Everyone knows of the story of Cinderella and home the Prince rescued her from her dismal existence. She went from sweeping the floors of her surroundings. Going to the ball. Enjoying the evening with the Prince. Losing her slipper on the way home. The Prince pursuing her and them, eventually going back to the palace together.

Who doesn't like such a love story? And the 'happily ever after' ending?

As we begin the new year, it is another opportunity to revisit God's Love Story and His 'happily ever after' ending.

He has sent His Son, the Prince of Peace' to earth to rescue each of us. All of us! From our 'less than the best existence'. Showing us the way. His Way. And giving us His Love and Care. And unlike the Cinderella, we don't have to 'fit the slipper' in order to be 'the one' chosen! We can have size 4 or 15 shoe size and still be taken with the Prince to His "Castle". Not just for our earthly existence. But His 'Forever' home. Into eternity!

"My purpose is to give life.
And give it abundantly."

~ John 10:10

***

Sometimes the news and current events can discourage us.

But God tells us to 'remember the hope of the resurrection' (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 18).

Here is a list of the events of Christ's return:

1) Christ will return visibly with a mighty shout.

2) There will be an unmistakable cry from an angel.

3) There will be a trumpet fanfare such as has never been heard.

4) Believers in Christ who are dead will rise from their graves.

5) Believers who are alive will be lifted into the clouds and meet Christ.

Bible Commentary:  "Because Jesus Christ came back to life, so will all believers. All Christians, including those living when He returns, will live with Jesus forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. For God will turn our tragedies to triumphs, our poverty to riche, our pain to glory, and our defeat to victory. All believers through history will stand reunited in God's very presence, safe, and secure. As Paul (writer) comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure one another with this great hope."

**

I am doing something today that I have never done before. I am repeating Karen's Korner from Wednesday, January 1.

I re-read what I sent that morning and there were several words which were typed there in error and it made no sense. A group of friends had celebrated bringing in the New Year together (I hadn't even drank pop!). Didn't get home until after midnight and I couldn't fall sleep. Last time I looked at the clock it was 3:15 a.m.! I typed and read the entry, and evidently read words that I wanted to be there, but weren't!

So here we go again:

Everyone knows of the story of Cinderella and how the Prince rescued her from her dismal existence. She went from sweeping the floors of her surroundings. Going to the ball. Enjoying the evening with the Prince. Losing her slipper on the way home. The Prince pursuing her.  The lost shoe fit! Then, eventually going back to the palace together.

Who doesn't like such a love story? And the 'happily ever after' ending?

As we begin the new year, it is another opportunity to revisit God's Love Story and His 'happily ever after' ending.

He has sent His Son, the Prince of Peace', to earth to rescue each of us. All of us! From our 'less than the best existence'. Showing us the way. His Way. And giving us His Love and Care. And unlike the Cinderella story, we don't have to 'fit the slipper' in order to be 'the one' chosen! We can have a 4 or 15 shoe size and still be taken with the Prince to His "Castle". Not just for our earthly existence. But His 'Forever' home. Into eternity! 

"My purpose is to give life.
And give it abundantly."

~ John 10:10

***

"Don't long for
'the good old days,'
for you don't know
whether they were any
better than these!"

~ Ecclesiastes 7:10 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "The 'good old days' are easy to talk about, but they may never have existed. Sometimes we remember only the good things about the past, forgetting that those days also had problems. Instead of living in the past, we need to decide to live for today; living in such a way that we will look back on today as one of the 'good old days'."

*

My commentary:  "The 'good old days' wouldn't have been totally good for our family. Health conditions needing medical attention - surgeries and modern medicines - wouldn't have been possible in those days. 'These days' are better for us than then!

*

Dear God,
Thank You that 
You have everything
under Your control.
Thank You for today,
because You add to 
each of our days 
and make all
of them - Good!
In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

Today's 'korner' is taken from "365 Days of Prayer for Women" by Stephanie Sample. It talks a lot about 'abide'. One of the definitions of abide is to 'remain faithful'.

ABIDE IN ME

"Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you,
unless you abide in me."

~  John 15:4 ESV


"Lord Jesus, I can't understand why I sometimes try to do things apart from you. Only bitter, unripe fruit comes from those efforts, yet I seem to forget this over and over. And you seem to forgive me just as often. You are so patient with me as I struggle to make my own way, knowing full well that to abide in you is the only way, Jesus, keep me close, Remind me how much I need you when I start to think I can do it on my own. The fruit that comes from a life with you is the sweetest taste I've known, and it's the only way I want to live."


ARE WE ABIDING IN GOD ALONE?

***

This is yesterday's email from Anne Graham Lotz and her AnGeL ministry. She is Billy Graham's daughter so she doesn't have a care in the world. Does she?

Life-Giving Power

"Your word has give me life."

~ Psalm 119:50 NKJV

"Sometimes when we are depressed, we feel lifeless. It's hard to get out of bed in the morning. We seem to have no energy to do even the most routine functions. If you are depressed by the greatness of your problems, read God's Word! That's where you find help. That's where you find joy. Let the rushing waters of the living Word drown out all other sounds and voices. There is life-giving power in the Word of God!

"At the most difficult times in my life -- the loss of a baby, the forced removal from a church, the execution of a friend, the robbery of our home -- God's Word has sustained me. There have been times when I have only been capable of reading a few verses at a time, yet the supernatural life-giving power of the Word of God has not only helped me maintain my emotional and mental balance, it has given me strength to go on, even if only one day at at time."

***

There is no mail delivery in the United States today.

Post offices across the country are closed in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, as we celebrate the life of the100-year-old, at today's funeral services.

People may debate how good a president he was or wasn't, but four years does not describe Carter's entire life.

Many people probably most identify the ex-president with Habitat for Humanity. "Humanitarian', a person involved with or connected to improving people's lives and reduce suffering, might best describe Carter and his wife Roselynn.

The tax-exempt, non-government group began in Georgia in 1968 and now operates in 70 countries, working to build affordable housing for others. As with any agency, Habitat for Humanity is not without scandal or controversary in its more than 50 years of existence; probably due in part to 'people' being involved.

The Carters became involved in 1984 and Jimmy continued his volunteer work into his 90s. Their efforts, under the name 'Carter Work Project' has built nearly 5,000 homes in 14 countries, using over 100,000 volunteers.

For that alone, Jimmy Carter can be remembered as living "a life, well lived"!

(I have taken my information from the internet,
if someone has read/learned other facts from 
other research, I apologize.)