lashing out

Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt.

- Proverbs 18:1-3 (NLT)

 

I am learning. 
It is surprising how some people come into your world with the sole intent of destroying it and you along with it.

If you call them out on their behavior suddenly, they are the victim.

I’ve witnessed a few scandals and contemptuous behavior.

Check out the lyrics of this secular song:

In a time full of war, be peace

In a time full of doubt, just believe

Yeah, there ain't that much difference between you and me

In a time full of war, be peace

In a world full of hate, be a light

When you do somebody wrong, make it right

Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine

In a world full of hate, be a light

(La-la-la, la, la, la, la)

In a place that needs change, make a difference

In a time full of noise, just listen

'Cause life is but a breeze, better live it

In a place that needs a change, make a difference

In a world full of hate, be a light

When you do somebody wrong, make it right

Oh, don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine

In a world full of hate, be a light

La-la-la, la, la, la, la

La-la-la, la, la, la, la

La-la-la, la, la, la, la

La-la-la, la, la, la, la

In a race that you can't win, slow it down

Yeah, you only get one go around

'Cause the finish line is six feet in the ground

In a race you can't win, just slow it down

In a world full of hate, be a light (oh-oh)

When you do somebody wrong, make it right (make it right)

Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine

In a world full of hate, be a light

Yeah, it's hard to live in color, when you just see black and white

In a world full of hate, be a light

I’m learning.

I’m letting go of the anger that the unfriendly people created.

I’m letting go of the unfriendly people that lash out at common sense.

Those that have no interest in understanding and value only their opinion are no longer going to be welcome in my life.  

It has been a wild ride these last few years, but I am coming out on top, if you’re still with me at the end, thanks for hanging in there.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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different friends

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

- Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)

 

It’s a little crazy how we approach and analyze friendships through our lifetime.

My very best friend in the entire world is still my husband (aww), I thank God for him.

I find myself at a loss for words as I contemplate what to write today, the last few years have shown me sides of people that I just didn’t think I’d ever experience.

People that have done something we consider unforgivable.

People that take advantage of us in every way imaginable (and some unimaginable ways too)..

People that call themselves our friends yet cause us grief, hardship, constant disappointment.

People that attach themselves to us and find misery in every situation, wrong in every person in your life.
When we are hurt by these people, we often find ourselves reliving the encounters that started the ball rolling to cause us to we terminate the friendship.

Oddly enough, this reminds me of something I posted on social media last week:

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.

I saw this today and it made me stop cold. How often do I think about “paybacks”, “revenge” or “karma” ?

We can’t control what other people say and do, we can only control how we respond to their actions.

Sometimes it’s better to forgive people and walk away. Key words: walk away.

Don’t tell everyone your side of the story - especially if the person you are telling has no connection to the event.

Don’t try to make others look bad - no matter how angry you are about a situation you’re the one that looks like a fool.

Don’t hold on to your anger - the only one you are hurting is yourself.

God speaks many times in the Bible about friendship and companionship, even in the beginning in the book of Genesis, God felt that man should not be alone.

Friendship is discussed in the books of Genesis, Amos, John, Proverbs, Samuel, and Romans just to mention a few. 

I guess, in my humble opinion, that if God mentions it so many times in the Bible it must be important to Him.

Friends come and go during our walk of life. 

Human beings were created to be social creatures, meaning that we are most comfortable when we have family, friends, and acquaintances.

Friendship is an important element in a fulfilled, contented life, and those who have close friends, whether one or two or a multitude, will usually be happy and well-adjusted.

If you ever wonder about someone, ask yourself “are we friends, or am I just a convenience?”

Please don't misunderstand me - I am not perfect. 

In no way will I ever claim that I am the perfect friend, spouse, or companion. 

But I try to make the right decisions. 

I try to stay on the path where God leads me because only that path leads to friendship with God, which is the ultimate goal of a Christ follower.

Sometimes we need to weed our own gardens.

 

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a word of advice

I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.

- Galatians 5:16 (TLB)

 

Obeying instructions is not something that comes easily to everyone.

Especially when those instructions are polar opposite of what our minds are telling us to do.

It is hard to hear the Holy Spirit on a daily basis and it can be even more of a challenge to hear Him when all the other voices are swirling in our head.

And whether we want to admit it or not, we all have an evil nature.

When faced with an option to go somewhere or do something or even the option of saying something about someone, take a moment to ask yourself if the voice you are listening to is the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

It shouldn’t be difficult to discern.   

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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be careful

So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.

- Ephesians 5:16-16 (TLB)

 

These are difficult days indeed.

Unfortunately, in difficult times we see the worst in people instead of the best. 
Things posted on social media can be taken out of context and emotions can escalate very quickly, often resulting in irrevocable damage to relationships.

People tend to think that everything is about them, whether it is or not.

Don’t be a fool – think through your actions before you post something or do something that cannot be taken back.

I found this on the internet:

Five things you will never recover in life –

1. A stone after it’s thrown.
2. A word after it’s spoken. 
3. An occasion after it’s missed.
4. Time after it’s passed. 
5. Trust after it’s lost. 

I think I have seen all five items over the last year in what used to be my innermost circle.

I wish we would have focused more on doing good, instead of pointing fingers.

Be careful how you act; these are difficult days.

We need to stop being fools.    

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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faith

I did this because I wanted your faith to stand firmly upon God, not on man’s great ideas.

- 1 Corinthians 2:5 (TLB)

 

How is your faith?

Are you firmly rooted or are you wavering in your belief?  

When I read this verse a song immediately came to mind (imagine that - me having a song reference!)

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;

all other ground is sinking sand,

all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

in every high and stormy gale,

my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, his covenant, his blood

support me in the whelming flood;

when all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

When he shall come with trumpet sound,

O may I then in Him be found,

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

faultless to stand before the throne.

There are 66 verses (maybe more) in the Bible about having a firm foundation.

We need to stand firm in Christ, not on man.

Humans will let you down, Christ never will.

 

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knowledge

But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

- 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

 

Knowledge is power!  
Some of us remember the ABC specials “Schoolhouse Rock” (those who don’t the entire series is available on Netflix!), the opening song says, “knowledge is power”.

How much power do you find in the Bible?

I honestly don’t think that a day goes by without me googling at least once “what does the Bible say about <insert topic>”

The Bible is full of knowledge, knowledge that God wants us to share, that is why I write!

When we share God’s word, we are very possibly giving others a look at who our God is.

When we live God’s word, we are very possibly changing lives.

Knowledge is indeed power!    

 

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evil

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

- 1 Peter 3:9 (TLB)

 

“I’ll get even”

“He’ll get what he deserves”

“Just wait for karma”

We hear those phrases a lot, don’t we?

There are many quotes about revenge being sweet, but is it really?

We are called to be kind to others.

Every single person – not just the people we consider our friends - this also applies to the ones who hurt us.

Some people appear to be evil to the core and we as humans may not think they deserve forgiveness, but listen, if we can’t forgive them, we can’t forgive ourselves and if we can’t forgive ourselves, we may find ourselves on the wrong side of Heaven.

No matter what horrible thing someone has done (and believe me it has taken me well over 40 years to forgive some people) forgive them, pray for them, for their repentance, pray for your own forgiveness (you aren’t perfect either) and pray for an end to the insanity.

Pray like you have never prayed before, forgive yourself, forgive others and lead by example.   

Love always.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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a warning

For how can we walk together with your sins between us?

- Amos 3:3 (TLB)

 

In this short (15 verses) chapter in the book of Amos, God is confronting the Israelites, offering them one more chance before He destroyed the northern kingdom.

Written almost 800 years before the birth of Christ, God is (once again) asking His people to admit their sin and repent.

God wants us to walk with Him, but we cannot walk with Him and continue to disregard His commandments.

Things have not changed in the 2,000 plus years since Jesus walked on the earth, humans are still consistent about living their own way, disregarding how the Bible says we should live. 

We see this everyday in our world, people who lie, cheat, steal, treat others with disrespect and still expect that they will get into Heaven.

Until we change our hearts, we are not going to see His kingdom.  
Verse 12 of this chapter reads “The Lord says, “A shepherd tried to rescue his sheep from a lion, but it was too late; he snatched from the lion’s mouth two legs and a piece of ear. So it will be when the Israelites in Samaria are finally rescued—all they will have left is half a chair and a tattered pillow.”

Are you looking like a tattered pillow, or are you coming to Him whole?

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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who do you think you are

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

- Galatians 6:3 (NIV)

 

There is a secular song on the Pandora station I listen to called “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri with some interesting lyrics: 
Who do you think you are?

Runnin' 'round leaving scars

Collecting your jar of hearts

Tearing love apart

You're gonna catch a cold

From the ice inside your soul

So don't come back for me

Who do you think you are?

Based on the whole song, I assume it was written about a guy that left his girlfriend and then came back expecting to be welcomed with open arms. 
I also assume that this guy thought a lot of himself, as many humans do.

And based on the whole song, she was not interested in having him destroy her again.

We are taught to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) but we are not required to allow people to treat us poorly.

These are people who think they are better than us or that they do no wrong.

Everything that happens around them (or to them) is always someone else’s fault.

The girl in this song was not going to be deceived by the guy that broke her heart once and allow him back in her life.  

We should not be led to believe that something that was evil the first time will be any different the second time around.

We can forgive those who hurt us, but we don’t have to let them back in.

They are only deceiving themselves when they think they are something they are not.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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bad luck

Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit.

- 1 Timothy 4:7 (TLB)

 

It’s Friday the 13^th ya’all!! 
Honestly, it is one of my favorite days, and I am more than a little miffed that due to a leap year, I am missing out on having my birthday of Friday the 13^th in 2024, but I digress.

I once knew someone that refused to leave the house on any Friday the 13^th.

I have known people with extreme superstitions, for example this is a story that I recall: when my mother was 18, she bought a pair of shoes that she was extremely proud of because they were bought with her very first paycheck.  She brought them home and placed them on the kitchen table.  That night their house burned down. Obviously, the shoes on the table did not start the fire, but my mother would never allow shoes on a table based on her superstition that the shoes on the table brought bad luck. 

To be fair, I struggle with having something come between me and someone I am walking with based on a superstition that it meant there would be a fight. (there was an old cartoon of two tigers pacing in a cage and as they paced and passed each other the center pole in the cage separated them and they said “bread and butter” each time the pole came between them). 
Guess what. 

We do not have to live with superstition! 
We can rely on God to keep us safe, and that safety comes in the knowledge we find in the Bible.

Keep spiritually fit and don’t worry about ladders and broken mirrors and tossing salt over your shoulder – pick up your Bible instead.   

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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teach me

Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.

- Job 34:32 (NIV)

 

Every single one of us has made mistakes.

If you can’t admit that, please just walk away from me because there is not one human that is perfect.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life – oh my goodness, so many mistakes – some I could live with and others that broke me. 
If my kids are reading this, then yes, I have admitted that I was wrong. 

Admitting that we are wrong is hard, especially if we don’t believe it and it is very difficult to hear from someone else exactly how wrong we were.

But that friends, is how we grow. 
Job did not understand why he was going through the things that were happening to him, but he did not give up.

He asked God to show him what he was doing wrong so that he could learn from his mistakes.

That is the other part of it, learning from our mistakes.

What good does it do to admit that we are wrong if we just turn around repeat the same thing?

So if someone points out that we were wrong, let’s not get defensive and storm angrily away, instead let’s listen with an open mind and heart so we don’t do it again.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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fellowship

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

- 1 John 1:7 (NIV)

 

If you google “definition of fellowship” you will see several options:

• definition of fellowship in the Bible
• definition of fellowship in education
• definition of fellowship in church
• definition of fellowship with God

These are just four of the options that came up for me.

According to our friend google, the word fellowship is derived from the Greek word koinonia which can be defined as “holding something in common”.

