February 2, 2012

My morning devotions took me to Romans 12:2.  Here we read, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

So how do I actually renew my mind…Especially when I have so much to do and so many obligations?  When I have people who expect things from me or problems that do not seem to be resolved?  Instead of focusing on Jesus, I seek my own methods.  I try to get approval from others or work out situations according to my thoughts and ideas.  As I do this, I spend a lot of time with worry and a lot of time feeling unsure.  My family, coworkers and friends see a lot of me, but not a lot of Jesus.   Sorry to say, this is usually the pattern of my world; yet when I remember to take my eyes of my issues and my idea of fixing things and lay it at the feet of Jesus – freedom comes.   I can say, “Its ok, I know God will handle this.  I may not know the outcome, but I know Jesus will ride this wave with me.  And He will stay and with it the peace comes.”

So I pray today that you will renew your mind by seeking Jesus.  Spend a little time in the Word and then lay yourself and your problems at His feet.

Thanks you Jesus for the blessing of your peace,

Becky

January 26, 2012

2012 has found SBC Kid’s Ministries as a busy and exciting place.   Each week, we meet new children and families.   I am greatly thankful for the leaders on our greeting team.  Tim Cain, Carole Jackson, Darleen Steiler, Jeanne and Ken LaBarge… kudos to each of you and thank you for serving Jesus with us in  Promiseland!  While it is always fun to have a full building, it is more my heart’s prayer that the children will leave with full hearts,  hearts that feel loved by their friend and leaders, and hearts that feel the love of Jesus.

Another exciting part of our Sunday has been going on the journey with the rest of our church family as we read The Story!  It is a blessing and a joy to teach the kids.  For some, it is the first time they have heard of Moses, Noah or Joseph, (unless it is in the context of a cartoon.  Check out the Rug Rats cartoon on Moses for an interesting version written in a secular context).   For other kids, they know the stories so well and can give better details than their adult leaders.  Yes…Sundays are great with the kids, but it is my hope that they don’t just come away with details of The Story.  I pray that our kids come to know the one who has written The Story.   I pray that it becomes a story not written on paper with ink but by the Holy Spirit on their hearts.

In 2 Corinthians 3:2, Paul wrote to the people in Corinth that their lives would be a story for others to read. He said, “You are our letter. You are written in our hearts. You are known and read by all men. You are as a letter from Christ written by us. You are not written as other letters are written with ink, or on pieces of stone. You are written in human hearts by the Spirit of the living God.”

May all of our lives be like a letter written from God so that others would see His love shining through all we say and do.

Becky

January 19, 2012

Thought I would share with you my morning devotional reading from Psalm 112.  I found it interesting that this was written as an acrostic poem in the Hebrew language.  It is my prayer that my day, as well as yours, will be filled with blessing and praising God.

Becky

Psalm 112

Praise the LORD.

Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.

Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their hornwill be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;

 

December 22, 2011

He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all.
And His shelter was a stable.
His cradle was a stall.
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
loved on earth, our Savior holy!

 Emmanuel, the promise kept.
It’s the longing of my heart for God in flesh.
Through this Child all earth is blessed.
Emmanuel

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Becky Howell &Family

December 8, 2011

Merry Christmas SBC Friends!

Yes, the holiday season is here.  With that comes a long list of things to do and places to be.  We have been very busy here at Sierra Bible preparing for Christmas.  One of the privileges I have as Director of Children is the opportunity to teach the story of Jesus’ birth in a simple and loving way.  For me, hearing the story of Jesus’ birth brings back so many memories.  I pray that we at Sierra Bible will be creating an environment where wonderful memories are made and, more importantly, opportunities to know the Savior Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.

This year, our kids have been working very hard on a fun musical that we will present to the church on December 18^th.  The musical’s theme is centered around a group of kids who have taken over the Christmas program.  Everyone wants to be the most important character in the story, but what they find is that it’s all about Jesus.  It has been so fun watching the kids prepare.  They are singing with all of their heart, using their gifts and talents to present this gift of a musical to you and to Jesus.  As I listen to their banter and laughter, I am praying that warm, loving memories will be filling their hearts.

