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

April 20, 2010

In Colossians 3:13, the apostle Paul reminds us of the heart Christ wants us to have for one another.  It says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

God has given us a very special and unique gift – forgiveness.  This was so important to God that He sent His only son Jesus to be the forgiver of our sins.  As I was thinking about this today, I was reminded of how often it is not important to us or easy for us.  Forgiveness – we want to be forgiven, but so often we do not find it important to forgive.  So often, we look at forgiveness as conditional and according to our list of requirements.  How can I forgive the ones who have willingly hurt children in horrific and terrible ways?  How can I forgive those who take advantage of the poor, the weak, the sick?  How can I forgive those who neglect and offend with little regard for anyone but themselves?  How can I forgive when I have been overlooked or unwanted by others?  The list could go on, and I know that we each have our own list of injustices that surround our lives and the lives of those we love.

Jesus did not say it would be easy:   He just said to forgive as the Lord forgave you.  As I contemplated this, I realized it is only with His heart that forgiveness is possible or attainable.

It is my prayer that I might be able to bear and forgive the grievances that come into my life this week.  I pray that I may learn to do this with the heart and mind of Christ, willingly forgiving as Christ did and not according to my own set of expectations.  This is my prayer for you, too, because this verse goes on to give us awesome hope.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body we are called to live in peace.  Always be thankful!”

God bless you, and may you have a great day.

Becky

April 13, 2010

This past Sunday, we had the unique privilege of hosting 17 children from several different countries around the world.  Each of these children have been orphaned or abandoned because their parents were not capable of caring of them.  Each child came with an incredible story that would bring anyone of us to tears.  Yet each child knew and loved our Lord Jesus so much that there is a precious joy that surrounded them.  In June, these children will journey back to their home countries in the Philippines, Uganda or Nepal.  As poor as they are, they are excited to go home.  They miss their country, and they want to share the love and encouragement they have received here in the United States.  They want to go back and make a difference in their own homeland.

Many people were moved by the plight of these children as they listened to their stories and heard them sing.  I am thankful that so many reached into their pockets and gave.  Yet as I watched the response, I felt the need to bring to your awareness the dire situation that surrounds so many of our children right here in Tuolumne County.

Each week, we minister to children who are poor, hurting, lonely, fearful and, yes, abandoned.    Please pray for the children in Tuolumne County, and ask yourself if there is something you can do to make a difference right here in our own backyard.  God will bless you for it.

Blessings,

Becky

April 6, 2010

The sun is shining!  It is the beginning of a new week, and a new season, and a new opportunity to serve our Lord.

What a wonderful privilege we had Sunday sharing the good news of Christ’s resurrection to the many who attended our adult and children’s services.

A huge thank you goes out to the many leaders that came and served.  It is your commitment to Christ and “His Church” that made this weekend possible.  Thank you for making our services possible from the nursery up through adult worship.

It is my prayer that each of us will enter this new season of spring with an anticipation of living and serving Jesus Christ.  May each of us experience a renewed sense of His power in our lives.  My encouragement for you today is from Philippians 2:5-11, which says:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

To God’s Glory,

Becky

March 30, 2010

I am very thankful for the opportunity I had to get away this past month to the Children’s Pastors’ Conference in San Diego, CA.  Children’s Pastors is an amazing conference that is held in several parts of the country each year just for leaders in Children’s Ministries.  Together with over 2,000 other pastors, directors, and teachers, we were challenged and equipped to serve the very precious and most vulnerable in our population, “the children.”

I loved talking to leaders from other churches, and I treasured the sessions that better equipped me in areas that I had not yet explored.  But the most amazing part of the week was realizing that God is working in the lives of so many people in this country and around the world to reach children and families with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The gospel is going out.  People are passionate about helping children from every area, background, or life situation, regardless of the cost to their own personal life.

It was nice to be able to take Rachel Tidwell and Linda Romani with me.  Together, we enjoyed the learning and passion that we share for reaching children.  However, I wish that I could have taken my entire team of children’s leaders.  God has blessed us at Sierra Bible with some amazing groups of leaders who love and serve kids above and beyond our expectations.

I know at times we can all get discouraged and wonder why we are in Promiseland serving week after week.  We are here to tell children and families that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life!  We also realize the importance of keeping our eyes on the Father and serving Him.

I hope you will enjoy a beautiful Easter Service, and remember that our children have been working for weeks on a children’s musical that has a wonderful message of God’s amazing love for us.  Here’s a peek at one song:

You are never too far from me.
Wherever I am, I know that You can see
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.

On Christ the Rock, the solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is just sinking sand.
I’ll trust Your Word to light my way.
You teach me, Lord, to live by faith.

The kids will be singing on Saturday night at 5:00 and 6:30, and on Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00.

Becky

March 16, 2010

Becky is at a Children’s Pastors Convention, along with team members, Linda Romani and Rachel Tidwell.  Pray for their time together, as they learn more about reaching children and families for Jesus Christ.

Thank you!

March 9, 2010

Monday morning began with the banging of hammers and the clinking of change.  Dimes, quarters, pennies and nickels, along with some dollars and a few foreign coins, were found flying all over the conference table.  Our faithful team of Sierra Bible money counters were happily doing their Monday morning job of counting our offerings when they were handed about 200 plastic rice bowls to open and count.  I stopped for a while to hammer a few bowls open, empty the change, and separate the coins.  It was clearly going to take more time than I had to offer to get the job done.

When I last saw them, they had a three foot trash can filled with coins!  The volunteers were bent over concentrating on the task of counting, rolling, and getting the money ready to be carted off to the bank.  By the end of my day, the money had not all been counted, and I knew that our dear counting team would be back for more counting and rolling.

As I looked at the trash can so heavy with change that it could not be moved, I was reminded that it only takes .10 to feed lunch to a hungry child in Haiti.  Can you imagine the amount of children that we are feeding with our trash can of change!

This week put a dime in a visible spot to remember to continue to give, and always pray for hungry children everywhere.

Becky

March 2, 2010

Please pray for Becky while she is on vacation this week!

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us-”

Psalm 90 14 – 17

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