|
|
January 2023 Archives
Today is Monday, January 2nd, 2023; Karen's Korner #4821
|
|
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2023!!
A dose of God's love from Tama Fortner taken from "!00 Things God Loves About You: Simple Reminders for When You Need Them Most".
Number three:
"God love you,
even when
you're frazzled
and frayed."
"Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest."
~ Matthew 11:38
* "Already late and that tire couldn't be any flatter. Spaghetti sauce splatters on your favorite shirt. And that date? Well, yes.,....it was a definite disaster! When it feels as if your life is falling apart at the seams, run to God. Rest your world-worn and weary heart in His. When the computer crashes, when your patience is kaput, when it's simply been one of those days, remember God loves you........even when you're frazzled and frayed."
*******
|
Today is Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023; Karen's Korner #4822
|
|
Taken from Dr. David Jeremiah's booklet "5 Prayers for Living in Uncertain Times.".
Prayer #1:
A Prayer for Uncertain Times
"After thousands of years of history, Lord, our world should be better than it is.
Yet here we are, facing wars and rumors of war., nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
Famines. Pestilence, Earthquakes. Persecution.
False prophets deceiving many. Lawlessness abounding.
Love growing cold---just as Jesus predicted.
Jesus, who died for our world and will one day reign over its empires.
In His Name we ask:
May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
May Your Word spread among the nations.
May Your plan for history move along its preordained course.
May Your plan for history move along its preordained course.
And may Your Name be exalted from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
Give us leaders who fear You.
Give us missions instead of misery; hope instead of despair; food and water where there is hunger and thirst; peace where there is war.
Bring healing to the diseased and freedom to the oppressed. And hasten the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ
Amen,"
***
|
Today is Wednesday, January 4th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4823
|
|
" So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever."
~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 LAB
** Bible Commentary: "Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. Instead, we should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits:
* they help us remember Christ's suffering for us;
* they help keep us from pride;
* they help us look beyond this brief life;
* they prove our faith to others;
* they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his great power.
"Don't resent your troubles----see them as opportunities."
****
|
Today is Thursday, January 5th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4824
|
|
Today is a good day to see what Sarah Young with her "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" for January 5:
"You can achieve the victorious life through living in deep dependence on Me. People usually associate victory with success; not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about Me. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on Me.
"True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal. This begins your journey of profound reliance on Me. It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on Me. Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life, through deepening your dependence on Me."
~ Taken from Psalm 34:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5?17 (NKJV)
*******
|
Today is Friday, January 6th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4825
|
|
"God blesses those who ar kind to the poor.
He helps them out of their troubles.
He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them
and destorys the power of their enemies. He nurses them when they are sick
and soothes their pains and worries."
~ Psalm 41: 1 - 3 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "The Bible often speaks of God's care for the poor and his blessing on those who share this concern. God does not want the poor to suffer. God wants our generosity to reflect his own free giving as he has blessed us, we should bless others."
****
|
Today is Monday, January 9th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4826
|
|
On Sunday mornings when I make my seven-mile trek to Sunday School and church, I like to listen to Elvis radio. .
For three hours every Sunday, the station devotes its programming to Elvis singing gospel tunes. They tend to sound like they are from his heart.
Yesterday was his birthday. Elvis would have been 88, born in 1935
I couldn't help but think of how much God loved Elvis. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world (Elvis, me, you!) that He gave His one and only Son (Jesus), so that whoever believes in Him (Elvis, me, you!) should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Do I believe Elvis' behavior always matched his love for God? No! Neither does ours. Our list of things we could do better varies from one to another, but none of ours is good enough.
But God's love for each of us, never ends! We are loved!!
|
Today is Tuesday, January 10th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4827
|
|
"God's laws are perfect.
They protect us,
make us wise,
and give us joy and light.
God's laws are pure,
eternal,
just.
They are more desirable than gold.
They are sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
For they warn us away from harm
and give success
to those who obey them."
~ Psalm 19:7 - 11 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "When we think of the Law, we often think of something that keeps us from having fun. But here we see the opposite---laws that free us, protect us, make us wise, and bring joy and light. That's because God's laws are guidelines and lights on our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. They point at harm and warn us, then point at success and guide us."
