Something written by Max Lucado:

The Power of a Godly Touch

"The power of a godly touch! Have you known it? The doctor who treated you, the teacher who dried your tears? Was there a hand holding yours at a funeral? A handshake of welcome at a new job? A pastoral prayer for healing? Can't we offer the same?

"Many already do! You use your hands to pray over the sick. If you aren't touching them personally, your hands are sending notes, making calls, baking pies. You've learned the power of touch. But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good, it's just that our memories are bad. We fear saying the wrong thing, acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all.

"Aren't we glad Jesus didn't make the same mistake? Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will You do the same?"

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"At the Flood, the Lord showed His control of all creation.

Now He continues to unveil His power.

He will give His people strength.

He will bless them with peace."

~ Psalm 29:10 & 11 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Throughout history, God has revealed His power through mighty miracles over nature, such as the great Flood. He promises to continue to reveal His power. Paul urged us to understand how great God's power is. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to all who believe. When we feel weak and limited, we need to remember that God can give us strength. The power that controls creation and raises the dead is available to us."

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Something written and emailed to readers by Anne Graham Lotz. She refers to her husband in the writing; Danny passed away within the last few months. And her mother, Ruth who died a number of years ago:

Soaring Higher

"Even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed."

~ I Peter 3:14 NKJV

"Within a period of eighteen months, I went through a cluster of storms that left me emotionally gasping for breath. From Hurricane Fran, which downed 102 trees in our yard, to the fire that consumed my husband's dental office, to my son, Jonathan's cancer and surgery, to my parents' increasingly fragile health that included multiple hospitalizations, to a home remodeling project that involved a contractor who took our money but refused to do the work, I reeled from one emergency or crises to another.

"Looking back over that eighteen-month period, my thought, confident conclusion is that God allowed the storms of suffering to increase and intensify in my life because He wanted me to soar higher in my relationship with Him--to fall deeper in love with Him.

"Faith that triumphantly soars is possible only when the winds of life are contrary to personal comfort. That king of faith is God's ultimate purpose in allowing us to encounter storms of suffering. Trust Him!"

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Here is thought number 10 from Joyce Meyer; something to think about to replace other thoughts which might be rattling through your mind.......over and over!

# 10 of 12 "Thoughts on Thursdays"

Taken from the book:  "POWER THOUGHTS": 12 Strategies to WIN the Battle of the Mind, written by Joyce Meyer:

"I live in the present and enjoy each moment!"

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"This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."   ~ Psalm 118:24

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance until it overflows." ~ John 10:10

"I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow." ~ John 15:11

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I am currently reading a book loaned to me by a friend titled "The Promise" by Rachelle Friedman. Due to an accident she was left paralyzed when she and some friends were celebrating her bachelorette party a couple of weeks prior to her wedding.

Since I am not done reading it, I think 'she lives happily ever after'; despite her future life living in a wheelchair.

Here are a couple of excerpts from chapter 12 titled "Finding Peace". Rachelle is on her first outing with several friend and family members to a favorite park, after spending a month plus in rehab.

"It's so weird to be here, because I have so many good memories from this place," she said.

"My dad said, 'Well, now you'll make new memories!'

"It was a simple yet profound statement.

"Those were some smart and powerful words, and I decided to make a daily effort during my recovery to live by them. It became my approach to all of this change."

She went on to tell that "life goes on and we make new memories every day, regardless of our situation or the hand we have been dealt."

Can't wait to finish the book. It isn't a 'Christian' one. Just a life experiences one. But I like it.

We may not wind up in a wheelchair but no matter what is happening -- to us, for us, with us today -- life continues to ebb and flow. So today is a good day to 'make a new memory'.

So let's each make it a good one:  today and this weekend!

"Trees of Righteousness"

"That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

~ Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

"When I was growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, every Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, my parents, my siblings, and I would go hiking. Inevitably, our climbs would take us to the ridge where the trees were so enormous we could all hold hands and still not be able to encircle the trunks. When I asked my mother why the trees were so much larger on the ridge than anywhere else, she replied that it was because the winds were the strongest and the storms were the fiercest on the ridge. With nothing to shelter the trees from the full brunt of nature's wrath, they either broke and fell, or they became incredibly strong and resilient.

"God plants you and me in our faith as tender saplings then grows us up into 'trees of righteousness', using the elements of adversity to make us strong. And He leads us to endure, not just somehow, but triumphantly as we choose to praise Him, regardless of the storms swirling within us or the winds howling outside of us."

~ By Anne Graham Lotz

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"But the godly shall flourish like palm trees, and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted into the Lord's own garden, and are under his personal care.

"Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green. This honors the Lord, and exhibits his faithful care. He is my shelter. There is nothing but goodness in him!"

~ Psalm 92:12 - 14 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Palm trees are known for their long lives. To flourish like palm trees means to stand tall and to live long. The cedars of Lebanon grew to 120 feet in height and up to 30 feet in circumference; thus, they were solid, strong, and unmoveable. The psalmist saw believers as upright, strong and unmoved by the winds of circumstance.

"Honoring God is not limited to young people who are still blessed with physical strength and vitality. Even in old age, devoted believers can produce spiritual fruit. There are many faithful older people who have much to share and teach from a lifetime of living with God. Seek out an elderly friend or relative to tell you about life experiences with the Lord and challenge you to new heights of spiritual living."

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It's Veterans' Day; and an opportunity to think about and/or thank someone who is/has worn a uniform supporting/defending the United States of America. A good day to attend an organized event in our areas or to write a note/call a veteran or person in active duty in service to our country.

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 ocean white with foam,

God bless America,

My Home, sweet home.

God bless America,

My Home, sweet home.

Over the years, God has definitely blessed America. And many times he has used our people in uniform to do 'what needed to be done'. Thank you, veterans and people in uniform!

Here is thought number 11 from Joyce Meyer; something to think about; even if we question whether it is true of us or not. Thinking something over and over, sometimes changes the way we are:

#11 of 12 "Thoughts on Thursdays"

Taken from the book:  "POWER THOUGHTS":  12 Strategies to WIN the Battle of the Mind, written by Joyce Meyer:

Power Thought #11:  "I am Disciplined and Self-controlled".

* "For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

~ Hebrews 12:11

* Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."

~ I Timothy 4:7 NASB

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Today's entry written by Sarah Young in "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence". Written as if Jesus is talking to us as readers, based on the Bible verses at the end of what Young has penned:

"Bask in the luxury of being fully understood and unconditionally loved. Dare to see yourself as I see you:  radiant in My righteousness, cleansed by My blood. I view you as the one I created you to be, the one you will be in actuality when heaven becomes your home. It is My Life within you that is changing you from glory to glory. Rejoice in this mysterious miracle! Thank Me continually for the amazing gift of My Spirit within you.

"Try to depend on the help of the Spirit as you go through this day of life. Pause briefly from time to time so you can consult with this Holy One inside you. He will not force you to do His bidding, but He will guide you as you give Him space in your life. Walk along this wondrous way of collaboration with My Spirit."

~ Psalm 34:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV); Galatians 5:25

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Most of the world's citizens have been shaken by the event in Paris last Friday. Some are questioning what's going on; a handful of world leaders are trying to figure out what to do. I am in the group with more questions than answers.

As I have mentioned before in Karen's Korner writings, I consider myself a Bible reader; not a Bible scholar. I tend to pick a chapter or two in the Bible to read on a given day. I have a tendency to read some of the chapters of Bible prophecy as a last resort. The last book of the Bible is one of them:  Revelation.

I have to admit as I get older and having read Revelation a handful of times, parts of it are getting to make more and more sense.

So on Friday was 'my day' to finish the book of Revelation, chapter 22. Here are a couple of verses (10 - 11) that I read from it:

"Then He  instructed me (Jesus revealing the future to John in a vision),

'Do not seal up what you have written, for the time of fulfillment is near.

And when that time comes, all doing wrong will do it more and more; the vile will become more and more vile;

good men will be better; those who are holy will continue on in greater holiness.'

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Bible Commentary (in part):  "As Christ's return gets closer, there is a greater polarization between God's followers and Satan's followers. We must read the book of Revelation, hear its message, and be prepared for Christ's eminent return."

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Just for fun! My dad's cousin wrote this piece several years ago. She is currently in an area care facility and still has a glint in her eye, a smile on her face, and good mental faculties as she moves through her 90s. I am not using her name, as I have not asked her permission to share her thoughts.

As you read, if you believe she must have had an 'easy' life; not always so! She had ten children, a self-employed husband with fluctuating incomes. And, like so many of us, a number of family difficulties which included nearly everything you could imagine. So here goes:

Genesis 3 (according to Karen's relative)

"In Religion Class here, we were on the first book of the Bible - Genesis, where Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden.

"Well, this is the way I heard it:   God found Adam and Eve hiding in the bushes and when he saw the 'fig leaves', he knew what they had done. So he says, 'I see you couldn't obey me about eating from that one tree of knowledge! So now you will have to move out of here and go to work for a living.'

"Take off those silly fig leaves and I'll get you a deer skin, and Eve get your sewing things and a scissors and start making a shirt and pants for Adam and yourself. I see you are barefoot--so get an old tire out in the yard and make yourselves some sandals, as the ground is stony and rough. Adam make yourself a bow and arrow, so you can hunt some rabbits or birds for your dinner. No more going to the Pizza Place or Dad's hamburger shop!!

"Plant some wheat Adam, so Eve can grind some up for flat bread or tortillas.....and by the way - no more laying in bed till noon and watching T.V. and playing with the computer!! Eve get off the telephone and wash the clothes and dishes and make the beds. There are no more welfare checks with money to go to the casino to gamble, and no free rent, free meals, or free college tuition. Adam get yourself down to the employment office the first thing in the morning for a job!

"My Good Man, the honeymoon is over!"

***

Something from Max Lucado:

The Beginning of Joy

"In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and I will give you rest.' You've been there. You've turned your back on the noise and sought his voice. You've stepped away from the masses and followed the Master as he led you up the winding path to the summit. His summit. Clean air. Clear view. Crisp breeze. The roar of the marketplace is down there, and the perspective of the peak is up here Gently he invited you to sit on the rock and look out with him at the ancient peaks that will never erode.

