Category: victory

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.

.

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

.

.

#enemies, #retaliation, #stress, #bribery, #unfairness, #persecution, #death, #martyrStephen, #StephenUnlikelyMartyr, #sacrifice, #eternity, ##inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Wednesday 11/6 ~ Out of the ashes

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, discouragement, Enemies, faith, healing, Inspirational, Loss, power, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 6 (11/6), is Nehemiah 11:6 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-Thumbnail“The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 able men.”

Just who was Perez, and why was this even mentioned in the Bible? Perez was a son of Judah, and an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:3).

Why was living in Jerusalem a big deal at that time? Because Jerusalem had been attacked and destroyed. It was nothing but rubble and ashes. Earlier, other Jews had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. Now it was time to rebuild the walls.

These 468 brave people had to agree to move into a burned-out city and rebuild on the ashes of previous homes. In the process of moving building stones out of the way to reuse in the city wall, they surely found skeletons of those who had been slaughtered in the attack decades before. It took grit.

At first, the Jews had blamed the Babylonians for destroying their city and temple. But eventually, they began re-reading the prophets who had warned them about their own sins. Finally, they turned inward and placed the blame where it really belonged: Themselves. Their own pride had destroyed their temple and their city, now crumbled ashes.

Following repentance, they acted. Was it easy rebuilding a broken city? Not any easier than rebuilding a broken home, a broken congregation, a broken life. You must look at your own part in your own destruction and begin building yourself anew.

Are there any skeletons or ashes in your life?  Is there anything that needs rebuilt? It takes grit.  Do you have the grit?

.

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailYOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE: COURAGE FOR ISOLATED CHRISTIANS tells the stories of heroic godly men in the Bible who had to stand alone when everyone was against them.  Written for isolated Christians around the world. All stories are followed by thought questions about their survival.  Perfect for missionaries and sponsoring congregations. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2NofrlJ

.

.

#courage, #grit, #rebuilding, #ashes, #skeletons, #broken, #isolated, #Jerusalem, #victory, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Thursday 10/31 ~ Hold fast. Stand Firm. Do the right thing.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, Daily, ethics, problems, sacrifice, temptation, things, truth, victory, worship2 Comments

The scripture for today, October 31 (10/31), is 1st Corinthians 10:31 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

10-Daniel-KindleThumnail“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

How is your everyday life while around other people? What kind of employment do you have? Secretary, engineer, manual labor, going to school, teaching school, keeping your home, watching your children?

Some jobs are exciting, some are boring. Some require decisions, some require following orders. Some can involve a little bit of misrepresenting the truth. Some may be under a boss who is mean. Some may be among fellow-employees who shirk their duties and try to get by with doing as little as possible. Some may be among people who steal from the company.

Always remember that, wherever you are, this is God’s assignment for you in this universal battle between Good and Bad. You must do whatever you do in your daily life as good and honestly as possible. Will others notice? You bet they will!  Will they resent you? Maybe. Will they blame God for the way you act? Deep down the resenters probably will. But at least it will make them think about God.

Then someday when they have a problem they are desperate to work through but cannot, who will they turn to? You. And God.

So, be strong. Hold Fast. Stand firm. Do the right thing. And ultimately God will be glorified.

.

10-Daniel-KindleThumnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: DANIEL.  Daniel began as a slave and ended up being the best friend to the emperor of Persia.  Why? Because he had integrity. He kept to God’s code of ethics and never wavered for the sake of his career.  Those who hated him tried to destroy him, but he only grew stronger.  Each chapter ends with “Think and Do.”  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2BY1jcc

.

 

.

#ethics, #honesty, #fairness, #rightandwrong, #employee, #employer, #example, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

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.

.

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

.

.

#vengeance, #eyeforeye, #toothfortooth, #punishment, #forgiveness, #persecution, #victory,  #judging, #healing, #humility, #ego, #enemies, #ethics, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Tuesday 10/29 ~ God running after you

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, eternity, faith, Fear, forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, power, Satan, Saved from hell, Thanksgiving, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 29 (10/29), is John 10:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

No other person can take your salvation away from you. They may badger you, belittle you, torture you, kill you, but they cannot take your salvation away from you. The only one who can do that is you.

The Apostle Peter said, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall….Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position” (II Peter 1:10; 3:17).

Hebrews 2:1 says, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

Jesus himself said, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

I praise and adore you, Lord God of the unfathomable universe. You are my King, my Maker, my betrothed. You are willing to fight Satan and get him away from me because he is too strong for me.  I give in to him so often, especially with my attitudes and use of my time.

