Night before last, I had invited a couple over to eat supper with me. Dana is a handyman, so I asked him to take a second look at my grandfather clock.

For a number of months, I couldn't get it to run right. The pendulum would swing for six or seven minutes before it would stop. I had no intentions of taking into a West Des Moines shop. I had that done about a year ago. So I knew it didn't need any major repairs.

But what was the problem? Dana is no 'clock repairman' but he started to toy with making it run. "I wonder if it is level," he said. I didn't know but it had worked for that year following its 'major tune up'.

So we started to play with it. "Get a couple of jar lids," he said. So we tried putting them under the two 'legs' to the right. Ran the couple of minutes before it again stopped. What about front to back. Same thing.

"Next time I am out here," he said, "I'll bring my level." But we attempted one last possibility. Move the jar lids to the left side. What do you suppose? It worked and has been running ever since. Ticking and chiming away like it hadn't for a long time!

I couldn't help but think about us. How hard we try to 'run' the right way on our own. We can 'tick' along for some time before we 'stop running'. Sometimes we can't figure out what or why we can't 'go' like we once did. God, who made us, knows what it takes for us to begin 'ticking' again. He has the answers. Like my asking Dana for his help, we need to stop and ask God for His help. And "He will supply all our needs from His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19).

Thank You, Heavenly Father, that we don't have all the answers to life. But You do! Forgive me for all the times I look to myself and to others for help, when You have the solutions to every problem I might encounter. You are my 'tour guide' through this life and for that I am thankful. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Most churches have daily devotional booklets they give to people to read if they choose. Our church has them. My sister Jill's church in Washington state does (where I visited last week). On the way out of worship service a week ago Sunday, Jill grabbed their current "Portals of Prayer" and handed it to me.

Here is an entry from earlier this month. It reminds us of who we are; whose we are; and that we are loved. Sometimes in the 'rough and tumble' of life, we forget!

Remember Whose Child You Are

"The Lord bless you and keep you."  ~ Numbers 6:24

"Back in the day, I heard an expression that I began to use with my children. Before they would leave the house, I would set down some rules, tell them I loved them, and then tell them to 'remember whose child you are'. Although they heard the same words each time, they dared not leave before hearing them again!

"The Benediction that we might hear before leaving worship on Sunday, is God's way of saying, 'Remember whose child you are.' Because of His unfathomable love, He sent us Jesus, His only begotten Son, who carried all our misdeeds (even those done when we thought no one was looking!) to a cross, where He obediently offered up His life as the perfect atonement for our sins. Wrapped in Christ's robe of righteousness, we are God's blessed children, heirs of His kingdom of heaven.

"When we receive the Lord's benediction, we know that He is sending us out as His own dear children, forgiven, redeemed, and dearly loved!"

"Father, thank You for blessing keeping me as Your child. Amen."

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~ written by Mrs. Laura L. Pickle from Rainbow City, Alabama

Bible readings for the day:  Numbers 6:22-27 & Psalm 113:2

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(Good to be back after a week away!)

"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us,

and He will certainly bless us."

~ Psalm 115:12 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "'Jehovah is constantly thinking about us' says the psalm writer. What a fantastic truth! There are many times when we feel isolated, alone, and abandoned, even by God. In reality, He sees and understands, and is thinking about us. When depressed by problems or struggling with self-worth, be encouraged that God keeps us in His thoughts. If He thinks about us, surely His help is near."

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(Note: there will be no Karen's Korner for a week as I will be away from my computer.)

Installment #3 of Joyce Meyer's list "Who We Are in Christ Jesus". Wouldn't you think if we were told once we would always remember all the things Jesus came to show us, teach us, die to give us? Somehow we have a hard time remembering 'who we are'!!

"I am a joint-heir with Christ."  ~ Romans 8:17

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"I am more than a conqueror through Him, who loves me."  ~ Romans 8:37

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"I am a partaker of His divine nature."   ~ 2 Peter 1:3 - 4

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"I am an ambassador for Christ."  - 2 Corinthians 5:20

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"I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places."  ~ Ephesians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4

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"I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power."  ~ Colossians 1:11

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Several quotes from a variety of people and places:

"If you have much, give of your wealth;

if you have little, give your heart."

