grow

Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.
- Hebrews 5:12–14 (NIV)
 
I do not have a green thumb. In fact, I joke that I have killed an air fern and several plastic plants.
Gardening sounds simple enough. Plant the flowers. Water them. Let them grow.
But every time I try, I feel like a beginner.
I get excited when something starts to bloom or finally pushes through the soil. There’s something satisfying about seeing growth happen.
And then life gets busy, I forget to water the plants or I water them too much. And somehow, they still don’t survive.
It feels a little ridiculous at times — especially for a girl who grew up in Iowa, surrounded by farm towns where growing things seemed to come naturally to everyone else.
But maybe that’s exactly why gardening reminds me of faith. Spiritual maturity doesn’t mean we have everything figured out. Faith isn’t about arriving at some perfect place where we suddenly “get it right.”
It’s about growing.
There are still things to learn.
Still places God wants to shape us.
Still lessons we revisit because growth is ongoing.
Even after years of faith, there are moments when I still feel like an infant spiritually — still learning, still needing guidance, still asking God to take my hand and gently point me in the right direction.
And I’m not ashamed to admit that I need Him.
Maybe maturity isn’t about needing God less.
Maybe true maturity is realizing just how much we need Him every single day.
Because growth takes time.
And God is patient with the process.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

thoughts

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
- Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
 
Humans are creatures of habit. For me, most mornings follow familiar patterns. Monday through Friday, I usually turn on the local news while getting ready — mostly to catch the weather, but sometimes to hear what’s happening in the world.
But Sunday mornings are different. I love watching CBS Sunday Morning — the slower pace, the interesting stories, the feel-good moments, the reminders of creativity, humanity, and hope.
My husband would much rather watch Meet the Press. He listens to politics. I tend to avoid it. Politics make me cringe.
Even in the car, we alternate between his stations and mine. But Sundays are always Christian music.
And over time, I’ve realized something simple but important: everything we hear, see, and read affects us.
We may not notice it immediately, but what enters our minds eventually influences our mood, perspective, emotions, and even our sense of peace. Study after study shows how negative input impacts stress, anxiety, and emotional health — just as positive input can improve outlook, calm the mind, and shift perspective.
We don’t have to search very hard to find evidence of that, the truth is, we are constantly feeding our minds.
And what we feed grows.
When we intentionally create space for God in our lives, something changes.
Spending time in the Word before reaching for our phones. Listening to worship before the noise of the day begins. Starting with prayer instead of distraction.
Those small choices shape the atmosphere inside us.
Leaning into Him doesn’t just change our thoughts, it protects our hearts and steadies our minds.
And it reminds us that peace often begins with what we allow to take root.
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

focused

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
- Romans 8:5 (NIV)
 
There are a lot of things I love in life — my husband, my cats, music, reading, motorcycles, quiet moments, and little things that make life feel full.
But something I’ve learned over time is this: what we put in often comes back out.
Years ago, I worked in a factory where we were allowed to wear Walkmans during the day. (That sentence alone might age me a little.)
I quickly figured out that fast-paced music helped me work faster. The beat kept me moving, helped the hours pass, and gave energy to repetitive work.
But faster music didn’t always come with uplifting lyrics.
And without realizing it, what I listened to throughout the day began affecting my mood.
The same thing happens with books. Mystery novels or crime stories may be entertaining, but sometimes I notice they leave me feeling uneasy, nervous, or more on edge than before.
Even riding my motorcycle reflects my state of mind more than I once realized. Riding through heavy traffic feels different than riding an open road. One carries tension. The other feels freeing.
And while there’s something oddly fitting about hearing “Highway to Hell” on the way to a job you dislike, there came a point where I started listening to Christian radio while driving.
And honestly, there are times it completely shifts my perspective.
A worship song. A scripture shared between songs. A reminder of truth when my mind has been racing.
It changes the atmosphere inside me.
Because what fills our minds doesn’t stay there.
It shapes our thoughts, influences our emotions, affects our reactions, and slowly becomes part of the lens through which we see life.
A Spirit-focused life doesn’t happen by accident.
It grows through small daily choices — what we listen to, what we dwell on, what we allow to take root in our hearts.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

stress

Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
 
Stress touches every life. Bills, responsibilities, health, work, relationships, uncertainty — there’s always something demanding our attention.
Stress is part of being human. There will always be responsibilities to manage, decisions to make, people to care for, and seasons that feel heavier than others. Following Jesus doesn’t remove stress from our lives. But it does change how we carry it.
We were never meant to hold the full weight of life on our own.
Sometimes stress doesn’t come from one major problem. Sometimes it comes from being the person who always says yes.
I’m a “yes” person. If someone asks me to do something, chances are I’ll say yes — whether I truly have the space for it or not. It’s just how I’m wired.
But people notice that quickly.
Before long, the calendar fills. Responsibilities stack. Commitments multiply.
And suddenly, the weight of too many yeses starts affecting everything — work, family, relationships, rest, and even the things that once brought joy.
I can look at a week and think, I finally have two nights free. Then almost instantly, something slips into that space and suddenly I’m overwhelmed again.
I’ve been told to ask for help. But sometimes asking for help comes with excuses. And if I’m honest, one of my biggest struggles is patience — sometimes it feels easier to just do it myself than wait for someone else to do it differently.
Stress has a way of convincing us that everything depends on us.
But Jesus never asked us to live clenched-fist lives.
He invites us to come to Him with what is heavy.
To stop carrying every obligation like it belongs solely on our shoulders.
To understand that saying yes to Him may sometimes require saying no to other things.
Maybe peace isn’t found in doing less.
Maybe peace begins when we stop believing we have to carry everything.
And maybe there’s wisdom in choosing fewer “have to” moments so we can make room for more “want to” moments.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible

alone

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
- John 15:5 (NIV)
 
Have you ever been in a room full of people and still felt entirely alone?
It’s a real thing — a kind of interpersonal detachment. A deep sense of isolation or disconnection, even while surrounded by others. Sometimes it feels like going through the motions, smiling when expected, participating just enough, but internally feeling unseen.
We can have plenty of acquaintances, social circles, coworkers, or even friends — yet still feel lonely because what we truly crave is meaningful connection. The kind that feels deep, safe, and nourishing.
Life becomes heavy when we try to carry it alone.
And while human connection matters, there’s another layer to loneliness that often goes unnoticed: living disconnected from God.
Life was never meant to be lived independently.
We were not designed to navigate stress, decisions, fears, disappointments, or daily life without Him. God never intended to be a distant observer. He wants to walk with us in the ordinary moments — the drive to work, the quiet mornings, the hard conversations, the small decisions, and the overwhelming seasons.
This isn’t about religion as a routine or something we simply check off a list. It’s about relationship — learning to walk with God in a way that feels real, personal, and woven into everyday life.
Not simply believing God exists. Not checking a spiritual box. But learning to invite Him into everyday life.
Because when we intentionally walk with Him, we stop carrying the full weight of life by ourselves.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

to be honest

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
- Mark 9:24 (NIV)
 
I haven’t always been a Christ follower.
Even now, after following Him through most of my adult life — after teaching Sunday School, leading Bible studies, praying with others, and even doing some preaching — there are still moments when I honestly feel like I don’t believe.
Not because I don’t know who God is.
But because life gets heavy, uncertainty creeps in, and fear whispers that I need to be the one in control.
There are times I convince myself that if something is going to get done, I need to handle it. I need to fix it, protect it, plan it, manage it — because the only person I can truly count on is me.
And if I’m honest, that mindset is exhausting.
It sounds strong on the surface, but underneath it is fear. Fear of disappointment. Fear of waiting. Fear that letting go might leave me vulnerable.
But the truth is, I am not meant to carry everything alone.
And it’s a good thing that belief isn’t dependent on perfection.
Because if it were left entirely up to me, I would make a mess of things.
The father in Mark 9 gives one of the most honest prayers in Scripture: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
He didn’t pretend to have perfect faith. He brought his struggle directly to Jesus.
And Jesus didn’t reject him for it.
Sometimes faith isn’t loud certainty.
Sometimes faith is quietly admitting, Lord, I’m struggling to trust You right now.
And maybe that honesty is where deeper faith begins.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

I don't understand

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
 
As humans, we often choose paths that seem right in the moment.
Sometimes an opportunity looks perfect on paper — the timing feels right, the title sounds impressive, the money makes sense, and the next step appears obvious.
I once had the opportunity to move into a different role at work. It came with a promotion, more responsibility, and better pay. When the offer came through, I didn’t spend much time thinking about it. I definitely didn’t pray about it.
I simply said yes.
At first, it felt like the right move.
But within a year, I was miserable. I wasn’t good at the job, and because of that, I didn’t enjoy it. My manager and I struggled to work well together, and every day felt heavier than the one before.
I just wanted out.
Eventually, I left the role — but not before difficult words were exchanged and painful actions left lasting marks. The experience created a blemish on my professional career that I still work to overcome.
Looking back, I realize something important:
Not every open door is meant to be walked through.
Sometimes we move ahead because something looks good, sounds good, or makes sense financially. We trust our own understanding without slowing down to ask God if the path is truly ours to take.
Proverbs 3 reminds us not to lean entirely on what we think is right.
That doesn’t mean we’ll never make mistakes. It means we can learn to pause before rushing forward — to invite God into the decision instead of asking Him to fix it afterward.
Faith doesn’t always provide a full roadmap.
Sometimes it simply asks us to slow down long enough to listen.
 
#dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible