freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
- Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
 
And just like that... it's Friday again. But this isn't just any Friday. Tomorrow our nation begins celebrating America's 250th birthday.
From its earliest days, our country recognized the importance of our Creator and embraced the principle of religious freedom—the freedom to worship God according to our convictions. Because of that freedom, many of us can gather for church, carry our Bibles openly, pray with friends, and share our faith without fear. That is a blessing I never want to take for granted.
I'm proud to be an American. Like every nation, we've had triumphs and failures throughout our history, but I'm thankful for the freedoms we continue to enjoy and for the countless men and women who have sacrificed to protect them. Every time I see our flag, I'm reminded that freedom has never been free.
As grateful as I am for the freedoms we celebrate this weekend, I'm even more thankful for the freedom Christ gives us—the freedom from guilt, from shame, and from trying to earn God's love. No nation can give that, and no circumstance can take it away.
Jesus paid the price for a freedom that is eternal.
This weekend, as we gather with family and friends for barbecues, parades, fireworks, camping trips, and celebrations, I hope we'll also pause to thank God for the many blessings He has poured into our lives.
Our families.
Our friends.
The men and women who have served our country.
The freedom to worship.
And most of all, our Savior.
As this week comes to a close, I'm thankful for ordinary days that remind me God is always present. I'm thankful for changing seasons that keep life interesting, for friends who stop by just because, for summer memories being made with the people I love, and for the incredible gift of freedom—both the freedoms we celebrate as Americans and the eternal freedom we have through Jesus Christ.
May we never take either one for granted.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible
 

be present

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
 
Oooooo... it's Friday Eve!
With the temperatures climbing this week, I've found myself thinking about summers growing up in Iowa.
I can almost smell the fresh-cut grass.
I remember catching lightning bugs after the sun went down, swimming until our fingers looked like raisins, staying up late to watch the sunset, camping trips, family picnics, and running around outside until we were completely worn out.
Back then, we didn't have cell phones. We came home when the streetlights came on, and somehow... we survived. We built forts, rode our bikes, climbed trees, read books, made up games, and spent hours outside. We made friendships that lasted for years, and yes, sometimes those friendships were temporarily ended over a heated game of tag or kickball. But by the next day, we were usually friends again.
More importantly... we were there.
We weren't trying to capture every moment. We were living it.
Today, our phones go everywhere with us. They're at home, at school, on the bus, at the dinner table, and even in church. Technology is a wonderful tool—I certainly appreciate being able to stay connected with family and friends—but sometimes the very thing that connects us can also distract us from the people sitting right beside us.
Maybe one of the greatest gifts we can give the people we love is our full attention.
Put the phone down once in a while.
Watch the sunset without taking a picture.
Listen to the laughter around the picnic table.
Catch lightning bugs with your grandkids.
Sit around the campfire and enjoy the conversation.
Be present.
The photos are wonderful keepsakes, but the moments themselves are the real treasure. God has filled our days with beautiful gifts that can't always be captured on a screen—they're meant to be experienced with grateful hearts.
So before this summer slips away, make a few memories that never need a filter.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

friends

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
- Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
 
I love getting text messages from friends who live across the country, especially when those messages say, "I'm coming to visit!"
About five years ago, we met a wonderful woman through the motorcycle community. She was coming to Northwest Arkansas for a Ladies Rally and needed a host home. She was only supposed to stay with us for three days. Three days somehow turned into a little longer... and before she headed home, she had carved out a permanent place in our hearts.
Over the years, we've met up in different places around the country, and every time we're together, our friendship grows a little deeper. Last October, Randy and I had the incredible honor of officiating her wedding to the love of her life. What a privilege it was to stand beside them on such a special day.
So you can imagine how excited I was when my phone buzzed last week with a simple text saying she was riding through our area again.
In today's world, so much communication happens through text messages and social media that we sometimes forget how refreshing it is to simply sit with someone and catch up. To laugh together. To tell stories. To share a meal. To enjoy each other's company without looking at a screen every few minutes.
Friendship is one of God's quiet blessings.
The people God places in our lives encourage us, pray for us, celebrate with us, and sometimes simply remind us that we're never meant to walk this journey alone. Some friendships begin in the most unexpected ways—a shared hobby, a chance meeting, or an open door to a guest room—but God has a wonderful way of turning those ordinary introductions into lifelong relationships.
I'm thankful for the friends God has brought into my life over the years. Some live just down the road. Others are scattered across the country. Distance may separate us most of the time, but true friendship has a way of picking up right where it left off.
Those kinds of friendships are a gift from God.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

rain

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)
 
Rain, rain, go away...
I have a feeling there were quite a few people singing that song last week! It seemed like every day brought another round of rain. Some days it was a gentle, steady shower. Other days it was a torrential downpour with flash flood warnings lighting up our phones.
I'll admit, by the end of the week I was ready to see the sunshine again.
But you know who wasn't complaining? My garden.
The tomatoes took off. The peppers multiplied. I've already picked handfuls of green beans, strawberries, a couple of zucchini, and cucumbers. Everything seemed to explode with life after all that rain.
Now this week has flipped the script. The forecast is full of sunshine and summer heat. I'll probably spend plenty of time watering the garden, hoping the plants don't dry out under the Arkansas sun.
It reminds me how much the weather affects what's growing.
Not just in our gardens... but in our hearts.
There are rainy seasons in life when it feels like one storm rolls in right after another. Those seasons aren't usually our favorite, but they often produce the deepest roots. They teach us to depend on God in ways we never would have if life had stayed comfortable.
Then there are sunny seasons—times of joy, celebration, and answered prayers. Those are gifts too. But even then, we have to stay connected to the One who gives us living water, because a season of blessing can leave our faith just as dry as a season of struggle if we stop relying on Him.
God knows exactly what we need in every season. Sometimes He sends the rain. Sometimes He sends the sunshine. And somehow, through both, He's growing something beautiful.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

even on Monday

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 3:17 (NIV)
 
I've always loved Garfield comics. Maybe it's because he's a cat (okay... it's definitely because he's a cat!), but Garfield and I have always agreed on one thing—Mondays can be rough.
Some Mondays I'd much rather stay face down in my bed, wrapped up in my blanket, hugging my teddy bear, pretending the alarm clock never went off. No emails. No meetings. No responsibilities. Just five... okay, maybe fifty... more minutes.
Life isn't always made up of mountaintop moments. Most of it is made up of ordinary Mondays.
We wake up. Brush our teeth. Feed the pets. Drive to work. Answer emails. Fold laundry. Wash dishes. Make dinner. Go to bed and do it all again tomorrow.
It's not glamorous. It's just life.
The beautiful thing is that God doesn't only meet us on the mountaintops or during life's biggest victories. He walks with us through the routines too. He's there in the quiet drive to work, the conversations with coworkers, the errands, the never-ending laundry, and even those Mondays we'd rather skip altogether.
Sometimes we think we need to feel inspired, have everything figured out, or drink twelve cups of coffee before we can face the day. But maybe all God is asking is that we invite Him into whatever is already on today's calendar.
Every ordinary task becomes an opportunity to honor Him when we remember He's right there beside us.
Today may not be exciting. It may not be life-changing. It may simply be... Monday.
And that's enough.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible 

a grateful heart

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
 
Did y'all notice that it's summertime?
This past Sunday was both Father's Day and the Summer Solstice, the official start of summer. Just like that, the season of vacations, family gatherings, motorcycle rides, ballgames, camping trips, church events, and community activities is upon us.
Not that my calendar needed any help filling up.
Who am I kidding? My calendar is always full.
But you know what? That makes me happy.
When I finally fall into bed exhausted at the end of the day, I'm usually tired for a good reason. It means I spent time with people I love. It means I was part of something bigger than myself. It means there were memories made, conversations shared, and moments that mattered.
Now, don't get me wrong. I stress about things. A lot.
Especially when I'm the one responsible for all the details. The planning, organizing, coordinating, setup, execution, and cleanup. Sometimes I think I spend more time making lists than actually doing the thing that's on the list.
But if I'm being honest, I'm kind of good at it.
And even when it feels overwhelming, I wouldn't trade it.
I suppose I could choose a different path. I could be angry about the demands on my time. I could refuse to volunteer. I could avoid commitments. I could seclude myself from the world and spend all my time with my cats.
As appealing as that sounds on some days, where's the fun in that?
God created us for relationships. He created us for community. He created us to share life with family, friends, neighbors, church members, coworkers, and even the occasional stranger who becomes a friend.
The busy schedules, the events, the gatherings, the phone calls, the road trips, the dinners, the celebrations, and even the responsibilities that come with them are reminders that we are blessed with people to love and people who love us.
And that is something worth being thankful for.
At the end of the week, I can look back and be thankful for the God who makes the impossible possible, for the faith that has grown over the years, for the privilege of prayer, and for the people He has placed in my life. Gratitude doesn't mean life is perfect. It means recognizing God's goodness in the middle of real life.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

community

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Hebrews 10:24-25
 
I am going to totally age myself here, but do you remember the old Life cereal commercial? The one where the kids are trying to get someone else to taste it because, according to them, "he won't eat it, he hates everything!" Then the little boy takes a bite, then another, and suddenly everyone is shouting, "He likes it! Hey Mikey!"
Of course, every kid in America immediately needed a box of Life cereal. At least that's how it seemed.
Growing up, Saturday mornings were sacred. We'd sit in the living room in our pajamas with a bowl of cereal and watch cartoons for hours. Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and all the other classics. And let's not forget the commercials. Every toy, game, and gadget was presented as the coolest thing on the planet. Kids everywhere begged their parents for whatever had been advertised between cartoons.
Fast forward to adulthood, and not much has changed. Advertising still influences what we buy, where we eat, what we watch, and even what we believe about products and companies. Good advertising can make a product a household name. Bad advertising can sink a company.
For the record, not all advertising works on me. In fact, some commercials have the exact opposite effect. If your marketing strategy depends on cute pets or children who have nothing to do with the service you're providing, I'm probably tuning out. Call me old-fashioned, but I'd rather hear why your business is great than be convinced by a barking dog or an adorable kid reading a script.
But that got me thinking. What if our faith in God was based on advertising?
In some ways, it already is.
How did you first hear about God? Was it because your family took you to church every Sunday? Was it a friend who invited you to a service or Bible study? Maybe you drove past a church and saw a sign for an event that caught your attention. Maybe someone shared their testimony. Maybe you saw a group of bikers gathered in a parking lot with their heads bowed in prayer and wondered what that was all about.
Most of us didn't come to faith in a vacuum. God used people to point us toward Him.
That's why community matters.
Community is the group of people you call when life falls apart. They're the ones who celebrate your victories, pray through your struggles, and show up when you need a helping hand. Community is who you run to when you need support, and it's who you run to when they need support.
As Christians, we're called to do life together. We're meant to encourage one another, help one another, pray for one another, and sometimes simply sit beside one another when words aren't enough.
The world tells us to be independent and handle everything ourselves. God tells us to carry each other's burdens.
Every day, in every season, and for every purpose, God places people in our lives and calls us to care for one another.
That's the kind of advertising I can get behind.
When people see love, kindness, compassion, generosity, and faith lived out in a community of believers, they're seeing a glimpse of Jesus.
And that's something worth sharing.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible