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June 2011 Archives

Printable Issue 2078  Today is Wednesday, June 1st, 2011; Karen's Korner #2078
From a graphic in my Life Application Bible:
 
The Touch of Jesus
 
What kind of people did Jesus associate with?
Whom did He consider important enough to touch?
 
Here we see many of the people Jesus came to know.
Some reached out to Him;
He reached out to them all.
 
Jesus talked with:
 
a despised tax collector
an insane hermit
the Roman governor
a young boy
a prominent religious leader
 
a homemaker
a lawyer
a criminal
a synagogue ruler
a fisherman
 
a king
a poor widow
a Roman army captain
a group of children
a prophet
 
an adulterous woman
the Jewish Supreme Court
a sick old woman
a rich man
a blind beggar
Jewish political leaders
 
a group of women
the High Priest
an outcast with leprosy
a city official
a young girl
 
a traitor
a helpless and paralyzed man
an angry mob of soldiers and police
a woman from a foreign land
a doubting follower
an enemy who hated him
 
**
 
Regardless of how great or unknown,
rich or poor,
young or old,
sinner or saint --
Jesus cares equally for all.
 
No person is beyond
the loving touch of Jesus.
 
****
Printable Issue 2079  Today is Thursday, June 2nd, 2011; Karen's Korner #2079
As we turn the page away from Memorial Day, it might be around good time to think about our current men and women who are fighting to protect us and our way of life. We can't protect ourselves without their help. There are some people, leaders, and countries who would like to destroy us if they could.
 
And then there is the every day battles of good vs. evil. Yesterday I had a friend who asked me to pray for her unnamed friend who is facing health issues, financial difficulties and needing to make difficult decisions. Hard vs. easy choices.
 
Like our soldiers, Ephesians tells us we, too, need to equip for battle daily:
 
"Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
~ Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV
 
**
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for Your protection as our Commander in Chief of Heavens Armies. Thank You for the young men and women who serve and protect us and our country. Help us to remember to put on Your Armor daily and to choose Your good over evil. We celebrate today, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
 
****
Printable Issue 2080  Today is Friday, June 3rd, 2011; Karen's Korner #2080
Some thoughts and Bible verses forwarded via email to some of Shirley Choat's email address book:
 
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your
right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I
will help you.
    ( Isaiah 41:13 NKJV )
 
**
   We often face troubling times in our lives that
cause us to worry, and lose sleep.  As a child of God you
have Him at your side, holding your hand, and guiding
your pathway through those times
.  
 
The Lord is
good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And
He knows those who trust in Him.
     ( Nahum 1:7 )
 
**
    
He will never abandon HIS Children, throughout
their entire lives. For He is always with us no matter
what we may face, as He further promised:
 
When
you pass through the waters (difficulties), I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow
you. When you walk through the fire, you shall
not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
        ( Isaiah 43:2 )

   Therefore,
Fear not, for I am with you; Be
not dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold
you with My righteous right hand.
     (Isaiah 41:10)
 
**
   So the next time you face troubling times, do as Jesus
said:
 
"Let not your heart be troubled;  you
believe in God, believe also in Me."
(John 14:1)

Then when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be
sweet.     
( Proverbs 3:24 )

 
  Now have a great day walking hand and hand with God,
  Amen.
 
****
Printable Issue 2081  Today is Monday, June 6th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2081
A couple more installments from "Simply Treasures" flip calendar. A couple of them deal humorously with aging:
 
 
Why not learn to enjoy little things --
there are so many of them!
 
~
 
The condition of a man
can best be judged
by what he takes two at a time --
 
the stairs or their pills.
 
~
 
You know you're getting older
when all the names in your
black book
have M.D. after them.
 
~ Arnold Palmer
 
~
 
Youth is a period when we're looking
for greener fields.
 
Middle age is when
we can hardly mow what we've got!
 
~
 
Did you know the word
'listen'
contains the same letters as the word
'silent'?
 
~
 
If you want happiness for an hour,
take a nap.
 
If you want happiness for a day,
go fishing.
 
If you want happiness for a year,
inherit a fortune.
 
If you want happiness for a lifetime,
help someone else.
 
~
Printable Issue 2082  Today is Tuesday, June 7th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2082
A daily devotional thought from Joel and Victoria Osteen:
 
Activate Strength

 “But as for me, I am filled with power— with the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and strength…” (Micah 3:8).

"Micah knew how to encourage himself in the Lord. He understood how to draw courage and purpose into his life. He realized the power in His words and knew that speaking the truth is the most effective way to prepare him to accomplish all God has in store.

"Did you know that we activate the blessing of God’s favor by speaking it over our own lives? Romans 10:9-10 tells us that salvation comes when we believe and then declare what we believe. God’s truth is established when we believe and declare it! (Job 22:28). When we declare God’s Word, we invite Him to do what He alone can in our lives.

"Your tasks today may not be anything like Micah’s, but we all need God’s help. Activate His strength by declaring that His power is at work by His Spirit in your life. Declare that you are filled with justice and strength as you face the challenges before you because in His strength, you can experience victory in every area of your life.  

"Father in heaven, I invite You to flood every area of my being. Fill me with Your strength, peace, and joy. I declare that I am strong in You. I am filled with Your power. I walk in Your favor. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Printable Issue 2083  Today is Wednesday, June 8th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2083
 

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
Mark 8:1-9 (NLT)
 
 1 About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, 2 “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”

 4 His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”

 5 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

   “Seven loaves,” they replied.

 6 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. 7 A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.

 8 They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 9 There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten.

~~

Bible Commentary:   This is a different miracle from the feeding of the 5,000 recorded several chapters before (Mark chapter 6). At that time, those fed were mostly Jews. This time Jesus was ministering to a Gentile crowd.

Do you ever feel God is so busy with important concerns that he can't possibly be aware of your needs? Just as Jesus was concerned about those people's need for food, he is concerned about our daily needs. At another time, Jesus said, "Don't worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them" (Matthew 6:31, 32). Do you have concerns that you think would not interest God? There is no concern too large for him to handle and no need to small to escape his interest.

~~~~

Printable Issue 2084  Today is Thursday, June 9th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2084
Any of us with flower and/or vegetable gardens know how hard it has been to keep our plants alive and growing in all of our heat and wind. Now it is also getting a little bit dry.
 
My remedy:  water the fledging plants a time or two a day.
 
Most of mine seem to be doing pretty well.
 
Several of them began to look a little wilted, even with the watering. When that has happened, I can't get them enough water. By the time, I see the wilting, it seems there is nothing I can do to reverse the trend.
 
As I was trying to rescue one yesterday, I thought, "I wonder if this is like me. If the winds begin to blow and the temperatures rise, if I don't have a good 'root system', maybe the sprinkling of artificial water won't be able to keep me alive and growing."
 
No matter how hard I try to rescue my plants, nothing can match God's watering with rains and his control of the thermometer and the directions the wind blows.
 
Father in Heaven, thank You that You are in control and I am not. I ask You that I might have a good root system:  one that can withstand the changing weather around me. I don't want to wilt; I want to grow. I ask the same thing for my friends and my family. In the Name of Your Son Jesus, Amen.
Printable Issue 2085  Today is Friday, June 10th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2085
Several weeks ago my husband Jim had a medical procedure in Fort Dodge which required him to be in the hospital overnight.
 
On my way home that evening, I stopped at Aldi's, a discount grocery store, to pick up a few items.
 
Ahead of me in the check-out line was a Caucasian gal in her late-thirties to mid-forties with four shopping carts. Many of the items were multiples:  a dozen gallons of milk, eighteen cans of spaghetti sauce, six boxes of pancake mix.
 
As I waited, I asked, "Do you cook some place?"
 
She smiled and replied, "No, this is for our family!" She was accompanied by a black young man, probably in middle school.
 
"We don't have any biological children; we have twenty adopted kids," she said proudly. She named her son and said, "He and his nine brothers and sisters needed a family and we were asked if we could take them. So we took them all!"
 
She told that her four carts containing basically enough food for two weeks with an 'occasional trip to the store in between'.
 
Two things I am sure she never has to worry about:  loading all of their groceries into their 15-passenger van (she had brought along help) and a baby sitter at home for any younger family members (someone has to be the right age to take care of smaller siblings!).
 
Her grocery bill totaled $364.
 
So the next time you are looking for an angel, she just might show up in line ahead of you at a grocery store, pushing four grocery carts, wearing an over-sized sweatshirt, shorts and sandals.
Printable Issue 2086  Today is Monday, June 13th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2086
Last installment from "Simple Treasures" flip calendar; these have a bent toward sports:
 
 
When future historians study our culture,
they could easily come to the conclusion
that what we're really
thankful for is
football.
 
~
 
Some people think the best eight course dinner
is a seven-layer cake
and a cup of coffee.
 
~
 
Football is a game that would move
much faster if there wasn't a
committee meeting before each play.
 
~
 
With the size of all those fish
that got away
it is a wonder there is
any room in the lake.
 
~
 
If at first you don't succeed,
find out if there is a prize
for the loser.
 
~
 
An optimist goes on a fishing trip
carrying a camera and a frying pan.
 
~
 
Forget what people think of you.
You're a person.
what do you think of you?
 
~~~
 
From the sign in front of Clarion's Church of the Nazarene:
 
"Geico saves U 15%
Jesus saves U 100%"
 
~~~~
Printable Issue 2087  Today is Tuesday, June 14th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2087
Today is FLAG DAY!
 
THE FLAG
(Several stanzas)
 
By Julia Ward Howe
 
"There's a flag hangs over my threshold,
whose folds are more dear to me
Than the blood that thrills in my bosom
its earnest of liberty.
And dear are the stars its harbors
in its sunny field of blue
As the hope of a further heaven
that lights all our dim lives through.
 
"The flag of our stately battles,
not struggles of wrath and greed;
its stripes were a holy lesson,
its spangles a deathless creed;
'Twas red with the blood of freemen,
and white with the fear of the foe,
And the stars that fight in their courses
'gainst tyrants its symbols know.
 
"Pass hence, then, the friends I gathered,
a good company!
All ye that have manhood in you,
go, perish for Liberty!
But I and babes God gave me
will wait with uplifted hearts,
With the firm smile ready to kindle,
and the will to perform our parts."
 
***
 
Printable Issue 2088  Today is Wednesday, June 15th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2088
One day last week, I watched a portion of a rerun of an Oprah show. Debbie Boone was her guest and Oprah asked about her mother-in-law, legendary singer Rosemary Clooney. Boone said grandma always stopped what she was doing and made time for her grandchildren. (If you saw it and I didn't capture what was said exactly, my apologies!)
 
As a side note, Oprah mentioned something that her friend, author Toni Morrison had said. It seems Morrison had learned from one of her children about the child's special relationship with 'grandma'. When she asked her child what made for such a special relationship, "Whenever Grandma sees me, her eyes always sparkle!"
 
As a single mom, Morrison recognized that her eyes didn't light up when she saw her children. She had a list of 'needs and to-dos':  "stand up straight, what about your hair?"
 
From then on, Morrison made the conscious choice for 'eyes to sparkle' whenever she saw her children. Didn't mean that there weren't things that needed to be discussed and handled....but her eyes could still sparkle.
 
Makes me think about our relationships with Jesus. Do we believe that when we come to God in prayer, He says 'what do you want this time?' Or 'here is the list of things you should/shouldn't be doing?'
 
Or do we believe His eyes sparkle because we are His Children?
 
I'd like to believe the latter; the Bible seems to be filled with ways He wants us to know how much He loves us and is willing to care of each one of us; not that He doesn't have some things He would like for us to be/do/not do, but I believe His eyes sparkle when we choose to come into His Presence:  at church, at Bible reading/study, when we pray.....
 

 "People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop.

 "When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, 'Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them. What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it.'

 "Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them."

~ Mark 10:13-16 (NIRV)

Sounds like 'sparkling eyes' to me.
Printable Issue 2089  Today is Thursday, June 16th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2089
Something emailed to me earlier this week by Lavonne Isenberger:  Bible one-liners which I culled down to 15!
 
 
A Bible in the hand is worth two in the bookcase.

God won't be looking for your medals, degrees or diplomas - He'll be looking for your scars.

When you get tired talking to your friend about God - talk to God about your friend.

It's hard to stumble when you're on your knees.

Holiness is not the way to Jesus  -  Jesus is the way to holiness.

Prayer doesn't make the morning come faster, but it sure makes the night seem shorter!

Man's way leads to a hopeless end!  Gods way leads to an endless hope!

Don’t use your "freedom" as a rationale for sinning.

Keep your head and your heart pointed in the right direction and you won’t have to worry about your feet.

God allows "U Turns!"

Grace is not an excuse to sin, but it is the power not to!

If a man can be found faithful in hard places, he can usually be trusted in high places.

A problem not worth praying about isn't worth worrying about.

Faith is caught - not taught.

God needs our availability more than our ability.

~~~

Printable Issue 2090  Today is Friday, June 17th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2090
Key Characteristics of Christ in the Gospels*
 
Jesus is the Son of God
Jesus is the God who became human
 
Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah
Jesus came to help sinners
 
Jesus has power to forgive sins
Jesus has authority over death
 
Jesus has power to give eternal life
Jesus healed the sick
 
Jesus taught with authority
Jesus was compassionate
 
Jesus experienced sorrow
Jesus never disobeyed God
 
~~
 
With a list like that, Jesus is worthy of our attention, our allegiance, our love.
 
Thank you, Jesus!
 
 
* Taken from a graphic plus Bible references, Life Application Bible.
Printable Issue 2091  Today is Monday, June 20th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2091
An email pass along sent to us last week by Jim's sister, Melvene. If I had read it before, I have forgotten. Hope that you enjoy it:
 
 A Blue Rose

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox. So off I went.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.

"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve."

"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked.  "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.

"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement, because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him.

I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"

Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God's garden."

She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

From an old dandelion!  Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God
.

"People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel!"     
~ Anonymous
 
****
 
Printable Issue 2092  Today is Tuesday, June 21st, 2011; Karen's Korner #2092
I have signed up to run in this year's Iowa Games next month. That means I'd better practice (and hopefully, I don't pull or injure something that eliminates my participating!)
 
The Iowa Games isn't about skill or being the 'best'; it is about participation. When I turned 60, I decided I was going to compete. Never ran a timed race in my life. Adult age categories are broken down in five-year increments. I was in the 60 - 64 year old category. I figured I would have the slowest time. Everyone else would have been former high school and college runners; maybe competing in 5Ks and things like that.
 
I was wrong.........I was the only one competing in my age group and the oldest woman entered in track and field. I ran the 100 meter.......and I got first (not hard to blow away the competition when there isn't any!). The next year I participated again and did the 100 meter and 200 meter.
 
Now I am in the next division of completion - 65 - 69. Since I can compete in up to four categories for my entry fee, I am signed up for the 100, 200 and 400. I decided against things like the long jump or high jump; might pull something from which I couldn't recover.
 
If I am going to run around the track one lap, I'd better see if I can get that accomplished in practice.
 
Every day I am 'running' around a track in our county for two laps. I can't say as how it is enjoyable for me. Every part of mind and body wants to stop. I can make it once but after that, I REALLY want to stop!
 
A couple of days ago,  I started to pray or think about people on my 'prayer list'. I pray for Jen who asked me pray for new employment for her or for Nora with health issues, for which I friend asked me to pray. I don't personally know either of these gals. I begin to think about other family members and friends. The first thing I know,  I am around the track for a second time.
 
Sometimes I have more energy as I finish, than I did toward end of my first lap.
 
What makes the difference?
 
If I were going to define it:  I have my mind off myself!
 
What else might be going on? I am not sure.
 
So unless some other 'old gal' shows up and claims the gold medal, it might be mine again in 2011.
 
If you see me 'practicing' some day when you drive by an area track and think, "She calls that running!??"
 
Remember you were warned!
 
 
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You that You allow us to pray to You. You knew and know that it would pay all kinds of dividends for each one of us who take the time to do that. Forgive me; I don't take advantage of that opportunity as often as I could or would like. Help me to spend a bigger portion of my minutes a day........praying! I'll think of all kinds of reasons to do other things! Thank You for Your Love and Your Patience! Through Jesus' Name Who helps us do things we can't do in our strength. Amen.
 
 
Printable Issue 2093  Today is Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011; Karen's Korner #2093
I attended a funeral of a family friend yesterday and this is one of the Bible verses which the minister selected. I liked it and decided this would be a good Karen's Korner for today:
 

Psalm 8 (NLT)

"O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
      Your glory is higher than the heavens.
 You have taught children and infants
      to tell of your strength,
   silencing your enemies
      and all who oppose you.

 "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
      the moon and the stars you set in place—
 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
      human beings that you should care for them?
 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
      and crowned them with glory and honor.
 You gave them charge of everything you made,
      putting all things under their authority—
 the flocks and the herds
      and all the wild animals,
 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
      and everything that swims the ocean current.

"O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!"

~~~

Printable Issue 2094  Today is Thursday, June 23rd, 2011; Karen's Korner #2094
Taken from "In God We Still Trust", a 365-day devotional by Dr. Richard G. Lee:
 
Defending the Unborn
 
"Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them,
for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
- MATTHEW 19:14
 
"During his thirty-two years of service in the House of Representatives, Henry Hyde came to be known as a passionate and eloquent defender of the unborn. On July 16, 1993, he made this statement:
 
"'That all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator' --
human beings upon creation, not upon birth.
That is where our human dignity comes from.
It comes from the Creator.
It is an endowment, not an achievement.
 
"By membership in the human family, we are endowed by our Creator
with 'inalienable rights.'
They can't be voted away by a jury or a court.
 
"'Among which are life--the first inalienable rights,
the first endowment from the Creator.
That is mainstream America,
the predicate for our Constitution,
our country's birth certificate.
To respect the right to life as an endowment from the Creator.
 
"It is the unborn who are the least of God's creatures.
We have been told that whatsoever we do for the least of these
we do unto Jesus."
 
**
Patriot's Prayer:
 
"My heart is broken for those who do not understand when human life begins
or recognized from whom it comes.
Show me, Lord, what You would have me do to be a defender of the unborn,
an ally of those who do not have their own voice."
 
**
 
Patriot's Promise:
 
"Notice the love promised and inherent to this truth:
'You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb...
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'"
(Psalm 139:13-14 NIV)
 
*****
Printable Issue 2095  Today is Friday, June 24th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2095
Something written and forwarded to me a number of years ago by Shirley Choat:
 
"If you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same?"
 
    The test of love is not in loving our friends as that would be too easy. Jesus taught this plainly in His Sermon on the Mount and at other times. He asked pointedly: "If you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same?" The publicans were the most despised class of people at the time, but even they loved their friends.
 
    "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you."  That is God's standard of love among mankind. It is a hard requirement to meet. By nature, we revolt against the very idea. Love our friends? YES. We are willing to help them in their needs, to bring them fine gifts, and to show them every form of kindness, though it must be admitted that at times we fail even in loving our friends. But, generally speaking, this part of Christian love does not give us too much difficulty. But to love our enemies takes a measure of Christian strength that can come only from God. He will help us to pray for our enemies, to love them, to help them, even as the Good Samaritan helped the Jew who had fallen among the thieves.
 
    Jesus commanded us in Matthew 5:44 to do good to those who hate us. When we do, it may create a change in their hearts. Even when it doesn't, the benefits of loving are great. We receive God's supernatural grace and strength, and we have the confidence that we are faithfully representing our Heavenly Father. And for the Christian, that in itself is rewarding.
 
The good we do is never lost;
Each kindly act takes root,
And every bit of love we sow
In time will bear its fruit.
 
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Love reduces friction to a fraction.
 
****
Printable Issue 2096  Today is Monday, June 27th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2096
A couple of short thoughts by Shirley Choat:
 
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign
Lord, my confidence since my youth.
                                 ( Psalms 71:5 NIV )

Dear Friends,
  When ever you feel stressed, worried or overwhelmed by
things or people in this World, put your hope and trust
in our Heavenly Father. Have faith that He will guide you
through the stumbling blocks that life has put before you!  
 
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not
be dismayed, for I am your God.
                                    ( Isaiah 41:10 )

  
Don't try to make decisions or fight the battles
of life alone. Ask God in prayer for the answers. He
will then, not only provide answers and guidance, but also will
bless you as well.
 
Blessed is the man who
trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
                                     ( Jeremiah 17:7 )

  
Trust in Him at
all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge.    
                                    ( Psalms 62:8 )

  
May the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you
may overflow with hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit.   Amen      
                            ( Romans 15:13 )
 
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Printable Issue 2097  Today is Tuesday, June 28th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2097
Why Did Jesus Have To Die?*
 
The Problem
"We have all done things that are wrong,
and we have failed to obey God's law.
Because of this, we have been separated from God,
our Creator.
Separation from God is death,
but, by ourselves,
we can do nothing to become united with God.
 
Why Jesus Could Help
"Jesus was not only a man;
he was God's unique Son.
Because Jesus never disobeyed God
and never sinned,
only he can bridge the gap between sinless God and sinful mankind.
 
The Solution
"Jesus freely offered his life for us,
dying on the cross in our place,
taking all our wrongdoing upon himself,
and saving us from the consequences of sin--
including God's judgment and death.
 
The Results
"Jesus took our past, present, and future sins upon himself
so that we could have new life.
Because all our wrongdoing is forgiven,
we are reconciled to God.
Furthermore, Jesus' resurrection from the dead
is the proof that his substiutionary sacrifice on the cross
was acceptable to God,
and his resurrection has become the source of new life
for whoever believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
All who believe in him may have this new life
and live in union with him."
 
" Taken from a graphic in The Life Application Bible.
 
***
Printable Issue 2098  Today is Wednesday, June 29th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2098
An entry in the 365-daily devotional by Dr. Richard G. Lee titled "In God We Still Trust":
 
America on Its Knees
 
"Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear;
open Your eyes, O Lord, and see."
~ Isaiah 37:17
 
"Founder of the Hilton Hotel chain, Conrad Hilton (1887-1979) published this prayer on a full-age ads in major magazines on July 4, 1952:
 
"Our Father in heaven,
 
"We pray that You save us from ourselves.
 
"The world that You have made for us, to live in peace, we have made into an armed camp. We live in fear of war to come. We are afraid of 'the terror that flies by night, and the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness and the destruction that wastes at noon-day.'
 
"We have turned from You to go our selfish way. We have broken Your commandments and denied Your truth. We have left Your altars to serve the false gods of money and pleasure and power.
 
"Forgive us, and help us.
 
"Now, darkness gathers around us, and we are confused in all our counsels. Losing faith in You, we lose faith in ourselves.
 
"Inspire us with wisdom, all of us of every color, race, and creed, to use our wealth, our strength to help our brother, instead of destroying him. Help us to do Your will as it is done in heaven and to be worthy of Your promise of peace on earth. Fill us with new faith, new strength, and new courage, that we may win the Battle for Peace.
 
"Be swift to save us, dear God, before the darkness falls."
 
 
Patriot's Prayer
 
"Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit
so that I will be a positive influence to
all I see today."
 
Patriot's Promise
 
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful"
~ Hebrews 10:23
 
****
Printable Issue 2099  Today is Thursday, June 30th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2099
Today (and any day!) is a good day to praise and thank God. In our part of the country/state, our crops are beautiful with corn way past 'knee high by the 4th of July'.
 
Sure, weather can change and things can go from 'good to bad' quickly. But today is a good day to say thanks for what we have! Tomorrow will take care of itself!!
 

Psalm 67 (NLT)

"May God be merciful and bless us.
      May his face smile with favor on us.
      May your ways be known throughout the earth,
      your saving power among people everywhere.
 "May the nations praise you, O God.
      Yes, may all the nations praise you.
 Let the whole world sing for joy,
      because you govern the nations with justice
      and guide the people of the whole world.

          "May the nations praise you, O God.
      Yes, may all the nations praise you.
 Then the earth will yield its harvests,
      and God, our God, will richly bless us.
"Yes, God will bless us,
      and people all over the world will fear him."
 
***