Category: humility

Friday 11/8 ~ Safe for all eternity

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, death, ego, Enemies, family, Heaven, humility, Inspirational, persecution, sacrifice, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 8 (11/8), is Proverbs 11:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.”

You know that God does not always rescue you from trouble here on this temporary earth. He certainly didn’t rescue Jesus from all his troubles.

Sometimes God has an assignment for you just as he did for Jesus.  He may want you to be in the midst of trouble ~ war, an enemy at work, an obnoxious neighbor, death of a loved one caused by a reckless driver, a government worker demanding a bribe. Why?  So you can demonstrate to the world the contrast: God’s ways vs. Satan’s ways.  So you can demonstrate to the world how to fight Satan and win.

Retaliation never works.  Peace always wins over war. 

Eventually, the boomerang effect will take place on those following Satan. What they inflict on you will be inflicted on them by their Maker.

 And eventually, if you have followed God’s ways even in times of trouble, he will indeed rescue you. He will welcome you into his home ~ heaven ~ safe for all eternity.

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00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR is novel 7 in the INTREPID MEN OF GOD SERIES.  He had a wife and children (qualifications to be a deacon).  He had a position in the church. He could perform miracles. He was a dynamic speaker and won the hearts of everyone ~ well, everyone except his religious enemies who hated Jesus.  What made this young man with everything to live for give it all up?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2NsLTDq

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Saturday 11/23 ~ Me, myself, and I

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, discouragement, ego, ethics, humility, judging, patience, praise, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, November 2 (11/2), is Proverbs 11:2 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Bible Puzzles-Cover-Thumbnail“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

The word “disgrace” comes from Hebrew “qalon” meaning confusion. It is also translated dishonor and reproach.

Pride is so hard to control. With the church or clubs or other organizations, do you think your ideas, your points of view, your ways of doing things are the right ideas, views, and ways?  Do you accuse others of not cooperating if it is your ideas, views and ways they don’t go along with? Is it hard to give up your ideas views and ways for the sake of peace?

Even in doing daily business, does your pride show up? Do you become impatient with clerks in stores who do not help you, with other drivers on the road who are too slow for you, with people delivering things to your home who do not deliver them right to your door, with kids throwing rocks at things that belong to you, people who try to cut in line ahead of you, fellow workers who take credit for your work, and on and on?

Is it hard to sit by and let others be praised when you do better work than they do, or you work harder than they do, or they get the promotion you deserve?

How do you control your pride? Perhaps by comparing yourself, not with others around you, but with Jesus? In the same circumstance, what did he do?

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Bible Puzzles-Cover-ThumbnailBIBLE PUZZLES FOR YOUNG AND OLD contains crosswords, secret codes, word searches, and fill-in-blanks.  Great for bulletin fillers, parties, homeschoolers, Bible classes, people in nursing homes, prisons, military to maintain sharpness of mind and memory.  Games are great equalizers.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2C8bGKt

 

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Wednesday 10/30 ~ Eye for eye? Tooth for tooth?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, ego, Enemies, ethics, forgiveness, healing, humility, judging, Loss, persecution, sin, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 30 (10/30), is Hebrews 10:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Thumbnail“For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ “

In the Law of Moses, people were expected to avenge those who did not follow the law. The vengeance was to be carried out by the person who had been hurt. Some things were even punishable by death.  Remember the “eye for eye and tooth for tooth” command?

But Jesus you need to forgive people so that God, in turn, will forgive you (Matthew 6:14).

What is forgiveness? It is not condoning the bad someone did. Forgiveness is letting go and letting God do any punishing that may be required. Forgiveness is wishing the other person well. You may not trust the other person to not do the bad thing again, and you may forever fear that person. But you can always hope and pray that their lives and hearts will change for the better someday. No one is so bad that you cannot wish them well and pray for them. That’s forgiveness.

Vengeance only prolongs the pain; vengeance is hard on you. So, as the old saying goes, “Let go, and let God.” God will do his part ~ the hard part. He has left the easy part for you.

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0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE was denied the throne when crippled for life, ran from Grandfather Saul’s enemies, enslaved, swindled by his palace stewart, falsely accused, and made fun of. But he married, had a son, spread cheer where ever he went and managed to turn his enemies into his friends. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/31YmyFi

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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

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Friday 10/18 ~ How many stars are in your crown?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, ego, eternity, good works, Heaven, humility, judging, praise, teachingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 18 (10/18), is 2nd Corinthians 10:18 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Thumbnail“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

Do you look at your life and decide some of your bad habits are not so bad, considering what some other people you know are doing? Do you look at your life and decide your lukewarmness in good works and spreading the gospel is not so bad, considering what most others around you are doing?

Jesus said you will receive only one reward, and you must choose: (1) Being rewarded by each other, or (2) being rewarded by God. You can’t have both (Matthew 6:5; 18).  Is standing in front of an audience of 500 who won’t remember what you said two hours later more important than sitting with two people who will put your words in their lives?

And that brings up how you judge other people. You may decide certain Christians you know are not pulling their share of the load in your congregation, not doing their part. But that may be a wrong judgment.

A lot of Christians you know may be doing good works you will never learn about. “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward [them]” (Matthew 6:18a). Who knows? That time someone mowed your lawn while you were in the hospital may have been one of those “do-nothings”.  Ah. I wonder how many stars they have in their crown.

 

0-Joseph-Cover-ThumbnailJOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER is an unsung hero.  What must life have been like for Joseph to raise the Son of God in a violent world and keep him safe until grown.? How many times do you think he cried out, “God! Help me protect our Son!” To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2qsC4fP

 

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Thursday 9/19 ~ And God will make it great

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn emptiness, humility, Inspirational, judging, patience, power, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, September 19 (9/19), is Acts 9:19f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-“He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food he regained his strength.”

This is the story of Saul, as he was known to the Jews and to us as Paul, who became an apostle. Notice the order he did this: He was hungry, but that wasn’t important. He had to do what was important first. He was baptized.

Why was Paul baptized? In Acts 22:16 Paul recalls that day when he was told, “Get up: be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Further, notice who baptized him. Was he part of the clergy, someone with an ordained title in the church? Acts 9:10 says, “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him…Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul.” What title did Ananias have? None. He was just another disciple. Disciple simply meaning follower.

Little did this otherwise unknown disciple realize that day, that the person he baptized would end up writing much of the New Testament.

Do you feel ordinary like you are an “unknown disciple” to followers of Jesus around you? Find something to do, and God will make it great.

 

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE is about a man born in obscurity and born again in obscurity with the help of a man known only by his name and belief.  At the end of his life, he dies while in the obscurity of a dark prison and the axe of Nero. What happens between that turns the world upside down.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/30iM9rH

 

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Wednesday 9/18 ~ All 600?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, ego, faith, humility, love, praise, prayer, truth, worship1 Comment

The scripture for today, September 18 (9/18), is Leviticus 9:18ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-Thumbnail“He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people. His sons handed him the blood, and he sprinkled it against the altar on all sides. But the fat portions of the ox and the ram ~ the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the covering of the liver ~ these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.”

The Law of Moses did not have just Ten Commandments. It had over 600! They were intricate commands that had to be kept exactly. The above is just a small portion of what they were supposed to do for a particular sacrifice.

Thank God, Jesus nailed the Old Law of Moses to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Yet some religious leaders continue to dip back into the Old Law to copy showy types of worship ~ robes, candles, choirs, harps, incense ~ many things, and all commanded. But if they do that, they must keep ALLof the Law of Moses ~ stoning for adultery, giving 1/3 of their income (not just 1/10), not working on Saturday (even cooking), going to Jerusalem three times a year.

They can’t just pick and choose which ones they like. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:17 “Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised [just one command in the Old Law of Moses] that he is obligated to obey the whole law.”

James said in 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” Old Testament worship was showy, elaborate, and demanding to the nth degree. New Testament worship is just the opposite.

Mark 14:26 says that after Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper/Communion, “When they had sung a [single] hymn, they went out…”

Acts 2:41-42 says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people…”

I Timothy 4:13 says, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”

Nothing complicated about it. Just simple worship. Worship the way Jesus and his apostles worshiped. Worship the way God likes it. He said so himself.

 

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailWORSHIP THE FIRST-CENTURY WAY is half of the series WANDERING SOUL, ENTITLED HEART, AND THE SIDE-TRACKED CHURCH.  Each chapter is about a different phase of our worship and is covered in a gentle manner.  Quotes first-century scriptures plus famous theologians plus second-centuiry Christians.  Let’s re-read what we only thought we knew.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/30qUbyM

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Wednesday 9/4 ~ Shhh. Listen. Do you hear?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, death, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, Enemies, eternity, Heaven, humility, love, Saved from hell, victory, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, September 4 (9/4), is Daniel 9:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands….’ “

A lot of people in the world think God should feel obligated to take them to his heaven. After all, they are fairly good, and better than some. God couldn’t possibly in all good conscience turn them away.

Yet, their entire life they resent God. They don’t like his few commands; they don’t want anyone telling them what to do or not do. Or they claim to love God, but create their own commands that just aren’t in the Bible, making themselves God. What confusion!

Ultimately, heaven is God’s home, not yours. He is not obligated to invite anyone into His home. Besides, only perfection can live with God who is perfect. It only takes one sin to make us an imperfect sinner.

So how do you become perfect? That’s where God’s awesomeness is demonstrated. By following Jesus who was perfect and never sinned, and obeying Jesus’ few commands, God considers you perfect by proxy.

But it’s like a boomerang. God treats you the way you treat him. If you don’t take time for God, he doesn’t take time for you. If you don’t like to spend time praising him, he doesn’t spend time praising you. Actually, if you don’t really like anything about God, you would be miserable in heaven.

God never forces himself on anyone. He loves you even when you do not love Him.  So, he keeps on calling, “Come back!  Come back to me!  I can keep you safe.”  Shhh. Listen.  Do you hear Him?

 

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailTHEY MET HIM: SHADOW OF DEATH is book 7 in the 8-novel series.  The world is so full of people who expect to go to heaven but hate thinking about Jesus. They think he is full of rules just to make their life miserable. They do not understand that is Satan lying to them.  Share this with someone who doesn’t care at this moment. Perhaps just the cover will lure him into opening it and reading page one. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/30V6hBb

 

 

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Monday 8/26 ~ I don’t know what to ask for

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn ego, faith, humility, judging, patience, prayer, thingsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, August 26 (8/26), is Romans 8:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament is always linked with communication between God and Man. Even the miracles, made possible by the Holy Spirit, were a guarantee that the words and teachings accompanying the miracles were from God. This was needed before the New Testament was written. But the Holy Spirit does more than this.

God speaks to you in his Word, the Bible. Then you speak to him in return in prayer. But sometimes all you can do is bow your head in silence and know that God understands ~ His Spirit communes with your spirit.  Further, you do not know the future, so do not know what will be best for your situation.

Yes, there are some things we know for sure are God’s will such as someone becoming a Christian and saving their soul from hell.  Most things, however, we do not know if it is God’s will.  You may pray to get that new car because you have the money for it. But God knows there will be a storm that will destroy your house or apartment, or a family member will be hospitalized and insurance will not cover all the bills, or your company will go out of business and you will lose your job. 

Life is so uncertain. No matter how hard you pray for something, may you always end each prayer or even each “groaning” with “Your will be done”.

 

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S. Each day you are given a prayer of praise, a prayer of repentance, and a prayer of thanksgiving.  This is part of the TOUCHING GOD trilogy. The other two are daily inspirational thoughts and Bible wisdom quotes.  Perfect gift for NEWLYWEDS, NEW PARENTS, SHUTINS, HOSPITALIZED, CHURCH LIBRARIES.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2ziUBwb

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Sunday 8/25 ~ But it doesn’t mean what it says

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, eternity, Heaven, humility, judging, knowledge, Scripture, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, August 25 (8/25), is John 8:25 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

5&5-Strip-BibleKids-Medium” ‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Just what I have been claiming all along,’ Jesus replied.”

They knew who Jesus was.  He had made people’s arms and legs grow back, he had fed multiple-thousands on a plate of food, stopped storms and brought lifeless people back to life.  They knew! 

Besides this, they knew the prophecies. They told King Herod he was supposed to be born in Bethlehem and that he was to be a descendant of King David. They knew babies were slaughtered after his birth. They knew he would live in Galilee and teach in parables. They knew all this.

But they kept asking Jesus who he was because they wanted a different answer than the obvious one.

 Jesus and his apostles tell you certain things in the Bible. Sometimes, you read them over and over, and still don’t get the point. Perhaps you have been blinded by well-meaning religious leaders or family or friends who tell you over and over, “It doesn’t mean what it says.” Are you wanting a different answer than the obvious one?

Dare to read the teachings of Jesus and his apostles in the New Testament with open eyes and open heart. When you read something, just accept it. Your soul is at stake. These are the words of the God of the universe, your Creator, the Lover of your soul, and the only one who can let you into his home ~ heaven. 

Do you prefer that God fit your mold, or you fit God’s ~ that of his child? Dare to follow what God has been telling you all along.

 

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