Category: weakness

Prayer for Saturday 2/29

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, eternity, faith, Heaven, Inspirational, joy, Life of Christ, love, praise, prayer, sacrifice, Thanksgiving, victory, weakness, worship1 Comment

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCoverAh, my Lord God of heaven and earth.  How I long to see you in all your glory.  I do not know how it is possible since you are larger than the cosmos with its two trillion galaxies and 100 thousand million stars in each one.  But then, you are the God of the impossible.  To behold the One who is Pure Love.  To be enraptured by my Creator.  Oh, to expand the wings of my adoring soul and fly to you.  This is my dream. This is my reason for being.

How can I stop thanking you, my Lord, for so many blessings?  A decent place to live, friends, sufficient food, reasonable health, a way to get around.  Restful evenings when I am enveloped in the arms of sleep and then sunshine that shoos the night away each smiling morning.  Mostly I thank you for materializing your Words in the form of Jesus so we could see you, hear you, touch you.  It was akin to me reducing myself to the form of a cockroach, so great was your sacrifice. I do not understand your love.  Open the eyes of my heart to know you better so I may express an all-consuming gratitude in my lowly way.

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

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03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCoverNAAMAN’S MAID is storybook #3 in the A CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS series.  She was just a little girl and whisked away by soldiers attacking her city, never to see her family again.  She could have become bitter and mean.  Instead, she could not help but continue to be the nice girl she had always been.  So, when her big ole master got a terrible, ugly disease called leprosy, she actually told him how God could heal him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2TbbsvJ

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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.

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

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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

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Prayer for Wednesday 1/14

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, discouragement, emptiness, faith, healing, Inspirational, patience, praise, prayer, victory, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailI praise you, Elohim, Creator and First Cause of all things that live, move, and have their being. You have and are all I need to survive and thrive in this world where Satan is gradually losing his claim to be the ruler. Oh, I know Christians everywhere are lamenting the growing disinterest in and even animosity toward you. But it is not true. You have thousands of thousands in hiding where Christianity is illegal who have not bowed down to the gods of self and fake religions.  Your church will never die, regardless of how often it is attacked and neglected.  Your church will only grow stronger.  I stand with them drawn to you like a magnet. You are the All Mighty.  Just as you will never die, your Bride will never die.  All praise belongs to you, all honor, glory, and adoration. I, in the strength of your ethereal love, fall at your feet and worship you.

Ah, how I thank you, God, for your Bible and pouring out your heart in it. Sharing all the pain you felt through the ages when your loved ones sinned, keeping faith in them anyway, and feeling joy when they stood up for right and returned to you. How you love me, your child, and set me on your knee so you can tell me the stories of long ago as warnings and encouragements to me today. As I read, I can imagine you smiling and nodding and whispering, “Keep reading, my child. There’s more. I put it in there just for you.”

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

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00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-ThumbnailYOU  CAN BE A HERO ALONE: SURVIVAL STORIES FOR THE ISOLATED CHRISTIAN. This book was originally written for brothers and sisters living in countries where Christianity is illegal.  But it is also helpful to prisoners, university students, military personnel, shutins, etc.  Each chapter has the story of a Bible person who had to stand for God alone. Following are simple multiple-choice questions and thought questions ~ “What About You?”.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://amzn.to/2TruhLl

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Thursday 12/26 ~ True and eternal honor

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, ego, eternity, humility, judging, Life of Christ, praise, things, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 26 (12/26), is John 12:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-thumbnail-new“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Ah, Lord Jesus. We claim we understand how humble you were, then build great cathedrals which we claim are to your glory but which are really to our glory. We organize great musical performances which we claim are to your glory, but which are really to our glory.

Just where was Jesus when he was on earth saying this?  In a posh hotel in Jerusalem? Did he have great musicians performing in the background? Did he stand on a podium and declare this to multitudes? Who are you fooling when you declare you are his servant?  

