Month: December 2019

They Rocked the Cradle that Rocked the World ~ forward

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn InspirationalLeave a comment
Front Cover-LgThumbnail
ONE LONE STAR
  • One lone star, enlarged with love,
  • Led the unknown way
  • To the Son who’d brought with Him
  • Hope’s redeeming ray.
  • Compel YOUR eyes to venture high
  • Above what seems so far.
  • Soar with Mercy’s omnipotence and
  • Dare to be that star.
  • Katheryn Maddox Haddad

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INSERT YOURSELF INTO THE STORY

Although the events take place shortly before and during the first century AD, this story is written to help you in our modern world identify with the characters who lived then. While true to the life of Christ in every known aspect, conversations often take a modern flavor as though the characters were speaking today. After all, did they not speak what was “modern vocabulary” in their day, even in the Aramaic language?

You will see places in the story where you are invited to participate either as an encourager or discourager of a character, as though you were there with them. This is your chance to become their friend. You will easily spot those places in the story. Instead of wondering who is talking, remember, it is you.

A NAY-SAYER ATTACKS THIS BOOK

The plot is all wrong. Who’d ever believe it?

Mary and Joseph? Nobodies. They think they have their lives together all figured out. They don’t. An interfering force is about to disrupt everything.

A wedding that will be the talk of the town? Definitely. They will have that all right. But not in the way they intend. Their wedding will be the gossip of the town. Albeit, holy gossip. Whatever that is.   

Instead of guests coming in from everywhere for the happy occasion, hardly anyone will attend. Instead of delight, there will be embarrassment. Talk of the town? Yes. But Mary and Joseph will wish everyone would just leave them alone in peace.

A moderate home in a moderate part of town? Not any time soon. They will be forced to go to their ancestral home at the other end of the country for a pointless census.

Then the military will go after them. They’ll have to escape to another country. It will be a long time before they can have that moderate home in that moderate part of town. What bitterness lies ahead for them.

How could Joseph go through with it in the first place? He’s stupid. Just plain stupid. Who would marry a woman who is already pregnant by someone else? That story she concocted about being impregnated by God. Where did she hatch that up? She needs a good head shrink. So does Joseph. What a weird pair. Maybe they deserve each other.

And that son of theirs. This is where the plot really gets bizarre and makes no sense. Their son is actually supposed to be God.

Now, let’s suppose for argument’s sake he really is God. It’s all wrong. Does he make his entrance as a grown man? No. He’s actually born. He makes his grand entrance as a mere baby. He takes all that unnecessary time to grow up.

Once he’s grown, is he a giant? Nope. He’s the same size as any other man. Shorter than some.

What about a ring of stars around his head to signify his divine station? Well, if not that, at least a halo. Where’s his halo? He has none. He claims it would detract from his divine mission. So, how is anyone supposed to know he’s God if he looks like everyone else?

He could at least fling lightning bolts at his mortal enemies. No way. Not this peculiar specimen of God. He flings words instead. What good is that?

All right, then. How about riding on the wings of a giant eagle as he goes around spreading those words? No way. Not that man—er uh God. He gets around like the mortals do. He walks or uses the same kind of transportation everyone else does.

Well, food. Ah yes, food. He could eat stones and wash them down with water wrung out from a couple of clouds. But no. He eats the same kinds of food everyone else does.

So here he is. He dresses like everyone else. He faces his enemy like everyone else. He gets around like everyone else. He eats like everyone else. No way is anyone going to believe he’s God

 He’s going to do everything wrong. It’s hard enough to believe in a divine eternal being. How is one supposed to believe in someone who looks and acts the same as them?

Poor Mary and Joseph. Especially Mary. What’s about to enter her life is at once myth and mystical and a great big hoax. And even though some people will eventually call her a goddess of some sort, some will call her son a devil.

But others will believe. They will actually believe this whole thing. They will stake their very lives on it!

Tuesday 12/10 ~ And soar to heaven itself

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, Daily, faith, family, healing, Inspirational, praise, prayer, rest, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

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

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Sometimes you get physically tired and our spiritual zeal wanes along with it. You just want to rest. Well, while you rest, you can always become a prayer warrior.

