Out of disaster came beauty

On September 11, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn family, healing, Inspirational, joy, patience, persecution, rest, sacrificeLeave a comment

The scripture for today, September 12 (9/12), is found in Genesis 9:12f in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

On the technical side, how can it be that there was never a rainbow before Noah’s time? Genesis 2:5b-6 explains, “The Lord God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.”

Up until the time of Noah, people lived to be several hundred years old. Christian scientists have said that, before the flood, the earth had a constant cloud covering with a thick ozone layer that created the greenhouse effect of vapors and protected man from the aging process. It was much like Venus.

So rainbows were not possible when the sun could never break through the ever-present clouds. It was because of a terrible worldwide cataclysm that the beauty of the rainbow was made possible.

On the faith side of this story, we see a man who had such faith in God that, although he probably had never seen rain, believed it would happen. Such amazing faith! Later, through the pain of losing his stubborn extended family in the flood, he was blessed with the lives of his direct family members. Then God gave him one more reward ~ the rainbow ~ that he could not only enjoy in his generation but generations even today.

Out of disaster came beauty.

A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: NOAH. Did you realize that Noah’s oldest son was born the year he began building the ark? Can you imagine growing up with a father everyone laughed at? Can you imagine how many hundreds of trees they had to chop down and haul back over over the years and how many hundreds of trips they had to make to the tar pits so they could line their ship and make it good and water tight? Great for home schoolers, grandparents, birthdays, Christmas, just because. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: http://bit.ly/HeroNoah

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Praying for Nero

On September 8, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, Enemies, eternity, faith, Fear, Heaven, Inspirational, persecution, sacrifice, victoryLeave a comment

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

“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?

STEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR is a novelized version of life as it may have been for Stephen who, history tells us, lived in Antioch of Syria, then Cyrene in Libya, then Jerusalem of Judea. He was a deacon when killed, so had a wife and children, probably young. What could drive a young man to give up his whole life ahead of him? When he went into the Sanhedrin chambers, he knew they’d never let him live. What stirred within his young heart? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. http://bit.ly/stephenmartyr

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Give me my cross

On September 4, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, faith, humility, love, persecution, prayer, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

You bore a terrible cross for me, my Lord. It is I who should have taken my place on that cross instead of you. You were holy, pure, sinless. I deserved the cross, not you. But it is not too late, Lord. Send me my cross. Make me not just brave; make me bold. Send my cross that I may suffer for you as you suffered for me on that day long ago. Send me my cross. Do not withhold it from me. And, if I die clinging to my cross, at least I will know that my death was not without meaning and perhaps in some way my death will bring souls to you. Just like you brought souls to yourself on your cross.

Lord, thank you for music. Thank you that I can lift up my voice to you in rapturous joy or lamenting sadness. Thank you for making music possible. Centuries ago, Plato claimed the stars sang. I wonder if he got hold of a copy of Job in the Bible where it says the stars sang together. Today, people talk about the angels singing when Jesus was born, but they shouted it, they didn’t sing. I guess people are influenced by Christmas carols that say they sang. Why is singing reserved for humans? Is it because we have been saved by the blood of the Lamb? I can only guess. But what I do know is how grateful I am that you have given music to humans. Thank you that I can praise and worship you in song

SHADOW OF DEATH begins with his trial, takes two chapters to go with him on the cross, then watches as his followers wallow in hopelessness. It was all for nothing. Jesus, why did you have to die? Where are you, Jesus? Why did you leave us? He comes back to life in the next book and surprises the daylights out of everyone. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. http://bit.ly/Death-Resurrection

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With you my soul is at peace

On August 17, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, death, Enemies, faith, Inspirational, patience, persecution, power, praise, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

Lord God Almighty, as long as I walk with you, I am safe. Nothing others can say or do to me can harm me. They may insult me, threaten me, beat me, but all the while I will be safe. I will not hear their words because your words will echo through my mind ~ words of love and comfort. I will not notice their threats because I will be hiding under the shadow of your wings and only hear your breath of life. I will not feel the beatings they batter me with because I will feel only your loving arms around me. Lord, with you I am strong. With you my soul is at peace.

Ah, my Lord, I remember the day of my baptism. It was long ago, but I remember everything about it. I remember walking up and sitting on the front pew. I remember the preacher asking me if I believed Jesus is the Son of God. I said yes, but in my young heart I thought the question was so unnecessary because, of course he is the Son of God! I remember my mother and her friend helping me put on a white robe and stepping down into the baptistry. I remember the preacher’s words: “I now baptized you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sins.” I remember leaning back and going down into the water. Most vividly I remember coming up out of the water and telling myself, “I am sinless! I am pure!” Thank you for making all this possible and for the good memory of it.

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Me, Lord? Me?

On August 16, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, faith, governments, healing, Inspirational, joy, persecution, praise, prayer, problems, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

Oh Lord, my God. I do not always understand you. But I trust you no matter what happens in my personal life, in my city, my nation, the world. I know you have everything under control. You step back sometimes to let the true motives of bad people be seen at the expense of people they hurt. I do not always understand you. But I trust you no matter what happens to my body during plagues and to the earth during natural disasters. No matter what happens, I will trust you and praise you. I will never turn away from you as long as you give me strength to do so. May I die praising you.

My Father, thank you for making me your child. I am a child of the Creator of greater things than I can ever see or understand ~ me just a spec in the cosmos! How is that possible? I am a child of the King over all kings, the Lord over all lords. I am a child of the self-existent one who chose to make me, protect me, and love me. Me, Lord? Me? I fall at your feet in gratitude and heart thanks.

YOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE: SURVIVAL STORIES FOR THE COURAGEOUS ISOLATED CHRISTIAN. Each chapter is the story of someone in the Bible who had to stand alone. At the end are multiple choice questions and thought questions to challenge the reader’s personal life. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. http://bit.ly/HeroesAlone

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It is August and I am happy

On August 6, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, discouragement, emptiness, Inspirational, joy, patience, persecution, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, victory, worshipLeave a comment

At first, when I learned about you, Lord God, my faith was a slight spark, barely visible. Later, my faith enlarged to the size of a pin light. Eventually, the light of my faith filled the little space around my body. Finally, the light of my faith filled a room and I rejoiced in it. But that was not all. I continued to study your Word and pray and share, and after all that, I realized the light of my faith was large enough to fill an arena. Now that I am growing old, my body is weaker and starting to shrivel, but not the light of my faith. Now, and now oh, Lord, my faith flares up high and wonderous beyond my wildest dreams, fills the world, and draws wanderers to it. All because of you, Lord, for the light of my faith comes from you.

It is August and hot outside. I don’t care. At least it isn’t snowing, Besides, in August I don’t have to worry about shoveling sunshine! In August I slow down a little and take life easy before the bustle of harvest and autumn. I can go out in the cool of the morning and pick strawberries or blueberries. I can wade in mud puddles after a summer shower. I can sit under a tree, look up through the branches, and imagine the top of the tree are reaching the canopy of the sky. I can even lie on my back on a blanket and imagine what kind of animals the clouds look like. Ah, yes, it is August and I am happy.

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Plans you can only imagine

On July 29, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, attitude, death, discouragement, Enemies, Fear, love, patience, persecution, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 30 (7/30), is John 7:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“At this, they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.”

Even thoughm, during the last two years of his life, many people wanted to kill Jesus out of jealousy or fear or pure meanness, he was never afraid to keep teaching. Why? Because he knew he was life and truth and that he came forth from the Father of lights.

Do you feel fear sometimes because of things going on around you? Do we fear failure, or ruin, or false rumors, being stricken by Covid-19, or imprisonment, or your life? Remember, each life is in the heavenly Father’s hands.

So do not fear. Keep on keeping on. Hold fast. Stand firm. Do the right thing. Stand up for Jesus. And, when someday, your time does come, know that God has everything under control. He had big plans for Jesus at his death, and he has big plans for you. Plans you can only imagine.

COME FLY WITH ME is the last book in the 8-novel series THEY MET JESUS. Witness his apostles hiding for fear they will be crucified next. In the depths of despair because all their dreams are dead. Witness as he interrupts their meal. The tomb really is empty! Witness their last days with him and hoping he really won’t leave them. Witness as they move their families to Jerusalem then gradually scatter. Witness John, now an old man, reunite with his friend, Jesus, in the heaven of heavens. Click a book cover or paste this………. http://bit.ly/ComeToHeaven

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Are you frustrated & confused?

On July 17, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, emptiness, Enemies, faith, governments, judging, patience, persecution, prayer, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 18 (7/18), is Acts 7:18 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt.”

Does God really answer prayers? When the Jews first arrived in Egypt, they received “royal treatment” because they were relatives of “Prime Minister” Joseph. Then he died, but his Jewish relatives stayed. Eventually they were resented as foreigners, then feared, then made slaves of the Egyptians.

For the following 400 years, the Jews prayed for God to release them from their slavery. Generation after generation died believing that God does not answer prayers.

But God saw the big picture. He saw that the 70 relatives of Joseph who originally went to Egypt would become more than three million over the next four centuries. Then and only then would they be large enough to begin a new nation ~ the Jewish nation. In Egypt during those centuries, they were in a form of “protective custody”.

Are you frustrated and confused because God is seemingly not answering some very important prayers? Perhaps you are part of a bigger picture that God only knows about. Perhaps your job is to stay where you are and just keep hanging on. Waiting is hard to do. Are you up to the task God has assigned you?

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He will not leave you or forsake you.

On July 14, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, faith, Fear, governments, healing, patience, persecution, power, prayer, truth, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 14 (7/14), is 2nd Chronicles 7:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

There is always a little bit of turmoil in all nations of the world. Of course, there is more in some. The average person cannot make their own nation call on God. But the average person can do this: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone ~ for kings and all those in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Further, we should pray for them by name.

Even if you think some people in authority in your nation are against you, you must pray for them anyway. Then wait quietly for God to work things out. It may take Him a year, a decade or a lifetime to bring about your heart’s desire for your nation. But keep praying.

Your job, in the meantime, is to follow God’s ways yourself. Romans 13:1,3-4 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…For rulers hold no terror for those who do right….For he is God’s servant to do you good.”

God is aware of the suffering going on around you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

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Too much to fathom

On July 4, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, Enemies, faith, humility, Inspirational, joy, persecution, praise, prayer, Scripture, Thanksgiving, worship2 Comments

I praise you, Jehovah, Creator of everything I observe and more. You are too large to see all of you. You are too small to perceive your intricacies, too much to fathom, too wise to comprehend. You are my monarch, my sovereign, my emperor, my king. You reign over my heart, my mind, my spirit, my soul. And one day I will see you face to face. What will it be like? Actually seeing he who made the universe with over two trillion galaxies filled with one hundred thousand million stars. And you know them all by name. Better, you know me by name.

There are people in the world who are unholy unbelievers in you. The only time they accept your existence is to blame you for bad things happening. I do not always know what to say to them. I cannot get past their bitterness toward you and their degradation of me for being so naïve to believe in you. Lord, forgive me for not reading more of their writings so I can tell better what is motivating them and what will open their heart.

Thank you for the rain we had to nourish my thirsty garden. How do you make such fantastic things out of tiny seeds? Beets with one seed, carrots with another seed, radishes with another, corn, wheat, beans, tomatoes ~ all from tiny seeds. I put them under ground, they die, then they come back to life in delightful assorted sizes, shapes, colors, and tastes. Oh, how you must enjoy creating and giving life. Such pleasure you must receive from watching my little garden grow. I do too, Lord. I do too.

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