God KNOWS What You Need, Before You Do!

What do you REALLY NEED to be happy?

I need my husband, my children, a home, and food.

I have to convince myself that I don't need all of the things our society shouts out at us that we "need".

I don't need a computer (sigh).
I don't need a television.

I don't need a car...although life where I live would be very difficult without one.

I don't need tons of toys for my kids.

I don't need fancy clothes.

I don't need diamonds, pearls, or gold.

I don't need money.

I would like to learn to count my blessings, and leave my want for more to never be seen again!

The blessings I have can be counted one by one, and I will feel much richer than any millionaire.

The Lord has blessed me with:
My husband

My children

My family

My friends

My home

My ministries

My life

food to eat

clean water to drink

clean air to breathe

words

books

eyesight

hearing

taste

smell

touch

and on, and on....

Lord, I pray that my study of Your Word would serve as a reminder of all the blessings that You have given me. I have a loving, providing husband, who respects me. I have wonderful, loving children, who I am charged with bringing up in Your image. I have a beautiful home, which blesses my family with so many amenities that we tend to take for granted. I also have plenty of delicious food to eat. I have so much food, it is often in abundance.

Please help me, Lord, to not take these things for granted!

I give all of the glory to You, my God, for these things are blessings and gifts from You!

If I ever Need something, You provide!

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:8

Swag Code Extravaganza Today - Swagbucks = FREE stuff!

The Lord will provide!

Swagbucks is a FREE program that provides an internet search engine for your surfing pleasure!

When you sign up at www.Swagbucks.com - every time you search, you have the chance to win SwagBucks - which can be traded in for FREE stuff, like amazon.com gift cards - which can provide you with food, drink, clothes, entertainment, or whatever you would like to spend your FREE bucks on!

Today, Swagbucks is having a Swag Code Extravaganza.

Throughout the day, they will be posting Swag Codes in various places:

• SwagBucks twitter feed https://twitter.com/#!/swagbucks
• SwagBucks Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/swagbucks
• SwagBucks blog http://blog.swagbucks.com/
• SwagBucks Widget (can be found on the Right side of this blog)

If you find all of the Swag Code Extravaganza codes, you can earn up to 50 Swag Bucks!

You're not a member of Swag Bucks yet???
Click the following link to get started!!!

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MilesKri

Have fun!

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:wt

A Murderer Among Us...We Are NOT To Judge!

Last week we had a murderer in our midst!

The small city in which I live was terrorized by a man who killed seven (yes 7) people he knew, and then took his own life in the end. Two of the lives he took were children, who never lived to see their teenage years.

There is so much anger, outrage, and hatred out there toward this man, that I wonder how many of the people would call themselves Christians! Yes, I am angry for the circumstances...those innocent people should not have had their lives cut short. I am outraged that this happened in my city. I HATE crime and sin.

But I do not hate the man that committed these crimes. That is not what God calls me to do.

I know that those killed were not my close family or friends. I had never met them.

But they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I cry for them, and for those who actually were blessed by knowing them.

I pray for those who are suffering the loss of those they loved.

Some people even LOVED the murderer. He is a son, brother, husband, and father. He is also my brother in Christ. He sinned, as we all have.

It is not my right to judge him. I do have opinions about his actions and sins - but it is not my job to say he was evil. Certainly, his actions were evil.

God has a plan for everything, and everything happens according to His will.

Satan and his evil is also present in our world - and though it may interfere in our lives, God's LOVE and plan will prevail.

We need not judge those who fall for Satan's deception and evil ways.

God will judge them fairly, and they will certainly face their own judgement in His eyes.

Dear Lord,

Please help us to remember our place is not to judge others and their sins, but to pray and find our own ways in Your Word. Protect our hearts and minds from the evil that is present in our world, that You have created and planned. Help us to see that judging others is a sin, and that we are to mind our own thoughts and hearts as blessings from You!

Your Son, Jesus, was one to be seen on Earth talking to and blessing thieves, lepers, and others who were scorned by the public. Let us be more like Him, and forgive our own judgement as we are to be judged on how we treat others!

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

~Kristen

Numbers 35:12
They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.

Deuteronomy 1:17
Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”

For those who don't know the story of the murders in Grand Rapids, here is a link:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_police_did_what_t.html