Today is Thursday, December 8th, 2016; Karen's Korner #3454

An inspirational thought emailed to me by Shirley Choat:


"We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in your believers."

~ I Thessalonians 2:13

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"I was too short to see over the heads of the people ahead of me. All I could do was listen to the voices of the people on stage and those nearby. I was nine when we went to high school graduation of one of my aunts. I was surprised to hear the voice of my grandfather a few rows over. I thought I had seen him sitting close to the front, near the stage. I wiggled around, straining to see Grandpa, only to discover the voice wasn't his. It was the voice of one of my uncles, who sounded just like his father.

"St. Paul compliments the Thessalonian Christians for recognizing the voice of God in his preaching and teaching. They took the words seriously, not as if they were mere human words, but as if they were truly the Word from God.

"Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, is considered the first true 'St. Nicholas', or 'Santa Claus'. Legends tell of his speaking and acting as a true servant of the Lord, delivering gifts to those in need. When people see you or hear you, do they consider your words and actions the voice and hand of God working through you? In this Advent season, may we all consider the original Gift that gave us:  God's grace. May we seek in every way to share that Gift in ways that will convince others that they have seen and heard, more than mere human activity. May we 'constantly give thanks to God' for all God's blessings.

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"Thank you for speaking to me in your Word and through the words of your servants, O God. Help me to listen carefully and to truly hear the wonderful words of grace that you utter to me. I pray that you might use me as one of your servants so that others might hear. In Jesus' name. Amen."

~ Thoughts by Pastor Sydow, Prayer by Pastor Freeman

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