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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Wednesday 5/15 ~ Stuff

On May 15, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, family, Inspirational, Loss, Thanksgiving, thingsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 15 (5/15), is Ecclesiastes 5:15 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.”

As most people enter their senior years, they finally understand this verse. In their youth they struggled to get jobs and status and things. Some accomplished it and some didn’t. But in the senior years….

when health is gradually declining….

the world is passing them by….

and they are sitting in their chair most of the time

….the main thing people look back on is what difference they made in their world, and how they did or did not help people important to them.

Often in their senior years when their income goes down and they are living only on a small pension, and they are unable to keep their big house, and fancy car, and impressive stuff, they realize they are still the same person inside regardless of what they own.

Ask a senior what they want for a birthday present. It is not likely to be things. It is likely to be time spent with a loved one or something special given to someone in need.

What about you? How much time are you spending on things?

TITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT had it all. His father was the supreme magistrate of Antioch in Turkey and he had a university education. After many family complications, Titus met Paul and left paganism. Eventually, both he and his now-converted father gave it all up and traveled together into the far north country of Albanian barbarians. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Ncd0km

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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.

RHODA is part of my BIBLE KIDS series. Rhoda is lovable but silly and sometimes gets carried away with what she is doing. So, when Peter knocks on the gate, she runs to tell everyone and leaves him out in the street huddling in the shadows hoping no soldiers spot him. At the end of each chapter is “Think and Do” for the child to apply it to their daily life. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2PWNEbC

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Friday 5/3 ~ Soon will come your morning

On May 3, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, faith, healing, Loss, patience, problems, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 3 (5/3), is Psalm 5:3 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Morning. The time of new beginnings. Birth is a morning. Graduating is a morning. Marriage, a new job, birth of a child ~ these are obvious mornings.

You can create your own morning of life in a spiritual way too. You can stop depending on yourself and begin following and depending on God. You cannot fix all your problems. Sometimes you get yourself into your own problems and don’t know how to get yourself out. But God knows.

Lay your requests before God. Then wait. Waiting in the shadows can create frustration and even panic. But wait in peace. It is not quite dawn and God is preparing the answer to rise up in your heart and life.

He loves you as his child and knows when the moment is right for your dawning. Sometimes when you look back, you are most grateful he did not answer a prayer for you; he had something better in mind. And then, it was morning.

God loves to answer prayer. Therefore, while still in the shadows, wait. Now, do you see it? The grayness of dawn with silver hopes intertwined. Wait in peaceful expectation. Soon will come your morning.

A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: JOSEPH tells of the shadows in Joseph’s life as he spent years in prison for something he did not do. Then came the dawning and the morning shone brighter than he ever imagined. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2PIZs14

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Saturday 4/13 ~ Someday you will smile and rise again

On April 13, 2019April 13, 2019 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, emptiness, Enemies, ethics, family, Inspirational, Loss, persecution, problems, victory, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, April 13 (4/13), is Philippians 4:13 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Life is not easy. Plans are scattered, dreams are shattered, and even predictable every-day things sometimes give way to the unknown and unforeseeable. Maybe you have made bad decisions, or you weren’t prepared for emergencies, or you are an innocent victim of someone else’s problems.

There is Someone who knows everything that is happening to you and who will walk beside you down whatever path you find yourself. And, as amazing as it sounds, even if you lose faith in Him, He will not lose faith in you.

When you don’t feel like it, reach out to God. Pray, even if all you can think of talking about is how terrible things are right now. At least you’re talking. And read the Bible, for that is God talking to you. Keep the two-way communication going. Amidst your weeping when you fall, God will give you strength. And someday once again you will rise and smile again.

LAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN becomes a slave in a copper mine who eventually owns his own lucrative mine, raises a family and loses everything. The surprise ending will knock your socks off. Has something to do with a pearl. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2G9A3cj

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Monday 3/24 ~Flaming Hope with a Flickering Candle

On March 25, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, discouragement, emptiness, healing, Inspirational, Loss, love, patienceLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 25 (3/25), is Lamentations 3:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

That’s all? Just hope? I don’t have to have a deep, deep faith for God to be good to me? All I have to do is hope he exists? Hope he loves everyone. Hope he loves me?

Were you raised by atheists or have you attended a university where professors criticize theists (believers in God)? Have you been told deity is just the essence of the universe with no personality? Are you confused by it all? You can still hope there is only the One God who does exist, has personality, knows your name and loves you.

Have you had a major tragedy in your life and can’t understand how a good God could allow that bad thing to happen (heaven on earth)? Do you live among people who believe all the gods in the world are the One God, so don’t pay special attention to any of them?

Amidst such confusion, is it hard for you to sort it all out and have faith in the One God of the Bible? What is faith anyway? It is the evidence of what you hope for. If you cannot go so far as to say you have a deep faith in the One God, you can still hope! Keep that hope alive. Let the Lord be good to you.

DREAM MAKER: For thousands of years, people had been dreaming for God to keep his promise to come to earth and rule personally. The angel said Jesus’ name was to be Emmanuel ~ “God With Us”. In Book 2 of the THEY MET JESUS series, Jesus goes public and one by one began recruiting his 12. TO BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2FpLD2U

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Friday 3/22 ~ Just keep walking and walking

On March 22, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, discouragement, emptiness, faith, governments, Inspirational, Loss, loveLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 22 (3/22), is Lamentations 3:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”

Jeremiah had spent years warning people of the coming destruction of their country and beloved Jerusalem due to their selfish sinful life and taking advantage of each other. He endured taunts, reprimands, imprisonments, and threats to his life. Now it has happened. All hope is gone. Nothing left but ashes.

There were innocent people who suffered as a result. Would those innocents let Satan get his way and destroy their lives, their spirits, their souls too? It is at this point that lamenting Jeremiah utters bravely amidst his own tears, “We are not consumed.”

Are there things going on your life that seem to be consuming you? Do you feel utterly hopeless? Do you feel as though life may not worth living anymore? Look up. God is still there. He still loves you.

When you acknowledge the love of God, you have the courage to take the next step and the next and the next. You have the courage to keep walking and walking and to hold your head high. Nothing and nobody can ever take away the love God has for you. With his love, you can never be consumed.

MEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE was denied the throne, crippled to never walk again at age 5, and hounded by his grandfather King Saul’s enemies his whole life. Rather than be consumed with bitterness, he always found something to smile about. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2FtblEJ

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Friday, 3/8 ~ With no regrets?

On March 8, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn ego, eternity, Heaven, Inspirational, Loss, power, Saved from hell, things, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 8 (3/8), is Philippians 3:8 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.”

Wow! Paul, who wrote this, apparently came from a well-to-do family since he was born in today’s Turkey but went to school in Jerusalem. He also apparently held a position in the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, since he could vote on whether to execute someone. So, he probably owned a lot of things and had an honored position.

But now, he considered everything he had previously owned and every position he had ever held as rubbish ~ garbage ~ compared with belonging to his Lord. The King James Version of the Bible says he considered it all as dung ~ manure.

Where are your priorities? What do you spend most of your time on? The stuff you just have to own, exciting things you just have to do, the power you just have to claim? All to enhance the little inch of your life on earth?

What if a storm destroyed your house, your car, and all your stuff tomorrow? What if you were banned from a sport you love tomorrow? What if a rumor destroyed your career with all its power tomorrow? Then what?

Do you think you would consider suicide as so many of the wealthy did during the Great Depression? Or could you consider the deep and unconquerable love of Christ Jesus your Lord the most valuable thing in your life? Could you accept your loss, take advantage of it, and unleash a different kind of life for Jesus with no regrets?

PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE was obsessed with Jesus and obsessed with telling as many people as possible how to not go to hell. He gave up everything and walked thousands of miles, endured beatings of priests who were afraid he was going to destroy their religion, went without food, was in shipwrecks, and on and on, always crying out, “Jesus! This is for you!” To READ NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2Tv5mav

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Thursday 3/7 ~ Lowering the mountain

On March 7, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Inspirational, Loss, power, problems, victory, weakness1 Comment

Yesterday I gave you the thought for the 7th, so today I will give you the thought for the 6th. Sorry ’bout that.

♥

The scripture for today, March 6 (3/6), is Proverbs 3:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Is your life full of twists and turns, short cuts that never work out, detours, mountains to climb and valleys to make your way through? Welcome to the human race. Life on earth can be hard. Did you know the Bible calls Satan the god of this world (2^nd Corinthians 4:4) and ruler of this world (John 12:31)?

Your path to heaven is another matter. Your path to heaven is straight. God has done everything in his power to straighten your path and make it easier for you to reach him. How? By providing you with His Word to read any time you see trouble ahead (Psalm 119:105).

Do you see a mountain ahead of you so steep that is impossible to climb or valley so full of darkness you cannot bear the thought of entering it? Do you see a curve in the road ahead of you and dread knowing where it will lead you to?

Colossians 1:13 says God can rescue you from Satan’s domain of darkness and transfer you to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. There God takes control. There God says, “Hold on a minute, Christian, while I lower that mountain, brighten that valley, straighten that curve.”

The path to heaven ~ thanks to our merciful God ~ is straight. What path are you on?

365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS is book 2 in the TOUCHING GOD SERIES. Each day gives you a psalm and a proverb for the day. Only $6.00. To buy now, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2IXOkO8

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Wednesday 2/17 ~ A good person, a great person, a mighty person

On February 27, 2019July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, death, discouragement, ego, Inspirational, Loss, problems, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, February 27 (2/27), is Jeremiah 2:27 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“ ‘Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,’ declares the Lord.”

Do you want God to make it impossible for someone to insult or lie or cuss at you? Do you want God to make it impossible for someone to fire you? Do you want God to make it impossible to kill you? Do you want to stop free will? If that were the case, we would all be robots with no will of our own.

More and more people are blaming God for bad things happening in their life. That is their excuse for rebelling against God and declaring he does not even exist. Their view of God is a Santa Claus or Genie in a Bottle who grants their every wish and keeps them from all harm. No one ever dies, no one ever sins, and it is heaven on earth.

What they want is for God to stop his laws of Nature whenever you want. If someone throws a knife at them, it suddenly turns to gelatin. If someone’s car is about to slam into them and kill someone, they want that car to suddenly be made out of feathers.

Other people sometimes blame God for bad things happening in their life because blaming is one of the ways they handle their grief. They don’t really want to blame God because they want to think God loves them. But there is no one else to blame.

No one else to blame? Oh, yes, there is. There is Satan. We tend to forget Satan is out there too. It is Satan who causes bad to happen, not God.

Is that what you’ve done lately ~ blame God for bad happening, then rebel against him? Or do you know someone who is going through many problems not of their doing or choosing? Are they blaming God and rebelling against him? Help them. Remind them of Satan.

People want to blame someone. They will be relieved to be reminded that Satan exists. Now they can put the blame where it belongs.

Let us not blame God for the bad. Instead, let us thank Him for the good. And for hard things in our life so we can build our spiritual muscles. How can we have Victory in Jesus unless we have something to be victorious over? How can we be More than Conquerors unless we have something to conquer? Are we cowards? Do we run from hard work and exercise?

Look up! God knows what he is doing. He wants you to become a good person, a great person, a mighty person. But you must do it his way.

A CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS: KING JOASH was saved as a toddler when there was rebellion in the palace and idolatry everywhere in the kingdom. When he got old enough to rule as king, he ordered all the idols to be broken down and made a lot of people mad. They didn’t like God. To BUY NOW, click a picture or paste this: https://amzn.to/2IEFtR3

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