I have African violets, known to grow very well! I’d like to tell you I know how to overly care for them. I don’t. They just grow really well! Over time, the two I have near my kitchen windows are overgrown and need to be transplanted and divided in ‘new’ plants.

A number of months I did just that. My two violets turned into seven total. With the shock of the transplant, they look just terrible. At first, it appears they are going to die. But then, they come back and thrive. All but one of them were in pretty good-sized containers. The smaller one, I put into a smaller pot.
I am giving all the extras to friends.

Several days ago, I gave the smaller violet to a friend, telling her that if she wanted it to get bigger, she needed to replant it  into a bigger pot. Roots reflect the size of the plant above the ground. Roots given the space to ‘breathe’ produce bigger plants.

Could the same be said about us? If we are rooted in God’s Love, are we given the opportunities to ‘grow’ and ‘bloom’ in many areas of our lives?

“Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.”
~ Colossians 2:7 LAB
 
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Yesterday's Max Lucado:

THE OUTLOOK OF CHRIST

"Jesus said, 'Your eyes are windows into your body.  If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.  If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar.'

"In Gethsemane, Jesus faced betrayal on all levels.  The disciples ran away.  The people rejected him.  And God didn’t answer his anguished appeal to avoid “the cup of suffering.” So, what did Christ do? He found enough good in the face of Judas to call him friend, and he can help us do the same with those who hurt us.  He found purpose in the pain, seeing it as a necessary part of God’s greater plan.

"Wouldn’t you love to have a hope-filled heart?  God never promises to remove us from our struggles.  He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them."

***

Any of us living today, at times wonder about 'terrorist attacks'; either here and someplace else in the world. But the biggest terrorist attacks we may have are 'fears' inside our own minds; many of which will never become realities.

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation;
He protects me from danger----whom shall I fear?"
~ Psalm 27:1 LAB
*

Bible Commentary:  "Fear is a dark shadow that envelops us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves. Each of us has been a prisoner of fear at one time or another---fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertainty, sickness, or even death. But fear can be conquered by the bright liberating light of the Lord who brings salvation. If you want to dispel the darkness of fear in your life, remember with the psalm writer that 'the Lord is my light and my salvation'.

***

It's Monday and Memorial Day!

A good to celebrate and remember; all the men and women who have served in our military. Giving their time, their hearts, and sometimes their lives!

This morning I heard a commentator say, "Where would we be if young men and women were not willing to sign up to serve our country in the military?"

Here are the words to "God Bless America" written at the turn of the 20th century by Irving Berlin:

GOD BLESS AMERICA

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."

**

The list of cares from our this week’s prayer group meeting was long:  pending surgeries, diseases, ongoing health issues. And not just those who are older…..all ages! It can be overwhelming!
 
Today’s Bible reading is written by Paul. He sees our problems as temporary. And my Bible commentary sees them as ‘opportunities’. We need to focus on God, not so much as our troubles at hand.
 

"These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!  So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever."

~ 2 Corinthians 4:17 & 18 LAB

**

Bible Commentary:  "Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. Instead, we should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits:

* they help us remember Christ's suffering for us;
* they help keep us from pride;
* they help us look beyond this brief life;
* they prove our faith to others;
* they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his great power.

"Don't resent your troubles----see them as opportunities."

 
****

Yesterday morning, I was making a pan of bars. Some for me; others to take a couple of places.

As I was adding ingredients, I needed baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Hmm, hadn’t checked expiration dates for a while. Baking powder was good. Baking soda? Oops, date was about six weeks ago. But it didn’t say, 'expired'. Instead it said, “best if used by”, the printed date! I tossed it into my mixing bowl. And bought a new box when I went to the grocery store yesterday.

What about the salt? No dates on salt box! And since it is a ‘mineral’, it doesn’t expire!
Kinda like us as Christians. When we attach our lives to Jesus, no matter what happens today or tomorrow, we have no expiration date!

Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” A bit later in that same chapter, He says, “You are the light of the world.”

Prayer:
Lord,
Help us to remember who we are:
Salt and Light, because of You.
Help us to be both today,
As we go about our daily lives.
Thank You for trusting us so much!
We love You
And the difference
You make in our ‘salty’, forever lives.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

I hadn’t looked at the small book titled “100 Things God Loves About You”, Simple reminders for when you need them most, for a long time. But I read a couple of them this morning.

Number 45 stood out to me as I read them. I had an encounter with ‘salt’ as I was doing some early morning baking today. Stay tuned, I will tell you about it in tomorrow’s ‘Korner’.
 

God Loves the Way You Flavor His World.
 
“You are the salt of the earth.”
~ Matthew 5:13
 

“A dash of salt can make all the difference in the flavor of a dish. And so it is with a dash of faith. It can make all the difference in the flavor of a life.
 
“A hope-filled note can brighten a hopeless day. A forgiving heart can lighten a heavy load of guilt. A kind word, a loving touch could be just the glimpse of Jesus that some lost soul needs.
“Wherever you go, whatever you do, whatever words you speak, season them with a dash of faith---because God loves the way you flavor His world.”
 
(Written by Tama Fortner)

***

Spring time brings new life and growing things! It is amazing that seeds lay dormant in their packets. And can for years! Not much happens in a bucket of water. Dirt is just sitting idly by! Put them together……and the magic happens!

It has been relatively dry in our area up until a few days ago. I had planted a number of kinds of garden seeds more than a week ago. Nothing happened! We need, and needed, the magic of water to be added to the seeds and the dirt.

Are you looking for a miracle? Look no farther than your graden! God has given the formula to make them grow and bloom.

Time to celebrate spring!!
 

"My work was to plant the seed in your hearts (Paul writer), and Apollos' (friend); work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts. The person who does the planting or watering isn't very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow."

~ 1 Corinthians 3:6 & 7 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  God's work in the world involves many different individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superstars in the task, only team members performing their own special roles. We become useful members of God's team by setting aside the desire to receive glory for what we do. The praise that comes from people is comparatively worthless; invaluable approval comes from God."

***

Anybody tired of hearing about my birthday and celebrating for two months? Before the '80th Victory Birthday", I had told people that was going to have 24 parties in that time period. Why 24, you might ask? Because I had 23 when I turned 70!

Look out for #90! Whlle our family has longevity in it, those last few years for some......their minds slip. If I make it to 90, I might not remember who you are!!

I took a look at my 'birthday Karen's Korner' from ten years ago.

My friend Jayne Hanning, hosted a surprise birthday party for me in our Sunday School class.

Below is something she included:

KAREN

K - Kindness - "Be kind to each other...." - Ephesians 4:32a.

A - Always - "Always give thanks in everything......." - Ephesians 5:20a.

R - Rejoice - "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice." - Philippians 4:4.

E - Everlasting Life - "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16.

N - Never - "I will never, never leave you nor forsake you. " - Hebrews 13:5.

Thank you, Jayne!

I continue to celebrate my 80^th birthday. Yesterday we did Subway sandwiches for lunch with Marys and Marthas, an ecumenical group of gals from the Clarion area who meet together monthly. I was given a handful of birthday cards for the event.

One card I received from a friend which caused me to chuckle:

 
FOR YOUR
BIRTHDAY

Here’s a
BADGE!

You’ve earned
The RIGHT
To Wear….

 
Inside, the Badge said:
 

I’ve
SURVIVED
DARN
Near
EVERYTHING!
 
Happy Birthday!!

 
If we live long enough, that can be said for most (all?) of us! And how do we survive and learn to thrive, regardless of our situations? With God’s help! Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me.” He never intended to do life without His help. Help for yesterday. Today. And all of our tomorrows!!