July 27, 2010

Good Tuesday Morning –

Last week was a very special week for thirty of our children from Sierra Bible, as we headed up the hill into Kings Canyon for beautiful Hume Lake Christian camp.  For most of our kids, this was a first time away from home experience!  What fun they had, sleeping in real covered wagons, eating at the chuck wagon, trading at the trading post, playing lots of fun games and, of course, hearing from God’s word.   From morning until late in the evening, their day was filled with what all kids should experience – extraordinary fun and biblical truths from God’s Word.

Thursday night is our traditional decision night around a campfire.  I thought you might enjoy hearing some of our children’s responses.

I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my heart.

My decision is to ask Jesus to forgive my sins and ask him to come into my heart.  I have decided to stop lying and stop talking behind others back.

To allow God to help me with my daily problems.

To walk with God and to be in his army.  To grow more as a Christian by reading my Bible, praying and going to church more often.

I was putting Jesus in second place and I want Him to be first.

To surrender my life to the King – Jesus Christ.

I accepted Jesus into my heart tonight.  I am not perfect I am a sinner and I need Jesus because Jesus died on the cross so that we might live.  I want to go to heaven when I die.

What a joy it was to read the decisions that were made by our 9, 10 and 11 year old children.

Praise God for our children and for a camp like Hume Lake!

Have a blessed day,

Becky

July 20, 2010

Please pray for Becky and her counselors as they speak Truth into the lives of our 4th through 6th graders at Wagon Train Camp (Hume Lake) this week.  Also pray for the kids to be receptive to what God has to say to them.  May they all come back with stronger relationships with God and with each other.

Thanks for praying!

July 13, 2010

The week, our children’s lesson will focus on priorities.  What do we hold most important in our life?   Where do we put our time, talents, energy and money?  Our children will hear a parable from Luke 12, where Jesus tells about a man who put all his time, money, and efforts into temporary things.  He was busy building barns for all that he gained from this world, and then suddenly he is dead!  All that he has worked for is of no value to him.  Jesus helps us see through this important lesson. . .that it is only what we do for eternity that has any lasting value or merit.

As I drove to work this morning, I listen to a great lesson on balance.  Are we so stressed out from our daily list of things to do, or so worried about paying bills and getting things done, that we forget that our focus should be on God and what we can do for eternity?  I pray not.  I pray that we will stop and listen to our children, take time for our neighbors, and even for ourselves.  To read God’s word, spend time in prayer and rest.

I like the poem by Forest Witcraft that says, “One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had, nor what kind of clothes I wore.  But the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.”    Yet, this is only true if we give our children eternal hope and perspective found only in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

My verse for the day is this:  “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”   Psalm 119:10

Becky

July 6, 2010

Summer Tuesdays

Summer is my favorite time of the year.   It may have started when I was a child, with no school, and with summer camp, family campouts in the mountains or even in my own backyard, and just long days with friends and family.  All of these things were part of my childhood years, and even to this day the sound of a lawn mower, pool pump, or ice cream truck can each make me smile.

Seeing my garden come to life and spending quiet, still mornings on our deck gazing up at the mountains reminds me of how good our heavenly Father is to us.  Today there was a bird so big in our bird feeder, I wasn’t sure it would get out.  Another bird tried to fly into my kitchen.  Meanwhile, I’m working away on my computer, with the dog asleep under my feet.  It made me smile and feel happy and blessed for God’s amazing creation.  Again I was reminded that we are so blessed to be able to enjoy such simple and yet wonderful pleasures.

I pray that you will enjoy your day.

Becky

Psalm 148

Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.  He set them in place for ever and ever;
he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens,
old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

He has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his saints,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.

June 22, 2010

Happy Tuesday morning!

Each year in June, we create a special week just for kids at Sierra Bible; and right now, we are currently having the time of our lives with just under 400 children and 75 – 100 incredible leaders.

I feel very blessed that we have the opportunity and privilege to host this unique week.  It is an opportunity to plant many seeds of God’s love in the lives of precious children.  It is also an opportunity for a large group of leaders of all ages to come together and service Jesus.

I pray that at the end of this week our light will have shown brightly on our community…spreading the goodness of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the amazing way He has equipped so many to serve Him.

If you get a chance, stop by and hear the music, enjoy the morning opening skits, grab a yummy snack (today is watermelon and chocolate chip cookies!), try your hand at crafts, or slide down with a splash on our waterslide.  You might also enjoy hearing the wonderful Bible stories told in our little theater, or be blessed as you watch our children bow their heads in prayer as they hear the needs of others in far away countries.  Above all, I pray that you will take a minute and pray for us that God will continue to guide us on this week of total and complete fun created for His children.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them,  the kingdom of God belongs to them”.

Joyfully,

Becky

June 8, 2010

Good morning!

It is two weeks before the big kids week at Sierra Bible!  Lots of exciting things to do, creating a waterfall, making rocks and bridges, giant trees, organizing crafts and refreshments, and encouraging our team of over 100 people!

Please pray for us.  It is my hope and prayer that through this week God will be glorified.

Have a great day and if you aren’t too busy come on over, and I’ll give you a paint brush!

Becky

May 25, 2010

I hope that your Tuesday is going well, and that you are aware of God’s grace and goodness in your life.  I thought I would share with you some of my personal devotion for today.

Often we feel overwhelmed with the needs around us, or alone in our own neediness.  It blessed me and reminded me of how God intends us to live our lives.

Ecclesiastes 4:1 and 8-12

1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter. Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

⁸ There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!

⁹ Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

¹⁰ If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I pray that you are not trying to live your life alone.  I also pray that as we see the needs of others, we will reach out in love and care.  There is encouragement and help within the body of Christ.

So – reach out if you are in need, or find someone you can help and encourage.  When you do, you will be encouraged too.

Blessings,

Becky

May 11, 2010

I hope you are having a good Tuesday morning wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.  This month, we are getting ready to have a special day to bless others in an intentional way.  It is our Faith in Action Sunday.  While we should intentionally serve Christ by helping others every day, this is one day we as a church family have set aside to say we want to be Jesus’ hands and feet.   We can start making a difference in the life of someone who is needy, lonely, or hurting—a day to shine the light of Christ into our community.

I have been struggling personally with what I could do.  Nothing really feels good enough.  How can I possibly make a difference in our world?  Today as I was preparing my lesson for Sunday morning, I was reminded once again that apart from Christ I can do nothing.  In the book of John, Jesus reminds us that it is only when we are connected to Him that we can be effective in our world.  Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.

Any of my efforts to help the poor, needy, lonely, or oppressed apart from Christ would be in vain.  Yet as I allow Christ to work within me, He will shine His light into our world.

As you look forward to our Faith in Action Sunday, may we realize the privilege we have of allowing Christ to work in and through us.

Blessings,

Becky

May 4, 2010

What a wonderful Sunday morning we have had this past week!   Thank you for all who came and gave of your time and energy as we shared the message of Jesus, the Bread of Life.   At our 11:00 service, one of our 4^th grade girls stayed after class.  She asked her teacher, “Will you please tell me how I can invite Jesus into my life?”  Together they bowed their heads, and she prayed to receive Jesus as her personal Savior and Lord.  Following their time together, she came to tell me the exciting news.  This little girl was smiling, and she was eager to tell others the good news that Jesus had come into her life.   We are blessed in Promiseland to plant many seeds.  We joyfully water and nurture each week, but on this Sunday we were able to see the harvest.  Please pray for the children and leaders in our Promiseland ministry…that seeds of God’s truth will be planted each week.

Becky

April 27, 2010

In 2002, a very shy little fourth grade girl joined with a group of other children as we prepared for a spring children’s musical.  For twelve weeks we met weekly, practicing, singing, dancing, laughing, and bonding together through the joy of music.

Singing, “Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere and every way,
every moment of the day, it is the right time for the Father above,
He is listening with love, and he wants to answer us. Let us pray…

Or…

You are never too far from me wherever I am,
I know that you will be  in my life situation,
so I’ll give my full attention to loving you and serving you,
and my praise leads me to the Rock that is higher than I…

These are just some of the songs that made up the very fun musical called “Jailhouse Rock.”  That group of children learned that Jesus wanted to set us all free from the bondage of sin.

Fast forward to 2010, and that little girl has grown up.  She has continued to trust the Rock that is high and lived her life as a follower of Him.  Before she knew it, she was preparing for her senior year of high school, wondering what she could do for her Senior Project.

I am blessed to say that Alex Kerzich felt the desire to give back what she had been given.  It was her dream to share her love for Jesus and her talent for singing and dancing with the children, and to give other kids the same opportunity she had been given. So on January, 2010, Alex began leading a new generation of children at Sierra Bible in the musical “Jailhouse Rock.”  For months now, they have been singing, dancing, and bonding.  Most importantly, learning about prayer and a relationship with a loving Father, who forgives and has the power to set us free.

And so on May 2^nd at 5:00 in the evening in Promiseland, I encourage you to join us!  You won’t be sorry.This is Alex’s senior project – leading children to Jesus and helping them to know more about Him.  Way to go, Alex !  I’m so proud of you, and I thank you!

God’s greatest and richest blessings to you as you serve Him.

Becky

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