Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
4/26/2024
Life & DeathFriday Matters- April 26, 2024
Everyday Mom Heartbeat “Today, at 8:00 a.m. this morning, after four months of lifelessness in her hospital bed, we took my mom off life support,” said Robyn. “Mom’s heart continued beating on its own and she continued breathing on her own. “And then this evening when we thought we’d be saying goodbye…BUT” continued Robyn, “I squeezed Mom’s hand three times and she squeezed back three times. I can’t believe the miracle of it all. I think she’s coming back.” Wow. That’s the power of prayer, the love of God. We’ve all had times where we’ve given up hope, but God is living and active NOW so there’s always reason to hope even when we can’t see or feel it. God also gives us grace in our day-to-day moments and promises that something good will come out of something bad when we trust Him. It doesn’t matter how many times we cry out to God, He’s always there, ready to meet us where we are at… everyday. 4/19/2024
God AnswersFriday Matters- April 19, 2024
Everyday God Answers Something happens when we pray that doesn’t happen when we don’t. Let me say that again, “Something happens when we pray that doesn’t happen when we don’t.” Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. BUT if we don’t feel or see an answer to what we were asking for then we may start to think that God isn’t listening. BUT He always hears. Sometimes the answer is “no” and sometimes the answer is “yes.” I think the hardest reply is to hear, “wait.” “I don’t get it. It’s not fair and God I’m starting to wonder if You care or even exist.” We all may have had those thoughts at one time or another but don’t give up. God is always on the move. He’s on “it” whatever “it” may be. Psalm 27:13 I know, “I would’ve despaired unless I’d believed that I’d see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” There is goodness while on earth even though it’s not our final destination. Waiting is hard but with God it’s worth it…everyday. 4/12/2024
FunFriday Matters- April 12, 2024
Everyday Fun Do you wanna have fun? I think most of us do especially when the earth experience is hard. There are events or responsibilities that we all have that aren’t always pleasant so try to have fun wherever you are. I kinda have this motto that works, “If it’s not fun, I’m done.” I mean this not as a two-year-old throwing a tantrum but as an adult who can try to find a person or moment to connect to and discover the lesson, the blessing, THE FUN. God hasn’t called us to hand out a rulebook or a list of “you should” and “you should nots.” God calls us to love others right where there’s at just as He does with us. It’s only by God’s Holy Spirit in us that we can deny the flesh of our own way. Lean into God’s love. Love sets us free and draws others to us. Aren’t you ready to be free and have fun? 4/5/2024
IdentityFriday Matters- April 5, 2024
Everyday New You “Are you kidding? With the kind of history and past you’ve had… well good luck thinking you can overcome it.” That’s hard stuff to swallow because not only is it hurtful but it’s untrue. Sometimes the voices from our past tell us we’ll never really have a meaningful life because of our mistakes or because of the things that have been done. Listening to those voices are lies. When we accept God in a real and personal relationship He pays the price for our past messes and PROMISES to work ALL things for the good. In the Bible; 2 Corinthians reads that with Christ our old life is gone and a new life begins. 3/29/2024
Free WillFriday Matters- March 29, 2024
Everyday Free Will It all comes down to free will. We have a choice to choose good and evil actions. I have made bad choices whether it was telling a lie or stealing but I have also had the same bad happen to me, someone lying and stealing from me. C.S. Lewis said, “If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.” I have to really stop and think about that but it’s true. It’s the freedom of choice that makes love real. Being forced to love God is not real love at all. It goes back to the basics of what being a Christian is. Accept God’s love, His grace and HIS work on the cross. It’s not about our good works. When we understand His grace, we can really start loving others freely…everyday. 3/22/2024
UnderstandingFriday Matters- March 22, 2024
Everyday God Understands “No one understands what I’m going through and it’s not fair.” Does that sound familiar? Yet we can read in Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus experienced every emotion and suffered every feeling you and I do BUT He did it without sin! He didn’t give in to His negative feelings because He KNEW GOD, He is God. You and I will never be able to say “no” to our feelings if we don’t have within us a strong knowledge of who God is and how much He loves us. When my feelings are hurt by someone the best thing I can do is talk to God; “Jesus do You see what’s happening here and what I’m feeling! Thank You for not condemning me for feeling this way. Help me to forgive, and not pay back the person who’s hurt me.” I pray THAT all the time. God knows. He understands. God is able to work with us and our feelings… 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.” 3/8/2024
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. 3/1/2024
WelcomeFriday Matters- March 1, 2024
Everyday Come to the Table Come sit down. Let me hear your story, your heart. Tell me what you’re feeling because your feelings are valid, and you are welcome at my table. We all are welcome at God’s table too because we’re all created and loved by Him. He will never reject or withdraw His love from us, but He does reject sin. Sin is not welcome at the table. It’s taken me years to really grasp that God fully knows me and yet He fully loves me, completely, just as am. What God doesn’t love is sin because it’s a barrier to us having a relationship with Him. Sin wins unless pardoned. Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross to pay the full price for our sin. His resurrection proves He succeeded. Come and sit, invite others to sit at God’s table with you. Through God’s unconditional love He will show Himself with all we need to be filled with hope and peace…everyday. 2/23/2024
AddictFriday Matters- February 23, 2024
Everyday Perfection Addict It’s exhausting trying to run the treadmill to perfection. I got off it. It goes nowhere. Most of us, to some extent, need to be delivered from the fear of people and from caring too much about what others think. People who always need the approval of others desperately want everyone to see the way they look, the things they say, every action they take—they want people to say, “Perfect.” If we try to be perfect, we’ll be disappointed. You and I are imperfect human beings. An attitude shift is what needs to happen for things to change and never mind I told my husband earlier; “Today I feel like complaining and blaming someone else.” THAT’S always easier than taking personal responsibility but certainly not healthier. We need to be confident that God accepts us with our imperfections. He will continue to work in us but we don’t have to struggle to win His approval or the approval of others. God is for us…everyday. |
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