Karen's Korner - Daily Inspirational Stories by Karen Weld
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Printable Issue 5337  Today is Tuesday, April 1st, 2025; Karen's Korner #5337

Something written by Paul for the Thessalonians, which was good news for them.......and for us! 



"I can tell you this directly from the Lord, that we who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet Him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a mighty shout and with the soul-stirring cry of the archangel and the great trumpet-call of God. And the believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with this good news."

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - 18 LAB

*

Bible Commentary on these verses:  "Because Jesus Christ came back to life, so will all believers. All Christians including those living when He returns, will live with Jesus forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. For God will turn our tragedies to triumphs; our poverty into riches; our pain to glory; and our defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will stand reunited in God's very presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure one another with this great hope."


*****

Printable Issue 5336  Today is Monday, March 31st, 2025; Karen's Korner #5336
Something in my computer's inbox last week from Anne Graham Lotz:

CARRYING THE CROSS

"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."


~ Luke 14:27 NIV


"Imagine what it would have been like to be Simon, and to have carried the Cross of Christ while following Him up Calvary.

"What would it have been like to have shared in the humiliation of rejection as He was cast out of the city?

"What would it have been like to have felt the sticky warmth of His blood from the Cross on your skin?

"What would it have been like to have felt the encroaching horror as the place of execution neared?

"What would it have been like to have looked up through the sweat that trickled down your face and seen the executioners who stood waiting impassively with hammers in hand?

"What would it have bee like to have the burden of the Cross lifted from your back as someone said, "This is His Cross, you're free to go now," and He was nailed to it, not you?"

***
Printable Issue 5335  Today is Friday, March 28th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5335
Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence", an entry from March 25.

Have a nice weekend!

"Let THANKFULNESS temper all your thoughts.
A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me.
I hate it when My children grumble,
casually despising My sovereignty.
Thankfulness is a safeguard
against this deadly sin.
Furthermore,
a grateful attitude becomes a grid
through which you perceive life.
Gratitude enables you to see 
the Light of my Presence
shining on all your circumstances.
Cultivate a thankful heart,
for this glorifies Me
and fills you with Joy."


* Taken from I Corinthians 10:10; Hebrews 12:28 & 29

***
Printable Issue 5334  Today is Thursday, March 27th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5334

A friend was our substitute ecumenical Bible study leader yesterday morning. She told that her word for the year was 'trust'. Among other things, she read from a boxed graphic in her Bible titled "Seven Reasons Not To Worry". They are found in Matthew 6:25 - 34.

They are good, so here you go:

"The same God who created life in you
can be trusted with the details of your life."

"Worrying about the future hampers
your efforts for today."

"Worrying is more harmful than helpful."

"God does not ignore those who depend on him."

"Worry shows a lack of faith
and understanding of God."

"There are real challenges God wants us to pursue and worrying keeps us from them."

"Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry."

****

Printable Issue 5333  Today is Wednesday, March 26th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5333

Our Sunday School class at church is spending a few weeks looking at Jesus' last days on earth. We are going from Palm Sunday through Easter.

Sunday we looked at Thursday before Good Friday.  A portion of our time, we studied John chapter 17; the entire chapter is Jesus praying. He prayer for himself, verses 1 - 5; for His disciples, verses 6 - 19. And Jesus prayed for future believers, verses 21 - 28.

He knew what was coming ahead for Him, but He was praying for us! Amazing!!

"I am not praying for these alone, but also for future believers who will come to me
because of the testimony of these.
My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, 
just as you and I are, Father--
that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us,
and the world will believe you sent me."

~John 17:20 & 21 LAB

***

Bible Commentary:  "Jesus prayed for all who would follow Him, so He was praying for us and others we know. He prayed for unity, protection from Satan, and for purity. Knowing that Jesus prayed for us should give us confidence as we work for His Kingdom."

***

Printable Issue 5332  Today is Tuesday, March 25th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5332
"God's laws are perfect.
They protect us,
make us wise,
and give us joy and light.
God's laws are pure,
eternal,
just.
They are more desirable than gold.
They are sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
For they warn us away from harm
and give success
to those who obey them."

~ Psalm 19:7 - 11 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "When we think of the Law, we often think of something that keeps us from having fun. But here we see the opposite---laws that free us, protect us, make us wise, and bring joy and light. That's because God's laws are guidelines and lights on our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. They point at harm and warn us, then point at success and guide us."
***
Printable Issue 5331  Today is Monday, March 24th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5331

Back after a week away! 

Readers know that I am a Bible reader. But as we were traveling light, I didn't take my heavy Bible. Instead I took a small book by Max Lucado titled "Everyday Blessings", a 365 day devotional. A Christmas gift from a friend. But I didn't read it as a 'once a day dose'. I read it  instead as a book to be devoured.

I like many to most of what Max writes. But I really liked the February 27 entry:

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

~ John 1:14 NKJV


"Jesus was touchable, approachable, reachable.

"He was the kind of fellow you'd invite to watch the Rams - Giants game at your home. He'd wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze on your couch, and cook steaks on your grill. He'd laugh at your jokes and tell a few of his own. And when you spoke, he'd listen to you as if he had all the time in the world.

:"And one thing's for sure, you'd invite him back."

***

Printable Issue 5330  Today is Friday, March 14th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5330

(FYI - I will be away from my computer next week. Look for the next Karen's Korner on Monday, March 24!)

Have you ever noticed that sometimes certain verses or chapters in the Bible are 'better' at times than others? I think it has to do with what is happening to us as readers at the time.

I am really enjoying venturing through Ephesians right now. Here is a verse from chapter 4:

"Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best?
It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for him,
building up the Church, the body of Christ, 
to a position of strength and maturity."

~ Ephesians 4:12 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "God has given his church an enormous responsibility--to make disciples in every nation. This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building, and many other tasks. If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we might as well give up without trying---it would be impossible. But God calls us as members of his body. Some of us can do one task; some can do another. Together we can obey him more fully than any of us could do alone. It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do by ourselves and to underestimate what we can do as a group. The truth is just the opposite. Alone, we are quite ineffective. Together, as the body of Christ, we can do far more than we would ever dream possible."

*****

Printable Issue 5329  Today is Thursday, March 13th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5329

For fun. Sayings in the OUR IOWA magazine, issue February/March 2025. Side Notes in the vertical margins of some pages:

"Others will follow in your footsteps
quicker than your advice."


*
"Real friends
are those who when you have made
a fool of yourself,
don't feel that
you've done
a permanent job."


*

"A boss is someone
who is early when you are late.
And late when you are early.


*
"A people without the knowledge
of their past history,
origin,
and culture
is like a tree
without roots."


*
"Never put both feet in your mouth
at the same time,
because then you 
won't have a leg to stand on."


*
"The impersonal hand of government
can never replace
the helping hand of a neighbor."

~ 31st President
Herbert Hoover,
born in West Branch, Iowa.

*
"A grouch is a person
who can manage to find
something wrong
even with the good old days."


****

Printable Issue 5328  Today is Wednesday, March 12th, 2025; Karen's Korner #5328
Today's "365 Days of Prayer for Women" by Stephanie Sample is "Though I Fail". Because God and Jesus are part of my life, I may fail, but I am not a failure. Neither are you!


THOUGH I FAIL

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

~ Psalm 73:26 NIV

"God, you are perfect. It's hard to imagine; even the most exquisite rose has a tiny flaw somewhere, but you have none. You never fail. I wake with such good intentions, Father, but then I see an easier, more comfortable way and I take it. I want to honor you with every minute of my life, but inevitably, I fail. Then I remember Jesus, and I understand how amazing a gift you gave me through him. You knew how weak I would be---how weak all your children are---and you sent him, a perfect sacrifice, to pay for our failures. Jesus' sacrifice gives me life, and your love gives me strength. Though I keep failing, your love never does.

"Do we know that God is the strength of our hearts and he is there when we fail?"

****