Rest

Rest is probably the #1 thing people crave today and yet the least possessed commodity.  In the beginning, God worked for 6 days creating all that exists and declared the 7th day for rest.  On the 6th day, God created man.  So the first full day of man's existence was spent in rest and then he worked the next 6 days.  Paul Burleson reminded me this week that God rested after His work...and man worked from his rest.  That is grace.

That's something we need to understand--how to work from our rest.  But first, we have to REST.  Webster describes rest as:  freedom from activity or labor, state of motionless or inactivity, repose, peace of mind or spirit.

When is the last time you stopped all activity and were motionless?  When is the last time you enjoyed peace of mind or spirit?  If you couldn't come up with a quick reply to those two questions, you seriously need to stop...and rest.  Without guilt!!  It's Satan's plan to keep us so busy and going in such circular motions that we are exhausted and don't even have the energy to spend time with God or our families.  Rest is also a weapon to fight the enemy.  When we're "at rest," it proves to the enemy we don't fear him.  Philippians 1:28.  I think resting is like a tithe of your time to God.

Do whatever you need to do.  Hire a babysitter, escape to your favorite spot, make some coffee, get alone with God and find that peace of spirit and mind.  Rest your body, soul, and spirit.  Be still. 

Rest.  I give you permission.

"Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 11:28-29

The Incomplete Gospel

Even as early as the 1700's, men like George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers were preaching the gospel of salvation.  Fast forward to the 1950's and the advent of men like Billy Graham who preached the same gospel to hundreds of thousands of people.  I came to understand about my own need for a savior when I was 9-years-old in 1964.  The gospel of salvation is absolutely necessary.  But also incomplete.

We were taught that:

1. We needed to be saved because of our sin.
2. We needed to be discipled.
3. We needed to tell other people about Jesus.
4. We needed to be ready for the rapture.
5. And that the ultimate goal was to go to heaven and forever be with God.

Mostly true.  But over the past 3 years, through Zach Neese and his book, How to Worship a King, through Paul Burleson at our pastors/wives retreat, and through LLBD (and in that order), I've been confronted with the gospel of the kingdom.  I never realized that this is the gospel Jesus brought and taught.  (Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John and underline every time you see which gospel Jesus teaches about.  I was amazed!)  You see...with the gospel of salvation, I never felt any future--except to wait for heaven--and very little purpose.  To fulfill the gospel of salvation, the only future I saw was to be involved in full-time ministry.  Spend your life evangelizing and then wait for the rapture.  I feel like we did a horrible injustice to generations of people.  They got saved...and then had no idea what to do next.  It felt dead.

But the gospel of the kingdom is so much more!  It's a government.  It has a constitution, the Bible.  It has a monetary system, it has territory, and it has rulers/ambassadors.  It is righteousness, peace and joy.  And all of a sudden, the gospel becomes SO MUCH MORE!!  And I'm involved in ways I'd never imagined.  I'm not just waiting for the rapture or heaven---I'm trying to make earth look like heaven.  Isn't that what Jesus taught us?  

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us this day our daily bread.
 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

I'm still learning. But this is so much more exciting!! It's breathtaking to know I'm a part of something so big. And it's even more exhilarating to know I have PURPOSE! God wants me to rule...and serve right here on earth. That was His original plan. He wants me to be His ambassador to bring others into this kingdom which will only expand His kingdom. He wants me to help them discover their purpose. He wants me to possess territory. Even my prayer life has changed. If I'm making earth look like heaven, I need to know the heart of the Father to even know what to ask for or how to come in agreement with Him. I need to ask and know His desires for right here, right now. And He has everything we need for this kingdom, this territory, He is establishing through us. Just...WOW!

Caitlin Nicole

Our firstborn granddaughter turns 17-years-old today!  It's so hard to believe we're at this place.  I just kind of dread her turning 18 and becoming an "adult."  Where has the time gone??  Caitlin is an adventurer.  She's never met a stranger!!  When she was young, she would light up a room with her smile and need to go to every person in the room to acknowledge they were there.  As she's grown, she's become a beautiful young woman full of grace, love, and purpose.  She still acknowledges everyone in the room because she doesn't want anyone to feel left out.  She's a good friend.  She loves her younger cousins and knows exactly how to relate to each one of them.  But she also interacts well with adults--and always has.  She's a very down-to-earth person and just pretty solid.  She loves to sing and has gotten to sing with the praise team at her church.  She has a heart after God--which is what I love most.  Caitlin is a beautiful 17-year-old.  I can't wait to see what wonderful plan God has for her!

Caitlin's 10th birthday--we all went ice skating!

Christmas--when she still liked toys.

She's the oldest of her cousins and has definitely led the way.

From a sleepover when we did nails.

Swimming with the cousins!

All grown up at 17!

Caitlin is an amazing singer and worshiper.  I love this girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAITLIN NICOLE!!

I LOVE YOU,

GRAN

How Satan Speaks

Satan speaks to our minds..and he's always speaking.  He doesn't come to me and say, "Becky, you are so stupid!"  Why?  Because he's a deceiver and wants me to think that what he's saying to me are my own thoughts.  He comes to me and says, "I am so stupid."  He speaks in first person singular.  The voice you hear that is accusing, derogatory, malicious, critical, impulsive, fearful, full of pressure...are all from the enemy.  That's why God tells us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.  II Corinthians 10:5

Have you ever taken a thought captive?  I picture taking a thought out of my head and holding it in my hands and asking it, "Do you obey Jesus?"  If it doesn't obey Him, throw it away!  Sometimes, you have to do this 100 times a day.  When Bill & Anabel Gillham first taught this truth to me, I had no idea how many thoughts were just roaming around in my head all. day. long.  I'd never taken one thought captive in my whole life that I knew of.  But as I began practicing taking my thoughts captive, I was appalled at the number of thoughts Satan spoke to my mind constantly.  And I'd just entertained them.  All day long.

So if you're depressed or overwhelmed, start paying attention to what you're thinking about.  What thoughts are roaming around in your head that are not your own?  If God tells you 20 wonderful things about yourself and Satan tells you 2 horrible things about yourself, guess what you're going to concentrate on?  Of course--the 2 horrible things.  That's his plan.  He wants you thinking on the negative.  His whole intent is to destroy you.  He comes to kill, steal and destroy.  But God has come to give you abundant life.  But in order to obtain the abundant life, you have to be thinking on truth.  Because "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."  Proverbs 23:7.

Start taking notice of your thoughts.  You've entertained some thoughts so long, you believe they're yours.  Ask God to reveal the truth of your thoughts to you.  Don't allow thoughts to just roam absently through your mind.  Make them obey Jesus.  You have the authority to capture them and command them to leave if they don't.  And think on what is pure, honest, just...and all these things.  Philippians 4:8

Happy Birthday, Jay!

Today is my son-in-law's birthday.  Jay Wright.  I had an epiphany this week when I was thinking about him and realized he was 14-years-old when I met him--exactly one year older than his oldest son, Isaac, is right now.  My nephew, Jeff, brought Jay to our youth camp as part of his band.  Jay was keyboard player....at 14.  He's a gifted pianist--and was very gifted even then!  But looking back, it's amazing that he was doing camps with a band at 14-years-old.  Jay came to our camp for several years with the band and they began doing skits.  I can remember being in the break room and watching them practice, "Mama's Little Baby" and I was crying because I was laughing so hard.  Jay was a great ad libber and never did the skit the same way twice.  Jay is definitely the life of the party.  He loves people and remembers their names--and doesn't forget them. But I think the thing I love about Jay the most is his love for God and his family.  In fact, the first fun fact I knew about Jay is that he loved his mom, Jean.  (Thank you for the gift of your son, Jean!)  Of course, that won me over.  Andy likes to brag that he chose Jay for Amy.

Jay & Amy have instilled a sense of life, fun, and discovery in their family.  

I love that Jay loves my daughter.

He fits right in with our family.  We all love him!

I love this picture of Jay!  It was taken at our 20th anniversary of being on staff at FBC Borger,  Kaye Smith snuck into our family photo and Jay was laughing hysterically!  Of course, I was, too.

We never lack for entertainment when he's around!

Jay is also a great dad to his 4 kiddos.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAY!!

I love you and I'm so glad you're ours.

Becky

Women Champions

God has always championed women.  So many of the great stories in the Bible have women as the star of the story:  Esther, Ruth, Deborah, Mary, and so many others.  Jesus didn't just receive women--he embraced their giftedness and strengths.  There were women who followed his ministry and contributed to his support.  Jesus not only forgave the adulterous woman, he protected her in her humiliation and put the men accusing her in their place.  He received the anointing oil of Mary and told the men who rebuked her that her story would be remembered forever.  Yes...Jesus was a champion of women.  He loved them, received them, received their gifts, strengths, wisdom, and help.  He purposed to change societal thinking about them.

In the photo above are 4 mothers...but not just mothers.  They are entrepreneurs, organizers, directors, artists, nutritionists, healers, teachers, explorers, singers, counselors, decorators, bloggers, runners, speakers, photographers, mediators, adoptive mothers, friends, missionaries, prayer warriors, women involved in church and civic concerns...and so much more.  They are all fun and laugh hard.  They care deeply about one another and others.  They try to meet the needs of their husbands and children and sometimes find themselves a little frayed at the ends.  They don't take enough time for themselves and often overextend themselves in managing their family's schedules while still helping in their children's schools, their churches, and communities. Some are more emotional than others.  And all express their emotions in different ways.  They are hard workers and give themselves 110% to their jobs--whether that is working in a church, developing their own business, or caring for their families.  They love their families.  They are ordinary...but extraordinary.

These same women can become wild-eyed, crazed maniacs if their children or husbands are attacked! You have no idea.  And you certainly don't want to test it.  (I can only tell you that Andy had to restrain me from "confronting" a few people back in the day.)

The amazing thing about these women is they all have husbands who champion them...men who aren't threatened by a strong woman.  These men honestly believe what Jesus came to teach about women.  They honor women, love their gifts and strengths, and love working alongside them.  In fact, these men know they wouldn't be who they are without these strong women.

And women?  We must become champions of one another.  Find a woman who needs encouragement.  Instead of being jealous of someone's strength, call it out!  Tell them you love that about them.  Bless them.  Help them.  Learn from them.  Build them up!

God loves women.  His plan was so good.  And He's not bothered at all by successful women!  In fact...He created women just for that reason.  He'd be disappointed if you didn't become a champion.

Strong-Willed Kids

Matthew, Amy
David, Zach

I had four of them.  They each were born strong-willed!  It may have manifested in different ways, but they were all four definitely strong-willed.

Andy & I wanted our kids to know God at a young age and fall in love with Him early.  And then my prayer was that they would become "stand-alone kids!"  I wanted them to be able to stand up against peer pressure.  I wanted them to be the positive peer pressure--helping others to make good choices.  (Which may have been a little unrealistic....you think?)  Well, one day when they were all under 13, I'd just about had it with four strong-willed kids.  They were fighting, arguing, and yelling and I went into my room and probably slammed the door and wailed to God, "WHY DID YOU GIVE ME FOUR STRONG-WILLED KIDS?"  It was overwhelming.  And then I heard God say, "You can't have it both ways, Becky.  You can't ask me to make them stand-alone kids without having a strong will!"  And I can honestly say I never questioned Him about it again.

Man!  Am I proud of my kids!!  Did they ever give in to peer pressure?  Of course...they were kids.  But I believe as adults we set the pace for peer pressure.  How many of our homes are decorated just like everyone else's?  How many of us drive the same kind of car?  How many of us wear the same style of clothing?  See?  We all just want to fit in.

A strong will helps us get through some hard things in life.  It can help us overcome hurtful things which might have happened in childhood.  A strong will can sharpen another strong will.  A strong will can cause us to persevere and meet new challenges.  A strong will can help us pursue our dreams!  A strong will can even help a senior adult make big life changes.  A strong will just needs to be guided and developed.  It's easy to misinterpret it for rebellion.  Be careful to not jump to conclusions like I did a few times.  Ask God to show you how to work with Him to develop those strong wills in your home.

My kids are adults now making their own choices.  They all have different personalities and preferences.  And I'm thankful to say....they're all still strong-willed.  They're gonna need it for their own strong-willed kids.  Apparently, it's in the genes.

Matthew, Amy, David, Zach