Category: faith

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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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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He truly does.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, emptiness, Enemies, faith, family, Fear, healing, Loss, patience, problems, rest, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newThe scripture for today, May 7 (5/7), is 1st Peter 5:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Oh, how hard life can be sometimes. We wonder why God doesn’t stop all the bad things. But, if there was no evil and bad things happening, we would have heaven on earth. Satan is the Prince of this earth.  Jesus said so.

How many times in a week are you anxious about something? Especially now when our world has been turned upside down and inside out with an unseen enemy that taunts the earth. Your job, your home, your children, your neighbors, your government, your health? How many times in a day do your anxieties weigh you down? Are your burdens heavy? Almost too heavy to bear?

Name them to God. Tell him all about them. Go into as much detail as you want. Then put them all on his shoulders. That’s what he wants you to do. He will carry those burdens for you while you try to rest your soul.

Indeed, this is not heaven on earth. But Jesus provides a way for us to escape in our hearts to his world.  Of course, you don’t have to escape; he doesn’t force you. But always he calls out to you, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  Why would he do that? He cares for you. He truly does.

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2WyA0z3

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0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE takes place when Jesus makes trips around the country healing people to prove who he was, and teaching the multitudes now following him how to rise above the wars and violence around them. This is novel 3 in the series THEY MET JESUS.  At the end of each chapter are life application questions and historical evidences of the events.  To BUY NOW,  click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2WyA0z3

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Fourteen Children

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, discouragement, faith, family, Fear, Inspirational, power, prayer, Thanksgiving, victoryLeave a comment
Sichuan China 2008 Earthquake Journal, Part 3 – Dr. Kit Miyamoto's ...
A native preacher in Nigeria where Boku Harem still terrorizes, received this from a friend:
    In the country of Armenia in Asia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. “Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you.” They hugged and the boy ran off to school.
    Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties.  Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.
    Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble.  He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.
    One of the parents looking on asked, “What are you doing?”   “Digging for my son,” Samuel answered. The man then said, “You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable,” and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.
    Samuel just kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble.  Samuel looked at him and said, “Won’t you help me?”   The worker left and Samuel kept digging.
    All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging.  Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins.  But, Samuel just kept working.  He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. “Help! Help!”  Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again.  Then he heard a muffled voice, “Papa?”
    Samuel began to dig furiously.  Finally he could see his son.  “Come on out, son!” he said with relief. “No,” Armand said.  “Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me.”  Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared.  Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, “I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!”
    Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.
    How much more faithful is our God Almighty!  Whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles and diseases such as Covid 19, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness.  He is true to His character.  He is reliable and trustworthy and can always be counted on.

Prayer of Infinity

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, eternity, faith, forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, joy, love, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, victory, worshipLeave a comment

Bible Puzzles for Young And Old-CoverThe wind rushes anxiously down the mountains to worship you. The waters pound the shore so the sands will move aside and worship you. The snow falls in silence to purify the ground so it will worship you. All things worship you. They exist because of you. You are their Creator and their life force. Let me shout it to the world both now and in the infinity of forever.

Oh, Jesus, that cross was intended to be an instrument of torture and shame outside of Jerusalem but turned into a tower of light for the world. That crown of thorns was intended to be a mockery but turned into a crown of gold that pronounced you king of the world. Those nails were intended to pierce human flesh; instead, they pierced the heart of the world. How can I thank you? How can any of us thank you for rescuing my wounded soul and making me a child of the King of all kings?

I was in the valley of sin. You called me and lifted me a little higher. I got to my knees, you called again and lifted me even higher. I rose to a stoop, you called again and lifted me to greater heights. I stood tall, you called me louder and lifted me to the gate of heaven, forgiven. You called one last time and lifted me to your throne completely saved. I could not help myself. I descended again. Only this time it was to the foot of your throne where I worshiped once again.

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I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/3b6mhVw

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Bible Puzzles-Cover-ThumbnailBIBLE PUZZLES FOR YOUNG AND OLD includes (a) word searches, (b) crosswords, (c) secret codes, and (4) fill-in-the-blank.  Perfect as rewards in Bible classes, as gifts to shut-ins, for homeschoolers, birthday gifts and fillers in the church bulletin.   To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3b6mhVw

 

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Soon will come your morning

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, discouragement, emptiness, faith, healing, Inspirational, patience, prayer, problems, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

OldOldTunes-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, May 3 (5/3), is Psalm 5:3 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Morning. The time of new beginnings. Birth is a morning. Graduating from a school is a morning. Marriage, a new job, birth of a child ~ these are obvious mornings.

You can create your own morning of life in a spiritual way too. You can stop depending on yourself and begin following and depending on God. You cannot fix all your problems. Sometimes you get yourself into your own problems and don’t know how to get yourself out. For you, it may be midnight. 

Lay your requests before God. Then wait. Waiting in the shadows can create frustration and even panic. But wait in peace. It is not quite dawn, and God is preparing the answer to rise up in your heart when morning finally comes.

He loves you as his child and knows when the moment is right for your dawning. Sometimes when you look back, you are most grateful he did not answer a prayer for you; he had something better in mind. And then, it was morning.

God loves to answer prayer. Therefore, while still in the shadows, wait. Do you see it now? The grayness of dawn with silver hopes intertwined?  Wait in peaceful expectation.  Soon will come your morning.

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I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/3bYLqCL

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OldOldTunes-ThumbnailTHE OLD OLD STORY SET TO OLD OLD TUNES is a must for every kid who loves God and loves the stories and special verses in his Bible.  40 songs from the Old Testament; 40 songs from the New Testament. Songs about people, places, events, and verses we need to memorize.  Have fun as these stories and verses are teamed up with old folk songs from our youth.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3bYLqCL

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Noah’s Ark: The original self-quarantine

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn emptiness, faith, Inspirational, victoryLeave a comment

Noah Ark Encounter Stock Photos - Download 68 Royalty Free Photos

(Used by permission)

Of course, the world was not fighting the corona virus or any other major contagious medical disease back then. Rather, the pandemic was the uncontrolled and unabashed spread of corruption in the form of sin and evil thoughts (Genesis 6:5, 11). God had enough (6:6-7). It was time to cleanse the earth and wash His hands of everyone but righteous Noah and his family. “Noah walked with God” (6:9), and thus he had been spiritually distancing himself from others for a long time. Noah’s clan totaled 8, and with God there were 9 – just enough to still assemble under today’s social distancing limits. Though it must have seemed absurd to his neighbors, Noah prepared for this event decades in advance. Imagine the quantities of food they needed to store for a family of 8 and all the animals for over a year. Today, it seems most people can’t make it a week without a visit to the grocery store, though we all are now learning! Still, that is a lot of food with no big box stores to deliver more if the toilet paper ran out.

At the right moment, the Lord gave His “shelter-in-place” order: “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” (7:1). And then it rained for 40 days and 40 nights (7:12). I like a good rain. I’ll even take two days of it, but 40 straight? After the rain, it would take almost a year before the ground was dry enough to leave. The ark had only one window and one door (6:16), and no one was going to be stepping outside to walk the dog, kangaroo or elephant for a very long time. There was no television, internet, streaming movies, Facebook, Snapchat, online education, or cellphone connectivity. There were no reruns of sporting events, DVDs of childhood memories, photo albums, radios, letters, or packages from Amazon. There was just Noah’s family and thousands of animals in a large wooden ark. Could you handle it?

How did Noah and his family handle this ordeal? Several things stand out in Genesis chapters 6 to 8:

1. Noah walked, talked and obeyed God before, during and after the flood. Even when everyone else followed the evil intent of their hearts, Noah’s heart was loyal to the Lord. He did not leave the ark until God said to (8:15), and he immediately sacrificed to God upon disembarking (8:20). I personally find the days I struggle most right now are those when I am not consciously walking, praying and obeying God, but instead I am allowing the ways of the world fill my heart and mind.

2. Noah’s home was God’s home. Notice that the Lord said, “Come into the ark,” not “Go into the ark.” Why? Because the Lord was already there. Noah did not put his spiritual life on hold because God shut him in from the world. Noah now learned to walk with God with sea legs. He pressed on and taught his sons to do the same. Just imagine being one of 8 human beings left on the face of the earth with Almighty God as your shipmate! I need to ensure God is a welcomed and honored member of my home.

3. Noah’s family remained busy. They had been very busy for decades building the ark. With the ark built, animals loaded, and food stored, they just needed to rest and ride out the quarantine, right? Wrong! God gave them the animals for a purpose – to keep them alive that they might one day again “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 8:17). Noah’s clan basically had the 24/7 responsibility of an entire zoo. Hopefully, you are not managing a zoo in your home (please post on Facebook if you are!). There is work God has for us all to be doing for His and our benefit now and in whatever time the future holds. What things can you be doing for your family, others, yourself and God in this unique time?

Wendell Stevens

Christian, husband, dad, son, and brother

#pandemic, #coronavirus, #covid19, #selfisolation, #quarantine, #Noahsark, #greatdelugeflood

Unable to Stop Myself

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessings, death, Enemies, eternity, faith, family, Inspirational, love, persecution, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, victory, worshipLeave a comment

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailI adore you, my God.  You envelop the earth with grandeur. You soar through the cosmos stepping on planets and touching each star. You call them all by name and they join you in the song of the universe. You are so large, I cannot fathom you, for you are more gigantic that the universe you created. You are everywhere and you are in my heart.  I am passionate about you. May you forever be my obsession that keeps me lunging forward toward you, unable to stop myself because of the power of your love.

Ah, my Lord and God, how I love your Book.  You tell me so many things in it. They are so exciting. That is because you are so exciting. We are fickle but you remain the same. When things are going well, we take credit for it, then you bring us low. Then the cycle begins again. In your Book, you tell of the ebb and flow of our devotion to you. You tell of the depths of despair mankind lowers itself to when forsaking you, then you tell of the mountains of glory we can have when we return to you. I worship you. You are my light and life. Sometimes I feel selfish because I feel as though I have you all to myself.  I must tell others. I must share your Words ~  your Love ~ with the World.

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

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00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR. The book begins with 17-year-old Stephen whose best friend is being crucified for defacing a goddess statue in Antioch.  It progresses as his parents escape with him to safety. They end up in Cyrene, Libya where Simon the Cyrenian lives.  Gradually as time goes by, he matures as he faces his own challenges. Eventually, he marries the daughter of Rabbi Joseph and both he and Simon move to Jerusalem. There they become Christians and Stephen is made a deacon. When Simon’s life is threatened, Stephen knows he must do whatever is necessary to save the life of the man who carried Jesus’ cross.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2wtVwIA

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You bared your soul to me.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn faith, forgiveness, governments, Inspirational, joy, love, praise, prayer, Scripture, Thanksgiving, things, truth, worshipLeave a comment

0-Michel-COVER-Kindle-ThumbnailI adore you, Lord God. You are majestic and your glorious splendor soars through the universe to my heart. In your hand are all my daily blessings. You sprinkle them around the earth and make me glad. The stars sing of your glory, the mountains quake at your power, the meadows whisper your kindness, the fish in ocean depths slip silently around their world revealing your mercy. I worship you.

Father, if I worship anything besides you, make me see it so I can get it under control. Do I worship power or fame, riches or things?  Do I worship my television, my telephone, internet games? Make me see if I do, so I may repent and rid my life of them.

Thank you for your Word which I love. You poured out your heart to me. I know the pain and laughter, the disappointments and triumphs you have gone through since making mankind. You bare your soul to me in your Word.  You, the God of the universe and Maker of my soul, revealed all of yourself in your Bible. I read it in wonder and awe. I absorb it and it fills my heart and my being. Thank you for showing yourself to me one way in your Bible and in another way by materializing in the form of Jesus.

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I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2Lj8izz

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0-Michel-COVER-Kindle-ThumbnailMICHEL: THE FOURTH WISE MAN.  He is a Jewish descendant of Daniel in Persia. He locates the original Garden of Eden and wants to restore it so God will walk the earth with man again.  He loses his estate, his, father and his wife to his dream.  He is interrupted by a star.  To appease King Phrates who believes a new start means a god has been born, Michel and nine other magi search the world for the meaning of the star.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2Lj8izz

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