Category: teaching

Rushing into his arms

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, Enemies, eternity, Heaven, persecution, problems, sacrifice, sin, teaching, truth, weaknessLeave a comment

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-The scripture for today, April 26 (4/26), is Galatians 4:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.”

There is more confusion over the “new Jerusalem” than you might think.  Well, let’s ask God.

What is “the Jerusalem that is above”? Revelation 21:2 says, “I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

Aha! We learn two things.  The New Jerusalem already exists.  And the New Jerusalem is sometimes called our mother and sometimes the Bride of Christ!

 So, what is the Bride of Christ? Ephesians 5:25,27 says, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”  How exciting! The New Jerusalem, which is the Bride of Christ, is the Church – all of us.

What else can we learn about the New Jerusalem?  Well, the foundation of the New Jerusalem is the apostles. Revelation says it, and Ephesians 2:20 says it.

Hmmm.  This is getting more interesting all the time.  Okay, let’s look at the 12 gates leading into the church. They are the 12 tribes of Israel, Judaism, where all the prophecies of Jesus are found. 

Always check out the symbolism in the Bible. It deepens your spiritual understanding. Like the Walls of Salvation around the New Jerusalem insurmountably high (Isaiah 26:1 & 60:18). The River of Life and Tree of Life are there in the New Jerusalem.  Just imagine on the final day when the church arrives in heaven, and we are all arrayed in sinless white and are rushing into the arms of our groom, our Jesus.

.

I pen my thoughts to reach out to souls. Will you help me tells others about this book?        https://amzn.to/3bEHw1L

.

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE is by far the most sought-after of all 70 of my books.  It is about a man obsessed, a man who can never do enough to make up for imprisoning, torturing, and killing God’s children. He spends forty-five years going from one city to another daring them to stop him.  They harass him, beat him, starve him, rob him, imprison him, lash him, hound him to the next city. Nothing works.  He knows when he enters a city what they will do to him.  He knows!  But he cannot stop him.  Each time they torture him, he cries out, “Jesus!  This is for you!” At the beginning of the book, he is tall, robust, athletic. By the end, he is stooped, disfigured, the shell of a man, but never defeated.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/3bEHw1L

No Matter what they do to you.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, death, Enemies, eternity, Fear, love, persecution, sacrifice, teaching, victoryLeave a comment

07-SHADOW-ChildsCartoonThmbnailThe scripture for today, April 1 (4/1), is Ephesians 4:1 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Paul, imprisoned for spreading the word about Jesus? Now he wants others to follow his example, even if they end up in prison like him? 

Did Paul’s incarceration stop the Christians he was writing to from spreading the word?  More, did Jesus’ crucifixion stop them for fear they would be crucified too? Did early Christians decide it was too dangerous to tell people the way to escape hell and go to heaven? Never.

They loved people’s souls so much, they were willing to take insults, persecution, imprisonment and even death in the hopes their persistent love would Eventually, lead to people becoming Christians and being saved from eternal hell. They knew their “calling” as Christians.

How about today? Do you live a life worthy of your calling as a Christian? Do you stand up for Jesus and reach out to the lost, regardless of how they treat you? Or do you cower and use the excuse, “Once people see my godly life, they will ask me how to be saved”?  How many times do the lost really do that?

Rise up!  Stand tall as a brave soldier of the Lord. Dare to march into enemy territory and do everything you can to snatch the lost out of the claws of Satan.

No matter what they do to you.

.

I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?                    https://amzn.to/2Rh7iB9

.

07-SHADOW-ChildsCartoonThmbnailSHADOW OF DEATH IS storybook #7 in A CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST.  It has the same chapters as the adult SHADOW OF DEATH in THEY MET JESUS series with stories on a child’s level.  This one has been toned down a great deal. At the end of each of the ten chapters in each storybook is Think & Do to help the child apply that story to their daily life.  This is a great time to read with your child.  Understandable at age 3 and up to 12. At age 13, they should switch to the adult version.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………  https://amzn.to/2Rh7iB9

.

#CRUCIFIXION, #persecution, #enemies, #martyrdom, #refugee, #fear, #evangelizing, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith, #prayer

 

Prayer for Thursday 3/12

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, Daily, discouragement, Enemies, eternity, ethics, forgiveness, Inspirational, love, patience, power, praise, prayer, Satan, Saved from hell, sin, teaching, Thanksgiving, victory, worshipLeave a comment

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-ThumbnailAll my praises to you, God of Glory. You advocate everything good. You rage against everything bad. You are the Mighty God who will not tolerate evil and all that is Satan. Yet you force no one to choose you.  You hold back with unfathomable patience, not willing to force on us what is good for us. What restraint. That form of love struggles with my comprehension.  Sometimes I want to shake people and say, “Stop! There is danger ahead. Stop! You’re headed for hell!  Stop! Don’t you hear Satan laughing at you? Look up! Don’t you see?  God is calling you to his safety! Look up!” Oh, for everyone to see you as you are.

Ah, Lord. Sometimes I am too stubborn. Yes, if people agree with what I am standing for, they call me loyal. But if they do not, they call me obstinate.  Help me know the difference. Help me see the fine line between the two. And when I’m being stubborn about the wrong thing, help me know to let go.

Thank you, Jesus, Words of the Father Mind, for emptying yourself and coming into our world. I do not know why you put us in a material world when you are spiritual. What I do know is that this is Satan’s realm. I trust your wisdom and declare to you I will fight Satan in his territory. In my weakness, I thank you for the chance to be stalwart and stand up for you until Satan is conquered. Thank you for making me one of your warriors of fire-ignited faith. Thank you for your faith in me to stand and be strong. You are my strength.

.

I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2IFmQJU

.

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-ThumbnailSTAR SONG is book #1 in the THEY MET JESUS series about 100 people Jesus met and struggled with.  At the end of each chapter is a list of scriptures the story was based on, historical sources such as Josephus, and life-application questions.  It is a commentary in narrative form.  Great for personal reading, reader clubs, and older homeschoolers.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2IFmQJU

.

#struggles, #patience, #runafter, #savefromdanger, #savefromhell, #Satan, #WordofGodJesus, #starsong, #theymetjesus, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith, #prayer

Prayer for Thursday 2/5

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, Enemies, healing, love, persecution, praise, prayer, teaching, Thanksgiving, victory, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailI am thrilled with you, my Always-Present One. You are most powerful, yet gentle, most gigantic, yet minute. You are the roar and silence, the silk and sackcloth, the laughter and tears. You are light but never dark, life but never death,  love but never hatred. You are all that is good and right. You are my all and I worship you.

Thank you for being my Warrior King and conqueror of Satan. Thank you for attacking Satan in that hidden realm where I cannot go and driving him away from me. For fighting so many of my battles for me. For standing over me protectively and being strong for me when I am weak. I cannot imagine life without you. Thank you for my loving spouse, the church, the Bible, and your amazing grace.

.

I pen my thoughts to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2ugNPrY

.

00-LUKE-KINDLE Cover-ThumbnailLUKE: SLAVE & PHYSICIAN is orphaned in a battle and becomes the slave of the Most Excellent Theophilus, Tribune of the 8th Roman Legion, who raises him, educates him, and loves him.  Then they meet the apostle Paul, become Christians, and Theophilus frees Luke. For the rest of Paul’s life, Luke is there to doctor his numerous wounds inflicted by the many who hate Paul. When Paul dies, Luke heads out to find all Jesus’ original Twelve, now scattered around the world, and interviews them. In between all this, Luke falls in love and encounters many challenges in his travels.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………   https://amzn.to/2ugNPrY

.

#prayer, #praise, #thanksgiving, #gratitude, #worship, #lukeslaveandphysician, #intrepidmenofgod, #apostlepaul, #actsoftheapostles, #theophilus, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Prayer for Monday 1/20

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, church, governments, humility, praise, prayer, Satan, teaching, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

Campbell-Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailI praise you, eternal God, who always was and always will be. You are all light and love and truth. You are the way that takes me from troubles on earth to safety in your realm. You are the way that leads me through dry deserts of sighs, meadows of everyday doings, mountains of victory.  You are alive in my heart and my soul soars to you.

Thank you, God, for your Bible that tells of your dealings with mankind so I can know what you expect of me. Thank you for your amazing love. You let me learn from my own mistakes. Afterward, you let me return to you and say, “You were right” and love me all the more. Thank you for fighting for me in a spirit realm to which I have never been and do not understand. And taking my place and encountering Satan in that realm and crushing his head. How can I, so weak, thank you?

.

I write to encourage souls. Will you help me share today’s book with someone?          https://amzn.to/2TH593m

.

Campbell-Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailTHE BEST OF ALEXANDER CAMPBELL’S MILLENNIAL HARBINGER 1830-1839.  This nearly 400-page book covers articles published during the Great Awakening that was occurring in America and the British Isles.  Congregations were breaking away from their denominational ties and becoming independent. Articles include prevailing religious thought of the day along with reports of congregations involved in the Great Restoration Movement.    Nearly 400 pages.  (Yes, I read all ten volumes of the Millennial Harbinger.)  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this  ……….https://amzn.to/2TH593m

.

#praise, #thanksgiving, #restorationmovement, #alexandercampbell, #millennialharbinger18301839, #Satan, #woundhishead, #ransomedredeemed, #savedfromhell, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Prayer for Thursday 1/9

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessings, eternity, faith, Life of Christ, praise, prayer, Scripture, teaching, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-thumbnail-newYou, Eternal One, are the fountain of all things, the cause of all things, the manifestation, the life-giver and mover of all things. The thought of you is staggering and beyond my comprehension.  Still, you reveal yourself and leave it up to me to understand what I can. That understanding is just a shadow, a whisper in this vast cosmos. Someday I will understand ~ well, maybe. Will it ever be possible? I am only human. Still, on that Someday, I will comprehend and praise you more than I ever imagined.

Your Bible, my Lord, is such a blessing. It is not confusion. It is not chaos in its wondering about this and that. It is not madness in careless guessing. It is order and harmony, peace and tranquility, it is the ultimate truth. There it is just waiting for me to discover its treasures. You open your mind and heart to me in your Bible, along with your Plans, your movings, your yearnings for me. A love letter from God it is. When I read, it is as though I am in a dazzling mist and seeing you afar. Thank you for your Bible, your heart.

.

I write to encourage souls. Will you help me get the word out about today’s book? https://amzn.to/2EXU85s

.

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-thumbnail-newFOLK HERO is lyrical novel four in the series THEY MET JESUS.  It is unique in that the reader takes part in the story by urging the characters to do or not do something.  It is in present tense as though YOU ARE THERE.  Each chapter is about one of 100 people Jesus met and struggled with. Life-Application questions and scriptures cited are at the end of each chapter.  At the end of each book are READINGS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS.  Take a look at this UNIQUE series on the life of Christ.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2EXU85s

 

#THEYMETJESUSFOLKHERO, #lifeofchrist, #miraclesandhealing, #feeding40005000, #storms, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Monday 12/30 ~ A daring new year’s resolution

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, Enemies, Fear, persecution, Saved from hell, teaching, victoryLeave a comment

The Scripture for today, December 30 (12/30), is Matthew 12:30, as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Acts of the Apostles-Cover-Thumbnail“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

What? You can’t just drift along just showing up at church services and that is all? You must gather people to him? Are you sure? Oh, I don’ know enough about the Bible. Besides, I’m too busy.

Deep down inside, do you fear that, if you bring Jesus into a conversation, people will do you great harm and become dangerous enemies? Although in some countries of the world this is true, in most it is not. Those of you in free countries, do you quake at the thought of bringing up Jesus to your friends, and even to strangers? What will they do to you? Kick you? Slug you? Poison your food? What is it you fear?

Those are Satan’s lies. He has gotten into your head and you are believing him. Most people will appreciate a little discussion about Jesus because most people do not attend worship anywhere and know little about the Bible.

Instead of listening to Satan, perhaps you should quake that some of your friends are headed to hell.  Satan puts fear in your heart. Do not give in to Satan. “Perfect love casts out fear” (1st John 4:18).  Do as Jesus did: “Seek and save the lost” (Luke 9:10).

Help your friends who do not know they need help. Overcome your fear for yourself and give in to the fear for their souls. It can be done. Stop watching so much television or playing endless games. Give it a try. If it were your soul, would you want someone to at least try to save you? Rise up! Defy Satan! For your new year’s resolution, dare to be a gatherer of souls.

.

Acts of the Apostles-Cover-ThumbnailEASY BIBLE WORKBOOKS:  ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.  All workbooks are surveys of a book.  Here is a simple fill-in-the blank workbook for Acts.  It gives the exact verse so there’s no hunting.  Caution: It is in the NIV version.  It was set up for weekly group studies where the student does one part of a lesson each day so s/he is ready when the group gets together.  However, it can be used in weekly classes or by homeschoolers, or just lone in private study.  (Note:  I am going through another edit in January.) To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2F8BDep

.

.

#personalwork, #homeBiblestudies, #EasyBibleWorkbooks, #savingsouls, #gatherigsouls, #seekandsavethelost, #salvation, #heavenhell, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Friday 12/27 ~ True separation of church and state

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, church, ego, Enemies, Fear, governments, persecution, power, Scripture, sin, teachingLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 27 (12/27), is 1st Kings 12:27 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnail“If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem [not some other capital city], they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah.”

For centuries and millenniums, kings selected a patron god for their nation, a god they most revered to protect them. Nations were always ruled by either a high priest or king. Some nations even had priest-kings.

So, when Constantine conquered much of Europe and set up his empire, he needed a patron god. One day during a battle, he looked up and saw a cloud formation that reminded him of things he’d heard about Jesus. So he made Jesus his patron God, and Christianity his empire’s required religion. He even rode his army through rivers, then declared them baptized. He ordered conquered peoples to be baptized or killed.  Headquarters was Rome.

Luther was friends of the Duke [king] of Germany, so when he broke off from Rome, the official state religion became Lutheranism. John Calvin was in the government of Switzerland, so when it broke off from Rome, the official state religion became Calvinism. When the king of England broke off from Rome, he became head of the Church of England (and Prince Charles is head of the Church there today). John Knox was influential with the parliament of Scotland, so his Presbyterianism became the official religion of Scotland.

In each instance, the king or parliament could force its citizens to follow the chosen religion of that nation. If people didn’t, they could legally put them in prison, torture them, and execute them at will. Up to a hundred years ago, it was illegal to not be a Shinto. Today, Islam is the required religion of most Middle-Eastern and some African countries. Anyone leaving Islam suffers.

Eventually, the idea of separating religion from the state government became popular in the Western World. And that is where many nations are today. But it does not mean people in government cannot express religion. It just means they cannot force citizens to be a particular government-selected religion or be in danger of punishment. That is true “separation of church and state”.

.

00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnailWORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY is a year-by-year account of governments and religious hierarchy who changed “church law” and what they did to those who protested ~ things you always took for granted were always that way. Intermingled are the hymns of some of the martyrs during this time, hymns you have sung a hundred times and never knew.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2SwgtyY

.

.

#churchandstateseparation, #religiousgovernment, #power, #popebishoppriestcardinal, #torture, #imprisonment, #persecution, #churchchange, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith, #worshipchangessincethefirstcentury

Tuesday 12/24 ~ Exciting new discoveries

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, Inspirational, judging, knowledge, Life of Christ, Scripture, teaching, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 24 (7/24), is Matthew 7:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

0-Michel-COVER-Kindle-ThumbnailThe problem we have with putting into practice the Words of God is that we sometimes read blindly. We don’t see the significance of something. We may read it over and over for years and never see its significance.

Take, for example, the story of Jesus’ birth. We sometimes see pictures of baby Jesus in a stable with the shepherds and three wise men all gathered around him. But Matthew 2:11 says by the time the wise men arrived, Jesus and his parents were living in a house. Further, the Bible does not say how many wise men there were; it just says they gave three kinds of gifts ~ gold, incense and myrrh. There may have been ten or twenty wise men. And, Jesus’ age was close to two by then.

How about 1st Timothy 3:2?  “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” This word “overseer” is sometimes translated bishop, sometimes elder, and sometimes pastor. It’s all the same office. We might think at first glance that we believe all this. But do we glaze over the fact that he must have a wife? Hmmm….

Here’s another one. At funerals, we often quote Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.” But for the Christian, there are no shadows in the valley of death. Jesus was born “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79).

Did you know the word “baptism” is never translated in most Bibles? It is a Greek word meaning immersion. Did you know the word “unknown” never appears next to tongues in the Bible? Did you know the word “tongues” is translated most places as languages?

Oh, so many things we overlook ~ meaningful things. Let us continue to study God’s Word daily with our mind and heart open to new things our religious leaders never told us so that we can build the house of our lives “on the rock.”

.

0-Michel-COVER-Kindle-Thumbnail99c today and tomorrow.  MICHEL: THE FOURTH WISEMAN is based on a possible descendant of Daniel whose family stayed in Parthia and was in the court of King Phraattes.  He lost everything to make his dream come true: Restore the Garden of Eden so God will walk the earth again.  He was interrupted by a strange star and went on a journey with nine other wise men to find the meaning of the star.  After traveling two years, they find the meaning and go to Bethlehem. There Joseph tells them little Jesus is God walking on earth. Michel goes into a meltdown.  99c today and tomorrow.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/377DRH6

.

.

#wisemen, #magi, #gold, #frankincense, #myrrh, #First christmas, #eldersbishopspresbyterspastors, #nativity, #baptism, #valleyofshadowofdeath, #michelthefourthwiseman, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith

Wednesday 12/11 ~ God be with our teenagers

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, family, judging, knowledge, patience, persecution, problems, Scripture, teaching, victoryLeave a comment

(Oops.  We did today’s yesterday.  So, today we will do yesterday’s.)

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, December 10 (12/10), is Job 12:10 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

Let’s talk a moment about teenagers. Many adults joke that their teen is 16 going on 60. What know-it-alls they’ve become! Let’s look at the situation this way. They may have bodies that have grown to that of an adult. But minds grow much slower, and they must give their minds a chance to catch up.

As adults, it is our responsibility to help their minds catch up. Know enough about the Bible that you can apply scriptures to their activities and interests and friends. You may wish to make a list of your teenager’s activities, interests, and friends, and then list a scripture next to each. Proverbs is an excellent book to start with. Then when the occasion arises, be ready (even if you have to sneak into the other room a minute to consult your list) to instill some wisdom.

This way, it is not you speaking, but God speaking. God said, “My word will not return to me void” (Isaiah 55:11). And God is older and wiser than all of us.

.

00-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-ThumbnailSTEPHEN: UNLIKELY MARTYR begins with Stephen as a wreckless 17-year-old coward. He is idealistic but always goes about proving his point in the wrong way ~ speaking when he should not, trying when he should give up, frustrated, brazen.  Go along with Stephen as he gradually matures until, at the age of 28 with a wife and two children, he walks into the death chamber (Sanhedrin council chambers) and keeps them busy with his accusations until his friend can escape.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or PASTE THIS………https://amzn.to/2t3I53z

.

.

#teenagers, #youngadults, #Stephen, #immaturity, #maturity, #wisdom, #martyr, #knowledge, #wisdom, #patience, #parents, #mothers, #moms, #fathers, #dads,  #blog, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #faith