Category: ego

An odd way to beat poverty

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, Daily, discouragement, ego, ethics, good works, humility, Inspirational, patience, problemsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 10 (6/10), is Proverbs 6:10f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Applied Christianity“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest ~ and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.”

Oh! This scripture really comes to the point, doesn’t it? Perhaps during difficult economic times for some people, this can be a gentle reminder. If you can’t work for money, you can work for free. There is always work to do as a volunteer either in an organization or just by yourself. All it takes is for you to look around.

Well, if you’re already in the clutches of poverty, what will volunteering do to help the situation? People will notice you. They will notice your work ethic and your cheerfulness and your thoughtfulness.  They will know you are out of work and just might tell people looking for someone to hire. And in the process, you are helping others. That in itself can make you feel rich ~ even if you’re not.

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Applied ChristianityAPPLIED CHRISTIANITY: A HANDBOOK OF 500 GOOD WORKS gives ideas for every age group, every town size, every congregation size in a step by-step manner.  Some congregations have even used it as a class book.  Great for teen classes and home-schoolers too.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  bit.ly/APPLIEDCHRISTIANITY

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Tears mingled with blood

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Death of Jesus Christ, ego, Enemies, eternity, forgiveness, healing, Inspirational, Life of Christ, love, patience, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

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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Love everyone? What an intriguing thought.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, attitude, discouragement, ego, Enemies, ethics, forgiveness, humility, joy, Loss, patience, persecution, praise, things, victoryLeave a comment

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailThe scripture for today, May 25 (5/25), is Galatians 5:25f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”

When someone is better than you in doing something, do you pick fights with them as punishment, or spread gossip about them in order to get others to quit respecting them?

Perhaps you don’t do this all the time. But what about times when there is something you feel you are really good at, but another person not as talented gets the honor? That’s when it’s hard to “keep in step with the Spirit.”

Whenever you envy someone, deep down, you consider that person your enemy. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45a).

To many, loving our enemy is the most difficult command in the Bible. Perhaps one way to love your “enemy” is to realize that Jesus loved his enemies. Every time you sin, you become one of his enemies. But Jesus keeps right on loving you, even when you don’t want to stop doing whatever you shouldn’t.

Jesus demonstrates the love of the Son of God. And here he says, if you love your enemies, you are demonstrating what the children of God do. And that is far more important than honor that goes to those you envy. Leaving behind conceit makes it much easier to love everyone.  Love everyone?  What an intriguing thought.

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I pen my thoughts and stories to touch souls. Will you help me tell people about today’s book?

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0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE.  If ever anyone deserved to destroy his enemies it was this man.  His uncle took the throne from him, the steward of his grandfather’s palace took the palace from him, his grandfather’s enemies went after him.  Yet, he smiled.  Why?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2ywrqJi

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Getting Angry at God

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, ego, faith, judging, patience, problems, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 23 (5/23), is Exodus 5:23 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Thumbnail“Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your [God’s] name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

This is Moses talking to God, and Moses is very angry. Is it a good idea to be mad at God? Deuteronomy 34:10 says there was never a prophet like Moses “whom the Lord knew face to face.”

Getting angry [not violent, that’s different] sometimes is part of a healthy relationship, as long as (1) we stick to the facts and not get into a blame game and (2) are willing to stay around long enough to understand the other person’s point of view.

Moses did not call God bad names nor did he desert God. He spoke his mind, then waited to see how God would reply.

It wasn’t that God didn’t want to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt. God was not quite through putting Pharaoh in his place. And he probably did not rescue his people in the manner Moses had in mind. But eventually, ~ after a little patience on Moses’ part ~ it happened: God rescued his people.

Are you angry at God over something? Tell him so. Then stick around and wait for him to express his point of view. It will happen someday. Maybe it won’t be your point of view. Probably it will be better.

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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/2ywrqJi

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0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE had every right to be angry at God.  He was denied the throne of Israel, and at age 5 he was crippled the rest of his life.  How did he manage to be one of the most positive people in the kingdom? This is novel #4 in the INTREPID MEN OF GOD series.  To BUY NOW, click a picture to paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2ywrqJi
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The Crown Giver

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, ego, ethics, governments, judging, Life of Christ, power, thingsLeave a comment

0-Cover-MediumThe scripture for today, May 4 (5/4), is 1st Peter 5:4 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And when the Chief Shepherd [Jesus] appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

The world is frustrated with and has left “organized religion,” and it is our fault.  We brought it on ourselves. We have organized our denominations to death, and the spiritually minded have said, “Enough is enough. I want none of it. I just want Jesus.”

