First day of May! Lots of things to celebrate in the month of May!!

Here is yesterday's "365 Days of Prayer for Women" by Stephanie Sample:

WHERE YOU ARE

"Where two or three are gathered in my name,
there Am I among them."
~ Matthew 18:20 KJV

"Jesus, you said you'd be there when we come together in your name, and you are! There is something so beautiful about a friendship based on faith, something so sacred about gathering for the purpose of pursuing you. I feel you, Lord, when I am with my brothers and sisters in Christ. What a gift! God, I love to meet with people who adore you. I know you must love it, too, because you are always there. There's a love intrinsic to Christian friendship that could only be from you: it transcends age, economics, and worldly interest; it goes straight to the heart of things, which is where we find you."

"Isn't it wonderful that Jesus said he would be with us when we gather together in his name?"

***

Yesterday was my birthday! May 3, I turned 80!

I recalled a birthday with our older daughter, Jamie, when she turned 3 on January 29. She had a good time celebrating the day! When she went to bed that night, she just could not sleep; nor settle down. I finally decide to get her from her bed and brought her back downstairs to rock and cuddle a bit.

As we rocked, I said to her, "Jamie, are you afraid to go to sleep because you might go back to being 2 tomorrow?"

She nodded her head and teary eyes, "Yes!”

"No, Jamie," I said. "You will still be 3 tomorrow. The next day and the next day. All this coming year!"

She settled down and fell asleep in my arms! She was ready to move on from being 2!

Even if you missed my yesterday's birthday, I am still 80 today! and a tomorrow, and ..........

*

A copied note in one of my birthday cards:

RECIPE FOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

A Poem by Helen Steiner Rice

Take a cup of kindness,
mix it well with love,
Add a lot of patience
and faith in God above....
Sprinkle very generously
with joy and thanks and cheer,
And you'll have lots of 'angel food'
to feast on all the year.

****

I started reading the book Joel yesterday. My Bible is pretty marked up, so I saw a note that said I had used some of the writing on April 18 of 2017.

It sounds so much like today, which only means not much changes under the sun!

So I am sharing what it said at that time:

Today is Tuesday, April 18th, 2017; Karen's Korner #3537

Most people who know me have heard me say, "I am a Bible reader; not a Bible scholar." I don't know if I have ever read the Bible clear through from cover to cover or not. Since it is 66 books put together under one cover, I tend to pick a book. Read it. Then move on to another book. Some books (i.e. Psalms) I have read more often than others (i.e. Numbers).

For a personal reason, today I decided to start reading the small book of Joel from the Old Testament. It made me think that it sounded like today's (or any day's) news!

Here are a couple of paragraphs which introduced the writings:

"A single bomb devastates a city and the world is ushered into the nuclear age. A split atom reveals power and force such as we have never seen. At a launch site, rockets roar and a payload is thrust into space. Discoveries dreamed of for centuries are ours as we begin to explore the universe.

"Volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, hurricanes, and tornadoes unleash uncontrollable and unstoppable force. And we can only avoid them and then pick up the pieces.

"Power, strength might---and we stand in awe of the natural and man-made display. But these forces cannot touch the power of omnipotent God. Creator of galaxies, atoms, and natural laws, the sovereign Lord rules all there is and ever will be. How silly to live without Him, how foolish to run and hide from Him; how ridiculous to disobey Him. But we do. Since Eden, we have sought independence from His control, as though we were gods and could control our destiny. And He has allowed out rebellion. But soon 'the Day of the Lord' will come."

*

According to the 'PURPOSE for the book of JOEL': 

 "To warn Judah (and us!) of God's impending judgment because of their (our) sins and to urge them (us) to turn back to God."

*

While it is important to pay attention to the news, buy insurances, and know how to protect ourselves from natural disasters, how much wiser to know and understand God and His awesome plans for each of us as His Children. Why is it important? Again taken from the introduction to Joel:

"God is the one with whom we all must reckon--not nature, the economy, or a foreign invader. We can't ignore or offend God forever. We must pay attention to His message now, or we will face His anger later."

*

Thank You, Father, that You have everything under Your control. That You love us and desire to take care of each of us forever. You have awesome plans for those of us who choose to accept Your love and those plans. Lead us. Guide us. Direct us. You can do a better job than we can do on our own. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Monday's Max Lucado emailed to me:

JESUS WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART

“The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes. Not so with God’s love. He loves you right where you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. And so he cleanses us of filth:  immorality, dishonesty, prejudice, bitterness, greed. He wants us to be just like Jesus. Isn’t that good news? You aren’t stuck with today’s personality. You are tweakable!

“Where did we get the idea we cannot change? Why do we say things such as, ‘It’s my nature to worry,’ or ‘I’ll always be pessimistic; I’m just that way,’ or, ‘I have a bad temper; I can’t help the way I react.’ Who says? If our bodies malfunction, we seek help. Shouldn’t we do the same for our hearts? Can’t we seek aid for our sour attitudes? Of course we can! Jesus wants to change our hearts. Can you imagine a better offer?”

**

I am continuing my reading, going through 1 Corinthians chapter 12. And today's reading for me, just happens to be chapter 13, the Love Chapter. Just in time for Mothers' Day. I love it when God does that for me. For us!!

Often at weddings, and sometimes at funerals, Here are a couple of verses and commentary on them. Just in case you could 'feel' more loved this morning, accept the kind of Love that God gives!

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost."

~ I Corinthians 13:4 - 7 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  "Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward to others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This love is not natural. It is possible only if God supernaturally help us set aside our own desires and instincts, so we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus the closer we come to Christ, the more love we will show to others."

***

Today's entry from my flip calendar "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" by Sarah Young:

"THANK ME FOR YOUR PROBLEMS.
As soon as your mind gets snagged
on a difficulty,
bring it to Me with thanksgiving.

Then ask Me to show you
My way to handle the situation.
The very act of thanking Me
releases your mind from its negative focus.
As you turn your attention to Me,
the problem fades in significance
and loses its power to trip you up.
Together we can deal with the situation,
either facing it head-on
or putting it aside for later consideration.

"Most of the situations that
entangle your mind
are not today's concerns;
you have borrowed them from tomorrow.
In this case, I lift the problem out of today
and deposit it in the future,
where it is veiled from your eyes.
In its place I give you My Peace,
which flows freely from My Presence."

~ Taken from Philippians 4:6; John 14:27

**

Scribbled in the margins of my Bible(near Acts 28) and shared with my Sunday School class yesterday. This is something taken from a television broadcast on May 18. 2012:

"Prayer is the transference of a burden.
Sheep (which Jesus calls us!) do not carry burdens.
If we pray we leave the burden there.
If we still have the burden,
all we have done is griped!"

****

Today’s Karen’s Korner is by Max Lucado from several weeks ago. His are always good and relatable to many, most, all of us!
 

WHERE GRACE ABOUNDS

 
“If hurts were hairs, we’d all look like grizzlies! So many hurts. When teachers ignore your work, their neglect hurts. When your girlfriend drops you, when your husband abandons you, when the company fires you, it hurts. Rejection always hurts. People bring pain. Sometimes deliberately, sometimes randomly. So where do you turn? Hitman.com? Jim Beam and friends? Pity Party Catering Service? Retaliation has its appeal, but Jesus has a better idea.

“Grace is not blind. It sees the hurt full well. But grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more. Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) urges us to, ‘See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.’ You see, where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds. But where grace abounds, forgiveness grows. Forgiveness may not happen all at once. But it can happen with you.”

***

I like my LAB (life Application Bible). A gift from my Aunt Helen years ago, it is the Living Bible with commentaries at the bottom of each page. While I like the Bible verses, more meaning is added in the commentary sections.

Here is a verse by Paul (writer) to the church in Corinth. He is saying his goodbyes to them in some of the final verse in 1 Corinthians 15.
 

