Author: kendraske

I am a Temple of the Living God

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 6

Oh, Lord Jesus, what a privilege to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. To think that You would dwell in me, live with me, never leave me. Oh, such peace is mine because of You. Your presence goes with me wherever I go. If I go up to the heavens, You are there. If I make my bed in the depths, You are there. I cannot hide from You. I cannot flee from You, because You are always, always with me. Thank You, Father, for Your mercy and grace. You are good. I want to be yoked to You. Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. Let me not be yoked to unbelievers. Let me not be deceived by the schemes of the evil one. Give me a discerning mind, the mind of Christ. For the glory of Your Name. Amen.

I’m a New Creation in Christ: My Interview with Kelly Hall on her Unshakable Hope Podcast

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 5

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ESV

Kelly Hall and I first met almost thirty years ago when I was a first year teacher at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri. Little did I know then how God would mightily use Kelly and her courageous faith in my life. Kelly and I had lost touch after exchanging annual Christmas letters for many years only to be reconnected about five years ago when I discovered that my faithful Memphis area prayer partner, Beth, also knew Kelly from their husbands’ mutual service in the air force in Texas! Isn’t God amazing?!? He is the great tapestry weaver.

I hope you’ll take a half hour of your time to tune in to my interview on Kelly Hall’s Unshakable Hope podcast and consider subscribing to be alerted as she releases new ones.

https://kellyhall.org/podcast/episode-19-from-out-spoken-atheist-to-devoted-follower-of-jesus-kim-endraske/

Share Jesus Without Fear

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 4

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

Have you ever heard of the book, “Share Jesus Without Fear” by William Fay? This book solidified my belief in asking questions and genuinely listening to the person’s responses as an effective method of sharing the gospel. The book also encourages you to share the gospel directly from the scriptures, by suggesting seven key passages for the person you’re sharing with to read themselves. In fact, I’ve written these passages down in the pocket New Testament Bible that I carry with me in my purse. My only complaint about the book is the title. I’m STILL afraid to share — but I pray every day that the Lord will give me strength to overcome that fear.

I want to always be prepared to give away this pocket Bible, so I also wrote several key passages in the cover that are excellent for non-Christians or new Christians to study. I actually keep a second pocket Bible ready at home with these verses written in it, too, so when I give this one away, I’m already prepared to pop another one into my purse. I learned these passages from No Place Left ministries whose website has lots of great resources for evangelism and discipleship.

But, back to ‘Share Jesus Without Fear,” this book includes many excellent questions to ask to open the door for a spiritual conversation. Here are some questions that I hope might help you. I think these questions are appropriate to ask just about anyone given the right situation, whether a close friend or a stranger on an airplane.

  • Has anyone ever explained the basic beliefs of Christianity to you? Would you like me to share my thoughts with you?
  • Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?
  • Who is Jesus to you? Can I share with you who Jesus is to me?
  • Do you think there is a heaven or hell? How did you come to those beliefs?
  • If you died tonight, where would you go? If heaven, why?
  • May I share seven scriptures with you that changed my life?

Don’t be afraid to ask someone to meet you for coffee or a meal, asking them in advance if they’d like to meet up with you to talk about spiritual things. You might be surprised how many people would be willing to meet with you if you asked them! You’ll never know if you don’t ask.

Heavenly Father, I’m asking You to open doors for me to have a spiritual conversation with someone this week. I want to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. I want to love my neighbor as myself. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and I want to do that, too. Please give me courage and wisdom to be a witness and ambassador for the kingdom of heaven. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Pray for the People of Israel

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 3

But their [Jewish] minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is brought to an end in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart, but WHENEVER a person TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16 LSB

Heavenly Father, I pray for the people of Israel. I pray that they will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and have their eyes opened and their sins forgiven. I pray that You will protect them from the schemes of the evil one and use this time of testing and trial for their good and for Your glory. I pray that their hope and trust will be in You, the one true God, and Jesus Christ Your Only Begotten Son, the God-man, whom You sent to take away the sins of the world. I pray that the followers of Jesus in the nation of Israel will be steadfast in sharing the gospel and making disciples where they live. And I pray that each of us around the world will do likewise. I pray for Jewish people all over the globe, that the veil will be taken from their eyes as they seek You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life, I pray. Amen

Being the Aroma of Christ

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 2

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV

Seeing the news about the attack on Israel makes me nervous, but it also makes me excited to think that Christ will be returning soon! Just think: we might be the generation that gets caught up alive to meet Him in the air!

Dear sisters, are you ready for His return? Are you watching and waiting with eyes wide open? Are you prepared to meet Jesus face to face?

I hope that in these last days we will be faithful to share the gospel and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Our aroma will be pleasing to God and pleasing to fellow believers, but to the lost, it’s going to be stinky. Don’t be surprised when others reject you and ridicule you. Even when the people next to you are yelling, “Turn out the light! I’m trying to sleep over here!” Keep on shining! God is pleased with your faithfulness.

Sharing Comfort

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6 ESV

I’m a member of an elite group of women, but it’s a group that I never signed up for and that I never wanted to join: moms who have lost a baby. I have two children waiting in heaven for me, neither of which I ever held in my arms. The first was just a little gummy bear when he went straight to heaven. The other was six inches long with ten fingers, ten toes, and a very big belly.

As much as I never wanted to join the “Moms of Heavenly Babies” club, now I’m thankful to be a member. I have learned so much through the pain about God and myself. My confidence that God is real and on His throne, and that He truly is the God of comfort, is a direct result of this grief.

God has used this affliction to minister through me to many other women. In fact, God opened the doors for me to found an online ministry and even write a book.

Is there a trial that you’re walking through right now or have walked through in the past? How has God used it for good? How can you comfort someone else with the comfort you received from Him?

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the cross on which Jesus died, His blood poured out for me. I thank You for the example that He gave of suffering pain that others might experience joy and comfort. Help me, Father, to bear my cross with joy and thanksgiving, looking to You and to the promise of eternal life of heaven. Let me not grow weary or faint, for my hope is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Please use my testimony for the building up of the body. Help me to comfort others with the comfort that I’ve received from Your Word and Your presence. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Act Like Men: Stand Firm, Be Strong, and … Love Well

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 16

We hear 1 Corinthians 13 read at every wedding. Love is patient and kind. Love does envy or boast. Love is not proud or rude. Isn’t it beautiful?

But love is also steadfast and firm, immovable and strong. Love is a mother telling her toddler, “No,” a hundred times in the same day. Love is a grown daughter telling her alcoholic mom that she’s got a problem. Love is refusing to stand idly by while pornography tries to ruin your marriage or homosexuality tries to steal your teenager.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith,
act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love.


1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Love takes guts. Love takes strength. Love takes the stamina of a thoroughbred racehorse and the patience of Job. Love requires you to be willing to get battle scars for the sake of another because you believe they’re worth the fight.

Ladies, sisters, friends, act like men. Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the perfect manifestation of manhood and love. Strength and humility. Stamina and kindness. Make us more like Him. Teach us, show us, how to love like He loves, how to give up our lives for another, to be willing to suffer to save someone else. We need You, Father. We can’t do it on our own. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Lover of my Soul. Amen.