Becky's Stories of Faith & Life

I became a Child of God and a Lutheran as an infant when I was baptized.  My parents and grandparents and cousins and extended family all attended the same Lutheran church and Sundays were filled with the love of Christ and the love of family.  So, at an early age, I associated church and Sunday School with the warmth of loving family members and the joy of reuniting each week in  fellowship.

My favorite part of the Gospel is John 10 --- the Good Shepherd.  As children in Sunday School, we were all given a picture of Jesus holding a lamb.  When I studied the Book of John, the chapter of the sheep knowing the master’s voice was so vivid to me and the words painted such a picture of security, love, and comfort that that scripture is written on my heart.  He is my shepherd and King.

Along with the Sunday School teachers and my parents who spoke and prayed God’s words, my faith walk has been greatly influenced by Pastor Michael McCarthy through Bible studies and spiritual guidance counseling and by my husband, Steven.  The first time I heard Steve pray in a Bible class I was drawn to his confident faith and love of Jesus.

My favorite Faith Lutheran Church memory is my wedding day to Steven.  It was a joyful celebration with the church members and our children and the youth group participating in the service.  Starting out a marriage with the loving support of our church family and continuing with that support makes me smile to remember that Steve and I will be celebrating 25 years soon!  A second favorite memory is the ordination of our daughter here at Faith and seeing her dance up the aisle as she rejoiced in her call!  Moments shared with church family are special and blessed!  Thank you, all, for sharing in our lives!

Some wisdom I can pass on is:  write in your Bible!  Dog ear the pages that call to you!  I never had until sharing a Bible study at Faith and receiving permission from Elizabeth to make notations in the margins of my Bible!  Now I enjoy journaling in my Bible and adding stickers, drawing pictures, painting across the pages to join in the story and to highlight the spiritual markers of life.  Big Advice:  Develop a spiritual relationship with Jesus!  Do everything you can to know Him!  

Favorite hymn first learned at Faith is  "Knowing You, Jesus".  We must ask the worship committee to add it to a service again.

My favorite scripture is Psalm 37:4!  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  It took many years of Bible study to realize that the closer I move to Him, the more my heart's desire is to be closer to Him!  What a wonderful change of perspective!  

There are so many things I love about Faith Lutheran, but I am so very touched by the love and acceptance shown to my children and grandchildren!  I love the Wee Worship Ministry of the church to draw the children into the hearts of the church body and the worship experience!  I also love those noise makers!  Another favorite scripture of mine is "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord"  Psalm 100:1 Lawson asks to come to church and soon so will Jax.  The images of the shooting stars at Christmas Eve service were priceless!  I receive great joy from the Bible Studies with others at Faith:  Bethel Bible Study, Experiencing God, The Holy Spirit and You, Crown Ministry, and many more because as I grew closer to Christ, I was growing closer to my family at Faith! 

Some of you may be surprised to know that I like to tap dance in elevators and on stairwells. Sometimes you may hear my tapping shoes and then you'll know I am happy being at Faith!

I have experienced the grace of God daily and am blessed to be His.  I had a wonderful experience at Via de Cristo where for the 72 hours of the spiritual retreat, I was able to experience the grace of God presented in so many tangible ways by other lay leaders, spiritual directors and servants of Christ that I was overwhelmed with His love and the love of others.  It takes a lot to understand that unmerited, unearned grace that is freely given!  I thank God for calling me to a retreat to experience that!  I thank God for His grace and mercy! 

Peace and grace to you!

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Becky has been a member of Faith Lutheran Church for 29 years and in that time has engaged in many faith formation opportunities, Bible studies, Via de Cristo weekends, and much more! She has led the congregation as the chair of the call committee, shares the gospel often through preaching, led the group that created the Wee Worship Place, and shares her gifts of creativity through additions to special worship services and the altered book group. Becky is an audiologist and works children through the school system. Becky is also a wife, mother, and grandmother.