Letter to My Pastor for Pastor Appreciation Month

To my Pastor,

First and foremost, I must thank you for your complete obedience to The Lord. Thank you for submitting to His call on your life to preach the Word of God. You preach the Truth without compromise. I admire the passion that is displayed when you boldly declare the message He has placed on your heart week after week. Your God-loving, God-fearing passion inspires me to my core to become more on fire and bold for our Jesus.

Thank you for pouring hours and hours into your study and sermon preparation each week as you listen to the Holy Spirit lead you.

Thank you that His praises are continually on your lips and He is the mediation of your heart.

Thank you that prayer is essential in your life. You pray continually with confident faith and you encourage and teach others that prayer is “the engine that drives the church”.

Thank you for allowing the love of Jesus to pour through you to many people. Some are easy to love, and others— not-so-lovable. You put your faith and love into action by your kind words and sacrificial giving day after day, hour after hour. The door to your office is always open for anyone who needs to share their burdens. Late night or the wee hours of the morning do not stop you from going to minister to a family in crisis.

Thank you for you being real. You humbly share from your heart and your life experiences. You are the same at church as you are outside of church.

Thank you that in your realness, you are not ashamed to shed a tear. The tears you shed when your heart is hurting with a family or that is shed over the awesomeness of what Jesus did on the cross serve as a beautiful reminder of the love inside you and that you are NOT ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for being a servant-leader. I watch in amazement at how you sacrificially put other people and their needs before your own. Many times I have seen you waiting at the end of the line for food at a covered dish dinner. You never hesitate to roll-up your sleeves to help the church set-up/break-down crew. You never hesitate to teach the Youth or the children when there is a need. You graciously jump at the opportunity to push a wheelchair down the hall of the nursing home after monthly outreaches.

Thank you for being content with much and content with little. Thank you that when there are times of 'little' you do not worry, instead you have faith that God will provide according to His glorious riches.

Thank you for loving your family unashamedly. You are a godly father to your two daughters. You have exhibited to them what to look for in a godly man. You love, cherish, respect and support your wife at all times. You love her as Christ loved the church.

I know as you read this letter of appreciation that I have attempted to write, you are probably shaking your head and humbly saying, “it’s not me. It is ALL The Lord”. That is so true. Please know, Pastor Jim, I pray for you daily. I admire and respect you and the transforming power of Christ that is working in your life. Thus, the point of my letter is to publicly say I love you and appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Love,

Becky

My Name is....Barky Burton??

I’ve always said I will answer to almost anything! Many years ago, my husband worked with a very sweet older lady who called me “Diane” for years. Yep, she even sent me a card addressed to “Diane”. I didn’t have the heart to tell her any different, so I answered to Diane for years.

This week was a funny reminder of the many names I’ve been called. I received two voice mails this week, each addressing me as a different name. One lady called me Rachael and the other called me Jane. Both eventually realized they had looked at their lists wrong and corrected their mistake. The funniest name so far happened two days ago through a deaf relay interpreter. I called a deaf friend and the interpreter promptly misread my friend’s finger spelling of my name and said to me, “Hi! Is this BARKY?”. Barky?? Now that is a first! (Of course Jim and Jordyn really got a kick out of this new name. Unfortunately, I think this one may stick for a while).

Diane, Rachel, Jane, Barky, Beckums—names will come and go but I am thankful that there is One Who knows my name. He will never get my name confused with another. I am thankful that through the saving blood of Jesus Christ, my name is written in His book of life. I am thankful that He knows me as His child. Does He call you His child???

He Knows My Name (song and music by Tommy Walker)

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in his hands

CHORUS:

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

and He hears me when I call

verse 2:

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

Catchy 80's tunes

It seems my hubby updated his blog last night and thus inspired me to update my blog as well. (Okay, okay...you know me well. You know I can't let him get one up on me!!). Be sure to check out his blog entry "Catching Up"

As I was typing this update, the popular insurance commercial was on TV. You know the commercial that plays an old 80's tune while small eye balls appear to be watching unsuspecting people. The tune seems to ALWAYS get stuck in my head......'I always feel like somebody'swatching meeeeee'. So true are the lyrics. Someone is always watching me....not just someone but SOMEONE! Proverbs 15:3 that says, "The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good." It is re-assuring to know that The Lord is watching me. I pray that what He sees will not be a disappointment to Him but may He find me faithful about His work. My heart echos the line of a well known gospel song -- "May the story of my life be worship in Your eyes!

I'll leave you with some pictures of happenings from The Burtons Summer 09:

Jordyn at the Jonas Bros. Concert in Washington DC

My daughter (Amanda) and my son-in-law (Josh)

Our church picnic--I was a bit excited about the Adult vs. Youth 4-square game

Me, mom and dad!

OBX Vacation 09

Jordyn and Pop

This needs no explanation

Jim and Pop steaming some crabs during vacation at OBX. Yum!

The gang at OBX

Mom's famous 4th of July Cake (just for Jim)

Again---no explanation needed.

It's a Boy----okay, well a Son-in-Law

My daughter, Amanda, and her hubby (as of June 20, 2009)! Congrats and welcome to the family Josh!!

What a "Snuggie" Day!!

I sure have missed hanging out with Jordyn the past few weeks. (She has been working full time--her first official "job"). Today she was off so we decided to have a "GDO" and I quickly realized there are some perks to Jordyn having her own spending money. My precious baby girl bought her mommy a much-wanted SNUGGIE!!!

(Of course, when I saw it in Target I had to try it on!!)

It's time to FEAST!

How ironic that my blog title is “Feasting” and today is National Donut Day! (I hear Krispy Kreme has free donuts today!)   I personally wish I could be in Carolina Beach today munching on a Britt's Donut….but I’m not.  *sigh*.  Back to reality.....

Surprising as it may be, my post has nothing to do with feasting on donuts but it does have to do with feasting.  Feasting and choices.  Yesterday, my man and I had a nice discussion about fasting (the opposite of feasting).  I am currently reading a book by David Nasser that encourages a personal fast and I was sharing with him what I had read that day.  At the end of our conversation, Jim told me he was going to work-out and listen to a few sermons.

What he said stuck in my mind.  My mind started churning.  I was thinking of fasting.  Wondering why more Christians don’t fast?  Then my “spaghetti” brain skipped to feasting?  Why don’t we feed our spirits?  We don’t we hesitate to feed our physical bodies with donuts and other sweet things when we want but, yet, neglect our Spirit?   We feed ourselves heavy servings of the things the world offers (TV, radio, Facebook, internet games, etc.)  yet we starve ourselves spiritually or even just "skip" the "spiritual meals" by not surrounding ourselves with things that feed us.  Things of The Lord that will give us life, give us strength.  Spiritual nutrients.

I often find myself burdened for Christians who seem to want change in their life but don’t care to do anything to change their situation.   Let’s be brutally honest.  We choose to spend hours of time per DAY on Facebook playing games and taking quizzes but we don’t spend fifteen minutes a day reading The Bible or seeking The Lord, much less praying.  We spend hours each week watching American Idol (yes, I'm guilty too!) and voting for our favorite contestant, rush out and buy their latest CD, memorize the lyrics to their songs but can't recall all the words to our favorite Christian song, much less recall Bible verses.  And all the while, we have the nerve to wonder “what is wrong with our world today?”, or ask "why doesn't anything ever change in my life?".  

Maybe it isn’t a fast that some need but instead we need to start with a “Feast”.  Feast on the things of the Lord.  Surround ourselves with things that feed our spirit.  Here are just a few easy things we can do:

•  Why not work out and listen to Christian music on our Ipod?
• Listen to Klove (Christian music www.klove.com) while on Facebook or checking emails.
• Put down romance novels and replace with a good Christian book (most libraries have Christian books)
• Replace our favorite 80’s CD with a sermon on CD while driving to work (www.oneplace.com has a large variety of free sermons)
• Replace Guitar Hero with Guitar Praise (http://www.guitarpraise.com/home.php)   (**Just a side note if you think Christian music is boring, bubble gum pop music then be sure to check out the bands Skillet, Disciple or Kutless)

Lastly I must add another FREE resource that will help us feast (trust me, I'd say this even if I were not a PW):

• Go to church regularly-- (unlike the races, little league games, golf, football, shopping--church is free!!). You know the command in the Bible that says "Do NOT neglect meeting together as some people do but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Heb. 10:24.  If you don't have a church--find one!  If you don't like your current church---go to a new one.  Just do it.
  

So instead of a 40 day fast, will you do a 40 day feast???  We live in the great age of technology and therefore, it is easy to feast.  There are many resources at our fingertips – many are free.   Take advantage of it!  Make the choice ----it is time to start feasting......time is short Christians!!

Jordyn's Prom

Jordyn went to her Homeschool Prom last night. Sniff, Sniff...I am still wiping tears from my eyes. They grow so fast.

Hello....my name is Becky.

Just in case anyone forgot my name while I have been m.i.a. the past six weeks, I'd like to re-introduce myself. So much has happened since I last blogged, I don't want to bore you with words. So, I'll share a picture re-cap with pictures in random order (captions are under pictures):

Visited Libert University (why? Jordy graduates in one year!!)

Jordyn and Beck acting like LUnatics! (ha ha....get it?)

Jordyn won first place in the Richard Bland Scholarship competition! She played Moonlight Sonata flawlessly!!

Had a babyshower for my buddy!

Baby Landis Richardson was born.

CCF women's fellowship. This was an ice breaker game...101 ways to wear a Bandana.

Tilli had a birthday -- she is now in the Terrible Two's!

Took Jordyn riding.

Lent ended! Me and Pop "toasting" our first taste of chocolate.

Easter Sunday...poor mom..she looks rather, um, vertically challanged.

Finished this amazaing study with my peeps at CCF! It's tough being a woman....ha ha

Getting ready to teach this class with my rockin' Hubby!!

Snow, glorious snow!!!!

Though this is a bit out of context, these words from 2 Samuel come to my mind as I praise The Lord for the beautiful blessing of a March snowfall in Central Virginia!!!

....I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this....

Yes, I made a snow-angel. :) It was pure delight.....

Jordyn stepped outside for a quick photo shoot--poor gal has been sick so no snow ball fights this time.

Jim enjoying his coffee and the fact this is the first time since 1970 that we had a big snow and he did NOT have to go to work at a grocery store!

Tilli - not a fan of the snow!


Serenity now.....

Saw this video and quote on Vickie Courtney's blog and thought it was very inspiring.



"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words." St. Francis of Assisi

The race and other “feeling” old ramblings

Someone asked me why I had not blogged in a while. Good question. I haven’t had anything to blog about. I am sure my desire for snow and my love of ice cream gets old after a while. I had an adventure tonight that is worth a good laugh or two.

I’ll start by saying today was interesting. You know those days where the body is just not what it use to be? It started with trying to press to the back of my brain and help Jordyn with the quadratic formula for school. Praise The Lord I have the Teacher Key. Brain in a fog, I hurried off to my appointment with my PCP --which led to some lab work. Fun. Fun.

Jordyn was hanging out at her friends house so we had to drive to Richmond to pick her up. My precious hubs went with me. Not enjoying driving at night these days. Guess I need to go see my eye doctor (*insert: feeling old). Jim needed to get his cell phone fixed so we decided to do the dreaded deed of going to the “cell phone place”. I don’t know about you, but my prior experiences have been rather L-O-N-G in these places. I have a feeling I am not the only people that experience long waits. Reason being --as I was getting out of the car, the nice older couple beside my car gave me a sweet smile. I returned the smile. Took a few steps and looked over their way to see them looking at me…and their smile was fading. In a split second, we both realized we were heading for the “Cell phone store” front door..…to which we both increased our speed as we walked across the parking lot. (You know the cute little “run-walk” waddle? Yep you got the picture). I am sure you know how this ends….OF COURSE, I didn’t plow them over or elbow them out of my way when I got to the door…to be very honest with you, they won. Fair and square. They flat out “waddled” their sweet selves faster than yours truly! (*insert: feeling REALLY old and out of shape!)

With pride hurt, I humbly stepped to the computer to register us for service. Thus started our wait. (*I must say this particular location had great customer service tonight*). Jim and I had fun going from one display phone to another while we waited. We cracked ourselves up as it took us several attempts to pry the silly little cell phones open to find a hidden treasure that resembled a keyboard inside most. (And not just any keyboard but a cute little “qwerty” keyboard. Are you impressed? wink, wink).

I did notice the marketing in this store is aimed toward the “young-uns generation.” Posters decorated the walls displaying kids with skinny jeans and converse shoes, lounging in their funky hip-red chairs . As I was patiently waiting with hubs looking at the posters, I realized there were no funky hip-red chairs to be found in the store. Shoot, there were no chairs at all in that place! I guess the “I can text standing up, sitting on the floor or with my eyes closed” young-uns don’t have feet and legs that ache like mine do. Maybe I’ll email my “cell phone place” and suggest some chairs. We older folks need to take a load off once in a while!

It is places like cell phone stores that make me realize that technology is moving way faster than I am (just ask Mr. and Mrs. “I waddle faster than you” that I met in the parking lot).

Our experience at the “cell phone place” ended with our under -25 year- old- technology expert telling us the problem with Jim’s cell phone was the battery. The battery was old. (Yes, he used the word OLD). How could the hip young expert know the battery was old? Simple. When the battery gets old, it starts to swell. That comment was par for the course. Isn’t that like humans? The older we get, the more we swell (packing on those pounds in the mid-section).

Jim and I had a great laugh tonight. We figured we’d celebrate our “I feel old tonight date” by having some ice cream. Now, I am just hopin’ we don’t get acid reflux.