Spring Cleaning of the Soul: Release the Garbage

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Listen to this episode of my podcast:
https://anchor.fm/kayren-cathcart/episodes/Spring-Cleaning-of-the-Soul-Release-the-Garbage-euct01

As I sat on the porch waiting for my lunch to finish cooking, I marvelled in the beauty of this splendiferous sunny Spring afternoon. I soaked up the rays amidst the natural wonder of warbling birds, flitting butterflies, and a mischievous chameleon stealthily navigating the shrubs. Out of nowhere, the garbage collector noisily rumbled down the street…and then went away as the sound faded in the distance. As quickly as the truck appeared, it dumped the container’s contents into its massive jaws and vanished down the street. Then it ambled around another corner to collect from the other side of the street.
I waved to the driver in appreciation for the consistent service of keeping our community clean and safe. Yet, I was struck by the fact that I saw no one running down the street behind the garbage truck saying, “Hey, I put my old rubbish and refuse in there for you to haul it away, but I’ve had a change of heart…stop and gimme back my stuff!”
If that’s the case in the natural, why don’t we let the garbage collector haul away our old thoughts, habits, emotions, hurt feelings, and inaccurate beliefs that no longer serve us in our current space & place? Why do we insist upon tightly clutching what can only be accurately labeled as TRASH?! Prayerfully consider what “Spring Cleaning of the Soul” would be to your benefit this week – and then, release the garbage. You’ll find yourself in a better position to allow God to fill that new space with HIS goodness…

“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)

“4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
(Revelation 21:4-5)

Vitamins + Cookies

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Kayren-Tine Comic Strip 02.18.2021

This one needs no introduction…just share in the comments if you’ve ever reasoned using a pattern like this before! LOL

It’s like starting the day off riding the indoor bike because it’s too rainy to walk outside, and then advancing to a healthy breakfast…only to end up with ice cream at bedtime (for example…so I’ve been told…by someone else – ha ha!). Almost cancels out the positive effect of the exercise, eh?

Sometimes we try to justify our nonsense when we truly know better. How many times do we get caught up in foolishness, only to find ourselves at the feet of a loving Savior who is ready to forgive us once again? Oh, what grace, love, and mercy!

May we extend the same to others…(and ourselves, too)…

“10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
(John 8:10-11)

Home Cookin’ in Quarantine

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Kayren-Tine Comic Strip 02.11.2021

When I wrote about An Ounce of Prevention 10 months ago, I didn’t imagine that the act of baking could be so hazardous to my hips! LOL

Nevertheless, as quarantine continues (and many more homemade lemon-glazed sour cream pound cakes later than I care to admit), I find myself challenged to increase my physical activity and decrease my caloric intake…how about you? Apparently, creating domestic culinary adventures (1. Without leaving my home, PLUS 2. Keeping a minimum of 2 sticks of butter on hand – in the vegetable drawer, no less…for SHAME! <gasp!>) can become a cumulative experience. Who knew?! Oh, I knew…

I’m thankful to have a couple of neighbors who literally keep me “on my toes” – texting me regularly to make sure I lace up my tennis shoes a few times a week and hit the pavement for some cardio. Accountability counts…stay encouraged and stay connected, my friends – we have MUCH to be grateful for! Love is all around – and not just in the Valentine’s season…call someone today and make their day. You just might save them from that extra bite of pound cake they were wrestling with…or they may offer to share with you!

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
(Proverbs 17:17)

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
(Proverbs 18:24)

Late in the Midnight Hour…

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PP Late in the Midnight Hour

…God’s gonna turn it around…if ya know the song, then sing along!

Even after putting 2 potential slots for an outdoors walk on my calendar, it still didn’t happen amidst 5 back-to-back conference calls – ugh, talk about a sedentary day! As I wearily powered down my laptop at 11:30pm, I repented in my heart for not getting my physical exercise in for the day and silently made an “air promise” to get it in tomorrow. As I approached the shower, I realized, “I have absolutely NO excuse not to do SOMETHING for my physical well-being today!”

So I marched to the closet, threw on some workout clothes, laced up my tennis shoes, refilled my water bottle, and headed over to vigorously attack the stationary bike that my wonderfully visionary hubby procured months ago to facilitate perpetual pandemic home workouts. Not sure why I thought I might wake my children, but the cackling I heard from their respective rooms confirmed that they are truly teenagers. Armed with my earbuds and favorite playlist, I purposed to do at least 20 minutes…and I surpassed that goal. Honestly, as someone who’s done MULTIPLE weight loss programs over the years, I admit I’m often hesitant to set goals (let alone share them) – so this is kinda a big deal for me. Celebrate my glamorous midnight sweaty = healthy glow look with me! LOL

Inspired and invigorated, I thought about posting this “later” – but later usually doesn’t come when competing with (and crowded out by) all the other items on our to-do lists, right? So I’m doing my cool down/stretch as I write. Now I’ve earned my shower (and burned off a couple of cookies that may have found their way across my lips in the past 24 hours…gotta pay to play, right?) ha ha…

In 2021, I’m deliberately and intentionally choosing OBEDIENCE – one decision at a time. What’s your testimony in this freshness of this new year, full of unlimited possibilities? What imprisoning bands will be loosed by your prayers, praises, and obedience? I invite you to share in the comments below…

“25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

(Acts 16:25-26)

TT: Taking Inventory, Measuring Growth (12/24/2016)

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Wow – it’s the last Throwback Thursday of 2020 and the New Year is so close we can almost taste it! Thanks for waltzing down Memory Lane as I shared December posts from previous years. Praying blessings for you and yours, Kayren on 12/31/2020

Taking Inventory, Measuring Growth

What a full year it’s been; I have MUCH to be thankful for – and I’m sure you do, too! The “Watch Me Grow” chart with the giraffe comes to mind – you know, the one where a parent measures how tall their child is growing every so often? It felt like God kept His spiritual measuring stick handy for me in 2016, but thinking back over the year, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every step of the journey was preparation for what is yet to come.

In retrospect, God has kept my family through one transition after another, and I am grateful. One of the most significant adjustments was the mid-year 180⁰ career change of my spouse. Prior to that, God sustained us during a stint when my hardworking hubby endured a 3^rd Shift role with valiant strength and dogged determination that ministered volumes to our family and friends alike. Both children are in middle school and are successfully navigating those potentially turbulent waters with the God’s grace, parental patience, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance and protection. Were things perfect in my family this year? By no means – but I am a witness that consistently-applied discipline DOES indeed bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness!

I’ve put a renewed focus on my personal role within the ministry of marriage as we celebrated our “Sweet 16 Wedding Anniversary” for an entire month. As I committed to make my 40^th year on the planet fabulous every day (and it has a wonderful celebration filled with glitter, laughter, tears, and joy!), I learned that a sign of true maturity is to admit the things I don’t know (and to be okay with it) – this was a liberating epiphany (especially since I consider myself to be a planner extraordinaire)! I’ve learned to embrace where I am at this specific point in time instead of allowing dissatisfaction to propel me to attempt to achieve some unrealistic and elusive goal that was never mine to begin with.

We’ve mended bridges with family members and friends, realizing that time really does heal all wounds, even though it doesn’t change the past. I’ve learned to extend forgiveness proportional to the amount of times I need to ask for it.

I’ve diligently worked on holding my tongue so I don’t respond before thinking (as much…trust me, this is progress for someone with my DNA – LOL). I’m doing this not through clenched and gritted teeth to “finally take that vow of silence I’ve been threatening forever” (but been woefully unable to make good on – it’s in the genes; what can I say?!). Now, this refined behavior comes from a primary desire to please God and to allow the fruit of the Spirit to be manifested in every facet of my life.

Sometimes we can’t see how much we’ve grown because it’s like waiting for a flower to bloom 5 minutes after we dropped the seed into the dirt – or more accurately, it’s like watching paint dry. We’re too close to the action to be able to fully absorb the progress. Yet, by stepping back with objective observation through a time lapse lens, we notice the flower unfurl, the seed begin to sprout and bring forth abundance, and our personal growth and development come forth according to God’s Word. I encourage you to take inventory of your own growth over this past year – you may be surprised to see that, though you’re not where you intend to be, you’ve far surpassed your starting point…and this, my friend, is indeed praiseworthy!

Join me in looking ahead to a new year full of promise and potential with joyful anticipation…God’s best is yet to come!

“20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”
(Lamentations 3:20-26)

TTT: Stop NOW! Time is of the essence… (12/20/2007)

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It’s Terrific Thankful Tuesday! Reflecting with gratitude and revving up for 2021…Blessings to you, Kayren on 12/8/2020

Stop NOW! Time is of the essence…

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,

when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

(Acts 3:18-20)

Have you ever scheduled an activity, only to find that the time to do it never comes? Do you often plan to do things and realize (maybe weeks later) that the time to accomplish them never presented itself? If you can relate, it’s quite possible you need to take a moment to stop and evaluate where your energy is going. Where is your focus? If it’s all over the place, that could be an indicator that you need to try a different approach.

Now contrast this with a stoplight turning red – what does that signal (or indicator) mean? It means: STOP NOW! If you put it off until later – it might be too late. It is actually hazardous (to your health and the health of others) not to stop when you see the signal is already red – or better yet, if you see the warning of the yellow caution light telling you to slow down and PREPARE to stop.

A friend recently e-mailed me, reminding me to take time to refuel, reconnect, and REST. I appreciated her concern for me as I wondered incredulously, “Exactly WHEN would I find the time to do this?!?” Truth be told, she e-mailed me on 12/12/07, but I’m just now getting this message posted on 12/20/07 – see how it happens? Time drifts away from us when we don’t actively manage it. Let’s commit to actively managing our time in 2008 instead of passively allowing time to dictate to us what our schedules will be…a novel concept, wouldn’t you agree?

The times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. If you’re too busy to spend time with Him to get clarity and direction for your life, then guess what? You’re just too busy. Stop NOW! Refocus. Reprioritize. Rest in Him. As we take time at the end of the year to reflect, we can also use this time to reprioritize based on what’s really important. The Holy Spirit is here to help us and guide us as we commit to aligning with God’s Word.

Abundant blessings as you tie up those loose ends and approach the conclusion of 2007

TT: Go Forth in Obedience (12/26/2006)

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I’m gifting encouragement all month long! Enjoy a waltz down Memory Lane as I share December posts from previous years on Terrific Thankful Tuesdays and Throwback Thursdays! Reflecting with gratitude and revving up for 2021…Blessings to you, Kayren

Go Forth in Obedience to Obtain God’s Promises in 2007

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

(Hebrews 10:36)

“Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.

These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the house of Israel.”

(Exodus 19:5-6)

A few of Webster’s definitions for the action word “go” include: to proceed; to move or start to move; to engage in a specified activity; to function; to become; to enjoy participating in or partaking of; to happen; to succeed.

I am ready to GO, Lord! I’ve waited patiently ALL year long. So where is this promise, God? Oh – I glossed over the “after you have done the will of God” part of Hebrews 10:36? Oops! Help me to be obedient to your voice, Lord!

If you’ve felt like you were running in place with God’s hand holding onto your shirt collar or your shoulders – get ready! He’s about to release you in the greatness of His glory – and when you go forth, you’ll be like a rocket taking off with so much energy, drive, dynamism, and power that He’ll sit back watching you while saying, “Look at My child go!” For Him to entrust His authority to us, we must prepare and plan to participate in the process as yielded vessels who have no problems saying, “Yes Lord, according to Your will be it unto me.”

In order to prepare to go forth in His fullness, we must remember these essential components of obedience:

1. Make a decision to obey Him – it starts in the mind!

2. Commit to discipline ourselves – our flesh must be subject to His Holy Spirit!

3. Demonstrate determination and bring forth good fruit – we must persistently pursue His purpose for our lives exhibit

We want the promises He has for us in 2007 – are we willing to pay the price?

Obedience at ANY cost is what the Master requires of each of us…

TTT: This Time It’s Different… (12/7/2009)

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Today, I was obedient. This is a milestone. Not because I was obedient, but because of the timeframe in which I responded to God’s gentle nudging – it was immediate. The task was simple, something I like to do, and something I am good at. However, I’ve postponed, delayed, and procrastinated (however you choose to classify it) for more times than I care to admit. This time, I didn’t use the excuse that instantly popped into my head. I ignored the list of other things I mulled doing with that 5 minutes. I didn’t get stuck pondering the “what ifs” as that so often taunt me. “What if it’s not perfect the first time? What will I follow up this topic with? What if I start and then run out of content? What if no one reads it?”

Instead, I took a deep breath and consciously thought, “What’s the consequence if I don’t do this now?” My inner response was, “More of the same. And direct opposition to the will of God because of blatant rebellion.” Ouch! I cannot afford that. I’m tired of the results my current actions (or lack thereof) are creating. And who in their right mind wants to oppose the King of the Universe? Exactly. That’s not a smart move at all.

So as much as I’ve agonized with inner turmoil and angst about writing, I took to the keyboard and began this message instead of letting the words roll around in my head like a one-sided conversation that no one else would ever hear. In the past, I’ve made a mountain out of a molehill and dragged a 5-minute activity out to weeks (okay, I’ll admit even months and years) in duration. I could give plenty of attempted justifications, but – simply put – it all boils down to disobedience. Over time, you may be glad I chose to be an obedient vessel. I know I am.

This time it’s different. No more “hit or miss” with the things of God. It’s time out for foolishness. We ALL have to get serious about obeying His voice when we hear Him speak to us with direction, correction, or instruction. It’s no longer optional – it’s mandatory. It’s a new day…embrace it, live it, obediently walk in it.

“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)

My Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Truly You have blown my mind today, Lord, as I feel the fog lifted and I’m able to hear You clearly. And to think – all I had to do was obey. That’s what You were waiting for. I hear You.

Finding Grace at the Bonfire

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Just as tears and rain are cleansing, so is fire. This morning’s sermon caught me in a place where I immediately repented. I felt the need to take an intentional action to signify my new start as I (once again) hit the reset button on walking in obedience.

I had to wait my turn for the fire pit/altar on my back porch. It seemed that I wasn’t the only one who needed God to consume some stuff that had been accumulating for too long. My wonderful hubby decreed and declared that we’re moving to paperless billing as he vigorously purged old home office files.

I watched as the stacks of papers he’d put in the fire pit curled up in the flames and turned to ash. Then I tossed my own papers (actually, cardboard toilet paper centers – fitting, eh? – on which I’d written my confessions that I was symbolically sacrificing to the Lord) into the fire. In moments, they were utterly consumed, no longer existing in their previous form. Later that evening, as the fire was still burning, it began to rain. More cleansing. More gratitude.

I am thankful that God heard my prayer, received my repentance, and forgave me with His abundant grace, mercy, and love. Because of the Blood of Jesus, my sins are covered; like the papers in the fire, they have been obliterated. I am so humbled that God wipes the slate clean and offers a fresh start when we come to Him acknowledging our sins and shortcomings!

Friend, what do YOU need to place on the Lord’s altar for Him to consume so it’s not unnecessary baggage dragged into 2021? We don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve…we can approach his throne boldly and with confidence today! Try it…you’ll probably feel lighter afterwards. I did!

“15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.

16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”

(Hebrews 4:15-16, AMP)

“28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

(Hebrews 12:28-29, KJV)

Getting Away With Murder?

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It’s a really graphic turn of words, but I vividly remember my mom and grandma using it (with tongue-clucking punctuation) to reference unruly chill’uns who were “ackin’ up” and not getting proper or timely discipline for their foolish shenanigans…
(This is Part Two…read Part One of my own foolish shenanigans here)

Perhaps I’ve watched one too many episodes of Cold Case on non-cable antenna TV during this quarantine time (highly likely…along with The Closer, In Plain Sight, Unforgettable, and the iconic classic Perry Mason for my whodunit crime drama fixes throughout the week…because I finished watching all 5 free seasons of Leverage last year), but nobody ever really gets away with murder – literally or figuratively. In the end – even if it’s decades later – the truth comes out.

Confession: So I’ve been inching towards the edge in my eating habits. Like seeing how close I could get to the electric fence without getting zapped. And you know what? It took putting on a dress (withOUT an elastic waistband) to celebrate at my hubby’s recent birthday dinner to show me how the coronapounds have crept (or leapt) upon me. I left 2 inches of back zipper undone and topped my outfit choice with a snazzy sweater to camouflage my transgressive over-eating and under-exercising ways – et voilà! But that didn’t change the fact that the little munchies here and the grazing during endless conference calls there had caught up with me…and were demanding my attention. ZAP!

It took reading my own response to a friend who asked me to check out her recent blog post to bring me out of my delusional, self-deceived reverie of “oh, it’s OK…I’ve just picked up a couple of pounds.” Straight truth, no chaser with a side of full disclosure? No Kayren, you lost over 20 pounds last year…and they all seem to have found you – and brought a few extra friends who wanted to tag along. Whatcha gonna do now?

I encouraged my friend via text tonight – and was immediately convicted:
Don’t ever second-guess what the Holy Spirit has led you to do; it’s NEVER about man’s approval, affirmation, or even acknowledgment. Let God use your work to minister to each reader the way He needs to; all is in HIS capable hands as THE Author. It is posted and published, and HE is doing the work in your readers. Keep moving forward in Him because He has so much more to pour through your available vessel. No looking back! Let it go and move ON!

So why wasn’t I treating myself with the same grace? Why the double standard? Simply put, I’d gotten off-track – thinking I was getting away when I was squarely in His crosshairs, and He was lovingly waiting for me to come into His presence for much-needed recalibration and adjustment.

My prayer: Here I am, Lord…repenting…once again. Thank You for your mercy, cleansing, and patience. You are a loving Heavenly Father to Your children, and I am grateful to be called Your daughter. I present myself for You to continue molding and shaping me into the image of Your Dear Son. Amen.

“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord:
and be sure your sin will find you out.”
(Numbers 32:23)

“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”
(Psalm 145:8)

“2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed;
neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
(Luke 12:2-3)

Kayren Cathcart's Blog

Observations on daily life and inspiration for spiritual growth…

obedience

Spring Cleaning of the Soul: Release the Garbage

Vitamins + Cookies

Home Cookin’ in Quarantine

Late in the Midnight Hour…

TT: Taking Inventory, Measuring Growth (12/24/2016)

TTT: Stop NOW! Time is of the essence… (12/20/2007)

TT: Go Forth in Obedience (12/26/2006)

TTT: This Time It’s Different… (12/7/2009)

Finding Grace at the Bonfire

Getting Away With Murder?