Who or what are you really a servant to? Power in a workplace, club, congregation, neighborhood? Prestige in a community, an occupation, an organization? Self-indulgence of money, music, entertainment?

While you are pursuing things in life, is Jesus there with you? Are you doing what he would be busy doing?  Are you where he was when he said this?

Dare to be a servant to the power of Jesus’ love, prestige in the eyes of God, self-indulgence in the joy of worshiping Him. In this only is there true and enduring honor.

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0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-thumbnail-newTHEY MET JESUS:  FOLK HERO. Jesus was a hero but never had a cathedral to preach in.  He never had a great choir or grand orchestra as a mood creator before his sermons.  He never wore clothes that were different from other people or insisted on people bowing and kissing his ring.  When he performed miracles of feeding thousands, he never had fine crystal or silver urns to distribute the food or gather up the leftovers.  How we, in our misdirected zeal, shame him.  We bow at his wounded feet and ask his forgiveness.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2EXU85s

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Monday 12/16 ~ Feel the harmony

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, #Handicaps, Daily, ego, humility, judging, love, patience, persecution, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 16 (12/16), is Romans 12:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

Who do you associate with? Just people who are like you?

Do you consider people richer than you as greedy, uncaring and uppity? And people poorer than you as lazy, users and lowlifes?

Do you consider people smarter than you as impractical with their heads in the clouds? And people duller than you as incapable of understanding anything important?

Do you consider people stronger than you as egotistical show-offs? And people weaker than you as not worthy of notice?

How this hurts your Savior who died for everyone. We are all sinners. We all need the same saving grace.

Live in harmony with all. Make everyone ~ both those “above” you and “below” you ~ feel the love of God through you. Apply the Golden Rule to your life:  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). Then feel the harmony.

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0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT.  Tradition tells us that Titus was from Antioch in the province of Pisidia in today’s Turkey. It was a city full of aristocrats. No one spoke the Greek of commoners. They spoke the Latin of aristocrats.  Titus became a lawyer and brilliantly solved crimes his poor clients were falsely accused of committing. After Paul converted Titus, he sent him as an arbitrator to Corinth, then Crete, then up in “barbarian” southern Europe around today’s Albania.  He was gifted in helping people get along with each other. He even found a way to get the “false apostle” in Corinth to voluntarily resign and leave and like doing it. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2YSG8Tu

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Monday 12/9 ~ God is so proud of you!

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, attitude, blessings, discouragement, governments, Inspirational, joy, power, praise, problems, Thanksgiving, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 9 (12/9), is 2nd Corinthians 12:9 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Thumbnail“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Oh, how much we need to be reminded of this scripture. Everyone has weaknesses of some kind. Do you complain about the hand you were dealt? Do you lament the country you were born in, the family you were born into, the physical limitations you were born with, the mental, emotional or physical deficiencies you ended up with?

This is your chance! Your grand and glorious chance. Those weaknesses! Go around others with the same weakness you have with joy in your heart, gladness on your lips and a continual gleam in your eyes!  Let God’s strength shine in your weakness!

When people begin to sympathize with you, interrupt them and tell them how much God loves you, and how much God loves them! Encourage your “encouragers.” Let them go away from you with a new understanding of the blessings of weakness! And perhaps be a little more thankful for their own weaknesses.

Lucky you! You are one of the chosen!  God will be glorified in you.  He is so proud of you!

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0-Mefiboset-KINDLE ThumbnailMEFIBOSET: CRIPPLED PRINCE was the grandson of King Saul crippled for life the day his grandfather and crown prince father, Jonathan, died.  Denied the throne at age 11 when his uncle, the last King of Israel died, his family sent him far away from the king’s enemies. Through the years, he avoided being killed by doing tricks upside down on his crutches. He successfully wooed a girl in Ur where they were first introduced to frisky camel rides and the unexpected.  An inspiring book for everyone who is handicapped.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://amzn.to/3518cGB

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Friday 12/6 ~ God’s pride and joy

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, Daily, ego, good works, humility, Inspirational, judging, power, praise, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 6 (12/6), is 1st Corinthians 12:6 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailThis is Paul talking about spiritual gifts and jealousy.  Later in this chapter, Paul explains, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (12:21f). He further explains, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body….” (12:13).

For ambitious people in the church who “fight” for position, this is hard to take. Standing in front with a microphone are the most sought-after positions in the church.  Such positions have the potential of making you famous.

Sorry, folks. Not to God. To God you are dispensable. The church could easily survive without you. God could easily get along without you. So, get control of your ego. Huh?

Do you really and truly believe this? Those who do the seemingly menial works (the “weaker”) are indispensable to God ~ you who take food to the bereaved, who read the Bible to the sick, who clean the bathrooms, who daily pray for members and the lost, who give a tract to a friend, who share a bulletin with a neighbor, who send a thinking-of-you card to a lonely person, who mow the church building lawn, who pray with someone who has just told you of a problem, who watch the nursery, who periodically quote a Bible verse to a friend in distress ~ such works that are in the background ~ the ones that don’t make it into the “schedule of worship,” the bulletin, the newspaper, the church periodicals, the billboards are the ones who are indispensable.

To you who are jealous of people who get to have a more public position in the church and stand in front of the congregation and” lead” don’t be. Take heart. God is working more in you than them. Further, public approval by people is their reward. Your reward is from God himself.

You may seem weaker to the others, but to God you are strong. You are mighty. You are God’s pride and joy.

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00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-ThumbnailWANDERING SOUL,  ENTITLED HEART, & THE SIDETRACKED CHURCH: WORSHIP THE 1ST-CENTURY WAY covers every phase of our worship.  Each chapter begins with quotes from famous theologians like Luther, Calvin, Wesley, etc. and ends with quotes of 2nd-century Christians. In between the readers is taken one step at a time from what the common pattern is and gently leads to a better way, the first-century way.  Written for denominational leaders. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/36f2vVR

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Monday 12/2 ~ How much do you want your crown?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, Enemies, Loss, persecution, power, problems, Satan, Saved from hell, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, December 2 (12/2), is Hebrews 12:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Yes, life gets pretty rough sometimes. And the harder we try to act like Christians among non-Christians, the more difficult it can become. Did such difficulties stop Jesus? No. He was determined to save as many souls from hell as possible. And he was determined to do the job God gave him before returning to heaven.

What is your assignment?  God gives everyone an assignment; you can often tell by what is going wrong in your life. Some bad things are our own doing. But Satan never rests, especially among Christians; and the stronger the Christian is, the harder he pushes them. He does this, according to Job, to get us to blame God.

Those with the old excuse, “If God is so good, why does he allow evil?” are still with us long after Job.  Satan makes people forget he exists, thus leaving only one being to blame. He is a liar.

First, bad exists because Satan exists. Second, God gave us free will whether to follow him or not and Christians are subject to those who choose to tear down God and all he represents.  Third, God is preparing us for something in heaven and is testing us to develop our spiritual muscles here on earth. It may have something to do with the servants Jesus mentioned to whom the Master gave cities to rule over (Luke 19:11-27). There are an estimated two trillion galaxies out there.

Where is your determination? Jesus is preparing a crown for you (James 1:12; Revelation 3:11) so you can reign with him (II Timothy 2:12). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Do not “grow weary and lose heart.”  Jesus has a crown for you. He has a throne for you.  He has a job for you.  Will you listen to Satan’s lies that God hates everyone and is using them as pawns, or will you listen to the God of the Universe? How determined are you to live forever in heaven?

