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The Many Faces of Matt

Valerie Basham

March 4, 2014

I recently uploaded the photos from my phone to my computer. I was surprised at how many I had of the kids, especially Matthew! If I come upon him while he’s up to some thing cute (which is often, says the completely unbiased mother! Ha!) then I pull out my phone and snap a photo! I thought I’d share some of them with you, just for fun. 🙂 Thanks for indulging me.

Matt the Magna-Doodle artist. 🙂

Matthew wearing big brother’s boots! 🙂

Matthew drew this cross on our chalkboard and told me it was the “cross where Jesus died.”

Every once in a while, Matt gets the urge to look through the dictionary!

Three guesses as to who this is…

He was so proud of himself for climbing up there!

I got a good smile from him! Altitude does him wonders!

“Reading” Garfield! 🙂

Asleep on Mommy one night.

This is the “I’m-patronizing-my-mother-while-she-takes-photos” smile. 🙂

Here it is again, along with the wind-blown hairstyle.

This is why I was taking his photo, to catch this. He sticks his tongue out while he concentrates on things! Sorry it’s blurry!

He started out looking for something under the bed this way. Then he decided to just carry on a conversation this way. I decided to bronze the moment.

Practicing writing. (Notice the mouth.)

As I was making my bed one morning, I found this under the pillows! Matt had snuggled with me for a while before going to his own bed and he left this behind. I sometimes find swords, too! I know one day I’ll miss seeing that I slept with a toy pistol, so I think I’ll just enjoy it while I can. 🙂

Thank you SO much for looking at these silly photos. They are precious treasures to me.

Happy March!

Valerie Basham

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March 1, 2014

It’s hard to believe that it’s already March 1st! Spring is just around the corner. 🙂 To celebrate, I wanted to share (again) my “31 Days of Proverbs 31” series. You can find it HERE. Just click on the day of the month and then print, or read on the screen. It’s not lengthy, but maybe it will be something different that will be a encouragement to someone. The series looks at one verse from Proverbs 31 each day.

School has been progressing very well so far. However, we are hoping to take a spring break sometime this month. It’s nice to get out and enjoy the fresh air and have a change of pace. March is usually a happy month of year for me and I hope it will be for you, too!

Thanks for reading!

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Valerie Basham

13 comments

February 22, 2014

We just finished reading aloud The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It was my third time to travel through this never-ending wintertime with Laura. This book always makes me thankful for food and for a warm home. It always renews my respect for the brave pioneers who confronted an untamed land and brought it to its knees for the next generation. We, all of us, live in comfort today because of their toil yesterday. I pause to ask myself, what am I leaving the coming generation? Good books, well, sometimes even bad books, can often force you to think!

Laura never disappoints in the description department. She makes you smell the grass, the dirt, and even the sunshine. She takes you back, so effortlessly, to another century. She lets you feel the sweat and calluses. She allows you to taste homemade bread and a green pumpkin pie. I could feel the snow in my face, and the cold winds taking away my breath! I love traveling back in time with Mrs. Wilder through her books. I feel she is a close friend.

As this book came to a close, I was moved (once again) by the song at the end, “For Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way”. I’d like to share it with you. Perhaps you’ll want to meet Laura yourself, if you haven’t already.

This life is a difficult riddle,

For how many people we see

With faces as long as a fiddle

That ought to me shining with glee.

I’m sure in this world there are plenty

Of good things enough for us all,

And yet there’s not one out of twenty

But thinks that his share is too small.

Then what is the use of repining,

For where there’s a will, there’s a way,

And tomorrow the sun may be shining,

Although it is cloudy today.

Do you think that by sitting and sighing

You’ll ever obtain all you want?

It’s cowards alone that are crying

And foolishly saying, ‘I can’t!’

It is only by plodding and striving

And laboring up the steep hill

Of life, that you’ll ever be thriving,

Which you’ll do if you’ve only the will.

This little poem convicted me, for I’m often one with a face “as long as a fiddle”, when I ought to be “shining with glee”. Every Christian should shine with glee, for no matter how difficult this life is – and it is so often difficult – we know that one day, we’ll be in Heaven! We know Christ, and through Him, we can keep climbing the hills joyfully.

So much success can be had by “plodding and striving”. Keep going, keep looking up, and keep a song in your heart.

With love,

The Book Thief: A Review for Christians

Valerie Basham

4 comments

February 20, 2014

The book begins with narration from “death”. That’s right, death tells us the story of Liesel Meminger, the book thief. “Death” likes to use colors to describe much of what he sees. I just finished the book and I’d like to describe it in colors for you now: The beginning is gray with smattering of tan. The middle goes from beige to dark brown. The ending is black.

I’m always on the lookout for good books to read. I first heard about this book on a secular blog. I was intrigued by how the blog author said this book affected her, how it moved her. She said it was about a girl who steals books during WWII in Nazi Germany. That piqued my interest. I just love a good story! I love to be moved by a story, I love to see things from a new perspective. However, I am a Christian in all that I do. I’m not perfect, but I strive to live a consecrated life. I do my best not to read, or listen, or watch things that would defile my mind. This book crosses that line for me. I know that I am IN the world, but not OF it. I am not staying here forever, but I am here now. I will see and hear things that don’t always line up with my views. That’s fine, I don’t go around bullying people to do right. At the same time, I don’t want to jump in the muck and swim around in it if I don’t have to. I feel that I unwittingly did just that when I got this book.

Why did I finish the story? Because I wanted to see if it redeemed itself. I wanted to be able to give this review of the book and I couldn’t do that without reading it.

As I dove into the story, I couldn’t believe that this book was in the Young Adult (YA) section of my library! I wasn’t prepared to see the curtain ripped back in this fashion for young people. Adults can handle the harshness, they understand better how to cope with hellish violence that can happen in the world. That doesn’t mean that adults aren’t affected, but they are simply better equipped. I didn’t expect the harshness of this book to be equal to that of an adult novel. I couldn’t tell you how many times God’s name was used in vain – too many! Not to mention regular curse words and crude language. It’s replete with it. And the grief and sorrow…well, I was emotionally crippled yesterday when I came to the last page. I understand that much, if not all, of what the author wrote was true historically. But it was a novel! He could have sprinkled in a bit of hope, a bit of light and a few more pastel colors in the picture. But his picture was dark. Hey, it was Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and 40s, probably the bleakest time in modern history. I get it. I just don’t get why a 13 year old needs to get that? There are books about tough topics that aren’t quite so heavy. Number the Stars is one example. The Giver is another. There are many good books that package truth with a bow of hope. I have read Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place, and while it exposed the Holocaust’s harsh reality, it left the filth in the gutter.

Now that I think about it, that’s what’s missing from The Book Thief! The presence of Christ is nowhere. The help of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of a God who loves sinners is noticeably absent. Perhaps Mr. Zusak himself doesn’t know of the hope that awaits those who are saved, the hope of Heaven. In the book, “death” whisks away souls and takes them – somewhere. But the reality is that as horrific and heinous as the Holocaust was, it has nothing on the fires of Hell. Likewise, for the believer, a great and glorious moment occurs after death: to see Jesus face to face! I wish I could tell Liesel about that. That would change everything for her.

There are a few glimpses of good in this book. I appreciate how Mr. Zusak demonstrated that Hitler swayed people by words. That’s all. He didn’t hold a gun on them or force them to do his will in any way, he just talked right. Words are powerful! I also appreciate that Nazism is clearly the villain in the story. Also, the characters, as harsh as he made them out to be, are, at least, consistent. There was no shocking “change over” in anyone. There were slight shifts, but nothing unrealistic. There was plenty of foreshadowing and metaphors in the book, which certainly forces you to think. But to me, the negative outweighs the positive.

I suppose it’s not a shock to hear I won’t be letting my teens read this book. Perhaps I’m trying to shelter them too much. Eh, maybe. Why not? Don’t you think parents in Nazi Germany would have sheltered their children from the world around them if they could have? Of course! I can, so I will. When the time comes for them see the truth of how evil overcame Europe for a decade, and the extent of that evil, I will choose other books to give them that information. And if reality ever becomes as hideous as it was back then, I will tell my children to look up, trust in God, and lean upon Him for hope. He alone can turn black, feathery ashes into something beautiful.

