"For the whole Law can be summed up in 
this one command:
'Love others as you love yourself'.
But if instead of showing love
among yourselves,
you are always critical and catty...
watch out!
Beware of ruining each other."

~ Galatians 5:13 - 15 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of believers is broken. Have we talked behind someone's back? Have we focused on others shortcomings instead of their strengths? We need to remind ourselves of Jesus' command to love others as we love ourselves. When we begin to feel critical of someone, we need to make a list of that person's positive qualities. And don't say anything behind his/her back that we wouldn't say to his/her face."

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Happy Mardi Gras day! 

We hosted a Mardi Gras four-course meal at our home for 12 people for 35 years! People we invited to come could only come one time. So we hosted lots of guests from our area over the years!

This is the second year we haven't had a party. If you are someone who came to eat with us, thanks for the memories!!

Today's Karen's Korner is from Anne Graham Lotz, in my inbox on March 1. Like yesterday, it talks about 'love'. You would think it was Valentine's Day; not Mardi Gras!

GRINDING OFF THE SHARP EDGES

"My command is this. Love each other as I have loved you."

~ John 15:12 NIV

"In the Old Testament, the meal offering consisted of fine flour that was ground to powder by being placed in a round hole, where it was grated by a square pestle. The flour was then mixed with oil which represented the Holy Spirit. The oil and flour, thoroughly mixed together and offered to God, was a picture of a totally consecrated life.

"Sometimes God puts us with someone whom He uses to grate us. For instance, perhaps you are very generous with your money, and you are married to someone who is so careful, he or she is almost stingy. Or perhaps you are very quiet, and God has put you on a committee with someone who talks nonstop. Or worse, perhaps you are a nonstop talked and you are on a committee with another nonstop talker! Instead of avoiding those with whom we are incompatible or just tolerating them, Jesus commands you and me to love them. And as we obey His command, He will use that person to grind off our sharp, impatient, un-Christlike edges."

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A Bible verse as we ready ourselves for Easter coming:

"But the fact of the matter is that it is best for you that I go away, for if I don't, the Comforter won't come. If I do, he will---for I will send him to you."

~ Jesus speaking to his disciples, John 16:7 LAB

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Bible Commentary: "Unless Jesus did what He came to do, there would be no gospel. If He did not die, He could not remove our sins. If He did not die, He could not rise again and defeat death. If He did not go back to the Father, the Holy Spirit would not come. Christ's presence on earth was limited to one place at a time. His leaving meant He could be present to the whole world through the Holy Spirit."

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"Long ago, before He made the world,

God chose us to be His very own,

through what Christ would do for us;

He decided then to make us holy in His Eyes,

without a single fault---

we who stand before Him covered with His Love.

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into Him own family

by sending Jesus Christ to die for us.

And He did this because He wanted to!"

~ Ephesians 3:3 - 5 LAB

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Bible Commentary on these verses:  "Paul said, 'God chose us,' to emphasize that salvation depends totally on God. We are not saved because we deserve it, but because God is gracious and freely gives it. We did not influence God's decision to save us; He did it according to His plan. Thus there is no way to take credit for our salvation, or to find room for pride. The mystery of salvation originated in the timeless mind of God long before we existed. It is hard to understand how God could accept us, but because of Christ we are holy and blameless in His eyes. God chose you and me, and when we belong to Him through Jesus Christ, He looks at us as if we have never sinned."

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This is today's Max Lucado. "Seeing with Different Eyes" and it talks about 'vengeance'. It's a 'get even' world in which we live.

On the news this morning, I saw a brawl taking place by parents at a high school ball game. It ended with both teams forfeiting their playoff game and brawl participants being banned from sporting events until 2026.

Max tells about how to handle such events. It becomes our choice.

SEEING WITH DIFFERENT EYES

"See your enemies not as failures, but as God’s projects.

"God occupies the only seat on the supreme court of heaven. He wears the robe and refuses to share the gavel. Paul wrote in Romans 12:19 (MSG) ,'Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.’'

 "Vigilantes displace and replace God. They say, 'I’m not sure you can handle this one, Lord. You may punish too little or too slowly. I’ll take this matter into my hands, thank you.'

"No one had a clearer sense of right and wrong than the perfect Son of God. Only God assesses accurate judgments. Vengeance is his job. Give grace, but if need be, keep your distance. You can forgive the abusive husband without living with him. Forgiveness is not foolishness. Forgiveness is simply choosing to see your offender with different eyes."

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For fun. Sayings in the OUR IOWA magazine, issue February/March 2025. Side Notes in the vertical margins of some pages:

"Others will follow in your footsteps
quicker than your advice."

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"Real friends
are those who when you have made
a fool of yourself,
don't feel that
you've done
a permanent job."

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"A boss is someone
who is early when you are late.
And late when you are early.

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"A people without the knowledge
of their past history,
origin,
and culture
is like a tree
without roots."

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"Never put both feet in your mouth
at the same time,
because then you 
won't have a leg to stand on."

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"The impersonal hand of government
can never replace
the helping hand of a neighbor."
~ 31st President
Herbert Hoover,
born in West Branch, Iowa.

*
"A grouch is a person
who can manage to find
something wrong
even with the good old days."

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(FYI - I will be away from my computer next week. Look for the next Karen's Korner on Monday, March 24!)

Have you ever noticed that sometimes certain verses or chapters in the Bible are 'better' at times than others? I think it has to do with what is happening to us as readers at the time.

I am really enjoying venturing through Ephesians right now. Here is a verse from chapter 4:

"Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best?
It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for him,
building up the Church, the body of Christ, 
to a position of strength and maturity."

~ Ephesians 4:12 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "God has given his church an enormous responsibility--to make disciples in every nation. This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building, and many other tasks. If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we might as well give up without trying---it would be impossible. But God calls us as members of his body. Some of us can do one task; some can do another. Together we can obey him more fully than any of us could do alone. It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do by ourselves and to underestimate what we can do as a group. The truth is just the opposite. Alone, we are quite ineffective. Together, as the body of Christ, we can do far more than we would ever dream possible."

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Back after a week away! 

Readers know that I am a Bible reader. But as we were traveling light, I didn't take my heavy Bible. Instead I took a small book by Max Lucado titled "Everyday Blessings", a 365 day devotional. A Christmas gift from a friend. But I didn't read it as a 'once a day dose'. I read it  instead as a book to be devoured.

I like many to most of what Max writes. But I really liked the February 27 entry:

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

~ John 1:14 NKJV

"Jesus was touchable, approachable, reachable.

"He was the kind of fellow you'd invite to watch the Rams - Giants game at your home. He'd wrestle on the floor with your kids, doze on your couch, and cook steaks on your grill. He'd laugh at your jokes and tell a few of his own. And when you spoke, he'd listen to you as if he had all the time in the world.

:"And one thing's for sure, you'd invite him back."

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Our Sunday School class at church is spending a few weeks looking at Jesus' last days on earth. We are going from Palm Sunday through Easter.

Sunday we looked at Thursday before Good Friday.  A portion of our time, we studied John chapter 17; the entire chapter is Jesus praying. He prayer for himself, verses 1 - 5; for His disciples, verses 6 - 19. And Jesus prayed for future believers, verses 21 - 28.

He knew what was coming ahead for Him, but He was praying for us! Amazing!!

"I am not praying for these alone, but also for future believers who will come to me
because of the testimony of these.
My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, 
just as you and I are, Father--
that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us,
and the world will believe you sent me."

~John 17:20 & 21 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Jesus prayed for all who would follow Him, so He was praying for us and others we know. He prayed for unity, protection from Satan, and for purity. Knowing that Jesus prayed for us should give us confidence as we work for His Kingdom."

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A friend was our substitute ecumenical Bible study leader yesterday morning. She told that her word for the year was 'trust'. Among other things, she read from a boxed graphic in her Bible titled "Seven Reasons Not To Worry". They are found in Matthew 6:25 - 34.

They are good, so here you go:

"The same God who created life in you
can be trusted with the details of your life."

"Worrying about the future hampers
your efforts for today."

"Worrying is more harmful than helpful."

"God does not ignore those who depend on him."

"Worry shows a lack of faith
and understanding of God."

"There are real challenges God wants us to pursue and worrying keeps us from them."

"Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry."

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