Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
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7/31/2024
MarriageWednesday Matters- July 31, 2024
Everyday Marriage Hope My friend Kelly struggled early on in her marriage and years after we met, I asked her, “What was the beginning like,” thinking they were in love. “You kiddin’ me,” said Kelly. Early on I felt I was in a disaster pit, so I filed for divorce but not before screaming to God; ‘Fix my husband!’ I thought I was the perfect wife and couldn’t understand why my husband wasn’t apologizing for his horrible behavior. With only a few days before the divorce was final God stopped me. I was reading; “A Woman After God's Own Heart,” and God was clear; “You let me worry about your husband. You and I need to talk.” “Remember, he married a sinner too” the author wrote. Stop looking at all that is wrong with your husband and start at looking what you can change. That realization and marriage counseling brought Kelly and her husband together and he actually owned up to his part too. It will be humbling but major change happens when we die to self. It’s not easy but worth it. Let God change you…everyday. 7/30/2024
HopeTuesday Matters- July 30, 2024
Everyday It Get’s Better When God speaks, He is full of love and truth, but when the devil speaks, he speaks lies and offers counterfeit love. Life is already full of challenges and listening to the enemy’s lies makes it a zillion times harder. On darker days remember this, “The enemy knows your name, but calls you by your sin. Jesus knows your sin but calls you by your name.” In the Book of Revelation, you can read of God’s power and authority and also read how the devil, the prince of this world is continually bringing accusations against us. BUT when you accept the sacrifice of Christ on the cross ALL your sins are forgiven, and His grace is continual. You have the hope of heaven where you’ll be fully restored with continued purpose. Being “born again” is a term I don’t hear much anymore, but it means being made new with an implant of hope. It’s a place the enemy will no longer have access to us …everyday. 7/29/2024
Your SignificantMonday Matters-July 29, 2024
Everyday Importance Often, we spend a lot of time on minor issues because in our minds it’s a major issue. I get caught in this trap, but I don’t want to spend my time and effort on things that have no lasting value and don't contribute to the kingdom of God. I sometimes ask myself, “Do I really know God’s love for me so that I can purposely walk in love with others? It is by our love that the world will know we are Jesus disciples. (John 13:35) A genuine person of love is a person who serves others, and it’s shown in the attitude we carry with us in our jobs, at home, going to the grocery store and other everyday activities. Sincere kindness in love is impossible to maintain without Jesus. What a joy it is to find that others are drawn to you because they see the difference in you is Christ and the way you treat them and others. A lot of people have experienced condemnation but how many have really experienced God’s love? Live a life of love by serving others…everyday. 7/26/2024
July 26th, 2024Friday Matters- July 26, 2024
Everyday Woman Thirst Don’t stress yourself about your sin issues because God first pours out His love to you and then He gently exposes your sin, offering a way for you to change direction, to receive full pardon and freedom. This is what He did with the Samaritan woman we read about in John 4 who came to draw water at the well. He didn’t meet her with condemnation. He first met her thirst. He offered her living water (eternity with God), but also let her know He knew all about her. She ran back to town to tell others about Him, not because she felt condemned, but because she had been offered hope and a way out. People are not drawn to judgment. They are drawn to true friendship and that is what Jesus is, a real best friend. No greater love can a man have than to give His life for His friends (John 15:13). Think of the ways you are most loved, it’s when someone meets and loves you right where you’re at. Be that kind person who loves others like that…everyday. 7/25/2024
AuthenticityThursday Matters- July 25, 2024
Everyday Performing I am a theater major. I get how to portray characters on stage. I also know how to perform as if the world was the stage but it’s not the way I want to be. Who really wants to be around pretenders or performers? Don’t we all want REAL sincerity, honesty? The more I live life I see no benefits to performing or pretending like everything is okay when it isn’t. It doesn’t mean to walk around with a bad attitude if life is hard but being transparent in your hard place will help someone more than your sing-song performance that life is all butterflies and bunnies. Oh look how God loves you in it all. He’s not mad at you. He may be heartbroken over your choices in sin but with confession He takes your sin, offers forgiveness and frees you. No more pretending or hiding. His grace is always there. Look up. Be honest. Let go. Surrender and let the risen Christ live in you so you’re a new creation, the old life is gone and you’re made new…everyday. 7/24/2024
Heart MattersWednesday Matters- July 24, 2024
Everyday My Heart Take comfort in knowing only God knows your heart yet I know it stings when someone judges you harshly because they can’t see your heart. The human heart is arrogant, and often cares for itself above all, prone to judge others, prone to make demands of others. The heart is also needy and incomplete with holes that can only be repaired by God’s perfect love. Where’s the healing for it all? Jesus. He is it, His Word which is both justice and mercy. First, we must deeply understand and truly own our brokenness. 1 John 1:8 people, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” The Bible doesn’t call us to judge others but it calls us to always be mindful and humbly recognize our own weakness. Whatever righteousness we possess was given to us by the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection. God is grieved when we use the Bible on others as a weapon. Humility. Ask God to give you the grace to love others as He does…everyday. 7/23/2024
ForgivenessTuesday Matters- July 23, 2024
Everyday Offense 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. 7/22/2024
Life’s TrialsMonday Matters-July 22, 2024
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. 7/19/2024
BeautyFriday Matters- July 19, 2024
Everyday Tabernacle When I read all the verses in Exodus describing the different colors, stones, metals, woods, etc. that were to be used to build the tabernacle I thought, "Why take so much space in the Bible for that? Why not devote more time to guidelines in dating or parenting, something a little more helpful?" But by these chapters God showed me how much He cares about detail and beauty. I realized He cares even more about the detail and beauty of the people He created in His image to honor His name! God’s perfectly happy with us enjoying beauty by the way we dress and decorate our homes and gardens. Of course, there needs to be balance but how freeing to know God made us unique, so He certainly doesn't want to take that away from us. In accepting Christ as Savior, we have the hope from Revelation 21 where every tear will be removed and we’ll belong in a place more beautiful than we can imagine; heaven…everyday. 7/18/2024
BreakthroughThursday Matters- July 18, 2024
Everyday Breakthrough I get to share Cindy’s breakthrough in giving real forgiveness. I had been mentoring Cindy and even though she said she’d forgiven her father she continued negatively talking about him and avoided him. “I did forgive him,” said Cindy, “but you don’t know how much he hurt me.” She had become bitter. So, I shared; “Based on what the Bible says it doesn’t matter how great the offense was. We serve a God Who is greater and if we will handle the offense in the right way, He’ll bring justice and recompense when we allow Him to.” God says in Isaiah 61:7, “Instead of your former shame you shall have a twofold recompense.” A recompense is a reward. It’s payback for past hurts. Think of it like worker’s compensation. You work and serve God and if you get hurt on the job, HE WILL PAY YOU BACK! It was a process, but Cindy finally let go and forgave her dad. She’s set boundaries but they’ve reconciled. Let God be your comfort and your Vindicator…everyday. |
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