over thinking

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

- Ephesians 3:16-19

 

Most of us have a tendency to overthink things, to obsess about things we need to do, decisions we need to make.

We need to stop over thinking.

Did you know that we are covered by Jesus no matter what we are going through?

I am reminded of a story from wildfires where the firefighters searching for surviving animals found a bird at the base of a tree.  Investigating further, they found that momma bird had brought each of her babies to the ground and covered them with her wings to try and protect them from the fire that ravaged the forest.  The babies lived, but momma had sacrificed her life for theirs.

I believe that momma bird was thinking in the moment how to best protect her children, she didn’t over think or try to see the future, she may or may not have known that she would die, but she did know she would protect her children. 

God protects us much in this same way, He sent His Son to die for us.

Let go of the plans that you are making, take a break from the busy-ness of your day, stop thinking about the decisions that are weighing you down and focus on God.

He loves us so much.

We as humans cannot begin to fathom how wide and long and high and deep His love is.

It is a good thing He had it all written down for us.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

morning

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

- Psalm 143:8

 

I am normally the first one awake in my house (except for the cats who want breakfast rightnow), even on the weekends. 

I have come to treasure that quite time with my coffee and my devotions, the time to surrender myself to God and ask Him to guide my day. 

Our problems are temporary, but God is eternal and there is nothing – nothing that He won’t get you through. Song reference!

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

And when I am alone

Oh, and when I am alone

And when I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

And when I come to die

Oh, and when I come to die

And when I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

You can have all this world

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

If we focus on the things that are wrong in our lives we will quickly become discouraged and that can start our day on a sour note, so instead, spend time each morning with God, praising, thanking, praying. 

Take Jesus into your day and it will be better.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

rescue

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

- 2 Thessalonians 3:3

 

I have read many stories of angels surrounding people, angels that they could not see but others did.

An example is the story of a girl walking home, she took a shortcut through an alley where she saw a couple of very frightening men. 

In the next few days news surfaced that a short time after her walk through the alley, another young lady was attacked in that same alley so the girl went to the police station to share what she had seen. 

As a result of her coming forward with clear descriptions of the men she had seen, the police were able to capture the assailants. 

The girl returned to the police station to ask the detective to inquire of the men as to why they did not attack her.

Their response was shocking to her – they said they did not attack her because she was walking with three very large men – she attributes these “three large men” to being angels of the Lord. 

I have no idea if this story is true, but the idea of God sending angels to protect us is pretty amazing. Song reference!

You are not hidden

There's never been a moment

You were forgotten

You are not hopeless

Though you have been broken

Your innocence stolen

I hear you whisper underneath your breath

I hear your SOS, your SOS

I will send out an army to find you

In the middle of the darkest night

It's true, I will rescue you

There is no distance

That cannot be covered

Over and over

You're not defenseless

I'll be your shelter

I'll be your armor

I hear you whisper underneath your breath

I hear your SOS, your SOS

I will send out an army to find you

In the middle of the darkest night

It's true, I will rescue you

I will never stop marching to reach you

In the middle of the hardest fight

It's true, I will rescue you

I hear the whisper underneath your breath

I hear you whisper, you have nothing left

I will send out an army to find you

In the middle of the darkest night

It's true, I will rescue you

I will never stop marching to reach you

In the middle of the hardest fight

It's true, I will rescue you

Oh, I will rescue you

The Lord is faith and He will protect us.

That sure is a comforting thought to get us through the day.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

envy

 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

- James 3:16

 

“But it’s not fair!”

I am fairly certain that every single one of us has heard (or perhaps uttered) those very words at some point in our lives.

We see it in the kid that is upset because he can’t have or do what his friends have or are doing.

We feel it when as adults we are angry or bitter because someone else got a job that we wanted.  

We experience it when we see the successes of others regardless of if it is financial, material or even spiritual.

How often do we practice selfishness and greed instead of being thankful for the things we are given and faithful in trusting that God will provide for our every need?

Just because someone has more than we do, does not mean that we have less.

Try to see past the “stuff” and focus on God instead.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

stillness

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

- Psalm 46:10

 

Are you one of those people that just can’t stop?

I am for sure.

People get frustrated with me because I am almost always multitasking.

My boss has mentioned on more than one occasion that during meetings I need to not multitask, but pay close attention to the meeting instead.

My husband used to laugh at me because I could not just sit and watch television, I had to be doingsomething. 

I feel like I am just wired to do everything until it is all done and let me tell you, it is never all done!

There comes a time that we need to stop though.

Set aside the laundry, the grocery list, the meal planning.

Wait to schedule the next meeting, read and respond to that email, complete the TPS report (yes that is a joke from the movie Office Space) or whatever task is pending.

Give yourself time to be still, let the peace of God fill your heart, meditate on His presence, notice that He is all around you.

Take time to rest in Him, and be refreshed.

 

#dailybreadbykitty 

invisible

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

• Psalm 121:8

 

Sometimes I feel invisible.

Not the television or movie kind of invisible that superheroes have where they can be in a room observing and no one knows they are there, but more of a feeling that I am tiny, insignificant, invisible like a microscopic insect or a tiny grain of sand. 

We are not invisible though, not in any sense of the word.

God knows we are there, knows every hair on our head, every thought.

He is there, knowing every where we go, knows every thought we have, He is always there, watching us, loving us.

We are not invisible to Him, we can’t hide nor avoid Him so let’s thank Him and praise Him for being with us always.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

healing

 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

- Isaiah 58:8

 

Thank you for all of the prayers yesterday, I certainly felt them!

Healing begins today as far as the shoulder goes, however I do want to point out that not only does our physical bodies need healing, but also our spirits.

How often is our spirit broken?

If we are being honest, it doesn’t take much to break our spirits . . . a harsh word from a co-worker, the loss of an opportunity, a bad grade in a class, bad news from a doctor, finances not being where we need them to be, all of these things can break our spirits.

Go directly to God when your spirit is broken, He will heal you, He will protect you.

You my not see it right away, but He is there, we may not understand why we are going through the trials that we have, but He knows, and He will be a refuge for your soul.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

 

restore

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord.

- Jeremiah 30:17

 

Today as you are reading this, I am having surgery, right shoulder arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair.

This is something I have been trying to avoid since June.

I am not going to lie and say that I am not worried, I am quite frightened by the prospect of another surgery, not so much the surgery itself as the recovery, since the previous surgery/recovery resulted in hospitalization and near death from pulmonary embolism.

But my faith in God is bigger than my fear, my soul is not alone. (song reference)

Oh, my soul

Oh, how you worry

Oh, how you're weary from fearing

You lost control

This was the one thing

You didn't see coming

And no one would blame you though

If you cried in private

If you tried to hide it away

So no one knows

No one will see

If you stop believing

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

There's a place where fear

Has to face the God you know

One more day

He will make a way

Let Him show you how

You can lay this down

'Cause you're not alone

Here and now

You can be honest

I won't try to promise

That someday it all works out

'Cause this is the valley

And even now

He is breathing on

Your dry bones

And there will be dancing

There will be beauty where beauty was

Ash and stone

This much I know

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

There's a place where fear

Has to face the God you know

One more day

He will make a way

Let Him show you how

You can lay this down

I'm not strong enough

I can't take anymore

You can lay it down

You can lay it down

And my shipwrecked faith

Will never get me to shore

You can lay it down

You can lay it down

Can he find me here?

Can he keep me from going under?

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

There's a place where fear

Has to face the God you know

One more day

He will make a way

Let Him show you how

You can lay this down

'Cause you're not alone

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

I will be fine, this I know.

A few extra prayers would be appreciated though😊

Thanks, ❤

 

#dailybreadbykitty

sadness

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

- Ecclesiastes 7:3

 

In the last thirty days I have learned of the deaths of a dear friend, a cousin, another friend lost two of her sisters, yet another lost her sister, and another, his mom.

There has been so much loss.

I am not sure if it has been more that usual due to the pandemic, but it does not make the loss hurt any less, especially knowing that in current conditions, people really don’t have the opportunity to mourn like we used to do. 

We are allowed to mourn, it is acceptable to feel sad, and don’t ever let anyone tell you to “get over it” or “move on” because these things, this loss, takes time.

I take comfort knowing that my loved ones and the loved ones of my friends are with Jesus, and there is no place like home in His arms.

I want to remind each of us that we will be with our loved ones someday, they are home, and we will be going home as well.

Song reference:

Are you disappointed?

Are you desperate for help?

