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September 2016 Archives

Printable Issue 3384  Today is Thursday, September 1st, 2016; Karen's Korner #3384

Something from Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" from a couple of days ago:


"There is no place so desolate that you cannot find Me there. When Hagar fled from her mistress, Sarah, into the wilderness, she thought she was utterly alone and forsaken. But Hagar encountered Me in that desolate place. There she addressed Me as 'the Living One who sees me'. Through that encounter with My Presence, she gained courage to return to her mistress.

"No set of circumstances could ever isolate you from My loving Presence. Not only do I see you always; I see you as a redeemed saint, gloriously radiant in My righteousness. That is why I take great delight in you and rejoice over you with singing!"


~ Taken from Genesis 16:7-14; Psalm 139:7 - 10; Zephaniah 3:17

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Printable Issue 3385  Today is Friday, September 2nd, 2016; Karen's Korner #3385

God is Active in Big Ways

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them by name."

~ Psalm 147:4 NKJV

"Astronomers estimate there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And each galaxy has more than 100 billion stars! And each of those hundreds of billions of stars was personally hung in space by the Creator Who has not only numbered them all but knows each of them by name! The very first words of Genesis tell us, 'In the beginning, God created the heavens........' I can't conceive of any activity much bigger than that!

"What big things are you facing? A big decision about a career change or a child's schooling or a marriage proposal? A big commitment like buying a new house or beginning a new job or becoming a new parent? A big responsibility such as caring for elderly parents or supervising an office staff or being the sole provider for your family?

"God is active in big ways!"

~ By Anne Graham Lotz

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Printable Issue 3386  Today is Monday, September 5th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3386

In honor of Mother Teresa's canonization as a saint by the Catholic Church yesterday, a couple of her 'pearls of wisdom':

"What is important is that you are holding on,

that you have got a grip on Christ

and He will not let your hand go."

*

"May we all have hearts over-flowing with love as a reflection of God's love.

God's love is what can save our families, our country, and the world."

*

"It is a wonderful thing that God himself loves us tenderly.

Knowing this should give us courage and joy for living."

*

"This is a sign of joy of loving God:

sharing that love with others."

****

Printable Issue 3387  Today is Tuesday, September 6th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3387

I hope that you had a nice Labor Day weekend.

A couple of rambling thoughts:

Have you seen this television ad (which makes me laugh every time I see it)? It is a young gal and evidently her brother walking up the steps to a home. Grandma and Grandpa meet them on the front porch, with Grandma saying, "We are so happy you are here. None of this works." As the older twosome hand a pile of computers and cell phones to the younger two.

"Come on in," she says. As the teens look at each other bewildered.

Many times the younger ones in our lives know so much more about technology than us older folks.

While my sister Jill and I were driving west on our week-long adventure, she suggested that we call our older sister Jan. First I dialed her cell phone. No answer. Next, I tried their land line. She answered.

"I called your cell phone," I said. "Didn't it ring?"

Her reply, "We upgraded our cell phones yesterday and I couldn't figure out how to answer it when it rang. "I think about two more upgrades of our computers or phones, we won't be able to run anything!"

*

Listening recently to a song sung by country duo Florida-Georgia Line, I became aware of the tune titled, HOLY. The words stand for:

'H'igh

'O'n

'L'oving

'Y'ou

I don't know all the lyrics to the song, but it is about a guy/gal "High On Loving You". Magic words.

But it could be sung by God to us. And that 'love' is forever.

"Praise the Lord, all nations everywhere.

Praise Him, all the people of the earth.

For He Loves us very dearly, and His truth endures.

Praise the Lord!"

~ Psalms 117

(shortest book of the Bible; exact center of the Bible)

***


Printable Issue 3388  Today is Wednesday, September 7th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3388

Here is a story told by Joel Osteen which I heard last week on a radio broadcast.


Osteen told of a young man who had recently completed his education and wasn't sure what his future held. He was hanging around his mother's beauty shop.

A lady, who was having her hair done was sitting under a hair dryer, tried to get the young man attention. When she couldn't, she lifted up the dryer and asked for a piece of paper and pencil.

She penned this note, "You will be successful in the career which you choose. Your efforts will be known around the world with millions recognizing who you are."

The young man was handed the note. He put it in his wallet and remembered it often. Now and then, he would take it out and look at it when he would suffer a failure or a setback.

Osteen continued. "Even today Denzel Washington carries the note of encouragement in his wallet."

Osteen admonition to his listeners, "To whom are you speaking positive comments and words of encouragement?"


Can your words/my words change the lives of people with whom we come in contact? Today? Another day?

Printable Issue 3389  Today is Thursday, September 8th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3389

All You Need

"Ginger was six years old when she and her Sunday School class made get well cards for church members. Hers was a bright purple card that said 'I love you, but most of all God loves you!' She and her mom made the delivery.

"My dad was bedfast, the end was near. He could extend his had, but it was bent to a claw from disease. Ginger asked him a question as only a six year old can, 'Are you going to die?' 'Yes,' he responded, 'but when, I don't know.' She asked if he was afraid to go away. 'Away is heaven,' he told her. 'I'll be with my Father. I'm ready to see Him eye to eye.'

"A man near death, winking at the thought of it. Stripped of everything? It only appeared that way. In the end, Dad still had what no one could take----faith. And in the end, that's all he needed!"

~ By Max Lucado

*

Unfortunately I have several friends who are in the same category as Max's dad. Fortunately these friends are like 'dad', they are taking their faith with them.





Printable Issue 3390  Today is Friday, September 9th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3390

Taken from I Peter with the heading "Living building stones for God's house":


"But you are not like that, for you have been chosen by God himself---you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God's very own---all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were less than nothing; now you are God's own. Once you knew very little of God's kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it."

~ I Peter 2:9 & 10 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments, but who we are in Christ is far more important than our jobs, our successes, our wealth, or our knowledge. We have been chosen by God as His very own, and we have been called to represent Him to others. Remember that your value comes from being one of God's children, not from what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do."

***

Printable Issue 3391  Today is Monday, September 12th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3391

Last month we heard a lot about 'gold' as we witnessed athletes from around the world vying for gold medals in their particular sport.

Here is something written by Corrie ten Boom in a book titled "Each New Day":

Panning for a Greater Gold

"Jesus paid all your sin bills on the cross. Claim the riches that are yours through Him. Live as a child of the King, not as a beggar!

"He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature."

~ 2 Peter 1:4 RSV

"Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have freed us from sin and unlocked a treasure chest of grace for our use. Our riches are greater than all the earth's gold and silver combined!"

***


Printable Issue 3392  Today is Tuesday, September 13th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3392

"So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus."

~ Romans 8:1 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "'Not guilty, let him go free'---what would those words mean to you, if you were on death row? The fact is, of course, that the whole human race is on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God's holy law. Without Jesus we would have no hope at all. But thank God He has declared us not guilty and has offered us freedom from sin, and given us power to do His Will."

***


Printable Issue 3393  Today is Wednesday, September 14th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3393

I really liked a recent writing by Anne Graham Lotz. She is talking about Christians' 'fruit'. It makes me think about my tomatoes this year. You should see them. I only have two but they are great looking plants. Only problem is that I have had like five tomatoes total.

Beautiful vines; no fruit.

Fruit in My Life

"I am the vine; you are the branches."

~ John 15:5 NIV

"Why is it that Christians go running around, measuring the abundance of each other's fruit as well as their own, reading books on fruitfulness, going to seminars about greater fruitfulness, when it's really not their concern? Before you start to protest, let me assure you I desire with all of my heart to bear much fruit for the glory of God.

"But the fruit of my life is His concern, not mine. My concern is to make sure of three things:  that as a potential fruit-bearing branch, I am connected to the Vine and keep that connection clean and unobstructed; that I submit to the cultivation of the Vinedresser, which primarily involves His pruning in my life; and that I communicate with Him my heart's desire."

~ Anne Graham Lotz

***




Printable Issue 3394  Today is Thursday, September 15th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3394

Today's writing by Sarah Young taken from "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence":


"Rest in me, My Child. This time devoted to Me is meant to be peaceful, not stressful. You don't have to perform in order to receive My Love. I have boundless, unconditional Love for you. How it grieves Me to see My children working for Love:  trying harder and harder, yet never feeling good enough to be loved.

"Be careful that your devotion to Me does not become another form of works. I want you to come into My Presence joyfully and confidently. You have nothing to fear, for you wear My own righteousness. Gaze into My eyes, and you will see no condemnation, only Love and delight in the one I see. Be blessed as My Face shines radiantly upon you, giving you Peace."

~ Taken from John 15:13; Zephaniah 3:17; Numbers 6:25-26

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Printable Issue 3395  Today is Friday, September 16th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3395

Happy weekend! This Bible verse may not apply to you today, but it probably will another day. As you read it, think of someone in your world who could maybe benefit from it:


"Those who sow tears shall reap joy.

