Friday Matters

Everyday Right Relationship

“What’s wrong with me?” Sometimes that’s what goes through my mind when I just can’t seem to stop thinking negatively or I rehearse what I should’ve done differently (like not opening my big mouth). Yes, I’m a sinner but God tells us that we’re all sinners in Romans 3:23. We all fall short of the glory of God. But watch out cuz Satan wants us to feel worthless. He knows that without confidence we’ll never step out in faith. He knows if he can keep us in the prison of self-hatred, self-rejection or plain not liking ourselves that he’ll prevent us from making progress plus we’ll be a threat to him!

We must believe we’ve been made righteous in God’s sight before we’ll behave rightly. We can’t produce the fruit of something when no seed has been sown. Think about it; Jesus is the Righteous Seed sown in death and resurrected in power so that means we are accepted and approved and the righteousness of God-yes, we’re in a right relationship with God by Christ’s GOODNESS…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday New Creation

Here’s the deal of God’s good news from 2 Corinthians 5:17; " If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” However, that doesn’t mean our flesh isn’t at times screaming for what we found pleasurable in our old life. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit, Who lives in us at the time we receive Christ, can we truly let the past be the past.

It’s not what we do, but what God does in and through us that sets us free. Our “do” is our choice to listen to His voice and His Word. James 4:4 tells us that if we choose to be a friend of the world, we take our stand as an enemy of God. Wow, that’s a truth statement. We may profess to be a Christian, but are we really “saved” when we choose to follow what the world has approved but God calls sin? Christ in us knows the way for us to walk. We still struggle with sin, but it’s important that we acknowledge sin as sin and then confess, change direction, and allow God to restore us…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Marriage Bumps

I’ve been helping a couple through some difficult times in their marriage, and I’m so encouraged by their willingness to focus on Christ while looking at what they need to do as individuals for a healthy marriage.

Hannah wrote saying, “In working on our marriage Ryan and I are finally realizing that we need to look through the eyes of Jesus when we’re angry and frustrated because when anger takes over, we get lost and caught up in our own individual "rights." We lost sight of the goal which is to have a restored marriage. It’s so hard to let go of the offense and hurt but in the end, we know that’s what real forgiveness is all about. Please pray that I’ll continue to honor my husband and stay focused on Jesus. My prayer is from Philippians 2:2 asking God to give them the grace and strength to agree wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose for a great marriage…everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Flea Market Patience

As I stood in a hut, waiting in a crammed line to buy a necklace from a flea market vendor, I decided to pray for the artist rather than sigh with exasperated impatience. I thought; "Being patient isn't so much about the amount of time I wait but more about my attitude while I wait." Besides this was another opportunity for me to develop my fruits of the spirit and the fruit of patience is far from being ripe. When it was finally my turn at the counter the artist's mother who was helping said, "I've been watching you wait in line, and you weren’t impatient by all that was around you. There’s something different about you. You have peace."

It's not always what we say but how we behave that makes an impact. And it’s not always easy but from 1 John 4:16 we can rely on God’s love for help. Because when we live in God, He lives in us…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Test Training

Sometimes don’t you feel like you’ve been wandering in the wilderness for an awful long time and it’s high time things should start looking brighter? I’ve been there. And what helps me is to understand that the trials I’m facing are like tests given in a course that God has allowed to prepare me for my future. The class in the wilderness is not easy but knowing that God had to first approve what’s happening to me and it’s also no surprise to Him, helps me to understand the scriptures which say; “He who began a good work in you will complete it so rejoice in your trials because they’ll produce character which will bring you hope.”

God permits Satan to contest the believer. We’re given these tests to train us so that by Isaiah 45:3 we will be given treasures hidden in the darkness. But let’s remember the rest of the verse; “He will do this so we may know that He’s the Lord, the One who calls us by name…everyday.”

Friday Matters

Everyday Forgiving Family

One of the most difficult things to do is to forgive a family member who has hurt us. We want to make them understand how much they’ve hurt us and then we want them to ask for forgiveness and change their behavior. Yes, I’ve been there. But as I was talking to God about this, I came across 1 Peter 3:9 and it really spoke to my hurting heart. God laid out for me what I needed to do.

“Never return evil for evil or insult for insult but on the contrary bless them and pray for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly loving them. You’ve been called to do this, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing.” “Wow,” I thought, “It’s actually part of God’s plan for me to bless this person and pray for their happiness and protection which means truly loving them as He does. Others will know Him, Jesus, by how much we love others…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Hairstyle Ministry

Someone who doesn’t understand the leading of the Holy Spirit and how He works in our lives could say, “Your decision doesn’t make any sense. What are you thinking?” And our reply back could be, “I understand what you mean, but by the Holy Spirit I looked to God in my heart and not my head for the answer.” Saying that might get us a weird look but it’s what 1 Corinthians 2:14 talks about, “The non-spiritual man does not accept into his heart the teachings of the Spirit of God, for they are silly to him; and he is incapable of knowing them.”

Satan will send lies to our minds and we can choose to believe them OR ask ourselves, “Am I hearing from God who speaks to my heart according to His Word?” When following Christ, we live by faith. The non-spiritual man lives by feelings and sight, but faith has nothing to do with it. By faith you begin to understand things not with your mind but instead through the intuition of the Holy Spirit who speaks truth from God...everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Mediator

I had an argument with a very dear and close friend where there was an exchange of words that had to do more with hurt feelings rather than the topic we were arguing about. We both had allowed time to pile up little hurts and irritations and so that when the disagreement came, we had a wall of hurt and anger to bring down. Eventually we both managed to say we were sorry, but the hurt had been deep, and I thought we would probably never be close friends again.

That is until God got a hold of our hearts. He was the Mediator that 1 Timothy 2:5 talks about, the man Christ Jesus who reconciled us back into a deeper relationship than I ever imagined possible. Now there is absolute freedom to share our hearts with one another and a respect and love that ONLY JESUS could have brought about. Our friendship is better and more secure than ever, in Him...everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Heartsick

It's so hard when I’ve been hoping and praying for something, and it doesn’t happen at all like I expected or wanted. How true is Proverbs 13: 12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” But even with heart sickness and prayers unanswered my way I know God has the way to work all things for the good. In the meantime, it’s good to recognize the disappointment because it’s part of the recovery process. Of course, we can always find someone that’s worse off than us or a reason why, we shouldn’t complain but I think the healthier response is to actually acknowledge the letdown, express our emotions and then move forward with God’s plan.

Proverbs 18:15; "The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear it if the spirit is crushed?" My aunt always says, “I rather have sickness in my body than sickness in the mind or spirit.” And I agree. But thankfully there’s a God who’s there to help and heal us through all our sicknesses…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Vegas

Susan had turned her life around by turning to Jesus and now she was on talk radio with three other women still in the “business” discussing lifestyle choices in Las Vegas. The host and others on the panel were repeatedly asking Susan, “Where was God when you were in this business? Why didn’t He save you?” And Susan replied, “God was always with me. It was I who left Him. The others clearly did not have a relationship with Christ, they didn’t know of His great love for them, and so they had no respect for God or His ways but Susan understood completely and she said; Christ gives us all a free will but it’s our choice whether we want to have Him in our lives or not.”

Without knowing the relationship that brings love and freedom a person is only going to see God’s laws as bringing judgment and bondage. But as Proverbs 28:5 says, those who seek the Lord understand fully…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Showcase of God

Max Lucado’s book, “It’s Not About Me” tells a story about his friend who has cancer who now can answer “yes” to this question; “Are friends strengthened by your struggles?” It was hard in the beginning because well-meaning Christians confused his friend saying, “If you have faith, you’ll be healed.” But no healing came; only more chemo, nausea and doubts and the friend assumed his problem was his small faith. That is until Max pointed out, “It’s not about you. Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face of suffering speaks volumes.”

So, this man accepted his cancer as an assignment from heaven, a missionary to the cancer ward. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is trusting in what you can’t see, and his friend did just that. One day he told Max, “I reflect God to the doctors, the nurses, and my friends. Who knows who needs to see God, but I do my best to make Him seen...everyday.”

Thursday Matters

Everyday Spirit Sense

Someone who doesn’t understand the leading of the Holy Spirit and how He works in our lives could say, “Your decision doesn’t make any sense. What are you thinking?” And our reply back could be, “I understand what you mean, but by the Holy Spirit I looked to God in my heart and not my head for the answer.” Saying that might get us a weird look but it’s what 1 Corinthians 2:14 talks about, “The non-spiritual man does not accept into his heart the teachings of the Spirit of God, for they are silly to him; and he is incapable of knowing them.”

Satan will send lies to our minds and we can choose to believe them OR ask ourselves, “Am I hearing from God who speaks to my heart according to His Word?” When following Christ, we live by faith. The non-spiritual man lives by feelings and sight, but faith has nothing to do with it. By faith you begin to understand things not with your mind but instead through the intuition of the Holy Spirit who speaks truth from God...everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Pure Air

A friend told me the story of a woman in Austria whose father locked her in the basement for over 20 years and in that time, she had children who had never seen the sun or even breathed fresh air. To them the basement was a normal world. When the police found them, the air was so vile they had to tear down walls and bring in fans just to breathe.

But it’s like we too are living in a basement, a world not perfect, one infected with sin. We don’t even realize we’re breathing putrid air because this is our “normal.” But through the acceptance of God’s love and forgiveness we can believe He’s a Redeemer, working all things for the good with a purpose for us to serve eternally… breathing pure air forever. Look to 1 Corinthians 2:9 with anticipation because “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him”…everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Scooters

I remember when I was the substitute teacher for 2nd grade gym and oh how excited the eight-year-olds were for “Friday Free Day” which meant hula hoops, balls and scooters. Unfortunately, for Caleb, there weren’t enough little floor scooters to go around. So, after 10 minutes I asked Megan to give her blue scooter to Caleb. She was about to do when she noticed a red and orange one rolled to the side. But as I led Caleb to the scooters he stopped me, tears coming, and sniffled; “I know it doesn’t matter and all colored scooters are the same, but I just need a blue one.” Megan obliged giving up her blue for red but wondered; “Why?” “Oh, just because,” I said. God gets out “crazy” too. Psalm 55:2 says, “Attend to and answer me; I’m restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan.”

