is in my bedroom now, as a reminder of someone so very dear to me!
Someone, who thought these words to be so very dear, and true too!
I suppose that's why she was so sweet and dear,in my mind and heart,folks.....
Because she thought the words on the vase and our Lord, were about the sweetest things in her life!
Becky

MY SWEET

Today,I give you a copy of a birthday letter, written to me, from my Grandmother,on my 14th birthday.It is on the inside cover of my Bible, and is very dear to me.......

"My sweet.....this is a birthday letter that I am writing to you for your 14th birthday. I would like for you to keep this always so you can have it to show to your children and grandchildren.I love you,Becky, in so many ways.The sweet trusting little prayers that you have prayed at night and at mealtime in our humble little trailer which meant more to me than you will ever know. How you read the Bible stories of Him who said,"I go to prepare a place for you that where I am; there ye may be also.In my Father's house are many mansions.If it were not so I would have told you." These are great promises and I know you believe them and that you will always keep these things in your heart. When temptations,sorrows,disappointments,failures,happiness comes, that you will think on these things and always have this simple faith in Him who has never lost a battle, but is ready at all times to hear us when we come to Him.May God bless and keep you always."
Love and prayers,
Grandmother
"I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness."

***Now you understand why I loved this lady so very much!
Becky

MY SHEPHERD

When the Lord is my shepherd,I know He will walk me into only the Valley of the shadow of death, and not the actual "death" itself.
Because of the Grace of my Savior,Jesus Christ,I am able to bypass death, and go straight into Eternity with my Lord!
He has prepared a table for me, right before my enemies, and He is expecting me, so I had best make plans to attend!!!
If He can allow me to taste of only the shadow of death, and not death itself,then I need not fear evil, because He is with me......
Like a shepherd, and His staff, that protects His sheep,
He will also protect and comforts me!
And I will dwell with Him, forever......
Becky

THE KING

I had to chuckle today, when one of the radio comentator's read the poem about "Humpty Dumpty", and how "all the King's men couldn't put him back together again" after his fall....
In actuality, it is only "The King", who could put any of us back together again after the fall!
Becky

THANKS BE TO GOD!

I came home from a funeral today, and it has left me feeling somewhat melancholy.
The rector, giving the homily, mentioned that we so often tend to forget the people who are left grieving, after their loved ones have died.
Having lost my dear friend,Lois, several years ago, after about 50 years of friendship, I can certainly agree with his thoughts!It is so hard on those left behind.
It's kinda like having to put a puzzle together and having someone come along and take away one of your puzzle pieces!
You have the puzzle of friendship all ready to go, and one of the pieces is missing. The puzzle can't be complete! It never will be again.
You can have a framework to your puzzle of friends, and..... many adjoining pieces.
You can be a friend in your framework, and have many adjoining friends.........
You can be "almost " complete, except for that one piece that is missing, and..... that one piece made you who you were!
So it is, with friends, and those you lose.....
They are gone, and the missed piece makes you incomplete.
You still have your framework, and your other adjoining friends,and you will always remember your "missing piece."
It was that special piece who helped make you and your puzzle
a masterpiece, that God created!
Thanks be to God for their lives.....
Becky

THE UGLY DUCKLING

Oh, how I loved the story of the "Ugly Duckling", when I was growing up. Just thinking of that little duck, and how bad he felt, because he thought he looked different and uglier than all the other ducks, made me so sad! Only to find out, as he grew up, that he turned into the most graceful and regal of all birds!
Many times, in our own life, we look in the mirror and we see ourselves as the "Ugly Duckling" too. We aren't happy with how we look, and who we are. We see others as being far more glamorous than ourselves.
If we would just understand that God, in His creative and infinite wisdom knew that He wanted humans with Him in Eternity, so He created us, just the way He wanted us to be!
So, we were created as beautiful "swans" in His eyes, but when we took our eyes off of Him, and put them on other things, we became those ugly ducklings!
Only through the blood of Jesus Christ could we become those Eternally beautiful and regal creatures, He called the children of God!
Becky

NOT THE SAME

We will all have life everlasting
It just may not be in the same place!
We will all be doing something,too, forever, and ever......
I'll bet what I'm doing will be alot "cooler"!
Becky

