do overs

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

- Isaiah 1:18

 

“Do overs!” I really doubt that any of us did not say that (usually scream) or hear that (again screamed) at some point in our childhood (or even as adults!).

When we were playing games with our friends and the dice didn’t fall the way we wanted, we’d say “do overs” and buddy, that was the law! 

If you said “do overs” you got “do overs” unless it was set in the rules before the game started.

Even today as adults functioning in a grown up world, quite often we find ourselves wishing we could do it over.

Sometimes it is because we regret what we said or did, or what we didn’t say or do.

We may not get to have do overs as adults, but we have a God who is willing to help us make things right.

We just have to ask for His forgiveness, and guidance to redeem ourselves for the future.

I may not be perfect, but God says that we can talk this through.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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

perfection

Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day. And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

- Ezra 9:7-8 (NKJV)

 

There are a lot of things that we have to face every day that put us on the edge of a cliff in our minds.

Some have chronic (and sometimes inexplicable pain), some so much going on in their lives that they are stretched thin, some are locked in their own minds as a result of things that happened to them in the past.

It is hard to get through each day when we constantly fight discouragement.

I read a poem last week, that struck a chord with me:

I cannot show my children perfection, but I can illustrate excellence. 
I cannot always give them their way, but I can demonstrate compromise. 

I cannot make their path easy, but I can help them learn determination.

I cannot keep them from feeling pain, but I can teach them how to love.

I cannot force their relationship with You, Lord, but I can hold them up to you in prayer.

When I read that, I was not sure if I was the child or the parent at first.

We are not always perfect humans, our path is not always easy and life is full of pain, but if we have a relationship with God, well, we have that remnant to escape, and receive revival, even when we are held down from the bondage of life.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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be humble

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

- Matthew 18:1-5 (NKJV)

 

Full disclosure here, friends: I have been wrong, multiple times over the years.

Sometimes I think that we all find that we are wrong about something, while it could be something as simple as wearing a blue sock and a black sock, it can also be something major like sharing our faith. 

Let’s say it together “I am not always right.”

There, that was not so bad, was it? 
Often we feel like we have it all figured out when it comes to faith and when we share our faith with a friend or a stranger, it may sound to us like we know what we are talking about but to the people listening, well it may sound an awful lot like we haven’t got a clue. 

I’ve been called out on my daily posts before, and I am ok with that because I have been given the grace from God to be humble, to draw me back to Him when I am not on the right path. 

I am open to discussion, I am willing to learn, there is even a huge possibility that someone else is right and I am wrong in my perspective.

I pray that I have the humility to accept when someone proves me wrong.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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

 

finding strength

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

- Nehemiah 8:10

 

How amazing is this verse?  

The joy of the Lord is your strength! 

We don’t have to be sad, we don’t have to worry, we can find joy in Him!

Partial song reference:

The joy of the Lord is my strength

In the darkness I'll dance

In the shadows I'll sing

The joy of the Lord is my strength

We will all have times when we are hungry, thirsty, hurt, angry or just plain down in spirit, and that is ok, but we should not stay there.

We can find joy in Him and this will lift us up in ways that we never knew.

Find time to research His word to find your joy.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

always

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

- Proverbs 3:3

 

Did you know that we affect others by the things we say and do??

We may not realize that someone was watching us when we held that door for someone, or that when we let someone cut in front of us.

When we always act out of love and faithfulness we inspire others to do the same.

Treating others with love and respect even when we don’t know them can impact not only the person with whom you are interacting but also others around us.

Your cashier or server may be having a horrible day, a kind word or gesture goes a long way in today’s world.

Keep your love for God visible, let it lead and guide you and always be kind to others.

 

#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

 

welcome!

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

- 1 Peter 4:9-11

 

“Welcome to <insert location here>!”

A fond memory that I have is going out to dinner with my husband, although I don’t remember the restaurant, we were seated near the door and he was feeling a little silly (those of you who have the pleasure of knowing him know that this is not unusual!) and every person that walked in the door heard him yell (yes, yell) “welcome to …”

He got a lot of strange looks, but he got more smiles and laughter and even the staff at the restaurant was giggling.

How would you feel if every door that you walked through you were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm?

God gives us each specific gifts, these gifts are given to us to serve Him by serving others.

We should strive to do everything with a servant’s heart, to glorify God and show others what love is.

My husband may have been acting silly that day, but imagine how many hearts he turned just by being kind.

 

#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

 

lead me

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies — make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.

- Psalm 5:8-9

 

How often has it happened that you hear something very believable from someone you trust implicitly, only to learn later that it was not the complete truth?

I am sure that it has happened to all of us and when it does occur, it is a hard thing to handle.

The enemy is all around us, trying very hard to break us, and it is so important that we seek God daily, asking Him to guide and protect us.

The enemy is a sneaky one, he can twist things up and turn them around so we believe what we are being shown or told.

When we hear or see something that we are not sure about, we need to take a moment to look for God in the situation, and ask for His guidance. 

We should not make decisions on the spur of the moment, because that is when we slip, instead we should pursue trusted counsel in all things and allow God to lead us.

 

#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