Happy Labor Day!

Something written by Anne Graham Lotz and in my inbox yesterday:

A LIFE THAT WORKS

"There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death."
~ Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

"The first seventeen verses of Genesis 9 are a direct quotation in God's own words giving principles for you and me and the entire human race to live by. If we want to live a life that works and the entire human race to live by. If we want to live a life that works, overcoming the weakness that resides in all of us, we must heed these principles. If we do not want to heed these principles, we have that freedom, but we will never live a life that works as it was created to work in the beginning. It would be similar to having a new computer with the most cutting edge technology, but using it only as a typewriter. It would do the job, but it wouldn't even come close to fulfilling the potential. If we do not heed God's principles for our lives, you and I can exist on this planet yet not even come close to fulfilling our potential or experiencing  the abundant life God intended for us.

"One primary reason for the collapse of society all around us is due to indifference and outright rejection of God's principles. Our human weaknesses have become dominant, and life just does not work. So..........for your own good, read God's Word and live by God's principles and enjoy a life that works!"

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The topic of our ecumenical Bible study on Wednesday was on the topic of making choices on what to do with our daily lives. Our leader used a writing by Mary Sutherland. She was a volunteer extraordinary. Picking everything! But it landed her into clinical depression.

Lots of things are good but we can't choose them all.
Choose GREAT over GOOD!

We were given a graphic to enhance our thinking:

"People before things;

People before projects;

Family before friends;

Spouse before children;*

Spouse before parents;*

Tithe before wants;

Bible before opinions;

Jesus before all."

By Jo Ann Leavell

(*written as husband)

Our church sermon on Sunday looked at the topic "God does not give us more than we can handle!"

We broke in to small groups to discuss our thoughts on the topic. Added in were several Bible verses. Then we went back together to hear the sermon.

"How powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for He can even raise the dead."
~ 2 Corinthians 1:8 & 9 LAB

"Shall I look to the mountain gods for help? No! My help is from Jehovah who made the mountains! And the heavens too!"
~ Psalm 121:1 & 2 LAB

Bad news: "God does not give us more than we can handle!"

Good news:  We can't handle ANYTHING without His help! We have to keep our eyes on Him. And not on things that surround us! We are going to need His help!

Praise God!!

I get week day emails from Max Lucado. This is yesterday's:

LET THIRSTY SOULS COME

"Let’s pray prayers like this one: God, please release living water upon and through your children. Let us be sources of life and love everywhere we go.

"One of the most famous revivals happened early in the twentieth century in Wales. One hundred thousand people came to Christ in less than a year. Almost-empty bars were closed for lack of business. Magistrates saw their courts emptied of criminals. Miners even had to retrain the mules that worked in the coal mines. Many of the animals had been trained to respond to vulgar commands. But when the men got cleaned up, their language did as well, and the mules had to learn a new vocabulary.

"May the need arise to retrain some mules today. Let the thirsty souls come to Christ. And let the rivers of living water flow again."

***

A prayer from "365 Days of Prayer for Women" by Stephanie Sample from several days ago. They are all good, but some I like better than others. This is a good one:

MY COMFORTER

"Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you,
because I am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your souls."
~ Matthew 11:29 NLT

"Jesus, just to say your name quiets my racing heart. To remember all you are and all you have done brings comfort to my soul. I need that today, Lord. Your presence, your gentleness, your quiet example of a life at peace:  the comfort of your love restores my hope. How can I began to thank you for the relief you bring? What can I give you? You are my comforter, Jesus. Your selfless hands wipe away every anxious tear. Your strong arms lift my burdens, replacing them with the easy task of loving you in return."

"What burden are you carrying that you need to give to Jesus?"

***

I am making my way through the book of John. John chaper 17 has three headings:  Jesus prays for himself; Jesus prays for his disciples; and  Jesus prays for future believers.

this is a portion of  the second part. As Jesus was making His final journey before His crucifixion, He prayed for His disciples:

"My plea is not for the world
but for those You have given Me
because they belong to You. 
And all of them, since they are Mine,
belong to You;
and You have given them back to Me
with everything else of Yours,
and so they are My glory!"

~ John 17: 9 &  10 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Jesus said that His disciples are His glory. What a fantastic truth, that Jesus glories in us and that our lives can bring Him joy. Are we living in a way that brings Him Joy? Does He glory in us?"

*

Yesterday's Max Lucado in my computer inbox:

"And now this word to all of you:  You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."

EQUIPPED TO SERVE

Just for fun, I looked back 20 years to read some of the things I wrote and sent out for Karen's Korner. Here is something from August 2005!

When we traveled to Australia and New Zealand last February, we asked our neighbor to water our houseplants. Since they are stashed in lots of places around our house, it would have been a lot of work for Sue to care for them easily. I grouped them all together in and around our dining room table.