cheers!

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

- Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)

 

It is hard to be cheerful when it feels like the world is crashing down around you, I get that.

I have spent countless hours in tears, trying to make sense of something horrible that has happened, hours in prayer asking God “why?”.

Maybe God doesn’t always give me a direct answer.

I have learned that if I can smile through my pain rather than dwell on the heartache, I feel better.

Sweep your crushed spirit out with the old year and begin 2024 with a cheerful heart!

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

 

go seek

But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

- Luke 12:31 (NKJV)

 

Here we are, almost the end of 2023.

Luke 12 is where Jesus gives us warnings, but also encouragement.

Jesus tells us not to be afraid of God or even of random people, but to be afraid of evil, for evil is the one that can throw you into hell.

Jesus tells us that Gods will not forget us, that even the hairs of our head are numbered and that we are worth more to Him than sparrows.

Jesus tells us in Luke 12 the parable of the rich fool and what not to do with our possessions, but to store up our treasures in heaven and do not worry about food and clothing, for He will provide for us.

“Do not be afraid” He says, and “do not worry.”

But He does tell us to be ready.

Be ready for service.

Be ready to share His word.

As 2023 ends, let’s not dwell on what we should have done differently this past year, but instead, let’s focus on what we can do here, now, and in 2024.

Let’s shift our focus away from ourselves and focus on what He wants us to do.

Be ready for whatever comes your way but above all do not worry and do not be afraid – God is with you.

Always.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

 

Christmas lights

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)

 

Have you taken down your Christmas lights yet, or are you waiting until after the new year?

Most of the time I would like to take mine down right after Christmas, but hubby makes me wait until after the first . . . and then there have been years when the lights stay up (but not on) until oh, March or April, depending on what part of the country we are in and how cold it is – ha ha.

Christmas lights give us a warm fuzzy around the holidays, filling us with love and anticipation of what is to come, but the thing is, the Light doesn’t end after Christmas.

Tim Hughes wrote this song in 1999, it has been a worship team favorite and recorded by many artists over the years:

Light of the world, You step down into darkness.

Open my eyes let me see.

Beauty that made this heart adore you

Hope of a life spent with you.

Here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that you're my God,

You're altogether lovely,

Altogether worthy,

Altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days,

So highly exalted

Glorious in heaven above.

Humbly you came to the earth you created.

All for love's sake became poor.

. . .

I'll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross.

And I'll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross.

. . .

Even though the holidays are basically over, we need to remember that Jesus isn’t just the Light of the season, He is the light of ALL seasons, and we need to continue to let Him shine in our lives so others may see Him.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

 

it’s not over

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

- John 3:17 (NKJV)

 

Well, the presents are unwrapped, the leftover turkey is put away and another Christmas is in the books.

But wait - Christmas is not over.

This gift we were given, it seems that there is a lot of misconception around the reason God sent Jesus.

Jesus was not sent to judge us, but to save us.

He did not come to punish us, but to show us mercy and grace.

The devil would love for us to think that our God is about condemnation, but I am telling you, that simply is not true!

God wanted us to have salvation, He wants to be our Father and us to be His children.

On the calendar, Christmas is over, the pretty paper is gone and the presents have been distributed.

But Christmas should not be over in our hearts, every single day we should celebrate that God gave us the best gift ever in His Son Jesus.

Don't stop just because it is December 26th. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

Merry Christmas

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

- Luke 2:1-21 (NKJV)

 

Merry Christmas!

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

 

go eat

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 (NIV)

 

Nehemiah said this to the Levites after Ezra read and explained the Law of Moses, see, these people had been grieving for a long time, they had just returned to their cities after a long exile and their spirits were down. 
My favorite thing to do at Christmas is to spend time with my in-laws, preparing for the upcoming feast.
Christmas Eve soups and breads, Christmas day meats and yummy sides, the time spent with family is priceless.

It’s been two years since my mother passed, even longer since my dad and my brother passed, and this Christmas is still very painful.

I’m blessed to have married into an amazing family that shows me joy through my tears.

Nehemiah reminded the people what God had provided, even through their sorrow there was joy to be found.

He also reminded them to share their food and drinks, I think that I know why, because when you have something, even when it is little, and you share it, it brings joy.
Joy to the person receiving it, joy to you and this joy fills us with the Lord’s strength.

This Christmas share joy.

The smallest act of kindness can be the spark that starts the fire of joy in someone’s heart.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

Christmas carols part 2

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

- Luke 2:11 (NKJV)

 

How the shepherds must have felt, to have the silence broken by an angel of the Lord, then a whole choir of angels singing!
The silent night was broken. 

Yes, that is a song reference.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is going to candlelight service with my family and singing Silent Night.

Originally written in German by Father Joseph Mohr and set to music by composer Franz Xaver Gruber.

The words, the melody, I can barely sing it without crying, here it is in English and in the original German:

ENGLISH -

Silent night, holy night!

All is calm, all is bright

round yon virgin mother and child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

sleep in heavenly peace,

sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar,

heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!

Christ, the Savior, is born!

Christ, the Savior, is born!

Silent night, holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

radiant beams from thy holy face

with the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

---

GERMAN -

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!

Alles schläft, einsam wacht,

nur das traute, hoch heilige Paar.

Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,

schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,

schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!

Hirten erst kundgemacht,

durch der Engel Halleluja,

tönt es laut von fern und nah:

Christ, der Retter, ist da,

Christ, der Retter, ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!

Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht

Lieb aus deinem göttlichen Mund,

da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’,

Christ, in deiner Geburt,

Christ, in deiner Geburt.

The melody is haunting, the words beautiful, and this song probably speaks “Christmas” to me the loudest.

What is your favorite Christmas carol? 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible