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Today is Friday, November 28th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5495
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Something written by Max Lucado and in my computer inbox from several days ago:
WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
"Paul asks the question in Romans 8:31, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' The question isn’t simply, 'Who can be against you?; You could answer that one. Who is against you? Disease, inflation, corruption, exhaustion. Calamities confront, fears imprison. Were Paul’s question, 'Who can be against us?' we could list our foes much easier than we could fight them.
"God is for us. God is for us. God is for us. Your parents may have forgotten you, your teachers may have neglected you, your siblings may be ashamed of you. But within reach of your prayers is the maker of the oceans – God! God is for you. Not may be, not has been, not was, but God is! He is for you. Today. At this hour. At this minute. As you hear this, he is with you. God is for you."
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Today is Thursday, November 27th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5494
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"Oh, how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord because He is so good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord who is above all lords." ~ Psalm 7:17 LAB
* "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is so good! For His lovingkindess is forever." ~ Psalm 118:29 LAB
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Today is Wednesday, November 26th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5493
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So what was the writing that I submitted to THE UPPER ROOM and it was selected and published many years ago. The devotional booklet for July - August 1979 went to more than eight million readers and translated into more than thirty languages.Human nature doesn't change much in more than forty years! So here we go:
Wednesday, July 4, 1979
Read John 6:1 - 14
"The Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks to God and passed them out to the people. Afterwards he did the same with the fish. And everyone ate until full!"
~ John 6:11 (TLB)
"Early last spring, my husband brought home a stray, skinny puppy. When we first started feeding him, I was amazed that he would allow the two cats to eat with him.
"But as time wore on, he became better fed, and he would not allow this. So when I fed him, I would make two piles of food. Otherwise, our cats would not be allowed even one bit from his precious morsels.
"Now, our puppy is a sleek well-fed dog. When we make the two piles of food, not only will be eat his own pile of food, he will chase the cats and eat theirs before he finishes his own.
"As I watched him several weeks ago, I thought to myself are we in our country so much different? During America's struggling pioneer days, we may not have had much, but there was a great sense of sharing and community.
"Now that we are much fatter and sleeker, we think, 'Better not share; my pile will be smaller and theirs might get bigger.'
"PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for all the things You have provided me and my family. Help me to share some of what I have with other people. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"God says, 'Feed my sheep."
Karen S. Weld (Clarion, Iowa)
INTERCESSION: "Our nation and its people."
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Today is Tuesday, November 25th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5492
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My perpetual flip calendar by Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling" tells a number of 'thankful' topics as we near Thanksgiving. I particularly liked yesterday's, November 24.
What Young has written I have experienced.
"Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances). This is a spirtual act of obedience----at times, blind obedience. To people who don't know Me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossible to thank Me for heartrending hardships. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficulties may remain.
"Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective. It is this Light of My Presence that removes the sting from adversity."
~ Taken from Ephesians 5:20; Psalm 118:1: Psalm 89:15
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Today is Monday, November 24th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5491
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As we come into a busy Christmas holiday season:
"It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest."~ Psalm 127:2 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God. But working to the exclusion of rest or neglecting family may be a cover-up for an inability to trust God to provide for our needs. We all need adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On the other hand, this verse is not an excuse to be lazy. Be careful to maintain a balance; work hard while trusting God, and also rest while trusting Him."
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Today is Friday, November 21st, 2025; Karen's Korner #5490
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In the last couple of weeks, I have included a snippet or two from several of my self-published devotional booklets. Many of you have a copy or two of them.
So how did I come to write and print them?
I had lots of 'God Thoughts' and would write them down. I found some national and international addresses and submitted them for publication.
Eureka! The first one I submitted was picked up for publication by THE UPPER ROOM; printed on July 4, 1979. It was printed and distributed to eight million readers in more than thirty countries, translating them into many languages!
I couldn't believe it! Was that a sign I was a pretty good writer?
So I continued to write and submit to various inspirational publishers. That was in the days of typewriters and white-outs; not as simple as it is today!
And not a one was picked up! It must have been beginners' luck!
Since I had them, I decided to self-publish the first one. I would use some part-time consulting funds for the project. I worked with a local printing company. I knew I would have to print a number to make them cost effective. I settled on 1,000! As I got closer to the actual printing, Clay, who was helping on my new venture, said, "Do you know if you print another 1,000, it would cost you only 12 cents a copy for the next ones?" Okay, 2,000! Who knows 2,000 potential readers?
One booklet turned into two. And three. Then four and five!
Did I give them all away? No! For a time, I was giving programs across about a 50-mile radius, for groups like mother-daughter teas or Bible study groups. I haven't sold any of them, but a put a stack of some of them at the book of the room, after my presentations, I encouraged people to take them. One for themselves. Or others for their friends.
Well, 2,000 of each of the first three, turned into reprinting them once and then twice - 6,000 books!
The last two, Clay talked me into printing 6,000 the first time! "It will save you money!" he said. So I did!
Only God knows how someone can give away 30,000 books! And over time, it happened!
So now, we are down to today! I haven't printed any new writings for a number of years. Karen's Korner has covered that writing desire. The first three are basically 'out of print'!
But i have several boxes of #4 and #5 stacked in one of my upstairs bedroom closets. About 400 of each one!
Here is where you as Karen's Korner readers come in. "As His Children" and "Always Be Thankful" could be my gift to you for Christmas, if you don't have one.
Start thinking outside the box. Do you have a relative that could use a stocking stuffer this year? Could your Bible study group each enjoy a copy for Christmas?
Like all of them, they are not for sale! I would send you a copy or a package of them! I would pay for them! Plus pay for the postage.
How does someone give away thousands of books?
One book at time! Using lots of people's hands and hearts!
It's a 'God Thing'!
Merry Christmas!
* Dear Father God,
Thank You that You are such a
'Think Outside The Box God!'
You had plans for this project
I could never have dreamed
what You wanted me to do.
From writing,
printing,
and distributing what I attempted to do!
Bless Karen's Korner readers,
What are each of them going to do with what
they are reading today?
I don't know.
But one more time,
You do!
You are an amazing God.
Thank You!
In Jesus' Name.
Amen
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Today is Thursday, November 20th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5489
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"The greatest of men (women?),
or the lowest---
both alike are nothing in His sight.
They weigh less than air on scales."
~ Psalms 62:9 LAB
*
Bible Commentary: "When we weigh people on the scales of importance, certain things such as wealth, honor, power, or prestige add immeasurably to a person's importance in our eyes. But God cancels out all of these things so that all people are weighed equally in His eyes. What, then can tilt the scales when God weighs us? The work we do for Him. Wealth, honor, power, or prestige add nothing to our 'weight' in God's eyes, but the faithful work we do for Him has eternal value."
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Today is Wednesday, November 19th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5488
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This is a pretty popular Bible verse. Do we like all things that happen to us? Not one bit! Sometimes we have to cling to what God tells us, otherwise it makes no sense.
"And we know
that all that happens to us
is working for our good
if we love God
and are fitting into his plans."
~ Roman 8:28 LAB
*
Bible Commentary: "God works out all things ---not just isolated incidents---for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn it around for our long-range good. Note that God is not working to make us happy, but to fulfill his purpose. Note also that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are fitting into God's plans. Such people have a new perspective, a new mindset on life. They trust in God, not life's treasures; they look to their security in heaven, not on earth; they learn to accept pain and persecution on earth, not resent it, because it brings them closer to God."
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Today is Tuesday, November 18th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5487
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Another writing from one of the five devotional booklets I self-published a number of years ago.
This one is from booklet #4 titled "As His Children". In the near future, I will 'tell' Karen's Korner readers, why I happened to write and print them.
WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE?
'In a sharing time at Sunday School several weeks ago, Judy told a story which involved her daughter, Kim, and her grandson, Colin.
"Some days when Kim works at the hospital, her friend watches Colin, who is four years old. Her friend also has a four-year-old son. One time when Kim was driving the two young boys some place, she overhead conversation, which was going on in the back seat of the vehicle.
"'You're daddy died, didn't he'? asked Colin's young friend. Colin was born six months after his father's death from a rare disease.
"'Yes,' replied Colin.
"'Do you know what your daddy looks like'? continued the line of questioning.
"'I don't know what his pants look like. And I don't know what his shoes look like, but I know what his shirt and hair look like,' said Colin describing things as only a four-year-old can.
Judy continued her story to our Sunday morning gathering. 'He didn't know his daddy, but he knew he had a daddy. He had seen his father in lots of pictures,' Judy told the group.
"Not only has Judy lost her son-in-law at an early age, by the time she was 49 years old, she had been married twice and both her husbands had died. But life experiences tend to teach all of us many things.
"' I like to think of God like that,' Judy told the group. 'I may not know what his shoes look like or what his pants look like, I might not even know what his shirt looks like or his hair looks like. I know that I have a.Father. I may not have seen Him physically. But I know what His heart looks like.'"
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Today is Monday, November 17th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5486
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As we move closer to Thanksgiving, some more thankful verses from the Bible. Lots of them in there, are like buried treasures!
"Let the peace of heart
which comes from Christ
be always present in your hearts and lives,
for this is your responsibility and privilege
as members of His body.
And always be thankful.
Remember what Christ taught
and let His words enrich your lives
and make you wise;
teach them to each other
and sing them out in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing to the Lord with thankful hearts.
And whatever you do or say,
let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus,
and come with Him
into the presence of God the Father
to give Him your thanks."
~ Colossians 3:15 - 17 LAB
*
"Since we have a kingdom
nothing can destroy,
let us praise God
by serving Him
with thankful hearts
and with holy fear and awe."
` Hebrews 12:28 LAB
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