Sunday is Funday!

Cassidy helping Daddy during the opening exercises before Sunday School

"From now on I am going to call Sunday 'Funday'.!"  This is what one of ourHispanic kids said on the way home after church.  Occasionally I get to drive the children home after our Sunday or Thursday service and I always enjoy that because it gives me a chance to get to know the kids a little better (especially the boys) and it give my husband a chance to take care of things with the adults or spend time with the girls.  The kids don't always feel excited about church as this one particular boy did on Easter Sunday; but I enjoy it when we hear that they enjoyed Sunday.

Our family lives for Sunday.  Literally.  All week long we prepare for Sunday be it through prayer, visitation, preparing lessons, laundry, cooking, etc.  All of you who are in the ministry full time know what I mean.  Most people look forward to Friday's because it is pay day. Well, Sunday is our payday.  Sunday is the day when all of our work throughout the week comes to fruition.  I hesitate to say it that way because some Sundays it is just our family  (in Sunday school) plus one (during the main service).   I say that I hesitate in putting it that way because we cannot measure here on earth what has eternal value. It doesn't always show up on  the Sunday after.

"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." - 1 Corinthians 3:13-15


BUT Sunday is a day of celebration for our family.  We have purposed to make it that way.  Undoubtedly one or both of the girls will do something that deserves correction - I warn them in my most severe mommy voice and put off what we call "MRS. Rosey" if at all possible.  Undoubtedly my husband (who is focused on his message and the events of the day) will be a little curt with me or say something that down right hurts my feelings; but I smile and give him a sincere hug and kiss anyway.  I don't bring up heavy {or even light} topics that can wait.  ( If it's really important I try to write it down on our dry erase board on the frig. so I don't forget.)  I try to make the most of our crock pot for Sunday's lunch.  And last but not least, I cook - I use that word very loosely - a light and quick breakfast {lately its been Smoothie Sunday - I throw a some fruit, yogurt, and juice in a blender and pour!}.

We have been in Newport as Pastor and Pastor's wife and kids for nearly two years now (August is our official anniversary).  We have had some very exciting Sunday's and some that have left us a little discouraged.  People have made promises and not kept them, while others have not promised; but have been a tremendous blessing.  In our personal lives we have seen the Lord do some wonderful, and I would even say miraculous things; but the church has seemingly been in a dry spell.  No souls saved (at church and those who do pray on soul winning and visitation disappear).  No one baptised.  No one making earth shaking decisions for Christ.  No visitors. No one joining the church.


These past two week have definitely been different.  One family of four has been visiting and has talked to my husband about joining our church! One of our church members has had a very close friend visit, get saved, and ask about getting baptised possibly as early as this coming Sunday.  (We have been praying for this particular friend for about two years.) Another family of four has visited us two weeks in a row!  No one in our number invited them.  They just showed up and have been a blessing during the services - even their teenagers have been a blessing and seem to enjoy church!  Our members have been faithful and almost on-time two weeks in a row.  (If you go to a "Black" church you know that is  truly a blessing!)  Their are other things I could list, but I won't because they are private or because I don't want to steal all my husband's thunder for the next prayer letter.

As far a I know my husband and I have not changed anything.  We still go visiting two or three times a week.  We have still been praying for each of our services and Newport in general.  It seems God has decided to open up a window of blessing, now all we have to do is try and be ready to receive it.  We covet your prayers!

Until next time,  

Songbird

Aaliyah is our little songbird.  She wakes up singing.  I love that about her.  This past week she had the hymn "Love Lifted Me" in her head.  It started out as "Love lipp-ed me" and became whatever was on her mind at the time.  The tune was always the same; but the words kept changing.  Yesterday afternoon we were in the garden and Aaliyah found a big stick and started playing it like a cello.  She serenaded us for about fifteen minutes.  I taught her how to curtsy when she was done; but then she felt like she needed to sing something else so she could curtsy again.

My instrument playing is limited to piano and the trombone (which is VERY limited); but I may have to branch out and learn at least the basics of a few other instruments because Aaliyah loves and has shown an interest in a variety of other instruments.  She plays our sink as piano, short sticks become flutes, Popsicle sticks are drums or maracas - you get the point.  Sometimes when I turn the radio on or a CD she will go over and sit near the radio and just listen or sing along.  Raymond and I have talked about it and we want all our children to learn at least the basics of playing the piano; but do any of you music teachers out there have any suggestions? 

Only a matter of time

Cassidy took her first steps last Thursday!

Easter Sunday

I love this photo

Easter Sunday

Watch THIS amazing video for free thru April 30th.

Dear Pastor and Praying friends, April 18, 2012


He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

We are so thankful that Spring has sprung. It is such a joy to go outside and feel a cool breeze blowing, hear the birds chirping, see so many beautiful flowers in bloom and smell the fragrance of food cooking on the grill. Our family sure did our part in contributing to that aroma on Ressurection Sunday. What a blessed Sunday it was for us. All of our members were in attendance and several children came as well. I preached a message that was inspiring to me, if no one else, about the power of Christ and His resurrection. After the service we had several activities for the children and their families including a scavenger hunt, Peter and Paul relay race, and family photos. When that was finished we gave all who attended “Ressurection bags” filled with treats and trinkets. What a blessing to know we serve a risen Savior!

I am also happy to report that we have detected some spiritual growth amongst our members and to share the story about the salvation of a precious seventy-eight year old woman by the name of Bobbie Jean. As we began visitation we asked the Lord to send us to someone who was hungry for the Gospel. My wife visited her home and she almost begged her to stay and talk for a while. My wife asked her the question that we so often ask those we visit, “If you died today are you sure you would wake up in Heaven?”. Her husband died just last October and Mrs. Bobbie began to cry and comment that she prayed everyday that God would show her how she could know that she would be in Heaven with her husband when she died. By the answers she gave to our questions we detected a Church of Christ background. Sure enough she said she had attended a Church of Christ just down the road before her husband died. To make a long story short, she confessed that she was lost and on her way to Hell; but wanted to ask Jesus to save her soul and take her to Heaven. She prayed to receive Christ and was saved that very night! What a blessing!!! I am not sure if her husband is in Heaven or not; but I am so glad that Mrs. Bobbie now knows that she will wake up in Heaven when that time comes.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7

We truly have sensed the Lord’s presence with us this year and praise Him for His provision and blessings. We hope you are having a blessed year as well and want to thank you for your prayers and financial support.

In His service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

(For photos go to our church blog...here

Who made the Sky?

Saturday evening we were sitting outside by the garden and Aaliyah said, "Look Momma, the sky!"
Me:  "Good Aaliyah!  Who made the sky?"
Aaliyah:  "um...Daddy."
Me:  "Sorry dear, as good as your Dad is at making things; he did not make the sky.  God did."
Aaliyah:  "Hm."

Our Church Blog

Nursing Homes

One of the joys of our week is going to the Care homes in our community.  In Newport there are two.  One my wife goes to weekly to read scripture and sing to the residents.  On occasion I preach there also.  The other our whole family attends.... Click here to read more.


Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” Psalm 122:1
We are excited to begin a new year in the ministry here in Newport, Arkansas. Recently our church had its first ever conference entitled the “Faith, Love, and Family Conference”. The purpose of this conference was to provide the people in our community and around us with sound biblical teaching about Faith in the Lord, Love for Christ and others, and proper relationships with those in our family... Click here to read more.