PLAIN & SIMPLE

My Mother was a stickler for all of us "Ray Children", having clean hands. She would always remind us to wash our hands clean, before we sat down to eat what the Lord provided. She was a good cook too,so we knew if we wanted to partake of some yummy food, we had better clean up, real good!(It was cleanin' behind the ears, that I didn't like though!) If you didn't clean up, you didn't get served.Plain and simple!
It's no different in our relationship with God. He wants us to clean up our heart of any wrong doing against another person, before we partake of any of God's blessings in our lives.....Plain and Simple!
Becky

BEAUTIFUL!

Well,it's almost wedding day! Tonight is the rehearsal for the wedding,followed by the rehearsal dinner. I have just gotten back from seeing my very best friends from childhood.One flew in from New York;one drove up from Tallahassee,while the other one met her along the interstate from Rome,George, and they both came in together.These are friends, who, by all right,shouldn't even know each other, but because our parents were friends,.......so were we!
It's hard to explain this type of friendship in todays culture.If marriage could withstand problems, the way our friendship has stood the test of time, there wouldn't be divorce!
The friendship between us, is the example of what a true marriage should look like.
It is an enduring friendship, and it has gone through some pretty hard times,too!
It's kinda like the type that Christ talked about, and it's so beautiful......
Becky

PENNY JI;BOOMDEA:MEANNE JARIE& RECKY BAY

At Kelly's bridesmaids luncheon,I had placed two framed pictures on one of the side tables.One of the pictures was of Kelly in her wedding dress, and the other was of me, in my wedding dress,some 35 years ago! I wore a beautiful lace mantilla, that a dear friend of mine loaned me.This friend just happend to be one of three best friends giving the bridesmaids luncheon for Kelly.
Some of us, started off together, some 60 years ago, and have blended our personalities together, in a way,only our Lord could do!We have almost nothing in common,as far as politics go,but then, life isn't all about politics, either! We would give each other the shirt off our backs, and have been there for each other, as far back as I can remember!
This trip was special to me,because of Kelly's wedding, but extra special, because of these friends. These friends have been with me, through every ordeal in my life,that Ihave gone though.
God chose tese friendsa for me, as He did our Mothers,so long ago, and to me, they are the absolutely the best in life long friends.
Thank You Lord! We even get to spend Eternity together,too!
Becky

HE GAVE YOU

Thank You Father,for giving us these children.
Thank You, for loaning us these boys and girls, for just a brief time, while we traverse our days upon this earth. Guide us, so that we teach our children, and bring them up, so that they understand the importance of Your ways.
I know, Sweet Lord, that there were lessons that You wanted me to teach my son,before You called him Home.I hope I did it sucessfully.....
Father, for those who still have their children with them, allow them to guide and teach them, all that they need to learn.
Having been with these Mom's,this past weekend, I know they have given back to You, their son's, and daughters,Lord. I know how important it is for us to cherish every moment with these special gifts You have loaned to us.May we always remember that they are a gift,on loan to us,from You, and when You are satisfied that we have taught them what they need to know,and they have completed their task on earth,for You, You will call them Home.Father, when that time comes, please hold onto us, and grant us Your grace, and strength.....

SHE WAS ONLY 7

She was only 7 pounds,20" long, when she was born on April 20th,1979. She had the biggest,brown,"cow eyes" you have ever seen,on a baby girl, and she was covered in lanolin.That should have told me something about this little girl, even then!
Mother and daughter soon developed a close relatonship with each other. Pots and pans on the kitchen floor, and lots of night time prayers and talks.There wasn't too much that we didn't share. We were always honest and open with one another, and it has paid off!
She was a pretty determined young lady, and once she made her mind up about something, that pretty much settled it!I knew she belonged to the Lord, as a child, but she had to find Him for herself, and that she did!
I knew too, that one day,this young girl,that David and I brought into the world, would meet someone who would turn her head in a beautiful way!......and that she did!
Josh asked for Kelly's hand in marriage last fall, and then proposed to her, by way of a hand carved jack 'o lantern, that said:"WILL YOU MARRY ME?" How much more romantic can you get than that? I knew right then, that he was the romantic fella that our Kelly needed!
The most endearing thing about this whole next weekend,though, is that both Josh and Kelly love the Lord. Even though they are both trying to work at having a lovely wedding, they are more concerned at working at making it a lovely marriage!
They intend to have Jesus as a daily guest!
Now if you don't think this Mama isn't gonna weep, you've got another thing comin'!
Becky

1,2,3,4.......

When I taught my Physical Education classes, one of the areas that I loved to really emphasize was gymnastics.When I focused on cartwheels,I always taught my students to reach as far as they could with their hands and their feet,and I would count 1-2-3-4, and then say "hand-hand-foot-foot"! Sometimes I would say "reach-reach-reach-reach"! When they got the idea of extendeing their hand as far as they could, the battle was almost won!
In our battle against the adversary,we too, do a 1-2-3-4 count! It's a hand-hand-foot-foot move too, when you think about it! First, we HAND ourselves the armor of God and HAND ourselves the specific word against the enemy! Then we step with our FOOT out against him, and use each FOOT, to get ourselves out of dodge, as fast as we can....... to get away from him!
Becky

THAT'S FOR SURE!

Back in the days when I taught gymnastics,one of my favorite specializations, was demonstrating headstands. I loved to show beginners how to line their heads and hands up to form a triangle, and then to prop their knees up on their elbows very slowly, in order to balance themselves, before they began to slowly lift their legs upwards into a headstand! The balance they had established on the ground would make up how well they performed their final headstand.
If we want to have an upright relationship with God the Father;the Son,and the Holy Spirit, then we are gonna have to keep our focus on God......He is our balance, and will be the basis for whatever we do in life! By keeping our focus on God, we are keeping our spiritual life in balance. This balance comes through walking by Christ's promises and listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
You might not have to do a headstand, but you'll live a pretty wonderful life!
Becky

WHY DO I?

Why do I trust in this God to care for me the way He does? What makes me so sure He will take care of me? This God of mine answered a prayer of mine,some 41 years ago,in such a specific way, that I have never,ever forgotten it! It was a very silly,juvenile sort of prayer. The prayer of a broken hearted, high school senior, but God knew my heart, and knew it mattered to me, so He took that broken heart and answered that prayer in only the way God Almighty could have! You will see why I trust Him implicitly.....Here's my story why.

My high school senior year, brought about my hoping beyond all hope, to be on the homecoming court, and when I wasn't,I was absolutely crushed! Three of my dear friends were, including my best friend.....but not me! My heart was broken, beyond repair. I remember driving to Mother's knit shop, and telling her not to come home for awhile,l because I needed to be by myself for a bit.
When I got home,I flung myself across my bed and cried my eyes out.I told God that the only way I could ever feel like it was gonna be alright again, was if Bill Bolt asked me to homecoming that Friday night. Now, you have to understand, that Bill Bolt and I had broken up the year before, and he had graduated and gone on to Auburn, so there was no chance of that ever happening.I hadn't seen him in a year, but I still had feelings for him.
The next morning, as I arrived at my English class, his sister,Jackie met me at the door, with a note.It said: "I am home from Auburn. Would you like to go to homecoming with me this Friday night?" How much more specific could the God of the Universe get, to answer my prayer? It was a silly, ridiculous prayer ,I know, and yet, He knew it meant so much to the heart of a 16 year old child of His, that He lovingly answered it, in a way I have never, ever forgotten!
If the God of All Creation, could answer that juvenile prayer for me,some 41 years ago, I knew without a doubt I could trust Him with anything!
I could trust Him with my Son going Home way too early for me.....
For my having a brain hemorrage, and not knowing why.....
I could trust Him for a variety of reasons, because I don't need to know why! I just know "who", and that's all that matters. This God who stooped low enough to answer a 16 year old's prayer, also stood tall enough in that same girl's eyes, because in standing tall, she could see that He was indeed the One and Only Sovereign God, that her Grandmother had told her about,all those years ago....
And as Paul Harvey would say:"...and now you know the rest of the story!"
Becky




















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RELATIVES

If memory serves my right,(and most of the time it doesn't!) I believe there were a few folks in the Bible that intimidated and persecuted the Christian believers!
Infact,I think, that throughout history, we've had a good number of sound Christian believers who have been persecuted by those people, for their belief in the word of God!
God's word, even says that those who stand for his word will be persecuted,but they will be blessed for standing up for His word...... So we are to expect it!
If this is so,then why are we so surprised, in the world today, during this upcoming national election, to see so many people eagerly taking apart and persecuting those who try to stand for God's word?
Seems to me, that the relatives of those who didn't believe in God back then, are visiting us today!
Becky

TODAY

Today,you arrived in this world.
It was April 20th 1979, and after two brothers before you, this was a welcome sight!
Today, was one of those days that your Mother will remember forever,sweet daughter of mine.A Mother treasures each child she has been given, but there is something special about a daughter.
From the beginning, when you sat at my feet in the kitchen,pounding the pots and pans to your own musical rhythm, to the days when you gracefully scaled the piano keys with your hands,to the day when you kissed me goodbye, when you walked away with Josh,.......you have always been a special daughter!
God has so blessed me with my daughter.He has taken the most delicate butterfly and allowed it to flutter its way into her heart, because she is filled with such loving kindness.He has drawn her unto Himself and she has become His child. I delight myself in my daughter and pray that they both will dwell under His Shadow forever!
Today,you and Josh stepped out into this world together.
It was September 20th,2008, and after watching you grow up,it is a day I will remember forever! Because, when you both stepped out,and started walking off together,there was,just as there was with Daniel in the lion's den,someone walking along beside you!
Keep Him there!
Mom

HEAVY HEAVY

When I was growing up,we had a little "ditty" we use to sing when we were at recess.
I guess it was a game of sorts. It went like this:"Heavy;heavy, what hangs over?"
I'm not sure what we did with this little rhyme, except maybe someone held something over our heads and we had to guess what it was. If you guessed it, then you could be the one who held the object over their head.I just know that the saying holds a mighty powerful thought in itself!
I know that sin,in itself is way toooooo heavy for each of us to have hanging over our heads, and the the only person who doesn't have to guess what that sin is,would be the Lord Jesus Christ.He's in this game for keeps folks, so take a load off, and get rid of your heavy,heavy, and don't let it hang over any more!
Becky

JUST AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

Just as in the days of Habakkuk, when God spoke to that minor prophet and told him that He was,indeed, doing something; He told him to be astonished and to wonder, ....that He was not being silent!
He was raising up the Chaldeans to take them into captivity for judgement, because they had forgotten their Lord God.
Just as in the days of Noah.....
Just as in the days of Habakkuk....
Look at us today.Are we too,forgetting God?
I hope not!
I don't want to be taken over by aliens from a foreign country!
As with Habakkuk,his vision was to be recorded for another appointed time,
and will hasten on towards the goal, and will not fail!
As I read through Habakkuk,I looked at this next line, and could only see what must fit in its place.....
"Though Jesus taries,wait for Him;
For He will certainly come, He will not delay".
Please let us not forget our Lord God and Savior,Jesus Christ.....
If I have taken liberties with this scripture,please forgive me,but it speaks boldly to my heart.....
Come Lord Jesus Come!
Becky











Becky

MY ANKLE

Every so often,I will look down at my ankle and chuckle....I see the mark of the led pencil that still resides in my foot! When I was in the 7th grade,and sitting behind Del,in English class,I kept bothering him, and kicking him on his "behonkus" with my shoe. Del became so irritated with me, that he took his pencil, and jabbed it in my ankle....and it stuck! I will have a reminder of that event with me for the rest of my life!:p)
In the same manner,the Holy Spirit is a reminder of God's word, if we will stay in tune with it. I like the Holy Spirit's reminders better, because they don't stick to you like a led pencil!
Becky

MY ETERNAL EVACUATION ROUTE

As I watched the folks from Louisianna having to evacuate,I wondered what in the world I would do,if I had to leave home? I didn't have to wait long.....
David informed me that we were probably going to be leaving for Aiken on Thursday or Friday,depending on Hurricane Hanna's track record! (I guess I'll just move my wedding plans up though!)....Atleast I have a place to stay when I go.
We need to have an eternal sin evacuation plan too!
When sin starts pouring itself over us, we better know the right evacuation route, and take it,right away!
Knowing that we have a place to go when sin comes calling,(and he won't be able to come along),is a pretty good forcast,if you ask me. Don't just take my word for it,though.Check it out on God's weather report for Eternity! I'll be checking into my Heavenly Father's Arms when I go!
Becky

YET!

In my life,I have learned,that I don't need to worry about yesterday, and all the things that have happened. They have already occured, and,like the sped arrow, they can never return.I can't concern myself about tomorrow either, but I can prepare for it,without worrying! Until God gives us the morning sun,to announce its arrival, there's no cause to get uptight about the coming day!
When you lose a loved one, the days sort of disappear from your calendar. You don't ever feel the same about yesterday, or tomorrow. However, you do have a passion for today!
I choose not to be upset over something I forgot to do yesterday, or something I am not looking forward to doing, tomorrow. Instead,I am choosing to live passionately for my Lord, today......It's amazing, that I learned this lesson at the age of 61. Just think how many lessons I will learn throughout Eternity!.......Woo Hoo!
..But then, that's tomorrow, and frankly,"my darlings",I'm not worrying about tomorrow!
Becky