It just is not automatic

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, July 23 (7/23), is 1st Corinthians 7:23 in the New Testament of the Bible.

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”

Who were you bought from? A ghastly trinity:  Satan, Sin and Death. God told Adam and Eve the day they sinned their souls would die. Satan is the source of death. When we sin, he holds us hostage.  I Timothy 2:6 says Jesus paid the ransom to free us from Satan.  “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

God loved you so much, he put his words in a human body (John 1:1,14). Why? Hebrews 2:14 says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.”

Then God told the world through his Bible that, if you will believe this really happened and follow his will for you, he will consider you perfect through the blood of Jesus and eligible to enter his perfect home ~ heaven.

But it is not automatic. Romans 6 speaks a lot of who we are slaves to and how to break those chains and come under the umbrella of what Jesus did for mankind.

You were bought at a great price ~ the blood of Jesus Christ. On Sundays ~ the day he came back to life and overcame that terrible soul and body death for you ~ where are you? What are you doing? Who do you worship?

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is biblical lyrical novel #7 in the series THEY MET JESUS. The book begins with his beatings and ends with his apostles hiding in a house in Jerusalem, their thoughts caught in a web of confusion and no way to get out.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………https://bit.ly/2UcggRE

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-7-shadow-of-death-adults-childs-versions/

Invincible Faith

The scripture for today, June 29 (6/29), is John 6:29 , as found in the New Testament of the Bible.

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent.’ “

Yes, it is true that the gift of salvation is just that ~ a gift, a free gift. That’s because God was the only one powerful enough to overcome Satan.  Satan wanted God’s death as a ransom in order to free you from your bondage to him. God gave Satan what he thought he wanted because it resulted in Jesus destroying the power of Death.

And it is true that you cannot be good enough to earn salvation from Satan because you don’t know how to be sinless, and heaven can only be occupied by the perfectly sinless. Satan is always lurking in the shadows to lure you back. It only takes one sin to be a dinner.

But at the same time, James 2:18 says, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” In other words, there are things you need to do to obtain salvation. You have to believe there is a gift for you somewhere, walk over to it, reach out, and grasp it.

Believing is a work because you have to find and spend time listening to or reading the Word before you can believe. And Jesus himself said believing (faith) is a work.

How do you go about obtaining faith? By believing what other people tell you to believe? Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing/reading the Word of God ~ the Bible. It is going directly to God’s Words to find out for yourself. It takes a little bit of work to read through it. But then, you can know that what you believe is really what God said.

What a marvelous, delightful, magnificent thing it is to find out what this invisible God did for you and to bask in the glory of such knowledge through invincible faith.

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NAAMAN’S MAID is storybook #3 in A CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS.  Often it is the children who teach the grownups.  This little girl has so much faith, she was sure her master could and would be healed by the prophet Elisha.  Such examples the little children are for us.  “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………https://bit.ly/38dRhmK

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I never thought I’d say this

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailIt is  Sunday, the morning nearly 2000 years ago that you rose up out of your grave to live again forever. Oh, glorious day! Oh, mighty day! Day unforgettable! How amazing. Your work was done. The hardest part was at the end. But you did it.You paid that terrible ransom  ~ the death of God. But it is Satan who lost, not you because you freed us from him. It was Death who lost, not you because you came back to life. It was Sin who lost, not you because you lived and died without ever sinning.  It is impossible to kill Life.  Why doesn’t Satan give up? He knows he has lost but will not admit it.  So, I march on with you, fighting selfishness so that pure love will be all that is left. With you is all might, all glory, all majesty. I worship you.

I thank you, God, for your balanced sense of justice and mercy. You do not punish because you like doing it. You punish to help me realize the seriousness of my thoughts and deeds. You punish to avenge the hurt I caused good people trying to do right. You punish to make me stronger. But you do not punish forever. You punish, then wait for me to return to you. You punish to stop me in my tracks, take a hard look at myself, and make changes. Your punishment is like walking on sand; as soon as I take another step, the previous step has already begun refilling. Punishment is just momentary until I stop, turn, and move over onto the solid rock of faith in you.  There, I see myself as I am and hurry to walk in your footsteps that are embedded deep so I can always find you. I never thought I’d say this, but thank you for punishing me when I need it. How you love. How you love.

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is biblical historical novel #7 in the series THEY MET JESUS.  He was in charge. He was always in church.  To condemn him, the high priest had to say the words, “Son of God.” At his trial and when being beaten, he was in charge. Even on the cross he was in charge. He looked helpless, but he was orchestrating the whole thing.  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2UcggRE

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A physical thing for a spiritual outcome

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, June 8 (6/8), is Romans 6:8 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

We all want to live with Christ, but how do we die with him? Earlier in this same chapter, God inspired the writer to say this: “We died to sin….don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ 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…we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:2-4).

So, just as Christ did a physical action to die for us, we do a physical action to die with him. And just as Christ’s physical death overcame spiritual death, so our physical action overcomes our spiritual death. Then we are born again, or as this verse says, we “live a new life.”

Some say this is water salvation. But it is no more water salvation than the cross was wood salvation. We live in a physical world, and God has us sometimes do physical things in order to obtain a spiritual outcome. Our singing praise songs is a physical thing, but it is no less spiritual in its outcome. Our eating the Lord’s Supper is a physical thing, but it is no less spiritual in its outcome.

Have you died with Christ?

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00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailWORSHIP THE FIRST-CENTURY WAY is one of two books in the series WANDERING SOUL, ENTITLED HEART, AND THE SIDE-TRACKED CHURCH.  This book was written  to help religious people step by step to change their opinions of what they have always been told to following what God has told us.  Every chapter begins with quoting “modern” (1500s-1800s) theologian who understood the truth, and ends with 2nd century theologians on the same subjects.  Very eye opening. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/37akvlF

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You are my soul

Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILI walk in your footsteps, my Lord, grateful to be as close as that to you. When I see you go in another direction, I try to stay with you but sometimes do not notice.  When I get lost, you turn back, look for me, and bring me back to yourself. I walk in the shadow of your wings and you lift me up and let me soar with you.  Oh, glorious moments when my soul flies with yours. Someday…yes, someday…you will fling open the gates of heaven and we will be together forever. Great God, you are my soul.

The cross.  Oh, the cross you suffered on and died on. The cross made of wood. From it your soul cried out to the world, “Come to me. I look weak, but I am attacking Satan for you and will win.”  And so, I crawl to your cross, dare to look up, then touch your bloody feet. The feet that once walked the earth, the feet that once walked on water, the feet that would rise up and walk out of a death cave. How can I thank you? It is so far above my ability. I will spend eternity ever looking for new ways to exalt you.

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Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILLOVE LETTERS OF JESUS & HIS BRIDE, ECCLESIA.  This beautiful gift book has papyrus font and a bride watermark on each page.  Each chapter is paraphrased and becomes a love letter; chapter numbers in the book coincide with chapter numbers in the Bible.  Hundreds of footnotes explain the parallel of the bride and church.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/2Ad62JR

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Tears mingled with blood

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailLord, you never forget me. You have so much to do in the universe to keep the stars in their heavens, the planets in their orbits, and the seas in their bounds. More, you are always thinking about me. I am always on your mind. You watch me and do all that is necessary to guide me, though you leave the choice up to me. You are so boundless in knowledge and wisdom, yet you respect my decisions ~ right or wrong. Even when my decisions are wrong, you do not interfere. You give me room to think and change my mind. I lift up my hands in praise to you. You are the Great God of the universe, Ruler of heaven & earth and King of my heart.

Your eyes were so sleepy on the day you were born. Ah, what a journey you had made. By the time the wise men found you, your eyes were big and wide and full of curiosity.  As you grew up, your eyes looked intently at what was around you and a vague memory approached of you having made it all. As a full-grown man, your eyes looked with pity on the sick, the crippled, the diseased, the handicapped and you healed them all. Then one day those eyes were filled with tears as you looked down from the cross at people bragging they were at last killing you. Those tears, blended with your blood, fell on the hearts of mankind. I kneel before you, my tears mingling with yours.

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is #7 in the series THEY MET JESUS. Written in present tense, you are there when they do terrible things to our Savior. You are there with him during the six long, agonizing hours on the cross put to a public shame as a traitor and blasphemer and tortured to death.  You are there when his 12 hide while their hearts crush under the burden of having deserted him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2UcggRE

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My eyes are fixed on you

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-ThumbnailWhen I praise you, God of the universe, my heart is lifted up beyond myself. Though I may be low and powerless, weak and sinful, you always remain high and mighty far above the universe, the work of your hands. You never change. You remain great, regardless of what happens to me or to anyone else. You are always there for me, ready to step into any situation for my benefit. My eyes are ever fixed on you. You are my life.

Thank you, my Lord, for sending your Words to be spoken and lived by flesh and blood. Not only that, but this part of you took my place so I would not end up in hell. You have made the impossible easy. To live again forever became possible because of your sacrifice, then conquering death. And, Lord, it is so quiet and peaceful this morning. A few birds greet the sun and add a lilt to the quiet.  Peace. Quiet. Calming to the soul. So precious. I 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://bit.ly/3epvDgU

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS is the 2nd in the trilogy, TOUCHING GOD.  Each day is a proverb and a passage from either Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon.   Set up to go with the daily inspirational thoughts book and the prayer book.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/3epvDgU

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Let justice roll on like a river

Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, May 24 (5/24), is Amos 5:24 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”

 When individuals of a nation begin taking advantage of each other, the nation loses its standard of justice. Eventually, nations fall because of it ~ maybe not right away, but eventually.

Although acting justly may decrease people’s income or status or power, that nation will roll on and on like a river.

Injustice is not impersonal. Injustice begins with you. One person at a time until Eventually, an entire nation reduces itself to a river, then a spring, then nothing.  Drought.  It falls.

On the other hand, justice also begins with you. One person at a time, and  your nation rolls on and on like a river.

What are you doing for your nation?

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls.  Will you help me spread the word about this book?          https://bit.ly/2ZvCTDS

 

Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailTHE LORD’S SUPPER: 52 READINGS WITH PRAYERS.  For public leading of the Lord’s Supper or private meditation during the Lord’s Supper.  A scripture and prayer for each Sunday.  To BUY NOW click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2ZvCTDS

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Your glory gilds my songs

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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A sea of tranquility graced by a ray of humility

The scripture for today, April 20 (4/20), is 1st John 4:20 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”

08-Come Fly-ChildsCartoonThumbnailCoverJealousy and hatred are very much akin. Are there people you are jealous of? Do they have a position you want, and so you say and do things to undermine their character or work, so you can get their position? Do you have a position you love, and there is a new person who could perform better, so you undermine that person’s ability in order to protect your position?

God eliminates jealousy this way: Do what you do best in private. What you accomplish that everyone knows about isn’t as important to him as what you accomplish when no one is around to praise you. Jesus said those who receive acclamation by people already have their reward.(Matthew 6:1-5, 16-18).

 Is divine reward from Almighty God for eternity so inferior in your mind that you would sacrifice it all to be number one?

Ah, my Lord God, forgive me. Pride stands between you and me. Take hold of my awful pride and dissolve it in a sea of tranquility graced by a ray of humility.

 

I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?      https://amzn.to/3eEjq90

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08-Come Fly-ChildsCartoonThumbnailCoverCOME FLY WITH ME is storybook #8 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST for ages 3-12.   At the end of every chapter is “Think & Do” for your child to apply something from that chapter in their life, usually a good work such as taking a cookie to a neighbor and calling a shut-in to sing to them or calling an unpopular child at school to say hi.  Perfect for the early reader with large font and dashes between syllables of big words. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….   https://amzn.to/3eEjq90

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