Always you run after me and snatch me away from him again and again. You never tire of returning me from unknown and unsuspected danger to the safety of your everlasting arms.  I do not comprehend such love. All I can do is praise you every day from the depths of my heart and the heights of my spirit.

.

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail365 PRAYERS YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S has a praise, forgiveness, and thanksgiving suggested prayer to help your prayer life each day of the year.  It leaves prayers of request up to you.  Excellent for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduates, new converts, shut-ins, military, etc. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/31X2O59

.

.

#prayer, #forgiveness, #fallaway, #sinner, #Satan, #hell, #heaven, #steadfast, #promise, #soul, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

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.

.

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

.

.

#fear, #killing, #murder, #body, #soul, #Satan, #death, #martyr, #sacrifice, #hell, #heaven, #victory, #power, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

 

Sunday ~ Appreciation Day for the Impossible

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, Life of Christ, sacrifice, Satan, Saved from hell, sin, victory, worship1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 27 (10/27), is Mark 10:27 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Supper-Front Cover-Thumbnail“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man, this is impossible, but not with God: All things are possible with God.’ “

Can you be perfect? God let mankind try for many centuries to be perfect.

To one group of people he gave over 600 laws and said, “If you keep these, you will be perfect.” But, as hard as the Jews tried, no one could keep the Law of Moses perfectly.

To the rest of the world, he basically said, “Try to figure out for yourselves how to be perfect.” So, they tried all kinds of religions, but with all of them, they could not be perfect.

Finally, mankind was ready for Jesus. He came to earth and lived that perfect life that is impossible for you to live. He became the perfect Lamb of God, and became your sacrifice for your sins, for Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin [that you earn]  is death.” He collected your wage of death from Satan for you.

So now, according to Romans 6:3-4, just as Jesus died on the cross, you too can die to your sinful nature ~ the part of you that sins and doesn’t care. Then, just as Jesus was buried in his tomb, you too can be buried in a watery tomb of baptism. And finally, just as Jesus was raised up out of his tomb the Savior, you rise up out of our watery tomb the saved.

Then God considers you perfect too. God cannot associate with sinners in his heaven. He can only have perfect people in his heavenly home; otherwise, it would not be heaven. Impossible for you to live there with him someday? Yes. But, God sent Jesus to fix that problem for you. With God, nothing is impossible.

.

Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailTHE LORD’S SUPPER:  52 READINGS WITH PRAYERS includes a Bible reading for partaking of the bread with a prayer, and a Bible reading for partaking of the wine with a prayer. One set for each Sunday of the year.  Useful for those leading the communion as well as worshippers in the pews for your meditation.  To BUY NOW, click a book or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Nf542d

.

.

#LordsSupper, #HolyCommunion, #Mass, #perfection, #sacrifice, #crucifixion, #SAtan, #ransom, #kidnapping, #baptism, #deAthburialresurrection, #bornagain, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Tuesday 10/22 ~ God thinks of everything

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, Saved from hell, sin, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 22 (10/22), is Hebrews 10:22 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

02-DreamMakerChildsCartoonSmall“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

The previous verse said that Jesus is the great (high) priest over the house of God (the church). Therefore, the sprinkling refers to the sprinkling of blood the high priests did on the Day of Atonement once a year. (See Leviticus 16 in the Old Testament.) Today your heart (which we cannot see or touch) is sprinkled with the blood of Jesus.

And how are you to be cleansed from that guilty conscience with our body (which we can see and touch) being washed? I Peter 3:21 says, “Even so does baptism now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God.”

You do not have to guess whether you were sincere enough when you gave your heart to the Lord. Your conscience never has to wonder if you did it right. For God gave you something you can actually do to give you a good and clear conscience toward him.

From henceforth, you can draw near to God in full assurance. Full! Not partial. Not wondering. Not with ups and downs of faith. But full! God thinks of everything!

 

02-DreamMakerChildsCartoonSmallA CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST: DREAM MAKER is storybook 2.  Jesus is now grown. He is baptized, defies Satan, then reveals just who he is at a wedding ~ a new beginning for a couple in love and a new beginning for the kingdom of God that Jesus loves. THINK AND DO at the end of each chapter for child readers.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/3434snh

#conscience, #blood, #altar, #atonement, #sprinkling, #assurance, #heaven, #baptism, #faith, #givehearttojesus, #givehearttothelord, #sinnersprayer, #askjesusintoyourheart, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Saturday 10/19 ~ Fascinating and renewing

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, church, Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, forgiveness, judging, knowledge, Life of Christ, sacrifice, Satan, Saved from hell, truth, victory, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 19 (10/19), is Hebrews 10:19 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus….”

The entire book of Hebrews explains in detail how the Jewish Old Testament Law of Moses with its 600 laws was replaced by the New Testament law of Jesus’ Grace, not just for Jews, but for every nation on earth.

Only Levites (male descendants of the Jewish tribe of Levi) were allowed to enter the Holy Place ~ first room in the temple. Only the high priest, (a Levite descendant of Aaron, Moses’ brother) was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place, and even then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16 explains that on that Day, the high priest was to kill a goat and sprinkle its blood inside the Most Holy Place for the atonement (forgiveness) of the people, then had to come right out.

Blood sacrifices were only to appease Satan. God commanded people to make those sacrifices, not to inconvenience people, but to keep Satan at bay until he got what he really wanted ~ the blood of God in flesh (Acts 20:28). Once Jesus gave Satan what he wanted, there was no more reason to offer the blood of animals ~ the theme throughout the Old Law of Moses.

The Jewish temple was destroyed about the time the book of Hebrews was written. This book explains that worshippers no longer need an earthly high priest and an earthly Most Holy Place. Jesus is your high priest (Hebrews 7:24-26) The Most Holy Place is heaven and open to all Christians throughout the world, not just for a few moments, but for eternity. (Hebrews 9:24-26).

Hebrews 9:12-14 explains, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ ~ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God ~ cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

God created the pattern in the Old Testament, and the spiritual reality in the New Testament.

Some people are collecting money and breeding red heifers to rebuild the temple and begin blood sacrifices again. Why in the world would they do that? Do they really want to annul Jesus’ New Last Will and Testament and return to stoning adulterers, paying 1/3 of their income (not just 1/10) to the temple, requiring all males go to the temple three times a year, etc.?  And where are they going to find a direct descendant of Aaron, Moses’ brother, to be the high priest? James said that, if you keep part of the Law, you must keep all of it (James 2:10).

Read the book of Hebrews for yourself. It is fascinating and renewing. It is full of freedom and redemption and eternity.

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT is an arbitrator. He’s already lived a hard life before meeting Paul ~ blame for his mother’s death, loss of a child, loss of his beautiful wife. In his law practice, he defends the downtrodden. After his conversion to Christianity, Paul sends him everywhere to calm down people wanting to bring the old Law of Moses or their idol-worshipping practices into the church. The church was meant to be simple.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2OYISvL

#blood, #crucifixion, #animalblood, #sacrifice, #ransom, #temple, #holyplace, #mostholyplace, #Levites, #priests, #highpriest, #DayOfAtonement, #red heifer, #Jerusalem, #LawOfMoses, #LawOfGrace, #rebuild, #worship,#inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth

Tuesday 10/15 ~ Oh, how affectionate

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, eternity, forgiveness, Heaven, Life of Christ, sin, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 15 (10/15), is Deuteronomy 10:15 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAIL“Yet the Lord set his affection on your forefathers [Abraham, Isaac, Jacob] and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants [Jews], above all the nations, as it is today.”

Mankind has spent millenniums trying to figure out how to be perfect so we can deserve heaven and escape hell.

God gave us that opportunity the first several thousand years of mankind. Some people of the world he left alone to figure out on their own how to be perfect. They created many kinds of religions and philosophies. But to the Jews he sent the Law of Moses containing over 600 intricate laws which, if kept perfectly, would make them perfect. In all cases, no one could be perfect.

Then, when mankind was willing to admit we cannot be perfect, the Word of God materialized and came to us to live that perfect life that is impossible for us to live. Now, all you have to do is follow Jesus and be IN Jesus (Galatians 3:27) for the forgiveness of your sins, and God will consider you perfect too.

God sets his affections on you. Do you run from him? Do you harbor resentments toward him? Are you too busy or having too much fun or too tired to give him a second thought?   He will not force you, but he runs after you begging you to come to him for safety. Oh, how affectionate he feels toward you.

 

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAILTHE ROAD TO HEAVEN begins in the Garden of Eden where Satan snatched mankind away from God and what God went through to pay the ransom Satan demanded to release us. Then it moves on to our “glorious bodies” and heaven.  Recommended for family and friends who don’t have time for God.  To BUY NOW, click a cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2OTq015

 

#perfection, #fun, #apathy, #eternity, #heaven, #hell, #vicarious, #Satan, #ransom, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth