MY CALLING

We've been talking in Sunday School about allowing God to reveal to you, your purpose in life. Deb made a statement about this in class, and the light bulb popped on in my brain! I suddenly understood what God's purpose has been for my life, and what He has been grooming me for all along. From the very beginning, He has given me a deeply rooted faith in Him that is immoveable and unshakeable! Grandmother helped make sure of that.
He knew all along.....
that my sister would lose her first born son when I was in the ninth grade; when I went off to college my parents would get a divorce after 40 years of marriage; my older sister would die of Cancer at age 56; both my parents would die at age 89 and 90 in 1989 and 1990; my second son would be removed from the home for two years by DHEC; my oldest son would die at age 20 in 1995; my sweetheart of 37 years would die of Cancer last September......
Yes, God knew all these things, before the foundation of the world, and groomed Rebecca Margaret Ray in 1947 into becoming Rebecca Ray Lock in 1973 As she grew, she became an open vessel to serve other Mothers who needed to be nourished in their time of need in 2004, by their gathering at her beach house at Edisto. God knew that out of ashes, beauty, and that it would be a blessing back to her, and it has been!He knew I would be strong enough in the Lord and would gather my strength from Him, because I can indeed do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I love to be there for these Mom's to encourage them on their daily walk and to remind them to look to the Lord, even in the valleys. They will always get their best healing through faith in God.
None of this comes through me, as the Holy Spirit enjoys these weekends too, and does most of the sharing!
He refreshes those who are themselves refreshed, and believe me, He restores my entire body; mind and soul on these weekends!
Becky

CHEERIOS

When Daddy fixed his cereal in the mornings, he would first pour in some Cheerios, followed by Cornflakes, and some other fruits and grains, before he was ready to eat his breakfast. He then fixed a slab of Miss Wisconsin Cheese on multi grain toast and he was ready to eat! It was a major undertaking watching him get ready to eat. He always said that it made for a better and more nutritious breakfast!
The body of Christ is no different!
Although you don't add anything to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the body of Christ is made up of a multitude of individuals that enhance the body and give it a variety of flavor. We mix together nicely, but we're not mixed up, because our God is not a God of confusion, but of order, and He knows what He is about!
One day, there will be bowls that will be poured out over the earth that won't be quite so pleasant, so for now, I think I'll take Daddy's Cheerios, and Jesus Christ!
Becky

WAY BACK WHEN

When Daddy would fix his cereal in the mornings, he would first pour in some Cheerios, and the would add some Cornflakes, and other fruits and grains, before he was ready to eat his breakfast. It was a major undertaking watching him get ready to eat breakfast. He always said that it made for a better and nutritious breakfast!
The body of Christ is the same way.
Although you don't have to add anything to the gospel of Christ, His body is made up of a multitude of individuals that enhance the body and give it a variety of flavor!We mix together nicely, but we're not mixed up, because our God is not a God of confusion, but of order, and He knows what He is about!
One day, there will be a bowl that will be poured out, that won't be quite so pleasant....... so for now, I think I'll take Daddy's Cheerio's!
Becky

CREAMED CORN

When I'm making my creamed corn, I have to make sure I fry it in bacon drippings for a long enough time, so it will become tender enough to cream. If not, it will look great, but will be crunchy, and not at all what creamed corn should taste like!
God's word is the same way!.....You can't hurry through it.
You have to take your time and mull it over, and stir up your thoughts, until you get the true flavor of what He wants you to see, before you digest it. It may look alright on the outside, but unless you know and understand just what God intended for His word to mean, it won't taste good at all! In fact it will be hard to swallow!
When you learn this, you will find that His word is sweeter than honeycomb!
Becky

FIND ANOTHER WAY

When I first started teaching Elementary Physical Education, in Leesburg, Florida, we took a course up in Gainesville, under Ambrose Braselton. He was an excellent instructor of physical education, and his motto was "Find Another Way." Many times, throughout the course of my teaching career , I didn't have the funds to afford the proper equipment, for what I wanted to teach my students, so I followed this motto, and found another way to teach them what I wanted. I always found another way too, and it turned out to be a fun project in the process!
When the early believers tried to make Salvation a belief of works, Jesus wanted them to "find another way" too. He wanted them to see that He was The way! The truth, and The life, and that nobody could come to the Father but through Him! He wanted them to see that it was only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, that they would find this "other way."
I'm glad He found the other way, aren't you?
Becky

THE BRAIDED RUG

Grandmother had an old braided rug that she made, using all of Granddaddy's old ties. They were enterwoven with each other by using different shapes; colors; sizes, and backgrounds.
I loved that old rug, and Grandmother often told me that it represented the body of Christ. When I asked her how, she said it was woven one with the other, as the body should be, and each person in the body was a different shape and size, and they were all diferent colors and had different backgrounds.
When we are woven together in Christ, though, He strengthens us, and we make a pretty strong unit!
Becky

LET'S GO EAT

Well, tonight's our last night in Cherokee. Cathy and I spent a good bit of time, this morning, shopping downtown. Upon arriving back at camp, I fixed my She Crab Soup for our lunch, with a salad, and a frozen fruit dessert. I had harvest grain bread and brownies for dessert, and then we got busy cleaning up and packing the car to leave early the next morning. While she walked, I bid our neighbors at the next camp site goodbye. They are from the Aiken area, and it's always fun to visit with them. They are sending us home with fresh home grown tomatoes.
As we leave Cherokee, we will stop by Lake Junaluska, to see Rev. Caxton Doggett, who was the pastor at my church in Mount Dora, when I was born.
I was named after his wife, Becky. He is now 96 years old and sharper and more spry than any one fifty years younger, and I just adore him!
God has given Cathy and me a respite from the heat this week, with temps in the fifties and sixties, but now it's back to normal, or whatever you call this temperature we've been having!
Cathy and I were given a treasure of some wonderful memories, and I can truly say "I thank my God in all remembrances of you."
Thank you my Lord for giving me Cherokee......
Now it's time to go eat!
Becky

1/2 SMOKED

When David and Theresa got together, they would always share a half of one of his half smoke cigarettes. It was just one of their times together where they could talk and share special conversations between the two of them. Allen nor I liked for them to smoke, but we knew it was a crazy kind of bond between the two of them. She tried her best to get David to quit smoking, as did everyone, but to no avail, so just before he died, he gave Allen a pack of half smoked cigarettes to give to Theresa, when she went up to Cherokee, so she would have them when she thought of him.
Allen told him that she wouldn't be able to smoke them, and probably wouldn't smoke again, because he had smoked them, and David said, "that's the whole idea!" He was trying to get her to quit, and save her from going through what he went through!
He wouldn't stop himself, but maybe he could help someone else stop!
Becky

THE ELK

We were treated to a rare sight today, and witnessed one of God's creations, at their best. Allen drove us down to an open meadow at dusk, and we saw a field of Elk grazing. There aren't usually Elk in this region, but a few years ago, the state placed a few in the area to see if they would reproduce, and they have! There were about seven Elk cows with their calves huddled by a tree, when out of the forest of trees emerged one lone bull Elk! He was magnificent! He sauntered over to the calves and lifted up his head, and then he gazed over at us......
All the people that had stopped by the side of the road were taking pictures as fast as they could......me included!
Afterwards, we drove up to the back entrance of the Smokey Mountains National Park, and looked at the streams and falls.
God simply outdoes Himself in these places, and I for one, am blessed to be able to witness it!
Becky

THANKS BE TO GOD

This was an adventure that I was proud of myself for going on today!
Cathy and I packed our things up and headed up the road to Cherokee, NC today, folks, and we made it! I am so proud of myself!
Unbeknownst to me, last year when David and I left our campsite, he made a down payment for me to come back this year, so I felt as if I had to come, but I didn't want to come by myself, so Cathy said she would come along and we are having a delightful time.
It's different sitting out on the porch without David, but the crickets are still in full swing and the stream is still gurgling away. It is breathtaking up here.
Allen and Theresa have gotten a new Norwich Terrier puppy named Mose, to keep Maxim company. We joined them at their campsite for supper and we will fix lunch at our cabin tomorrow.
All in all, my first day back at Indian Creek Camp Grounds, without my sweetie, went pretty well.
Thanks be to God!........ With Christ I can do all things!
Becky

WHEN GOT SET

When God set it up, so that a man and a woman could come together and be united as one, it was a pretty good idea.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Becky

LET'S TELL THEM

The more young folks that I see throwing in the towel on their marriages, because they just couldn't make it work, the more I see how blessed I was in my thirty giving them to us and take the time to thank God for giving them those qualities that make them so special! ......Better yet, let's tell them so!
God has given them characteristics that that enables them to hold our families together seven year marriage......even though it had its ups and downs too.
I think many of us need to stop and take stock of our mates and thank God for in a special way, and sometimes I don't think we let them know that enough!(I'm speaking from a female point of view) I know there isn't any marriage that is perfect, but by God's grace and with His help He can sustain it through those difficult times, and make the years even better!
We sang a song in church today, where the words said, "Even in the valley, God is good." That's so true, in a marriage too. Especially in the rough times, or the valleys of a marriage, God is always good, because He never changes. From the mountain peaks, to the valleys, God is always good!
It was His plan for a man to have a woman, and He said it was good.
I think we need to remind our men that they are still good too!
Becky

PAGANINI

Paganini's treasured violin, was never used after his death, and it became worthless, because that type of violin must be taken out of its case and handled to be great!
We don't need to stay in our case and waste away, if we will let God use us to be great for His Kingdom!
Becky

THE PSALMS

Sometimes, when it's late at night and I'm having a little trouble getting to sleep, my mind will automatically begin to miss David, because he always came to bed late. It's not often, but when it does, I don't let myself stay in that "down" time, but instead, I visit the Psalms, and dwell in the presence of the Lord as He heals so many hurts and pains. I stay there and allow God to bathe me in His words of wisdom and love, and many times His words of admonition too! Of course, I tell God to tell both of my David's that I am doing fine, and in faith, I know He will....... He's just that kind of God!
For now, though, I'll just bathe myself in the Psalms, and that's a lot cheaper than using soap too!
Becky

OLLIE

Cathy and I signed up for the Ollie program today, at USC-Beaufort, which is a continuing education program for those folks who want to further their education and continue to stimulate their minds as they get older. We are going on an excursion to Jekyll Island in October to see the turtles as they hatch and make their way back into the sea, which should be fun and well worth the fee. There are some fun programs on the campus and it will give me something to do.(as if I don't have enough!)
When she asked me to go, I thought about what it must have felt like, when Jesus asked the disciples to leave their fishing and follow him and they did! I dropped what I was doing, and decided to take some fall courses with her.
If our following Christ will be like the disciples, and we will drop everything and follow Jesus, we will have a first class course in life!
Becky

A NICE CHANGE

In 1969, I drove off to Winston Salem, to begin my first teaching job. Daddy bought me a more dependable car than the 1940 Plymouth Road King, that I had been driving. He got me an automatic black and white Chevelle Malibu. It was white with a black vinyl top, and my first car with air! It was sleek looking and I just loved it.
Today, while I was driving into town, I pulled up behind a boxy looking car that looked "yucky". To my surprise, I nearly fell over when I read Malibu on the back. It was awful looking, and not at all sleek and pretty like mine had been..... I hate that things have to change.
That's what's so nice and dependable about the word of God, though.
His word stands forever and will never, ever change!
Not even throughout eternity, but that's a nice change!
Becky

INVESTMENTS

I am so thankful that David made all the investments that he did, and when he did. He enjoyed doing that sort of thing, and now I'm reaping the benefits of all his before hand thinking of investments!
I think we need to make an investment in our young women of today, just as much as we do in our financial futures. We need to make an investment in how they should be carrying themselves and acting. We need to tell them not to buy into the lies that the secular world will try to sell them, because they will be tempting, but not profitable!
There are too many of us, as "Titus Mom's" that need to speak up and let our grace, seasoned with salt, rub off on some of these daughters before it's too late. We need to come alongside these daughters and show them; teach them, and train them in manners and protocol on how to grow up in the favor and admonition of the Lord, because somewhere along the way, so many of them have lost the direction.
Will you make that investment with me?
Becky

SO TO SPEAK

Allen drove over to Beaufort and programmed the route to Cherokee, into my GPS system, so I would be able to drive straight up there next Wednesday! That way, when I see other directional signs, I won't be misled, or confused, but will already know the way to go, because of Allen's directions.
Jesus programmed His disciples with His message too, but He also told them to beware of false teachers that would follow, and teach a false doctrine to them!
They had been taught "the real thing" and needed to let scripture interpret scripture(so to speak)!
Becky

BRER RABBIT

My Daddy's Father, was as deaf as a door knob, nut he was the sweetest grandaddy you could ever have. He use to walk me all over the beautiful cemetery which was near their house and tell me about the people that he knew who were now "living there." He gave me my love for the "Brer' Rabbit" stories, because when I would go over to his house he would tell me that it was "my time to tell him the story", to which I would reply, "no, it's yours!" This would go on and on, until one of us would finally tell the other one the story of Brer' Rabbit. No matter how many times I heard it though, I always loved hearing it again!
You know, when Jesus told His parables to the disciples, they loved His stories too! We've heard His stories over and over again, but every time we hear them, they fall fresh and new on us each morning. They tell us something new about this man we call our Savior. They are exciting accounts about an exciting life!
Granddaddy Ray's nickname was "Sunshine", which is what Linda Bachtell calls me.
Jesus is the Light of the world!
Becky

PROMISES

This morning, I decided to go into town and get a massage, and I did, but I failed to drink a lot of water before hand and afterwards, which is very important. Afterwards, I could barely stand up, because all my electrolytes had been used up, and needed to be replenished. I didn't have a sturdy leg to stand on!
When we go "into town", it's also important for us to replenish ourselves daily with God's Living Water, so that we will be refreshed with His word, and can stand on His promises to defeat satan when he tries to knock us down!
"Standing on The Promises of God", is the best set of legs to stand on!
Becky

CORN

As I drove back from Cathy's today, I noticed an entire field of corn that was completely burned up. I thought what a shame it was, that not a single stalk of corn survived the heat! It was pitiful looking and quite sad too.
Someday in the future, (and a day that the believer won't see) there will come a time when God will pronounce His judgment on the earth, and all kinds of horrific things will happen to our earth. If you think that corn looks bad now, just wait until the end times, because the heat He calls down to scorch the earth will blow you your minds away!
Personally, I would much rather be on the other side of the tribulation period, where I will be raptured and up in Heaven, by streams of cool, living, water!
Becky

BACKPACKS

In 1971, La Vonne and I packed our suitcases and flew to Europe for two months of traveling and touring. but we quickly learned that our suitcases were way too heavy for us to carry around, so in Luxembourg, we ditched them, and bought back packs instead, to hitch hike around Europe!
We left for England first, and then traveled back over to the rest of Europe and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were glad to get rid of those heavy suitcases though, because the weight was slowing us down!
When you walk the Christian walk, you can become slowed down by the weight of sin and guilt too. It can bog you down with it's weight and encumber your progress. God wants us to lay our burden down at the foot of the cross!.....Just drop it and don't pick it up again!
Jesus will pick it up and finish it off for us! He's much better than a back pack too!
Becky

JOURNALS

When my first son was born, my sister in law, Pam, gave me my first journal to write my thoughts about David Mc Brier Lock Junior in. That started me on my quest for all the journaling that I have been doing since 1974, and have been journaling with each of my children since then!
I have recorded all their accomplishments, in each of them.
In the same manner, our Lord has given us a journal in the Bible, for us to read, about His accomplishments! He recorded them for us to mull over, and immerse ourselves in, if we will take the time. I love my journaling and wouldn't trade it for anything, and the response I get from my readers is a lot like Christ wants from us too, when we read His word. We are to soak ourselves in it daily!
Read His journals daily. Soak yourself in His word, and get to know the man who gave His life for you!
Becky