Everyday Matters
Friday Matters
Everyday Anxiety
The earth experience is hard but it’s not our home. Knowing what we need to do and then doing it are two different things.
Everyday Anxiety
The earth experience is hard but it’s not our home. Knowing what we need to do and then doing it are two different things. I sometimes get these crazy anxious thoughts and then have a physical response by having an anxiety attack, but courage is to go forward despite it. I know I need to turn to God 100% to get to the other side.
Turning toward God and from the direction you were going is what “repent” means. In God’s holiness He must punish sin but, in His love, He didn’t want to punish us. Christ proclaims our infinite worth and His eternal love for us aside from any human standard, even our own. We will live forever in a community of equals – saints and sinners, all, saved by grace. Remember Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Our temporary imperfection is a quality which actually connects us to others rather than a secret shame which sets us apart. I still get anxiety attacks, but in faith I trust Christ…everyday.
Thursday Matters
Everyday Fig Tree
Jesus enters Jerusalem and from the masses gathered for Passover he’s met with cheering and excitement.
Everyday Fig Tree
Jesus enters Jerusalem and from the masses gathered for Passover he’s met with cheering and excitement. As he travels, he spots a fig tree “in leaf.” (Mark 11:13)
Jesus inspects the tree and is immediately disappointed. All leaves, no fruit. So, Jesus curses the tree and makes it wither from the roots, never to yield fruit again. This seems out of character for Jesus, but the fig tree cursing is not just about historical Israel. It’s about us and the people of God throughout time. The fig tree, like the bustling temple courts during Passover, was putting on a good show. It’s one thing to lack fruit out of season. It’s another thing to lack it while pretending you have it.
Our personal lives can look like we’re “in leaf.” Our leaves may look like those of a supermom, winning with a successful job, or we have an overstuffed schedule of ministry activities. But the root may be withered. There may be no fruit of holiness and no intimacy with God. What’s worse, our leaves may even fool us. In being a genuine Christian, you develop real and ripe fruit by the Holy Spirit…everyday.
Wednesday Matters
Everyday Addiction
I've always loved what Robert Downey Jr shared at an award ceremony years ago on how Mel Gibson gave him an opportunity, when he was struggling with addiction and needed help.
Everyday Addiction
I've always loved what Robert Downey Jr shared at an award ceremony years ago on how Mel Gibson gave him an opportunity, when he was struggling with addiction and needed help. When you receive God's forgiveness you can give forgiveness and then take responsibility by humbling yourself.
Every single one of us needs grace. We are all addicts on some level on wanting that which makes us feel good, what we think we deserve or when we feel “it’s not fair,” we indulge and justify what want to feel better. Sobriety isn't just from alcohol or drugs but from any substance, activity or person we use to gratify our flesh and numb our pain.
Only real love and forgiveness can set us free from self-hate, abuse and destruction. Christ is perfect love. There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)
From 1 Corinthians 15:10, I say, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain for I know He is with me…everyday.”
Tuesday Matters
Everyday Husband Flowers
I still remember the “just because I care” flowers from my husband sent a few years ago.
Everyday Husband Flowers
I still remember the “just because I care” flowers from my husband sent a few years ago. I had called my husband at his office to lament about some unresolved drama that I had …so Dan told me to come to his office. I did. But… then out of nowhere a “stress arrow” hit my husband and he began speaking from his book of Lamentations. He began talking about our finances, his workload, and health stuff. It was unusual for me, but I sat SILENTLY and prayed while tears ran down my cheeks.
I left the office with a hug and knew that everything would work out and be okay. I know God knows my hearting heart and that helps too. An hour later a beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived and a card from my husband saying, “I love you.” At the same moment a friend called and said, “I was praying and thought you might need to talk.” That’s JUST like God, supplying what we need when we need it…everyday.
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.
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.
Friday Matters
Everyday Perfect Forgiveness
“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 Perfect Forgiveness
“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,” this is wisdom from Francis Chan. In order for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts the Holy Spirit has to move in our lives. Lately I’ve been talking to God and asking for His Holy Spirit to move in me. I haven’t been able to really let go, like God, and forgive completely.
Sometimes it helps to think about 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. The truth of Philippians 4:13, “We can do all things through Christ’s strength.” Let’s pray, “Jesus’ help. By Your Holy Spirit give us the strength to let go and forgive…everyday.
Thursday Matters
Everyday Jesus 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.
Everyday Jesus 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.
Wednesday Matters
Everyday Corrie ten Boom
Corrie Ten Boom along with her Sister Betsy hid a number of Jews during the Holocaust, and both were caught and sent to a Concentration Camp.
Everyday Corrie ten Boom
Corrie Ten Boom along with her Sister Betsy hid a number of Jews during the Holocaust, and both were caught and sent to a Concentration Camp. Amazingly Corrie managed to smuggle in a Bible and held Bible studies in the barracks. God’s Word changed the lives it touched in a powerful way despite the circumstances.
Corrie was obedient to Ephesians 5:20; “Give thanks for all things,” but she wrote in her book; “God, I can thank You for almost everything, but I can’t thank You for the lice.” Still, she obeyed and realized it was the lice that prevented the guards from coming into the barracks where the Bible was. When I began to trust God and His Word (The Bible), God began to change me. Thanking God for my husband’s cancer seemed goofy at the time but now I see the many blessings that occurred during that season years ago. God is always on the move working and redeeming ALL things no matter how difficult they may be. He is always good…everyday.
Tuesday Matters
Everyday Debates
Aren't you just about crazy with all the political ups and downs, with debates, with labels.
Everyday Debates
Aren't you just about crazy with all the political ups and downs, with debates, with labels. How about self-righteous behaviors, unkindness and anger? I'm here to tell you I don't have a spotless record when it comes to the above-mentioned. I’m not always patient or kind and I need to be very mindful of Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." I get so frustrated with myself that I become unsettled so quickly. Even though, most mornings, I've been hearing God say to me, "I, your Heavenly Father, knoweth," from Matthew 6:32.
Our Heavenly KNOWS, sees & understands. I hear Him say: “I know your frustrations, I know your struggle with the circumstances, about the post you're commenting on, your good intentions and the grace that you need from Me and need to give to others. God knows what you’re going through because He’s been through it too. God gives us perfect love for the victory and so we might have hope and a peace.
You're not alone and your Heavenly Father is not going anywhere. He loves you. He knows…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?
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.