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Today is Wednesday, August 17th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4723
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Three times in Psalm chapter 80, the nearly same things are said in three verses:
"Turn us again to yourself, O God.
Look down on us in joy and love;
only then shall we be saved."
~ verse 8
*
"Turn us again to yourself, O God of Hosts.
Look down on us in joy and love
then shall we be saved."
~ verse 7
*
"Turn us again to yourself, O God of heaven.
Look down on us,
your face aglow with joy and love---
only then shall we be saved."
~ verse 19
** Bible Commentary: "Three times the writer (Asaph) calls on God to 'turn us again to yourself' Repentance involves humbling ourselves and turning to God to receive his forgiveness and restoration. As we turn to God, he helps us to see ourselves more clearly, including our sin. And as we see our sin, the process of repentance must be repeated over and over again."
****
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Today is Tuesday, August 16th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4722
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Number 99 of "100 Things God Loves About You" by Tama Fortner, talks about 'welcoming ways' and 'hospitality'.
That is a good one for me and many of you!
People in my world know that I don't like eating alone so I invite others to eat with me probably at least once a week. Not a 'feast' but goulash or sloppy joes that I am getting hungry for and don't want to eat as leftovers a bunch.
Something that I did at our Iowa State Fair on Sunday didn't take much 'planning' or 'work'. Thousands of people went to the fair. As I was waiting in line and began to creep to my parking space, there was a number of employees, evenly spaced. Many of them young teens, waving their arms, directing us forward to our parking spots on the enormous grassy knoll.
As I slowly passed each one, I would say, "Thank for doing this for us." Or "you are doing good job" Like maybe a dozen of them. Did they get that kind of affirmation? Often? At all?
GOD LOVES YOUR WELCOMING WAYS
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
~ Hebrews 13:2
*
"They're everywhere, all around you. The lonely, the uncertain, the lost.
"They're those scared, searching souls trying to slip onto the back pew and then slip back out again. They're the unlovely, the unlovable, and the unloved. They're the corner cashier, the stranger on the street, and the new kid in town.
"And you welcome them. A smile, a hug, a handshake. You draw them into the circle of your friendship and introduce them to the love of God. To the One who loves your welcoming ways." **
Thank You, God, for prompting me to tell some strangers,
"Thanks for doing his/her job!"
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Today is Monday, August 15th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4721
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TOGETHER FOREVER
By Anne Graham Lotz
"We eagerly await a Savior....who........
will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
~ Philippians 3:20 -21 NIV
"As wonderful as my loved ones are and as much as I miss them, they are not perfect! And if you r loved ones are like mine, your relationship with them on earth has not been perfect either. To think of living forever in the same home with my brother would give one pause! But when e get to Heaven, the joy of seeing our loved ones once again is immeasurably increased when we realize that all of us will indeed be perfect! There will be no more......disagreements or cross words,
hurt feelings of misunderstandings,
neglect or busyness,
interruptions or rivalry,
jealousy or pride,
selfishness or sin of any kind!
"There will be nothing at all to mar our full enjoyment of being with our loved ones forever and ever!"
****
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Today is Friday, August 12th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4720
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Some wise thoughts taken from Proverbs, as we move into the weekend. Summer is going fast!!
"The Lord's blessing is our greatest wealth.
All our work adds nothing to it!"
~Proverbs 10:22
*
""The Lord is watching everywhere,
and keeps his eyes on
both the evil and the good."
~ Proverbs 15:3
*
"A happy face means a glad heart;
a sad face means a breaking heart."
~ Proverbs 15:13
*
"Getting wisdom is the most important thing
you can do!
And with your wisdom develop common sense,
and good judgment."
~ Proverbs 4:7
*
""Telling lies about someone is as harmful
as hitting him with an axe,
or wounding him with a sword,
or shooting him with a sharp arrow."
~ Proverbs 15:13
*
"There are 'friends' who pretend to be friends,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a
brother."
~ Proverbs 18:24
*******
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Today is Thursday, August 11th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4719
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Who doesn't like to hear someone tell them, "I love you!'' Or tell someone you love them!
Number 91 entry from "100 THINGS God Loves About You"; simple reminders from when you need them most by Tama Fortner.
GOD LOVES THE WAY YOU DON'T SEE
"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile---
the same Lord is Lord of all and righty blesses all who call on him.
~ Romans 10:12
"Some people see only the differences. She is so fat! Did you see his clothes? What is she doing on this side of town? Shade of skin, heritage, size, weight, and age---instead of seeing these as amazing reminders of the creativity of God, some people see these differences as a reason to mock, to scorn, even to hate.
"But you know that the God who loves, cherishes, and saves you is the same God who loves, cherishes, and longs to save everyone. Instead of differences, you see souls who need Jesus. And God loves the way you see them instead of their differences.
***
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Today is Wednesday, August 10th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4718
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"365 Days of Prayer for Women", written by Stephanie Sample, are all good ones. Today's "korner' is taken from the July 20 entry, talking about a 'giving heart', which most of you, us are. But we are also human beings! Sometimes we forget.
A GIVING HEART
"In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive."
~ Acts 20:35 KSV
"Generous God, I know you love a cheerful giver, and I want to be one! I want to give joyously and to the fullest extent I can. But I can be selfish, Father. I like my extras, and sometimes I listen to the voice that says I deserve them. As I cling to my luxuries, drown that voice out with your own, Remind me of how wonderful it feels to be generous. Remind me of how much I have, and how very little I need. Keep it ever before me how very many people rely on the generosity of others for those basic needs to be met. Grant me a giving heart."
Are we cheerful givers?"
****
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Today is Tuesday, August 9th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4717
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I didn't feel like getting started today
Lots of things happening that I don't like. Either in my life or the lives of people close to me. The news isn't any better. Either in the country or around the world. I don't like some of it; maybe even a lot of it!
Then I started reading Psalm 73. Verses 10 and 11, "And so God's people are dismayed and confused, and drink it all in. 'Does God realize what is going on?' they ask."
The Bible commentary says, "Until Asaph (writer) entered Gods' sanctuary, he could not understand the justice of allowing the wicked to thrive while the righteous endured hardship. But when he saw that one day justice would be done, he acknowledged the wisdom of God."
Later in the chapter (verse 26) it says, "Our health fails; our spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of our hearts; He is ours forever! (changed from singular to plural, to include all of us!)
He is worthy of our praise and our attention. I need to be reminded often.
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Today is Monday, August 8th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4716
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Back after being gone some.
Today I am looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 15, known as the resurrection chapter. These few verses talks about Jesus walking on the earth again after his death. It talks about sceptics, not believing it happened.
I have people in my life saying it could never have happened. You may have people like that as well.
"He (Jesus) seen by Peter and later by the rest of the 'the Twelve'. After that He was seen by more than five hundred Christian brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now."
~ I Corinthians 15:5 & 6 LAB
Bible Commentary: "There will always be people who say Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Paul (writer) assures us that many people saw Jesus after His resurrection, including more than 500 Christian believers. The resurrection is a historical fact. Don't be discouraged by doubters who deny the resurrection."
***
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Today is Friday, July 29th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4715
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(I will be away from my computer next week. Karen's Korners will return on Monday, August 8.)
Today's inspirational thought from Max Lucado. Gotta love Max!
PETER
"Peter could not deny his denial. The empty tomb did not erase the crowing rooster. Christ had returned, but Peter must have wondered, After what I did, would he return for someone like me? Is Peter the only person to do the very thing he swore he’d never do?
"Oh, the volume of our boasting. Oh, the heartbreak of our shame. And the question whether Jesus has a place for folks like us. He answers that question – he invited Peter to breakfast.
"What if Jesus did for you what he did for Peter? He has done exactly that. Jesus issues a tender reminder as he passes the cup: '“Every one of you drink this…This blood is poured out for many to forgive their sins' (Matthew 26:27-28 NCV). 'Every one of you drink this,' he said.
"It feels good to have a place at the table."
****
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Today is Thursday, July 28th, 2022; Karen's Korner #4714
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It was 23 years ago today that Merry was killed in a car/semi accident.
I am going to share several things with you. Some, maybe all of them, you may have read or heard before.
I can remember walking through the kitchen of our farm home a number of days after Merry's death, saying idly to God, "This hurts so much it would be better if Merry had never been born."
That thought lasted maybe a second or two because I knew what a lie it was. "And miss 26 years of Merry!" Her life was, and is, something to celebrate!
*
Merry was a 'pedal to the metal', fast forward gal. Always knew how to have a good time. And had a way of figuring things out.
Here is one:
Merry applied and was interviewed to be on the state 4-H council.
When she got home from the interviews, I asked her it went.
"Good" was her one word response.
"What were some of your questions?" I asked.
One I recall, "If you could be anyone in the world, who would you choose to be?'
She answered, "George H.W. Bush (president at the time)."
"You would like to be president?" I asked.
"No, I'd rather be Garth Brooks. But I knew they wouldn't like that answer." Music was Merry's 'thing'.
She was sixteen and already know 'how to play the game'.
Merry served a term on Iowa's state 4-H council!
*
"This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it."
~ Psalm 118:24 LAB
Bible Commentary: "There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation out of hand, our sorrow or guilt overwhelming. We can relate to the writers of the psalms who often felt this way. But no matter how low the psalmists got, they were always honest with God about how they felt. And as they talked to God, their prayers ended in praise. When we don't feel like rejoicing, we are to tell God how we truly feel. We will find that God will give us a reason to rejoice."
***
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