Friday Matters

Everyday Holy God

I am thankful for God’s call on my life to love others. He hasn’t called me to hand out a rulebook or a list of “you should” and “you should nots,” which means He hasn’t called on me to point out the sins of others. He knows I have enough of my own stuff to clean up, and with His grace, how can I afford not to extend this gift to others?

I love people. I want to have fun, be real, love God and love others. But it’s also important to note that at no point does God not stop being holy. Out of His great holiness and power and might and mercy, do we then deny our own sinful desires and bow to Him. Our flesh wants what it wants and more of it. So, it’s only by God’s Holy Spirit in us that we can deny the flesh. I know the message of “sin is not in” and love always wins, but true love involves compassion with truth…everyday.

Thursday 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.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Holy Loving Savior

God is love. God is holy. Sometimes we can get out of balance with both…. too liberal in our definition of love or we become too legalistic in keeping God’s commands. Don’t miss the point; ABOVE ALL is God’s love.

We think since God has the power to do something, unless He does it, He does not love. Yet, because God is pure love, He cannot accept evil in any form. God's holiness demands consequences for sin. Today, many people want to run from consequences. The lack of teaching on true morality has lowered the bar. Sometimes we tell God; "Our sins are not so wrong. What others do is much worse." I’ve been there…done that. Ecclesiastes 12 tells us; “Everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” will come before Him. We are all in the sinner’s club and we all need to be in the Savior’s club …everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Confess Forgive

Do you feel rejected by a friend or family member? Let me tell you...YOU ARE NOT ALONE. James 5:16 is a verse that is helpful to apply because it says when we confess our own sin and pray for one another that we will be healed and THEN our prayers will have tremendous power. Most often I need to confess my own sin and hurt of wanting the other person to hurt because they’ve hurt me. We need to pray to see others as God sees them.

Let’s stop inserting into your head that sad CD which plays back all the hurtful things caused by broken relationships. When Jesus forgives us, He clears us of all unrighteousness. Our righteousness is not based on what we do but by knowing who we are in HIM! He asks us to forgive; not as a rule to earn favor with Him but for the purpose of being set free and reconciled.

Monday Matters

Everyday God Hook

It’s so hard when someone has hurt you and, “It’s not fair. Why is this happening to me?” I want payback now!” God IS taking care of things in HIS timing. He’s God and we’re not. Romans 12:19 is the promise from God saying. “I’ll take care of it because it’s Mine to avenge.”

But you’re having a hard time waiting and you’re angry. You know God loves you, but your anger prevents you from rational thought. You’re not alone here. We’ve all been “there.” Remember too that there’s an enemy and he will use others to get us riled up and sometimes in our anger we become sinful and downright mean. Let’s try to get in the habit of asking this question to ourselves, “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve posted about it. Relationships are the meaning of life, with God and others. I continually need God’s grace, when someone has hurt me, for me to let the person be taken off my hook and placed on His…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Orphaned

You may be an orphan and by that, I mean an individual who actually has parents but for whatever reason such as abuse, whether physically or emotionally, disinterest, or they’re just plain absent; you may be an orphaned child. I recently heard someone’s story whose case was just that. But guess what Psalm 10:14 says? When we commit to God, He is the helper to the orphan. God makes sure orphans have lots of parents.

God will place others to care and support you. Give up this ideal that it has to be the parents you are assigned to by birth or adoption. What’s really amazing is that when you let go and let God begin to show you the people He has for you to talk to, share your heart and laugh with, He may be using that time to prepare you to be a parent or sibling for someone who is an orphan too. God is good. Always. He’s got us covered and He knows who and what we need…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday T-Swift Opinions

“Shake it off,” is the advice of Taylor Swift in one of her songs. Good advice when “the haters” come out and attack you for your beliefs or choices they don’t agree with. The more we step up and out to express our opinions, we open the door to attacks. Certainly, what I write, or share is often imperfect, but God knows my heart. I simply want to talk about the One who is perfect. Jesus is, “The Way, The Truth and The Life.” We’ll always have questions, but Jesus doesn’t just have the answers. He is the answer. AND He tells us in in Matthew 10:14 that if anyone won’t welcome or listen to us about the truth of Him, we are to leave and shake the dust of our feet.

God’s delayed justice is so we might KNOW Him personally as our Savior before we know Him eternally as our Judge. God is always good even when life isn’t or the haters are hatin’ on you. Jesus gets you and He is for you…everyday.

