Friday Matters

Everyday Sharing Hurt

Believe me, I know what it means to hurt. The recovery from my scoliosis back surgery was horrendous both physically and emotionally. And I was surprised at how the issues resulting in my parents’ divorce of 44 years affected me emotionally and physically too. Hurt from someone you love is pure pain. But I’ve noticed that the more I open up and share my heart of pain the more people respond to share their own hurts of an unfaithful spouse, abuse, absent love from a parent and the pain from their own children. Oh, the sins of others have such painful consequences for so many of us.

So more than ever I’ve been holding on to Zechariah 9:12 by returning to Jesus my stronghold of security and prosperity as a prisoner of hope; believing that God will restore double for my trouble. Real hope is a constant positive attitude that in trusting my Redeemer, and despite what may happen, things will change for the better…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Sins Forgotten

When we’ve been hurt AND the person who’s hurt us isn’t even sorry, our flesh wants nothing to do with this person but to reject them. But what does Jesus do?” Jesus never rejects us but He does reject our sinful behavior.

The two greatest commandments tell us to love God passionately and then to LOVE OTHERS as He does. So when someone has sinned against us, whether intentionally or unintentionally, we must actively choose to forgive them and then choose NOT to remember their sins against us. Actively choosing not to remember is different than forgetting. In Jeremiah 31:34 God says He will “remember no more” the sins of His people. This is not memory failure. This is God’s choice to no longer hold our sins against us. God will vindicate us as He promises. I know it’s hard but follow and obey God rather than what you FEEL is fair because He understands and will take care of you and the other person…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.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday BUT…I Cannot

Even before I begin to encourage you I can hear some of you crying:

“BUT Debbie just listen to this injustice in my life…it’s so not fair!”

“BUT Debbie I don’t have a godly husband and my life is ruined because of him.”

“BUT Debbie I’m not like you I can’t just call on scripture when I need it!”

“BUT Debbie I know I shouldn’t care so much what others think but I can’t change.”

It sounds like a lot of you have “BIG-BUT SYNDROME.” Because there will always be excuses and even good reasons why you feel the need to start many of your sentences with “But-But… I can’t because…” But I’m telling ya while you can’t change someone else you can allow God to change you and the things you think on.

How about following what Romans 12:2 has to share; “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” through the power of the Holy Spirit…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Jesus Governs

I remember sharing a message with the teen youth group. I chose Isaiah 9:6 which begins; For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder…” And I thought how the government that is upon Jesus’ shoulders is not a political government but really refers to the governing in our lives. We are not supposed to be running our own lives. In fact, we aren’t qualified. I certainly don’t have the brains to know what is best so I’m so super thankful for God’s intervention and His love to guide my life. You see, the more God’s government increases in your life, the more He directs your thoughts, conversations, decision and action, well the more you have peace!

You need to be right with God just like I do so we have the peace on what He’s done and not what we’ve done. For me it was all about being on stage as an actress but now I see it’s not about my position or personality but about seeking HIM first where He fills me up with all I need…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Choose Love

God will never stop pursing you no matter how far you run and no matter what you do or don’t do. His heart breaks when we choose to do things that hurt ourselves or others. That is why He commands us in Matthew 5:44 to; “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

What? How does that make sense? Well, God created us in His image, and we are His children whom He loves so just because someone is your enemy doesn’t mean they’re God’s. They’re His lost child, and He wants them back. Yes, there are circumstances where we’re called to face the bully, the tyrant and say, “No more,” and fight back. But not out of revenge. God is not willing that any be condemned, but that all come to repentance. His great love says, “Confess to me your sins, turn back to Me. Nothing can separate My love from you.” This earth is temporary, and heaven is forever. Choose Love, receive love and follow Him…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Trust God

We can say we trust in God to avenge or defend us, but when we take matters into our own hands, we aren’t putting a lot of trust in God taking care of our hurt. A big challenge is not to pick up the offense of a friend or family member who’s been hurt. I’m guilty there. But when we take on someone else’s offense, we’re sucking the poison of their sin, and we become bitter along with them.

I’ve seen this happen when a parent’s anger towards someone passes on to their children. Remember if only one side of the story is presented you don’t have the whole truth and may have a cocktail of lies. It’s the enemy’s plan to ruin relationships. God’s plan is to restore. Follow Deuteronomy 30:19 which tells us to make the choices which bring life so that we and generations to come may live meaningful lives. More is caught than taught and the way your children trust God will have a lot to do with the way you trusted God in relationship conflicts…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!”

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Emotional Pain

I think that emotional pain is harder than physical pain? Can I get an “Amen?!” I mean I get physical pain from my recovery with scoliosis back surgery and having mono and flu where I never thought I’d leave the bathroom floor. However broken relationships, the loss of a loved one, and the failure of a plan or dream, well … that kind of pain is so much harder for me.

But it helps to remember God uses pain to get our attention. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. We rarely change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. But why does it get so hot? I hear ya. The answer is God’s love turns-up, it warms when it all seems so cold and hopeless. He’s always aware and He always cares. Proverbs 20:30, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Yes, God loves you, everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Peace of God

What is the peace of God? Can it be explained? I’ve discovered this: Peace is a knowing and not a feeling. One evening, a few years after my scoliosis back surgery in 2003, the rods along my spine seemed to wake-up and pinch certain nerves so I was in excruciating pain. Plus, I was on the bathroom floor vomiting into the toilet from the flu. After hours of this, fear crept in.

I wanted to feel better but more than that I wanted my fear and anxiousness to leave. John 14:27 popped into my head reminding me that God gives peace no matter what’s happening to me, no matter how awful it is. So I said aloud; “Jesus, I choose to receive the peace You give.” Something happened. I didn’t instantly feel better, but I KNEW better. I knew in my heart that God was with me and my pain and sickness would pass. There was hope. Knowing the peace of God rather depending on your feelings is a game changer…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Dark Valley

I had a season of depression and anxiety that I walked in for over three months in 2009, and it was so wretched that I actually had thoughts of, “Maybe it would be better if I wasn’t around.” But God brought me through this time, and I can understand how that season helped shape my faith. It’s like the words I read by Dr. Timothy Laniak, “This journey through the shadows purges the soul of its pride and earthly attachment. Our challenge in dry and dark times is to respond in simple faith--to believe that the unseen Divine Shepherd is with us in our unlit valley. We grope in hope until rays of light begin to push the night away. Eventually, as Job confessed, 'He reveals mysteries from the darkness, and brings us into the light.’" Job 12:22

Having emerged from the dark valley I now have a more balanced response to the mountain tops. And because of those difficult valleys, I can help others through their dark valleys that seem ever so dark and lonely. Jesus understands you and He will never leave you no matter how dark it gets…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Elijah

In the Bible, Elijah was a prophet and miracle worker who lived during the reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel. He is known for pursuing God’s people to worship God alone, no other gods, no other idols and Elijah continually admonished Israel to not be corrupted by Baal. His struggle was real and exhausting because Israel seemed to be in continued rebellion against God and yet God never leaves them.

Nevertheless, Elijah becomes exhausted and “over it” with the evil people of his time and so much so that he runs away and ask God to take his life but Elijah’s story takes a turn when He hears God speak in a still small voice and not through the earthquake, wind and fire that passes by him on Mount Sinai. Turns out Elijah needed a rest, a meal which God provided. We often look to the spectacular of God’s work but look to Him in the simple way He speaks His love to you through the scripture. His word of grace and provision in a difficult season is what Elijah needed and what we all need which is to rest in God…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.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Praise in Pain

It’s bizarre. “Praise God in the pain.” What? But I’ve done this, and it works. Oh, believe me, I don’t feel like praising God, but I do it because I know I have an enemy and he doesn’t like it because it weakens him. Praising God’s goodness, wisdom and love during times of pain and heartache is a beautiful expression of faith in action, a living expression of trust that shows Romans 8:28 is true; “God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to His will.”

I came across this little book by Dr. Robert Frost who wrote, “There is nothing more precious to God than our praise during affliction. Not praise for what the devil has done, but praise for the redeeming power of our loving heavenly Father. What He does not protect us from; He will perfect us through. There is indeed a special blessing for those who do not become offended at God during adversity. INSTEAD, we become a special blessing to Him…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Psalm Covering

When feeling lonely or afraid I go to the Psalms for comfort. It’s actually helpful to lament and express what we’re feeling so we don’t let us consume us. Psalm 91:4 really hit me the other day; “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. He will shield you with His wings. He will shelter you with His feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Imagine God like the Psalm reads-- a strong and majestic eagle Who’s there to shield you with His wings and protect you with His feathers.

When you’re fearful and anxious don’t think about the “what ifs” and other scenarios that will make you more anxious. Instead think about God’s promises of protection and redemption. In Romans 8:28 He promises to work all things for the good. Not all things are good, but God always is. It takes courage to walk forward in faith despite your feelings, but you can do it because God, the Protector will cover you and He’s as near as your heartbeat...everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Jesus Knows Rahab

Maybe you want to hide, and not disclose your past because you think it defines who you are right now? Well, it doesn’t. Come into the light of God’s love and let Him reveal the truth of who He says you are…beautiful and redeemed. There was a woman Rahab, a woman who had worked as a prostitute who lived in the “Promised Land,” the land God had promised to give to the Israelites. Joshua, their leader, sent spies to Jericho before entering the land to get the scope of the land and people. Rahab hid the spies in her home and in Joshua 2 she is told; “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.” And that’s what happened.

Rahab had a past, but she got “past it” and at the end of her life she had come to love the God of Israel. Sometimes when you’re so wreaked and wretched it is when the light can pierce your darkness. No matter how bad your past is God has forgiveness, a future and new beginning for you…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Loving Father

Do you picture God as a loving Father or a disciplinarian Father? To know God as a loving Father is to know that He isn't looking at you for all the good and right deeds you’re doing while as the same time trying to live a good, moral, and productive life. That’s not why He loves you. He loves you right where you are with all your messy mistakes and sin. It’s out of love for you that He came to cover and forgive you, so you don’t have to hide who you are. You can expose all of who you are, and God forgives with His love and grace, perfectly.

His death on the cross and resurrection give us hope to keep on keeping on. We don’t have to earn His love or be “good enough” because we never could. It will never be about what we sacrifice for God but what He sacrificed for us. We can look forward to a place where there's no more pain or tears, a place to reunite with loved ones, who've passed from this life, and together we can celebrate and live joyfully…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.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Jesus Forgives

"How do we love and accept difficult people?” Someone asked me that question. I know…right? God loves us ALL and we are all created in His image. The ONLY way to love others genuinely is by the love God gives to us. 2 Peter 1:9 really made me think, “For whoever lacks the genuine quality of love is blind to what they have been given from accepting Christ. Jesus has wiped off, erased from the books, our own sinful lives.” He's cleared us. We’re free.

I KNOW it’s hard. You’re hurt. It’s unfair. The “other person” has the problem and not you. BUT love covers. God covers you; He sees and knows all the stuff you shouldn’t have done and the things you should’ve done and He still loves you. Forgiveness sets you free. Sometimes I need to ask Jesus to forgive someone for me. So, I picture Him going to the person who’s hurt me and issuing a pardon and then He comes back to me and says, “It’s done. I did it for you. God’s amazing like that.…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday No More Shame

The message of Jesus is to LOVE and forgive others, which you can only do once you have seen your bad self and accepted His forgiveness. There’s this past so many people carry around that they cover because it’s filled with shame from harming themselves through “cutting,” an eating disorders, an affair, alcohol, abuse suffered, it’s all yuck. I read that 80% of memories are shame based. People carry shame because they think once they’re fully exposed or discovered they won’t ever be accepted or loved. But when their identity is solid, they’re stable. That’s why it’s vital that you hear who God says you are, loved, redeemed, not a mistake AND there’s sufficient grace for every second.

Psalm 91:1 is my 911 verse. It reads; “She who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will remain stable.” It means that when I can stand still and let myself be exposed. God covers me, my shame, my fear and replaces all that I’m not with all that He is. God can see the real you and He loves you…everyday.