Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
4/30/2019
Heaven is RealTuesday Matters-April 30, 2019
Everyday Eternal One of the very first verses I remember learning in Sunday school was John 3:16; "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." And I understood as much as I could at age seven that because of the sacrifice of Jesus paying my debt I had inherited eternal life. But I never thought much about how my life on earth would affect my life in heaven. It’s hard to understand that how we live and what we do in this life will affect how deeply we enjoy eternity. The gifts and talents God’s given us to fulfill a purpose continues into eternity. There are far too many people who end their life because they’re in complete despair with no hope. But oh to know the truth that this earth is not our home and that eternal life in heaven is a meaningful with purpose but no more pain and tears. Receive Christ and the hope of eternity …everyday. 4/29/2019
God will find youMonday Matters-April 29, 2019
Everyday Direction I drove almost 50 miles in the wrong direction coming home from an event and if that wasn’t enough this loud pop noise from my van told me a tire must have blown. I pulled to the side and discovered that a black plastic shield thing which protected my tire was now dangling by one screw. The tire was fine so I drove with this long black tongue dragging behind to look for an exit. I stopped when I saw a trucker tying his cargo down because the wind was whipping so fierce. Ray, the trucker, kindly slid under my van and unfastened the plastic shield. Thanking Ray I handed him a CD of messages I’d recorded. He looked at it and then me and said, I’ve heard you on the radio. Ray started sobbing as he shared he had walked away from God. I began praying for him and crying too. We both sensed God had me go the wrong way to encourage Ray that God did not walk away from him. God goes the distance to meet us…everyday. 4/26/2019
Mental Illness and MedicationFriday Matters-April 26, 2019
Everyday Meds “Lisa,” I wrote; “I know exactly where you’re at. You’re not a “bad Christian” because you went on medication for your depression. God doesn’t think that. He loves you where you’re at.” I went on meds for anxiety. It was hard. I felt; “Maybe I wasn't reading the right scripture, praying right or maybe I didn't have enough faith. We live in a fallen world with sickness and disease. The enemy wants us to believe we’re a failure when our sickness is mental but it’s a lie. We’re sick. We need healing and stability and we limit God when we say He can only work on way. It was pride that kept me from wanting to take meds. I wanted to say; “God healed me without medication." Instead He provided a way through meds. It’s a mind battle. It helped me to hear National Speaker Chonda Pierce dealt with meds and depression. She taped a message to her prescription bottle which read; “God loves you Chonda. Take your medicine.” Don’t lose hope. You will get better…everyday. 4/25/2019
Finaces and God’s mercyThursday Matters-April 25, 2019
Everyday Mercy “Dan, c’mon, please pay the bill. My allowance won’t cover it.” I was at my husband’s office asking for grace as I handed him the bill from spending too much at J. Crew Catalog. Whew…he forgave and paid the bill. I was relieved. But when I went home I discovered that a stick of butter, my special cake plate and a container of frosting was missing. I knew my nephew had baked a cake while I was away so I called and scolded him for not replacing my supplies. When I hung up the phone I realized I was acting like the ungrateful servant in Matthew 18. A king was about to punish this servant for a debt of millions but instead had pity and forgave. But was this servant grateful? No, he instantly found his friend who owed him a few thousand and when instant payment wasn’t given he had the man thrown in prison. Okay, so I got the memo. God gives fresh mercy to us each day so how can we afford to withhold mercy from others who need it too…everyday. 4/24/2019
God Protects you from the enemyWednesday Matters-April 24, 2019
Everyday God is Greater “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. 4/23/2019
God pursues youTuesday Matters-April 23, 2019
Everyday Direction I drove almost 50 miles in the wrong direction coming home from an event and if that wasn’t enough this loud pop noise from my van told me a tire must have blown. I pulled to the side and discovered that a black plastic shield thing which protected my tire was now dangling by one screw. The tire was fine so I drove with this long black tongue dragging behind to look for an exit. I stopped when I saw a trucker tying his cargo down because the wind was whipping so fierce. Ray, the trucker, kindly slid under my van and unfastened the plastic shield. Thanking Ray I handed him a CD of messages I’d recorded. He looked at it and then me and said, I’ve heard you on the radio. Ray started sobbing as he shared he had walked away from God. I began praying for him and crying too. We both sensed God had me go the wrong way to encourage Ray that God did not walk away from him. God goes the distance to meet us…everyday. 4/22/2019
Profanity and SwearingMonday Matters-April 22, 2019
Everyday Oh God We hear it all the time, the phrase “Oh, my God!” to express a thought or idea that is incredible or unbelievable. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. But as we grow in a relationship with Christ we need to realize that when we say, “Oh, my God” we’re, in fact, violating one of God’s Ten Commandments; “You shall not use the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) My husband tells the story, when as a new believer returning to play cards with his buddies, he very intently asked them not to swear using God’s name; if they did he wouldn’t be able to play. There was a stunned silence until one of his friends spoke and said, “Okay, we’ll respect that.” Another guy said, “But can we still say, ‘blankity-blank and blank?’” My husband said, “Sure, that’s fine, just don’t use the name of the Lord in vain.” There’s such power in God’s name. He is Holy. He is Love. He and His name should always be respected and honored…everyday. 4/19/2019
Blessed are the PoorFriday Matters-April 19, 2019
Everyday We are the poor I mean honestly, when I began to really understand what Jesus was offering me with complete forgiveness and no condemnation I could stop pretending and performing. 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 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. For more encouragement in Everyday Matters visit DebbieGriffith.com 4/18/2019
A New You in ChristThursday Matters-April 18, 2019
Everyday New You It’s the New Year and so New Year-New You!. "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.” 2 Corinthians 5:17; I’ve read it a million times but that doesn’t mean our flesh isn’t at times screaming for what we found pleasurable in our old life. ONLY through the power of the Holy Spirit (not our own strong wills) can we can truly let the past be the past. James 4 tells that if we choose to be a friend of the world we take our stand as an enemy of God. Wow. It’s hard, weird and confusing with so many noble projects and movements to become involved in but is all of it for Him? Are we really a “Christ Follower” when we choose to follow what the world has approved but God calls sin? It’s important to listen to each other, connect and find that empathy rather than immediately judge. When we’re made new in Christ we need to march together, listen and love one another each new day…everyday. For more encouragement in Everyday Matters visit DebbieGriffith.com 4/17/2019
Always HopeWednesday Matters-April 17, 2019
Everyday Hope Always I’m trying to focus on God but just can’t seem to do it while I’m in the pit,” someone wrote me. “I wish my spouse would give up this other person and want to reconcile, but they have no desire. Yuck. I’m so sorry if that’s person is you. There’s ALWAYS HOPE. I clung to the words from Micah 7:8 when I was in a dark place. Listen. “As for me I will wait on the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch. I will wait with hope and expectancy in the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. So rejoice not against me, oh my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me.” Powerful…I know…right? There is light up ahead. Do what you can do while you wait and focus on helping someone who needs it. You’ll end up helping yourself. Never give up. Always hope. God knows and He’s got you…everyday. For more encouragement in Everyday Matters visit DebbieGriffith.com |
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