Unrealized Blessings

OldOldTunes-mediumMy life, Lord, is like a small boat on a vast ocean. I cannot walk on anything solid, but your heaven has streets of gold.  I cannot see anything beyond the vast waters of time, but you can see the future.  When waves of verbal and physical attacks threaten, you steady me and say, “Peace!  Be still.”  I cannot tell what is lurking below me, ready to swallow me up, but you surround me with an impenetrable shell.  I am thirsty, but you give me the water of life. I am hungry and you give me the bread of life. My life is not my own because you are my guide, my protector, my defender. For all this and more, I praise you.

Thank you for the mentally handicapped, especially those who are adults. They are so trusting and smile so easily when they talk to me.  They have the innocence of a child while in an adult body. They are a wonderful reminder to me that I need to be more child-like in my attitudes.  I love talking to them and hearing their plans and dreams. Oh, to be that innocent again.  And loving. They love everyone and are happy to share their stories with anyone who will listen. Thank you for these special people you have sent the world. They are such a blessing.

OldOldTunes-ThumbnailTHE OLD OLD STORY SET TO OLD OLD TUNES is a fun way for young people to learn the Bible with 40 songs of the Old Testament and 40 of the New Testament.  All are set to old folk tunes.  Try not to giggle too much as you sing.  Great for classes, get-togethers, homeschoolers and for grandparents who know those old tunes best.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/OldStoryOldTunes

 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/links-to-some-of-my-fun-bible-stuff/the-old-old-story-set-to-old-old-tunes/

Knowing as much as you think you do

3 Great Kings Kindle-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, September 9 (9/9), is Zechariah 9:9 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Most people think Jesus riding on a donkey made him humble. Not at all. Donkeys and mules were rides of kings.

Judges 5:9-10 says, “My heart is with Israel’s princes….you who ride on white donkeys.” Supreme Judge Jair led Israel 22 years and had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys (Judges 10:3-4). Supreme Judge Abdon, who ruled Israel 8 years, had 70 sons and grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys (Judges 12:14).

II Samuel 18:9 says Absalom, King David’s son, rode on a mule. In I Kings 1:33,38,44, David ordained that his son, Solomon, ride on his own mule through the street as one proof that he chose Solomon to be the next king.

The people of Jerusalem knew Jesus was not only riding the ride of kings when he entered their capital city, but he was also, at last, fulfilling the centuries-old prophecy they all knew so well (today’s scripture).

This is the humility that Jesus did exhibit: He rode on the colt of a donkey.

Do you blindly follow whatever our religious leaders tell you? Do you know the scriptures as well as you think you do?

Glory in learning new things about your King of Glory.

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3 Great Kings Kindle-ThumbnailTHREE GREAT KINGS is book 8 in A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES series.  Saul, David, and Solomon all had their faults, but God made them great.  “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter.  Large font and dashes between big words for the early reader.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/35zgqZR

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-heroes-book-8-3-great-kings/

Our friends and their chariots

The scripture for today, August 30 (8/30), is Acts 8:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Supper-Front Cover-Medium“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.”

Our friends, family, and neighbors will continue riding their chariots and understanding little of the Bible unless someone asks, “Do you understand?.”

“Do you understand why you are here?” “Do you understand why Jesus had to die?” “Do you understand that Satan holds mankind hostage, and Jesus paid our ransom with his blood?” “Do you understand the Bible can be proven true?” “Do you understand how much God loves you?” “Do you understand how the Bible is divided up and which parts give the life of Christ?”

People are afraid to ask us questions because they think we will make fun of their ignorance. We’ll probably never know what they don’t understand unless we do the asking. Let us go up to their chariots and offer to help them so that they, too, can understand.

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Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailTHE LORD’S SUPPER:  52 READINGS WITH PRAYERS provides good public and private meditations for the Lord’s Supper.  to BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/2Vhacqn

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Ordering demons around

The scripture for today, August 29 (8/29), is Matthew 8:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Medium” ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ “

If you are not familiar with this passage, these are the words of a demon. If you have ever studied demons in the Bible, you will find they never tried to spook or scare people. They never made dishes rattle or lamps fall over.

All they did was cause physical problems during the lifetime of Jesus and his apostles. There is no evidence of demons doing this in the Old Testament before Jesus, nor after his apostles died, either in the Bible or in the writings of the apostolic fathers. It is as though the demons were loosed for a season so Jesus could show his power over them also ~ Ephesians 1:20-21.

Notice, demons never said bad things. If they talked at all, it was out of fear of Jesus and honesty.  James 2:19 says all demons believe in Jesus. In the book of Matthew, they knew who Jesus was. They called him the Son of God.

Jesus told them to be quiet. Why? He didn’t want evil beings telling people who he was; he wanted goodness to tell people who he was. And Jesus never did incantations or any begging to lure demons out. He demanded them to leave, and immediately, they obeyed him.

The movies have warped our understanding of demons. Let us search the scriptures to find out their true nature. Then we no longer have to guess. We can know.

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0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT: 592 VERSES EXAMINED.  This book does not cater to anyone’s pre-conceived opinions.  It is based only on God’s opinions.  Great for private or class study.  Easy to understand.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/my-book-the-holy-spirit-in-365-scriptures/?frame-nonce=9f9ac75c8f

Who are you, anyway?

The scripture for today, August 25 (8/25), is John 8:25 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-MEDIUM” ‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Just what I have been claiming all along,’ Jesus replied.”

They knew who Jesus was.  He had made people’s arms and legs grow back, he had fed multiple-thousands on a plate of food, stopped storms, and brought lifeless people back to life.  They knew! 

Besides this, they knew the prophecies. They told King Herod he was supposed to be born in Bethlehem and that he was to be a descendant of King David. They knew babies were slaughtered after his birth. They knew he would live in Galilee and teach in parables. They knew all this.

But they kept asking Jesus who he was because they wanted a different answer than the obvious one.

 Jesus and his apostles tell you certain things in the Bible. Sometimes, you read them over and over and still don’t get the point. Perhaps you have been blinded by well-meaning religious leaders or family or friends who tell you over and over, “It doesn’t mean what it says.” Are you wanting a different answer than the obvious one?

Dare to read the teachings of Jesus and his apostles in the New Testament with open eyes and open heart. When you read something, just accept it. Your soul is at stake. These are the words of the God of the universe, your Creator, the Lover of your soul, and the only one who can let you into his home ~ heaven. 

Do you prefer that God fit your mold, or you fit God’s ~ that of his child? Dare to follow what God has been telling you all along.

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Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAILTHE ROAD TO HEAVEN discusses the long road from the first sin in the Garden of Eden, takes you to the cross, and ends with “our glorious body”.  Some 500 scriptures referred to.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/3leP9AZ

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/the-road-to-heaven/

Keep on singing

OldOldTunes-mediumThe scripture for today, August 22 (8/22), is Jeremiah 8:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”

Gilead was just across the Jordan River in Palestine with plenty of medicinal healing balsam.  Jeremiah laments that his people have not returned to God, with plenty of  healing balm for their souls. Today, we weep over our nation and hundreds of conflicting denominations that do not return to God. We pray, we weep, we sing our sad songs.

This beautiful African-American spiritual of unknown origin is one of those sad songs. You may be able to hear it sung a cappella here: http://bit.ly/1PfHxrI Here are the words to that spiritual:

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.

If you can’t preach like Peter,
If you can’t pray like Paul,
Just tell the love of Jesus,
And say He died for all.

Keep praying and sharing and singing.

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OldOldTunes-Thumbnail

THE OLD OLD STORY SET TO OLD OLD TUNES has 40 songs about the Old Testament and 40 songs for the new.  All set to old folk tunes.  Fun. Educational. Easy-peasy.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/BibleSongBook

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/links-to-some-of-my-fun-bible-stuff/the-old-old-story-set-to-old-old-tunes/

Whisperings and Mutterings

00-Heroes-Alone-COVER-KINDLEThe scripture for today, August 19 (8/19), is Isaiah 8:19f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”

It has always been a popular thing to do among some people to try to reach into the spirit world, the world of demons angels, and the dead. They may be very religious people. They may pray a lot and go to worship a lot and read the Bible a lot. But God’s word is not enough for them, so they delve into the other world.

People promote this for a business to make money. Others promote it to declare they are smarter than God.  Still, others promote it to brag they’re not afraid of Satan, and his hell won’t actually hurt. They attract people who fear they don’t know enough to live right.  They attract people who enjoy a challenge and being different. They seek the light in dark places.  They seek sunlight in the night. Today’s scripture says they don’t even come close to dawn.

Do you want to talk to someone in the other world? Pray. God is in the other world. Do you want someone in the other world to talk to you? Read the Bible. That is God talking to you from the other world. What more could you ask?!

Whisperings and mutterings?  Don’t need them. God has given you all you need. And we love him for it.

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00-Heroes-Alone-COVER-KINDLEYOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE contains stories of people who had to stand alone, including many of the prophets of God.  What they declared was not popular.  People enjoying having other gods and other spirits.  This book can be used as a class book as well as for private reading by isolated Christians.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/HeroesAlone

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/you-can-be-a-hero-alone-survival-stories-for-the-isolated-christian/

Splendor from the oil of mercy

Golden Cover-KINDLELord, when I first heard your Words, they seemed rough and uncaring. Then I scraped away my resentments and bad habits. Oh, my. Your Words seemed not so bad after all.  Then I brushed away my ego. And wonder of wonders.  I saw your Words were for my benefit. Excitedly, I polished them with the oil of mercy and revealed a splendor I had not imagined. In your Words I saw the beauty of your holiness. I saw the epitome of love and majesty and glory. I am sorry for misunderstanding you for so long. Let me now share your holiness and grace with others.

Ah, my Lord, as I came out from my childhood, I began to sin ~ usually sins of attitude like jealousy, impatience, But sometimes I gossipped in order to make someone else look bad and me good, or I borrowed something and never gave it back, or I disobeyed my parents.  As I grew older, my sins were more sophisticated.  And I could not stop.  I still cannot.  Neither can anyone else.  You could have condemned me and left me in the hands of Satan. Instead, though you are my Judge, you also became my Public Defender, and I became a Christian.  You saved me from Satan’s punishment instead. I fall at your feet unworthy.  Lift me up, Lord, so I may always be yours.

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Golden Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS: GOD’S HEART TO YOURS is book one in the TOUCHING GOD series.  Beautiful art work on the cover and ancient papyrus print inside.  Buy all three for a wedding gift, new parents, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas. For all ages.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/33obxBJ

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/golden-bible-thoughts-gods-heart-to-yours-touching-god-series/

Deep into the mind of God

The scripture for today, July 26 (7/26), is John 7:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0000-BK 1-StarSong-CHILD'SCartoonCover-Medium“Here, he [Jesus] is speaking publicly [in the temple], and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ? But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

These people standing around the temple lied to each other.  They refused to believe in Jesus because they chose to disregard a scripture that all Jews knew about. They said no one would know where the Christ (the Messiah) would come from. But they did know. It was in their own scriptures ~ Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem…out of you will come for me, the one who will be ruler over Israel.”

Are you sometimes like those people standing around in the temple? Do you sometimes make up your mind about something religious, and even if the Bible says something different, you refuse to acknowledge it? Does your ego sometimes get in the way? Or are you afraid of pressure from your friends?

As you read the Word of God, open wide your heart and mind. Walk the beautiful path that God has created for you ~ a path that leads you deep into the mind of your God.

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01-StarSong-CHILD'SCartoonCover-SmallSTAR SONG is book one in the storybook A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST.  “Think and Do” at the end of every chapter giving the child something to do to apply what they just read to their life.  Great for the early reader with hyphens between syllables of long words.  Great for grandparents and homeschoolers.  Great for birthdays and Christmas to give all 8 books in the set.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/3hK3K5b

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-life-of-christ-book-1-star-song/

I’ll bet you didn’t know this

The scripture for today, July 24 (7/24), i iMatthew 7:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:           

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail

The problem we have with putting into practice the Words of God is that we sometimes read blindly. We don’t see the significance of something. We may read it over and over for years and never see its significance.

Take, for example, the story of Jesus’ birth. We sometimes see pictures of baby Jesus in a stable with the shepherds, and three wise men all gathered around him. But Matthew 2:11 says by the time the wise men arrived, Jesus and his parents were living in a house. 

Oh, and the “little town of Bethlehem” was actually a walled and fortified city (II Chron. 11:5-6). And Mary, Jesus’ mother, was Salome’s (mother of James and John) sister. (Compare the accounts of the four women at the cross.)  And Jesus was beaten by the priests at the high priest’s house until morning before sending him to Pilate (Luke 22:54, 63-66).  And, the Greek word for the soldiers “taking” Jesus up the hill of Golgatha is “carrying”.  

How about 1st Timothy 3:2?  “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” This word “overseer” is sometimes translated bishop, sometimes elder, and sometimes pastor. It’s all the same office. We might think at first glance that we believe all this. But do we glaze over the fact that he must have a wife? Hmmm….

When Nathaniel told Jesus upon meeting him, “You are the Son of God”, Jesus had just told him he saw him long distance in a grove; only God can see long distance.  And the older brother of the prodigal son, as the oldest son, always inherited everything, but he begrudged his brother a single dinner.  Did you know the Pool of Siloam the blind man washed in was 1-1/2 miles from the temple where Jesus brought his sight back?            

And not all of the ten tribes of Israel went to Assyria and became the “lost tribes of Israel”.  King Hezekiah in Jerusalem invited the northern tribes to come to Jerusalem and worship again around 700 BC.  The northern tribes had been taken captive 100 years earlier. (See II Chronicles 30:1-10)

And did you know God sings? Check out Zephaniah 3:17.                   

Here’s another one. Did you know the word “baptism” is never translated in most Bibles? It is a Greek word meaning immersion. Did you know the word “unknown” never appears next to tongues in the Bible? Did you know the word “tongues” is translated most places as languages?      

Oh, so many things we overlook ~ meaningful things. Let us continue to study God’s Word daily with our mind and heart open to new things our religious leaders never told us so that we can build the house of our lives “on the rock.”          

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0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT:  592 VERSES EXAMINED.  This book takes every verse in the Bible mentioning God’s spirit and breaks them down by categories.  Interesting study that does not cater to anyone pet ideas about the Holy Spirit.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2OQzvwR

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