Yes, they go out weeping, carrying seed for sowing,

and return singing, carrying their sheaves."

~ Psalm 126:5 -6 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "God's capacity for restoring life is beyond our understanding. Forests burn down and are able to grow back. Broken bones heal. Even grief is not a permanent condition. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your times of grief will end soon and that you will again find joy. We must be patient as we wait. God's great harvest of joy is coming!"

***


Printable Issue 3396  Today is Monday, September 19th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3396

Here are the first verses of each of the Psalms 146 - 150:

"Praise the Lord! Yes really praise Him!" (146)

"Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! How good it is to sing His praises! How delightful, and how right!" (147)

"Praise the Lord, O heavens! Praise Him from the skies!" (148)

"Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! Sing Him a new song. Sing His praises, all His people." (149)

"Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! Praise Him in His Temple, and in the heavens He made with majesty and power." (150)

*

Bible Commentary: (on chapters 146-150 in part) "'Hallelujah' or 'praise the Lord' show us where, why, and how to praise God What does praise do?

* "Praise takes our minds off our problems and shortcomings, and focuses them on God;

* "Praise takes us from individual meditation to corporate worship;

* "Praises causes us to consider and appreciate God's character;

* "Praise takes our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly."

***

Printable Issue 3397  Today is Tuesday, September 20th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3397

Karen's Korner readers know that I enjoy Sarah Young's daily inspirational thoughts (printed in books and flip calendars) "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence". Sometimes I read on the wrong day; here is one from a couple of days ago:


"You will not find My peace by engaging in excessive planning:  attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you. Just when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion.

"I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs, your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace."

~ Thoughts taken from 1 Peter 5:6-7; Proverbs 16:19; Psalm 17:5 (NKJV)

***

Printable Issue 3398  Today is Wednesday, September 21st, 2016; Karen's Korner #3398

Something written by Max Lucado and taken from one of his newer books "You'll Get Through This":


Lean on God

"Whatever it is that's troubling you, you'll get through this! Cancel your escape to the Himalayas. Forget the deserted island. This is no time to be a hermit. Pray. Lean on God's people. Be a barnacle on the boat of God's church. Matthew 18:20 says, 'For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.'

"So, don't quit and don't hide! Would the sick avoid the hospital? The hungry avoid the food pantry? Would the discouraged abandon God's Hope Distribution Center? Only at great risk. God is waiting on you, my friend. He is with you. Your family may have left. Your supporters may be gone. Your counselor may be silent But God is waiting on you, my friend. His promise in Genesis 28:15 still stands, 'I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go!' And you will get through this!"

*****



Printable Issue 3399  Today is Thursday, September 22nd, 2016; Karen's Korner #3399

Written by Anne Graham Lotz:

With God, You're a Majority

"He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

~ Philippians 1:6 NKJV

*

"God is looking for a few good men and women. Men and women who are wiling:

* to go against the current of popular opinion,

* to hold firm convictions in a world where 'anything goes',

* to speak the truth when it is not politically correct,

* to walk with God when everyone else is running away from Him.

"God is looking for those who believe:

* that what He says is more important than what anyone else says,

* that what He thinks is more important than what anyone else thinks,

* that His will is more important than their own.

"God is looking for another Noah. Another Meshach. Another Shadrach. Another Abednego. One person with God is not alone but a majority!

****



Printable Issue 3400  Today is Friday, September 23rd, 2016; Karen's Korner #3400

Today's Karen's Korner says something about 'evil' people. In our history, we know about evil leaders. Who among us hasn't heard about adults or family members who do horrible things to young people.


"Your steadfast love, O Lord, is as great as all the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your justice is as solid as God's mountains. Your decisions are as full of wisdom as the oceans are with water. You are concerned for men and animals alike. How precious is your constant love, O God! All humanity takes refuge in the shadow of your wings. You feed them with blessings from your own table and let them drink from your rivers of delight."

~ Psalm 36:5 - 8 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "In contrast to evil men and their wicked plans that end in failure, God is loving, faithful, just and wise. His love is greater than the heavens; his faithfulness reaches past the clouds; his justice is as solid as a mountain; and his decisions as full of wisdom as the oceans with water. We need not fear evil people because we know God love us, judges evil, and will care for us throughout eternity."

***

Printable Issue 3401  Today is Monday, September 26th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3401

Worry seems to be the top of many people's lists. It's about crises in the world. Inhumanity against humanity. What about elections coming up? Some natural disaster some place? We have been getting too much rain which leads to flooding. Farmers are having troubles getting their harvesting done.

Yet we are told by God 'not to worry'. Sometimes easier said than done.

So here is readers assignment:  Read Matthew 6:25 - 34.


A chart in my Living Application Bible near those verses says:

"The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life (vs. 25)

"Worrying about the future hampers your efforts today (vs. 26)

"Worrying is more harmful than helpful (vs. 27)

"God does not ignore those who depend on Him. (vs. 28-30)

"Worry shows a lack of faith and understanding of God (vs. 32)

"There are real challenges God wants us to pursue and worrying keeps us from them (vs. 33)

"Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry (vs.34)"

*

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand."

~ Philippians 4:6,7

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Printable Issue 3402  Today is Tuesday, September 27th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3402

Let's View People Differently

"Let's view people differently. Blemished, perhaps. Unfinished, for certain. Yet once rescued and restored, we may shed light, like the two stained-glass windows in my office. My brother found them on a junkyard heap. Some church had discarded them. A handy carpenter reclaimed them. He painted the chipped wood, repaired the worn frame, sealed the cracks in the colored glass. They're not perfect. But if suspended where the sun passes through, they cascade multicolored light into the room.

"The apostle Paul wrote, 'For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves....' (Colossians 1:13). You and I are going to come across some discarded people. Tossed out. Sometimes by a church. And we get to choose. Neglect or rescue? Label them or love them? We know Jesus' choice. Just look at what he did with us!

~ By Max Lucado

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Printable Issue 3403  Today is Wednesday, September 28th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3403

Isn't it amazing when we see a newborn baby and know that little one started from a couple of specks and now is perfectly formed! Really a miracle. They are a miracle, as our we.


We Are Wonderfully Made

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

~ Psalm 139:14 NIV


"We can only imagine the concentrated thoughts that occupied the divine Mind and the gentle, skillful touch of the divine Hand that first shaped man from the dust. Where did the Creator begin? Did He start with a skeletal farm? Did He then cover it with an outside layer of skin, which at no place is thicker than three-sixteenths of an inch, is packed with nerve endings to enable man to feel the outside world, and is virtually waterproof? Into the skin stretched over the frame, did He next place the heart that pumps seventy-two times a minute, forty million times a year? When did He hang the lungs in their sealed compartments so that the rivers of blood necessary for life can deposit the carbon dioxide and pick up oxygen to be carried to every single one of the more than twenty-six trillion cells in the body? When did He place the brain inside the bony skull and program it to send messages that travel faster than three hundred miles an hour along the nervous system to the entire body?

"Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully and lovingly and personally created by an awe-inspiring, loving Creator!"

~ Penned by Anne Graham Lotz, sent in a daily email

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Printable Issue 3404  Today is Thursday, September 29th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3404

Some random thoughts to take us into today:


"God will never love you more than He does right now.

His love is not something He does; it is Who He is!

We can love Him more but He will never love us more."

~ Joyce Meyer quote

*

For those of us who are adding years to our lives:

"Soil of every season of life is fertile ground."

~ Beth Moore quote

*

Did you hear in the last few days that NASA has determined by studying the stars that they believe there are now 13, not 12, astrological signs? And that if you were a 'Leo,' you might be like a 'Scorpio'? Wouldn't that be something if you took 'advice' from your sign, only to learn that you were reading from the wrong sign for that day? And have for years?

Good thing about God and His Word:  never changes.


"Thank you, God, that your Holy Words have stood the test of time. We can trust You, who You are, and what You tell us. You are the great I am. Amen."


Printable Issue 3405  Today is Friday, September 30th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3405

Something written by Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" to take all of us into the weekend:


"I am with you and all around you in golden rays of Light. I always behold you Face to face. Not one of your thoughts escapes My notice. Because I am infinite, I am able to love you as if you and I were the only ones in the universe.

"Walk with Me in intimate Love-steps, but do not lose sight of My Majesty. I desire to be your closest Friend, yet I am also your sovereign Lord. I created your brain with capacity to know Me as Friend and Lord simultaneously. The human mind is the pinnacle of My creation, but so few use it for its primary purposes---knowing Me. I communicate continually through My Spirit, My Word, and My Creation. Only humans are capable of receiving Me and responding to My Presence. You are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made!"


~ from yesterday annual calendar, September 29

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