name it

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
- 1 John 4:4 (NKJV)
 
We name things because knowing what something is helps us know what to do about it.
If the check-engine light comes on, we don't fix the problem by putting tape over the light. We find out what's causing it.
If something hurts, we want to know why.
If there's a strange noise coming from the motorcycle, we don't just turn the radio up louder. Well...maybe some people do. But eventually, we have to figure out what's making the noise.
Because ignoring something doesn't make it disappear.
And sometimes the things we need to name aren't mechanical or physical. Sometimes they're the things happening inside us.
I am a worrier. I can take one little thing and, given enough time, turn it into seventeen different scenarios in my head—and sixteen of them end badly. I like to tell myself I'm just thinking ahead. I'm being prepared. I'm considering all the possibilities. And sometimes I am. But sometimes I need to call it what it really is.
Fear.
There's something powerful about naming what we're actually dealing with. Not because naming it gives it more power, but because it stops us from allowing it to hide behind something else.
Sometimes “I'm just being realistic” is doubt.
Sometimes “that's just how I am” is an excuse for something God is asking us to change.
Sometimes “what if...” is fear.
Sometimes “nobody will ever know” is temptation.
Sometimes “I'm not good enough” is a lie.
We can dress those things up with nicer names. We can justify them. Ignore them. Distract ourselves from them. But eventually, just like that strange noise coming from the motorcycle, we have to figure out what's really going on.
And naming something isn't admitting defeat. It's actually refusing to let it hide behind another name.
Yesterday, we left the disciples in a boat headed for the other side. The storm was real. The waves were real. Their fear was real.
But so was Jesus.
And I think that's important.
Following Jesus doesn't require us to pretend the hard things aren't hard. Faith doesn't mean we never feel afraid, never struggle, never doubt or never face temptation. We can be honest about what's happening.
I'm afraid, I'm struggling, I'm doubting, I'm tempted, I'm believing something about myself that God never said about me.
We can name it.
But 1 John 4:4 reminds us that none of those things gets the final word. Because once we've named what's fighting for our attention, we can name something much more important:
Greater is the One who lives in me.
Greater than my fear, my doubt, my temptation. Greater than my insecurity, greater than every lie trying to convince me that I am facing this alone.
And notice what the verse doesn't say. God isn't greater if I pray hard enough. He isn't greater once I finally get myself together. He isn't greater when I stop being afraid.
He is greater. Right now.
Maybe that's what somebody needs to remember today.
You don't have to pretend the battle isn't real in order to have faith. You don't have to call fear “being cautious,” doubt “being realistic,” or insecurity “just who I am.”
Bring it into the light, name it. Name the fear, the doubt, the temptation, the insecurity, the lie.
But don't stop there.
Name Jesus.
Because whatever you're facing today may be bigger than you.
But it isn't bigger than the One living in you.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

the other side

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
- Mark 4:35 (NLT)
 
I LOVE the phrase “the other side.”
Jesus didn't tell them, “Let's go out into the storm.” He said, “Let's cross to the other side.”
The storm happened on the way - that's a huge distinction.
Sometimes God calls us somewhere we've never been before. We say yes, expecting that obedience should somehow make the journey easier—and then suddenly we're in the middle of a storm thinking, Wait a minute. Didn't Jesus tell me to come this way?
Yes.
And He's still in the boat.
The disciples panicked because Jesus was asleep. Don't You care? Don't You see this? Don't You hear us?
I think sometimes we do the same thing. Especially when we have been given direction but we're pretty sure our plan would work better.
We have a fifth-wheel RV that is nearly forty feet long. For the record, I do NOT drive the truck while we're pulling the RV. But I have very seriously considered buying us the matching keychains that say, “I'm sorry for what I said while we were parking the RV.” Because apparently nothing tests a marriage quite like trying to back forty feet of recreational vehicle into a campsite. My job is usually to stand outside and help guide my wonderful husband into the spot. I'm watching the back of the RV, the trees, the picnic table, the hookups, whatever happens to be nearby, while trying to tell him which direction that enormous thing needs to go. And somehow my helpful directions don't always sound quite as helpful from inside the truck. He gets frustrated because he doesn't understand what I'm trying to tell him. I get frustrated because I don't think he's listening to what I'm trying to tell him. So finally I decided I was going to show him. Fine. You tell ME which way to turn the wheels and I'll park it. After a little scoffing—and probably wondering how much our insurance deductible was—he let me climb behind the wheel. And together, we parked it. I've done that exactly twice since we've owned the RV. Turns out, it really IS a lot harder than it looks. Standing outside, I could see exactly where the RV needed to go. From behind the wheel, everything looked different. The truck was turning one direction, the RV was moving another, and every instinct I had seemed to tell me to turn the wheel the opposite direction from where Randy was telling me to turn it. I had to trust the person outside the truck who could see what I couldn't.
There's a lesson in there somewhere.
How many times have we done that with God?
He gives us direction, and we start moving. Then things don't go the way we expected. This can't be right.
Surely I should be going the other direction. God, are You seeing what I'm seeing? Are You even listening?
That's essentially what the disciples were asking Jesus in that boat. The storm was raging. Waves were coming over the sides. They were afraid, and Jesus was sleeping. But Jesus hadn't forgotten where they were going. He had already told them. The other side. They just didn't know what they were going to encounter between here and there.
Neither do we.
Sometimes following God's direction doesn't make sense from where we're sitting. We can't see everything He sees. We may be trying desperately to steer our lives in the direction that feels right while God is saying, Trust Me. Keep going.
And sometimes we're so focused on the storm around us—or the forty-foot RV behind us—that we forget Who is giving the directions.
The disciples eventually reached the other side. Not because there wasn't a storm. Not because they navigated everything perfectly. But because Jesus was with them through it.
The presence of a storm doesn't mean you misunderstood God's direction.
Sometimes the storm is simply between where you are and the other side.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

smarties

Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
- Proverbs 16:24
 
My father-in-law is known around town by a couple of different names. Some people call him “Mr. Smartie.” Others simply call him “The Candy Man.” And he's earned both names honestly. For at least fifteen years, my father-in-law has carried Smarties around to give to kids—and sometimes adults. There's really only one requirement for the kids: you've got to pay for your Smarties with a high-five.
Over the years, it has become part of who he is. Kids know that if they see him sitting at his table at the café, there's a pretty good chance he has Smarties in his pocket. They'll run over to see him. Some kids even come running to the front door when they know he's home. His little tradition became so well known that years ago the local newspaper wrote a story about him.
But apparently, when you're Mr. Smartie, buying candy by the little bag at the grocery store eventually becomes impractical. So, for Christmas in 2023, Randy and I decided to make sure Dad was properly supplied. We went online and found a 40-pound box of Smarties. - that's 2,235 rolls. We figured that ought to hold him for a while. And it did - almost two years, in fact.
Toward the end of 2025, Dad finally started running out, so naturally, we knew what he needed for Christmas.
Another 40-pound box of Smarties.
When Randy went to the Smarties website to place the order, though, he noticed a link that said something like, “Tell us your Smarties story.”
Well... we have a Smarties story.
So Randy told them about his dad. He told them about the years of handing out candy and high-fives. He told them about the newspaper article and even sent them a copy. He told them about the enormous box we'd given Dad a couple of years earlier. Then Randy placed our order for another 40-pound box.
When we arrived in Iowa with Dad's Christmas present, however, we discovered that the folks at Smarties had apparently decided The Candy Man needed a little Christmas present from them, too. They sent him two two-pound bags of Smarties. A Smarties hat. And—wait for it—
another 40-pound box of Smarties.
Between the box we bought and the box Smarties sent him, Dad now has enough candy to keep the high-five business operating for somewhere around four years.
That's a LOT of Smarties.
But here's what I love about this story.
None of it started with 40-pound boxes of candy. It started with one man putting a few rolls of Smarties in his pocket because he enjoyed making kids smile.
One piece of candy, one child, one high-five, one smile.
And then he did it again, and again - for more than fifteen years.
Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
There's something about sweetness that goes far beyond what we taste.
A kind word can be sweet.
Being noticed can be sweet.
Knowing somebody is happy to see you can be sweet.
And sometimes kindness looks like a little roll of candy held out in exchange for a high-five.
The Smarties are long gone a few minutes later. But those kids know The Candy Man. They know which table to run toward at the café. They know which front door to run to when he's home. And I don't think they're only running toward the candy.
They're running toward someone who is always happy to see them. That's what really gets me. We spend so much time wondering how we can make a difference in this world. We think we need more money, more time, more talent or some big opportunity from God.
Meanwhile, God may have already put something in our pocket that we can give away.
Maybe it's encouragement, maybe it's a listening ear, maybe it's laughter, maybe it's a hug or a high-five.
Maybe it's simply making sure someone knows you're glad they're there.
And maybe it's Smarties.
Dad started giving away something small, and years later, there are people helping make sure his pockets stay full so he can keep giving it away.
I love that.
Because maybe that's how kindness is supposed to work: We receive it, we give it away, someone else adds a little more, and we keep giving.
So today, I think Proverbs gives us a pretty simple assignment: Carry something sweet, not necessarily in your pocket.
Carry kindness in your heart, carry encouraging words on your tongue, carry the love of Jesus everywhere you go.
Then look for somebody who needs a little of it.
Because you never know what God might do with one small act of kindness repeated faithfully over time.
After all, sometimes a legacy begins with nothing more than a roll of Smarties and a high-five.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible
 

legacy

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
-  Psalm 78:4 (NIV)
 
And just like that... it is Friday again. As I sat down to write this week, I realized something I hadn't planned. Every devotion this week came from my family in Iowa. One verse was suggested by my sister-in-law. Another by my mother-in-law. The stories came from my father-in-law's backyard, my brother-in-law's work at Bible camp, and a road trip home with my amazing husband. At first, I thought I was simply writing about our weekend together. Then I realized I was writing about something much bigger.
I was writing about legacy. Not a legacy measured in dollars or possessions. A legacy measured in faith. A family that has chosen, day after day, year after year, to build their lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
When I think about them, I don't think about the things they own. I think about a man who faithfully feeds God's creatures because he knows they matter to their Creator. I think about a woman whose first response is, "Here's a verse that encouraged me." I think about a man who quietly picks up a rock and pulls weeds because he serves the Lord, not people. I think about a sister who reminds me that our days are precious and should be lived wisely.
Those moments may seem ordinary. But ordinary faithfulness, repeated over a lifetime, becomes an extraordinary legacy.
Psalm 78:4 says, "We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done."
As I read those words, I realized that's exactly what I've experienced. No one in this family has ever preached a sermon to me. They've simply lived one. Their faith isn't something they put on for Sunday mornings. It's found in the everyday moments—in conversations around the kitchen table, in caring for God's creation, in serving without seeking recognition, in sharing Scripture, in working with excellence, and in loving one another well. That's the kind of faith that quietly shapes children, grandchildren, friends... and daughters-in-law. It's the kind of faith that points people to Jesus without ever demanding attention.
As I look back over this week, I'm thankful not only for the stories we shared, but for the people who inspired them. Their example reminds me that the greatest inheritance we can leave isn't a house, a bank account, or a collection of possessions. It's a life that consistently reflects Christ.
So as you head into the weekend, remember this: The legacy we leave isn't built in the extraordinary moments. It's built in the ordinary moments that we faithfully give to God.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

road trip!

 You, Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. 
-  Psalm 16:5 (GNT)
 
Road trips... you either love them or you hate them. There really isn't much in between. If you had told twenty-year-old me that someday I'd be living nine hours away from my hometown, I would have laughed in your face. Yet here we are, making that drive several times a year to spend time with family in Iowa. The miles have become familiar enough that sometimes it feels like we could drive them in our sleep... but since there are other people on the road, sleep-driving definitely isn't on the recommended to-do list! 
One thing Randy and I always do is see if we can beat the GPS arrival time. It's become a little personal challenge. The funny thing is, the GPS doesn't account for construction zones, road closures, or the car broken down in the middle of a 75 mph highway that causes everyone ahead of you to slam on their brakes. Sometimes the only thing standing between a close call and an accident is a driver with lightning-fast reflexes. (Thank you, Randy!)  The truth is, we never really know what's around the next curve.
We don't know where we'll stop for fuel, where we'll find a clean restroom, or how we'll manage a meal on the road when you have specific nutritional needs. We simply keep following the road because we trust it will lead us to our destination.
Our walk with God is often exactly like that. He rarely hands us the whole map. Instead, He gives us the next mile. And maybe that's enough, because the destination was never in our hands to begin with. Life is much the same. We can't see every chapter before it's written. We make choices, take detours, and sometimes wonder if we've missed a turn. We experience loss. We face health challenges. We start businesses, learn new technology, celebrate victories, and weather disappointments. Through it all, God is quietly writing a story that only He can fully see.
Looking back over my life, I realize the greatest blessings weren't the ones I planned—they were the ones God planned. He saw around every curve long before I reached it. He knew the people I would meet, the lessons I would learn, the tears I would cry, and the joy that was waiting on the other side.
My future has never really been in my hands. And honestly... I'm thankful for that.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

whole heart

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 
-  Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
 
This past weekend we spent time in Iowa with family during the Bible camp's annual fundraiser weekend. If you've read my Daily Bread for very long, you know how much I treasure these trips. Sitting around the table listening to stories from when my in-laws were growing up, laughing about the adventures the siblings had as kids, making new memories together... it's just a little slice of heaven for me.
My brother-in-law is the head of maintenance at the camp. Fundraiser weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for him and his wife, yet somehow they always make time to visit with the family. As we were walking around admiring a beautiful addition to one of the lodges, someone shared a story that perfectly describes who he is.
He had been walking with the camp director when he noticed a rock lying in the middle of the sidewalk. Without saying a word, he bent over, picked it up, and then pulled a few weeds that had worked their way through the cracks in the concrete.
The camp director smiled and said, "You have people to do that." He does. He could have kept walking. He could have made a mental note to ask someone else to take care of it later. No one would have thought less of him. But that's not who he is. He takes pride in his work—not because someone is watching, not because it's in his job description, and not because he'll receive recognition. He simply sees something that needs to be done and does it.When I heard that story, I couldn't help but think of this verse.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..."
What if we all lived that way? What if we answered emails, cleaned our homes, greeted customers, cared for our families, served at church, or picked up that one rock in the sidewalk as if Jesus Himself had asked us to do it? The little things matter because they reveal the condition of our hearts.
Working for the Lord doesn't always look like preaching a sermon or leading a Bible study. Sometimes it looks like quietly pulling weeds that no one else even noticed.
Faithfulness is often found in the smallest moments.
Today, whatever God places in front of you, do it with your whole heart. Someone may never notice your effort, but the One you're really working for always does.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible 

squirrels

 The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.
- Psalm 145:9 (NIV)
 
I'll admit it—not everyone loves cats as much as I do, and that's okay. My wonderful mother- and father-in-law have a different soft spot. They love squirrels. For as long as I can remember, Dad has kept the bird feeders full and made sure the squirrels in the backyard had something to eat. Over the years they've watched countless furry visitors come and go, but this year two of them have become something like old friends.
There's Charlie. Charlie has become brave enough to walk right up onto the front porch and gently take a peanut from their fingers. Then there's Chicken. Chicken isn't quite as adventurous. He won't come onto the porch while Mom and Dad are outside, but if the peanut dish is empty, he'll come right up to the door as if to say, "Excuse me... I think you forgot something!" I loved hearing the stories about Charlie and Chicken this weekend. Their little personalities make me smile, but they also remind me of something much bigger.
Psalm 145 tells us that "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." God's compassion isn't reserved for people alone. Throughout Scripture we see Him caring for all of His creation, and I love seeing that same compassion reflected in people like Mom and Dad as they faithfully care for the birds and squirrels that visit their yard.
Charlie and Chicken may just be simple squirrels, but they know where to find someone who cares for them. And when I think about it, so do we.
Sometimes God's care comes through answered prayers. Sometimes it comes through family, friends, or even the unexpected kindness of a stranger. A comforting word, an encouraging smile, a meal shared, a helping hand—God often chooses ordinary people to demonstrate His extraordinary love.
For Charlie, love might look like a handful of peanuts waiting on the porch.
For us, it may be a kind word spoken at just the right moment or someone showing up when we need them most.
Every act of compassion, no matter how small, reflects the heart of our Creator. We never know when a simple act of kindness might remind someone that they are seen, loved, and cared for.
So today, be someone's peanut. You might be the very reminder they needed that God hasn't forgotten them. 
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible