Our Sunday School class is beginning a study on what happened right after Jesus' death and resurrection. The disciples were charged with spreading Christ's message around the world.

Our memory verse for 5 of the weeks:

  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
~ ACTS 1:8

The study focuses on the 'power' and the 'Holy Spirit', which we also posses as Christians. and the work continues today. We have the same direction.

According to former area resident Dave Crozier, who recently passed away, here is our areas of influence:

 Jerusalem – our own family, friends, neighbors,
church family;
Judea – unknown people in our lives, people from around Iowa or our state of residence;
Samaria – different races, ethnic groups, maybe less like you/us;
ends of the earth – missionaries who accept the call, us wherever we might go outside of our normal travels.

Can I do better at that charge? Yes, making me aware is a good start. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit, like the disciples did.

Restacking magazines in and around the end table beside my recliner chair, I had the opportunity to thumb through my book "100 Things God Loves About You" by Tama Fortner.

I have used a number of these for 'korners' in the past, but I thought today might be a good one for a reminder of 'one way' God loves you, and me!

GOD LOVES TO CALL YOU HIS OWN

"See what great love the Father
has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of 
God! And that is what we are!"
~ 1 John 3:1

"God love you. More than just a little. More than a lot. He loves you........lavishly. His love is not the strings-attached love of this world. It is a love that stretches beyond the stars and reaches far into eternity. Just call His name, reach out to Him--------and His love will sweep into your life, scoop you up, and whisper softly over and over, 'You are Mine,'.........for you are His very own."

****

Yesterday's Max Lucado in my computer inbox:

BE FULL OF JOY

"Philippians 4:4 commands, 'Be full of joy in the Lord always. Again I will say, be full of joy.'

"How can you be full of joy when you’ve got bills to pay and kids to raise? Those anxious, negative thoughts? Refuse to indulge them. Grab the weed of anxiety and give it a good yank. Then before the enemy can sow a seed, remind him and yourself that you live life 'in the Lord.'

"If you believe you face your problems alone, you will never find deep and lasting peace. On the other hand, if you believe that you face your challenges in the Lord—in the presence of the Lord, in the name of the Lord, in the power of the Lord, in the protection of the Lord—then you can be full of joy because you are full of the Lord."

***

If you just read what Max is saying above,
and thought, "I could never do that!"
Follow what Mark Hinton said Sunday
in his communion meditation,
"Can't" or "Won't!"

Right now our church is having a worship series on 1 Thessalonians. Below is a paragraph under the heading the "hope of the resurrection".

We have loved ones who has passed away. Some friends who are currently in hospice. Or maybe we are starting the decline of good health. So what is next??

"And now, dear brothers, (writer Paul) I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died."

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 14 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "The Thessalonians wondered why many of their fellow believers had died and what would happen to them when Christ returned. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to understand that death is not the end of the story When Christ returns, all believers---dead and alive---will be reunited, never to suffer or die again."

***

For fun, here is something from a number of years ago in Karen’s Korner! Giving away Warm Thought blankets. Here we are 16 years later and the ‘small group’ is still making and giving them away! They call themselves ‘Knit Wits’. And the numbers have changed. The ‘more than 200 have changed to ‘hundreds’! Many times I have been the ‘giver’. Never have I stitched any of them!
 
Thank you, gals, for being so faithful. May God be glorified this outreach ministry!
 
 
 
Today is Friday, September 25th, 2009; Karen's Korner #1660
 
I have a wonderful opportunity this morning.
 
A small number of individuals in our Marys & Marthas (ecumenical group in Clarion, also known as M & Ms); makes personal sized quilts and afghans which are given to people going through some crisis; many times health issues.
 
The "Warm Thought" blankets have a typed accompanying prayer, penned to each one. The one I am giving doesn't have the 'normal' one.
 
One other time I was asked to be the giver of one of the blankets and I didn't have the note.
 
Below is something which was typed and included then and will be included with the one I deliver today. As a disclaimer,  I have never made one of the more than 200 which have been made and given in the past four years. I salute those who faithfully make them:
 

Warm Thought Blanket
 
What is a Warm Thought Blanket?

 
It is one made by some unknown friend in the Clarion area:  one of our Marys and Marthas (M & Ms). As she stitches, knits, ties, or crochets, she has agreed to pray for you without knowing who would be the recipient of her work.
 
As you rest or sleep wrapped up in the blanket, may you stay warm and comfortable. But also be comforted by God’s Love and His Warmth for you.

 ~~

 
'I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
       the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
       he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore.'

~~ Psalm 121
 
**
 
 
 
 
 

Installment #3 of 3, names for Jesus. Alphabetical order from A to Z. ("I am the Alpha and the Omega" - Revelation 1:8).Taken from a bookmark:

* Quieter of Fear - Proverbs 1:33

* Rock of Salvation - 1 Corinthians 10:4

* Sacrificial Lamb - John 1:29

* The Truth - John 14:6

* Understanding Guide - Proverbs 3:5,6

* Victorious Warrior -1 John 5:4

* Word of Life - John 1:1

* Exalted Name Above All Names - Philippians 2:9

* Your Only Hiope - Ephesians 2:12

* Zion's Messiah - Psalm 14:7

From that above list, one Bible verse:  "Jesus told him (Peter): 'I am the Way -- yes, and the Truth and the Life."- John 14:6 LAB.

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Something that Ted Simmons gave to us at church on Sunday morning. It was his communion meditation. I enjoyed it. Hope you do to:


"This is a sermon by Mark Spence of Living Waters about how do you live your dash - the little line between your birth and when you die.

" James 4:14  says 'Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.' 

"Our time on earth is short. These are six points he shared:

1. It’s not about you

"We do not need to be in control, because God is. Everything is working together for our good. Doesn't mean that it's going to be painless or uncomfortable. Whatever happens in life are stepping stones. They are opportunities for us to proclaim God's glory. God is sovereign; He can do whatever He wants. He answers to no one. He is the King of King; Lord of Lords.

2. God knows our actions before we commit the action.

"He knows our temptations, struggles, fears. Charles Spurheon said  'My situation is urgent and I cannot see how I will be delivered from them. Yet this is not my concern. For He who made the promise will find a way to keep it. My part is simply to obey His commands, not to direct His ways. I am His servant, not His advisor. I call upon Him and He will deliver me.;

3. Be faithful with the small things 

"Be faithful; why? Because there is no such thing as a small thing. That small thing in our eyes is the biggest thing that God is requiring of us. Even when we fail we've been forgiven by the only One who can condemn us.

4. Share the gospel

"We are Christian because somebody cared enough to share. Now it's our turn to return the favor. We have been freed up for a purpose.

5. Pick up the pace

"Slow and steady wins the race, but we don't know when death is going to happen. Our finish line could be tomorrow or could be today.

6. Don't waste your dash

"We aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Luke 9: 23 says, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he were to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul.' Life is short but death is not the end if we are in Christ. He took our sins with Him when He died on the cross but it cost His Father everything He had. We owed a debt we could never pay. That was total humility and the love He had for us.

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25)

****

Today's "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence"; by Sarah Young. It's a good one. But they all ten to be good!

"Walk with Me
in the freedom of forgiveness.
The Path we follow together is sometimes
steep and slippery.
If you carry a burden of guilt on your back,
you are more likely 
to stumble and fall.
As your request,
I will remove the heavy load from you
and bury it at the foot of the cross.
When I unburden you,
you are undeniably free!
Stand up straight and tall
in My Presence,
so that no one can place more burdens
on your back.
Look into My Face
and feel the warmth of 
My Love-Light shining upon you.
It is this unconditional Love
that frees you
from both fears and sins.
Spend time basking in the 
Light of My Presence.
As you come to know Me
more and more intimately,
you grow increasingly free."

~ Taken from Psalm 68:19; I John 1:7 - 9; I john 4:18

****

This is today's Max Lucado in my email box. It comes from his book "Tame Your Thoughts".

We all have thoughts coming into our minds which are negative. Or outright lies. Some of us have more of them. Some of us have only a few. But we all have them at times. That is one thing I like about small groups and sharing. We are not alone, if we are honest!

UPROOT YOUR THOUGHTS

"Ephesians 4:23-24 (CEV) reads, 'Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person.' How? I have a three-word answer to that question: Uproot and Replant.

"Your mind is like a lawn. Your toxic thoughts are like grass burrs. They prompt a predictable chain reaction. These are untruths that lead to false narratives that result in overreactions. They stick and they hurt. They sour your mood and embitter your heart. You might mow them down. Give yourself pep talks. Read a book on positive mental attitude. And, for a day or two or ten, the weeds will disappear. But eventually they return.

"God has a better plan: Yank ‘em out by the roots. Your Father gives you his Word, and he invites you to treat the lies of hell with the words of heaven."

**

Six times throughout the calendar, our minister leads us in a short-term study on some subject. Last night's was week #3 on the topic of 'Self-Esteem'.

I will give a snapshot of what we covered in the one-hour plus class.

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are",
was our lead in quote by Marilyn Monroe. While she certainly had a troubled life, the sentence is probably true.

We have a Biblical foundation on which to build each of our individual self-esteems.

We are created in God's image - Genesis 1:27 and James 3:9.

We have a 'divine stamp of value':  'As image-bearers of God. all humans possess a fundamental dignity that is separate from their achievements, possessions, or intelligence. This means a person's worth is intrinsic---it cannot be gained, lost or given by another person'.

Nothing can separate us from God's Love:  'Death can't and life can't. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are---high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean---nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us." (Romans 8:38 -  39) . And John 3:16 tells us of God's sacrificial love which affirm our worth.

And if we have self-worth, we need to be reminded to share that worth with others. Everyone has His self-worth as well. We can discover that self-worth by loving them and helping them. "Your attitude must be like, My Own (Jesus talking), for I the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many." (Romans 20:28).

While we know some of these, we often need to reflect on what God thinks about us. In case, we forget!!

We need to celebrate every day:  I am loved. And so are you!! Thank You, Jesus!