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January 2021 Archives
Today is Friday, January 1st, 2021; Karen's Korner #4375
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Happy New Year! A writing shared at our Wednesday morning ecumenical Bible Study. I don't know if the items are New Year's Resolutions, but they are certainly some good things to think about or consider for 2021:
HAVE hope TRY new things BE active SEE the good SMILE more
SAY 'I Love You' more CHALLENGE yourself ENJOY today SLOW DOWN and notice details LISTEN instead of hearing
HELP strangers more JUDGE less SHARE with the less fortunate LEARN a new hobby READ more often
FORGIVE more readily FEEL happiness DREAM bigger BECOME the best you
SPREAD joy JUMP to help
~ writer unknown
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Today is Monday, January 4th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4376
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If we ever get discouraged by this life or the world around us, only a glimpse of heaven is all we have to think about and our futures there.....forever!
Something sent to inboxes today by Anne Graham Lotz:
HEAVEN IS BEAUTIFUL ""Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
~ 1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV"The Creator Who created all the earthly beauty we have grown to love . . .
the majestic snowcapped peaks of the Alps,
the rushing mountain streams,
the carpets of wildflowers,
the whir of a humming bird’s wings,
"this is the same Creator who has prepared our heavenly home for us! If God could make the heavens and earth as beautiful as we think they are today – which includes thousands of years of wear and tear, corruption and pollution, sin and selfishness – can you imagine what the new Heaven and the new earth will look like?
"It will be much more glorious than any eyes have seen, any ears have heard, or any minds have ever conceived."
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Today is Tuesday, January 5th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4377
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Maybe it is because of the world which we live in, we have to be reminded often Who we are, Whose we are, and what we possess as Christians. A couple of paragraphs taken from Tony Evans "The Power of the Cross: Putting it to Work in Your Life":
"Paul says in Ephesians that God doesn't want you to have to go to heaven before you get to taste it on earth. He has laid up for you a 'pledge of your inheritance' (1:14) to access right now. In Greek the word 'pledge' can mean a 'down payment'. Through the cross, God has set aside a 'down payment on heaven for you to receive while on earth. As a believer, you are on your way to heaven. However, God does not want you to have to wait to get there in order to feel and experience what heaven is like. There is a piece of heaven that has been allocated to you right now.
"Are you curious what that down payment is? Or what has already been put in the will for you as a pledge of your inheritance? Paul summed it up at the end of his treatise (writing) on salvation when he said it involved 'the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power' (vs. 18-19).
"Notice that he didn't write that God wanted us to experience His power. Rather, he wrote that God wants us to experience the 'surpassing greatness' of His power. He wants us to know that when it comes to our lives, He is the only true Super Power. No believer should ever settle for being an average individual. God has destined you for greatness through the 'surpassing greatness' of His power."
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Today is Wednesday, January 6th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4378
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Maybe it is the turmoil of the world in which we live. Or the turmoil that might be part of our every day individual lives. But we need to keep focused on God and what He means in our lives and what He has planned for us. In this world and the next. From Sarah Young's entry for today in "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence::
"I am able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.
~ Taken from Ephesians 3:20 - 21; Romans 8:6; Isaiah 40:30 - 31 (KNJV) Revelation 5:13
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Today is Thursday, January 7th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4379
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Some words of wisdom Mother Teresa taken from her "Heart of Joy":
"May the joy of our risen Lord be your strength in your work, your way to the Father, your light to guide you and your bread of life."
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"Prayer unites us with Christ. Simply open your hearts to him. Also, simply accept what he sends you. With a big smile, generously give him what he asks of you, God will do he rest, never fear."
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"Christians are the light for everyone else, for the whole world. If we are Christians, we must look like Christ. We must be like him."
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"We have been created to live in peace. Jesus became man to bring that good news to the poor. Being God, he became like us in every way except sin. And he proclaimed clearly that he had come to bring good news."
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Today is Friday, January 8th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4380
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Sometimes things happen in our lives we don't like.
I enjoy repeating this verse:
"Why be discouraged and sad?
Hope in God!
~ Psalms 42:5 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "The writer of this psalm was discouraged because he was exiled to a place far from Jerusalem and could not worship in the Temple.
"Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God's goodness to his people. This will take your mind off the present situation and give hope that it will improve. It focuses your thoughts on God's ability to help you rather than your inability to help yourself. When you feel depressed, take advantage of this psalm's anti-depressant. Read the Bible's accounts of God's goodness and meditate on them."
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Today is Monday, January 11th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4381
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I will be away from my computer for several weeks. Expect the next Karen's Korner on Tuesday, January 26. Stay safe and warm!
"Bless the Lord, the God of Israel, Who exists from everlasting ages past -- and on into everlasting eternity ahead. Amen and amen!
~ Psalm 41:13 LAB
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BIBLE COMMENTARY: "The book of Psalms is divided into five 'books' (this is the end of the first book), and each one ends with a doxology or an expression of praise to God. The first book of the psalms takes us on a journey through suffering, sorrow, and great joy. It teaches us much about God's eternal love and care for us and how we should trust Him even in the day-to-day experiences of life."
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Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You that You are a big God; one we can trust no matter what comes our way. Thank You that Your love and care spans over eons of time. Thank You that You never change. Help us to believe You more; to trust You more. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Today is Wednesday, January 27th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4382
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gmerwin3376@charter.net; Joan Norem <jnorem@yahoo.com>; Rhonda Benton <rhondabenton7@gmail.com>; Sadie Sorensen <sassy23@ganiowa.com>; randjarends@frontiernet.net
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Today is Thursday, January 28th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4383
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Thanks for being faithful readers of Karen's Korner! To God be the glory!!
"That God is one one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving His life for all mankind."
~ 2 Timothy 2:5 LAB
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Bible Commentary: "We human beings are separated from God by sin, and only one person can stand between us and bring us together again---Jesus, who is both God and man ----Jesus' sacrifice brought new life to all mankind. Have we let Him bring us to the Father?"
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Father God in Heaven, thank You for what You did for us. Something we could have never done for ourselves. You knew we needed a Savior - to save us from ourselves-----and for eternity. Help us to climb into Jesus' arms today and let Him carry us. Amen.
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Today is Friday, January 29th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4384
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Ever get tired of
this crazy mixed up world. God knew and knows. That is why He is getting us
ready for the next one!
What a Savior!
By Anne Graham Lotz
"He came to His
own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received
Him, to them He gave
the right to become
children of God."
~ John 1:11 & 12 NKJV
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"God left His
throne at the center of the universe. He set aside His glory, and He humbled
Himself as He took on human flesh.
He came to His own - those whom He had created for Himself - but they didn't
receive Him.
"They contradicted His Word.
They challenged His authority.
They denied His claims.
They questioned His motives.
They mocked His power.
They rejected His person.
"And God in Christ submitted Himself to their slapping, spitting,
mocking, taunting, flogging, and stripping then allowed them to nail Him to a
cross where He gave His own life as a sacrifice for their sin. And mine. And
yours. His own death satisfied His own judgment for sin, and we are saved.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!"
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Today is Saturday, January 30th, 2021; Karen's Korner #4385
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Last night I watched the ;Sights & Sounds' production of "Noah", at a friends home. The two-hour stage production was shown on TBN (Turner Broadcasting Network).
"Sights & Sounds" company is known for their stage productions of different Bible stories (i.e. Sampson, Esther, Jonah). And they are fabulous. They have two theatre locations. One in Pennsylvania and one in Branson, Missouri. I know people from here who go to Branson, have it on their 'must see' list when they are there. I have not seen one of them in person, but they'd have to be wonderful!
If you missed watching 'Noah" on TBN last night and you'd like to see it, you might try this. Go to https://watch.tbn.org/videos/noah-feature to watch it on the TBN website this weekend. It is free, but does require an account It appears to just require name, e-mail address and making a password.
Hope that it works for you!
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