Category: family

Can they just turn it off?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, ego, family, love, sacrifice, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 22 (6/22), is Ephesians 6:22 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Thumbnail“I am sending him to you for this very purpose: That you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.”

Have you sent a letter to anyone in your family lately even if they don’t have email just to see how they are? How about your elderly parents, your grown children, aunts or uncles, nieces or nephews? Do they love you? If they do, they are going to worry about you until they hear how you are. Or do they only hear from you when you need money?

I have a letter written by my great grandmother to her daughter (my grandmother) saying (besides the usual chit-chat), “You never write.”  I have another letter written a generation later by my grandmother to her daughter (my mother) saying, “You never write.” And I have a letter from my mother saying to her daughter, “You never write.”

Each generation goes through this. We grow up, go out on our own, get busy, and forget to write our loved ones. They spent somewhere around 20 years raising you, taking care of you, making sure you were clean, your clothes decent, you did your homework, you got along with your friends, your scratches were healed, you ate right. How can they devote that much daily time and energy (both physical and emotional) on someone until they are grown, and then just turn it off? Just quit caring? They cannot.

So today, sit down and write a letter to someone who helped raise you. If you think you don’t have anything to say, you really do. Tell them what you had for lunch yesterday, what song on the radio you heard, where you went, who you saw. Just chit-chat things. All they want is to know how you are. Then they will feel a lot better. Because they love you.

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0-Joseph-Cover-ThumbnailJOSEPH THE OTHER FATHER speculates what it might have been like for Joseph to raise the Son of God.  Several months before Jesus’ crucifixion, he was rejected in Nazareth and they said, “Isn’t (present tense) this the son of the carpenter?”  Jesus apparently did not try to save his step-father’s life with a miracle and keep him from heaven. What kind of things did Joseph talk to Jesus about on his death bed?  What precious memories?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover to PASTE THIS……….  https://bit.ly/30FFlbC

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All-night prayer?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, Daily, family, forgiveness, Inspirational, love, praise, prayer, problems, sin, temptation, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailThe scripture for today, June 12 (6/12), is Luke 6:12 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

How in the world did Jesus think of enough things to say that he could pray all night? Most of us, on a good day, only manage a 5-minute prayer. The next verse says that the next morning he selected his twelve apostles. Aha! He had a list. He had probably spent at least half an hour each praying about them by name, as well as about others he was considering. Jesus knew what his apostles would be facing someday. Which ones would be loyal enough, stubborn enough, strong-willed enough to someday in the future endure persecution, torture (skinned alive, beaten to death, burned), and martyrdom for him?

Who do you pray for by name? Do you have a prayer list? How about opening the newspaper and praying for all those people in the news ~ perpetrators, victims, causes, governments, situations? Or everyone you work with? Or everyone your children go to school with? Or all their teachers and administrators? Or the clerks in the stores you go to regularly? Or members of an organization you belong to? Or every member of your congregation? What about countries where people become Christians at risk of their freedom and even their lives?

There are always people in need of prayer. And one of the joys of such a prayer life is now and then telling people whom you know that they are in your prayers, or writing a note to someone who is a stranger to you telling them that you pray for them.

Some people have never heard their names in prayer. Some people have never even been told that someone prays for them.

God loves to answer prayer. Do you love prayer?

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Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is book 3 in the TOUCHING GOD series along with a book on daily wisdom and a book on daily scriptures.  Includes daily praise and thanksgiving. Prayers of forgiveness are taken from the various lists of sins in the Bible.  Requests are left to the reader.  Five minutes or less for morning, noon, or evening meditation.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2AeBR4I

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Hmmm. I seem to be missing my tantrum.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, attitude, Bible, blessings, Enemies, ethics, family, forgiveness, good works, humility, Inspirational, joy, Life of Christ, patience, problemsLeave a comment

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailThe scripture for today, June 1 (6/1) , is Psalm 6:1 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.”

This is not only a good request to God, but it is a good request to each other ~ family and friends alike. When you disagree with someone, do you “back it up” with loud yelling or throwing or hitting things? Do you believe that your point cannot be understood and will not be accepted without a “tantrum”?

This scripture indicates that it is indeed possible to rebuke someone without the tantrum. In fact, it is more effective. When you calmly tell someone you disagree with them, it does not raise their blood pressure and put them on the defensive. With tantrums, they may react as you want on the outside, but you drive them farther from you on the inside.

Calm rebuke does not mean you don’t mean it; it means you are convinced enough, your point of view does not need reinforcement. In that case, the other person is likely to be convinced too.

Today, practice saying calmly what you normally back up with a tantrum. Practice in front of the mirror.  Practice when driving. Practice when cooking or mowing the lawn or combing your hair.  Then, next time you disagree with someone close to you, you will be ready. Ready to not rebuke in your anger.

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0-Mefiboset-KINDLE MediumMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE got along with everyone. Well, except those who were determined to be his enemies.  His patience and happy disposition were a mystery to most, especially after becoming cripple for life and being denied the throne.  How could he do it?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2ywrqJi

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Pray for me

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, discouragement, emptiness, family, Fear, healing, problems, sacrifice2 Comments

00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, May 26 (5/26), is 1st Thessalonians 5:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Brothers, pray for us.”

Do you have a prayer list? Often prayers get bogged down and short because the only person we “remember” in prayer is ourselves. Well, and maybe a relative or two

There are many people who need your prayers: Your family is obvious. How about your neighbors? If you don’t know their names, pray for them by house or apartment number. What about the newspaper? Every one of those bad-news stories is crying out for prayer. The school near you needs your prayers ~ students, teachers, administrators, janitors. It doesn’t matter whether you have a child in that school; pray for them anyway.

Are you praying for the hospital workers during this time of pandemic? People who keep us safe or rescue us in the fire and police departments? How about people in food service? And the delivery trucks to bring things to us because we hesitate to go to the store? What about people in your town who are self-isolating and have to family nearby?

Who are your local government officials? Not liking them doesn’t make any difference, for Jesus said we are to pray for our enemies too. And that leads to the list of your enemies; do you have any at your workplace? Include them too. It’s pretty hard to resent someone you pray for.

One other thing you might try doing in addition to having a prayer list: Have an answered-prayer list. Write down when you pray for someone, then when it is answered. Keep it as a reminder when you are down and don’t think He’s ever going to answer your requests. God does care, after all.

And speaking of requests, by the time you’re done praying for all the other people on your prayer list, you won’t have a lot of time to pray for yourself. And that is okay too, for others are praying for you!

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I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Most are based on one or more of my books.  Will you help me spread the word about today’s book?          https://bit.ly/3eh9Yrk

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00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailLUKE: SLAVE & PHYSICIAN is part of the spoils of war when he is 8 and his big, strong Norse father has been killed.  He is adopted by Theophilus, tribune in the Roman legion, as his slave, and helps the legion physician.  When grown, he meets Paul and leaves paganism for Christianity.  He is freed by Theophilus to become Paul’s personal physician, trying to keep Paul alive after all his beatings and lashings by pagan priests to try to stop him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover, or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/3eh9Yrk

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The coward slinked away

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, church, discouragement, Enemies, family, forgiveness, Inspirational, Life of Christ, power, praise, prayer, Satan, victory, worshipLeave a comment

05-Joseph-KindleThumbnailAh, my Lord, You are the only God and you are glorious. You are powerful in love, in justice, in mercy. You are life and must ever be creating life. Woe to those who kill, for they are fighting you.  Those who lie dare to deny you. Those who boost their will over yours are siding with Satan who desires to be over you.  Ah, my Lord God, I adore you and fall at your feet.  You are beyond understanding and fill my heart with the unspeakable joy of seeing you face to face some day.

Help me see myself as others do and as you do. Open my eyes to the real me. Make me go through things that reveal to me the stuff I am truly made of.

Thank you, Lord, for providing Words in writing so I know what and who my God is and how you react to people like me. You love me so and never stop thinking about me. Lord Jesus, thank you for being willing to go backward ~ leaving heaven to dwell on earth as one of us, resisting all the temptations of Satan. You went backward so I could go forward ~ leaving earth to dwell in heaven. You risked it all for me. What if Satan had succeeded? But you stood strong, head-to-head against him, refusing to obey him, side with him, or even to give you what he dared think you wanted ~ his kingdoms. They were not his to give. They were already yours. The coward slinked away in your mighty presence.

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    I pen my thoughts to inspire souls. Will you help me spread the word?      https://amzn.to/35ZOf44

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05-Joseph-KindleThumbnailJOSEPH is storybook in the series A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  Everything and everyone in life were against him but his feeble father.  He was thirty years old before the world saw him as a great man worthy to lead the nation of Egypt. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/35ZOf44

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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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Shhh. Listen. Do you hear?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, family, Inspirational, joy, love, patience, prayer, problems, Scripture, victoryLeave a comment

Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILThe scripture for today, May 6 (5/6), is Song of Solomon 5:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“I opened [the door] for my lover, but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.”

Jesus is the lover of your soul. He hears you knock, so opens the door for you. But you are now sidetracked. Perhaps you’re spending all your time thinking about material things. His heart sinks when you run away from him. Oh, how his heart aches with loneliness for you.

So, Jesus goes out looking for you. He looks everywhere you go. He calls you by name. But perhaps your life is so full of the noise of doing and going and accomplishing, that you do not hear him.

God has brought the world into silence and introspection.  How are you doing? Ah, but listen.

     Shhh.

          Do you hear?

              He wants you to be his Ecclesia.

Jesus is calling for you.

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

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Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILLOVE LETTERS OF JESUS AND HIS BRIDE, ECCLESIA.  Ecclesia is a beautiful name.  That’s because Jesus’ ecclesia is his bride, the church.  This book is a paraphrase of the Song of Solomon thought to have been written on his wedding day.  Each chapter in the book corresponds with each chapter in S of S.  And each chapter is a letter of one of them, usually looking for the other.  Numerous footnotes to explain the beautiful symbolism of this poetic book of the Bible.  Beautiful gift book with papyrus font and the watermark of a bride on each page.  A real keepsake.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2QcwHcq

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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.

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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