“So, my dear brothers,
Since future victory is sure,
Be strong and steady,
Always abounding in the Lord’s work,
For you know that nothing
You do for the Lord is ever wasted
As it would be if there were no resurrection.”
~ 1 Corinthians 15:58 LAB
*

Bible Commentary on this verse:  “Paul said that because of the resurrection, nothing we do is wasted. Sometimes we hesitate to do good because we don’t see any results. But if we can maintain a heavenly perspective, we understand that we don’t often see the good that results from our efforts. If we truly believe that Christ has won the ultimate victory, it must affect the way we live right now. Don’t let discouragement over an apparent lack of results keep you from working. Do the good that you have opportunity to do, knowing your work will have eternal results.”

***

Here is today's writing by Max Lucado. I have a couple of friends who tell me, "You sure like Max Lucado!" I confess that I do. He tells things that are so 'basic'. Kinda like me!!

Today's was perfect for me! Yesterday, I learned a couple of things from friends that I didn't like to know. So I had a hard time sleeping last night. I hate that when that happens. Like what I now know, God can't handle!

I have learned a lot from God! I believe! But there is more for me to believe and know.........if I just let Him!!

LEARNING TO LISTEN

"I believe we can learn to listen to God if we are equipped with the right tools. The first tool is a regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and in a corner of your world, and claim it for God. Take enough time to say what you want and for God to say what he wants.

"The second tool is an open Bible. Pray first, asking God to help you understand it. Study the Bible a little at a time. Read until a verse “hits” you. Then meditate on it and write it down.

"The third tool is a listening heart. We know we’re listening when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives. If you want to be just like Jesus, spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day, and then apply it."

***

I continue to celebrate my 80^th birthday. Yesterday we did Subway sandwiches for lunch with Marys and Marthas, an ecumenical group of gals from the Clarion area who meet together monthly. I was given a handful of birthday cards for the event.

One card I received from a friend which caused me to chuckle:

 
FOR YOUR
BIRTHDAY

Here’s a
BADGE!

You’ve earned
The RIGHT
To Wear….

 
Inside, the Badge said:
 

I’ve
SURVIVED
DARN
Near
EVERYTHING!
 
Happy Birthday!!

 
If we live long enough, that can be said for most (all?) of us! And how do we survive and learn to thrive, regardless of our situations? With God’s help! Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me.” He never intended to do life without His help. Help for yesterday. Today. And all of our tomorrows!!

Anybody tired of hearing about my birthday and celebrating for two months? Before the '80th Victory Birthday", I had told people that was going to have 24 parties in that time period. Why 24, you might ask? Because I had 23 when I turned 70!

Look out for #90! Whlle our family has longevity in it, those last few years for some......their minds slip. If I make it to 90, I might not remember who you are!!

I took a look at my 'birthday Karen's Korner' from ten years ago.

My friend Jayne Hanning, hosted a surprise birthday party for me in our Sunday School class.

Below is something she included:

KAREN

K - Kindness - "Be kind to each other...." - Ephesians 4:32a.

A - Always - "Always give thanks in everything......." - Ephesians 5:20a.

R - Rejoice - "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice." - Philippians 4:4.

E - Everlasting Life - "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16.

N - Never - "I will never, never leave you nor forsake you. " - Hebrews 13:5.

Thank you, Jayne!

Spring time brings new life and growing things! It is amazing that seeds lay dormant in their packets. And can for years! Not much happens in a bucket of water. Dirt is just sitting idly by! Put them together……and the magic happens!

It has been relatively dry in our area up until a few days ago. I had planted a number of kinds of garden seeds more than a week ago. Nothing happened! We need, and needed, the magic of water to be added to the seeds and the dirt.

Are you looking for a miracle? Look no farther than your graden! God has given the formula to make them grow and bloom.

Time to celebrate spring!!
 

"My work was to plant the seed in your hearts (Paul writer), and Apollos' (friend); work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts. The person who does the planting or watering isn't very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow."

~ 1 Corinthians 3:6 & 7 LAB

*

Bible Commentary:  God's work in the world involves many different individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superstars in the task, only team members performing their own special roles. We become useful members of God's team by setting aside the desire to receive glory for what we do. The praise that comes from people is comparatively worthless; invaluable approval comes from God."

***

I hadn’t looked at the small book titled “100 Things God Loves About You”, Simple reminders for when you need them most, for a long time. But I read a couple of them this morning.

Number 45 stood out to me as I read them. I had an encounter with ‘salt’ as I was doing some early morning baking today. Stay tuned, I will tell you about it in tomorrow’s ‘Korner’.
 

God Loves the Way You Flavor His World.
 
“You are the salt of the earth.”
~ Matthew 5:13
 

“A dash of salt can make all the difference in the flavor of a dish. And so it is with a dash of faith. It can make all the difference in the flavor of a life.
 
“A hope-filled note can brighten a hopeless day. A forgiving heart can lighten a heavy load of guilt. A kind word, a loving touch could be just the glimpse of Jesus that some lost soul needs.
“Wherever you go, whatever you do, whatever words you speak, season them with a dash of faith---because God loves the way you flavor His world.”
 
(Written by Tama Fortner)

***

Yesterday morning, I was making a pan of bars. Some for me; others to take a couple of places.

As I was adding ingredients, I needed baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Hmm, hadn’t checked expiration dates for a while. Baking powder was good. Baking soda? Oops, date was about six weeks ago. But it didn’t say, 'expired'. Instead it said, “best if used by”, the printed date! I tossed it into my mixing bowl. And bought a new box when I went to the grocery store yesterday.

What about the salt? No dates on salt box! And since it is a ‘mineral’, it doesn’t expire!
Kinda like us as Christians. When we attach our lives to Jesus, no matter what happens today or tomorrow, we have no expiration date!

Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” A bit later in that same chapter, He says, “You are the light of the world.”

Prayer:
Lord,
Help us to remember who we are:
Salt and Light, because of You.
Help us to be both today,
As we go about our daily lives.
Thank You for trusting us so much!
We love You
And the difference
You make in our ‘salty’, forever lives.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

The list of cares from our this week’s prayer group meeting was long:  pending surgeries, diseases, ongoing health issues. And not just those who are older…..all ages! It can be overwhelming!
 
Today’s Bible reading is written by Paul. He sees our problems as temporary. And my Bible commentary sees them as ‘opportunities’. We need to focus on God, not so much as our troubles at hand.
 

"These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!  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 4:17 & 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."

 
****

It's Monday and Memorial Day!

A good to celebrate and remember; all the men and women who have served in our military. Giving their time, their hearts, and sometimes their lives!

This morning I heard a commentator say, "Where would we be if young men and women were not willing to sign up to serve our country in the military?"

Here are the words to "God Bless America" written at the turn of the 20th century by Irving Berlin:

GOD BLESS AMERICA

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."

**

Any of us living today, at times wonder about 'terrorist attacks'; either here and someplace else in the world. But the biggest terrorist attacks we may have are 'fears' inside our own minds; many of which will never become realities.

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation;
He protects me from danger----whom shall I fear?"
~ Psalm 27:1 LAB
*

Bible Commentary:  "Fear is a dark shadow that envelops us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves. Each of us has been a prisoner of fear at one time or another---fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertainty, sickness, or even death. But fear can be conquered by the bright liberating light of the Lord who brings salvation. If you want to dispel the darkness of fear in your life, remember with the psalm writer that 'the Lord is my light and my salvation'.

***

Yesterday's Max Lucado:

THE OUTLOOK OF CHRIST

"Jesus said, 'Your eyes are windows into your body.  If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.  If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar.'

"In Gethsemane, Jesus faced betrayal on all levels.  The disciples ran away.  The people rejected him.  And God didn’t answer his anguished appeal to avoid “the cup of suffering.” So, what did Christ do? He found enough good in the face of Judas to call him friend, and he can help us do the same with those who hurt us.  He found purpose in the pain, seeing it as a necessary part of God’s greater plan.

"Wouldn’t you love to have a hope-filled heart?  God never promises to remove us from our struggles.  He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them."

***

I have African violets, known to grow very well! I’d like to tell you I know how to overly care for them. I don’t. They just grow really well! Over time, the two I have near my kitchen windows are overgrown and need to be transplanted and divided in ‘new’ plants.

A number of months I did just that. My two violets turned into seven total. With the shock of the transplant, they look just terrible. At first, it appears they are going to die. But then, they come back and thrive. All but one of them were in pretty good-sized containers. The smaller one, I put into a smaller pot.
I am giving all the extras to friends.

Several days ago, I gave the smaller violet to a friend, telling her that if she wanted it to get bigger, she needed to replant it  into a bigger pot. Roots reflect the size of the plant above the ground. Roots given the space to ‘breathe’ produce bigger plants.

Could the same be said about us? If we are rooted in God’s Love, are we given the opportunities to ‘grow’ and ‘bloom’ in many areas of our lives?

“Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.”
~ Colossians 2:7 LAB
 
****

Taken from tomorrow’s, May 30, writing by Sarah Young and her “Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace In His Presence”. Something that I needed to hear and be reminded.
 

“Time with Me cannot be rushed. When you are in a hurry, your mind flitters back and forth between Me and the tasks ahead of you. Push back the demands pressing in on you; create a safe space around you, a haven in which you can rest with Me. I also desire this time of focused attention and I use it to bless you, strengthening and equipping you for the day ahead. Thus, spending time with Me is a wise investment.
 
“Bring Me the sacrifice of your precious time. This creates sacred space around you---space permeated with My Presence and My Peace.”

***

(I will be away from my computer for a few days. Karen’s Korners will resume on Tuesday, June 9!)
 
Today is June 1. It is our daughter Merry’s birthday. She would have been 53 today. Instead she is forever 26, the age she was when she was killed!
 
Indulge me, as her mom to share one simple ‘Merry Memory’.
 
One time when Merry was maybe in sixth or seventh grade, I came downstairs and saw that she had her trumpet in a dozen or more pieces, laying on towel on our kitchen table! She was just ‘cleaning’ it! “Don’t worry, Mom!” she said. “I can get all back together!” Which she did! That was just the first time I witnessed her tearing instruments apart and putting them back together. For friends. Some instruments had lots of pieces. No problem for Merry!

 *

 
Merry forwarded us all kinds of pass around emails. Every day! Since there would be another ‘batch’ tomorrow. I deleted many. Most of them! Luckily, I saved nine of them. Not knowing there wouldn’t be any more coming.
 
Here is one of the nine:
 

" THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE PARK " 

There was this little girl one day sitting in the park.
Everyone passed and never stopped to see why she looked so sad.

Dressed in a worn pink dress, bare foot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word.
 
Many people passed, but never did one person stop.  Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, in curiosity, to see if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very spot as she was yesterday, she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes.
 
Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.
 
As I got closer, I could see the back of the little girl's dress was obscenely shaped. I figured that was a reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help.  Having deformities was a low blow to our society and, "heaven help you" if you make
a step toward assisting someone who is different.
 
As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to
avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the obscene shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.
 
I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple "Hello".
 
The little girl acted shocked and stammered a "Hi" after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked till darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we at once were alone.
 
I asked the girl why she was so sad.  The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said, "Because I'm different." I immediately said, "That you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, "I know."
 
"Little girl," I said, "You remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She looked at me and smiled, slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"
 
"Yes ma'am, you're like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by." She shook her head yes and smiled, with that she spread her wings and said, "I'm your guardian angel, with a twinkle in her eye.
 
I was speechless...sure I was seeing things.  She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done."  I jumped to my feet and said, "Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?"
 
She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one that could see me, you believe, it's in your heart." And she was gone.
 
And with that my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you. Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you... make sure you send it back to the person who sent it to you, to let them know you're glad they care about you... like the story says, we all need someone. Every one of your friends is an angel in their own way.

***