THE MANY FACES OF.......

of Jesus laughing and smiling.I'm pretty sure He must get chuckle out of some of the goofy things I do,but it's so nice to picture Him smiling when we've shared His word and love, I love the picture of when we've done something that would please Him.Those are the smiles that touch my heart.To hear Him say:"Well done,good and faithful servant." Talk about something putting a smile on my face!Ofcourse,there is also His look of sterness and judgement,which is an altogether different look........When I'm being reprimanded for something I shouldn't be doing,I don't like to look upwards towards my Father, because I know that disappointed look will be looking right back down at me, and it will break my heart!With that stern look,though,always comes His look of forgiveness and compassion, which allows me to try again.
His precepts are the Bread of Life to me,and seeing Him smile is the frosting on that Bread! It would be like.....
Instead of me having Raisin Toast, I've got the Raised Holy Ghost!
Becky Lock

OR DO THEY?

Well,it's time for us to pack up and head home.It has been a wonderful four days up here in the mountains with Allen and Theresa.The cool mountain stream;the nightly rains;the crickets and katydids;the long uphill walks, and evening talks on the porch.....
All good things must come to an end......or do they?
Scripture tells us that those who believe in Jesus Christ and place their trust in Him,will one day spend Eternity with Him!Folks,that's like a really,really long,long time. It's where you are with those you love and with the One who created all those wonderful things that you will enjoy.You will never have to say goodbye or go home, because you are home!
To top it off,the One who owns the Home,is your Father!
Becky

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

"This is my Father's world.I rest me in the thought.Of rocks and trees and skies and seas.His hands,the wonders wrought.....Jesus who died,will be satisfied,and earth and Heav'n be one."
Oh,the words to that song bring such a wonderful vision to me,of what our Father created for us.Then satan decided to "try" and usurp God's power and spoil it all. God had other plans though, and when you look into scripture and its explanation of where our future home will be,you can better understand the words to that song.
That's the kind of world our Father started off with,in the beginning of Genesis.
He just had to wait to the end to get it!
Becky

THE HUMMINGBIRDS

The two men are standing still;one with a hat on and hamburger in his hand. The other with a fishing rod in one hand and a Pepsi can in the other one. Both are smiling, and mezmerized by something that has captured their attention.
Theresa and I know that it can't be hand guns or a Sea Ray drifting down this small mountain stream, so we both peek out from under the tent,to see what has captured our husband's attention.
Fluttering above a wildflower bush is the tiniest Ruby Throated Hummingbird,I have ever seen! Two grown men have become enthralled by one of God's tiniest little creature's and are spell bound by it's beauty and magnificent!
They are like two little boys marveling over this wonderful creation.
Can you imagine,one day,when we are not only standing in awe,but also bowing down in wonder and majesty, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,as He touches down upon the earth?
The saints will be with Him, and His Magnificence will be worth our bowing down and marveling at Him, and I imagine even the Hummingbirds will bow too!
Becky

MOST OF YOU KNOW

Most of you know, that I lost a son,in 1995, and that God has positioned me, to where I am able to invite other “Mom’s” to my beach house for a weekend of healing and fellowship.
This is what God has revealed to me about myself…..
I was attending the funeral of a young man, when the lady behind me,in line, discovered through our conversation, that I had lost a son. With tears in her eyes, she revealed to me, that she had just lost a son, this past year.
I knew, immediately who had orchestrated this meeting…..
If we make ourselves available to be used by God, He will use us!…..
She needed someone who had already gone down that road, and someone who could offer her hope!
Well, I automatically invited her to the beach weekend, but it got me to thinking, and this is what’s so neat,folks……
I realized then, that long before I was born, God knew that He would need someone for just such a “Mom’s” mission, and He would need someone with a strong, sturdy faith from childhood. Someone who had been given a grandmother who instilled in her a sound, stable faith, built on the word of God and His promises. (Sounds like Grandmother Bouterse fit the bill,too!)
God would need someone who had endured emotional, and physical set backs as well. Having had Epilepsy, since I was 5 years old, I guess that made me a pretty good candidate!
Add to that, the heartache of my parent’s divorce after 40 years of marriage; my sister’s death at age 56;my husband’s massive heart attack, and near death; the absence of one son from our home for 2 years;the death of our oldest son, and my brain hemorrage…..
Yes! I’d say God was equipting me quite well!
He needed someone who was grounded in the word!
He knew I had heard and received the word as a child.
He knew I would recognize the word at my Aiken church!
He knew I would feed on the word, at my Beaufort church too!
The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice, and recognize it, when they hear it again! Yes, He needed someone who could give some hope to these Mom’s, and not lose sight of where the real hope comes from…..
My hope cometh from the Lord!
He created me, the way He knew I would become, and I think it gives him pleasure to see the fruit it produces.
Fourteen years ago,I would never have thought anything so beautiful, could have come from such a tragedy, but by God introducing these Mom’s to me, He has taken this “Stinging Nettle” time in my life, and turned it into a
“Bouquet of Peace Lillies”!
What a Mighty God we serve!
Becky

