recognition

If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.

- 1 John 1:8-9 (TLB)

 

This is interesting: to be free from sin we must recognize its grip on our lives.
And as we look to Christ, His righteousness truly cleanses us.

No matter how long one has walked with Christ, we are in constant need of forgiveness.

Everyone has a past of which they may not be particularly proud, sin is present in all our lives.

In my past, I have been strong through some things that would break others, there were things that broke me that others sailed through with grace and their dignity intact.

But my past does not define me - I know that I sinned and that I still sin, but that sin does not describe the person I am.

I can admit my mistakes and own my sin, I am human and while I know that I have disappointed people, I also know that there is forgiveness.

If we can admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness, then we should be able to forgive those who have hurt us.

Sometimes when people hurt us, they hurt themselves just as much and when we forgive them, we set ourselves and them free from the burden of sin.

I will never claim to be without sin because the truth is much better, the truth will set us free, free in the One who died for us so that we can be forgiven.

#dailybreadbykitty

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mistakes are made

You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake.

- Proverbs 14:22 (GNT)

 

There is a saying out there “Trust is earned, not given”. 
There is also a saying “Trust isn’t something that you earn, it’s something that you give”. 
Confused? 

I mean these two quotes are complete opposite of one another, so to which one do we listen?

Trust means that you can rely on others to do the right thing, and others can rely on you to do the right thing. 
If we try to do good in all situations, this means we are doing the right thing. 
I think that both quotes have an element of truth to them, we ask others to trust us, and they give us that trust.

People that lose the trust of others have generally lost it by their actions or making a wrong choice.  
Lack of trust can destroy any relationship – work relationships, friendships, marriages.

Can a person earn back the trust of another once it’s been broken?

Perhaps, depending on the severity of the mistake that was made.  
If we strive to do good and not evil, we have less of a chance of losing trust. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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a gift for you

God has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. This will show God’s loving-favor.

- 1 Peter 4:10 (NLV)

 

We all have something that we are exceptionally good at doing, it could be something simple like painting a wall or something elaborate like baking and decorating a 5-tier wedding cake. 

What ever your gift is, we should use it to help others.

I like organization to the point of being (slightly) OCD, I can alphabetize, color coordinate, stack, and sort until the end of time.

I think that is one of my gifts, seeing the end result of doing these things makes me happy and occasionally my organization has been beneficial to others.

I feel like another gift I have is writing, I think that there are many people out there that enjoy my daily messages and maybe even learn something sometimes. 

Others have the gift of leadership, the gift of teaching, the gift of caring for those who are ill or less fortunate.

No matter what gift we discover that we have, we should always use our gifts to honor God.

He gave us these gifts with the intent that we would use them to benefit others, and therefore honor Him. 
What are you doing with your gifts?   

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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give back

These things did not really come from me and my people. Everything comes from You; we have given You back what You gave us.

- 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NCV)

 

I have been in a few financial independence type seminars and the one consistent thing that I have heard is that there are three major components to being financially independent:

1. Spend less than you earn.
2. Save what you do not spend. 
3. Invest what you save.  

All three are good things to remember, when you learn to control borrowing and spending and you save and invest in the future you potentially find yourself in a good place financially.

But what about giving back? 
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University teaches a seven-step program to pay off debt, build an emergency fund, invest in retirement and college for your kids, pay off your home, build wealth and give.
If we are in a place where we are comfortable financially it shouldn’t be an issue to give. 
So many struggle with giving, feeling as though they work hard for everything they have earned and why should they give it away.

Why indeed.

Because it is not ours to begin with.

Everything we have is given to us by God, tithing is the way that we honor Him and thank Him for providing us with our every need.

Even when times are tough, we should still give all we can, having faith that God will get us to the next level.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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live carefully

The Lord who rules over all says, “Think carefully about how you are living. You have planted many seeds. But the crops you have gathered are small. So you eat. But you never have enough. You drink. But you are never full. You put on your clothes. But you are not warm. You earn your pay. But it will not buy everything you need.”

- Haggai 1:5-6 (NIRV)

 

This is an interesting verse, I actually had to do some research to understand the meaning of it.

I mean, we have been taught that God will provide for our every need, but this verse seems to contradict that completely!

Since these “daily bread” messages are my opinion, I believe that this verse is a reminder that we can do everything that we are told, but if we do it half-heartedly, we will not get all the benefits of our work. 

We will see more positive results when we put our whole heart into everything that we do.

From washing dishes to raising our children to taking care of ourselves we need to do our best. 
There are a lot of sayings about giving it your all and doing things with a cheerful heart, I think the bottom line is we get out what we put in.

