WHAT A BLESSING!

A very dear friend of mine from Aiken,just gave her husband back to God,this past week, and he was only 65 years old.They grew up in Fairfax,so the funeral was in Aiken,with the burial in Fairfax.I braved the elements yesterday, and drove to the burial site in Fairfax, and I'm so glad I did! I think half the town of Fairfax was there too(and many said to tell you "Hi" Susan Brant!)
Jo was there for me when my David jr.died,and I felt like I needed to be there for her too,if I could. The first thing she reminded me of,as she fell into my arms, was the fact that she had just looked at a picture that morning of our husbands and boys, when they worked with the boy scouts together, and this was a picture of them with our boys, at about 7 years of age!......That's some 30 years ago!
Isn't that just like a friend in the Lord,to remember your pain,when she's in the middle of her own?
I told her that I felt like David jr. had welcomed Warren into Heaven, and that meant alot to her......
The pastor who delivered the message at the burial, had also given his daughter back to God, about 20 years ago.When I went up to introduce myself,he remarked that he knew me from a note I had written him when his daughter died.
Can you believe that?
Truthfully,I don't enjoy doing these type things, because of the memories,but I serve a Mighty God, and He is always faithful to give me the strength to go through these times and to say just what needs to be said.
He refreshes those who are themselves refreshed. It is so cool when God does things like this!
I was also refreshed after the rains came, as I was driving home, but my hair surely wasn't because I forgot my umbrella!
Becky

BREATH OF LIFE

As hot as it is right now,it's hard to remember those cold days,when you could open your mouth and have a breath of air escape from your mouth,only to have it dissapate in thin air! Yet,that image gives us a vivid picture of just how brief our time on this earth really is! Scripture tells us that He has made our days as brief as a mere handbredth.The time of our life here,is like that whisp of air from our mouth on a cold morning,...it's so brief. That's why we're reminded to set our minds on things above.
Those Heavenly things,we can't see are things our Father wants us "to" see, whether we CAN,see,or NOT. It's called, faith, and it comes from hearing the word and believing it!
Just think,living today, will be the last "brief" time we will ever have!
Someday,in the near future,all our time,will be forever!
That's the true breath of life....and a good long breath it will be too!
Becky

TREE OF LIFE

Sunday we had the dedication and opening of our new church's food bank, and we're so proud of it's opening.We have worked so tirelessly to get it open for the folks in Beaufort County.
Well,on Sunday night, we had the worst electrical storm, and bolts of lightening hit all over the area.One bolt of lightening hit,and struck an old tree in the back of the property,and one of the limbs fell,and would have fallen straight through the roof and ruined everything in the building,including all the food that had been stored for months.
As in God's providence,He grew a Live Oak,from hundreds of years ago, for such a time as this, because the one limb of that Live Oak,protruded out in such a manner,that it stopped that falling limb and kept it from going all the way through the roof!
Now,you tell me that God doesn't watch out after His children and what they are doing,........when they are doing it for His Glory?! :p)
I knew He was my "Rock",
Now I can call Him the Tree of Life too!
Becky

HOPE!

Have you ever wondered where hope was hiding?
I think maybe my Mom's may have found out where! It is so neat to watch these ladies, as they once again come alive, when we come together at Edisto.We often feel like we are in different chapters of our lives.
One chapter ends and another begins.Somewhere along the way we missed something. All because a part of us is gone.When we come together,though, we're back on the road to finding that hope of healing again!
We've taken that leap of faith and let me tell you that for some of these Mom's,that's a huge leap! They are taking a chance at trusting in a family they don't know. A family of other Mom's who have also lost a son or daughter, and in some cases,....two children!
By taking this chance,they have tasted the very best of God's compassion and have learned the gift of hope.
Where is hope hiding?
It isn't really hiding anywhere anymore.It's just disguised in the faces of these Mom's,and wearing different names.
Ofcourse they have learned that their hope comes from Jesus Christ who made Heaven and earth, and it's kinda hard to hide Heaven and Earth, so maybe that's why their hope isn't hiding either!
Becky

CONTENTMENT

"Happiness is like a butterfly.If you will sit quietly,it will alite upon you."
I don't remember when I heard that,but I always liked it and thought it was so true.I also thought it reminded me of being content.I don't have to sit, for it to alite upon me,I just have to accept the fact that God can make me content,if I will sit quietly and know that He is God, and He will give me that contentment!
If I just do it,it will happen.Not by my will, but by God doing it in me!
Accept it,through Christ!There's nothing hard about being content...You just do it! Because it's in your heart and your mind and if Jesus is there,He will allow you to do it!
Now,isn't that easy?
Sit down! Look up! Smile and nod your head yes!Say Yes I am content!
Now BE content!
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!
Becky

GLORIOUS DAY!

