living

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

- John 11:25-26

 

Today in the United States, we celebrate Memorial Day, a day to remember those who sacrificed their freedom so that we may have ours.

Although today was set aside to honor the men and women who died for our country, cemeteries around the nation are filled with people paying respect to all those they have lost.

I spent a lot of years going to cemeteries to put flowers of the graves of family members and friends, some of whom I had never met.

There are only two graves that I visit now with any regularity, the graves of my father and my brother (both of whom also happen to be military).

It used to be very hard for me to go there, but being raised the way I was, I felt like it was an obligation to go every year, to make sure the upkeep of the graves were in order and that there were US Flags and flowers placed there. 

I do not believe that my father and my brother are there, and in fact scripture indicates that they are not, but that they are with the everlasting Father in Heaven.

We can mourn the loved ones we have lost, but please find joy in knowing they are with the Father.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

 

I created a Facebook group called Daily Inspiration from the Bible, it is a public group to share the Word of God, praises, prayers and inspiring stories.  Feel free to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1167248103736801

 

memorial day

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

- Romans 12:15 (NKJV)

 This weekend is Memorial Day in the United States, a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the US military.

A lot of people mistake this as remembering all those who have died, (my mother and grandmother used to drag me to all the cemeteries to decorate the graves of family members with flowers) while others think it is to remember all military, active or veterans and still others simply feel that it is a 3 day weekend to hit the lakes, golf courses or have a cook out.

For some, this weekend opens wounds around the loss of loved ones, no matter how long ago the loss happened.

The Bible tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, so this weekend, notice those around you and truly empathize with how they are feeling.

Let them know you are with them in their joy and in their pain.

#dailybreadbykitty

hope?

If you set your heart right, and put out your hands to Him, and if you put away the sin that is in your hand, do not let wrong-doing be in your tents. Then you will be able to lift up your face without sin. You would be strong and not afraid. For you would forget your trouble, remembering it as waters that have passed by. Your life would be brighter than noon. Darkness would be like the morning. Then you would trust, because there is hope. You would look around and rest and be safe. You would lie down and no one would make you afraid. Many would ask for your favor. But the eyes of the sinful will waste away. There will be no way for them to get away. And their hope is to breathe their last.

- Job 11:13-20 (NLV)

 

Remember Job?

He had it all, and lost nearly everything in a single day.

His friend Zophar thought that all he needed to do is repent of his sin and Job’s pain would go away.

Job may have felt abandoned, he even argues with his friends, his faith was surely tested, but he never lost his faith.

And God never left his side.

Job dealt with devastating loss, excruciating pain, there were times when he was frustrated with God and even shared his frustration and his doubts with his wife and his friends.

But in the end, Job was blessed because his hope was in God.

No matter what we are dealing with, we must keep our faith, we must have hope. 

God’s word is true, he will never leave us or forsake us, and that my friends, gives us hope.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

 

enough

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

- 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

 

Over the last couple of years, I have endured some crazy health issues.

I shattered one bone in my leg and had multiple breaks in the other, this caused a deep infection that required the bone to be scraped down, the damage caused blood clots that went to my lungs and I nearly died, then I tore my rotator cuff and required surgery for that.

Many times, probably millions of times I pleaded with God to take the pain, the torment, and I truly believe that He told me to lean on Him.

I mean, other than surrounding myself in bubble wrap or never leaving the couch again, I have pretty much had to rely on God’s grace to get me through.

I’ve learned a lot through these injuries and the days/weeks/months that followed, and I am continuing to grow.

Sometimes it is hard to deal with the craziness of this world, and we need a little thorn sent from Satan to torment us.

As long as that thorn sends us back to God, we will be ok.  

His grace is enough.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

it’s good

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

- Luke 6:38 (NKJV)

 

I have quoted this verse twice in my blog, once in 2019 and once in 2018, what’s that we say about hearing things multiple times?

There are lots of things to take from this verse, but for today’s conversation, let’s talk about what we are giving.

Money? Kindness? Love? Mercy? Grace? Forgiveness? Prayers? Support? Time?

All of the above and more.

We humans need to stop thinking about “what’s in it for me” and start blessing others.

We don’t have to do it publicly, we can do random acts of kindness by an unknown stranger, sometimes it is better that way because we are not looking for acknowledgement (or at least we shouldn’t) when we do good deeds.  

It’s really more about freely giving ourselves, and if people notice, hopefully they will see it as “a God thing”.

Maybe they will turn to God because of what we’ve done.

God gives us so much. . . should we not give back?

Do you ever wonder how much you should give?

God never stops giving. . .  so neither should you.

But don’t worry, you can’t out give God.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

great expectations

What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

- Deuteronomy 10:12 (NKJV)

 

Have you ever been in a situation where you literally did not know what to do, what was expected of you?

I am fairly certain that I am not the only one that has been there.

We have teachers, bosses, parents, children and even spouses that expect so much from us, but yet sometimes they do not clearly communicate what those expectations are.

We are very fortunate then, that God has set clear expectations for us and even went so far as to make sure they are written down so we can find the words when we are lost.

He doesn’t really require much, just to fear him (no, that is not shivering in your socks terrified fear, but a healthy respect for His authority) to walk with Him, to love and serve Him with all your heart and soul. 

If you think back on some of the things you’ve done for others in your life, what God is asking isn’t tough at all.

And if you think His expectations are big, remember that His love for you is bigger.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

I can’t do it all

Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.

- Ephesians 6:6 (NLT)

 

One thing that I have learned is that I can’t do it all.

We (mostly women) try to do it all, we are parents, spouses, children, teachers, we are on boards and in groups, we volunteer and some of us hold down additional full time jobs.

Why?

We cannot to it all.

We get burned out from all of the busyness and then we start to let things slide.

Most of the time, the things that slide are the things that should be the most important, our faith and our families.

We cannot please everyone, and we have to know when and where to step back.

If you do the will of God, with a smile and all our heart, everything else falls into place.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

my soul

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.

- Psalm 94:17-18 (ESV)

 

My soul would have soon lived in the land of silence.

How often has that happened to us?

I am willing to bet, based on the number of songs and poetry that reference “it is well with my soul” that it happened a LOT.

I know it happens to me.

So many times in this life I have struggled and cried out and every time, every single time God has been there.  

So many times in this life we struggle and cry out, not knowing that God is there, holding us up, because we are simply overcome by our anger or grief that we cannot hear Him.

And we are in the land of silence.

So how are so many able to say “it is well with my soul”?

Because they know, we know that God is the reason that we get through our trials.

God loves us.

The Bible tells us so. 😊

 

#dailybreadbykitty

live wisely

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

- Colossians 4:5-6

 

It was a little over a year ago (May 13, 2020) that I used this same verse in my blog, before that I used it in June 2016.

It popped up on my newsfeed last week as a photo from a Facebook friend.

I often say, that if we hear or see something often enough, God is trying to tell us something so we ought to listen.

Last year I talked about how we were reopening the country after social distancing, and you important it is to remember that not everyone we meet is a Christ follower.

It seems people right now are very short tempered and intolerant.

As Christ followers, we have to be wise, we have to stay calm, we have to take opportunities where we are angry or upset because of someone else and we have to treat them with grace.

Treat everyone with grace. 
God calls us to support one another, to build each other up, but we can’t do that if we are not willing to listen and be respectful.

Every time we speak, we want to show kindness, care, and control.

We need to remember that words can hurt, even if we are not speaking directly to a person but instead they hear us talking.

Someone’s future may be determined by the words they hear from our lips. 

People are watching, your reaction may change a person’s heart.

Always be full of grace.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

open doors

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

- Revelation 3:8

 

Crazy things happen in life.

People go through many ups and downs, don’t ever let anyone convince you that they have never had a bad day.

It’s all part of growing, life is not perfect.

How we handle the ups and downs, that is what people see and remember.

Look at Job, that man lost everything, more than once, yet his faith in God never failed.

When we are struggling with events and other things of this world, God knows we are tired and hurting, and that is when we need to turn to Him fully.

He knows, and He is with us.

Don’t turn your back on the One that loves you the most.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

more than we could ask

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.

- Ephesians 3:20 (TPT)

 

What dreams do you have?

God knows our wildest dreams, whether we admit them or not, and God longs to do more than that through us!

He wants to work within us so that we can share His love with others.

Our dreams may be tiny in comparison to what He can (and will) do for us, in us and with us.

We are His precious children, destined to do good things for the glory of the One who made us, He can do mighty things, all we have to do is be open to His guidance.

Personally, I can’t wait to see how He continues to work in my life.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

soldiers

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

- 2 Timothy 2:3-4

 

Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day, celebrated on the third Saturday in May, created in 1949 to provide a single day celebration of the Army, Navy and Air Force unified under the Department of Defense. 

Many of us either know soldiers or are soldiers, my youngest son (who is also celebrating a birthday today!) served proudly in the US Army, and I could list off all of my family members that have served or are currently serving but the list is far too long. 

To those amazing men and women, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Think about this verse from the viewpoint of a soldier, especially the part about pleasing his commanding officer.

Anyone who has been in the military knows that you don’t make your CO angry.

As a soldier of Christ, who is our commanding officer?

Shouldn’t we all strive to be good soldiers, to do what is pleasing to God?

When I read “no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs”, my interpretation of this is that we should not let the things of earth tear us down, not the looting, the rioting, the constant battle of wills over leadership and government, but instead we should focus on serving our Commanding Officer, the Lord God.

Do good always, be a soldier in God’s army.

Happy birthday, Jordan!

 

#dailybreadbykitty

free

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

- Colossians 1:21-22

 

Mid-May finds many of us celebrating graduations.

Graduations from pre-K, kindergarten, grade school, junior high, high school, college, even specialized schools such as nursing, veterinarian, law, all kinds of graduations.

Graduation signifies a special sort of freedom – we are now established in our knowledge of what ever we are graduating from and are ready to move on.

We have another graduation to freedom when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  

We become established in the knowledge that we are free from sin, because He died for us on the cross.

But guess what?

Just like when we receive that diploma that shows we have completed our course, it does not end there.

Now it is time to go out into the world, get a job in our field of choice and make a living.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are free from sin, but we have to go out into the world and make our living in this freedom, we can’t go back to dong the same thing we did before, we have to live like we deserve His grace, even though we really don’t deserve it.

We are holy in His sight – let’s start acting like it.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

how great

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

- Psalm 8:1

 

Some days I just can’t.

There are days when this whole world just feels like it is coming down around me, that I just can’t take another step.

I have so many resources available to my, pastors, friends, family, people I can turn to when I just can’t pick myself up anymore.

My first go to though is the Bible, I will always find encouragement there, that usually leads me to song.

Here is another favorite:

Oh Lord, my God

When I, in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration

And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

I may sing that with tears streaming down my face, but I know how amazing my God is.

Don’t let the world bring you down, reach out to someone, anyone, a friend or a stranger (lots of hotlines out there).

Never ever give up.

Jesus died for you, do you think for a moment He won’t hold you when you are hurting?

 

#dailybreadbykitty

my deliverer

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

- Joel 2:32

 

It’s been a little while since I have had a song reference, and I thought this verse warranted an oldie but goodie:

Joseph took his wife and her child

And they went to Africa

To escape the rage of a deadly King

There along the banks of the Nile

Jesus listened to the song

That the captive children used to sing

They were singin'

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

Through a dry and thirsty land

Water from the Kenyon heights

Pours itself out of lake Sangra's broken heart

There in the Sahara winds

Jesus heard the whole world cry

For the healin' that would flow from His own scars

The world was singin'

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

He will never break His promise

He has written it upon the sky

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

I will never doubt His promise

Though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

He will never break his promise

Though the stars should break faith with the sky

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by

We often find ourselves in situations that are so devastating, so horrible that all we can do is drop to our knees and pray for relief.

Our deliverer, Christ Jesus is coming, He is coming because He said He would be back, He doesn’t break promises.

We may not see it when we are trying to dig our way out of our holes, but we are not alone, He is there.

He is coming back.

Our deliverer is coming.   

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Mother’s Day

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

- Titus 2:3-5

 

Yesterday was Mother’s Day as celebrated in the U.S.

To those of you who are moms (pets count!), I hope you had a wonderful day.

To those of you who have moms, I hope you took a moment to tell her how much you appreciate her.

Some of us are blessed to have multiple mother figures in our lives, biological, adopted, mothers-in-law, moms of our friends who treated us like we were their own, moms at work, school and church. 

Most moms have the same goal; to teach, love, nurture, advise, prepare and develop us as humans so we can be better people.  

Fur mommas also have similar goals to teach, love, nurture and develop our fur children to be respectable creatures.

If you are reading this, thank a momma, you would not be here if it were not for the moms in your life.

Thank you to the Moms in my life, you know who you are.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

end times

and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this—that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.

- Matthew 28:20 (TLB)

 

Pretty much everyone is talking about the end times right now.

People are picking and choosing different sections in the book of Revelation, determined that the end of the world is upon us.

Are you worried?

If you are living the way the Bible says, if you are loving God and sharing His word with others, following His word and living by it, well He says right in the Bible that He will be with us always.  

God gave us His Son to give us this confidence, we have confidence in His love.

God will never stop fighting for us, until the day we are home in His arms.

Is the world ending?

Are the end times upon us?

I don’t know, but I do know that my home is not here, it is with God.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

hi Dad!

The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

- Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV)

 

Another quote from the world is “any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad”.

I am so blessed to have someone that special in my life.

He wasn’t there for my birth, he didn’t raise me from infant to adult, but rather came into my life when I was already an adult.

I was adopted, my biological father was not part of my life, and my adopted father passed away when I was 15 years old.

My father-in-law didn’t really have a choice about being my father-in-law when his son married me, but he did have a choice to be my dad.

And he is an amazing dad. 

He gives advice, he listens, he teaches, he prays, he helps others, he lives with integrity and he loves God and his family.

He is a righteous man, and his children are blessed.

Happy birthday, Dad, I love you.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

who do you know?

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.

- Ephesians 1:17

 

There is an old saying along the lines of “it’s not who you know, it’s what you know”, I have heard it phrased several different ways.

I guess my thought on this is really who DO you know? 

Do you know God as your Father, as your Savior, as your friend?

Do you know that God can give you wisdom and power, knowledge and peace?

Do you know that you are stronger just by acknowledging that He is God and you are not?

I encourage you to pick up your Bible and get to know Him better, you may be surprised at the things you learn.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

May the 4th be with you!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

- Colossians 3:15

 

May the fourth be with you.

Sorry that is a little nerdy – it’s ok, I embrace my nerdiness.

Today though, I would rather say may the Peace be with you.

Peace seems to be hard to come by these days, there is so much turmoil and sadness in the world, it just doesn’t feel very peaceful.

How do you find peace with all the craziness of life?

I have discovered that quiet is the start to finding my peace.

No music, no tv, just me, my coffee or water and maybe a cat purring. 

In that quiet, I can read, meditate pray, and in that quiet, I can find peace.

Try it, find five minutes of quiet, then extend that 5 minutes to whatever you need to find peace.

Don’t forget Philippians 4:7 and John 14:27 – God gave us this peace.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

friends forever

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

- Proverbs 17:17

 

What do you consider a friend?

There are social media friends, work friends, church friends, organization friends, school friends, friends that you have known so long you can’t quite remember at what point you became friends! 

How often do you evaluate your friendships?

Friends should encourage and support us, pick us up when we’re are at our lowest points, and give us a kick in the booty when we are being dumb.

How many friends do you have that can be counted on to be there no matter the time, weather or situation, if you need them they are there?

These are the friends that the Bible speaks of, the friends that will “lay down their life”, the friends that are there in times of adversity.

These are the friends we need to cling to, never let go, and be there for them too!

I know who I can count on, who my Proverbs 17 friend is.

Do you?

 

#dailybreadbykitty