Category: persecution

Your Bible: Paid for with blood

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessings, eternity, Fear, knowledge, love, persecution, prayer, sacrifice, Scripture, teaching, truthLeave a comment

changes-in-worship-cover-mediumThe scripture for today, April 15 (4/15), is 1st John 4:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

The New Testament was written by people who walked and talked with Jesus. They saw his miracles, they heard his amazing words. They were eyewitnesses.

Several first- and second-century manuscripts still exist that were passed down from some who actually knew the eyewitnesses. A few were even written during the late lifetime of the last living apostle, John. The Bible has more existing ancient manuscripts (over 5000) than any ancient writing in the world.

Read the New Testament. It was written by inspired men with a passion that would not let them stop talking about this Jesus. He consumed their life when he was on earth, and consumed their spirit after he left.

Through the centuries, men and women have given their lives so that you today may have the writings (New Testament) of those eyewitnesses in our own language and read it for yourself. Many were ridiculed and tortured terribly, and then died a long excruciating death so that the apostles’ testimony could live on.

Do not take for granted your New Testament ~  the words of Jesus’ eyewitnesses. Jesus lived and died for you. Those witnesses, in a sense, also lived and died for you. Read what they testified to. Then, live, and if necessary, die for it.

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WORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY includes what the pope did to people who dared translate the Bible into the language of the people. Their tongues were cut off, they were dragged through the streets, they were burned at the stake. Never take the Bible for granted.  It was brought to you with blood.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/3eqMQXc  

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The crown

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, Daily, death, Enemies, Fear, forgiveness, Inspirational, persecution, prayer, Saved from hell, teaching, victoryLeave a comment

he scripture for today, April 8 (4/8), is 2nd Timothy 4:8 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-REV-Cover-No Logo-KINDLE-medium“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day ~ and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

The Apostle Paul was somewhere between sixty and seventy at this writing. He’d been converted probably in his thirties. He’d spent the past forty years telling people how to escape a place they didn’t believe they were going to and disrupting the religion they already had.  

Forty years of tolerating persecution, sometimes hungry and cold and beaten and hated. Forty years of seldom staying in a city longer than a few months, always on the go.  Forty years of never being satisfied with the number of people he had reached with the Good News of their escape from Satan, the Good News of a God who actually loved them, Good News of heaven.

Now he was in prison.

“I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Oh, that we all could say this at the end of our life.

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0-REV-Cover-No Logo-KINDLE-thumbnailREVELATION: A LOVE LETTER FROM GOD.  This is a history of the world before Jesus was born, especially the world of the Israelites. It is also an account of Jesus birth, ministry, and death. It ends with the final doom of Satan and the final victory of the church, the heavenly Jerusalem. The scriptures always interpret themselves; therefore, the author takes you through each scene with applicable background scriptures to magnify the meaning with unique clearness.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/36W2CqT 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/my-book-revelationa-love-letter-from-god/

Wandering Soul, Entitled Heart, & the Side-Tracked Church

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, ego, ethics, governments, judging, knowledge, persecution, prayer, sacrifice, teaching, truth, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, April 3 (4/3), is 1st Timothy 4:3 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“They [false teachers] forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.”

changes-in-worship-cover-mediumIt is hard for you to think that smiling, humble, Bible-quoting, holy-looking church leaders could be false teachers and condemned by the God they claim to represent.  We want to think well of everyone. Isn’t that the way Christians are to think? But sometimes thinking well of someone and thinking well of the truth can clash.  Now you have a choice to make ~ a hard choice.

The apostle Paul warned of false teachers in the church that would come in the future. Indeed, it did happen. A time came when certain Christians were ordered not to marry, and not to eat certain foods (for instance, on Friday). They claim it is a sin to disobey them and don’t show you the scriptures they refuse to obey.

Remember, your church leaders are going to be judged by God, just like everyone else. Always, as the Apostle Peter once warned, “We ought to obey God and not men” (Acts 4:19). Besides, do you think this is one reason people have turned against “organized religion”?

This is why it is important to read the Bible for yourself. Use a concordance to look up all scriptures in the Bible with any keyword, and you will learn what is true and not true. Isn’t it time for you to sort through everything you have been told?  Isn’t it time for you to discover pure truth?

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00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnailWORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE 1ST CENTURY. Trace the exact date changes were made in church worship since the first century. These changes were mostly led by popes who had bought their office, led armies against people rejecting them, and had illegitimate children. Trace the protesters since the second century and the persecution they endured, often being burned at the stake. Discover the hymns we sing still today written by the protesters, sometimes just hours before their torturous death. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3eqMQXc  https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/my-book-worship-changes-since-the-first-century/

 

Hold me up until my faith in you returns

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, Enemies, faith, Fear, Inspirational, love, persecution, prayer, teaching, truth, weaknessLeave a comment

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-
God, if I had a voice that was strong enough, I would declare your glory to the stars. If I had feet that were robust enough, I would climb the tallest mountain and raise a banner of love for the world to see.  If I had arms that were long enough, I would embrace the world with your magnitude. Give me eyes that see you in everything. Give me ears that hear you in all things. Though the world rebels against you, not wanting anyone to tell them what to do, I will defend you and reveal the part of you they do not understand ~ that you, their Maker, loves them so much you will spend their life running after them. They are falling into the mire and do not know it. They are obeying Satan and do not realize it. Waken them, Lord, with your magnificence and envelop them with love that goes deep into their souls and will not let them go. Give them new eyes to see you, new ears to hear you, a new heart that loves you back.

Lord, as hard as I try, sometimes I begin to doubt you. I think I am not the only one who goes through this. I suppose if Satan weren’t afraid of me and my relationship with you, he wouldn’t attack me with doubts. Forgive me when I succumb to the doubts he puts in my mind. Though sometimes he kidnaps my mind, keep him from having my heart and soul too. At such times, help me to at least hope. Hold me up until my faith in you returns.

Thank you for opportunities to suffer for you. Your Word says the righteous will always be persecuted. Take me down paths where I know persecution will travel toward me. May I never “play it safe”. Open up doors where Satan thinks he rules so I may have the privilege of proving him weak and wrong. Lord, you made me your bride. How blessed is that! Oh, the depths of the relationship you want with me. Thank you, my Lord, my God, the reason for my being.

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-INTREPID MEN OF GOD.  PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE traveled everywhere he was not wanted.  The honest ones needed Jesus, but did not know it.  The egotistical ones were jealous of Jesus and did everything they good to beat and destroy his ambassador.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3fw2mlA 

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

Our heroes

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, faith, Fear, governments, Heaven, Inspirational, love, persecution, prayer, problems, victoryLeave a comment

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-MediumLord, reach down and show your tender power in a special way to your children who are being severely persecuted for worshipping you. They face loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of freedom, loss of life rather than deny you. They are heroes and do not even know it. Their courage in weakness declares your glory to those who degrade them. Their determination to never deny you declares your love to those who hate them. You are the one who gives them strength. You are the one who overcomes Satan through them. They are your hands and feet, their unwavering voices, their stubborn wills. To you belongs all wisdom and glory here on earth now, and in heaven forever.

Oh, yesterday was so beautiful and wonderful. The breezes were warm with the door to spring opening up to my part of the world. The sun shone bright in a deep blue sky. The cottony clouds bumped playfully into each other.  Even the fish in the pond nearby wiggled their way around each other while the ducks paddled their little webbed feet just as fast as they could in celebration. Ah, spring. The awaking time. The rest of winter is about over now. Time to plant and go for walks and enjoy the breezes wafting around me. Thank you, Lord, for springtime.

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00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailYOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE:  SURVIVAL STORIES FOR THE COURAGEOUS ISOLATED CHRISTIAN. When alone, it is easy to become discouraged and stay discouraged. This book shows how people hung on alone in Bible times for ten years, twenty years, a hundred years ~ sometimes thinking they were failures, sometimes wondering if it is all worth it, sometimes thinking of giving up. But always hanging on. The account in this book of each isolated Bible character is in story form to make them more real to the reader. To know exactly what the Bible does say about them, applicable scriptures are included.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/354h5R8  https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/you-can-be-a-hero-alone-survival-stories-for-the-isolated-christian/

 

 

And can never die

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, church, Death of Jesus Christ, Enemies, eternity, forgiveness, love, patience, persecution, praise, prayer, Scripture, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride-mediumI magnify your very name. You are in my heart and soul. I long to be with you in your realm forever rejoicing, forever yours, forever at peace.  Even now I am with you laughing and crying and struggling and it is wonderful. To be on the side of the winner, my heart bursts. I can fight side by side next to you, for you are my betrothed. You are my spiritual darling, my spiritual sweetheart, the spiritual lover of my soul. Someday we will be wed. I do not understand it, but I can hardly wait. How amazing that the Creator of the universe calls me his own! You are my Lord, my Master, my Maker, my very Being.

God, help me let go. Help me be strong enough to not let anything others say or do convince me to not love them.  Lord, help me love them. Bless my enemies, for they are your enemies too.  Help me know the difference in what I want and what you want so that I am not persecuted justly.

Ah, my Lord. I see your holy blood that seeped out of your body. Your holy hands and feet that contorted in the shock of being assaulted by the spikes. Your holy back that was made pure meat when embraced by the scourger’s whip. Your holy brow that bore the mocking thorns. They gradually overcame your body and made it lifeless. But they could not overcome your spirit and your stubborn will.  They could not overpower the love that flowed from you that day. They could not overpower the soul that had been alive forever more and can never die. In worship you.

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Love Letters of Jesus & his Bride, Eccelsia-THUMBNAILLOVE LETTERS OF JESUS & HIS BRIDE, ECCLESIA.  The Song of Songs written by King Solomon is a love story between a man and woman but overflows with the symbolism of Jesus Christ and his love for his Bride, his Church, his Ecclesia. The book begins with “His Proposal” (Prologue) ~ how Satan held her captive and how Jesus paid the ransom for her and broke her out of the dark pit where she had been chained. Each chapter thereafter coincides with the same chapter number in the Song of Songs. Come along with me now in this expansion of the greatest love story in the history of heaven and earth.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://bit.ly/2Vl3dhi

Love Letters of Jesus & His Bride, Ecclesia

Do you think it would help to…

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, Enemies, faith, family, healing, Inspirational, love, patience, persecution, prayer, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

03-Naaman'sMaid-MediumCoverThe stars praise you by night, the sun declares your glory by day. They sparkle with the romance of the ages in their own way. Even raging storms declare your power, butterflies declare your gentleness, grass coming back to life each spring declares your mercy. You make, then you remake. You create and recreate. You raise up, cheer up, climb up, clean up. You love without boundaries. Your mercy is limitless. Your life without end.

I was discouraged the other day and dragged my family down with me. I could have excused myself and gone for a walk or into a room alone. I could have written them a love note asking for their patience while I rebuild. I did not. I snapped at them because I felt so bad inside. It was probably just some chemical thing in my body, but I did not know how to change it. Do you think it would help to write some love notes to my family and put them away for the next time it happens?

Thank you, Jesus, for all you did for me. I couldn’t do it. I still cannot be perfect. No matter how hard I try, I fail. So, you did it for me and for everyone. You were perfect for us. Then you took the blame for our imperfections along with our punishment. The world hated you because you were perfect and we were not. Jesus, you did so much. I cannot begin to comprehend it all.  But I can spend eternity thanking you with my heart, my spirit, my soul.

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03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCoverA CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS:  NAAMAN’S MAID was grabbed from her parents’ yard when the soldiers came.  They took her far away, but she never forgot her family or friends.  And old Elisha who had performed a miracle for the widow lady living next door.  When her master began to look like a monster, she could have been happy her master was sick.  Instead, she forgave him and told him the God of her family, her friends, and Elisha could heal him.  Guess what?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/38OR4qT

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Every corner of the universe

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Enemies, healing, Inspirational, judging, love, patience, persecution, prayer, Thanksgiving, victoryLeave a comment

04-King Joash-MediumCoverThe snowflakes outside my window praise you with all their intricate designs. The icicles praise you as they hang on upside down and grow longer with each drip, drip, drip. The scampering squirrels and fluttering little birds praise you as they brave the cold outside and look in my direction every once in a while as though to say, “Come on out. The winter’s fine”. And, oh how the stars take on a special sparkle and effervescence in the wintertime when so much of the earth is asleep. It is as though they are saying, “Go ahead, world, and sleep. I’ll be here watching over you.” You are in everything because you made everything. How exciting it must have been for you those days of creation.

There are people in this world that seem to have no conscience. They had just as soon kill a person as to step on an ant.  I am afraid of people like that and do not want to be around them. Even though they are overtly doing the work of Satan, I must cover them with prayer. I don’t do it. I don’t pray for my enemies or the enemies of the world. Grab them, God, and invade their heart so the hardness will leave and they can catch a glimpse of you.

Thank you for little babies. They remind me of my helplessness to make food grow and my dependence on you. Thank you for little toddlers who patter around discovering their world and giggling in delight. Thank you for adults who are mentally still like children. They remind me of innocence in an adult body and how I should be more like them. As I look around this world, I see blessings you give me in every corner of the universe.

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04-King Joash-ThumbnailCoverA CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS:  KING JOASH:  1 ~ Baby Prince, 2 ~ Running, 3 ~ Escape, 4 ~ Hiding, 5 ~ Growing, 6 ~ Almost King, 7 ~ Practicing, 8 ~ Telling the Secret, 9 ~ All the Guards, 10 ~ Long Live the King.  Large font for early readers.  “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://bit.ly/37HLpDa

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-kids-book-4-king-joash/

God’s Mosaic

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, governments, healing, judging, patience, persecution, power, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, February 21 (2/21), is Daniel 2:21 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

10-Daniel-KindleMedium“He [God] changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

It seems there is always some amount of restlessness within each nation regarding who is ruling. Some people like the ruler, some do not. Or people may start out liking the ruler, but later dislike him. Some rulers are okay, a few are considered outstanding, and a few others are outright evil.

But God sets up the rulers of nations and deposes them. Many places among the prophets of the Old Testament, God explains that he may raise up a cruel leader just because he is strong enough to get rid of other cruel people. After that, God deposes the cruel leader.

In the midst of all this, innocent people are always hurt. That is why it is important for us not to complain, but to bear up under a hard government with patience and courage. It is in hardship that the true heart of a Christian is revealed. And it is in hardship that many people turn to God who might never have done so.

God knows what he is doing, even if we do not understand ~ at least, on this side of eternity. Remember Romans 8:28 ~ “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.” Life is a mosaic of many colors ~ sometimes bright and sometimes dark ~ but in the end, it will be beautiful.

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10-Daniel-KindleThumnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES:  DANIEL.  This amazing young man managed to become an old man because he figured out how to get along with many emperors — sometimes very bad, sometimes very good.  His secret? He concentrated on keep himself godly rather than changing everyone else.  When God wanted someone to change, He handled things himself.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/3dBf70e
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And again. Never stop.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Enemies, forgiveness, judging, patience, persecution, prayer, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 20 (2/20), is Galatians 2:20 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The apostle Paul wrote this. He had been an angry, spiteful, and hateful man in his younger days. He had been a terrorist and had even declared holy jihad against Christians.  He had gone around the country rounding up Christians, torturing them to get them to renounce Jesus, then sending them either to prison or to their death. He hated Christians.

But once Jesus got his attention and Paul realized he was persecuting those who could tell him the true way to heaven, he switched sides. Jesus had to do it himself because all the Christians were afraid of him. Then Paul, so to speak, crucified his old self, and let Jesus and his words live in him instead.  All his tremendous energy that he had used for hate was now used for love, and he turned his part of the world upside down for Christ.

Is there someone in your life or that you know of who is angry, spiteful, and hateful? Dare to talk to that person and tell them how much God loves them. S/he will argue with you and maybe even be meaner to you than ever. But when things calm down, try saying something else, perhaps about what Jesus did or said once in his life.

It may take you months or years. S/he will be curious why you keep coming back when s/he is being so mean to you. And eventually, this same person who uses all his enormous energy in a negative way, just might turn that same enormous energy around and use it for Jesus in a great way.

Give it a try. If you are crucified with Christ, then nothing anyone says can hurt you because your ego is dead. Keep trying to reach this enemy of Jesus. Keep trying to help this person become Jesus’ friend and defender.

You may be the only one in his or her world with the courage to do it. Keep trying. Cry in private after the insults, then take a deep breath and try once again. And once again. And again. Never stop. Who knows?

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL:  THE UNSTOPPABLE.  Dare to experience with him every rod slamming into his bones, every whiplashing through his skin, every breath struggled for when treading water a day and night. Survive with him through all the shipwrecks, going days without food, a snow storm in the Taurus Mountains, being robbed on the highway. Listen as, each time his body is mercilessly attacked, he calls out, “Jesus! This is for you!”  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3fw2mlA

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