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

family

Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.
- Romans 12:10 (NLT)
 
Last week I only shared four Daily Breads because we were heading out of town. This week you're only getting three because we're heading out of town again!
I love a good adventure. I love seeing new places, enjoying beautiful scenery, and making memories. But I've come to realize that the best part of any adventure isn't necessarily where you go. It's who you share it with.
Last weekend was cold and wet. There was even a fire ban, so we couldn't always warm ourselves around a campfire. There were moments when we were just plain cold and miserable! But there was also laughter. Lots of laughter. Stories shared, memories made, and time spent with friends who have become family.
This week we're heading to a CMA rally, where the forecast promises warmer, drier weather and the opportunity to worship and fellowship with fellow Christian motorcyclists. And it reminds me of something I've learned over the years. Family isn't always about the people you're related to. Sometimes it's about the people God brings into your life along the way.
Romans 12:10 reminds us to love one another with genuine affection. Not just a polite smile or a friendly wave, but the kind of love that shows up, shares burdens, celebrates victories, and sticks around when things get difficult.
God has a wonderful way of bringing people together. Sometimes it's through church, sometimes through a shared interest, and sometimes through a cold, rainy weekend when everyone is wondering why they thought camping was such a great idea! The scenery may be beautiful, the adventures may be unforgettable, but the relationships we build along the way are what make those memories truly special.
You really can find family anywhere.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

black sheep

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
- Luke 15:4 (NLT)
 
I wasn't one of the popular kids in school. I had a couple of friends in grade school, but as we moved into junior high and high school, we grew apart. I never really felt like I was part of the group. And if I'm being truthful, even as an adult, I sometimes still feel like I'm on the outside looking in. I have over 1,500 friends on social media, but sometimes I wonder how many of them would drop everything to pick me up if I fell. Maybe you've felt that way too. Surrounded by people, yet somehow feeling alone. Wondering where you fit in, or whether anyone would even notice if you weren't there.
Ben Fuller has a song called Black Sheep, and it got me thinking about what it means to feel like the one who doesn't belong.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a story about a shepherd with a hundred sheep. When one goes missing, he doesn't shrug his shoulders and decide that ninety-nine is good enough. He goes looking for that one lost sheep, and he doesn't stop until he finds it. To the shepherd, that one sheep matters.
And to Jesus, so do you.
The world may measure our worth by popularity, friendships, followers, or how well we fit into the crowd. But God doesn't measure us that way. He knows us individually. He notices when we're missing. And He loves us enough to come looking.
So if you've ever felt like the black sheep, the odd one out, or the person standing on the outside looking in, remember this:
You may feel like you're just one in a hundred, but you're never just a number to God.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

one step back

Come near to God and He will come near to you.
- James 4:8a (NIV)
 
I have a friend who experienced something incredibly traumatic in her life. I'm not going to share the details because it's not my story to tell. But before this happened, she knew God. She attended church every Sunday. She even taught Sunday school. And then something happened that shook her world so deeply that she turned her back on God.
I think more people can relate to that than we realize. Sometimes life hurts so badly that we find ourselves asking, God, where were You? How could You love me and allow this to happen?
There's an old hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, with a line that says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”
Even when we love God, we can lose our way. Sometimes we wander because we're distracted. Sometimes because we're angry. And sometimes because we're hurting so badly that we don't know how to find our way back.
Matthew West has a song called Back to Jesus, and the message is beautifully simple: No matter how far we've wandered, it's only one step back to Jesus. James 4:8 doesn't say we have to have all the answers before we come near to God. It doesn't say we have to understand everything that's happened or pretend we're not hurting. It simply invites us to draw near. And here's what I love most: Even when we've turned our backs on God, He hasn't turned His back on us.
Maybe today you're struggling with something you don't understand. Maybe you're angry with God. Maybe you've been keeping your distance for a long time.
You don't have to figure it all out today. You can come to Him with your questions, your anger, and your broken heart.
He's still there.
And it's only one step back.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible