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Today is Thursday, September 16th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4528
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(Sorry for no 'korner' yesterday; some computer troubles early in the daily)
"Take Our PositivityChallenge!" by Sabra Ciancanelli, editor of Guideposts.. Shared at ecumenical Bible Study. There are 21; installments; #2 of 4:
"Start your day
with a positive quote or affirmation.
*
Send a gratitude email or letter
to someone who has influenced your life.
*
Give your diet a makeover.
Pick one not-so great eating habit,
and replace it with a healthier option.
*
Get creative.
Doodle, draw or sculpt with children's modeling clay. Don't worry about what your artwork looks like or how good it is, just have fun.
*
Watch the sunrise or sunset.
Put it in your calendar so you don't forget."
****
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Today is Tuesday, September 14th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4527
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The title for the chapter of Ephesians 4 is "Unity in the Church"; here are the first two verses:
"I beg you---I, a prisoner here in jail for serving the Lord----to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each others' faults because of your love."
Bible Commentary: "God has chosen us to be Christ's representatives on earth. In light of this truth, Paul challenges us to live worthy of the name 'Christian', meaning 'Christ's one'. This includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding, and peaceful. People are watching ou rlives. Can they see Christ in us? How well are we doing as His representatives?
"No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so we must accept and love other Christians in spite of their faults. When we see faults in fellow believers, we should be patient and gentle. Is there someone whose actions or personality really annoys you? Rather than dwelling on that person's weaknesses, or looking for faults, pray for that person. Then do even more----spending time together and see if you can learn to like him or her."
****
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Today is Monday, September 13th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4526
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This is Anne Graham Lotz daily email from last weekend, as we walk away from September 11 remembrances:
God’s Primary Purpose
By
Anne Graham Lotz
“I will fear no
evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4, NIB
“Trusting
God to accomplish His primary purpose through our pain was eloquently
expressed by the widow of Todd Beamer. Todd was a passenger on the fateful
United Flight 93 when it was hijacked by suicide bombers on September
11, 2001. He and other passengers overpowered the hijackers, thwarting
their use of the plane as a flying missile apparently aimed at the very
heart of Washington, D.C. But the passengers were unable to prevent the
plane from a nosedive crash into a vacant field in Pennsylvania, so
September 11, 2001, was the date of Todd Beamer’s entrance into heaven.
"Lisa Beamer gave us a snapshot of her faith that is being
developed through suffering when she told an interviewer, ‘God says, ‘I
knew on September 10, and I could have stopped it, but I have a plan
for greater good than you can ever imagine.’ I don’t know God’s plan,
and, honestly, right now I don’t like it very much. But I trust that He
is true to His promise in Romans 8:28*.’
“Thank you, Lisa, for trusting God when you don’t understand why!”
(* Romans 8:28
says, "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our
good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.")
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Today is Friday, September 10th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4525
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As we get ready to remember 9/11, twenty years ago. And think about the world and 'our world' today.
Something written by Sarah Young and her "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" for September 10:
"I am always available to you. Once you have trusted Me as your Savior, I never distance Myself from you. Sometimes you may feel distant from Me. Recognize that as feeling; do not confuse it with reality. The Bible is full of My Promises to be with you always. As I assured Jacob, when he was journeying away from home into unknown places, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. My last recorded promise to My followers was: Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Let these assurances of My continual Presence fill you with Joy and Peace. No matter what you may lose in this life, you can never lose your relationship with Me."
~ Taken from Isaiah 54:10; Genesis 28:15; Matthew 28:20
****
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Today is Thursday, September 9th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4524
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A week ago at our ecumenical Bible study, leader Carolyn Bowman began our time together introducing a 'positivity challenge' written by Sabra Ciancanelli, editor of Guideposts magazine. There are 21 of them on ways to' feel less stressed and more blessed'.
Carolyn told us five; five more this week on our way to twenty-one of them.
So I am going to type five today; first of four installments:
"Do a happy dance.
Move to music. Dance sparks joy.
(Carolyn had us do one stanza of the 'hokey pokey!)
Change up your morning routine.
Add a devotional practice.
Take a deep breath.
Learn a stress-relieving breathing exercise, like five-finger breathing. Make a fist. As you inhale through your nose, slowly uncurl your thumb and index finger. As you exhale through your mouth, slowly open your middle, ring and pinky fingers. When you exhale for longer than you inhale, your nervous system shifts into a state in which your whole body feels more peaceful.
Surround yourself with love.
Go through your photos, and find one that makes you smile. Put it on your fridge, your mirror or by your bed.
Take a growth walk.
Go outside and notice everything that is growing. Including you. Reflect on how you are becoming your best self."
Who knows you might add one of these to your daily routine!
****
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Today is Wednesday, September 8th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4523
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As most Karen's Korners readers know, I am a Bible reader; going from one book to another. Not necessarily in any order.
I am just embarking on the book of Ephesians. One of the paragraphs of introduction tells:
"After a warm greeting (1:1,2), Paul (writer) affirms the nature of the church -- the glorious fact that believers in Christ have been showered with God's kindness (1:3-8), chosen for greatness (1:9-12), marked by the Holy Spirit (1:12,14); filled with his power (1:15-23), freed from sin's curse and bondage (2:1-10), and brought near to God (2:11-19). As part of God's house, we stand with the prophets, apostles, Jews, Gentiles, and Christ himself (2:20-3:11. Then as though overcome by emotions by remembering all that God has done, Paul challenges them (us!) to live close to Christ---breaking into spontaneous praise (3:12-21)."
****
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Today is Tuesday, September 7th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4522
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Taking Your Needs to Jesus
By Max Lucado
“Jesus was attending a wedding with the disciples and his mother, Mary, when she approached him with a seemingly irrelevant problem. “’They have no more wine,’ she told him’ (John 2:3). Mary presented the problem, Jesus commanded a solution, and the wineless wedding was suddenly wine flush. And we are left with this message: our diminishing supplies, no matter how insignificant, matter to heaven.
“Listen, if Jesus was willing to use divine clout to solve a social faux pas, how much more would he be willing to intervene on the weightier matters of life? He wants you to know that you can take your needs—all your needs—to him. ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God’ (Philippians 4:6).
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Today is Monday, September 6th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4521
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"I am poor and weak,
yet the Lord is thinking about me right now!
O my God, you are my helper.
You are my Savior,
come quickly,
and save me.
Please don't delay!
~ Psalm 40:17 LAB
*
Bible Commentary: "The leader of our country probably does not know us by our names, let alone think about us. But the King of all creation, the Ruler of the universe is thinking about each of us right now. We need to allow this truth to buoy our self-esteems. If God always has us in his thoughts, perhaps we could do more to keep Him in our thoughts."
*****
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Today is Friday, September 3rd, 2021; Karen's Korner #4520
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Happy Labor Day weekend! I hope that you have the opportunity to do something fun over the extended holiday weekend!
Here are a handful of Side Notes from the August/September issue of OUR IOWA magazine:
"Some things are loved
because they are valuable.;
others are valuable
because they are loved."
*
"Frogs have it made.
They get to eat what bugs them."
*
"If you must doubt,
doubt your doubts----
never your beliefs."
*
"Act enthusiastic
and you'll be enthusiastic."
~ Dale Carnegie
*
If all your problems are behind you,
you must be a school bus driver."
*****
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Today is Thursday, September 2nd, 2021; Karen's Korner #4519
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Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Flooding. Extended Power Outages.
Corrupt Leaders. People trying to be free from that corruption.
Broken family relationships. Illnesses. Some requiring lengthy therapies. Some are terminal. Extensive pain with no relief.
If it isn't happening to us today, chances are pretty good it is happening to a friend. Family member. Or neighbor.
It is enough to keep our heads on a swivel.
What is are always, only constant?
God and His Love and Care for us. So today is a good day to celebrate!
Psalm 136 says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His lovingkindness continues forever."
Just in case we forget, those few words are repeated 25 times in that chapter alone!
So let's celebrate the day, because 'His lovingkindness continues forever!'.
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