IT IS FUNNY

I am turning into my Grandmother!
It is so funny......
As a little girl,I remember her always picking up pins and then securing them onto her dress somewhere.I always thought that was so funny. What really made me chuckle though, was , everytime I turned around, she was picking up a piece of thread from the floor, or off of someone's blouse.....
And I'm doing the same thing now!
I can't believe it!
This dear sweet lady did so many sweet things, that I can remember, that I would also like to do, such as having a pure heart; having a loving heart for God;never ending faith;no fear of death;delightful smile.....
Let's just say, that she taught me so many things, that I didn't even know I was learning.She taught me to embroider;sew; cook and make my Guava Jelly;play Dominoes & Scrabble; learn & memorize most of the scripture verses I know; My love for John 14, and the deep faith I have of it, and my Lord, was established through her!
She was a quaint little Dutch lady, married to a retired traveling Baptist preacher.She could take her teeth out at night, and I thought that was really cool. She loved the color blue and she smiled alot.
I've never known anyone who loved the Lord, as much as she did!
Now, why can't I have those traits, instead of picking up pins and thread?
Becky

MOWING

The first time I ever mowed all by myself, was at my Grandmother's trailer.(Now don't laugh!)
I was use to our old "Snapper" mower and when she pulled out this contraption, I didn't know what to do!
It had a long handle on it, connecting to wheels, about two feet apart. There were two curved blades in between the wheels, and as they spun around, you could see the grass going everywhere!
I loved it! ........I would push that thing up one stretch of grass, and turn it around and do another "line", for that's what it looked like!(Remember this Michael?)
I was the power behind that contraption and it was a contraption!
It did the job, though!
We might be kinda funny and unusual creatures, ourselves, but God can use us too!
When we are sharing our testimonies with others, God will help us "cut a path", and push us forward.
We are the "push", and He is the "power" behind that push. We can really go places if we will let Him guide us!
We are the arm! He is the muscle in the arm!
He is the power behind our contraption and He will do the job!
Becky

I'VE MISSED YOU

Each day You tarry,Lord,my heart strings seem to break apart even more. I am so in need of You.....
Just as a cup of refreshing water,Lord.
Just as a gentle breeze.....
Just as the very breath of life itself,my Lord!
I so wish to be with You.
Help me sweet Father to take what You so willingly give to me, and to multiply it within my heart.
Help me to exist on Your love here on this earth, sweet Lord. Without You here,I will need it, while being amidst others.
Truly,Truly,I say this unto You..... Have my heart be at one with You, in peace,Lord, .......atleast until You come to receive me unto You.
I do miss You so,sweet Father.
I've missed You since the day of my birth.....
Becky

LINE OF SUCCESSION

Our sermon this morning, touched on what my journey was about the other day. Or, atleast what I tried to emphasize!
This was so cool, concerning Christ's lineage too.....
From the time of Genesis 9, we learn where Noah chose Shem and gave him the Lord's blessing, followed in a long succession, by Abram(Abraham), into the land of Cannan.
How through the line of Jesse, a son, called David, came forth, and slew a Phillistine giant! In Isaiah,we are given a glimpse into a wonderful "Virgin Birth", to come.... That it will happen.....
One who will be called "Emmanuel"....God with us.
All these prophecies from the very first one, have come true!
Isn't that absolutely incredible? That our Mighty God, could take something from the beginning of time, and work it around, to fit it where it would eventually create for us, our very own Salvation,in Jesus Christ?
Now, that's really a prophecy of putting some "Light" on the subject, and some thought into creation!
Becky

WHERE EAGLES FLY

An Eagle, will go to a secret hiding place, as he reaches about 30 years of age. There,he will go through a time of renewal, where he will claw at his face and tear at his feathers, to remove those that are damaged. It will bleed so badly, but it is necessary, for without this process, he would never grow to be about 60 years of age!
There is also a time of renewal, for us too, as God's children. Thankfully, we don't have to claw our faces,or skin..... He has asked us to rid ourselves of those things that weigh us down, or that will damage our testimony....both physically and spiritually!
Many times, we don't see it as a time of renewal, either, because we are hurting! When we hurt, we "bleed".....and that leaves a stain!
That stain is also necessary for us, in order to remember that Christ's strength is sufficient for us, in all circumstances, to" mount up with wings as eagles,"
for Christ!
Becky

IT'S TIME!

Think Back!
Think back to God's precepts and His laws,
and how, by following them,many catastrophies
have been avoided!

Move Foreward!
Move foreward, with God's word, knowing,He
will be Your shield and defender, and help
you avoid future mishaps!