"Just remember, he says, you'll go nowhere tomorrow that I haven't already been. Truth will still triumph. Death will still die. The victory is still yours. And delight is one decision away----seize it!! Joy begins by breathing deep up there before you go crazy down here!"

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Our 12th and final "Power Thought" to say to ourselves over and over again in our minds or out loud, even if you think 'that may be true for others, but not me'.....say it anyway and see what happens to your thoughts, mind, life!

#12 of 12 "Thoughts on Thursdays"

Taken from the book:  "POWER THOUGHTS":  12 Strategies to WIN the Battle of the Mind, written by Joyce Meyer:

Power Thought #12:  "I put God FIRST in my Life!"

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"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."   ~ Matthew 22:37

   "But seek first of all His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all things taken together will be given you besides."    ~ Matthew 6:33

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find Me when You seek Me, if You look for Me in earnest."    ~ Jeremiah 29:11 - 13

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Happy Friday; have a great weekend!

Today's entry from Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence". As readers know, Young writes as if Jesus is talking to us, backed up by Bible verses from which her writings are taken:

"I am pleased with you, My Child. Allow yourself to become fully aware of My pleasure shining upon you. You don't have to perform well in order to receive My Love. In fact, a performance focus will pull you away from Me, toward some sort Pharisaism. This can be a subtle form of idolatry:  worshiping your own good works. It can also be a source of deep discouragement when your works don't measure up to your expectations.

"Shift your focus from your performance to My radiant Presence. The Light of My Love shines on you continually, regardless of your feelings or behavior. Your responsibility is to be receptive to this unconditional Love. Thankfulness and trust are your primary receptors. Thank Me for everything; trust in Me at all times. These simple disciplines will keep you open to My Loving Presence."

~ Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 3:16-19; Psalm 62:8

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Something written by Max Lucado:

He Will Heal You

"Are you waiting for Jesus to heal you? Take hope from Jesus' response to the blind man in Mark 10:45-47.

"'Have mercy on us, O Lord!' the blind man cried. Everyone else kept going. Jesus froze. Something caught his attention. Interrupted his journey. Raising his hand to stop the people, lifting a finger to his lips for them to be quiet. What was it? What did Jesus hear?

"A prayer. An unembellished appeal for help floating on winds of faith and landing against his ear. Jesus heard the words and stopped. He still does. And he still asks, 'What do you want Me to do for you?'

"Before amen---comes the power of a simple prayer! And Jesus' heart went out to the blind men. He touched their eyes. Jesus moved in where others had stepped away. He healed them. At the gateway to heaven, God's children will once again be whole!"

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Something fun for a busy upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. Lots of things you probably have never heard of or known in the past; probably didn't care if you never knew.  Taken from "Little Known FACTS about well-known STUFF" by David Hoffman:

Ronald McDonald is considered the second most recognizable character in the world, after Santa Claus, and ahead of Mickey Mouse.

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Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

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There are 216 noodles in a can of Campbell's Noodle Soup.

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Not counting vowels, the most frequently used letter in the English language is T.

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In a random group of 23 people, odds are that two will share the same birthday.

(that one bears checking out!)

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All Crayola crayon names appear on labels in lowercase because tests reveal that lowercase letters are easiest for elementary students to read.

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The Statue of Liberty's mouth is three feet wide.

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A one-ounce serving of Cheerios contains 400 individual "O's".

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'60 Minutes' is the only TV show with no theme song or music.

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"Come, everyone, and clap for joy! Shout triumphant praises to the Lord!

"For the Lord, the God above all gods, is awesome beyond words; he is the great King of all the earth. He subdued the nations before us.

"Sing out your praises to our God, our King. Yes, sing your highest praises to our King, the King of all the earth. Sing thoughtful praises! He reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne.

"He is highly honored everywhere."

~ Psalm 47 (in part)

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Come Ye Thankful People, come

Raise the song of harvest home:

All is safely gathered in

Ere the winter storms begin.

God, our Maker, doth provide

For our wants to be supplied:

Come to God's own temple, come.

Raise the song of harvest home.

"All the world is God's own field,

Fruit unto His praise to yield:

Wheat and tares together sown,

Unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade and then the ear,

Then the full corn shall appear:

Lord of harvest, grant that we

Wholesome grain and pure may be.

"For the Lord our God shall come

And shall take His 'harvest' home:

From His field shall in that day

All offenses purge away.

Give His angels charge at last

In the fire the tares to cast,

But the fruitful ears to store

In His garner evermore.

"Even so, Lord, quickly come

To they final harvest home:

Gather Thou Thy people in,

Free from sorrow, free from sin;

There, forever purified,

In Thy presence to abide:

come, with all Thine angels, come.

Raise the glorious harvest home!"

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Text of the song "Come Ye Thankful People, Come";

words by Henry Alford & music by George J. Elvey

Based on "You crown the year with your bounty." ~ Psalm 65:11

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