Have you become unrecognizable as a new creature in Christ?🦋
You know how the smartphone lockscreen has the facial recognition feature?
Well, mine recently said, “Face doesn’t match” – like who else is gonna be logging into my phone but me? 👀😬😘😵💫 (don’t get me started on hackers…#Rude&Inconsiderate😡)
But it reminded me how we’re new creatures in Christ – old things are passed away.
So maybe that face shouldn’t match anymore after all…#NewIdentity
Blessings as we learn who we REALLY are in Christ, Kayren
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
The harvest cycle takes time…so be patient in the process.
Someone I met while riding public transportation in 2009 reached out to me this week through my website – it was an unexpectedly delightful surprise. She said that she still had an autographed copy (of my first published book) and that she thought of me from time to time, even as she had moved from my local area in 2014 and was now retired.
Getting this “blast from the past” email from a sister in Christ (whom I met during a particularly challenging season of my life) truly brightened my day, reminding me that we never know the impact we’ll have on someone – just by being ourselves and allowing the light of Christ to shine through us.
God is the One Who causes a seed planted to grow – in HIS time, and in due season.
Are we being diligent to plant and water so HE can give the increase as He sees fit?
Blessings to my fellow seed planters, Kayren 🌱
“6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (I Corinthians 3:6-9)
We can’t afford to drive an entire trip while looking in the rear-view mirror. At what point do we choose to focus on what’s ahead? (hint: NOW is a good time!)
In terms of obedience:
My “yes” to God is still required today – even if (& especially when) I said “yes” yesterday.
When I rest on yesterday’s yes, I am deliberately choosing to stunt my own growth.
Why?
Because before I know it, I’m facing compromise, complacency, or comfort – and all of these can slow the progress of growth and maturity.
Today’s yes unlocks my next blessing – because it lays a part of the foundation I’ll need in place if I’m building something that lasts, stands the test of time, and holds up in the midst of a storm.
Blessings as we choose to continue building wisely, Kayren
“24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
What does Pink Panther have to do with Father’s Day for this eldest daughter of a Girl Dad?
When I was a child and Saturday morning cartoons were the jam (we didn’t have cable – gasp! I turned out fine…), my dad used to chuckle amusedly at the Coyote and the Roadrunner (on the ORIGINAL Looney Tunes).
I was annoyed whenever they’d cut away from Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck – because for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why there was no dialogue between the characters! Add to that the Coyote’s unfortunately risk-prone leaning to ridiculous predicaments…I never understood why he kept trying the same nonsense – to no avail.
Now that I’m older and wiser, I find myself hollerin’ with laughter at the irony, sarcasm, hubris, and double entendre baked into these wordless cartoons.
In some life situations, no words are required and one look says it all.
I finally get it. And now I find myself appreciating the beauty of a classic…#FullCircleMoment #DaddyWasRight
With honor for the mighty men of valor in my life, Kayren💞
“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”
(Proverbs 17:6, KJV)
“Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].”
It doesn’t always require a vacation…Small adjustments can yield big results…
After mindlessly carb-grazing past the clear cake dome of devil’s food cake and plastic container of croissants, I realized that I needed to tamp down my visual triggers…and quick! 🥐
Cuz if I see it, I’m usually nibbling within 10 seconds. 👀 Call it an endearing foible…or a weakness – your choice.🙄
So I moved the cake from the easily accessible corner of the counter. It may seem insignificant, but it was like a landmine when I’d go refill my water, like, “Yes, cake IS perfectly acceptable this close after breakfast…and again this close before bedtime.” 🫣😆
Um no.🚫 I rebuked myself, made the adjustment (2 croissants and 4 buttery fingers later), and went to brush my teeth.
Drop a comment and share how you’ll change your scenery today.
It’s definitely a judgment-free zone – because people who live in glass houses can’t afford to throw stones…and people with crumbs around their lips shouldn’t be quick to criticize! 😉😏😜😂
Blessings, Kayren
“The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.”
Bewilderment addressed through God’s Word = reassuring.
Joy baked into the process.
Joy experienced = fulfilling.
Jesus is our example of unconditional love – a requirement for successfully completing our assignment as mothers.🌟
Some days, we do better than others, but our goal must always be to partner with Him in the process, and to never think we’re able to unplug or disconnect from the Source and do it on our own. 🎁
Because we can’t. It wasn’t designed for us to be able to do it on our own.
Being a godly mother is a BIG job.💪🏽 With more than 2 decades of momming under my belt, I can say it’s one of the most significant jobs I’ve ever undertaken. When we show up in His presence daily for fellowship, refreshing, refilling, and guidance, He equips us with exactly what we need – a measure of HIS love.😇💓
Blessings to all who take on the BIG job of momming – and to those who are honoring mothers today…and EVERY day, Kayren 💞
“1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I’ve been studying Daniel 6; it’s full of intriguing lessons. 🦁 Since errybody is going through something, it becomes a matter of HOW we endure that distinguishes us.
While we don’t have a lion’s eye account 👀 of what happened throughout that night, I can imagine that Brother Daniel made an intentional decision, “Well, I’m here in the lions’ den; I know God’s faithful character and that He changes not, so Imma chill out, and continue to trust God.”
Perhaps he even purposed in his heart to enjoy the journey.
I’m not sure if it was quiet or if the lions roared a lot, but apparently they were famished since they DEVOURED Daniel’s accusers the next day (AND their family members…exactly how many lions were there crunching up the bones of all them folk after one li’l ol’ vegetarian Daniel sat with them all night?)…🤣
However, I digress… 😂
Daniel’s choice to stay calm and trust God in the midst of an overnight stay at the Lions’ Arms Inn likely set the atmosphere for and contributed to his safe deliverance by God’s awesome power (the lions didn’t smell fear on him).
Take me, for instance – when I’m in a jam and fear arises, I’m plottin’ and schemin’ how to get out (by my own <limited, finite> power…if fear is telling me I can speed things up apart from the divine timetable…hey, I didn’t say it made sense).
Building a makeshift ladder would’ve been noisy (and who brings tools with ‘em when being thrown into a lion’s den – besides a very prepared Boy Scout!)? Trying to dig his way out would’ve called more attention to himself. So it kinda behooved Daniel to wait on and trust IN the Lord.
👉🏽After all, there was an appointed time for his deliverance AND God was glorified in the outcome.
Daniel was surrounded by what appeared to be a problem (lions – likely hungry)…but GOD made it a non-issue for him! Since our God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), I believe He can do the same for us today.
So what is our issue with waiting patiently on the Lord? #HolyWeek #PalmSunday
Blessings, Kayren 💓
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”
(Daniel 6:16)
“25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
If trying to juggle what’s on your plate is getting overwhelming…maybe there’s too much on the plate.
I’m working on this myself…
“33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
I was so excited to see this single rose blooming in my yard this week (yes, it’s Autumn) that I squealed with glee!
On many occasions, the rosebush looks dry, dormant, and DEAD. Yet, the roses that emerge (on on their own schedule, might I add) never cease to amaze me. This rosebush has survived a summer of sustained, sweltering Southern heat. It has prevailed through hurricane force winds and soaking torrents.
Nevertheless, it continues to bloom and flourish – in spite of its environment and circumstances. As a matter of fact, this natural work of artistic wonder is surrounded by dead-looking, withered blooms and spiky thorns.
In its appointed time, each rose that is embedded in the DNA of that rosebush comes forth as the beautiful creation it was intended and designed to be.
What do YOU see? Perhaps there’s a hidden rose just waiting to be discovered, cultivated, nurtured, appreciated…around you, or even in you…
It’s a matter of perspective…and patience.⏳ Open your eyes 👀 and bloom on, my friend!🌹
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
Kayren Cathcart's Blog 