It's Time!
Past mistakes.....
Future problems......
It's time to take Him with us,as our solution!
Becky

MY LOVE

I think I've realized something pretty important about myself,today.......
Most of you know, that I lost a son, in 1995.....(12 years ago)and since that time,God has positioned me, where I am able to invite other mom's to my beach house, for a weekend of healing and fellowship.
This is what I discovered about myself today.....
I was attending a funeral, when the lady behind me in line, discovered through a brief conversation, that I had lost a child.She sadly remarked that she had lost a son this past year......
I knew,immediately, who had orchestrated that little meeting. If we make ourselves available, God will use us.....all the time!
She needed someone who had already gone down that road, and could offer some hope.
This is the neat part,folks!
I automatically invited her to the beach house, but in my mind,I knew that long before I was ever born, God would need somebody for just,such a"Mom's" mission. Someone who had a strong faith from childhood! ...Someone who had a Grandmother that instilled in her a strong and stable faith, built on the word of God and His promises.
God would need someone who had endured heartache, and physical setbacks as well. Having had Epilepsy since I was 5,I guess that made me a good candidate!Add to that the heartache of my parent's divorce after 40 years of marriage;my sister's death at age 56; David's massive heart attack;my brain hemorrage; the temporary removal of one son from our home, and the death of our oldest son. I'd say He was equipting me quite well!
He needed someone who was grounded in the word,too. He knew I had heard the word as a young child...
He knew the child recognized the word again at NCPC.
He knew the adult feeds on it at CBC, and loves it!
The sheep recognizes the Shepherd, when they hear His voice, and I do love His voice......
Yes! He needed someone who could reach out to these mom's and give them hope, but not lose sight as to where the real hope comes from.
He created me, the way He knew I would become, and I think it pleases Him, to see the fruit it is producing.
I don't always do what I am suppose to do, but my heart is there, and so are these wonderful mom's, and friends, so that's where my love is too!Twelve years ago,I never in a million years would have thought anything so beautiful could have come from such a tragedy, but He has taken this "stinging nettle" time in my life and produced a "bouquet of beautiful flowers".
What a mighty God we serve!
Becky

SHRIMP

If there be anything you can do, and do it well, then do that one thing with all your heart! Do it with as much love,as unto the Lord.......
I thought about this tonight, as we sat down to our "gourmet campside" meal of my Fried Shrimp, and Kay's Pineapple Au Gratin.If the first settler's had ever tasted my fried shrimp, they would never have eaten meat! ........It is that good, and I'm not braggin' either!
When I fix them, it is a labor of love, so I fantail and bread them, like I am doing them unto the Lord, because it gives me such pleasure to see those smiles...Kinda like enjoying Grandmother's Banana Cake.......
I thought it was my brother Chris's recipe, but it's not......
I've been fixing fried shrimp like this for almost 40 years, so somebody special must have given the recipe to me!
Our Lord has given us gifts too; some more than one gift........
It's up to us, to use these gifts, to the best of our ability, to glorify our Lord.
You can bet I'll be fixing my shrimp for the Lord, when I get to Heaven, along with my Banana Cake, and Hot Fudge Sauce.....and I wonder what else?
I wonder who will ask for this recipe first?
Becky

**I know frying shrimp is not my gift from the Lord, but FAITH, that He will allow me to do this and ENCOURAGEMENT & EXHORTATION, that He will work all things (my frying) out for good to those who love the Lord ....(and my shrimp), and are called according to His purpose.....(and supper)!
I think He must have a sense of humor!

A BETTER IDEA

The ad for Metamucil reads:
"Beautify Your Insides"

The book of Phillippians,on the other hand, tells us to think on things, that are of good report, and if there is anything of excellence,(which far excells beauty) then we are to think on these things!
A much nicer idea,I think!
Don't think it comes in a capsule, though!
Becky

HOME AGAIN!

Our week at Indian Creek, is ending, and it has been so nice! The only time we left, was for a trout dinner, further up the mountain top.
This has been so peaceful, with a stream nearby. The mountains are a gift from God to this 'ole girl, because I just love them so much. I've just learned about the bridge collapsing in Minneapolis, and my heart is grieving for those families.
My God is still in control however, and will prevail.
He will somehow make a good come from this horrible tragedy.
Those few thoughts were the only blemish on an otherwise wonderful week! Even the rain couldn't dampen my spirits......(We could surely use some of that now,too!) It's just too beautiful here.
The sights and sounds......and they all belong to my Father!
Thank you for allowing me to share this past week in Cherokee, with you all. I will end with this little ditty, as I've eaten waaaaay too much on this trip!
"Home again;home again; jiggety jig.
Home again;home again;fat as a pig!"
Becky

WHAT'S IN YOUR FOUNDATION?

