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Today is Monday, February 8th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1756
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Taken from the front our church bulletin yesterday; more than fifty names for Jesus. Along with the names, there were Bible verse references in smaller print. (If you would a copy of the names plus the references, send me your mailing address!).
And He Shall be called:
Advocate * Shiloh * The Resurrection & The Life
Shepherd * Bishop of Souls * Judge * Master
Lord of Lords * Rock * Man of Sorrows * Savior
Head of the Church * Faithful & True Witness
Servant * High Priest * Living Water * Bread of Life
Rose of Sharon * Messiah * Alpha * Omega
True Vine * Teacher * Holy One * I AM * Mediator
The Beloved * Son of God * Good Shepherd
Branch * Light of the World * The Almighty
Carpenter * Image of the Invisible God * The Door
The Word * Bridegroom * Chief Cornerstone
Redeemer * Author & Finisher of Our Faith
Everlasting Father * Lamb of God * King of Kings
Lion of the Tribe of Judah * Anchor * Prophet
Only Begotten Son * Wonderful Counselor
Immanuel * Son of Man * Dayspring * The Amen
King of the Jews * Bright Morning Star
Prince of Peace * The Way, The Truth, & The Life
JESUS CHRIST
****
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Today is Friday, February 5th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1755
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From Shirley Choat, shortened and edited:
HEARING GOD'S VOICE
Isaiah 64:4:
"For since the world began,
no one has seen or heard
of such a God as ours,
who works for those who wait for him!"
***
God has a fullness of time for the answer to each of our prayers.
It follows then, that He alone knows the magnitude of the changes
that have to be formed in us before we can receive our heart's desires.
***
Have Thine own way, LORD!
Have Thine own way!
You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after They will,
While I am waiting yielded and still.
****
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Today is Thursday, February 4th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1754
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"Now all praise to God
for His wonderful kindness to us
and his favor that he has poured out upon us,
because we belong to his dearly beloved Son.
So overflowing is his kindness toward us
that he took away our sins
through the blood of his Son,
by whom we are saved,
and he has showered down upon us
the richness of his grace--
for how well he understands us
and knows what is best for us
at all times."
~ Ephesians 1:6
Life Application Bible
***
Bible Commentary: "Grace is God's voluntary and loving favor given to those he saves. We can't earn it , nor do we deserve it. No religious or moral effort can gain it, for it comes only from God's mercy and love. Without grace no person can be saved."
***
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Today is Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010; Karen's Korner #1753
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Today's 'korner' are words from a secular song on a CD; recorded by the Platters. I used it for our Sunday School class on Sunday. When you read the words, consider turning it into a prayer to Jesus:
ONLY YOU
Only You
can make this world seem right.
Only You
can make the darkness bright.
Only You,
and You alone, can thrill me like You do.
And fill my heart with love for only You.
Only You,
can make this change in me.
For it's true,
You are my destiny.
When You hold my hand
I understand the magic that You do.
You are my dream come true
My one and only You.
CHORUS REPEAT:
Only You,
can make this change in me.
For it's true,
You are my destiny.
When You hold my hand
I understand the magic that You do.
You are my dream come true
My one and only You.
***
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Today is Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010; Karen's Korner #1752
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A thought from Joel and Victoria Osteen:
Living Hope
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
(I Peter 1:3, NIV).
**
In what or in whom do you put your hope? Sometimes it’s easy to get focused on the natural realm and put our hope in what we can see or what we can understand—people, jobs, governments. But we have to remember, this world is temporary. When we put our hope in things of this world, eventually those things will fade away. But when we put our hope in Jesus, we are hoping in what is real and eternal. Through Him, we have a living hope—hope that will never disappoint or fade away.
I like how Webster’s dictionary defines hope: “to desire with expectation of obtainment.” Isn’t it good to know that we will obtain every promise given to us through Christ Jesus? We have a future and a hope!
The next time you feel discouraged or frustrated with what’s going on around you, remember that you have hope inside of you that is alive. You have the promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Put your hope in God and let Him direct you in the good plan He has for you.
**
Father in heaven, thank You for a living hope! I choose right now to refocus my mind and heart on Your purposes for me. Help me stay focused on what is eternal so that I can make wise decisions in everything I do. I bless You today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
***
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Today is Monday, February 1st, 2010; Karen's Korner #1751
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Yesterday as we pulled up to our church, a gal in a long black winter coat was making her way up our steep church front steps. An elder opened the door from the inside and welcomed Vicky in. We'd never met her before.
Starting to tell her life's story in a couple of minutes as she removed her coat, Vicky hit a few highlights: homelessness, sexual abuse, past addictions, a short jail sentence from association with the wrong people. I invited her to join our Sunday School class and later to attend our worship service.
At about the same time, Kim, who doesn't normally attend our church, asked where Pam's Sunday School class met. Several people gave her directions.
Kim's story couldn't be more different from Vicky's: college education, always a good job, nice home.
As Vicky and I continued our trek to our basement class location, the thought flashed through my mind, "Why are we getting stuck with someone like HER for our class?"
And the next thought which flashed through my mind was, "No, I am dealing from the TOP OF THE DECK when I sent you Vicky!"
Whenever I have a thought like this that is too positive to be mine, I know it is from God!!
.......and then I remembered, "Vicky, Kim, the other members of our Sunday School class, worship service, and I are all part of God's 'TOP OF THE DECK".
We are all members of His Family! He chose us and then we chose Him!
I had the opportunity to mention Vicky's 'top of the deck' status to her; another opportunity to do God's will with one of His Chosen people.....
Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me when I make unnecessary snap judgements. Thank You for sending Your Son to love and care for all of us. Thank You for sending Vicky and Kim into our midst yesterday and for showing us Your redeeming love and mercy. Thank You that we all have a future and a hope; regardless of our past and what is happening to us today. Best of all, thank You that you give us a future and a hope. In Your Son's Name, Amen.
***
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life inChrist Jesus our Lord."
~ Romans 6:22-24
***
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Today is Friday, January 29th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1750
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"Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ,
who though he was God,
did not demand and cling to his rights as God,
but laid aside his mighty power and glory,
taking the disguise of a slave
and becoming like men.
And he humbled himself even further,
going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross.
"Yet it was because of this that God raised him up to the heights of heaven
and gave him a name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue shall confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
~ Philippians 2:5-11 Living Bible
**
Bible Commentary: "These verses were probably written from a hymn which was sung in the early Christian Church. As a hymn, it was not meant to be a complete statement about the nature of Christ. Several key characteristics of Jesus Christ, however, are inferred from this passage:
* he has always existed with God;
* he is equal to God because he is God;
* though he is God; he became a man in order to fulfill God's plan of salvation of all people;
* he did not just pretend to have a man's body, he actually became a man to identify with man's sins;
* he voluntarily laid aside his divine rights, privileges, and postion, out of love for his Father;
* he died on the cross for our sins, so we wouldn't have to face eternal death;
* God glorified him because of his obedience;
* God raised him to his original postion at the Father's right hand where he will reign forever as our Lord and Judge.
"Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, we must serve out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear.
"Often people excuse selfishness, pride, or evil by claiming their 'rights'. They think, 'I can cheat on this test; after all, I deserve to pass this class,' or "I can spend all this money on myself--I worked for it,' or 'I can get an abortion; I have a right to control my own body.' But as believers, we should have a different attitude, an attitude that enables us to give up our rights for the good of others--in order to serve others. If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as he lived. We should develops his attitude of humble service, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. Are you selfishly clinging to your rights or are you willing to serve?
***
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Today is Thursday, January 28th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1749
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I am associated with OUR IOWA magazine, a publication about Iowans; for Iowans. We received our February/March copy in the mail yesterday, between snows and blows.
Publishers use some of the 'white space' on the border of the magazine pages to print "Side Notes", some thought provoking sentences. Here are a handful from this edition:
* Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen.
* The best thing you can give someone is a chance.
* If you look up, there are no limits.
* When you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
* Footsteps on the sands of time were not made while standing still.
* If you put out another's candle, you also will be in the dark.
* If all of your problems are behind you, you must be a school bus driver.
* Sticks in a bundle are unbreakdable.
***
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Today is Wednesday, January 27th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1748
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A prayer emailed to me yesterday by Bertha Erickson; the name of the writer was not given:
Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU,
because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were.
Because this morning my home was still standing,
because this morning I am not crying
because my spouse, my child, my brother or sister
needs to be buried out from underneath a pile of concrete,
because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water,
because this morning I was able to turn on the light,
because this morning I was able to take a shower,
because this morning I was not planning a funeral,
but most of all I thank you this morning
because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti .
Lord I cry out to you,
the one that makes the impossible, possible,
the one that turns darkness in to light,
I cry out that you give those mothers strength,
that you give them peace that surpasses all understanding,
that you may open the streets so that help can come,
that you may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need
in a blink of an eye..
For all those that have lost family members,
give them peace,
give them hope,
give them courage to continue to go on!
Protect the children and shield them with your power.
I pray all this in the name of Jesus!!!
AMEN
***
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Today is Tuesday, January 26th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1747
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Something forwarded to me by Joan Norem, a schoolmate from the grade behind me. You may have seen it before as a pass-along email. Hers to me was complete with cute graphics. With or without, the message is just the same:
Monday Wash Day
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.
Tuesday Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.
Wednesday Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.
Thursday Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.
Friday Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase
eternal happiness for myself and all others In need of love.
Saturday Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.
Sunday The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.
***
And I received this note yesterday from Al Bennett, whose daughter Susan works at a Cedar Rapids junior high school:
Susan's comment to Al, "Every morning the principal gets on the intercom with notes and updates. He ends with, 'Have a great day......or not. The choice is up to you!"
***
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