Ines Franklin

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape LettersDo you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25For I do not want you to be

Did you know that the Bible talks a lot about money (about 2,350 verses), more than verses on faith and prayer, combined! And Jesus said more about money than about both heaven and hell. God cares a great deal about how we feel about money and possessions. God knows that we are all prone to greed, no matter how much or how little we have. God wants us to live in freedom, because He is our provider and he knows what we need.Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples… Luke 12:1Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Luke 12:13Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Luke 12:14Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For

Our lives are but specks of dust falling through the fingers of time. Like sands of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. SocratesYou have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5 NLTBe very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…and you will be a blessing...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the ki

Running a Marathon On the side line: naysayers, doubters and haters But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. Nehemiah 4:7•Their weapons: ridicule, anger, attacksThey all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. Nehemiah 4:8•The aim: discourage, destroyAlso our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Nehemiah 4:11•Their tactic: persistence Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” Nehemiah 4:12Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8On the race: step by step with God•PrayHear us, our God, for we are despised…We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threa

You can’t eat walls Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain… Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” Nehemiah 5:1-2, 5Nehemiah’s alarm When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. Nehemiah 5:6A heart restoration I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because

PositionMoreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. Nehemiah 5:14The great outcry of the peopleNow the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Nehemiah 5:1-2The reality of injustice by others But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. Nehemiah 5:15Motive •Reverence for GodBut out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Nehemiah 5:15b-16•Justice and compassion Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Je

In Colossians 3:15-17, Paul directs us to always be thankful through Jesus Christ. Today, Ines answers the question: How does taking communion helps us shift from occasional thanksgiving to a life of gratitude?Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17“The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them.”G.K. Chesterton, Writer, Poet, Lay Theologian, NovelistAnd whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians

Luke 17:3-19 tells the story of Jesus healing ten men of leprosy, and giving to one of them, the one who said, "Thank you", an even greater gift. Today, Ines answers the question: How to develop a heartfelt gratitude that is not attached to our circumstances?Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Luke 11:11-13When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. Luke 11:14One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Luke 11:15-16Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:17-19(

Psalm 121 reminds us that we shall never lose hope because God is alive and he keeps his promises. Today, Ines answers the question: How do I remain hopeful, especially in the waiting? The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”–“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Mark 1:1-3In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Isaiah 2:2You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch w

Isaiah 55 reminds us that God has promised us joy, a joy that endures through the high and low moments of life. Today, Ines answers the question: How do I get and hold on to joy?As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Psalm 126:1-2aThen it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psal

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19“Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. Luke 2:1,3-4He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2:5While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keep

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:13-14And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:15-16Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Jame

Anchor ScriptureI pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19Read through Scriptures:That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 1 Samuel 21:10-11David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate an

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.” 2 Samuel 12:1-3“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” 2 Samuel 12:4David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 2 Samuel 12:5-6Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israe

Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalomwould reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved inthis way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and sohe stole the hearts of the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:5-6…“Look your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you…If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.” 2 Samuel 15:3-4A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are withAbsalom.” 2 Samuel 15:13 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing. 2 Samuel 15:12Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem,“Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leaveimme

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38“In the past few years, I’ve observed an epidemic of sorts: patient after patient suffering from the same condition. The symptoms of this condition include fatigue, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, heartburn, bowel disturbances, back pain, and weight gain. There are no blood tests or X-rays diagnostic of this condition, and yet it’s easy to recognize. The condition is excessive busyness.” Dr. Susan KovenMany are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:1-2The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules

A mission from God, through us, for other peopleThe words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-2They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-2See 8 photos (I will run through the

And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests…The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. Nehemiah 2:8-9I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. Nehemiah 2:11-12The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Nehemiah 2:13Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebu

Building for the futureThen I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. Nehemiah 2:17-18The purpose of the workBeautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. Psalm 48:2To work well with others, put God first Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them. The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For Godcannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. v.13But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:9-11The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:12-13Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. v.14A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:3For the flesh desires what is contrary to t