Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019!

Something to begin the new year from Sarah Young and her 'Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" for January 1:

"Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because My attention span is infinite. I know and understand you completely. My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love. I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence."

~ taken from Romans 12:2; Jeremiah 29:11

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Today's daily inspirational thought coming into my inbox this morning by Anne Graham Lotz:

PUTTING HOLES IN THE DARKNESS

"Let your light so shine before me,

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

~ Matthew 5:15 NKJV

"One night when Robert Louis Stevenson was a small boy, his nanny called him to come to bed. Oblivious to her summons, he was staring at something outside his nursery window. The nanny walked over, stood at his shoulder, and inquired patiently, 'Robert, what are you looking at?' The little boy, without taking his eyes away from the window, exclaimed in wonder as he pointed to the lamplighter who was lighting the streetlamps, 'Look, Nanny! That man is putting holes in the darkness!'

"You and I may not be able to change the world, but surely each of us can put a hole in the darkness! Turn on the Light! Share what Jesus means to you and give God's Work to someone else!

"All through the ages, men and women have done just that! They have turned on the Light so that a living faith in God has been passed from generation to generation. Not everyone has been attracted to the Light, but one by one people have come to Him for truth, wisdom, hope, salvation, and eternal life."

**

Several quotes from a variety of people and places:

"If you have much, give of your wealth;

if you have little, give your heart."

~ Arabian proverb

*

"Is there any music as sweet

as a car starting on a cold morning."

*

"A friend is someone

who strengthens you with prayers;

blesses you with love;

and encourages you with hope."

*

"One resolution I have made,

and try always to keep,

is this:

'To rise above the little things.'

~ John Burroughs

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"There's nothing better than a good friend,

except a good friend with chocolate."

*

"Practice courtesy,

you never know when

it may be popular again."

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(Note: there will be no Karen's Korner for a week as I will be away from my computer.)

Installment #3 of Joyce Meyer's list "Who We Are in Christ Jesus". Wouldn't you think if we were told once we would always remember all the things Jesus came to show us, teach us, die to give us? Somehow we have a hard time remembering 'who we are'!!

"I am a joint-heir with Christ."  ~ Romans 8:17

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"I am more than a conqueror through Him, who loves me."  ~ Romans 8:37

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"I am a partaker of His divine nature."   ~ 2 Peter 1:3 - 4

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"I am an ambassador for Christ."  - 2 Corinthians 5:20

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"I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places."  ~ Ephesians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4

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"I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power."  ~ Colossians 1:11

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(Good to be back after a week away!)

"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us,

and He will certainly bless us."

~ Psalm 115:12 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "'Jehovah is constantly thinking about us' says the psalm writer. What a fantastic truth! There are many times when we feel isolated, alone, and abandoned, even by God. In reality, He sees and understands, and is thinking about us. When depressed by problems or struggling with self-worth, be encouraged that God keeps us in His thoughts. If He thinks about us, surely His help is near."

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Most churches have daily devotional booklets they give to people to read if they choose. Our church has them. My sister Jill's church in Washington state does (where I visited last week). On the way out of worship service a week ago Sunday, Jill grabbed their current "Portals of Prayer" and handed it to me.

Here is an entry from earlier this month. It reminds us of who we are; whose we are; and that we are loved. Sometimes in the 'rough and tumble' of life, we forget!

Remember Whose Child You Are

"The Lord bless you and keep you."  ~ Numbers 6:24

"Back in the day, I heard an expression that I began to use with my children. Before they would leave the house, I would set down some rules, tell them I loved them, and then tell them to 'remember whose child you are'. Although they heard the same words each time, they dared not leave before hearing them again!

"The Benediction that we might hear before leaving worship on Sunday, is God's way of saying, 'Remember whose child you are.' Because of His unfathomable love, He sent us Jesus, His only begotten Son, who carried all our misdeeds (even those done when we thought no one was looking!) to a cross, where He obediently offered up His life as the perfect atonement for our sins. Wrapped in Christ's robe of righteousness, we are God's blessed children, heirs of His kingdom of heaven.

