Everyday Matters
Friday Matters
Everyday Eating
Over ten years ago I never really ate breakfast, unless you counted Diet Coke and chips. I ate what I wanted when I wanted.
Everyday Eating
Over ten years ago I never really ate breakfast, unless you counted Diet Coke and chips. I ate what I wanted when I wanted. I even remember standing in my kitchen one morning at age 41; eating chips and drinking my Coke thinking, “I feel so great! I wonder how long I will be able to keep this diet going?!” And I thought because I was healthy in my relationship with God, reading the Bible and doing Pilates occasionally I’d be just fine. “Who needs green leafy vegetables?” But five months after having these thoughts I started getting sick with a lot of different infections and then came emotional anxiety and… well…I kinda crashed.
There were other factors that played into my “crash”, but I heard God clearly speak to me. Yes, He had great plans for me, but I needed to take care of my diet. 1 Corinthians 6:19; I don’t just belong to myself; I’m God’s girl and I honor Him by the way I live my life and take care of myself…. everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Fervent Love
The enemy will never leave us alone, but we don’t have to let him bother us. That means we don’t react to unkind or bad behavior of others by hitting back or seeking revenge.
Everyday Fervent Love
The enemy will never leave us alone, but we don’t have to let him bother us. That means we don’t react to unkind or bad behavior of others by hitting back or seeking revenge. Love is our highest calling, but some people are so annoying who continue with bad behavior with no sign or willingness to change. Well, it is not loving to ignore that behavior either. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us to above all things have intense love--to have a “fervent love” for one another. The Greek verb form of “fervent” when translated means "to be hot, to boil."
For eight of my growing-up years my mom cooked and baked food on an old-fashioned blue enamel cook stove and even a fly knew not to land on the stove when it was hot. When our love is “HOT” or “boiling over” for those around us, it is also too hot for the devil to destroy. To fervently love someone means we are intent on giving out love to others from the love God’s given us…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Perfection Addict
It’s exhausting trying to run the treadmill to perfection. I got off it. It goes nowhere.
Everyday Perfection Addict
It’s exhausting trying to run the treadmill to perfection. I got off it. It goes nowhere. Most of us, to some extent, need to be delivered from the fear of people and from caring too much about what others think. People who always need the approval of others desperately want everyone to look at them from head to toe and say, “Perfect.” In everything they do-the way they look, the things they say, every action they take—they want people to say, “Perfect.” If we try to be perfect, we’ll be disappointed. You and I are imperfect human beings. Attitude change is where change happens even though I told my husband earlier; “Today I feel like complaining and blaming someone else.” THAT’S always easier than taking personal responsibility but certainly not healthier.
We need to be confident that God accepts us with our imperfections because of His perfect redeeming power. He will continue to work in us but we don’t have to struggle to win His approval or the approval of others. God is for us…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Flesh Desires
I have a strong will. I’m sure someone listening right now can totally relate to the fact that while our spirits may be strong and willing our flesh fails us time and time again.
Everyday Flesh Desires
I have a strong will. I’m sure someone listening right now can totally relate to the fact that while our spirits may be strong and willing our flesh fails us time and time again. Jesus tells us we do not "watch and pray". The flesh does not conquer the spirit. The flesh is weak - as Jesus said - and the flesh is a stumbling block to our spirit. I want to go to church on Sunday mornings but I’m tired or irritated over my week, so my flesh gets in the way and I stay in bed. I obsess about why life seems so hard and become more anxious but then later I have regrets because I know connecting with others, who are hurting the same way that I am, helps. I need to pray and set my mind and ask God’s help to resist temptation, the night before Sunday morning, to “give up” on going to church in the morning.
My prayer is often this simple, “God You’re stronger and You live in me. Help. Amen.” Sharing areas of weaknesses with someone also helps with accountability and strength too. You can overcome with Christ. Jesus is there. He’s never mad at you and when you do fall, He will help you get back up. He loves you and He’ll never give up on you. Don’t give up on yourself…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday My Way
When I don’t get my way, I can get irritable and especially when I’ve carefully planned and thought how my way is best.
Everyday My Way
When I don’t get my way, I can get irritable and especially when I’ve carefully planned and thought how my way is best. As silly as it sounds, I sometimes don’t want to ask God what way He thinks because if His plan is different than mine, I don’t want to hear it. So, what I do now is express my fear, doubts and strong will for what I want but then say, “I want Your will” and I put my trust in His grace to lead and guide me. He cares about what we think. He knows our desires.
In Ephesians 4:15 Paul encourages us, “Grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head.” It should be our goal as believers to be one with God. When we are “born again,” we grow and mature spiritually in our minds, emotions and will. But God never condemns us for our feelings. He knows them. He wants to change us so that our desires become His desires. And being in sync with God gives a peaceful spirit not an irritable one even if our plans fall through…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Living Water
Life is not easy and frankly sometimes I think it should be because I’m following Jesus but just because we have freedom in Jesus doesn’t mean we have freedom from problems.
Everyday Living Water
Life is not easy and frankly sometimes I think it should be because I’m following Jesus but just because we have freedom in Jesus doesn’t mean we have freedom from problems. Only some days don’t you feel like it’s all upstream?
But it’s often the upstream swimming that makes us strong and more determined than ever to reach out to God and let Him direct us. Jesus came to gift us with His grace and freedom from bondage. Jesus knows the lane you should be in and the temperature for the water even though it might not feel that way. I always have to remind myself that Jesus knows the best WAY and not pray for Him to bless MY way. I remember speaking at a retreat with the theme; “Come to the Living Well.” My desire was to share the hope in Christ, so the gals were thirsty to drink from the fountain of Living Water which Jeremiah 2:13 talks about and not broken-down cisterns that we make for ourselves which leave us dry and weary in a dusty world…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Laughter
Don’t you just love to have a good laugh or the kind of laugh that triggers the giggles where you can’t stop?
Everyday Laughter
Don’t you just love to have a good laugh or the kind of laugh that triggers the giggles where you can’t stop? Sometimes laughter comes when you’re not supposed to be laughing like in a meeting or at church but it’s such good medicine. Laughter draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and even protects you from the damaging effects of stress.
Nothing works faster or is more dependable on bringing your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there’s: “A time to cry and a time to laugh.” Let’s find ways to put more laughter into our diets instead of obsessing with everything that bugs us. You really can find humor in a hard place and it’s so freeing and truly one of the best medicines for overall health…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Itchy Sin
Hidden sin is attractive but once exposed, we see how ugly it really is.
Everyday Itchy Sin
Hidden sin is attractive but once exposed, we see how ugly it really is. But often a person acting in sin can’t see the truth of how what they’re doing is not only hurting themselves but also others around them. C.S. Lewis in, The Great Divorce says sin is like an itch that needs to be scratched. At first, it’s small but the more it’s scratched the better it feels. After a while the itch becomes less, but you actually long to have it back. Sin is that way, when you aren't satisfied by it anymore, you still long to have it. Only God can take that desire away.
Sin costs us and the real loss isn’t just on earth but the loss of eternal life if unrepentant. Good news is that if we change our ways and accept God’s grace, we have life, which is what 1 John 5:12 talks about with repentance which is simply turning from our ways as Director of our lives to His direction and this always brings true freedom, forgiveness and life now and into eternity…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Alongside
There’s someone hurting who needs healing, someone unloved who needs our touch; elderly, needing to feel that we care; and someone who is weak and needs the support of our shared weakness.
Everyday Alongside
There’s someone hurting who needs healing, someone unloved who needs our touch; elderly, needing to feel that we care; and someone who is weak and needs the support of our shared weakness. I get it. Late author and speaker Brennan Manning gets it. He shared; “One of the most healing words I ever spoke as a confessor was to an old priest with a drinking problem. “Just a few years ago,” I said, “I was a hopeless alcoholic in the gutter in Fort Lauderdale.” “You?” he cried. “O Thank God!”
When we bring a smile to the face of someone in pain, we have brought Christ to them. I know hurt, ache and pain. What helps me? It’s NOT to hear more of what I should and should not do. I need to hear; “There’s hope. I’m sorry for this ache in your heart.” God fully knows and loves us and He’s not disappointed in us. He’s disappointed when we don’t change our sinful ways. Come alongside the one who needs God’s grace and mercy just as much as you do…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Facebook Delete
What? She deleted me on Facebook. What? I thought we were friends.
Everyday Facebook Delete
What? She deleted me on Facebook. What? I thought we were friends. I think most of us who use Facebook have either been deleted by someone or we’ve done the deleting. Sure, reasons to un-friend a Facebook friend like: you're cleaning up your Facebook, you don’t really know a person, or someone is malicious; are valid reasons to “delete” someone. However, to un-friend someone because you’re hurt because they didn't meet your expectations is unkind. It’s kinda like kicking someone and running away. Your intent is to hurt them because you've been hurt. There’s no justification for that.
What is friendship all about? What does God say? Look at Proverbs 17:17; “A friend loves at all times.” And we must all know… “Love is kind.” We also know love doesn’t demand its own way or keep a record of being wronged. Having a good friend is a blessing but being one, I think the blessing might be even bigger…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Emotional Pain
Emotional pain is harder than physical pain. Can I get an “Amen?!”
