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Today is Wednesday, July 8th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5643
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Karen's Korner readers know that I am currently 'wading' through the book of Psalms, reading a couple chapters each day.
My today's reading was from Psalm 13. Since I make notes in my Bible, I see that I have used this verse before; one time in 2018 and another time in 2023.
I like it today too!
"But I will
always
trust in You
and in Your mercy
and shall rejoice
in Your
salvation.
I will sing
to the Lord
because He has
blessed
me so richly.
` Psalm 13:5 & 6 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "David (writer) frequently claimed that God was slow to act on his behalf. We often feel this same impatience. It seems that evil and suffering go unchecked, and we wonder when God is going to stop them. David affirmed that he would continue to trust God no matter how long he had to wait for God's justice to be realized. When we feel impatient, remember David's steadfast faith in God's unfailing mercy."
**
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Today is Tuesday, July 7th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5642
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Probably because the United States celebrated its 250th anniversary, there seemed to be more emphasis on our country this year.
I heard and learned more about Mount Rushmore than I ever remembered. Why were those four faces/presidents chosen to be carved on that mountain by ‘builder’ Borglum?
* George Washington as the builder of our nation;
* Thomas Jefferson as the president who helped to grow our country;
* Teddy Roosevelt for the development, expansion and freedom of the United States;
* Abraham Lincoln who worked to preserve us a country.
The information said it took 400 people working for 14 years to complete the project we see today; ending in the fall of 1941. It was noted that not one person died in the dangerous work on the project!
I can remember seeing a picture of my dad and a couple of friends at Mount Rushmore. World War II was at its beginning stages. He and his Iowa buddies had just been drafted with plans being laid for them to report for duty. None of them had traveled very far in those days, so they decided to take a few days off to see the country they had been asked to defend. Their travels took them around the Midwest states.
Because Mount Rushmore had just been completed a number of months earlier, our family has a photo of my dad standing atop Washington’s face. It’s against the law today!
With God’s grace, those same young men served, fought, and all of them came back home – untouched by the action they were asked to face!
Many people. A number of people were injured or died!
May we never take the actions of many for granted. Me included!
The chorus toLee Greenwood's 'God Belss the USA':
"I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A."
**
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Today is Monday, July 6th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5641
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"Lord, we pause this Independence Day, 250 years after America’s founding, to celebrate Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your blessings. We don’t want to just enjoy family, friends, and days off work. We want to acknowledge You. Freedom comes from You, not from governments, and we praise You for it. We pray for those in authority over us today----that You would put men and women in all those positions who fear Your name and make decisions that would bring Your blessings to our communities, cities, states, and nation. Lord, give us the wisdom to choose You in such a way that it would please You to bless our nation once again. In Jesus’ name. amen.”
~ Written by Allen Jackson, senior pastor, World Outreach Church. Read at the conclusion of outdoor church services at Lake Cornelia yesterday, July 5.
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Today is Friday, July 3rd, 2026; Karen's Korner #5640
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It's coming! Tomorrow is July 4 and we celebrate 250 years as the United States of America!
Time to thank God for all His blessings to us. We are a flawed country, with flawed citizens and leaders over the years. But just like our own lives, God chooses to love and bless each of us!! Why I don't know?
God,
we want to say thank You
for Your Love and Your Care
over the generations!
Thank You for Your protection
as we had leaders who wrote our
constitution and other guiding laws,
which no nation had ever seen before.
Thank You for people willing to lead
and fight in battles and wars to make and
keep us a free nation.
Thank You for men and women willing to serve us in the military;
and all kinds of other leadership positions.
Thank You for each citizen;
You were willing to die to save us from ourselves
and any destructive behaviors.
Thank You for 250 years
and the future which You have planned
for each one of us.
And for the United States of America.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
*
"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."
~ by Irving Berlin, published in 1938
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Today is Thursday, July 2nd, 2026; Karen's Korner #5639
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I used this chapter of Psalms to open the new year in 2014 for a Karen's Korner!
As we come to celebrating our country's 250th anniversary, it talks about 'Your Holy Nation', which could be 'Any/All Nations' who Honor God!
Has God 'honored our nation' because we are 'holy'. Sort of like our lives: not perfect but 'honoring Him' at least in spots and parts of our lives!
