Everyday Matters
Friday Matters
Everyday Repent and Turn
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 Repent and Turn
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 Golden Rule
How many kids, when asked, would know what the golden rule is? Do you?
Everyday Bedtime Story
I still remember years ago returning home from my son’s skating class and thinking it probably wasn’t a good time to tell my husband Dan that our "check engine soon" light was on again even though the next day I had to make a trip which was 200 miles away. I didn’t tell Dan about the engine light because he was in the basement shop-vacing water due to a plug in our sewer line. My journal indicates that Joey was 7 and he asked again for The Book of Job for his bedtime story. “Irony,” I wrote. But I was immediately struck by Job's response after all his belongings and children are taken away; "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD."
Eventually, I had all four boys in bed and while I was folding laundry, I had a peace wash over me as I repeated over and over, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” No matter what happens there is peace… not because all that happens is good, but because God always is good…everyday.
Wednesday Matters
Everyday Sharing Our Hurt
Believe me I know what it means to hurt. The recovery from my scoliosis back surgery was horrendous both physically and emotionally
Everyday Enough in Jesus
Who are you? Do you believe who others say you are or who Jesus says you are? So many of us hurt with this brokenness because we believe the lies the enemy shouts, telling us we’re not good enough. And guess what? We’ll never be good enough, but GOD IS good and more than enough. HIS grace IS available for every situation, feeling and circumstance we go through. Romans 8:37 tells us; “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Shame has no place in our lives.
Travel one day at a time and know that you’re not alone. You’re not a mistake and your past doesn’t define you. My life has been turned upside down and inside out. It has taken sharp turns that I never envisioned or planned for and that may be true for you too. But no matter how life tries to shake you, shame you or shock you, the unconditional love of God, with no condemnation, will do the same and make all things new and beautiful…everyday.
Tuesday Matters
Everyday Not Fair
If you’re a mom you’ve heard; “I don’t want to. It’s not fair.” And if you’re like me your sure-fire response has been, “Life’s not fair.”
Everyday Not Fair
If you’re a mom you’ve heard; “I don’t want to. It’s not fair.” And if you’re like me your sure-fire response has been, “Life’s not fair.” BUT “back in the day,” when our four sons were young, I’d respond, “I understand you don’t think it’s fair and I’m sorry you don’t want to. But right now, I’m not interested in what you want. I’m interested in your obedience. I’m not open to discussion, I’m the mom and I’m in charge here.” I was confident and I wanted to help our four sons develop character to walk in obedience and respect and at the same time I wanted to walk in what I knew to be true rather than go with an emotional response.
“Yep” … my oldest responded, “Thanks Mom,” when I read Proverbs 30:17 “The eye that scorns obedience to his mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley.” Thankfully, (through it all) my children still have their eyesight. The message should be clear; in obedience and trust to God we receive our blessings …everyday.
Monday Matters
Everyday Law Discharged
Following the law is a good thing but more importantly it’s following love that makes all the difference.
Everyday Law Discharged
Following the law is a good thing but more importantly it’s following love that makes all the difference. Look at a verse like Romans 7:6; “But now we are discharged from the Law, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under obedience to the old code of written regulations, but under obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in newness of life.”
Knowing Jesus, we also have the Holy Spirit living in us. Let the Holy Spirit lead, guide, and control you. When we submit to His promptings, we experience new of life. The Law only gives us rules and regulations, and we feel guilty and condemned when we don’t follow them. I am often a rebel rule breaker. “Don’t cut the top of this box cover,” and I want to cut on the line I’m not supposed to. “No thru traffic,” does that really apply to me? I have to live by the Spirit Who gives the desire to do what is right but also the ability and a passion to do it. Oh, to serve God out of love and not of a sense of obligation is so freeing…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Eating
Over ten years ago I never really ate breakfast, unless you counted Diet Coke and chips. I ate what I wanted when I wanted.
Everyday God Thoughts
We live in some dark times and a lot of that darkness is in our own thought life. The best way to overcome the enemy and his dark lies is to think on truth and light. We choose what we think on. I chose to memorize Ephesians 3:16 which goes, “God grant me out of the rich treasury of Your glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power
by the Holy Spirit Himself indwelling my innermost being and personality,” I think of that verse as a “sign-me-up” verse. Don’t you want that in your life too?
God gives us His Holy Spirit to make His home in us by the relationship we have with Christ. When the Spirit is stirred in us then there is no place for dark and destructive thoughts. God is good, with good truth and promises. Let Him direct your thoughts. Choose what you think on…everyday.
Thursday Matters
Everyday Golden Rule
How many kids, when asked, would know what the golden rule is? Do you?
Everyday Golden Rule
How many kids, when asked, would know what the golden rule is? Do you? I remember asking our four sons when they were younger and not all knew the answer which is, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” We may know it, but do we live it? There are broken marriages, churches, friends fighting, there’s brokenness. Taking this golden truth to heart is another matter.
Jesus loves us…. really loves us…as we are. And He says, “I give you a new commandment; it is My commandment; it is all I command you; Love one another as I have loved you.” Only compassion and forgiveness count. Love is the key to everything. I think most times we treat others how we think they deserve to be treated but think if Jesus did that with us and gave us what we deserved? I know, right? I’d be toast. Not only do our kids need to be reminded of this, but we do also too and then live by example with kindness toward others by God’s grace not out of vengeance when we’ve been hurt. Simply, love one another…everyday.
Wednesday Matters
Everyday Sharing Our Hurt
Believe me I know what it means to hurt. The recovery from my scoliosis back surgery was horrendous both physically and emotionally
Everyday Sharing Our 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 parent’s 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.
Tuesday Matters
Everyday Popular
I don’t get why Jenny is so popular? She’s not that nice but people seem drawn to her?
Everyday Popular
I don’t get why Jenny is so popular? She’s not that nice but people seem drawn to her? Maybe if I try act more like Jenny and dress and wear my hair the way she does I’d be liked more and more popular? Have you been stuck in the shadows where you don’t realize the beauty of how God created you? He doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to another and be something we’re not because He didn’t make a mistake with you.
Life can be hard and I think we’ve all had those moments thinking the grass is greener on the other side but guess what? That grass has to be mowed too. When I read Ephesians 12, I see that I’m God’s workmanship and He’s created specific things for each of us to do by the way He created us. Comparison is the thief of joy. Focus on being the blessing God created you to be with the gifts He’s given you…everyday.
Monday Matters
Everyday Sharing Our Hurt
Believe me I know what it means to hurt. The recovery from my scoliosis back surgery was horrendous both physically and emotionally.
Everyday Tired Mom
Last week after attending a “mom’s group” a friend wrote and said, “I know God’s strength is there. I know the verses that are there. But sometimes I just need to vent how tired I am of being “the mom.” I wanna scream, ‘My joy is being robbed!’”
I’m so glad she felt safe enough to share her heart and vent! She didn’t want a solution or a string of Bible verses from me. What she needed was a friend who had been there too. She needed to be heard. That’s it. And how many times has God told me, “Sometimes Debbie the best way to love someone is for you to keep your mouth shut!” This is basic advice from Ephesians 4:2; “Be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love.” Communicate love for a friend by simply letting them know you’re there for them, ready to listen, ready to pray and acknowledge the hard places. It’s who Jesus is for us…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Eating
Over ten years ago I never really ate breakfast, unless you counted Diet Coke and chips. I ate what I wanted when I wanted.
Everyday Eating
Over ten years ago I never really ate breakfast, unless you counted Diet Coke and chips. I ate what I wanted when I wanted. I even remember standing in my kitchen one morning at age 41; eating chips and drinking my Coke thinking, “I feel so great! I wonder how long I will be able to keep this diet going?!” And I thought because I was healthy in my relationship with God, reading the Bible and doing Pilates occasionally I’d be just fine. “Who needs green leafy vegetables?” But five months after having these thoughts I started getting sick with a lot of different infections and then came emotional anxiety and… well…I kinda crashed.
There were other factors that played into my “crash”, but I heard God clearly speak to me. Yes, He had great plans for me, but I needed to take care of my diet. 1 Corinthians 6:19; I don’t just belong to myself; I’m God’s girl and I honor Him by the way I live my life and take care of myself…. everyday.
Thursday Matters
Everyday Burn
I did something stupid. I put a cup of hot water in the microwave to heat for tea. When I went get the mug the boiling water spilled on my hand and I had a second-degree burn.
Everyday Burn
I did something stupid. I put a cup of hot water in the microwave to heat for tea. When I went get the mug the boiling water spilled on my hand and I had a second-degree burn. After two weeks I still had scabs and it was disgusting. It throbbed with pain the first four days and when I’d look at it, I’d think; “It will always hurt this much. It will never get better.” Of course, it wasn’t true but I felt it.
But time and prayer bring healing. In Genesis 8 God says that as long as the earth remains, there will be “seedtime and harvest.” When you walk in God’s path, you must be patient like the farmer who plants the seed and expectantly waits for the harvest and then looks forward to reaping the harvest. But there is a time between seed planting and harvest. Don’t become frustrated in that process. Galatians 6:9; “Don’t give up.” God’s on it. He knows…everyday.
Wednesday Matters
Everyday Simple Prayer
Sometimes I like reading the Message Bible because of its everyday relatable language. I mean look at Matthew 6 telling us how to pray The Lord’s Prayer
Everyday Simple Prayer
Sometimes I like reading the Message Bible because of its everyday relatable language. I mean look at Matthew 6 telling us how to pray The Lord’s Prayer; "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place and just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.
The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. God knows better than you what you need. Pray simply: Our Father in heaven, reveal who You are. Set the world right; Do what's best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty…everyday!
Tuesday Matters
Everyday Useful Words
Two most useful words that we need to actually use more often are “okay” and “no.”
Everyday Useful Words
Two most useful words that we need to actually use more often are “okay” and “no.” Many times, we’re trying to be such people pleasers, so we say YES instead of NO, or we try and fix ourselves and others when it’s better to say, “Okay” and accept what’s happening. It could go like this, ““No, that is not who God says I am,” or “No, that is not where God wants me” followed by, “No, I will not be an approval addict.”
The other useful word “Okay” can work like this; “Okay, you see it this way and I don’t.” “Okay, I am sick right now, but it will pass.” In scripture we read where Jesus didn’t answer at all but allowed people to follow their own folly and He mostly used the word “no” when speaking to the religious leaders. Do you trust God to the extent that even when it's hard, you’re at peace to say, “Okay” and “No?” I’m not there but I know with Him it’s possible and useful in moving forward…everyday.
Monday Matters
Everyday Again the Enemy
“If God has such great plans for me, why is it, they all seem to be falling apart?” Everyone seems against me.
Everyday Again the Enemy
“If God has such great plans for me, why is it, they all seem to be falling apart?” Everyone seems against me. Some talk about a devil but is he even real? Does he have horns and carry a pitchfork? Yep, the devil is real. He’s not a Halloween costume and he has plans to destroy the ones God has.
Face the fact that there’s an enemy who’ll never leave us alone, but we don’t have to let him bother us. “Oh, it’s you again,” I’ve said, rather than caving into the temptation to give up. Satan throws garbage lies at us because it's the way he is able to hurt God. When someone attacks your kids, you take action to protect them because you’re on their side. God is on our side too. We are created in His image. “Be bold,” I told my son, David. “You can be aware of the devil, but you don’t have to let him get to you.” We have redemption through Christ and nothing that’s happened to us is so destructive that God can’t redeem it…everyday.
Friday Matters
Everyday Fervent Love
The enemy will never leave us alone, but we don’t have to let him bother us. That means we don’t react to unkind or bad behavior of others by hitting back or seeking revenge.
Everyday Fervent Love
The enemy will never leave us alone, but we don’t have to let him bother us. That means we don’t react to unkind or bad behavior of others by hitting back or seeking revenge. Love is our highest calling, but some people are so annoying who continue with bad behavior with no sign or willingness to change. Well, it is not loving to ignore that behavior either. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us to above all things have intense love--to have a “fervent love” for one another. The Greek verb form of “fervent” when translated means "to be hot, to boil."
For eight of my growing-up years my mom cooked and baked food on an old-fashioned blue enamel cook stove and even a fly knew not to land on the stove when it was hot. When our love is “HOT” or “boiling over” for those around us, it is also too hot for the devil to destroy. To fervently love someone means we are intent on giving out love to others from the love God’s given us…everyday.
Thursday Matters
Everyday Sinners and Saints
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 Sinners and Saints
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. We may have these crazy anxious thoughts and even have a physical response by having an anxiety attack, but courage is to go forward despite it.
It’s only by admitting our weakness and humbly changing direction toward God that we are repaired by God’s generous love. In His holiness He must punish sin because sin separates us from God but in His love, He didn’t want to punish us. On the cross Christ accomplished both His holiness and His lovingness. 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. Becoming transparent and vulnerable will set you free and change you as well as other lives around you…everyday.
Wednesday Matters
Everyday Mom Memories
Five years ago, Susan’s mom was in a car accident that resulted in her losing all of her long-term memory.
Everyday Mom Memories
Five years ago, Susan’s mom was in a car accident that resulted in her losing all of her long-term memory. When Susan was little, her mom and she used to quote from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ where one of them would ask, “Have you ever seen a dragon fly?” And the other would reply, “I have, I have seen a dragon fly!” The other evening the daughter was sitting with her mom while they were watching TV and the daughter randomly asked, “Have you ever seen a dragon fly?” And her mom responded, “I have, I have seen a dragon fly!” They stared at each other, and then Mom jumped up and shouted, “Oh my goodness, I remember!”
We go back to our own mom memories and sometimes we want to be the little child sitting on our mom’s lap, but that season is gone so we grieve and then try and be the child our mom needs now. You wanna scream; “I’m not ready,” and I get it. But let’s ask God to help us see and remember what’s good right now in this season…everyday.
Tuesday Matters
Everyday Earth Experience
This earth is not our home. Good…because it’s so stinkin’ hard some days. I so often have to look up and find the hope to move forward.
Everyday Earth Experience
This earth is not our home. Good…because it’s so stinkin’ hard some days. I so often have to look up and find the hope to move forward. Hope is basically the belief that something good is going to happen, there’s something better that’s ahead. We need hope for this earth experience now, but we also have an eternal hope when we confess and profess that Jesus is Lord and the only one who can remove our guilty sins.
One of the most helpful things I can do is to go public with my struggles while sharing the hope that I have. When I openly share my hard places and say a promise, say from Philippians 1:6, where God tells us, “He Who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it until the day He returns,” I find that I’m not alone because someone else needed to hear exactly the same thing. The earth experience is hard, but God is always good. Keep on keeping on…everyday.
Monday Matters
Everyday Crabby
I’ve been so crabby lately that I feel like saying words I wouldn’t normally say just for the shock to hear the words roll out of my mouth, but it is a conscious choice not to bite everyone's head off in my family because I'm so crabby.
Everyday Crabby
I’ve been so crabby lately that I feel like saying words I wouldn’t normally say just for the shock to hear the words roll out of my mouth, but it is a conscious choice not to bite everyone's head off in my family because I'm so crabby.
Disappointment is my problem right now. I want to be further along than I am. And then there’s these human being people that God created that I’m called to love but right now some of them are really disappointing me and we all know from Proverbs 13:12 that hope deferred makes the heart sick. But God reminded me of the verse I had memorized a year ago from Romans 10:11 which helped me to focus on who I should put my trust in; “The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.” Isn’t that good? God will NEVER disappoint you! So have a crabby day but don’t let it spiral you down because He’s here to lift you up…everyday.