Our leader at yesterday's ecumenical Bible study had us begin looking at the book of James. One of the first verses was "Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow." (verse 2).

Happy? Like some of the things which happen to us that we don't like? But sometimes, bad things turn out to be good!

Then she shared this analogy:

"Think of a seed.
God uses the dark places to make us grow.
They're part of His divine plan.
Spring is coming and we think about planting.
As long as a seed remains in the light,
it can't germinate and will 
never become what it was created for.
But when we plant the seed in the soil
where it is dark.
It becomes alive.
We are like that too........
we sometimes have to go through dark times,
that's where our character is developed,
where we learn to trust God
and persevere.
We tend to pray more,
draw closer to God
and listen for God's 
still small voice."

(Author unknown)

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

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."

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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."

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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

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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."

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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."

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(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

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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."

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