I went to my church's 25th anniversary picnic awhile back, and as I sat at the table with my friends,I looked at all the people standing around. They were talking;laughing;eating,and basically having a glorious time,and it gave me just a glimpse of of how it will look one day, when the fellowship of believers are all gathered around,in glorious celebration of our Lord and Savior!
The anniversary was a glorious night!
Heaven will be a glorious and Eternity!
And it won't be in a skating ring either!
Becky

STANDING ON THE PROMISES

I've told many of you about being at Grandmother's and having to take a shower at the bath house. Many of you have asked me what lesson Grandmother had to say about this.....
Well, when I stood on the newsprint,she was sure I wouldn't get germs on the bottoms of my feet, but when I questioned her about having newsprint on the souls of my feet,she would always say that as long as I stood on the word of God,satan couldn't penetrate me!The word would take care of the germs of satan and anything else that tried to get me!
No wonder she liked the song,"Standing On The Promises!"
Becky

ONE WAY

I stopped by Judy's,to have her do my nails, while I was in Aiken. Her shop is on one of their many one way street's, and while we were talking, we both watched a lady,calmly drive her SUV up a one way street, going the wrong way!
How in the world, she couldn't see the cars parked, facing the opposite direction,I will never know, but she kept right on going!
Thankfully no-one was coming!
When a road is marked one way,it's usually for a reason!
It usually means there's only one way traffic on that road.
Scripture tells us that there's only one way on the road to Heaven too!
That One way is Jesus Christ!
There won't be alot of folks coming or going on that One Way street either, because it's a narrow road, and few are the ones who travel it!
Those going the One way won't mind going the One Way, because they will be with The One on the way!
Becky

BUTTONS

Grandmother had the biggest collection of buttons I have seen in my life! I've got her huge tin "fruitcake" sized can of buttons,somewhere around the house, and I've even used some.....She had buttons for everything!
I asked her why she needed so many buttons, and she told me that they reminded her to take care of something that the button was suppose to do!Puzzled,I asked what she meant, to which she explained......It might remind her to "button up" a wound with a friend,or button up some hard feelings with a family member. She'd take out a bright red button and tell me that this was to "open up" the love with her neighbor's, so she'd take them a little something, like a pie!
Buttons!! Buttons! Buttons! Grandmother had more buttons than she knew what to do!One game,I bet she never had to play, was "Button,Button,Whose Got The Button?"
That was probably because she didn't need anymore buttons..... She had the Key to the Kingdom, and that was Jesus!
Becky

TO BE?......OR NOT TO BE?

When my Mom's come together at Edisto, one of the Mom's comes and fixes an absolutely wonderful meal for us! Infact,it is my favorite! Sarhi's husband is Cuban,so she fixes an authentic Cuban Sandwhich,complete with tender, marinated pork! She presses the sandwhiches down with a press,to make them authentic, and is it ever delicious!
My Aunt Mary was also Cuban, and made the most delicious Black Beans and Rice to go along with her wonderful Cuban Sandwhiches too, but when my children were little,I was too lazy to do it right,so I would just make a melted luncheon meat-cheese version of a Cuban Sandwhich and the kids thought they were getting the real thing!
Jesus tells us in scripture to beware of imitators,that will try to imitate Him,in the latter days. We need to know the real thing so well, and know its authenticity,so that we will recognize the fake when we see it!
I've been spoiled with Sarhi's Cuban Sandwhich, because it's the real thing!
I don't think I want mine again!
I've been spoiled with Jesus Christ, because He's the real thing!
I know I don't want anything else!
Becky

GUAVAS

Before I could make Guava Jelly with Grandmother,we had to go outside and check the Guavas on the Guava Tree.We had the red fruited strawberry type Guava's,instead of the yellow lemon type, and you had to really check and make sure they were just right, before you could use them for making Guava Jelly "Jesus"!
Grandmother always knew when the time was right too!
When God wants to make us a new creature,He checks our tree of life,for just the right time.When the time is just right,He will pick us from among many, and check to make sure we are grounded to move forward into life!
He will then be by our side while we go through life, with whatever He gives us.......
If we are in affliction;He is there!
If we are in joy;He is there!
If we are in death;He is there!
How cool is that? He was ready for us at the begining and He is ready for us at the end! All because He checked us out at the beginning!
And He always knows when the time is right!
Becky

BE STILL

I just had to share this with you, and I will be writing a journey on it....maybe tomorrow(who knows!)
Today was a neat day at therapy.Mike gave me a new therapy to do, where I was to take a slightly heavy wand and raise it above my head with both hands, and then extend it as far as I could behind my head. I was then suppose to reverse the process and reach the wand back over my head and back into my lap!
Most of you all know,that I don't do anything slow,or atleast I didn't use to!
So when I started the 1-2-3-4 count,I was going lickety split! Mike had to stop me twice and tell me to slow down.I told him I didn't have scripture to keep my rhythm right.....
He very calmly said:"Be still and know that I am God"!
So to the 1-2-3-4 count, I said "Be still"(and went up on count one)
Count two,I said,"and know"(and went back)
Count three,I said "That I" ( and went back up overhead)
Count four,I said "Am God!"(and came back down to my waist!
Is that not cool?
Now I'm working on scripture for my pulley excercise and the pushing away one!
This should be a real go get'er for "do everything as for the Lord",huh?
Becky

IN YOUR HEART

"As a man thinketh in his heart,so is he."
I guess that's why the tenth comandment is so important!
Becky

BE STILL.........

This is so cool! God has given me another really neat therapy nugget! Mike gave me a new strengthening excercise today, and as usual,I tried to do it at "lightening speed!" He gave me a slightly heavy wand,that I was to lift with both hands from my waist above my head, and then extend it behind my head,as far as I could.I was to then return it above my head,and back down to my waist. Mike had to slow me down twice,I was counting so fast!I told him I couldn't find a scripture to keep rhythm too!
Calmly,he said,"Be still and know that I am God!"
Oh did that ever hit the spot too! Now,I raise my wand up to "Be still", and back to "and know", and back up to "that I" , and back down to "am God"!
How cool is that?!
Becky

REFRESHER COURSE

A reminder to us all.......

1.) I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt,out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other God's before me.

2.) You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in Heaven above, or on the earth beneath in the water under the earth.

3.)You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain.

4.) Remember the sabbath day,to keep it holy.Six days you shall labor,and do all your work,but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord God;in it you shall not do any work.

5.) Honor your Father and Mother,that your days may be prolonged in the land,which the Lord your God gives you.

6.) You shall not murder.

7.)You shall not commit adultery.

8.) You shall not steal.

9.)You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10.)You shall not covet your neighbor's house;nor your neighbor's wife;or his male servant;or female servant;or his ox or donkey,or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

These were commandments given to the Israelites for a reason.They were to be followed throughout the generations. Somewhere along the line,we,as a nation, have forgotten them.I figured if we couldn't post them in our schools anymore,I would post them here,and let you share them,once again with those around you.....
A refresher course for the next generation.
Let's start something!
Becky

DOESN'T HE?

When I was a little girl,my very first Kindergarten Sunday School teacher, was named Mrs. Howard.She and her husband,Toni, lived in Sylvan Shores, and they had the first electric garage door opener in Mount Dora,that I'd ever seen.She would often take me home after church, and let me punch the door opener just to see it open, which was a treat! She would then fix a meal fit for a queen.
Whenever I go to Mount Dora,I still go by and see this special lady. I remember her baking plates of cookies for twenty or so people at Christmas time, and she always had one for me too.She's in her 90's now,with a beautiful head of white hair.When Mama got sick, she would bring a church bulletin by and tell her about the service.She was an example of someone who used her gift of encouragement and service to the glory of the Lord.........all the time!
Whatever you do, do as unto the Lord........and she surely does!
Our Lord is gonna love her baking when she gets to Heaven too!
The folks I've had in my life have taught me so many things in their service to the Lord, and many of them don't even realized they're doing it.
God does though.....
He always does!
Becky

PINNED!

One of the things I loved so much about my Grandmother Bouterse,and one that I use to chuckle over all the time, was how she always picked up every thread or pin that she found on the floor.Everywhere she went,you would find her picking up the remnants of something off of the floor.....Buttons;pins;threads....it didn't matter!It got to be so funny, and you could always see where she kept them because she attached the pins and threads to her blouses!
When I remember this,I think of our Lord picking up the remnants of so many of His children when they forget Him on their daily walk.Even then.....He is always faithful to pick us up and attach us back to Him.
My,my,my, what a faithful God we serve, and one who loves us so,inspite of our forgetting Him so many times.
Becky

MAGNIFICENT MRS. BENNETT'S BAND

When I was in the 2nd grade,my teacher was Mrs. Bennett, and she was your typical 1950's school teacher, and I loved her! We had a musical band in our room, that consisted of quite a few different instruments. Some played the triangle; some played the sticks; some the tambourine,but I had a wonderful plastic bird whistle!
It was a small,cream colored whistle,in the shape of a bird,that you filled with water, and you blew into it, and it make all kinds of gurgling, chirping noises, and truly sounded like a bird warbling!We all had different instruments, but were part of this "Magnificent Mrs. Bennett's Band."
When we function as the body of Christ, we function as one unit too, but with many parts! We all have many different gifts and talents that we bring to the body of Christ to offer Him.We are all appendages of service for the Lord, and we can't function without each other!
The next time someone wants to do something for you,or help you,but you are too "proud" to accept, remember that you might be stifling their gift from God.
Let them give of themselves,as unto the Lord......
Now that I think about it,I was the only one with a bird whistle.
Think they were telling me something?
Becky

GOD'S TROMBONE'S.....NELLAH STYLE

Nellah often told me that her favorite story, was "God's Trombone's".
These are a collection of 7 negro sermons, written in verse, by James Weldon Johnson,in 1927.
These were train sermons as he remembered them,and easy to see why Nellah loved them so!God's Trombone was taken from the vision of the prophet in the 37th Chapter of Ezekial.They were called train sermons and pictured God and the devil as running trains.....satan with his train load of sinners being dumped into hell, and God as a train with his saints as they pulled into Heaven!
This "Heavenly March" gave a picture of the faithful traveling from
earth all the way to Heaven. He felt that the Trombone expressed the widest range of emotion from the human voice, and with the most amplitude!He also thought it sounded more like a human voice.
He said there was also a stereotyped sermon,inwhich the preacher began with creation;went on to the fall of man;went through the trials and tribulations of the Hebrew children;down to the redemption of Christ, and ended with judgement day and a warning to sinners!
Knowing Nellah as I do,I understand why she would like this story!
Knowing Nellah as I do,I also know she's glad that the redemption of Christ got to her before the last Trombone sounded!
Becky

FLAMETHROWER

Rick was telling me about the Light's new share-a-thon coming up, and how the tower was going to receive a new "Flamethrower".When I heard them on the radio this morning,Pastor Carl called it a "Fog Buster", and I had to chuckle, because when the word of God sounds,it will break through anything.(even fog!)It is sharper than any two edged sword....
We are told in Genesis, that God stationed a cherubim "east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword turned every direction to guard the way to the Tree of Life."
Seems to me,if "The Light" gives us God's word on a daily basis, and God's word is sharper than any two edged sword, and Rick needed a Flamethrower to get "The Light" out and up to par, then we must have something similar to a flaming sword!
Becky

MY MANNA

When the Israelites were in the desert,God gave them manna every morning, but just enough for that day alone.On Saturday,though,He provided enough for both Saturday and Sunday, and it wouldn't spoil! The Lord's day was so important to Him, that He even provided food for them the day before, just so they wouldn't have to work for it on that day.
To commemorate this event, they were to place the manna before the testimony, as a reminder to them of God's faithfulness for future generations.He place it there at just the right time,but they had to trust Him for it too. When I am fed with God's word today,it's like getting manna to me.It comes just at the right time, and not a minute sooner and not a minute too late!...........but it always comes!
Becky

WHY NOT THIS?

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;always giving thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God......"

As I bow my head, and place my arms upon this excercise noodle, and hang my head down,all my thoughts of the Sportscenter therapy sessions go out the window! It's just me,and Jesus,.....and me worshipping my Lord on this noodle, as I sing "Majesty! Worship His Majesty,unto Jesus be all glory,power and praise!" Oh, is it ever so nice,folks.
Can you imagine the fragrant aroma of praise that He must be hearing from such ordinary things? Every excercise I do has a rhythm to my Lord:
I have a 1-2-3-4-count "I -Love -King- Jesus" excercise; followed by a 1-2-3-4-"King-Jesus -Loves -Me"!
How cool is that one?!
I never mind doing these excercises, because scripture tells us to do everything as unto the Lord, so why not this?!
Becky

SEEMS TO ME

If God will walk intimately with those who walk uprightly,and if He will not withold any good thing from those who walk righteously with Him,then it seems to me, if we are truly serious about following this God we profess to love,then we would want to do our dead level best to be walking uprightly before Him!
Becky

THE CROSS & THE LIGHT

This was so nice to hear this morning on the radio, as the light was seeping into my window.....
"At the cross;at the cross,when I first saw the light!"
Becky

KING CRAB

When we go over to Skull Creek to be with Allen and Theresa on their boat, for the 4th of July,it's always a treat! We always have wings, and finger food, and watch the fireworks. One of the neatest things we do,is to dangle our feet over the side of the walkway, and pick blue crab!.....Yum! Doesn't get any better than this,folks!
When you eat them,though,you have to make sure that you clean out the lungs and the dead man. It definitely won't do you any good,that's for sure!
It's the same way with God's word in our lives. We have to get rid of all the "dead man" and gunky stuff,that doesn't do us any good, before anyone can see the light of Christ in us!
When I clean a crab,I have to split the shell first.
When God cleansed us,He split the shell of death, and opened up a whole new clean life for us to enjoy!
Becky

GOD'S SYSTEM

One of the principles from the "Smith System" driving method,that I learned in college,was to "Get The Big Picture." This principle took in getting an overview of what was happening as you were driving down the road.This was one of the 5 steps in the Smith System,that I have followed when driving,that I think are really helpful too!
God wants us to get the big picture in life too. When we get God's big picture, we get an overview of life, from His viewpoint,instead of focusing on the situation as we see it today.
God looked down the line,from the beginning of time, when He said "It is good", and saw the end of time, knowing that it would be even better!
Becky

MIXED MEDIA SPECIALIST

I think Grandmother Bouterse must have been the original mixed media specialist!
She could mix the word of God with just about any, and everything she came in contact with! (I laugh now,because it seems funny, but as a child,it was so true!)
Everything involved Jesus, and I mean everything!
We made Guava Jelly Jesus! I embroidered Jesus! I played Dominoes Jesus! I took a shower at the bathhouse on newspaper Jesus! I mowed the lawn Jesus! I wrung the clothes through the old wringer Jesus! I sang the Lord's Prayer Jesus! I swept the trailer Jesus!
This little lady didn't miss a trick(or an opportunity) with me ,to give me the word of God.He was in her entire vocabulary,so why shouldn't she? Everything she did,she did for the Lord! Today, I understand that she was doing exactly what God wanted her to do. She was doing everything as unto the Lord with thanksgiving.
She wanted to make sure her grandaughter did it too, and I'd say that she succeeded!
Becky

EXCEEDING EIGHT OF GLORY

After this surgery,I was reminded in scripture, where are told that the outer man is decaying, but that the inner man is being renewed day by day!
I see all my body parts slowly getting "older" and feeling their age.I notice where my body parts are beinnning to slow down, and not doing what they are intended to do,anymore.Yes,I guess you could say they're beginning to decay.
Oh, but isn't it nice to know that on the inside I am being renewed day by day.
This little surgery I had...or affliction, that beset me,is going to work for me a far more exceeding weight of glory, and will be far more than a stumbling block for me.
It's a tool that God uses in my life, so there's no way I can lose heart, when I look at it this way!
Becky

I REMEMBER MAMA

When Mama couldn't pick me up, after school,I never panicked.I knew that someone would be waiting to pick me up and take me to their house and wait for Mama! It would be an exciting afternoon, either way! Perhaps I would make Oatmeal Cookies with Ethel Wells,or learn to decorate sugar cubes with Martha Traverse. I might possible practice flower arranging at Mary Lib's,or enjoy helping OB make her wonderful Pecan Pie. If I was at "Other Mother's",I probably had tuna fish sandwhiches along with Tara and then we may have made some Chocolate Chip Cookies.(Hers were the best!)
All of Mama's friends played bridge,(and she belonged to this same bridge group for 50 years.), but I'm not sure they ever really played true bridge. (but they had alot of fun!) They were always available to pick me up after school, and they never minded.Jewel use to drive up to the junior high school, where we had swimming,during PE class,just to watch and make sure I didn't have a seizure during class.
The Reid's and the Ray's were so close that my brother's and I even spoke at OB's funeral several years ago.....That was hard too. People don't have these kinds of friendships anymore, and it's a shame.
God gave me a treasure when I was growing up, and I didn't even realize it!
Those treasures were Mama;Carolyn;Ellen;Martha;OB(Jewel);Other Mother(Elizabeth);Mary Lib;Norma;Shirley;Mary Simpson.
I have the treasures of their children as my friends now in Tara who belonged to Other Mother!;Janice who belonged to OB;Bobby who belonged to Mary Simpson, and one of the first Mom's we lost;Jimmy,who belonged to Ellen, and whose Father was one of the first we lost!Bill,who belonged to Mary Lib,has gone home to the Lord and was my first sweetheart at the age of 9!;Ed, who belonged to Shirley, is a banker in Mt.Dora,now.
Isn't it cool how God gave Mama a wonderful treasure of friends, and so gave me their children as mine too! He is such a wonderful God, and I get to spend an Eternity with all of them!
Woo Hoo!
Becky

