Category: Loss

Monday 12/2 ~ How much do you want your crown?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, Enemies, Loss, persecution, power, problems, Satan, Saved from hell, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 2 (12/2), is Hebrews 12:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Yes, life gets pretty rough sometimes. And the harder we try to act like Christians among non-Christians, the more difficult it can become. Did such difficulties stop Jesus? No. He was determined to save as many souls from hell as possible. And he was determined to do the job God gave him before returning to heaven.

What is your assignment?  God gives everyone an assignment; you can often tell by what is going wrong in your life. Some bad things are our own doing. But Satan never rests, especially among Christians; and the stronger the Christian is, the harder he pushes them. He does this, according to Job, to get us to blame God.

Those with the old excuse, “If God is so good, why does he allow evil?” are still with us long after Job.  Satan makes people forget he exists, thus leaving only one being to blame. He is a liar.

First, bad exists because Satan exists. Second, God gave us free will whether to follow him or not and Christians are subject to those who choose to tear down God and all he represents.  Third, God is preparing us for something in heaven and is testing us to develop our spiritual muscles here on earth. It may have something to do with the servants Jesus mentioned to whom the Master gave cities to rule over (Luke 19:11-27). There are an estimated two trillion galaxies out there.

Where is your determination? Jesus is preparing a crown for you (James 1:12; Revelation 3:11) so you can reign with him (II Timothy 2:12). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Do not “grow weary and lose heart.”  Jesus has a crown for you. He has a throne for you.  He has a job for you.  Will you listen to Satan’s lies that God hates everyone and is using them as pawns, or will you listen to the God of the Universe? How determined are you to live forever in heaven?

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is book 7 in the 8-historical-novel series THEY MET JESUS. For most of three years, his nation’s leaders tried to kill him, sometimes legally and sometimes illegally. In the end, they got him illegally.  He was beaten by the priests, by Herod’s soldiers, by Pilot’s soldiers. He had no skin left on his back, his eyes were swollen, he was probably missing some teeth. Then there were the spikes that finished attacking his flesh and robbing him of his blood.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………..https://amzn.to/2DEnxRj

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Sunday 12/1 ~ Treasures in the heart of God

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, discouragement, eternity, faith, Heaven, Inspirational, joy, Loss, problems, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 1 (12/1), is Jeremiah 12:1ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-New“Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you to decide. Now let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil men so happy? You plant them. They take root and their business grows. Their profits multiply, and they are rich. They say, ‘Thank God!’ But in their hearts, they give no credit to you. But as for me ~ Lord, you know my heart ~ you know how much it longs for you. And I am poor, O Lord!”

Now compare this with Job 15:20-24:

“All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him. Terrifying sounds fill his ears….He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword. He wanders about ~ food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Distress and anguish fill him with terror.”

These two passages contradict each other. So what is the problem? The words spoken in Job were by Eliphaz, one of Job’s well-meaning friends who took it upon himself to help Job figure out why he had lost all his wealth, all his children, and all his health. Was Eliphaz right?

At the end of the book of Job, is this: “The Lord…said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends because you have not spoken of me what is right.” Then God ordered Eliphaz and his friends to sacrifice seven bulls and rams (not small sacrifices), then ask Job to pray for them so God “will not deal with you according to your folly.”

When we read scripture, let us be careful to investigate its context and ALL other scriptures on the same subject. Only then can we have the whole picture. Only then can we avoid religious folly.  And truly know the heart of God.

(And, by the way, always remember, this earth is not your home. You’re just passing through. Treasures beyond comprehension are being laid up for you right now in your permanent home ~ heaven.)

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0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-NewCOME FLY WITH ME is novel 8 in THEY MET JESUS  series.  Persecution of Jesus ended in his death, but it was his greatest triumph. Persecution continued with his twelve and would the rest of their lives. But, the reward at the end of the race.  Oh, the reward. Heaven in all its splendor and being with Jesus once again. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2OZFOxK

 

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Monday 11/18 ~ Perhaps someday they will listen

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, emptiness, Enemies, ethics, governments, Loss, patience, persecution, problemsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 18 (11/18), is Deuteronomy 11:18f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCover“Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”

Sometimes the country you live in goes through very bad times. You pray for the bad times to end, but they do not. What is going on? The above warning was to the Israelites just before they entered their promised land. God had just said through Moses, don’t worship idols.

Perhaps your country is going through bad times because of idol worship. Probably not like the hand-made idols of ancient times, but idols of money and power and lack of morality and ethics.

You may feel all alone in trying to get the people you know to do better. They may laugh at you, scorn you, fire you from your job. There have been times in the Bible when a good man prayed, “God, I am the only one left who worships you.” God would reply there were others trying to do right too. But he never replied he was going to stop the punishing. The country hadn’t turned back to God yet.

Therefore, when you are suffering unjustly for what a majority of your countrymen have been doing, you must do it bravely. And while you wait it out, continue to remind yourself, your family, your neighbors, your countrymen of the righteous ways they should be acting.

In bad times, this is your assignment. Be brave and spread the news. Keep reminding and being as patient with them as God is with you. Perhaps someday, they will listen.

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03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCoverBIBLE KIDS:  NAAMAN’S MAID was kidnapped when people in Israel were not acting right. The girl was turned into a slave in Syria without hope of ever being freed.  She accepted it and was as good as she knew how.  Because of this little girl, a big, important general met a prophet and learned about the true God. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/340Cc4L

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Thursday 11/14 ~ What treasures we miss

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, faith, Loss, problems, Satan, Saved from hell, Scripture, truth, victory, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 14 (11/14), is Job 11:14f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAIL“If you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.”

Job’s misguided friend, Zophar, was advising Job that, if he would become perfect (“allow no evil”), he would stand firm before God.

Oh, Zophar! Hadn’t he caught on yet? Hadn’t he yet realized no one can be perfect? At the end of this ancient book, God told Zophar and his friends to repent of their accusations toward Job and misinterpreting God.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Jews tried unsuccessfully to be perfect with the help of the Law of Moses, but they couldn’t do it. In the meantime, the nations that had not received the Law were left to try with their own methods to be perfect, and they couldn’t do it either. (Job was an Edomite.)

The only thing that ever has allowed mankind to be perfect has been the blood of Jesus. He was the perfect Lamb of God.

It has been eons since Zophar insisted that, if Job became perfect, he wouldn’t be sick anymore. As of 2000 years ago, everyone who follows Jesus is able to stand firm, because Jesus made them perfect when they washed away their sins (John 1:29; Acts 22:16).

 

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAILTHE ROAD TO HEAVEN begins in the Garden of Eden and the first son and Satan putting mankind up for a ransom. It progressed through the payment of that terrible ransom, and finally to our glorious bodies and heaven in the presence of God who is larger than the two trillion galaxies out there. Good for personal reflection or to someone who takes heaven for granted and does not understand the real threat of hell and what it took to ransom us. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/353HL2I

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Wednesday 11/6 ~ Out of the ashes

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, Enemies, faith, healing, Inspirational, Loss, power, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 6 (11/6), is Nehemiah 11:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 able men.”

Just who was Perez, and why was this even mentioned in the Bible? Perez was a son of Judah, and an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:3).

Why was living in Jerusalem a big deal at that time? Because Jerusalem had been attacked and destroyed. It was nothing but rubble and ashes. Earlier, other Jews had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. Now it was time to rebuild the walls.

These 468 brave people had to agree to move into a burned-out city and rebuild on the ashes of previous homes. In the process of moving building stones out of the way to reuse in the city wall, they surely found skeletons of those who had been slaughtered in the attack decades before. It took grit.

At first, the Jews had blamed the Babylonians for destroying their city and temple. But eventually, they began re-reading the prophets who had warned them about their own sins. Finally, they turned inward and placed the blame where it really belonged: Themselves. Their own pride had destroyed their temple and their city, now crumbled ashes.

Following repentance, they acted. Was it easy rebuilding a broken city? Not any easier than rebuilding a broken home, a broken congregation, a broken life. You must look at your own part in your own destruction and begin building yourself anew.

Are there any skeletons or ashes in your life?  Is there anything that needs rebuilt? It takes grit.  Do you have the grit?

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00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailYOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE: COURAGE FOR ISOLATED CHRISTIANS tells the stories of heroic godly men in the Bible who had to stand alone when everyone was against them.  Written for isolated Christians around the world. All stories are followed by thought questions about their survival.  Perfect for missionaries and sponsoring congregations. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2NofrlJ

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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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Monday 10/14 ~ Into the thistles

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, forgiveness, Loss, problems, sacrifice, Saved from hell, sin, temptation, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 14 (10/14), is John 10:14 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-new“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me ~ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father ~ and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

How amazing that Jesus is willing to follow you when you do not follow him, and bring you back to his protective fold. He died while doing just that.

Yet we continue to leave him and his instructions that would keep us safe, and we wander into thistles, near cliffs, down into pits. This requires more work for Jesus. Yet we do it anyway. Catch me if you can! We may laugh, but he weeps because he knows the danger we are headed for.

How much grief do you give your spiritual Father, your spiritual Big Brother, your spiritual family? If they are not laughing over what you’re doing, perhaps you should not be either.

Do you say, “It’s no one else’s business what I do in private”? But when those private sins lead you into problems, it breaks the hearts of your loved ones here on earth. It breaks the heart of Jesus, who went through a torturous death to bring you out of those problems. 

God, forgive me when I wander from You.

 

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE is Novel 3 of the THEY MET JESUS series.  It about the people who discovered Jesus and how he could help them with their physical and spiritual problems. Each chapter is the drama of a different person.  One of them may be you.  Citations and discussion questions at the end of each chapter make it conducive to classes or reading clubs.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/31es1Yb

(One reviewer said book 3 was the same as book 2 and was correct. The wrong MS was turned in. It has been corrected.)