Well, that makes sense, because when we “fellowship” with others it is usually people that we work with, ride motorcycles with, or go to church with, so we literally have something in common with them – a community of interest, activity feeling or experience (thank you, Merriam-Webster).

We are taught at a young age to be with people that we have something in common with so that we are not bored and alone, so we have someone to lean on when we fall.

When we fellowship with those with whom we find a commonality, we learn to reach out to those that we don’t know so we can build relationships.

When we walk in the light, we learn to build relationships, to fellowship so we have that community to fall back on.

Will you come fellowship with me?

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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take advice

It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

- Ecclesiastes 4:13 (NLT)

 

How many times growing up did you question something you were being told to hear “because I said so!”?

I think most of the times when I heard it, I was probably arguing with my mother about something that she wouldn’t let me do or someplace that she wouldn’t let me go.

I admit to saying the same thing to my own children, usually at the point that I was so frustrated and tired of arguing that I just wanted the argument to end.

Looking back at the times that my mother said “because I said so” she was often giving me advice that I simply did not want to hear.

You know what is scary?

Many times her advice held good information, and I was being foolish not to listen.

Believe it or not there have been a few times that my kids said that they wish they had listened to my advice too.

Guidance comes to us from all directions and it is not always good, in fact sometimes we are given very bad advice.

But we should listen to each suggestion, each recommendation and weigh it in our hearts.

Take it to the Lord and prayer and listen to what He says about the situation.

Don’t be a foolish king who refuses all advice.

 

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not like others

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV)

 

It isn’t often that I post a verse and then in my commentary I reference the whole chapter but today I am doing that.

Twenty-eight verses that Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, giving what he called “final instructions” to those waiting for the day that Christ Jesus will return. 

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  

I guess that my commentary today is really a reminder to us all that we need to be aware.

Jesus is coming back, there is no doubt because He would not tell us that He is coming back if it weren’t true.

When He comes back, where will He find you? 
Will you be disruptive and fighting with those around you?

Or are you going to be encouraging the disheartened?

One theme that seems constant in this chapter is being good to one another.

“encourage one another and build each other up”

“Live in peace with each other.”

“strive to do what is good for each other”

When He comes back, what will you be doing?

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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success

 May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

- Psalm 20:4 (NIV)

 

Everyone wants to be successful.

Regardless of what it is that we want to be successful at, we all want some success in our lives.

Can you imagine that you found a magical lamp with a genie and that genie would grant you your heart’s desire?

What would your desire be?

Riches? Fame? Love?

Did you know that if you make Jesus the focus of your life good things will happen?

When we lay our hearts at the feet of Jesus we start to see change, and that change brings good things to us.

Our riches may not be counted in gold.

Our fame may not be world renowned.

The love that we seek may not be found in a significant other.

But

Our riches are in our hearts, we are famous in our Father’s eyes (there is a song reference, hang on) and the love of the Father is truly all we need.

Now for that song:

Spent today in a conversation

In the mirror face to face with

Somebody less than perfect

I wouldn't choose me first if

I was looking for a champion

In fact I'd understand if

You picked everyone before me

But that's just not my story

True to who You are

You saw my heart

And made

Something out of nothing

I don't need my name in lights

I'm famous in my Father's eyes

Make no mistake

He knows my name

I'm not living for applause

I'm already so adored

It's all His stage

He knows my name oh, oh

. . .

I'm not meant to just stay quiet

I'm meant to be a lion

I'll roar beyond a song

With every moment that I've got

True to who You are

You saw my heart

And made

Something out of nothing

I don't need my name in lights

I'm famous in my Father's eyes

Make no mistake

He knows my name

I'm not living for applause

I'm already so adored

It's all His stage

He knows my name oh, oh

. . .

He calls me chosen, free forgiven, wanted, child of the King

His forever, held in treasure

I am loved

I don't need my name in lights

I'm famous in my Father's eyes

. . .

Lean on Jesus, you will find the desire of your heart and you will see success there.

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