to be safe

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 

- James 5:15 (NKJV)

 I saw a story on Facebook the other day and of course, I cannot find it now, so I can’t quote it or credit the author but I will try to paraphrase. 

The story was about a man who was sitting with his dying father. 
The father told his son that he was afraid, afraid of dying, afraid of going to hell. 
The son told his father that he didn’t have to be afraid, and he didn’t have to go to hell, that all he had to do was ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus in his heart. 
They cried together, they prayed together and when the father passed away, the son was comforted in knowing that his dad was with the Heavenly Father. 
This verse makes me feel safe. 
I am a horrible sinner; I know the difference between right and wrong and yet I find myself continuing to fight the battle like Jesus isn’t on my side. 
I told my husband recently that I don’t think I will go to Heaven because I have sinned too much and even though I ask for forgiveness and even though I hate my sin, it doesn’t stop me the next time sin knocks on my door from swinging that door wide open and letting sin enter. 
This verse reminds me that God loves me, no matter what, and He knows that I am trying.

#dailybreadbykitty

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one heart

 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.

- Jeremiah 32:39 (NLT)

 

Did you know that octopuses (octopi?) and squids have three hearts?

Two hearts pump blood to the gills to take up oxygen, and the other pumps blood around the body.

The hagfish contains four hearts.

I have trouble with my one heart (physically and emotionally!) I am not sure what I would do with three or four!!! 
Thankfully, God made us perfect, with one heart and that one heart has one purpose – to love Him. 
OK, technically our heart pumps blood and oxygen to our bodies to keep us alive, but what would life be if we didn’t have love. 
How would we know what love is if we didn’t have God? 
Somewhere else in the Bible it says something like we love because He first loved us – oh yeah – that is in 1 John 4:19 (I knew that, did you?) 
God gives us our heart to love Him and each other. 
Love makes us feel good. 
Love makes things seem a little less overwhelming. 

Maybe we should stop hating so much and try love for a while.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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that’s amore!

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

- Romans 13:10 (NKJV)

 

My mother absolutely loved Dean Martin, and one song she played over and over was “That’s Amore”. 
I think I knew the lyrics of that song by the time I was five years old. 

The lyrics speak of the romantic atmosphere of Italy and what it’s like to fall in love, when you feel giddy and happy and all you see is the love you have for another. 
Love is a resounding theme in the Bible.

God loves us, we are made to love Him.

God teaches us how to show our love to others and by doing that, we show our love of Him.

Love is a good thing to have and to share, and the more you give away, the more you have.

Now that’s amore!

 

#dailybreadbykitty

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1167248103736801You 

healing wounds

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

- 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

 

Humans sure go through a lot.

We have physical injuries, emotional meltdowns, and serious pain caused by many different things, the sins of others and often our own sin.
I have so many scars that I carry, both externally and internally and some of them can still become open gaping wounds given the optimal situation.

We have healing though, in Christ Jesus, no matter our sin, no matter our pain. 

MercyMe is one of my favorite bands, their song "Flawless" is really spot on, just open yourself to these lyrics:

There's got to be more

Than going back and forth

From doing right to doing wrong

'Cause we were taught that's who we are

Come on get in line right behind me

You along with everybody

Thinking there's worth in what you do

Then like a hero who takes the stage when

We're on the edge of our seats, saying it's too late

Well, let me introduce you to amazing grace

No matter the bumps

No matter the bruises

No matter the scars

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

No matter the hurt

Or how deep the wound is

No matter the pain

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

Could it possibly be

That we simply can't believe

That this unconditional

Kind of love would be enough

To take a filthy wretch like this

And wrap him up in righteousness

But that's exactly what He did

...

Take a breath smile and say

Right here, right now, I'm ok

Because the cross was enough

And like a hero who takes the stage when

We're on the edge of our seats, saying it's too late

Well, let me introduce you to grace grace

God's grace

...

No matter what they say

Or what you think you are

The day you called His name

He made you flawless

He made you flawless (he made you flawless)

No matter the bumps

No matter the bruises

No matter the scars

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

We don’t have to go through our lives hurting, we can turn to Christ for healing.

No matter what.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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it matters to me

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

- Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

 

I have heard it said that we don’t judge the Bible; the Bible judges us.

We read scripture and feel “less than worthy”.

I’ve heard people try to justify what they are doing by saying that the Bible is no longer relevant, that the Bible doesn’t speak to modern life.

That the Bible was written so long ago and that it was written by men and the stuff that happened is just stories, not actual events.

The Bible doesn’t matter??? 
Every word of Scripture has truth in it, and so much of that truth is relatable, even today.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - every single emotion and reaction can be found in His word.

It matters to me.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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only one

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name.

- Zechariah 14:9 (NIV)

 

There can be only one.

How many great movies and TV shows allude to the idea that there can be only one? 
I can name quite a few. 
How many introductions begin with “The one, the only <insert name or title here>”?

Countries only have one president. 
Companies only have one CEO. 
We only have one true love in our lifetime and if we are lucky we find them early and keep them. 
The Lord is our only king, He is the one true king, Lord of Lords, the only one. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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something to do

Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

- Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)

 

Forgiveness is hard, but according to scripture it is something that we must do.

Sadly, there are things that I have not let go because I don’t feel that I can forgive what was done. 
Forgiving that person for the hurt they caused does not mean that we will be close with them again, some people are toxic, and we simply do not want or need them in our lives.

There are some hurts that are big hurts, that affect us spiritually and emotionally as well as hurting our soul.

I’d like to think that I am a very forgiving person.

I’d like to think that, but as it turns out, I may not be as forgiving as I would like to believe that I am.
I once heard a pastor say, “forgiveness is when you no longer wish ill against that person”. 
There are some people that I am just not sure I am in a place like that yet, some pain that is just a very large mountain to cross.

We have to forgive in order to heal but it is hard.

Remember to ask God for His help on this, He will be there for you.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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gentle

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

- James 3:17 (NKJV)

 

God loves you.

Not just you, but everyone.

That person that choses to do things that you don’t agree with, God still loves that person.

The guy down the street that drinks too much in your opinion, God still loves him. 
God’s love is, as this verse tells us, pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, without partiality or hypocrisy.

That means that no matter what, we are loved.

God does not pick and choose who to love based on what is popular in the world today and neither should you.

Don’t be a selective Christian. 
Don’t be that person that thinks they’re right because they aren’t doing a particular sin because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and we should all be able to look each other in the face and be full of grace.

Not one of us is perfect,  we are all sinners right along side the person next to us.

The sin may not be the same but acknowledging the sin is still something that all sinners must do.
God loves us, why can’t we follow His example and love everyone?

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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victory

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)

 

Victory in Jesus!  WOW! 
When I hear those words, I am transported back to the days of going to the Presbyterian church and hearing the old hymns that I still love.

E.M. Bartlett wrote the hymm Victory In Jesus in 1939, and it still resonates today:

I heard an old, old story

How a Savior came from glory

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me

I heard about His groaning

Of His precious blood's atoning

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory, yeah

Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever

He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood

He loved me 'ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him

He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about His healing

Of His cleansing power revealing

How He made the lame to walk again

And caused the blind to see

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit"

And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory

...

Sweet, sweet Jesus

...

E.M. Bartlett suffered a stroke in 1939 and wrote “Victory In Jesus”, if you think on that for a moment, you see someone that has gone through a tragedy and come out on the other side giving credit to the Lord for seeing them through. 
How many of us do that?
Too often we feel like it is our own intelligence and strength that gets us through the tough times. 
We didn’t get that intelligence and strength by chance, these are gifts from God.

Gifts that we should acknowledge and be thankful for.

Every victory is a victory in Jesus.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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enabled

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

- 1 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV)

 

Have you ever noticed that every generation has “buzz words”? 
Buzz words are a word or a phrase that is fashionable at a particular time or in a particular context (thank you, Oxford Dictionary) 
Gen Z used “FOMO” Fear Of Missing Out, “cancel culture” a form of shaming the actions or opinions of others, “boujee” extravagant or fancy, “cheugy” not at all trendy, “woke” refers to being politically aware. 
Gen Z seems to have the longest list of buzz words (I found 50) but don’t let the internet fool us, millennials, gen x and baby boomers all had their phrases. 
Enabled. 
According to the Cambridge dictionary (wow, I’m all over the place, aren’t I?) “enablement is the process of making someone able to do something or make something possible.

This could be as simple as removing roadblocks and having the right tools to get the job done.

Or it could be placing the right person in the right place at the right time. 
We are enabled, whether we know it or not. 
We are given the tools we need to make things happen and it is up to us to determine the purpose for which we will use those tools. 
I never dreamed I would write every day, much less write every day, publish my musings on a public forum and that my words would make a difference for some people. 
But here I am, slaying it. (another buzz phrase). 
Often I get in my own head (another buzz phrase) and wonder if I should continue writing, and then (without prompting) someone will respond to something I wrote telling me it was just what they needed to hear that day. 
It’s not me. 

I am humble enough to know that these are not my words.

My blog is “God’s word, my thoughts” but honestly who gives me those thoughts? 
He does. 

I have the Bible, the internet, countless mentors, and friends to help me understand what I read, those are the tools. 
Christ has enabled me, and He has faith in me to do this ministry, this thing that He wants me to do. 
God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 
What is He calling you to do for your ministry? 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1167248103736801

 

be strong

 *I’m taking some time off this week, so today is the last day of “best of”. I hope you enjoy these reflections.*  

 

be strong (March 5, 2020)

 

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

- Joshua 1:9

 

God commands us to be strong, it is not a suggestion!