No matter how little your need is, it matters to God because you matter to Him, absolutely and completely…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday No Mama

Hearing our children’s first words are memorable such as, “Dada,” “Puppy” or “Ball.” Ball as was the first word of our third son, Joey, but the word “NO” came quickly too. When I was nine months pregnant with our fourth son I told. our two-year-old. Joey that I had a baby growing inside me. Joe took one look at my belly and said, “NO, Mama that’s a ball,” and he stood by his logical word choice. “No,” isn’t always a fun word to hear from our children but “no” is an important word when negative thoughts invade our minds. Maybe there’s untrue and ugly gossip about you, so you need to remember, “NO, that’s not who God says I am,” or “No, my past mistakes don’t determine my future in forgiveness.”

Jesus mostly used the word “no” when speaking to the religious leaders who were trying to boss everyone around. He came to fulfill the law by His grace, not by giving us more rules. God loves each and every one of us fiercely. If you feel or hear that your unlovable then you need to hear “NO” that’s not the truth…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Step in Faith

In the Old Testament as the Israelites were soon to enter into the Promised Land they were faced with crossing the Jordan River during flood season with the Ark of the Covenant. God told them to go forward right into the middle of the river before the water would go down and because of the faith the people had in God they obeyed and trusted God. We read in Joshua 3:17 that; “All Israel passed through until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.”

I know I would’ve first wanted to test the water with my big toe to see some evidence of God’s promise of the water going down before I stepped into the middle of the river. But often God provides no solution to my problems until I trust Him and move ahead with what I know I should do. Sometimes God wants me to step forward into the unknown because it’s an opportunity for me to know Him better and trust Him with my faith and not my feelings...everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Religions

My husband Dan did not become a Christian until he in his 20’s and in college. He never grew up going to church so in college he wanted to know if there was a God. He studied the religions of the world and THEN saw the uniqueness of Jesus. Jesus claims to be the way, not just show the way. And there is an enormous difference in religion and the forever-relationship Jesus offers. It’s not based on what we do but what He’s done. ALL religions require us to do something or sacrifice to please God so we can earn heaven.

Most religions are intolerant of people who disagree with them. Some even hate and want to hurt those who disagree. Jesus' message is just the opposite He says, "Let your love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold on to what is good." "Love your enemies" not just tolerate them. What? The message of Jesus is to LOVE and forgive others, which you can only do once you have seen your bad self and accepted His forgiveness…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday God is Greater

We spend a lot of time living in fear. Studies tell us that 85% of us live in fear by worrying. Is the size of your fear larger than the God of the Universe? God is greater than death, greater than disease, and there is no condemnation in Him. He certainly is greater than what you may be worrying about.

Should you worry about hell? No. But, no one really talks about its existence but, of course, the Bible does. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven and it’s where the wicked go who don’t acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. (Matthew 25:46). The righteous person has the hope of heaven, and you are made “right” by accepting what Jesus did on the cross by atoning for your sins. Because God is holy, He must punish sin but because He is loving He didn’t want to punish us. On the cross He accomplished both the holiness and lovingness of God. You have nothing to fear. Remember John 4:18 in that perfect love casts out fear. With God you always have hope…everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Gentle Answer

Sometimes I talk too much. Even if I’m talking about good things, it’s still better if I follow the advice of Proverbs 10:19; “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” I know that the mouth that blesses, praises and prays can also irritate, hurt and harm.

I remember a time when I was home from college and having a heated argument with my dad, who’s an unbeliever. I was so frustrated, and I wanted to lash out and say something to prove my point but from experience I knew my brilliant but angry words would not change a thing. It’s crazy but I actually said aloud Proverbs 15:1; “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” It was weird but the argument stopped immediately, as soon as I spoke the Proverb. God had the last Word. My prayer is Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to God and I’ve discovered it’s in listening more than talking that healthy relationships are maintained…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday World Peace

There’s a lot going on in this world. There are a lot of people with different opinions on how our country should run. If you’re not a political person you may feel stuck in the middle because you’re not joining a side. Honestly, I’d be okay holding a sign on the corner saying, “Jesus saves,” because it’s the truth.

I’m convinced no matter your race, your political side of the aisle, your gender, your religion, or your financial status, we will never achieve real peace without a deeper understanding of God. People have become so disagreeable that nothing is able to draw them into harmony. Jesus said the peace He gives is not like the peace in our world. His peace is rooted in mercy, forgiveness, and everlasting life. His peace cannot be removed, just like His love because it’s unconditional and everlasting. As humans our nature is combative, defiant, and selfish. Human nature will never be at peace, because sin cannot know peace. This is why it takes God to remove sin and replace it with His peace and saving grace…everyday