Today is June 1; our youngest daughter Merry's birthday. She would have been 45.

So this is a day to indulge a mom (ME!) of a couple of 'Merry Memories'.

When Merry was about five, we had annual Ridiculous Day uptown in Clarion. Merchants would dress up in costumes to fit the theme of the promotion. Sales would be the priority of the morning. A parade would be in the offing in the early afternoon. Merchants would walk a couple of block to show off their garb. Others were invited to join in the fun as well.

I had cut three holes in an empty grocery box for Merry to don. I plastered the sides with all kinds of labels from grocery items, covering the entire box. In the center was a yellow 12 - 14" sign which read, "I'm recycled!"

Merry walked down the street with several others who were also ridiculously clad. Or maybe with a decorated bicycle.

When she got back after the walk, she said, "Why did you make me walk down the street saying 'I'm retarded?'

*

Merry and Jamie always knew that if Jim had a handful of holes in a favorite t-shirt, it was their chance.

He would put it on one last time and they would spend a few minutes, giggling and laughing as they put their small fingers into the newly forming holes and rip the shirt to shreds off their dad.

*

Merry had five surgeries in nine months to try to keep her shunt open, so she could function normally, before her untimely death in a car/semi accident.

She was a 'forwarder' of pass along emails. When she died, I had saved nine of them. I wished I had saved more. But here is one, emailed the afternoon of July 22, 1999. She was killed less than a week later:

"A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.  In a room of 200, he asked, 'Who would like this $20 bill?' Hands started going up. He said, 'I am going to give this to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, 'Who still wants it?' Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" And dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. 'Now who still wants it?' Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make or the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him."

"Psalm 17:8 states that God will keep us, 'as the apple of His eye."

"THOUGHT:  The work of our lives come not in what we DO or WHO we are but by WHOSE WE ARE!"

"You are special. So have a great day!!"

A Karen's Korner on Saturday to make up for the missed earlier in the week.

"He will take care of the helpless and poor when they cry to Him;

for they have no one else to defend them.

He feels pity for the weak and needy,

and will rescue them.

He will save them from oppression and from violence,

for their lives are precious to Him."

~ Psalm 72:12-14 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "God cares for the helpless and poor because they are precious to Him. If God feels so strongly about the poor and loves them so deeply, how can we ignore their plight? We should examine what we are doing to reach out with God's love for the poor, weak, and needy in the world. Do we ignore their plight?"

*****

Mentioned  by our minister in yesterday's sermon.

In a phone call from a minister friend in Tennessee, he commented on an illustration he wanted to use in his sermon to 300-plus congregants with different results than he had anticipated.

He asked, "How many of you heard from God this week? About three hands went up.

His next question, "How many of you heard from the devil/evil thoughts?" A flurry of hands were in the air.

His comments next, "The kingdom you listen to Is the kingdom you believe!"

Do we too many times miss God's words? In the comments from a friend? In the beauty of something in nature? Words that seem to leap off the pages as we read the Bible? Even some words we have read before, but jump into your thoughts and life this time?

God speaks; do we listen?

*

Sarah Young's writing in "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence", has her taking Bible verses and writing as if God is speaking to us.........which He does! Here is yesterday's:

"I want to be central in your entire being.

When your focus is firmly on Me,

My Peace displaces fear and worries.

They will encircle you, seeking entrance,

so you must stay alert.

Let trust and thankfulness stand guard,

turning back fear before it can gain a foothold.

There is no fear in My Love,

which shines on you continually.

Sit quietly in My Love-Light,

while I bless you with radiant Peace.

Turn your whole being to trusting and loving Me."

~ taken from 2 Thessalonians 3:16; I John 4:18

***

Something I received in the mail, tucked in with some other information. It says 'him' a lot but we all know it could say 'her' as well.

"Bring your children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

~ Ephesians 6:4 NAS

*

HOW TO RAISE A CROOK

1. Give him everything he wants. This way he will grow up to believe that the world owes him a living.

2. Never give him spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and then let him decide for himself.

3. Avoid using the word 'wrong'. It might make him feel guilty and his schoolwork might suffer.

4. Do not make him work at home. Do his work for him, so he will learn at an early age to leave responsibility to others.

5. Let him watch anything he wants, so he can learn from television how to get along in the world.

6. Give him spending money so he won't be frustrated by having to earn his own.

7. Do not make rules for him-----you might make him angry at you.

8. When he gets bad grades, blame the teachers.

9. When he gets in trouble at school, blame the principal.

10. When he loses his job, blame the boss.

11. When he gets caught drunk driving, blame his friends.

12. Let him experiment with sex, drugs and alcohol so he will be able to make an educated decision.

13. Buy him a car as soon as he can drive so he will have the freedom to go wherever he wants.

~ from the Presbyterian Journal

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"Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it."

~ Proverbs 22: 6 NIV

***

"The more lowly your service to others,

the greater you are.

To be the greatest, be a servant.

But those who think themselves great shall be disappointed and humbled;

and those who humble themselves shall be exalted."

~ Matthew 23:11 & 12 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Jesus challenged society's norms. To Him, greatness comes from serving---giving ourselves to help God and others. Service keeps us aware of others' needs, and stops us from focusing only on ourselves. Jesus came as a servant. What kind of greatness do we seek?"

******

God is Greater than Creation

"Through Him all things were made;

without Him nothing was made that has been made."

~ John 1:3 NIV

*

"God Is not one of several gods. He is absolutely supreme over everything! God is greater than creation. This means there is nothing in my life -

(Sometimes this new format doesn't come out like I like. Yesterday's was a case in point. If you think so too, click the icon at either the top or the bottom of this 'korner' and it will read much better. Try it!)

Sculpted from Nothing into Something

By Max Lucado

"You are more than statistical chance, a marriage of heredity and society. Thanks to God, you have been 'sculpted from nothing into something' (Psalm 139:15). He made you 'you-nique'. Secular thinking, as a whole, doesn't buy this. Society simply says, 'You can be anything you want to be.' But can you?

"God never prefabs or mass-produces people.'I make all things new,' he declares! (Revelation 21:5). So, you can do something no one else can do in a fashion no else can do it. 'Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that' (Galatians 6:4). When you do the most, what you do the best, you put a smile on God's face. What could be better than that?"

****

God made you special

By Max Lucado

God
made you and broke the mold! Every single baby is a brand-new idea from the mind
of God. Scan history for your replica; you won’t find it. God tailor-made you.
You aren’t one of many bricks in the mason’s pile or one of a dozen bolts in the
mechanic’s drawer. You are it!  And if you aren’t you, we don’t get you. The
world misses out.

You
offer a gift to society that no one else brings. When you and I do the most what
we do the best for the glory of God, the Bible says that we are “marvelously
functioning parts in Christ’s body” (Romans 12:5). You play no small part,
because there is no small part to be played. God “shaped each person in turn”
(Psalm 33:15). We need you to be you. And YOU need you to be you!

***

Last week was a bad one with two celebrity suicides. I didn't know either one of them:  a guy who was a known chef on a cooking channel and a gal who was part of the fashion industry. Very successful people.

I heard a couple of interviews given by professionals who work with those dealing with mental health issues. They discussed what could have gone wrong. Or how some thing like this could be prevented. I listened to the talk, but not once did I hear anyone say anything about the spiritual side of things.

Since we are made physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual, I wondered if the spiritual side of things could have been a contributing factor?

*

Look to Jesus!

~ By Anne Graham Lotz

"The wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

~ Romans 6:23 NIV

"The wonderful good news of the Gospel was shouted out so clearly by the apostle Paul that it still resounds today. The wages of sin is physical death and spiritual deadness as well. BUT the gift of God is eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life through faith in Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God.

"What do you think you have to add to your existence in order to experience real life?

"Increasing your investment portfolio?

"Traveling to more exotic destinations?

"Possessing the latest car or computer?

"Achieving public recognition?

"Reaching your professional goal?

"Wearing the trendiest fashion?

"If you want purpose and meaning and satisfaction and fulfillment and peace and hope and joy and abundant life that lasts forever, look to Jesus!"

*****

Today is something written by Sarah Young in her "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence"; inspirational writings as if Jesus was talking with us personally, with Bible verses to support what she writes:

"I am creating something new in you:  a bubbling spring of Joy that spills over into others' lives. Do not mistake this Joy for your own or try to take credit for it in any way. Instead, watch in delight as My Spirit flows through you to bless others. Let yourself become a reservoir of the Spirit's fruit.

"Your part is to live close to Me, open to all that I am doing in you. Don't try to control the streaming of My Spirit through you. Just keep focusing on Me as we walk through this day together. Enjoy My Presence, which permeates you with Love, Joy, and Peace."

~ John 3:8; Galatians 5:22

*****

"God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.

So if God has given you the ability to prophesy,

then prophesy whenever you  can---

as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God.

If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.

If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.

If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful.

If God has given you money, be generous in helping others with it.

If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of the work of others,

take the responsibility seriously.

Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer."

~ Romans 12:6 - 8 LAB

*

It's Fathers' Day on Sunday. What a great time to celebrate the dads, grandpas, sons, men in our lives.

They are important.

Shortly after Jamie graduated from college, she traveled to California to be a 'house mom' to wayward girls between the ages of 13 - 19. They had enough trouble that they weren't yet ready to go to foster care homes.

As the counselors looked for reasons for these girls' difficulties, some were very intelligent and others maybe not. A variety of races. Some came from affluent families; others were quite poor. The only thread they found in common:  'absence of a positive male' in their lives.

Could that have been the difficulty!?

Father in Heaven, thank You for Your plans for families. Thank You for the way You have designed each of us - male and female. And that we need some of each in all of our lives. This weekend, we celebrate fathers. So many men are so loving and kind; always caring. Thank You for sharing them with us.

Boys and girls, men and women, even if we don't have the most loving and caring situations, we can celebrate You as Our Heavenly Father. Thank You that You will 'never leave us nor forsake us' and that You have promised to 'love us forever.' In Jesus' Name. Amen.

A couple of thought provoking Proverbs;

"Anxious hearts are very heavy,

but a word of encouragement does wonders!"

~ Proverbs 12:25 LAB

*

"Humility and reverence for the Lord

will make you both wise and honored."

~ Proverbs 15:33 LAB

***

Today's Karen's Korner was yesterday's Max Lucado writing. I little different twist; some good thoughts:

Examine Your Gifts

"Be careful! In a desire to be great, one might cease being any good. Not every teacher is equipped to be a principal. Not every carpenter has the skill to head a crew. Not every musician should conduct an orchestra. A promotion might promote a person right out of their sweet spot. For the love of more, a person might lose their purpose. Greed makes a poor job counselor.

"Examine your gifts, know your strengths. Romans 12:3 says, 'Have a sane estimate of your capabilities.' Proverbs 15:16 says, 'It is better to have little with fear for the LORD than to have great treasure with turmoil.' So, don't let the itch for things or the ear for applause derail you from God-intended design!"

******

What's not to like from Sarah Young and her "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence"? Hard not to like them all. Here is what she penned for June 18:

"You are my beloved child. I 'chose you before the foundation of the world',

walk with Me along paths designed uniquely for you.

Concentrate on keeping in step with Me,

instead of trying to anticipate My plans for you.

If you trust that My plans are 'to prosper you and not to harm you',

you can relax and enjoy the present moment.

"Your hope and your future are rooted in heaven,

where eternal ecstasy awaits you.

Nothing can rob you of your inheritance of unimaginable riches and well-being.

Sometimes I grant you glimpses of your glorious future,

to encourage you and spur you on.

But your main focus should be staying close to Me.

I set the pace in keeping with your needs and My purposes."

~Ephesians1:4 (NASB); Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 1:13 - 14

***

"I ask you again,

does God give you the power of the Holy Spirit

and work miracles among you

as a result of your trying to obey the Jewish law?

No, of course not.

It is when you believe in Christ and fully trust Him."

~ Galatians 3:5 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "The Holy Spirit gives Christians great power to live their lives for God. Some Christians want more than this. They think that if they Holy Spirit is working in their lives, they will live in a state of perpetual excitement. The tedium of everyday living seems to say that something is wrong spiritually. These Christians may have missed the point. Often the Holy Spirit's greatest work in us is teaching us to persist; to keep on doing what is right even when it no longer seems new and interesting. The Galatians quickly turned from Paul's Good News to the teachings of the newest teachers in town; they needed the Holy Spirit's gift of persistence. If we get bored with the Christian life, we may not need the Spirit to stir us up---we may need Him to settle us down and get us to see the challenge of the ordinary."

******

A few excerpts from "Life in the Father's Eyes" by James Robison

"The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

the Lord has made them both."

~ Proverbs 20:12 ESV

"I want to help you open your eyes to see God's love, purpose, and character all around you. I want to help you look through the eyes of Jesus, and identify with the heart of God

"If we look around and see life through God's eyes, we will behold His glory everywhere. It's amazing how God reveals Himself in the world He created. However, we've become so twisted in our thinking, so programmed by the prevailing culture of skepticism, doubt, and deception that we can't get our spiritual eyes open. I want to help you refocus your vision, so you can begin to see the hand of God in your life; so you can see all of life from a different perspective---God's perspective.

Here's a simple way to start: In every situation---whether at home, at work, at school or out in the community...look for evidence of God's hand, God's perspective, and God's character. Get in the habit of asking yourself a series of God-centered questions:  'What does God want me to see?' 'What does God want me to share?' "What does God want me to do?' 'How does God want me to respond?'

"Learn to respond to and obey God's still, small voice. Accept His leadership, trusting Him to produce the response and the results. We aren't called to be super salespeople. We are commissioned as witnesses of Christ, sharing His love and our own personal testimony. No testimony is insignificant. All are special and meaningful.

"The more sensitive we are to what God sees, thinks, and feels, the more open we will be to having Him work through us----and the more amazing works we will see and be a part of."

***

"Lord, what a variety you have made~

And in wisdom you have made them all.

The earth is full of your riches."

~ 104:24 LAB

***

(Once again for some reason Karen's Korner didn't go out yesterday. Seems like Mondays are a problem. So here goes Monday's, today.)

"If you believe that Jesus is the Christ--

that He is God's Son and your Savior---

then you are a child of God."

~ I John 5:1 LAB

*

I spent some time this past weekend with our daughter Jamie and her youngest son, Noah, in northeast Iowa. We enjoyed the river and some of the sights and sounds of the area.

At ten years old, one of Noah's favorite things to do was swimming in the motel pools both nights. On Saturday night, I watched him and several other families enjoying some pool time together.

Repeatedly, I watched probably a two-year-old attempting to jump into the pool and into her dad's outstretched arms. What would win out? The fear of the unknown and the water? Or the encouraging words of her father?

She would wait and try. She didn't want to jump too far. Would she get hurt? Was he there to catch her? Then she would jump and he would compliment and encourage her. Out of the pool she would come. Run around the side. And try again.

I couldn't help but think of us. Do we do the same thing? We are afraid of something in our lives. Or in our future. God waits with outstretched arms. With His Love. Encouraging us to trust Him. Catch us. He would never let anything happen to us without His care and concern. All He wants us to do is jump....

Dear Father in Heaven, help us, help me to remember and know how much You love and care for us. Help each of us to never be afraid. Help us to jump into Your arms. You have caught us before and You will catch us again. In the Name of Your Son Jesus and Your overwhelming Love. Amen.

A 'Sarah Young: Jesus Calling; Enjoying Peace in His Presence'; yesterday's entry. Some of them are just so much more timely for the reader than others. This one was especially meaningful for me:

"Stay calmly conscious of Me today, no matter what.

 Remember that I go before you as well as with you into the day.

Nothing takes Me by surprise.

I will not allow circumstances to overwhelm you,

so long as you look to Me.

I will help you cope with whatever the moment presents.

Collaborating with Me brings blessings that far outweigh your troubles.

Awareness of My Presence contains Joy that can endure all eventualities."

~ Psalm 23:1 - 4 (NKJV); 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 17

***

What's Your Word?

"If you summarized your emotions regarding the return of Christ, what word would you use? Discomfort...denial...disappointment.....or hope? Maybe your word is discomfort. After all, the Book of Life will be opened, and names will be read. How could the thought of His return bring anything but discomfort? Maybe it's denial? We prefer answers and explanations, and the end of time seems short on both. Or how about disappointment? A mother-to-be wants to hold her baby, an engaged couple want to be married. A soldier overseas wants to go home before he goes .. home!

"Discomfort. Denial. Disappointment. All possible feelings. But there is the one feeling Christ wants us to have -- trust! Jesus says, 'Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in Me' (John 14:1)."

~ By Max Lucado

Do You Believe This?

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."

~ John 11:25 NIV

*

"Do you believe this.....

* when there is no hope,

* when there is no recourse,

* when there is no answer,

* when there is no help,

* when there is no way,

* when there is no remedy,

* when there is no solution,

* when there is nobody.

"there is hope if you have Jesus? Do you believe that Jesus can make a way when there is no way?

"With Jesus, all things are possible!"

*

~ Today's email message by Anne Graham Lotz