The question of whether the Bible still matters in modern life is one many people continue to ask—especially in a world shaped by rapid technological change, shifting values, and constant noise. At first thought an ancient text might seem disconnected from today’s realities. Yet, for millions the Bible remains deeply relevant because it speaks to core human experiences that have not changed: belief and trust in an all-knowing higher power, salvation from sin, ultimate purpose in life, one’s identity in the eyes of God, and the power of being in a right relationship with the Creator, among many other factors that span our modern experience. The apostle Paul shared a message that is central to the Bible’s teachings, and it is just as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” —Romans 10:9–11 Coming to a saving belief in the power of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and integrating the truths surrounding that sacrifice into your daily life is the key to implementing the Bible’s key principles into our lives. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The NIV Quest Study Bible helps clarify the meaning of this verse: God created us for a relationship with him. So he took the initiative to make the relationship right. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who did for us what we could never do for ourselves: Jesus lived a wholly righteous life—a perfect life in line with the law and in total relationship with God the Father. Even more than that, Jesus took on himself all the punishment our disobedience deserves (see Romans 3:24). At the cross he fulfilled all that righteousness demanded. His life was given in exchange for ours; his blood paid the price for our justification. The results of Jesus’ sacrifice are personally available to us simply by faith. God has done everything required to justify us. All that remains is for us to receive the grace of God shown on the cross. We are justified through faith when we stop trying to justify ourselves and depend completely on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Understanding that there is a God who offers his limitless wisdom and love through being in relationship with him and accepting the salvation offered in Jesus is and always has been the foundation of the Christian faith. But how does the Bible speak to some of today’s most pressing issues? Anxiety The Bible has much to say about anxiety, a concern of epic proportion today. Modern life often brings pressure, uncertainty, and comparison, all of which can fuel worry. The Bible doesn’t ignore these feelings; instead, it recognizes the universal nature of this reality and addresses it directly with both honesty and hope. Philippians 4:6–7 reads, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This passage doesn’t deny anxiety, but it offers a practical response: turn worries into prayer and trust in something far greater than immediate circumstances—God’s intimate knowledge of our concerns and fears and his ability to provide peace amid difficulty. Similarly, 1 Peter 5:7 encourages, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” In a fast-moving culture where people often feel like they are constantly striving to carry the weight of a stress-filled life and can’t ask for help, this verse presents a different perspective—that burdens can be shared, and that care is available that extends well beyond human limits. These teachings resonate today because anxiety remains a universal human experience, regardless of the era in which one lives. Purpose Finding purpose in life is another area where many people struggle. With countless choices at our fingertips and all of the self-imposed expectations we have in our quick-fix culture, it’s easy to feel unsure about direction or meaning. The Bible offers a grounding perspective by suggesting that purpose is not solely self-created; rather, it is best discovered in pursuing a deeper relationship with God. Jeremiah 29:11 is often cited in this context: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” While originally written to a specific group of people who were displaced from their homeland in exile, the broader message—that life has meaning beyond immediate human circumstances—continues to encourage people today. Additionally, Micah 6:8 provides a simple yet powerful summary of purposeful living: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Rather than defining purpose through achievement alone, the Bible emphasizes inquiring of the God who understands each one of us and can greatly influence character, relationships, and values. Loneliness Despite the sharp increase in digital connectivity, loneliness has become a major issue in modern life. The Bible addresses this by consistently highlighting the importance of community. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:18 states, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” This foundational idea reflects a broader truth: Humans are designed for connection. In the New Testament, this emphasis continues. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages believers, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together … but encouraging one another.” In a time when isolation is common, this call to intentional gathering in community remains highly relevant. The Bible doesn’t just acknowledge loneliness—it offers a vision of shared life as the antidote. The modern church, in its services and practices, is the beginning of the solution to this deeply felt issue. Overarching this need for human connection is the desire of the heavenly Father to connect with each of his children who believe in him: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). Weekly attendance and participation in a local congregation will bring God closer through the experience of intentional Christian community. Guidance When it comes to decision-making, the Bible provides guidance not through specific instructions for every situation but through principles that shape how people think and act. Proverbs 3:5–6 advises, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This passage encourages personal humility and trust in God for guidance and direction rather than relying on impulsive or purely self-reliant decisions. Another practical verse is James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” In a world full of complex choices, the idea that we have access to God and his eternal, all-knowing wisdom offers reassurance and direction. Identity Identity is another deeply relevant topic today. Many people wrestle with questions about who they are and what defines their worth. The Bible presents identity as rooted not in achievement or social approval but in being known and valued by God. Psalm 139:13–14 reflects this beautifully: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” This perspective, when deeply integrated into one’s life, can provide stability in a culture where identity often feels uncertain or externally shaped. In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 5:17 adds another dimension: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This speaks to personal transformation through being in relationship with the Savior of the world. It also speaks to the near-limitless possibility of renewal, which continues to resonate with people who are seeking change and growth in their lives. Relationships Relationships is another area where the Bible offers enduring wisdom. Whether in friendships, family, or romantic partnerships, its teachings emphasize love, patience, and forgiveness. One of the most well-known passages, 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, describes love in practical terms: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” These qualities and many others in this chapter remain widely recognized as foundational for healthy relationships. Ephesians 4:32 further highlights relational values: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” In a world where conflict is inevitable, the emphasis on kindness, forgiveness, and compassion remains highly applicable. The Bible’s Principles Still Apply—and Always Will So, is the Bible relevant and useful in modern life? For millions of believers, the answer is yes—not because it provides instant solutions, but because it addresses the deeper questions underlying human nature, God’s care and concern for his people, and many everyday challenges. The Bible’s teachings on salvation, anxiety, purpose, loneliness, decision-making, identity, and relationships continue to resonate because they speak to timeless aspects of the human experience. The Creator who made each of us has given guidance through his message to all of us who experience the complexities of life on this earth and who have chosen to follow him. He provides wisdom, perspective, and care for all who love him and trust him for protection and guidance. While cultural contexts have changed, the need for meaning, connection, and guidance has not. The Bible’s relevance today lies in its ability to meet those needs with both honesty and hope, offering insights that continue to shape how people live, think, and relate to one another in the modern world. Overarching all of this is the Bible’s encouragement to connect deeply to the God who cares about each individual and who loves us like no one else ever could. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! —1 John 3:1

Whole-Life Pro-Life Commitment For generations, Christians have believed and affirmed the true story that life is a gift from God in all of its stages. Our whole-life pro-life commitment means we believe every person at every stage of life is made in the image of God. We make a conscious commitment to value all of human life, from beginning to end—or from dust to dust, as the centuries-old graveside liturgy expresses it. But we inhabit a world that is dead set on living in a false story of aging—one that values, at most, only the first half of life but does not value its second half of bodily decline. The Christian whole-life pro-life commitment is beautiful on our lips, but it is more beautiful as it moves to our hands and feet. We assert that all of life is valuable in all of its stages, but do we prove we believe that story by living in a way that reflects this conviction? One of the simplest ways for the modern church to live counterculturally is to embrace, defend, and live as though we value all of life, including the latter parts. But to do so, we must grapple with—and, I believe, reject wholesale—the prevailing attitudes toward decline and death that make up a whopper of a false story. It’s a false story that yields negative consequences for all who embrace it, a false story rooted in how we understand what we were made for and how we relate to time itself. Here are six lies our culture wants us to believe about aging, and the truth the Bible gives us in response: 1. Aging is a diminishment, a loss of identity. As abilities decline and roles shift, aging changes us from someone who “is and does” to someone who “was and did.” We used to be employees, supervisors, fit, lean, beautiful, active, parents, spouses, siblings. We become has-beens, marking time until our bodies give out on us. The Bible instructs that aging is a completion, a deepening of identity. Older men and women are presented as the repositories of a generational wealth that can only be built by the passage of time and, in the case of the believer, by the work of the Spirit. Though the kinds of contributions they make may change over time, “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.” (Ps. 92:14) The titles that once fit them may fall away, but their personhood grows deep roots. They contribute a wisdom that only age can yield. 2. The elderly are obsolete. People don’t just age, they age out. The elderly may still be physically present, but their ability to contribute to or live in a rapidly changing world has more or less ceased. Like pagers and floppy disks and last year’s iPhone, their day of relevance has passed into sunset. Let them collect in communities with other obsolete people, other citizens of the lost world of yesterday. And don’t waste the first half of life, while you still have relevance. The Bible instructs us that the elderly are invaluable. Their insights and experience make them worthy of honor (Lev. 19:32). Their perspectives matter for the well-being of the family, whether family of origin or family of God. That wisdom and experience should grant them a central place in our lives, rather than a sequestered one. And it keeps them relevant for all of life. 3. Wisdom is found among the young. Because tech changes so rapidly, the old among us struggle to keep apace. Knowledge moves faster than they do. Younger generations can conflate a lack of current knowledge with a lack of wisdom. How can someone who needs help with her printer have wisdom to lend? Nowhere is this more evident than on social media platforms, where an entire class of faux experts has emerged: influencers whose credentials we take no time to verify dispense the norms by which we are told to order our lives. These influencers are not gray-hairs. Most are still young adults. And very few are marketing the wisdom of age; they are more likely linking us to the newest fountain of youth with an affiliate link. The Bible instructs us that “wisdom is found among the aged” (Job 12:12), a wisdom of a quality that can only be discovered by the passage of time and the work of the Spirit. That elderly couple who sits behind you at church may not know how to reset their router, but they likely know some invaluable lessons about marriage and parenting. Your grandma who never used sunscreen or had a chemical peel likely knows some secrets about inner beauty, and you need her insights. 4. Aging is a disease to medicate. Modern medicine is a gift that adds length and quality of life to our latter years. While medically mitigating or preventing the suffering that comes with physical decline is a positive, medically masking the outward signs of aging is a matter for serious consideration. One has only to look at the faces and bodies of Hollywood actors to apprehend that aging faces and bodies are increasingly viewed as deformities. Aging is a process to be prevented, concealed, and denied through all manner of injections, surgeries, laser treatments, diets, workouts, and supplements. The Bible instructs us that aging is a gift to steward. When we read that “gray hair is a crown of glory” we are tempted to laugh (Prov. 16:31). But many never live to gain that crown. Those of us who do gain it receive a form of riches–more time for intergenerational relationships, more time for faithful service to God and others. Yes, old age does erode our health, typically requiring doctor appointments, medications, and care. But even in receiving that care, we are met with God’s sustaining presence (Isa. 46:4). As he graciously does with all consequences of the fall, God works aging for our good. Our aging faces and bodies teach us of a sustaining God. 5. The elderly are a burden. In our age of radical individualism, most of us conceive of a successful life as one where we grow up to become self-sufficient, leaving dependency permanently behind in childhood. To return to a state of dependency, particularly dependency on our own children, feels like the ultimate failure. Thus, the idea of the elderly as burdensome takes root. Because aging parents are so often vocal about not wanting to be a burden, adult children may take them at their word, only to be surprised or blindsided by caregiving needs when they arise. The Bible instructs us that the elderly are a sacred charge (Ex. 20:12, cf 1 Tim. 5:8). It anticipates that long life will entail dependency on younger generations. Rather than conceive of caregiving as a downward-only duty, we instead expect that caregiving upward will be a normal, anticipated part of the rhythm of life. We banish the language of burden, both as caregiver and receiver. Caring for the elderly may not be simple or easy, but it is a duty we strive to fulfill out of gratitude. Some of us may not have parents for whom we can reasonably feel grateful, but we seek to care for them as we are able, forgiving where we can, providing where we can. 6. Age is just a number. You’re only as old as you feel! Pay no attention to a date on a calendar. You don’t look a day over 29. Don’t worry, your biological age is much younger than your chronological age. So say the birthday cards, the BFF’s, and the biohackers. The Bible instructs us that our days are sovereignly numbered and that we must strive to number them properly (Ps. 90:12). For the believer, aging gracefully is rooted in a distinctly Christian understanding of grace: that the time God gives us is precious and that our awareness of its passing develops wisdom in us. Well-intended platitudes like “Age is just a number” contain a kernel of truth, but they also betray our desire to deny or minimize the passage of time. Age is not just a number. It’s an indicator light on the dashboard of life. If we want to steward the time God has given, we must pay attention to how much we likely have left to steward. Don’t miss the underlying motivators of these two competing narratives. The world’s false story of anti-aging is motivated by fear: Don’t get old. You’ll be invisible, irrelevant, a has-been, a burden. The Bible’s true story of aging is motivated by joy: Embrace aging. You’ll grow in wisdom, depth, and value. No one is a has-been in God’s family. Which story will you embrace? Your quality of life, your willingness to care for the aging, and your witness to those around you depend on your answer. Aging is the ultimate test of steadfastness. No story but the true one will see us through with dignity and grace. Our aging faces and bodies teach us of a sustaining God. Jen Wilkin is the author of Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World.

Joseph’s story in the book of Genesis is one of the most powerful examples in the Bible of an individual trusting God’s plan through extreme difficulty and hardship. Joseph’s life—marked by betrayal, suffering, and ultimate redemption of an individual who held a key role in God’s plan for his people—did more than shape Joseph’s own future. It preserved the nation of Israel, fulfilled God’s promises, and continues to offer practical lessons for Christians today. Joseph’s Betrayal and Suffering: Trusting God in Hardship Joseph’s trials began with deep betrayal from his own family. His brothers, jealous of their father’s obvious favor for his youngest son Joseph, “stripped him of his robe… and threw him into the cistern” (Genesis 37:23–24). Soon after, convinced by their brother Judah’s appeal to spare Joseph’s life, the brothers agreed to sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:28). As they watched the Ishmaelites carry him away, they thought they had effectively removed him from his home and future. They imagined that their “problem” was solved. After this, Joseph continued to suffer. Taken as a slave to Egypt, he had to cope with life in a foreign land. Though he served faithfully and was well liked by his owner Potiphar, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). And although he was also found useful in prison, being given many responsibilities by the captain of the guard, he was forgotten by those he had helped—those who could have helped him: “The chief cupbearer… did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (Genesis 40:23). Despite years of injustice, Joseph never abandoned his faith. His story reminds believers that trusting God doesn’t mean avoiding hardship; rather, it means remaining faithful to God’s purposes through whatever difficulties may come. How Joseph Preserved Israel and Fulfilled God’s Plan Joseph’s faithfulness positioned him for God’s greater purpose. Scripture emphasizes, “The Lord was with [Joseph] and … gave him success in everything he did” (Genesis 39:2–3). After a series of events in which Joseph was given the opportunity to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph rose to power in Egypt (Genesis 41:14–16, 41). From his lofty position as second-in-command under the Egyptian Pharaoh, Joseph prepared the nation of Egypt for the severe famine predicted in Pharaoh’s dream. When the famine spread throughout the region, Joseph’s own family came to Egypt seeking food—leading to their survival. Joseph later revealed God’s perspective on his suffering to his brothers in one of the most startling stories in the book of Genesis. Joseph met with his brothers, the ones who had betrayed him and sold him into slavery, and Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:19–20). Through Joseph: The family of Jacob, the people of Israel, survived a severe famine. The family of Jacob settled in Egypt, benefitting directly from the influence of Joseph. After they migrated, the people thrived in the land of Egypt: “Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number” (Genesis 47:27). What initially looked like personal tragedy for Joseph was actually an integral part of God’s covenant plan for his people. God empowered Joseph to endure hardship, giving him success in the midst of his troubles. Through God’s care and guidance, Joseph’s dedication to God and his personal integrity was rewarded by his superiors, moving forward the story of the people of God. Joseph’s Godly Character in a Secular Culture Living in Egypt, Joseph remained faithful to God in an environment that was likely openly hostile to the Israelites’ religious devotion. He remained faithful to the convictions he learned under the instruction of his father Jacob, who exemplified faithfulness and dedication to the God of heaven. For example, when tempted to sexual sin by the wife of his employer, he declared: “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). The NIV Application Bible asserts the following about the attempted seduction and subsequent accusation by Potiphar’s wife: The account of the attempted seduction of Joseph shows him in a positive light. The details are given in such a way as to confirm Joseph’s unquestionable innocence. He does not lead on Potiphar’s wife or allow himself to enjoy her company at any level. He is compromised only by a desperate and spiteful act, supported by shameless lies that none can contest but the accused. Potiphar responds by “burn[ing] with anger” (39:19). Given his wife’s slander of his own motives, the proven trustworthiness of Joseph, and his knowledge of his wife’s character or lack of it, Potiphar’s anger arguably burns at his wife, not at Joseph. This is further suggested by the fact that Joseph is only put in the king’s prison. If Potiphar believed his wife and was truly angry with Joseph, Joseph would probably have been executed on the spot, no questions asked. In contrast, the king’s prison was a place for political prisoners and would hardly have been expected to accommodate foreign slaves guilty of crimes against their masters. The action he takes against Joseph is as minimal as it can be while still retaining his family’s honor. Later, when given the unusual (and God-ordained) opportunity to speak with the Pharaoh and interpret his dreams, Joseph stayed humble and refused to take the credit: “I cannot do it… but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16). Again, the NIV Application Bible comments on this story: When Joseph is finally brought before Pharaoh, he is careful to deny that he is a trained expert in dream interpretation. Whatever success he has, he insists, comes from God. He assures Pharaoh that God will give him the “answer he desires” (v. 16). As Joseph presents the interpretation, he also treats the dream as a message from God (41:25). He does not specifically identify the God Yahweh as the deity who has sent the message. He uses generic terminology, and Pharaoh is left to draw his own conclusion about which deity is responsible. Certainly, any deity who could inflict such a severe famine on Egypt must be a powerful one. The gods connected to the Nile and its annual flooding were considered to be powerful gods who would have to be restrained in some way (or angered by some offense) for the annual flooding to fail for seven years. No cause is offered for the coming famine. It would appear odd for a dream to carry prospects of both tremendous prosperity and devastating tragedy. What could possibly be motivating any deity to offer such mutually exclusive determinations? Joseph is clearly no complainer conspiring to speak ill of the throne, nor is he a flatterer trying to get on Pharaoh’s good side by offering joyous news of divine favor. It is not surprising, then, that Pharaoh decides that Joseph is both credible and trustworthy. Again Joseph’s personal integrity and deep trust in God’s plan for his journey stands out. Joseph’s life is exemplary in that it shows Christians today how they can live with integrity, influence, and faithfulness—even in the midst of secular workplaces and cultures. God can and still does work in the lives of his followers to accomplish his purposes. What Christians Today Can Learn from Joseph Joseph’s story is deeply relevant for modern believers, especially Christians navigating uncertain seasons. From his actions and his responses we can be inspired to similarly trust in the God who knows us and promises to lead us. As Proverbs 3:5–6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Here are a few key takeaways: 1. Trust God’s plan when life doesn’t make sense: Joseph’s suffering had purpose—even when he couldn’t see it.2. Stay faithful in hidden seasons: God was shaping Joseph in slavery and prison long before his promotion.3. Let God, rather than your pain, define your story: Joseph chose forgiveness over bitterness.4. Believe God is working behind the scenes. As the New Testament affirms: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Summary: Following Joseph’s Example Joseph didn’t just endure hardship—he trusted God with his entire life story. Because of that, his faithfulness impacted generations and fulfilled God’s promises. His testimony is a reminder that even when circumstances feel confusing or painful, God is still writing the story. The same truth applies today: As did Joseph, we can trust the Author of our story—even when we don’t yet understand the plot. Let’s take one last look at the NIV Application Bible to summarize this short review: God can use even the messiest family dysfunction and wrong motives to accomplish his will. God’s providence moves through all human actions. Even something as horrible as selling a brother into slavery led to the saving of many lives. Surely there were long periods of darkness and despair for Joseph, but in the end God’s plan was good, and Joseph recognized that when he looked back at his past hardships. When we find ourselves in times of uncertainty, Joseph’s story reminds us that God is always in control. Adapted from the study material from the NIV Application Bible based on the NIV Application Commentary series.

Hello, and welcome to Cki's Inspirations where we receive insights from the word of God to enhance and brighten our day! So, grab a cup of coffee or tea and relax awhile with me. I pray that each and every encounter will be a blessing to you. ~ Peace & Love~ Cki. Well, Praise the Lord Saints of God! What an awesome day to give praise and honor to God our Father, the Creator of all things, including us! Today is a beautiful Wednesday. Why? Because it is truly the day the Lord has made, it does my heart good to rejoice in it. Well, yesterday we ordered the first copies of my new book, "The Un-Sophistication of Prayer." This book is a revelation! The thing to note about this book is that I did not write it as an expert on prayer, quite the opposite. I am sharing my journey to fellowship with my Father in a more excellent way, without fear that I might not say it just right; and without guile, praying with one eye open. My desire is to talk with God with confident expectation that God hears Me and that He is not examining my prayer like a stern teacher holding a stick waiting for me to mess up a scripture so He can wack me one. The book has as a foundational scripture, Matthew 11: 24-25 (Message Bible): "Abruptly, Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, You've concealed Your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes. Father, that's the way You like to work." That verse exploded within me! There were some in that day who were scholarly and self-important. Jesus declared that true discipleship belongs to those who come to Him with childlike faith. It will never be the brilliance of man that gives us access to God; it will never be the wisdom that comes from the flesh; but there is only one door of access to God, and that is through Jesus Christ! So, here is the wrap-up statement from the book's back cover: "God blessed us with many tools in our "Divine Toolbox" that enable us to walk strong and without fear in this troubled world. One such tool is prayer. Glory to God; we get to pray and talk to the Father whenever we desire to. We are the most privileged people on the face of this earth: Those who belong to Jesus. Because of Salvation, we can talk to God through a strategic method called prayer: Prayer fuels Kingdom Life! " So, I pray that many of you will take this journey with me to enhanced prayer and relationship with our Father. That our prayer lives will take off like a rocket: closer relationship with God; praying with the expectation of answered prayer; seeing the power of God manifested through you; and watching the anointing upon your life released so that the will of God for you and your ministry can bear fruit! God was so merciful and loving that He equipped us fully to walk in power and purpose. He put His Spirit within us! The Holy Spirit of God, the very same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead resides within us. He is available whenever we yield to prayer. He leads us and guides us to pray even when we don't know what to pray for. We are blessed beyond measure to be led, even in prayer by the Spirit of God! Come with me as we delve into His role in our prayer life, to include using our prayer language; and hearing perhaps for the first time that the Holy Spirit prays for us with "groanings that cannot be uttered!" Jesus, our High Priest also prays for us, so we are covered. We're not dependent on carnal knowledge or intellect. Come on and go with me on this journey! You know how I love coffee and/or tea; a quiet room; the Holy Spirit and me. Now, that's a prescription for meditation in the word of God. Someone once said: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The book is now available from www.lulu.com/cynthiainniss. Or, can be purchased through our website @ wwwcynthia52.com. Be the first to order! God bless each family represented here; and I hope to see you often here in Cki's Inspirations, right here at www.cynthia52.com ! Love always, Cki. Good morning everyone! What a privilege to arrive at this day with the breath of God still in our bodies! I pray your week was as satisfying as our week has been thus far. God is still in His holy temple, He is still ruler of all things, the All-mighty who has so generously given us salvation and grace. I'm so excited about my new book that explores a different genre of writing. It is a fictional short story, a cautionary tale to especially women and young ladies who are seeking a mate. Today, dating is different than in my day. People are meeting on social media, and so many other ways that seem to be less safe. Finding ways to connect is not that easy, especially for those who profess Jesus Christ. My heart is knit to especially women, and young girls who desire a mate, and no suitable mate has arrived. The over-arching theme that I wanted to put across is to always remember that God is still in control when we give our desires to Him. The engaging heroine of my short story is Veronica. She is sincere in her search for the man of her dreams. But as always, there is an adversary to her dreams, and he is busy! Veronica finally meets what she believes is the man of her dreams in aisle 7 of the grocery store, but the relationship, the dream takes an unexpected turn. What to do? Veronica has a choice to make, and I believe you will enjoy the twists and turns on the way to finding her true north. Synopsis of the Short Story, "The Prodigal Daughter: Home at Last:"This is a powerful journey of healing and redemption. Veronica's dreams of a new life were shattered by the person she trusted most. Betrayed and broken, she returns home to confront the darkness of her past and the secrets that haunted her. Will she find the strength to heal, forgive, and love again?" I invite you today to come with Veronica on her journey. I truly believe this is a story of hope for the future; a journey that is just beginning! This short story, "The Prodigal Daughter: Home at Last," will be available within the coming weeks. So, stay tuned for the release! Meanwhile, check out, "Woman Where is Your Crown," and all of C.K. Inniss' books @ www.cynthia52.com . Many thanks to all my readers for your support and encouragement, it means so much to me! Have a glorious day! God bless you; see you soon. Love, Cki. Am I Boring? Good morning family! On this beautiful Friday morning that the Lord has made, I'm asking a profound question: "Am I boring?" Has that accusation ever been tossed your way? How did you respond? No one asked me per se, but there are times when the life I've chosen to live seems to pale in comparison to those outside God's Kingdom. And, no matter how much, or how often you tell yourself that life in the Kingdom is far superior, you know that using the scale for measuring fun and success that the world is using, causes your life to seem like it's standing still, while their lives are on steroids! I especially think about the children, falling prey to the idea that more money is the the panacea, the remedy to everything that ails them. Today, with social media so prevalent in their lives, how can you present Kingdom principles to them in a way that resonates? Many Christians are not rich or famous. They don't have "football player" money, or rapper money, or even drug dealer sized wallets. But, somehow, Christians are charged with presenting Jesus as that panacea: the solution to everything, including money. How can we convince today's young people who treasure Jordan sneakers and gold chains, that those things will not sustain them? We can't; but the Holy Spirit can! This is not a fleeting, random thought for me; my heart is heavy watching the news where every day precious young souls are sacrificed to the perils of dark suggestion. Dear Lord, I pray that somehow, Your peace will be revealed to this generation as priceless; a peace that surpasses understanding, for real. I pray that Your provision will be enough for this thirsty generation; that Your bread will nourish and replenish them as their minds are renewed. So, Father, I ask that You will send persons across the path of every young person who is searching for an identity. That Grace, Your unmerited, unearned favor, will, in an "aha" moment, open eyes that are unable in this present moment to see. Father, send persons across the path of the one seeking direction, someone who can articulate the Gospel message clearly (led by Your Spirit) and with compassion and agape love. Father, I pray that in this nation, and dare I say, around the world, young people will come in droves asking: "What must I do to be saved." That they will see that these things they seek will not satisfy (perhaps for a moment), but they bring sorrow soon enough. Father, help the church to see that souls are of paramount importance. Bring home those who left the church because of disappointment, to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Father, let Your power and glory be seen upon Your people, Your ministers, and all who profess the name of Your son, Jesus. It is in His name, the name above all names, Jesus the Christ, that I offer this prayer, and expect to see results manifest speedily. Amen. So, am I boring? Some would answer a profound yes to that statement concerning most Christians. But, there is a little known secret: Christians swing from chandeliers when they pray fervent prayers, and those prayers are answered! Christians dance and sing to the top of our lungs when we get caught up in outrageous worship of the Father. We have a joy that is truly unspeakable and full of glory! We also have successful businesses, fire-fueled ministries, and fulfilled lives. Proverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." God blesses us in ways that are supernatural and incredible; and they come without hangovers, and without overdoses. You can eat and drink to the full and it simply increases or enhances your joy quotient! So, no-one has asked me that question out loud yet, but, when they do, I will be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks me about this hope that I have. You see, people are watching you, even as they are chasing what the world offers. They see your peace, your joy, the absence of hangovers and suicidal murmurings; they seek lasting marriages like yours, and they long secretly for the saving Grace that you possess. Grace is not boring; rather, it is exhilarating, it is life-giving; spontaneously life-generating, and affirming! How can that lack excitement? And, at the end of it all is heaven, and eternity with the Lord. Heaven on earth, and heaven forever! Thank You Jesus for the cross. So, this is your never-boring friend, Cki., signing off. See you again real soon! *Love is the whole basis of the Gospel message: Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. Love him/her enough to share this priceless Salvation!!! Now go out and have an exhilarating day in the LORD. Love you, Cki. There’s Light at the end of Your Tunnel! Have you ever felt like your life is an underground passage, and you’re doing everything in your power to tunnel through? Well, guess what? There is an end to your situation. When we barrel through tunnels in life, they are usually dark and a bit scary because they are covered passageways, subterranean galleries that eventually bring us back into the light of day or night. But, you have to go through the experience to come out on the other side! There’s a Christian song that says, “I’m so glad, yea, trouble don’t last always.” The songwriter had terrific insights as to how God works in our lives. He may not come when you expect or desire, but He’s always on time; sometimes there are lessons to learn. The Bible tells us not to dismay when trials and tribulations come (for they will come), because Jesus already took care of it; He overcame the world! The men on the boat with Jesus found a new friend called patience. They were undone, because Jesus, the Master of the Sea was sleeping in the boat as the storm raged. But Jesus demonstrated a powerful key before their eyes; He spoke to the storm! Yes, Jesus spoke to the wind and the rain, and they obeyed. What did He say? He spoke: “Peace, be still.” A woman of God who suffered unimaginable horrors, Corrie Ten Boom wrote: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” So, who is the engineer of your life? Who is at the controls? There will be times in your life when you feel like this is the end for me; that you have arrived at the end of the darkest tunnel ever, but guess what, at the end of that darkness is light! When Jesus is at the controls, He is the light of life, so how can we drown ourselves in worry, when we believe? When we “let go, and let God,” someone put it this way: “There will be the moment when a dazzling new day dawns on your horizon.” Yolanda Adams sings a song that quiets my nerves each time I hear it called, guess what, “Riding through the Storm.” She sings, “The storms of life will blow, they’re sure to come and go, they meet me at a time when I’m calm and doing fine; but the Captain of my soul {Jesus}, He’s always on board; He rocks me in His arms, while I’m riding through the storm.” So many other beautiful lyrics in that song, but the gist of it is that fear and anxiety can be foreign to the believer who rides with Jesus. We; like Him; can speak to the circumstances in our lives and command them to obey us! So, today, allow Jesus to command your boat, or to lead you through your tunnel, knowing that there is guaranteed success on the horizon. This Grace we have through Christ Jesus is awesome! God wants us to know that we are His children, and He is the Great Provider. He promised to help us in our times of need; to never leave, nor forsake us. Grab hold to that line any time you feel like you’re sinking; examine where you are and see if you somehow departed from the will of God for your life. Another songwriter wrote: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” That’s a good motto or mantra for today. Believe what another songwriter wrote: “There is no pain that Jesus can’t feel; no hurt He cannot heal. For all things work according to His perfect will. No matter what you’re going through, remember God is using you, for the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s." I guess I’m in a Yolanda Adam’s mood this morning, because I can almost hear the beautiful strains of that song, and her lovely voice belting it out! Trust God today, beloved, there really is no other way to the light but through Jesus Christ! ~ May God bless you always, Cki. ~ "Hold Your Position!" Warfare for the Spirit-filled believer is a serious matter. We must hold our position in the thick of the battle; don't give up any ground to the enemy! Christians often posture and fight a fake warfare where we act as if opposition is not real. We are in a day when appearance is the ideal, rather than the truth at the base of appearance. We're in a war whether we signed up for it or not. There is an active enemy coming against us and he is relentless. Sometimes when we think we are strong, the enemy is shooting arrows all around us, most of them missing, when we are alert. Friday is a positive day; the end of the work week. So, why is Cynthia sounding a pessimistic note this morning? Well, because the times are rough; there is trouble on every side; the wars are raging, not only in other countries, but here in the US of A, and even in our homes. Ignorance is not bliss! So, this morning I am sounding a warning cry to be alert at all times. Get dressed for battle every day; put on the complete armor of God that you may be able to stand, and having done all to stand, the word of God tells us to "stand therefore." We are indeed soldiers in the army of the Lord. The adversary hated Jesus and he hates us. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but there are principalities and powers; rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in the high places to contend with. We, in this dispensation, need to learn to navigate beyond our five senses. The sense realm is just the beginning. God has given us weapons of warfare that rise above carnality; weapons that are mighty through Him to the pulling down of every stronghold. I believe its time to get serious about spiritual warfare. It's time to take back everything the enemy, Satan, is trying to steal or has stolen from us and from our families. As a grand-ma, I sense even stronger the need for intense prayer; for leaving "milk" and moving on to the "meat" of the Word. We do this through the pursuit of a "Holy Ghost" filled; fire-baptized ministry. He will teach us how to war a good warfare. He will teach us how to use our one offensive weapon and the other defensive ones. The word of God is our offensive weapon. Study, get in there and learn how to wield this weapon. The Bible tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat the fruit thereof. So, learn to speak the Word. There is power, life-altering power in the word of God! Then allow the Holy Spirit to instruct you as to how to wear the rest of the armor. As an ex-military soldier, I know the value of using our armor properly. I never saw combat, in that sense of the word, but we prepared for it intensively. I was assigned at one point to Bomb Damage Repair (BDR). The idea was that an enemy could blow a hole in the run-way to impede the progress of our air response or attacks. We were to run out and repair the damage so that planes could land and take-off. I had a helmet on to protect my head, much like the armor laid out in Ephesians, chapter 6. Well, in this spiritual battle, the devil loves to wage war on the battlefield of the mind: the seat of control for the soul that controls our decision making. Satan's primary MO is to get us to hear his thoughts, ideas and suggestions that are enervating (a gradual or physical moral weakness); that sow seeds of divisiveness, discord, and disaffection. God has given us a girdle to under-gird and bind us up. We have a breastplate of righteousness (our original is as filthy rags, it cannot protect us; what we have through Jesus Christ is righteous). We walk with shoes of peace; we have a shield of faith that moves to combat the fiery darts of the enemy. And , we have the sword of the Spirit that I mentioned earlier, which is the word of God! Better than any GI issue, God has properly dressed us for guaranteed success against any and all advances. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your instructor in the proper use of this incredible armor. Just remember, the devil does not take a day off; he is always on the job seeking whom he may devour. God has equipped us to fight and win every-time. And, remember, this really is a fixed-fight; the enemy doesn't stand a chance against you or your family because you are diligent, vigilant, and on the job 24/7! Study how Jesus dealt with Satan in the wilderness. He was victorious as He wielded the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God! Jesus said, "It is written." Now, it's our turn to say, "It is written." But, we must first know what is written. Declare the Word over your life and your families' life. Place the blood of Jesus over the door-post of your life through prayer. Plead the blood; declare the promises of God as a decree and always receive them as amen. I could go on and on about the weapons God has given us and the secret to using those weapons, who is the Holy Spirit. But let me just say: Praise God for loving us so thoroughly; for sending Jesus to die for us, to put the enemy under our feet. Jesus won the victory, now it is our turn to maintain it. The word of God tells us that we overcome (are victorious), by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. And what else does that verse say? "And not loving our lives unto death." Well, that's a lot for one talk, but we need to declare and decree that all offerings from the enemy are refused! I have authority given to me by Jesus, and I can dismantle the schemes of the devil by my words. I choose to stand my ground through the power of the anointing! Thank You Jesus for Your great sacrifice; in my life, it will never be in vain. See you next time when we'll continue to explore "Active Warfare," through the 3 R's of Active Warfare." Until then, blessings for a powerful week in the Lord!. Love you, Cki. "Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold to eternal life!" 1 Tim. 6:12 Chasing darkness, or the Light? (The Eclipse) The "great chase" continues on this Monday morning! Especially today, because thousands are chasing a total solar eclipse. There will not be another for the next 20 years, they say! There is a strong "so what" factor here. To those who do not chase such phenomenons, there is wonder that persons will gas up and drive for hours to see darkness. But here's an existential question: "Why chase darkness, when darkness is all around us?" Yes, the Bible speaks of darkness, and gross darkness concerning the people. I am intrigued by scripture in Isaiah 60 that speaks of a dichotomy between darkness and light that should be our focus. Let's take a look: Isaiah 60: 1-2: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee." Down through the years, that darkness has manifested, from the darkness that shrouded Zion in that day, to the darkness that brings poverty, wars, racism, and political unrest to nations of the world today. So, it seems strange to chase darkness, unless you look into it to reject its gifts as you see the beauty of light which brings order to chaos. To those who are citizens of the Kingdom of God, you know what I mean. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). He is the light of the world; and He is our light and our salvation which takes away all fear (Psalm 27:). The power of God's light expels darkness and all the powers of evil, so why wouldn't we prefer light over darkness? The answers to life are in the light! There is one scripture that blows the mind of God's children, because the possibilities within it speak to the limitless power of God to transcend anything, especially darkness: "Light shines in darkness, and the darkness cannot understand nor overpower, nor extinguish it!" Light in scripture symbolizes God's all-encompassing knowledge, wisdom and creative power. It symbolizes God's holiness (in Him is no darkness at all). It symbolizes God's intrinsic goodness; His gracious nature; and His revelations to His people. We, as His children are to be light in this world. Matthew 5: 14-16 tells us that we are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. We are to shine into dark places (like putting a light on a stand rather than under a bushel basket). So that I don't make this long and drawn out, let me just say that the first words God uttered in creation were: "Let there be light." The first thing in that moment of creation was light. What I'm trying to put forth here is that darkness is the opposite of that light, and it represents chaos. When God uttered those words, the earth was void and in a chaotic state. Darkness covered the face of the deep. God was restoring order; and bless God, light illuminated that gross darkness. Praise God, we get to live in this day when the light of God is so available through the Holy Spirit, our wisdom guide. We don't have to chase after it. When you're in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within You; He walks alongside You; He sticks to you closer than a brother; and He always brings light! So, today, I pray that all those who are hitting the highways chasing darkness, (especially those seeking some deep spiritual experience), will instead look up: not into the sun's eclipse, but to the SON, sent by God to bring new life! Every bit of knowledge one seeks, can be found through relationship with the resurrected Christ. It's ironic that this eclipse is occurring so close to the celebration of the death of Christ, where at the site of the crucifixion, about noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. Someone said it was an "oppressive gloom." I believe that gloom still hovers over the earth today, not as a scientific phenomenon, but because of sin and despair. But, the resurrection happened! New life, new opportunities, deliverance and hope! This hope is a confident expectation of good that is available to everyone who will receive it. This hope is in JESUS! So, I pray this will save someone money, time and heartbreak chasing darkness. But, rather attention will shift to the Author of Life and light who can bless your life and make it count! God bless you as you walk through April 8th, 2024, a day of decision! Love you, Cki. The Afterglow: Carpe Diem Carpe Diem, often translated as "Seize the Day," has been debated as to its original meaning. But, this morning I submit to you that "seize the day" is just fine with me. It's the same, to those who love Jesus, as saying, "Command your morning," or your day. " We want to take charge of our days from morning to night. Time is of the essence! Time, though some live to be 90, 100 years today, even that is a vapor. I saw one translation of carpe diem which said, enjoy yourself, savor the uniqueness and value of every moment. For those in Christ Jesus, living in the Kingdom of God, that is truth! We live a unique existence which emanates from the Throne-room of Grace. Those are not just fancy words without meaning, the Kingdom of God is amazing! There is a power that we have access to as Christians that the world cannot know or understand. We have been plucked up out of darkness, into the marvelous light of God through Jesus Christ. Yesterday on the Christian calendar was Resurrection Sunday or Easter as it is often called. There was a bit of euphoria attached to the day, some people came into the church house for a once a year visit because of a seed sown probably when they were children. I pray that every one of those seeds was watered on yesterday, and those precious souls yearn for that special touch of the Holy Spirit to be a permanent part of their lives. I simply cannot imagine the number of souls saved on yesterday! That is the true meaning of carpe diem to me, seize the day to win souls, souls, and more souls; to bring them into the Kingdom!!! So, as we bask in the afterglow of Easter celebrations, let those of us in Christ Jesus always remember that we are on a mission for the One who shed His precious blood and died for our salvation, to expand the Kingdom of God. We are happy only when His purposes are manifesting rapidly throughout the whole earth. So, whatever your particular talent; give it over to Jesus, and allow the blessed Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in the proper use of that gift. May the Lord add a blessing to this inspiration. And I look forward to Resurrection Day or Easter Sunday, 2025!!! Amen . Scriptures: Ephesians 5:15-17: "So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for His purposes. And don't live foolishly for then you will have discernment to fully understand God's will. And, don't get drunk with with wine, which is rebellion, instead be filled continually with the Holy Spirit." (TPT). Finally, Psalm 90:12 reminds us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." Life here on earth is finite, we want to be good stewards of this precious gift of minutes and hours. Our greatest desire should be to please God, and to bless our fellow sojourners. Jesus commanded us to "Love one another as He has loved us." (John 13:34). That's one commandment we can all embrace by the power of the Holy Spirit: setting aside differences and seeing the face of God in every man and woman created by Him as precious and worthy of agape love. So, on the Monday after; we can continue to bask in the afterglow; but we must keep stoking the fire through time spent building a strong, firm relationship with the Father, and through doing His will, not ours. Have a wonderful day in the Lord. God bless you, Cki. "May the fire on my altar never burn out; make me a house of prayer!" From Poverty to Power, in our Souls! Glory to God! Today's a new day; a thrilling opportunity to learn and grow through revelation knowledge! It is such an awesome pleasure to lift up the name of Jesus on this Friday morning; one more time in the earth realm. The God we serve is beyond what we call awesome in this world. He loved us beyond measure, sending His Son to die for our sins and to return us to Him. Many years ago, I wrote a book called: "From Poverty to Power; Enriching the Soul." As I look back on it, there is a profound yearning to carry out the "Great Commission;" to tell everyone about Jesus, the One who was crucified, died and was buried. There was a great stone rolled against the tomb to assure He could not escape death, but when the women arrived at the tomb, Jesus was not in it! He was very much alive! So, the bottom line is that we serve a risen King; King of Kings; Lord of Lords. One who enabled us to live a different kind of life, free of every entanglement that would threaten to devour us. My heart was poured out in that book in child-like fashion. I was somewhat new to expressing my feelings about Jesus and the Christian faith in writing for all to see, and my passion was palpable. Here's an excerpt: "God's Spirit placed upon my heart, a burden for men, women, boys and girls who have come to Christ Jesus through salvation, but who continue to reach for all the wrong things in life: searching for love in all the wrong places, and living like the devil daily while professing Christ Jesus on Sunday morning! God taught me the dangerous power of a soul that is not renewed by the word of God according to Romans 12:2. Another verse continues the plea to allow righteousness and holiness to become themes in our lives rather than "back-burner" issues: "The errant soul can carry the believer into dark and dank places where he does not belong! Although salvation has taken place in the spirit, and that one is saved to eternal life, he or she has not tapped into the power of God that makes it possible to live a Kingdom of God lifestyle right here on earth. God gave us a powerful key to this style of life in Romans 14:17: "For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but it is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost . So, all of our worldly preoccupations are designed to deter us from what is real and vastly important, which is, living a Christ-like life before God and man. The Holy Scriptures clearly tell us that only what we do for Christ will remain." A writer wrote that we have "One life, two little lines." What will you put between those lines? At first, we did not know any better; but now, we do know. Life is not about graft and greed; life is not about petty jealousies. Life is not about differences separating us, like color of skin; ethnicity; or creative thought; things that were meant by God to enhance our lives, not to divide us! God created a beautiful tapestry for us to enjoy, that when perverted in our thoughts, causes us to look upon our brother or sister with a jaundiced eye. God has so much more than that laid up for His children. Jesus said in John 10:10: "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." So, if you're a Christian who is living underneath your privileged and authorized inheritance as outlined in the precious Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ to you (the Bible); If you're broke and ashamed of your lifestyle. If you are interested in grabbing hold of the principles of "Soul Prosperity" (prosperity of the mind, the will and the emotions) that will catapult you from the cellar of blessings - to eating from the Master's table, then stay tuned this week as we explore further the Gift of Life God has already given you. It's yours for the receiving! I invite you to join me at www.cynthia52.com to enjoy this article and many others. I look forward to an amazing weekend and week to follow, in Christ Jesus. Blessings, Cki. Resurrection Sunday is Here!!! (Holy Week 2024) Hallelujah! Our anthem for today is the song: "Up From the Grave He Arose!!! The song-writer captured the essence of the resurrection beautifully with these lyrics: "Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose; He arose; Hallelujah, Christ arose!" Today, we celebrate the message of Holy Week; the culmination of an 8-day journey with Jesus. The excitement is palpable as families prepare for what is widely known as Easter Sunday. Churches all over the globe are filled with worshipers; tables are prepared for family dinners. But the most important part of Resurrection Sunday is coming face to face with the reality that we serve a risen Savior! Scriptures come to life in our hearts once again. Matthew 28:6: "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay." Glory to God! That was indeed a hallelujah moment. So, how does the resurrection bring you hope and joy? Let's remember a scripture from 1st Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 14: "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power." So, as we celebrate the triumph of our Lord, and His resurrection; how He was raised from the dead; don't forget to celebrate your own translation from death to life. Jesus completed His work which remitted our sin, and brought us back into relationship with God the Father and eternal life. Another delicious scripture, this time from Romans 6:4-5 brings us into Jesus' triumph: "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His; we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." 1st Peter 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." We could go on and on with glorious scriptures that link our fortunes to Christ's. We have new life in Him, our sins are forgiven, and now we are positionally seated together with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places. Scripture tells us that we are joint heirs with Christ! We are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. So, not only did we go from death to life, we are now heirs and heiresses according to the scriptures. We are ambassadors carrying the gospel message to the poor and spiritually disenfranchised. We are part now of a new nation called the Kingdom of God; a holy nation! So, let us arise to our new station in life. I pray now that the Holy Spirit will help us to see the golden status we now have in this new life: That all who profess Jesus will live as He lived, warriors for the truth; warriors who spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. I pray that all who receive Jesus will also receive the call on your life to labor in the vineyard; to tell a dying world that Jesus Christ lives; to be a vessel God can use to bring souls into the Kingdom, and to disciple them as led by the Holy Spirit. One last scripture from Mark 16:15-17: "He (Jesus) said to them: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe. In My name they will drive out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well." So, you see, the same as Jesus walked in power, so shall we who believe on Him. The Bible emphatically states that the same power that raised up Jesus from the dead now dwells in us (Rom. 8-11). Praise His Holy name. We have the Holy Spirit of the living God within us to lead and guide us into all truth. He is the power of God resident within us. Therefore, we are a blessed people empowered to prosper and to do good works for God. And this is a great time to remember that only what we do for Christ will remain. Glory to God! Let's pray: Father, we thank You for opening our eyes to the glory of the 8-day journey of Jesus from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the people cried out "Hosanna in the highest", to the crucifixion and resurrection. We thank You, Father, for clarity of purpose. We thank You Jesus, for Your great sacrifice on the cross. We are so grateful for the resurrection where our triumph comes from. Father, I pray that these truths become rhema in the lives of all who read these words and agree that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God! It is in the name above every name that I pray, the precious name of Jesus, the Christ, Son of the living God, amen and amen. Jesus overcame death, hell and the grave. Now, death no longer has any victory, neither the grave any sting. May the glory of Jesus' resurrection remind us that in Christ, nothing is impossible to us; hope springs eternal! Please enjoy Resurrection Sunday celebrations with family and friends in remembrance of Jesus and His substitutionary atonement and propitiation for our sin. "Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?" God loves you, and so do I. Forever, Cki. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (Holy Week 2024) Praise God! This 2024 Holy Week Celebration marches on! We are privileged to be able to experience each day of Jesus' journey, from Palm Sunday, to Resurrection Sunday. Within those days there is triumphant celebration of Jesus by the people of that day; and then just as suddenly, they called for the release of Barrabas over Jesus, calling for the crucifixion of our Lord. Maundy Thursday gives us the institution of the "Last Supper." What a gift to the body of Christ this would become. Jesus institutes Communion which we observe to this day! Jesus also washed the feet of His disciples on Maundy Thursday, demonstrating servant-hood; how we all are to love one another from the seeming "high place of titles and position, to the place of the person in need." Jesus said, "You call Me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I Am. If I then, your Lord and teacher have washed your feet; you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done to you." (John 13: 12-15). Maundy means commandment in Latin. That is why English speaking countries call Thursday of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday where Jesus gives the great command to love one another as He has loved us. The following day is Good Friday, which is to me as important and significant as Sunday. On Sunday we celebrate the risen Savior, but how can one arise from the dead, if He has not died? On "Good Friday" there was crucifixion, and death. Jesus is condemned to die. This Jesus is the same Jesus who on day one, Palm Sunday, was heralded with palm branches and cries of hosanna; now, he is crucified and dies. Many believe this day is called "Good Friday" because it is the dramatic culmination of God's plan to forgive our sins. Without the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus, without the excruciatingly painful death, without the stripes He took to secure our healing, Sunday would not be possible. In our session on Zoom yesterday, so many nuggets were uncovered. Someone said, if they had chosen Jesus over Barabbas, where would we be? God had a plan, and Judas Iscariot set the plan in motion. The rest followed the prophecies that foretold Jesus' death and resurrection, and we are the recipients of the golden nuggets of Salvation! Just remember; Thursday and Friday were necessary for Jesus to complete His work. But, there is light, an inexpressible bright light at the end of this tunnel. Saturday is coming; a day of waiting, followed by Sunday's power-full resurrection! Spoiler alert: "He got up, with all power in His hands; glory to God!" Scripture readings: John 13: 1-17; and Matthew 27: 1-66. Song: "We Remember You, by Morris Chapman Enjoy Holy Week, delving deeply into the journey of our Lord. This is the most important week of the Christian experience. You will be blessed. Love you, Cki. "We're Approaching the Season!" (Palm Sunday 2024) The songwriter wrote: "Hallelujah! Jesus is alive; death lost it's victory, and the grave has been denied. The Lamb of God is risen, He's alive! Hallelujah, Jesus is alive!" We begin today what is referred to as "Holy Week." What an awesome time of remembrance. We will remember the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Jesus was hailed as king by the crowds. Well, just a few days later, it was the crowd that screamed: Give us Barrabas!" They screamed: "Crucify Him! We will never know the depth of what led the crowd to change so dramatically; or even the depth of Jesus' agony as He was scourged, and crucified. Why would He endure such condemnation and pain when He was the Son of God who could call legions of angels to rescue Him? The crux of the matter is that Jesus was on a mission to do the work and the will of the Father. Jesus was on a mission to set us free! The mission was not one of pleasure for Jesus, or desire. We remember Gethsemane: the garden where Jesus prayed and asked that the cup pass from Him. But, Jesus ultimately prayed: "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done." Those words spoke volumes; and they continue to speak to us today, challenging us to give up our feelings and fears, and our desires, to take up our cross and follow Him. He is worthy of all the praise, the honor and the glory; for without His shed blood, we would be forever in sin and separated from God! But, praise the Lord, we are no longer separated; but, we who were once afar off have been brought nigh by the blood of the Lamb! We, who were bankrupt, lost for all eternity, have been translated from darkness to light; from death to life! So, this week, put the Cross of Calvary in remembrance; not the physical cross, but the holy, power filled day of surrender, where the whole destiny of creation was divinely shifted! Think about His great love shown to us on that fateful day; of His goodness. Think about the blood shed when they pierced His side; and the water. Think about how drastically your life, and my life has changed because Jesus surrendered His life. Now, during this holy week, think about your part in the story. What does God require of you? Will you be faithful to your charge? Let's ponder these things together, and when we arrive at Resurrection Sunday, next week, we will be stronger; our minds refreshed; our gratitude even greater than today. May God bless and keep each of you; may He make His face to shine upon you, and may He continue to grant you peace. Love you always, Cki. "Holy Wednesday: Sunday is Coming!" (Holy Week 2024) Sometimes Holy Wednesday is called "Spy Wednesday." What? Is there some kind of cloak and dagger going on? Yes, the Bible is filled with intrigue. And nothing is more undercover than the work of Judas behind the scenes, a clandestine spy who orchestrated the "ambush" of Jesus. Judas was to collect information like an informant, give it to the Sanhedrin, and lead them to Jesus, even to point him out with a kiss. Matthew 26: 14-16: "Then one of the twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?" The answer was 30 pieces of silver. We're never sure why a person goes from patriot to spy, but some speculate that Judas was frustrated. He thought Jesus would topple Rome. Some think he wanted to give Jesus a push that would invoke insurrection. Whatever the reason, Judas betrayed Jesus for personal reasons. My prayer today is that not one of us will ever follow in Judas' footsteps, That we will hold fast to our profession of faith; that we will forever confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God! Denial is normally the product of process. Persons don't just wake up one day, stop assembling with other saints, stop professing the promises of God, or even stop praying, there is a stealthy process that begins (usually stemming from a hurtful event). In the case of Judas, he was called a thief, stealing from the money box. In the gospel of John, we get a little insight into a flaw in Judas' character. Remember when Mary took a costly oil of spikenard, opened it and poured it out upon Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair? What an awesome display of her love for Him. Judas asked, why didn't we sell that oil and give the money to the poor? It could have garnered three hundred denari! John gives us the hidden motivation here: more money! He was disgruntled, and he had personal desires that led him down a path all the way to betrayal! Ultimately, he led a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and pharisees to the Garden where Jesus would go after their meal. And, how did Judas betray him? He betrayed him with a kiss. The kiss seemed to highlight the fact that he had a personal relationship with Jesus that he used for ill-gotten gains. Guess what came later? As Judas listened to the Jewish religious leaders and their unjust deliberations that would lead to Jesus' conviction and death, Judas seemed to become remorseful. He "threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself." 2 Cor. 7:10: "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." So, today, on this Wednesday morning of Holy Week, let's examine ourselves, asking the Holy Spirit to help us see our motivations; making sure that we will never receive outside information that turns us away from God's pronouncements. No matter our sin, Jesus died to remit it; we can repent and turn back to God at any moment. We can confess our sins, and God has promised to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! Holy Wednesday always leads to resurrection Sunday! Repentance brings transformation; joy; revival; forgiveness; and an eternal refreshing! God bless you all! Maundy Thursday is coming! Love you, Cki. "I Will Always Love You" (The Struggle to Forgive) Well, Praise the Lord once again saints. What a privilege to open our eyes to another bright new day full of possibilities. How many of you remember Whitney Houston's rendition of the song: "I Will Always Love You?" Her voice was enigmatic, and soulful. But, the song pledges something that is rare in this world. Will you always love the person you're gaga about in this moment? Can you promise never to leave or forsake them? Well, today I want to talk about someone who really will keep that promise; Jehovah God! This is the all-powerful One who has promised never to leave us, nor forsake us. He has promised never to abandon us. I believe I'm speaking to someone right now; someone who is suffering abandonment: through a break-up of a relationship; a rift between family members; separation from your church through a misunderstanding; or even suffering abandonment because of a divorce. No matter the reason for that person to leave your life; that special someone you loved with all your heart who is now on the verge of walking out; the pain is palpable. God never told us we would not suffer loss; that trials would not come to us; but He did promise that Jesus overcame the world, so we can be of good cheer. What kind of advice is that in the midst of my storm? How can you tell me to smile and move on when my whole world is shattered? The answer is, I can't tell you that in good conscience. There have been too many times in my life when I've had to swallow deep disappointment and hear the word of the Lord. Times when people hurt me, or left me, pledging friendship forever. It's so hard to understand how a bond can be so easily broken. Sometimes I don't even know what I've done to have the relationship come to such an abrupt and sad end. But, no matter what I feel; no matter how deep the wound; God says that I must forgive the one who broke his/her promise. I must forgive them for my sake! At first, I thought this impossible; but now, because the Holy Spirit has taught me that forgiveness is as necessary as breathing, that God forgave us through Jesus Christ and changed our lives forever; I can now more quickly forgive. Heavenly Father, I pray now for my sister, my brother who is struggling to forgive the one who wounded them; the one who abandoned them; the one who broke trust. Father, Your word which governs the life of your children teaches us to forgive as we have so graciously been forgiven. Father, please forgive me for harboring unforgiveness when you have shown us the benefit of forgiving all who trespass against us. Anger and bitterness become my portion when I hold onto offense. Teach me how to give up my "right" to be angry, and to live as You have demonstrated to us. Father, I vow right now, to forgive anyone who has wronged me in any way. I give it to You Father, and I leave it with You. Today, is my freedom moment. The enemy of our souls will have no part in me. Father, I forgive everyone who hurt me; I will not harbor the poison of unforgiveness any longer. Thank You Lord for the power to forgive. In Jesus' name I pray, amen and amen. Before today, you thought it impossible to let go and let God handle the pain deep inside. But, bless God, now you are ready to close your hand like a fist; then open it slowly, and visualize letting go. This works by faith, and faith works by love. Now that you have forgiven all; give God a praise for this unexpected shift in your whole way of seeing things, and arise to your new life of peace and tranquility in Christ Jesus. I love you so much, and Jesus loves you even more; and, more perfectly. Blessings always, Cki. Cruising Through Life With Grace! Praise the Lord! It's Monday morning again, and God is still in His holy temple! And what are we doing? We are still cruising through life with grace, I hope. In the book, "Cruising Through LIfe With Grace," I wrote: "Father, I awake to Your glory; I lay me down to sleep in Your presence, and then morning comes again, and I see the glory of the Lord shining bright all over again." God's glory is evident everywhere if we'll see with the eyes of the Spirit. When you think about God's goodness to you over the years, gratitude will flood your soul and things will become more than tolerable, all the way to something good is on the way through Christ Jesus. Our prayer this morning is: Father, I thank You for life, health, strength, cognizance, memory, and balance. For You are the lifter of my head. You are the buoyancy that keeps me afloat, high above principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in the high places. With You, O Lord, I am never, ever alone. Your promises are steadfast and forever settled in heaven. With You Jesus, I am forever cruising down the highways of life; blessed to be a blessing. In the Name of Jesus I pray this prayer of thanksgiving, amen . Smokey Robinson of Motown had a song called Cruising, which said release and you will find, you're going to fly away. I don't normally quote secular songs, but I believe that if we release everything in our lives to Jesus, we will fly! Life as we know it will cease to exist, and victory wiill show up in our lives. But, we must do it His way, not my way or our way. It has to be according to scripture. It's called "K ingdom life," and it is marvelous in the sight of God! So, today I submit to you that living this life changes your station in life immediately. Bills will still be bills, but now you have an advocate with you; you have the God who has supernatural power on Your side. Open the door to real life; open your heart fully to Jesus!!! * The book, Cruising Through Life With Grace is available through this website and through all the online bookstores. Just look for C. K. Inniss books. Still Cruising with Grace! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!!! For He has done great things. I have come today to stimulate our desire for more: more of Jesus and His great love and power. I believe visualization is one of the keys to manifestation. Cruising through life with grace requires that we see things through our spirit eyes. Oh yes, we have eyes of flesh that tell us lies, and then we have the ability through Jesus Christ to see things the way God intended. We can see ourselves in a whole new light, far from the dusty old lamp used by this world to categorize us and minimize us. We are so different than man's assessment of us. Let's take a look: God calls us His children; children of the Most High God who created everything! We come from the ultimate DNA, that of Jesus Christ. All the sickle cells; the abnormal heart beats, the kidneys that refuse to flush properly, eyes that refuse to see clearly blocked by cataracts and other malfunctions must bow to our new DNA. We belong to Christ Jesus and are inheritors of everything He bequeathed. And beloved, our inheritance is great and powerful. We can bind and loose; we can call those things that be not as though they were! Let's do it! Let's take Him at His word. Bless His holy name. Our God is truly awesome, He provides; He comforts; He restores; He is the repairer of the breach; restorer of paths to dwell in. So, today, resolve to forget about yesterday and come on over into today. Let's live in the "faith zone" and let God be God in our lives. The result will be that you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; and multitudes will see and believe! At the end of the day, our names are written down in the Lamb's book of Life, we can rejoice; but there are still too many outside the Covenant who are unaware of Salvation and eternal life. When God showers down His goodness and His favor upon you and me, the world will take notice, because we will not receive it by the sweat of our brow as they are striving, but we have the favor of Almighty God working on our behalf all day, every day! Would you agree with me that we are a "Most Blessed" people, who serve the ultimate "Blessor?" God Almighty; Jehovah God; Adonai; Our Father, is the One true and living God! His power is unsurpassed; His wisdom is unparalleled; and His grace is sufficient for us all! Glory to God. So, I pray you have been excited to visualization: see this new Kingdom in operation right here on earth. Walk in it: see your path as ambassador of the Most High God; see your place as the head of it, and not the tail end as you might have been previously; and don't forget to see yourself as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus as you comport yourself accordingly in the workplace, the home, and in the church-house. I know, this is so exciting, new life, new ideals, new direction, a brand new love who has promised never to leave nor forsake you. Receive it all today, in Jesus' name, amen . Go, be great because your Father is God, Your Savior is Jesus, and Your constant companion is the Holy Spirit of the Living God! My soul cries out, "Hallelujah, thank God for saving me!" See you again soon. Love you, Cki. Like the Dew in the Morning! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The songwriter sang: "Like the dew in the morning, Lord I hunger for Your touch. And so do I! Not sure why the word dew is so prevalent in my brain this morning, but for several days now the idea of the power in the dew has captured me. One article shed light on the subject. Dew is a symbol of resurrection (Isaiah 26:19). "Just as the earth brings forth its dew, so also it shall bring forth the dead to new life. Dew is a symbol of the redeemed and resurrected people of God." Moses taught that God's word shall distill as the dew, found in Deuteronomy 32:2. The manna that fed the children of Israel in the wilderness came with the dew (Numbers 11:19). Our souls are sometimes flooded with revelation all at once; but for the most part we receive ongoing revelation, like the mist of falling dew. When we receive the refreshing dew, our souls thrive and revitalize around the word of God. And with all the chatter around us, we need to stop and acknowledge the presence of God which transcends every other thing. Psalm 133: 3 : "It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord has appointed the blessing - life forevermore." I pray that the word of God is your "go to," now and for always, so that God, by His Spirit can bring a refreshing mist into your life daily. Love you, Cki. Whose Report will You Believe? ~~~~~~~~ Praise the Lord this morning saints of God! What an awesome day to come before His presence with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise! Think about your day. What mountains do you have before you? What is there that might cause you to pause and reflect? Remember today, that the past is the past and it belongs in the past. Moments that hurt, that caused pain, moments that brought shame; all of that can be put under the blood of Jesus and left there. Jesus gave His life on Calvary so that you and I might live. Such pain and torment He suffered; therefore, we must not let His suffering be in vain in our lives. I am so grateful for what Jesus did that I will walk in healing and health, in wholeness because I want to see Him glorified in the earth. I will walk in peace with my neighbor because I want to see Jesus glorified in the earth. I will walk upright because I respect so profoundly the power of the cross: the shed blood of Jesus that gave us renewed access to God. We are no longer lost in sin and trespasses, but glory to God, we are children of the Most High God, able to approach the throne of grace boldly. Never forget the price He paid. We hear it said that if you had been the only lost soul, Jesus would have died on the cross. The Bible tells us that Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep will leave the 99, to go after the one lost sheep. See yourself as that beloved sheep, once lost, but now found; once dead in sin and trespasses, but now plucked up out of that dark, dismal, deadly kingdom, and brought over into the marvelous light; God truly loves you! So, whose report will you believe? "We shall believe the report of the LORD." We are a most blessed people. So, go out today with your head held high (let your soul make her boast in the Lord). Walk like the ambassador of the Most High God that you are. Walk like a member of a royal priesthood, a holy nation. And, don't forget to embrace different. The saint who used to be a sinner (all of us) walks in humility and strength at the same time. How is that possible? We are forever humbled by the knowledge of our predicament before Jesus' death and resurrection. yet we are well aware of the power that now dwells inside us, the power of the Holy Ghost! The Bible calls this power: "that same power that raised Jesus from the dead;" that now dwells in you and me." This is a hallelujah moment! Embrace it as you go through your day! Love you, Cki. Hallelujah to our God who set in motion a plan revealed way back in Genesis 3:15 to redeem mankind after the fall! We are privileged to live in this day, after the death of Jesus, where our sins were remitted, and the Salvation plan is in full effect. I pray for you today, that the love of God, the knowledge of the freedom of Grace, and the power of attorney Jesus left us both, will permeate your mind, your entire soul, and that your life will shift in the direction of fulfillment of the precious promises of God. So, go, and be a blessing in every place, and every situation; as you make it a good day! Love you; Cki. You Still Have a Future! Good morning everyone and welcome to this Inspiration Page, a place where Jesus is LORD. As always, I pray that this moment finds you prosperous, happy, and exceedingly blessed. On my heart this morning is our continuous and everlasting place in the Kingdom of God! The knowledge that as long as we're on earth, we can be useful to God. We were listening to a song yesterday called, "I Still Have a Future," by Becky Fender. This song ministers to all of us who are of a certain age, and to some of whom are doubting that you can still make a difference in the Kingdom of God. She writes that God spoke to her spirit, not to quit, not to give up to those negative whisperings. She said, "I still have a future, just you wait and see. I still have tomorrow, God's not through with me. I pray that those words will bless someone who might be wavering, who might be overcome by the world trying to discard you. God blessed and used many in their latter years, and He is still blessing us today. Never let a day go by that you fail to thank Him for His goodness and His mighty favor in your life. Keep listening for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit as He leads you in the truth of God's plan for your life. "He is faithful who has promised." Bless His holy name! May God bless and keep you safe until we meet again in Cynthia's Inspirations. Much love, Cki. ~ Calming The Mind!~ Blessed be the name of the LORD, for He is worthy to be praised! Good morning everyone and welcome again to Cki's Inspirations, a place where Jesus is LORD. As always, I pray that this moment finds you prosperous, happy, and exceedingly blessed. On my heart this morning is the mind of man and how powerful it truly is. The mind of man is housed in the soul which makes our souls: our minds, our wills, and our emotions pretty special. Many times sickness of the body originate in the mind of man. That's where the germ of sickness is embedded. If the soul is sick, the body will usually follow. It is a medical fact that our thoughts have a heavy bearing on our physical health, therefore we must take the reins of our thought life and control it like the rider controls a horse. We have been given dominion by God to decide what thoughts to allow and which ones we block. Proverbs 23:7 tells us clearly, that as a man thinks, in his heart, so is he. That's a high=powered statement! Thoughts become crystalized in our brains creating impulses. So, we must make sure that our thoughts are never random, never wandering, never susceptible to the suggestions of the enemy, Satan! When we change our way of thinking, allowing our mind to be transformed by the word of God, we make deposits into our "heart" which commands our brain and determines what we speak. The Bible informs us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So, whatever thoughts we're feasting on will inevitably come out of our mouths. At the very least, if our thinking is negative continually, our bodies will suffer sickness and disease, when Jesus took stripes for our healing and wholeness. So, let's resolve to feast on the word of God and allow it to fill us up to the brim so that nothing else can enter in. Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love {either death or life}, will eat the fruit thereof. What a life-altering message for us to ponder and adjust to! We are children of God, able to become like Jesus, to think like Jesus, and act like Jesus the Christ as we walk the earth. When we devote ourselves to living this Kingdom lifestyle where we think and act like Jesus (like the child who imitates and emulates his/her parent), we are most blessed! I pray God's blessings will overflow in your life as you leave behind the customs of this fallen world and adapt your mind and actions to speak and do according to the revealed wisdom of God. Have a wonderful week and we'll meet again here at Cki's Inspirations! Be sure to check out the other features of the website here at www.cynthia52.com . Blessings always, Cki. A Prayer For Peace Glory to God! As I sit down to write, it is about 3:00 AM on Saturday morning! This past week has presented with a host of trials, some sickness, some weather issues in many areas, and the awful news of war in Israel. These issues can bring on bouts of fear and uncertainty, especially since those aren't the only issues we have to deal with. So, today, my desire is to speak a word of peace and encouragement to all of us, to assure us of God's great love and His providential care. God is faithful no matter what man does. Man starts wars; man commits atrocities against man, then looks to God to clean it up. The truth is that what we fight about usually has no eternal value; they are not "Kingdom issues." So, let's pray and ask God to heal the fissures between two nations as well as between two people. Someone is thinking, it's not that easy. The divisions are too great for simple forgiveness. But when you're truly Kingdom minded, when you believe the Bible and what God says about forgiveness and love, we have to accept that everything can be forgiven. Father, our hearts are full this morning for war-torn areas around the globe. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem as Your word instructs us to do. We pray for the cessation of war and for reconciliation. Father, we lift up every man, woman and child who survived the atrocities of the past week and pray that Your peace will permeate their hearts, and that all their needs will be met. Father, help us, Your ambassadors to spread the word effectively so that Your Kingdom reigns on earth as it is in heaven. We pray and ask all blessings in the name of Your precious Son Jesus the Christ who bled and died to set us free. Amen. Father, I pray that someone reads this prayer intended for them and it ministers comfort to their heart. Let me be an instrument of Your peace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Have a wonderful week-end everyone and I'll talk with you again soon. Blessings always, Cki. ________________________ God loves us so much. He sent Jesus to die for us to bring us back to Him. If you don't know Him as Savior, please receive Him now, pray with me: Lord Jesus, come into my heart, be my Lord and Savior. I give You my life. I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I believe I am now saved. Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Father, I will serve You for the rest of my days. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. _________________________ Praying that small prayer, small in size, but mighty in its meaning, brings you into the family of God, the family of faith. Your life has now changed forever! Ask God to direct you to a bible believing church where the entire bible is preached and taught, and where disciples are made. Someday, I hope to meet you in heaven where I believe spirit to spirit we shall know as we are known. Heaven is real and eternity awaits! What's Going ON? Today is Wednesday, we are almost over the hump of another precious week! I, for one, will not rush these weeks. My birthday falls within the month of August and I truly cannot believe its almost here! Listening to the news yesterday was an unsettling experience at best, frightening at worse. Man's inhumanity to man is everywhere evident, from politics, where political bashing is the new normal, to watching a brawl over a managerial issue become a full-blown brouhaha! Is that really who we are, America? And then, as if grown men and women fighting in public over nothing is not enough, skin color rears its ugly head again! As a Christian woman I wondered what God Almighty, our Creator, thinks of us as we live life without compassion, love or self-control? Who are we, barbarians? This is a great country founded upon great principles, but sometimes it looks a bit primitive emotionally. The good news is that it does not have to be this way. You and I can change things by the way we conduct ourselves no matter who we encounter in our day. We can make a difference! God has given us power to change things around us. But we must use it! Let's wake up each day determined to lift up our Savior Jesus to the world by how we live and what we say. When things get hot in conversations, remember who you belong to, and what the Spirit of God has taught you about how we should speak. Proverbs 15:1 tells us: "A gentle (or soft) word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We're only fighting against the devil and the powers of darkness, not against flesh and blood (your sisters and brothers). To those who don't believe in Jesus these are just idle words; but to the one who professes Him, we must also profess His word regardless of the heat of the moment! So, today, let love abound; spread love; sow love (whatever you sow, you will also reap). That's good news for us today, because we desire to win souls for the Kingdom of God, and that will never happen if we succumb to the world's way of thinking, or God forbid, the world's way of solving disputes. Have a marvelous day, and remember, if You are in Christ, you belong to a different Kingdom. You are an ambassador to this world, on assignment from the King of kings, Lord of lords. And you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! God loves You, and so do I! See you next time, Cki. ~Woman of God; You are God's Expensive Purchase!~ Glory to God!!! Praise God for another day in the Kingdom! It is always a pleasure to come to you in "Cynthia's Inspirations" to share life-altering messages from the throne-room of God. I pray your day has been glorious thus far. Since we have the breath of God within us, there is no doubt you've already found a lot to be thankful for. God is so good to us, and I believe He has equipped us with everything we need for life and godliness, because He said so in His word! Everyone has a talent, a gifting from God that allows us to make a Kingdom contribution. My gift happens to be writing. To date, God has allowed me to write ten books to His glory available to the public. My latest book is entitled, "Woman, Where is Your Crown?" This turned out to be an awesome expression of love to the Father for all that He has crowned His children with; giving thanks for His agape love; His loving-kindness towards us; His tender mercies, and His favor. Within the book we pray a lot, we examine ourselves to determine if we're missing out on finding out just how much Grace changes us; and whether or not we're allowing this amazing information to lift us out of the doldrums of life and set us up high where we belong. Some deep questions arose out of this book (the questions are included in the workbook now available through the on-line bookstores) such as: 1) How does knowing (yada; ginosko) that God's word transcends this fleeting world where everything is subject to change, and that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, enhance your willingness to trust Him completely? 2) How has the realization that God crowned you with so many incredible blessings that define you, enhanced your view of your destiny and purpose? 3). When you hear that God crowned you , do you desire to run out and buy yourself a tiara, or has the purity of this God-designed crown permeated your consciousness? 4) Have you accepted your "Royal Heritage" in Christ Jesus? These questions and so many more are outlined within the "Woman Where is Your Crown" Study Guide." I pray that every woman on this site will purchase a copy of the book (and the exciting new workbook) to join our revolution! God wants you to know, beyond doubt who you are in Christ Jesus and what that means to the rest of your life. I believe the book will bless you and catapult you to new levels of confidence and a deeper desire to know the Creator in all His glory. May God bless your days, and may the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit bring you comfort and peace in all that you do and say. God bless you, amen. Love you always, Cki. ~My Heart Thinks Like Jesus!~ Good morning everyone! We are now entering the month of August in a couple days. Can you believe it? One minute we were wishing everyone a merry Christmas and Happy new Year, then we looked forward to the Superbowl. Before we knew it, summer vacations were upon us! I was thinking this morning about how dynamic our thought lives really are, and how they can be influenced by thoughts, ideas and suggestions from the enemy. The enemy of course, is not flesh and blood; not the boy next door or the girl; but the devil himself. I know; some don't even believe there is a devil, and he likes it just that way! You see, when you don't recognize his presence in your life, he has carte blanche to do whatever he desires: and his primary desire is to steal from you, to kill you, and to destroy everything good in your life! There is one thing we who profess Christ Jesus absolutely must do, and that is, we have the power and authority from God to control our thought life. We are the only ones who can determine whether to think the thoughts of Jesus, outlined in the "Promise Book" called the Bible; or whether we will sit idly by while the devil rocks our world with ugly thoughts that bring fear and anxiety into our daily lives. Thoughts are powerful! They originate out of our heart which is the seat of our emotions, and the origin of what we say and do. The Bible tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! We're talking about the seat of consciousness, or our inner man: the place where you store up treasure. Whatever words you speak will emanate from your storehouse of either the wisdom of God, or the lies of the devil. Our brains follow our hearts; it signals the production of hormones and biochemistry in the body to support what the heart is telling it. Make no mistake about it, the heart runs the show! So, in a nutshell, harmonious living comes from what we store in our heart every day. It is like money in the bank when we send signals of joy, of love, of forgiveness from our hearts to our brains! Get wrapped up in the "fruit of the Spirit" outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. Allow the Holy Spirit to work these things out in you. Let Jesus the Christ live through you. Remember, no-one ever said, "Love with all your brain;" instead, we say, "Love with all your heart." When we do, the mind will follow suit! I'm making a case for a divine shift in our lives: that we will allow the wisdom of God to overlay our old thoughts, and all thoughts generated by worldly irritations. Today just might be the beginning of everything good in our lives; a transformation that changes us into spiritual powerhouses as we let go and let God!!! ~Blessings always and forever~ Cki. HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL! Today is a wonderful day in the Lord! Each day is full of hope because hope is a confident expectation of good that comes only through Jesus Christ! Some seem to believe that hope comes in a bottle; from that long=dreamed of job, or money falling from the sky. We look for help from all the wrong places when God has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. So, today I'm advocating for "Letting go and letting God!" To throw open the doors of our hearts and declare that Jesus is Lord of our lives. I'm advocating for sinking into the garment of praise like you would an expensive silk shirt or earthly designer robe. God has promised and His Word is true. He cannot lie (that should be a breath of fresh air to us). Your faith is the one thing you have that cannot be shaken by the works of men, unless you make a decision to relinquish it; and faith pleases God. So, go through your day today with "titanium steel" faith, knowing that He who has begun a good work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ! He won't leave you; nor will He ever forsake you. Blessings always; Cki. WHOLE AND GRATEFUL SOMETIMES WE THINK GRATITUDE COMES ONLY FROM STRUGGLE. MANY TIMES IT DOES; STRUGGLE IS THE CONDUIT THROUGH WHICH AWARENESS OF GOD’S PROTECTION FLOWS. BUT, WE CAN BW WHOLE AND GRATEFUL; BLESSED AND GRATEFUL; HEALED AND GRATEFUL; FINANCIALLY STABLE AND GRATEFUL. WE CAN BE FULL TO OVERFLOWING AND GRATEFUL! WHEN WE ARE IN CHRIST AND OUR MIND IS BEING RENEWED, WE COME TO REALIZE JUST HOW AMAZING OUR GOD IS TO US. THE TENDENCY TO FORGET HIM IN THE GOOD TIMES BECOMES LESS AND LESS A THING, AND WE FIND OURSELVES LIFTING UP THE GOOD AND THE BAD TO HIM. WE FIND OURSELVES THANKING HIM FOR EVERY BLESSING, LARGE OR SMALL. WE BEGIN TO HAVE EXCEEDING GRATITUDE FOR THE PLAN OF GOD IN OUR LIVES. Love you, Cki MLK Day Today is Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. Having a day set aside to remember his sacrifice and the sacrifices of so many others fills us with awareness and gratitude. So many lost their lives on a mission to make life better for others. Living in slavery for them was not an option. Today, we get to live out our days in a free society known to them only in their dreams! But, as a black woman who is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Chris t, I must say that I believe the Civil Rights movement was as much a spiritual movement as a civil one. The movement, I believe, was God-ordained or it would have failed! Many preachers and men and women of faith followed Dr. King as He followed the move of the Spirit of G od to freedom. I thank and praise G od always for His hand moving inside that movement, and for every soul, regardless of skin color, who committed to freedom. I pray that our children will never forget the sacrifice of those who gave so much and received so little while here on earth. I pray that this nation and every nation will answer the clarion call of freedom for every man, woman and child, committing to never judging souls by the color of their skin, but as Dr. King so eloquently stated, by the content of their character. "Darkness will never drive out darkness, only light can do that ." The light that dispels darkness is Jesus Christ. My prayer is that the Light that is Jesus will permeate the hearts of men and women around the world; then peace shall reign. Love,Cki. Praise God For a New Day! Praise God forevermore! Today is Friday, 17 march 2023. A significant day simply because it is the day in which we are currently breathing air! I often think about the past or the future, only to realize that both are unobtainable in this moment, and although the past can teach us lessons; it is still the past. The future, though, will always be a consideration because it’s a product of our past as well as our todays; but it cannot be touched until at least tomorrow. Therefore, we have narrowed down our day. We need only think about the things of today, because as the Bible says: Tomorrow has enough worries of its own. So, the wisdom that I’m passing on today is that we must let the past be the past and not stress over future days to come. The best we can do is to maximize our now, this moment in time, making good decisions that will guarantee that what is to come will be to our liking. Another way to say all this; is to say: “Let go and let God!” Real surrender brings peace. When we allow the Holy Spirit of God to lead and guide us, we cannot lose! As I stretched out this morning early, looking out my window at the lake and the sky through the transom; all I could do was praise God Elohim, our creator God. Early morning quietness allows us to focus in on Him, and to see with clear eyes His providential care. All I could think was, “Thank You, Lord God for years of peace and prosperity of thought that has translated into a great life!” God wants that for all of us, for every man, woman and child He created. So, take a break during this day, focus in on Father God, and give thanks for what you have already. And remember, in Christ, I truly believe, “The best is yet to come!” Love you, Cki. GIVE GLORY TO GOD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. GLORY TO GOD! LET’S GIVE PRAISE AND HONOR TO THE “MOST- HIGH GOD”! WELCOME BACK TO CYNTHIA’S INSPIRATIONS.” IT HAS BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I WROTE MY LAST INSPIRATION BECAUSE LIFE SOMETIMES GETS IN THE WAY. MY MOST RECENT BOOK, “WOMAN, WHERE IS YOUR CROWN” HIT THE STORES AND THERE HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF ACCEPTANCE THAT FOLLOWED. BLESS GOD; I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INTERVIEWED BY 97.7, THE BEAT; FOLLOWED BY A “GIVE-AWAY” OF THE BOOK TO A BEAUTIFUL WINNER! ALSO, ONE LOVELY WOMAN OF GOD WAS TOUCHED BY THE BOOK, AND DURING HER TIME OF STUDY WAS LED TO START A MINISTRY FOR WOMEN. I WAS ASKED TO PRESENT THE BOOK TO THE NEW MINISTRY FOR THE FIRST 4 WEEKS, WHICH WAS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME. I ALSO STARTED A “FACEBOOK SPOTLIGHT” FOR MY READERS AND RECEIVED MANY PICTURES OF MY READERS HOLDING THE BOOK. SO, SUFFICE IT TO SAY WHEN YOU COUPLE ALL THIS WITH OUR WEEKLY RTM PROTECTOR’S OF THE WAY THURSDAY MORNING MEETINGS; OUR RTM HEALING SCHOOL MEETINGS, AND WE HAD AN RTM BROADCAST (AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE UNDER REVEALING TRUTH MINISTRIES, VALUABLE WEDNESDAYS), OUR DAYS HAVE BEEN FULL ALSO, OUR WEBSITE HAS A WHOLE NEW LOOK BECAUSE OUR WEB HOST SOLD THEIR BUSINESS AND WE IN ESSENCE LOST OUR SITE AND HAD TO START OVER. THANKS TO MY HUSBAND, WHO IS MUCH MORE SAVVY THAN I IN THESE MATTERS, WE’RE UP AND RUNNING AGAIN! TODAY’S INSPIRATION CAME OUT OF ALL THAT I MENTIONED ABOVE: IN THIS LIFE THERE WILL BE TRIALS, THINGS WILL HAPPEN THAT ARE GLORIOUS, AND THINGS WILL HAPPEN THAT TRY OUR FAITH. BUT IN ALL THINGS COUNT IT ALL JOY! COUNT IT JOY THAT YOU’RE ALIVE; THAT YOU HAVE THE BREATH OF GOD WITHIN YOU; THAT YOU SERVE A GOD WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ANYTHING YOU CAN ASK, THINK OR IMAGINE. IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS FOR THAT IS INDEED THE WILL OF GOD FOR US! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND I’LL SEE YOU SOON!!! LOVE YOU, CKI.

Explore 101 healing scriptures from the Bible that provide inspiration and prayer for healing in your daily life. Start today! 101 Healing Scriptures These scriptures in the Bible are promises for the healing of our soul and body. They provide great benefits when we speak them forth daily. It's like taking your medicine (Gos-pills) every day, even three times a day! Try beginning each promise with, “God said.” I pray they bless you, mightily! Old Testament God said… 1) I am the Lord that healeth thee (Ex. 15:26). 2) Your days shall be one hundred and twenty years (Gen. 6:3). 3) You shall be buried in a good old age (Gen. 15:15). 4) You shall come to your grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his season (Job 5:26). 5) When I see the blood, I will pass over you and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you (Ex. 12:13). 6) I will take sickness away from the midst of you and the number of your days I will fulfill (Ex. 23: 25, 26). 7) I will not put any of the diseases you are afraid of on you, but I will take all sickness away from you (Deut. 7:15). 8) It will be well with you and your days shall be multiplied and prolonged as the days of heaven upon the earth (Deut. 11:9,21). 9) I turned the curse into a blessing unto you, because I loved you (Deut. 23:5 and Neh. 13:2). 10) I have redeemed you from every sickness and every plague (Deut. 28:61 and Gal. 3:13). 11) As your days, so shall your strength be (Deut. 33:25). 12) I have found a ransom for you, your flesh shall be fresher than a child’s and you shall return to the days of your youth (Job 33:24, 25). 13) I have healed you and brought up your soul from the grave; I have kept you alive from going down into the pit (Ps. 30:1, 2). 14) I will give you strength and bless you with peace (Ps. 29:11). 15) I will preserve you and keep you alive (Ps. 41:2). 16) I will strengthen you upon the bed of languishing; I will turn all your bed in your sickness (Ps. 41:3). 17) I am the health of your countenance and your God (Ps.43: 5). 18) No plague shall come near your dwelling (Ps. 91:10). 19) I will satisfy you with long life (Ps. 91:16). 20) I heal all your diseases (Ps. 103:3). 21) I sent My word and healed you and delivered you from your destructions (Ps. 107:20). 22) You shall not die, but live, and declare My works (Ps. 118:17). 23) I heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds (Ps. 147:3). 24) The years of your life shall be many (Pr. 4:10). 25) Trusting Me brings health to your navel and marrow to your bones (Pr. 3:8). 26) My words are life to you, and health/medicine to all your flesh (Pr. 4:22). 27) (My) good report makes your bones fat (Pr. 15:30). 28) (My) pleasant words are sweet to your soul and health to your bones (Pr. 16:24). 29) My joy is your strength. A merry heart does good like a medicine (Neh. 8:10; Pr. 17:22). 30) The eyes of the blind shall be opened. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim (Isa. 32:3; 35:5). 31) The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. The ears of them that hear shall hearken (Isa. 32:3; 35:5). 32) The tongue of the dumb shall sing. The tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly (Isa. 35:6; 32:4). 33) The lame man shall leap as a hart (Isa. 35:6). 34) I will recover you and make you to live. I am ready to save you (Isa. 38:16, 20). 35) I give power to the faint. I increase strength to them that have no might (Isa. 40:29). 36) I will renew your strength. I will strengthen and help you (Isa. 40:31; 41:10). 37) To your old age and gray hairs I will carry you and I will deliver you (Isa. 46:4). 38) I bore your sickness (Isa. 53:4). 39) I carried your pains (Isa. 53:4). 40) I took sickness for you (Isa. 53:10). 41) With My stripes you are healed (Isa. 53:5). 42) I will heal you (Isa. 57:19). 43) Your light shall break forth as the morning and your health shall spring forth speedily (Isa. 58:8). 44) I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds saith the Lord (Jer. 30:17). 45) Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure you, and will reveal unto you the abundance of peace and truth (Jer. 33:6). 46) I will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick (Eze.34:16). 47) Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live. And I shall put My Spirit in you and you shall live (Eze. 37:5,14). 48) Whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live. They shall be healed and every thing shall live where the river comes (Eze. 47:9). 49) Seek Me and you shall live (Amos 5:4, 6). 50) I have arisen with healing in My wings (beams) (Mal. 4:2). New Testament 51) I will, be thou clean (Mt. 8:3). 52) I took your infirmities (Mt. 8:17). 53) I bore your sicknesses (Mt. 8:17). 54) If you’re sick you need a physician. (I am the Lord your physician) (Mt. 9:12 & Ex.15:26). 55) I am moved with compassion toward the sick and I heal them (Mt. 14:14). 56) I heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Mt. 4:23). 57) According to your faith, be it unto you (Mt. 9:29). 58) I give you power and authority over all unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Mt. 10:1 & Lk. 9:1). 59) I heal them all (Mt. 12:15 & Heb. 13:8). 60) As many as touch Me are made perfectly whole (Mt. 14:36). 61) Healing is the children’s bread (Mt. 15:26). 62) I do all things well. I make the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak (Mk. 7:37). 63) If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mk. 9:23; 11:23, 24). 64) When hands are laid on you, you shall recover (Mk. 16:18). 65) My anointing heals the brokenhearted, and delivers the captives, recovers sight to the blind, and sets at liberty those that are bruised (Lk. 4:18; Isa. 10:27; 61:1). 66) I heal all those who have need of healing (Lk. 9:11). 67) I am not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them (Lk. 9:56). 68) Behold, I give you authority over all the enemy’s power and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Lk. 10:19). 69) Sickness is satanic bondage and you ought to be loosed today (Lk. 13:16 & II Cor. 6:2). 70) In Me is life (Jn. 1:4). 71) I am the bread of life. I give you life (Jn. 6:33, 35). 72) The words I speak unto you are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63). 73) I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly (Jn. 10:10). 74) I am the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25). 75) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (Jn. 14:14). 76) Faith in My name makes you strong and gives you perfect soundness (Acts 3:16). 77) I stretch forth My hand to heal (Acts 4:30). 78) I, Jesus Christ, make you whole (Acts 9:34). 79) I do good and heal all that are oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). 80) My power causes diseases to depart from you (Acts 19:12). 81) The law of the Spirit of life in Me has made you free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). 82) The same Spirit that raised Me from the dead now lives in you and that Spirit will quicken your mortal body (Rom. 8:11). 83) Your body is a member of Me (I Cor. 6:15). 84) Your body is the temple of My Spirit and you’re to glorify Me in your body (I Cor. 6:19, 20). 85) If you’ll rightly discern My body which was broken for you, and judge yourself, you’ll not be judged and you’ll not be weak, sickly or die prematurely (I Cor. 11:29-31). 86) I have set gifts of healing in My body (I Cor. 12:9). 87) My life may be made manifest in your mortal flesh (II Cor. 4:10, 11). 88) I have delivered you from death, I do deliver you, and if you trust Me I will yet deliver you (II Cor. 1:10). 89) I have given you My name and have put all things under your feet (Eph. 1:21, 22). 90) I want it to be well with you and I want you to live long on the earth. (Eph. 6:3). 91) I have delivered you from the authority of darkness (Col. 1:13). 92) I will deliver you from every evil work (II Tim. 4:18). 93) I tasted death for you. I destroyed the devil who had the power of death. I’ve delivered you from the fear of death and bondage (Heb. 2:9, 14, 15). 94) I wash your body with pure water (Heb. 10:22; Eph. 5:26). 95) Lift up the weak hands and the feeble knees. Don’t let that which is lame be turned aside but rather let Me heal it (Heb. 12:12, 13). 96) Let the elders anoint you and pray for you in My name and I will raise you up (Jas. 5:14, 15). 97) Pray for one another and I will heal you (Jas. 5:16). 98) By My stripes you were healed (I Pet. 2:24). 99) My Divine power has given unto you all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Me (II Pet. 1:3). 100) Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17). 101) Beloved, I wish above all things that you may…be in health (III Jn. 2). READ & RE-READ UNTIL YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOD'S WILL TO HEAL 101 Healing Scriptures AI David 00:00 / 12:36

Infographic Reading the Bible.pdf