Monday Matters

Everyday Parenting Boys

Debbie Grffith

Everyday Parenting Boys

My husband and I had four sons who are now adults. I thank God I was a mom of boys (too many hormones and hair products with a girl). But because our son Peter was most like me, we had our challenges. Sometimes Peter’s phone was taken away as a consequence for disobedience. I remember one time I had to drop a note off at school to let him know I’d pick him up so he wouldn’t take the bus. I wrote, “Peter I’m sorry for my part in provoking you which led to hurt feelings for both of us. Please forgive me. I love you. Mom”

As parents we wanted our sons to develop strong characters from the inside-out. Not just temporary behavior change, but for them to have a heart change from God. At youth group that evening Peter heard a guest speaker talk about the grace God gives and how we can’t afford to withhold it from others. Peter apologized and said I could keep the phone as long as I wanted. He forgave me too. Jesus understands us all. He knows and walks with us in our parenting…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday The Will of Jesus

Debbie Grffith

Everyday The Will of Jesus

Feelings can be all over the place and especially concerning love. After 35 years of marriage, I understand love to be a choice and commitment but it’s also a powerful feeling that can produce indescribable joy and also incredible anger toward someone I love too.

When Jesus was on the earth He tells us clearly in the Bible that He didn’t want to go to the cross. In fact, He despised the cross, so much He asked for another way and said, “take this cup from Me but not My will but Yours be done,” Luke 22:42. Jesus was so physically overwhelmed that blood came out of His skin pores. Love is a choice, not a feeling. Combining my feelings with right choices can be confusing and the direction I take might be more about my will than it is God’s will. God loves you and so He came to punish sin for you and set you free. Sin was a disease the entire Trinity came to heal. The cross is not a payoff … it is a rescue. God is love. The cross is love…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday What God Says

Debbie Griffith

Everyday What God Says

How do you view yourself? Do you think about what God sees or what others see? It’s definitely a process to be able to hear God’s voice and listen to Him alone. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. When I got my eyes off of how I looked I began to truly see myself the way God saw me. THEN I was like; “Where should I go, who should I meet, and “How can I serve?” Prior to that I made wonderful plans and then asked God, “Bless what I’ve decided is good.”

God is not a Genie in a Bible. It’s not about saying the correct verses and doing super good deeds, it’s about trusting God’s faithfulness and believing He knows the best plan for your life. God loves us for who we are and not for what we do. He gives us purpose with the gifts He’s given us simply because He loves us…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Humility

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Humility

Remember that song, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in everyday way?” We laugh cuz like yeah right, “as if.” But sometimes we’re so busy pointing out the faults of others that we don’t take time to look at our own that we need to address. My mentor friend Barb wrote, “True humility is not a denial of your positive attributes. It isn’t a humble person who says, “I’m not good at anything.”

This is an expression of pride which says, “Look at poor me. I just have to have special consideration because I’m so weak. Please pity me...treat me well.” On the contrary, the truly humble person recognizes their strengths and weaknesses and so rather than a concentration on yourself, humility leads you to look around you for opportunities to encourage and help others.” When you understand humility that way it helps you to be confident in the gifts God’s given you rather than feeling bad about what you don’t have. Happy and free people are humble people…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Love Enemies

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Love Enemies

God will never stop pursing you no matter how far you run and no matter what you do or don’t do. His heart breaks when we choose to do things that hurt ourselves or others. That is why He commands us in Matthew 5:44 to; “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

What? How does that make sense? Well, God created us in His image, and we are His children when we receive Him. He loves so just because someone is your enemy doesn’t mean they’re God’s. They’re His lost child, and He wants them back. Yes, there are circumstances where we’re called to face the bully, the tyrant and say, “No more,” and fight back. But not out of revenge. God is not willing that any be condemned, but that all come to repentance. His great love says, “Confess to me your sins, turn back to Me. Nothing can separate My love from you.” This earth is temporary, and heaven is forever. Choose Love, receive love and follow Him…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Courage Forward

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Courage Forward

I kept the email written by an attendee who was at an event I spoke at. Carrie shared, “I love what you shared about speaking of God’s peace amidst the feelings. I know what you mean about moving forward despite feeling afraid. I took your example and spoke aloud to God is weekend as I said "I receive Your Grace Lord. You are my sufficiency.” Courage is stepping forward despite what you may feel. Carrie continued, “I've thought about this all weekend amidst my nervous stomach as a family looked at our house today and wondered if they would make an offer. But in faith I know and trust God in the way, we as a family, go forward.” The Lord is our Deliverer and He is our hope.

The earth experience is hard. It’s not our home or final destination as believers who trust in the promises of God. C. S. Lewis wrote, "the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world." Keep on keeping on. Life is unfair but God is always good…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Enemy Lion

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Enemy Lion

Ah, The Garden of Eden what a wonderful and perfect paradise except for the fact that the devil was sliding around (or walking) as some sort of beautiful serpent who eventually got Adam and Eve to doubt the perfect goodness of their Creator. Well Mr. Evil One is still on the move, working as hard as he can to get us to doubt because he knows that the only way, he can overcome a believer is through deception (that we can be our own god) and intimidation. That’s why God cautions us in 1 Peter 5:8 to be alert because our great enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But notice the verse doesn’t say “irritate” or “frustrate” but “DEVOUR!”

‍ ‍

A lion often scares up its dinner by roaring. Its prey has a heart attack simply due to fear thus becoming an easy meal for Mr. or Mrs. lion. That is what we face. Will you believe the roar or the still assurance of God’s voice…everyday!?

Monday Matters

Everyday Attend to Jesus

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Attend to Jesus

Attending a retreat or conference to learn more about Jesus can be a great way to grow and connect with others and our shared humanity. But nothing can replace one on one time alone with Jesus reading His book (the Bible) of hope and redemption. Jesus calls us to Himself, “Abide in Me, dwell in Me, come to Me.” Significantly, Jesus doesn’t say “Come to a day of renewal, a retreat, a prayer meeting, and a conference. But “Come to Me.” Is not Jesus, the Savior of the world? He is either a lunatic or the Risen Lord who must be proclaimed as the world’s only hope. Who else would dare to say, “I am the way, the truth and life. Whoever believes in Me will have everlasting life; and the one who does not believe in Me will be condemned.

This is a pretty powerful claim and one to not take lightly. To be sure there are a lot of great events to attend but nothing is better than attending to a relationship with Christ…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Eager Beaver Grace

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Eager Beaver Grace

Suzy-Eager-Beaver grabbed her free tickets for the biggest country music event her state had ever seen. She’d been waiting in line since 5:00 a.m. and giveaways began at noon. Later that evening she shared her excitement with Judy and found Judy had received free tickets too but arrived at 2:00 p.m. Somehow it didn’t seem fair. Life is unfair but God is good.

But God’s grace is like that; indiscriminate. His grace gives compassion to the early Eager-Beaver but also to the Grinning-Drunk who receives the same wage ten minutes before closing.  We are saved by grace by our faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. We can read in the book of Ephesians about how God’s gift of grace is free and it’s not about our good works but by His good redemptive work on the cross. It’s of great comfort to know that we get fresh mercy and grace every morning. God great love for us is amazing…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Through Storms

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Through Storms

“I honestly don’t think I can make it through another day. I just don’t.” Ever feel like that? So, the storm in your life is of hurricane proportions because maybe its finances, or failed marriage. You FEEL overwhelmed, like you might drown. Perhaps you have a burning pain in your heart because your child is addicted to drugs or maybe it’s an aging parent who can’t remember who you are. You may FEEL consumed by these fiery trials. Your feelings are valid. BUT the truth is you'll come through. He sees. He knows. He cares.

Sometimes, I just repeat God’s love to me aloud or over and over in my mind for comfort. “I love you; I love you; I love you,” He says. He speaks a promise from Isaiah 43:2, "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." And perhaps what you’re going through is not about breaking you but about the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. God often uses bad things for a later good…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Law discharged

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Law Discharged

Following the law is a good thing but more importantly it’s following love that makes all the difference. Look at a verse like Romans 7:6; “But now we are discharged from the Law, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under obedience to the old code of written regulations, but under obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in newness of life.”

Knowing Jesus, we also have the Holy Spirit living in us. Let the Holy Spirit lead, guide, and control you. When we submit to His promptings, we experience new of life. The Law only gives us rules and regulations, and we feel guilty and condemned when we don’t follow them. I am often a rebel rule breaker. “Don’t cut the top of this box cover,” and I want to cut on the line I’m not supposed to. “No thru traffic,” does that really apply to me? I have to live by the Spirit Who gives the desire to do what is right but also the ability and a passion to do it. Oh, to serve God out of love and not of a sense of obligation is so freeing…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Tired Mom

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Tired Mom

Last week after attending a “mom’s group” a friend wrote and said, “I know God’s strength is there. I know the verses that are there. But sometimes I just need to vent how tired I am of being “the mom.” I wanna scream, ‘My joy is being robbed!’”

I’m so glad she felt safe enough to share her heart and vent! She didn’t want a solution or a string of Bible verses from me. What she needed was a friend who had been there too. She needed to be heard. That’s it. And how many times has God told me, “Sometimes Debbie the best way to love someone is for you to keep your mouth shut!” This is basic advice from Ephesians 4:2; “Be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love.” Communicate love for a friend by simply letting them know you’re there for them, ready to listen, ready to pray and acknowledge the hard places. It’s who Jesus is for us…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Again the Enemy

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Again the Enemy

“If God has such great plans for me, why is it, they all seem to be falling apart?” Everyone seems against me. Some talk about a devil but is he even real? Does he have horns and carry a pitchfork? Yep, the devil is real. He’s not a Halloween costume and he has plans to destroy the ones God has.

Face the fact that there’s an enemy who’ll never leave us alone, but we don’t have to let him bother us. “Oh, it’s you again,” I’ve said, rather than caving into the temptation to give up. Satan throws garbage lies at us because it's the way he is able to hurt God. When someone attacks your kids, you take action to protect them because you’re on their side. God is on our side too. We are created in His image. “Be bold,” I told my son, David. “You can be aware of the devil, but you don’t have to let him get to you.” We have redemption through Christ and nothing that’s happened to us is so destructive that God can’t redeem it…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Crabby

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Crabby

I’ve been so crabby lately that I feel like saying words I wouldn’t normally say just for the shock to hear the words roll out of my mouth, but it is a conscious choice not to bite everyone's head off in my family because I'm so crabby.

Disappointment is my problem right now. I want to be further along than I am. And then there’s these human being people that God created that I’m called to love but right now some of them are really disappointing me and we all know from Proverbs 13:12 that hope deferred makes the heart sick. But God reminded me of the verse I had memorized a year ago from Romans 10:11 which helped me to focus on who I should put my trust in; “The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.” Isn’t that good? God will NEVER disappoint you! So have a crabby day but don’t let it spiral you down because He’s here to lift you up…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Identity

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Identity

Our identity is grounded in who and what we choose to identify with. If we identify with people and what they say about us, we will end up in trouble, but if we identify with Jesus and His opinion of us, we will not have an identity crisis. Jesus addressed the religious leaders in John 8:14; “I know where I came from and where I am going.” Knowing who you are in Christ is so vital to your confidence and the freedom to be you.

I was in a disagreement with someone who chose to personally attack me and rather than argue back I simply said; “I don’t identity with that. That’s not who God says I am.” There are some religious organizations who spend a lot of time telling people what they need to do and not enough time telling them who they are in Christ. Trust who God says you are because you’ve accepted what He’s done for you…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday No Sin Recall

Debbie Griffith

Download

Everyday No Sin Recall

Listen! God not only forgives your sins completely, but He chooses not to recall or remember your sins. And it’s not memory failure on His part because HE’S GOD! Because sin is a barrier in having a relationship with Him, He chooses not to ever recall your sins, EVER. His promise in Isaiah 43:25 says, “I am God who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."

In the Bible, great men of faith, Abraham, Moses, and David have none of their sins listed even though they were great sinners. God chose not to recall their sins. I know that others, including myself, like to recall my own past but God wants us to let go and receive His forgiveness. He also asks us to forgive others as He does, which means not recalling the sins of others who’ve hurt us. It’s a challenge. Yet, by God’s grace working in and through us, it is possible…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Marriage Well

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Marriage Well

Marriage Advice 101 from Proverbs 5:15; “Drink water from your own well--share your love only with your spouse, never share it with strangers.”

Problems with remaining faithful in marriage usually begin when a person doesn’t feel loved and think they deserve to be happy. The enemy creeps in with his lies telling us that marriage shouldn't be any work and if we really want to have a good time and feel good, we should maybe start drinking with someone we find more fun and attractive. When a person acts on those thoughts and feelings that’s usually the time when a marriage begins to dissolve. That’s why it's so important that couples work at making time for one another on a good ol’ fashioned date without their children. Find out your love language and begin communicating in the way each of you knows and feels loved. Validate and be refreshed from the well of love you both have. Marriage is work but it's absolutely wonderful when it is working…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Pure Air

Debbie Griffith

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.

Monday Matters

Everyday Lies

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Lies

The letter began, “Debbie I’m struggling. I’ve been unemployed since September; I have an aunt who is in the hospital and my husband is constantly reminding me that he’s the one who’s paying the bills. I feel frustrated and far away from God.

Feeling far away from God and like He doesn’t care is what the devil wants you to feel and think. Satan is keen on feeding us lies and his two favorites are the “forever” lie and the “never” lie. He tells us about the negative things in our lives will never change and will forever be the way they are. He says the way you are right now will stay that way “forever.” Lies. The truth is God is good and He has plans to bring you wholeness from your brokenness of pain and regret. Trust in God because bad things ultimately give way to better things. Ecclesiastes 3:1; TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven…everyday!

Monday Matters

Everyday Good Shepherd

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Good Shepherd

Sometimes my heart is so heavy I think it might explode. There are people I love who are hurting, people who have lost a loved one, or they’re estranged from their children, people that feel misunderstood or rejected, and people who have relapsed into addiction and who now are feeling shame and despair.

You know others are suffering deep wounds and so you think you can't lament about the heavy burden you're carrying yet the anxiety and loss is so great that it's hard to lift your head up and hope. Not that long ago I sobbed into the arms of my husband. And yet, as wonderful as my husband is, he is not the Good Shepherd who understands me completely.

When your feelings become overwhelming, and fear creeps in, it can be debilitating but Jesus, the Good Shepherd promise to carry you through. Don’t let the feelings decide your future but instead let God’s truth from Isiah 40:11 lead you, “He tends His flock like a Shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart…everyday.