Becca

Today, Becca speaks to us about the power of being present, how it’s ok not to know, and the best book she has ever read on prayer.

[Image by Alyssa Faith Photography]

Becca

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 43:1, but that whole passage is absolutely beautiful: “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.'” (Isaiah 43:1-7)

Spiritual growth focus at the moment:
This year, God has been teaching me about trust. I’m learning to trust Him in times of transition and trust Him in the times that I feel inadequate. When we feel weakest and most confused and unsure, God’s strength and power is most evident.

Profession: Kindergarten teacher, Creator of onederfullycreated.com.

A one sentence bio of yourself: I’m a storyteller, adventurer, wife, and writer – but most importantly, I’m a child of God.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I grew up in a Christian home, but my very first encounter with God was beneath the Christmas tree when I was just four years old. It was then that I asked Him to “come into my heart.” I was too young to really understand what it means to follow Jesus, but in that moment, I was sure He loved me, and I loved Him.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? We just moved to an area with a lot more traffic, so my commute to and from work can be unpredictable. I’ve started listening to podcasts like Girl’s Night with Stephanie May Wilson and She Podcast by Jordan Lee Dooley. These have really helped me grow spiritually, as well as emotionally. I also find that conversations with friends have recently been a big part of my spiritual growth.

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I just finished reading The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson. I actually wrote a recent blog post about my five favorite reads from this past year, and “The Circle Maker” sits right at the top of the list. I honestly think it’s the best book I’ve ever read on prayer, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to revitalize their prayer life.

Top three essentials: I rarely travel without my Bible, my laptop (or a journal – I just need something to write on), and, if humans count as essentials, my husband Seth.

How did God speak to you recently?
God recently has taught me that it’s okay not to know. It’s okay not to know what’s next, what you’re doing, or how to respond to certain situations in life. It’s okay not to know, because He knows. God’s in control.

“It’s okay not to know what’s next, what you’re doing, or how to respond to certain situations in life. It’s okay not to know, because He knows.“

Hobby: I absolutely love hiking and pretty much anything outdoors.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Spend time in God’s word, weave prayer constantly through your days, spend time with people who love Jesus, more than anything.

Favorite person in scripture? Queen Esther. I love her story and her bravery. Esther is a reminder that even when we feel like we’re in a strangle place in our lives or in this world, God has placed us here for “such a time as this.”

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? When people look at me, I don’t even want them to see me. I want them to see that they are beloved children of God. More than anything, I want to help people feel loved.

How do you leave your mark on your community? I hope to leave my mark on my community and on people around me just by being present. Being present is kind of a lost art in today’s culture. Social media and technology give us an excuse to retreat into our own private worlds. But if we can truly be present with people, if we can truly welcome others into our lives, we’ll be able to share love and hope and dreams and many good things with each other.

“But if we can truly be present with people, if we can truly welcome others into our lives, we’ll be able to share love and hope and dreams and many good things with each other.“

Favorite holiday? Christmas! I love the celebration of Jesus’s birth, and the time we get to spend with family during the Christmas season.

A dream you have? I’d love to one day publish a book. That’s definitely a dream of mine!

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: This is a silly tradition, but every year, after we put up our Christmas tree, we sit beneath the tree and eat carrots. It started as a healthy alternative to Christmas cookies, but became something we continued each year. Seth and I plan to continue this tradition with our own kids, one day!

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? What about all the people who never had the chance to hear the good news of Jesus Christ?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Human trafficking.

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.?
On a work day… I wake up, work out, shower, get dressed for work, do my devotions with Seth and eat breakfast, drive to work, prepare for the day, and welcome my students!

What is on your nightstand? A lamp, whatever book I’m currently reading, and that’s pretty much it!

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity is learning to love, embracing the love that’s been given to you since the beginning of time by the Creator of the world, and sharing that love with everyone you encounter.

For more Becca:

Website: https://onederfullycreated.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onederfullycreated/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnederfullyC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onederfullycreated/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/2a5b2470f923486946cf7af828afdf/boards/

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XX