Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
3/18/2024
EnemiesMonday Matters-March 18, 2024
Everyday Even Enemies God will never stop pursing you no matter how far you run and no matter what you do or don’t do. His heart breaks when we choose to do things that hurt ourselves or others. That is why He commands us in Matthew 5:44 to; “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” What? How does that make sense? Well, God created us in His image, and we are His children whom He loves so just because someone is your enemy doesn’t mean they’re God’s. They’re His lost child, and He wants them back. Yes, there are circumstances where we’re called to face the bully, the tyrant and say, “No more,” and fight back. But not out of revenge. God is not willing that any be condemned, but that all come to repentance. His great love says, “Confess to me your sins, turn back to Me. Nothing can separate My love from you.” This earth is temporary, and heaven is forever. Choose Love, receive love and follow Him…everyday. 3/15/2024
ForgivenessFriday Matters- March 15, 2024
Everyday Forgiving Friendship “I forgive you, but I can’t be friends with you.” This makes sense if the person continues with unchanged harmful behavior, but it doesn’t make sense to reject friendship if the person has repented and changed. 1 John 1:9 is God’s promise that He completely cleanses us and removes our sins when we admit and confess them. My yucky sin prevents me from being friends with God but when I admit and confess my sin, He promises to remove the barrier that was blocking our relationship. When I forgive someone, the barrier is lifted so reconciliation can begin. I need to start by treating the person with complete kindness as Jesus does with me. If I’m the offender I start with; “I’m sorry” followed by asking myself and God; “What does this person need to help for the pain I’ve caused? And how should I change to make this person’s life easier in some way. The only way for this true forgiveness is by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me…everyday.” 3/14/2024
AnxietyThursday Matters- March 14, 2024
Everyday Anxiety 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. I sometimes get these crazy anxious thoughts and then have a physical response by having an anxiety attack, but courage is to go forward despite it. I know I need to turn to God 100% to get to the other side. Turning toward God and from the direction you were going is what “repent” means. In God’s holiness He must punish sin but, in His love, He didn’t want to 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. I still get anxiety attacks, but in faith I trust Christ…everyday. 3/13/2024
HurtingWednesday Matters- March 13, 2024
Everyday Hurting with Children I called a friend for a favor and while talking to her I sensed a deep heaviness and hurt in her spirit. When I questioned her, she shared that she was going through a very difficult time with her two oldest children. I knew she had been dealing with some sad and difficult issues, but I was just baffled why God had allowed so much time to go by without fixing the situation. “Why her God, I wondered, she is so good, and she loves You so much?” I prayed for her as she cried and then remembered the verses, I had just read from Lamentations Chapter 3 and knew they would encourage my friend, so I shared, “The Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion according to the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.” There is no pat answer for all our hurting “whys” but there is always hope in a God who cares…everyday. 3/12/2024
SinTuesday Matters- March 12, 2024
Everyday Itchy Sin Hidden sin is attractive but once exposed, we see how ugly it really is. But often a person acting in sin can’t see the truth of how what they’re doing is not only hurting themselves but also others around them. C.S. Lewis in, The Great Divorce says sin is like an itch that needs to be scratched. At first, it’s small but the more it’s scratched the better it feels. After a while the itch becomes less, but you actually long to have it back. Sin is that way, when you aren't being satisfied by it anymore, you still long to have it. Only God can take that desire away. Sin costs us and the real loss isn’t just on earth but the loss of eternal life. Good news is that if we change our ways and accept God’s grace, we have life, which is what 1 John 5:12 talks about with repentance which brings true freedom, forgiveness and life now and into eternity…everyday. 3/11/2024
FearMonday Matters-March 11, 2024
Everyday Do It Afraid I kept the email written by an attendee who was at an event I spoke at. Carrie shared, “I love what you shared about speaking of God’s peace amidst the feelings. I know what you mean about moving forward despite feeling afraid. I took your example and spoke aloud to God is weekend as I said "I receive Your Grace Lord. You are my sufficiency.” Courage is stepping forward despite what you may feel. Carrie continued, “I've thought about this all weekend amidst my nervous stomach as a family looked at our house today and wondered if they would make an offer. But in faith I know and trust God in the way, we as a family, go forward.” The Lord is our Deliverer and He is our hope. The earth experience is hard. It’s not our home or final destination as believers who trust in the promises of God. C. S. Lewis wrote, "the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world." Keep on keeping on. Life is unfair but God is always good…everyday. 3/8/2024
Life is UnfairFriday Matters- March 8, 2024
Everyday Not Fair Debbie, what do you say to parents that are losing their little 16th month old boy to cancer? The parents are Christian but can’t understand why God won’t heal their baby? Nothing you say will make them feel like it’s fair. The best thing to say is "I don't know why this is happening. I hate that it's happening and that you’re hurting. But I am not God, and I don't know why He has allowed this. You’re right that it isn't fair. Why doesn’t God fix the pain? He's a big God...tell Him how you feel. It won't stop for a moment His great love toward you. We want to fix the hurt for our friend or want God to fix it. Don’t try to speak for God. Job’s friends tried that, and it did not go well for them. Take your friend out, listen to them cry or just sit beside them and say nothing. Even Jesus wept when He went to the grave of Lazarus. Just let them know you are there, and you care…everyday. 3/7/2024
LaughterThursday Matters- March 7, 2024
Everyday Laugh Don’t you just love to have a good laugh or the kind of laugh that triggers the giggles where you can’t stop? Sometimes laughter comes when you’re not supposed to be laughing like in a meeting or at church but it’s such good medicine. Laughter draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and even protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there’s: “A time to cry and a time to laugh.” Let’s find ways to put more laughter into our diets instead of obsessing on everything that bugs us. You really can find humor in a hard place and it’s so freeing and truly one of the best medicines for overall health…everyday. 3/6/2024
GossipWednesday Matters- March 6, 2024
Everyday Tongue “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James pulls no punches. That muscle in our mouth can kill or heal, spark wars or absolve a world. Professor and Author Chad Bird says this; “From beginning to end, the Bible speaks about the power of speech, for good or for ill. With speech, the Lord God worded the world into being. And with speech, the serpent wooed the world into evil. When God commanded, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor,” he made explicit what we all know: that human society, relationships, justice, and one’s own soul are destroyed by lies. Some of the hardest moments in my life were when, knowing a lie would be the easy way out, that it would save me embarrassment, but in speaking the truth, even though it hurt, it also opened a door to healing. Think how God began our world with the words, “Let there be,” and how He heals through the words, “I forgive you” …everyday. 3/5/2024
FaithTuesday Matters- March 5, 2024
Everyday Step in Faith In the Old Testament as the Israelites were soon to enter into the Promised Land they were faced with crossing the Jordan River during flood season with the Ark of the Covenant. God told them to go forward right into the middle of the river before the water would go down and because of the faith the people had in God they obeyed and trusted God. We read in Joshua 3:17 that; “All Israel passed through until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” I know I would’ve first wanted to test the water with my big toe to see some evidence of God’s promise of the water going down before I stepped into the middle of the river. But often God provides no solution to my problems until I trust Him and move ahead with what I know I should do. Sometimes God wants me to step forward into the unknown because it’s an opportunity for me to know Him better and trust Him with my faith and not my feelings...everyday. |
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