Between It’s Coming and It’s Here

❄️I’m talking about a snow forecast, but also a blessing forecast. Bridging the chasm between faith and receiving the promise.

👉🏽How many times do we question whether God’s gonna do what He said?

Just me? 🤔

Maybe – but I doubt it.

Seriously…we know that’s not productive thinking because He fulfills His promises. Our issue as humans may be with His timing.

The more I study God’s Word, the more I see His pattern incorporates patience, cycles, and generations. That requires TIME. And often WAITING.

After all, He IS in control…

Pray with me:

Teach us Lord to wait patiently on You for the fulfillment of Your divine plan. Let us not be agitated or anxious as You prepare all things to work out for our good. Amen.

Blessings, Kayren

“1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”
(Psalm 40:1-2, KJV)

“6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
(Philippians 4:6-7, MSG)

Face Doesn’t Match

Posted by kayrencathcart

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)

Full Circle

Posted by kayrencathcart

Serve others — *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)

Pressure vs. Stress

Posted by kayrencathcart

Drop the oversized load, pressure, weight

Is there a difference? One is a response…

I recently decided that I don’t have to be stressed just because I find myself in a situation with increasing pressure. I’m learning to choose more wisely how I expend my emotional and spiritual capital.

God’s Word is applicable in high-pressure situations. His Word contains numerous examples of people who overcame intense pressure without succumbing to stress. I encourage you to study some of their character profiles for encouragement.

When faced with the pressure that inevitably accompanies being a resident of this planet, may we rely on His infinite strength instead of our own finite strength.

I’m a witness that His outcome is exponentially more favorable than any of my contrivances.

Blessings, Kayren

“11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

(Philippians 4:11-13, KJV)

“11 Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.

12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.

13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

(Philippians 4:11-13, AMP)

Ignoring It Does NOT Fix the Problem

Posted by kayrencathcart

There’s no time like the present…to address the real issue.

I’d been putting off a call to the Help Desk for weeks. My reasoning? That I didn’t have time to do it then.

Weeks later when I needed to meet a deadline…you already know how the story goes.

I logged on, all set to copy/paste/upload 200+ questions into the online portal and BAM! I didn’t have access. SAY WHAT?!?!

I finally got focused enough to be in deep work mode (is that even a thing for a creative? I dunno; it sounded good! LOL) and now this roadblock PLUS undue pressure.

But I could’ve sidestepped this last-minute drama by just dealing with the issue when it first presented itself. Selah.

Let’s not put off until tomorrow what we can do today.

Blessings, Kayren

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

(John 9:4)

In Capable Hands

Posted by kayrencathcart

We can all relate to messy tech issues at the most inopportune moments…

The Administrator has taken over! He started clicking into screens I’d never seen.

Probably because I didn’t have the proper level of access…Selah.

Sometimes it can be a bit disconcerting when someone takes control of your computer to fix what’s broken. But there’s also a sense of relief that an expert has got your issues covered, and whatever you called the Help Desk for is gonna be fixed.

God is better than ANY man-made Help Desk!

Plus, He knows the operating system inside and out.

Aren’t you grateful? #Faithful&True #Trustworthy #Dependable

Blessings, Kayren

“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

(Psalm 9:10)

“5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”

(Psalm 37:5, 40)

The Leadership Lesson

Posted by kayrencathcart

In process and in progress — *Learning when your tests & trials aren’t just for you…*

The tempering. Pulverization. Incessant pressure. Repetitive knocks. All leading to and culminating in ultimate restoration.

I hadn’t thought about the challenges of my current season as being part of leadership training. Until now.

But it all makes sense.

The greatest among us must serve.

And a true servant leader has a tender heart after experiencing what they walk others through – because they’re already familiar with the path.

They know the sting of rejection. The frustration of being misunderstood. The loneliness of isolation. The two-sided coin of forgiveness and redemption.

And they don’t despise any part of the lesson, because they understand that it’s all part of the process of being made.

May we continue to endure each lesson until we become leaders who accurately reflect the image of our primary example of selfless servant leadership – Jesus Christ.

In progress & in process, Kayren

“24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”

(Luke 22:24-27)

Love: An Action & A Choice

Posted by kayrencathcart

Sacrifice required.

Sacrifice applied = rewarding.

Bewilderment inevitable.

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.”

(Hebrews 12:1-2)

In the Face of Lions

Posted by kayrencathcart

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.”

(Daniel 6:25-27)

Lessons in Resilience

Posted by kayrencathcart

The spiderweb in my shower was nearly imperceptible.

And fully unexpected. I’d just cleaned the bathroom a few days ago.

But the angle of sunlight streaming in illuminated tiny droplets hanging onto the faintest wisp of a web in a corner I must’ve skipped (or chosen not to reach).🤔😉

I threw some water on the web. Several times.

It barely budged.

May we be that resilient in the face of opposition that intends to take us out.

Blessings, Kayren

“10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Kayren Cathcart's Blog

Observations on daily life and inspiration for spiritual growth…

peace

Between It’s Coming and It’s Here

Face Doesn’t Match

Full Circle

Pressure vs. Stress

Ignoring It Does NOT Fix the Problem

In Capable Hands

The Leadership Lesson

Love: An Action & A Choice

In the Face of Lions

Lessons in Resilience