Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Daily Prayer Reminder {Bible Art}

Bible Art Ps 143-8

When I pray each morning, before I get out of bed, if I’m not guarding against it, worries creep in and attempt to sabotage my prayers. I guess it’s because the things I pray about each day are also areas that I tend to worry about. So, for the past few months, I pray this passage as a part of my daily prayer:

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” – Psalm 143:8

#IllustratedFaith #ScriptureArt #BibleArt #BibleArtJournaling #FaithArt #watercolor #HisUnfailingLove

Monday, January 16, 2017

He Can Create a Clean Heart {Bible Art Journaling}

Bible Art Ps 51-10

Create a clean heart in me, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. – Ps 51:10

My favorite thing about this verse, a favorite of mine since I was a young girl, is the miraculous fact that I have a Heavenly Father who can actually DO this—He, and only He, can create a clean heart in me. And He wants me to ask Him to do just that. So, I’m asking.

#BibleArtJournalingChallenge #BibleArt #BibleMarginalia #IllustratedFaith #ScriptureArt #FaithArt #PrismacolorPremiere #CreateaCleanHeart #Psalms

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Recreational Technology {Soapbox}

Every January I re-organize, clean up files, back up files, and generally update my organizational system. The process involves looking at documents I may not have seen for years. I just came across something I wrote in 2010. I believe it may still apply, for consideration by me, at least. My words from that year:
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Recreational Technology:
How much is too much?
Recreational Technology defined: the use of technology for fun, relaxation, and/or virtual socialization.
Examples:
-Video games (“gaming”) or other computer games—alone, or with virtual community
-Online social communities such as facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest
Having lived for a large number of years (smile), I have had opportunity to see some very dramatic changes in the “culture” in which I live. While many changes have been positive, even awesome and wonderful, there are some developments that I fear carry the potential of having more negative long-term effects than we might realize. One of those areas of “concern” is that of the rapid growth of recreational technology.
Now, I got my first computer in 1985. I can still remember taking the computer out of the box, trying to make sense of the manual, partitioning the hard drive, and installing DOS. I taught myself how to do simple programming and had an organizational system on my computer before Windows. In fact, I didn’t like Windows at first because it took some of the control of my computer away from me. I’m certainly not anti-technology. I just wonder if maybe the “use” of technology for recreation and socialization would best be experienced “in moderation.”
I propose these questions for your consideration, if you are seeking to determine how much is too much, for you personally:
*Are your relationships suffering?
*Are you lacking in adequate rest?
*Are you rationalizing your time at these activities (such as “If I weren’t doing this, I would be watching television.” In reality, if it replaces two hours of TV, would those two hours have been spent watching TV WITH family)?
*Are you spending more time with virtual “friends” or online friends than with family?
*Are you looking forward to that activity more than family time/activities?
*Are you uneasy and unsettled during “normal,” real-life people-to-people conversation, and feel in the back of your mind that you can’t wait to get back to your “real” world (computer, tablet, phone, etc.)?
*Are you sharing with the world INSTEAD of with family (unless they happen to be a part of your virtual community)?
*Are your online friends the first to know about meaningful events in your life (maybe even leaving out someone who has the audacity NOT to be on social media)?
*Are your “postings” (blogs, facebook status, etc.) taking the place of meaningful real conversations with real people?
*Are those activities affecting, or maybe even, controlling:
Your mood?
Your priorities?
Your outlook on life?
Your schedule?
Not looking for a score here. There are not a certain number of the above questions that will give you a definitive answer about how much is too much. It’s an individual answer, but the question is one that, for me, deserves consideration.
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#recreationaltechnology #mypersonalopinion #mylifephilosophy #toomuchtechnology #realrelationships

Monday, January 9, 2017

Bible Study: “Walking in Wisdom” {GraceNotes}

Walking in Wisdom books
Looking forward to beginning my next Bible Study, starting next Monday. My first study with Love God Greatly was the Advent study, “God With Us.” I am impressed with the Love God Greatly belief statement, and I highly recommend their studies.
For each of their studies, there is an option to purchase a paperback book from Amazon (this one was $10.79, free shipping from Amazon Prime), or to download the study materials directly from their web site. I chose to purchase the book, as I think it might even be less expensive than printing out the 115 pages at home. Mainly, I like that this organization is not-for-profit, and so my purchase price goes back into the ministry. Their studies are translated and distributed in several languages.
Here is the description of the study from their web site:
“The Book of Proverbs positions us face-to-face with the wise and the fool and the consequences that follow their choices. The text is highly personal, at times uncomfortably transparent, and doesn’t mess around in zeroing in on the world’s greatest temptations that threaten to lead us astray from walking in the wisdom that God intended for us.
This six-week Love God Greatly Online Bible Study on Proverbs points to a topical look at Proverbs and the key themes of wisdom in our speech, our relationships, our work and wealth, and in the face of temptation.
Trust in the Lord instead of your own understanding is where the book of Proverbs ultimately leads us. God is the source of all wisdom, He uses these proverbs to show us the path that leads to wisdom, and He reveals to us the fruit of walking in this great wisdom… so that our trust is ultimately not in our floundering ways, but can be found securely in Him.”
#BibleStudy #LoveGodGreatly #WalkinginWisdom #Proverbs #SOAPMethod

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

ChristmasTime {Family Times}

Had a wonderful and special Christmas with my family. Just edited around 100 pictures…sharing a few here.
Bubble Bread
Bubble Bread-a Christmas morning tradition
Happy to be together again
Red Velvet Cake-another tradition
FaceTime w Tory 12-26-16 2
FaceTime with our granddaughter Tory in Mexico
My Children
My two…
Snack Buffet
Traditional Holiday Snack Buffet
Mark and Kristy, their son Conner and his wife Caroline (daughter Tory in Mexico)
Son Mark and his wife Kristy
IMG_0780
Grandson Conner and his wife Caroline
Shar's Fam at Chr 2016 1
Daughter Sharida and her children Alyssa and Dawson
Our two beautiful children with us
Mamo and Grandad with all our grandchildren except Tory (on mission in Mexico)
The old folks

#Christmas2016