Everyday Matters by Debbie Griffith

5/31/2024

Kindness

Friday Matters- May 31, 2024
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.

5/30/2024

Mothering

Thursday Matters- May 30, 2024
Everyday Tired Mom

Last week after attending a “mom’s group” a friend wrote and said, “I realize my strength is in God and I know the verses I should apply but sometimes I just need to vent about how tired I am in being a 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 the advice from Ephesians 4:2; “Be completely 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. …everyday.

5/29/2024

Fitness

Wednesday Matters- May 29, 2024
Everyday Fitness Devotion

When my dear friend Shannon, a physical therapist opened her own fitness studio her goal was to help people focus on having a healthier body, but she and her staff are there to help others with their emotional and spiritual health as well. A great thing about having her own business is she’s able to do devotions with her employees each week (which was optional).

I remember her sharing how two of her employees were nudging and whispering to each other as she was reading devotions one day. When she approached the women they said, “We feel uncomfortable because we don’t think about God like you do, it’s a personal thing. And besides, we think God and business should be separate.” Well Shannon didn’t so the girls made a choice to move on. It was disappointing but I told Shannon she should continue to be obedient to what God has called her to do because as 1 Samuel 2:30 says; “Those who honor Me I will honor” …everyday.

5/28/2024

Marriage

Tuesday Matters- May 28, 2024
Everyday Marriage Break

Unfortunately, I hear from a lot of people sharing how their marriage is breaking up due to a spouse finding someone new. “I wish my spouse would give up this other person and want to reconcile, but they have no desire for me anymore. I’m trying to focus on God, but I want deliverance from this pit,” someone wrote me. I ache for this person, but I told them; “With Jesus there is always hope.” The enemy wants us to believe lies and fall into despair.

Proverbs 1:31 is also pretty clear about the person who continues in sin; “Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.” But if we choose to trust what we know of God Proverbs 1:33 is pretty clear; “But all who listen to Me will live in peace, untroubled by fear or harm.” Go to the Bible for comfort, read aloud, lament, cry out to God. He knows and cares about hurting heart and He knows how to give you hope…everyday.

5/27/2024

Traditions

Monday Matters-May 27, 2024
Everyday Family Notes

I still remember about 20 years ago wandering around this grandpa and grandma home, admiring all the old pictures and furnishings of a couple in their late 70’s who have now since passed away. On a door near the kitchen leading to a loft upstairs were taped several comics and newspaper clippings. One cut-out quote really touched me by S. D. Gordan; “A father and mother living together with their children, tender in their love, pure in their lives, strong in their convictions, simple and orderly in their habits, do definitely more than presidents, governors, legislators and clergymen can do in making a strong nation.”
How cool is that? It reminded me of the Mother’s Day Card my oldest son had given me as a twelve-year-old. It used the acronym MOM. “M is for Married,” he wrote, “I’m thankful you’re married and with our dad.” Pretty powerful. Yes, love is a choice and not just a feeling. Joshua 24:15 says it well, “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” …everyday.

5/24/2024

Mission Work

Friday Matters- May 24, 2024
Everyday India Tech

Again, I found myself dealing with my Internet provider so I could once again send and not just receive an email through my website account. God bless Amrinder who I spent 138 minutes with trying to solve my problem. And although this wasn’t my first time feeling frustrated and impatient with computer technology, I needed Holy Spirit intervention and deep breaths to keep calm and carry on. I can live my life following Colossians 3:17 as a representative of Jesus because of His grace represented in how I deal with crazy-making issues.

Yes, I was calling to receive a service, but I also had the opportunity to serve by listening and asking questions. It turns out Amrinder was from India and so we talked about the movie Slum Dog Millionaire. I heard from someone who knew about the poverty and the use of children that the movie addresses. I not only got my tech issue fixed but I was able to fix my focus on listening and loving another. Life is about loving God and loving people… …everyday.

5/23/2024

Healing

Thursday Matters- May 23, 2024
Everyday Burned Healing

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 is on it. He knows…everyday.

5/22/2024

Faith

Wednesday Matters- May 22, 2024
Everyday Furnace Faith

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are three teenagers we can read about in the Bible who refused to bow to a golden idol and their punishment landed them in a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. But think of the courage they had in responding to King Nebuchadnezzar; “Our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us. But if He doesn’t, let it be known that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

They stood strong in their faith and as the king himself said; “These men were delivered by their God for they believed in, trusted in, and relied on Him!” Our faith shouldn’t be dependent on whether we see all that we want to see in our lifetime, or whether our dreams come true or we’re free from pain. Let our faith stand on the belief in God’s Word whose purpose for our lives will be accomplished in His perfect way and timing...everyday.

5/21/2024

We Need Grace

Tuesday Matters- May 21, 2024
Everyday Gossip

I saw a cartoon once where three women were round a table praying and the caption said, “It’s not gossip if you’re eyes are closed.” I laughed but it also made me think. It’s important that what we share in prayer is either done with permission or an understanding that if the person we’re praying for was sitting next to us we’d still feel comfortable.

Legitimately we may share our concerns about someone because we need advice and want prayer for them. Nevertheless, it’s important that what we share is done in a general sort of way with no specific details because often, the details include our judgmental opinion. Gossip to God because He knows the hearts of the matter. Sometimes you need apologize to a person you gossiped about (as I’ve had to). Above all be willing to let the Holy Spirit guide you in prayer and share. Psalm 141 says; “Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth.” That’s great advice. Love others with words which build up and not tear down…everyday.

5/20/2024

Marriage and Dating

Monday Matters- May 20, 2024
Everyday Spousal Foundation

Katie was so excited telling her dad about her new boyfriend; “He’s just about perfect, Dad! He’s good looking, has a great sense of humor and we’ve so many of the same interests. He’s smart, outgoing and he really cares about me. I’m so happy!” “But you said, ‘just about perfect,’ what’s missing?” “Well, he believes in God, but I don’t know if he has a relationship with Him.” “Well,” said dad, “Remember when we were looking at buying a house for you and there was one that seemed just about perfect? The size was great, super landscaping and not only was the outside beautiful but the hard wood floors, tiled kitchen, and every painted room was amazing. But the foundation was cracked and so it wasn’t an investment you were willing to make.”

When looking for a spouse the best blueprint to follow is found in Ephesians 2:20 finding someone whose foundation is built with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone so you can build a strong marriage…everyday.