HEART,MIND,& SOUL

I thought it was time to share some thoughts about the side effects of trauma,after a head injury,or traumatic surgery of any kind.I will share my thoughts,in the hopes it will help some folks.....
When anyone has a trauma of any kind,their brain begins to reconstruct its thinking process.If they were once rapid readers,don't be surprised if it now takes them a year to finish a book.Then, when they do read it,don't be surprised when they can't tell you what they read.! I can read a chapter,or even a paragraph in my Bible....or any book, and I can't tell you what I read......and it has been 13 years since my brain hemorrage.
When people ask me something,they will often say:"Remember what you just told me?" A person with a head injury,or one with a surgical trauma,can often lose that short term memory,as in my case.It's funny for me, because people think I am joking when I say I don't remember something,but it is just blank for me....and many people.
Try refreshing that person's memory, by using specific things that they will help them in their recall of whatever it is that you need to know.It really helps and doesn't make them feel so bad!If you need to know who somebody was,give them as much information as you can, and don't become frustrated.....please!
It's as if your brain knows the information is up there somewhere, but when it tries to retrieve it, the information, and the person receiving that information don't quite meet up.........The information goes flying off one way, and the receiver goes flying off the other way!.They pass tracks in the night!It becomes very frustrating for the person not recalling the information, and it's down right aggravating for those around them.
Hopefully this will help you understand.
I also get frustrated when I want to read like I use to,but when I start to read,I will often fall asleep.This is also true of many folks undergoing trauma.It can't be helped, because energy levels are down.
Sometimes,this type of person will pick up something, and put it down,knowing they they will remember exactly where they put it......Horrors! Something has happened to their brain!
They haven't a clue where they put it, or where they put alot of other things either, and it really will bother them,emotionally,but you may never see that side of them.Their feelings are very tender,so be gentle with them.The things that the tough skinned person can take,will uproot a person who has had a trauma,I promise you! They will also take their time when answering things(usually)
....exept maybe me! Most of us, will think about what we are going to say, but Heaven forbid,if we must say something,let us say it right then,or by the time we can say it,we will have forgotten what it was we wanted to say!!!.......(See,I told you it was funny!)
I tell folks that they can tell me their deepest,darkest secret and it's safe with me, and as funny as that sounds,......it's also sad, because it is so true!
Hope these things have helped some, and you haven't minded me rattling on about them.....
I'm glad the Lord wanted us to love Him with all our Heart and mind and soul, because He knew what my mind would be like long before it got that way!
He's pretty safe with my heart and soul,though!
Becky

IT DOES MY HEART GOOD!

It does my heart good,to be sitting out here on the porch.eating my breakfast,and watching David rig is fishing rod,to go trout fishing with Allen in a bit.He and Allen are going upstream and doing some trout fishing as soon as the skies clear, and they are like two little boys in a candy shop!
Right now it's still damp,but that hasn't lessened their enthusiasm. Allen loves Blueberries,so when I brought some up with me to the campsight,I picked out the largest ones I could find, and gave them to him last night,and boy was he tickled!
Theresa says he won't eat just regular Blueberries now....just Becky's Big Berries! (HaHa!) It's times like these up here in Cherokee,with my sweetie and dear friends,that touch on how wonderful it will be when we are with those we love for an eternity and we never have to leave!
...And I bet the Blueberries in Heaven are huge too!
Becky

WORLD WITHOUT END

When I was a little girl,my folks always gave me exciting birthday parties,where I had lots of friends over to help me celebrate! We were on Uncle Walt one year; we had swimming parties;Ben White RaceWay for my 13th.....
So many funfilled parties,but the one thing I always hated,was to have to say "goodbye," when they had to go home.It nearly broke my heWhen art,because I loved my friends so much, and I hated having to watch them drive off!
One day,though, when we return with our Lord,there will be a huge celebration as He sets up His Kingdom here on earth! We will spend eternity with Him....and all our friends who have trusted in Jesus Christ!
We will never have to say goodbye to them again,because it will go on,and on,and on.........forever!
World without end,because we have the beginning and the end all in one Eternity!
Becky

WHAT'S IN A NAME?........ALOT!

I was so thankful for my recent journey to Junaluska to visit with Rev. Caxton Doggett.I was just glad I still had his phone number programmed into my cell phone from last year, and was able to call and touch base with him.It's important to call these folks and keep in touch.
Someday,in the future, we will be able to call up some wonderful names too. When Heaven opens up,there will be a white horse carrying one who is given the name,and called "Faithful and True".(This shows us the character and dignity of our Lord.)His name is called "The Word of God," (which shows us how the word became flesh and walked among us, and revealed God to us).Then,He had written on His robe and His thigh,a name "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."(which tells us of His role as a Sovereign ruler over all of mankind on earth).I'm glad I'm named after Becky Doggett,but I'm far more glad to be named with the King of the Universe!
Becky

PROUD PAPA

David and I arrived in Cherokee around five o'clock today.I managed to heat up some She Crab Soup;cut up some strawberries;toast some Cranberry Bread, and sit down to supper with Allen and Theresa on a damp/ muggy evening!
Picture the leaves in the trees swaying upwards as the sky darkens.Gazillions of trees signal an impending shower;Crickets and Katydids, are in full chorus, while a nearby stream is gurgling away.The Lightning Bugs are flitting everywhere, and an occasional campfire can be seen flickering through the trees.
Folks,tonight, God has simply outdone Himself!
David and I have been siitting on the porch talking like two 'ole love birds.This has done my heart a world of good,too.
Isn't our Lord wonderful to do something like this?
To put something like this on the top of a mountain, way up here,in the middle of the week,for little 'ole me to enjoy!
I'd say He loves me quite alot.
My eyes are saying so.
While my heart bursts with pride for Him!
Becky

BEFORE HAND

I woke up last night,with a charlie horse and boy did it ever hurt! I knew exactly what to do though, because I was prepared before hand.I quickly stood up and made myself stand on my foot and pronate it.I also ate some Bananas for breakfast the next morning to help build up my Potassium.I didn't have to read up on what to do,because I knew ahead of time the course of action to take,and I was instantly prepared.Boy, was I ever thankful,too!
In the same way,we are told to know the word of God and what His word says....."to study and show yourselves approved;rightly dividing the word of God." If we will study God's word and tuck it into our hearts,then, when we are in a difficult situation, we will automatically know what to do. We won't even have to think about it, because we will automatically do the right thing.
When satan comes(and he will) to taunt us with his trials and temptations, we can just say "no"!Because our God is faithful and just, and will with that trial or temptation, offer a way of escape,so that we may be able to endure it. ....and it doesn't have to be Bananas either!(Although they are helpful!)
Becky

SOON & VERY SOON

As I was drove into town this morning,I arrived at the airstrip, at the same time as a huge bomber came swooshing overhead for its "touch 'n' go " practice.It almost scared me to death,because I wasn't prepared for it! The noise is deafening,but more surprising is the sheer size of these planes as they come in for a landing from out of nowhere!
When I see them do this,I'm always reminded of scripture when we are told that one day,we will look up and see our Lord and Savior descending on a cloud,with a loud sound like a trump, and the dead will rise first and meet Him in the air.Then those of us who are still alive,here will meet up with them in the air and go Home with our Lord to Heaven.As best I can tell, only those who know the Savior, will see Him then.
I'm pretty sure this will be one spectacular sight,and because I know it will happen,I am prepared for it, and not frightened by this sudden appearing!
Infact,I'm looking forward to it!
Becky

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Today is my brother Jeff and his wife,Pam's, 50th wedding anniversary!
They were married at St Edward's Episcopal Church, in Mount Dora,Florida,on August 15th,1959.I was a junior bridesmaid in their wedding and received a little silver pin cushion,which sits on my desk,to this day.Jeff and Pam have three daughters and one son.Wendy is not married;Darby is marrried to Raymond and she has three darling girls; Darby is a professor at Samford University;Amy has two precious boys, and is a lawyer in Asheville;Jefferson,or JIV, as he is known,is married, but has no children.He lived in Alaska for awhile,but is back in the states now.
Jeff and Pam have given these children the realization that family is one of the most important things you can grow up with.Especially a family with God at the helm!They both have known the love of a Mother and Father who loved them dearly. When Pam's Mother died,she was holding and rocking her,and singing hymns and songs to her.
What a beautiful way to die.......in your daughter's arms!
I hope to have as beautiful an anniversary as they have had and I'm just going on 38 years. May they have many more.Actually,they will, because they will have an eternity full!
Happy Anniversary and to God be the glory!
Becky

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS!

When we first moved here,I met a young girl,name Michelle Gee and we became fast friends. David and I invited Michelle and her family out to the house to meet the Bootle family and a family we had known in Aiken....Joy and Mark Avera.They were at my former church in Aiken, and received some great doctrine, but he has since become an assistant rector in the Episcopal church here,at St.Helena's Episcopal Church.
(How creative of God to plan this too!) So,Michelle met Joy and enjoyed knowing that their children were the same age over "Bubba Burgers" that night.....
Fast forward to this year!
Mike Konoza is my therapist at the Sportscarecenter, and just recently asked me to coordinate a prayer team for Young Life for one of the schools in Beaufort. I was to choose one school, and then choose a team of prayer warriors to pray for them and their needs.
This is the cool part,folks! I chose five people,but couldn't get Michelle on the phone until today.I finally got a hold of her, and when I told her about this, and told her that I had chosen Beaufort High School, as the school we would be praying for,she broke down!
She had been at a garage sale, and was looking at a puppy.The lady selling the puppy, was going to drive her over to pick it up,and Michelle told her that she looked so familiar.She then asked her if she knew David and Becky Lock, and when she said "yes", Michelle said "we had Bubba Burgers at Becky's home several years ago, when I first met you!"
It was Joy Avera! To top it off, their children are starting high school together,this fall at Beaufort High School!
Now,you tell me my God doesn't have a sense of humor!
When He wants something done,He goes full force! Michelle had been planning to start a prayer committe for Beaufort High School,so now she's a prayer warrior on my Young Life prayer team for BHS!
.....and I didn't even have to ask her!
Woo Hoo!
Becky

A FISH TALE

When I moved to Beaufort in 2003,I immediately had to have a hip replacement.
When I came home from the hospital,I had to learn how to sleep with a small pillow under my left knee to elevate my left leg some.Sissy,who is one of my "Mom's" mailed me a small pillow to use.It had a,delightful pillowcase with bright,colorful fish all over it, and that pillow has been on more adventures with me,since 2003!
It managed to prop up my arm when I was sitting, after my Rotator Cuff surgery,in 2006, and then when I had my Total Shoulder Replacement,this past June,I found I needed it to place under my arm when I was sleeping.
Sissy has shown her love of the Lord in this one small gesture that will last a lifetime.
That little pillow has been on more adventures that I can tell.It's going to Cherokee this next week too, and will go fishing with me.
Actually,that little pillow has been a true "fisher of men"....and women.....Me!
Becky

BEFORE MY EYES

I remember reading George Orwell's "1984" in high school, and now it's coming true,right before my very eyes.......
I remember reading in scripture that my God will come back in the end,and make things right,and someday it will come true right before my very eyes,'cause I'll be with Him!
Becky

ANITA

It always anazes me that my God will put me in a place where he knows I will be needed,even if I don't even know it!
When my long time friend,Lois died,I was so grief stricken,that I had to go through a period of grieving, because I didn't know what it felt like.This made it possible for me to identify with more folks in the same situation!
My latest episode found David and me going over to Hilton Head to have supper with Allen and Theresa.Allen's youngest sister,Anita died a few days ago,so we went over to be with them,before they left for the funeral in Georgia.Having lost my own sister,I knew exactly how painful the loss of a sibling can be,so my words to him really helped. I remembered how much it hurt Kelly when her brother David died,because when my Mother lost Betty Ann, I remember telling Mother,"but Mother,Betty Ann was my sister,she was just your daughter!".......Guess who ate her own words 5 years later?I remembered that horrible pain though,when Allen lost Anita, and knew how it was grieving him too.In the same way,I was also able to minister to his Mother,Catherine,because of losing a child.
We have both given a child back to God, and right now her pain is unbearable.
Isn't God awesome,how He places someone in just the right place,at just the right time?(and He even gives you the words to say too!)
We'll spend a week with them up in Cherokee,NC,next week, and that will help....
I'm glad He's Allen's God too!
Becky

IS IT?

Whatever your doing today,is it glorifying God?
Becky

LIFE'S A TRIP!

Life's a trip alright,and where you're going depends on whose at your right hand when you stop.
Becky

PRAISE OR GRACE?

Chris Rice has a song out, entitled "May Your Praise Go On."
When I first heard it,I thought he was singing,"When Your Grace Goes On."
That wouldn't be a bad idea,either,would it?
Becky

GUESS?

