"Have two goals;
wisdom---that is, knowing and doing right---
and common sense.
Don't let them slip away,
for they fill you with living energy,
and bring you honor and respect.
They keep you safe from defeat
and disaster
and from stumbling off the trail.
With them on guard 
you can sleep without fear,
you need not be afraid of disaster
or the plots of wicked men,
for the Lord is with you; he protects you."

~ Proverbs 3:21 - 26 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "What is the difference between wisdom and common sense? Common sense is the ability God gives to all people to think and make correct choices. Wisdom, however, he gives only to those who follow him. Wisdom includes common sense, but goes beyond it. It also includes the knowledge that comes from instruction, training, and discipline; the understanding that comes through insight, discretion, and discernment, and the insight that results from knowing and applying God's truths."

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God,
we aren't going to be able to do these things
without your help -
leadership and guidance.
Help us!
Amen.

Today's Max Lucado in my computer's inbox. I liked it, but I tend to like many to most; maybe all!

JESUS CAME FOR THE OUTCAST

"The woman at the well. Decades of loose living had left her tattooed and tabooed and living with a boyfriend who thought a wedding was a waste of time. Gossipers wagged their tongues about her and her 5 ex-husbands. How else can we explain her midday appearance at the water well? Other women filled their buckets at sunrise, but this woman preferred the heat of the sun over the heat of their scorn.

"Jesus wasn’t put off by her past. He offered to make music out of her garbage, and she accepted his offer. The woman on the margin became the woman with the message. No one else gave her a chance, but Jesus gave her the chance of a lifetime. He came for people like her."

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God has a sense of humor!

I like having people over to my house for lunch or dinner. I work to have my downstairs cleaned up for my guests, a long with the right food. I am not a 'great' housekeeper but I like things adequately done. I tend to take 'extra care' when my guests might be particularly tidy.

I can count on after my guests are gone, I find a cobweb draped somewhere. From a curtain to a lamp shade. Across the back of my bathroom stool to my medicine cabinet.

It makes a laugh to know that God is in control. Why didn't I see it earlier!??

*

I type and send Karen's Korners every week day morning! Most times I re-read what I have written or copied; catching lots of errors. But for some reason, many times I overlook a word or spelling. I don't see or don't read what is printed on the page!

I want to apologize for any of those errors! Why do I catch them after the fact??!

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I have perfection tendencies. I would like to do my 'house cleaning' and 'writing' perfectly!

God has other plans for me. He wants me to enjoy the 'trip'!

"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other (including myself), making allowance for each other's faults (including mine) because of your love."

~ Ephesians 4:2 (LAB)

Bible Commentary:  "No one is going to be perfect here on earth, so we must accept and love other Christians (including ourselves!) in spite of their (our) faults. When we see faults in fellow believers, we should be patient and gentle. Is there someone whose actions or personality really annoys us? Rather than dwelling on that person's weaknesses, or looking for faults, pray for that person. Then do even more---spend time together and see if we can learn to like that other person."

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Today's entry from "365 Days of Prayer for Women" by Stephanie Sample:

IT WILL BE DONE

"I also persevered in the work on this wall,
and we acquired no land, and all my servants
were gathered there for the work."
~Nehemiah 5:16 ESV

"God, your perseverance gives me hope. You're always moving, never stopped; always progressing, never surrendered. Once you've begun a work, you finish it. I'd like to say the same for myself, but it gets overwhelming, this life, and sometimes I want nothing more than to stop. The racing, climbing, and carrying all get to be too much and I think, maybe I should give up. But that's not really what I want, of course. I don't want to stop; what I want is to be done. Help me persevere, Lord! Through fatigue, disappointment, setbacks, and even temporary failure, help me persevere. Remind me we are in this together, and because of that, it will be done."

"How can we persevere because of our hope in God?"

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Today's Anne Graham Lotz email in my computer's inbox:

THE CROSS OF OBEDIENCE

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

~ Matthew 16:24 NIV

"Are you repulsed by the thought of crucifixion? I am. But I also know that when I look into the eyes of Jesus, I see a cross! And He has said to me, 'Anne, if you want to be My disciple, if you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me. Because if you want to save your life, you're going to lose it in the end. If you choose to lose your life for Me, you will find it. For what good will it do you if you gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?"' (Matthew 15:24 - 25, paraphrased).

"The cross that Jesus commands you and me to carry is the cross of submissive obedience to the will of God, even when His will includes suffering and hardship and things we don't want to do. It is a willingness to totally, absolutely, irrevocably, and finally yield our lives to Him because we want what He wants more than what we want."

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"Hallelujah!
Thank you,
Lord!
How good you are!
Your love for us continues on 
forever.
Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God!
Who can ever praise Him
half enough!

~ Psalm 106: 1 & 2 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  'If we ever stopped to list all the miracles in the Bible, we would be astounded. They cover every subject of life. The more we think about what God has done, the more we can appreciate the miracles he has done in our lives---birth, personality development, loving friends and family, specific guidance, healing, salvation, the list goes on and on. If we think we have never had a miracle, look closer---we will see God's power and loving intervention on our behalf. God still performs great miracles!!!"

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