Thursday 5/16 ~ Smile anyway. The world will wonder why.

On May 16, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, good works, joy, Loss, patience, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 16 (5/16), is 1st Thessalonians 5:16 (KJV) as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Rejoice evermore.”

But how can we rejoice when something terrible has happened?

The Apostle Paul who wrote this knew that the Thessalonians were being terribly persecuted (2nd Thessalonians 1:4), but he still said, “Rejoice evermore.” How could he say such a calloused thing amidst their suffering? Had he no feeling, no empathy?

Sometimes we have to suffer so the true nature of bad people pretending to be good can be revealed to the world. Sometimes we have to suffer so we can build our spiritual muscles. Sometimes we have to suffer so we can understand others going through the same thing. Sometimes we even suffer so people around us wanting to do a good work will have someone to do a good work for.

There are many reasons for suffering. But none of them take away the pain. Just remember that, just as God was grieved when his Son suffered on the cross, he is grieved when you suffer. And just as God was able to bring something wonderful out of his Son’s suffering, he can bring something wonderful out of your suffering too.

In the meantime, chin up, shoulders back, stand straight, be brave, and smile. The world will wonder why.

LAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN grew up surrounded by the Jewish nation who hated his kind. When he went to work in a mine, they turned him into a slave and beat him half to death. How did he and his wife and children survive such suffering and for him to rise up to be the mine owner? To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2ELJtfS

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Sunday 4/21 ~ Where is your light? Oops! There it is.

On April 21, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, good works, Inspirational, love1 Comment

The scripture for today, April 21 (4/21), is Mark 4:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?”

Jesus said something similar in Matthew 5:14f, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Light? I have a light? Oh, I forgot. I get so caught up in my day-to-day life. Besides, it’s just one little flame.

Little? Little? In a world of darkness, one little flame is all they need to give them hope and lead them toward a larger light. Do you spend your time and energy on yourself and family? That is good. Your family needs your light. But try going farther. Look around. Your neighborhood, your school, your job, your club, your community.

Someone is in darkness right now and needs your light. Always keep looking around. Keep searching for little nooks and crannies in the lives of others where you can bring the light of a good deed to someone’s world.

Dare to spread light over them so they can know where they are going. They need Jesus’ precious light shining through you, even if it is just one little flame. Your light may be the only one some people will ever see.

Where is your light? Is it hidden? Can you find it? Do you know where you left it? Oh, there it is!

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Sunday 4/14/19 ~ Listen. Do you hear them?

On April 14, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, good works, Inspirational, power, problems, sacrifice, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, April 14 (4/14), is Esther 4:14b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Today’s scripture is about a reluctant young lady who won a beauty contest and was chosen to be the queen of Persia. Time has passed, and now a command has just gone out to kill all Jews. Queen Esther was a Jewess but had not told anyone at the royal court. She could continue to hide her nationality and let all her people die, or she could try to intervene with the king. She was the only Jew the king would have listened to. So, realizing she could be killed too, she spoke on behalf of her people. They were saved.

There are always situations in life in which you are the only one who can accomplish something very needed. Perhaps you are the only adult standing near a strange child about to run out into a busy street. Perhaps you are tall and a short person needs to reach something at the store. Perhaps you know a particular language and others around you need you to explain something to them. Perhaps someone called a wrong number on the telephone and reached you instead.

As you go through life, there are situations in which you are the only one who can handle them. Do you? Do you watch for those situations, or do you walk around in your own little world?

Listen! It’s the silent cries of people only you can help. Do you hear them?

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR was difficult for me to write. He was a young deacon with a wife and children, a sought-after speaker, a miracle worker. What motivated him to be the one to go into the Sanhedrin’s chamber that day and speak so powerfully, they would kill him to shut him up? I walked the floor for two days and cried before I could write those final scenes where he struggled alone to make the big decision, then carry it out. Come along with me as we try to walk in young Stephen’s shoes. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Bowxf8

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Tuesday 4/2 ~ He does not take “no” for an answer

On April 2, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, good works, Inspirational, love, problems, Thanksgiving2 Comments

The scripture for today, April 2 (4/2), is Exodus 4:2f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ “A staff,’ he replied.”

God had just called Moses to go into Egypt and free his people from their slavery ~ one man against an entire nation. Moses objected that he couldn’t do it. Five times In Exodus 3 and 4 he argued with God. “BUT I’m not famous,” “BUT they won’t believe I come from the God of their ancestors,” “BUT they won’t believe God sent me, “BUT I’m not a good speaker,” “JUST send someone else.”

Then God replied, “What is that in your hand?”.

Moses had a staff. God showed him how to use it to perform miracles. Today, are you using excuses to claim there is nothing you can do to show the love of God? “What is that in your hand?” It is a steering wheel, a shovel, thread, a computer, a spoon, a wrench, a cookbook, a band-aid. Whatever is in your hand, God can use to bless people through you.

God does not take ‘no’ for an answer. God challenges you. He wants to stretch you to do what you think you cannot do. You are God’s hands and feet. Go ahead. Use them. Today.

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Wednesday 3/26 ~ When? Today? Tomorrow?

On March 26, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, Daily, good works, problems1 Comment

The scripture for today, March 27 (3/27), is Proverbs 3:27f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’ ~ when you now have it with you.”

Christians generally are good people. They stay out of trouble at work and in the neighborhood. They obey the laws. They don’t use profanity, they don’t lie, they don’t cheat, they don’t steal, they don’t commit adultery, they don’t murder. These are bad things Christians don’t do ~ sins of commission.

But what about good things Christians should do but do not do? Too busy to stop and look around you for someone needing help? Too busy to drive someone to the doctor, or watch a child when a parent is sick, or fix a meal when a family is bereaved, or send a card for someone’s birthday, or call someone who is lonely? Too shy to say something to someone in distress? Too afraid to bring up heaven and hell to a lost one? These are sins! Sins of omission and they are just as serious.

Today, look around you. Who needs you? Not needs your neighbor, or a relative, or someone else at work, or one of the other members of your congregation, but you? You! When do they need you? Not tomorrow or next month or next year, but today!

Get out of your comfort zone. Quit committing sins of omission. Make a point to do something for someone else. When? Today. Too busy? What if God made as much time for you and you do for others?

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Friday 2/15 ~ I did my best

On February 15, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, good works, Inspirational, persecution, power, teaching1 Comment

The scripture for today, February 15 (2/15), is 2nd Timothy 2:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

“Do your best,” Paul told a younger co-worker. “Do your best.”

This was an apostle speaking. This was Paul who had endured multiple beatings with rods and lashings with whips. This was Paul who no one could stop.

He had endured floods and snowstorms, hunger and robbers on the road. Still, no one could stop him. He endured shipwrecks and even treading water a day and night in the sea. Nothing could stop him.e \

It seems with Paul, it was never enough. He was driven. When he was stoned and presumed dead, he got up and went back into the city! When he was imprisoned, he defied the magistrates who put him there and sang his sermons to the other prisoners. Nothing could stop him. Nothing could shut him up.

When he wrote this, he was now in prison. He had done his best. Now it was time for the next generation. He was handing the torch over to Timothy and the others.

“Do your best, Timothy. Don’t let them stop you. Never let them stop you. They are lost and don’t know it. Tell them, Timothy. Keep telling them, no matter how terribly they treat you. Keep telling them and keep telling them. Don’t stop, Timothy. Do your best.

“Some will stop what they are doing and listen to you. They will turn their life around. They will be there with you when it is time to be presented to God. They will be there with you, and with you they will say, “I did my best.”

By the time PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE reaches 50, his back is so eaten up with scar tissue from all his beatings, he can hardly wear clothes on his back. The pain never ceases. But when he speaks, the whole world echoes with his powerful words. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2SXyt5K

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Sunday 2/3 ~ So, the Son of God did it

On February 3, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, good works, humility, judgingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 3 (2/3), is Philippians 2:3 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

This is probably among the top ten hardest-to-keep commands in the Bible. It’s right up there near loving our enemies.

Do we consider people who stand and speak in front of an audience superior to the listeners? Even though the one up front may be all talk and no show? Even though someone in the audience prays for others more than the “leader”? Even though someone in the audience is often awake all night caring for someone who needs him? Even though someone in the audience goes down to the seedy part of town wearing rags and tells about the love of Christ to people in the cellar of life?

But we give in to it. We praise the one standing before an audience and envy all their attention and their title. Oh, my friend, who is the true leader ~ the audience or someone standing up front? Can we judge ourselves and each other as God does? Can we act as God does?

Jesus was always a server, helping others to be better. The last time he ate with his apostles before his death, he put on an apron and went around washing their feet. Apparently, none of them felt they should stoop so low as to do it. So, the Son of God did it.

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR had everything going for him. A wife, children, a position as a deacon in the mighty church in Jerusalem who everyone admired. He willingly gave it all up so Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus cross, could escape and live to tell of his experience with Jesus. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Bowxf8

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Thursday 1/31 ~ Ah, special us

On January 31, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, good works, joy, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, January 31 (1/31), is Genesis 1:31 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning ~ the sixth day.”

Oh, how God loves to spoil us! He didn’t create a barren earth and then order us to get to work and plant something. He got everything just right. And then…. And then…. Then his crowning glory ~ he created us! Special us!

However, as perfect as he made earth, he left some joyful things for us to create ourselves, for he made us like him ~ creative. He left the jewels unmined, the buildings unbuilt, the songs unwritten, the paintings unpainted, the ships unmade, the sculptures uncarved….

Here we are surrounded by everything we need to imitate one special part of God ~ his creative part. Today, create something!

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Tuesday 1/29 ~ That powerful energy

On January 29, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn good works, Inspirational, persecution, praise, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, January 29 (1/29), is Colossians 1:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy which so powerfully works in me.”

Wow! Hyperactive Paul, Paul who preached even while in jail, Paul who went back to preaching after he’d been beaten and told not to, Paul with the “A-type personality” said he got all that energy from Jesus Christ (see verse 28).

Who provides your energy? It depends on what you are being driven to do. It depends on what consumes you. It depends on what you’re spending your time doing and what is on your mind all the time.

Think about it today.

On what things do you use the energy of Jesus?

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Sunday 1/27 ~ My perfect life

On January 27, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, good works1 Comment

The scripture for today, January 27 (1/27), is James 1:27 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

A lot of people never lie, never cheat, never steal, never murder. Wow! That person deserves to go to heaven! Not! The greatest sin of most people who are “good” is the sin of omission. We are basically “good for nothing”. We don’t do the good things we should be doing.

Do you hear of someone whose relative just died? Do you call them? What about the person who is home sick: Do you send them a card? What about the person who needs a ride to the doctor: Do you give them a ride? What about the mother who sits in church with wiggly children and finally just leaves during the service out of embarrassment: Do you move over and sit with her? What about that children’s home where the “orphans” would love a card, a gift certificate, a gift?

Oh, Lord God. I never thought. I have been heedless to their silent cries. I have traveled on the other side of the road from them so my perfect life is not interrupted. Lord, open my blind eyes, open my deaf ears, open my hard heart.

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