***
|
Today is Wednesday, January 11th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4828
|
|
A second prayer by Dr. David Jeremiah taken from "5 Prayers for Living in Uncertain Times':
A PRAYER FOR STRENGTH
"Lord, I'm weak as water.
Remind me that Your Spirit is a river of strength,
continually flowing and flooding through me like a living current.
Give me strength through Your Spirit in my inner person.
Give me strength equal to my days.
Help me go from strength to strength in my pilgrimage to Zion.
Give me the fortitude to bear the burdens and finish the work of today.
Give me strength in body, mind, and spirit.
Empower me against temptation, discouragement, and frustration.
May I be stronger in patience, prayer , and testimony.
Today I claim the promise of Your words to me in Isaiah 41:
'Fear not, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
I pray in the strong name of Christ,
who strengthens m.
Amen."
****
|
Today is Thursday, January 12th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4829
|
|
From a recent Max Lucado inspirational thought into my computer's inbox:
LIFE OUT OF BROKEN THINGS
"The story of Esther dares you to believe that God, though hidden, is active. He brings life out of broken things. The apostle Paul wrote, 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose; (Romans 8:28).
"We know God works. He is busy behind the scenes, above the fray, and within the fury. He never stops working for our good. Not for our comfort, pleasure, or entertainment, but for our good. To do this he uses all things. God works, not through a few things or just the good things, but in all things. And he works for the good of those who love him. Good things happen to those who trust God.
"You are secure in the hands of a living and loving God."
****
|
Today is Friday, January 13th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4830
|
|
Yesterday's thoughts by Anne Graham Lotz:
Speaking Up for Jesus
"We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
~ Acts 4:20 NIV
"It seem like just yesterday that our youngest daughter, Rachel-Ruth, gave birth to our first grandchild - a little girl named Ruth Bell Wright. Since that very first day, my husband and I were totally enthralled with this little girl. She filled my heart, I couldn't help talking about her to anyone who would listen I wasn't afraid to talk about her. I didn't plan in advance how I would talk about her. I didn't worry about offending someone with my talk about her. I didn't go to classes to learn how to talk about her. I didn't read books on how to talk about her. I would just hug that little girl, feel her snuggle up against me, touch her soft cheek, and melt! Ruth Bell filled my heart! And still fills my heart now that she is a teenager. And what fills my heart comes out on my lips!
"Why do we seem to make speaking up for Jesus so complicated? If He fills our hearts, He is going to come out on our lips! Like Peter and John, we will not be able to help 'speaking what we have seen and heard' of Him."
***
|
Today is Monday, January 16th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4831
|
First eight verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 which we hear often at funerals plus the Bible commentary on them. Written by Solomon:
"There is a right time for everything:
A time to be born: a time to die;
A time to plant; a time to harvest;
A time to kill; a time to heal;
A time to destroy; a time to rebuild;
A time to cry; a time to laugh;
A time to grieve; a time to dance;
A time for scattering stones;
a time for gathering stones;
A time to hug; a time not to hug;
A time to find; a time to lose;
A time for keeping;
a time for throwing away;
A time to tear, a time to repair;
A time to be quiet; a time to speak up;
A time for loving; a time for hating;
A time for war; a time for peace.
~ Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "Solomon's point in this section is that God has a plan for all people. Thus, he provides cycles of life and work for us to do. But there are many problems we face that seem to contradict God's plan. These should not be barriers to believing in him, but rather opportunities to discover that, without God, life's problems offer no lasting solutions!
"Timing is important. All the experiences listed in these verses are appropriate at certain times. The secret to peace with God is to discover, accept, and appreciate God's perfect timing.
"When is there a time for hating? We shouldn't hate evil people, but we should hate what they do. We should also hate it when people are mistreated, when children are starving, and when God is being dishonored. In addition, we must hate sin in our lives (Psalm :5:5)."
**** |
|
|
Today is Tuesday, January 17th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4832
|
|
My thirteen-year-old dog, Rocky, has been part of our lives for more than a decade. He sleeps most nights in his 'pet taxi' and can be found enjoying a nap in it more than several times a day.
Whenever Rocky is going to go with me somewhere overnight, I pick up the 'taxi' and start my trek toward the kitchen door. He jumps off his current perk. Gets excited and heads for the door. He runs down the sidewalk ahead of me toward our waiting vehicle.
Where is he going? He doesn't know. He just knows he is going with me! Because of the length of our relationship, he trusts me!
As I watched him, a number of days ago, I wondered if I trust God as much. Because of my longer-term relationship with Him, do I get excited about the next 'trip; that I might be taken on....even when I don't know where we are going? Together?
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5b & 6: "Trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success."
Dear God,
I am supposed to be smarter than Rocky.
Help me to trust You completely,
the next time I am taken on a journey.
And I am not sure where we are going.
Help me to be as excited as Rocky is.
You have taken me on unknown journeys before and they have been more successful
than I could have ever dreamed.
This one will be, too!
In Jesus' Name.
Amen.
|
Today is Wednesday, January 18th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4833
|
|
From "100 Things God Loves About You: Simple Reminders for When You Need Them Most" by Tama Fortner.
Number 24:
God Loves Your Kindness
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers
and sisters of mine, you did for me."
~ Matthew 25:40
"He noticed, you know. What you did, He saw. What you said, He heard.
"You gave your lunch to that homeless guy, your time to that hurting friend. You stooped to lift up, you stood up for, you reached out a hand. You might not even remember it. It was just a little thing, a part of who you are because of whose you are.
"But it wasn't little to the one you stooped for, stood up for, reached out to. And it wasn't little to Him because it was really for Him. A gift of kindness from you to Him."
***
|
Today is Thursday, January 19th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4834
|
|
Yesterday's (January 18) entry from Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence":
"I am leading you along the high road, but there are descents as well as ascents. In the distance you see snow-covered peaks glistening in brilliant sunlight. Your longing to reach those peaks is good, but you must not take shortcuts. Your assignment is to follow Me, allowing Me to direct your path. Let the heights beckon you onward, but stay close to Me.
"Learn to trust Me when things go 'wrong.' Disruptions to your routine highlight your dependence on Me. Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far outweigh them all. Walk hand in hand with Me through this day. I have lovingly planned every inch of the way. Trust does not falter when the path becomes rocky and steep. Breathe deep draughts of My Presence, and hold tightly to My hand. Together we can make it!"
~ Taken from John 21:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Habakkuk 3:19
***
|
Today is Monday, January 23rd, 2023; Karen's Korner #4835
|
|
"If you wait for perfect conditions,
you will never get anything done."
~ Ecclesiastes 11:4 LAB
** Bible Commentary: "Waiting for perfect conditions will mean inactivity. This practical insight is especially applicable to our spiritual life. If we wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading, we will never begin. If we wait for a perfect church, we will never join. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. Take steps now to grow spiritually. Don't wait for conditions that will never exist."
***
|
Today is Tuesday, January 24th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4836
|
|
df
|
Today is Tuesday, January 24th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4837
|
|
Entry #26 of "100 Things God Loves About You" by Tama Fortner. "Simple Reminders for When You Need Them Most".
You can tell I like this simple book. Do we ever get enough of telling, or hearing, how much someone loves us. Or we love them. Same with God. Sometimes we are hard on ourselves. Or the world is hard on us and we get started believing wrongly about how God thinks about us.
GOD LOVES YOUR CONFIDENCE
"Being confident of this,
that he who began a good work
in you will carry it on
to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 1:6
*
"Okay............so maybe you don't always feel confident, but you can be. It's there for you, just waiting to be claimed. Not because of what you do, but because of what He did. Not because of who you are, but because of who He is. Not because of what you know or say, but because of who you know and what He promised.
"you are His. You may not have it all figured out, but He does. And He won't stop working on you until you are made complete in Christ. You can be confident in that."
***
|
Today is Wednesday, January 25th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4838
|
|
On Wednesday mornings, I attend an ecumenical Bible study. Usually we are given a Bible verse or two which we are to look at before each gathering.
Not for today. We were told to bring with us any verse or verses we like from the book of Proverbs. Lots of morsels in there.
I will keep you posted if there is one or some I like from today's discussion.
Here is a good one:
"Despise God's Word
and find yourself in trouble.
Obey it
and
succeed."
~ Proverbs 13:13 LAB
* Bible Commentary: "God created us, knows us, and loves us. It only makes sense, then to listen to his instructions and do what he says. The Bible is his unfailing word to us. It is like an owner's manual to a car. If we obey God's instructions, we will 'run right' and find his kind of success. If we ignore them, we are doomed to breakdowns, accidents, and failure."
***
|
Today is Thursday, January 26th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4839
|
|
Today's Max Lucado in my computer's inbox:
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
"'If you want to be perfect, then go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven' (Matthew 19:21). This statement of Jesus leaves the rich young ruler distraught. He thought heaven was just a payment away. You work hard, you pay your dues, and 'zap'—your account is paid in full. Jesus says, 'No way.'
"What you want costs far more than what you can pay. You do not need a system, you need a Savior. You do not need a resume, you need a Redeemer. For 'what is impossible with men is possible with God' (Luke 18:27). Don’t miss the thrust of this verse: You cannot save yourself. Not through the right rituals, right doctrine, or right devotion. You see, it wasn’t the money that hindered the rich man; it was the self-sufficiency."
***
|
Today is Friday, January 27th, 2023; Karen's Korner #4840
|
|
Today's "Joy for the Heart" from Anne Graham Lotz, in my computer inbox this morning. Have a great weekend!
THE GREATEST LIFE
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord."
"Who is Jesus? He lived two thousand years ago, in an obscure town, in an obscure country, during a relatively dark period in human history that was dominated by the Roman Empire. Yet He stands unequaled and unparalleled in the phenomenal greatness of His life as well as in the stunning impact He has had on history.
"As we look back over the past two thousand years, a handful of individuals seem to rise up from our history pages -- individuals whose lives or words or accomplishments impacted the entire human race for good or for or bad. Names like Julius Caesar, Martin Luther, Muhammed, Christopher Columbus, Adolf Hitler, Alexander Graham Bell, Jonas Salk, and Mahatma Ganhi come readily to mind. Yet I would heartily agree with Reynolds Price, who in the introduction to his Time magazine cover story on Jesus, wrote, 'It would require much exotic calculation . . . . to deny that the single most powerful figure-- not merely in these two millenniums but in all human history -- has been Jesus of Nazareth.' Amen!"
***
|
Today is Tuesday, January 31st, 2023; Karen's Korner #4841
|
Today's entry in "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" by Sarah Young:
"Worship Me Only. Whatever occupies your mind the most becomes your god. Worries, if indulged, develop into idols. Anxiety gains a life of its own, parasitically infesting your mind. Break free from this bondage by affirming your trust in Me and refreshing yourself in My Presence. What goes on in your mind is invisible, undetectable to other people. But I read your thoughts continually, searching for evidence of trust in Me. I rejoice when your mind turns toward Me. Guard your thoughts diligently, good thought choices will keep you close to Me."
~ Taken from Psalm 112:7; 1 Corinthians 13:11
*****
|
|
|
Today is Tuesday, January 31st, 2023; Karen's Korner #4842
|
|
Last ecumenical gals' Bible study, we were asked to share a favorite Proverb. There were various choices; here is a sample from several of them:
Kathy chose Proverbs 31:8 -
"You should defend those who cannot help themselves."
And her family bears it out in their volunteer efforts.
*
Jan read Proverbs 3:5 & 6 to which several nodded their agreement as a favorite -
"Trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success."
*
Mary chose Proverbs 19:21 -
"Men proposes, but God disposes."
*
Kay's pick was Proverbs 10:14 -
"Lazy men get poor; hard workers get rich."
*
DeAnn read Proverbs 29:25 -
"Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety."
***
|
|
