Comforting hugs 6

"Unto us a child is born...his name shall be called Counselor.." (Is. 9:6).

This was a prophecy about Jesus. One of his names is counselor. He can be your counselor too. How? Well, praying is talking to God. You can lay on a couch, or bed and just tell him everything that you would tell a counselor. He WILL listen to what you have to say. He also care about you in a personal way.

" He is the Prince of peace..." ( Is. 9:6).

When you use him as a counselor and give all our care to him, he can become your Prince of peace too.

Try it!

Comforting hugs!

Chaplain Toni

Comforting hugs 5

"Fear not" (Josh.8:1).

The Lord went to Joshua after the great leader, Moses had died, and told him that Moses was dead, and that he, Joshua would have to finish the task that Moses had started and lead the Israelites into their future in a new land. This scared Joshua. Why? Joshua was comfortable standing behind Moses and letting him do the hard work of leading. Now Joshua had to figure out how to take care of and lead these people into their future in a new land, and home. Life would never be the same again (Josh. 1).

Know the feeling? have you too had someone in your life die and leave you to figure out how you are going to lead you and your family's life in the future? Did or do you face many changes including moving to a new home, neighborhood, and even a new job? It is a life of unknowns. That is enough to scare anyone. How do you face such changes?

Let us look at how God had Joshua face the future, shall we?

First, God promised Joshua that he would not leave him alone (Josh. 1:5). I have seen people draw great strength from knowing that they would not have to walk this valley of grief and life of changes alone. I know that this truth helped me get up and put one foot in front of the other each day when my first husband lefty me for another woman. You, too, can draw strength from this knowledge.

Second, God told Joshua to be strong and be brave. This was not easy for Joshua to do. How do I know? Because God has to tell him this three times (Josh. 1:6, 7, 9).

Then as Joshua was walking out the steps that he had to take to fulfill his duties, God told him three times to "not fear" (Josh. 8:1; 10:8, 25). You too may need to remind yourself of this as you walk out your steps into you and your family's future. I found it to be easier to do this when I stayed connected to God.

I also found it helpful to keep these verses ever in front of your eyes and mind. So put them on a card or piece of paper and tape them where you will see them often through out your day. Also talk to God throughout your day telling him what you are going through. He wants to be there for you and give you...

Comforting hugs.

Chaplain Toni

Biography for Great hall of Faith

Biography
------------

Holy Bible (KJV)
Thomas Nelson Inc.
Copyright 1972
Nashville/Camden/New York

Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible
William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright 1973
and
Lion Publishing
Oxford, England
Copyright 1983



Abel:
2 Cor. 5:7
Gen. 4
Gen. 3:1-11
Heb. 11:4

Enoch:
Jude 14
Heb. 11:5-6, 18-32
Luke 3:23-38

Noah:
Gen. 5:28-29, 32
Gen. 6:1-7:5, 11-12
Gen. 8:13-9:17
Heb. 11:7


Abraham:
Gen. 12:1-13
Heb. 11:8-10, 12-21
Gen. 15
Gen. 17:1-18:14
Gen. 21:3
Gen. 22:1-13

Sarah:
Heb. 11:11
Gen. 16:1-6

Isaac:
Heb. 11:20
Gen. 27:1-40
Heb. 11:9-10, 13

Jacob:
Heb. 11:

Joseph:
Gen. 37:1-20

Gideon:
Gen. 48:1-22
Josh. 17:17:1-8
Ex. 3:1-11
Judges 6-8:13


Barak:
Judges 4:1-5:31

Samson:
Gen. 49:16-17
John 15:16
Num. 6:2-21
Judges 14:1-16:31

Jephthah:
Judges 11:1-2, 12:7

David:
I Sam. 16:10-23
I Sam. 17:34-36
I Sam. 2:11
Heb. 11:32

Samuel:
I Sam. 1:1-11
I Sam. 2:18
I Sam. 3:1-4:18
I & 2 Sam.


Major prophets
-------------------


The prophets:
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 370-460


Isaiah:
Book of Isiah
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 376-394

Jeremiah:
Book of Jeremiah
Book of Lamentations
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 396-415

Ezekiel:
The book of Ezekiel
Eerdman's handbook to the Bible, pages 416-429

Daniel:
Book of Daniel
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 430-437


Minor prophets
-------------------
Jonah:
Book of Jonah
Eerdman's handbook to the Bible, page 448

Nahum:
Book of Nahum
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, page 451

Obadiah:
Book of Obadiah
Eerdman's Hand book to the Bible, page 447

Hosea:
Book of Hosea
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 438-441

Amos:
Book of Amos
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 444-446

Joel:
Book of Joel
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 442-443

Micah:
Book of Micah
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, pages 449-450

Habakkuk:
Book of Habakkuk
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, page 442

Zephaniah:
Book of Zephaniah
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, page 454


Haggai:
Book of Haggai
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, page 455

Malachi:
Book of Malachi
Eerdman's handbook to the Bible, pages 451-452

Prophets of distinction
---------------------------
Elijah:
I Kings 17-2 Kings 2
Eerdman;s Handbook to the Bible, page 265ff

Elisha:
I Kings 19:16
2 Kings 2-9, 13
Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, page 266ff

John the Baptist:
Luke 1:3, 17:18
Mat. 3;11
Mark 1, 6


Order of Prophets:
enlightener.org/chronobible.ham

comforting hugs 4

"A farmer went out to plan his seed. While he was planting some seed fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed. Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and cocked the good plants"(Mat. 13:4&:7).

During the Winter, plants die or look dead.

 But come Spring, those which look dead, grow again. 

And new plants grow, and bloom, filling in empty places in the garden.

This is a good picture of life.

Sometimes things in our lives look dead, like a relationship.

But in time, with Jesus' light shines on it,  it may grow again. 

Other times, things like relationships, jobs, or a loved one dies,

and your life feels like a cold Winter.

But if we stay close staining love of Jesus, 

A new life can grow out of the ashes of our lives. 

Just keep looking to the light of the world~Jesus.

Feed yourself with His Word~the Holy Bible.

And talk to the Master gardener of your life~Jesus.

Comforting hugs,

Chaplain Toni

Outline on Bible study on Faith

Outline for The Great hall of Faith
------------------------------------------

Title page
Contents
In memory of
Dedications
Forward
Abbreiavations of the books of the Bible used in this book
 Introduction
Faith- What is it?
 Faith is more than just believing- James
 Abel
 Enoch
 Noah
  Abraham
 Sarah
  Issac
  Jacob
 Joseph
 Moses
 Joshua
 Rahab
 Gideon
 Barak
 Samson
 Jephthah
 David
 Samuel

Introduction to the prophets

Major prophets
-------------------
 Isaiah (800-606)
 Jeremiah (800-606)
 Ezekiel (606-536)
 Daniel (606-536)

Minor prophets
-------------------
 Jonah (800-650)
 Nahum (800-650)
 Obadiah (800)
 Hosea (750)
 Amos (750)
 Joel (800-606)
 Micah (800-606)
 Habakkuk (800-606)
 Zephaniah (800-606)
 Haggai (536-400)
 Zechariah
 Malachi

Prophets of distiction
-------------------------
 Elijah
 Elisha
 Nathan
 John the Baptist
 Last chapter

Biography

About the author

Comforting hugs 3

"I know the plans I have for you,"declares the the Lord,"plans to prosper and give you hope and a future," (Jer. 29:11).

Please remember as you walk through your valley of grief that God has wonderful plans for you in the future. He does not plan for you to always dwell in the valley of pain, hurt, sadness and depression. He has plans for you to grow stronger and more sentive to others that will walk this valley in the future. Will you always miss that person? Yes. Will your life get back ...to normal? Maybe not. But with God's help you can find a new normal that will give you a life in the future.

As I was growing up, my Mom taught me a saying that has helped me through my years of changes and losses. It goes like this..."This too will pass". When I am going through something that seems unbearable, I remember that saying while ever looking to the future when it does passes and that gives me hope for the future. I pray that you too will find that future with God's help.

Comforting hugs!

Caplain Toni

Comforting hugs 2

And on earth peace..." (Mat. 2:14).

As we are leaving this Christmas season this verse stays on my mind. Jesus came to give us peace. Not what is happening in the world around us, but inside us...in our minds. This is important, for all battles we fight emotionally begins in the mind.

Jesus promised us,"peace that passes all understanding" (Phil. 4:7). It IS possible to have peace of mind, even when all the pieces of your world seems to be flying around you, and you can't seems to grab a hold of them to put them back together. All you have to do is reach up and grab Jesus' hand and hold on for dear life. If you do that, He will give you that peace,for He "has overcome the world"( John 16:33), and all that you are dealing with... if you just give your fears, and tears to Him.

That does not mean that you will not go through feeling of sadness. You will just have peace in the mist of the sadness.

Comforting hugs,

Chaplain Toni

Comforting hugs 1

" For he (God) hath said, "I will never leave nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).

The pain of the holidays comes from being left behind. It could that you have had loss a job, a living situation, a relationship, or a loved one and you feel left behind and alone. That is normal.

I've been there. I know that feeling. But I found that when I stopped and looked around to see who was still with me, my Jesus was still there. That has been a great comfort for me. And I have found that when I had nothing and no one but Him, he was enough.

The verse above is a quote of what God has said. He has promised that He will not leave us nor forsake us. We often leave and forsake him, but he is there waiting. All we have to do is call upon him and he will be there for us... for you. He love you, you know....

Comforting hugs,

Chaplain Toni

Introduction to " Comforting hugs for those who grieve"

Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted" (Mat.5:4 ).

We mourn for different reasons such as a loss of a job, a relationship, a body part, good health, or a loved one. The bad thing is that we live in a world that want us to just "get on with life" and not take the time to grieve. But if we do not take the time to grieve totally we will be stuck in that grief mode all our lives. That is going to change here and now. Queen has asked me if I would help your all in your valley of grief. I said, "Yes". Understand that I am a minister/Chaplain/Christian writer. I cannot sit down and council each of you personally. So to help you on your journey I will be posting devotionals as well as the steps of grief, and any other thing I find that may help you. I call these, "Comforting hugs for the grieving soul".

note from Author

In 2015, I will be writing a devotional called, "Comforting hugs for those who grieve".
I pray that this will help you as you walk through your valley of grief or help those who do.


Happy new year!


Toni Whitacre-Kratochvil

Last lesson of heroes of faith

There are many more prophets that is not covered in this book. We have looked at the heroes of faith that Hebrew chapter 11 spoke of. Many generations have come and gone and many heroes have been added to this hall. But I must ask you... when people walk this hall generations from now, will they find your picture hanging in God's great hall of faith?

(Have a pic of me in the mirror with my profile at the end)

Zechariah the prophet

Zechariah the prophet

Served under King Darius

The next picture we see is that of Zechariah. Zechariah the prophet was the son of Berkiah. who are the son of Oddo. Zechariah worked in the house of God collecting the offerings. His name means the Lord remembers. It is very fitting that he is the one in which God choose to prophecy to the people after came back from their exile of 70 years.

Zechariah must have been a great man of faith, for God spoke to him through visions, angels, and personally giving him great messages that sounds like it is coming from a Father. First, God had him explain to the Jews why they went through the exile, then he gave them a message of hope for the future. In the message of hope, the messiah is promised. Zechariah was faithful to deliver that message and God's people has stood on these promised every since. That is why his picture hangs here in the great hall of faith.