Friday 6/14 ~ The gratitude day

On June 14, 2019June 14, 2019 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, Heaven, Life of Christ, Satan, Saved from hell, sin1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 14 (6/14), is Numbers 6:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“There he is to present his offerings to the Lord…a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering…. “

A lot of people don’t understand what Jesus dying on a cross has to do with going to heaven. Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death.” ~ both physical and soul death. It is Satan who pays us our wages. In Old Testament times, God intervened and arranged for people to kill a perfect animal in their place whenever they sinned to satisfy Satan’s bloodthirst. But it was only a temporary fix because it is impossible for us to be sinless ~ without defect.

Finally, God the Word came to earth as a human, and John the Baptist called him the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Jesus was perfect and without defect; that is, he never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). Then he took the wages of sin from Satan and died as the perfect Lamb of God in our place ~ both physically (separation from people on earth) and spiritually (separation from God the Father). After Satan released his hold on mankind, Jesus even went a step further and miraculously came back to life!

Then God said, “If you’ll believe and imitate Jesus, I will consider your debt paid in full and consider you perfect too (Romans 6). Then I’ll bring you back to life in heaven.” How amazing!

And, by the way, since he came back to life on Sunday, that’s what makes Sunday so special. It’s an I’m-sorry-you-had-to-die-for-my-sins Day. It’s the “Do-this-in-remembrance-of-me” Lord’s Supper Day. It’s the Gratitude Day.

THEY MET JESUS: SHADOW OF DEATH takes the reader through the middle-of-the-night trial of Jesus, two chapters of the actual crucifixion, and the agony of his closest friends as they say goodbye to a man with love beyond comprehension and his now-dead cause. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2MPmDcj

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Saturday 6/8 ~ Have I died with Christ?

On June 8, 2019 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Death of Jesus Christ, faith, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, praise, things, truth, victory, worship1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 8 (6/8), is Romans 6:8 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

We all want to live with Christ, but how do we die with him? Earlier in this same chapter, God inspired the writer to say this: “We died to sin….don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead…we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:2-4).

So, just as Christ did a physical action to die for you, you do a physical action to die with him. And just as Christ’s physical death overcame spiritual death, so your physical action overcomes your spiritual death. Then you are born again, or as this verse says, you “live a new life”

Some say this is water salvation. But it is no more water salvation than the cross was wood salvation. You live in a physical world and God has us sometimes do physical things in order to obtain a spiritual outcome. Your singing praise songs is a physical thing, but it is no less spiritual in its outcome. Your eating the Lord’s Supper is a physical thing, but it is no less spiritual in its outcome.

Have you died with Christ?

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Thursday 6/6 ~ Are you satisfied?

On June 6, 2019June 6, 2019 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, eternity, Heaven, humility, joy, Loss, things1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 6 (6/6), is 1st Timothy 6:6f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Still, don’t we all do it? Compare what we own with what our neighbor owns? Work and strive to gain more and more stuff?

A long time ago, a man wrote a book called, How to Want What You Have. He emphasized that, to people who are never content with what they have, happiness is always right around the corner. If we could just buy that object, or get that house, obtain that promotion. But once we get it, we are only satisfied briefly before happiness slips away again, and we decide we would truly be happy if we could buy yet another object, or get yet another house, obtain yet another promotion. And so we live our lives.

Dare to look around today and tell yourself, “I have all I need.”

TITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was raised in the finest palacia in Antioch a city of elitists who only spoke Latin, not the common Greek. But his father would hardly speak to him. He vowed when he had children someday, he would give them all the attention they desired. It happened as he had hoped. Now he had everything. He became a Christian and Paul sent him to help new congregations. Then one day, he gave up all his wealth. Paul sent him to the barbarian lands of Albania. Perfect FATHER’S DAY gift. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Im8xts

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Wednesday 6/5 ~ “I just want to keep you safe.”

On June 5, 2019 By Inspirations By KatherynIn ego, Heaven, Inspirational, knowledge, Saved from hell, Scripture, sin, Thanksgiving, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, June 5 (6/5), is Deuteronomy 6:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Jesus said this is the greatest of all the commandments (Mark 12:29). He didn’t say that any of the Ten Commandments were. He chose one of the over 600 commandments God gave to Moses in the Old Testament. It might have been lost in the crowd, but Jesus called it out and gave it special attention.

Although we no longer keep the Old Testament Law of Moses, we do have the New Testament Law of Jesus. There aren’t as many commandments, but there are some. Sometimes Jesus’ law repeats something in the Old Law such as the one above. But it was his choice what to carry over, not ours.

Some people don’t even know they’re obeying any of the Laws of Moses. That’s easy to solve. All you have to do is read that Law and see you if we recognize anything you’re doing. It is full of hundreds of rituals and commands how to worship the way God wanted.

On the other hand, do you love the Lord your God enough to keep all of the commandments of Jesus or do you say the church is too modern now and Jesus’ commands are old fashioned.? Or perhaps do you say Jesus had no commands ~ he just wants me to love him? We do not tell our parents, “I love you, but you have no right to command me to do anything.” We do not tell our government, “I’m going to drive on any side of the road I want because I’m not going to obey any of your commands”?

Be not like the clay telling the potter what to do (Isaiah 64:8). Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15). Commands do not mean someone is trying to hold you down; commands means, “I love you and want to keep you safe from Satan.” Give it a try. Life just might get a little better.

MEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE married and became a father. He had his royal enemies, but never became bitter. His son often became angry because his father was always forgiving his enemies. Years later after Mefiboset had died, the son told his own sons about his father ~ “The greatest man I have ever known.” PERFECT FOR FATHER’S DAY. Still time to receive on time. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2HVKRNs

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Wednesday 5/22 ~ Find Peace

On May 22, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, Heaven, Inspirational, Saved from hell, ScriptureLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 22 (5/22), is Galatians 5:22f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

There are some people in the world who call people who practice these traits “losers.” They distrust people who love everyone, are kind to everyone and are always happy. “People like that are not for real.” They believe you have to stick up for yourself and get ahead of the pack or the world will trample you and pass you by.

They are a lot like drivers out on a highway who think they have to pass every car. Once they do, there is usually a brief period when they are ahead of all the others. But soon they catch up with another pack of cars and begin all over again to pass every one, to get ahead of the pack. And so, it happens over and over endlessly. They never relax, for they are never ahead of the others for very long.

Today, relax a little. Exercise patience and self-control. There is no law against slowing down. And in the process find gentleness and find peace.

WAS JESUS GOD (WHY EVIL?) explains why Jesus had to pay that terrible price to ransom us from Satan so we could escape to the safety of heaven. It brings together scriptures you know but have never connected before. Read and find peace. To BUY NOW click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Qpu2NH

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Tuesday 5/21 ~ The Unimaginable Plan

On May 21, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, forgiveness, Heaven, sacrifice, Satan, Saved from hell, sinLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 21 (5/21), is 2nd Corinthians 5:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

A lot of people do not understand what Jesus’ death has to do with going to heaven. The key is in Romans 3:23 that says “The wages of sin is death.” In Genesis, 2:17, God told Adam and Eve the moment they disobey him, they will die. When Adam and Eve sinned, immediately their souls died, and the bodies gradually died. That was the wages they collected for sinning.

It’s been happening to everyone since then. Why is God so strict? He is trying to protect us from Satan. He is like a parent shouting, “Don’t go out into the street!” So, during Old Testament times, God told people to kill an animal to placate Satan temporarily. Apparently, it did but not forever.

Hebrews says the blood of animals cannot truly take away (take the substitute punishment for) sins; they are remembered again every year (Hebrews 10:3-4).

Finally, John the Baptist announced Jesus was “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). This is what Satan really wanted. He had not yet put mankind in hell with him. He was holding mankind for ransom. He wanted God to die before he would release mankind from his hold. For 33 years, God’s Word took human form in Jesus and became one of us. Then he died in our place. In so doing, he collected our wages forever.

Jesus did two things impossible for us to do: Live a perfect life without sin, and come back to life after he died ~ both physically and spiritually. Why? So we could do two more things impossible for humans to do on our own: Release ourselves from Satan’s captivity and escape to heaven where we would be permanently safe.

But we have to believe this happened. As long as we do not believe it, even though Satan has opened the gate to release our captives, we must walk through that gate and through the gate of heaven.

It is not about being good enough. No one can do enough good works Satan has no choice to release us and God has no choice but to let us into his home, heaven. It only takes one sin to be a sinner. God cannot exist with sin.

God begs us to come to him and follow him out of danger and into the safety of his heaven. It is not automatic. If we follow Jesus, God sees us as sinless. Jesus was perfect for us. What a plan ~ the things Jesus had to go through to free us. What unimaginable love.

SHADOW OF DEATH has two chapters on the crucifixion. They take the reader slowly through the agony in order to bring us ecstasy. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2wlt5wF

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Tuesday 5/14 ~ You will not be able to stop

On May 14, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, eternity, forgiveness, healing, Heaven, Inspirational, power, sacrifice, teaching, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 14 (5/14), is 2nd Corinthians 5:14a as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“For Christ’s love compels us….”

On a distant hill a very long time ago, something unbelievable happened.

Jesus ~ God materialized ~ died both physically and spiritually in your place! (Remember when he said God had forsaken him?) He knew you couldn’t come back from either kind of death on your own, so he did it for you. Such terrible things he went through for you so you wouldn’t have to and would fail.

Love is powerful! It causes you to do things for someone you love that you never wanted to do and never dreamed you could do.

How powerful is your love for Christ? And for those he was compelled to die for? Do you share his love with others? 1st John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casts out fear.”

Reach out to people who think Jesus will ruin their fun, or has too many rules, or could never forgive them, or wouldn’t stop a tragedy. If not in person, tell them in a note, a phone call, email, even a song. There are ways.

Reach out. You can if Christ’s love compels you. You will not be able to stop.

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR became obsessed with the Lord he loved and for people around him who did not know about Jesus’ love. This young man was so compelled, nothing stopped him ~ not even death. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2QcCWhr

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Monday 5/13 ~Just for you

On May 13, 2019May 13, 2019 By Inspirations By KatherynIn eternity, faith, family, Heaven, Inspirational, judging, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 13 (5/13), is 1st John 5:13f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“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.” Easy to say. 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 and believe. Rush to the door 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? 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.

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR gave up his life when he was probably in his 20s. He was a deacon, so left behind a wife and small children. It was his choice. He was a coward at 17. What changed him? How? What did it take for him to walk into that Sanhedron courtroom, knowing he would not walk out alive? Toward the end, he saw Jesus in heaven. He saw the door and rushed through it. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2vYFWV3

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Friday 5/10 ~ You’re not home yet

On May 10, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, Daily, emptiness, Heaven, Loss, things1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 10 (5/10), is 1st Peter 5:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong and firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever.”

This earth is not meant to be your paradise, to be your eternal home. This earth is just the foyer. God stands at the door to heaven and calls you.

Are you too busy watching over things here to look over at his door? Are you too caught up with temporary things of this world to stop and listen for God?

Is there too much noise in your life? The noise of problems with job, home, family, government, neighbors, health? The noise of getting a better job, home, family, government, neighbor, health? Remember, you are only in the foyer.

Life is not always easy. Do you have the stamina to not be sidetracked? Do you have the fortitude to keep walking toward God’s door?

God can make you strong and firm and steadfast if you will stop the noise and listen for him. God can make you strong and firm and steadfast if you keep your eyes on his door.

You’re not home yet.

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Thursday 5/9 ~ Freedom is not free

On May 9, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, Heaven, Life of Christ, Satan, Saved from hell, sin, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, May 9 (5/9), is Matthew 5:9 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.”

Jesus, the only begotten Son of God (Christians are adopted sons) was a peacemaker. He came to earth to help us make peace with God. After all, “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It only takes one sin to be a sinner. And God cannot dwell with sin. What was the solution?

Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. These wages we earn are from Satan because Satan is the originator of death. In Old Testament times, God told people to kill a perfect animal in their place to pacify Satan who was holding mankind hostage. So, people kept having to do it. The death Satan really wanted was the death of God. He would not release mankind until God paid the terrible ransom price ~ his death. So, when the time was right, Jesus came to earth and lived that perfect life that is impossible for us to live as the perfect Lamb of God. Then he allowed himself to take our punishment for our (not his) sins and collect the death wage in our place.

His was the final sacrifice. Our freedom was not free. Jesus had paid the ransom to Satan to set us free. (Then, of course, God tricked him and that body Jesus was in came back to life.) But freedom is not automatic. Satan gets us back unless we believe Jesus did that and follow him. Now we are no longer slaves of Satan. We are adopted and become children of God.

Jesus was a peacemaker between God and man. You, too, can be a peacemaker. You can help people be at peace with themselves. You can help them be at peace with each other. And you can help them be at peace with God. Thereby, you can share in what God’s begotten Son was.

THEY MET JESUS: SHADOW OF DEATH tells, not only of the terrible price Jesus had to pay Satan to free us but also how it affected both his friends and enemies. Read it. It will change your life. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2vPZFpW

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