Restacking magazines in and around the end table beside my recliner chair, I had the opportunity to thumb through my book "100 Things God Loves About You" by Tama Fortner.

I have used a number of these for 'korners' in the past, but I thought today might be a good one for a reminder of 'one way' God loves you, and me!

GOD LOVES TO CALL YOU HIS OWN

"See what great love the Father
has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of 
God! And that is what we are!"
~ 1 John 3:1

"God love you. More than just a little. More than a lot. He loves you........lavishly. His love is not the strings-attached love of this world. It is a love that stretches beyond the stars and reaches far into eternity. Just call His name, reach out to Him--------and His love will sweep into your life, scoop you up, and whisper softly over and over, 'You are Mine,'.........for you are His very own."

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Our Sunday School class is beginning a study on what happened right after Jesus' death and resurrection. The disciples were charged with spreading Christ's message around the world.

Our memory verse for 5 of the weeks:

  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
~ ACTS 1:8

The study focuses on the 'power' and the 'Holy Spirit', which we also posses as Christians. and the work continues today. We have the same direction.

According to former area resident Dave Crozier, who recently passed away, here is our areas of influence:

 Jerusalem – our own family, friends, neighbors,
church family;
Judea – unknown people in our lives, people from around Iowa or our state of residence;
Samaria – different races, ethnic groups, maybe less like you/us;
ends of the earth – missionaries who accept the call, us wherever we might go outside of our normal travels.

Can I do better at that charge? Yes, making me aware is a good start. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit, like the disciples did.

Some of the SIDE NOTES, vertical sayings in the margins of the recent OUR IOWA magazine!

Enjoy and have a great weekend!!

"The need for connection and community
is as fundamental as the need
for air, water, and food."

*
"A hammer may miss its mark,
but a compliment never!"

*
"Be sure you put your feet
in the right place,
then stand firm."
~ Abraham Lincoln

*
"You know you are growing older
when you look forward
to a dull evening."

*
"They've perfected a 
self-cleaning oven.
When are they going to perfect
a self-cleaning garage?"

*
"Home is the nicest word there is."
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

*
"When you live with grace and gratitude,
happiness enters your life."

*
"There's nothing better than
a good friend,
except a good friend
with chocolate."

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Our Sunday School class is embarking on looking  at what happened right after Jesus' death and resurrection. The title of the 10-week series is "The Church Begins".

Yesterday's class was "The Holy Spirit Comes". 

I will have to admit I don't think a lot about the Holy Spirit. We tend not to talk about the his Spirit a lot. But we should. We enjoyed our discussion.

From some of our materials:

"The Bible teaches that everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ will be sealed with the same Holy Spirt Jesus promised to his apostles. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee to believers of the promised inheritance---that is, the glory of eternity with God in heaven. Every believer in Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit living in him (her). (John 14:17)"

"We need to be mindful that the Holy Spirit IS the third person (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) and that He IS indwelling each one of us who has turned from sin and trusted in Christ."

*
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your promises
to each one of us as believers.
Not because of anything we have done!
You are a Caregiver, Love-provider,
and All-in-All.
Amen.

""Pray much for others; 
plead for God's mercy upon them;
give thanks for all He is going to do for them.
Pray in this way for kings and all others
who are in authority over us,
or are in place of high responsibility,
so that we can live in peace and quietness, 
spending our time in godly living
and thinking much
about the Lord."

~ 1 Timothy 1:1 - 3 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:   "Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He has chosen to let us help Him change the world through our prayers. How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is reality. Paul (writer) urges us to pray for each other and for our leaders in government. Our earnest prayers will have powerful results.

"Paul's command to pray for rulers was remarkable  considering that Nero was emperor at this time. Nero was a notoriously cruel emperor. He needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64, so to take the focus off himself he blamed the Roman Christians. Persecution erupted throughout the Roman Empire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals. Social ostracism was widespread. When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers."

**

God, we pray today for our leaders. We pray especially for President Donald Trump
and his wife Melania; for Vice-president J.D. Vance and his wife Usha.
We pray for former President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill;
for former Vice-presidentor Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas .
For the UK royalty including King Charles III and his family.
We plead to You for your mercy upon each of them.
We give thanks for all You are going to do for, and through, each of them.
In Jesus, Name.
Amen.

***

I have a couple of friends who are in a Bible study at a neighboring church. They are looking at a Max Lucado book. I am not sure about the whole study but this friend was telling about UFOs. No, not the kind we normally talk about.

"Untruths
lead to 
False
narratives
which lead to
Overreactions."

We all know what Max is talking about!

We hear the sirens go. Your 16-year-old isn't home. Even though you live in a town of 100,000, you become convinced it is him. Or you have a pain in your left side. It must be the latest disease for which there is no known cure!

And the list goes on. We don't need to learn of terrorist attacks when they are going on inside our heads!

Instead, we need to change the 'mental channel' in our minds to God and what He has for us in that time or situation.

"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."

~ Proverbs 3:5 & 6 LAB

***

Yesterday we buried Clarion's long-time attorney Rich Bordwell. He had retired and sold his law practice about two months ago. Plus he wasn't that old!

So big funeral! He was a Catholic. My friend Florine Swanson was the lector for the service and emailed me one of her short readings for the funeral.

Even if you have no idea who Rich Bordwell might be nor what the book from the Catholic Bible is, it is a good reading!

We all have friends!

A Reading from the book of the Prophet Sirach
 
"Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;
whoever finds one finds a treasure.
 
Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
 
Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
Those who fear God will find them.
 
Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship;
For as they are, so will their neighbors be. 
 
The Word of the Lord"

***

It's Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Taken from a poster by 'Answers in Genesis':

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
(part 1 of 2)


OMNIPRESENT
Always present everywhere.


SOVEREIGN
In complete control of everything,
does all that He pleases.


GRACIOUS
Gives great gifts to His children,
even when they are not deserving.


LOVING
Always wants what
is best for His children.


MERCIFUL
Kind to those in misery;
withholds deserved punishment.


WISE
Does everything 
perfectly without
mistakes.


ETERNAL
Always was and
always will be.

***

Karen's Korner readers know that I am a Bible reader. I pick a book of the Bible; finish it and move on to another random pick.

I am  in the process of finishing 1 Timothy. And, as so many times the case, the reading hits at a perfect time. Chapter 5 and these verses talk about 'pastors'. Right time to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month:  October!

"Pastors who do their work well should be paid well and should be highly appreciated, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching."

~ 1 Timothy 5:17 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Faithful diligent church leaders should be supported and appreciated. Too often they are targets for criticism because the congregation has unrealistic expectations. How do we treat our church leaders? Do we enjoy finding fault, or do we show our appreciation? Do they receive enough financial support to allow them to live without worry and provide for the needs of their families? Jesus and Paul emphasized the importance of supporting ministers who lead and teach us."

**
Thank You, God,
for providing our churches
with leadership.
Thank You for people with hearts
to serve You and people in their lives, 
congregations, and communities where
each of them serve.
Help us to be more supportive
and less critical.
May more people of all ages be
attracted into the ministry and
care of people everywhere.
Thank You!
Amen.

****

Taken from a recent writing by Max Lucado and his book "Tame Your Thoughts".

It's titled "Christ Runs the Show". We might not always like the way things are going. But we have two choices:  let Christ run the show; or let us run the show. I choose to let (and believe) Christ 'runs the show'. He does a better job!

CHRIST RUNS THE SHOW

"'God raised Christ from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything.' (Ephesians 1:20-22 MSG).

"Christ runs the show. He has authority over the world, and he has authority over your world. Your date of birth, your date of death. Your mood swings, sleep patterns, eating habits, your salary. He’s never surprised, he’s never caught off guard. He’s never ever uttered the phrase,  'Now how did that happen?;

"Uproot your fear of pandemonium and replant the assuring promise: 'God makes everything work out according to his plan.' (Ephesians 1:11 NLT)."

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