Wednesday Matters

Everyday Hurting People

When someone hurts me, I need to remind myself of this truthful jingle; “Hurting people hurt people. Broken people help people." When I extend grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it or even ask for it, I find that I’m the one who’s set free. God only wants our pride broken and when that happens, we are able to give the grace which He extends to us. One of the hardest things EVER to do is to let the offense from someone drop and then choose not to rehearse the hurt over and over in our minds.

I KNOW the part about setting boundaries and not letting abuse go on but I’m talking about good ol’ fashioned forgiveness of letting something go and then being kind regardless of if I see justice in the way I want or in the time I want. God’s completely aware and cares. He tells us HE will take care of everything and the other person. Trust and let it go to HIM…. everyday.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Grief

The message read; “Oh my dear friend how I needed those words of encouragement tonight. It’s been less than a month that my sweet husband went to be with Jesus. He had a massive heart attack at age 52. My world will never be the same.” “Oh, that is so hard.”

Janice continued; “Thank you for sharing the post you did. It has kept me glued together tonight.” I’ve only met Janice through Facebook, but we’ve been friends for years. Knowing Christ, the Comforter doesn’t take away the ache; instead, it supports you in the middle of the ache. And the grieving process is not so much a matter of getting rid of the pain but not being controlled by the pain.” “Grief Devotionals by Dr. Larry Crabb is a source of hope for those dealing with loss. It’s hard. I am sorry if you’re in that place. Sit with people in their ache because simply having someone love you where you’re at is what helps more than you may know…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Eeyore

If I mope around like an Eeyore on a sunny day saying, it’s probably going to rain,” chances are no one’s gonna want to hang around me. But if I choose to have fun and laugh in the dreary rainy days then the possibility of others wanting to “hang with me” is much greater. I’m not perfect. And if I try to pretend that I am or share a story to brag about how spiritual I am, I find it only serves to repel others not draw them towards me.

When I share my shortcomings with a sense of humor and point to who God is and how He works in my everyday life-whether rainy or sunny; it’s then that I become an encouragement and God gets noticed. Nehemiah 8:10 is seriously true for me; The joy of the Lord is my strength because no matter what is going on nothing can take away the truth that God is for us, loves us and will never leave us no matter what the circumstances or weather…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Kenya

My friend Bert shared this story of a mission trip he did with Robert who was stationed in Kenya. Robert had brought a huge offering from a Swiss church for people in the northern area who were suffering from drought. Our Kenyan host was to deliver the money to the people but had other things on his mind and was not diligent in helping Robert get the money to the people. The funds were stolen. A man of grace, Robert called us to pray for the thief, asking God to forgive him and draw him to Jesus.

Later, Robert was asked why God allowed the offering to be stolen. He paused and said, "Sometimes we suffer so that others will learn.” This was a lesson for the Kenyan brethren, who’d been very casual with the great treasure entrusted to them by God. When the Swiss church heard what happened, they took another collection and doubled the offering. This time, the Kenyan congregation was very diligent in handling the funds. Perhaps a hard learned lesson but one that shows God is able to use all things for the good…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Pride

Pride is a difficult problem for us to deal with because it hides. Obadiah 1:3 says Pride deceives us and causes us to think we don’t have it. The only way I can have the patience with someone who’s difficult or who hurt me is when I’m able to ask God to let me see the person as He sees them. That’s humbling. I know pride is the poison behind many broken relationships.

The signs of pride include an unwillingness to admit fault or a reluctance to take responsibility for one’s actions. Yeah, I know you’re probably thinking of someone who needs to hear this, but that person maybe you! Pride wants to do all the talking and none of the listening. And pride doesn’t want to make peace because it’s so stubborn and doesn’t want to be instructed. It only wants to instruct others. Remember we are all of equal value in God’s eyes so let’s not esteem ourselves above the value of another but really LOVE one another…. everyday.

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.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday Kid Training

“I absolutely get what you’re saying,” shared one mom to another about raising a strong-willed child. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way they should go. When they’re old they’ll not depart from it.”

It’s not a verse that needs interpretation, said Beth, “but our oldest daughter determined to do everything the hard way no matter how we trained and directed her. Why didn’t this verse apply to our family? All scripture is breathed by God. He cannot lie. Are we parents who’ve failed in raising a follower of Jesus which is what we thought? Of course, we didn’t do everything right, but our daughter chose to go her own way. It’s not that she departed from the way she was trained; she just never arrived there in the first place, said Beth. God’s way is perfect, but we all have freewill and choices. We haven’t given up on her, and God certainly hasn’t given up on our daughter either. He knows the way. We hold on in hope and faith that someday our daughter will walk toward Him but no matter what, we love her and He loves her…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Camping

I came; I camped I conquered. I am not what you call “outdoorsy.” I am “indoorsy.” But in the way past, when my four boys and Dan and I were young, we camped. What this means is for two days and nights in a tent, with no outlets, and an outhouse bathroom and our camp stove. We slept, ate, hiked, had great conversations and played under the waterfalls at a State Park. AND we HAD FUN! Who knew? I thought I was better suited for “Camp Hotel with all the amenities” and I actually am BUT then I made a decision about my attitude.

On this particular camping adventure, in the early 2000’s, I went camping with a bladder infection BUT it quickly cleared up because of the antibiotic I was taking BUT the best medicine for my overall camping experience was my heart that God changed which Proverbs 17:22 talks about in that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it and we surrender to God for His grace and peace; we have a great adventure…everyday.

Friday Matters

Everyday Unfailing Love

When we love someone so much it’s sometimes difficult not to shout, “STOP you’re headed the wrong direction.” I see danger ahead. But no matter if we need to SHOUT or remain SILENT, we must walk in love. The truth of 1 Corinthians 13:1 is pretty clear, humanly speaking or even speaking as an angel we must have love or we’re simply a noisy clanging cymbal.

Sometimes it’s difficult to speak up because it’s uncomfortable or we know we won’t be received well. That’s happened to me and I’ve thought; “maybe I’m crazy for saying anything?” But the truth is you might be crazy but you’re dealing with crazy.” Nevertheless, when a word is spoken and not received, be it an apology, advice or our tears, there’s the time we must remain silent and wait and pray. We want to save a life but not drown a heart. There’s a fierce battle to fight in prayer that our loved one may know nothing about. But God knows. He cares. Love never fails…everyday.

Thursday Matters

Everyday Purposeful Suffering

How about the truth of Romans 5:3 saying you should exult and glory in tribulation. The Greek word for tribulation means “difficult suffering!” I know…right? But it’s important to understand that suffering isn’t always a consequence for sin. Suffering is allowed by God for you to develop perseverance. I don't really want to suffer. But listen, if we can endure trials and especially long and weary trials, this is proof that God is in us because this is His character of preserving in trails and suffering. Therefore, being able to endure a trial with grace and stamina is one of the great assurances that we are His! This assurance fortifies our hope and makes it so that we can boldly profess the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Often before God brings you a new opportunity in ministry you will go through a deep valley or trial.

But no matter what He brings you though He is loving, strengthening and preparing you for a purpose. Look to Him and You will see this truth…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.

Tuesday Matters

Everyday My Way

When I don’t get my way, I can get irritable and especially when I’ve carefully planned and thought how my way is best. As silly as it sounds, I sometimes don’t want to ask God what way He thinks because if His plan is different than mine, I don’t want to hear it. So, what I do now is express my fear, doubts and strong will for what I want but then say, “I want Your will” and I put my trust in His grace to lead and guide me. He cares about what we think. He knows our desires.

In Ephesians 4:15 Paul encourages us, “Grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head.” It should be our goal as believers to be one with God. When we are “born again,” we grow and mature spiritually in our minds, emotions and will. And then when this happens our desires become His desires. And being in sync with God gives a peaceful spirit not an irritable one even if our plans fall through…everyday.

Monday Matters

Everyday Teenage Discussion

If you’re a parent of a teenager, you know this; they know everything…just ask them. I remember years ago my 17-year-old son and I were in a heated discussion, and I was sure he’d be persuaded to take my advice because I had so many good stories and illustrations as to why I was right. I was just about ready to launch into another one when he stopped me; "Mom enough with the stories. Give me some scriptures on what God has to say." Oh, my, exactly, so I grabbed my Bible and found verses on what God had to say about what we were discussing. After reading I asked; "Does that help?" “Yes, Mom it does. Now I just have to process it.” I thought, “Yea, me too,”

How can we hear God when we don’t really know Him? To know Him is to know His Word, the Bible. Proverbs 3:7; Do not be wise in your own eyes,” which is what I was doing with my brilliant analogies. Wisdom come from the Word because God is the Word…everyday.