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June 2007 Archives

Printable Issue 1075  Today is Friday, June 1st, 2007; Karen's Korner #1075

Today is our daughter Merry's birthday; she would have been 34.

Today's Karen's Korner is in her honor and memory. Merry wasn't that much of a reader. She was like her mom, more of a 'do-er'. But she liked the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books and gave me a couple as gifts.

In the front of one, she has written, "To Mom: Merry Christmas 1995. Love, Ed and Merry". Probably won't show up at the gift and thrift shop or at a garage sale any time soon. I plan to keep it!

Sachi

Soon after her brother was born, little Sachi began to ask her parents to leave her alone with the new baby. They worried that like most four-year-olds, she might feel jealous and want to hit or shake him, so they said no. But she showed no signs of jealousy. She treated the baby with kindness and her pleas to be left alone with him became more urgent. They decided to allow it.

Elated, she went into the baby's room and shut the door, but it opened a crack--enough for her curious parents to peek in and listen. They saw little Sachit walk quietly up to her baby brother, put her face close to his and say quietly, "Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget."

~ Dan Millman

Printable Issue 1076  Today is Monday, June 4th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1076
A couple of paragraphs from Joyce Meyer's "The Confident Woman". Joyce expands on Proverbs 31, telling about the 'truly good wife". While it talks about 'women', it could apply to the guys as well.
 
Verse 22, the last part: "her own clothing is beautifully make - a purple gown of pure linen."
 
Joyce says, "I am particularly fond of this verse because it tells me that our famous Proverbs woman had nice things herself. She lived a balanced life. She did a lot for others, but she also took time to minister to herself. Many people burn out because they don't take time to refresh themselves. We feel such a need to give and do for others that we ignore our own needs or worse, we feel guilty for even thinking about ourselves. We need to be ministered to spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Each one of these areas is important to God; He made them and He is interested in the well being of all of them, including our physical and emotional needs. Our confident woman made herself cushions, rugs, and clothing. Her clothes were made of the same cloth that the priests wore. In other words, she had really nice stuff. The best!
 
"Many people have the mistaken idea that Christianity means to do for everyone else but sacrifice everything in life you might personally enjoy. I don't believe this! We will certainly be called to times of sacrifice all throughout life and whatever God asks us to give up we should do so gladly. But we don't have to make it a contest to see just how much we can do without in this life in order to try to impress and please God. Jesus said, 'I came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full) till it overflows.' (John 10:10)
 
"This woman had nice things and the Bible says she made them for herself. If you are doing nothing for yourself, you need to find out what you enjoy and allow yourself the privilege of ministering to your own needs as well as everyone else's. Obviously, you should not spend money on yourself that you don't have or become excessive in doting on yourself. But giving very little attention, if any, to your own needs is not healthy, nor does it please God.
 
"I believe we feel more confident when we look our best and take good care of ourselves. You are worth being cared for and don't ever forget it. You have value and you should make an investment in yourself."
Printable Issue 1077  Today is Tuesday, June 5th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1077
It was early in the morning one day a week or so ago when I was working in one of my flowers gardens. There was very little wind. I could hear the birds singing; several different tunes. The sun was shining. Flowers were growing. Grass was green.
 
I couldn't help but say under my breath, "God, it just can't get any better than this!"
 
No hospitalizations; a measure of good health. People in my life who want jobs have them. Enough money is coming in to pay the bills. Peace, beauty, and serenity seemed to be everywhere.
 
But as soon as I said or thought it, my next thought was, "But it can get better than this!! Things on this earth change very quicky!! One phone call. One corporate downsizing. One medical diagnosis. One terrible storm of some kind and everything can change. For now. For forever."
 
The only thing that is for good; forever. Never changing. Always the way we like it. HEAVEN. The next life and all it has to offer. Only good, beautiful, and positive things will happen then.
 
That day and many of our days are really good. But they can change. They can't last.
 
Here on earth are just glimpses of our futures.
 
When we get to eternity.......nothing will change.  It promises to be great!!
 
I Peter 1:4 - 6 (Living Bible):  "And God has saved for His children the pricelss gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God in His mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it, because you are trusting Him. It will be yours in the coming last day for all to see."
 
Printable Issue 1078  Today is Wednesday, June 6th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1078

 A Karen's Korner shared by Jana Burkheimer:

GRANDMA'S HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.
She
didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I
sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I
sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her
at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and
looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said
in a clear voice strong.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here
staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I
explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked
at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over,
palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at
my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:
"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have
served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled,
shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach
out and grab and embrace life.

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the
floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my
mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled
on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to
war.

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were
uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my
wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone
special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I
buried my parents and spouse.

"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and
shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

"They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the
rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried
and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real
well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in
prayer.

"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.
But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and
take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His
side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached
out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children
and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed
and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

-- Author Unknown

Printable Issue 1079  Today is Thursday, June 7th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1079
An email forward from Dorothy Riekents:
 
He Catches Our Tears in His Hands
 
There are seasons of life that yield so much pain that even
God's children might doubt He is there.
For the trial is long and they've shed many tears
while sobbing in the midst of their prayers.
 
Yet, God love us so much.......
even in our deep pain and He's listening to every word that we say.
He sees the heartache, knowing all we endure and every
unspoken prayer we migh pray.
 
He's so near to the broken hearts,
who carry such sorrow and His silence means He's letting us speak.
For He's still the God who listens.........
like a Father to His children every time that we earnestly seek.
 
And God knows there's a time for everything on earth
a time for mourning.....lament.....or great sorrow.
Just as sure as the day comes when the burdens is lifted
and His joy brings the sunrise tomorrow.
 
He treasures every time His children lift their faces
to the heavens for His gracious relief.
For His Spirit gives the comfort and courage to go on
when souls are tired from the load of their grief.
 
Despite any doubts we might have in our weakness
and struggles and all the miles where we don't understand,
Our Father is still listening as every teardrop falls and
He catches each one in His hands.
 
~~ Sheila Gosney
 
***
 
"You have seen me tossing and turning through the night.
You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle!
You have recorded every one in your book."
~~~ Psalms 56:8
 
***
 
"Most Precious Lord Jesus; Gentle and Wonderful God, Truly Awesome and Ever-present Holy Spirit,
    Thank you for this tme of worship, prayer and mediation. Thank you for these moments where your love can infuse my life.
    I love you, Lord, I need your help this wek as I try to climb over the hills of my daily existence. My heart hurts from so many disappointments. My heart hurts from failings and attempts I have made that failed. My heart hurts from so many losses I have had to endure.
    Help me wrap my heart around you as I set here in my pain. Help me to embrace all you are. Help me to never be passive in any of the hurtful times of my life. Help me wrap the bandage of your love around my heart. Help me soothe my heartache with your overpowering love and grace.
    I thank you for your sacrifice for me on the Cross. Even when I may be in pain, during the coming days help me let your love and grace flow out from me to everyone I meet.
    All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mightly God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rly.
    Amen."
 
***
Printable Issue 1080  Today is Friday, June 8th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1080
Clarion's annual celebration, Festival in the Park, will be held tomorrow (Saturday). Among other things is our parade which begins to wind its way through Clarion at 10 a.m.
 
One of the entries will be our Marys and Marthas (M & Ms) walking (and some golf cart riders) wearing M & Ms outfits. Our mission statement is to "be the hands and hearts for Jesus" as we "serve God by loving others".
 
Because we are known as M & Ms for short, we are making small bags of M & Ms candies and will hand them out as we walk. We are adding a "blessing" to each bag. Chris Lousias took on the task of the treasure hunt to find blessings from the Bible. We are making up 1200 bags; she dug out 600 of God's promises and photocopied them one time!
 
Here is a sample which people will receive as we walk. May you be blessed by at least one of them:
 
God is your shield.
~
May the Lord bless you with His peace.
~
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
~
Plant seeds of goodness.
~
God is merciful and He hears your prayers.
~
The Lord be with your spirit; grace be with you.
~
Be kind to EVERYONE!
 
~~
Printable Issue 1081  Today is Monday, June 11th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1081
Start the week with a couple of thoughts from Joel and Victoria Osteen:
 
The Body of Christ

"I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others." (Genesis 12:2)

**

Do you realize that Jesus has no arms to hug with except yours? He has no hands to heal and comfort the world with except the hands that you supply—so make a difference with your life today. John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progress, wrote, "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back." God didn't call His people to come together just to get blessed, but to be a blessing to someone else. God told Abraham he would become the father of a great nation. But notice that God also wanted Abraham to be a blessing to many. If you want God to pour out His supernatural favor in your life, reach out to bless those around you.

**

"Lord, I know that I may be the only representation of You someone around me may ever see—so help me to be an instrument of Your love and blessing to them. In Jesus' name. Amen."

**

Printable Issue 1082  Today is Tuesday, June 12th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1082
An email pass-along from my friend Gretta Bauman:
 
A Poem About Our Girlfriends
 
Someone will always be prettier.
Some will always be smarter.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husbands will fix more things around their house.
 
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it!
 
The prettiest woman in the word can have hell in her heart.
And the most highly favored woman on your block may be unable to have children.
And the richest woman you know,
she's got the car, the house, the clothes---mighty be lonely.
 
His Word says, "If I have not LOVE, I am nothing."
So, love you.
Love who you are.
Look in the mirror this morning and smile and say,
"I am too blessed to be stressed and too annointed to be disappointed!"
 
~~~
Printable Issue 1083  Today is Wednesday, June 13th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1083
A couple of paragraphs from Stormie Omartian's book "The Power of a Praying Woman":
 
"Every time I take off on an airplane on a gray, dreary, rainy day, I'm always amazed at how we can fly right up through the dark wet clouds, so thick that we can't see one thing out the window, and then suddenly rise above it all and have the ability to see for miles. Up there the sky is sunny, clear, and blue. I keep forgetting that no matter how bad the weather gets, it's possible to rise above the storm to a place where everything is fine.
 
"Our spiritual and emotional lives are much the same. When the dark clouds of trial, struggle, grief, or suffering roll in and settle on us so thick that we can barely see ahead of us, it's easy to forget there is a place of calm, light, clarity, and peace we can rise to. If we take God's hand in those difficult times, He will lift us up above our circumstances to the place of comfort, warmth, and safety He has for us.
 
:One of my favorite names for the Holy Spirit is the Comforter (John 14:26). Just as we don't have to beg the sun for light, we don't have to beg the Holy Spirit for comfort either. He is comfort. We simply have to separate ourselves from anything that separates us from Him. We have to pray that when we go through difficult times, He will give us a greater sense of His comfort in it."
 
~~
Printable Issue 1084  Today is Thursday, June 14th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1084
Several short thoughts to begin your day:
 
"Aim at heaven, and you get earth thrown in:
Aim at the earth and you get neither." 
~ C. S.Lewis
 
**
 
Sign outside of Clarion's Church of the Nazarene,
which caused readers to pause and to think: 
"God doesn't believe in atheists!"
 
**
 
Shared by Shirley Choat: 
"Even when you feel you have nothing left,
you still have prayer,
and that's enough."
 
**
 
"Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.
We cannot put ourselves directly in the presence of God
if we do not practice internal and external silence."
~ Mother Teresa
 
**
 
"No one can make you feel inferior
without your consent."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
 
**
 
... and on FLAG DAY:
 
"You can't appreciate home till you've left it...
or Old Glory till you see it
hanging on a broomstick on the shanty
of a consul in a foreign town."
~ O. Henry
 
**
Printable Issue 1085  Today is Friday, June 15th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1085
Last night I had the opportunity to speak to a women's salad supper at a small rural church in Mitchell County. It was a presentation that I have given a couple of dozen times in the last six or seven years.
 
As I drove to the church, I had several thoughts that I wanted to share with the group. I told them among other things that we should not be concerned or feel inferior about the size of our congregations. God works through any sized group and that we should not focus on the mega-church in a neighboring large community. Enjoy them 'yes'; participate in something we might be invited to 'okay', but not compare. But we need get to work and do what God might have us do where we are.
 
I wondered with them aloud if we compared 100 congregations with 100 members each and the large congregation with 10,000 members, which one would have the larger tally board of things being accomplished for God's Kingdom.
 
I told them of Morgan Methodist Church of rural Dows which had an active congregation of about 70, a number of years ago. The internationally-known Upper Room, devotional magazine has a 24-hour prayer hot line. The hot line staff isn't based out of Nashville, Tennessee; it is based out of wherever the volunteer callers happen to live. With the ability to do phone line connections, the members of that small congregation had just completed a 24-hour shift from their rural Dows location. Not too small to do what God had wanted them to do; they just had to believe and respond.
 
While the church we attend isn't it in a country setting, we aren't a large congregation either. Last Sunday our minister posed this question, "What does our future look like? Are we looking back and lamenting how things used to be?" He said that growing congregations look forward with anticipation to a bright future.
 
When he posed the question, I thought about more members my age and older; not as many younger people in our congregation as we'd like. Maybe a program or two that has gone by the wayside.
 
A couple of days later, I knew the answer: our future as a congregation is bright because God is in it! He was in our past; He is in our today; and He will be there in our tomorrow!
 
I don't know what that tomorrow looks like. It will be changed, but our future with God looks bright!!
Printable Issue 1086  Today is Monday, June 18th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1086
A salute to fathers, one day late.
 
Shortly after our older daughter, Jamie, graduated from college she traveled to California to work with troubled teenaged girls. She was one of the 'house mothers' for six 14 - 18 year olds who needed an alternative place to live. Some were runaways or in trouble with the law. Some parents could no longer handle their children or their children had problems cutting themselves habitually.
 
I can recall Jamie telling that some of the girls were from the wrong side of the tracks but others were from the right side. Some were of low intelligence and abilities but others had high IQs. And the list continued. She said, "In evaluating girls like these, counselors could only come up with one common thread:  no fathers or positive male role models."
 
Dads are important to little girls; and children of all kinds and ages, regardless if the kids are biologically theirs or not!!
 
This is something that Bob Stephenson read to us at church yesterday:
 
"A father's presence gives his family security. He provides not only physical and emotional support to Mom and the kids, but guidance and leadership as well. Even a father who struggles with these things, or one who feels he's failed somehow, is better for his family than no father at all.
 
A father is his chld's first view of what God is like. If dad's around in everyday life, then it's easier for his children to understand God's daily presence."
Printable Issue 1087  Today is Tuesday, June 19th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1087
Our community lost a great lady last week; and I lost a good friend. Donna Orte died early Monday morning. It wasn't a surprise to anyone as the doctors' diagnosis said it would be six months, about as many months ago.
 
Our church family and her family helped celebrate birthday number 73 in March, because everyone knew it would be her last. We had fun roasting Donna for her human frailties, but most of all we had an opportunity to appreciate her. Even though she was beginning to move through her senior years, she had the will, desire, and energy to participate in everything that came her direction.
 
I am an idea a person with lots of work projects and Donna would be one of my prime targets. It wasn’t uncommon for me to call Donna’s home.

 

“Hello, Donna. This is Karen Weld.”

 

“Yes, Karen.”

 

Then I would go on with my latest project:  “Would you help a couple of times this school year with What’s for Supper?” "Can you be part of the group to invite lake residents to summer early lake worship?" "Are you interested in being a bell ringer in Mason City for Salvation Army?" "Some of us are going to feed the homeless in Des Moines. Would you like to be part of the group?" "Can you furnish for.....(who knows what group)?" "Would you be willing to pick several youth for whom to pray this year as part of our church's praying for the youth program?"

 

One year we had lots of apples on our apple tree. So I called Donna, "Would you like to come out some day and make applesause for yourself, for us, and for 'What's for Supper?' (weekly church suppers)?

 

  And to all of those questions and many more, asked by me and by others, Donna always had the same response:

 

“Yes, I would be more than happy to help!”

 

Donna taught us how to live and how to age well.

 

And then came the lung cancer diagnosis. She made the decision not to do extra-ordinary measures to extend her life, as with or without treatments the outcome would be the same.

 

But she lived, entertained, went to church when she could, attend a granddaughter's graduation and party, made plans, told others her thoughts in the extra weeks and months she had. She would tell about how real Jesus was to her and how He was taking care of her now more than ever. And how sometimes when alone or at night, she would attack the devil and his attempts at nagging negative thoughts. She began to look forward to heaven more and more as the days turned into weeks. She was not afraid of her future and fate; it looked good to her!

 

And she didn't hesitate to tell everyone how much she loved them!!

 

As more than one person said after a visit at Donna's retirement apartment, "She taught us how to live and she showed us how to die."

 

Last Thursday, Flag Day, we drove to the cemetery following the funeral procession with streets lined with Anerican flags.

 

I couldn't help but think, "The flag stands for freedom and today they are waving in the breeze as a tribute to Donna and her life. The Bible says it best, 'You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free!.'" (John 8:32)

 

Donna is free!

Printable Issue 1088  Today is Wednesday, June 20th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1088
Another exerpt from Stormie Omartian's "The Power of a Praying Woman" and a portion of a prayer at the end of chapter 21 titled "Lord, Comfort Me in Times of Trouble":
 
"Every time I take off in an airplane on a gray, dreary, rainy day, I'm always amazed at how we can fly right up through the dark wet clouds, so thick that we can't see one thing out the window, and then suddenly rise above it all and have the ability to see for miles. Up there the sky is sunny, clear, and blue. I keep forgetting that no matter how bad the weather gets, it's possible to rise above the storm to a place where everything is fine.
 
"Our spiritual and emotional lives are much the same. When the dark clouds of trial, struggle, grief, or suffering roll in and settle on us so thick that we can barely see ahead of us, it's easy to forget there is a place of calm, light, clarity, and peace we can rise to. If we take God's hand in those difficult times, He will lift us up above our circumstances to the place of comfort, warmth, and safety He has for us.
 
"One of my favorite names for the Holy Spirit is the Comforter (John 14:26). Just as we don't have to beg the sun for light, we don't have to beg the Holy Spirit for comfort either. He is comfort. We simply have to separate ourselves from anything that separtes us from Him. We have to pray that when we go through difficult times, He will give us a greater sense of His comfort in us.
 
"Tough times happen to everyone at one time or another. Pain and loss are a part of life. There are many different reasons why these things occur, but God is always there to bring good out of it when we invite Him to. If we understand the different possibilities for our suffering, it will help us overcome our pain and see our faith grow in the midst of it."
 
"Lord, help me to remember that no matter how dark my situation may become, You are the light of my life and can never be put out. No matter what dark clouds settle on my life, You will lift me above the storm and into the comfort of Your presence. Only You can take whatever loss I experience and fill that empty place with good. Only You can take the burden of my grief and pain and dry my tears. 'Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer' (Psalms 4:1)."
Printable Issue 1089  Today is Thursday, June 21st, 2007; Karen's Korner #1089
An email daily devotional by Joel and Victoria Osteen:
 
The Seed Must Lead

"The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops." -- (2 Timothy 2:6)

Can you imagine a farmer who just decides one year that he really doesn’t feel like planting? He tells himself he’s so tired that he is just going to wait around and hope that the harvest will come. But even people who aren’t farmers know that a farmer has to get his seeds into the ground while the time is right to plant if he ever wants to see a harvest. In farming, the seed always precedes the harvest—and that’s true in our lives as well. In other words, if you want to reap happiness, then you have to sow some seeds by making other people happy. If you want to reap financial blessings, you have to sow financially. If you want to reap friendships, you have to be a friend first. And when you do these things, you’ll be able to share in the harvest along with those you have blessed!

God, thank You that I have the good seed of Your Word and Your love within me. Help me to sow these blessings generously in the lives of others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Printable Issue 1090  Today is Friday, June 22nd, 2007; Karen's Korner #1090
Have you noticed that the new catch word in our society is 'tolerance'? We are told to tolerate and be tolerant of nearly every choice, decision, and living style? It might be different from what we would choose, but we must be tolerant.
 
I couldn't help but think, "Are we tolerating things that Jesus wouldn't?" We learn from childhood that God loves all of us unconditionally. I believe that it is true; nothing any of us can ever do will ever screw that up.
 
But while we are loved unconditionally, Jesus didn't let our behaviors off the hook. When he met the woman at the well, he knew of her past, allowed her sins to be forgiven, and told her to go and sin no more. When Peter denied Him three times, Jesus knew Peter could do better. Peter was forgiven and went on to do fabulous things for the cause of the coming Kingdom and in the lives of many followers of Jesus. Tax collectors were told to abandon their cheating behaviors; what they were doing could no longer be tolerated.
 
When God gave Moses the 10 commandments, he was telling his people and us today that all behaviors and life choices couldn't be embraced. He was intolerant of some of them; not because He is a vindictive and cruel Creator, but because some choices we make aren't the best for us or hurt people with whom we live, love, and work.
 
We must learn from the Master and love ourselves and others unconditionally, but at the same time not be tolerant of every choice we, and others around us, might make, if it deviates from what God says and what Jesus did.
 
No small task!
 
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who  put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."  -- Isaiah 5:20
Printable Issue 1091  Today is Monday, June 25th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1091
Some fun facts about the book of Psalms:
 
** There are 150 chapters in the book of Psalms;
** 99 of them are praise chapters;
** 41 of them are prayers.
** 10 of the 150 chapters are written by someone when they are 'down'.
 
The first line of each chapters sets the tone for each chapter.
 
Here are first lines in several of them:
 
Chapter 4:  "O God, you have declared me perfect in your eyes."
 
Chapter 10:  "Lord, why are you standing aloof and far away?"
 
Chapter 16:  "Save me, O God, because I have come to you for refuge."
 
Chapter 23:  "Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need."
 
Chapter 38:  "O Lord, don't punish me while you are angry!"
 
Chapter 54:  "Come with great power, O God, and save me!"
 
Chapter 66:  "Sing to the Lord, all the earth!"
 
Chapter 100:  "Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth!"
 
Chapter 136:  "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his lovingkindness continues forever."
 
Chapter 150:  "Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord!"
Printable Issue 1092  Today is Tuesday, June 26th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1092
 A daily devotional emailed to me last fall by Shirley Choat:
 
   For we are laborers together with God.   -- 1 Corinthians 3:9
 
Speaking to believers in John 15, the LORD Jesus reminds us that we are individual branches of the True Vine, and can only be fully used and abundantly fruitful as we are nourished by Him. With the power of Christ flowing through us, we can accomplish mighty things for His glory. But the Savior warns that we will be spiritually barren if we forget or neglect the source of our power. He told His disciples, "For without Me you can do nothing."
 
Too often as Christian workers we lay out our own plans and then ask God to bless them. The result is frustation and fruitlessness. Let us always remember that if we are God's faithful co-laborers, we must rely upon His promised power to make us fully productive.
 
   LORD Christ, we humbly ask
    Of Thee the power and will,
    With fear and meekness, every task
    Of duty to fulfill.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The way to help God is to let God help you.
 
****
(A side note from those of you who like Jeff White, minister from Illinois, and his devotional writings. Some of us received his daily notes until one day we didn't. Last week I emailed him to learn what may have happened. Here is his reply:
 
"God has blessed our ministry with great growth and many evangelistic contacts.  Unfortunately with that has come such a burden on my time that I barely see my family any more.  So, something had to be cut back and for now the devotionals got cut back.  It is my hope that I can return to them in the fall.  Thanks again.  jeff")
Printable Issue 1093  Today is Wednesday, June 27th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1093
A exerpt from Joyce Meyer's book "The Confident Woman", in the chapter titled Becoming a Courageous Woman:
 
They All Voted to Die
 
"In the days of war a Japanese policeman who had absolute power said that within three days everyone in a certain Formosan mountain village were required to come to the police station and swear against Christianity or his hands and feet would be tied together, he would be weighed down with stones and thrown from the high bridge into the rushing river below.
 
"The Christians met at midnight to decide what to do. Some said, 'We'll have to give it up. We can't be Christians now. He will surely kill us.'
 
"Then a young boy stood up. 'But don't you remember that Jesus said not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to be afraid of those who kill body and soul? If he kills us, it will only be our bodies. Our souls will go to be with Jesus.' They all said, 'That is true.' When the vote was taken, every hand was raised - all voted to die. The next day the policeman laughed cruelly, and said, 'Tomorrow you die.'
 
"Now the policeman liked to fish, and waded out into the river. A rock or tree in the current struck his leg and broke it. While the mountain people were praying, a messenger rushed in and said, 'The man who was to kill you tomorrow has been drowned in the river.
 
"Was it a coincidence? I don't think so. When the village people chose boldness over fear, their faith in God opened a door for His deliverance. It is just like God to drown the enemy in the same river he planned to drown them in. Satan's plans backfire on him when we keep moving in faith and confidence."
Printable Issue 1094  Today is Thursday, June 28th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1094
It seemd like last week every top or t-shirt I put on had a stain or spot on it. A couple of the t-shirts didn't matter to me; they are getting older. But I have a couple of summer favorites that each had a new spot on the front of it. One had been too close to another item; some color had bled on to it. Now what?
 
Yesterday when I started to wash, I worked to get the spots eliminated. Get the spot remover; rub it in. Put extra soap in the washer load. Will they be returned to their former state?
 
I wasn't sure, but I had done what I could. Two had the spots removed. Two had some stains remaining; one I am giving away and another I am 'lowering' to everyday wear. Not as good as they once were.
 
Sort of like our lives. If we live long enough, we attract some spots and stains. Try as we might, we can't get them cleaned up. We can't do it!
 
But God can!! We have to bring our spotted and stained lives to Him and He will do the removing. We will be returned to our restored state of cleanliness; we can sparkle and shine. Praise God; praise Jesus!!
 
"Just As I Am"
(2nd verse)
 
"Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!!
 
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Printable Issue 1095  Today is Friday, June 29th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1095
This is an overnight grandchild sitting time. So today's Karen's Korner is 'kid-style'; but we are never too old for its message to us, too:
 

JONAH AND THE BIG FISH

This story is found in the book of Jonah Chapters 1 - 3

 

            There once was a man named Jonah. One day God sent a message to him: “Go to the city of Nineveh. Tell them, ‘I am going to destry you, because of your wickedness’.”  The people in the city of Nineveh were very bad. There was robbing, violence, crime, eating, and drinkin everywhere one might look.

            But Jonah was afraid to go and ran away from the Lord. He ran to the seacoast to the port of Joppa where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board.

            As the ship was sailing along, the Lord caused a great storm that threatened to send them to the bottom. Fearing what God was doing, Jonah told the crew he was running away from the Lord.

            The storm kept getting worse. Jonah begged them to throw him out to sea. Eventually, the men picked up Jonah and threw him into the raging seas -- and the storm stopped.

            Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah.  Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

            Jonah prayed to the Lord from inside the fish. He thanked God for being a part of his life and for providing for his rescue. “I will never again worship anyone but you,” he said. Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit up Jonah on  to the beach, and it did.

            Then the Lord spoke to Jonah again, “Go to that great city of Nineveh and warn them of their doom, as I told you before!”

            So Jonah obeyed. He told everyone in the city - “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed.” And the people believed him; from the king on down--they stopped eating and drinking; turned from their evil ways of robbing and violence; and began to pray.   

            God changed his mind because He saw the people had stopped their evil ways. He did not destroy the people of Nineveh or their city as he originally said He would.

  

            "THANK YOU, GOD, FOR YOUR PROMISES, FOR YOUR CARE, AND FOR LISTENING TO US WHEN WE PRAY!! Amen!!"