Those little churches

On November 20, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, church, discouragement, faith, Inspirational, judging, patience, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 21 (11/21), is Acts 11:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

What had just happened? Some Christians in Phoenecia (today’s Lebanon), Cyprus (the Mediterranean Island), and Cyrene (in today’s North Africa) went to Antioch, a major city in Northern Syria near the southern border of today’s Turkey. There they established a congregation.

This little congregation ended up being the home congregation of Paul and Barnabas for many years. It started small; we don’t know the size it grew to. Regardless of the size, it had foresight and Eventually, did great things.

Perhaps you live in a town full of churches, but you’ve compared them with the New Testament, and none of them follows the original pattern. Perhaps you have even given up going to church because of this problem. What is stopping you from beginning a little congregation after the New Testament pattern in your home?

New Testament churches were simple ~ not elaborate like those mega-churches out there. And those simple churches have always been dynamic in their simplicity. Who knows but that your new little congregation will someday produce a Paul or a Barnabas….

PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE traveled thousands of miles over 20+ years preaching to people who didn’t want preached to, establishing congregations where pagan temples prevails, offering his already-shredded back to the whips of religious leaders. One man after reading this historical novel said, “Wow! Oh, Wow!” To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/UnstoppablePaul

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/books-more-biblical-historical-novels/book-2-paul-the-unstoppable/

Never give up

On November 19, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, faith, family, healing, Inspirational, love, patience, problemsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 20 (11/20), is Hebrews 11:20ff as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons….By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.”

Do you have children that were loving and good when they were young, but when they became older, they changed? Do you sometimes wonder, “How could I have gone so wrong with my children?” True, they have free will. But do you feel like a failure because your children did not turn out the way you had hoped and prayed?

Have faith ~ the faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Isaac blessed his sons with his land, even though he did not yet own the land. Jacob blessed his sons with power, even though they did yet not have power. Joseph blessed his sons and his brothers’ sons with the land, yet they no longer lived there.

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all blessed their children with something they believed would happen someday, even though they did not have those things yet. Why? Because they had faith in their children? Actually, it was mostly because they had faith in God. They had faith in what God would do someday for their children.

Don’t give up. Keep trusting God. Never stop having faith in what God (even after we die) will (not can, but will) do for your children.

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR. In this novel, Stephen starts out as a 17-year-old coward. Eleven years, he boldly walked in the Sanhedrin’s chambers and preached to them such truths that they killed him for it. What happened to change him so drastically? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/StephenUnlikelyMartyr

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Until you give me laughter and peace again

On November 18, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, faith, healing, patience, rest, worshipLeave a comment

Lord, I am like the sheep that walk around afraid to drink from troubled waters, so you lead me to where the waters are calm and peaceful. When I cannot see you, I am afraid to follow a stranger, so you keep me confined so I am safe until your return. Though I walk around with no concern for possible dangers, you are right there with me to make sure I do not fall into that danger. Sometimes I become restless and fearful if I sense a storm is coming close. Then, Lord, I hear your heart singing to my heart, it calms me, and I lie down and rest in you.

The sun is shining, the frost is heavy, it is very cold out there, but I am inside warm, snuggled up, thinking, meditating and watching for the birds to discover the corn I put out for them. Ah, my Lord, I am tired these days and a little depressed. But I thank you for these times when I stop everything, back off, and contemplate. I know it is often at such times that we take a good look at ourselves selves, try to see ourselves as others do, and make changes for the better. So, I thank you for this little bit of unhappy time when I can learn better who I am and how to be more and more like you. And then, may I wait patiently until once again you give me laughter and peace again.

JOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER is a novel in the INTREPID MEN OF GOD series. Joseph is finally happy. He and Mary are betrothed. What could possibly go wrong? But that something did happen. Had she betrayed him? Joseph’s depression was devastating. Then he learned the truth and spent the rest of his life awed at his responsibilities of being the human father of the Son of God. But he rose top the challenge — most of the time. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://bit.ly/The-Other-Father

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Take a deep breath and keep going

On November 17, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, blessings, ego, faith, Heaven, judging, love, patience, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

Ah, my Lord, you are the friend of the world. No better friend could we have. But so many snub you out of arrogance, Satan telling them they can be their own god. They see you as their enemy, they fight you and twist your motives. Sometimes I do it myself because no one is immune to the influence of Satan. I know how often you must weep as we break your heart. You are only trying to save us from our enemy, Satan. You are only trying to bring us into the refuge of your home so we will be forever safe. How ungrateful and arrogant we are. Some believe you will have no choice but to take them into your home when they die, forgetting you have a door, a gate into your home and do not allow just anyone into your home for the same reason we have doors into our homes. But you love all of us anyway. You are so patient. None of us deserve you. Despite my sins, I do praise you and magnify you in my heart. Of every being in the world, you are most deserving of all honor, respect, and love.

Father, there are lonely people in nursing homes and prisons, in the military and just confined to home. I forget about them because I do not see them. Forgive my neglect Lord and make me reach out to the ones I can find.

Lord, it is getting really cold outside but I am warm and cozy inside. Thank you for what I sometimes take for granted. And thank you for the hope of heaven. Sometimes I am tired and want to rest. Then I think of all the lost souls who think you are their enemy, or who think they can get to heaven ~ your home, not theirs ~ their own way. Today, may I take a deep breath and keep going.

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-8-come-fly-with-me-adults-childs-versions/

Our prayers are diamonds

On November 11, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn emptiness, Inspirational, joy, love, patience, persecution, praise, prayer, worshipLeave a comment

I adore you, Lord God, and worship you. I laugh with you, cry with you. I am unworthy of all the attention you give me, especially among the millions of others who long for you. You know my name and follow me around. My thoughts, attitudes, and activities are readily open to you. My sins are among them. How unworthy I am. You love me still. How marvelous and magnificent you are in love and mercy. I worship you.

Forgive me, Father, for eating too much. I am eating strictly for the taste and not because my body needs it. When I taste something good, the delight lasts less than a minute. Then I have to take another bite to return the wonderful taste to my mouth. On and on it goes until I have made myself sick. Help me find something else as pleasurable and fulfilling to do so I can forget my gluttony.

Thank you for my being able to live in a country that gives me as much freedom as I need to worship you. Even if I must worship you in hiding, I still will have the freedom to find a hiding place. Every place has valleys and galleys to hide in, and basements, and abandoned buildings and mountain tops. Thank you for the hiding places. And thank you for the heroes who long to worship you together so much, they will do anything to do so. Thank you for worship. Our prayers are diamonds, our songs are silver, our Lord’s Supper rememberings are rubies, and our reading your love letters are gold.

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Come back! Come back to me!

On November 10, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, blessings, patience, prayer, temptation, worshipLeave a comment

I adore you, Lord God. You have been so good for so long always working to save us from hell. So many do not believe they are bound for hell so insult you by never reading your love letter to the world ~ your Bible ~ and never praying unless they need something. Sill, amidst all this, you keep trying to save the world. You want everyone to be your child. You are larger than the universe that you made, but it is tiny humans that capture your heart. You run after us every which way calling, “Come back! You’re headed for danger! I can protect you!” Ah, my Lord God, how you love us. I love you too, Lord. I wish I could love as much as you do. In my frail way, I worship you.

My vegetable garden has been harvested and I have cleared out all that was left behind. And I brought in more fertilizer to give my little seeds a head start next spring. Thank you for allowing me to create with you. I love watching the little green sprigs force their way to the surface and peak at the sun. It makes me think how I am forcing my way up through the darkness of this world and trying to take a peak of heaven. Someday it will happen and the experience will be beautiful.

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/love-letters-of-jesus-his-bride-ecclesia-2/

A whole lot of seeking & finding

On November 8, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, faith, Inspirational, patience, prayer, thingsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 9 (11/9), is Luke 11:9 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

” ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.’ “

Does this mean that, if you ask for your favorite team to win, they will win? Does this mean that, if you ask for a particular job, you will get that job? Or, if you have your eyes on a particular young man or young woman, you will marry that person?

In the context that Jesus said this, he had just taught his disciples what many call the Lord’s prayer. In that prayer, Jesus instructed us to ask for a little bit of the physical and a whole lot of the spiritual.

You might say, “Well, that doesn’t leave me much to pray for.” Oh, yes, it does. Shift your focus from yourself. It leaves the rest of the world to pray for. What about their little bit of physical and their whole lot of spiritual? How many people do you pray for? Not as a group, but by name? Not occasionally, but every day?

Well then, will God give you every one of the souls you pray for? God gives everyone free will. He does not force people to follow him. God provides opportunities for people you pray for, and he even moves their hearts. But he does not force them. You must still keep on praying, even when you feel like someone is hopeless. Maybe they are hopeless during your lifetime. But sometimes someone’s soul is saved after your death.

So, pray for others and never tire of it ~ a little bit of the physical and whole lot of the spiritual. A whole lot of seeking creates a whole lot of finding. God will answer in his own way. And that’s a promise.

MICHEL: THE FOURTH WISEMAN wanted to restore the Garden of Eden so God would walk the earth again as he did in the days of Adam and Eve. This was his constant prayer. Instead, he was interrupted by a star. At the end of his journey, he learned God was already walking the earth. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/Michel4thWiseMan

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My song will soar

On November 7, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, church, Inspirational, joy, love, patience, praise, prayer, worshipLeave a comment

I praise and adore you, God. You are perfect and are willing to see me as perfect even when I am not. I try to be like you but fail in some way every day. You love me in my imperfection. Your love wins over Satan’s hatred. Your forgiveness wins over Satan’s accusations. Your mercy wins over Satan’s judgmentalisms. I often wonder how you can do it ~ always be forgiving me. Sometimes I am embarrassed to, once again, ask for your forgiveness. Yet, you are delighted to forgive. You are the God of second chances. And third. And scores. And hundreds. Such patience and love I cannot even begin to comprehend. So, I worship you.

It is Sunday morning again. Oh, how I will sing out my praises to you! They will soar through the roof to the clouds and beyond, echo from star to star, and surround your throne. My song will not be harmonious and lovely or lyrical, but it will be my song and it will be for the God I love. Accept my praise, my song, the offering of my lips.

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Confusion

On November 4, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, ethics, family, humility, judging, patience, sin, victoryLeave a comment

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

“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. But confusion is its first definition.

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?

365 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS. Part of the Touching God trilogy. Each day you are given one proverb and a passage from one of the other “wisdom literatures” — Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. Beautiful gift set with original cover art. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/365PearlsOfWisdom

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Me forgive?

On October 30, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, Enemies, ethics, family, forgiveness, Heaven, humility, judging, Loss, love, patience, persecution, sinLeave a comment

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

“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? If someone kills your child, you kill theirs.

But, under Jesus, the Prince of Peace who “turned the other cheek”, who forgave people torturing him to death, you must forgive people so 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.

A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: JOSEPH. He was forced into slavery because of his brothers. He spent years in prison because of his brothers. Did he become bitter? That would have been natural. But Joseph did not know how to be bitter. His love for everyone drove him to always be forgiving. So, with a constant positive attitude, he became “prime minister” of all Egypt. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/ForgivingJoseph

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-heroes-book-5-joseph/

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