Wednesday Matters

Everyday Who are THEY

I mean honestly, when I began to really grasp what Jesus was offering me with complete forgiveness and no condemnation I could stop pretending and performing as we so often do as Christians. I need Him desperately. It is not the “they” who are poor, sinful and lost. It’s awareness that we ourselves are the primary target.

Unless we acknowledge that we are the sinners, the sick ones and the lost sheep for whom Jesus came, we do not belong to the “blessed” who know that they are poor and inherit the Kingdom. Let’s stop trying to appear righteous before God and others. It’s a dangerous zone when we get our assurance from wealth or our status. “I’m good. I have all I want.” We must realize that we’re wretchedly and pitiably poor and we’re blind and naked too. Isaiah 64 often comes to me when I think, “I’m doing really well here.” “We’re all unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. It’s His blood shed for us which cleans and covers us…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Kind Forgiveness

We may say to someone; “I forgive you” but if we treat them unkindly or even ignore them have, we really forgiven them? If that’s the case, then moving forward in sincere forgiveness is to have a counselor hear both hearts by directing the conversation with necessary questions so the meeting doesn’t become one of personal attacks. Seek to forgive as God forgives you and as 1 Corinthians 16:14 directs; “Let all that you do be done in love.” Love is kind and sometimes that’s the hardest part of love especially when someone has stolen from us; taken from our childhood, taken our spouse or robbed our personal property. There are always consequences to sin, and He will bring us justice as He promises. And of course, in some cases, there may be no reconciliation because bad behavior continues.

Forgiveness doesn’t release the one who hurt you. It releases you. Lamenting and grieving what was lost is healing too and most helpful when we know Jesus hears our cries and cares about every detail. His strength of love by His grace will see you through…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Gossip

We judge others by how they make us feel and we judge ourselves by our intentions. Although my heart’s intent was right my action was sin by crossing the line into gossip. I shared information with some trusted friends because I was concerned and wanted prayer. My mistake was sharing unnecessary details. So, I confessed my sin to God and to every person who had been directly affected by my wrongdoing,

Was my heart intent good? Yes. But did I hurt people in the process? Yes. My responsibility then was to apologize for the hurt I caused without adding “but” or “if” after my confession. It’s simply this; “I’m sorry for hurting you by sharing with things with others that I shouldn’t have.” Period. Oh, I wanted to add; “BUT you gossiped about me and I never intended to hurt you. BUT is that what Jesus does? Let’s follow Matthew 7:12; “In everything, do to others what you’d have them do to you” …everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday On the Other Side

Our faith and trust in believing God is good when circumstances are not, does not come from the sunny side of the street but in the places where it’s dark and we feel alone and overwhelmed. God will always guide us even though we can’t see Him. Feeling overwhelmed because of finances, or a failed marriage is extremely painful. 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.

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 building up your faith in Him for His love and His purposes will never fail you…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Baby Loss

Debbie, what do you say to parents that are losing their little 16th month old boy to cancer? The parents are Christian but can’t understand why God won’t heal their baby? Can you help me with an answer?

Nothing you say will make them feel like it’s fair. The best thing to say is, "I don't know why this is happening. I hate that it's happening and that you’re hurting. But I am not God, and I don't know why He has allowed this. You’re right that it isn't fair. Why doesn’t God fix the pain? He's a big God...tell Him how you feel. It won't stop for a moment His great love toward you. We want to fix the hurt for our friend or want God to fix it. Don’t try to speak for God. Take your friend out, listen to them cry or just sit beside them and say nothing. Even Jesus wept when He went to the grave of Lazarus. Just let friend know you you’re there and you care…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Real Life

In one simple month all of life seemed to fall apart. Brandon had lost his job; the family’s golden retriever had died, and Brandon’s wife was back at the clinic again to try new antibiotics to combat her bronchitis. God, where are you? If He loves us, won’t He take the pain away or at least some of it? Remember God is always with us, and He isn’t surprised by what’s happening. Everything must pass through His hands first.

Sometimes a tragedy is where we meet God for the first time. We must lose religion, where it’s all about rules and proving ourselves, and instead rest in a personal relationship with God who knows exactly what we’re going through and how to take care us. Jesus working through us and not focusing on our own works or man’s laws is what’s important. God always loves us. He will not fail us. Grasp hold of His grace and mercy with both hands to find hope…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Carry On

Are you listening? Jesus is speaking. Hear His voice; “You are forgiven. Today is a new day. God’s Word from Lamentations 3:23: “Great is My mercy. It’s new every morning and great is My faithfulness. Everyday I try to “be better” by choosing what I should think on and how I should behave which often means I remain silent, shut my mouth and pray. Just think of the amazing gift God offers us! We have an opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness which means our soiled sin rags are washed and made t white by the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

Don’t be discouraged. There’s a whole lot of us who so wanted to be faithful, but who at times got defeated, beat-up by life and tested by trials. We have the bloodied garments of life’s tribulations, but through it all we clung to the faith. This is the Gospel of Grace. So with me, let’s celebrate. Let’s raise “a glass of hope,” receive and share this love and grace with others. Carry on Christian Soldiers, onward and upward…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Follow Jesus

Let me tell you I don’t follow Jesus because He was a good person prophet-man. I follow Him because He IS alive in my life. He’s God. God who became a man, who died for all my garbage sins and then rose again so I could have an excellent LIFE here on earth and then a perfect forever one in heaven!

