ya’all listen now

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

- Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV)

 

Humans are weird. 
You won’t see a cat that suddenly decides that he doesn’t want to cat anymore and start walking upright like a human. 
You won’t see a dog that has determined that that she isn’t interested in barking but will meow instead. 
But you will see humans that pick out two or three words from the Bible and expand on it in crazy ways. 
A prime example is all the memes that say, “if money is the root of all evil, why do churches ask for it”? when the actual verse in 1 Timothy 6 reads “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 
Or how about Romans 8:28 which reads “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” but popular theory is “In all things God works for the [material] good of everybody.” 

It’s amazing what you can do to Scripture when you form it to your own thoughts. 
Perhaps a favorite is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me.” And seeing this inspirational verse with a hashtag philippians413fitness and pictures of people working out because this verse must be about exercise.  
By the way, Philippians 4:13 is not about our potential, but about our contentment.
While the world influencers tell us we can do anything we set our minds to, God tells us we are to be content where we are, and that it’s possible through His strength!

Stop taking words in the Bible out of context, you can’t just read one verse and assume what it is about, you have to read more. 
I believe it is very clear in Deuteronomy that we are not to add or take words from His commandments, I also believe that it includes the whole Bible. 
Don’t twist things up to match what you want to say. 
You didn’t say it first and you certainly didn’t say it best.  

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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many generations

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.

- Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)

 

This past weekend most of my family gathered in Iowa to celebrate my father-in-law’s 80^th birthday (happy birthday again, Dad!). 
Seeing three generations together laughing, playing, praying, and loving each other is good for the soul, especially when it is your family. 
It was a weekend that will stay in my cherished memories for a long time to come.  
God has loved us and kept his promises for over a thousand generations, having three together this weekend was just the topping on the ice cream.

There is yet another great song by Bethel Music called Be Enthroned that fits this verse: 
We've come to join the song

Sung long before our lives

To raise our voice along

Heaven and earth alike

We've seen Your faithful hand

Your mercy without end

A King who bled and died

A God who sacrificed

Be enthroned upon the praises

Of a thousand generations

You are worthy. Lord of all

Unto You, the slain and risen King

We lift our voice with heaven singing

Worthy, Lord of all

All through this life we lead

And on to eternity

Our endless praise will cry

Jesus be glorified

All through this life we lead

And on to eternity

Our endless praise will cry

Jesus be glorified

…

God is faithful, has been faithful and will continue to be faithful. 
I am thankful for generations of family that knows His faithfulness and teaches it to each new generation.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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rock solid

There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

- 2 Samuel 2:2 (NIV)

 

I truly believe there is music in my soul, I can find a song to reference almost everything in my life.

I listen to all types of music, and I find beauty in most of the songs, but I especially appreciate the songs that have lyrics that speak to me. 
In 1834 Edward Mote, a pastor at Rehoboth Baptist Church in West Sussex, England wrote a hymn that was put to music by William Batchelder Bradbury in 1963: 
My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

...

His oath, His covenant, His blood,

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

...

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

In Him, my righteousness, alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

...
There is no rock like God. 

Several bands have recorded this next song snippet written by Paul Baloche called Rock of Ages: 
There Is No Rock,

There Is No God Like Our God,

No Other Name

Worthy Of All Our Praise.

The Rock Of Salvation

That Cannot Be Moved,

He’s Proven Himself

To Be Faithful And True.

There Is No Rock,

There Is No God Like Ours.

There Is No Rock,

There Is No God Like Our God,

No Other Name

Worthy Of All Our Praise.

...

Rock Of Ages, Jesus Is The Rock.

Rock Of Ages, Jesus Is The Rock.

Rock Of Ages, Jesus Is The Rock.

There Is No Rock,

There Is No God Like Ours.

...
Ya’all.  
There really is only one. 
He is the Rock, the Rock of Salvation, the Rock where we can build our house and be safe forever. 
Rock on! 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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more than Star Wars day

At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

- Ephesians 6:18 (NIRV)

 

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  

Prayer 101

Do you know how many time prayers are mentioned in the Bible (and how many were answered)?

There are 650 prayers listed in the Bible.

There are approximately 450 recorded answers to prayer in the Bible.

The first time that prayer is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis.

The Bible records Jesus praying 25 different times during His earthly ministry.

The apostle Paul mentions prayer (prayers, prayer reports, prayer requests, exhortations to pray), 41 times.

Although prayer can (and should) be done from any bodily position, the Bible lists five specific postures: sitting, standing, kneeling, with one's face to the ground, and with hands lifted up.

In Jesus’ model for how His disciples should pray, He provides five areas of focus: That God's name be honored - the focus on his everlasting glory (“Father, hallowed be your name”); that God's kingdom come - the focus on his eternal will (“your kingdom come”); that God's provision is given - the focus on our present (“Give us each day our daily bread.”); that God's forgiveness is granted - the focus on our past (Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.); that God's deliverance will be provided - the focus on our future.

The Bible lists at least nine main types of prayer: prayer of faith, prayer of agreement, prayer of request (also known as petition or supplication), prayer of thanksgiving, prayer of worship, prayer of consecration (also known as dedication), prayer of intercession,  prayer of imprecation, and praying in the Spirit.

Doesn’t that kind of want to make you have a conversation with God right now?
How can I pray for you? 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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sleep is good

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

- Psalm 4:8 (NKJV)

 

My husband can sleep anywhere. 
He will say “I’m going to take a 20-minute nap”, close his eyes and he is asleep (and snoring). 
Honestly, that makes me a little jealous, because I am one of those that occasionally suffers from insomnia. 
While he is peacefully snoring, I am tossing and turning and praying for sleep. 

Wait – praying? 
Most of the time when I struggle with insomnia, it is because I have something weighing heavy on my mind or my heart. 
These are the times that I need to give it to God, because He will keep me safe, He will hear my fears and comfort me. 
It seems to me that my fears and worries aren’t such a burden when I talk to God about them. 
And usually by the time I say “Amen” I can lie down with peace in my heart and sleep. 
But I don’t snore. (husband has video that proves differently.) 

#dailybreadbykitty

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a tiny flame

This is why I remind you to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire.

- 2 Timothy 1:6a (NIRV)

 

Are you old enough to remember the commercials with an animated bear (Smokey) saying “only you can prevent forest fires”?

He was a real bear who was caught in a fire in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico in 1950, he survived the major wildfire with badly burned paws and hind legs.

Fire crews removed him from the charred tree where he had taken refuge from the fire and was transported to Santa Fe for treatment of his burns. 
The New Mexico state game warden wrote to the chief of the Forest Service and the little cub wen to live in the National Zoo in Washington DC, the living symbol of Smokey the Bear, dedicated to a conservation and wildfire prevention program. 
There is a point to me sharing this story, bear with me (humor). 
Wildfires can start with a tiny spark and soon spread over hundreds of thousands of acres of land. 
Nearly every year we hear about communities being evacuated due to the dangerous flames and smoke. 
We are nearing the summer camping season, many will be heading out for adventures in the woods or at the lake and on the chillier nights, a campfire is nice. 
With some kindling, a spark and hope that the spark catches, you fan the flame, add some more wood until you have a blazing fire going to keep you warm or cook your meals while you camp.

The point to the story is here: imagine that the Spirit of God is that fire. 
The band Unspoken released a song in 2014 called “Start a Fire”, check out the lyrics:

This world can be cold and bitter

Feels like we're in the dead of winter

Waiting on something better

But am I really gonna hide forever?

Over and over again

I hear Your voice in my head

Let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there's no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it's You, that it's You that we need

Start a fire in me

You only need a spark to start a whole blaze

It only takes a little faith

Let it start right here in this city

So these old walls will never be the same

Over and over again

I hear Your voice in my head

They need to know

I need to go

Spirit won't You fall on my heart now

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there's no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it's You, that it's You that we need

Start a fire in me

You are the fire, You are the flame

You are the light on the darkest day

We have the hope, we bear Your name

We carry the news that You have come to save

Only You can save

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there's no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it's You, that it's You that we need

Start a fire in me

You are the fire, You are the flame

You are the light on the darkest day

Start a fire in me
Just like forest fires and campfires, we only need a spark to start a whole blaze, a fire in our hearts for God that we can share with the world.  

#dailybreadbykitty

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the little things

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

- Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

 

I have a friend who takes turns with his wife praying with their child every night before bed. 
He said that one of the things he does is to thank God for random things, things like blue jays, pizza, carpet, and the smell of rain. 
He does this because he wants to instill in his child gratitude for even the most random, mundane things we enjoy.

He goes on to say that it is easy to be thankful for a pay raise or food, but when we start to look at the smallest things in our life as arenas for joy it can fundamentally change our outlook on life. 
I was moved to tears when I read that on his Facebook page last week. 
He went on to say that we should be thankful for the fuzzy robe or fresh milk or a nice smelling candle. 
That we must teach our children this as we work on learning it ourselves because we need to practice it. 
He is right you know; we need to learn to be thankful for the tiniest things in our lives, the little things that we don’t often consider but might be lost without.

We truly don’t know what we have until it is gone. 
What little things make you happy? 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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