mindset

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

- Colossians 3:2

 

Stop for a minute and look around you, what do you see?

Some of us might be in an office setting, and see our computers, stacks of work, and to-do lists while others may be at home and see a pile of laundry, dirty dishes and a floor that needs vacuumed or swept and still others may be in an altogether location with other items of interest around us.

Did you know that there is a squid in the ocean called a cockeyed squid that has two extremely different eyes . . . scientists have discovered that over time this squid’s left eye develops and becomes considerably larger than the right eye. 

It is thought that this happens because this species of squid lives in the darkest part of the ocean, and the smaller right eye is used to seek the depths for food while the larger left eye gazes upward toward the sunlight that barely filters through the deep waters.

What happens when we start looking with a larger eye, toward God (the Light)?

We need to keep smaller eyes on what is happening around us, get our work done and get through each day, while keeping larger eyes focused on God, put our mindset to always look up and see Him and all His glory and the things He is doing for us each and every day.

The more we set our minds on God, the easier things of this world are.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

strength

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

- 1 Samuel 30:6

 

Things in life are crazy, like super hard to deal with crazy.

We endure illness, injury, heartbreaks, loss, regular “life things” that can break us.

During a recent injury and recovery I posted on social media that the pain was overwhelming and all I wanted to do was to cry.

On that post so many of my friends responded with heartfelt prayers, encouragement and reminders that I am strong.

In my mind I was thinking that I am not that strong, that I can’t do this, and then my ears hear Him say that He is with me, that I will find my strength in Him.

Yes, things in life are super hard crazy, but all we have to do is lean on Him, he is our strength, our strong tower, our ever lasting Father.

He won’t let us down.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

I know

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

- Job 19:25

 

Let’s face it, we have all been through a lot.

We have suffered job loss, horrible health issues, deaths of family and close friends, simply inexplicable terrible things happening to really good people.

And we ask why.

I had an acquaintance say to me that there is no way that my God is as amazing as I say He is, and yet He “allows” me to suffer.

That acquaintance could not be more wrong.

I don’t think that my suffering is any less than that of my friends and family, it is certainly way less than that of Job and Jesus.

But I do know that my Redeemer lives – oh yeah – song reference!

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?

And who told the ocean, you can only come this far?

And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well, I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

All of creation testifies

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives, yeah

The very same God that spins things in orbit

Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken

They conquered death to bring me victory

Now, I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer

He lives to take away my shame

And He lives forever, I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sin

Was the precious life He gave

But now He's alive and

There's an empty grave...

And I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer lives

Listen hard to that song (Nicole C Mullen is the artist).

When you think that you have been forgotten, remember that Jesus, the redeemer is there for you, picking up your tired worn self.

He holds us when we are broken, He did for us, and He lives.

Maybe you don’t have that kind of faith, but I do.

I know that no matter what hurt I am facing, my Redeemer lives for me.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

no worries

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

- Matthew 6:34

 

For yesterday’s verse I was digging a little deeper into Matthew 6, trying to find the context I was looking for to discuss here.

If you read yesterday’s verse and commentary, you know what I found. 😊

Many of us only pray or talk to God when we need things, and usually we are worried about the outcome of something.

The Bible tells us not to worry, to come to God with everything.

With praise, with thanksgiving, to bring our fear and our trouble.

Bring it all to Him, and then trust Him.

God said “do not worry”.

Yes, easier said than done.

But do you trust Him? 

Because if you trust Him, your worry fades, you know God’s got this, and He’s got you.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

first

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

- Matthew 6:33

 

I saw a meme on FaceBook that had this verse.

But the meme was not the verse.

The meme said “no matter the place or time talk to God”.

I thought maybe it was the version, I tend to use the NIV Bible for my daily verses, but sometimes I switch to the Message or to the New King James Version.

So I googled “no matter the place or time talk to God” thinking it would lead me to the version.

It did not.

Instead of leading me to a version, good ol’ google showed me an article in the Baltimore Sun published in April 2017 about how God’s timing is perfect.

A quora dot com article asking if you talk to God all day or just specific times.

A wikihow article of 3 ways to talk to God.

Billy Graham’s website of prayer 101.

Now it makes sense to me.

Seek Him first.

When you are frustrated with work, seek Him.

When you are lonely, seek Him.

When you are scared, seek Him.

Because when you seek Him first, no matter the time or place, your answers are given to you.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

where are you looking?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

- Hebrews 12:1-2

 

How is your 2021 going so far?

Mine is a little crazy, that is for sure. 

I have already experienced every emotional range that there is, from fear of surgery, to grief over the loss of a friend, to happiness in spending time with loved ones.

It is hard to find joy in everything, but this helps:

O soul are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

Turn you eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there

Over us sin no more hath dominion

For more than conquerors we are

And turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

His word shall not fail you, He promised

Believe Him and all will be well

Then go to a world that is dying

His perfect salvation to tell

And turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

If we can just remember to turn our eyes to Him when we are troubled, we can find peace.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

slow down!

 But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

- Isaiah 52:12

 

This kind of doesn’t make sense when you first read it, because it says that God will lead, but the next line says God will follow???

Those of you that have known me or have read my blog over the years know that patience is not a virtue I possess.

I am always in a hurry, always busy, always have a million things to do, I think I sometimes have God in the background.

Those of you who know me also know I relate to music a lot – so here is a secular song reference:

I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Don't know why

I have to drive so fast

My car has nothing to prove

It's not new

But it'll do 0 to 60 in 5.2

Oh I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Can't be late

I leave plenty of time

Shaking hands with the clock

I can't stop

I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock

Oh I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

I hear a voice

That say's I'm running behind

I better pick up my pace

It's a race

And there ain't no room

For someone in second place.

I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

I wonder why we feel like we have to go, go, go all the time?

Is it the devil, thinking that if we stay busy we don’t have time for God?

Take time each day and ask God to lead you, and if He is telling you to slow down, maybe you should listen.

Let God lead you, but also let Him be there to pick you up when you are rushing into things and end up flat on your face.

I think that is what this verse means when it says that He will be your rear guard.

Slow down, let God lead and if you should trip, God is there to catch you.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty