Month: May 2020

Your glory gilds my songs

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, forgiveness, healing, Heaven, Inspirational, love, praise, prayer, sacrifice, Satan, Saved from hell, sin, worshipLeave a comment

Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailYour glory gilds my songs of praise to you. You send out majestic beams of heavenly rays on all people, great and small. You brighten my day and enlighten the world around me. You give and expect nothing in return except love. Love begins as a spark and grows in glory the nearer it is to you. You give my soul wings, and I soar to you.

Your blood, oh God. Your blood slipped out of your body that day so long, long ago. That which ensures life was taken out of you in order to provide life for a lifeless world held captive by Satan. Blood ransom. Satan’s price was high.  Too high. No one could pay it. So, you materialized and offered your own flesh in my place. You offered your own blood in my place. You offered your life in my place. How can I thank you for freeing my soul from Satan? Unworthy, I rush to you, fall at your feet in eternal gratitude, and worship you.

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I pen my thoughts and stories to touch souls. Will you help me tell people about today’s book?        https://amzn.to/2Z9nPeT

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Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailTHE LORD’S SUPPER: 52 READINGS WITH PRAYERS is perfect for either public or private meditation each week during the Lord’s Supper. To BUY NOW,  click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2Z9nPeT

 

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Smile. The world will wonder why.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn prayerLeave a comment

07-Samson-KindleThumbnailThe scripture for today, May 16 (5/16), is 1st Thessalonians 5:16 (KJV) as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Rejoice evermore.”

But how can we rejoice when something terrible has happened? How can we rejoice with a pandemic raging around the world?

The Apostle Paul, who wrote this knew that the Thessalonians were being terribly persecuted (2nd Thessalonians 1:4), but he still said, “Rejoice evermore.” How could he say such a calloused thing amidst their suffering?  Had he no feeling, no empathy?

 Sometimes we have to suffer so the true nature of bad people pretending to be good can be revealed to the world.  Sometimes we have to suffer so we can build our spiritual muscles.  Sometimes we have to suffer so we can understand others going through the same thing.  Sometimes we even suffer so people around us wanting to do a good work will have someone to do a good work for.

There are many reasons for suffering. But none of them take away the pain. Just remember that, just as God was grieved when his Son suffered on the cross, he is grieved when you suffer. And just as God was able to bring something wonderful out of his Son’s suffering, he can bring something wonderful out of your suffering too.

In the meantime, chin up, shoulders back, stand straight, be brave, and smile. The world will wonder why.

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I pen my thoughts and stories to touch souls. Will you help me tell people about today’s book?          https://amzn.to/2zEqxhU

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07-Samson-KindleThumbnailSAMSON smiled when they bound him in new cords and did other things to weaken him.  But he smiled.  He knew he and God could overcome anything they did to him.  This is BOOK 7 in the series A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2zEqxhU

 

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How I spent my birthday in a pandemic

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn prayer9 Comments
Image may contain: 1 person, shoes
At 6:00 last night, I stopped working.  I put my bamboo stool in my car and headed out to see some friends. 
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First I went to see Jeanne whose husband and daughter died just a year ago.  I put my bamboo bench on her front porch and told her to go get a chair so we could visit through the screen door. She took a picture of me through her screen.
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Then I went to see Carolyn, my same age – her on her side of the screen door and me on her porch.  We roomed together at the Red River Encampment in NM last year.   We visited about twenty minutes while a nosey bird in a nearby tree squawked at us.
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Then I stopped at a grocery store around the corner and drove up near the door and waited.  Finally a young lady came out smiling and I called out to her asking if she could do me a favor. She had a store shirt on and said yes.  I gave her a $10 bill and told her I was 80 years old today.  I asked her to go to the bakery dept. and picked out a 6″ cake for me.  She came back after a while with the cake and said she knew the baker and the baker put “Happy Birthday” on the top.  Oh, and I got $5 change.
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Then I drove over to see my friend, Linda, who has been blind all her life.  As always, we visited through her screen door. These new ones people can’t see through and that always annoys me.  Didn’t bother Linda since she’s blind anyway. 
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It was getting dark, so I grabbed up my bench and resumed my birthday party.
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I drove to see Billie who lost her husband just a few months ago and still reeling from it.  She kept insisting I come inside, but I would have been black listed by her daughters who insisted the first of March she not go to church without long sleeves and gloves on (nearly 100 degrees here by then).  So she sat on her side of her door and me on the outside.  JJ, her husband’s little black and white dog, always liked me and began annoying her because I wasn’t coming in to see him.  Finally, she let him out and he jumped up into my lap. 
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When it was nearly 8:00 and pretty much dark, I drove on home.  I still had two of my Muslim English students to grade, so did that until 9:00 ish. 
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Then I turned on Netflix and saw that end-of-the-world flick where there’s a steel “ark” that looks like a tank in China that will hold zillions of people and the star of the show gets there with his family from the US as the earthquakes do their thing.  The boat rides a tidal wave of all the oceans and ends up on Mount Everest (not Ararat, but close enough), and everyone on the ship walks out into a brave new world.
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While watching that, I got out my birthday cake, determined to eat the WHOLE thing.  Well, that didn’t work.  Only able to eat half of it and am paying for it today.
 
So, that is how I spent the last few hours of my first day of being 80 during a pandemic.

My stuff

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, emptiness, eternity, judging, Loss, prayer, things2 Comments

06-Moses Thumbnail CoverThe scripture for today, May 15 (5/15), is Ecclesiastes 5:15 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.”

As most people enter their senior years, they finally understand this verse. In their youth, they struggled to get jobs and status and things. Some accomplished it, and some didn’t.

But in the senior years….

     when health is gradually declining….

             the world is passing them by….

                    and they are sitting in their chair most of the time

….the main thing people look back on is what difference they made in their world, and how they did or did not help people important to them.

Often in their senior years, when their income goes down, and they are living only on a small pension, and they are unable to keep their big house, and fancy car, and impressive stuff, they realize they are still the same person inside regardless of what they own.

Ask a senior what they want for a birthday present. It is not likely to be things. It is likely to be time spent with a loved one or something special given to someone in need.

What about you?  How much time are you spending on things?

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I pen my thoughts and stories to touch souls. Will you help me tell people about today’s book?          https://amzn.to/2WWe15s

06-Moses Thumbnail CoverMOSES is storybook #6 in A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES series.  Moses’ youth was spent in luxury.  He lived like a king.  But he gave it all up for his people.  How?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2WWe15s

 

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The coward slinked away

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, church, discouragement, Enemies, family, forgiveness, Inspirational, Life of Christ, power, praise, prayer, Satan, victory, worshipLeave a comment

05-Joseph-KindleThumbnailAh, my Lord, You are the only God and you are glorious. You are powerful in love, in justice, in mercy. You are life and must ever be creating life. Woe to those who kill, for they are fighting you.  Those who lie dare to deny you. Those who boost their will over yours are siding with Satan who desires to be over you.  Ah, my Lord God, I adore you and fall at your feet.  You are beyond understanding and fill my heart with the unspeakable joy of seeing you face to face some day.

Help me see myself as others do and as you do. Open my eyes to the real me. Make me go through things that reveal to me the stuff I am truly made of.

Thank you, Lord, for providing Words in writing so I know what and who my God is and how you react to people like me. You love me so and never stop thinking about me. Lord Jesus, thank you for being willing to go backward ~ leaving heaven to dwell on earth as one of us, resisting all the temptations of Satan. You went backward so I could go forward ~ leaving earth to dwell in heaven. You risked it all for me. What if Satan had succeeded? But you stood strong, head-to-head against him, refusing to obey him, side with him, or even to give you what he dared think you wanted ~ his kingdoms. They were not his to give. They were already yours. The coward slinked away in your mighty presence.

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    I pen my thoughts to inspire souls. Will you help me spread the word?      https://amzn.to/35ZOf44

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05-Joseph-KindleThumbnailJOSEPH is storybook in the series A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  Everything and everyone in life were against him but his feeble father.  He was thirty years old before the world saw him as a great man worthy to lead the nation of Egypt. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/35ZOf44

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Christians during plague of 3rd Century AD

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn faith, good works, Heaven, Inspirational, prayer, teaching, victory1 Comment

At the first onset of the disease, they [pagans] pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead and treating unburied corpses as dirt, hoping thereby to avert the spread and contagion of the fatal disease; but do what they might, they found it difficult to escape.

Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains. Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead. 

~ Dionysius of Alexandria

There is nothing remarkable in cherishing merely our own people with the due attentions of love, but that one might become perfect, he who should do something more than heathen men or publicans; overcoming evil with good, and practicing a merciful kindness like that of God, he should love his enemies as well…Thus the good was done to all men, not merely to the household of faith. 

By the terrors of mortality and of the times, lukewarm men are heartened, the listless nerved, the sluggish awakened; deserters are compelled to return; heathens brought to believe; the congregation of established believers is called to rest; fresh and numerous champions are banded in heartier strength for the conflict, and having come into warfare in the season of death, will fight without fear of death, when the battle comes. 

~ Cyprian of Carthage

Then, look up!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn emptiness, eternity, faith, family, Fear, Heaven, Inspirational, knowledge, Life of Christ, power, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 13 (5/13), is 1st John 5:13f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleMedium“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

 Ah, to know you have eternal life.  It’s easy to say. “I’m so happy because I have eternal life.”  But do you really believe it?

I hear Christians everywhere lament their death.  “Whew, I could have died in that car crash” “Oh, no, I just took the wrong medicine, and it will kill me.”  “Hurry, get me to the hospital before I die!”

Yes, life here is precious. But it is only the bud of the flower, the spark of the fire, the whisper of the song. Our life here is like living in a dark cave. 

Why would a truly believing Christian fear walking through that marvelous door where Jesus himself awaits their arrival?

True, part of looking forward to heaven is knowing what it looks like. Revelation gives you a hint, but it is symbolic. Cling to what you know. Rush to the door leading out of the cave in anticipation for the world you were always meant to live in.

Some people say, “But I want to be here to watch my children or grandchildren grow up.’ What then? To watch them graduate and get a job and start having babies? What then? When does it end?

Stop right now.   Take a deep breath. Ask God to forgive your doubts and selfishness and putting things and people before him. Then look up. Look up! He is there waiting for you. His hands are reaching out to you. Those hands that were nailed to the cross for you. His hands that are now full of healing and tenderness and glory just for you.

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I pen my thoughts to inspire souls. Will you help me spread the word?    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077MTB94S/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i55

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04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleThumbnailISAAC & JACOB is storybook #4 in the series, A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  They are the son and grandson of Abraham.  Jacob makes lots of bad mistakes, but God turns into good and mighty.  THINK & DO at the end of each chapter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover.

 

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You dared expose your deepest feelings to me

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, eternity, Heaven, love, praise, prayer, Scripture, truth, worshipLeave a comment

03-Abraham-ThumbnailCoverI adore you, my God. I cannot see or hear you, but I know you are beside me and in love with me. You are higher than the stars, louder than the thunder, gentler than the butterfly, deeper than the ocean, sweeter than a flower. They are all a touch of you. I bask in the warmth of your love, the gentle breezes of your mercy, the quietude of safety in you.

Lord, I lied. I did not tell a lie, but I failed to reveal the truth. I remained quiet and led someone to believe something that did not happen that way at all.  I knew the way it happened, but did not speak up. I must go to them and reveal the truth so you will forgive me.

Ah, my Lord, thank you for the Bible and revealing yourself in it. I never have to guess. Your mind is laid bare to me. You’ve exposed all your joys and pain, laughter and tears, hopes and desires, strengths and tenderness, justice and mercy. You dared expose yourself to me. All the rawness and transparency is there for me. Do I dare do less? My God, my hope is in you. My will I surrender to you. My heart I give you. My soul bows forever to you.

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I pen my thoughts to inspire souls. Will you help me spread the word?

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03-Abraham-ThumbnailCoverABRAHAM is book #3 in the series, A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES. Abraham did not like all the false gods in his city so was glad to leave.  After that, he seemed as though he was moving all the time.  THINK & DO at the end of each chapter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover.    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077MT8G5C/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i21

 

 

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You smile and the deserts awaken.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn prayerLeave a comment

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-MediumIt is morning. The sun is red and gold with excitement, for you returned to earth life on a Sunday morning after all the earthquakes. You showed the world how you are indeed God. You light up the world and brighten my day. You bring love and laughter into my life and the stars sing. You take a step and the earth quakes. You breathe and the oceans roll. You smile and the deserts awaken.  Ah, Lord God, you are my world.

I feel as though I have looked for seekers all my life so I can bring them to you, but it is never enough. There are so few seekers. Help me find a way to meet them and recognize them. I am so far from doing what needs to be done.

I thank you because you are so powerful in what is right and never give in. You would not be God if you did. You are strong in justice but find ways to temper it with mercy.  When Satan accuses, you forgive. When Satan makes sick, you heal. When Satan creates bitterness, you create peace. When Satan trapped our souls and we could not break away, you materialized and took our punishment for us. You paid the death ransom because we were too weak. In your mighty power, you set us free. How amazing you are. In my sinfulness, you see me as white and pure.  My soul enlarges and bursts with deep thankfulness.

 

STAR SONG IS LYRICAL NOVEL #1 in the series, THEY MET JESUS, which includes 100 people Jesus met and struggled with.  Life Application questions at the end of each chapter.  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover.

You’re not home yet.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn prayerLeave a comment

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, May 10 (5/10), is 1st Peter 5:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong and firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever.”

This earth is not meant to be your paradise, to be your eternal home. This earth is just the foyer. God stands at the door to heaven and calls you.

Over the past years, have you been too busy watching over things here to look over at his door? Were you too caught up with temporary things of this world to stop and listen for God?

Was there too much noise in your life? The noise of problems with job, home, family, government, neighbors, health? The noise of getting a better job, home, family, government, neighbor, health? Remember, you are only in the foyer.

Life is not always easy. Do you have the stamina to not be sidetracked? Do you have the fortitude to keep walking toward God’s door?

Perhaps God has stepped in and slowed us down.  God can make you strong and firm and steadfast if you will stop the noise and listen for him. The noise has nearly stopped.  Have you taken advantage of the quiet?  God is calling you.  Do you hear him?  God wants to make you strong and firm and steadfast. Listen for him and keep your eyes on his door.

You’re not home yet.

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00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR had always let him mouth get him into trouble.  Always said the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong people.  Journey with Stephen as he matures from a 17-year-old teenager to a church leader at age 28.  Then, when the future was most promising, he gives it all up.  Why?  How could he?  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover.

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