I left you something today and the memory of it will last you a long time.
You can get along without it,but you're alot richer for receiving it!
It didn't cost me anything,which you will be glad to know, and it will foster such good feelings.
It will bring you so much hope from being discouraged too!
If you find you are going on your own journey,
and if you are too tired,or worn out,and just don't think you can leave a smile along the way......
Then take one of mine, and pass it on!
"No-one needs a smile as much as those who have none left to give."
Becky

TAPS & REVEILLE

When the Rapture comes,we will have had "Taps", and be headed for "Reveille".....
and what a Reveille it will be!
Becky

Prison Break

As I watched the two young reporters being interviewed after being released from North Korea,and coming back to the United Staes,I thought through some interesting observations.
They evidently did some things that they should not have been doing, and were thrown into prison for their punishment! However,by a miracle,they were released to come home to America!
I thought this morning,that one day,there will be many,many people who will refuse to accept Christ as their Savior, and by not doing this one right thing,they will be thrown into the prison of hell for which there will be no miracle to get them out!
This will have gone home forever and ever!
Becky

MIRIAM'S

What a delightful two days I had,folks! I drove to New Holland on Wednesday,after my therapy, and Phyllis drove us over to her Lake Murray home on the water.Beth drove down from Greenville to help us celebrate Phyllis's birthday,which was in June,and boy,did we ever celebrate! We took the pontoon out and cruised all over the lake,during the day,and enjoyed the Purple Martins as they nested on Bomb Island at dusk.....Thousands arrive at dusk to nest each July and August, but you can only watch them from your boat. As we prepared to leave on Friday,Beth remembered going to a dress shop some five years ago,in Lexington that sold only petites, so we attempted to search for Miriam's Dress Shop, and lo and behold,she drove straight to it! The dear sweet proprietor,Miriam,welcomed us, and treated us with southern charm, and she and I traded favorite scripture's.I told her that we had been gathering togather like this for thirty years, and she marveled at our doing so!
She was 78 years old, and had more charm and kindness than I had encountered in a long time.She was one of those dear people that God plants in your path,who refreshes your soul with a brilliant smile;a deep booming voice, and a whisper from above,that says,"I love you," whoever you are,because my God first loved me!
Becky

SALT SPRINGS

When I drive down to Florida,I go through Salt Springs,where I get my blue crabs. I have to drive down this small,narrow dirt road,where the tree limbs,and shrubs stick out and make the road seem even more narrow.It's often hard to drive this road, because these obstacles make it difficult to concentrate on where you're going, because you have to stay focused on what's ahead and watch out for the turns.
Christ also told us,that the way to His Father's House was a narrow road too, and few will be those who travel it!
Our obstacles that get in the way, won't be tree limbs or shrubs,but all the pains and sufferings that we go through in the name of Christ.....
They will stick out on our way, and cause us pain,that satan will use to take our focus off of God,but when we encounter those hurdles, whether it's a "turn" towards sickness,or a " yield" to death,if we will focus on Jesus Christ, and rejoice in our suffering,then we will still end up on the narrow road,at the feet of Jesus,......without a detour!
Becly

JESUS DOES!

Kudzu was first introduced into this country as an ornamental vine. (Can you believe it?!)Look at what damage it has done to so many things too!
It isn't ugly to look at,but,oh,the damage it can do.
Satan and all his sinful ways will come across as appealing many times too! Just like the Kudzu vine, he can cause so much damage in your life.Sometimes,he may even look pretty appealing at first, but the overnight destruction of your soul will cause a huge seperation between you and God, and it's NOT worth it! Nothing is that appealing!
You can't burn Kudzu. You can't mow it!You can't do anything to get rid of it!
With our sins, though, we are reminded that satan has been vanquished by the blood of Jesus Christ!
And we didn't have to mow,or burn,or anything to get rid of him..... We just said "Yes Jesus!
Becky

THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE

So many of the things I hear Pastor Carl,talking about,I remember Grandmother Bouterse telling me about too.I'm pretty sure she must have covered the entire Bible with me,many times over, because Pastor Carl will start a scripture verse, and I will finish it in my head! This makes me think I've heard it somewhere in my childhood memory bank! I may not remember every detail of it,but I know Grandmother must have told me about it.
It's like remembering a familiar voice.
Jesus told us that the sheep know the shepherd's voice and recognize his familiar call.
We are the the sheep of our Father's pasture, and need to know our Father's voice too,when He calls!We need to know the real thing and not be "duped" into answering an imitator.
The "Real Thing" stepped out of Heaven and picked us up by Grace and said "You're Forgiven".....and you don't forget a voice like that!
Becky