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is book 7 in the 8-historical-novel series THEY MET JESUS. For most of three years, his nation’s leaders tried to kill him, sometimes legally and sometimes illegally. In the end, they got him illegally.  He was beaten by the priests, by Herod’s soldiers, by Pilot’s soldiers. He had no skin left on his back, his eyes were swollen, he was probably missing some teeth. Then there were the spikes that finished attacking his flesh and robbing him of his blood.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………..https://amzn.to/2DEnxRj

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Sunday 12/1 ~ Treasures in the heart of God

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, discouragement, eternity, faith, Heaven, Inspirational, joy, Loss, problems, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

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

0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-New“Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you to decide. Now let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil men so happy? You plant them. They take root and their business grows. Their profits multiply, and they are rich. They say, ‘Thank God!’ But in their hearts, they give no credit to you. But as for me ~ Lord, you know my heart ~ you know how much it longs for you. And I am poor, O Lord!”

Now compare this with Job 15:20-24:

“All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him. Terrifying sounds fill his ears….He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword. He wanders about ~ food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Distress and anguish fill him with terror.”

These two passages contradict each other. So what is the problem? The words spoken in Job were by Eliphaz, one of Job’s well-meaning friends who took it upon himself to help Job figure out why he had lost all his wealth, all his children, and all his health. Was Eliphaz right?

At the end of the book of Job, is this: “The Lord…said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends because you have not spoken of me what is right.” Then God ordered Eliphaz and his friends to sacrifice seven bulls and rams (not small sacrifices), then ask Job to pray for them so God “will not deal with you according to your folly.”

When we read scripture, let us be careful to investigate its context and ALL other scriptures on the same subject. Only then can we have the whole picture. Only then can we avoid religious folly.  And truly know the heart of God.

(And, by the way, always remember, this earth is not your home. You’re just passing through. Treasures beyond comprehension are being laid up for you right now in your permanent home ~ heaven.)

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0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-NewCOME FLY WITH ME is novel 8 in THEY MET JESUS  series.  Persecution of Jesus ended in his death, but it was his greatest triumph. Persecution continued with his twelve and would the rest of their lives. But, the reward at the end of the race.  Oh, the reward. Heaven in all its splendor and being with Jesus once again. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2OZFOxK

 

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Friday 11/29 ~ Rest for your soul

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, #Handicaps, Daily, discouragement, emptiness, faith, good works, Inspirational, love, problems, rest, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 29 (11/29), is Matthew 11:29f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-Thumbnail“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Ah, Lord Jesus. I am so weary worn.  It seems everything that could ever go wrong in my life is happening right now. Just when I think I have one problem at least partly under control, another raises its ugly head. Or should I say Satan raises his ugly head?  Satan, why are you doing this to me? It is you who is causing all the diseases and problems at work, and the car wreck and progressive blindness.  Was it you who set me up in that posh job which you knew was never popular in the company and would only cause me grief? Was this new house I bought with my pay raise worth it after all?

I am so tired. Help me, God.  I don’t know which way is up anymore. God?  I’m calling for you. God? Don’t you even care?

“Let’s trade, my child. I’ll take your burdens and you take mine.”

But, Lord, I do not understand. What could your burdens possibly be? You’re all comfortable in heaven.

“My child, my burden is to reach out to everyone and tell them how much I love them. My burden is to take their burdens on my shoulders. You can do it too. You can write encouraging messages to them every day. You can open up the newspaper and pray for everyone in it by name. You can call someone who is depressed like you and sing them a sweet song.”

But when, Lord? When would I find time?

“Use your brooding time, your crying time, your anger time. Let loose of them so I can brood, cry, and be angry for you. Remember, it’s a trade.”

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05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailA CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST:  FLOOD GATES.  Jesus’ life on earth was filled with taking other people’s burdens onto his shoulders.  The people loved him for it and didn’t care that their leaders hated him for it.  Oh, how he loved us.  At the end of each chapter is “THINK AND DO” for children to apply that chapter to their own lives with a good work.  Perfect for children’s classes, church libraries, grandparents, birthdays, Christmas.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://amzn.to/2XZM5xo

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