Month: April 2020

In Full Bloom

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Transformation abounds…wait for it…

This same rose that just began to bud less than a week ago is now in full bloom. It was almost like it happened in the blink of an eye. Wow, God – truly You do ALL things well!

In the midst of what’s going on right now, our expansive, extensive, magnanimously massive and infinite God is STILL sovereign and reigning on the Throne! As I reflected tonight on where I was physically at this time last year (grappling with ongoing GI issues),  I was soooo grateful to just be able to have a meal in this season without fear of being unable to keep it down. I nearly had a praise party while washing my hands because I’d felt like the woman enduring the issue of blood last year as I searched for a cure to my ailments. Nevertheless, Jehovah Rophe healed me with HIS powerful touch, and I’m soooo thankful!

If you take a moment to meditate, what overwhelms YOU with gratitude for a fruitful area of your life (expected or unexpected) bursting forth even in the midst of the “stay at home” directive? When we resist fixation on a particular desire or outcome, our eyes may be opened to the miracles already at work right under our noses! Feel free to share your own praise report in the comments…

“4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
(Isaiah 64:4, 8)

“10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”
(Isaiah 61:10-11)

© Copyright 2020 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Disconnected for Techno-Sabbatical

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I snapped these lovely photos on Friday after walking 3 steps from my front door (thanks, Awesome Gardener Hubby!), gently reminded that God makes every thing beautiful in his time. It’s kinda neat to see how everything is beginning to bloom in this season (even me) as “stay at home” measures limit our outside movement, but not our personal growth…

Granted, I’m writing my thoughts using an electronic device. However, I found such peace today just by giving myself permission to disconnect from technology and screens for a brief time away from the information influx that threatened to become a mental tsunami. Though I limit myself to checking 1 social media account 1-2 times a week and I keep my phone on vibrate to cut down on audio clutter, I didn’t realize the energy I was putting out to manage 2 personal e-mail inboxes, text messages, incoming phone calls, and voicemails. Not to speak of the constant barrage of marketing messages blasting from endless sources.

I’m not even that popular anymore (LOL – it’s all relative – ha ha), but the volume of incoming information to process, decision, prioritize, or choose to ignore clearly illuminated the ratio of ONE of ME to MANY information sources. I realized the need to clear my mind and savor some sumptuous silence…immediately!

So it began: I activated my work e-mail out-of-office message for the week I’d taken for vacation (now a staycation – but that’s cool with me!). I turned my cell phone ringer off and asked my parents to text me if they wanted to reach me – and they were happy to pray for my time of techno-rest while assuring me they’re doing fine. Finally, I sent a text message to a couple of folks who are used to hearing from me regularly, letting them know I’d be available after this week to reconnect.

It was really liberating – like I’d given myself a “free pass” to unplug from my routine in order to be rejuvenated in God’s presence and reconnect with my family while undistracted by external commitments. And I settled in for a blessed week, knowing I’m nestled safely under the Shadow of the Almighty as I sit still long enough for Him to continue working on and in me – His daughter. I am excited about experiencing the power of His Resurrection in a new way at this specific time in my life. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

“20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
(Revelation 22:20-21)

© Copyright 2020 by Kayren J. Cathcart

 

 

An Ounce of Prevention: Adventures in “Stay at Home” Snacking

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“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
– Benjamin Franklin

Decisions, decisions! Hypothetically speaking, say your spouse goes to the local warehouse store for something other than toilet paper or hand sanitizer. After this brief trip to forage for sustaining family nourishment, let’s say a 16-ounce bag of BBQ flavored beef jerky finds its way to your home office desk and you mindlessly nosh on it during your millionth conference call. If, by chance, you open the bag only to pick out the tenderest bits that congregate in the bottom, try not to regret that you didn’t pull out a reasonable, small portion in a measurable container and put the sealed package back in the pantry before you started snacking.

Friendly reminder: 16 ounces = 1 pound. Don’t do it. Even if it tastes super yummy. Trust me – you won’t win…you can’t beat a pound (or even half a pound) of jerky in one sitting. Well…at least you shouldn’t. Even though it’s a good protein source, and you certainly need protein to help you make it through one more day of the “stay at home” directive with everyone else in your space. Just take my word for it. And don’t get any bright ideas about impulsively ordering a substitute junk food stash when you see the Amazon Prime truck make a delivery to your neighbor’s house, either! 🙂

p.s. Because I love you, I’m reminding you again: 16 ounces = 1 pound. This is especially applicable to homemade pound cakes. Don’t ask me how I know and have gathered valid proof…twice…without remorse…in the past few weeks. Is that lovely photo incriminating – or did the crumbs around my mouth give me away? Maybe pre-slicing made it too easy for me to nibble when passing through the kitchen? I’ll never know, since the aforementioned cakes are nothing more than a distant memory…

Hmmm, was that a pound of cure or a pound of cake? LOL

I’m estimating that every delightfully delectable buttery crumb (oh so worth it!) equals about 200 steps. Let’s call it a coping mechanism that should be used judiciously and sparingly as the apocalypse approaches…friends, I hope this made you smile as you count your blessings (and not pounds!) this week…

I’m sending love your way & praying we all stay healthy as we stay at home,
Kayren

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
(Philippians 4:5)

© Copyright 2020 by Kayren J. Cathcart