Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
9/15/2023
Peace in LifeFriday Matters- September 15, 2023
Everyday You Should Today I want to encourage you to ask God to help you take the “should” out of your life. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. Think how often you say; “I should read the Bible, I should memorize scripture, I should attend a Bible study, I should lead one.” But remember what Paul says in 2 Corinthians; “The code of the Law kills but the Holy Spirit makes alive.” When we start thinking “I should” is when we get stuck in being religious. Some religious circles want you to believe that God can only be reached through rule keeping and good behavior. This “religious spirit” was alive when Jesus walked the earth but He died so we could have a close personal relationship with Him and not a religion. Today that same religious spirit still trips people up if they don’t know the truth. Remember the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior. Our personal relationship with Christ enables us to walk in freedom and to be loved as we are, not where we or others think we “should” be…everyday. 9/14/2023
DeconstructingThursday Matters- September 14, 2023
Everyday Questions God will never tire of us seeking Him or of all our questions. I think of my kids and especially when they were younger and all the questions they had. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. But I always want them to know I love them no matter what. I imagine it’s a lot like God with us. As T.S. Elliot put it; “Oh my soul, be prepared to meet Him who knows how to ask questions.” I imagine questions from God might be? Did you know Me and how I much I loved you for all eternity? There are things about God that are mysterious and secret, things we will never know about Him. But there also are things revealed, and those belong to us. Deuteronomy 29:29; “The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” I follow and trust God because I know He loves me no matter what …everyday. 9/13/2023
Kindness to OthersWednesday Matters- September 13, 2023
Everyday Treatment of Others How I treat my family and others from day to day, and how I react to others struggling in life with addiction, or whatever the challenging situation is and who can’t seem to get their act together, says a lot about who I am. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. How I respond to difficult people and how I deal with the frustrations of everyday life will speak the truth of who I am more clearly than a positive social media post. We’re not here in life for ourselves but to live in hope and love others. The healing touch for us is most often to touch the hand of another who needs love and support. Because the fact is, we all need real love, and real acceptance. Jesus tells us in Ephesians 5:15-16; “Make the most your time on earth with taking advantage of each opportunity and using wisdom because the days are filled with evil. God is real, He is love and He is good. Proclaim His love by the way you live and treat others…everyday. 9/12/2023
Sinners & SaintsTuesday Matters- September 12, 2023
Everyday He Came for Sinners Jesus announced He hadn’t come for the self-righteous, but for the sinners. Yep, Jesus came for you and I. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. Jesus reinforced His word with deeds. He was not intimidated by authority figures. He broke bread with a notorious public sinner, Zacchaeus and He was unfazed by the crowds’ complaints that He was violating the Law by going into a sinner’s house. Jesus broke the law of traditions when the law of love demanded it. Either you give life to others in relationships you have with them, or you drain them of life. You either make people a little better or leave them a little bitter. You define your faith and character in the ordinary stuff of your daily life. The Kingdom belongs to us as children, who love others simply and directly, without thinking about anything but them. The inheritors of what Christ’s promises aren’t the ones making all the noise with merely words and good Facebook posts but to those who lend others a hand when they’re falling. That’s the real love of Jesus…everyday. 9/11/2023
EmotionsMonday Matters-September 11, 2023
Everyday Stirred Emotions I shared with a friend on Facebook that we shouldn’t let the enemy stir up our emotions of worry lest we fall into fear and depression. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. And my friend Amy wrote back; “So being without emotion is a good thing? God can use it to protect me from evil?” “Well,” I said, “God gives us our feelings and emotions which is a good thing, but we shouldn't be controlled by them. We may feel afraid, but we don't need to let the feeling of fear control our behavior. We can step out in faith and courage knowing God is with us. We might FEEL, shaky, like throwing up, or break out in a cold sweat but let’s not let Satan intimidate. The enemy wants to use our feelings of fear and depression to immobilize us. Repeating the truth that God is with us and never leaves us is what helps us to walk in faith.” Take one step at a time knowing 2 Corinthians 12:9; His grace is sufficient, and His power works best in weakness…everyday.” 9/8/2023
Nine One OneFriday Matters- September 8, 2023
Everyday Secret Place of Stability Psalm 130:1; “From the depths of despair, O Lord, hear my cry.” I’ve had those feelings where I felt I was in the pit of despair along with thoughts, “What if ‘it’ is always like this.” Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. So, I go to Psalm 91:1 (my 911 verse) reminding me that no matter what I’m feeling I can remain stable by God’s presence and grace. I clearly remember a time in my anxiety where I was in a gas station restroom; filled with fear and the only way I made it out was to put my face against the tiled wall and repeat what I knew was true; “Debbie, you’re safe and stable with Jesus. Take the next step.” Psalm 91:1 tells me that; “She who dwells in the secret place will remain stable, fixed under the shadow of the Almighty whose power no foe can withstand. I picture this secret place where the presence of Jesus is and where the enemy can’t touch me. I take a deep breath, and I move forward. I know God is with me, He’s with you…everyday. 9/7/2023
PeaceThursday Matters- September 7, 2023
Everyday Aslan I love the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis and in the second book, Prince Caspian, there’s a wonderful illustration of how Aslan, the main character in the series, portrays the character of Jesus. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. There’s a scene where Aslan meets and comforts Susan; He’s all powerful but also gentle and compassionate. Aslan appears mysteriously to the four children to show them the way they should go in order to help Prince Caspian but because of her doubt, Susan is the last of the group to see Him. When she must greet Aslan she’s crying and I expect that Aslan will reprimand Susan for her lack of faith but instead He says, “You have listened to your fears, child. Come, let Me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?” He doesn’t scold but instead breathes His peace into her heart and soul. This is so like God because as we read in 2 Corinthians 2: 3 the Father of mercies and God of all comfort longs to do the same for us...everyday. 9/6/2023
Like A Sweet PerfumeWednesday Matters- September 6, 2023
Everyday Mouth Victory Can I have real victory over the enemy in my life and especially with relationships unless I am in touch with God on a daily basis? I think not. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. And often what brings me defeat is when I open my mouth and express all my thoughts and feelings without checking in with God first. I need Him to help me sort out and filter my thoughts and emotions so that when I do speak Psalm 19:14 rings true, “that the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart are pleasing to God and everyone else around me.” When I wait on God for His wisdom, on how and when I should speak, that’s when I really do experience victory which means peace for everyone involved. When we’ve been captured by His love and received His wisdom He leads and uses us to spread the knowledge of Him everywhere, like a sweet perfume” (it reads in 2 Corinthians 2:14) and often we need never open our mouths in many situations we want to…everyday. 9/5/2023
Victory in the ValleyTuesday Matters- September 5, 2023
Everyday Mountaintop I still remember our youth pastor reminding me that two of our sons must sign up for a big upcoming youth event. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. “It’s a mountaintop experience they can ride on for weeks” he said. I couldn’t help but think of what I’d just read in Habakkuk 3:19; “The Lord God is my Strength; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk, not in terror but make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, and suffering!” We tend to think that the highest place to be is on the mountaintop with no problems and everything going our way, but God says our high places are very often our troubles and sufferings. A mountain goat that has hinds’ feet can leap pretty freely on rocky and difficult slopes. They climb mountains with really no effort because of the way God’s made them. When we trust God, He gives us hinds’ feet to make spiritual progress during tough times. The mountaintop experience is strength and victory through the treacherous valleys…everyday. 9/4/2023
Remembered NotMonday Matters-September 4, 2023
Everyday Erased Think how amazing it is that God chooses not to remember your messy past or sins. He chooses never to bring them up again once you've received His forgiveness. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. In Isaiah 43:25 God tells us; “I am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." When you read Hebrews 11, you see a list of the great men of faith; Abraham, Moses, David, etc. yet none of their sins are listed even though they were sinners. This is because God chooses not to recall the sins that He’s already erased. Now travel to Ephesians 4:32 where Jesus tells us to forgive as the Father has forgiven us. This can be so difficult. That means when we choose to forgive someone, we also must choose not to bring up that offense again; to them, others or to ourselves… ever! Probably the hardest thing is to not allow our minds to rehearse the hurt. ONLY through His Holy Spirit strength is this possible…everyday. |
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