Tradition

New Living Translation (©2007)
But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

Just because we've always done it doesn't make it right. Sometimes we get too caught up in tradition. We do things and we can't explain why. Don't take Gods commands for granted. He commands us out of love. We should be aware of why we are doing something that is for him. Take time this next year to remind yourself of why your preforming certain ceremonies and taking part in certain celebrations. Fill your life with purpose rather than meaningless motions.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the safety you've provided for me and my family. For the care you've put into our every day. I pray for safe travels for all my love ones in this December. Amen

Not to Quarrel or grumble with each other

James 5:9 New International Version (©1984)
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:19-23 Many wish for peace, and talk loudly for it, who do not follow the things that make for peace. Meekness, humility, self-denial, and love, make for peace...This takes in all indifferent things, whereby a brother is drawn into sin or trouble; or has his graces, his comforts, or his resolutions weakened. Hast thou faith? It is meant of knowledge and clearness as to our Christian liberty. Enjoy the comfort of it, but do not trouble others by a wrong use of it. Nor may we act against a doubting conscience. How excellent are the blessings of Christ's kingdom, which consists not in outward rites and ceremonies, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! How preferable is the service of God to all other services! and in serving him we are not called to live and die to ourselves, but unto Christ, whose we are, and whom we ought to serve.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the Advent Season as we remember daily the love you've shown to us by sending your only begotten son. Prepare our hearts as we come to Bethlehem to celebrate the joy we have in the birth of your son. Help us to keep you the reason for our celebration and to not get too caught up in the gifts and wrappings. Thank you for those blessings and I pray that you'll give a little of that type of blessing to those who have little or nothing. Help us to help others by sending our gifts into the right hands. I pray for the stuartship of our family funds. That you take what we have given and multiply it for others. Please bless our family with peace, selflessness by spreading the HOly Spirit into hearts. I pray for the upcoming Truth Project and my own group that you are forming. In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Desires of the heart

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen Romans 1:24-25

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise be your name in all the Earth. I sing your praise. You are a loving and gracious God. I try to keep your name apon my lips. Always I want to share your love and mercy. Please forgive me Lord for all the hurt I do in my carelessness and callousness.

Please work with me to change my heart and my words so that I glorify you. I pray that my words bring new life and healing to others and not pain. However, I know that your Old Testament prophets spoke words of truth that we would preceive as mean and hurtful, yet they were your words. Your words of warning and words to rebuke poor behavior.

Let my words teach, train and guide others to everlasting life. Oh, Lord how I desire to please you and to bring others to you. Work in me so I can be the guiding light of life I wish to be. I pray for all those I come in contact with that don’t understand me. I pray for us to be reconciled and blessed in our relationships. I pray for those whom I love to have healing and protection. Keep my family from the evil one. Strengthen us to fight for you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Placing God in the #1 spot

Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD.1 Samuel 7:3

It is hard to give up all the things we put in front of God in our lives. I know that I spend hours messing with seemingly unimportant things on the internet. I read romance novels that don’t help me improve my ways of thinking. I spend an infinite amount of time dreaming of all the ways I believe I need to spend money. Yet, I spend little to no time each day in the word of God. I imagine that it isn’t much different for other Christians.

Most of us believe our lives are important and our time is ours to spend as we wish…..what a lie. Our time belongs to God. He wants all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The most precious thing he has given us is the chance for our souls to spend eternity with him. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the earthy things. Put God first and set aside all those time consuming idols. Worship and pray with the LORD.

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for all the patience you have shown me as I have turned to other things in this world to occupy my time instead of spending quality time with you first. Forgive me for making idols out of things in my life. Help me to turn to you with a heart that is pure and devoted to you. I am determined to conquer my idols and to keep you first in my life. Help me to be an example for others to see so that my life is a demonstration of your love and faithfulness. In the name of Christ my LORD, Amen.

Humble ourselves before the Lord

So humble yourselves before the Lord. REsist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow adn deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him. he will lift you up and give you honor.James 4:7-10

Today my computer battery was dead and I had to get my charger. It reminded me that I am like my computer when I havent' drawn near to God to study. I am dead inside. Barely aware of the workings of God in my surroundings. Taking for granted all that he gives and does for me. I must really read his word. Not just a few sentences in a nice little devotional book. But to read right out of his word a few chapters or more. So that I am closer to a fuller meaning of what he does for us, his Christians. Take timet to read his word each day for yourself. Allow his spirit to dwell in you.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the sactuary of your love. The HOly Spirit that you put into me to know your faithfullness, to identify your works and remind me of right. create in me a pure heart, not one of a hypocrite. Use my words and actions to be a sweet, sweet song to you. I ask for blessings in my life. Protection of the ones I love and hold dear to my heart. Protection for those in my community and state. Protection and purification of my country. Let your words be heard. Don't shut us out. Don't turn your back on us. Help those who believe in you to be to strong so we can fight the Devil and all the evil in our midsts. I pray for peace for those who have none. I ask for healing for those who are suffereing in their hearts and bodies. Oh, Lord how we need you! Please hurry and come. How much more must your people and marters suffer here on Earth? How much more evil will you let take place before you strick against those who punish and kill for Satan? Praise be the Name of the Lord Most High, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Is the LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY. Amen.

American Pride

The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. Because you said"The Nile river is mine; I made it." I am now the enemy of both you and your river... Ezekial 29:9-10

Oh Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit forgive our American pride. We too are too boastful. Thinking we made our freedom. We are the best and so on.. I pray for my country and our future with you. Keep us from the fate of other nations who have turned their back on you. Keep us strong in our faith to you. We are gorging ourselves in our wants and desires forgetting that you are in control. We are no better than when Israel was given the promise land. They turned their love over to the ideas of other nations and began to worship other gods. I see that in our nation. As we welcome the ideals and values of the east. Our leaders modeling our countries laws based on ideas from other countries that don’t recognize you as the KING. I know we are on our downfall and I pray that you will intervene. Discipline us before we receive the same fate as Egypt in this passage. Remember our first fathers here in America and bless us by setting us on the straight road again. Amen

Merciful for God

So whatever you speak, or whatever you do, remember you will be judges by the law of love, the law that sets you free. For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you. James 2:12-13

Dearest Father,
I want my greatest desire to be to honor you and to value your word. I seek to know your word, to keep it in my heart, to live it and to please you. Even though I don’t give it much time in the day I pray that you will help me to honor your ways and to do your will. To be who you desire for me to be to live out your plan. Let these words help those who seek you, to bring others to an awakening of you and to know the deep preciousness of your love. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and to reach out to others. Help me not to discriminate between people for any reason, but to be fair to everyone. Showing your kindness and mercy to everyone who needs love. Help me to also be fair and to discipline as needed with my students and my children. By knowing your word and living it I won’t corrupt them my being lazy or lacking discipline. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Taking care of Evil

He (Abimelech) went to his father's home at Ophrah, and ...killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid. Judges 9:5

Dear Savior, Jesus Christ, Thankyou for taking care of evil in our midsts. I know that I am not aware of all the ways you save me and my loved ones. I don't even know all the ways you teach my to be paitent. Like how Jotham was patient. Jotham waited three years for you to snuff out Abimelech. We have to pay for our sins, as I am sure the relatives of Abimelech had to do since they followed his plan to make himself king. OH, Lord please keep evil from my home and family. Save up from the hands of the evil one. In the name of the Father, Son and HOly Ghost. Amen.

Knowing who to trust

Then Joshua made a treaty with them (Gibeonites) and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby. Joshua: 9:15-16

Knowing who to trust and when to make a decision that concerns others is something that should be left up to God. The Israelites didn’t consult God before they trusted their own eyes and instincts and entered into an awkward alliance that they were never suppose to make. I included a photo of my family at my daughters 8th birthday. I know I can trust my family.

Dear Lord hear my prayer,
Your Grace and Love is always at work in my life. I need not fear, because you are always with me. Nothing can ever separate me from your love, according to the apostle Paul.

You have given me a desire to love you and you have given it my daughter. I ask that you give the desire to seek you to my son and more of it to my husband.

As a leader, teacher, mother, wife and friend I make decisions all the time that affect other people. From this passage I’ve learned that my eyes and instincts are not always going to be true and I can be deceived too. Help my to remember to ask you first before I rush into any decision. No matter how insignificant or small that decision may seem to me. Help guide me Lord, Jesus. For you are my rock and I want to rest on you. Amen

Heavenly Father Knows

"...your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:32-33

I stole this verse off the http://fulltimemommy.bogspot.com site. (Although, it's free. Anyone can quote the Bible. Because it's written by God and it's for everyone.) I find that reading her blog is encouraging. Christians need each other. That is why God designed fellowship. We are to meet together, pray together and visit about Him together. God is Great. I know. You hear that a lot, but it's SO true. He knows what to give me even when I am too caught up in myself to realize that I needed His blessings. If you haven't started leaning on Christ I encourage you to start doing so. Find people who have their lives based on the BIBLE, not on other belief systems. The BIBLE is truth and you will only find comfort in God word and through being with His Holy Spirit. My prayer today is....Oh, Lord, reach out to those who haven't yet accepted your free gift of love. Send US, your servants out to them. Match us up so we can spread your word and fix those bleeding hearts. May I be of use to further your kingdom...today. For you loved me first and I am willing to share your love with others. Amen (so shall it be)

Instructions-given

Then Moses gave them this command: “at the end of every seventh year, the year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instruction to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the Lord you God at the places he chooses. Call them all together-men, women, children and the foreigners living in your towns-so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. Deuteronomy 31: 10-13

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are the mightiest of the mighty, the strongest of the strong, the greatest of the great and the Lord of all lords. May you hear and enjoy the song in my head this morning. Praise be your name that every knee will bow to say “Jesus, is Lord”. May your kingdom come as you've promised, may your will be done by me and all those who follow you. Thank you for this food and medicine that my family has to get well and I pray for all those who can't afford what they need. Please provide for their needs. Help me to forgive those who I get upset with and help them to forgive me, too. Everyday dear Lord keep the evil one away from me and my family. In your name I pray, Amen.

Keep us Safe

Oh my lord, how I wonder about the future. But I need not fear for you are in control. You have been in control since the beginning and you promise to be in control for all eternity. Eternity, a word I can’t even fully understand. Everything I encounter and deal with has an end. So what is eternity like?

You have given us clues of the end days. You have told us to watch, be ready, don’t be asleep. Times are getting confusing and things are not always easy to see in black and white anymore.

Please Lord, keep the eyes of your people open. Keep us from being led astray. I desire to be yours and also the same for my family and friends. How can I warn them? Am I being warned? Give me discretion to decipher what I see and hear.
Open my mind to your truths only.

In your, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY, name. As the angles proclaim and the people on earth who bow their knees. Protect us when we sleep, protect us when we are unaware, protect us when we are distracted for we are yours. I am yours. You have claimed us don’t let us be stolen away. Amen

The Occult

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.

Dear Lord,

I get sad to think that there are people so lost that they are willing to reach out to Satan to try to find peace of mind. What they don’t realize is that only you can give peace. That it is you they are running from. People desire they’re own selfish ways and will not change from them as you demand.

We must follow you if we are to belong to you. The ironic thing is that we Want to follow you when we belong to you. You give us the desires of your heart. It pleases us to please you.

Oh , Lord thank you so much for giving me the desire to love you and worship you and to do what is right all these years. I have never had any regrets when I did what I knew you would want me to do. By your strength I am healed. Whenever, I wanted out of a situation you have shown me your ways. You have made me stronger by teaching me your word in your Bible. Forgive me when I’ve stumbled. Corrected me when I was wrong. I only need you. I don’t need a fortuneteller to tell me anything. I can rest assured because my future is already safe and sound in your capable hands. You love me better than anyone could, because your love is perfect. You Lord, are mighty and just. You control each breath I take, each hair on my head (or chin) and I know that I will someday be with you in eternity. I love you Lord. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

No lies, thank you.

Deuteronomy 8:1-5 and 13:1-5
Dear Lord,
You care for me. In your Almightly Power and grace you never leave me and always redeem me from my sins. Keep me from buying into lies. To sift through the media I let into my head. Help me to see where the false prophets are and to be able to resist temptation. Help me to be satisfied with what you give me. For you only give me what is best for me. Help me to see you in all my experiences and to trust that you are here. GIP, God is Present. In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen

CHRIST IS MY ROCK
Matthew 7:24-27

Lord Almighty you are my rock. I will work hard to build my life upon your foundation. I know it will not be easy. But as I learned yesterday it wasn't easy for you either to leave your home in heaven to be a man. I often feel out of place and that I am not fitting in. That too, is like you. You were not purposed for this earth. Your place is in heaven, but you came here for us. A place were you where not understood and were not well liked. You faced temptation for us. Thank you Lord. Be with me today as I try to teach my children your ways. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Recently I have been out in nature enjoying the beauty of the land. Although, this is South Dakota and the wind blows constantly. I still enjoy trying to keep my easel upright and my pastels from falling and hiding in the grass.

My mom has been with me and we work while sharing my easel. My mom has been using watercolor pencils and then takes in home and adds the water to create her painting.

We are looking for some other great locations to paint.