"When we receive the Lord's benediction, we know that He is sending us out as His own dear children, forgiven, redeemed, and dearly loved!"

"Father, thank You for blessing keeping me as Your child. Amen."

*

~ written by Mrs. Laura L. Pickle from Rainbow City, Alabama

Bible readings for the day:  Numbers 6:22-27 & Psalm 113:2

***

Night before last, I had invited a couple over to eat supper with me. Dana is a handyman, so I asked him to take a second look at my grandfather clock.

For a number of months, I couldn't get it to run right. The pendulum would swing for six or seven minutes before it would stop. I had no intentions of taking into a West Des Moines shop. I had that done about a year ago. So I knew it didn't need any major repairs.

But what was the problem? Dana is no 'clock repairman' but he started to toy with making it run. "I wonder if it is level," he said. I didn't know but it had worked for that year following its 'major tune up'.

So we started to play with it. "Get a couple of jar lids," he said. So we tried putting them under the two 'legs' to the right. Ran the couple of minutes before it again stopped. What about front to back. Same thing.

"Next time I am out here," he said, "I'll bring my level." But we attempted one last possibility. Move the jar lids to the left side. What do you suppose? It worked and has been running ever since. Ticking and chiming away like it hadn't for a long time!

I couldn't help but think about us. How hard we try to 'run' the right way on our own. We can 'tick' along for some time before we 'stop running'. Sometimes we can't figure out what or why we can't 'go' like we once did. God, who made us, knows what it takes for us to begin 'ticking' again. He has the answers. Like my asking Dana for his help, we need to stop and ask God for His help. And "He will supply all our needs from His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19).

Thank You, Heavenly Father, that we don't have all the answers to life. But You do! Forgive me for all the times I look to myself and to others for help, when You have the solutions to every problem I might encounter. You are my 'tour guide' through this life and for that I am thankful. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Installment #4 from Joyce Meyer and her "Who You Are in Christ Jesus". In case we forget Who we are and Whose we are:

"I am healed by the stripes of Jesus. - Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24

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"I am called of God to be the voice of His praise. - Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9

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"I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power.  - Colossians 1:11

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"I am a spirit being alive to God.  - Romans 6:11; I Thessalonians 5:23

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"I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith, and overflowing with gratitude."

 - Colossians 2:7

***

God's Always Available

"Call to Me, and I will answer you,

and show you great and mighty things,

which you do not know."

~ Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

*

"When you approach God through faith in His Son, God is accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, twelve months a year for the rest of your life!

"For the last several years, I have carried a small cellular phone with me whenever I leave the house. Even when I take my early morning, three-mile walk, I have my cell phone in my pocket. Invariably, when I speak with my children or staff before I go out of town. I remind them that I will have my phone with me. If I'm needed, all they have to do is call me. Yet how many times have I noticed that I have a voice message waiting on my phone because either it was out of range of a tower, or I had turned it off while flying, or muted it, or left it in that other pocketbook!

"Praise God! He is never out of range! He is never turned off or tuned out! His ears are never deaf! He is always available, accessible, and attentive to our call!

~ Today's emailed devotional thought

by Anne Graham Lotz

***

Installment #3 of Clarion's Marys and Marthas (M & Ms) and our budding relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

As Karen's Korners readers know, it started with a simple card, thanking the LAPD for serving their city as officers; recognizing them because one of their own had been killed in the line of duty last fall.

Sgt. Ron Walker called me to thank the M & Ms for thinking of, praying for, caring for them with our note, saying in part, what a rarity it is for them to be thanked (as opposed to complaints, I am sure!).

At Christmas time, we received a Christmas card signed by 20 officers with their holiday notes and comments, a letter better explaining what Walker's particular department does and 12 - 14 'Los Angeles Police' black with white lettering cloth emblems.

So what would we do with those dozen plus badges? We would 'adopt' the LAPD and 'recruit' other organizations, prayer groups, and churches to do the same! Last Thursday evening at our monthly meeting, the M & Ms in attendance, signed a couple of 'adoption certificates', suitable for framing and sent them to Walker.

Only makes sense! The LAPD with its officers and staff are about the same size as the entire population of Wright County - 10,000 officers and 3,000 support personnel. Geographically, Los Angeles is 500 square miles; Wright County is 576 square miles. Los Angeles population is greater than the whole population of the state of Iowa!

But God has always used 'little' to confound the 'large or powerful'! (Think of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'!)

What does our adoption mean. We would continue to think of, pray for, and maybe at times, let them know that they are appreciated. And thank them!

If you'd like to join us as 'caring parents', I'd be happy to send you Sgt. Walker's address and a bit more information about them.

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You that You can use us where we are to care for others. Thank You that you help us to seize opportunities to reach out to others to care for them and to let them know that they are loved! We ask you to bless and care for each LAPD officer as they serve their community. We pray for a miracle in the lives of each person. We don't know how You will let them know how much you care for them. But You do; like you care for each one of us! We are blessed. Thank You for allowing us to bless others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Define Yourself in God's Truth

"Every person you see was created by God to bear His image and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Imagine the impact that promise would have on the society that embraced it. What civility it would engender. What kindness it would foster. Racism will not flourish when people believe their neighbors bear God' image. Will society write off the indigent, the mentally ill, the inmate or the refugee? Not if we believe, truly believe, that every human being is God's idea. And He has no bad ideas.

High IQ or low standing - doesn't matter. Firs string or cut from the squad---doesn't matter. You are a diamond, a rose, and a jewel purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. And because His promises are unbreakable, our hope is unshakable!

~ By Max Lucado

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Installment #5 of Joyce Meyer's 'Who You Are in Christ'. We have to do more than read it. We have to believe it. Have trouble believing that is who you are; who we are? Ask God to help you believe it! The Bible is more than a book of 'nots'; it is a book of 'yeses' and 'good news' for all of us:

"I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one

with my shield of faith."

~ Ephesians 6:16

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"I am Gods' workmanship,

created in Christ for His good works."

~ Ephesians 2:10

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"I am a doer of the Word

and blessed in my actions."

~ James 1:22, 25

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"I am the temple of the Holy Spirit;

I am not my own."

~ 1 Corinthians 6:19

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"I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb

and the word of my testimony."

~ Revelation 12:11

***

Many of you have a book or flip calendar of daily inspirational thoughts by Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence". Her calendar is on my computer desk; don't read it absolutely every day. Some I like better than others.

Here is her entry from yesterday:

"It's all right to be human. When your mind wanders while you are praying; don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I understand. Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no limits or conditions. Whisper My Name in loving contentment, assured that I will never leave you or forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly throughout your day. This practice will enable you to attain a quiet and gentle spirit, which is pleasing to Me.

" As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weaknesses and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness."

~ taken from Deuteronomy 31:6; ! Peter 3:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6-7; 2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP)

*****

Yesterday I spent a few minutes walking in the halls of our local hospital. Connected to it are our senior housing and assisted living apartments.

I bumped into a long-time friend who is probably a decade older than I am, lives in assisted living. Still sharp and a 'smiler'; walks with a walker.

"How is your husband?" I asked.

He lived in assisted living as well, until his dementia started to take its toll. He lives part of block away in our care center. "Continues to go downhill slowly," she said. "I dread the day when he no longer knows me."

Then we started to talk about what is coming. Not the decline. Nor death. But heaven! We can barely comprehend - no death, no crying, no health changes, no problems, no worries about anything. For eternity.

She made their reservations to go there! As have I?

What about you? Too good of a deal to pass up!!

This is today's inspirational thought by Anne Graham Lotz:

Trust God's Goodness

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes."

~ Revelation 21:4 NIV

*

"One day God will call us forth from the dead, and we will rise again! Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! All of our suffering will be over, and God Himself 'will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'

"'He who was seated on the throne said.......Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true' (Revelation 21:4 - 5 NIV).

"When you don't understand why, just trust Him!

"Trust His heart!

"Trust His purpose!

"Trust His goodness!

"Trust His plan to be bigger than yours!

"Trust Him because..........God is enough!"

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The book of Psalms has 150 chapters. The last five (146 - 150) are all praises. Not very long chapters. Here is the Bible commentary on them collectively; all from the Life Application Bible:

"These last five psalms overflow with praise. Each begins with 'hallelujah' or 'praise God'. They show us why and how to praise God. What does praise do?

1) Praise takes our minds off our problems and shortcomings, and focuses them on God;

2) Praise takes us from individual meditation to corporate worship;

3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God's character;

4) Praise takes our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly."

*

I am including the first verse or two from each of those Psalms:

#146 - "Praise the Lord! Yes, really praise Him! I will praise Him as long as I live, yes, even with my dying breath."

#147 - "Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises! How delightful, how right!"

#148 - "Praise the Lord, O heavens! Praise Him from the skies!"

# 149 - "Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! Sing Him a new song! Sing His praises, all His people."

#150 - "Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! Praise Him in His Temple, and in the heavens He made with mighty power."

***

Today is our daughter Jamie's birthday. Happy birthday, Jamie!

Something written by Max Lucado and appropriate for parents with kids (and grandkids!) of any age:

Entrust Your Kids to Christ

"Fear turns some parents into paranoid prison guards who monitor every minute, check the background of every friend. A family with no breathing room suffocates a child. On the other hand, fear can also create permissive parents. Fearing that their child will feel too confined or fences in, they are high on hugs and low on discipline. They don't realize that appropriate discipline is an expression of love.

"Permissive parents. Paranoid parents. How can we avoid the extremes? We pray. Jesus' big message to moms and dads? Bring your children to me. Pray that your children have a profound sense of place in this world and a heavenly place in the next. Parents, we can trust our kids to Christ."

Dear Heavenly Father, we all thank You that You are our Heavenly Father. And Father to our children and our grandchildren. We give each one to You today. Remind us that You love each of them......and us, more than we can ever imagine. Thank You that You make a place for each one in this world......and for the Kingdom that is coming. Thank You for the plans You have for all of us! In Jesus' Name Who makes the impossible, possible! Amen.

This is the last installment from Joyce Meyer and her list of "Who You Are In Christ Jesus".

We are a lot of things, which God and the Bible tries to tell us. So what do we believe? What the Creator of Universe says about us? Or what we tell ourselves? Or what the world tries to tell us?

Who Your Are In Christ Jesus

* "I have been brought out of the darkness and gloom of Satan's kingdom, and into the Kingdom of Jesus."  ~ Colossians 1:13

* "I am the head and not the tail; I always have the upper hand."  ~ Deuteronomy 28:13

* I have been chosen by God himself. I am a priest of the King; holy and pure. I am God's very own."  ~ 1 Peter 2:9

* "I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and self-control."  ~ Colossians 3:12

* "I have a new life; not one passed on from my parents. It is a life which will last forever, for it comes from Christ, who is God's ever-living Messenger to me; and all humankind."   ~ ! Peter 1:23

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A handful of sayings from the vertical margins of the February-March edition of OUR IOWA magazine:

"Enthusiasm is infectious, and so is the lack of it."

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"Worrying won't stop the bad stuff from happening.

It just stops you from enjoying the good."

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"Perhaps the straight and narrow path would be wider

if more people used it."

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"There are three kinds of people in the word:

the wills,

the won'ts,

and the can'ts."

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"The future is no more uncertain than the present."

~ Walt Whitman

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"Make new friends but keep the old ones;

one is silver and the other's gold."

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"Food tastes better

when you eat it with your family."

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