Don’t miss the kids on December 18^th at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m.

Because of Jesus,

Becky

 

November 17, 2011

Happy Thursday Morning!

Just one week and we will be observing the American tradition of Thanksgiving.  Something that each of us are very familiar with and often take for granted.  Last Sunday, one Promiseland leader was trying to explain Thanksgiving to our friends who are visiting from Tanzania.  After hearing our dear friend, Moses, speak, I know that we here in Tuolumne County have so much to be thankful for.  Yet often we are like the Israelites, wandering around asking God for more instead of seeing the blessings that are right in front of us.

My Blessings are great this year, and with a grateful and humble heart I pray that the Lord knows how blessed I feel.  We have seen him answer prayers in our family with jobs and with health.  We have witnessed his protection and provision far beyond our own dreams.  We have felt His tender touch on our lives during days of uncertainty and sadness.  Thank you Jesus, for your abundant unfailing love.

I want to say that I am very thankful for you, our friends and co-worker in Jesus Christ at Sierra Bible.  Not just because you are filling a spot in Children’s Ministries, but because you care about the lives of the children and families in our community.

May God Richly Bless You This Thanksgiving,

Becky

October 13, 2011

Please pray for rest and refreshment for Becky as she is on vacation this week.  Thank you!

September 29, 2011

Hope your week has been filled with many blessings.  This is a busy time of the year for all of us.  So many things beginning and, as we see the weather turn to fall, we know that it won’t be long until we are talking about Christmas!

I am especially excited about something that will be beginning this Sunday at 4:00 pm, and that is our kid’s Sunday evening small groups:  Cubbies and Sparks for our preschool through 2^nd graders, and KidsCore for our 3^rd – 6^th grade boys and girls.  What a great opportunity this is for kids to learn scripture, understand more about God’s word, and develop relationship with other Christian kids.  I do hope that if you have a child in this age group you will consider joining us this Sunday…and if your children are grown, please pray for us!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Becky

September 15, 2011

Good Thursday Morning,

Just a note to say good morning and share with you some scripture that has been running through my mind for the past two weeks.

I would like to share it first in the version that I memorized it in (many years ago) and then next in the message.   From Titus chapter 2, verses 11 – 14, we read…
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

From The Message we hear a bit more casual voice.  It reads…
“God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.”

It caused me to wonder, “Do I realize what I have been forgiven?”  “Am I living a God-honoring life?”  “Do I look forward to the day when Jesus will appear and I will be with Him for eternity?”   I pray that God will speak to each of our hearts as we realize the promises of forgiveness and life forever with His son, Jesus.

See you Sunday,

Becky

 

September 8, 2011

Since Sunday morning, I have been thinking a lot about JOY.  If you were with us this past Sunday, you were able to see our awesome group of kids sing about joy from the bottom of their hearts.  It was also fun to get the adults in on the action by having them stand and join us for the fun!  I think they enjoyed getting to be a kid again for a few minutes as they participated in the excitement of the song.  It was not hard to find joy in that moment as voices were lifted together in praise, but later that morning our dear friend Walter shared from his heart the joy he is seeking to find minute by minute each day.  What a drastic contrast we observed as our precious friend gave us a glimpse of what his life has been like since his wife, Becky, lost her fight with cancer and has gone home to be with Jesus.

Joy was also found in the team that cut tons of fruit and dozens of muffins, or among those who met new visitors and greeted old friends.  I had a special joy as I talked with friends about the answered prayers we have seen in children’s lives.

So what is JOY, and how can all these situations be joyful?  I feel that the joy Christ gives us is actually because of our faith.  Through our faith in what Christ has done for us on the cross, we can be filled with joy regardless of our circumstances.

Romans 5

Faith Brings Joy

¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Joyfully,

Becky

Next Page »