Soul Savvy Sisters

Today, In honor of my weekly fellowship and in celebration of a life dear to my heart, I have decided to write about my sweet friend Taren Nicole Shelton! 

This beautiful lady is one of a kind! 

She is our BSM Intern for the year and was with us the previous year as well. Every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. we meet to talk about life and enjoy in each others lives! I do understand that she get's paid to hang out with me, but that is beside the point :) !  

Our time together is usually accompanied by coffee, you see this young woman is addicted. Actually its to the point to which coffee is one of her many passions! :) She loves to encourage and do life with everyone she comes into contact with, not content with surface level relationships which is right up my alley. I love that when we get together we can talk about life and just enjoy each others company, but are able to challenge each other spiritually as well!

Taren, is excellent at photography! She recently helped me with a little project for our women's bible study. Let's face it, she did the entire shebang! It is truly spectacular! I have always wanted to get into photography as a hobbie and she indirectly encouraged me to go for it! 

Our ministry truly has been blessed through the life of this wonderful woman! I am thankful to have such a great friend and leader! On Monday she turned 24! What a great opportunity to celebrate her life. I am so thankful for her and the obedience she has to surrender to God's call. She had an opportunity this year to pursue an outlet towards her dream of owning her own coffee shop, and she listened to her savior and chose to serve him through serving us! What an awesome example! 

This semester I have committed to memorizing Psalm 139, God has been working on my heart so much through this chapter of the bible! I read it often, and am slowly absorbing it. I need to be more intentional in my pursuit of this goal! 

This portion of the chapter clings to my soul. My beauty is defined by him, I am precious and held by the creator of the universe! Wow, so thankful for that promise! He knew me before I was born, he knew all the places I would live, all the places I would struggle, and all the areas of my life would bring him joy! Good stuff people, especially for the girl who struggles with insecurity!

I hope your day is blessed and filled with peace!

Stay Classy,

Becks

My Beloved. (Spoiler Alert)

As mentioned yesterday, joey and I attended Courageous this past weekend. At one point in this movie this father takes his daughter out to a fancy restaurant. It is beautiful, he is in a tux and she in a nice dress. As, she begins to digest and understand why he has done so much for her he pulls out a ring box. He then continues to ask her for the opportunity to approve of any and all boys who want the opportunity to date her, and to respect their decisions in her dating life. In asking this he also explains that he loves her more than she can digest and helps her to understand that she deserves only the best. The ring he pulls our is a gorgeous diamond heart with a gold band. As he puts it on her finger he tells her that this is intended to be worn until your wedding day. 

Of course, as any girl who loves her daddy would, she responds in a giggle and with thanks! The scene continues and she is seen starring at the beautiful ring that now occupies her left hand where her daddy placed it, heart filled with joy!

I just wanted to take a day to get back to the status of a daughter. I often forget that he is not only my God but my father. I am his precious and beloved child! I am held, cared for, and loved. 

In reading this morning, I came across beloved in 1 Peter, although it didn't come directly from the mouth of Jesus, it did tug my heart just as dearly. My daughter, come close! I hold your heart, your next moment, and your dreams. I will not let you fall. Wait upon my will, it will be greater than you could ever imagine on your own. Be still.

Remember today how your savior see's you. That bond is unique and specific to you! 

A special and sacred reminder that you too are

Beloved!

Be Blessed,

Becks

A man worthy of honor :)

I just would like to spend today to express how proud and grateful I am to have Joseph  Adam Watts in my life.

Saturday was the mark of our third year of dating, and no it wasn't some fairy tale day with this extra ordinary ending, however it was perfect. We kept it simple, spent the day relaxing and watching football then off to dinner and a movie. 

The flick we decided to see was Courageous! Such an incredible portrait of the call for men as spiritual leaders of their homes! Even cooler was the fact that there were probably a total of 5 women in the theater and the rest  of the seats were packed with several generations of men! Such a rare but spectacular thing to see.

When we left the theater I was so excited as to where that would lead our conversation for the remainder of the evening. God did not let me down! 

My savior is so passionately in love with me to want so great for me and to provide me such a man after his own heart! I get to see the man that most don't know on such a personal level. I get to see the man that is fearlessly pursuing Christ and seeking what is noble and true. I am awarded the opportunity to follow a man that is only leading me towards things the encourage growth and honor the God we serve!

I am so excited for where God is taking me, and even more thrilled that I get to see the ways he is leading Joe. This is just the beginning! 

The ways that he has grown in the past three years is incredible, I thank God daily for the good work he is doing in my future husband. Also for the ways he has and is continuing to develop our relationship and ministry together.

Please continue to be prayer warriors for us and with us! 

I am sorry for not posting my weight watchers stats but please help to keep me accountable... when i don't post I am cheating lol :)

For today:

Breakfast

Nothing :/

Lunch

Baked Ziti Smart One - 8 points plus

Dinner

Total Remaining Day: 

25 points plus

Activity Points:

Walking Tonight 

For A Lack of Words..

Stay Classy,

Becs

What is going on woman?

Wow, talk about a hectic crazy life! None of those adjectives should describe the life of a follower of Christ! This shows me just how little I am really relying on my savior to be my supplier of energy and my source of life! Any who now that I am done admitting I am a slacker and haven't been making the wisest of decisions. I am going to move on and accept the blessing of grace!

So here goes! My goal is to begin to blog everyday about each area of my life. Maybe I will chose each day of the week to be a specific topic! That sounds good! Today has been a weird day! Not doing so great, I got this killer sunburn while hanging out at "Life's a beach" today and it is wearing me out. I mean I where some large sunglasses, so these aren't even reasonably called raccoon eyes.. I feel like they are more like you got beat up and then got a sunburn around it eyes!

I have finally found a church to make my home here in CC and it is Lexington Baptist Church! I love the heart of this church family! I have found the fullness of community here and am beyond thrilled! This week we received our new minister of music and youth! He is awesome and is really excited to begin impressing upon our youth true discipleship. Wow, way to many exclamation marks, can you tell I am excited :) . So, this wednesday was the first youth night. It was cool to get to meet all of the students, they are really awesome kids and I can't wait to get to know them more.

Afterwards we had college discussion group. This time feels almost like seminary for average people. We dig into the topics that most Christians settle on and don't really care to dig to find the answers. We investigate controversial topics, I truly feel as though I am being sharpened and challenged here! Most often they are topics that non Christians struggle with understanding and hinder them from committing to turn towards a life of freedom in Christ.

This week the topic was "If heaven is so good, then how was "satan" able to do something so evil causing sin to enter the world." The way pastor scott sets it up is we pick a topic usually the week before so that we can investigate and then come back with some ideas. This week, there were none! So we begin looking through scripture, and googling the question. We come up with passages in Isiah, Ezekiel, John, Genesis, Revelations; yet none really tell the story. No where in scripture are we able to find this, it eludes to what happened, but no where is it flat out said. ( An hour and a half of searching and finding no answers to the Sunday school a+b equation is really exhausting!) In the last two minutes of discussion pastor Scott broke down for us what theologians have to say. It doesn't flat out say, however had Satan not been evil, the polar opposite of God, then we would have no free choice. If Good is all there is , there is no choice. Wow, never have I been thankful for Satan... but in this and only this aspect of him, I am.

God is so much bigger than our little brains can comprehend... " Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; its too high, I cannot attain it" (psalm 139:6).

God, you are so much bigger than the moment, so much bigger than the minute, the hour, the day, the week, the month, the year, the decade, the century, and even my lifetime. "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, When yet there was not one of them" (psalm 139:16). Your plan and purpose is beyond my selfish existence. I am thankful for a father who is all knowing and all sustaining! Show us that even in a moment of weakness and in a pattern of chaos, you are still on your throne!!! "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way of the everlasting" (psalm139:24).

Be Blessed,

Becks

While I'm Waiting!

Lately it seems that we have been ambushed by weddings! I was unable to find another word with the same connotation of ambush but a milder diction and was unsuccessful!  What an awesome time in the lives of friends and family! It is so cool to see what God is bringing together! 


Isn't it funny when you yourself teach yourself something . Something GOD is bringing together! Becca calm down! :) I know that my heavenly father is looking down on me and smiling at how I am so anxious and excited. However his truth is not failing to speak into my heart!. The LORD is not told when things will happen rather he gives me the promise of perfection in his plan. 


2 Peter 3:9
⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you


My God does not work slow! He works in perfect time! He is all knowing. He understands my heart, he understands my struggles, he knows my tomorrow! He asks me as his child to wait, and to take heart in the fact that my savior has already come through for me and has my best in mind! 