 

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Wednesday 8/28 ~ Be patient. It’s coming.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, discouragement, Enemies, Inspirational, Loss, patience, problems, Thanksgiving1 Comment

The scripture for today, August 28 (8/28), is Romans 8:28 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This is a favorite verse of many people. Notice, God can make all things work together for good. ALL things. That means bad things, disappointing things, unfulfilled things. It doesn’t say God will make them all work together for the best. But, even if you made a bad decision or something terrible happened, he will bring some kind of good out of it.

What has been your most recent disappointment, tragedy, heartbreak ~ something that just did not go the way it should have? At such times, it is easy to blame God instead of Satan. You’re playing into Satan’s hands when you blame God and forsake him. Try to remember that, with every disappointment and tragedy, God gives you a promise:  Someday you will smile again.

Are you are living according to his purpose? The promise is only to those who are. If, indeed you are, believe God will take your heartbreak and turn it in to some kind of good especially for you. As hard as it may be right now, try to be patient.  Your good thing is on its way.

 

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailTHEY MET JESUS: SHADOW OF DEATH covers the last few hours of Jesus’ life before he let them crucify him.  They thought they’d won; they lost.  Satan had thought he’d won; he lost.  God brought the most amazing good out of this tragedy that mankind has ever seen. This is book 7 on which my proposed TV SERIES is based.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Zx9HwC

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Tuesday 8/27 ~ And watch them become awed

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, discouragement, emptiness, faith, family, healing, Inspirational, Loss, problems, Scripture1 Comment

The scripture for today, August 27 (8/27), is Mark 8:27 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

09-Jonah-KindleThumbnail“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ “

Do you ask your family, our neighbors, your friends how they feel about God? Who do they say God is? You don’t know unless you ask. A lot of people are just waiting for someone to ask. Otherwise, they don’t know how or when to bring it up.

Whenever I meet someone who has gone through a tragedy, I ask them “How’s your faith?”. Now this person may not have darkened the door of a church building for 20 years, but s/he always knows what I mean. Since I am sympathizing with them at the time, they are always honest and reply, “Not very good,” usually meaning their faith is nearly gone if not all the way gone.

Then I tell them, “You know, Satan causes bad to happen to people, not God.” They always stare at me a moment and then breathe a sigh of relief. They hadn’t wanted to blame God for their tragedy, but they had a need to blame someone. They’d forgotten Satan exists and were grateful they could now put the blame where it belonged.

There are many other people today who believe in a “Higher Power” but have no idea who that “Higher Power” is.  Many, even in America today, have never read the Bible but are curious about it.  Ask people you know, “Who is the High Power?”, and listen to them. Then offer to show them how the Bible is divided up and how to read it (especially Genesis, then the New Testament).

You must continually be on the watch for people who need help in understanding their relationship with God. Be brave. Go ahead and ask. You’ll be surprised at how many WANT to talk about it. Then be delighted as you open up a whole new world to them and watch them become awed.

 

09-Jonah-KindleThumbnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES:  JONAH.  Maybe you think of Jonah as a run-away coward. But eventually, despite his cowardice, he went to the pagans, told them about God, and they repented.  He learned a big lesson about loving his enemies.  A great set of 10 books for early-reader HOMESCHOOLERS, CHURCH LIBRARIES, CHRISTMAS, BIRTHDAYS.  There is a “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Pgrt3t

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Sunday 8/18 ~ Remember your proof

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, Fear, good works, Loss, patience, persecution, problems, rest1 Comment

The scripture for today, August 18 (8/18), is Mark 8:18f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-Thumbnail“Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember when I broke [in pieces] the five loaves for the five thousand [hungry people]? How many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

Economic and political times are uncertain and unstable right now for a lot of people. How much do you worry about it? Planning is good. But worrying?

Instead of spending your time worrying and tearing down your mental and physical health, do what you can, then look around. Is there someone else you can help? Visit someone who is sick and clean up their kitchen for them? Tell a story to a little child? Sing a song to an elderly person and invite them to sing along with you? Write a letter to your parents or a ground child? Read to someone with poor eyesight?

While you’re busy helping others, take Jesus’ advice and remember your past. Ask yourself, “Has God forsaken me in the past?

Sit down and make a list of every time you made it through a bad period of time in your life. How did God get you through them? This is your proof.

Remember your proof.

 

00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailLUKE: SLAVE & PHYSICIANS.  Physicians in the first-century Roman Empire were slaves, usually of one rich family. Go along with Luke as he progresses from a slave to Tribune Theophilus,  to whatever medical education was available (not much), to being the personal physician to an apostle whose body had been tortured every way possible, to authoring two books of the Bible. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2P5YXkQ

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