Hymn of Faith

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, not fruit be on the vines;though the labor of the olive tree fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:17-19

The book of Habakkuk is only three chapters long. Habakkuk was a prophet but was unique among the prophets in that asked God questions! He wanted to know what God was doing and why. These are questions we all have from time to time, but for Habakkuk's day, it might have seemed a bit strange. There was so much evil happening all around him; so many things he didn't understand, and he just wanted some answers. God didn't strike Habakkuk down for these questions. He answered them!! Chaos and uncertainty may have been all around the people of Habakkuk's day, but God was still in control and He assured Habakkuk of this. The verses above are at the end of this very short book. They are referred to as "A Hymn of Faith" in most Bibles. They are Habakkuk's response to God's answers to his questions. They are his words of faith to what was happening all around him.

I have taken these verses to heart a few times myself. I have even rewritten verse 17 to reflect some specific needs in my life and those of friends. I, like Habakkuk, have questions I want some answers for, especially at this time in my life. "God, what are you doing in my life? Why did both of those doors close? What do you want me to do now? What are you teaching me through all of this? Are you sure?!?" I know there are others who have asked the same or similar questions of God from time to time if not every day!! Job had questions about his sufferings and God answered him with more questions! "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" "Who determined its measurements?" (Job 38:4-5) In other words, I know what I am doing!!! You just have to trust me on this one! (personal translation here!!) Habakkuk 3:17-19 was Habakkuk's response to the things he was a witness to all around him. God is in control and He knows what He's doing. It doesn't make sense to me what is going on in my life at the moment, but God is using this to work all things for His glory. I may not get the answers I want to my questions, but I know that God is in control. He loves me and He wants only His best for me. I prayed specific prayers and He gave specific answers so why should I question Him. I can learn from Job that I need to remain faithful to God no matter what. I can learn from Habakkuk that God will strengthen those who live by faith the same confidence that a sure-footed deer has in climbing mountains.

Yes, I still have questions that I would like some answers for, but I have realized that my answer is "Just you wait and see! I hear your prayers and questions, Becky. You are my child and I am working all things out for you that will bring ME the most glory. Things that you can't even imagine or know. I am in control. I haven't forgotten about you. I know exactly what you need and where I am going to need you. Keep doing, keep trusting, keep serving and yes even keep asking me questions! Most of all, keep looking to me!"

See you on the High Hills!

Becky

New Every Morning

When I was in college, I learned to do counted cross-stitch. I loved it! I especially loved to design my own patterns for friends. These designs were usually a favorite Bible verse for the person. One of the first things I ever made for someone was for my pastor when I was in college and was the verse from Lamentations 3 describing how God's mercies are new every morning! (He then wanted me to cross-stitch Psalm 119!! all 150 verses! I did it but in four parts: Psalm 119, verses 1-50, verses 51-100, amd verses 101-150!! they all were in little 2 inch frams that hooked together!! He hung it up in his office!!) Memories like these remind me of the special people in my life and how much I appreciate the time they invested in my ministry today. I'll always remember Bro. Tom or "Dr. Daddy" as I called him. He encouraged me to press on and find my calling and purpose in life. I remember the talks my friend, Barb, and I would have on his front porch swing and how he always seemed to know what they were about! We thought he had a microphone out there on the porch recording us!!

All this to say, he was just one of the many people who God has placed in my life to help me along the way discover all that God has for me to do. Every morning, He sends reminders to me of His new mercies and great love for me. Music camp was my reminder last week. I made some new friends who are praying for me now as I search for where God wants me to serve next. God sent me lots of sticky notes last week through the kids and the message in the music we learned. "Sticky Notes and Bible Quote" helped me realize that I need to spend more time memorizing the Word so that when faced with some sticky situtations of my own, I will have God's reminders with me at all times! The kids did a great job of leading us in worship Saturday night. I was sitting at the front of the stage helping adjust the mics and prompt the kids if they needed any help with their verses. As the end of the program was getting close, I soon realized that I did have tears in my eyes! I was so excited for the kids and the great job they did, but I was also reminded at how much God loves me and how much that love cost! God used those 56 smiling faces to show me that last week. I hope and pray that I was that encourager to one of those kids last week, just as Dr. Daddy was to me many years ago!

I am so grateful that God sends me sticky notes everyday from His word. I often find notes in my bible written next to specific verses that remind me of the people in my life as well just as that verse in Lamentations reminds me of Dr. Daddy. As I have been searching for a new place of ministry over the past few months, God has allowed me to meet many new people to be a prayer warrior and encourager to me in my search. I am so humbled at how He has taken care of my needs and answered my prayers. Recently, I had interviewed with two churches and things looked very positive with both places. I really didn't know how I was going to make a decision between the two. I prayed for God to show me very clearly what path He wanted me to take. He did that the very next day when I got an e-mail from one church saying they had decided to go in another direction and not continue with my application. I was very disappointed and a little discourage to say the least! Then it hit me!! God had very clearly answered my prayer and closed that door for my protection! He knows me and where I am most needed and that was not the place! I waited to hear from the other church and was excited that door still remained open. I continued to pray for God's guidance and direction, trusting that He knows best. Two weeks later, the door at the second church also closed. I know it is for my protection and in His time, He will open the door He has for me. In the mean time, I know I am where I need to be. After this door closed, another church contacted me that they had my resume and were in the process of praying for the person God has for their children's minister. God's sticky note reminder that He knows best and is still working! Several other new opportunities have opened up as well. As a friend reminds me often "All in His time!"

Well I need to end this post! Lots of thoughts still roaming around in my head but they will have to wait till another time!

Becky

Ministry Verse: Psalm 78:4

"We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done." Psalm 78:4 This is my ministry verse; the verse that pushes me to reach and teach children. Psalm 78 is a history lesson for the Jewish nation and tells the story from the time of slavery in Egypt to David's reign. The parents had to teach the children of all the things that God had done in the past. Without passing this history on to the children, the mighty acts of God would have been forgotten. The rest of the chapter recalls the history of how God took care of all the needs they had as they made their way to the promised land. It was a reminder to me of why God specifically called me to the ministry. I have to invest in the future generation if the church is to have a future. It's not a ministry of babysitting and keeping the kids busy, but one of helping them realize their need for a savior. It's helping them grow as Jesus did "in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

I am seeing this verse lived out this week! I have the opportunity to help a friend with a community music camp for children. It has been an absolute blast being with the kids , the teen and adult volunteers, and the director. The children are spending the week in Bible study, playing games, doing crafts, and learning about music. We are working on a musical that will be presented to the community on Saturday night. Today I helped Lynn, the director, as she listened to each child sing so we could assign the 34 solos and 25 speaking parts to the 56 kids. After just two days, the kids were able to sing one of the songs with just the music tracks. They have had the cd to listen to before the week started, but to hear them sing today was amazing. Each child does have two Bible verses to learn for the presentation so I issued a challenge to them today. If they could say each verse to me, I would let them sign my arm with a sharpie! (Yes, a sharpie but I do have a secret for getting it off--OFF bug spray!) It's a great moivation to memorize your verses when you can write on a grown-up's arm! I have several names on my arms from today and am expecting many more before the week's end. I had one little girl try several times today before she could write on my arm. More about her later!

This week reminds me of why I do what I do! Lynn and I worked with each group as they all sang a solo part. Some were eager to sing while others had to be pushed just a little. We then spent over two hours after camp matching parts and kids together. Along the way she was telling me about the past music camps and stories about some of the kids. There were several times today that I had 'freeze bumps' on my arms. I have been so very blessed already from the week. At first, I just wanted to be there to just help Lynn with things, but God knew what I needed and has sent 56 smiling faces to greet me each day. I have been able to connect with some of the kids, share with a few parents, and make new friends. I know Saturday will be amazing as we are allowed to see what God is going to do through these kids.

The sweet girl I spoke of earlier goes to church with me. She has always been on the shy side, but now I have a friend for life!!! She worked and worked on her verse today so she could write her name on my arm. I saw her after camp this afternoon. She had just gotten in the car and buckled up but had to get out to give me a hug and show her brother where she wrote on my arm! That was just one of my "God hugs" for the day. I can't wait for more tomorrow!!

Well, I guess I need to find a way to end this for the night. I'm not sure there will be a new post every few days, but I will post again after the presentation on Saturday. I will probably have leaky eyes but that's okay. A friend told me recently that is how God made me and He understands!! And as the kids are learning this week, "We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. We are His greatest creation!"

Blessings, Love and Light!

Miss Becky

Well, this is a first for me-A BLOG! God has really been teaching me some really cool things during the last year and instead of telling everybody the same thing over and over again, I thought it would be a better idea to share some of those things in a blog so here it goes.

The title of the blog is based on the wise council I recieved from a pastor friend as I entered a great storm in my life last fall. He told me that no matter what was going on all around me, I could always count on the fact that the SON is always shining above the storm clouds no matter how dark they were. I thought about times when I had flown in a plane and how the rain and storms were raging on the ground, but as we took off and the plane went higher and higher in the air, we broke through the storm clouds and flew in sunshine for the rest of the trip. God knows our struggles, our fears, and our storms. He calmed the seas with the sound of His voice in Matthew 8:23-26. Why should I fear when the storms come my way? He knows what's going on and I know He will see me through.

There are days when i feel like I am still in the middle of the storm that started last year, but I know the Son is still shining and I will one day see the beautiful rainbow that always follows a storm. That rainbow is a promise that God will always be with me, no matter what.

Thanks for joining me me on this journey. I look forward to what God is going to reveal to me in His perfect time!

Becky