Attack!

But the Lord is faithful. He will give you strength and keep you safe from the devil.

- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLV)

 

Protection is something we all seek. Animal mothers protect their young from predators and dangers. Human parents protect their children from injury and mistakes. Law enforcement officers protect us from those who intend to harm us. I've often heard miraculous stories of God sending angels to protect His children in dire situations.

I won't lie—I'm facing difficult times right now. My world is upside-down, and my faith is being shaken. I know my God is a God of love, mercy, and forgiveness, and that He wants me to lean in and press on. Here I am, Lord, leaning and pressing. I am asking for Your strength to fight this enemy. Even in my pain, I see that God is good, and even while I hurt, I know He is there.

I will continue to praise Him because He is faithful. I will seek His peace, which surpasses all understanding. He will give me the confidence to face the obstacles in my path. There is much evil in this world, and today, we can see it everywhere. When we rely on the Lord for our strength, He helps us fight the demons that seek to take everything from us. God will build us up and give us power over evil. All we have to do is believe that He can.

It’s a scary world out there. The thought of always being protected, seen, and loved is one I truly cherish. God loves me enough to protect me, and He loves you that much too.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

I stopped writing

And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him.

- Colossians 2:6 (TLB)

 

My last “daily bread” was forty-eight days ago, just before I left the country for a relaxing vacation. I had planned to start writing again as soon as I returned, but something inside me changed, and I lost the motivation. It's not that I stopped believing—far from it. I can't pinpoint the exact "trigger," but I felt completely lost.

Then, devastating events began to unfold in my life, leaving me struggling to make sense of and find peace with them. I started questioning my faith, my path, and my relationship with God. I wondered if these terrible things were happening because I stopped writing and sharing the word.

It's time to dig in and return to reading and living His word. I believe that when I let God back in, I will start seeing changes in my world.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

go

Then you will go your way in safety, and you will not get hurt.

- Proverbs 3:23 (NCV)

 

When I read this verse, my first thought is “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac, released in 1976, I am that weird.
But I chose this verse because I am going my own way tomorrow – on a very exciting trip.
It will be my first time leaving the country, and I am looking so forward to spending time on a sunny beach just soaking up the sun and enjoying the peace.

But it is scary, crazy things are happening in the world right now.
The verse emphasizes that those who follow God's wisdom will experience a sense of security, confidence, and peace, even in the face of adversity.
I’ll be gone (no “daily bread” messages) for a couple of weeks, but I know that I will be safe.

I trust in God.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

the difficult one

 By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

- Proverbs 25:15 (NASB1995)

 

When I'm unsure how to handle a situation, I often turn to Google (doesn’t everyone?).

I usually start with “what does the Bible say about [situation]?” and begin my search.

Often, I find that the same verses consistently appear.

Today’s verse, Proverbs 25:15, has been particularly prominent.

I've found myself in a worsening situation where people are trying to force me to do things their way, which won’t end well for me.

One of the pages I read explained Proverbs 25:15: “Forbearance means tolerance or length of anger. Even if your anger is justified, you need to lengthen it. Stretch it out; don’t have a short fuse. And, most importantly, keep a soft tongue.”

Oh crap.
Admittedly, a soft tongue was not my initial response.

The author also suggested practicing “re-framing.”

This means placing the difficult person in a different frame.

For example, if someone humiliates and intimidates you, you likely view them through that lens, reinforcing your fear.

Instead, we should ask God to change our attitude toward the situation and the person.

By re-framing them, we might change our perspective.

It's incredible how God can transform a situation when we are willing to let Him change us first.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

losing someone

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

 

The last few months have been rough on many of my friends.
A parent should not have to bury their child, no matter how old they are, yet two of my friends have had to do that in the last month.
Grieving the loss of someone you love, no matter who it is, a child, a parent, a grandparent, a friend, a sibling, even a beloved pet, this grief hurts.

It hurts bad.
Those of us not directly impacted by the loss are sometimes unintentionally cruel.
Don’t tell someone that is grieving to “get over it”. 
Don’t try to put their grief into perspective, everyone grieves differently. 
Don’t stop talking about the one they lost, let them know of the memories you have.
As much music as I listen to, I am not sure how I did not hear this song before, Ryan Stevenson recorded and released When We Fall Apart in 2021.
Please read the lyrics, listen to the song: 
 You were forty-three when you got the news

Life will be changing, nothing we can do

The clock is ticking now

All I can think about

Is knowing I have to move on without you somehow

And I just can't believe

That you're the one whose keeping it together

As you hold my hand and say

It's ok to cry

It's ok to fall apart

You don't have to try

To be strong when you are not

And it may take sometime to make sense of all your thoughts

But don't ever fight your tears

'Cause there is freedom in every drop

Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart

You ask me to sing

Some songs that I wrote

But I can barely speak

Can barely play a note

All my tears rush in

Falling on my strings

That make the sound of these progressions have a different ring

And I hate to say goodbye

Knowing this will be the last time we're together

As you close your eyes and say

It's ok to cry

It's ok to fall apart

You don't have to try

To be strong when you are not

And it may take sometime to make sense of all your thoughts

But don't ever fight your tears

'Cause there is freedom in every drop

Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart

Whoa

And you've got the gift of mercy

Don't ever think it's strange

Not a curse, but it is a blessing to feel other people's pain

And always love without condition

And trust with all your heart

There's healing in the story of your scars

Well, it's been awhile

Since you've been gone

And sometimes I still catch myself trying to call your phone

All the hopes and dreams we used to talk about

They're still alive in me and I just hope I make you proud

Now I'm your legacy

And it's your love still holding me together

And I still hear you say

It's ok to cry

It's ok to fall apart

You don't have to try

To be strong when you are not

And it may take sometime to make sense of all your thoughts

But don't ever fight your tears

'Cause there is freedom in every drop

Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart

Yeah, yeah, it's okay to fall apart

Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart

It’s OK to cry – this directly addresses the emotional pain of loss and encourages us to acknowledge and express our feelings. 

It’s OK to grieve – let’s make it normal to validate the process of grieving and allow for the full range of emotions associated with loss.

It’s OK to fall apart – we need to acknowledge the fragility of human experience and the possibility of breaking down during difficult times.

Allowing oneself to feel vulnerable is a necessary part of healing.

This song reminds us that sometimes our greatest strength lies in acknowledging our weaknesses and allowing ourselves to surrender to the pain.

If you are grieving, it is ok.
If you know someone that is grieving, let them grieve, be their friend, and sometimes cry with them.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

 

where you go

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

- Ruth 1:16 (NLT)

 

People often feel that most moms are amazing, they love you, care for you, keep you safe, and stand up for you when things get crazy.

However, mothers-in-law have historically gotten a bad rap, often portrayed as evil, manipulative, and sometimes downright nasty.

My mother-in-law is far from that stereotype, she is simply top-notch.

She raised three amazing children (my husband included) while working hard to support the family business and keep the house.

She is the best grandma and great grandma, baking cookies and ensuring the grandkids have fun at her house (who am I kidding, she makes sure everyone has fun!).

She doesn’t stop at blood relation, if you walk into her house, you are immediately treated like family.

She has taught me a lot about cooking, sewing, and various family tricks and tips, and I see her continue to teach the next generation.

She does not back down from any challenge, I have seen her persevere where others would have just sat back and watched the world go by.
She is the strongest woman I know. 

Along with my wonderful father-in-law, she taught me the most important thing in the world, they taught me who God really is.

My mother-in-law is celebrating her birthday today, and I just want her to know how much I love and appreciate her.

I thank her for raising a wonderful son to be my husband, for being patient with me as I learned how to treat him as a wife should, for helping us teach our children, and for walking with me and gently prodding me when I was falling off the path God wants me on.

Thank you, Mom.

Happy birthday.

I love you.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible

rest

I said to myself, “Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you’ve been rescued from death; Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.”

- Psalm 116:7-8 (MSG)

 

Over the past year, I've been frazzled and stressed, feeling like everything was spiraling out of control.

What I need to remember, as many of us do, is to come to the Lord in prayer, set aside our agendas, and seek God's rest.

Recall all the ways God has shown us His goodness in the past and let those memories dissolve our anxieties.

Jesus' yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

God is in control.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible