Month: December 2016

Scripture for Thursday, December 29 (12/29)

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The scripture for today, December 29, is Deuteronomy 12:29 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-cover-kindle-new-medium“The Lord your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess.”

Why would a good God drive people (the Amorite nations) from their own land so that other people (the Jews) could live there? Way back in Genesis 15, God promised Abraham that his descendants would possess the land he lived in as a wanderer, but first they would be enslaved in a foreign country some 400 years. During that time they would multiply. Indeed, they did grow from 70 of Abraham’s grandchildren to over three million.

Then it would be time for his descendants to possess the land. Why so long in the future?  Verse 16 explains it: “For the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” God always gives people plenty of time to repent and change. Now God was using the Jews to punish the Amorites.

The Jews did finally possess the Promised Land, but God warned them, “If you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you” (Leviticus 18:28). Indeed, they did eventually defile the land with their own sins, so several centuries later, they were dispossessed and forced to go to Assyria and Babylon by their conquerors.

Yes, God keeps his promises ~ to both good and bad. Today, regardless of the condition of the nation we live in on earth, let us look ahead to that even better promise of an even better land ~ that spiritual Promised Land ~ heaven. And it will be forever good.

#Promises, #Punishment, #PromisedLand, #Heaven

Scripture for Wednesday, December 28 (12/28)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Heaven, Inspirational, Saved from hell, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 28, is Hebrews 12:28 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

CHANGES IN WORSHIP-COVER-KINDLE“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

Notice this is in present tense. The kingdom is not something in the future, but is now.

Jesus said in Luke 9:27 that some listening to him would still be alive when the kingdom came. Colossians 1:13 says God HAS (not will) rescued us from the dominion of darkness and BROUGHT (not will) us into the kingdom.

In fact, at the end, Jesus will not come back to earth to set up a kingdom. Instead, he will at that time hand the already-existing kingdom over to the Father (I Corinthians 15:24).

So what does this mean to us? Revelation 1:5-6 says that all who have been freed from our sins by the blood of Jesus have become a kingdom of priests. And as such, we daily offer our bodies as living sacrifices in the service to our king (Romans 12:1).

Christians have dual citizenship. Christians are citizens of the earthly nation they live in, and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. What glory God has already bestowed upon us.

So let us be thankful, and worship Him with reverence and awe.

#Kingdom, #Church, #DualCitizenship, #Priests

Scripture for Tuesday, December 27 (12/27)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, Inspirational, judging, persecutionLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 27, is 1st Kings 12:27 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

PAUL COVER-KINDLE-“If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah.”

For centuries and millenniums, kings selected a patron god for their nation, a god they most revered to protect them. The patron god was selected by the king. Nations were always ruled by either a high priest or king. Some nations even had priest-kings.

So, when Constantine conquered much of Europe and set up his empire, he needed a patron god. One day during a battle, he looked up and saw a cloud formation that reminded him of things he’d heard about Jesus. So he made Jesus his patron God, and Christianity his empire’s required religion. He even rode his army through rivers, then declared them baptized. He ordered conquered peoples to be baptized or killed.  Headquarters was Rome.

Luther was friends of the Duke [king] of Germany, so when he broke off from Rome, the official state religion became Lutheranism. John Calvin was in the government of Switzerland, so when it broke off from Rome, the official state religion became Calvinism. When the king of England broke off from Rome, he became head of the Church of England (and Prince Charles is head of the Church there today). John Knox was influential with the parliament of Scotland, so his Presbyterianism became the official religion of Scotland.

In each instance, the king or parliament could force its citizens to follow the chosen religion of that nation. If people didn’t, they could legally put them in prison, torture them, and execute them at will. And sometimes they did just that.

Eventually, the idea of separating religion from the state government became popular. And that is where many nations are today. But it does not mean people in government cannot express religion. It just means they cannot force citizens to be a particular government-selected religion or be in danger of punishment. That is true “separation of church and state”.

#Government-Religion, #SeparationOfChurch&State, #Martyrs

Scripture for Monday, December 26 (12/26)

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The scripture for today, December 26, is John 12:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BOOK 2-DREAM MAKER-COVER“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Who or what are you a servant to or even slaves to? Power in a workplace, club, congregation, neighborhood? Prestige in a community, an occupation, an organization? Self-indulgence of money, music, entertainment?

While you are pursuing things in life, is Jesus there with you? Are you doing what he would do? Dare to be a servant only to the power of Jesus’ love, prestige only in the eyes of God, self-indulgence only in the joy of worshiping Him. In this only is there true and enduring honor.

#Power, #Prestige, #Self-Indulgence, #Slavery, #Service, #Honor

Scripture for Sunday, December 25 (12/25)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, good works, healing, Inspirational, judgingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 25 is Proverbs 12:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

000-BOOK 1-STAR SONG-PRINT COVER-Small“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

Yesterday, did you see anyone sitting alone looking downcast? Go back there today. S/he may not be there, but someone else may be. It may be a gathering place for the lonely, the discouraged. Smile at them and whisper, “Jesus loves you.” Have a conversation with them and show them they are worthy of your time.  Listen to them. Share with them.

Do you periodically see “beggars” at a certain location? They may squander donations or use them to buy food. Either way, being a beggar isn’t people’s life’s goal. You do not know their story. Everyone has a story. Their hearts are anxious about something.

Give them a little change, maybe wrap it in a verse from the Bible.  Ask them if they have family and if their family would accept them back. If so, encourage them to “go home.” Tell them you will pray for them. Smile at them, and whisper, “Jesus loves you.”

Today, do you know of a place where travelers usually stay or gather? Are any of them there today, stranded and cannot get home? Go there, prepared to give each of them something special, or even invite them to your home for a Christmas feast.

Jesus encouraged and helped the downhearted. So can we. Dare to be a star shining on them in their darkness. Dare to show Jesus to the downhearted.

#Downhearted #Discouraged, #Beggars, #Sharing, #Cheering, #Loving

Scripture for Saturday, December 24 (12/24)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, faith, healing, Holy Spirit, InspirationalLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 24, is Luke 12:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

In many nations right now, things are financially strained. Luxuries? No. To be able to live until tomorrow? Probably.

Which is more valuable? To impress men or impress God? A life dedicated to things impresses men. A life dedicated to doing good things impresses God.

Oh, Jesus. You had such a way of explaining the Father’s relationship God wants with us, his creation. He loves us so. Such love. Such undying, everlasting love.


PS ~ Those of you with children, and you cannot get them much for Christmas: Write IOU’s to them and put each one in a box. Wrap each with typing paper if you don’t have Christmas paper. And with a red or green crayon, draw a ribbon on top. What’s on the IOU’s? “One hour of coloring with you.” “One hour of playing ball with you.” “Three hours of hiking with you.” “Two hours of baking cookies with you.” Give yourself for Christmas!

#Blessings, #Life, #Poverty, #Thanksgiving, #Christmas, #Peace, #Nations, #Government, #JoyAnyway #GiftOfLife, #Value, #HeavenlyFather

Scripture for Friday, December 23 (12/23)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, faith, good works, Inspirational, judging, prayer, Satan, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 23, is 1st Samuel 12:23 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:


HS-COVER-KINDLE-GOLD“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”

It’s a sin not to pray for others!

Do your prayers get bogged down in the mire of me’s? Do you wonder why you can’t pray for more than a couple minutes ~ five on a good day? Satan gets you to do this; he is the enemy of prayer because he knows how powerful it is.

Who is on your prayer list? Pray for people by name. Your neighbors. People you work with. Your government officials ~ both good and bad. People in a nursing home. People in your congregation. People in the military. People being persecuted, imprisoned and even killed because they are Christians. Missionaries. Children in an orphan home. Sales people at the store. Local school teachers.

Pray for 15 minutes a day. Half an hour. An hour. It’s oh so easy when we stop praying only for self and pray for others.

Pray for them by name. And tell them that you do. Some people have never been told, “I am praying for you”.

Let us not sin by praying only for “me”.

#Prayer, #Selfishness, #GoodWill, #Love, #Power

Scripture for Thursday, December 22 (12/22)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, healing, Heaven, Inspirational, Saved from hell, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 22, is 1st Samuel 12:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BOOK 3-HEARTS AFIRE-COVER“For the sake of his great name, the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.”

Amazing love of God. It pleases him to make us his own. It pleases him! 

We the lowly. 

We the weak. 

We the inconsistent. 

We the sinners.

Let us reply, “My soul is overwhelmed with joy.”

#LoveOfGod, #MercyOfGod, #GraceOfGod, #Sins

Scripture for Wednesday, December 21 (12/21)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn faith, Inspirational, persecution, prayerLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 21, is Matthew 12:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

000-BOOK 1-STAR SONG-PRINT COVER-Small“In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Revelation 21:2, 9, & 26 says something similar regarding the New Jerusalem which is the Bride of Christ which is the Church: “The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.”

The nation you live in may not be in good hands right now, or it may be thriving with high morals, or it may be diving into poverty. But your nation can hope ~ hope in Jesus, the Prince of Peace and King of kings.

Never lose hope. You are just one person, but there is great power in one. Jesus came to provide that hope. In your own way, in your own life, use your power of one. 

Show your nation how it can hope, how it can have glory, how it can have honor. 

#Nations, #Government, #Corruption, #Hope, #PrinceOfPeace, #KingOfKings, #Morality, #Poverty, #Faith

Christmas Books – budget wise

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Jesus is born into a violent world with skirmishes on the highways and fighting in the cities. Sometimes in desperation Joseph cries out, “God, help me protect our Son!”

Available for $3.99 on Kindle or various prices for paper at linked discount bookstore. Buy now for Christmas. Click here: http://bit.ly/2aUZlvchttp://bit.ly/2aUZlvc

8 Christmas gift books: THEY MET JESUS. Click here to learn more about this popular heart-warming series in adult’s, child’s and large-print versions: http://bit.ly/2hkde9ihttp://bit.ly/2hkde9i

Start with just the first book (the Christmas story) or buy all 8 at once.

Available for $2.99 each on Kindle, or paper for various reasonable prices at linked discount bookstore. Click link above.

The magi see the strange star and travel the world seeking its meaning from the gods. Finally, they give in to Michel and search the prophets of Jehovah. What happens after they see the child Jesus and return to Parthia?

Available for $3.99 on Kindle or various prices for paper at linked discount bookstore. Buy now for Christmas. Click here: http://bit.ly/2hFNbf8