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November 2008 Archives
Today is Monday, November 3rd, 2008; Karen's Korner #1436
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Yesterday morning, I caught a portion of a cable message given by Dr. James Merritt.His topic was about integrity with four 'how to' bullet points.
Merritt said that when employers are asked what is the number one thing they look for in an employee, overwhelmingly they said 'integrity'. "What would our world look like if we had integrity in our work place, our politicians, and our church leaders?" he asked.
Here are a couple of dictionary definitions of integrity: "being complete, a wholeness, soundness, uprightness, honesty, sincerity".
Integrity
1) Keeping your word;
2) Always taking the harder right; not the easier wrong;
3) Guard your principles;
4) Do the right thing.
If you do that, stand back and watch God bless you!!
***
Proverbs 12:3 - "Wickedness never brings real success; only the godly have that."
Real success does not comporomise personal integrity. If you are not a success by God's standards, you have not acheived true success.
***
Your blessings may not be immediate but they will be coming.
Ask God to help you see them, so you don't miss any of them!
Celebrate that you are a person of integrity.
**
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Today is Tuesday, November 4th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1437
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(Sorry for the delay today; computer server problems!)
For election day in America:
God Bless America
Words and music by Irving Berlin
© Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
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.
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Today is Wednesday, November 5th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1438
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This is an email forwarded to me by Jim Bossard; we get so many self-help books and 'how to' lists that no one could do them all. Here are 24 things to do daily; couldn't hurt anyone. You might not adopt all of them into your life, but even if you think a couple of them are good, it could add a spring to your step or a song to your heart!
Daily Prescription toward Good Health
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statements, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, whiney people, drama queens, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating or being envious of others.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18.. What other people think of you is none of your business. If someone doesnʼt like you, thatʼs about them, not about you.
19. GOD heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
***
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Today is Thursday, November 6th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1439
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What’s In Your Hand?
By Joel & Victoria Osteen
“Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" (Exodus 4:2).
Do you ever feel inadequate for what you are called to do? You’re not the first one! So often, when we think of Moses, we remember him as the great spiritual giant who led the Israelites out of captivity. But did you know that Moses doubted himself, too? He didn’t feel equipped. In fact, he was even self-conscious because he had a stuttering problem! God simply said to him, “What do you have in your hand?” In the next few moments, God showed Moses that it didn’t matter what equipment he thought he needed. The God of the universe can take what you have and turn it into whatever it needs to be in order for you to accomplish what you’ve been called to. So what’s in your hand today? It may not seem like much, but God wants to use it. He wants to take you to places you never dreamed. He wants to pour out His blessing and favor so you can live the abundant life He has in store for you!
Heavenly Father, today I release to You all that I am and all that I have. I invite You to flood every part of my being and use me for Your glory. Thank You for using what is in my hand. In Jesus Name. Amen. 
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Today is Friday, November 7th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1440
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Some thoughts that might make you smile today; taken from "365 Day Brightners for a Woman's Heart" (probably work for a guy too!):
"Go outside, to the fields,
enjoy nature and the sunshine,
go out and try to recapture happiness in yourself and in God.
Think of all the beauty that's still left in and around you
and be happy!"
~~ Anne Frank
**
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experience of trial and suffering
can the soul be strengthened,
vision cleared, ambition inspired,
and success achieved."
~~ Helen Keller
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"So where do you go when you can't fix your life?
The only place to go is
back to the One who made you."
~~ Sheila Walsh
**
"Unhappiness does not necessarily
come from not having this and that.
If we have each other,
we have everything."
~~ Mother Teresa
***
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Today is Monday, November 10th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1441
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Saturday morning I woke up early and was hungry. After suffering with stomach flu a few days earlier, I wasn't hungry for just everything!
What sounded good was an ooey-gooey sweet roll of some sort from our grocery store's bakery. But it wasn't open yet. I would have to wait and make a special trip to town.
Too bad I didn't have something like that at home!
And then I remembered: I had bought a cherry cream cheese strudel a few weeks ago and it was downstairs in our freezer.
Hey, that should do it!
I had it all the time and didn't need to drive the seven-plus miles to Clarion!
As I bounced down the steps to fetch the pizza-sized morsel, I thought how it sometimes is with our lives: wanting something, only to recall that we already posses it. It only needs to be retrieved!
I don't need more joy; I already posses it! I don't need His righteousness, I 'am His righteousness through Christ Jesus'. I don't need to work to secure more of God's love for me; I have it. It's His gift to me! I don't need to ask for a thankful heart. I just need to express it!
.........and the list goes on and on. It is huge, even bigger than our frozen cherry cream cheese strudel....
Dear Jesus, thank You that when You died for us, You not only took away our penalty of sin, You also gifted us with more gifts than our human mind can comprehend. Thank You that accepting You, You give us the gifts of eternal life, and love, and all the others. Thank You that You give us hope and help in every situation. AMEN.
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Today is Tuesday, November 11th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1442
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I am sure by now, you know that I enjoy some of the writings by Joel and Victoria Osteen. I receive their daily inspirational thought emails and today's was especially good as we wind up the harvest season in our area:
Harvest Always Comes
“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant” (Galatians 6:7, NLT).
Have you ever looked at a large, old tree and wondered how long it has been there? It’s amazing to think that, at one point, that gigantic tree was merely a tiny seed.
In the same way, our words and actions are seeds; and we will always reap a harvest on what we sow. What are you sowing into the lives around you? What are you sowing into your future? Are you sowing encouragement, hope, blessing, love? Then that’s what you’ll reap in the future. But if you’ve been sowing criticism, judgment, and anger, you’re probably already reaping a bad harvest. It’s time to start changing your seed.
Pray and ask God to help you uproot those negative seeds and begin to sow good seeds for your future. Keep the light of God’s Word shining on your seed by speaking His Word. Allow the refreshing water of His Spirit to pour over you. Keep planting those good seeds of faith because soon you’ll see growth and enjoy the harvest of blessing God promises.
Father in heaven, I choose to guard my heart and plant good seeds for my future. Help me, by Your Spirit, to say and do things that honor You. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Today is Wednesday, November 12th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1443
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If you have all kinds of money or limited finances; if you have someone who has everything or nearly nothing, here is a list of "low cost/no cost GIFTS" from which you could shop (taken from 'A 4th Course of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL' ):
101 gifts to give for Christmas or all year long:
(one-third of the list - First of three parts)
Smile.
Provide a shoulder to lean on.
Pat someone on the back.
Say 'thank you'.
Give an unexpected kiss...
...or a warm hug.
Say, 'You look wonderful!' and mean it.
Rub a tired back.
Whistle when you're feeling down.
Send a thank you card to an former teacher.
Say 'Good Morning', even if it isn't.
Mail an unexpected and caring letter to an old friend.
Place a surprise phone call.
Wash the dishes when it's not your turn.
Empty the trash when it's not your turn.
Ignore a rude remark.
Send a 'one minute love call'.
Start off someone's day with a joke or funny story.
Make coffee at the office for your secretary, for example.
Save the want ads for a job hunter
Write an encouraging letter to the editor.
Take a Grandma or Grandpa to lunch.
Send a 'thinking of you' card.
Wave and smile at a parking enfourcement officer.
Pay your bills on time.
Give your used clothes to a needy person.
Pass on some good news; don't pass on the gossip.
Say something nice to someone.
Lend a favorite book; don't nag to get it back.
Return a friend's favorite book.
Play catch with a little kid.
Help someone figure out a solution instead of giving advice.
Take a box of homemade cookies to work.
Visit an elderly shut in.
Luagh at a boring joke.
~~ Hanoch and Meladee McCarty
Excerpted from Acts of Kindness
***
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Today is Thursday, November 13th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1444
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I heard on the news yesterday that some people who own properties in Las Vegas are really hurting financially. They mentioned a man who was worth $35 billion last year, now has a net worth of $1.35 billion and is really in rough financial shape. I don't know what he owns or what he still owes, but at any rate that is a pretty big step backwards from what he was once considered 'worth'.
Most of us are in the same shape as our Las Vegas friend. We rip open our quarterly investment statements and they show less value than the quarter before. Somebody tells us that our house isn't worth as much as it was a year or so ago. We aren't 'worth' what we were a few years ago; maybe even a few months or few weeks ago!
Good thing God's economy isn't like that!!
Our souls are very valuable to God: "For a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth. There is not enough of it in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul, to keep it out of hell." -- Psalms 49:8
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!" - Psalms 139:13 & 14
And because of our great value to God, He sent His Son as a one-time 'bailout', which lasts for all time:
"For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so tht anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." - John 3:16 & 17
Let's live by God's economic system and not this one! Believe what He tells us; invite Him to be part of our everyday lives; walk in the light of His values and not the world's nor the stock market's, which might be up today and down tomorrow. Or like Circuit City's stocks which no longer are traded on the New York Stock Exchange because they are valued below fifteen cents a share and are considered worthless!
OUR NET WORTH = PRICELESS!
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Today is Friday, November 14th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1445
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Today's Karen's Korner is written by Shirley Choat; this must be the week to talk about pastries!!
"But didn't he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did? No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free--but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it. For God declares sinners to be good in His sight, if they have faith in Christ to save them from God's wrath. ~~ Romans 4:4,5
If you are looking for a great deal, you'll want to carefully examine this ad from a national donut store: Free: three muffins when you buy three at the regular half-dozen price. I find this a rather confusing statement which I take it means you can buy six muffins for the price of six; it's not exactly a bargin. So many of the seemingly great buys in our world are like deceptive advertisements. You end up receiving nothing for something, when you thought it would be the other way around.
Spiritual rewards are God's to give, and He does so on the basis of His grace. Only God's plan of salvation offers something that is truly free. Jesus paid the price for our redemption; all He asks is that we put our faith in Him. Any other plan is nothing for something.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY- If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.
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Today is Monday, November 17th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1446
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This is not meant to be a shopping list which needs to be completed; think of what our world would be like if we selected even one or two to do today:
101 gifts to give for Christmas or all year long:
(one-third of the list - Second of three parts)
Tell your partner that she is beautiful; he is handsome.
Serve breakfast in bed and clean up afterward.
Clean the house for mom and dad.
Share a dream.
Walk with your partner on a regular basis.
Keep a confidence.
Try to understand a teenager. Try again and again. Succeed.
Let someone ahead of you in lind.
Catch someone 'doing it right' and say 'Great job!'
Say please.
Say yes when you would rather say no.
Explain patiently.
Tell the truth, but with kindness and tact. Ask, "Does the other person really need to hear this?"
Encourage a sad person.
Spread a little joy.
Do a kind deed anonymously.
Share your umbrella.
Leave a funny card under a windshield wiper.
Tape a love note to the refrigerator.
Give someone a flower from your garden.
Share a beautiful sunset with someone you love.
Say, 'I love you' first. Say it often.
Share a funny story with someone whose spirits are dragging.
Free yourself of envy and malice.
Encourage some youth to do his/her best.
Share an experience and offer hopefulness.
Find the time. Yes, you can. It involves making new choices.
Think things through.
Listen.
Examine your demands on others. Give some of them up.
Lighten up. Find the funny side of a situation.
Take a quiet walk when you feel like blowing your top.
Be a friend.
Be optimisitic.
Express your gratitude.
**
(taken from 'A 4th Course of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL' )
~~ Hanoch and Meladee McCarty
Excerpted from Acts of Kindness
***
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Today is Tuesday, November 18th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1447
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As we head toward Thanksgiving, Psalm 33; the theme: "Because God is Creator, Lord, Savior, and Deliverer, he is worthy of our trust and praise. Because he is faithful and his Word is dependable, we can rejoice and sing, giving thanks and praise:
Psalm 33 (New International Version)
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth-
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
~~
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Today is Wednesday, November 19th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1448
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Have you ever prayed for something but it didn't turn out like you had anticipated? What you wanted?
You prayed for a loved to be healed and he/she wasn't? Or at least not the way, or as quickly as you would have liked? You asked God for people to be elected to something and they weren't? You'd like someone's financial situation to change, maybe yours, and it isn't changing? Maybe getting worse?
And there are many, many others.
Most of us know the story of Adam and Eve and how they ate the fruit from the only tree they couldn't or shouldn't have. Then they heard God rattling around and coming there way.....
"....and they hid themselves among the trees. The Lord God called to Adam, 'Why are you hiding?'
"And Adam replied, 'I heard you coming and didn't want you to see me naked. So I hid.'
"'Who told you you were naked?' the Lord God asked, 'Have you eaten fruit from the tree I warned you about?'"
~~ Genesis 3:8b - 11
Who told them they were naked? For the first time, Adam and Eve noticed.
Who told us that our prayers were answered in error?? Different than we thought they should have been??
Is there a chance that God might know best and is in the process of giving us something even better?? Nothing like we thought, but He might have a larger vantage point? Knowing what is better for us than we can figure from our limited perches??
Our 'hard times' or 'time of testing' might be an opportunity to get to know Him better and that was His plan all along?
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for Your high thoughts and plans which You have for each of us, all of us. Thank You for being You and having everything under control. Help us to trust You and believe You.........all of the time. Thank You for giving us a future and a hope. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Today is Thursday, November 20th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1449
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Something that Sherri O'Brien forwarded to me a few weeks ago. I am not as 'addicted' to cell phones as some but we sure count on them as a culture:
CELL PHONES vs. THE BIBLE
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat
our cell phone??
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
What if we gave as many people a Plan of Salvation as we do our number?
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
If you make the toll free call to Jesus and receive Him into your heart as LORD
and SAVIOUR He will NOT drop the call.
TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST as your LORD and SAVIOUR.
Romans 10:9 - 13
YOUR NEXT BREATH MAY BE IN ETERNITY!!
****
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Today is Friday, November 21st, 2008; Karen's Korner #1450
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As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday time of the year, this is taken from "A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul":
The 11th Box
"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
~~ Acts. 20:35
"What is your most memorable Thanksgiving? For me, it was on the eve of the day. The church had the names of ten families scheduled to receive food baskets. A local merchant donated hams, and groceries were purchased from the food bank. As we packed the boes in the fellowship hall, these families were excited over the food they were taking home. It would be the best meal many had enjoyed in months. As they were picking up their boxes, another family arrived. Father, mother, and three children piled out of an old pickup truck and came inside the hall. This was a new family, not on our list. They had just heard there was food being distributed by a church.
"I explained that we did not have enough for an extra family. And as I tried to assure them that I would do what I could, an amazing thing happened. With no prompting, a woman put down the box she was carrying and quickly found an empty box to place beside it. She began removing items from her box to share. Soon others followed her lead, and these poor people created an eleventh box for the new family."
~~ Pastor Bill Simpson
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Today is Monday, November 24th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1451
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So we took the time to go to church on Sunday! So now what??
Most churches are like families: not perfect, but at various stages on a continum of degrees of function. Some more functional/less functional than others.
A couple of sentences/Bible verses/prayer from a study which I recently completed "Preparing for Battle" by Mark Bubeck; the topic was about spiritual warfare and attacks by the Evil One, sometimes called the Devil, Satan, Enemy, or Negativity of some sort:
"Marriages are under attack. Children are under attack.And churches are under attack. Many church bodies struggle financially, fail to grow, or are filled with strife and dissension because darkness has been given a foothold ....
"Ephesians 4:26 says, 'we are all members of one body'.
"Sin not only can bring trouble into your life, your spouse, your children, but it can also bring trouble to your church and its believers"
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;
if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
~~ I Corinthians 12:26
"Dear Heavenly Father, Strengthen each person in my church, and draw us together in unity, love, and the mutual caring that is Your will and plan for us. Help us to recognize those who are hurting and those who are wounded from sin. Grant to us the wisdom to come around those persons quickly to minister Your protection, healing, and restoration. Protect me from contributing any damage to my church by guarding me from allowing sin in my life. Help me not become an agent of the Enemy by yielding part of my life to him. Amen."
****
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Today is Tuesday, November 25th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1452
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I saw a cute cartoon in last week's daily paper from Baby Blues. This is a comic that features mom, dad and some of their kids: typical family.
The cartoon opens with Zoe coming near dad's side of the bed, as dad is trying to get some sleep.
"Dad? Dad? Dad?" says Zoe.
Dad responds, "Huh? What is it, Zoe?"
"I was just thinking about what a great dad you are, and how much I love you," Zoe tells dad.
This gets dad's attention and he sits up to hug little Zoe, saying, "Awww!"
In the final frame, Zoe continues, ".....and that I just spilled a gallon of fruit punch in the refrigerator."
As dad buries his head back into his pillow.
Made me think about how I, maybe we, might treat God.
"God, I want to tell thank You for being my loving, caring heavenly Father. Thank You for taking such good care of me and my family. Thank You that You are always there for me. Oh, and by the way, God, I just ____________. (You fill in the blank; I have plenty!)
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have allowed us to be called Your Children. Thank You that You love us unconditionally. I have no idea why! Thank You that You choose to forgive us, help us, care for us, and be there for us when 'we spill a gallon of fruit punch in the refrigerator' of our lives. Thank You for blessing us. Amen.
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Today is Wednesday, November 26th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1453
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It's a tradition in the Des Moines neighborhood where our daughter Jamie lives that Halloween guests of Mr. Spiderman and Ms. Lady Bug need to tell a joke before they receive a treat at each house they visit. Both Luke and Molly had a joke. Three-year-old Molly's riddle was, "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
In case you need a joke/riddle for your Thanksgiving gathering or table talk, here are a few from Kevin Rayner who writes an infrequent pass-along email called "Off the Church Walls":
TURKEY RIDDLES
So bad, they're good...
What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!
Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?
'Cause they wear their belts on their hats!
What is the difference between a chicken and a turkey?
Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving!!
What is the Turkey's favorite black tie celebration?
The Butter Ball
What do you get when you cross a turkey, the beach, and Broomhilda?
A turkey sand-witch
What kind of music did Pilgrims listen to?
Plymouth Rock
Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside
Why do turkeys eat so little?
Because they are always stuffed
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.
What key has legs and can't open doors?
Tur-key.
What sound does a space turkey make?
Hubble, hubble, hubble.
How do you keep a turkey in suspense?
I'll tell you at Christmas.
****
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Today is Thursday, November 27th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1454
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Happy Thanksgiving; may you be richly blessed today......and every day!
Did you know that our national anthem has four verse? Neither did I! I included the first verse and also the last one. (If you want to read all four verses, google the "Star Spangled Banner").
Skip over reading the one you know; read the words to verse number four........for Thanksgiving:
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
****
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Today is Friday, November 28th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1455
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Last week at our Sunday School class, the dozen class members shared. prior to the class lesson beginning. Each person was asked to tell a bit about their week. It was just a brief, informal report.
No one said, "Because it is a Thanksgiving, tell is one thing for which you are thankful."
No one said, "Tell only what you like about what is happening in your life."
But as we collectively reflected, that is what had just happened.
We heard:
"We got done harvesting this week."
"My mom is doing much better. In fact, she might be coming home from the care center (with help once she gets there)."
"I am happy to be here (after knee surgery the week before)."
"My furnace got repaired and is working now."
"We celebrated mom's 90th birthday last weekend."
"Our son-in-law's treatments in Rochester are working (after not knowing what his illness was for a few months)."
And for those things and many others, we had been asked to reflect, the week was a good one!
May you recall the day/week that has just passed and be thankful.
Dear Father, You ask little from us. You ask, among other things that we be thankful. We come to you with cares and concerns; You direct us to be thankful. We are thankful that You have things under control: our thoughts, our lives, our families, our communities, our churches, and our world. We aren't always convinced. Help us to believe and be thankful. Amen.
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