Joshua was just instructed to take over for Moses, and the people had been in the desert for 40 years.

I am sure that Joshua was wondering “why me” and “how can I do this”, when God told him to be strong, to be courageous, to NOT be afraid and to NOT be discouraged. 

I don’t know about you, but these are not things that I am good at being – strong and courageous – but I may have the market cornered on afraid and discouraged!

Ok seriously though, God wants us to know, just as He was there with Joshua, He is there with us, every step of the way.

If at any time you are afraid, you can simply turn to Him. 

He’s quite amazing like that.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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almost home

*I’m taking some time off this week, so the next 2 days will be a “best of”. I hope you enjoy these reflections.*  

 

almost home (March 18, 2020)

 

Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

- 1 Peter 2:11-12 (MSG)

 

I’ve been frustrated over a situation in my life recently.

I’ve been angry, I have cried, I have hated.

And where did it get me?

Nowhere.

And here comes the song reference: [MercyMe; Almost Home;2021]

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

…

I know that the cross has brought heaven to us

But 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

…

We are almost home

I really have been a shell of myself, doubting everything that I knew about me, feeling like a failure.

But you know what?

It’s not over.

I will continue to be who I am, the daughter of the King, and no one can bring me down.

I hope that the ones who hurt me see that the flame the placed on me did not burn me, but only made me stronger and more determined to survive, and I hope they know that it was God that saved me from them.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1167248103736801

 

redemption

*I’m taking some time off this week, so the next 3 days will be a “best of”. I hope you enjoy these reflections.*  

 

redemption (March 31, 2020)

 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

- Romans 3:23-24

 

Yes, we are all sinners whether we want to admit it or not.

Yes, we are given redemption through Jesus.

But don’t forget, that you don’t get that redemption just by breathing, you need to admit your sin and ask for forgiveness.

Fortunately, we have a forgiving God, in fact, because of Jesus we are flawless.

Song reference!! [MercyMe; Flawless; 2014]

There's got to be more

Than going back and forth

From doing right to doing wrong

'Cause we were taught that's who we are

Come on get in line right behind me

You along with everybody

Thinking there's worth in what you do

Then like a hero who takes the stage when

We're on the edge of our seats saying it's too late

Well let me introduce you to amazing grace

No matter the bumps

No matter the bruises

No matter the scars

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

No matter the hurt

Or how deep the wound is

No matter the pain

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

Could it possibly be

That we simply can't believe

That this unconditional

Kind of love would be enough

To take a filthy wretch like this

And wrap him up in righteousness

But that's exactly what He did

…

Take a breath smile and say

Right here right now I'm ok

Because the cross was enough

And like a hero who takes the stage when

We're on the edge of our seats saying it's too late

Well let me introduce you to grace grace

God's grace

…

No matter what they say

Or what you think you are

The day you called His name

He made you flawless

He made you flawless

No matter the bumps

No matter the bruises

No matter the scars

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

Yes, we have sinned, but because of Him, we are indeed flawless

 

#dailybreadbykitty

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1167248103736801

I need you!

 *I’m taking some time off this week, so the next 4 days will be a “best of”. I hope you enjoy these reflections.*  

 

I need you! (Tuesday, April 14, 2020)

 

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

 

I know a lot of people are out cleaning up their yards right now, with social distancing and all.

Think about when you are raking up all those leaves and twigs and bagging them up for disposal, is it an easy job to do alone, or is the task made simpler when one person holds the bag and the other rakes the leaves in?

It is the same on our journey here on Earth.

We can walk alone, but there is no one to pick us up when we fall.

We can curl up under a blanket, but we get warmer when we have someone there with us.

We can fend off a wild animal, but two people have a better survival rate.

We can do life alone, but we were not made to do life alone, we were made to support each other and build each other up.

Come on this journey with me, spread God’s love and let’s do life together.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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it’s my soul

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

- Psalm 103:2 (KJV)

 

Good morning, it is a good day to be blessed, right?

Do we really take the time to be thankful for all of our blessings? 
Matt Redman released 10,000 Reasons in May 2012, please let the lyrics soak in a minute:  

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

O my soul, worship His holy Name.

Sing like never before, O my soul.

I’ll worship Your holy Name.

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning;

It’s time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes.

...

You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger,

Your Name is great and Your heart is kind;

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing,

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.

...

And on that day when my strength is failing,

The end draws near and my time has come;

Still my soul sings Your praise unending,

Ten thousand years and then forevermore.

...

We are so blessed that we can bring our needs to God and pour out our hearts to Him.

We don’t always thank Him though. 
Often we don’t thank Him because we don’t know how. 
Psalm 103 is perfect for moments when we’ve received a blessing. 
Sometimes we need to thank Him while we are waiting for our blessings. 
And sometimes our blessings come in disguise, but that is another song. 

Remember to sing praises.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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