There's a modular home going in, next door to my house,out here in Seabrook. It's exciting to watch this one, because I missed the first few days of mine going in, due to heavy rains falling.
This past week, they've laid the concrete foundation and pilings, so it is beginning to take shape. The modular home has just arrived in sections and it is exciting to watch it come in too! I did notice, that after this last rain, several sections of one side of the foundation had eroded. The surface looked okay...... good and solid, but it was what was underneath, that you had to be concerned about......
The underneath part, was what would prove sturdy and true, in the long run......
The same holds true on our Christian walk.
If you try to build your faith on unsound and swaying doctrine, then, when the powerful winds come(and they will!), you will show forth erosion all around you!
It can't be helped!
Now, if you build your doctrine on the sound word of God, through His Son,Jesus Christ.....and nothing else.......it will hold up through anything!
It will stand the test of time and you will be stronger for going through it, with your Lord.
He's just that kind of Lord for His children......
Becky

CAMPING

I have to chuckle, when I tell people I am going camping.
Immediately,they think of tents. At my age,I think of a cabin and a bathroom! They think of hot dogs, and Theresa and I think of fixing gourmet meals.....
We love to do our trout fishing and walking, but nothing pleases us more, than to fix a special meal for our fellas, especially when they weren't expecting it!
I'm at the age where amenities are more appreciated now.....
A shower;a potty; a stove.....an actual stove can come in handy when a storm comes up too!Why, even a bed can feel mighty good in "them thar hills"!!!
Our idea of camping in Cherokee, is now this delightful little cabin at the top of this mountain, at Indian Creek Campground.It has a porch,of sorts;2 single beds;no phone;a fridge; and a stove....and yes, a potty!
I can handle that, at my age!I couldn't retrieve my radio station, but then nobody could get any reception, that far up in the hills, so I spent my nights with Fernando Ortega, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's,"Love Spoken Here".
God has been so gracious to me to give me these little respites up here in the mountains, with my friends, and my sweetie.
He is so gracious,all the time,no matter what......Isn't He?
He likes to go on camping trips too!
Becky

MAKES YA THINK

The place where we camp, up in Cherokee, is beautiful, but at night, it can get real hot and sticky inside! Oftentimes, during the night, we will find ourselves going outside to cool off....
When we do this, my thoughts always think about those people who are in hell, and constantly in a state of heat, but unable to cool off............EVER!
And they'll be this way forever!!!
Makes ya think,doesn't it?
Becky

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

David and I sat out on the porch tonight, and listened to all the night sounds.The Katydids;the stream gurgling;birds chirping; all the night sounds.......
I could even see a few camp fires flickering amongst the trees, and it was kinda neat! Some were really bright, while others were like embers through the dark tree leaves. It painted such a beautiful picture for us, here at Indian Creek.
It kinda reminded me,of how we so often need to let our lights shine, even when we are in the midst of crowded circumstances.
When it seems to be the darkest, your little one light, might be seen by someone who needs it the most!
I know I surely did enjoy seeing those lights tonight, and I'm sure somebody along the way will enjoy seeing the Light of Christ shine in you and me too!
Becky

I-26

Driving up I-26, on our way to Cherokee, I kept noticing the little bands of rivetting strips,along the roadside edge.These were placed there,to warn you, incase you accidently ran off the side of the road......
They made enough of a racket, to warn you to get back on the road too!
God,in His infinite wisdom, has also given us His word, as our boundaries too.
We need to read His word,daily, and stay straight on His course.When we venture off track,His word, will soundly remind us to get back on the right road!
It may not sound like those on the roadside, but you better believe,it is sharper than any two edged sword, and will do the job, to get you back on track!
Becky

CRACKS

As we were driving up to Cherokee, we had to go up some pretty curvy mountain roads, and since I was sitting by the window,I was able to observe all the formations on the roadside.
What fascinated me, was how often I would see these little plants and ferns growing out of the cracks in rocks. Ofcourse, there was the mossy algae on top, but the ferns seemed to push their way right out of nowhere!
They weren't on top,like the moss.....
Christ takes us,too, right through the hard surface of affliction.....
He takes us through that little tiny fissure of the rock hard area called pain. He makes us so much stronger than we could ever be,without going through it.
We come forth, as stronger, more sturdy christians, able not only to speak the word, but to live it, as well!
That's what it's all about, isn't it?
Becky