Month: December 2014

STAR SONG:  Book 1 of SOUL JOURNEY WITH JESUS

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Lyrical Novel About the First Christmas0-COVER---Star-Song---flat

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IN PRAISE OF STAR SONG

JEAN WILLIAMS, AUTHOR contributor to eight book anthologies.  I got goose bumps and tears in my eyes. Fantastic!  I’m telling you this is pure genius. Katheryn Haddad’s book is breaking molds, and she may be a leader of this type of book.

MARY CHATHAM, AUTHOR of Secret Promise, Courtship of Miss Loretta Larson, Dream Bucket, and Abi of Cyrene: I’m awed by the author’s writing skill. It is evident that she is a seasoned writer with great talent. Katheryn Haddad delves into the inner thoughts of Mary and Joseph on a personal level. By including modern concepts with authentic details of New Testament times, she demonstrates the relevance of the events of Christ’s birth. The author tells the story of Jesus in such a way that those who may not know the details of the scripture will be lead to read the gospels and those who are Bible scholars will hunger and thirst for the insights found in Star Song.

ANNA GABOCZI EVANS, AUTHOR of Scorched Earth, Death or Matrimony, The Homesteader, My Tale of Hijabs, Witchcraft Circles, & the Cross: In Star Song, Katheryn retells the story of Jesus’ birth in poignant prose. The story starts with the birth of Mary and makes the reader feel the desperation of the Jews at that time as they were oppressed by Roman rule. Told in a refreshingly relatable way, you will worry with Mary as she arrives home from Elisabeth’s house to announce her pregnancy to her betrothed. And feel for Joseph as he is cut to the heart by his love’s apparent betrayal. A delightful read, Star Song will help you picture the Christmas story in a way you never have before.

ROGER BRUNER, AUTHOR of Impractically Yours, The Devil & Pastor Gus, Found in Translation & Lost in Dreams: This book is a fascinating and compelling combination of Bible facts, careful historical research, and stunning imagination. The present tense writing made me feel I was right there watching and listening to everything that was happening. The author has challenged me to consider many things I had never thought that much about before–how Mary felt about being pregnant with the Son of God, for example, and how God might have felt about choosing Joseph as His Son’s earthly father. Star Song has provided a real boost to my enjoyment and appreciation of what the Christmas season is really all about.

KIERSTI PLOG, AUTHOR of Beneath a Turquoise Sky and Remember the Wind: The first in an eight-volume series, Star Song is a beautiful walk through both the history and the heart of the coming of Jesus Christ to earth. Katheryn Haddad takes us into the inner journey of people present at His advent—Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon, Elizabeth, and others—and reminds us how they had much reason to doubt, yet chose to believe. I enjoyed the author’s imaginings of the various characters in this true story, but the way she brings to life the tumultuous historical context into which Jesus came touched me most. People just before the coming of Jesus must have felt the same, yet Star Song struck home to me that it is exactly in turmoil like this that God can and does do His greatest work…just not often in the way we expect Him to. Perfect for discussion groups and Bible studies, Star Song includes life application questions and a list of Scripture references at the end of each chapter. Read with an open heart, and be blessed.

SYLVIA NASH, AUTHOR of The Missing Calico and Benjamin’s Ghosts: Star Song presents the stories of the people in Jesus’ life in such a way that the reader cannot help but identify with them and cannot help but feel what they must have felt. It goes a step beyond that in the application sections, though, by encouraging the reader–young or old–to think on and then act on the messages that unfold along with the story.

KENNETH F. MADDOX, USN RETIRED: “It’s dynamite!”

CHERYL LEVERETT, REGISTERED NURSE: In similar style of her other books, Haddad transports the reader back to the first century with highly imaginative musings. Star Song starts with the life of Mary and gives us a glimpse of what it must have been like growing up Jewish in the first century. From wicked Kings to faithful Jews, we’re led to discover what it was like back then. Intriguing, Haddad develops the characters with lots of personal detail to give us insight into the earthly person and family of Jesus.

CLARE WALIGORY, CIVIL SERVANT, STATE OF NEW YORK: Star Song is a wonderful and delightful book about the birth of our Savior. The author has a unique style which makes the reader feel as though they are a part of the story. It can be understood and enjoyed by a wide spectrum of people. I highy recommend it for both young and old.

REVIS LEONARD, LEGAL ASSISTANT: I thoroughly enjoyed what the author did with this story. I found this book bringing to life the day-to-day emotions, doubts, trials, etc. that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and others faced during Jesus’ lifetime. In other words, the historical story became “real”. The Life Applications at the end of the chapters included thought-provoking questions. This well-written story in novel form and will appeal to a range of readers.  I will be recommending this book to my friends.

VALERIE CARAOTTA, MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: Star Song is a uniquely written book with simply you and I in mind and how we have questioned and wondered about many Biblical happenings. As you come aboard this Christmas story you are encouraged to think and dream outside the box. Enter Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah’s, Joseph’s and Jesus world and you will see characters come to life as never before. The uncertainties of tomorrow will intersect with confusion and rage, all wrapped up in a bundle of miraculous happenings. All events-raw and real.

DICK ELL, NEW AGE UNIVERSALIST:  The author has captured feelings that they must have had, and done it in a dramatic fashion. This is very interesting reading, capturing the fears, worries, doubts, obstacles in the lives of those that knew Jesus. Exciting to read. This is very good. She is a story teller and does it well.”

LINDA ASHLEY, LADIES RETREAT DIRECTOR, CANADA: I read it to the ladies…you could have heard a pin drop….I found myself pulled into it waiting breathlessly for the next sentence. It has all the earmarks of a great love story, with the beauty of the story of Christ, and the accuracy of the biblical perspective. What a treasure this will be to people everywhere.

LORI WOOTEN, LEGAL SECRETARY RETIRED: The author has done a fantastic job in this historical novel woven around the birth of Jesus. It gives historical credence to the major characters in the greatest drama ever played. It makes me want to look more into the historical background for the politics and events of the times. She made the greatest story come to life.

EDLYNN POWELL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER & REAL ESTATE AGENT: It didn’t take me long to become engrossed in the story. I began to feel the events surrounding Jesus birth and how his young parents must have felt and coped with the miraculous events. I hadn’t even thought much about the appearance and thoughts of all the people involved in Jesus’ birth, but they became real people. It was obvious how much research and preparation Karheryn put in to making this book as accurate as possible while making the story really come alive. I look forward to the other books that she plans to follow on all aspects of Jesus life.

VIRGINIA HELMDINGER, RETIRED IN FLORIDA: As I read this version of Jesus’ birth, I was touched by the unfolding events and awed by the author’s tremendous talent and ability to communicate so expressively. Such a moving expose.

           Come meet the people who met Jesus.  You are one of them  Probably you are several of them. Go ahead  and struggle with him as they did.  Laugh. Cry.  Do mental battle with him.  Emotional battle too.  Fight for your faith as they fought.  Pause to listen for what you’ve never heard before.  Then touch Jesus.

          This is the story of faith in the impossible.   Hope in the inconceivable.  Love for the invincible.  It is the dreams of youth, the desperations of infirmity, the hopes of age, and the song of eternity.

          Follow the suspense as each person in Jesus’ life comes to terms with who they are, and who Jesus is.  Jesus accepts them as they are.  But can they accept themselves as they are?  More than that, can they accept Jesus as he is?  Both God and man?  Both Creator and created?  Both King and servant?

          It is the story of doubts explained away, animosities melted away, misunderstandings cleared away.  It is your story and mine.  For deep within each of us is everyone who ever met and struggled with Jesus.        

BOOK 1:  STAR SONG. Mary was too young, Elizabeth too old, Joseph too gullible, the shepherds too smelly, Anna too senile, Simeon too idealistic, Salome too flippant.  The wise men should have minded their own business, Zachariah should have accepted he’d never have children.  King Herod dared control God, the Bible scholars dared interpret God.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, Daily, Inspirational3 Comments

The scripture for today, December 12 (12/12), is 2nd Corinthians 12:12 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

HS-COVER-KINDLE-GOLD“The things that mark an Apostle ~ signs, wonders and miracles ~ were done among you with great perseverance.”

This is so interesting. These are not things that mark Christians in general, but the Apostles.

Jesus told his Apostles that, when they taught the world about Jesus and baptized them, miracles and signs would accompany the believers (Mark 16:17). The miracles and signs followed conversions of believers by the Apostles to whom he was speaking.

Acts 3:6f and 9:40f involved healing by the Apostle Peter, and Acts 20:9f involved healing by the Apostle Paul which they performed to prove their words were the Words of God.

In Acts 6:5-6, the Apostles laid their hands on seven men to serve the church in a special way. Of those men, Stephen performed miracles (6:8) and Philip performed miracles (8:5-7), both to prove their words were the Words of God.

In Romans 1:1,11, the Apostle Paul said he wanted to visit the Christians in Rome so he could impart some spiritual gift. In 1st Corinthians 1:6-7 the Apostle Paul said he imparted spiritual gifts to Christians in Corinth.

We have no examples in the New Testament of anyone other than an Apostle passing on the power to perform miracles. Even the writings of the “Apostolic Fathers” in the late 1st and early 2nd century say things like “Even down to those times there were a few miracles being performed including raising the dead.”

Yes, the reason for the miracles was to prove the words of the miracle performer were the Words of God (which had not yet been written down). It was this way with Jesus, and this way with his Apostles. Now that we have the New Testament (Jesus’ and his Apostles’ teachings in written form) we no longer need the miracles.

They were “marks of an Apostle.” The miracles including, healing, renewing the maimed (making limbs grow back), and bringing people back to life. All of them.

Interesting, isn’t it?

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The scripture for today, December 11 (12/11), is Romans 12:11 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

HS-COVER-KINDLE-GOLD“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Sometimes we get physically tired and our spiritual zeal wanes along with it. We just want to rest. Well, while we rest, we can always become prayer warriors.

When you see friends, ask them, “How was your week/day/month?” Don’t ask them how they are, for they will probably reply, “Fine.” But if you ask how their week has been, that gives them something to talk about. They’ll tell you of things they have been doing. Regardless of what they say, reply, “May I pray for your success in….” or “I’d like to pray for your….”

What the world needs is prayer. Many people have never in their entire life heard someone tell them, “I am praying for you.” Be the first. Open up their lives to the love of God.

Prayer is powerful, especially when you are not praying for yourself all the time, but rather are praying for others. Do you have a prayer list? How many are on it besides yourself? Ten? Fifty? A hundred? Five hundred? Is that too many to cover? Not at all. How long does it take to read 500 names in earnest, sincere prayer?

You may say, “But just mentioning a name is so meaningless; it’s just too simple. God expects me to explain all I know about this person’s problem and then do some begging.” No he doesn’t; not with everyone. Prayer is so very, very powerful, that just mentioning a person’s name will bring this person before the very throne of God.

Then, even when you are tired and lack physical zeal, your soul can rise up with spiritual fervor to heaven itself.

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The scripture for today, December 10 (12/10), is Job 12:10 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Old Testament Scroll

Let’s talk a moment about teenagers. Many adults joke that their teen is 16 going on 60. In other words, they think they know it all, even more than their parents. Let’s look at the situation this way. They may have bodies that have grown to that of an adult. But minds grow much slower, and they must give their minds a chance to catch up!

As adults, it is our responsibility to help their minds catch up. Know enough about the Bible that you can apply scriptures to their activities and interests and friends. You may wish to make a list of your teenager’s activities, interests and friends, and then list a scripture next to each. Proverbs is an excellent book to start with. Then when the occasion arises, be ready (even if you have to sneak into the other room a minute to consult your list!) to instill some wisdom.

This way, it is not you speaking, but God speaking. God said, “My word will not return to me void” (Isaiah 55:11). And God is older and wiser than all of us.

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The scripture for today, December 9 (12/9), is 2nd Corinthians 12:9 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Cover-KINDLE“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Oh how much we need to be reminded of this scripture. We all have weaknesses. Do we lament the hand we were dealt? Do we lament the country we were born in, the family we were born into, the physical limitations we were born with, the mental, emotional or physical deficiencies we ended up with?

This is your chance! Those weaknesses! Go around others with the same weakness you have with joy in your heart, gladness on your lips and a continual gleam in your eyes! Let God’s strength shine in your weakness!

When people begin to sympathize with you, interrupt them and tell them how much God loves you, and how much God loves them! Encourage your “encouragers.” Let them go away from you with a new understanding of the blessings of weakness!

And perhaps be a little more thankful for their own weaknesses.

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The scripture for today, December 8 (12/8), is Ecclesiastes 12:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-COVER---Star-Song---flat” ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the teacher. ‘Everything is meaningless!’ “

About 20 years ago some Christians in England did a sidewalk survey in the downtown of a major city. One of their inquiries was: “What question about your life do you ask the most?”. The answer almost always was, “Why am I here? What is life all about?”.

The entire book of Ecclesiastes is about all the things that the richest and most powerful man in the world did in order to have an enjoyable and fulfilling life: He built mansions and grand temples, he cultivated great gardens, he brought in gold and precious stones and fabrics from around the globe, he had numerous wives and mistresses, he built the largest army and navy in the world, he studied every possible subject. At the end, he said it was all meaningless.

The meaning of our life is that we were born to die. This life is temporary. This life is the foyer of the life we will have eternally ~ a life in heaven or hell. We were not put here just to have fun, but rather to take as many people with us to heaven as possible.

How do we do that? By continually studying and following our manual the Bible that our Creator gave to guide us through this temporary life and into our eternal life ~ our final destination ~ and encouraging others to do the same. Then applying it to our everyday life. That is the meaning of life.

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The scripture for today, December 7 (12/7), is Luke 12:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

HS-COVER-KINDLE-GOLD“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus had just said that God knows every sparrow individually. Amazing! This God of ours, this Creator of ours knows everything that is going on in his world, and knows everyone in his world, regardless of where we are in the world.

Not only does He know everyone, but He knows our name, our likes, our dislikes, our struggles, our joys, if we bump into a door, how much we paid for groceries this week ~ everything. He is with us where ever we go. There is no place we can go that he is not there.

We are never alone.

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The scripture for today, December 6 (12/6), is 1st Corinthians 12:6 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Cover-KINDLE“There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

Later in this chapter, Paul explains, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (12:21f). He further explains, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body….” (12:13).

For ambitious people in the church who “fight” for position, this may be hard to take. The visible workers are dispensable, BUT those who do the seemingly menial works (the “weaker”) are indispensable ~ those who take food to the bereaved, who read the Bible to the sick, who clean the bathrooms, who daily pray for members and the lost, who give a tract to a friend, who share a bulletin with a neighbor, who send a thinking-of-you card to a lonely person, who mow the church building lawn, who watch the nursery, who periodically quote a Bible verse to a friend in distress ~ such works that are in the background are the ones that are indispensable.

To you who are jealous of people who get to have a more public position in the church and stand in front of the congregation and lead in doing various things, take heart. God is working just as much in you as them.

You may seem weaker to the others, but to God you are strong. God sees things that we do not. And rewards us accordingly.

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The scripture for today, December 5 12/5), is Psalm 12:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Cover-Bible Women-Createspace‘Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,’ says the Lord. ‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’ “

Notice, in this scripture the Lord says, “I will now arise.” Sometimes God needs us to endure difficulties so that bad people who cause such problems can be exposed for what they are, and ultimately so Satan can be exposed for what he is. Sometimes that difficulty will last months or years ~ sometimes even a lifetime.

I Corinthians 3:9 in the New Testament says we are workers together with God. Ephesians 6:12 says “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly [spiritual] realms.”

We are where God wants us to be. This is our assignment. Are we up to it? Sometimes our job is just to hang on and not give up on God. That’s what Satan is always trying to get us to do, just like he did Job in the Old Testament. God won’t leave us in a situation that is impossible for us to endure. I Corinthians 10:13 says, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

So, go ahead and groan in your weakness, but hang on. Never let go of God. That’s your part.

As soon as the evil around you is exposed for what it is, you have proven good cannot be conquered by evil, and you have grown spiritually as a result of your experience, God will then arise. That’s God’s part.

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The scripture for today, December 4 (12/4), is Isaiah 12:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Cover-KINDLE“In that day you will say: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.’ “

Do you make known to your part of your nation what God has done for you? When a friend tells you of a difficulty, do you share what you went through that was similar, and that God helped get you through it? Are you ready with an easy-to-remember scripture to prove God cares and God helps? When someone is sick or bereaved, do you let them know that God hurts just as much when they suffer as when he watched his own son suffer on the cross?

Look back over your life. Make a list of some difficult times you and God made it through. Find an applicable verse and memorize it. Find out what is going on in the lives of your friends, co-workers, neighbors. Then be ready to share your story and what God has done for you. It’s up to each one of us to do this. Thereby God’s name will be exalted.