Look at all the denominations that appoint someone to be the head of their religion at their world headquarters. He goes by different titles ~ bishop, high priest, father, pope, president. Their headquarters may be a small office or a multi-story building, or an entire complex of buildings.

From here, the head meets regularly with his immediate underlings (who are still much higher than us ordinary people) to make decisions for their denomination. They pass regulations on who can hold office, what percent of income must be given to their denomination, where their contributions must be spent, amendments to their particular creed, and on and on. (By the way, shepherd is translated in modern English to pastor.)

Here is a unique thought: Let us set this system aside and replace everything with Jesus as the only head, and let the world headquarters be in heaven! We do not have to rely on the decisions of men but on the decisions of God the Son who loved us so much that he became human for a while so he could die for us. Maybe we need to sell our big buildings, give the money to mission work and the poor, and return to meeting in unorganized homes or fields.

We don’t even need a creed, because, if it is less than the Bible, it isn’t enough; if it is more than the Bible, it is too much, and if it is the same as the Bible, why have it?

No more “organized religion.” No more divisiveness. No more denominationalism. Just one united church of Christ with its divine Founder as our sole leader, and His divine words as our sole creed. This will never fade away.

Jesus is the crown giver. Return Him to His throne and watch the world return to Him.

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I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2xuAr4T

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00-Cover-ThumbnailFUN WITH BIBLE NUMBERS:  Did you know Abraham was 58 when Noah died and 150 years old when Shem, Noah’s son, died?  That Jesus walked on water 3 miles to get to his apostles? That Solomon’s yearly income was some trillion dollars?  That the Israelites entered Egypt 10 years after Isaac died?  If the apostles were the only ones baptizing the 3,000 people on the Day of Pentecost, they had to baptize one every 2 minutes for 10 hours? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2xuAr4T

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Who is that “Higher Power” out there?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, ego, Enemies, ethics, judging, knowledge, truthLeave a comment

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbThe scripture for today, May 2 (5/2), is Micah 5:2 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

In today’s world completely connected and interconnected universally, people are asking, “Who is the Higher Power?”.  Some say the Muslim Allah is, some say the Hindu Brahman is, some say the Buddhist Nirvana, some say the Jehovah of Christianity is. This is called the “New Age Movement.”

Buddhism (though most people do not realize where it came from) has infiltrated the young American culture by declaring there is no such thing as truth.  One thing is truth to one person, an opposite thing is truth to another person, so believe what you want.  Hinduism teaches we have to keep being reborn and live through this hard life eternally or until we become perfect.  Islam teaches paradise is a place where you can drink all the wine you want and never get drunk, and are waited on my wide-eyed virgins.

None of the writings of these religions have been proven true. The Bible is the only religious book in the world with built-in proofs that it is of divine origin. Prophecies of many events in the life of Christ and of entire empires flow throughout the Old Testament. No human could have known these hundreds of facts hundreds of years before they happened. And, if these prophecies were truth, then the rest of the Bible is truth.

Today’s amazing scripture prophesies where the “ruler…from ancient times” ~ the eternal king ~ will be born. It gives the exact city Jesus (who had been in heaven before his human birth) would be born in but was written seven centuries before his birth.

The Word of God in flesh (John 1:1,14) wasn’t just a prophet, he wasn’t just a good man, he wasn’t a fraud. Isaiah says this child would be mighty God and both Son and Father ~ self-existent.  Thank God, He thought of everything to help us believe Jesus was, indeed, a part of God materialized for lowly us.

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I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2NsVRSL

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0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was raised in Antioch in today’s Turkey. It was an elitist city where citizens only spoke the proper Latin, not the Greek of commoners.  He was a successful lawyer and arbitrator. He married his “ice queen,” a Nordic princess who feared no one and had a son and daughter. When he met Paul and became a Christian, Paul turned him loose on congregations who did not know how to get along.  Just as he had solved impossible mysteries as a lawyer, now he solved impossible rifts in congregation. Then his daughter died and his wife and son were killed by angry priests.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2NsVRSL

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Perhaps the time is now

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, ego, emptiness, family, prayer, rest, things, victoryLeave a comment

000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, April 25 (4/25), is Proverbs 4:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

There are a lot of interesting and fun distractions in life, so we have to remind ourselves over and over what is most important to us. We have only so much time in a day and in a lifetime. We can run back and forth from one side road to another; one fun thing to another, one power thing to another, one great–looking thing to another.

Before we know it, we have been on that side road a long time. Too long actually.  We can barely see the main road we were on before. And God? He is now so far away. How can that be?  We were always told God would always be there for us.

But God pretty much treats us the way we treat him. If we don’t like being around him, he doesn’t much like being around us. If we don’t like listening to his word (the Bible), he doesn’t much like listening to our word (prayer). If we don’t like to spend special time with him, he doesn’t much like to spend special time with us. God gives us the same courtesy we give him. God will not force himself on us, for he is a Gentleman.

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I wrote the above a few years ago.  Looks like we do not have any excuses now.  Looks like it’s time to look back on the road(s) we have been traveling. Have you been so caught up, you have not realized how treacherous it is. Or perhaps you’re on a good road going the right direction, but it needs some repairs done here and there. Where have you ended up at this point in your life?  Sit down and write God a letter.  Level with him; he leveled with you in his Bible.  It’s your turn.  And it looks like the best time to do it ~ the best time we’ve had in decades ~ is now.

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I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?          http:// bit.ly/ LazarusSamaritan

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000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN. This is the story of the Good Samaritan and forty-five years of his life as he also lives through most of Jesus’ other parables. Zarus endures false imprisonment, a cruel indenturement, a mine collapse, a brutal sandstorm, an earthquake, an epidemic, and kidnapping. What is all the exhilaration and heartache for? What is life all about, especially when it is hard? Why are we here?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http:// bit.ly/ LazarusSamaritan

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A sea of tranquility graced by a ray of humility

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, Daily, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, Enemies, forgiveness, humility, judging, Life of Christ, love, patience, sinLeave a comment

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

LINK to all BOOKS by CATEGORY:             http://bit.ly/MyBookInfo
LINK to all BOOKS on AMAZON:    http://bit.ly/AmazonBooksByKatheryn
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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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Prayer for Tuesday 3/31

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, ego, forgiveness, good works, humility, praise, prayer, problems, sin, truthLeave a comment

06-PROMISE KEEPER-ChildsCartoonThumbnailAlways I praise you, Lord God. You are in all I see and hear and touch in nature. But you are more. You are Truth and Life and Love and Justice and Mercy. You touch my life with tenderness. You forgive so easily and hastily. How you love me and love to watch me. You spared nothing to bring me close to you in ways I do not begin to comprehend. Your mind and your ways are so far above mine.  I cannot laud you enough.

Lord, yesterday I let someone believe a lie. They believed I had done some good thing but I had not. Further, I did not set them straight. By my silence, I let them go on believing it. Make me go to that person and tell them the truth. If I am embarrassed, so be it. I should not have perpetuated a lie by my silence.

Ah, Jehovah God of the universe, thank you for loving me and caring about me. If I go to a wilderness of apathy, you guide me out. If I climb mountains of egotism, you bring me down. If I dive into the deepest ocean of self-pity, you bring me up. You watch me every moment, not just to protect me from others, but protect me from myself. You never tire of me. I never tire of you. You are my joy, my king, my hero, the lover of my soul.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2UNR4A7

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06-PROMISE KEEPER-ChildsCartoonThumbnailPROMISE KEEPER is storybook #6 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST.  It has the same chapters as the adult PROMISE KEEPER in THEY MET JESUS series with stories on a child’s level.  At the end of each of the ten chapters in each storybook is Think & Do to help the child apply that story to their daily life.  This is a great time to read with your child.  Understandable at age 3 and up to 12. At age 13, they should switch to the adult version.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………  https://amzn.to/2UNR4A7

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Help me see myself the way You do.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, ego, Enemies, humility, judging, Life of Christ, truthLeave a comment

05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, March 30 (3/30), is John 3:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“He must become greater; I must become less.”

This is John the Baptist speaking. He had a great following. People “were constantly coming to be baptized” by John (3:23). He had it made! But at the height of his popularity, he said, “I will be stepping down soon.”

Can you do this? Are you at the height of your popularity, perhaps at a club, an organization, church? Could you step down if someone more qualified than you came along? Or will you say, “I started this _______, and I was here first, so this is my project!” ?

Look inside. Deep inside. What are your motives for doing good? Selfish ambition or love for others? 1st Corinthians 13:1 says that, even if I offer my body to be burned and do not have love, it benefits me nothing.

Jesus warned, “Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Think. Think long and hard. Do you have some repenting to do? Father in heaven, help me see myself the way You do.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2vWUCHV

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05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailFLOOD GATES is storybook #5 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST.  It has the same chapters as the adult FLOOD GATES in THEY MET JESUS series with stories on a child’s level.  At the end of each of the ten chapters in each storybook is Think & Do to help the child apply that story to their daily life.  This is a great time to read with your child.  Understandable at age 3 and up to 12. At age 13, they should switch to the adult version.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………  https://amzn.to/2vWUCHV

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