All we have to do is accept God’s great gift, accept HIM and we’re free. Now of course just because there’s freedom in Jesus doesn’t mean there’s freedom from problems. But after Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit, who is there to help us with everything. The reason I know this truth is because I have a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I follow Him because I trust Him and not because I always feel or understand Him or the Bible. But I trust He wants what’s best for us. Jesus did not come for us to follow religion. John 8:32; Knowing Jesus will set you free…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Compliment

“It’s not fair. They don’t deserve my kindness and I’m certainly not going to compliment them on anything because they already tell me how great they are anyway.” Very often those difficult people in our lives are family members. We think; “How can they be so clueless to their own junk and continue to point out mine?” But here’s the deal; we may not think they deserve our love or kindness but neither do we deserve God’s grace and kindness toward us.

The advice given me was “Debbie, just lavish them with love. Compliment and see what happens in your heart and in theirs.” Guess what it works. Love someone with simply acts of kindness by praising the good of who they are, and you’ll be amazed at how God changes your heart and theirs. Truth from God in John 13:34; “Love one another as I have loved you.” It’s hard at first…really hard. But the change, the blessing, the beginning of healing in a broken relationship…oh you’ll be thinking; “Why didn’t I do this sooner…everyday.”

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Rachel and Leah

I’ve always felt so bad for Leah from the Old Testament because Jacob loved Rachel best, she was the more attractive sister, but he’s tricked into marrying Leah first. Oh, the insignificance Leah must have felt based on her looks. It’s a battle girls face from the earliest of ages—the message that beauty is what the world tells you it is—instead of what God says it is.

In the Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones I am drawn to the story of Leah. She thought no one wanted her, only to find that God indeed loved her. He gave her the ultimate fairytale come true story: He made her a princess—one of her children’s children’s children would be a prince; the Prince of Heaven and Earth. The final redemption for eternity is Jesus who came from the lineage of Leah. The fairy tale really does come true. The Hero comes back for His lost treasure; the Prince comes back for the one He loves. And “the ending of our Story is Joy …everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Waves

My friend, Michelle, shared; “These waves of trials and circumstances are very real and overwhelming to me right now. But Debbie, the question is not whether or not I see them; the question is whether or not I see ONLY them. I know it's not about the waves; it's about walking forward toward Him because He says ‘Come!’”

What honesty Michelle has, and I can’t say, I’m that mature in a storm situation. In the Bible we can read in Mark 4: where Jesus says to the disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake” but a furious storm of hurricane proportions arises with waves crashing into the boat. Where’s Jesus? He’s asleep inside the boat. “Master, don’t You care that we’re dying,” the disciples ask. Without answering Jesus rises and rebukes the wind and sea, “Be still,” He says and a great calm comes. When Jesus says, “You’re gonna get to the other side,” believe Him. You’ll get to the other side no matter what stormy trial you’re facing. Go forward with Him…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday God: I AM

Think about how crazy it was for Moses to hear God speaking from a burning bush. It seems a little weird too. God speaks in love but He’s direct when He tells Moses, “Get to Egypt, get my people and GO!” And when Moses asks “What should I say to the people when they ask me your name?” it seems that God didn’t want to spend a lot of time telling Moses all the things He was, so He simply said in Exodus 3:14, “Tell My people I AM has sent Me to you!” “Okay, whatever that means”, Moses must have thought but upon knowing who God is then Moses must have realized that I AM meant everything!

God IS saying, “What you need… I AM! I AM your navigator, speaker, provider, comforter, and strength …I AM EVERYTHING YOU NEED when you need it…everyday!”

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Return Home

Jesus welcomes ALL of us to Him. He is our Home. He pursues us, loves us. The prodigal son returned home, and the father ran to Him, unconditional love with no condemnation. What the father didn't do was go and join his son in his sin. We can turn to God and receive His grace or reject Him. It seems more often that we read of Christians deconstructing their faith and what I see is people moving away from the church and religion. It's hard to imagine anyone turning away from Christ and His loving kindness.

God’s mercy is new every morning and great is His faithfulness. I’m thankful because I used my allotted grace amount yesterday. Everyday it will get better and yes, even on those days you get kicked in the pants with the news you were dreading but you can move on and move forward because noting is wasted with God. It may be that God is training and testing you in this trial and in time you may thank Him for it. God loves you. He sees and knows and is right beside you…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Questions

I remember the season in life when I had four sons under the age of 7 years old and it was constantly busy and constant questions. I love my boys, don’t get me wrong but some days I thought I might explode if they asked me one more question with the sentence beginning with the word, “MOM……. I remind young moms now, “The days are long, but the years are short.”

But no matter how many questions they asked I always wanted them to be sure that they knew one important answer and that is, I would never stop loving them. The same is true with the love of Christ. There isn't anything about us, with our past or present or our questions that would cause Him to withdraw from us. He welcomes our questions and He’s okay with where we’re at. But never forget the life changing answer He gives us in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday God View

Have you ever found yourself reading the Bible entirely through the lens of what you want and what you feel? That is likely a trap and danger we've all faced. The statement, "I'm living own truth," is one I hear often and for me it translates as, "I'm doing what I feel is right regardless of what anyone else thinks, especially God."

St Augustine said, "If you believe in the Gospel what you like, and leave out what you don’t like, it’s not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”

Living truthfully, for me, means to trust that God is good even when my circumstances and I are not. Do I trust that God is a Redeemer and that all things that happen to me will work into the good because He loves me and has called me for a purpose? (Romans 8:28) Honestly, it’s hard to wrap my mind around the truth that God doesn't love me because I'm good, but He loves me because He is good…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Need Grace

Okay there’s this kind of Christians who is “stuck” outside the tension between law and grace – and specifically I’m talking about those who don’t know they need grace. I have been that girl at various times myself.

When you don’t know you need grace you come to the counseling room in righteous indignation. You come with your “rights” and “it’s not fair because there’s a sinner worse than you. This may include the spouse who drags their partner along to get fixed, the partner who doesn’t think they need fixing, the person angry with God for failing to fulfill their dreams and the one who simply cannot forgive. Accepting Christ means acknowledging our sin with the only cure being His grace. Jesus desires to confront the blackness of our hearts and change us. PRAY for yourself and others who need to KNOW and SEE how much we need His grace, because without it we can’t really love others…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Red Sea

The same God that parted the Red Sea for Moses is the same God for you and me. He never changes. He can make a way when there seems to be no way. His Word is comforting but when life’s hard it sometimes doesn’t seem as living and active as we’d like it to be. Because we can’t always “see” God working we sometimes question; “Is He doing anything?” When we’re feeling bruised and beat up and all we can see are more “Egyptians” coming it’s then that the, “We of little faith” rears its head. But God’s Word is living and active. And as Psalm 18: 30 says, “His way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.”

When life is hard it’s especially important to lean into God in faith, to trust in a never changing God who can make a way through all the Red Seas of our lives. Giving up control to God and living in His grace of love and kindness will see you through…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Kissing

“Debbie, do you think God is okay with a couple just kissing without anything physical going on? I need to know the difference between something being culturally prohibited, and something that God is angered by? This was asked by a young woman in another country. I thought of what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6; "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. Everything that God asks us to do, or not to do, is because He wants what’s best for us.

Unfortunately, the “world” leads us to believe that if two people mutually agree to be physically imitate then it’s fine, and the only caution is, “to be safe.” But there’s no such thing as “safe sin.” God calls us to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity. As far as kissing goes well that’s something between you and God. Some people wait and some don’t. Sometimes the danger in kissing is that it can lead to other activities that aren’t honoring to God. God is not a killjoy. He’s a “give-joy” and it’s out of His great love for you. He knows best…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Buzz Cut

It's not my husband’s fault. I should have taken our long-haired teen Joey to get a haircut before swimming practice, myself. My instructions were "Tell them long bangs and number three clippers on back and sides. Dan repeated several times; "Long bangs, number three clippers" in a singing voice so that it was practically a song.

Joey came home right before practice looking like he was headed to military boot camp. I lost it. And who knows what was going on with me personally, but I called Dan yelled at him and then the hair salon. This is so silly to me now. But I think what I was projecting about how I looked and felt onto how my son looked. What was the point of getting upset and making phone calls? The heart is what counts and hair grows. My best days are when I make it about loving and serving others with encouragement and kindness. God very clearly tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is kind.” Kindness is the most attractive quality you can have…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Out of Bed

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning (again) so I pulled the covers over my head, like I often do when life seems so heavy. I've tried to make it a habit to go to "The Throne" before "The Phone," which means I take my big hard copy Bible and open it up and read.

I came Psalm 18:6,” In my distress, when seemingly closed in, I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple and my cry came before Him, into His very ears.” Isn’t that comforting? God sees, knows and understands us. He is not surprised by what we're going through or what has happened, and He is always on the move with a plan of redemption. The relationship we can have with God, can be so personal and so intimate.

God's never condemning of our feelings or heartaches. He understands all of who we are, spiritually, mentally and physically. He understands and cares about everything we care about and hears our every cry and complaint. It all "comes to His very ears…. everyday."