Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
10/16/2020
Military VeteranFriday Matters-October 16, 2020
Everyday Veteran Steve is an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. Upon arriving home three years ago from his final tour to Afghanistan he found out that his wife had been cheating on him and had spent or stole almost all of their money. Steve had nowhere to stay, no phone and was suffering from severe anxiety problems. One of his close friends from high school, Shawn, and his wife, took Steve in and let him live with their family of five. They’ve helped him deal with his divorce and get his life together. Since then, Steve’s moved into his own place, opened a diner, and his friend’s kids call him Uncle Steve when they see him. This is the love of Jesus’ unconditional love. We’re His kids and no matter what mess we’re in, He’s there, ready to make redemptive use of our mess. Even on our worst days God stands with His door wide open and says; “Come in,” everyday. 10/15/2020
Keep On Keeing OnThursday Matters-October 15, 2020
Everyday Journey In life’s journey we all want to be known and loved and Jesus knows us better than anyone and still loves us. I remember as I memorized Zephaniah 3:17 to teach the verse that God’s main point is the constant, never ending love He wants us to know and experience. He delights in us as His child with such gladness. He knows me, my pain, my ache from the loved one I lost, the cancer that came to my Dan, my anxiety attacks and depression, the lie that spread and my dream of stardom on Broadway— He knew before I knew. HE IS here, waiting to make creative, redemptive use of what has happened. He is always on the move. He isn’t wasting time thinking about all the trouble He has with us or how awful we feel about where we are with ourselves and our troubles. God is not mad at you. He grieves for wrong choices or things done to us but He loves us madly and deeply everyday. 10/14/2020
Finding Joy in SicknessWednesday Matters-October 14, 2020
Everyday Cancer Dancing After my pastor friend Dave and his wife Barb received the news of his cancer and were walking through the atrium at the Mayo clinic they came upon a group of ladies singing hymns around a piano. Two young women, one in a wheel chair and her partner were "dancing" and doing hand motions while singing to the music. Dave wrote, “Debbie, it was probably the most beautiful choreography I’ve ever seen. You can well imagine we joined in - to the extent I could with tears running down my cheeks. We learned later that the girl in the wheel chair is in a lot of pain, but does not feel any when she’s dancing.” Cancer journeys are hard. Once Dave and his wife accepted the assault to his body they were free to laugh, cry and live in the season they were in. Jesus knows. Psalm 30:5; “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”…everyday. 10/13/2020
Loving Your “Neighbor”Tuesday Matters-October 13, 2020
Everyday Airport Shopping Walking around the airport waiting for my next flight I became anxious and just negative as I thought about the circumstances and people that were making my life unpleasant. I said some verses but didn’t apply them; all I could think about was the people and circumstances that were making me crazy. So I started thanking God for what I did have, which is my relationship with HIM. Then I realized I love to shop. What I mean is this; when I’m thinking “It’s all about me,” I’m a mess. But when I think about how much God loves me and how much I love people and sharing God’s love then peace sets in. I went shopping at the airport mall and connected with Jolene the salesgirl and bought a cool scarf. I used my receipt to draw an illustration about when Jesus is the center of our lives there’s hope. That’s real God, real life…everyday. 10/12/2020
You Are UniqueMonday Matters-October 12, 2020
Everyday Backbone I don’t sew, bake or volunteer for craft projects at school. I could feel like a lousy mom because don’t the good moms have all of those skills? But try and remember, along with me, that God doesn’t make mistakes and He created you uniquely and for a specific purpose. Sure we get stuck wishing we were someone else or had their skills but how productive is that? How about we try this: If you experience a setback or failure don’t fall apart but believe God will use the experience to train you for the next step. Read Ephesians 3:12 and discover that through faith in God we can approach Him with freedom and confidence. He loves us. “Plenty of people have wishbone but there are too few with not enough backbone.” Once we’re rooted and established in His love, we can have the backbone to step out and be the very best of who He created use to be…everyday. 10/9/2020
