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!”

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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

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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.

Monday Matters

Everyday Seat at the Table

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Seat at the Table

Come sit down. Let me hear your story, your heart. Tell me what you’re feeling because your feelings are valid, and you are welcome at my table. We all are welcome at God’s table too because we’re all created and loved by Him. He will never reject or withdraw His love from us, but He does reject sin. Sin is not welcome at the table. It’s taken me years to really grasp that God fully knows me and yet He fully loves me, completely, just as am. What God doesn’t love is sin because it’s a barrier to us having a relationship with Him. Sin wins unless pardoned.

Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross to pay the full price for our sin. His resurrection proves He succeeded. Come and sit, invite others to sit at God’s table with you. Through God’s unconditional love He will show Himself with all we need to be filled with hope and peace…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Jealousy

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Jealousy

Jealousy is one of the most dangerous poisons which can literally destroy us. It’s challenging because we know we shouldn’t be jealous so we pretend it’s not happening, and we find reasons why the other person shouldn’t have success.

A few years ago, I watched a video of a woman I was mentoring. I was amazed at the talent and beauty she displayed on screen. But instead of feeling happy for her, I was jealous; “Why her?” I called my husband and said, “I’m jealous.” As soon as I brought my jealousy to the light it no longer had power over me. I was able to congratulate my friend on her success, and the poison of envy did not infect me. I have a great friendship with this young woman and I’m proud of her. King Solomon asks; “Who can stand before jealousy?” No one can because it’s as cruel as the grave. Celebrate the successes of others and let God show you the gifts you have to celebrate YOU…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Mother Teresa

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Mother Teresa

It’s so much easier to point out what’s wrong with everybody else rather than look at our own junk to clean up. We all need help which is why our first step toward reconciliation is to confess our sins, receive God’s pardon and walk forward in a relationship with Jesus.

We cannot do anything to merit grace, and yet we look at someone like Mother Teresa and think surely, she entered into heaven because of what she did. If we emulate her sacrificial love in some small fashion, we are lulled into a false sense of security that persuades us that we have no need of repentance today. When the little saint humbly confessed her brokenness and her desperate need for God, either we were uncomprehending, or we secretly suspect her of false modesty. Real love, real grace, receive it and then walk forward and give the same to others…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday God Hook

Debbie Griffith

Everyday God Hook

It’s so hard when someone has hurt you and, “It’s not fair. Why is this happening to me?” I want payback now!” God IS taking care of things in HIS timing. He’s God and we’re not. Romans 12:19 is the promise from God saying. “I’ll take care of it because it’s Mine to avenge.”

But you’re having a hard time waiting and you’re angry. You know God loves you, but your anger prevents you from rational thought. You’re not alone here. We’ve all been “there.” Remember too that there’s an enemy and he will use others to get us riled up and sometimes in our anger we become sinful and downright mean. Let’s try to get in the habit of asking this question to ourselves, “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve posted about it. Relationships are the meaning of life, with God and others. I continually need God’s grace, when someone has hurt me, for me to let the person be taken off my hook and placed on His…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Eeyore

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Eeyore

If I mope around like an Eeyore on a sunny day saying, it’s probably going to rain,” chances are no one’s gonna want to hang around me. But if I choose to have fun and laugh in the dreary rainy days then the possibility of others wanting to “hang with me” is much greater. I’m not perfect. And if I try to pretend that I am or share a story to brag about how spiritual I am, I find it only serves to repel others not draw them towards me.

When I share my shortcomings with a sense of humor and point to who God is and how He works in my everyday life-whether rainy or sunny; it’s then that I become an encouragement and God gets noticed. Nehemiah 8:10 is seriously true for me; The joy of the Lord is my strength because no matter what is going on nothing can take away the truth that God is for us, loves us and will never leave us no matter what the circumstances or weather…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Camping

Debbie Griffith

Everyday Camping

I came; I camped I conquered. I am not what you call “outdoorsy.” I am “indoorsy.” But in the way past, when my four boys and Dan and I were young, we camped. What this means is for two days and nights in a tent, with no outlets, and an outhouse bathroom and our camp stove. We slept, ate, hiked, had great conversations and played under the waterfalls at a State Park. AND we HAD FUN! Who knew? I thought I was better suited for “Camp Hotel with all the amenities” and I actually am BUT then I made a decision about my attitude.

On this particular camping adventure, in the early 2000’s, I went camping with a bladder infection BUT it quickly cleared up because of the antibiotic I was taking BUT the best medicine for my overall camping experience was my heart that God changed which Proverbs 17:22 talks about in that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it and we surrender to God for His grace and peace; we have a great adventure…everyday.