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