Journey to Bethlehem

If you every get an opportunity to attend a "Journey to Bethlehem" event sponsored by a local church I urge you to go.  There are activities for the kids as well as an atmosphere of excitement as th time of Christ's birth is recreated.  I just attended my first one a week or so ago and am glad that I did.  It reminded me of what the real message of Christmas should be - the birth of Christ pointing the way to salvation offered by His sacrifice on the cross at Easter.  Here are a couple of pics taken by a good friend of mine to give you a flavor of what Journey to Bethlehem is about.

And even if you can't attend such an event try to keep in mind that Christmas is much more than the decorated tree, the perfect present found, the cookies baked and frosted, or the office party.  It is about the birth of a baby come to save each and everyone of us.  Jesus came so that not one would be lost except by our own choice.  It is my prayer that you will choose to follow Jesus from Bethlehem to the Cross and beyond.
                                                                                                              Blessings, Becky

Small Things

I've begun to notice that it's the small things in life that are most important because they make up so much of our daily lives. Like a donut for breakfast each day. My husband goes into town each morning to pick up the hired man and stop at the grocery store. That is when he gets a donut for me and a muffin for himself. I never really thought about the donut as being important until I began doing December Daily. Today I took a picture of the donut he brings me to include in my album. It's my favorite kind, a peanut covered fried cake donut and it's yummy with a capital Y. So the next time you are considering what to take a picture of think abou the small things in your life that speak to you and capture that moment as it will never be there again the same way.
                                                                                                         Blessings, Becky
                                                                                                 
                                                                                         

December Daily

I discovered December Daily while I was surfing the net.  The object is to document your life during one of the busiest times of the year December.  I decided to do this but took it a step further.  I am documenting the things I am grateful for over the 37 days of the season.  Yep, you read correctly, 37 days. I began the day after Thanksgiving and will continue through December 31.  It's kind of fun finding things to take pictures of as well as documenting what brings me joy or makes me feel grateful to be alive.

                                                 Here is a pic of the cover of my book. 

I used a 6x6 album that I had and decorated the cover.  The album is getting fatter by the day as I add pictures and journaling.  I hope it is a keepsake my children will enjoy reading in the future.  I have enjoyed this project so much that I am planning on doing a modified version of Project Life, a way to document a year of your life.  The object of Project Life is to document the everyday happenings of your family's life through pictures and journaling.  Becky Higgins has a kit you can use to make doing this easier but I decided I only wanted to do an 8x8 album so I am creating my own pieces. 

Doing the December Daily is helping me to heal more quickly because it makes me focus on the positive rather than the negative.  I hope that as I do more of this with Project Life, focusing on the positive will become a habit that I cannot stop.
                                                                                                        Blessings, Becky

Giving Thanks

On this Thanksgiving Eve I am thinking about what it really means to give thanks.  We have this one day a year to remind us here in the US that giving thanks is important.  But to whom or what do we give thanks?  This is the more important question in my opinion.

In our fast paced world we have a tendency to overlook those to whom we should say thanks.  When was the last time you thanked the janitor or cleaning person?  When was the last time you thanked your mother or father for being your parent?  When was the last time you thanked God for all you have? 

If you've done those things recently, thanking those we take for granted, did you mean it sincerely or was it just a rote "thanks"?  Being sincere in giving thanks is as important as saying thank you.  So tomorrow, when you sit down to the feast we call Thanksgiving, think about what you're giving thanks for and then take time to tell that person just how thankful you are for them the next time you see them.

                                                                                                          Blessings, Becky

Healing

Healing is a funny thing.  There is more to healing than meets the eye.  It takes so many things to bring it about.

It takes time.  Often more time than we want it too.  We are an instant society which causes us to be impatient with anything that takes what we believe is too much time to happen.

It takes work.  Your body and your mind have to come back into sync with one another so that they can function again as one.  This often means that you must rest more than you believe you should have to.

It takes faith.  Without faith, no one can feel they are completely whole.  Faith works on both the body and the mind to bring about wholeness.

I am slowly healing in body, mind, and spirit.  But I am a long way from being whole and well.  It will take more time, more work, and especially more faith.

                                                                                                                                                                                       Blessings, Becky

Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Have you ever really thought deeply about this verse from Psalm 23?  There are many ways to look at this verse.  What does it mean to go through something?  Well, for starters it means that you will not be stuck there forever.  This thought is very helpful as it brings comfort and hope to the one in the valley.  Second, it means that you will experience valley times that will feel like death is about to swallow you.  But because you are going through death has no hold on you. 

The whole verse reads "Yea, though I walk through the valley of hte shadow of death..." (Ps 23: 4a KJV).  When we are walking some trips seem to take forever and we wonder if they will never end.  But they do.  And so too will the journey through the valley.  But as we walk through, we need to ask ourselves, "What is the lesson or message God wants me to learn or at the very least hear or experience?"

A person can never rush a journey when they are walking, they will only tire themselves out and have to remain in that place longer than they need to or want to.  A slow steady pace is what is required for someone to move through the valley.  Keep focused the destination and you will get through, with the Lord's help.

Blessings, Becky

Insights and Random Thoughts

It has been longer than I thought since my last post.  I have been on an emotional roller coaster over these past few months as I have adjusted to living in a parsonage without my husband.  He has had to remain at our home so as to continue farming.  This has caused me quite a bit of consternation and trepidation.

As I have become more comfortable with this new living arrangement, other issues have come to the fore.  Issues that I have had to deal with and am still dealing with.  But God never promised that life as a Christian would be free of problems and issues, he only promises to "walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death." (Paraphrase from Psalm 23) 

I have come to realize that every time I experience a season of upset, discomfort and introspection I am walking through the valley of the shadow of death.  Often when I look back I see that I have become a better person for all that I have been through.  That each time, I emerge from that valley a bit lighter and a better person because something that needed to die in me has done so.

It is not an easy process walking through the valley and sometimes I remain in the valley a long time.  But I always know that I have God right there with me, just a thought, just a prayer, just a call away.  He is there waiting for me to surrender my will to his so he can continue to help me become all that he has planned for me to be.

Blessings, Becky

Mixed Blessings

This past Saturday I spent the day scrapbooking at the church I serve.  As I sat there I thought about how I would no longer be a part of this church family on July 1st the way I was now.  And I wondered a bit about how I would feel if I come back for a day-long session at the church and if I did so would that be an ethical violation and breech of covenant?  I have no answer for these questions but I do know that the group of ladies that I scrapbook with are wonderful folks and through our discussions they have helped to make me a better person.  The dilemas I face as a pastor in situations such as the one from Saturday will always be there.  And I will always have mixed feelings about whatever choice I make.  But I do believe that such dilemas are blessings, mainly because they stretch us in our faith walk to apply the teachings of Christ.

Blessings, Becky

Leaving

Over the past few weeks I have been contemplating changes in my life.  I will be moving to a new appointment on July 1.  This means I will be leaving people I love and meeting new people that I know I will come to love, but right now the thought of leaving so many people I have come to know and care about is somewhat overwhelming.  I know I am not the first pastor most of them have had and I definately won't be the last.  But I am their pastor, and I am not certain I want another shepherd caring for "my" sheep.

It is that word "my" that has brought me up short.  When did I become so possessive?  When did I stop seeing them as God's sheep and they become my personal property?  These folks are not not mine any more than my children are mine to own, to control, to hover over.  Each and everyone of us belong to only one person, God.  We are his children, and as such are called to care for and about one another, but to also hold one another loosely.

I need to keep that in mind for all aspects of my life.  As I move into a new appointment I need to remember that I am only here for a time.  Only God knows how long.  And I am called to be a shepherd which means I must do what is best for all God has given me to care for, even if it means turning them over into the care of another.  My prayer is that I will be able to do this with the grace and dignity God expects, all the while remembering that it is love that allows me to do this.

Blessing, Becky

Little Easter's

Each Sunday is to be a celebration of Easter, a "little Easter".  I wonder, how many of us really think of Sunday and worship that way?  For most, we see Sunday as "our" day that is interrupted by Worship.  "Why do I have to take one hour and go to church?" is a refrain we often hear.  We view attendance at church as something to be endured, a joyless activity that fulfills our obligation to God and allows us to continue calling ourselves Christian.

But what if we think of each Sunday as a day to recapture the excitement and joy of Easter how much more wonderful might Worship and our faith life become?  Easter is spring-time and renewal; Easter is spending time with family and friends; Easter is joy and laughter; Easter is celebration of the fulfillment of God's promise to us.  I challenge you today to begin to look at Worship in a new light by viewing each Sunday as the day you recapture the experience of Easter, allowing it to revitalize you and prepare you to face whatever life may throw at you with joy and strength and renewed vigor.

Blessings, Becky

Busyness/Business of Life

Interesting the difference one letter can make.  Take busyness and business.  If we follow the rule we were taught in school, you should change the "y" in busy to an "i" before you add the suffix.  But busy is one of those exceptions...or is it.  Often we confuse the business of life with the busyness of life.

For instance we often confuse what is important with what is demanding our attention.  We know that people are more important than jobs or television or the internet.  But do we invest our time in people OR do we allow the busyness of life to interupt the important business of life? 

During this last week of Lent I encourage you to think about how busy your life is.  What is the business that is so important that it takes you away from God and friends and family and community.  Only you  can decide what the most important business and busyness of life is.

Blessings, Becky

Why is "Holy Week" holy?

Have you ever wondered why the week between Palm Sunday and Easter/Resurrection Sunday is called "holy"?  I have.  When I was a child, I thought it was a dumb name for that week.  I mean, what is so holy about Jesus dying.  In fact, I wondered what was so "good" about Good Friday since it was the day Jesus was nailed to a cross and died.  But as Paul says, "When I was a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became an [adult],  put childish ways behind me." (1 Cor. 13:11)  I now understand the Good Friday is good because Jesus' death and resurrection made it possible for me to have a right relationship, a restored relationship, with God. 

But why is the whole week holy?  I mean, I know why Palm Sunday is holy and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday - but what about Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Saturday?  I am not advocating changing our whole thought process, but I am saying we need to be thinking about things like this and not just accepting them because "We've always done it that way."  So if anyone is out there reading this, let me know what you think.

Blessings, Becky

Scrapbooking and God

I am at a scrapbooking weekend.  Thse sight is wonderful.  Our main room is located right beside Chautauqua Lake, with geese and other water birds.  The space is so serene and beautiful.  It's a wonderful place to get away to, yet you are not too far away if there is an emergency.  God provides each of us with places like Camp Onyahsa, places where we can encounter him in new ways in the midst of our busy lives.  Take advantage of these times to not only refresh yourself, but also to reconnect with God.  It will not only give you a new zest for life but also will renew your spirit.

First Entry into Blogging

This is a first for me. I have never thought about blogging before. I have always felt that bloggers were perhaps a bit egotistical. I have come to realize that that is not the case. Blogging is a way to share with others in a different forum. Blogging is conversation just conversation with friends. I named my blog "Seeking Serenity through Faith, Family and Friends" because that is what I seek to do, find serenity in life (balance and peace) through faith, family and friends. Community is important to me and I have decided to begin blogging as a way to expand my serenity through a new community resource - on-line friendships.

I don't expect to have anything earth shaking or important to say. I just want to connect with others who value community and the serenity that is found within community. I welcome your thoughts and entry into dialogue.

Blessings, Becky