(A week ago, I missed having 'five Karen's Korners'. As readers know, I like have the 'sets of five' because, for instance - all Friday's Korners end in '0' or '5'. So to keep my 'set going', here is a Friday Korner on Sunday!)

Written by and sent from Bob Vander Platts of the Iowa Family Leader as students and teachers return to school this week:

"Lord, we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for school boards, administrators, staff, and teachers -- all that are in authority -- and ask that they find first the beginning of wisdom, that is the fear of the Lord and salvation in Jesus' name.

"Lord, we pray for our Christian brothers and sisters at work in the schools, that they would honor You and model You find strength in You. Protect them, Father, and encourage them, and grant them opportunity and courage to share Your love and truth.

"And Lord, we pray for the nation's students, that in learning, they would learn of You. That in exploring, they would find You. And that in growing, they would grow ever closer to You, that they may be saved and 'come unto the knowledge of the truth'.

"Amen."

***

Since our trip to Noah's Ark and the Creation Museum, I have decided to re-read Genesis.

Here are a couple of verses from my reading plus commentary. It is God speaking:

"Look, I am going to cover the earth with a flood and destroy every living being---everything in which there is breath of life. All will die. But I promise to keep you safe in the ship, with your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every animal---a male and female---into the boat with you, to keep them alive through the flood. Bring in a pair of each kind of bird and animal and reptile. Store away in the boat all the food that they and you will need. And Noah did everything as God commanded him."

~ Genesis 6:17 - 22 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Noah got right to work when God told him to build the ark. The other people must have been warned about the coming disaster, but apparently they did not expect it to happen. Today things haven't changed much. Each day thousands of people are warned of God's inevitable judgment, yet most of them don't really believe it will happen. Don't expect people to welcome or accept your message of God's coming judgment of sin. Those who don't believe in God will deny his judgment and try to get you to deny God as well. But remember God's promise to Noah to keep him safe. This can inspire you to trust God for deliverance in the judgment that is sure to come."

***

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

"Find Me in the midst of maelstrom. Sometimes events whirl around you so quickly that they become a blur. Whisper My Name in recognition that I am still with you. Without skipping a beat in the activities that occupy you, you find  strength and Peace through praying My Name. Later, when the happenings have run their course, you can talk with Me more fully.

"Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough to yield My loving Presence; you are Mine."

~ Philippians 2:9 -11; Isaiah 43:1

**

The replica of Noah's Ark, actual size was something to see. It was BIG!

Some of the information was Biblical:  size of the ark is specifically mentioned in Genesis. Some of what we saw was what I'd call 'artist interpretation', as every detail is not mentioned in the Bible.

It amazes me to think that God 'created' in Genesis 1 and by Genesis chapter 6, He is telling Noah to build this big boat, as 'He was very sorry He'd made them...'

Because Noah was the 'only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time', he and his family and all the animals would be spared from the oncoming disastrous flood.

One hundred years after the beginning of the ark construction with Noah at the age of 600, they were ready to 'float the boat'.

The next step was for Noah, his three sons plus their wives and all of the animals to get on the boat!

When I observed the size of the ark with its three complete levels, I couldn't help but marvel at all the work those eight people would have to do daily to take care of every creature enduring the storm together.

This was no cruise ship; there was lots of work to be done for days!

It makes me think about us:  we want to 'get on board God's ark' to be saved from the oncoming disaster. But once we get on the ship, do we pull out the deck chairs and enjoy the Son-shine. Or do we ask God what kind of work needs to be done to 'take care of His animals'?

Both the Creation Museum and Noah's Ark replica are spearheaded by Ken Ham. He is termed a Christian fundamentalist and a 'young earth creationist'. He believes in the literal interpretation of the Bible.

Some say that a 'day' in the Bible means 'some amount of time'; may be longer or shorter than what we call a 'day'. Because of some Bible original writings and many references to 'day' throughout the Bible, Ham believes a day is 24 hours just like today.

Which do I believe? Either is possible. Do I believe our God could make all of His creation in a that amount of time? I think He could have. Am I sure? No, but it doesn't make a difference to me. I agree that God created all of this and set it into motion.

According to the Bible, the first verse and first chapter of Genesis say "In the beginning God created....".

Among other things, on the first day, "God said let there be light. And said it was good."

The second day, God separated waters and made the sky. God saw that it was good.

Third day: God made the plants and trees and seeds. God saw it was good.

Fourth day:  Next came sun and moon. God saw that it was good.

Fifth day: Next came the animals. And God saw that it was good.

Sixth day before God rested on day seven:  God said, "Let us make man in our image...to rule over all the earth." But this time God said, "It was very good."

Did you catch that? According to God, His creation was good. But we, created in His image, was very good!

So one time today, look in your mirror and say, "Hmmm, God says I am very good!"

Back after a few days away. A group of fifteen from our area traveled together to visit Noah's Ark and the Creation Museum in the Kentucky/Ohio area. We had the opportunity to meet old friends - and not long ago off the mission field in Mozambique - Jacob and Jaynie Michael.

I'll make a few comments on upcoming Karen's Korners about some of the things we saw, learned, and experienced.

It was ten years ago this month that nine of us from the Clarion area traveled to Poland on a 10-day mission trip. In following years, we have traveled on shorter mission trips nearly annually.

Jim and I did extensive traveling in our 45 years of married life. Many trips took place in the twenty-plus years following his early retirement.

When we would travel, we had the some philosophy:  'things are going to happen on the trip that we don't like. But we are going to have a good time'. It was always a decision. If we weren't going to enjoy our time away, maybe we should stay home.

I always give the same 'speech' to each travel group in which I am involved. "Let's enjoy the trip regardless!"

As the Welds traveled; as our mission trips have helped in various places, we have experienced:  flight delays; lost luggage; misplaced items, being lost; money disappearing unexpectedly. You name it! But being frustrated. Angry. Upset. It wasn't part of our mindset.

I gave a similar speech before leaving on Thursday morning early "get ready", "we are gong to have a good time".

Maybe that should be our mantra for every day:  regardless of what happens:  "We are going to enjoy the trip!"

What major or small disaster happened in our four days away?

Not one thing! No flat tires. No illnesses. No angry nor frustrated participants.

But we were prepared to enjoy the trip.......no matter what happened!

(I will be away from my computer tomorrow, so no Karen's Korner).

Something written by Sarah Young and her "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" from several weeks ago:

"I am nearer than you think, richly present in all your moments. You are connected to Me by Love-bonds that nothing can sever. However, you may sometimes feel alone, because your union with Me is invisible. Ask Me to open your eyes, so that you can find Me everywhere. The more aware you are of My Presence, the safer you feel. This is not some sort of escape from reality; it Is tuning in to ultimate reality. I am for more Real than the world you can see, hear, and touch. Faith is the confirmation of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."

~ Taken from Acts 17:27-28; Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)

***

"Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

~ Ephesians 5:20 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. Take heart--God works all things out for good if we love Him and are fitting into His plans (Romans 8:28). Thank God, not for your problems, but for the strength He is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life. You can be sure that God's perfect love will see you through."

****

A couple of unrelated thoughts from my gardens.

Several weeks ago I purchased a couple of decorative shrubs at a year-end closeout sale. Because of the time of the year and as dry as it is this summer, I knew that I would have to do some extra watering.

One of the bushes thrived from the beginning. The other drooped.

What to do? Do I keep watering? Or start over? It was bad enough that I looked to see if the same retailer had another one for a replacement. No luck.

I continued to water.

In just the last few days, here it comes. Looking better and more alive all the time. I was close to pulling it up. Now I think it is going to survive and thrive.

THOUGHT:  Even when someone in our lives (maybe ourselves) looks a little tired or droopy, it might be time to keep watering and believing in what we don't see at the moment.

*

I plant and care for a 30' x 2' concrete planter in Clarion annually.

This year there a red, white, and blue (aka purple) petunias.

I noted a few weeks ago that at the end of the planter, a marigold was beginning to grow.

I didn't pull it out when I weeded.

Now there is a bright yellow flower in the midst of the patriotic floral colors.

THOUGHT:  We are to bloom where we are planted.......and maybe where we aren't!

*

A short thought sent by sister Jill last night:

"Your life is a garden.

Your thoughts are the seeds.

If your life isn't awesome, you've been watering the weeds!"

*

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You that You continue to water us and believe in us; maybe at times when we don't believe in ourselves. Sometimes we are 'transplanted' to places we would rather not be. But we can bloom there just as well. Keep our thoughts on You; not on the weeds of useless thoughts designed to bring us down. Today is a good day to walk, to smile, to enjoy the life which You have given to us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Something written by Max Lucado. We need God as our refuge at all times. But sometimes we are more needy than others. If you don't have a great big need today, someone in your life might. My dictionary gives the definition of 'refuge' as 'a shelter or protection; a safe place to stay'. I'll take one of those!

God, Our Refuge

"Refuge is a favorite word of David's. You will count as many as forty-plus appearances in some versions of the Bible. But never did David use the word more poignantly than in Psalm 57. The introduction to the passage explains its background.......'A song of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.' Lost in shadows and thought, he has nowhere to turn. To go home, he endangers his family. To go to the tabernacle, he imperils the priests. Saul will kill him. Here he sits, all alone. But then he remembers he is not. And from the recesses of the cave a sweet voice floats.

"'Be merciful to me, O God! For my soul trusts in You, and in the shadow of Your wings I make my refuge.' (Psalm 57:1)

"Make God your refuge. Let Him be the foundation on which you stand!"

***