Friday Matters

Everyday Jesus Power

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 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 Jesus King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Yes, and if He is not the Savior of the world, He’s a lunatic. He’s 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.

Thursday Matters

Everyday The Enemy

I have to constantly remind myself who the enemy is. It’s not other people like we so often think (not that the enemy doesn’t use people because he does) but he’s the real enemy. Satan’s everyday goal is for our destruction to break up relationships, friendships, families and marriages. God tells us in Ephesians 6 that our armor isn’t gonna just jump on us but that we have to put it on. When it’s cold outside you put on a coat, not just once but every time it’s cold. So let’s look at what it is:

1) Helmet of Salvation-We are covered by Christ’s blood & we need to protect our thoughts

2) Belt of Truth-To combat the lies of the enemy

4) Shoes of Peace-We can receive peace no matter what

5) Shield of Faith-Holding on to God’s promises in faith no matter what happens

6) The Sword of the Spirit/The Word of God-This weapon is defensive & offensive.

Put on the full armor of God and you will have victory and be able to overcome the enemy because God is greater…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Thanks for Everything

Wow is Ephesians 5:20 a difficult verse to follow; “Give thanks FOR all things?!” That almost seems kinda messed up even though I know that obedience brings a blessing.

Visiting a friend a few years ago at the Mayo Clinic Psych Ward I had a huge anxiety attack alone in the hallway with hyper-ventilating…the whole works. But when driving home the next day I heard God say, “Thank Me for the anxiety attack.” I kinda laughed and thought…that’s crazy but I did it anyway; “Thank You God for the anxiety attack.” I continued to repeat and thank God for something so awful but then I began to sense His great love for me. I felt overwhelmed by His love and so I started saying; “You’re so nice to me.” His presence was so real I had to pull over to the side of the road because I was crying so hard. God’s ways aren’t always ones we understand but His ways are perfect…everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Judge Not

It’s so easy to judge others, isn’t it? We often do it when we feel crummy about something inside of us, so we find someone else’s problems to judge. When we begin to sinfully judge others it is characterized by a feeling of superiority or resentment. Sinful judging often involves deciding what others’ motives may be. It reveals the absence of genuine love. We get together with others to discuss someone’s problems when instead we should be praying for them.

A listener wrote to me about this problem with, "The sad truth is that when we judge someone’s heart, perhaps because we’re angry and hurt, there is often gossip involved. The one judged, becomes what I call, ‘boxed and labeled’ by the accuser and the gossip-hearers.” Exactly. God promises us vindication. Isaiah 54:17 reads; “No weapon turned against you will succeed.” Wait on God and He we will silence those voices who stand to accuse you unjustly. God promises redemption and vindication…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Needy

There’s someone hurt needing our healing, unloved, needing our touching; old, needing to feel that we care; weak, needing the support of our shared weakness. I get it. Brennan Manning, author and speaker, who has since left this earth for his home in heaven, still inspires me. He said, “One of the most healing words I ever spoke as a confessor was to an old priest with a drinking problem. “Just a few years ago,” I said, “I was a hopeless alcoholic in the gutter in Fort Lauderdale.” “You?” he cried. “O thank God!”

When we bring a smile to the face of someone in pain, we have brought Christ to them. I know hurt, ache and pain. What helps me? It’s NOT to hear more of what I should and should not do. I need to hear; “There’s hope. I’m sorry for this ache in your heart.” What should we do to those hurting around us? Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who have reason for joy. We are all in this together…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Heavenly Tent

Some seasons bring more groaning than others. Every year I wonder how I made it through January. But I make it because of God's goodness and grace, God's undeserved kindness. There's always hope. But, there are times I can't groan or find my voice because I'm stunned with the ache and anxiety of it all. It’s a comfort to know that God understands and doesn't condemn you for your feelings.

2 Corinthians 5:1-7 talks about our bodies being a tent. We read, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven. For in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we wish to be clothed in our heavenly home. Thankfully God has given us His Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.” It’s okay to groan. This earth is not our home, and some seasons are harder than others. It’s a decision to walk by faith and not by sight and get the help we need…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Do Not Hate

“God loves the people you hate." I have that sticker on my car (with a multitude of other stickers) and recently I really thought about what it meant. God loves every single human on earth. We’re equally loved by Him. Oh, I hear you, the frustration of people, those who’ve hurt you, been unkind, and downright mean.

But, instead of emotionally fighting back, stay quiet. It doesn't mean you’re not hurt by what someone says or posts but by His grace choose not to be "moved" and harbor bitterness. Romans 12:19 says God will avenge us and take care of the others person like He does us.

Jesus came as the Good News to redeem us all. The Christian faith is the only faith where God says, "love your enemy" and not take revenge. Stand up to evil and hate sin but don’t forget, the real enemy is Satan who wants to destroy our relationship with God and others. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar.” (I John 4:19) God gives you the grace to love the most difficult…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday God Power

We’ve all made mistakes because we’re all sinners. Our sins hurt us and others on some level. God loves us and will use our messes to help ministry to others, but Satan will always try and condemn us, and he also works in others with his lies. You may have someone trying to convince you that your past can’t be forgiven unless you follow their rules of forgiveness. Or maybe it’s you are thinking, God couldn’t possible forgive “that” sin. Listen to 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” Okay so think about how our kidneys work in our bodies, continuously cleansing us from impurities.

Well, there IS POWER IN THE BLOOD of Jesus Christ which cleanses us, not just in the body, but in the spirit, continuously. Our responsibility is to admit we’ve sinned and CONFESS. We don’t ever want a sin blockage so our prayer life is polluted, and we can’t hear His voice of truth and healing…everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday On Fence

Here’s the deal from 2 Corinthians 5:17; "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here.” However, that doesn’t mean our flesh isn’t at times screaming for what is pleasurable from our old life. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we let the past be the past.

It’s not what we do, but what God does in and through us that sets us free. Our “do” is our choice to listen to His voice and His Word. James 4 tells us that if we choose to be a friend of the world, we take our stand as an enemy of God. Wow. We may say, “I’m a Christian,” but are we really “saved” when we choose to follow what the world has approved but God calls sin? We may still struggle with sin, but it’s important that we ask God to move in and change us. Confess, repent, and stop riding on the fence. I still sit on the fence, I must confess. But by receiving God’s grace I get better …everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Welcoming 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, but sinners are. 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. He pardons us. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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,” 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 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. 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. 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? 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.