Blog and new Devotional!

HELLO EVERYONE!
    Welcome to my personal blog! I will share what's going on in the world of Kerrie, my thoughts and feelings on different subjects, and I will also be adding a new feature that I am very excited about...short devotionals. My husband, Mitch will be helping me and I am very happy about this. We will add them in as we are lead..Hope you enjoy them and our prayer is that in some way they bring you closer to Jesus...

Staying close to Jesus, in a busy busy world....  

  24 hours in a day, right....when we need about 50! So much to do, so little time. Work, kids, shopping, school, exercising, socializing busy busy busy!!!! So, how do you keep close to the one "person" who means the most, JESUS. While your busy keeping close to everyone else you love, Hes longing to be closer to you. This is sometimes a difficult task..although it really shouldn't be. We certainly go out of our way to spend time with others we care about. Below are two ways we spend time with God and some of our thoughts on each subject.

   Prayer- You can pray anywhere-anytime! It is so simple, yet we "forget" or get too busy. You can pray while your getting ready in the morning, driving to work, on your break times or even when your boss is making you mad, ESPECIALLY then! To us, prayer is like talking to a friend, your BEST friend (Do you realize JESUS is the ONE thing that can never be taken away from you!) He already knows what your thinking but He wants that communication time with you. Don't forget, He wants to talk to you as well..so make sure you listen to Him. It really is a amazing experience when He speaks directly to you! Also, remember to add praise when your talking to Him. He deserves it and loves to hear it from his children. I will admit, sometimes when I go to bed at night, I feel the "oh time to pray" feeling..but theirs no specific time and no time requirements..its continual communication with our Lord! Honestly, I wouldn't survive some days without it!!! Jesus is ALWAYS there, waiting for even a few words from you..or a thank you from time to time for ALL He has done for us! Talk to Jesus, He will lead you in the direction you need to go.

   Studying the word- It is so important to reflect on the words He has had written for us. Life's so busy though, who always has 30 minutes in the morning to read a chapter and study etc?? (Although I bet we could find 30 minutes to sleep longer or watch TV!.)  However, I don't think He's up there counting the minutes you spend with Him, I think He's rejoicing for every SECOND He does get with you. Theirs no race or competition to read the whole bible within a certain time frame.. I encourage you to go at your own pace. Take a few minutes out of each day, read a verse or two (I actually think this is better then reading whole chapters all the time, because your actually studying and focusing on them ) There are many times that I read over and over the same verses that I've read before. It is good to do this because you will remember them when they reflect the circumstances you are currently in. Some things we do to fit the word into our busy day are: Posting bible verses on the mirror so we can study them while we get ready. Or If we're watching something on TV, we try to cut down the time and spend the rest of that time with Jesus....although, we all know how much more we would benefit if we spent that whole time in the word! There are lots of great devotionals online. I like Billy Graham and Joel Olsteen.. You can find some great things on crosswalk.com. So, read the verses below and maybe come up with a new way to spend a few minutes a day with the one who loves you most...He's waiting for that precious time with you.

-Mitch and Kerrie Barker

* 1 Peter 5:7
 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

* 1 Thessalonians 5:16-1817
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

* Matthew 6:33
 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

* 2 Timothy 3:16
 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,