From a Joyce Meyer's devotional

Show Mercy (agape love) to Your Enemies 

I love the movie "El Cid," the story of the man who united Spain and became a great hero. 

For centuries the Christians had fought the Moors. They hated and killed each other. In battle, El Cid captured five Moors but refused to kill them because he realized that killing had never done any good. He believed that showing mercy to his enemies would change their hearts and then both groups could live in peace. 

One of the Moors he captured said, 'Anyone can kill, but only a true king can show mercy to his enemies.' Because of El Cid's one act of kindness, his enemies offered themselves to him as friends and allies from that point on. 

Jesus is a true king, and He is good, kind and merciful to all, even those who hate Him. Can we do any less than follow His example? Right now, can you think of anyone to whom you could show mercy? Being merciful and good, especially to your enemies, may be one of the most powerful things you have ever done. 

Prayer Starter: God, it's not easy, but like Jesus and El Cid, I want to be the kind of person who shows mercy to all, even my enemies. By Your grace, I choose now to live a life of mercy.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44 NIV)

This is God's answer to a prayer about how to answer a friend's post regarding agape love.  I love how God is using others to challenge my own life and moving me forward!  

Love you all!

What was my strongest church memory as a child?

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1554827051403169&id=1436270426592166

Wow, I remember alots of different "times"at church as a kiddo....so I don't know which one is my strongest one. As I sat here thinking, I was brought to sadness because my favorite times where when I got to go with my grandparents even if it was just me and them. I really loved it when it was the whole family but sometimes it was just Grandma, Papa, and me & my brother.  I miss them because that is where my love for singing came from. I miss Papa's deep bass voice and Grandma's fingers making the piano burst forth with worship and praise for God.  Okay..now I have happy tears again....happy because I got to be there and share their love for God and am FINALLY experiencing my OWN relationship with HIM! 

Felt the need to share this with everyone, and ask YOU the same.....

God is great all the time...All the time God is great!

Love you all!

I surrender all

We let our human nature get the better of us thinking of it is just a little thing and then it snowballs into us taking more control of our lives away from You. The song says I surrender all! Not just our beach front property! You don't want us to come to you during our bad times but during our good as well!  

This was something that God had me talk to my Dad about. He remembers his grandma Hennings and his mom being "Godly" women. I asked him what he meant. He replied that anyone who could keep her cool raising 10 children, referring to Grandma Hennings, just seemed to fit that. I said what little I remembered of Great Grandma, I know she had a relationship with God but I wasn't ever witness to it expect through her love. I never got to go to church with her or see her read her bible.  His mom, Grandma Lois, took me to church, let me she her reading and studying her bible. I saw her share her love of music and signing with those in the nursing homes and any where more than two were gathered.  

I aslo mentioned my mom's parents, Grandma Anne and Papa Charlie. I remember going to church with THEM often. Singing what we consider OLD hymns all the time! They would go and get together with people all over the state of Arkansas and Texas to praise and worship God through singing. Grandpa was a song leader and Grandma played the piano.  I also remember them have coffee during their quiet time while they studied their bible. 

I know Mom and Dad are saved but they have fallen victim to the world just as I did. Just as many of us do.we forget that God wants all of us and doesn't want to be our get out of jail free card. He doesn't want us to just call on Him when it storms but when it is sunshine and roses as well.

Father God, thank you for being there during this storm! Being without the COMFORT of running fresh clean water puts a strain on your life. Even being able to "rinse off" in the pond left us feeling dirty and the more the dirt piled up, the more the sin seemed to follow. The more compromises that arose.  If you just let me do this, I will do that...not just spoken outwardly but through body language and inner vows as well. But God was always there! He would let somethings work because we had given Him praise but as soon as we began relying on our own strengths AGAIN.....we got heat stroke, parts broke, etc..(you get the picture.)

Father God thank you for Your mercies that renew every morning! I am looking forward to this new day!  Please be with Sherry Langston and heal her allergic reaction to this unknown. Remove it from her work area!

Father God, be with little Hudson and family as they struggle with this allergic reaction that has developed into a bigger mountain that needs to know You gave us the power to make it jump! Please guide and direct the doctors and nurses involved! We pray healing and full recovery!

Father God, be with Kim's son, David. Please guide and direct the doctors and nurses involved! We pray healing and full recovery!  Father God, please be with Natalie Eaton and family! We continue to pray healing and full recovery! 

Father God be with our soldiers on foreign and local shores! Be with our police, fire, first responders, doctors and nurses! Let their work be a reflection of their love for You!  In all we ask, Your will be done! In Jesus Name, Amen!

Name Change

I know that many of you are wondering why I changed my name. I am on a journey to become closer to God and strengthen my relationship with Him. One of the steps in my journey has been through Freedom Prayer. It is a prayer session that invites the Holy Spirit to come and speak on behalf of healing wounds, renewing your mind, and transforming your life as God created you instead of the baggage and filth that you have been carrying around. During this prayer, God revealed that He gave me a new name.

Isaiah 62:2 The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.

Revelations 3:12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.


My new name isn't really NEW as in a complete change except in my identity with Christ! Becky was the one who truly fell in love with God and longs to be His child forever! I know it sounds weird or even illogically. It could even play into psychology as schizophrenia. BUT that is only if you are searching for a worldly answer of how God changes your life. He is amazing! I am so blessed!  

So even though I am still legally named Sharon Rebecca Linder, I am now Becky (once again for those who knew me before I graduated from high school). God finally gave me the words to explain exactly what happened! I know that God is not dead! 

I hope that you will stick with me on this journey and maybe even begin their own journey.
In Jesus' Name! Amen!

Time passes so quickly

It seems like it was just yesterday when I say your smiling face.  I heard your deep voice calling out for me to watch out and be careful. I felt your strong hands lifting me up when I fell and brushing off the dirt  from my knees and kissing my tears. Urging me to try again! Never give up! You can do it!
Today marks seven years since You went home to God. You are in such awesome company and no more pain. I know you spend all your time singing God's praise and smiling as you lounge in the presence of the Father and Son.
Your other friends and family are not forgotten. Papa Rube has been up there for twelve years.Grandma Lois has been up there for two years.  I wonder what your days are really like.  Do you look down on us and see our pain and struggles?  I pray that you see more of our good days than our bad.

This is for those who haven't gone to a new home!
I pray that God brings you the blessings of His Love! Let them flow down over your tired aching body and stressed mind allowing you to find that relaxing spot.  Here's to the heroes who never seek the spotlight even though it should seek them!  May a smile also grace your heart and spread to your face!

To write LOVE on my arms

I am writing this in response to a painful event that occurred over the weekend. A young man that one would not have expected took his life. I don't know the reasons and the only ones who truly need that understand are his parents and family.  

My reasons behind this post is to remind others that this is a selfish act. Believe me, when I say that NO ONE truly feels the way your thoughts are making you feel.  So let's break this down into little steps of understanding!

First - they are just thoughts. I have heard them. I know they sound real. They aren't!  They are just a group of fleeting imagined ideas that we have conjured up about ourself because it wasn't about us so we are going to make it ALL ABOUT ME.  It starts off small  - no one likes me and grows into the favorite line - I am no good to anyone and they would be better off without me.  If I had a nickel for everytime I told myself that lie...I would be a millionaire. 

Second - stop believing these lies you are telling yourself.  I know easier said than done! I have fought with these lies for over thirty years. Yes through grade school, even at home, even going to church and becoming a Christian.these thoughts stayed with me and followed me around like a shadow until I was set free with the realization that they are just that...THOUGHTS. And like the saying goes...thoughts can become ours actions.when we choose to focus and believe them over what is REAL. How do you find out the truth?  ASK! Don't keep these lies bottled up inside! I am guilty of this! I would lock myself away in my room and cry about what I felt was wrong...WHY ME.  Everyone would be better off without me. I am good for nothing, ugly, fat, stupid,etc. etc.

Third - there is no strength in keeping it to yourself.  Where would we be if God had kept Jesus and his story to himself? Exactly!  God shared His story with us so that we could draw in His strength. In their greatest times of need, prophets and apostles alike were asking others for prayer! They never went into BATTLES without God by their side in some form...prayer, burning bush, rainbow, etc. God is always by our side but we have to open our eyes and ears to Him.

Fourth - the battle never ends. The enemy wants us to think that it can be silenced with medication, alcohol, drugs, or even worse. Choosing to end the silence forever through whatever means is not the answer and only creates more questions. I have stood on the edge and thought that it would be easier for everyone if I wasn't around. And then God reminds me of each life I have touched in some form or fashion.  "Pick up my cross and follow me," He whispers. 

Fifth - remember you are not alone no matter how lonely you think you are. I am guilty of making my loneliness a prison because I don't think I offer anything that anyone needs or can be used. Then I realize this is how I treat God. I only need Him when I am hurting and sad...what about the other 300 days of the year?  As I told a friend tonight - God brings storms like this into my life to remind me that I have a purpose. To share what He has done for me.

This is just a little part of His goodness and grace. Please pray for this family during their loss. Please lift up others who you have seen small signs from. Also pray that God will open the eyes and ears of those who need Him. Continue to remember those who give their lives in sacrifice for our freedoms - not just our military but missionaries as well!  

With much LOVE in Christ!

Cold Turkey Christian

I want to know your opinion about becoming Christian. Turning over a new life, taking life in a new direction, to run the race to the ultimate goal... Do you give up everything....or just one leaf at a time...or EVERYTHING at once?
The background of this has to do premarital sex.  I am not judging anyone else's decision on this. I just want to know your opinion.
It is like any other addiction in one's life...you have to decide when it is time to change your life for the better, do you change it all the way or just a little bit at a time?
I want you to know that I am trying to change my life to become the wholehearted Christian I am suppose to be...I know that I haven't been living my life as I should...
Anyone? Everyone?
Prayers are always accepted!!!