BREAD OF LIFE

When I was at Grandmother's and had a sore throat,she always gave me these little thin,wafer sized things,called "Throat Disc's". They were hot as all get out, but boy howdy did they ever get rid of my sore throat!(I think they got rid of my throat if you want to know the truth!) Never could find them in later years,but the other day,I found some licorice flavored Altoids,that had the same,exact flavor of those Throat Disc's! The memory of that flavor came flooding back from so long ago too!
It's the same way with God's word, when we read and understand it If we understand it, and are away from it for awhile,we will once again recognize the flavor of it,when we taste His word again!
God's word is pleasant to the soul and healing to the bones and too good to forget!
Besides that,who would want to forget "The Bread of Life",anyway?
Becky

CHILDREN OF THE KING

Have you ever considered our line as women of the Living God?(If you're a man reading this,just read on...) I mean,look at the women of influence for the Kingdom in the Bible......
Eunice influenced Timothy;Hagar influenced Ishmael; Jochabed and Moses;Rebekah and Jacob; Naomi and Ruth;Abigail;Esther;Sarah influenced Abraham;Sapphira influenced Anenias;Delila influenced Samson;Lydia;Phoebe;Priscilla;Mary.
Some of these women were influnces in a negative way,like Jezebelle, and turned the eyes of God's people away from Him.Other's were faithful to the Living God.
May we all be daughter's; Mother's;Grandmother's, and Aunt's, of the King, which would make us all "Children of the King"
Amen and Amen!
Becky

HAPPY 4TH

As I look out over our country today and the direction we are going,I am so thankful I grew up in the 1950's.I was blessed to have the family that I did.The country "I knew" is different from the one I see today,and it's sad.Gone are the days of unlocked front doors, and small city cookouts.I miss those good 'ole days, because they brought out the best in people.There's another aspect that has gone by the wayside too.God's people have sort of dwindled by the wayside too.
Too many of us have dwindled away,and won't speak up for the Kingdom.Too many of us have also failed to speak up for our country as well, and look what's happened? What will happen if we don't speak up for our Lord or our country?
This 4th of July,let's remember to speak loud and clear for the Lord and thank Him for this glorious day we are celebrating.
I'm thankful He gave me the most wonderful freedom........Freedom from sin!
Then,He enabled me to live in a Free land....America!
How cool is that?!
Happy 4th of July!
Becky

KEEP IT CLEAN

I love to put on different clothes.....but different clothes that match!
I want my shoes to match my purse,and that to to match my watch,etc......
Sounds crazy,I know,but that's just me. I have lots of things to choose from,when I go out. God has given us a spiritual wardrobe too.
He has given us the girdle of truth;the shield of faith;the breastplate of righteousness;the helmet of salvation;the shoes of the gospel of peace, and the sword of the spirit.
We have a closet full of armor to put on before ever facing the enemy, and we have to make sure we don't leave any of it in the closet!
I want to faithfully;truthfully;and peacefully stand for salvation and righteousness,but I'm doing it with a sword in my hand!
Becky

CHUCKLE

Everytime I open my Bible,I have to chuckle.I must have thirty or so different letters and pictures of different people and places inside,all a story of someone important in my life!It's almost like a diary to me.There's a story that Kelly wrote in the 4th grade;a snapshot of the women's retreat from New Covenant Presbyterian Church,in Aiken;several prayers;newspaper articles;a letter from Dr. Dobson;some letters from Grandmother and Uncle MJ,; a mural photo of the Aiken County museum that I painted in the 80's.....
They are all pictures that tell a story of important things to me.
God has given us divinely inspired scripture,that also tell us a story of things that are important to Him too. He wants us to know that His story is all there,if we'll just read it!
He takes us places and writes us letters about people and places that are important to Him.The nice thing about God's word,is that it never gets wet; worn out,or tired!
It keeps on going and going, and never needs to be resharpened,because it's sharper than any two edged sword!
Didn't know I kept a sword in my Bible,did you? :p)
Becky