~ Arabian proverb

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"Is there any music as sweet

as a car starting on a cold morning."

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"A friend is someone

who strengthens you with prayers;

blesses you with love;

and encourages you with hope."

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"One resolution I have made,

and try always to keep,

is this:

'To rise above the little things.'

~ John Burroughs

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"There's nothing better than a good friend,

except a good friend with chocolate."

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"Practice courtesy,

you never know when

it may be popular again."

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Today's daily inspirational thought coming into my inbox this morning by Anne Graham Lotz:

PUTTING HOLES IN THE DARKNESS

"Let your light so shine before me,

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

~ Matthew 5:15 NKJV

"One night when Robert Louis Stevenson was a small boy, his nanny called him to come to bed. Oblivious to her summons, he was staring at something outside his nursery window. The nanny walked over, stood at his shoulder, and inquired patiently, 'Robert, what are you looking at?' The little boy, without taking his eyes away from the window, exclaimed in wonder as he pointed to the lamplighter who was lighting the streetlamps, 'Look, Nanny! That man is putting holes in the darkness!'

"You and I may not be able to change the world, but surely each of us can put a hole in the darkness! Turn on the Light! Share what Jesus means to you and give God's Work to someone else!

"All through the ages, men and women have done just that! They have turned on the Light so that a living faith in God has been passed from generation to generation. Not everyone has been attracted to the Light, but one by one people have come to Him for truth, wisdom, hope, salvation, and eternal life."

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Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019!

Something to begin the new year from Sarah Young and her 'Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" for January 1:

"Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because My attention span is infinite. I know and understand you completely. My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love. I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence."

~ taken from Romans 12:2; Jeremiah 29:11

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This is a 'pass along' email forwarded to me by my sister Jill. It didn't indicate who the author was:

"Today I was walking in the supermarket and suddenly I heard a noise of things breaking. I walked down the aisles and saw that some people were murmuring. When I walked down their aisle, I saw a group of people staring at them.

"An older lady had hit the shelf containing plates and glasses with her cart and many had fallen to the ground and broken.

"Kneeling on the floor embarrassed, the old lady was frantically picking up the shattered pieces, while her husband peeled off the bar code from each broken dish saying;  'See! Now we will have to pay for all this.'

"What a sad scene. Someone has a mishap, and all eyes were on her. When I knelt beside her to explain to her not to worry, a young man came and knelt beside us and said:  'Leave it, we will pick this up. Let's get your information, so you can go to the hospital and have that wound in your hand looked at.'

"The lady looked at him, embarrassed and said:  'No. But I have to pay for all this.'

The young man said:  'No ma'am. We have insurance for that kind of loss, and you do not have to pay anything.'

"When the young man got up, I could see that he had information for the supermarket manager and sent the customer to get checked out.

"For you who have read this so far, I would like you to give me a minute. Wherever you are, close your eyes, and imagine God doing the same for you!

"Collect the pieces of your broken heart for all the blows that life has thrown at you. God will heal all your wounds and I assure you that your sins and mistakes will be forgiven.

"There is a warranty called grace, that when you recognize that you were wrong and you accept God as your only savior, the manager of the existence of the universe (GOD) will tell you:  'Everything is already paid for.........go on your way, GO!'"

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Installment #2 of a listing by Joyce Meyer in her recent book of "Who We Are In Christ Jesus":

"I can do all things through Christ Jesus."  - (Philippians 4:13)

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"I am a believer, and the light of the gospel shines in my mind." - (2 Corinthians 4:4)

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"I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood." - (Ephesians 1:7)

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"I am called of God to be the voice of His praise." - (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9)

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"I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people."

- (I Peter 2:9)

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One of my favorites to read about as a young girl was George Washington Carver. He was a slave, had a chaotic early life, educated, educator, scientist. If you don't know much about him, check google.

Here are several quotes from the 'Wisdom of George Washington Carver':

"99% of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.

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"When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way,

you will command the attention of the world.

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"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young;

compassionate with the aged;

sympathetic with the striving;

and tolerant of the weak and strong,

because some day in your life

you will have been all of these."

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