Prayer for Friday 1/3

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-ThumbnailOh, how I praise you, God of magnificent glory who does everything just right.  You made angels to be in your presence as your servants. You made us to be farther away but as your children. How you do love us. I guess sometimes I envy the angels because they are always in your presence. But they envy humans.  I am your child. Your child!  I belong to your royal family.  What honor. What privilege.  What dignity you bestow upon me. And someday, I will behold you as you are and worship you on bended knees.

Thank you, God, for all you have done for us through history. We are the center of your world as children are to a loving parent. How you grieve when we fall, and rejoice when we return. Thank you for materializing your words in the form of Jesus.  Oh, to have been able to see and touch him. I am convinced that will happen someday and I will be one with you as the golden rays of sunshine are one with the steadfast sun.

.

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS is book 2 in the TOUCHING GOD series.  Each day you read one proverb and one short passage from the other wisdom literature of the Bible ~ Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.  All scriptures are paraphrases since it is illegal to publish an entire book in a copyrighted version.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2ZNvyxD

,

.

#daily, #365pearlsofwisdomgodssoultoyours, #praise, #prayer, #worship, #thanksgiving, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Saturday 12/28 ~ No waiting. It’s already here.

The scripture for today, December 28 (12/28), is Hebrews 12:28 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-REV-Cover-No Logo-KINDLE-lg-thumbnail“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

Notice this is in the present tense. The kingdom is not something in the future.

Jesus said in Luke 9:27 that some listening to him would still be alive when the kingdom came. Colossians 1:13 says God HAS (not will) rescued us from the dominion of darkness and BROUGHT (not will) us into the kingdom.

In fact, at the end, Jesus will not come back to earth to set up a kingdom. Instead, he will at that time hand the already-existing kingdom over to the Father (I Corinthians 15:24).

So what does this mean to us? Revelation 1:5-6 says that all who have been freed from our sins by the blood of Jesus have already become a kingdom of priests. And as such, we daily offer our bodies as living sacrifices in the service to our king (Romans 12:1).

Christians have dual citizenship. Christians are citizens of the earthly nation they live in, and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. What glory God has already bestowed upon us.

So let us be thankful, and worship Him with such reverence and awe that, when our worship service is done, we will not say, “Aren’t they great and I was so moved,” but “Isn’t God great and He was so moved.”

.

0-REV-Cover-No Logo-KINDLE-thumbnailREVELATION: A LOVE LETTER FROM GOD is to his Kingdom on earth.  It is not just about the future but more about the past and present.  It is a book of comfort to the citizens of His kingdom. I punished all those who punished you in the past, I am doing it now, and I will continue to do it until that day you meet Jesus in the clouds and he takes the kingdom with him to heaven. This book is easy to understand and full of reassure and love from our King.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2Q5TEAA

.

 

#KingdomofGod, #churchofGod, #churchofChrist, #RevelationALoveletterfromGod, #patience, #heaven, #Jesusinclouds, #worship, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

 

Monday 12/23 ~ He was born to die

The scripture for today, July 23 (7/23), is 1st Corinthians 7:23 in the New Testament of the Bible.

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-Medium“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”

Who were you bought from? Satan. 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.

As you celebrate his birth (whenever that was), do not forget why he was born. He had a precious gift for you. The gift lives on today.  A simple loving thank you is not enough, but that is all we, in our humanness, have to give.

.

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-ThumbnailSTAR SONG is novel one in the 8-novel series THEY MET JESUS.  Each chapter is about a different person involved in his birth and youth.  It is also published under the title, THEY ROCKED THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED THE WORLD.  Relive with them how the birth of the Son of God changed their lives forever. Relive the very first Christmas with them.  HALF PRICE for paperback and 99c for the ebook. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2rqfOUA

.

.

#FirstChristmas, #Borntodie, #Godinflesh, #Godwithus, #Joseph, #Mary, #JesusChrist, #Christchild, #Bethlehem, #Elizabeth-Zechariah, #shepherds, #Star, #WiseMen, #Magi, #Herod, #TheyMetJesus, #AChildsLifeofChrist, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith, #lastminutechristmasgifts, #books2read

Saturday 12/14 ~ Hold fast. Stand firm.

The scripture for today, December 14 (12/14), is 1st Samuel 12:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

02-samuel-thumbnailcover“If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God ~ good!”

The Jews had just insisted on having a king rule over them instead of a supreme judge. Samuel, their last supreme judge, replied and said two IFs. IF they serve and obey the Lord, and IF they both (people and king) follow the Lord, then it is good.

Today as then, some people live in a nation where the king/government does not follow the Lord. What to do? Galatians 5:22 tells us to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled, for “against such things there is no law”.

Is it hard to do this when crooked officials are getting all the advantages and you are being cheated and even threatened if you do not cooperate? Indeed, it is. It may seem they are living the good life. In reality (eternal reality, not earthly reality). They have lost everything. This life is fleeting. Keep your eyes on the eternal. Keep your eyes on God!

Hold fast!

       Stand firm!

             Do the right thing!

In the end, they lose. You and God win. And that is good!

.

02-samuel-thumbnailcoverA CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS:  SAMUEL.  How did Samuel’s mother prepare him to live in someone else’s house when he was a toddler? How did Eli settle little Samuel’s confused mind when Eli suddenly became his “grandfather” while he grew up?  But grow up, Samuel did. And he became one of the strongest supreme judges Israel ever had.  But he was also the last.  He had to resign his position when the people wanted a king instead of him.  But, he never stopped being loyal to God.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2YPmlVe

.

.

#governments, #bribes, #crooked, #kings, #presidents, #primeministers, #cheating, #fruitofspirit, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Friday 12/13 ~ Our God-Shaped Emptiness

The scripture for today, December 13 (12/13), is Ecclesiastes 12:13 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

When the King James Version was published in the early 1600s, they italicized all words that were not in the old documents of the Bible. The word “duty” above was not in the original. Translators inserted it to help us understand the original. But perhaps, in this case, it did not help. Fearing God is the whole of man ~ not our duty, but our essence.

Fearing the Lord is a gift. Isaiah 11:2 predicted regarding Jesus:

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him ~

     “…the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,”

          “…the Spirit of counsel and of power,”

               “…the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

Solomon had tried everything to find happiness, as he explained in his book of Ecclesiastes ~ Pleasure (ch. 2), hard work (ch. 3), advancement (ch. 4), riches (ch. 5). None brought him true happiness.  Eventually, he concluded that only one thing can bring that happiness deep down inside where no one and no situation in life can touch it ~ God. God is the whole of man ~ if we let Him be.

Why? Ecclesiastes 3:11 explains it richly: “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” Another way to view this is “There is a God-shaped emptiness in everyone’s heart.” Fill your mind with the Word of God. Then God will fill your heart and being, and make you feel complete.

.

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS.  Start your day with one Proverb and one passage from Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon. Keep them on your heart to help guide your day. These are the wisdom of God. This is book two in the TOUCHING GOD trilogy on inspirational thoughts, wisdom, and prayers. Beautiful original artwork on the cover and artistic font on the inside.  A perfect gift for all occasions.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/34h4Zl1

.

.

#fear, #emptiness, #things, #power, #selfishness, #love, #humility, #healing, #Proverbs, #Psalms, #Ecclesiastes, #Job, #Song of Solomon, #meaningoflife, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Tuesday 12/10 ~ And soar to heaven itself

The scripture for today, December 11 (12/11), is Romans 12:11 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Sometimes you get physically tired and our spiritual zeal wanes along with it. You just want to rest. Well, while you rest, you can always become a prayer warrior.

When you see friends, ask them, “How was your week/day/month?” Don’t ask them how they are, for they will probably reply, “Fine.” But if you ask how their week has been, that gives them something to talk about. They’ll tell you of things they have been doing. Regardless of what they say, reply, “May I pray for your success in….” or “I’d like to pray for your….”

What the world needs is prayer. Many people have never in their entire life heard someone tell them, “I am praying for you.” Be the first. Open up their lives to the love of God.

Prayer is powerful, especially when you are not praying for yourself all the time, but rather are praying for others. Do you have a prayer list? How many are on it besides yourself? Ten? Fifty? A hundred? Five hundred? Is that too many to cover? Not at all. How long does it take to read 500 names in earnest, sincere prayer?

You may say, “But just mentioning a name is so meaning-less; it’s too simple. God expects me to explain all I know about this person’s problem and then do some begging.” No, he doesn’t; not with everyone. Prayer is so very, very powerful, that just mentioning a person’s name will bring this person before the very throne of God.

Then, even when you are tired and lack physical zeal, your soul can rise up with spiritual fervor and soar to heaven itself.

.

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is the last of the inspirational TOUCHING GOD TRILOGY.  Each day you are given a suggested prayer of praise, repentance, and thanksgiving.  Your prayer requests are up to you.  Begin or end your day with special time with God, the lover of your soul. Great for Christmas, weddings, graduations, birthdays, promotions, retirements and other gift occasions.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2LHH8V5

.

.

#physicalweakness, #spiritualstrength, #prayer, #tired, #rest, #warriors, #silverwingedprayers, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Sunday 12/8 ~ The meaning of life

The scripture for today, December 8 (12/8), is Ecclesiastes 12:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail” ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the teacher. ‘Everything is meaningless!’ “

About thirty-five years ago some Christians in England did a sidewalk survey in the downtown of a major city. One of their inquiries was: “What question about your life do you ask the most?”. The answer almost always was, “Why am I here? What is life all about?”.

The entire book of Ecclesiastes is about all the things that the richest and most powerful man in the world did in order to have an enjoyable and fulfilling life: He built palaces and grand temples, he cultivated great gardens, he imported tons of gold and precious stones and fabrics from around the globe, he had numerous wives and mistresses, he built the largest army and navy in the world, he studied every possible subject. At the end, he said it was all meaningless.

The meaning of your life is that you were born to die and walk through a gate. This life is temporary. It is your proving ground. This life is the foyer of the life you will have eternally ~ a life in heaven or hell. You were not put here just to have fun, but rather to live in the very presence of your Maker and take many people as possible with you to the home of God, your Maker, the Lover of your soul. That is the meaning of life.

.

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS contains daily excerpts from Proverbs plus one passage from Job, Psalm, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon.  This is one of three books in the devotional TOUCHING GOD SERIES. Original artwork on the covers and poetic font inside.  A beautiful gift book for Christmas and all through the year.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/2rvxON8

.

.

#discouragement, #Christmas, #trilogy, #devotionals, #inspiration, #deathgates, #Job, #Psalms, #Proverbs, #Ecclesiastes, #SongOfSolomon, #yearly, #365, #whyamIhere, #meaningoflife, #inspirationalbooks, # katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Saturday 12/7 ~ We are never alone

The scripture for today, December 7 (12/7), is Luke 12:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus had just said that God knows every sparrow individually. Amazing! This God of ours, this Creator of ours, this soul-lover of ours knows everything that is going on in his world, and knows everyone in his world, regardless of where we are in the world.

There are some two trillion galaxies out there. Within each galaxy, there are one hundred thousand stars. And God is larger than all of it.  He permeates his world ~ small and great.

Not only does He know everyone, but He knows our name, our likes, our dislikes, our struggles, our joys, if we bump into a door, how much we paid for groceries this week ~ everything. He is with us where ever we go. There is no place we can go that he is not there.

We are never alone.

.

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT: 592 VERSES EXAMINED.  Are all the things we’ve heard about God’s Spirit really true? This book covers every verse in the Bible. If it’s not there, it’s not true. The manifestations of God’s Spirit is broken down among the verses into topics. The Holy Spirit is not complicated. People have made it so.  Great for Bible classes or personal reading.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2rsi3Xt

.

.

#HolySpirit, #GodsLove, #GodKnows, #GodSees, #GodCares, #humanvalue, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

 

Wednesday 12/4 ~ Even angels will notice

The scripture for today, December 4 (12/4), is Isaiah 12:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCover“In that day you will say: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.’ “

Do you make known to your part of your nation what God has done for you? When a friend tells you of a difficulty, do you share what you went through that was similar, and that God helped get you through it? Are you ready with an easy-to-remember scripture to prove God cares and God helps? When someone is sick or bereaved, do you let them know that God hurts just as much when they suffer as when he watched his own Son suffer on the cross?

You may live in a country where most people are living immoral and unethical lives. You may live in a country where Christianity is illegal. You can still call on Jesus privately to help a friend in distress.  Do not under-estimate the power of word-of-mouth.  He can build great things out of ashes.

Look back over your life. Make a list of some difficult times you and God made it through. Find an applicable verse and memorize it. Find out what is going on in the lives of your friends, co-workers, neighbors. Then be ready to share your story and what God has done for you. It’s up to each one of us to do this. Thereby God’s name can be exalted throughout the world. Even angels will notice.

.

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCoverBIBLE KIDS: NAAMAN’S MAID was taken as a slave to far-away Syria.  She was sad. But when her master came down with a terrible disease, she told him who could heal him back in his country.  A great Christmas book. Grandparents love to have books on hand for when their grandchildren visit. Great for bedtime storytime, homeschoolers, church libraries. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/33Q2Mww

.

 

#nations, #godly, #GoodNews, #ShareGospel, #Rescue, #badgovdernments, #immorality, #NaamansMaid, #AChildsBibleKids,  #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Sunday 12/1 ~ Treasures in the heart of God

The scripture for today, December 1 (12/1), is Jeremiah 12:1ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-New“Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you to decide. Now let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil men so happy? You plant them. They take root and their business grows. Their profits multiply, and they are rich. They say, ‘Thank God!’ But in their hearts, they give no credit to you. But as for me ~ Lord, you know my heart ~ you know how much it longs for you. And I am poor, O Lord!”

Now compare this with Job 15:20-24:

“All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him. Terrifying sounds fill his ears….He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword. He wanders about ~ food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Distress and anguish fill him with terror.”

These two passages contradict each other. So what is the problem? The words spoken in Job were by Eliphaz, one of Job’s well-meaning friends who took it upon himself to help Job figure out why he had lost all his wealth, all his children, and all his health. Was Eliphaz right?

At the end of the book of Job, is this: “The Lord…said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends because you have not spoken of me what is right.” Then God ordered Eliphaz and his friends to sacrifice seven bulls and rams (not small sacrifices), then ask Job to pray for them so God “will not deal with you according to your folly.”

When we read scripture, let us be careful to investigate its context and ALL other scriptures on the same subject. Only then can we have the whole picture. Only then can we avoid religious folly.  And truly know the heart of God.

(And, by the way, always remember, this earth is not your home. You’re just passing through. Treasures beyond comprehension are being laid up for you right now in your permanent home ~ heaven.)

.

0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-NewCOME FLY WITH ME is novel 8 in THEY MET JESUS  series.  Persecution of Jesus ended in his death, but it was his greatest triumph. Persecution continued with his twelve and would the rest of their lives. But, the reward at the end of the race.  Oh, the reward. Heaven in all its splendor and being with Jesus once again. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2OZFOxK

 

.

#poverty, #treasures, #rich, #poor, #heaven, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth