Something in my computer inbox from several months ago by Max Lucado:

FIND A WAY TO GIVE THANKS

"God notices the grateful heart. He took a praise-singing shepherd boy and made him a king. There’s no hint of God getting out of sorts if we aren’t thankful, but there is evidence we’re affected by our own ingratitude. What of the disastrous days? The nights I can’t sleep and the hours I can’t rest. Are we still grateful then?

"Jesus was. The Bible records, 'On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it' (1 Corinthians 11:23-24 NLT). It’s not often you see the words betrayed and thanks in the same sentence, much less in the same heart. In the midst of the darkest night of the human soul, Jesus found a way to give thanks. Anyone can thank God for the light. Jesus teaches us to thank God for the night. He says to us, 'you’ll get through this!; And we will."

  *

Being thankful, even when I am not, is something
I learned when our daughter Merry was sick before she died.
From Thanksgiving until July1999, she needed surgery five times to repair her shunt.
# 4 was July 8!
We were called the evening of July 9.
She was sick and was going to need surgery #5
the next day.
Could we come back to the hospital?
As I was gathering some things to go,
I wasn't saying this prayer aloud, but rattling in my head, I was saying
, "God, I don't want to do this!"
And it seemed He said to me,
"Tell Me thank you!"

Thank you!!??
"I don't want to do this!"
And it seemed He said to me,
"I never said you have to like it!"

Must be what it means in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, "Always be thankful."
I started thanking God for doctors, surgeries,
things that made Merry 'better'.

Something happens to us when we tell God,
"Thank You",
even for things we can't stand which happens to us!
It improves our mental and spiritual health; maybe even our physical health!
Some of my prayers are,
"God, you know I don't like this one bit,
but thank You for.........."

***

A couple of verses from I Timothy, written by Paul. He writes about 'being the greatest sinner'. In his past, he not only pursued Christians for their faith, he actively killed them. Pretty big sin, I'd say!

"Oh, how kind our Lord was,
for He showed me how to trust Him
and become full of the love of Christ Jesus.
How true it is, 
and how I long that everyone should know it,
that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners----
and I was the greatest of them all."

~ 1 Timothy 1:14 & 15 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "When we become Christians, we often feel that our love for Jesus and others is inadequate. But we can be confident that Christ will give us the faith and love we need. Even with our week faith, we must demonstrate genuine love toward others. Christ will increase both our faith and love as our relationship with Him deepens.

"Paul summarizes the Good News. Jesus saves sinners, and no sinner is beyond His saving power. Do we believe that? Jesus didn't come just to show us how to live, or to challenge us to be better people. He came to offer us salvation that leads to eternal life. Have we accepted His offer?

*****

Taken from a poster by "Answers in Genesis" - The Attributes of GOD - (part 2 of 2):

"INFINITE
Beyond all that we
can imagine; cannot
be measured.

*
JUST
Fair according
to who he is;
must punish sin.

*
HOLY
Cannot sin
and hates 
all sin.

*
OMNIPOTENT
All powerful to do
whatever he wants.

*
INDEPENDENT
Has no need of anything
outside of himself.

*
IMMUTABLE
Will never change.

*
FAITHFUL
Will always keep his 
promises; does not lie.

*
OMNISCIENT
Knows everything
past, present, future."

****

Today's entry by Sarah Young and her "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence":

"Try to stay conscious of Me as you go step by step through the day. My Presence with you is both a promise and a protection. My final statement just before I ascended into heaven was 'Surely I am with you always'. That promise was for all of My followers, without exception.

"The promise of My Presence is a powerful protection. As you journey through your life, there are numerous pitfalls along the way. Many voices clamor for your attention, enticing you to go their way. A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and despair, plateaus of pride and self-will. If you take your eyes off Me and follow another's way, you are in grave danger. Even well-meaning friends can lead you astray if you let them usurp My place in your life. The way to stay on the path of Life is to keep your focus on Me. Awareness of My Presence is your best protection."

~ Taken from Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 12:1 - 2

****

Taken from a recent writing by Max Lucado and his book "Tame Your Thoughts".

It's titled "Christ Runs the Show". We might not always like the way things are going. But we have two choices:  let Christ run the show; or let us run the show. I choose to let (and believe) Christ 'runs the show'. He does a better job!

CHRIST RUNS THE SHOW

"'God raised Christ from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything.' (Ephesians 1:20-22 MSG).

"Christ runs the show. He has authority over the world, and he has authority over your world. Your date of birth, your date of death. Your mood swings, sleep patterns, eating habits, your salary. He’s never surprised, he’s never caught off guard. He’s never ever uttered the phrase,  'Now how did that happen?;

"Uproot your fear of pandemonium and replant the assuring promise: 'God makes everything work out according to his plan.' (Ephesians 1:11 NLT)."

****

Karen's Korner readers know that I am a Bible reader. I pick a book of the Bible; finish it and move on to another random pick.

I am  in the process of finishing 1 Timothy. And, as so many times the case, the reading hits at a perfect time. Chapter 5 and these verses talk about 'pastors'. Right time to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month:  October!

"Pastors who do their work well should be paid well and should be highly appreciated, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching."

~ 1 Timothy 5:17 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Faithful diligent church leaders should be supported and appreciated. Too often they are targets for criticism because the congregation has unrealistic expectations. How do we treat our church leaders? Do we enjoy finding fault, or do we show our appreciation? Do they receive enough financial support to allow them to live without worry and provide for the needs of their families? Jesus and Paul emphasized the importance of supporting ministers who lead and teach us."

**
Thank You, God,
for providing our churches
with leadership.
Thank You for people with hearts
to serve You and people in their lives, 
congregations, and communities where
each of them serve.
Help us to be more supportive
and less critical.
May more people of all ages be
attracted into the ministry and
care of people everywhere.
Thank You!
Amen.

****

It's Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Taken from a poster by 'Answers in Genesis':

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
(part 1 of 2)


OMNIPRESENT
Always present everywhere.


SOVEREIGN
In complete control of everything,
does all that He pleases.


GRACIOUS
Gives great gifts to His children,
even when they are not deserving.


LOVING
Always wants what
is best for His children.


MERCIFUL
Kind to those in misery;
withholds deserved punishment.


WISE
Does everything 
perfectly without
mistakes.


ETERNAL
Always was and
always will be.

***

Yesterday we buried Clarion's long-time attorney Rich Bordwell. He had retired and sold his law practice about two months ago. Plus he wasn't that old!

So big funeral! He was a Catholic. My friend Florine Swanson was the lector for the service and emailed me one of her short readings for the funeral.

Even if you have no idea who Rich Bordwell might be nor what the book from the Catholic Bible is, it is a good reading!

We all have friends!

A Reading from the book of the Prophet Sirach
 
"Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;
whoever finds one finds a treasure.
 
Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
 
Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
Those who fear God will find them.
 
Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship;
For as they are, so will their neighbors be. 
 
The Word of the Lord"

***

I have a couple of friends who are in a Bible study at a neighboring church. They are looking at a Max Lucado book. I am not sure about the whole study but this friend was telling about UFOs. No, not the kind we normally talk about.

"Untruths
lead to 
False
narratives
which lead to
Overreactions."

We all know what Max is talking about!

We hear the sirens go. Your 16-year-old isn't home. Even though you live in a town of 100,000, you become convinced it is him. Or you have a pain in your left side. It must be the latest disease for which there is no known cure!

And the list goes on. We don't need to learn of terrorist attacks when they are going on inside our heads!

Instead, we need to change the 'mental channel' in our minds to God and what He has for us in that time or situation.

"Trust the Lord completely,
don't ever trust yourself.
In everything you do,
put God first,
and He will direct you
and crown your efforts with success."

~ Proverbs 3:5 & 6 LAB

***

""Pray much for others; 
plead for God's mercy upon them;
give thanks for all He is going to do for them.
Pray in this way for kings and all others
who are in authority over us,
or are in place of high responsibility,
so that we can live in peace and quietness, 
spending our time in godly living
and thinking much
about the Lord."

~ 1 Timothy 1:1 - 3 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:   "Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He has chosen to let us help Him change the world through our prayers. How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is reality. Paul (writer) urges us to pray for each other and for our leaders in government. Our earnest prayers will have powerful results.

"Paul's command to pray for rulers was remarkable  considering that Nero was emperor at this time. Nero was a notoriously cruel emperor. He needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64, so to take the focus off himself he blamed the Roman Christians. Persecution erupted throughout the Roman Empire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals. Social ostracism was widespread. When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers."

**

God, we pray today for our leaders. We pray especially for President Donald Trump
and his wife Melania; for Vice-president J.D. Vance and his wife Usha.
We pray for former President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill;
for former Vice-presidentor Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas .
For the UK royalty including King Charles III and his family.
We plead to You for your mercy upon each of them.
We give thanks for all You are going to do for, and through, each of them.
In Jesus, Name.
Amen.

***