Everyday Emotional Pain
Emotional pain is harder than physical pain. Can I get an “Amen?!” I mean I get physical pain from my recovery with scoliosis back surgery and having mono and flu where I never thought I’d leave the bathroom floor. However broken relationships, the loss of a loved one, and the failure of a plan or dream, well … that kind of pain is so much harder for me.
But it helps to remember God uses pain to get our attention. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. We rarely change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. But why does it get so hot? I hear ya. The answer is God’s love turns-up, it warms when it all seems so cold and hopeless. He’s always aware and He always cares. Proverbs 20:30, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Yes, God loves you, everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Holy God
I am thankful for God’s call on my life to love others. He hasn’t called me to hand out a rulebook or a list of “you should” and “you should nots,” which means He hasn’t called on me to point out the sins of others.
Everyday Holy God
I am thankful for God’s call on my life to love others. He hasn’t called me to hand out a rulebook or a list of “you should” and “you should nots,” which means He hasn’t called on me to point out the sins of others. He knows I have enough of my own stuff to clean up, and with His grace, how can I afford not to extend this gift to others?
I love people. I want to have fun, be real, love God and love others. But it’s also important to note that at no point does God not stop being holy. Out of His great holiness and power and might and mercy, do we then deny our own sinful desires and bow to Him. Our flesh wants what it wants and more of it. So, it’s only by God’s Holy Spirit in us that we can deny the flesh. I know the message of “sin is not in” and love always wins, but true love involves compassion with truth…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Orphaned
You may be an orphan and by that, I mean an individual who actually has parents but for whatever reason such as abuse, whether physically or emotionally, disinterest, or they’re just plain absent; you may be an orphaned child.
Everyday Orphaned
You may be an orphan and by that, I mean an individual who actually has parents but for whatever reason such as abuse, whether physically or emotionally, disinterest, or they’re just plain absent; you may be an orphaned child. I recently heard someone’s story whose case was just that. But guess what Psalm 10:14 says? When we commit to God, He is the helper to the orphan. God makes sure orphans have lots of parents.
God will place others to care and support you. Give up this ideal that it has to be the parents you are assigned to by birth or adoption. What’s really amazing is that when you let go and let God begin to show you the people He has for you to talk to, share your heart and laugh with, He may be using that time to prepare you to be a parent or sibling for someone who is an orphan too. God is good. Always. He’s got us covered and He knows who and what we need…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Kenya
My friend Bert shared this story of a mission trip he did with Robert who was stationed in Kenya. Robert had brought a huge offering from a Swiss church for people in the northern area who were suffering from drought.
Everyday Kenya
My friend Bert shared this story of a mission trip he did with Robert who was stationed in Kenya. Robert had brought a huge offering from a Swiss church for people in the northern area who were suffering from drought. Our Kenyan host was to deliver the money to the people but had other things on his mind and was not diligent in helping Robert get the money to the people. The funds were stolen. A man of grace, Robert called us to pray for the thief, asking God to forgive him and draw him to Jesus.
Later, Robert was asked why God allowed the offering to be stolen. He paused and said, "Sometimes we suffer so that others will learn.” This was a lesson for the Kenyan brethren, who’d been very casual with the great treasure entrusted to them by God. When the Swiss church heard what happened, they took another collection and doubled the offering. This time, the Kenyan congregation was very diligent in handling the funds. Perhaps a hard learned lesson but one that shows God is able to use all things for the good…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Unfailing Love
When we love someone so much it’s sometimes difficult not to shout, “STOP you’re headed the wrong direction.” I see danger ahead. But no matter if we need to SHOUT or remain SILENT, we must walk in love.
Everyday Unfailing Love
When we love someone so much it’s sometimes difficult not to shout, “STOP you’re headed the wrong direction.” I see danger ahead. But no matter if we need to SHOUT or remain SILENT, we must walk in love. The truth of 1 Corinthians 13:1 is pretty clear, humanly speaking or even speaking as an angel we must have love or we’re simply a noisy clanging cymbal.
Sometimes it’s difficult to speak up because it’s uncomfortable or we know we won’t be received well. That’s happened to me and I’ve thought; “maybe I’m crazy for saying anything?” But the truth is you might be crazy but you’re dealing with crazy.” Nevertheless, when a word is spoken and not received, be it an apology, advice or our tears, there’s the time we must remain silent and wait and pray. We want to save a life but not drown a heart. There’s a fierce battle to fight in prayer that our loved one may know nothing about. But God knows. He cares. Love never fails…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Ezekiel
The book of Ezekiel is weird. Not only does it talk about four living beings with faces, wings, and wheels covered with eyes, but God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll. That’s weird and then Ezekiel is asked to lay on his left side for 390 days to bear the sins of Israel. Kinda Weird.