Psalm 145 New Life Version (NLV) "I will praise You, my God and King. I will honor Your name forever and ever. I will honor You every day, and praise Your name forever and ever. The Lord is great and our praise to Him should be great. He is too great for anyone to understand. Families of this time will praise Your works to the families-to-come. They will tell about Your powerful acts. I will think about the shining-greatness of Your power and about Your great works. Men will speak of Your powerful acts that fill us with fear. And I will tell of Your greatness. Many words will come from their mouths about how good You are. They will sing for joy about how right You are."The Lord is full of loving-favor and pity, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all. And His loving-kindness is over all His works. All Your works will give thanks to You, O Lord. And all those who belong to You will honor You. They will speak of the shining-greatness of Your holy nation, and talk of Your power. They will make Your powerful acts and the great power of Your holy nation known to the sons of men. Your holy nation is a nation that lasts forever. And Your rule lasts for all time. "The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises up all who are brought down. The eyes of all look to You. And You give them their food at the right time. You open Your hand and fill the desire of every living thing. "The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises. "The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them. The Lord takes care of all who love Him. But He will destroy all the sinful. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And all flesh will honor His holy name forever and ever." ***
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Today is Wednesday, July 1st, 2026; Karen's Korner #5638
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Today's Max Lucado:
NO EXEMPTION FOR ANXIETY
"Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. The sky is falling, and it’s falling disproportionately on you. Anxiety ain’t fun!
"One would think Christians would be exempt from anxiety. But we are not. It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.” Is that what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense—implying an ongoing state. As if to say, “Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst.”
"The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Could you use some calm? Of course you could. We all could. We all could use a word of comfort. And God is ready to give it."
***
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Today is Tuesday, June 30th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5637
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"For the wicked
have strung their bows,
drawn their arrows tight against the bowstrings,
and aimed from ambush
at the people of God.
'Law and order have collapsed,' we are told.
'What can the righteous do but flee?'
"But the Lord
is still in his holy temple;
he still watches everything that happens here on earth.
He puts the righteous
and the wicked to the test,
he hates those loving violence."
~ Psalm 11: 2 - 4 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "When law and order collapse and we wish we could hide, remember that God is still in control. Nothing happens without His knowledge and permission. When we feel like running away---run to God. He will restore justice on the earth in His good time."
***
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Today is Monday, June 29th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5636
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I really liked today’s ( June 29) “Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence” by Sarah Young:
“As you get out of bed in the morning, be aware of My Presence with you. You may not be thinking clearly yet, but I am. Your early morning thoughts tend to be anxious ones until you get connected with Me. Invite Me into your thoughts by whispering My Name. Suddenly your day brightens and feels more user-friendly. You cannot dread a day that is vibrant with My Presence.
“You gain confidence through knowing that I am with you---that you face nothing alone. Anxiety stems from asking the wrong questions, ‘If such and such happens, can I handle it?’ The true question is not whether you can cope with whatever happens, but whether you and I together can handle anything that occurs. It is this you-and-I together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully.” ~ Taken from Psalm 5:3; Psalm 63:1 (NKJV); Philippians 4:13
***
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Today is Friday, June 26th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5635
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Got this forward from a friend on Monday. It said 'Happy Monday!"
I am sharing it with you today, so 'Happy Friday!'.
"Before you get to perusing the headlines,
take a moment to remember
that the news
you read today
might be important,
but it's not
God-of-the-universe important.
Keep the big things big,
the small things small,
and stay focused on eternity.
It changes everything."
*
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Compassion
means
entering the suffering of another
in order
to lead the way out."
~ Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
***
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Today is Thursday, June 25th, 2026; Karen's Korner #5634
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I really enjoy reading the book of Psalms. I am reading two of them each day. And since there are 150 chapters, it is going to take a few weeks to get them read!
Today's 'korner' is a couple of verses in chapter 34. I have the word ALL circled, each time it is printed. There appears to be nine of them in my version. If you have the time, read all of chapter 34!
When taking tests, if you see words like 'always', ''never', or maybe 'all'. That is a good sign the true and false question is 'false'. Except in the Bible! God's 'always', and 'never' tend to always be true.
"The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. The good man does not escape ALL troubles---he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one." ~ Psalm 34:18 - 19 LAB * Bible Commentary: "We often wish that we could escape troubles---the pain of grief, sorrow, failure, or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear us down. God promises to be our source of power, courage, and wisdom to help us through our problems. Sometimes He chooses to deliver us from those problems. When trouble strikes, don't get frustrated with God. Instead, thank Him for being by our side." *****
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