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 meaning-less; it’s 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 and soar to heaven itself.

.

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is the last of the inspirational TOUCHING GOD TRILOGY.  Each day you are given a suggested prayer of praise, repentance, and thanksgiving.  Your prayer requests are up to you.  Begin or end your day with special time with God, the lover of your soul. Great for Christmas, weddings, graduations, birthdays, promotions, retirements and other gift occasions.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2LHH8V5

.

.

#physicalweakness, #spiritualstrength, #prayer, #tired, #rest, #warriors, #silverwingedprayers, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Beginning tomorrow, free chapter a day from a Christmas book

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn InspirationalLeave a comment

Front Cover-LgThumbnail

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10, 

I will be posting one chapter a day from

THEY ROCKED THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED THE WORLD

concluding on December 21.

Day one will orient you and give you a chance to listen in on a naysayer who goes on a rampage about this book which s/he says is all wrong.  Why wasn’t he born a giant?

On the last day, you will listen in on that day thirty-three years later when resurrected Jesus appears to 500 people he’d met along the way and the little individual reunion he gives each one.  And surprise of surprises, one of the wise men is still alive and visiting Jerusalem. He is now old and doesn’t get around very well. But, oh, how he remembers that night long ago when he fell to his knees and worshipped the child, the God-King.

Star Chapter Logo

Monday 12/9 ~ God is so proud of you!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, attitude, blessings, discouragement, governments, Inspirational, joy, power, praise, problems, Thanksgiving, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

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

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Thumbnail“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. Everyone has weaknesses of some kind. Do you complain about the hand you were dealt? Do you lament the country you were born in, the family you were born into, the physical limitations you were born with, the mental, emotional or physical deficiencies you ended up with?

This is your chance! Your grand and glorious 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.

Lucky you! You are one of the chosen!  God will be glorified in you.  He is so proud of you!

.

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE was the grandson of King Saul crippled for life the day his grandfather and crown prince father, Jonathan, died.  Denied the throne at age 11 when his uncle, the last King of Israel died, his family sent him far away from the king’s enemies. Through the years, he avoided being killed by doing tricks upside down on his crutches. He successfully wooed a girl in Ur where they were first introduced to frisky camel rides and the unexpected.  An inspiring book for everyone who is handicapped.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/3518cGB

.

 

.

#handicaps, #crippled, #amputation, #crutches, #weaknesses, #badbreaks, #unfairness, #badgovernment, #poverty, #poor, #jobloss, #employment, #power, #Mefiboset, #Mephibosheth, #Saul, #Jonathan, #David, #enemies, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

 

 

Sunday 12/8 ~ The meaning of life

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, Daily, emptiness, eternity, faith, healing, Heaven, Inspirational, Loss, patience, rest, things, victoryLeave a comment

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

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail” ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the teacher. ‘Everything is meaningless!’ “

About thirty-five 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 palaces and grand temples, he cultivated great gardens, he imported tons of 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 your life is that you were born to die and walk through a gate. This life is temporary. It is your proving ground. This life is the foyer of the life you will have eternally ~ a life in heaven or hell. You were not put here just to have fun, but rather to live in the very presence of your Maker and take many people as possible with you to the home of God, your Maker, the Lover of your soul. That is the meaning of life.

.

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS contains daily excerpts from Proverbs plus one passage from Job, Psalm, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon.  This is one of three books in the devotional TOUCHING GOD SERIES. Original artwork on the covers and poetic font inside.  A beautiful gift book for Christmas and all through the year.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2rvxON8

.

.

