We have two grand cats, which means the family  has two cats that sometimes visit us. They are most likely to visit when we look after our granddaughters, particularly if the girls have friends over.

Leeloo (the female) and Vader (the male) are siblings who have been together from birth. Like human siblings, they can be best friends or want nothing to do with one another.

Yesterday afternoon, they wandered down for a visit. Leeloo hopped onto a blanket on the couch, where she sometimes sits beside Kathy. It’s also one of Vader’s favorite spots. He was not impressed that his sister beat him to it.

She chased him away with a few nasty ears-back looks, and a couple of bats on the head with her paw. He gave up for the moment and spent the next couple of hours trying to convince her to go somewhere else. After a while, it became apparent that she no longer wanted the spot but also didn’t want him to have it.

Eventually, he forced his way up, and they reluctantly shared it, with neither particularly happy about it. They drifted off to sleep, each trying to nudge the other off the blanket.

Now, you’d think that as human adults, we’d be more mature than a couple of house cats. Apparently not.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passionsare at war within you?You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4

The lusts of our eyes and hearts lead us to quarrels and divisions. At times, we want things just because someone else has them. We can be jealous, petty, and greedy. Even as believers, we can fall into this trap.

Fortunately, James reminds us that the Lord offers a way out.

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Luke 4:6-10

As we grow to be more like our Lord, may we be less prone to pettiness and jealousy and have less desire for the things of this world.

May we learn to be more mature and gracious than a couple of house cats.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

© 2025 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

One of my favorite breakfasts is a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza. The pizza must be leftover from the night before and eaten cold from the refrigerator, and the coffee must be fresh and hot. 

Pizza is one of those foods that is good the night before and great cold the following day. It’s probably not the healthiest breakfast in the world, but what can I say?

There are scientific reasons some foods are better the next day. One source says, “The breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars can intensify sweetness, while proteins and fats break down into savory amino acids and fatty acids, enriching umami flavors. Cooling and reheating also play a role, as they can alter the texture of the food, making it more tender and palatable.”

Some of you think my breakfast choice is “gross,” while others think it sounds like a good breakfast. You see, God doesn’t create us all alike. Each one of us is an individual, and while we might have similar likes and dislikes or similar backgrounds, no two of us are exactly alike.

It’s like snowflakes or fingerprints. Out of all the billions of people who have been born or all the innumerable who will come, no one is exactly like you or me.

God’s fine hand of craftsmanship created each of us for a different purpose. He’s given all of us a special purpose in life, a unique ministry, a contribution to be made for all eternity. None of us are here by accident. None of us is without a divine purpose.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Think about what a blessing that is. God made YOU unique because He has something that only YOU can do in mind. That means every person, young or old, rich or poor, Christian or non, has value beyond measure.

It’s ironic that we go to great lengths and travel vast distances to see the world’s treasures and wonders when the real treasures are all around us. 

The person you love is a treasure in God’s eyes. The person at work who makes you crazy has value beyond measure. The street person, the criminal, the person who you disdain because of their lifestyle or skin color, all are valuable in God’s eyes. 

When you look down on or mistreat them, you look down and mistreat the wonders of God.

Until next time, I pray God gives you the eyes to see how unique and wonderful you are and how valuable ALL the people around you are in His sight (even those who like coffee and old pizza for breakfast).

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

© 2025 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.