My Redeemer Liveth

Valerie Basham

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February 19, 2014

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: – Job 19:25

I mentioned in a post last year that I try to read my Bible through every year. I have done this since I was a young teenager. However, I admit that I often was just “skimming” it, not studying it, and there is a difference. Skimming it was better than nothing, but I sure didn’t grow very much just glancing at God’s Word a few minutes everyday. Several years ago, I began keeping a journal of my Bible reading everyday. I write down the date, what I read, and a verse or question that pops out at me. No, I have not become some spiritual giant by doing this, as I’m reminded every time I have a conversation about the Bible with my husband. 😉 But I am growing, little by little, and that’s a good thing.

This year, I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible reading schedule. It has been interesting to read from two different places of both the Old and New Testaments everyday. Right now I’m reading Exodus, Job, Luke and 1 Corinthians. Job always humbles me and reminds me that no matter what happens, the Lord is with me and He loves me. Do you ever feel as though God is just out there, watching you but not too involved in your life? I have felt that way sometimes. And this is often after I’ve just seen Him do something special for me that no one else knew I needed! I am just like those Israelites in Exodus, sometimes! I see miracles , or blessings, and then I turn right around and doubt God.

This morning, I read the verse above, in Job 19. Job is not too happy with his friends. They have been critical of Job to his face after he experienced great loss. I can tell you after having similar experiences after my dad died, that being criticized at such a time just adds sorrow upon sorrow. I can only imagine how Job must have felt after losing almost everything! Yet, through it all, Job says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15) Today, I read how Job says boldly, “I know my redeemer liveth!” I often approach my spot each morning with fear walking in step with me. “What will this day bring?” I wonder, wide-eyed. I’ve had enough sorrow (as you have, too) to be able to imagine all the horrifying possibilities that await me. But, they are just apparitions! They are not substance. I want to say with Job, that I know my Redeemer liveth (because I do know that) and I know that He is in control. I want to shake fear off and boldly come before His throne. I want to remember this tonight before I rest, and tomorrow morning, and everyday.

With love,

Worn Out

Valerie Basham

3 comments

February 18, 2014

We had a very busy day yesterday. I had a dentist appointment, then we bought groceries and worked around the house. Because I was in and out, Matthew was left under the supervision of his dad and big sister, Lauren. When they watch him, there tends not to be much of a routine, so he misses his nap. When I came home from the dentist, Matthew asked me if he could play a game on my Kindle Fire. I said yes so he turned it on and got to the game all by himself on the floor in my room. I came in and out and saw him playing intently. Finally, he said, “I just gonna play on your bed.” He climbed up and got comfortable. I was busy on other things when I noticed how quiet the house was. I went back to check on my little guy and this is what I found:

I guess he’d just worn himself out!

Oh, I and I did get him in a more comfortable position after I snapped these photos. 😉

The Finished Product

Valerie Basham

4 comments

February 17, 2014

I just wanted to share the photos of Terry’s office, now that it’s complete! There are still a few odds and ends to take care of, like adding some more decorations and cleaning up, but this is what it now looks like:

The finished shelves!

I was laughing so much when I snapped these photos of him, that I didn’t realize his eyes were closed! He was really cracking me up. 🙂

This is the view from his desk. We want to get his Spurgeon portrait framed.

This is the completed pass-through to the conference room. He will have more shelves and filing cabinets in here later.

Here’s the completed conference room, looking from the pass-through.

This is a photo of his old office, which was upstairs. I did like that this office had a window. I love natural light.

It looks like a bomb went off after all of the moving! If, in the future, he gets an associate pastor, his office will be here. I promise we’ll clean it up first. 😉

This is why I was laughing so hard! He’s crazy. I just love him.

The downstairs portion of our renovation is now complete! (Hallelujah!) Phase two, the upstairs, and our new sign are next on the agenda. Stay tuned! 🙂

Ministry Musings: I Married the Pastor

Valerie Basham

6 comments

February 15, 2014

“If you ever visit our church, you would think Mrs. so-and-so was the pastor’s wife!”

A woman said this to me about her church several months ago. My first thought was, “A lady hangs on the arm of her pastor, and she’s not married to him?!” But, as the conversation continued, it became clear that that wasn’t what she meant. She meant that this other woman – who was not married to the pastor – was doing secretarial work, church decorating and event planning. I was thinking, “But those aren’t wifely duties!” Obviously, our ideas of the role of the pastor’s wife were very different!

I am one of those odd creations by God called the “pastor’s wife”. Over sixteen years ago, I fell in love with a funny, hard working, brutally honest and ruggedly handsome man. I wanted to be with him all the time. I wanted to cook for him, though I had little culinary ability. I wanted to keep house for him. I wanted to raise his children. I wanted to kiss him goodbye and goodnight. I hadn’t given much thought to his profession. I had planned to love whatever he loved and be thankful for his provision. God had called him to preach, and that sounded wonderful to me.

We entered the ministry the day we got back from our honeymoon. It was a just a part time position, but he was thrilled to have it. With just the two of us at that time, we could do everything together, so we did. When children arrived, I stayed home and cared for them, while he worked a job and served in ministry. Whenever possible, I served with him. We had three children when God gave him his first pastorate. I wanted to homeschool them, and my husband encouraged me in this venture.

At some point, and I’m not sure when it was exactly, I began to see that everyone had a preconceived idea of what the pastor’s wife should be. Opinions ranged from church pianist to janitor and everything in between! Folks also had ideas of what her personality should be like: she should be quiet, but talkative; reserved, but outgoing; in charge, but behind the scenes…I think the contradictions are clear and a bit ridiculous! So, while everyone has an idea of what a pastor’s wife should be, I’ve learned this: “Thou cannot pleaseth everyone.” Based on this truth, I began to focus on pleasing God and my husband. That goal keeps me pretty busy! (And yes, I fail often!) Don’t get me wrong, I do care about others. I want to show everyone Christ’s love. But, well, I just can’t be what everyone wants me to be.

I’ve searched the scriptures for where it says I’m supposed to be the church secretary, and I haven’t found any. I’ve looked for the passage that tells me to take piano lessons, but it’s not there. I’ve hunted for where in the Holy Bible it says I should plan ladies (or any) events and well, it’s a big zero. Likewise, I haven’t found anything in God’s Word against a wife doing the above. I don’t see “requirements” either way. If you are the pastor’s wife in your church, and you play the piano, that’s wonderful! I squandered my youth and didn’t learn. If you throw great parties, then please invite me! I admire you. I can barely stay on top of my laundry. Wait, scratch that. I don’t stay on top of my laundry!

I do spend time with my husband though. I do cuddle my kids and make them lunch. I teach them to read and write and to tie their shoes. I help them do important things, like memorize the lyrics to all of the songs in The Sound of Music. I study my Bible and pray. I attend church faithfully. I attend outreach opportunities. I participate in the music program of our church and teach Sunday School. My husband is happy with me, so that makes me happy. I realize none of these activities label me as “the pastor’s wife”, because any lady can do them. And any lady should do them, if she can.

I’ve discovered that every Christian lady has the same requirements: to walk with God daily and serve Him joyfully. This looks different in each one of us, because each of us are unique. I suppose the only thing that lets people know I’m the pastor’s wife, is that I do sometimes hang on the arm of my pastor. I am a wife to him, just as any lady should be a wife to her businessman husband or plumber husband or truck driver husband. The responsibility is in the word “Christian” not in the words “pastor’s wife”. So if you come to our church and see a precious lady working hard on something, it’s probably not I. I’m the one watching over my little children while talking non-stop. 🙂

With love,

Valentine’s Day Everyday

Valerie Basham

4 comments

February 14, 2014

My husband and I went to a romantic gun show on our honeymoon. On Tuesday night, he took me to the local GOP meeting, and then for a sundae at Braum’s! We often sneak off to the library together, too! I know it may sound silly, but those things are fun for us. He loves guns and…well, I’m learning to. 😉 I love politics, and he’s learning to. (Actually, he’s starting to love politics more than I!) We both love visiting historical sites together and seeing new places. We’ve been to six Presidential homes and libraries, and we hope to add to that number. We might even take a cruise someday!One thing is certain, when we are together, we have a great time.

He often leaves me kind notes. He listens to me ramble on and on almost every day! Then again, that’s what you’re doing right now, too, isn’t it? 😀 I try to please him in both little and big things. I do my best to keep our home peaceful and comfortable. I’m not perfect, but he’s learned to love me anyway. He is my very best friend. No one understands me like he does. I admit there are days when he rubs me the wrong way. I sometimes complain to the Lord about him saying, “I just don’t understand him! Why did he say (or do) that??” But the Lord humbles me by reminding me of the hundreds of little things Terry has done for me, along with the scores of big things he’s done for me, and my meager complaints just sort of evaporate.

I’m blessed to have a wonderful husband who makes me feel loved everyday. The little photo collage above shows some of the talents he possesses.

Oh? What do I do? I stand around and take pictures, of course! 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Church Renovations

Valerie Basham

6 comments

February 13, 2014

Shortly after we moved to Oklahoma last April, our church began working on updating and improving our facilities. They had voted on these renovations before we arrived, but had not yet begun the work. I thought I’d share a few photos of the new digs:

This our new ADA bathroom (Americans with Disabilities Act). It still needs some decorations, but it’s fully functional and very nice! I love the tile work.

The people decided to expand and update the ladies restroom.

The lavatory in the new ladies bathroom.

This is our new nursery. It has a cry room and then an area for babies. These rooms used to be full of printing equipment when the church printed materials on-site. Since the print master left some years ago, these rooms had not been used. What a blessing to see them serving a purpose! This view is as you’re walking into the church lobby. This is on your left, right before you get to the auditorium.

This is the cry room, looking toward the entry way. The room across the hall is our church library/mailing office (for The Watchmen paper and the tracts we sell).

This is the mural on the wall in the cry room. It is of Mt. Scott which is nearby on the Wildlife Refuge. A professional painter was hired to do this. I just love it!

This is the baby-side of the nursery. The door is a small bathroom. This also used to be printing offices.

This is the mural for the baby side of the nursery. I love the bright colors in this one!

This is the two way window for the cry room. You can see out, but not in. There are speakers in both nursery rooms that broadcast the sermon.

This is the old nursery, which is will soon be my husband’s new office! The carpet was removed and new flooring installed, and the walls have been textured and painted.

Terry shopped around for shelves for his office, but was taken aback by the cost – over $2,000! He just couldn’t stomach spending that much money for bookshelves, so he built his own. He’s not a carpenter per se, but then, he can do anything from appliance repair to plumbing to auto repair, so building shelves was no big deal. I really liked how they turned out!

This used to be a storage area right off the nursery, but it’s now going to be a file room and pass-through to the new conference room!

As soon as the new carpet is laid, this will be a conference room for the pastor’s use.

I’m thankful for many things regarding this renovation. First, I’m thankful that the people have a mind to update and keep the church building looking sharp. It’s important to represent Christ honorably, not just in appearance, but also in maintenance of what HE has given us. We are commanded to be good stewards of what God has given us, and our people are doing that. Second, I’m thankful for the Christian contractor that is heading up this work. He is treating us fairly and honestly and we trust him. Third, I’m so thankful that our church is not going into debt for these renovations. My husband does not believe churches should go into debt, and these people believe that, too. They have given sacrificially to pay for the work. Lastly, I’m thankful that the downstairs portion is almost complete! Soon we begin on the upstairs, and we are eagerly awaiting a new sign and for the parking lot to be sealed and re-striped.

Stay tuned to see the finished product in a few days! 🙂

It’s an exciting time at Bethel Baptist Church in Lawton, Oklahoma! For more information, please visit http://bbc-lawton.org or find us on Facebook!

Thanks for being here!