If we live carefully, we will truly have everything that we need because God will take care of us.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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life goals

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT)

 

It seems that there are “busybodies” everywhere we turn, people that make it a point to be in your business and if they can’t find something of interest in your life to talk about, they will make something up. 

Television shows almost always have a nosy neighbor, remember Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched?

These are the people that keep an eye on everything just to make sure they have the best knowledge (to their belief) of what is going on.

Sometimes they get so concerned over what someone else is doing, they forget to take care of their own lives.

Paul reminds the new Christ followers in Thessalonica that they should go about their daily chores in a way that would increase their independence and the busybodies would have nothing to discuss. 
We should live our lives in a respectful and productive way, this will give busybodies less to gossip about in the first place.

I am sure that those people will still try to damage our reputations by creating stories about us but stay strong in your faith because those that know us will know the truth.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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there’s no stopping us!

Who can keep us away from the love of Christ? Can trouble or problems? Can suffering wrong from others or having no food? Can it be because of no clothes or because of danger or war?

- Romans 8:35 (NLV)

 

Every day we face challenges, some of them more difficult than others.

The difficult ones often leave us feeling defeated, useless, or alone.

We are able to overcome these obstacles with help from our friends and family, but we need to remember that our biggest fan and cheerleader is God Himself.

Check out the Message translation of this verse:   

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

With God on our side there really is no stopping us, we can do anything we set our hearts to do!

I’ve known a lot of people who went back to college while having a family and a full-time job to finish a degree, that is huge! 
There are people out there who put everything on the line to start a business of their own or change careers simply because it is their dream.

What is your dream?

What roadblocks do you need to overcome?

There is no stopping us when God is on our side!

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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kindness

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Did you know that there is a National Random Act of Kindness day?

You do now!

Did you know that day is today?

Again, you do now! 
I really wish that kindness was a normal thing, and not a “random act of” thing. 

I have seen someone “pay it forward” and then just shred the server. 
I have heard of someone sneaking around to pay for someone’s groceries only to be yelled at by the person because they were offended that the kind person “thought they needed a handout”. 
Why don’t we just try being nice all the time?  
Let someone go first at a stop sign, in a parking lot or in a line. 
Tip your server 20% or more. 

Hold a door for someone.

Smile.

It costs exactly zero dollars to be kind, you can afford it.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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no longer

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

- Romans 6:14 (NLT)

 

I can’t even write about this verse without a song reference, this one is “No Longer Slaves” by Bethel Music. . . 
You unravel me

With a melody

You surround me with a song

Of deliverance

From my enemies

'Til all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

From my mother's womb

You have chosen me

Love has called my name

I've been born again

Into Your family

Your blood flows through my veins

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

...

You split the sea

So I could walk right through it

My fears are drowned in perfect love

You rescued me

So I could stand and say

I am a child of God

...

Yes, I am a child of God
If we think hard about it, we can look back and see all the times that we let ourselves be held back by fear.

All the “what-ifs” that we dwell on, all the missed opportunities.

Stop. Right now. Stop letting fear be the thing that keeps you from your happiness – fear is a liar (that is a whole different song reference!) and you do not have to live like that anymore. 

You are a child of God.

You have freedom. 
Sin does not have a hold on you when you follow God. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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fear is not my future

Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.

- Matthew 6:34 (NLV)

Did you know that fear and worry are synonymous?

Crazy, isn’t it? 
Fear the noun is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”
Worry as a noun is defined as “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.”
I see how these could be related. 

But did you know there is a song out there called Fear Is Not My Future? 

It’s pretty long, so stick with me and I’ll just highlight a few verses: 
Let Him turn it in your favor

Watch Him work it for your good

'Cause He's not done with what He started

He's not done until it's good

So let Him turn it in your favor

Watch Him work it for your good

He's not done with what He started

He's not done until it's good

Hello, peace

Hello, joy

Hello, love

Hello, strength

Hello, hope, it's a new horizon

...

If you're ready for a breakthrough, yeah

Just open up and just receive, hey

'Cause what He's pouring out is nothing

You've ever seen (you've ever seen)

You've ever seen, yeah

Hello, peace

Hello, joy

Hello, love (hello)

Hello, strength (hey)

Hello, hope, it's a new horizon

Can you see the sun comin' up?

...

It's just a new horizon

It's a new day

...

It's a new prayer

...

Fear is not my future

You are, You are (You are)

Sickness is not my story

You are, You are (You are)

Heartbreak's not my home (you can't stay here no more)

You are, You are (You are) (death is not the end)

Death is not the end (Jesus)

You are, You are (You are)

...

There's glory after this, heartbreaking

Heartbreak's not my home

...