#discouragement, #Christmas, #trilogy, #devotionals, #inspiration, #deathgates, #Job, #Psalms, #Proverbs, #Ecclesiastes, #SongOfSolomon, #yearly, #365, #whyamIhere, #meaningoflife, #inspirationalbooks, # katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

My Christmas Video

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn InspirationalLeave a comment

Christmas picture to click for video

Christmas Amazon Logo

4 Christmas Books ~ 1/2 price paper, 99c ebooks

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn InspirationalLeave a comment

CHRISTMAS Books-FBThey Rocked the Cradle that Rocked the World

Michael: The Fourth Wise Man

Joseph: The Other Father

Star Song (child’s)

½-price paperbacks, 99c ebooks FIRST CHRISTMAS books for the WHOLE FAMILY. BUY NOW at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Katheryn-Maddox-Haddad/e/B00MB5QL82

Saturday 12/7 ~ We are never alone

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, discouragement, emptiness, faith, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, judging, Loss, love, Scripture, truth1 Comment

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

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail“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, this soul-lover 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.

There are some two trillion galaxies out there. Within each galaxy, there are one hundred thousand stars. And God is larger than all of it.  He permeates his world ~ small and great.

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.

.

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT: 592 VERSES EXAMINED.  Are all the things we’ve heard about God’s Spirit really true? This book covers every verse in the Bible. If it’s not there, it’s not true. The manifestations of God’s Spirit is broken down among the verses into topics. The Holy Spirit is not complicated. People have made it so.  Great for Bible classes or personal reading.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2rsi3Xt

.

.

#HolySpirit, #GodsLove, #GodKnows, #GodSees, #GodCares, #humanvalue, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

 

Friday 12/6 ~ God’s pride and joy

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, Daily, ego, good works, humility, Inspirational, judging, power, praise, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

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

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

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailThis is Paul talking about spiritual gifts and jealousy.  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 is hard to take. Standing in front with a microphone are the most sought-after positions in the church.  Such positions have the potential of making you famous.

Sorry, folks. Not to God. To God you are dispensable. The church could easily survive without you. God could easily get along without you. So, get control of your ego. Huh?

Do you really and truly believe this? Those who do the seemingly menial works (the “weaker”) are indispensable to God ~ you 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 pray with someone who has just told you of a problem, who watch the nursery, who periodically quote a Bible verse to a friend in distress ~ such works that are in the background ~ the ones that don’t make it into the “schedule of worship,” the bulletin, the newspaper, the church periodicals, the billboards are the ones who 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” don’t be. Take heart. God is working more in you than them. Further, public approval by people is their reward. Your reward is from God himself.

You may seem weaker to the others, but to God you are strong. You are mighty. You are God’s pride and joy.

.

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailWANDERING SOUL,  ENTITLED HEART, & THE SIDETRACKED CHURCH: WORSHIP THE 1ST-CENTURY WAY covers every phase of our worship.  Each chapter begins with quotes from famous theologians like Luther, Calvin, Wesley, etc. and ends with quotes of 2nd-century Christians. In between the readers is taken one step at a time from what the common pattern is and gently leads to a better way, the first-century way.  Written for denominational leaders. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/36f2vVR

.

.

#ego, #leadership, #showoff, #reward, #goodworks, #shallow, #microphone, #menial, #secret, #hidden, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Thursday 12/5 ~ Then God will arise

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, Enemies, Fear, governments, patience, persecution, problems, Satan, victoryLeave a comment

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

06-Moses Thumbnail Cover” ‘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 you 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.

First Corinthians 3:9 in the New Testament says you are a worker 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.”

You are where God wants you to be. This is your assignment. Are you up to it? Sometimes your job is just to hang on and not give up on God. That’s what Satan is always trying to get you to do, just as he did Job in the Old Testament. God won’t leave you in a situation that is impossible for you 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, beg in your frustration, and cry in your frailty, 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.  And God’s part?  Then God will arise.

.

06-Moses Thumbnail CoverA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES:  MOSES’ people had endured 400 years of terrible slavery.  Thousands died thinking God had not heard their prayers. But, when the harsh treatment of the Egyptians got unbearable, God arose. He lifted up Moses who then endured the threats of Pharaoh, outlasted Pharaoh, and led over three million of his people out of their slavery and into freedom.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/36abNlZ

.

.

#Moses, #slavery, #miriam, #Egypt, #Israelites, #freedom, #patience, #governments, #problems, #troubles, #prayer, # #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith