Monday Matters

Everyday Saying No

Hearing our children’s first words are memorable such as, “Dada,” “Puppy” or “Ball.” Ball 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.

Monday Matters

Everyday Quiet Love

My husband Dan and I were on the couch once again having “the talk.” Oh, you know the talk about finances and getting out of debt? Dan proceeded in a serious tone talking about what “we” needed to do but it sounded more like a lecture about what “I” needed to do. I wanted to shout; “If you don’t like the way things are, look at the changes you can make. Don’t wait for me to change.” I even had a verse to go with “my talk”; Deuteronomy 30:19; “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”

But for some reason I sat silently and prayed. And by the end of Dan’s lamentation, he actually said, “I guess I need to look at the choices I can make and not put it all on you.” “Why don’t I shut my mouth more often and simply pray? It’s a life-giving choice to make…everyday.