Everyday Ezekiel
The book of Ezekiel is weird. Not only does it talk about four living beings with faces, wings, and wheels covered with eyes, but God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll. That’s weird and then Ezekiel is asked to lay on his left side for 390 days to bear the sins of Israel. Kinda Weird.
Nevertheless, throughout the book Ezekiel obeys God. But what really struck me in Chapter Three book was God asking Ezekiel to take His words into his own heart first before delivering them to the people of Israel. God says, “Let all My words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”
In John 1:1 we are reminded that God is the Word Himself. God’s Word brings freedom and if we want to be obedient and share this freedom with others than how crucial it is that we feed on God’s Word ourselves…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Loving Help
The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other, fault-filled humans.
Everyday Loving Help
The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other, fault-filled humans. People are difficult and especially people we see on our screens and aren’t able to interact with eye contact or a touch to the shoulder. Lately I’ve been asking for God’s Holy Spirit to move in me to be more of a listener and not commenter, to forgive without conditions and to schedule a date to have coffee with someone rather than post another comment.
It helps to think about heroes of the faith like Corrie ten Boom who personally forgave the Nazi officer at the Concentration Camp she and her sister were held. She said, “The will can operate regardless of the temperature of the heart.” We can choose to forgive even though our anger and hurt make us feel like we can’t. “We can do all things through Christ’s strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Let’s pray, Jesus, People are hard, but may I love You and others the way you love me and others…everyday. Amen.
Friday Matters
Everyday Wedding Foyer Connection
I was attending a wedding and was able to share with a young couple who had three very young children. We talked about the challenges of being parents.
Everyday Wedding Foyer Connection
I was attending a wedding and was able to share with a young couple who had three very young children. We talked about the challenges of being parents. Our four boys are adults, and I lamented the fact that I thought it was easier (even traveling in winter with all snow gear and diaper changes). Yet, ALL parents have challenges in different seasons no matter the ages of our children.
We listened thoughtfully to one another and then I shared Philippians 4:8 that we are to think on what is good, right, lovely and worthy of praise yet how often we do the opposite and think on what is irritating, negative and worthy of complaining about. So, in that sweet moment in the foyer of the wedding venue we decided to reflect on all that was good in the season of parenting we are in. There are REAL struggles, conflicts and health but by God’s grace we can choose to focus on blessings of God and His redemption in all things. What an unexpected blessing we received that day in laughing and encouraging one another in the wedding foyer. God is so good… everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Jesus is Gospel
I’ve been to enough gatherings with both Christians, non-Christians and those who believe in Jesus but don’t call themselves Christians because of the stigma the word may bring and sometimes I feel that way too.
Everyday Jesus is Gospel
I’ve been to enough gatherings with both Christians, non-Christians and those who believe in Jesus but don’t call themselves Christians because of the stigma the word may bring and sometimes I feel that way too. Much of the time we get bogged down about being right and putting down how others are doing it wrong. We end up talking about issues, rules, programs or how we should be doing church. Sadly, what’s missing from our discussions is sharing the GOOD NEWS…the Gospel. Sharing how Jesus is the difference and the answer.
Author Carl Medearis writes; “The Gospel is not a ‘what.’ It is not a ‘how.’ The gospel is a ‘Who.’ The gospel is literally the good news of Jesus. Jesus is the gospel.” He still lives. He claims to be the way, not just show the way. 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. I want to be more vocal this; Jesus has changed my life…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday God Knows You
I’m thankful for God’s Word because He is the Word! HE is our Redeemer! The Bible isn’t about us. The Bible is about God and His redemption.
Everyday God Knows You
I’m thankful for God’s Word because He is the Word! HE is our Redeemer! The Bible isn’t about us. The Bible is about God and His redemption. Wickedness is indeed judged, but that’s not the focus of the story. Redemption and restoration to the glory of God is! That's it. The Woman at the Well ran to tell others about a man who met her thirst (Is He the Messiah?)! She did not run back into town to tell others that she felt judged, but rather she ran to let others know, that despite her past, Jesus accepted her where she was at. He is that same God.
Nothing we could do would ever take His love away from us nor is there anything we could do to cause Him to love us more. He knows me, my pain, my ache from the loved one I lost, the cancer that came to my husband, and my anxiety attacks. HE IS here, waiting to make creative, redemptive use of what has happened. He knows, He “gets us” and He loves us unconditionally…everyday.