Category: persecution

Sunday 11/10 ~ Then one day the light goes on. Viola! You get it!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, church, ego, faith, family, Heaven, judging, knowledge, persecution, Scripture, teaching, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 10 (11/10), is Acts 11:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

000-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“This happened three times and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.”

Acts 11 is about God telling Peter that his new heavenly kingdom was for the whole world, not just the Jews. What was pulled up to heaven was a “sheet” holding all the unclean animals which the Old Law of Moses commanded them never to eat. Now God was saying, “Eat it. The Old Law of Moses isn’t in effect anymore.”

This was hard to grasp. So hard that, even though it was God telling Peter directly a new spiritual concept, Peter refused it. So hard for him to believe, that God had to tell him three times!

Is this the way you are? You read something in the Bible that you never believed before. You read it and re-read it and re-read it, and it never sinks in. After all, you never believed that before. None of your religious friends or leaders believe it. No one on Christian radio/TV or in Christian magazines or the internet believes it.

But God’s Word remains. So, over the weeks and months and years, you pass through that scripture and read it and re-read it. Over the weeks and months and years, its meaning for your life goes right over your head.

Then one day, the light goes on! Viola! You see it! You get it! You are blessed!

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000-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailLAZARUS: THE SAMARITAN is a historical novel based on Jesus’ parables. He marries a Jewish girl, no one attends, so they send out to the highways and byways to fill the feast; his sister is the woman at the well, his son is the prodigal son, etc.  But their mixed-religion marriage haunts them.  The Jews hated the Samaritans and they endure prejudice.  Then one day they meet Jesus.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2qJPeF1 

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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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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 10/28 ~ Being a hero

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, discouragement, Enemies, eternity, faith, Fear, governments, Heaven, persecution, power, sacrifice, Satan, Saved from hell, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 28 (10/28), is Matthew 10:28f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.”

This scripture indicates that sometimes God’s allows you to “fall to the ground” ~ your body suffers, or you are killed. How can that be? After all, God is so loving. Surely a good God would not allow any harm to come to someone if he truly loves them.

But we all have our assignments from God in this war between Good and Evil. Just as Job in the Old Testament lost his entire family and all his wealth and then his health, he refused to blame God. He even said, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” (Job 2:10).

Satan causes bad to happen to you. Why? In order to get you to blame God for it and maybe even then declare God does not exist. Your assignment is to refuse to deny God. That way, Satan loses one more battle, and God wins one more.

There is an old Christian song called “Victory in Jesus.” How can you have victory in Jesus if you do not have something to be victorious over? Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors. How can you be a conqueror if you have nothing to conquer?

Stand strong and say with James (1:2), “I consider it pure joy whenever I face trials.” Hard to say? Of course, it is. But it could turn your life around and make you a hero.

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00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR begins with a 17-year-old coward who grows and matures a little at a time so that by the time he is a 28-year-old deacon with wife and children, he is stronger than most people we will ever meet in our lifetime.  He purposely walks into the Sanhedrin’s council room to say what needed to be said, knowing he would not leave alive. He sees the door.  It is opening for him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2MWxVtn

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Wednesday 9/25 ~ How’s your race going?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, good works, Inspirational, persecution, prayer, temptation, things1 Comment

The scripture for today, September 25 (9/25), is 1st Corinthians 9:25f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Strip of Inspirational“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly….”

Every few years there are world-wide Olympic Games with many races. The racers must eat properly, rest sufficiently, and exercise daily.

The Bible has been called the Bread of Life. As a Christian, you need to eat your spiritual meal every day to stay fit. You cannot keep up your strength without food.  Do you eat at least one spiritual meal a day? How delicious is reading His Words? Ah, you cannot wait until your next meal!

Your time of rest is prayer. You enter a room in your heart alone and talk to God every day. You do not spend all your time asking for things. You can hardly hold back your gratitudes and your praises. Ah, sweet time of rest in God. You need your rest. You cannot keep up your strength without it.

I Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” You exercise your godliness by being out in the world and being a good example in the face of temptation to react to the world around you in the wrong way. Yes, spiritual exercise means purposely getting out there and facing obstacles to yourself or others. You exercise your spiritual muscles by pushing back and you do it daily.

The race, of course, is your Christian life. You run every day. How is your race going?

 

Strip of InspirationalTOUCHING GOD TRILOGY provides a daily meditation (GOLDEN BIBLE THOUGHTS: GOD’S HEART TO YOURS), food to face the day (PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS) and prayers of praise, confession, and thanksgiving for each day (SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S). A beautiful gift set with original cover art and delightful script.  To BUY NOW, click the book covers to paste this:  https://amzn.to/2lJwMud  (Click individual books to get paper price.)

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Monday 9/16 ~ I cannot hold it in

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, death, Enemies, eternity, faith, Fear, Heaven, Holy Spirit, love, persecution, Saved from hell, teaching, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, September 16 (9/16), is 1st Corinthians 9:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-“Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

The Apostle Paul said this. An Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, said almost the same thing in 20:9: “If I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in! Indeed, I cannot!”

Are you so full of the Word of God that you have to share it? Do you work it into your daily conversations? Do you write to people about it? Do you call people about it? Do you journal about it?

I knew a lady once who took several church bulletins home with her every Sunday. Then during the week, if she heard a conversation at a bus stop, she’d interrupt them and say, “I couldn’t help but hear what you were saying. Perhaps God in your life would help.” Then she’d hand them a bulletin. She’d do the same thing at fast-food places or in the waiting room of a doctor. She could not hold it in. She had to share, even if it was with strangers.

There is a man in Afghanistan who is a partially secret Christian. When he thinks he can trust someone, he tells them the gospel. He knows he could be arrested and imprisoned or killed, but I cannot hold it in. He has run for his life three times in the last eight years. He tells me, “I will not stop until they kill me.”

What about you? Is the Word of God overflowing in you so much you cannot keep it in? Tell someone today that God loves them. Watch them smile with a gleam in their eye that says, “I’d like to know more”.

 

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE was just that. He’d go into a town, tell people how to go to heaven instead of hell, be beaten by the local priests, get up and do it again. He could not hold it in.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or PASTE THIS:  https://amzn.to/30iM9rH

 

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Sunday 9/8 ~ Nero and your government

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, governments, persecution, power, prayer, Satan2 Comments

The scripture for today, September 8 (9/9), is Daniel 9:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“O Lord, we and our kings, our princes, and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.”

Have you prayed for your government lately?  I Timothy 2:1 & 2 says “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone ~ for kings and all those in authority.”

At the time of this writing, Nero was Caesar. First-century historian Tacitus said this about Nero in his Annals 15:44:

“But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called “Christians” by the populace.

“Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular.

“Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”

If the Apostle Paul could pray for such a government leader, can you not follow his instructions? Why don’t you stop and pray for your own government right now?

 

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailTHEY MET JESUS: SHADOW OF DEATH tells the story of “Christus’ ” death at the hands of two governments ~ one out of jealousy, the other out of job protection.  Two chapters in this book cover the first three and last three hours on the cross.  The Merck Desk Manual for Physicians was the major source along with scripture. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/30V6hBb

 

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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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Saturday 8/17 ~ Go ahead! Do it!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, death, Enemies, eternity, Heaven, joy, persecution, sacrifice, Satan, Thanksgiving, truth1 Comment

The scripture for today, August 17 (8/17), is Romans 8:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Thumbnail“Now if we are children, then we are heirs ~ heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (see also Galatians 3:16)

I Peter 4:12-14 says we should not be surprised when persecution happens, “as though something strange was happening to you.” If we are insulted because of Jesus, we are blessed.

Notice, we are co-heirs with Christ IF we share in his suffering. Have you shared in Jesus’ sufferings lately? Have you ever in your entire life shared in Jesus’ sufferings? If not, you haven’t told very many people about Jesus loving them or stood up for Jesus when people around you were making fun of him or using his name as a swear word.

Are you sinning by omission? Do you huddle with your church friends all the time and brag that all the friends you have are Christians? Jesus didn’t. Jesus went out to “seek and save the lost.” Are you seeking?

Sometime today, say something to someone about Jesus ~ someone in a store, at work, a neighbor, a fellow passenger on a bus. They probably won’t insult you. This may be exactly what they’ve been looking for. But if they do insult you, smile and say, “Thank you.” If they threaten you, say, “God bless you.”  If they hit you, say, “I appreciate that.”

Go ahead.  Do it!  Share!  I double dare you!

 

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR had a wife and two children and was 28 years old (in the story) when he sacrificed it all. Did he dread death? He’s never done it before. But he also saw what was on the other side of the door ~ Jesus rooting for him.  “Come home, Stephen. Come on home.”  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2P0ABJv

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Wednesday 7/17 ~ It’s your assignment

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, Enemies, faith, Loss, patience, persecution, problems, victory4 Comments

The scripture for today, July 17 (7/17), is 1st Corinthians 7:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Thumbnail“Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.”

In some situations in life, this scripture is hard to accept. Sometimes life gets very, very hard. Sometimes it is difficult to keep smiling, even to keep breathing. When will it end? Will it ever end?

But can it be that this is where God wants you? Can it be that the difficulties in your life right now are your assignments from God? God fights Evil from heaven and it is our place to fight Evil from earth. It is an ongoing battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

For some reason that cannot be understood right now, you are where God wants you to be. This is your assignment from God. Remember, we are “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20). You must show the world that “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28).

As a soldier for Christ, be brave. Think with a clear head. Hold fast, stand firm of faith, strong in spirit, pure of heart.

 

0-Joseph-Cover-ThumbnailJOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER had the hardest assignment in the world ~ keep the Son of God safe in a violent world until grown.  How many times did he rescue the boy through the years? How many times did he cry out in desperation, “God!  Help me protect our son!”? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2LYlfC7

 

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