Tag: #devotional

You follow me around

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, faith, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, joy, love, persecution, praise, prayer, worshipLeave a comment

You, Lord God, travel through time at your ease. Time means nothing to you. I am confined to seeing and hearing on a single highway as I travel through life. But you are above that highway and can see and hear everything going on around me, both past and future. It is all the same to you. Perhaps time is good for me because it offers me forgetfulness of pain that ever lurks in the shadows of eternity and anticipation of the exciting that rises with each son. You need none of that because you are everywhere at once and have been from eternity to eternity.  Some day you will dissolve time when all is well and I am home with you at last.

Thank you, God of my heart, for following me around, even when I am not thinking about you. You guard me. You guide me. You surround me. You are in me. I am never away from you, for I am your child. You hover over me, turn me around, stop me. You do whatever is necessary to keep me on the path to heaven. I am never alone. In sadness and joy, in danger and safety, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth. How can I thank you? I cannot adequately. Still, my puny gratitude flows from my heart and soul to yours.

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CHRISTIANITY OR ISLAM: THE CONTRAST.  One third quotes from the Qur’an and Bible on the same subjects w/o comment.  One third explains misunderstandings Muslims have about Christianity.  One third is 100 quotes from some of my Muslim students who have decided Jesus was the Son of God and not just a prophet.  Can be given to a Muslim w/o offending.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3-IslamContrast

 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/my-book-christianity-or-islam-the-contrast/

In the unseen world

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, faith, persecution, prayerLeave a comment

The scripture for today, October 2 (10/2), is Daniel 10:2ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“At that time, I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks…On the twenty-fourth day of the first month…I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude….Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I was detained there with the king of Persia.’ “

The description of the speaker indicates he may have been angel Gabriel. Michael is another known angel. In Daniel 12:1, he is called “Michael, the great prince who protects your people.” Jude 9 refers to Michael as an archangel who disputed with Satan over the body of Moses.

Revelation 12:7-9 says that, at the time of the crucifixion,  “There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down ~ that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth and his angels with him.”

Now, let us look back at Daniel 10. Daniel prayed for 21 days. The un-named angel (Gabriel?) appeared to him on the 24th day and said Daniel’s prayers had been heard the first day, but God’s angel could not break away to help because of fighting Satan’s angels.

Now look at Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Does our persistence in prayer give strength to the angels in the unseen world?  Something to think about….

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Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnailSILVER-WINGED PRAYER: YOUR SPIRIT TO GOD’S is book 3 in the TOUCHING GOD SERIES.  Book one in inspirational thoughts and book two is paraphrasing of the Wisdom Literature of the Holy Bible.  All three in the set have original covers by famed water colorist, Betsy Kemp Thompson.  The interior is beautiful papyrus font.  The set makes a perfect gift for newly weds, new parents, old people ~ Well, just about everyone.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/SilverWingedPrayers

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

God’s Spirit

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, ego, eternity, faith, Heaven, judging, knowledge, truthLeave a comment

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

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Thumbnail“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ______ is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.”

Oh, my! Being “religious” isn’t enough? There are lots of religions out there. Feeling “spiritual” isn’t enough? There are lots of differing religions that induce a “spiritual” feeling. Confidence of going to heaven isn’t enough? There are lots of differing religions that create their own ways to be admitted to heaven. Dedication to prayer isn’t enough? There are lots of differing religions that require much prayer.

Sincere church leaders today may want you to rely on feelings and inducements and confidence and dedication, but they can be sincerely wrong. If you base your salvation on feelings and inducements and confidence and dedication only, you definitely have zeal, but your zeal is not based on knowledge. But isn’t “knowledge” legalism?

God gave you his Word ~ the Bible ~ for a reason. He wanted you to reason. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is accepting the evidence ~ not wishful thinking. Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing/reading the Word of God for yourself ~ not someone’s sermon or a friend or a book. Start now to search the scriptures daily for yourself. And, do not be afraid to approach your religious leaders and try teaching the teachers. Then their zeal , as well as yours, can be based on knowledge and take you to glory.

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0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailTHE HOLY SPIRIT:  592 VERSES EXAMINED gives every explanation of the Holy Spirit God wants you to know.  Anything more or less is not what he wants.  If we want God’s Spirit in our lives, what happens?  It’s all there.  All verses were divided by category and subcategory until they were all easily understood.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:   https://bit.ly/592HolySpirit

 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/my-book-the-holy-spirit-in-365-scriptures/

 

 

 

Dread, Daring, and Dominion

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, Death of Jesus Christ, Life of Christ, love, sacrifice, Saved from hell, victoryLeave a comment

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-MediumThe scripture for today, September 30 (9/30), is Luke 9:30f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”

Hebrews 5:7 says something very startling to most people. “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.”

Jesus did not look forward to going to the cross, even though many thousands of others had died that way. Why was it different for him? Because he had to take on all our sins as though he had committed them himself ~ every lie we ever told, every gain from cheating, every insult, every slander campaign against another, every adultery, every murder ~ everything. He had to take the blame for ALL our sins! How could he bear it?

Not only that, but he had to experience both physical and spiritual death. Spiritual death means being separated from, being forsaken by God. What a terror to experience ~ even for a moment.

And so, a few weeks before his crucifixion, as he prayed on the mountain, Moses and Elijah appeared to him, and they spoke about his death. They surely gave courage to Jesus’ human side to do what had to be done to save you and me who deserve hell.

The crowning glory of this conversation with Moses and Elijah is that the Father himself ~ the Will of God ~ reassured him by announcing, “This is my son! Whom I have chosen! Listen to HIM!”

Jesus was to nail the Old Law of Moses to the cross (Colossians 2:14). He had promised people, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

On the cross, he said, “It is fulfilled.”  Indeed, by the time Jesus returned to heaven, he had lived the Old Law introduced by Moses perfectly ~ something no man had ever been able to do. And by the time he returned to heaven, he had fulfilled every prophecy about his birth, life, and death, the first such full-time prophet being Elijah.

Oh, the things Jesus went through for us. We fall at his bloody, pierced feet and worship.

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0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is biblical historical novel #7 in the THEY MET JESUS series.  This book has a child’s version; the chapters on the crucifixion have been toned down, but do explain what children hear about but do not understand. In the adult version, each chapter ends with Life Application discussion questions. The adult version has Think & Do at the end of each chapter.  Come along, now, and witness those days of dread, daring, and dominion.  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/

Futility or hope?

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, discouragement, faith, healing, love, prayerLeave a comment

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.medium-newThe scripture for today, September 29 (9/29), is Matthew 9:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you.’ “

Sometimes when we pray for healing during sickness, a well-meaning friend will say, “Well, you haven’t been healed because you didn’t have enough faith.” But Jesus did not always heal people according to their faith.

The boy in Nain he brought back to life (Luke 7:14-15) did not have any faith at all. The girl in Capernaum he brought back to life (Luke 8:51-56) did not have any faith at all. When Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1-9), the hosts did not have any faith at all.

This is encouraging, because often we pray for the healing of non-religious friends. It would be futile to ask God to bring them back to health if it depended on their faith all the time.

He is not a God of futility. He is a God of hope. And we love him for it.

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0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-newHEARTS AFIRE is book three in the THEY MET JESUS biblical historical series.  Word is spreading in villages, on highways, at city wells that a carpenter is healing people of diseases impossible to heal, growing back limbs that are impossible to grow back, making useless ears and eyes  fill with delight. Who is he? Could it be he’s the promised Messiah?  Dare people hope for the impossible? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/3HeartsAfire

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

Faith in us

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, faith, Inspirational, joy, love, power, praise, prayer, Satan, things, worship1 Comment

01-Adam&Eve-KindleMediumAh, God of Creation, you made all this for us ~ for my delight, my provisions, my protection. All this to delight in while I try to live a life that proves love is superior to hate, good is superior to evil. Love is all might and all mighty, all power and all powerful. You put so much faith in us to help you win over Satan. Working together with you?  We can do this! How incredible that you chose frail humans to help you in the race. What a grand and exciting Plan! You have never changed and never will.  Satan cannot change you any more than darkness can become light. You, mighty God, are my fortress, my shield of faith, my sword of Truth. The demons and their leader fear you. The universe praises you.

Thank you for all these ways of communicating electronically that did not exist when I was a child.  To project my voice and image to someone on the other side of the city and even the other side of the world is astounding. I could have never imagined such a possibility. When some people spoke of it, it was like a fairy tale or science fiction. But today it is a reality. Thank you for these new inventions. And for the air I breathe, the food I have to eat ~ so many things I tend to take for granted. May I never take you for granted. You are my heart, my soul, my life. And you love me. How can I thank you for all this?  I fall at your feet and worship.

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01-Adam&Eve-KindleThumbnailA CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES:  ADAM & EVE.  How could these two scoundrels be heroes?  Counting Adam’s age when he had Seth, and allowing for two older brothers, Adam and Eve were in the garden over 100 years. One hundred years of not sinning!  Can you or I go one day without sinning?  They were not all bad; no one is all bad.  Large print for early readers.  Understood ages 3-12.  “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/BibleHeroes-AdamEve

 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-heroes-1-adam-and-eve/

 

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/

My crowning glory

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn eternity, faith, Inspirational, persecution, praise, victoryLeave a comment

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-How I adore you, God of Glory. You are so majestic, yet you love me. I am just one of billions, yet you know my name and hear my every thought. How astonishing.  It is as though I knew every grain of sand in and around the ocean ~ which, of course, is impossible for humans. You told Abraham his descendants would be as numerous as the sands of the sea or stars of the heaven. It would take trillions of years to cross the universe. One of the Psalms says you know every star by name. It cannot be done. But you do it without a second thought just like you do it for all humans who have ever lived. You are too wonderful to fathom. My cup overflows.

Father, I must keep circulating and searching for seekers. But sometimes I feel so tired. It’s so hard and no one encourages me to do this. Forgive me. I have lived a long time. When will my race be over?

I keep thanking you for your Bible. I can’t help it. I don’t have to guess what you are thinking or doing. You have actually shared everything with me. You didn’t have to.  You are God!  I’m just a small speck of your creation. But you made humans like me the apex of your creation, your crowning glory. In deep gratitude, I crown you my King of Glory.

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE begins life robust and healthy, loving sports and excelling in many of them. But, when he becomes a Christian, rather than convert to the religion of each province, he lets them beat and slash and starve that body until, at the end, he is bent over from it all, his back one solid scar tissue, and bones either broken or brittle.  Why does he do it?  He lives for Jesus so he can live with Jesus ~ forever.  Give that up?  Never.  Though the state religions tried to break him with torture, he would only cry  out, “Jesus!  This is for you!.”  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:    http://bit.ly/PaulUnstoppable

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/books-more-biblical-historical-novels/book-2-paul-the-unstoppable/