Author: Inspirations By Katheryn

I am kind of a world traveler. I have lived in Korea, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Tokyo, Canada, Afghanistan, India and USA. I remember when President Kennedy was assassinated, watched the first human walk on the moon, Alaska became a state, President Kennedy & Martin Luther King were shot, and the first human walked on the moon. I remember when the first Star Wars movie came out, 900 religiously misguided humans committed suicide in Guyana, when Microsoft was "invented" and the Ayatollah Khoumeini took over Iran, kicked out western companies (employers) and returned his country to the dark ages. I WAS THERE WHEN MOUNT SAINT HELENS BLEW. I remember when the Berlin Wall fell, the Internet was created, the first warm-blooded animal was cloned (a sheep) and the Hubble Telescope was launched - all in the 1980s. And you?

Thursday 6/6 ~ Are you satisfied?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, eternity, Heaven, humility, joy, Loss, things1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 6 (6/6), is 1st Timothy 6:6f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Still, don’t we all do it? Compare what we own with what our neighbor owns? Work and strive to gain more and more stuff?

A long time ago, a man wrote a book called, How to Want What You Have. He emphasized that, to people who are never content with what they have, happiness is always right around the corner. If we could just buy that object, or get that house, obtain that promotion. But once we get it, we are only satisfied briefly before happiness slips away again, and we decide we would truly be happy if we could buy yet another object, or get yet another house, obtain yet another promotion. And so we live our lives.

Dare to look around today and tell yourself, “I have all I need.”

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was raised in the finest palacia in Antioch a city of elitists who only spoke Latin, not the common Greek.  But his father would hardly speak to him. He vowed when he had children someday, he would give them all the attention they desired.  It happened as he had hoped. Now he had everything. He became a Christian and Paul sent him to help new congregations. Then one day, he gave up all his wealth. Paul sent him to the barbarian lands of Albania. Perfect FATHER’S DAY gift.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Im8xts

 

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Wednesday 6/5 ~ “I just want to keep you safe.”

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn ego, Heaven, Inspirational, knowledge, Saved from hell, Scripture, sin, Thanksgiving, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 5 (6/5), is Deuteronomy 6:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Thumbnail“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Jesus said this is the greatest of all the commandments (Mark 12:29). He didn’t say that any of the Ten Commandments were. He chose one of the over 600 commandments God gave to Moses in the Old Testament. It might have been lost in the crowd, but Jesus called it out and gave it special attention.

Although we no longer keep the Old Testament Law of Moses, we do have the New Testament Law of Jesus. There aren’t as many commandments, but there are some. Sometimes Jesus’ law repeats something in the Old Law such as the one above. But it was his choice what to carry over, not ours.

Some people don’t even know they’re obeying any of the Laws of Moses. That’s easy to solve. All you have to do is read that Law and see you if we recognize anything you’re doing. It is full of hundreds of rituals and commands how to worship the way God wanted.

On the other hand, do you love the Lord your God enough to keep all of the commandments of Jesus or do you say the church is too modern now and Jesus’ commands are old fashioned.? Or perhaps do you say Jesus had no commands ~ he just wants me to love him?  We do not tell our parents, “I love you, but you have no right to command me to do anything.” We do not tell our government, “I’m going to drive on any side of the road I want because I’m not going to obey any of your commands”?

Be not like the clay telling the potter what to do (Isaiah 64:8). Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15). Commands do not mean someone is trying to hold you down; commands means, “I love you and want to keep you safe from Satan.” Give it a try. Life just might get a little better.

 

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE married and became a father. He had his royal enemies, but never became bitter.  His son often became angry because his father was always forgiving his enemies.  Years later after Mefiboset had died, the son told his own sons about his father ~ “The greatest man I have ever known.”  PERFECT FOR FATHER’S DAY.  Still time to receive on time.  To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2HVKRNs

 

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Tuesday 6/4 ~ “Turn, Oh Lord. Turn.”

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, forgiveness, healing, Inspirational, power, sin, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 4 (6/4), is Psalm 6:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

000-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.”

Have you ever walked away from God then couldn’t figure out how to make a turnaround and get your life back on track? Are you there now?  Stop!

Stop whatever you are thinking and feeling and considering.  Look behind you.  God is a gentleman and will never force himself on you. When you turn away from him, he turns away from you.  But, oh, how he misses you.  He wants you back so you can feel his love again.

All you have to do is stop everything and call for him to come get you. “Turn, O Lord! Turn! Deliver me!”

Why would God be so good to someone walking away from him? Because he loves you and is always listening for your voice calling out for him. His love is unfailing.

 

000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN lives through all Jesus’ parables over a period of 45 years. One of his sons was the “prodigal son”.  How he ached when his son was gone, for he knew he was not mature enough and he had gone to a dangerous country. His sister was the “Woman at the Well”, his wedding to a Jewess was attended by people “on the highways and biways”, his daughter’s wedding was attended by the “ten virgins”, when he was held for ransom in Persia, his workers at home killed every servant he sent to them and finally… Well, read the book.  This is a perfect book FOR FATHER’S DAY.  So, to BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2IjojVR

 

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Monday 6/3 ~ Do you say no to what God says yes to?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, eternity, forgiveness, Saved from hell, Scripture, sin, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 3 (6/3), is Romans 6:3f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Thumbnail“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life….because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

Oh! Baptism does all that? Some people say no. God says yes. Some people hate this topic because their church leaders have rejected it as unimportant and even call people who quote such verses in God’s Word as dangerous.  Why?

Look at the list in that verse that baptism does for us.  In baptism, we obtain a new life ~ are born again. And in baptism, we are freed from sin ~ forgiven. Look at it this way: Just as Jesus died carrying our sins on himself, we die to our sinful nature ~ the part of us that sins and doesn’t care. Then just as Jesus was buried in his tomb, we are buried in our watery tomb. And just as Jesus came up out of his tomb the Savior, we come up out of our tomb the saved ~ with a “new life” and “freed from sin.”

Everything works together beautifully ~ hearing, believing, confessing, dying to sin, being baptized. What an honor and privilege we have been given to imitate what he did for us! 1st Peter 3:21 says it is an answer of a good conscience toward God.

Just as the crucifixion was a physical thing to obtain a spiritual outcome, baptism is a physical thing to obtain a spiritual outcome.  How beautiful. How amazing.

 

PERFECT FOR FATHER’S DAY GIFT ~

JOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER had the greatest challenge in the history of the world ~ to raise God’s child in a violent world. A year before Jesus died, he visited his hometown of Nazareth. The people there said, “ISN’T this the son of the carpenter?” not “WASN’T”. Read the story of Joseph and all he may have gone through to keep Jesus protected until he was grown. To BUY NOW, click a book title or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2HTIcE6

 

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Sunday 6/2 ~ Too inconvenient

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn good works, Inspirational1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 2 (6/2), is Galatians 6:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

01-Miriam-ThumbnailCover“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

In case you’re thinking people should take care of their own problems, you are right. But the term “burdens” here refers to overloads.

The main reason this is hard to do is that taking on someone else’s overloaded burdens upsets our daily routine and our peace of mind. It is inconvenient.

Just remember, it is always inconvenient for those people to have an overload of burdens. They don’t want them. Many times they didn’t ask for them. But, even if they did ask for them with foolish acts, can we not roll up our sleeves and help them out a little while (not forever)?

We do not have to take on all their problems. But we can give them relief of some of the basic problems so they can concentrate on the more serious ones.  If they need a babysitter, find one for them. If they don’t have decent clothes to go to work, take them to Goodwill.  If they’re behind financially, buy them a tank of gas. Wash their dishes for them so they can have a clean kitchen at least until the next day. If they haven’t written to their parents for a year, sit with them while they write that letter. Take parts of their overburden from them.

What if Jesus had said, “Hey, it’s not my problem! Those people on earth mess up their lives all the time. Why should I leave the comforts of heaven to live among sinners and misery?” But he didn’t say that. Thank God he didn’t say that.

Inconvenient for him to take our overloaded burdens to his cross? Yes. Did he want to do it? No. But he did what was necessary to rescue us. Do you really and truly want to be like Him?

 

01-Miriam-ThumbnailCoverFOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, the big sister of Moses in A CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS: MIRIAM followed her baby brother’s floating crib to the palace of Pharaoh. Then she had the courage to tell the princess of Egypt she knew a mother who could nurse the baby, knowing she could have been killed for being a slave and speaking to royalty. Then chapters, two per day for a VBS theme of caring for others.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2HUeHSF

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Saturday 7/1 ~ Without the tantrum

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, ego, Enemies, family, healing, humility, love, patience1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 1 (6/1) , is Psalm 6:1 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Applied Christianity“O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.”

This is not only a good request to God, but it is a good request to each other ~ family and friends alike. When you disagree with someone, do you “back it up” with loud yelling or throwing or hitting things? Do you believe that your point cannot be understood and will not be accepted without a “tantrum”?

This scripture indicates that it is indeed possible to rebuke someone without the tantrum. In fact, it is more effective. When you calmly tell someone you disagree with them, it does not raise their blood pressure and put them on the defensive. With tantrums, they may react like you want on the outside, but you drive them farther from you on the inside.

Calm rebuke does not mean you don’t mean it; it means you are convinced enough, your point of view does not need reinforcement. In that case, the other person is likely to be convinced too.

Today, practice saying calmly what you normally back up with a tantrum. Practice in front of the mirror.  Practice when driving. Practice when cooking or mowing the lawn or combing your hair.  Then, next time you disagree with someone close to you, you will ready. Ready to not rebuke in your anger.

 

Applied ChristianityBe friendly at VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. Instead of a general craft,  end each class time with something from the APPLIED CHRISTIANITY: A HANDBOOK OF 500 GOOD WORKS ~ A drawing for a sick person, money for diapers for a new baby, a song to the baby class, etc.  Something for all ages.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Mmvzpm

 

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Friday 5/31 ~ When perfection finally came

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn forgiveness, judging, Life of Christ, Saved from hell, Scripture, teaching1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 31 (5/31), is Deuteronomy 5:31 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Cover-Medium“But you [Moses] may stay here [on the mountain] with me [God] so that I may give you all the commands, decrees, and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.”

Many people believe that the “Law of Moses” consisted only of the Ten Commandments. But there was much more. It took Moses 40 days to write them all down. How many? Over 600 “commands, decrees and laws.”

Some people today want to dip back into the Law of Moses to get showy types of worship ~ candles, incense, stoning for adultery, instruments of music, choirs, animal sacrifices, separate priesthood, special clothing for priests, and tithing to pay for it all. Jesus nailed the old law to the cross (Colossians 2:14) and created a much simpler New Testament/Covenant!

Other people want to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  Why? So they can revert to animal sacrifices and thus nullify the sacrifice Jesus made of himself?  James said that, if we keep part of the Law, we are obligated to keep it all (James 2:10).

By calling this covenant [testament] ‘new’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear’ “ (Hebrews 8:13). Not part of it. All of it. Hebrews goes on to say that the Holy of Holies is now in heaven, the curtain in the temple is now Jesus, etc.  Rebuilding the temple would mean going backward from grace to legalism.

Thank God we do not have to keep all those 600+ commandments in the Law of Moses. They were controlling and tedious, and some were impossible to keep. Why would God give a law impossible to keep? To help us understand that it is impossible for us to be perfect. Finally, when we understood that, he was ready to send his Son to earth to be perfect for us.

 

00-Cover-ThumbnailVACATION BIBLE SCHOOL can be FUN WITH BIBLE NUMBERS. This book has 525 automatic problems from the Bible, half from the Old Testament and half from the New Testament. Did you know Abraham was 150 years old when Noah’s son, Shem, died? There was 3 trillion dollars worth of gold in the temple? Jesus walked on water 3-1/2 miles? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2HOi39x

 

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Thursday 5/30 ~ …who loves you both the best

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Inspirational1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 30 (5/30), is John 5:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

OldOldTunes-Thumbnail“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

It is hard to judge people you know and leave your own ego out. If you are jealous, you may judge them harshly. If you admire the person, you may judge them too leniently. Perhaps if you try to walk in their shoes, it will help you understand and not judge too harshly. And perhaps if you compare an admired person to Jesus, it will help you understand and not judge too loosely.

We’re not talking judgmentalism here where you go around sizing other people up all the time so you can feel superior to them. In judging, you judge, then you accept people where they are. Only then can you become their true friend.

If you truly love others, you will not, when judging, seek to please yourself but to please your Creator who knows your heart and their heart and loves both of you the very best.

OldOldTunes-ThumbnailVACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS are about to begin.  Here is a fun song book that covers 40 songs of the Old Testament and 40 of the New Testament. A song for every theme.  Sing Three Great Kings to “Three Blind Mice,”  Abraham and Sarah Get a BAby to “The Old Gray Mare, She Aint What She Used to Be.” Have fun with all 80 songs. To BUY THE OLD OLD STORY SET TO OLD OLD TUNES , click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2F3uEEL

Wednesday 5/29 ~ Everlasting Arms

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, death, Enemies, eternity, governments, Inspirational, persecution, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 29 (5/29), is Acts 5:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“Peter and the other apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’ “

There are many countries in the world today where a person is tortured, imprisoned and/or killed for believing in Jesus Christ or owning a Bible. These believers must stay in the background and try to remain relatively unnoticed in order to survive. But their faith continues unabated, even amidst their fears. Because of brave Christians like these, the church has survived persecution for 2000 years.

Even if they’re not killed, they are by-passed for promotion at work or fired, they are harassed when out shopping, they are threatened in public transportation, they are turned down for a good education, and they must tolerate derision just walking down the street or waiting at a bus stop. But their faith continues unabated, even amidst their fears and tears.

Such events are usually covered up by their governments and news media, and the good people of those countries never know it is happening.

How grateful we must be to those who live life being rejected by others. Let us daily hold up these brave souls in our prayers ~ those who obey God rather than men.

In eternity, God will deal with the persecutors.  In eternity, it will be to God the persecuted will turn to, not men. And there, God will hold them in his everlasting arms.

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR was not brave as a youth. In fact, he was a coward. Walk with him over the next ten years as he grows into one of the bravest men you will ever meet.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2wtVwIA

 

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Tuesday 5/28 ~ Just like him

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn ego, Enemies, judging, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 28 (5/28), is Luke 5:28 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“And Levi got up, left everything and followed him [Jesus].”

This Matthew Levi was a tax collector, who, in those days, was allowed to set his own tax rates so he could pay the Romans their share and pocket the rest of it for himself. Why would such a man follow Jesus, a man who apparently didn’t have much money? He had to trust Jesus and believe that he was truly a friend.

And why would Jesus ask him? Jesus was certainly taking a chance since the uppity leaders of society and their religion openly declared Jesus a bad person for associating with “sinners and tax collectors”. Jesus, in turn, had to trust and believe in Levi.

A lot of Christians brag that their only friends are those who worship with them. They don’t really trust anyone else, so don’t really want to be anyone else’s friend. That is good, but how are they supposed to bring anyone to Jesus? Jesus went out to “seek and save the lost.”

And sometimes there is a visitor at worship who isn’t dressed right ~ perhaps with uncombed hair, or smell from no shower, or makeup put on too heavy, or clothes not in style, or maybe even dressed too richly. Are we ashamed to be seen with them? Jesus wouldn’t have been. He was color blind, style blind, class blind.

Today, reach out and make friends with someone you have been staying away from. Jesus did. And thereby, you will be like him.

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was given the best of everything. His father was the supreme judge of the city of Antioch.  He became a successful lawyer. One day he met the apostle, Paul, and his life changed. Eventually, he gave up everything to travel into “barbarian” lands to tell people about Jesus. TO BUY NOW, click the book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2NsVRSL

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