Everyday Matters by Debbie Griffith

10/31/2019

Celebrate Other’s Gifts

Thursday Matters-October 31, 2019
Everyday Compliment Crazy

“It’s not fair. They don’t deserve my kindness and I’m certainly not going to compliment them because they think they have it all together.” Very often those difficult people in our lives are family. We think; “How can they be so clueless to their own junk and continue to point out mine?” But here’s the deal; we may not think they deserve our love or kindness but neither do we deserve God’s grace and kindness toward us.

The advice given me was; “Debbie, just lavish them with love. Compliment and see what happens in your heart and in theirs.” Guess what it works. Love someone with simply acts of kindness by praising the good of who they are and you’ll be amazed at how God changes your heart. Truth from God in John 13:34; “Love one another as I have loved you.” It’s hard. But the change, the blessing, the beginning of healing in a broken relationship…oh you’ll be thinking; “Why didn’t I do this sooner…everyday.”

10/30/2019

God Bless My Marriage

Wednesday Matters-October 30, 2019
Everyday Marriage Advice

The other day I read this article giving me the “Do’s and Don’ts” on how to get a grip on a marriage gone bad. Some points were good such as; “Do speak honestly of your unhappiness to your partner and don’t bad mouth your spouse to your friends” BUT the “DO” that really threw me was; “Put yourself at the center of your life, go deep within yourself to find your strength.” I said out loud, “Are you kidding me, I’d just get depressed?” But the writer continues, “Who can be the center of your life but you?”

I know the answer! JESUS! He should be the center of our lives! And when He’s not that’s when we have problems, not only in marriage but in everything. I just read some great “DO’S and DON’TS” in Philippians 2: 3 and 4; “DO regard others better than yourself and DO NOT be selfish, thinking only of yourself.” What great advice from the Counselor who has all the answers...everyday.

10/29/2019

Jesus Can Carry Your Burden

Tuesday Matters-October 29, 2019
Everyday Jesus Shoulders

I remember sharing a message with the teen youth group. I chose Isaiah 9:6 which begins; For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder…” And I thought how the government that is upon Jesus’ shoulders is not a political government but really refers to the governing in our lives. We are not supposed to be running our own lives. In fact, we aren’t qualified. I certainly don’t have the brains to know what is best so I’m so super thankful for HIS intervention and His love to guide my life. You see, the more God’s government increases in your life, the more He directs your thoughts, conversations, decision and action, well the more you have peace!

You need to be right with God just like I do so we have the peace on what He’s done and not what we’ve done. For me it was all about being on stage as an actress but now I see it’s not about my position or personality but about seeking HIM first where He fills me up with all I need…everyday.

10/28/2019

God Changes Everything

Monday Matters-October 28, 2019
Everyday I Can Change

Even before I begin to encourage you I can hear some of you crying:
“BUT Debbie just listen to this injustice in my life…it’s so not fair!”
“BUT Debbie I don’t have a godly husband and my life is ruined because of him.”
“BUT Debbie I’m not like you I can’t just call on scripture when I need it!”
“BUT Debbie I know I shouldn’t care so much what others think but I can’t change.”
It sounds like a lot of you have “BIG-BUT SYNDROME.” Because there will always be excuses and even good reasons why you feel the need to start many of your sentences with “But-But… I can’t because…” But I’m telling ya while you can’t change someone else you can allow God to change you and the things you think on.
How about following what Romans 12:2 has to share; “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think”…everyday.

10/25/2019

The real you is really loved

Friday Matters-October 25, 2019
Everyday Transparency

“I just hate to pretend like everything is okay when it isn’t. I’m in a hard place and I’m just so tired of it all.” Have you ever had those thoughts? There are some real problems with projecting the perfect image. First of all, it’s simply not true—we are not always happy, optimistic, in control. Second, projecting the flawless image keeps us from reaching people who feel we just wouldn’t understand them.

The more I share my own missteps and failures the more I’m able to share the hope of Christ. When you’re hurting you don’t need a person saying, “You should do this.” What you need is the person who can say, “I’ve been there and I understand. I love 2 Corinthians 1:4; “There is God who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we received.” The mature Christian is a person who has failed and who has learned to live with their failure, share it and walk with hope…everyday.

10/24/2019

Forgive as God forgive you

Thursday Matters-October 24, 2019
Everyday Offense Taken

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.

10/23/2019

God is more than able

Wednesday Matters-October 23, 2019
Everyday Power Released

We’ve all make mistakes that have hurt us and others on some level. God loves us and will use our messes to help ministry to others but Satan will always try and condemn us and he also works in others with his lies. You may have someone trying to convince you that your past can’t be forgiven unless you follow their rules of forgiveness. Or maybe it’s you thinking, God couldn’t possible forgive “that” sin. Listen to 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” Okay so think about how our kidneys work in our bodies, continuously cleansing us from impurities. Well there IS POWER IN THE BLOOD of Jesus Christ which cleanses us, not just in the body, but in the spirit, continuously. Our responsibility is to admit we’ve sinned and CONFESS. We don’t ever want a sin blockage so our prayer life is polluted and we can’t hear His voice of truth and healing…everyday.

10/22/2019

Holy Spirit Leading

Tuesday Matters-October 22, 2019
Everyday Sense of the Spirit

Has someone ever said to you, “That’s a crazy decision and it doesn’t make sense?!” I’ve had someone say that to me more than once. But when a decision is made in prayer with trusted counsel I can reply, “I know it seems crazy but I looked to God in my heart and not my head for the answer.” Okay saying that might get a weird look but look at 1 Corinthians 2:14, “The non-spiritual man does not accept into his heart the teachings of the Spirit of God, for they are silly to him; and he is incapable of knowing them.”

Satan will send lies to our minds and we can choose to believe them OR ask God, “Am I hearing from You in my heart or the crazy thoughts in my head?” The non-spiritual man lives by feelings and sight but faith has nothing to do with it. With Christ in your heart you live by faith and through the Spirit begin to understand the truth He speaks to your heart...everyday.

10/21/2019

Look Forward to LIFE

Monday Matters-October 21, 2019
Everyday Hope

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.

10/18/2019

Jesus loves you for who you are!

Friday Matters-October 18, 2019
Everyday Your Significance

I’ve been going through what I describe as a “stripping away” from titles that made me feel important. I chose to step down as an artistic theater director, a spokesperson for a noble organization but I didn’t realize how important these titles made me feel.

When Jesus said, “Become like a “little child,” He meant we’re to be willing to accept ourselves as least in importance. The least is a symbol of those who have the lowest places in society; the poor and the oppressed, and the prostitutes. But Jesus concern was that these should not be despised or treated as inferior (Matthew 18:10). He was well aware of their feelings of shame, and because of their humility and His compassion they were of REALLY great value. God’s grace falls on us not because of our titles in society, but because it’s His good pleasure to love us just as we are…everyday.