A Mom’s LifeFriday Matters-October 9, 2020
Everyday Poo So this young mom sent me a text which read; “It’s like one minute I’m in college ready to travel the world for Jesus but the next thing you know I’m married with an infant who just took his hand out of his diaper and spread poo all over my shirt.” I sent a text back to the young mom; “Remember it’s a season you’re in and “this poo will pass.” One thing that helped me as a young mom was to follow Ephesians 5:20 and thank God for what we have even when we don’t feel like it. It helps when I almost get silly and start thanking Him for my toothbrush, my hair, running water, etc. The young mom sent a text back which read; “Okay, I thanked God for the food I’m able to give Jacob so he can poo.” AMEN! Thank God for what you can, count your blessings one by one. Life is hard but this too shall pass…everyday. 10/8/2020
Loving Everyday PeopleThursday Matters-October 8, 2020
Everyday Airport Lady I was in the airport waiting to board yet another plane. It was all taking too long. I sat down and realized the woman next to me was crying and shaking she was so upset. I didn’t think about it; it was as natural as could be to put my hand on her back and begin rubbing it. I leaned in and asked, “What’s wrong?” The woman replied, “No hablo Ingles.” So I did the other thing that seemed natural, I prayed aloud still rubbing her back while she leaned against my shoulder. I recited the name of Jesus over and over because there’s such power in His name. The woman stopped crying and walked on the plane. A gentleman asked if we wanted to sit together, “Oh,” I said. That’s okay, I don’t know her.” “Oh, I thought Y’all was together?” Nope. The woman departed the plane before I saw her again. This is Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:4, “Comfort those in distress with the same comfort you’ve received from God…everyday. 10/7/2020
Community GatheringWednesday Matters-October 7, 2020
Everyday Church I love people. I love traveling and meeting new people in everyday random places like gas station. You can have church anywhere. Cuz when church stops being about us, it can be about God again. Church is meant to crush our selfishness and church without God does none of that. Often our evangelism becomes winning people to our doctrine or our denomination instead of reaching the people next door who have no direct access to freedom in Jesus. As I travel speaking I get a reality check every “church person” would benefit from. Our job is to get people to know Jesus personally. People need God desperately and not in a Pollyanna, “it’s all for a reason” sort of way. Jesus came to save the lost by letting them know they are loved right where they are at and not where they should be. Don’t just go to church, be the church…love without conditions…everyday. 10/6/2020
Facebook FriendshipTuesday Matters-October 6, 2020
Everyday Delete What? She deleted me on Facebook? What? I thought we were friends. I think most of us who use Facebook have either been deleted by someone or we’ve done the deleting. Sure reasons to un-friend a Facebook friend like: you're cleaning up your Facebook, you don’t really know a person or someone is malicious; are valid reasons to “delete” someone. However, to un-friend someone because you’re hurt because they didn't meet your expectations, is unkind. It’s kinda like kicking someone and running away. Your intent is to hurt them because you've been hurt. There’s no justification for that. What is friendship all about? What does God say? Look at Proverbs 17:17; “A friend loves at all times.” And we must all know… “Love is kind.” We also know love doesn’t demand its own way or keep a record of being wronged. Having a good friend is a blessing but being one, I think the blessing might be even bigger…everyday. 10/5/2020
God’s ProtectionMonday Matters-October 5, 2020
Everyday Rahab You want to hide, not disclose your past because you think it defines you? It doesn’t when you’ve come into the light and let God reveal the truth of who He says you are, beautiful and redeemed. There was a woman Rahab, a woman who had worked as a prostitute who lived in the “Promised Land,” the land God had promised to give to the Israelites. Joshua, their leader sent spies to Jericho before entering the land to get the scope of the land and people. Rahab hid the spies in her home and in Joshua 2 she is told; “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the LORD gives us the land.” And that’s what happened. Rahab had a past but she got “past it” and at the end of her life she had come to love the God of Israel. No matter how bad your past is God has a future and new beginning for you…everyday. |
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