Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
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4/18/2025
ForgivenessFriday Matters- April 18, 2025
Everyday Perfect Forgiveness “The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other, fault-filled humans,” this is wisdom from Francis Chan. In order for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts the Holy Spirit has to move in our lives. Lately I’ve been talking to God and asking for His Holy Spirit to move in me. I haven’t been able to really let go, like God, and forgive completely. Sometimes it helps to think about Corrie ten Boom who personally forgave the Nazi officer at the Concentration Camp she and her sister were held. She said, “The will can operate regardless of the temperature of the heart.” We can choose to forgive even though our anger and hurt make us feel like we can’t. The truth of Philippians 4:13, “We can do all things through Christ’s strength.” Let’s pray, “Jesus’ help. By Your Holy Spirit give us the strength to let go and forgive…everyday. 4/17/2025
The GospelThursday Matters- April 17, 2025
Everyday Jesus Gospel I’ve been to enough gatherings with both Christians, non-Christians and those who believe in Jesus but don’t call themselves Christians because of the stigma the word may bring and sometimes I feel that way too. Much of the time we get bogged down about being right and putting down how others are doing it wrong. We end up talking about issues, rules, programs or how we should be doing church. Sadly, what’s missing from our discussions is sharing the GOOD NEWS…the Gospel. Sharing how Jesus is the difference and the answer. Author Carl Medearis writes; “The Gospel is not a ‘what.’ It is not a ‘how.’ The gospel is a ‘Who.’ The gospel is literally the good news of Jesus. Jesus is the gospel.” He still lives. He claims to be the way, not just show the way. There is an enormous difference in religion and the forever-relationship Jesus offers. It’s not based on what we do but what He’s done. I want to be more vocal this; Jesus has changed my life…everyday. 4/16/2025
HolocaustWednesday Matters- April 16, 2025
Everyday Corrie ten Boom Corrie Ten Boom along with her Sister Betsy hid a number of Jews during the Holocaust, and both were caught and sent to a Concentration Camp. Amazingly Corrie managed to smuggle in a Bible and held Bible studies in the barracks. God’s Word changed the lives it touched in a powerful way despite the circumstances. Corrie was obedient to Ephesians 5:20; “Give thanks for all things,” but she wrote in her book; “God, I can thank You for almost everything, but I can’t thank You for the lice.” Still, she obeyed and realized it was the lice that prevented the guards from coming into the barracks where the Bible was. When I began to trust God and His Word (The Bible), God began to change me. Thanking God for my husband’s cancer seemed goofy at the time but now I see the many blessings that occurred during that season years ago. God is always on the move working and redeeming ALL things no matter how difficult they may be. He is always good…everyday. 4/15/2025
DebatesTuesday Matters- April 15, 2025
Everyday Debates Aren't you just about crazy with all the political ups and downs, with debates, with labels. How about self-righteous behaviors, unkindness and anger? I'm here to tell you I don't have a spotless record when it comes to the above-mentioned. I’m not always patient or kind and I need to be very mindful of Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." I get so frustrated with myself that I become unsettled so quickly. Even though, most mornings, I've been hearing God say to me, "I, your Heavenly Father, knoweth," from Matthew 6:32. Our Heavenly KNOWS, sees & understands. I hear Him say: “I know your frustrations, I know your struggle with the circumstances, about the post you're commenting on, your good intentions and the grace that you need from Me and need to give to others. God knows what you’re going through because He’s been through it too. God gives us perfect love for the victory and so we might have hope and a peace. You're not alone and your Heavenly Father is not going anywhere. He loves you. He knows…everyday. 4/14/2025
God is LoveMonday Matters-April 14, 2025
Everyday Quiet Love My husband Dan and I were on the couch once again having “the talk.” Oh, you know the talk about finances and getting out of debt? Dan proceeded in a serious tone talking about what “we” needed to do but it sounded more like a lecture about what “I” needed to do. I wanted to shout; “If you don’t like the way things are, look at the changes you can make. Don’t wait for me to change.” I even had a verse to go with “my talk”; Deuteronomy 30:19; “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” But for some reason I sat silently and prayed. And by the end of Dan’s lamentation, he actually said, “I guess I need to look at the choices I can make and not put it all on you.” “Why don’t I shut my mouth more often and simply pray? It’s a life-giving choice to make…everyday. 4/11/2025
Life of SinFriday Matters- April 11, 2025
Everyday Sinners When Jesus lived on the earth there were these religious experts called Pharisees. Ya’ all didn’t want to mess with them unless you were one of them because the holiness path meant not touching anything or anyone they considered "unclean." The Pharisees were really bugged when Jesus sought out the unclean people; those with disease, the prostitutes, the money schemers; yes, all those sinners. Yet Jesus was always perfect and pure. He led history's holiest life while reaching out to those who needed to see and touch Him, true purity. Life is messy and full of messy people and I’m one of them. I hang around sinners (like me) but I don’t want to join in on sinful behavior. Life is about balance. We don't want to spend all our time with those who can lead us into temptation, but our holy God wants us to share PURE truth with those who need it. 1 Peter 1:16; “Be holy as Jesus is holy.” We’re not perfect but He is, and He wants us to bring healing and hope, just as His Son did…everyday. 4/10/2025
Difficult TrialsThursday Matters- April 10, 2025
Everyday Fiery Trials Sometimes when I find myself in a difficult place, I just wanna cry out, “God, get me out of here!” But if I want to fulfill the purpose God has for me, I have to be prepared to go through trials; that means facing difficult people; difficult circumstances. God uses difficult challenges in our lives to strengthen us and develop our character. Through trials we are taught the unique lessons of suffering and the benefits of discipline and sacrifice, making us better individuals. Our adult son Joey was in a challenging season, and I said to him, “God has allowed this trial in your life, and you shouldn’t be surprised? As a follower of Christ, He promise us that we will go through trials. But He also tells us in Isaiah 43:2 that He’ll be with us as we pass through the waters and go through the fires, and we’ll not be overwhelmed or will we be burned. Godly character is developed most often when we are tested by the waters and the fire. Acknowledge God in the trial and He will walk you through it all…everyday. 4/9/2025
Real ChristianityWednesday Matters- April 9, 2025
Everyday Christianity God offers amazing grace to you, grace you don’t earn or deserve but receive. No matter where a person comes from, their lifestyle, their religion, or race, God loves that person and offers Himself. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind and strength and the second, is to love our neighbor as yourself. Unique to Christianity is God's command to love our enemies. Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-34, "You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." And Christianity is also the only faith that worships a living God. The number one message from Christ is for you to turn from your sin (repent) and turn to Him. Jesus, fully God and fully man, came for you to offer you forgiveness. This is singularly the Good News, The Gospel. Easter is when we celebrate the miracle of Christ's resurrection. Our good works don't earn our salvation but accepting His good work, on the cross, does. Love God, love others and accept His Good News of grace…everyday. 4/8/2025
PurposeTuesday Matters- April 8, 2025
Everyday Empty Void Ya know, each one of us has a God-shaped hole inside, and nothing can fill it except God Himself. But sadly, the world is filled with empty people hoping to fill this void by using wealth, success and power, approval from people, illicit relationships, drugs, alcohol, or even food to quench the hunger and thirst that only a right relationship with God can satisfy. Without Christ and His forgiveness, we are left crippled and frustrated, like an addict trying to find another fix. Moral "insiders" and moral "outsiders" are equally unacceptable to God. It's hard at first for the self-righteous to see that we are just as needy as hookers and axe murderers. God loves you; He has a plan for you and in this plan, He doesn't ask you to deny your desires for intimacy, beauty, fun and adventure. Religion does that. Jesus invites us to have an intimate relationship with Him because He wants to satisfy the deepest longings of our souls…everyday.” 4/7/2025
God is LoveMonday Matters-April 7, 2025
Everyday God is Love God loves everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. His love is unconditional and merciful, and it results in the opportunity for people to repent. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to “acknowledge God” which means to care about what He thinks. I care about what God thinks because He is absolute perfect love. So, I really don’t care what the Dalai Lama, the Pope, Ghandi, Buddha or any other person thinks regarding salvation. We are all sinners in need of God’s gift of forgiveness. The Bible is clear in John 14:6 where Jesus says, “I Am the Way, Truth and Life and that no one comes to God but through Me, Jesus Christ.” Of course, I love others with kindness and respect regardless of whether they acknowledge God as I do. It’d be silly to insist someone believe as I do so instead, I share the hope, truth and grace that Christ has given me. The real problem is that many people haven’t experienced the love of God and told of His gift of grace. God’s not mad at us. He loves us…everyday. |
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