Provoking God

Posted by kayrencathcart

provoke (verb) – to be bitter; to rebel or resist; to disobey; to be contentious (H4784)

People test us and try our patience all the time. <moment of silence…and Amen.> 🙏🏽

And yet, we provoke God.

It wasn’t just “the folk in the Bible days.”

We – as the beings God created for unbroken fellowship with Him and to bring Him glory – do the same thing.

Why would we even?!?! 🫣

👉🏽Read today’s passage (slowly, with emphasis, and out loud in front of a mirror if you’re super-brave).

Let’s quit the foolishness. It’s time out for nonsense.⏳️

It’s time to be about our Father’s business of living and loving. I’m sure you agree that there’s more than a-plenty work to be done!

Blessings, Kayren

“6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.”

(Psalm 106:6-12)

Second Guessing

Posted by kayrencathcart

I made a couple of subtle tweaks on my blog…whatcha think?

This isn’t about people-pleasing. I’m learning about how I process multiple options (there were a lotta colors to choose from – ooh, pretty! I mean A LOT! LOL).

Sometimes I get stuck in analysis paralysis. Maybe you can relate?

I’m learning to just go with the choice I’ve selected if it’s not gonna have an earth-shattering consequence one way or another – for the sake of progress – instead of going back and undoing something…and then undoing it.

Am I the only one? I know I’m not! LOL <I see you…>

You’re welcome to drop a comment to share helpful tips you use to make a quality decision – and move forward from it…or if you can spot what I tweaked!

Blessings, Kayren

“5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

(Proverbs 3:5-8)

On Waiting and Resilience

Posted by kayrencathcart

I’m cringily recalling my recent DMV visit. ‘Nuff said.

Long line. At every location. No appointments available online – throughout the entire state.

Seriously? THIS is what we’re doing? Okay…

After getting out of long lines (or avoiding them completely) at visits during previous weeks, the rubber met the proverbial road and I had to wait in a line winding out the door and around the corner – along with everybody else trying to beat a deadline.

Three. Hour. Wait.

Outside. Sweating. Standing 97% of the time. Ugh!

I concluded that THIS very experience had to be on the spectrum of being identified with Christ’s suffering. It was a very fitting experience for #HolyWeek.

Thankfully, I survived (and God’s mercy was at work on my behalf as I made it in the door JUST before the cutoff of “the last 4 people” were taken for the day).

And my character was developed.

So was my patience. That muscle I thought had made such progress…alas, it seems there’s more room for progress!

Drop a comment if you have tips for waiting patiently…I’m all ears!

Blessings, Kayren

“5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

(II Peter 1:5-9)

Return to Sender

Posted by kayrencathcart

Individually-fitted tests just don’t work that way where you push ’em back across the table to God.

Saying, “No, thank You – I don’t care to have any of that challenge/trial/circumstance today, Lord,” doesn’t work.

Trust me, I’ve tried. I promise that it doesn’t work. 😄

Ah, the lessons we have yet to learn along this journey called life!

May we be mindful students who can pass the test, and in turn, share what we’ve learned with others. #GiftOfWisdom

After all, tests come to strengthen and establish us. #PurposeForPressure

Blessings, Kayren

“10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be].
11 To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen.”
(I Peter 5:10-11, AMP)

Redacted

Posted by kayrencathcart

redact (verb) – to edit text for publication;
to censor or obscure (part of a text) for legal or security purposes

Honestly, the term “redacted” kinda freaked me out. Even after asking a colleague, I didn’t fully comprehend what it meant until I looked it up.

Then I began to understand how the blood of Jesus covers my sin so that it’s no longer seen by other parties.

It may historically be part of the document (my past) – but it cannot be seen.

And in that case, it cannot be held against me. Hallelujah – what GOOD NEWS!

Now to apply this same concept when forgiving others…we have our work cut out for us, don’t we?

But we have a Helper with power, so we’re not alone as we walk this journey. MORE good news!

Blessings, Kayren

“Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”

(Psalm 51:9)

“Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.”

(Psalm 85:2)

We Are Risen With Christ

Posted by kayrencathcart

May we continue to seek Jesus! #HolyWeek

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

(Isaiah 55:6)

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

(Jeremiah 29:13)

“7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

(Matthew 7:7-8)

Blessings, Kayren

“5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

(Matthew 28:5-6)

Life After Death

Posted by kayrencathcart

Today, I say yes to ME! — *I choose LIFE when I choose Jesus…*

We all have a choice…therefore, choose LIFE!

When we choose Christ, we choose well. He is ALL that we need…

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

(John 14:6)

Don’t we love having the answer key before taking the test? #HolyWeek

There’s nothing like an Old Testament reminder of Jesus’ fulfillment of the law in the New Testament!

Grateful for His sacrifice, Kayren

“19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

(Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Let HIM Change You

Posted by kayrencathcart

Truly knowing Christ will change you forever…

The power of lasting transformation lies within the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For too long, I’ve looked at change from the standpoint of my own personal strength, which is limited and finite. Willpower and desire are great, but they can’t sustain and maintain change.

The correct perspective is from HIS. #HolyWeek

May we continue to seek to truly know Him…and experience the extravagant love that took Him all the way to the cross – for us.

Blessings, Kayren

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

(Philippians 3:10)

Is Half-Done Good Enough?

Posted by kayrencathcart

I took an adventuresome foray into some frozen food after a quick grocery store trip (no, the “fun food” items that ended up in my buggy were NOT on my list).

It was a $7 experiment that was cheaper than a restaurant visit and satisfied my taste buds for a dish I’d never tried before.

I wondered if I should turn them over midway through. The directions didn’t specify. I chose to flip them halfway and of course I tasted a tiny nibble first.

But even after they fully cooked, I ended up tossing them – they just weren’t that good.

I’m grateful that Jesus completed His work on the cross for our sake and didn’t stop halfway through.

I need the fullness of ALL that His salvation covers! #HolyWeek

Half-done is never good enough when fully-baked is what’s required…

Blessings, Kayren

“37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

(Matthew 26:37-39)

What Do You Hear – and Heed?

Posted by kayrencathcart

Meek and quiet spirit — spiritual bling…is there such a thing?
my sparkly li’l heart says YES…

And what do you have?

It is good to consider the answer to these questions from God’s perspective (and not just from our own).

This passage was a timely reminder to watch the standard by which we measure.

A teachable heart is humble, willing to listen to wisdom, and in a position to learn.

This is the posture we should desire to take on as we draw nigh to the Savior of our souls.

I’m excited to hear His voice as He speaks to us and adorns us through His Word. #HolyWeek

Blessings, Kayren

“23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”

(Mark 4:23-25, KJV)

“23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”

24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides.

25 For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”

(Mark 4:23-25, AMP)

Kayren Cathcart's Blog

Observations on daily life and inspiration for spiritual growth…

transformation

Provoking God

Second Guessing

On Waiting and Resilience

Return to Sender

Redacted

We Are Risen With Christ

Life After Death

Let HIM Change You

Is Half-Done Good Enough?

What Do You Hear – and Heed?