Category: faith

Sunday 11/10 ~ Then one day the light goes on. Viola! You get it!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, church, ego, faith, family, Heaven, judging, knowledge, persecution, Scripture, teaching, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 10 (11/10), is Acts 11:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

000-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“This happened three times and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.”

Acts 11 is about God telling Peter that his new heavenly kingdom was for the whole world, not just the Jews. What was pulled up to heaven was a “sheet” holding all the unclean animals which the Old Law of Moses commanded them never to eat. Now God was saying, “Eat it. The Old Law of Moses isn’t in effect anymore.”

This was hard to grasp. So hard that, even though it was God telling Peter directly a new spiritual concept, Peter refused it. So hard for him to believe, that God had to tell him three times!

Is this the way you are? You read something in the Bible that you never believed before. You read it and re-read it and re-read it, and it never sinks in. After all, you never believed that before. None of your religious friends or leaders believe it. No one on Christian radio/TV or in Christian magazines or the internet believes it.

But God’s Word remains. So, over the weeks and months and years, you pass through that scripture and read it and re-read it. Over the weeks and months and years, its meaning for your life goes right over your head.

Then one day, the light goes on! Viola! You see it! You get it! You are blessed!

.

000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN is a historical novel based on Jesus’ parables. He marries a Jewish girl, no one attends, so they send out to the highways and byways to fill the feast; his sister is the woman at the well, his son is the prodigal son, etc.  But their mixed-religion marriage haunts them.  The Jews hated the Samaritans and they endure prejudice.  Then one day they meet Jesus.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2qJPeF1 

.

.

#teaching, #barriers, #prejudice, #values, #judging, #knowledge, #ego, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

 

Wednesday 11/6 ~ Out of the ashes

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, Enemies, faith, healing, Inspirational, Loss, power, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 6 (11/6), is Nehemiah 11:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 able men.”

Just who was Perez, and why was this even mentioned in the Bible? Perez was a son of Judah, and an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:3).

Why was living in Jerusalem a big deal at that time? Because Jerusalem had been attacked and destroyed. It was nothing but rubble and ashes. Earlier, other Jews had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. Now it was time to rebuild the walls.

These 468 brave people had to agree to move into a burned-out city and rebuild on the ashes of previous homes. In the process of moving building stones out of the way to reuse in the city wall, they surely found skeletons of those who had been slaughtered in the attack decades before. It took grit.

At first, the Jews had blamed the Babylonians for destroying their city and temple. But eventually, they began re-reading the prophets who had warned them about their own sins. Finally, they turned inward and placed the blame where it really belonged: Themselves. Their own pride had destroyed their temple and their city, now crumbled ashes.

Following repentance, they acted. Was it easy rebuilding a broken city? Not any easier than rebuilding a broken home, a broken congregation, a broken life. You must look at your own part in your own destruction and begin building yourself anew.

Are there any skeletons or ashes in your life?  Is there anything that needs rebuilt? It takes grit.  Do you have the grit?

.

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailYOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE: COURAGE FOR ISOLATED CHRISTIANS tells the stories of heroic godly men in the Bible who had to stand alone when everyone was against them.  Written for isolated Christians around the world. All stories are followed by thought questions about their survival.  Perfect for missionaries and sponsoring congregations. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2NofrlJ

.

.

#courage, #grit, #rebuilding, #ashes, #skeletons, #broken, #isolated, #Jerusalem, #victory, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Tuesday 11/5 ~ The lover of my soul

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, discouragement, emptiness, faith, Fear, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, patience, prayer, worship1 Comment

The scripture for today, November 5 (11/5), is Ecclesiastes 11:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

Are you ever frustrated because you cannot touch God or see God? In times of deep unbearable distress, probably a lot of people feel that need. But, if you could touch or see him, he could not be everywhere at once; he could not be omnipresent. That means, if he was with you where you could see and touch him, the rest of the world would have to wait for him to get done with you and go to the next person.

Are you ever frustrated because you cannot figure out God? In times of great challenges to faith, probably a lot of people feel that need. But, if you could figure out God, He would not be superior to you. It means that either he would not be God, or you would be God also.

Be grateful that you cannot touch or see God. Be grateful you cannot fully understand God. Be grateful that, despite all his greatness, he dearly loves you ~ you, a mere speck in the cosmos. He even knows your name. Ah, what a God ~ the lover of your soul.

.

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT 592 VERSES EXAMINED shows everything in the Bible God wants us to know ~ no more, no less.  Some of the things you have heard are just not there.  Some of the things you never thought about are there.  This is a simple study but thorough. Could be used in Bible classes. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/32EUTdD

.

LINK to all BOOKS by CATEGORY:  http://bit.ly/MyBookInfo
LINK to all BOOKS on AMAZON: http://bit.ly/AmazonBooksByKatheryn

.

#SeeGod, #TouchGod, #worship, #emptiness, #faith, #discouragement, “Holy Spirit, #blessings,  #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

 

 

Friday 11/1 ~ Here’s Proof!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, faith, judging, knowledge, Scripture, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 1 (11/1), is Hebrews 11:1 as found in the New Testament of the Bible;

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-Thumbnail“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (KJV).

Notice, faith is not based on a feeling. It is full of substance, for it is based on evidence. What evidence?

First, faith is complete confidence that the Bible is divine. You can know this in large part because the prophecies about large nations and empires during Bible times came true after the lifetime of the prophets. Today, most people never heard of many of those large nations and empires because their destruction was so complete. But an investigation of encyclopedias shows that, in Bible times, they did exist. Here’s a webpage with pictures http://bit.ly/2NvAn9d

Second, faith is complete confidence that Jesus on earth was divine. You can know this in large part because numerous prophecies about his birth, ministry, and death came true centuries after the prophecies were made. No one man could have contrived and forced all those prophecies to be fulfilled in his lifetime.

Finally, faith is complete confidence that the account of Jesus’ life was written accurately by witnesses who saw him and talked with him. These witnesses afterward traveled the world telling people about him, suffering hardships, and often torture and death. They would not have gone through all this for a lie. Further, we have manuscripts that date back to less than a century of the actual events, something no other ancient writing can do. Here’s a webpage about manuscripts:  http://bit.ly/2pxARUe

Yes, faith has substance because it is based on evidence ~ proof. And in the Bible, you can have all you need.

.

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-ThumbnailSTAR SONG is lyrical historical novel 1 in the 8-novel series on the life of Christ ~ THEY MET JESUS.  Each chapter ends with scripture and historical proofs of those events along with life-application questions. This series is being considered for a TV series.  A child’s version is also available.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2C1Os8P

.

.

#FAITH, #proof, #evidence, #manuscripts, #prophecies, #history, #documents, #predictions, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

 

Tuesday 10/29 ~ God running after you

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, eternity, faith, Fear, forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, power, Satan, Saved from hell, Thanksgiving, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 29 (10/29), is John 10:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

No other person can take your salvation away from you. They may badger you, belittle you, torture you, kill you, but they cannot take your salvation away from you. The only one who can do that is you.

The Apostle Peter said, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall….Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position” (II Peter 1:10; 3:17).

Hebrews 2:1 says, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

Jesus himself said, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

I praise and adore you, Lord God of the unfathomable universe. You are my King, my Maker, my betrothed. You are willing to fight Satan and get him away from me because he is too strong for me.  I give in to him so often, especially with my attitudes and use of my time.

Always you run after me and snatch me away from him again and again. You never tire of returning me from unknown and unsuspected danger to the safety of your everlasting arms.  I do not comprehend such love. All I can do is praise you every day from the depths of my heart and the heights of my spirit.

.

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 PRAYERS YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S has a praise, forgiveness, and thanksgiving suggested prayer to help your prayer life each day of the year.  It leaves prayers of request up to you.  Excellent for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduates, new converts, shut-ins, military, etc. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/31X2O59

.

.

#prayer, #forgiveness, #fallaway, #sinner, #Satan, #hell, #heaven, #steadfast, #promise, #soul, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Monday 10/28 ~ Being a hero

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, discouragement, Enemies, eternity, faith, Fear, governments, Heaven, persecution, power, sacrifice, Satan, Saved from hell, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 28 (10/28), is Matthew 10:28f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.”

This scripture indicates that sometimes God’s allows you to “fall to the ground” ~ your body suffers, or you are killed. How can that be? After all, God is so loving. Surely a good God would not allow any harm to come to someone if he truly loves them.

But we all have our assignments from God in this war between Good and Evil. Just as Job in the Old Testament lost his entire family and all his wealth and then his health, he refused to blame God. He even said, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” (Job 2:10).

Satan causes bad to happen to you. Why? In order to get you to blame God for it and maybe even then declare God does not exist. Your assignment is to refuse to deny God. That way, Satan loses one more battle, and God wins one more.

There is an old Christian song called “Victory in Jesus.” How can you have victory in Jesus if you do not have something to be victorious over? Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors. How can you be a conqueror if you have nothing to conquer?

Stand strong and say with James (1:2), “I consider it pure joy whenever I face trials.” Hard to say? Of course, it is. But it could turn your life around and make you a hero.

.

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR begins with a 17-year-old coward who grows and matures a little at a time so that by the time he is a 28-year-old deacon with wife and children, he is stronger than most people we will ever meet in our lifetime.  He purposely walks into the Sanhedrin’s council room to say what needed to be said, knowing he would not leave alive. He sees the door.  It is opening for him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2MWxVtn

.

.

#fear, #killing, #murder, #body, #soul, #Satan, #death, #martyr, #sacrifice, #hell, #heaven, #victory, #power, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

 

Thursday 10/25 ~ Help me see myself as others do

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, church, discouragement, ego, faith, humility, patience, problems, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 24 (10/24), is 1st Corinthians 10:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

The context of this verse is that some of the members of the church in Corinth were expressing opinions or doing things that were offensive to some of the other members. They hurt the consciences of some of the weaker members.  

Everyone struggles with their ego sometimes.  Usually, we do not even realize our ego is involved.  It is so very hard to see ourselves as others do, and to see ourselves as God does.

Do you ever do anything during the public worship that is offensive to some people? Do you do them as an example of how “holy” you are? Do you even try to get God on your side and say that any Christian could do those things if they had as much faith as you do?

What about committee meetings? Do you ever suggest something that the others just aren’t excited about? Do you allow your ego to eventually seep in and begin to feel slighted or challenged because your idea wasn’t accepted? Do you even try to get God on your side and say he will be more glorified if the other committee members accept your plan?

One way to look at things objectively is to ask yourself, “Would my congregation survive without me?” What if I were killed in an auto accident and suddenly taken from them tomorrow? Would they continue to worship? Would they continue to do good works? Would they continue to meet as a congregation? Ninety-nine percent of the time your congregation would survive without you.

“Lord, I guess I never looked at myself that way. I love you so much, I want others to know you better. Maybe I should express my worship alone as much as I do in public. Maybe I should do more good works alone without a committee.

Help me, know what to do. Help me see myself as others do, and as you do.”

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was an expert arbitrator. So Paul appointed him to solve church problems.  It was a special and rare gift. He traveled to Corinth in Greece to calm them down, then he traveled to Crete to divert problems before they arose. Finally, he went to Dalmatia in today’s Albania, a special challenge with so many “barbarians” to deal with.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2OYISvL

#ego, #offender, #embarrass, #humility, #weakness, #pushy, #showoff, #arbitrator, #committees, #worship, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Wednesday 10/23 ~ Reading the map

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, discouragement, ego, eternity, faith, Holy Spirit, knowledge, ScriptureLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 23 (10/23), is Jeremiah 10:23 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail“I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.”

Just how are you supposed to know what steps God has directed you to take? Do you have to guess, rely on a feeling, depend on the movement of your heart, see a vision? Actually, you have a guide, a road map.

Jesus said in John 14:16-17 that after he left, the Father would send another Counselor ~ the Spirit of Truth. In John 16:13 Jesus said The Spirit of Truth will guide into all truth. In John 17:17, Jesus said, “Your Word is Truth.”

Yes, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, guides you through the Word of God, the Bible.

You don’t have to guess! You don’t have to wonder! You don’t have to get discouraged! God has given you his Word to direct your steps. All you have to do is open his Word and read the map.

 

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT: 592 VERSES EXAMINED lets the Spirit of Truth guide you in what to believe. Gone are all the numerous speculations, declarations, and conjectures. Read God’s opinions, the only opinions that matter, for they are Truth. It is liberating and gives us sweet rest. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/32EUTdD

 

#Providence, #Fate, #predestination, #pathoflife, #HolySpirit, #decisions, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Wednesday 10/16 ~ He alone can

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn faith, Inspirational, judging, knowledge, Scripture, teaching, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 16 (10/16), is Acts 10:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Old Testament Survey-Cover-thumbnail“This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”

This is about a vision where God let down a sheet full of animals that were “unclean” and not allowed to be eaten according to the Law of Moses. (See Leviticus 11:1-8.) God told Peter he could now eat them.

Peter already knew that Jesus nailed the Old Law of Moses to the Cross (Colossians 2:14 and Hebrews 9). But it just hadn’t sunk in yet.

As many times as Jesus told his apostles about his Sonship of God and proved it with astounding miracles, it wasn’t until just before his death that Jesus told them, “You believe at last!” (John 16:31).

Similarly, sometimes you read the same scripture over and over and it goes right over your head. You are not seeing what God wants you to see. You assume that what you’ve always been doing will always be right. You assume that others in church do things a certain way, so it has to be right.

Do this: Search everything in the scriptures on topics that you assume you know all about, and get everything God has to say about it. Then compare scripture to practice.

It IS possible to get God’s opinion on things, and that is who, in the end, you are trying to please. He will judge you, not your friends. He alone can save you.

 

Old Testament Survey-Cover-thumbnailOLD TESTAMENT SURVEY is presented with its contrast in the NEW TESTAMENT.  Easy fill-in-the blank questions for studying alone or in a group. Great or Home Schoolers, isolated Christians, and Bible classes.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2MMUTli

 

#faith, #knowledge, #assumptions, #rightwrong, #opinions, #judging #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Saturday 10/5 ~ Shhh.  Listen.  Do you hear him now?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, Bible, church, ego, faith, Heaven, judging, knowledge, teaching, truth, worship1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 5, (10/5) is 2nd Corinthians 10:5f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

NF-WorshipChanges-WorshipFirst“Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”

This is about the 40 years the Jews wandered in the wilderness between leaving their slavery in Egypt and beginning a nation for themselves. They had the mindsets of slaves. They did not know how to make decisions for themselves. One of those decisions was to leave the gods of Egypt and worship only the one true God.

It was easier to fall in line with what they were raised to believe. That had long been their comfort zone. They took the easy way out rather than follow the God who had proved the Egyptian gods were not gods at all. They would rather die than change. So they did. They died.

Do you take the easy way out? Do you stick with things you were raised to believe even though you have learned more of the Bible and see those old beliefs are not what God said?

The early Jews did not listen to God, so God did not listen to them. He is calling out to you through the scriptures.. Shhh.  Listen.  Do you hear him now? “Come to me. I want to save you. Please come.”

 

NF-WorshipChanges-WorshipFirstWORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY provides a year-by-year account when changes were introduced, if not accepted, when they were reintroduced, who introduced them, and what they did to protestors.  Despite all that, a large number of Christians today think all those practices have always been from the beginning.  Written for denominational leaders with its companion, WORSHIP THE FIRST-CENTURY WAY.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2pMK6Q5

 

#worship, #egos, #persecution, #knowledge, #truth, #idols, #pagans, #upbringing, #prejudice, #parents-friends, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith