Everyday Matters by Debbie Griffith

11/30/2021

Panic Attacks

Tuesday Matters- November 30, 2021
Everyday Anxiety Attack

The earth experience is hard but it’s not our home. Knowing what we need to do and then doing it are two different things. We may have these crazy anxious thoughts and even have a physical response by having an anxiety attack but courage is to go forward despite it.

It’s only by admitting our weakness and humbly changing direction toward God that we are repaired by God’s generous love. In his holiness He must punish sin because sin separates us from God but in His love He cannot punish us. Christ proclaims our infinite worth and His eternal love for us aside from any human standard, even our own. We will live forever in a community of equals – saints and sinners all, saved by grace. Remember Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Our temporary imperfection is a quality which actually connects us to others rather than a secret shame which sets us apart. Becoming transparent and vulnerable will set you free and change you as well as other lives around you…everyday.

11/29/2021

God Knows Hearts

Monday Matters-November 29, 2021
Everyday The 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 love, by God 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; even Jesus said this about Himself. 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. Just think how God is grieved when we use the Bible on others as a weapon. Humble yourself and ask God to give you the grace to love others as He does…everyday...

11/26/2021

You’re Not Alone

Friday Matters-November 26, 2021
Everyday Hard Sick Places

Ya know how sometimes you get physically sick, like the flu and it's not because you're not reading the Bible enough or doing enough acts of service, you just get sick. Well sometimes you get emotionally sick and it’s not because you’re a “bad Christian.” There can be all kinds of factors that play into all kindness of sicknesses like lack of sleep, an infection, a damaged relationship and sometimes we need medication to get well. It’s okay.

Remember that no matter what emotional or physical state you’re in, God loves you as you are. We’ll go through challenging seasons where it doesn't make sense but it’s in the hard places where we grow. God tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “that His strength is perfected in our weaknesses.” Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just let go and let God take care of us or by asking someone for help or taking medication. He works in many different ways and through many different people. In every place and time, He wants you to know how much He loves and values you…everyday.

11/25/2021

Everyday God’s grace

Thursday Matters- November 25, 2021
Everyday I Need Grace

Okay there’s this kind of Christians who is “stuck” outside the tension between law and grace – and specifically I’m talking about those who don’t know they need grace. I have been that girl at various times myself.

When you don’t know you need grace you come to the counseling room in righteous indignation. You come with your “rights” and “it’s not fair because there’s a sinner worse than you. This may include the spouse who drags their partner along to get fixed, the partner who doesn’t think they need fixing, the person angry with God for failing to fulfill their dreams and the one who simply cannot forgive. These people are not letting God into mold and teach them. They know they’re right and they want you to know it too. Accepting Christ means acknowledging deep sin and a need we have, in all areas of our lives for a lifetime. Jesus desires to confront the blackness of our hearts and change us. PRAY for yourself and others who need to KNOW and SEE how much we need His grace, because without it we can’t really love others…everyday.

11/24/2021

Eternal and True

Wednesday Matters- November 24, 2021
Everyday God Never Changes

When you have a relationship with God, and you know you’re one of His kids. We can rest and be certain of His faithfulness. In the Bible in 1 Thessalonians 5, hear this; “God, Who calls you, is faithful.” I think the thing that is so amazing and hard for us to wrap our heads around is how much God loves us for who we are and not for where we should be. In religion it’s about what you do and with Jesus it’s about who you are. It’s a relationship with no condemnation and unconditional love.

There are so many times I have had expectations of someone and then disappointments because they weren’t who I thought or maybe my expectations were unrealistic. BUT GOD is that Friend who is always all-knowing and powerful but also so patient and gracious and at times when I least deserve. God never changes. I may change and so too others in my life, but God never does…everyday.

11/23/2021

Miracles

Tuesday Matters- November 23, 2021
Everyday A God Miracle

Lazarus was dead; that was a fact but when Jesus who is the Truth walked up to the tomb and spoke; that truth changed the facts. Throughout the Gospels we repeatedly read of people who were sick, and demon possessed who went to Jesus. When He spoke, their facts changed. They were healed, delivered, and set free. We must never magnify the facts of our circumstances above God and the power of His Word. When God speaks things change.

Read Isiah 55:11 and you see that God’s Word does not return to Him empty but always accomplish its purpose. When we learn to speak God’s Word instead of rehearsing how we feel or declaring what we think, we are also releasing God’s power. The Word God spoken in faith from a believer’s mouth can change circumstances. WE may experience negative facts in our lives, but God’s Word is truth, and truth is more powerful than facts. Honestly, it’s gonna help if you say the truth out loud, “I am loved, as I am, right now,” …everyday.

11/22/2021

The Thoughts of God

Monday Matters-November 22, 2021
Everyday God’s Thoughts

Well, what in the world are you up to God. I. Can’t. Even. We can’t know the mind of God. Isaiah 55:8 says, “His thoughts are nothing like our thoughts.” But we can know the heart of God. We can TRUST and hope in His promises. I know it should be obvious to us that His ways are past finding out. He wouldn't be a very big God if we could fully comprehend Him with our finite minds. Walter Wangerin wrote, "We chirp theories because we can't stand the silence." I guess that’s how it is when we try to fully understand the purposes of suffering. It’s better to admit, "We don't understand, but we believe that God loves us and, that 'our Redeemer Lives'."

Someone has suggested that in the margins beside many of our life's experiences is simply written: "to be explained later." Success for each day is not waiting for an answer to our whys but walking in the hope that He is making a way and there’s a purpose for it all…everyday.

11/19/2021

The Power IS God

Friday Matters-November 19, 2021
Everyday God IS Bigger

God is bigger. We may know this in our heart but it’s acting it out like we believe it that makes the difference. One of the hardest things to do is to forgive someone who isn’t’ sorry for what they’ve done cuz “it’s so not fair!” And because it’s not fair we want them to know how wrong they are. What does God want? Go to 1 Peter 3:9 and read; “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That’s what God asks, and He’ll bless you for it.”

Do you think God tells us to be good to those who’ve hurt us just because He wants to watch us suffer? No. The enemy works through people to hurt us and if we end up hating that person because they’ve hurt us then Satan’s job has been accomplished two times over. But if we respond with love then we’ve gotten Satan back and he’ll wish he never laid a finger on our lives…everyday.

11/18/2021

Don’t Be Afraid

Thursday Matters- November 18, 2021
Everyday Do Not Fear

Lately life’s been hard, so I have been saying to myself once again; “Debbie your feelings are indicators, don’t let them be dictators. I get it. My feelings are valid, and they indicate good and bad things happening in my life, but I shouldn’t let them lead me, especially when I feel afraid.

I read this post on Instagram which said, “And then I realized that to be more alive I had to be less afraid, so I did it, I lost my fear and gained my whole life. We may feel fear but the way to lose “it” is to go forward in courage despite what we feel. The only way I can do that and leave my fear behind is by leaning into the grace, hope and strength God gives. I think a lot on what God says in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous.
Don’t fear or tremble before them, because the Lord your God will be the one who keeps on walking with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you” …everyday.

11/17/2021

There’s Always Hope

Wednesday Matters- November 17, 2021
Everyday Hope Always

I’m trying to focus on God but just can’t seem to do it while I’m in the pit,” someone wrote me. “I wish my spouse would give up this other person and want to reconcile, but they have no desire. Yuck. I’m so sorry if that’s person is you. There’s ALWAYS HOPE. I clung to the words from Micah 7:8 when I was in a dark place. Listen. “As for me I will wait on the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch. I will wait with hope and expectancy in the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. So rejoice not against me, oh my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me.”
Powerful…I know…right? There is light up ahead. Do what you can do while you wait and focus on helping someone who needs it. You’ll end up helping yourself. Never give up. Always hope. God knows and He’s got you…everyday.