You know what it's like to be tired

And only a shell of yourself

Well, you start to believe

You don't have what it takes

'Cause it's all you can do

Just to move, much less finish the race

But don't forget what lies ahead

Almost home

Brother, it won't be long

Soon all your burdens will be gone

With all your strength

Sister, run wild, run free

Hold up your head

Keep pressing on

We are almost home

Well this road will be hard

But we win in the end

Simply because of Jesus in us

It's not if, but when

So take joy in the journey

Even when it feels long

Oh, find strength in each step

Knowing Heaven is cheering you on

We are almost home

Brother, it won't be long

Soon all your burdens will be gone

With all your strength

Sister, run wild, run free

Hold up your head

Keep pressing on

We are almost home

Almost home

Almost home

I know that the cross has brought Heaven to us

Make no mistake, there's still more to come

When our flesh and our bone are no longer between

Where we are right now and where we're meant to be

When all that's been lost is made whole again

When these tears and this pain no longer exist

No more walking, we're running as fast as we can

Consider this our second wind

Almost home

Brother, it won't be long

Soon all your burdens will be gone

With all your strength

Sister, run wild, run free

Hold up your head

Keep pressing on

We are almost home

Almost home

Almost home

Sadness is nothing to be ashamed of, it is ok to have a broken heart, just know that you are being held in the arms of the most loving Father, and He will help you through the sadness on Earth. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

acceptance

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

- Romans 15:7

 

Today we celebrate the birth of another King – Martin Luther King Jr.

Note – his actual date of birth is January 15^th, but nationwide we celebrate him on the 3^rdMonday in January.

King was a Baptist minister, a leader in the civil rights movement.

There are so many quotes attributed to Dr. King, but I would say that his underlying message was one of love.

 Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Faith was not something new to Dr. King, both his father and his maternal grandfather were clergymen, but in reading his life story we find that there were moments in Dr. King’s life where he doubted religion, it was not until his last year of college in fact, that he chose to go into ministry.

Dr. King’s most famous speech is undoubtedly his “I have a dream” speech, delivered at the March on Washington in 1963:

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

Dr. King was speaking about events that were taking place in the racially charged 1960’s, but stop and look around you today, nearly 60 years later we are still a broken nation.

We can look in the speeches of Dr. King, other leaders and yes, especially in the Bible, and see that we were created to love, to accept others, because that is pleasing to the Lord. 

Think hard on your words and actions, do the exemplify love and give glory to God?

 

#dailybreadbykitty

anger

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:31-32

 

I am still working on this one . . . I have been known to hold a grudge for a very long time.

It is really hard to forgive someone that hurts you so bad, whether it is physical or emotional.

I have learned that we have to forgive others if we want to be forgiven.

It’s not easy for us humans, because we don’t love unconditionally, there are always stipulations.

We need to let go.

We say “I’m not wired that way” or “I can’t forgivethat specific thing or event” but that is not true – we ARE wired that way.

We have to ask God’s help in forgiving, just as we ask Him to forgive us.

Walking around angry all the time – that is not healthy, we have to let it go.  

It’s what God wants us to do.

#dailybreadbykitty

who are you?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

- 1 John 3:1-2

 

Who are you? (yes, that is a song)

I am a child of God.

If I didn’t already know this, there are plenty of verses and songs to let me know!

I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

[Chorus]

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

I am a child of God,

And so my needs are great;

Help me to understand his words

Before it grows too late.

I am a child of God.

Rich blessings are in store;

If I but learn to do his will

I'll live with him once more.

And the more popular one:

Who am I that the highest King would welcome me?

I was lost, but He brought me in

Oh His love for me

Oh His love for me

Who the Son sets free

Oh, is free indeed

I'm a child of God, yes, I am

Free at last, He has ransomed me

His grace runs deep

While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me

Yes, He died for me

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I'm a child of God, yes, I am

In my Father's house

There's a place for me

I'm a child of God, yes, I am

I am chosen, not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me, not against me

I am who You say I am

We are children of the one true King, we are princes and princesses in His eyes, how can we not celebrate that?  

#dailybreadbykitty

sing

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

- Psalm 100:2

 

I love music!

I love to sing!

Worship music / contemporary Christian songs are my utmost favorite, they are so relatable - hence to frequent song references in my daily messages!

God loves it when we sing His praises, in fact the King James version of the Bible has the word sing 119 times in 102 verses!

The book of Psalms is one huge book of songs.

God gives us music to lift us up, and we should use it to lift Him up.

I have noticed since working from home, having Christian music playing softly in my office makes my day a little more tolerable.

What are you waiting for?  SING!!

#dailybreadbykitty