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March 2021 Archives

Printable Issue 4396  Today is Monday, March 1st, 2021; Karen's Korner #4396
Happy to be back after a couple of weeks away from my computer! Looks like we might be nearing spring in Iowa.....if not now, soon!

The past little bit most of Max Lucado's daily inspirational thoughts have been on God and how much He loves us. Who can't use a bit more of His Love!

God's Marvelous Love

"In his letter to Ephesians, Paul urged, 'May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves,…' (Ephesians 3:17-18).

"Let God love you. Let Him love you dearly, let Him love you daily, let Him love you deeply. Grab hold of His love and never let go. 'God is love' (1 John 4:16). One word into the passage reveals the supreme surprise of God’s love—it has nothing to do with you. Some people love you because of you. Not God – He loves you because He is He. He loves you because He decides to. Self-generated, uncaused, spontaneous.

"His constant-level love depends on His choice to give it."

****
Printable Issue 4397  Today is Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021; Karen's Korner #4397
"But Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time, and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God's right hand, waiting for his enemies to b laid under his feet.

"For by that one offering, he made forever perfect in the sight of God, all those whom he is making holy."


~ Hebrews 10:12 - 14 LAB

*
I sometimes write in the margins on my Bible, as thoughts come to me. And date them:


"We are all perfect in God's sight."   ~ 2/2/99

"In an imperfect world, we must never forget how much God loves us!:    ~ 10/21/10

Thank You, Father God, that You are our perfect Heavenly Father, and that You love us so much. Help us to see ourselves as You see as........perfect in Your Love. Thank You, for doing for us, what we can never do for ourselves...making us holy! And for use in Your purposes. We don't know how You do it, but thank You! In the name of Your Son, our perfect sacrifice. Amen.
**
Printable Issue 4398  Today is Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021; Karen's Korner #4398
When I was getting ready to be gone for a couple of weeks, among my packing and readying things at home, I had to 'pack' for our dog, Rocky to be gone as well.

He was going to spend time staying at a family's home in Clarion. Rocky saw me getting his container of food ready, grabbing his lead strap,,,his food and water dish; as well as the pet taxi in which he always sleeps.

And he was getting excited!

He had no idea where he was going but my 'ready-ing', he had seen before. This meant he was going some place. And I ride in one of our vehicles was in the offing!

Out the door he ran with me. Jumping into our pick up!

I wonder sometimes how excited I am when something 'new' is happening in my life. When God has a new thing planned for me. I don't know what it is, nor where I am going.

But do I get excited about the 'trip' because I have trusted Him other times and He always has His best in mind for me? Or do I question? Worry? Sulk? Because I am not so sure 'this time' where we are going?

Father in Heaven, help me to be like Rocky. I want to be excited about the journey ahead. Help me to trust You. Help me to enjoy the trip. Wherever it might lead. In Jesus' Name Who already planned my/our journey; the one for this life. And the one into eternity. Amen.
Printable Issue 4399  Today is Thursday, March 4th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4399
I like it when Karen's Korner readers share something they have found or written. This is something my sister, Jill, texted me a bit ago which I really like. I don't know the author.

Whether we 'inherit' a lot in this life or not, look what we inherit as believers! First think about yourself. Then pause for a moment to think of a person/people who you love and who are in heaven right now:

One minute after a believer dies:

* Angels usher your soul to Heaven  (Luke16:22)

* You immediately enter God's presence  (2 Corinthians 5:6 - 8)

* You are conscious, in command of your thinking, feeling, speech, and memories  (Luke 16:19 - 31)

* You participate in magnificent worship with angels and believers before the throne of God and Christ  (Revelation 4 - 5)

* You are aware to some degree of activities and events on Earth  (Revelation 6:9 - 10)

* You will recognize and communicate with believers who preceded you to Heaven  (Luke 9:28 - 36)

***
Printable Issue 4400  Today is Friday, March 5th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4400
A milestone:  Karen's Korner #4400! I like the ones which end in 00. Whatever that might mean. This one needs to be a good one! Any of the 'korners' have touched my heart and mind in some way.

Today's is no different.

I receive a inspirational thought daily written by Max Lucado. The series I have been receiving lately are all about God's Love. Pretty basic but something we need to be reminded of. Often! Especially when we experience changes we don't care much about. Pandemic. Heath or financial changes. Changes in our world. Or our lives.

Here is a recent one of Max's:

A Fountain of Love That Won't Run Dry

"You don’t influence God’s love. You can’t affect the love of God. If your actions altered his devotion, then God would not be love; instead, he would be a human, for this is human love.

"Don’t you need a fountain of love that won’t run dry? You’ll find one on a stone-cropped hill outside Jerusalem’s walls where Jesus hangs, cross-nailed and thorn-crowned.
When you feel unloved, ascend this mount and meditate long and hard on heaven’s love for you. Both eyes beaten shut, shoulders as raw as ground beef, lips bloody and split. Fists of hair yanked from his beard. Gasps of air escaping his lungs.

"As you peer into the crimsoned face of heaven’s only Son, remember this: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).

****


Printable Issue 4401  Today is Monday, March 8th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4401
Writings by Sarah Young and her "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" are all good.

This is yesterday's:

"Let me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So, consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me; reminding you to rely on Me alone."

~ Taken from Psalm 63:2 - 8; James 1:2 - 3 AMP

****
Printable Issue 4402  Today is Tuesday, March 9th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4402
"Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday,
today,
and forever."


~ Hebrews 13:8 LAB

*
Bible Commentary:  "We must keep our eyes on Christ, our ultimate leader, who unlike human leaders, will never change. He has been and will be the same forever. In a changing world, we can trust our unchanging Lord."

***
Printable Issue 4403  Today is Wednesday, March 10th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4403
Today's Max Lucado in my inbox this morning:

Grace Delivered Us From Fear


"God’s grace delivered us from fear, but how quickly we return. Grace told us we didn’t have to spend our lives looking over our shoulders, but look at us glancing backward. Look at us with guilt on our consciences.

"Why are we so quick to revert back to our old ways? Or as Paul candidly wrote, 'What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?' (Romans 7:24). Simply stated: we are helpless to battle sin alone. Aren’t we glad Paul answered his own question? 'I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord' (Romans 7:25).

"The same one who saved us first is there to save us still. Such is the message of grace. You are saved, not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did! And you are special because of whose you are."

*****
Printable Issue 4404  Today is Thursday, March 11th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4404
A couple of disjointed thoughts for the day:

Have you ever noticed that there is something about every season we don't much care for?

We don't like snow and snow storms in the winter..

Now that it is getting closer to spring, in my north central Iowa farm home, I have the privilege of chasing a handful of flies in my kitchen.

I don't like flies! 
*

Our granddaughter Molly who is a high school freshman has a couple of entries in this year's state speech contest. The competition is today.

I texted her yesterday to wish her good luck.

Her text back to me:  "Thank you. I think my speech will go well!"

I liked that confidence. I probably would have thought or texted "I hope I do well". What does it hurt to think it 'will' go well.? She didn't say anything hoping for a 1 rating; just that her speech would go well.

I have a couple of things on which I am working to do. From Molly's viewpoint, "I think they will go well!"

What do you have to do today that you think 'will go well'. Before it happens?
*

"I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of
His glories and grace.
I will boast of His kindness to me."


~ Psalm 34:1-2b

***
Printable Issue 4405  Today is Friday, March 12th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4405

Believe in His Name

 

‘There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

~ Acts 4:12, NKJV

“Although God is the Creator of us all, nowhere does the Bible say we are all His children. On the contrary, there are two conditions you and I must meet before we can be called God’s children. One is that we must receive Jesus, or open the door of our hearts and invite Him to come in. The other is that we must believe in His Name.

“Believing in His Name means we must be willing to commit our lives to all that He is as represented by His Name. And His Name is Lord Jesus Christ.

“The qualification for being a child of God by believing on His Name means much more than just head knowledge. It is not just giving intellectual assent to the fact that the Name Lord Jesus Christ is the label attached to the Person. It means to rest in Jesus, to put all of our trust on Him alone for forgiveness and salvation.”

~ By Anne Graham Lotz

***

 

Printable Issue 4406  Today is Monday, March 15th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4406
"Always give thanks for everything
to our God and Father 
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."


~ Ephesians 5:20 LAB


**

Bible Commentary:  ""When we feel down, we may find it difficult to give thanks. We need to take heart -- God works all thing out for good if we love Him and are fitting into His plans (Romans 8:28). We are to thank God, not for our problems, but for the strength He is building in us through the difficult experiences of our lives. We can be sure that God's perfect love will see us through."


***
Printable Issue 4407  Today is Tuesday, March 16th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4407
Something sent to me by my sister Jill. She included that it was something posted by a friend.

True story? Or not? Who knows! It is a good one:

"I was at TJ Maxx today and heard a loud crash and something shattering. Being nosy, I walked towards the sound and saw some people whispering and looking back to the end of the next aisle.

"When I walked down that aisle, I saw that an older lady had hit a shelf and many things had fallen to the ground and broken. She was kneeling on the floor embarrassed, frantically trying to clean up. I felt so bad for her. Everyone was just standing there staring at her. So I went and knelt beside her and told her not to worry and started helping her pick up the broken pieces.

"After about a minute, the store manager came and knelt beside us and said, 'Leave it, we will clean this up.' The lady, totally embarrassed said, 'I need to pay for all this.' The manager smiled, helped her to her feet and said, 'No ma’am, we have insurance for this, you do not have to pay anything!'

If you have read this far, give me another minute. Wherever you are, close your eyes, and imagine God doing the same for you! Imagine the broken pieces of your mistakes or the pieces of your broken heart from all the blows life has thrown at you all over the floor and you’re there trying to collect all of the pieces and fix them yourself. Now imagine God comes and kneels right down beside you, smiles and says to you, 'Leave it all there, I will clean this up for you.'

"He loves you that much and wants to put all of those pieces back together if you will let Him! With Him we have this insurance and it’s called GRACE! It’s free! All you have to do is ask Him to forgive you, help you, and to heal you. He’s faithful, I promise!"

****
Printable Issue 4408  Today is Wednesday, March 17th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4408
Several Sundays ago, Chad Chapman shared some thoughts with the congregation as part of his communion meditation.

I liked them and am highlighting some of his thinking with readers today.

Chapman talked about the 'love chapter' - 1 Corinthians 13 and how often we hear portions of it repeated at wedding ceremonies:

"Love is very patient, and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out." (verses 5 & 6).

He continued, "So consider for a moment, that if we exchanged the word 'love' for 'God'? The verse would sound something like this:  "God is patient. God is kind. God does not envy; is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. God finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. God bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things."

Continuing, he said, "Let's take it one step further yet and add the words 'to me' in each phrase:  "God is patient toward me, God is kind to me" and so on. Got is teaching us how to love each other the way He loves us. Matthew 22:37, says, "Love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind." The greatest commandment. Next Jesus says, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

"In these odd and troubled times, I find myself not doing a very good job of loving all of God's people, he said, ""While we may disagree at times, we can always love one another, just like God loves us."
***

Thank You, God, that You are so knowable. Thank You for the plans You have for each one of us. Thank You that You help us to know and live the lives You have for each one of us. Thank You that You are part of our every day lives and You help us. We can't pull off this thing called life without You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Printable Issue 4409  Today is Thursday, March 18th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4409
Recently my cousin Glenys shared something sent to her by nationally-known pastor Greg Laurie. I thought it was good too. Here is what he wrote (in part):


"How to be Spiritually Strong"

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart,
that I might not sin against You."
~ Psalm 119:11


*
"Soon after the famous evangelist Billy Sunday became a Christian, he went to an older minister and asked him for some advice on how to grow spiritually.

"The man replied, 'If you will spend fifteen minutes a day letting God talk to you through the Bible, and fifteen minutes talking to God in prayer, and fifteen minutes talking to someone about God, they will never write ‘backslider’ after your name.'

"How does God speak to us? He speaks to us primarily through the Word of God, the Bible. A successful Christian will be a Bible-studying Christian, and a failing Christian will be someone who doesn’t open the Word of God.

"You determine what kind of Christian you will be."
 
***
Printable Issue 4410  Today is Friday, March 19th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4410
For You are the Fountain of Life;
our light is from Your Light.
Pour out Your unfailing love
on those who know You!
Never stop giving Your blessings
to those who long to do Your Will."

~ Psalm 36:9 - 10 LAB

*
Bible Commentary: "This metaphor of God - 'Fountain of Life' - gives us a sense of fresh, cleansing water that does indeed give life to the spiritually thirsty. Jesus spoke of Himself as Living Water that could quench 'thirst' forever and give eternal life (John 4:14)."

***
Printable Issue 4411  Today is Monday, March 22nd, 2021; Karen's Korner #4411
"Two days later Jesus' mother was a guest of a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus and his disciples were invited too."

~ John 2;1 & 2  LAB

*
Bible Commentary:  "Jesus was on a mission to save the world, the greatest mission in the history of mankind. Yet he took time to attend a wedding and take part in its festivities. We may be tempted to think we should not take time out from our 'important' work for social occasions. But maybe these social occasions are part of our mission. Jesus valued these wedding festivities because they involved people, and Jesus came to be with people. Our mission can often be accomplished in joyous times of celebration with others. Bring balance to your life by binging Jesus into times of pleasure as well as times of work."

****
Printable Issue 4412  Today is Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021; Karen's Korner #4412
Fun note back from my Uncle Bud (aka Paul) on yesterday's Karen's Korner (Jesus attending a wedding):  He is a retired Baptist minister living in Tennessee: 

"I preached John 2:1 thru 12 at the site where they think Jesus turned water to wine.  March of 1985.  Love, Uncle Bud Merwin"

*
A paragraph from the book "New Life in Christ, What really Happens When You're Born Again And Why It Matters" by Steven J. Lawson:

"This 'life of the ages' is experienced now, while living in this present world. This heaven-like life begins in the present for those who are born again. Long before believers go to heaven, God has already come to live inside of them. Salvation is not merely in the future. Eternal life begins the moment we are born again and believe in Jesus Christ. The Lord will later say, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life' (John 5:24). The present tense -- HAS eternal life --stresses that this divinely given life begins the moment we believe in Jesus Christ."
***
Printable Issue 4413  Today is Wednesday, March 24th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4413
An inspirational thought written by Anne Graham Lotz, as we approach Palm Sunday and Easter.

THANK HIM NOW

"He was pierced for our transgressions.
He was crushed for our iniquities."
~ Isaiah 53:5  NIV

*
"Perhaps thinking to satisfy the crowd’s thirst for blood without actually going so far as to execute Jesus, Pilate had Him flogged. The flogging would have ripped the flesh off of His back, exposing His internal organs. History records that flogging victims either passed into unconsciousness, went insane, or died. The miracle is not that Jesus survived the whipping, but that He submitted to it! How easy it would have been for Him to defy them and, without cursing but in righteous judgment, send them all to hell!

“Why? Why would God allow His Son to endure such physical torture? The answer had been given years earlier, when Isaiah solemnly prophesied, ‘Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. . .  He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:4-5, NIV).

“Thank Him now for bearing God’s judgment that should have been yours!”

***
Printable Issue 4414  Today is Thursday, March 25th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4414
I feed our dog Rocky once a day. Most of the time. I woke up early this morning and I knew if he heard me rattling around in the kitchen, he would want something to eat.

Since it was so early, I fed him half of his normal amount and set the clear plastic glass with the balance of the food, in our kitchen window sill.

It was not even two feet above Rocky's head. Did he see it? Or attempt to eat it? No, he never looked up.

I wonder how many things are well within our line of vision, spiritually, but we never bother to look up? Or look to see what new thing God has in store for us if we but look up to Him?


Dear Father in Heaven, thank You that this is the day which You have made. We want to rejoice and be glad in it! Help us to keep our eyes on You. Guide us to not spend so much time looking around. Nor looking inside of ourselves. Help us to look up to You and all that You have for each of us every day. We want to see You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Printable Issue 4415  Today is Friday, March 26th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4415
Yesterday's Karen's Korner, I had a Bible verse to go with Rocky and his not looking up to see food in a container right above his head. And maybe us not always looking up.

Here it is, telling about Jesus and his raising Lazarus from the dead:

"So they rolled the (grave) stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, 'Father, thank You for hearing me. Then He shouted, 'Lazarus, come out!'"

~ John 11:41  & 42 LAB

*
Palm Sunday is this coming Sunday!

""The next day, news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city, and a huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him shouting, 'The Savior! God bless the King of Israel! Hail to God's Ambassador!"

~ John 12:12 & 13 LAB

*
Bible Commentary:  "The people came to Jesus because they had heard of his great miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead. Their adoration was short-lived and their commitment shallow, for in a few days they would do nothing to stop his crucifixion. Devotion based on popularity and curiosity faces quickly."

**

Dear Lord, lead us and guide so that we don't praise you one minute and gather in a crowd yelling 'Crucify Him!' the next. We need Your help to do and be what You want us to be. And to be Your  devoted followers!" Amen.



Printable Issue 4416  Today is Monday, March 29th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4416
"'Die?' asked the crowd.
We understood that the Messiah would live forever and never die.
Why are you saying He will die?
What Messiah are you talking about?'"

~ John 12:34 LAB

*
Bible Commentary:  "The crowd could not believe the Messiah would die. They were waving palm branches for a victorious Messiah who they thought would set up a political, earthly kingdom, that would never end. From their reading of certain scriptural passages, they thought the Messiah would never die. Jesus' words did not fit their concept of the Messiah. First He had to suffer and die -- then He would one day set up his eternal Kingdom. For what kind of Messiah, or Savior, are we looking? We need to beware of trying to force Jesus into our own mold. He won't fit!!
***
Printable Issue 4417  Today is Tuesday, March 30th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4417
Some sayings from “Peanuts” by Charles Schultz, in his early days. They are better with illustrations of Charlie Brown, Snoopy or some of the others. Imagine them that way! :

 
Definition of a friend:  Someone who says nice things about you when you aren’t around.

*
Faith is holding on tight when the going gets windy.

*

Worrying doesn’t stop the bad stuff from happening; it just stops you from enjoying the good.

*

When my arms can’t reach people who are close to my heart, I always hug them in my prayers.

*

I don’t have to worry about who doesn’t like me. I’m too busy loving the people who love me.

*

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

*

The less you respond to rude, critical, argumentative people, the more peaceful your life will become. 

*


Printable Issue 4418  Today is Wednesday, March 31st, 2021; Karen's Korner #4418
God Has Not Left You Adrift

By Max Lucado
 
“'Spiritual life comes from the Spirit' (John 3:6). Your parents may have given you genes, but God gives you grace. Your parents may be responsible for your body, but God has taken charge of your soul. You may get your looks from your mother, but you get your eternal life from your Father, your heavenly Father.

"God is willing to give you what your family didn’t. Didn’t have a good dad? God will be your Father. The Scripture says, 'Through God you are a son; and, if you are a son, then you are certainly an heir' (Galatians 4:7). Didn’t have a good role model? Try God. God has not left you adrift on a sea of heredity. The past does not have to be your prison. You have a say in your life. You have a choice in the path you take. Choose well…choose God."