You're writing the story

You're writing my story

Here we go, one more time, one more time

Fear is not

Fear is not my future

You are (You are), You are

Sickness is not your story

Sickness is not my story

You are, You are (You are)

Heartbreak

Heartbreak is not my home

You are (You are), You are

Death is not the end

Death is not the end

Jesus

You are (You are), You are

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

There's more to the story

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

The biggest fear is that the resurrection was not complete

The biggest lie is that this life is all that there is

And so we live in a fear of not knowing that God's work is complete in us

And the problem with not having confidence in the resurrection

Is that we don't know in the end if we will live again

But I want you to know that the pain you face is temporary

The cancer you face is temporary

The disease you face is just temporary

Because every believer that's washed in the blood of the Lamb

Will live to live again

How many of you know that this is not the end for the child of God?

This is only just the appetizer for the main meal

For when we see Him, we shall be like Him

When He cracks the sky, everything, every time, to see the Lamb of God

And we will be just like Him

Will somebody say Hallelujah?

Fear is not

Fear is not my future

You are (who is it?), You are

Sickness is not my story

You are, You are

Heartbreak is not my home

You are (You are), You are

Death is not the end (Death is not the end)

We will see Him, one day

You are (You are), You are

Hey

It's not the end

This is not the end

...

We've only just began

We've only just began

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

This is not the end

This is not the end

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

Goodbye, fear

Goodbye, guilt

Goodbye, shame

Goodbye, pain

Goodbye grave, it's a new horizon

Goodbye, fear

Goodbye, guilt

Goodbye, shame

Goodbye, pain

Goodbye grave, it's a new horizon, yeah

Let the Light on in

It's a new day

Let the Light on in

It's a new horizon

Let the Light in

...

Will you be aware it's a new day?

..

He's doing a new thing

...

Open up your eyes, He's doing a new thing

Forgetting what's behind, He's doing a new thing

...

I hope you read through those lyrics because they really say a lot.

Fear is not a future that we need to claim.

He’s got us.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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love or nothing

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NLT)

 

Today is the day that the whole world celebrates love.

I know there are some that don’t like Valentine’s day because they are single or have significant others that don’t buy them flowers, jewelry, candy or anything for that matter. 
God loves you. 

Maybe it doesn’t help, but I know for fact that it is true.

And because He loves us, we are to love one another, in fact it is right up there with the greatest commandment (see Matthew 22:37-40).

So guess what? 
I love you. 

How can I love you if I don’t know you?

Because I love Jesus and He said that I should love you. 
I may not be able to buy everyone flowers or candy, but I can love you with my whole heart, and I do.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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you will be found

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

- Matthew 18:12 (NLT)

 

Are you lost?

I get lost really easily, both physically and spiritually.

I have been on the “struggle bus” recently with some people that were causing upheaval in my life, and I think I may have fallen off the bus and been run over a few times.

Fortunately, I have friends that remind me that God loves me and He will come find me if I stray to far from Him. 
Hey, check out a few verses from this cool song I heard: 
Have you ever felt like nobody was there?

Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?

Have you ever felt like you could disappear?

Like you could fall, and no one would hear?

So let that lonely feeling wash away

Maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be okay

'Cause when you don't feel strong enough to stand

Well, you can reach, reach out your hand

And oh, someone will come running

And I know, they'll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you're broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in

'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again

Lift your head and look around

You will be found

Yeah, you will be found

Whoa.

This is good because I feel like the entire world is lost right now.

There are so many that are hurting and so many others taking advantage of that hurt.

If you are lost, cry out - God will find you, because you matter.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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got your back

Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

- Isaiah 58:8 (NLT)

 

I made a T-shirt for my husband of two stick figures, one holding the “body” of the other with the caption “I’ve got your back”.

It is kind of funny and when he wears it, he gets compliments.

We hear that often in our daily lives, from co-workers covering for us when our break was too long to siblings not telling their parents when rules are broken, there is someone in life that’s got your back. 

It isn’t just physical wounds that need healing though, our spirits do as well and 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 these things can break our spirits.

Then who has our back?

God does.

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

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imagine that

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

 

I love music, all kinds of music.

One of my absolute favorite Christian bands is Mercy Me.

Cue the song reference!

I can only imagine

What it will be like

When I walk by Your side

I can only imagine

What my eyes would see

When Your face is before me

I can only imagine

Yeah

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence

Or to my knees, will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

When that day comes

And I find myself

Standing in the Son

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is forever, forever worship You

I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine

This verse, this song. . . we don’t know what awaits us, but from what we learn in the Bible it will be glorious.

We’ve heard of streets of gold, flowing with milk and honey.

We’ve heard that pain will cease, that death is overcome, and we will have eternal life.

That we are going to a big house with many rooms and there will be no more suffering

But what will we really have?

I can only imagine.   

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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