"About four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them (his disciples), walking on the water! They screamed in terror, for they thought he was a ghost.

"But Jesus immediately spoke to them, reassuring them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said.

"Then Peter called to him: 'Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on water.'"

~ Matthew 14: 25 - 28 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Peter was not testing Jesus, something we are told not to do. Instead he was the only one in the boat to react in faith. His impulsive request led him to experience a rather unusual demonstration of God's power. Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. Then his faith wavered when he realized what he was doing. We may not walk on water, but we do walk through tough situations. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without looking to Christ for help, we too may despair and sink. To maintain our faith in the midst of difficult situations, we need to keep our eyes on Christ's power rather than on our inadequacies."

***

"About four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them (his disciples), walking on the water! They screamed in terror, for they thought he was a ghost.

"But Jesus immediately spoke to them, reassuring them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said.

"Then Peter called to him: 'Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on water.'"

~ Matthew 14: 25 - 28 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Peter was not testing Jesus, something we are told not to do. Instead he was the only one in the boat to react in faith. His impulsive request led him to experience a rather unusual demonstration of God's power. Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. Then his faith wavered when he realized what he was doing. We may not walk on water, but we do walk through tough situations. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without looking to Christ for help, we too may despair and sink. To maintain our faith in the midst of difficult situations, we need to keep our eyes on Christ's power rather than on our inadequacies."

***

"Lord, 
don't let me make a mess of things.
If you will only
help me
to want Your will,
then I will follow Your laws
even more closely."

~ Psalm 119:31 & 32 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Our lives are cluttered with rule books, but the authors never come with us to help us follow the rules. But God does. This is the uniqueness of our Bible. God not only provides the rules, and guidelines, but comes with us personally each day to help us live according to those rules. Of course, we must invite Him to do this. Do we??"

***

This week and in the next couple of weeks, it is 'back to school' for many students in lots of levels of education. I received an email from the National Day of Prayer organization.

President Amy Parks invited me to join her in this prayer. I am inviting you as well:
 

I have a little coaster which has a slogan on it, which causes people who read it to smile:

Jesus
Loves You...
But I'm
His
Favorite.

It should say:

Jesus
Loves You.......
And 
We Are
ALL
His
Favorite.
*

Our church has different worship leaders each Sunday. One guy almost always picks: "Jesus Loves Me" (by Anna B. Warner) as one of his hymns for the congregation to sing:
 

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.

Today's entry from "365 Days of Prayer for Women" by Stephanie Sample:
 

DISTANT MEANING

"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

~ 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV


"Lord, everything you do is on purpose, and all you allow has purpose. As I seek your grand intention  for my life, that thing only I can bring to the earth, help me to remember there is meaning in the here and now. Whatever dark corner I find myself in, you have called me to shine your light. Pull my focus out, Father. The darkness is everywhere, but it diminishes the moment I cast your reflection. Keep my eyes on the light, God, especially when purpose and meaning seem distant. Bring Value to my waiting by letting me bring light to the room in which I wait."

"Does purpose and meaning for your life seem distant?"

***

Currently the ecumenical Bible study of which I am part,  is using "Draw the Circle:  Taking the 40-Day Prayer Challenge" by Mark Batterson. Each day we have a topic, a takeaway, a Bible verse, and three questions.

Join me in today's entry:

Day 14:

Speak to the Mountain

Key Takeaway: Quit talking to God about your problems and start talking to your problem about God.

Read Matthew 17:20:

"Because of your little faith," Jesus told them,
"For if you had faith
even as small as a tiny mustard seed
you could say to the mountain,
'Move'
and it would go far away.
Nothing would be impossible.'"

One of our three thought questions:

"What are 'mountains' in your life that you need to have removed?
What does this verse say
about God's ability to handle those problems?""

***

As Jesus was making His final journey before His crucifixion, He prayed for His disciples. Here is a portion of His prayer:

"My plea is not for the world
but for those You have given Me
because they belong to You. 
And all of them, since they are Mine,
belong to You;
and You have given them back to Me
with everything else of Yours,
and so they are My glory!"

~ John 17: 9 &  10 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Jesus said that His disciples are His glory. What a fantastic truth, that Jesus glories in us and that our lives can bring Him joy. Are we living in a way that brings Him Joy? Does He glory in us?"

*
I had marked in the margin of my Bible on
July 14, 2005:

"Wow! 
What Jesus thinks about us!"

Today is the first day of school for the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Schools.

Last Sunday, six churches in town organized a 'prayer night'. People could drive by each church to pick up prayer information. Or walk by. Or stop and pray at the various churches. Or school buildings.

My friend and I drove by and got the information. She 'prayed' the prayers as we drove to the next church. I have the six sheets on my kitchen table and have prayed them aloud, one at a time during this week.

Topics are:  middle school; high school, staff, administrators, general others (counselors, nurses, para), and the biggest number of people - elementary students. I am including that information in today's Karen's Korner. For your different school districts, change the name:

CGD Elementary School

"God you alone are all-powerful, all-knowing, and are present everywhere, and we worship you alone.
We are so grateful for your love and care
for our community & schools.

Safety:
"We praise you because you are our source of security. You are out shield (Psalm 18:2), our refuge (Psalm 46:1), and our defender (Psalm 68:5). We pray for your protection over our school buildings, grounds, and our youth. We pray that any type of illegal activity such as drugs, violence, etc. would be completely blocked from entering our school grounds. We ask for protection over students as they use media/technology, protect their minds and hearts from those who would do them harm. We also pray for our youth in their homes. Lord rescue those who may be in danger and bring them to safe people who will love and care for them>

Respect and Value:
"We praise you for your creation. Each one of your children have been made in your image and has intrinsic worth and dignity (Genesis 1;26-27), and are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). We pray that everyone will be respected and valued as they walk through these doors.

New Students:
"We lift up those who are new to the Elementary school, and those who are starting preschool, prep-K, or Kindergarten for the first time. We pray for your peace to cover each student and for fellow students to be compassionate and kind.

Comfort & Care:
"Lord, you are the source of all comfort and care (2 Corinthians 1:3, Psalm 145:8-9). We pray for those who are struggling with food insecurities, physical and/or mental health. Lord, may they be reminded of your love & care for them. We also pray for support services to help in these areas.

God's Light:
"We praise you God for you are light (I John 1:5-7), and your son Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12). Lord, we pray for your light to fill every part of the elementary school and that those who follow you will share your light to others and glorify your name (Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:14-16). Lord, we also pray for those who do not know you and would come to know you as Lord & Savior of their lives. (John 1:12, John 3:16-18 Colossians 2:6-7).

"We ask all these things in Jesus name, amen!!

***

Today's entry from Sarah Young and her "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence":

"Trust Me in the midst of a messy day. Your inner calm---your Peace in My Presence---need not be shaken by what is going on around you. Though you live in this temporal world, your innermost being is rooted and gounded in eternity. When you start to feel stressed, detach yourself from the disturbances around you. Instead of desperately striving to maintain order and control in your little world, relax and remember that circumstances cannot touch My Peace.

"Seek My Face, and I will share My mind with you, opening your eyes to see things from My perspective. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid. The Peace I give is sufficient for you."

~ John 16:33; Psalm 105:4; John 14:27

****

I am continuing my journey through reading the book of John. I have finished with Jesus' teachings and am coming into his arrest and crucifixion.

"Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, Mary, his aunt, the wife of 
Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside me (John, writer), his close friend, he said to her, 'He is your son.'

"And to me he said, 'She is your mother!' And from then on I took her into my home."

~ John 19:25  -  27 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Even when dying on the cross, Jesus was concerned about his family. He instructed John to care for Mary, his mother. Our families are precious gifts from God, and we should value and care for them under all circumstances. What is there that we can do today to show our love to our family members?"

*******

Today's Anne Graham Lotz email in my inbox: 

The Joy of Working Together

I am really enjoying our ecumenical Bible study "Draw the Circle:  The 40 Day Prayer Challenge" by Mark Batterson.

An opening paragraph "Find Out about Prayer" says, "In 1953, a Princeton doctoral student asked Albert Einstein a question, 'What original dissertation research is left?' I'm intrigued and inspired by Einstein's answer: 'Find out about prayer.'"

I am sure Einstein's math and science mind had a hard time with the concept of prayer.

I also have to admit that I could be a more faithful and consistent pray-er. But this study is helping to open my eyes and heart.

What is the significance of '40 days'? I don't know but there are a lot of 40s in the Bible: 'raining 40 days and nights with the story of Noah; Jesus spending 40 days in the desert after His baptism by John; 40 years of the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness before making their way back home'.

Yesterday's study talked about two types of requests to God:  ASAP - as soon as possible- and ALAT - as long as it takes.

One of  the questions was, "Did you have a parent or grandparent who prayed for you?" I don't know if I did or not but I know my mom's mom, Grandma Merwin, was a prayer. She had 15 children and 39 of us grandchildren. 

And the ALAT prayers don't have to be for children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren we currently have. They can be 'future' relatives we haven't even met yet!

Father God in Heaven, 
we ask You to take care of us today,
and tomorrow and into generations yet to come!
Bless our children,
our grandchildren,
great-grandchildren,
and those well into the future.
We want all of them to come to You
and enjoy You and for You to take them into Your loving arms and guide all of us
into Your eternal home in heaven.
In Jesus' Name Who Made All of This Possible,
Amen.

***

Entry #88 from Tama Fortner and her '100 Things God Loves About You":

GOD LOVES THE WAY YOU LISTEN.

"My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them,
and they follow me."

~ John 10:27

"Listen......did you hear that? Not the roar, not the rush, not the bullying, shouts and screams of the world. But that? That still, small voice? That's Him---it really is. The Lord God of all, Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah-jireh is speaking to you. Yes, you.

"And because you are His, you know His voice. So you stop. You drop to your knees, even if it's only in your heart, and you listen. 'Be Still,' He says, 'and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10). He loves the way you listen.

***