Everyday Matters by Debbie Griffith

9/30/2021

Confession

Thursday Matters- September 30, 2021
Everyday Confess Your sins and Be Free

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…everyday.

9/29/2021

Reconciliation

Wednesday Matters- September 29, 2021
Everyday Reconciliation

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 uses 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. Let the person be taken off your hook and placed on His…everyday.

9/28/2021

Jesus Fills the Void

Tuesday Matters- September 28, 2021
Everyday I Need Jesus

When I honestly accepted who God said I was, loved, redeemed and not a mistake, I felt 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. Do you ever try and appear righteous before God and others with your performance? I have and it’s exhausting. It’s a dangerous zone when get our assurance from wealth or our status. Oh, my goodness…” they” is me, wretched, pitiably poor, and so often blind. Isaiah 64 lays things out clearly when we begin to think, “I’m doing really well here.” “We’re all unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy garbage. It’s what Jesus did on the cross that cleans us up and sets us free…everyday.

9/27/2021

Open Eyes to Love

Monday Matters-September 27, 2021
Everyday Jesus Opens Eyes

Jesus meets a man who’s been blind since birth. I don’t know how brief their encounter was but, in that time, Jesus bent down took some mud and rubbed the man’s eyes with it and when he opened them, he could see. Immediately the Pharisees-the Religious Leaders, questioned the man wanted him to proclaim Jesus a sinner…. WHAT? But the blind’s response is brilliant in John 9:25, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!” He didn’t know how or why he had been healed but he knew a miracle had taken place and he wasn’t afraid to tell the truth.

We don’t have to all the answers in order to share Christ with others. What’s important is that we tell people the truth of how God’s love and forgiveness has changed our lives. Use your experiences and share your testimonies, to help others see Him too …everyday.

9/24/2021

Loving Others

Friday Matters-September 24, 2021
Everyday Catching Fish

Do you think it’s our job to clean up the lives of others? Well, it’s not, that’s God’s job. I believe our “job” to live a life of love and find a connection with people and love them wherever they’re at in life. Like ah…. does really anyone want to be preached at? The Bible has all the answers for getting cleaned up but if you don’t trust the One who loves and gives the answers, you’re probably not gonna be that interested in following Him. How’s this for a catch cliché’, “Be ye fishers of men. You catch em’--He’ll clean em.” Once someone trusts, receives, and hopes in God’s unconditional love they’ll want to read what He has to say with the heart that says; “I get to read the Bible” and not, “I have to.” Believe me I’ve started implementing this type of fishing program with telling and showing everyone, I meet that God’s love is an awesome never-ending love… everyday.

9/23/2021

Go Forward in Grace

Thursday Matters- September 23, 2021
Everyday Law Discharged

“Hey Dan,” I called my husband. “I’m getting ready to head home from a conference,” so I was expecting Dan’s usual request to “drive safe” and wear my seatbelt but instead he offered, “Make sure you don’t wear your seatbelt and use your road rage if you have to.” I couldn’t put my seatbelt on fast enough.

Maybe I shouldn’t be proud to be called a rule breaker, but I am proud that I am free from the Old Testament rules—rules to show us that no matter how well intentioned or hard we try—we will never measure up. When Christ died, He took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with Him leaving us free through His resurrection. Not to use our freedom to sin but to be live free with a light yoke and an easy burden. “Wear the seatbelt knowing there’s a huge difference of being under the law and being free when Jesus takes the wheel…everyday.

9/22/2021

Lead by Peace

Wednesday Matters- September 22, 2021
Everyday Umpire of Peace

The umpire in a ball game decides if a player is “in” or “out.” Peace is to be the umpire that decides if something in our lives should be in or out! It makes total sense especially if you look at the Bible in Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace from Christ act as umpire in your hearts deciding and settling all questions that come into your mind.”

I mean really do we receive the peace He has to give, or do we count on our feelings? When the answer is “no” I KNOW because I don’t have peace. “Do you think I should take this additional job?” was the question asked me by a young mom. Things were tight financially, but the long hours would affect her family. My first thought was, “Yes,” But later, I thought, “Would this choice bring peace?” Rhonda didn’t have peace. She refused the job and almost immediately help came in a way she never expected. God is so good…everyday.

9/21/2021

Pride Stinks

Tuesday Matters- September 21, 2021
Everyday Pride Talking

I was stinky. Oh, I had taken a shower, but I had pride and pride stinks. Pride is difficult to deal with because we don’t think we have it. I notice this stink most when I have zero patience with someone who’s hurt me. In the Bible in James 4:10 I read to ask God to humble me so I can see the other as He does. I know then He will lift me up as He promises. The signs of pride include an unwillingness to admit fault or take responsibility for our actions. Pride wants to do all the talking and none of the listening. Yeah, I know you’re probably thinking of someone who needs to hear this, but it may be you! God gets you. He sees the hurt. I get you because I’ve been there. Are you still screaming? Maybe it’s time to stop and, “shhhhh… listen.” Humility is a sweet fragrance for everyone to be around…everyday.

9/20/2021

Enjoying Life

Monday Matters-September 20, 2021
Everyday Clothes Hobby

When someone says, “I have a hobby” I usually think their crafty. My hobby is that I like to do self-decorate. I create outfits which I call costumes. Sometimes I wear my pajama costume for the day. God enjoys all of us and our unique hobbies. Not so enjoyable is when our hobby causes havoc in the home which it has for me when I’ve exceeded our costume budget.

God knows and cares about what you care about. We can always ask Him for help and balance. I wanted a new coat. I needed one (or so I thought). I prayed about it and as I was dropping off clothes at a consignment shop, I picked up a check which just happened to be the same amount as a perfectly perfect purple coat which had my name on it. Isn’t that so nice of God? He’s so awesome…everyday.

9/17/2021

Sacrificial Love

Friday Matters-September 17, 2021
Everyday Kidney Giving

It’s been ten years since Brenda’s best friend, Susan, became ill and needed a kidney transplant. Brenda was a fitting donor and chose to donate one of her healthy kidneys to Susan even after doctors said her chance of survival was only 30%, and that there would be inherent risks to Brenda’s health as well. So, imagine the joy of Brenda getting ready to drive to her best friend’s wedding where she would be her maid of honor as Susan married the love of her life. Susan happened to meet her Prince at the hospital ten years ago when she received her transplant.

Proverbs 13 tells us that when a longing is fulfilled, we have life. The “what ifs” never get us anywhere. It’s like one of my favorite posters which reads; “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.” What gets us somewhere is living life with a transplant of hope in believing there’s something good coming…everyday.