take it up

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

- Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)

 

What does it mean to take up our cross? 
I did what every good researcher does when asked a question – I Googled it. 
Taking up our cross means putting aside our selfish desires and following God’s will for our lives. 
It means giving up control (as if we ever really had control anyway!). 
To make God’s goal our goal, despite the cost. 
Jesus wanted His disciples to know that they must put aside their fear of suffering or pain and follow Him.

Pain. Fear. Suffering. Asking for help. Giving up control.

Giving up control is probably the scariest thing on this list.

Corrie ten Boom said, “You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”
Perhaps it is time for us to let go of everything and follow Him. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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we’ve heard it before

The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.

- Colossians 1:5 (NIV)

 

The gospel changes everything.

Have you heard that before?

I have, it is a song by Meredith Andrews!  
Here are the lyrics if you need a refresher: 
The gospel changes everything

The turning point in history

And even now it's changing me

From who I was

The story of my Savior calls

Me to the wonder of the cross

The gospel changes everything

And it is changing me

You saved my soul

By Your blood

And I'm undone

By Your great love

You made a way

So I could come

Just as I am

To You my God

Jesus changes everything

There is no greater mystery

That God would come to rescue me

From who I was

The kindness of my Savior calls

Me to the wonder of His love

Jesus changes everything

And He is changing me
We have heard the true message of the Gospel. 
We have hope because of Jesus. 
We have faith because of Jesus. 
We have heard the Gospel before, and we will hear it again and again. 
We have love because of Jesus. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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like minded

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.

- Romans 15:5 (NKJV)

 

It’s kind of crazy and maybe a little spooky when you are with someone, and you both think of the same thing at the same time. 
People call it all kinds of things, they say it is synchronicity,  or (if you’re a couple) that you are especially compatible with each other, or the mainstream “great minds think alike”, or even being on the same wavelength. 
Like-minded is the term used in the New King James Version for this verse. 
We should be like-minded when it comes to things of this world. 
My mother used to say, “wouldn’t it be horrible if everyone liked the same things?” 
Well, no – actually, it wouldn’t be horrible at all. 
If we were like-minded and really considered what God wants us to focus on, it would be a much better world. 
If we stopped bickering and fighting and trying to one up each other all the time. 
If we did not behave like the world owes us something because we are entitled little brats. 
God has a lot of patience to deal with us as we come up with yet another hair-brained scheme about how to get things we simply did not earn. 
God wants us to comfort each other, not coddle each other.  
If we were more like-minded with Christ, the world would be a better place. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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this is how it worked out

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

- Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)

 

Do you often find yourself thinking how crazy it is that everything worked out?

Perhaps something happened that made you sad, but not too far down the road another event led you to a place you would have not noticed had you not been sad? 
Garth Brooks (ooo look, I’m country!) released a song in 1990 called Unanswered Prayers, read these lyrics: 
Just the other night at a hometown football game

My wife and I ran into my old high school flame

And as I introduced them the past came back to me

And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times

And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine

And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then

I'd never ask for anything again

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams

And I could tell that time had changed me

In her eyes too it seemed

We tried to talk about the old days

There wasn't much we could recall

I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife

And then and there I thanked the good Lord

For the gifts in my life

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care

. . .

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

How many unanswered prayers have you had that you later found a better road to travel? 
And what the heck does this have to do with that verse? 

Hold on tight, I’m about to take you full circle. 
How often do you get mad at someone for offering you advice (or my favorite – telling you how to do something) when they haven’t got a single clue about the situation?

Well guess what y’all - Jesus suffered. 
Jesus was tempted. 
So, when you don’t understand how you can turn to Jesus when you are in a spot, remember, that He was once in a spot too. 
You don’t have to be alone and unsure because Jesus will take that from you. 
Jesus can help us through the rough patches because He went through something far worse so He could take our pain, our suffering, our temptation and turn it around so it all works out. 
Call on Jesus (another good song!), He is there for you.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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seriously

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

- Micah 6:8 (MSG)

 

I have often been accused of taking things too seriously. 
I mean, how can I not? 
There is a lot going on in this world, and yeah, sometimes I forget to stop and breathe, who has time? 
When we look around us, what do we see? 
Are we seeing neighbors that need help? 
Do we have friends that are hurting or in need? 
Did we notice that there are people crying out for help? 
Now, look again, and what are we doing to help? 
What are our children seeing when they watch us? 
Does the younger generations see us helping our neighbor when they are in trouble and comforting our friends in their pain, or are they seeing us walk away from people as they cry out for help and turning our backs to those in need?

God made it clear that we are to help one another, be fair, be just, be compassionate. 
It’s time we take God seriously. 

#dailybreadbykitty

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take it slow

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

- James 1:19 (NIV)

 

“Control your temper”.  
That is something that I used to hear quite often because believe it or not, I have a very bad and very quick temper. 
Being slow to speak does not mean how fast you talk, but what words are coming out of your mouth in any situation.

Your reaction to a situation can make or break your reputation.

Your reputation can benefit you or it can cost you. 
A raise or promotion can be based on your listening skills and how you carry yourself in different scenarios.

Sometimes we need to stop talking, take out our headphones and pay close attention to our surroundings.
I read somewhere that “listen” and “silent” are made of the same six letters – it is how you arrange them that is the difference.
Look at the world that we live in and all the craziness that follows every time something happens. 
Everyone wants to be heard, to write something profound on Facebook or Twitter. 

Everyone wants to comment and have their voice to be heard, and that just puts everyone on edge.

Listen.

Consider.

Speak, kind words, never angry words.
We all tend to listen with the intent of speaking our mind as quickly as possible.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

You’ll find there is considerably less turmoil in your life.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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I won the lottery!

The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

- Ecclesiastes 5:11 (NLT)

 

I’m guessing that I got your attention with that title. 
Quite often if someone thinks that you are “well off”, they will drop hints about the things they need or be bold and come right out and ask you to give them money or stuff, then they get mad if you don’t give them money or co-sign for a car or a loan for them. 
I honestly had a family member tell other family members that I was “rich” because my house was nicer than the houses he had lived in, and my two-income household had two vehicles. 
I’ve heard people make snarky comments about things that we have saved up and purchased over the years because “it wasn’t fair” that we had these things and they did not.
You hear stories all the time about people that win large sums of cash and suddenly there are long-lost family members on their doorstep. 
To be honest, it is very sad that folks just can’t be genuinely happy for someone’s good fortune without thinking that they deserve a part of that good fortune. 
There are people that have nice things because they work very hard for what they have, and there are others that will rack up debt so that they have the best of everything. 
If you want something go earn it, don’t expect someone to give it to you. 
Learn how to budget and save for those things that you really want, rather than having to work until you die because you have so much debt (Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace is a great program to teach you how to budget so you can live well). 
Above all, be happy with what you have because there are many out there that have nothing. 
Help those who are truly in need but be aware of those who are only your friend because of what you have to offer.  

#dailybreadbykitty

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