better than me

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.
— 1 Corinthians 12:18 (NIV)
 
Remember choosing teams in grade school? Two captains would take turns picking players while everyone else stood there hoping to hear their name called. Some were always chosen first, while others waited until the very end.
As adults things really haven't changed that much. We apply for jobs, interview for promotions, or volunteer for positions, only to discover that someone else was chosen.
And sometimes that's hard to accept.
But here's something worth remembering: Everybody is better than you at something. And you're better than somebody else at something, too!
God didn't create us all with the same abilities, talents, or gifts. Can you imagine how boring the world would be if He had?
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that we're all different parts of one body. Each part has its own purpose, and every part is necessary. The hand doesn't need to compete with the foot, and the eye doesn't need to be jealous of the ear.
The same is true for us.
Someone else's success doesn't diminish our value. Their gifts don't make ours any less important. And not being chosen for one opportunity doesn't mean we don't have a purpose.
God didn't create us to be better than everyone else. He created us to use the gifts He's given us.
So instead of comparing ourselves to others, let's celebrate what they bring to the table while faithfully using what God has placed in our hands.
You may not always be someone's first choice, but you are never an afterthought to God.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

get to

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
 
Last week was CRAZY busy! We arrived home Sunday afternoon, just in time to tackle laundry and housework before heading back to work Monday morning. Every evening brought another commitment, and it seemed we were going nonstop from the moment our alarms went off until we collapsed into bed at night.
But you know what? There was a lot of good tucked into all that busy!
We GET to go to work because we have jobs. We GET to clean our house because we have a home. We GET to cook because we have food on the table. We were blessed to welcome a couple dozen little goblins for trick-or-treating, and Sunday we GET to gather with others to worship God.
I recently heard someone suggest replacing the words “I have to” with “I get to.”
What a difference two little words can make!
Paul reminds us to give thanks IN all circumstances, not necessarily FOR all circumstances. There's a difference. We don't have to be thankful for every difficulty, disappointment, or exhausting day. But even in the middle of those things, we can find reasons to be grateful.
Changing “have to” into “get to” doesn't change our circumstances. It changes how we see them.
This week, when you catch yourself thinking about everything you HAVE to do, try remembering what you're blessed to GET to do.
You might discover there's a whole lot more to be thankful for than you realized.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

hidden

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
 
A speaker last week at the CMA rally made a statement that was both funny and convicting.
“Quit being undercover Christians!”
And then he asked us to think about something: what if, at our funeral, someone said, “I didn't know they were a Christian. Did you?”
Ouch.
As members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, we wear our faith right on our backs. Those CMA colors identify us as Christians before we ever say a word. And that means people are watching.
They're watching how we treat the waitress, how we respond when someone cuts us off in traffic, and how we behave when things don't go our way.
But here's the thing. We don't have to wear a CMA patch for people to notice our actions.
Every one of us represents Christ in the way we live. That doesn't mean we have to be perfect. Goodness knows we're all going to have bad days! But our lives should reflect the One we claim to follow.
So, here's a question worth asking ourselves today: if someone watched the way I lived but never heard me mention Jesus, would they still recognize His influence in my life?
Let's make sure our faith isn't something we keep hidden.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

it's ok

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
- Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
 
I've always thought faith and trust were pretty much the same thing. During one of our CMA rally seminars, a speaker explained the difference in a way that really made me think.
Faith says, “I know God can.”
Trust says, “But if He doesn't, I'll still be okay.”
Whoa.
It immediately reminded me of MercyMe's song “Even If.” There's a line that says, “But even if You don't, my hope is You alone.”
The song reminds us that God has the power to bring us through the fire, but even when He doesn't answer the way we hope, He is still worthy of our trust. It's one thing to believe God has the power to change our circumstances. It's another thing entirely to trust Him when He chooses not to change them the way we hoped.
We pray for healing, but sometimes the healing doesn't come. We pray for an open door, but sometimes it stays closed. We pray for answers, but sometimes all we get is silence.
Does that mean God isn't listening? Of course not. It means we don't see the whole picture.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood this when they faced the fiery furnace. They knew God could save them, but even if He didn't, they would remain faithful.
That's the kind of trust I want.
Not a faith that depends on getting my way, but a trust that remains steady even when I don't.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

silence

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
- Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
 
Have you ever prayed about something and felt like God wasn't listening? You pray, you wait, you pray some more, and nothing seems to change. Sometimes the silence can be harder than the storm itself.
During our CMA rally, one of the speakers made a statement that really caught my attention: “Don't misunderstand God's silence.”
In Matthew 8, Jesus and His disciples were caught in a terrible storm. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus was sleeping!
Can you imagine? The boat is being tossed around, the disciples think they're going to die, and Jesus is taking a nap!
But here's the thing. Jesus wasn't unaware of the storm, and He certainly wasn't powerless against it. He was right there with them.
Sometimes we want God to immediately calm whatever storm we're facing. But perhaps what we need first is the reassurance that He's still in the boat.
God never promised we wouldn't face storms. He promised we wouldn't face them alone.
And just because heaven seems quiet doesn't mean God isn't working.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

deadlines

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)
 
After spending five days listening to the Good News, you can't help but walk away wanting to share it! One of the speakers at our CMA rally made a statement that really stuck with me: “It's only good news if it gets there in time.”
Think about that for a minute.
We have the greatest news anyone could ever receive. Jesus loves us, died for us, and offers forgiveness and eternal life. But how often do we put off sharing that message?
We tell ourselves we'll find the right opportunity, the right words, or the right circumstances. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe when we're more comfortable. But tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
One of the things I love about CMA is that our motorcycles give us opportunities to meet people we might never encounter otherwise. And every one of those encounters could be an opportunity to share God's love. We don't have to deliver a sermon. Sometimes sharing the Good News begins with a kind word, a listening ear, or simply letting someone know they're loved.
God has placed each of us exactly where we are for a reason.
Maybe the right time isn't someday.
Maybe it's today.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

conclusions

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
- Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)
 
Have you ever had someone respond to you in a way that left you wondering what on earth their problem was? I think we've all been there. Someone snaps at us, ignores us, or says something unkind, and before we know it, we've decided exactly what kind of person they are.
My amazing husband and I recently spent five days at a rally with nearly 1,900 other members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. We enjoyed seminars, wonderful speakers, and time spent with our CMA family.
There was a low point for me, though. Someone responded to me in a way that was unkind, and honestly, it broke my heart. It would have been easy to dwell on that moment, to let it overshadow all the wonderful things that happened during those five days. But during our very first seminar, the speaker shared something I needed to remember: Take it slow. Don't jump to conclusions.
We don't always know what's happening in someone else's life. That impatient person might be carrying a burden we can't see. That unfriendly response might have nothing to do with us.
And sometimes, if we're willing to be honest, our own motives could use a little examination, too. It's easy to find fault in others. It's a little harder to stop and examine our own hearts.
That doesn't mean unkind words don't hurt. They do. But we can choose not to let that hurt determine how we respond.
Thankfully, when I shared the encounter with two good friends, they reminded me that responding with the same unkindness wouldn't accomplish anything. And more importantly, they encouraged me not to let one hurtful encounter overshadow an entire weekend filled with fellowship, encouragement, and the wonderful work God was doing.
Sometimes we need friends who will remind us to choose grace when our feelings are telling us to do otherwise.
Today, before reacting to someone else's behavior, let's extend a little grace. We might be surprised by what happens when we choose understanding instead of judgment.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible