Category: worship

A new day for my soul

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, Death of Jesus Christ, Inspirational, praise, prayer, Satan, temptation, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

Supper-Front Cover-MediumAh, my God, you are my light. There is darkness in this world and people try to use more darkness to drive it out, but only your light can do that. Lord, you are my love. Satan, the destroyer, hates while laughing.  He wants to get others to hate so he can destroy them.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can. People say it is too hard to love and sometimes this is true. Satan convinces people to take the easy way out. It takes courage to light a light, expose the darkness, then love it away. You are my courage. It takes sacrifice to convince hatred to go away. You were my sacrifice. You still are. Every day you shine your light on me. Every day you walk beside me as a body guard for my body and soul, always looking this way and that. You are so hard to grasp sometimes, but there is such joy in the effort. Make me more like you.

A new day you have given me, Lord. A day of starting over. A day of second chances. Darkness is gone and dawn is here. Now I think of your sacred family on the other side of the world. Their day is over and they are now sleeping as I am awakening. And so it goes. Your family never sleeps. Some part is always awake guarding over the rest of us and over their part of the world. The world is never without the guardian prayers of your family. Thank you for day and night ~ times to work, times to rest. And thank you for dying and overcoming death for me ~ a new day for my soul.

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Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailTHE LORD’S SUPPER: 52 READINGS WITH PRAYERS is perfect to keep in the church library or next to the communion table.  It has a long introduction, explaining the background of the Lord’s Supper in the Bible and why the 52.  Wonderful for worshippers to meditate with as they partake.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:   https://bit.ly/2Vhacqn

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/the-lords-supper-52-readings-with-prayers/

You dote on me

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, blessings, Death of Jesus Christ, faith, Inspirational, joy, love, praise, prayer, Saved from hell, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailI revere you, my God. You created such a beautiful garden to be the cradle for mankind when you first made us.  Everywhere around me, when I see darkness, I remember that is the soil you use to bring me flowers to fill my senses.  When I cower from thunder and lightning, I remember out of those you bring me showers of blessings and rainbows and bubbling brooks. When I grow tired, I remember how you use it to slow me down to rest in your everlasting arms. You dote on me, guide me, and never stop thinking of me. You are everywhere I go. You are in the air I breathe, the warmth I feel, the sense that perhaps you are touching me. You are gloriously everywhere because you are greater than all things. And I worship you.

Father, I know I need to get out more to find seekers. I second guess people and decide I would be wasting my time going to see them.  Help me leave that up to you and just keep trying.

Ah, my God, how can I thank you for sending a part of yourself ~ your Words ~ to enter a human body, be our perfect example, then allow yourself to be tortured and killed in my place.  You laid down on the altar of the world and sacrificed yourself for all of us who who you made and who reject you each time we sin. I cannot grasp it all. There are worlds unseen with spiritual battles going on I am not aware of.  But, what I do know, is that you did everything necessary to save me from that ghastly trinity ~ Sin, Satan, and Death. And now my soul rests in you.  I bow before you in sacred gratitude.

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Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail375 SILVER-WINGED PRAYERS is book three in the TOUCHING GOD SERIES.  The others are GOLDEN THOUGHTS and PEARLS OF WISDOM. Beautiful gift set with original art on the cover. Or use it for your own personal devotional time.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/SilverPrayers

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/365-silver-winged-prayers-your-spirit-to-gods/

Angels

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn faith, Inspirational, Life of Christ, praise, prayer, truth, worshipLeave a comment

0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-MediumAh, Lord God, there are a lot of people who praise angels. They paint beautiful pictures of angels watching over us, make beautiful statues of glorious looking angels, and sing songs about angels. “Angels are walking among us!” they proudly announce. What?  What about you? You ~ the Emperor of the Universe ~ are walking with us every day. You have since our birth. What about you? You are the Creator, the Maker of the angels. What about you? You materialized and died in our place for our sins. No angel ever did any of that. Glorify angels?  Never. May I forever glorify you, and, though I cannot imagine what you look like, I will have a picture of you in my heart.

Help me, Lord, not burn out. Forgive me when I give up on finding souls to bring to you.

Thank you for the beautiful warm day. Summer is over and I am harvesting my garden now. Days are cool, nights even cooler. I should go outside and take a nap in the warm sun today. Thank you for your beautiful scenery painted by you.  The sun is up, I can hear the autumn crickets and a few birds. The flowers are full, the farmers are reaping, the markets are filling with fresh produce for sale What a glorious earth you prepared for us before we were “born”. Good morning, my Lord. And thank you for it all.

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0000-BK 1-StarSong-Cover-new-ThumbnailSTAR SONG.  For a while, I named this book Angel Song.  Then I learned angels don’t sing.  They shout and sound like billowing waves of the sea, but they do not sing.  That is a privilege God gave only us.  Discover more interesting things about the birth of Jesus and all those involved in it in this biblical historical novel.  (Child’s version also available with same chapter headings.)  Life-application questions at the end of each chapter along with lists of citations.  Yes, this is a unique novel. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/StarSong

 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-1-star-song-adult-childs-versions/

He set out resolutely

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, church, Death of Jesus Christ, ego, eternity, Heaven, judging, Saved from hell, worshipLeave a comment

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-MediumThe scripture for today, September 22 (9/22) is Luke 9:22 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And he [Jesus] said, ‘The Son of Man[kind] must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Jesus did not look forward to his death. Hebrews 5:7 says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death….” Loud cries!

Yet, in today’s scripture, shortly after he announced to his apostles that he would be killed in Jerusalem, over in verse 51 it says, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”

Jesus had to use every bit of human self-determination he could muster up to face that terrible death he had to suffer for us. What kept him to his goal? He knew only he could save us from hell by taking the death wages from Satan (Romans 6:23). Then his work would be done ~ all would be finished ~ and he could return to heaven.

Is it difficult for you to get up on Sunday morning to go to church? Is it difficult for you to read the Bible every day? Is it difficult for you to invite a friend to church with you? Do you love Jesus as resolutely as he loves you? Are you as determined to go to heaven and avoid hell as he was for you? Do you love your soul as much as Jesus does?

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH begins with the illegal trials and witness hiring in the middle of the night, a sympathetic Pilot trying to save the harmless man, and Peter wanting to stop the whole thing but paralyzed with fear he’d be next.  It ends with the apostles in hiding and wallowing in their shattered dreams of what should have been. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/Death-Resurrection

 

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Some day it will happen.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, death, eternity, faith, forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, patience, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

Supper-Front Cover-MediumAh, my Lord, I know you long to be gracious to mankind and that you wait patiently on high for the world to acknowledge you. What do you do while you’re waiting? You turn your attention back to your children. Oh, how I wish I could help you convince the rest of the world that you are not their enemy. Does your throne radiate just a little more when you see another child returning to you? Do the angels around you flutter their wings just a little more? Do the stars sing a sweeter song? Does your smile reflect the soft light of the moon?  As you wait, I bow down before your throne and worship you.

One of these days, Lord, I am going to close my eyes and soar on eagle wings to you. My heart will be swelled with anticipation as I draw nearer to you.  Your love, a ray of light, will form a highway to the heavens to draw my soul ever closer and closer to you.  I will soar upward. You will send my angel to guide me near the last of my journey until at last I reach the gate of heaven. Oh, glorious day, day of rapture and euphoria, when I see you at last as you open up your arms to me. Thank you for that hope. Someday it will happen. Someday.

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Supper-Front Cover-ThumbnailTHE LORD’S SUPPER: 52 READINGS WITH PRAYERS.  Buy a book for your church library, or keep it on the shelf of the communion table.  Give one to new Christians. Or buy one for yourself to meditate with as you participate in the weekly Lord’s Supper.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/2Vhacqn

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/the-lords-supper-52-readings-with-prayers

Blood streaming through the veins of my soul

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, blessings, Death of Jesus Christ, discouragement, eternity, forgiveness, Holy Spirit, love, patience, prayer, sacrifice, Saved from hell, worshipLeave a comment

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailI lift up my heart to you, my God. I ache so much for the lost. But my puny efforts are nothing compared to you. You did so much more than I ever dreamed of doing and for longer than a thousand lifetimes. You paid the death ransom, then overcame Death itself.  You put up with our sins while you did everything necessary to destroy our greatest enemy ~ Satan. Satan must be destroyed and you have given mankind the privilege of working with you to that end. So, amidst my paltry efforts I praise you, my majestic King. You are so incredible. Beyond finding out.

Father, sometimes when I talk to people about your love for them and ask them to return to you, I think I come across as controlling. That is not what I want to do. Help me know when to back off and let them think. Help me be patient and calm and respect the free will that you gave them.

My Lord, thank you for not getting so angry you would give up on me.  You are a high and great mountain that cannot be moved. You are the deepest ocean that cannot be emptied.  As the river of life, you offer to give me your blood so it will stream through the veins of my soul and give me life without impurities of sin. What more could anyone ask than that? You offered to me your blood and your Spirit. The sacrifice was too great, but you made it anyway.

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH takes the reader through the trials and beatings and lashings.  Nearly lifeless already, the soldiers  carry him up that dreadful hill so he can live long enough for them to kill. Two chapters cover the agony and ecstasy of the cross of torture saved only for traitors.  Then the funeral.  Two old men, some women, and his mother.  Washing his lifeless body with tears, surrounding him with spices only the rich can afford, wrapping him in the flimsy shreds of broken hearts. Then going home to agonize over what could have been and never will be.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/Death-Resurrection

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-7-shadow-of-death-adults-childs-versions/

Picking and Choosing

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn ego, Enemies, governments, healing, judging, Life of Christ, persecution, sacrifice, Scripture, teaching, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, September 18 (9/18), is Leviticus 9:18ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people. His sons handed him the blood, and he sprinkled it against the altar on all sides. But the fat portions of the ox and the ram ~ the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the covering of the liver ~ these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.”

The Law of Moses did not have just Ten Commandments. It had over 600! They were intricate commands that had to be kept exactly. The above is just a small portion of what they were supposed to do for a particular sacrifice.
Thank God, Jesus nailed the Old Law of Moses to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Yet some religious leaders continue to dip back into the Old Law to copy showy types of worship ~ robes, candles, choirs, harps, incense ~ many things, and all commanded. But if they do that, they must keep ALL of the Law of Moses ~ stoning for adultery, giving 1/3 of their income (not just 1/10), not working on Saturday (even cooking), going to Jerusalem three times a year.

They can’t just pick and choose which ones they like. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:17 “Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised [just one command in the Old Law of Moses] that he is obligated to obey the whole law.”

James said in 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” Old Testament worship was showy, elaborate, and demanding to the nth degree. New Testament worship is just the opposite.

Mark 14:26 says that after Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper/Communion, “When they had sung a [single] hymn, they went out…”

Acts 2:41-42 says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people…”

I Timothy 4:13 says, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”

Nothing complicated about it. Just simple worship. Worship the way Jesus and his apostles worshiped. Worship the way God wants it. He said so himself.

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FLOOD GATES is novel 5 in the THEY MET JESUS series.  His life has been threatened since last his first year of ministry.  Now it is the third year and his enemies are desperate to kill him.  The people are running after him, declaring their folk hero their king.  No more doctors, no more begging for food ~ he’ll supply it all free.  In the temple, he tells off the hypocrite leaders more.  Among the people, he performs miracles more.  Alone with his twelve, he speaks of his death more.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/5FloodGates

 

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Today, it is hard to thank you.

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, discouragement, faith, healing, love, patience, Saved from hell, teaching, weakness, worshipLeave a comment

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.medium-newYou, Almighty God, are all powerful. You hold the world in your hands.  You lead mankind forward and people follow you kicking and screaming because Satan convinces so many that you hate us and do not want us to have fun. You do not let Satan’s accusations discourage you and stop you. You are more powerful than him. You never forsake us. For thousands of years you have worked out your master Plan to permanently disarm Satan. Even now you limit what he can do to us. You send your angels to stand between Satan and us in battles in other realms, other worlds, we are not even aware of.  You are the Lord of all the lords Satan controls. You are King over all the kings Satan manipulates. Your divine majesty resonates around your throne, encircles the world, and comes to rest in my soul.

Lord, it is hard to thank you for things today. Yes, I have a decent place to live, nice things, my health, the weather is still warm. But what is it all for if I cannot help save the lost and help them stay saved? Sometimes I can hardly stand it thinking about friends and even strangers who are bored with you or resent you or even hate you and do not realize what Satan has in mind for them. How can I see them self-destruct like that?  Today I am struggling. I need to thank you for…what shall I thank you for? The sun is shining, the corn is harvested, a bird is singing to me outside my window. Over there is a butterfly and in that direction is a squirrel scavenging for things to store over the coming winter.  Songs. I thank you for songs. I shall now sing you a song and will feel better. Yes, thank you for songs. And that butterfly.

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0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE is biblical historical novel three in the THEY MET JESUS series.  They’ve been dreaming and praying for the God-King to come for thousands of years.  He’s not quite what they expected, but at least he’s here.  Now, perhaps the impossible can become possible. With hearts afire, they dare to hope.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-3-hearts-afire-adults-childs-versions/

If I knew a thousand languages

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, attitude, blessings, Heaven, Inspirational, joy, judging, love, praise, prayer, Thanksgiving, things, worshipLeave a comment

0-Cover-MediumIf I knew a thousand languages, I would use them all to praise you. I would travel the earth from obscure village to obscure village where only their own language is known and proclaim your majestic goodness as long as they would allow.  And when I had traversed the world, I would begin again.  Only this time, I would teach them about you who loves them beyond their understanding. And I would teach them how you ransomed them from Satan’s clutches. And I would teach them about heaven and how you left the gate open for them. Well, it is not so. I can only speak one language. So, with what I have, I will travel the earth and proclaim your majestic goodness anyway. Somehow, I will.  You alone deserve the praise of earth.

Lord, thank you for taste and smell.  If it were not for the taste and smell of food, I don’t guess anyone would eat and refuel their bodies.  When you created us, you knew what it would take to lure us to the table and take time to feed our bodies. Yes, I know there are bad smells and taste too. But thank you for those also. They warn us to stay away from them.  And thank you for gardens and farms that grow the food that keeps us alive. Ah, the smell of the soil newly plowed up. And the smell of flowers, and spices and even newly mowed grass. Thank you for all of it.

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0-Cover-ThumbnailFUN WITH BIBLE NUMBERS has 525 simple math problems covering every book of the Bible.  Great for bulletin fillers, ice breakers, home schoolers, retirees, prisoners ~ something for everyone.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/FunBibleNumbers

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https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/links-to-some-of-my-fun-bible-stuff/fun-with-bible-numbers/

Give me my cross

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, faith, humility, love, persecution, prayer, Thanksgiving, worshipLeave a comment

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailYou bore a terrible cross for me, my Lord. It is I who should have taken my place on that cross instead of you. You were holy, pure, sinless. I deserved the cross, not you. But it is not too late, Lord. Send me my cross.  Make me not just brave; make me bold. Send my cross that I may suffer for you as you suffered for me on that day long ago. Send me my cross.  Do not withhold it from me. And, if I die clinging to my cross, at least I will know that my death was not without meaning and perhaps in some way my death will bring souls to you.  Just like you brought souls to yourself on your cross. 

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

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH begins with his trial, takes two chapters to go with him on the cross, then watches as his followers wallow in hopelessness.  It was all for nothing.  Jesus, why did you have to die?  Where are you, Jesus?  Why did you leave us?  He comes back to life in the next book and surprises the daylights out of everyone.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/Death-Resurrection

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