Karen’s Korner

This is a weekly one minute video devotional to help inspire, engage and remind each of us of God’s presence and what He is able to do when we acknowledge his leadership in our lives. Many times, this devotional will be a resource for pastors, and leaders to use in the development of their sermons and Bible studies.

IN YOUR KORNER: 52 Weekly Devotional Thoughts by Karen Ming: Purchase on Amazon

ALWAYS WORTHY

We need to be reminded that we are always worthy in God’s eyes. His character goes into our creation.  When you feel worthless, remember our Master is at work in you. This should be our greatest thanks. Psalm 139: 14-16

  1. DELICATE AND INTRICATE. “You formed my innermost being shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside weaving them together in my mother’s womb.”  What a miracle.

  2. SKILLFULLY SHAPED. “Your workmanship is marvelous, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something woven in the dark of the womb.”  Thank you, Jesus.

  3. RECORDED AND NUMBERED. “Every day of my life was recorded in your book.” He saw who he created us to be even before I became me.

Maybe this is difficult for you to understand. Our God placed an eternal spirit inside the conceived child within the mother’s womb and sends a guardian angel to watch over him or her.

REFLECT:  Do you feel unworthy?

TRUTH: “God, it amazes me how thoroughly you know me.”

PRAY: Lord, help me understand I am worthy in your eyes.

NO ESCAPE

As a child did you ever disobey and knew you were caught? This sounds negative but there is good news to those who know and love God. God is omnipresent, ever present to care and love us. Psalm 139:7-12.

  1. ALWAYS PRESENT. “Where could I run and hide from your face? I can never escape from your presence.” Thank you, God.

  2. ALWAYS GUIDED. “If I fly into the shining dawn or sunset, you’re there waiting. Wherever I go, your hand will guide me.” What a promise. Thank you, God.

  3. ALWAYS EMPOWERED. “Wherever I go your strength will empower me.” We all need to be empowered. Thank you, God.

No matter what we do, or not do, and wherever we go, we cannot be far from God’s comforting presence. Maybe you feel alone. He is waiting to help you. No escape is our greatest praise.

REFLECT: Do you feel alone in your situation?

TRUTH: For your presence is everywhere bringing light into my night.

PRAY: I need to feel your presence, guidance and power.

GREATEST THANKS PART 1

Sometimes we don’t let people get to know us because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. God knows everything, and he accepts and loves us. Psalm 139:1-6

  1. EVERY MOVEMENT. “You know when I sit down or stand up, every movement of my heart and soul.” God thinks, sees and watches over us.  Thank you, Jesus.

  2. EVERY THOUGHT. “You understand my every thought before it enters my mind. You even know what I am going to say even before I say it.” Thank you, Jesus.

  3. EVERY STEP. “You know every step I will take before my journey begins.”  God knows, plans and guides our steps. Thank you, Jesus.

“Your hand of blessing is on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful and great for me to understand.” This is the inheritance of the children of God.

REFLECT: Do you need to increase your thanks?

TRUTH: “God, you’ve gone into my future to prepare the way.”

PRAY: Lord, help me to give you the greatest thanks.

I CAN DO IT!

Many times, we believe we can do what it takes to make life happen. Even in building our families and career, we try to manage our lives. Maybe you were never taught to rely on a God who has a plan for your future. In Psalm 127 King Soloman tells how to look at life.

  1. SENSELESS. “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” Life without God is senseless.

  2. USELESS. “It is useless for you to work so hard to just make enough.” All activities are futile unless God is in them.

  3. PROVISION. “God gives rest and provision to his loved ones.”  I trust Him each week to do these Karen’s Korner devotions.

We can make the mistake of leaving God out of our lives.  He is waiting to help us in all areas.

REFLECT: Are you trying to make life by yourself?

TRUTH: We must make God our highest priority and let him do the building of our lives.

PRAY: Lord, I need your help every day.

ONE IN MANY

Last night I woke up thinking of John 5. There were three Holy festivals and many people. But Jesus saw the one man who had been disabled and crippled for 38 years. He had lost hope. So, at the moment, I am speaking to people that have lost hope.

  1. THE PAST. “When Jesus saw him lying there, he knew that the man had been crippled a long time.” God saw you before you were born and knows all about you.

  2. THE PRESENT. “Do you want to be healed?” No matter how trapped you feel in your situation, God sees you.

  3. THE FUTURE. “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and your will walk.” Instantly the man was healed and began to walk into his future.

What a miracle, but he had to turn from his sins and seek forgiveness. God saw this ONE man and He sees you and is waiting to give you a miracle.

REFLECT: What do you need today?

TRUTH: “It was Jesus who healed me.”

PRAY: Lord, please touch that “one” today.

HELP ME LAUGH AGAIN

Life’s problems can drain us, and it makes our joy and laughter disappear. Psalm 126 is a celebration of the exiles return from captivity.  The times of grief will end, and He will bring that joy again.

  1. BONDAGE. “It was like a dream come true when you freed us from bondage and brought us back to Zion.” What do you need him to bring back in your life?

  2. LAUGHTER. “We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness and joy.” Our heavenly father wants us to laugh and have his joy.

  3. SONG. “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.” God will give you a new song.

God has the ability to restore life beyond understanding. Even grief is not a permanent condition. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy.

REFLECT: Do you need to laugh again?

TRUTH: God is the only one who brings good out of tragedy.

PRAY: Lord, help me trust you for true joy and laughter.

ON MY SIDE

If you have children who have played any kind of sports, you know how important it is to be chosen to be on the right side (team). Probably David wrote this after his defeat of the Philistines. Psalms 124 shows how thankful he was that God was on his side.

  1.  SWALLOWED UP. “If God was not on my side, our enemies would have swallowed us.” Have you ever felt trapped by overwhelming odds?

  2. SWEPT AWAY. “The waters would have swept us away, a torrent overwhelmed us.” We can feel we are drowning in our despair.

  3. DEFENDED. For the same God who made everything, our creator, he himself is our helper and defended us.

This Psalm shows how there is no hope without our God. He is always on our side, will defend us and no problem is beyond his ability to solve.

REFLECT: Do you know He is on your side today?

TRUTH: “The trap is broken, and we are free.”

PRAY: Help me to trust that You are on my side.

NEVER SLEEPS

Sleep can be a big concern. There are those who have trouble sleeping and those who can sleep anytime or anywhere. Maybe you are a mom with a tiny one and sleeping eight hours seems impossible.  And we know as humans we must have our sleep and rest. However, our God, never sleeps so he can take care of us all the time and anywhere. Psalm 121.

  1. TRUE HELP AND PROTECTION. “This comes only from the Lord who made heaven and the earth.” Sounds like He is capable.

  2. GUIDANCE. “He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.” What a promise!

  3. KEEPER. “God is my keeper; he will never forget or ignore me.”

Not only is our God always awake and alert, but powerful and watching over us. Nothing diverts or deters him as he watches untiringly over us.

REFLECT: Do you need this help?

TRUTH: “The Lord watches as you come and go.”

PRAY: Lord, thank you for watching over me twenty-four hours.

BREATHE LIFE

Have you ever felt like your life has been sucked out of you? Maybe you have given till it seemed there was no more to give.  Maybe there was something happened or a loss that you needed a transfusion of life. The writer in Psalm 119:153-160 describes how he felt.

  1. REDEEM ME. “Lord, look upon my misery, take my side and redeem me.”  There are times when we need total redemption.

  2. REVIVE ME. “Revive me just as you promised you would.”

From the beginning of time, our heavenly father has breathed life into his creation.

3. BREATHE INTO ME. “So, in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again.” 

Many times, we can feel, “I need my life back.” We have the precious Holy Spirit living in us and He can revive and refresh us.

REFLECT: Do you feel lifeless today?

TRUTH: Verse 156. “Lord, how great is your mercy, let me be revived.”

PRAY: Lord, I need that fresh breath of heaven to refresh my spirit.

ALL THE TIME

There are times I have lived from one difficult time “a disaster” to the next. But this will not last as we realize He is with us all the time coming to our aid. I have sent this scripture to people in distress. Psalm 119:145-152

  1. MORNING. “Before the day dawns I’ll be crying out for help. I put my hope in your words. I am not alone.”

  2. NIGHT. “I stay awake through the night thinking about your promises.” Instead of counting sheep we can thank Him for what he has done and will do.

  3.  ALWAYS. “God, you are near me always, so close to me. All your commands are true.”

We need to encourage ourselves when we feel God is far away or we are crying out for help. The writer says, “I know your love is real for me. Breathe your life into me again.”

REFLECT: Do you know he is always nearby?

TRUTH: Your word is established forever.

HIS SMILE

When you are in public, people can look so sad. People are busy, running here and there! I decided, “I’m going to smile at those I don’t know.” Maybe they need a smile. Can we imagine our Lord smiling at us? Psalm 119:129-136.

  1. BREAK OPEN. “Break open your word within me until your revelation shines out.” When we have an open heart, we get insight into his plans.

  2. TURN YOUR HEART. “Turn your heart to me, Lord and show me your grace.” We are saved by grace, but we can accomplish so much when we realize His grace gives us the power.

  3. SMILE. “Smile on me, your loving servant, look upon me with love, teach me your decrees.” He is loving and we can receive his approval.

We don’t realize the mercy and grace that is given daily. I believe He smiles as we obey him.

REFLECT: Do you need His special smile today?

TRUTH: Psalm 4:6 Let your face smile on us, Lord.

Pray: I need your smile in my life.

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