Philippians 4:6-7
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


So where does that leave me. It guides me to prayer. It directs me towards patience. Instructs me to continue taking each day for what it is, a blessing. Serving others and him! Wasting no time because the reason I am here is to serve him and him alone! To be a vessel of truth throughout my journey here on this planet. Not allowing an anxious heart to hinder the very reason he has me in the exact town I am in!


Acts 17:26
²⁶And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place


He has me here for however long he has declared previously for me to be here on purpose! I am deciding to not get caught in the anxiousness that is second nature as a girl, but rather to choose now to live in the moment, and day that he has provided me here and now! Not for myself, but for his glory alone!


Stay Classy,
Becs

The Wonder of Grace

I have been MIA for a while. The life of living out of my car has created an odd schedule for me. I haven't been able to stick to a routine. So this is a catch up blog....

I am now officially moving into my own apartment in Corpus. I was rather nervous at first, however now I am growing fonder of the idea. I think i will enjoy having my own space, but still being able to enjoy the company of my former roommates who live literally right in front of me :) Just the other day I purchase my very own kitchen table. It is absolutely beautiful and I am in love with it!! This was a steal! $60 on craigslist!

The only thing missing from this pic is the fact that it actually has three chairs! I move in on August 6th and am beyond excited and ready for my JUNIOR YEAR!

I posted a link on the left of my page to the ministry "Wonderfully Made." I love what they are about and the blogs they post are awesome! You should become a fan of them on facebook and check them out! They are based in California and I am hoping and praying for their ministry to spread like a wild fire. Their heart is for college women! I love reading about where God is leading them! 

More to come about Max Lucado's book I am reading! STILL :/ .... lol. I love it though. I think it is important to constantly renew our understanding of grace! 

Until then,

Blessings 

"In The Grip Of Grace"

During youth camp my junior year in high school one evening the women that do dress code and cabin checks for girls came in and hung out for an hour or so. We were talking about life and  what we had learned so far. One of the women talked about Max Lucado's book on grace that she had just finished reading and she spoke of how it transformed her perspective on many areas of her life that need growth and repair. I have been looking for this book since then and finally found it. I had forgotten the title of it as soon as the words came across her lips. The book is called "In The Grip Of Grace." I intended to begin to elaborate on chapter by chapter daily as I go through it. However, once I began to write down the quotes I would like to share, I realized I was basically giving you the entire chapter! I am loving it! Tomorrow I will try to break it down more, but so far I am being convicted on comparing myself to others as well as what is and isn't judgment.

I need to get back on track with weight watchers. Once mom went down because of surgery and nana and papa have been here I haven't kept with it. With a holiday coming up that doesn't make it any easier but my goal is to vastly cut my portion sizes. I will reference one section of the book. It reads as follows..

" The following conversation occurred between a canary in a cage and a lark on the window sill. The lark looked in at the canary and asked, "What is your purpose?"
 "My purpose is to eat seed."
"What for?"
"So I can be strong."
"What for?"
"So I can sing," answered the canary.
"What for?" continued the lark.
"Because when I sing I get more seed."
"So you eat in order to be strong so you can sing so you can get seed so you can eat?"
"Yes."
"There is more to you than that," the lark offered. "If you'll follow me I'll help you find it, but you must leave your cage."

Lucado page 29.

Why do I expect less of myself when I was made for so much more. All of my goals are attainable, but only when I acknowledge that my God does not thrive in a box under my conditions. He wants to and will drive me toward success when I surrender the freedom to him.

A day of rest

Sunday is always relaxing, as the Lord intends them to be, so thankful for that! Joe went to lunch with his dad and spent the afternoon with his family and so I decided to do the same. I came home and had lunch with my family and then Nana and I decided to lay out in the back yard! It was great!

With lots of calm comes a lot of thinking and meditating!  Evaluating my goals and what stands in the way of those being achieved. What holds me back? What provides me with the drive to be successful. These are the kinds of questions I want to be able to answer prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Attaining the ability to be real and honest with myself.

Something to be sought prayerfully and passionately! Be praying for my journey and any and all opportunities for growth to come! Please send or comment bellow if you visit my page! I would love to hear any verses that lead you to Joy or provide you Joy. This is something I struggle with often and would love for the holy spirit to conqueror in me through scripture memory! Love you all!