Category: weakness

Thursday 11/21 ~ Too small to matter

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, discouragement, emptiness, faith, Inspirational, judging, patience, power, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 21 (11/21), is Acts 11:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

What had just happened? A few Christians in Phoenecia (today’s Lebanon), Cyprus (the Mediterranean Island) and Cyrene (in today’s North Africa), went to Antioch, a city in Northern Syria near the southern border of today’s Turkey. There they established a congregation.

This little congregation ended up being the home congregation of Paul and Barnabas for many years. It started small; we don’t know the size it grew to. Regardless of the size, it had foresight and eventually did great things.

Perhaps you live in a town full of churches, but you’ve compared them with the New Testament, and none of them follows the original pattern. Perhaps you have even given up going to church because of this problem. What is stopping you from beginning a little congregation after the New Testament pattern in your home?  

New Testament churches were simple ~ not elaborate like those mega-churches out there. And those simple churches have always been dynamic in their simplicity. Who knows but that your new little congregation will someday produce a Paul or a Barnabas. Who knows?

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE had everything against him when he headed into pagan territory.  No priest was going to let a stranger come in and ruin his income, his power, his prestige.  He went anyway. He preached in this city and was beaten. He preached in that city and was stoned. He preached in other cities and was whipped, imprisoned, starved, lied about, scorned.  But in each city, he left behind a little congregation that grew and flourished.  He never let smallness matter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/333nV6c

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Tuesday 11/12 ~ He sees you through the blood of Jesus

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, discouragement, ethics, forgiveness, judging, Life of Christ, Saved from hell, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, November 12 (11/12), is Leviticus 11:12 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Cover-Medium“Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.”

Is the Law of Moses still in effect, including its requirement for tithing?  The scripture above is just one of the over 600 laws in the Law of Moses. They were intricate laws governing both their worship and their everyday life. This one chapter in Leviticus says in part they could not eat camels or coneys or rabbits or pigs. They could not eat eagles, vultures, kites, ravens, owls, gulls, hawks, osprey, storks, herons, hoopoes or bats. But they could eat locusts, katydids, crickets and grasshoppers. And this is just part of chapter 11!

Why did God give so many intricate laws to the Jews? To give them a chance to keep them all exactly so they could be perfect. In the meantime, God did not give any laws to the Gentiles; He let them try whatever means they could on their own to become perfect. But during the same time period, both the Jews and Gentiles proved to themselves that it was impossible to keep their religions perfectly and thus be perfect themselves.

Now Jesus was ready to come. He lived the Jewish law perfectly, then nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14) and established a new last will and Testament (Hebrews 8-9). Now you live under a law of grace, and his commandments revolve around loving God and loving each other.

God cannot co-exist with imperfection. But he loves you and wants you to be his child.  Through Jesus he accomplished it; he set you free. He released you from having to be perfect under the Law, and sees you now through the blood of Jesus and his holy eyes as perfect.

 

00-Cover-ThumbnailFUN WITH BIBLE NUMBERS is just that.  Did you know the average good Jew gave around 35% of his income to the Lord? Add it up.  Did you know the temple Holy of Holies was covered with three trillion dollars worth of God? Add it up. Or that Jesus walked on water 3-1/2 miles? Add it up. Great classroom warmup, party mixer, bulletin filler, and for homeschoolers, shut-ins, birthdays, etc.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2O4FPA3

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Thursday 10/25 ~ Help me see myself as others do

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, blessings, church, discouragement, ego, faith, humility, patience, problems, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 24 (10/24), is 1st Corinthians 10:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

The context of this verse is that some of the members of the church in Corinth were expressing opinions or doing things that were offensive to some of the other members. They hurt the consciences of some of the weaker members.  

Everyone struggles with their ego sometimes.  Usually, we do not even realize our ego is involved.  It is so very hard to see ourselves as others do, and to see ourselves as God does.

Do you ever do anything during the public worship that is offensive to some people? Do you do them as an example of how “holy” you are? Do you even try to get God on your side and say that any Christian could do those things if they had as much faith as you do?

What about committee meetings? Do you ever suggest something that the others just aren’t excited about? Do you allow your ego to eventually seep in and begin to feel slighted or challenged because your idea wasn’t accepted? Do you even try to get God on your side and say he will be more glorified if the other committee members accept your plan?

One way to look at things objectively is to ask yourself, “Would my congregation survive without me?” What if I were killed in an auto accident and suddenly taken from them tomorrow? Would they continue to worship? Would they continue to do good works? Would they continue to meet as a congregation? Ninety-nine percent of the time your congregation would survive without you.

“Lord, I guess I never looked at myself that way. I love you so much, I want others to know you better. Maybe I should express my worship alone as much as I do in public. Maybe I should do more good works alone without a committee.

Help me, know what to do. Help me see myself as others do, and as you do.”

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was an expert arbitrator. So Paul appointed him to solve church problems.  It was a special and rare gift. He traveled to Corinth in Greece to calm them down, then he traveled to Crete to divert problems before they arose. Finally, he went to Dalmatia in today’s Albania, a special challenge with so many “barbarians” to deal with.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2OYISvL

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Monday 10/14 ~ Into the thistles

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, forgiveness, Loss, problems, sacrifice, Saved from hell, sin, temptation, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, October 14 (10/14), is John 10:14 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-new“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me ~ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father ~ and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

How amazing that Jesus is willing to follow you when you do not follow him, and bring you back to his protective fold. He died while doing just that.

Yet we continue to leave him and his instructions that would keep us safe, and we wander into thistles, near cliffs, down into pits. This requires more work for Jesus. Yet we do it anyway. Catch me if you can! We may laugh, but he weeps because he knows the danger we are headed for.

How much grief do you give your spiritual Father, your spiritual Big Brother, your spiritual family? If they are not laughing over what you’re doing, perhaps you should not be either.

Do you say, “It’s no one else’s business what I do in private”? But when those private sins lead you into problems, it breaks the hearts of your loved ones here on earth. It breaks the heart of Jesus, who went through a torturous death to bring you out of those problems. 

God, forgive me when I wander from You.

 

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE is Novel 3 of the THEY MET JESUS series.  It about the people who discovered Jesus and how he could help them with their physical and spiritual problems. Each chapter is the drama of a different person.  One of them may be you.  Citations and discussion questions at the end of each chapter make it conducive to classes or reading clubs.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/31es1Yb

(One reviewer said book 3 was the same as book 2 and was correct. The wrong MS was turned in. It has been corrected.)

 

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Wednesday 9/4 ~ Shhh. Listen. Do you hear?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, death, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, Enemies, eternity, Heaven, humility, love, Saved from hell, victory, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, September 4 (9/4), is Daniel 9:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands….’ “

A lot of people in the world think God should feel obligated to take them to his heaven. After all, they are fairly good, and better than some. God couldn’t possibly in all good conscience turn them away.

Yet, their entire life they resent God. They don’t like his few commands; they don’t want anyone telling them what to do or not do. Or they claim to love God, but create their own commands that just aren’t in the Bible, making themselves God. What confusion!

Ultimately, heaven is God’s home, not yours. He is not obligated to invite anyone into His home. Besides, only perfection can live with God who is perfect. It only takes one sin to make us an imperfect sinner.

So how do you become perfect? That’s where God’s awesomeness is demonstrated. By following Jesus who was perfect and never sinned, and obeying Jesus’ few commands, God considers you perfect by proxy.

But it’s like a boomerang. God treats you the way you treat him. If you don’t take time for God, he doesn’t take time for you. If you don’t like to spend time praising him, he doesn’t spend time praising you. Actually, if you don’t really like anything about God, you would be miserable in heaven.

God never forces himself on anyone. He loves you even when you do not love Him.  So, he keeps on calling, “Come back!  Come back to me!  I can keep you safe.”  Shhh. Listen.  Do you hear Him?

 

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailTHEY MET HIM: SHADOW OF DEATH is book 7 in the 8-novel series.  The world is so full of people who expect to go to heaven but hate thinking about Jesus. They think he is full of rules just to make their life miserable. They do not understand that is Satan lying to them.  Share this with someone who doesn’t care at this moment. Perhaps just the cover will lure him into opening it and reading page one. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/30V6hBb

 

 

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Saturday 8/24 ~ Faith gone? You can still hope.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, emptiness, faith, Fear, healing, Heaven, Inspirational, patience, prayer, problems, weakness, worship2 Comments

The scripture for today, August 24 (8/24), is Romans 8:24f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-4+4-Strip Child's Cartoon-Medium“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Sometimes you go through a period of your life in which it is difficult to have faith that God exists; or even if he does exist, that he cares what happens to you. During those times, you may not be able to have faith.

But you can HOPE. You can hope that God exists, you can hope he cares what happens to you. Even the weakest person can hope. Hope holds you until you are strong enough to, once again, have faith.

So the next time your faith wavers (and it happens to everyone at some time in their life), remember, you can still hope.

Ah, Lord God.  My logic tells me you are there.  But my heart is lost right now.  Satan is attacking me. I cannot find you.  Cling to me, Lord, as I wander until I can see you with clear eyes once again. Lord, come quickly.

 

0-4+4-Strip Child's Cartoon-MediumA CHILD’S LIFE OF CHRIST.  This set of 8 books has the same stories in it as the adult They Met Jesus.  Written in large squiggly 16 point font. At the end of each chapter is THINK AND DO with a good work even a 3-year-old could do.  Perfect for HOME-SCHOOLERS, CHURCH LIBRARIES, CHRISTMAS, BIRTHDAYS.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2zljveG  OR  https://amzn.to/2Pco5GC

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Saturday 8/10 ~ In weakness, strengthened by God’s joy

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, Daily, discouragement, healing, Inspirational, joy, Loss, victory, weakness1 Comment

The scripture for today, August 10 (8/10), is Nehemiah 8:10b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

3 Great Kings Kindle-Thumbnail“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

After exile over 70 years for forsaking God, the Jews were led by Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and rebuild the wall. On a special day, Ezra read the Law of Moses to all the people.

And they wept.

They were so embarrassed and so sorry they had betrayed God. The above scripture quotation is from that occasion.

But many people find it too humiliating to admit to others they were wrong. Others find it easy to repent, but never regroup and pull themselves up so they can try again. Still others say, “What I’ve done is so bad, God could never forgive me.”

God can perform miracles. That means he can forgive the greatest sinner. So grieve. Ask for forgiveness. Then start over fresh ~ innocent in the eyes of God.

Remember, when you feel weak, the joy of the Lord will be your strength and see you through.

 

3 Great Kings Kindle-ThumbnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES: 3 GREAT KINGS introduces your child or grandchild to Saul, David and Solomon.  Saul wasn’t all bad. He conquered four nations of Israel’s enemies. He was a warrior king.  David was a warrior with a song in his heart which soothed him when others were doing bad to him or he was doing bad.  Solomon lived a life doing whatever he wanted and lived to regret it as expressed in his brilliant proverbs. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2yTxGax

LINK to all my books by CATEGORY:    http://bit.ly/MyBookInfo

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Thursday 7/18 ~ Waiting is Hard to do

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, faith, patience, prayer, problems, victory, weakness1 Comment

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

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAIL“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 because they were foreigners, then they were feared, then they were 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?

 

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAILTHE ROAD TO HEAVEN was begun in the Garden of Eden.  We blithely pray, “And forgive our sins. Amen.” It’s not that simple. It has never been that simple. It took God thousands of years to get our road to heaven built. Ah, but now that we are on that road, we look in anticipation toward our arrival in that glorious place called heaven. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2JCvom6

 

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Tuesday 7/16 ~ Stop and take a breath

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, faith, healing, Loss, patience, persecution, problems, rest, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 16 (7/16), is Genesis 7:16 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

02-Noah-KindleThumbnail“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.”

Does your life sometimes feel like a downpour of unending bad incidents or a flood of tragedies? Whenever that happens, why not just enter an ark of safety and let God shut the door? When God shuts the door on something, try to recognize it, accept his decision, and take advantage of its peace and quiet.

Your ark of safety is in your mind, your heart, your soul. Your ark of safety is quietness in the Lord.

“My heart is not proud, O Lord….I have stilled and quieted my soul” (Psalm 131:1f)

“In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15b)

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

Today, instead of being angry at God for a closed door, stop, take a deep breath, and rest in the ark of his arms.

 

02-Noah-KindleThumbnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES:  NOAH.  This child’s book is in large print for the easy reader. It has ten chapters, each showing the problems Noah had to overcome in order to build the ark and save as many people as possible. A “Think and Do” is at the end of each chapter so the child can do a good work.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this: https://amzn.to/2lCtWXp

 

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Friday, 7/5 ~ Your ardent concern

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, emptiness, Enemies, healing, Loss, problems, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 5 (7/5), is 2nd Corinthians 7:5ff as found in the New Testament of the Bible.

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn ~ conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me so that my joy was greater than ever.”

Oh how much we need each other.

Sometimes in life, we go into our own Macedonia where we have no rest and are full of fear. Our Macedonia may be religious or political or medical; or it may be at work, out on the street, or at home.

At such times we need a Titus to help us, to encourage us. Our Titus may be a relative, a neighbor, a friend, or even a stranger.

Have you been a Titus to anyone lately? Look around. Be a Titus to someone today. You are so very needed.

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT grows up privileged, his father is the city magistrate and Titus becomes an arbitrator and lawyer.  He can make the most bitter of enemies think they love each other. So, when Paul meets and converts him, Paul sends him to churches with problems where he uses his expertise to soothe them.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/32bExti

 

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