How he smiles when you do.

On September 16, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, ego, Fear, healing, power, problems, Saved from hellLeave a comment

The scripture for today, September 17 (9/17), is Nehemiah 9:17 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and, in their rebellion, appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore, you did not desert them.”

Such love! Do you rebel against God (who is only trying to save you) over and over because you don’t want anyone telling you what to do? Or because he’s too much bother? Or because you don’t have time for him? Or maybe you just outright hate God? Stop. Turn around. He is only trying to help you.

God has faith in you when you do not have faith in him. God forgives you over and over. First Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God could turn you into a robot and force you to love and obey him. But that wouldn’t be real love. God is Love, and he cannot go against his own nature.

And so God follows you around and pleads over and over, “Come back! You’re in danger. Come back. Follow my Son to safety!”

How he hurts when you do not; how he smiles when you do.

LUKE: SLAVE & PHYSICIAN. In Roman times, doctors were almost always slaves and belonged to one family. The legions were just beginning to have their own doctor. In this story, Luke loses his father at age 8 from a battle between his Nordic village and the Romans. He is adopted by Theophilus, a tribune, and given training to be his doctor. Then they meet the apostle Paul, become Christians, and Luke is released to be Paul’s personal physician. Paul’s back has been ripped to shreds so many times, it is solid scar tissue and ten times more sensitive to touch than normal tissue. Luke works to keep Paul alive. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://bit.ly/2FsFwin

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/books-more-biblical-historical-novels/book-3-luke-slave-physician/

Praying for Nero

On September 8, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, Enemies, eternity, faith, Fear, Heaven, Inspirational, persecution, sacrifice, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, September 8 (9/9), is Daniel 9:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“O Lord, we and our kings, our princes, and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.”

Have you prayed for your government lately? I Timothy 2:1 & 2 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone ~ for kings and all those in authority.”

At the time of this writing, Nero was Caesar. First-century historian Tacitus said this about Nero in his Annals 15:44: “But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called “Christians” by the populace.

“Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular.

“Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”

If the Apostle Paul could pray for such a government leader, can you not follow his instructions? Why don’t you stop and pray for your own government right now?

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR is a novelized version of life as it may have been for Stephen who, history tells us, lived in Antioch of Syria, then Cyrene in Libya, then Jerusalem of Judea. He was a deacon when killed, so had a wife and children, probably young. What could drive a young man to give up his whole life ahead of him? When he went into the Sanhedrin chambers, he knew they’d never let him live. What stirred within his young heart? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. http://bit.ly/stephenmartyr

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/books-more-biblical-historical-novels/book-7-stephen-unlikely-martyr/

Ordering demons around

On August 28, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, faith, Fear, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, judging, knowledge, power, Satan, Scripture, teaching, truth, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, August 29 (8/29), is Matthew 8:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

” ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ “

If you are not familiar with this passage, these are the words of a demon. If you have ever studied demons in the Bible, you will find they never tried to spook or scare people. They never made dishes rattle or lamps fall over.

All they did was cause physical problems during the lifetime of Jesus and his apostles. There is no evidence of demons doing this in the Old Testament before Jesus, nor after his apostles died, either in the Bible or in the writings of the apostolic fathers. It is as though the demons were loosed for a season so Jesus could show his power over them also ~ Ephesians 1:20-21.

Notice, demons never said bad things. If they talked at all, it was out of fear of Jesus and honesty. James 2:19 says all demons believe in Jesus. In the book of Matthew, they knew who Jesus was. They called him the Son of God.

Jesus told them to be quiet. Why? He didn’t want evil beings telling people who he was; he wanted goodness to tell people who he was. And Jesus never did incantations or any begging to lure demons out. He demanded them to leave, and immediately, they obeyed him.

The movies have warped our understanding of demons. Let us search the scriptures to find out their true nature. Then we no longer have to guess. We can know.

THE HOLY SPIRIT: 592 VERSES EXAMINED. This book does not cater to anyone’s pre-conceived opinions. It is based only on God’s opinions. Great for private or class study. Easy to understand. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….

#demons, #fear, #castingout, #seances, #incantation, #scarey, #HolySpirit, #592verses, #easy, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/my-book-the-holy-spirit-in-365-scriptures/?frame-nonce=9f9ac75c8f

I feel the night

On August 25, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, Fear, Heaven, Inspirational, joy, judging, Life of Christ, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, victory, worshipLeave a comment

I feel the night coming on, my Lord. Shadows surround me, I am growing weaker. But nothing can turn my soul away from you. I am in the valley now, Lord. The darkness is filled with the unknown. But I cannot feel alone as long as you are with me. Onward I will go. Though my enemies despise me and my friends desert me, still will I walk toward home. You have always promised to never leave and forsake me. Though the blackness of dark leaps over me, it will be light in my soul. The valley is deep, but onward I go, for I know that on the other side will be the gate. With tears of joy and relief I will walk out of the valley and through that gate. You will take my hand in your wounded one, and walk with me through glory. On the other side. All on the other side. And I will then praise you forever and forever.

It is dawn. Thank you, Lord, for morning. Thank you for second chances and new opportunities and fresh insights. The sun is rising higher and higher, spreading its rays of hope and cheer. Thank you for the rest that brought about new strength for a new day. And for time to reflect on the joy of you as I plan my day. Someday there will be another dawn. A dawn when I will close my eyes here and open them in the land of forever dawn where you are the sun and it is always morning.

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER is a story of a little girl who went to heaven and played with the angels until Jesus called her back. Then they all hugged and cried tears of joy. A good way to EXPLAIN DEATH TO A CHILD. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/3gvIJtE

#death, #valleyofdeath, #darkness, #Jesushand, #uptothelight, #goldengates, #pearlygates, #heaven, #angels, #Achildslifeofchrist, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-kids-book-7-jairus-daughter/?frame-nonce=dcd871ac5b

My tears you turn into diamonds

On August 2, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Fear, Inspirational, joy, judging, knowledge, prayer, rest, teaching, worship2 Comments

From the night, you call forth light. From the soil you call forth a flower. My tears you turn into diamonds. My laughter you turn into mountains of love. My weariness you make be sweet peaceful rest before the dawn. My soul rises to meet yours, my heart flies to touch yours, my mind, my understanding soars to try to understand you. You are so great and I am so small. Yet you love me so. I do not deserve it, for I am sinful. You love me still. I worship you.

The sun is shining. It is warm and beautiful. I hear the birds and see the flowers, I feel your smile and touch a little bit of your glory. Good morning, God! Last night I slept and dreamed. I do not remember my dream because I make no effort to until it is too far faded from my memory. But I know it must have been a peaceful dream. I slept through the night in your arms of safety. I feared nothing. You gave me sweet rest. At last, the dawn has returned, I feel refreshed, and now you and I are ready for another day that will glorify you. Glorious day. Glorious God.

PEARLS OF WISDOM is book 2 in the TOUCHING GOD series. Each day you are given a proverb of Solomon’s and God’s advice from Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Solomon. It is a paraphrase and slightly updating of old-fashioned terms of the old King James Version. A wonderful gift set for any kind of celebration. The cover is original art and the interior antique papyrus font. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/3i1Y4TY

#goodnightssleep, #fearlessnight,#protectedbygod,#morningdawn, #jobpsalmsproverbsecclesiastessongofsolomon, #touchinggod, #pearlsofwisdom, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/365-pearls-of-wisdom-gods-soul-to-yours/

Plans you can only imagine

On July 29, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, attitude, death, discouragement, Enemies, Fear, love, patience, persecution, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 30 (7/30), is John 7:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“At this, they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.”

Even thoughm, during the last two years of his life, many people wanted to kill Jesus out of jealousy or fear or pure meanness, he was never afraid to keep teaching. Why? Because he knew he was life and truth and that he came forth from the Father of lights.

Do you feel fear sometimes because of things going on around you? Do we fear failure, or ruin, or false rumors, being stricken by Covid-19, or imprisonment, or your life? Remember, each life is in the heavenly Father’s hands.

So do not fear. Keep on keeping on. Hold fast. Stand firm. Do the right thing. Stand up for Jesus. And, when someday, your time does come, know that God has everything under control. He had big plans for Jesus at his death, and he has big plans for you. Plans you can only imagine.

COME FLY WITH ME is the last book in the 8-novel series THEY MET JESUS. Witness his apostles hiding for fear they will be crucified next. In the depths of despair because all their dreams are dead. Witness as he interrupts their meal. The tomb really is empty! Witness their last days with him and hoping he really won’t leave them. Witness as they move their families to Jerusalem then gradually scatter. Witness John, now an old man, reunite with his friend, Jesus, in the heaven of heavens. Click a book cover or paste this………. http://bit.ly/ComeToHeaven

#fear, #dread, #covid19, #rumors, #failure, #imprisonment, #life, #plans, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-8-come-fly-with-me-adults-childs-versions/

You draw me like a magnet

On July 22, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, Bible, Daily, discouragement, family, Fear, Heaven, Inspirational, patience, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, victory, worshipLeave a comment

My Lord and God, steadily I climb toward you. You draw me like a magnet. You seem so much closer with each step. With one step I strive to have the kind of mercy for others you have for me. With another step I try to be more forgiving as you are to me. With yet another step I struggle to make time for others as you make time for me. Then there are the steps of purity, patience, pride and so many others that I dread to take because I am so weak to keep them in my life. Sometimes it is very hard to keep going. But you keep drawing me. Where I lack the strength, you reach out and say, “Take my hand. I will help you.” Keep drawing me toward you, Lord. Help me keep climbing and walking, climbing and walking, until at last I walk through the gates into heaven and see you as you are.

Thank you, God, for your Book divine, the Book wherein you pour out your heart to me. How you have agonized with all of us these past centuries and millenniums. At the same time, you have shared in the victory march of each Christian who overcomes an enemy of action, an enemy of attitude. You never stop tugging at my heart and mind. You keep saying through your Book, come to me. Come to me! I can give you strength. Thank you for being willing ~ no, anxious ~ to lift me up. How I adore and worship you.

LAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN lived through most of Jesus’ parables. No one showed up at their wedding, so her father sent out to the highways and byways. He found a treasure in a field and sold everything he had to buy it. His daughter had ten virgin attendants who ran out of oil waiting for her groom. He was the Good Samaritan near Jericho. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/2AfVBoR

#stepbystep, #magnet, #journeyoflife, #actions, #attitudes, #hardships, #LazarustheSamaritan, #Richmanandlazarus, #jesusparables, #prodigalson, #tenwisefoolishvirgins, #tares, #biggerbarns, #lostcoin, #goodsamaritan, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/books-more-biblical-historical-novels/more-biblical-historical-novels/

He will not leave you or forsake you.

On July 14, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, faith, Fear, governments, healing, patience, persecution, power, prayer, truth, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 14 (7/14), is 2nd Chronicles 7:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

There is always a little bit of turmoil in all nations of the world. Of course, there is more in some. The average person cannot make their own nation call on God. But the average person can do this: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone ~ for kings and all those in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Further, we should pray for them by name.

Even if you think some people in authority in your nation are against you, you must pray for them anyway. Then wait quietly for God to work things out. It may take Him a year, a decade or a lifetime to bring about your heart’s desire for your nation. But keep praying.

Your job, in the meantime, is to follow God’s ways yourself. Romans 13:1,3-4 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…For rulers hold no terror for those who do right….For he is God’s servant to do you good.”

God is aware of the suffering going on around you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

WORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY tells what changes were made in their exact year and what they did to people who protested. All members of the Restoration Movement should read this. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/3eqMQXc

#kings, #presidents, #primeministers, #governments, #inequality, #worshipchangessincefirstcentury, #persecution, #illegal, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

He just hung on

On July 12, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, death, discouragement, emptiness, family, Fear, Inspirational, Loss, patience, problems, things, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 13 (7/13), is in Job 7:13ff in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.”

Job was extremely depressed. It happens to everyone sometimes. His depression was certainly valid ~ he had lost all his income and all his children in a recent storm. Now he had what the Bible translated as “boils” but the symptoms indicate he had a form of leprosy called Elephantiasis.

This particular form leads to nightmares in addition to the physical problems. Job had every right to be depressed. So depressed was he, that he no longer wanted to live, for his life no longer had meaning.

But, as miserable as Job was, he hung on. Patiently he hung on during the bad times. Sometimes during your bad times, the greatest thing you can do is “hang on” ~ be patient.

Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. Job loved the Lord. Even in his misery and desire to die, he continued to love God and trust Him.

And, although at such times you may believe your misery will never end and you will never even smile again, it will happen. The misery comes to an end. It did for Job. He got his health and wealth back and more children to comfort him. God will see you through too.

375 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS is book 2 in the TOUCHING GOD SERIES. Each day has one proverb and a passage from Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Songs. Cover is original art by famed watercolorist and Christian, Betsy Kemp Thompson. Interior is dramatic papyrus font. Beautiful gift book. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/3epvDgU

#depression, #loss, #problems, #diseases, #troubles, #lossofincome, #Biblejob, #patienceofjob, #psalms, #proverbs, #ecclesiastes, #songofsolomon, #Betsykemptompson, #pearlsofwisdom, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/365-pearls-of-wisdom-gods-soul-to-yours/

I’d die if I had to do that.

On June 16, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, death, faith, Fear, good works, Holy Spirit, judging, love, persecution, sacrifice, truth, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 17 (6/17), is Matthew 6:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.”

This is interesting because Jesus did not say “If, you fast,” but rather “When you fast.” It was as though he was teaching us to take for granted that we would fast ~ it would be second-nature to us. In a sense, it is, for when most people go through a sudden tragedy such as loss of a loved one, they often cannot eat.

But what about voluntary fasting? The early church sometimes fasted. Acts 13:2 says a congregation in Antioch, Syria, fasted and worshiped, then chose men to go out as missionaries. Queen Esther fasted before going to the king uninvited with a request he might not like (Esther 4:16). Isaiah 58:3 says people fasted in order to humble themselves.

Some people respond, “I’d die if I had to fast.” Perhaps that’s kind of the idea. We know we would die if we went without food long enough. So perhaps one day of fasting is a way of saying, “God, I would die for you if I had to.” Yes, fasting is a humbling experience and frightening to some people. But perhaps that is the point.

Is something important coming up that you know you will be urgently praying about? Once you skip one meal, you will have conquered your desire to eat. Then, with your brain not having to concentrate on digesting food, it will be able to focus more on that important thing happening in your life. Your prayers will be more focused. You will be more focused with your eyes more clearly on God.

So, take a shower, comb your hair, put on some nice clothes, and look like you have something important to do. Then fast.

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR did everything he could think of to convince people his religion was good. He recruited help. At night they would sneak pages of scriptures under rocks, inside people’s houses, nailed to statues of the gods. They met in secret and worshiped. Then publicly they would march. And they fasted as Queen Esther had done. If it worked for Esther, surely it would work for Stephen and his zealous friends. Would it backfire? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/2XBFXvJ

#religion, #fasting, #specialneed, #imitatedeath, #Libya, NorthAfrica, #Cyrene, #coward, #champion, #church, #QueenEsther, #focus, #Stephen, #Martyr, #zeal, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: