Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
7/26/2024
July 26th, 2024Friday Matters- July 26, 2024
Everyday Woman Thirst Don’t stress yourself about your sin issues because God first pours out His love to you and then He gently exposes your sin, offering a way for you to change direction, to receive full pardon and freedom. This is what He did with the Samaritan woman we read about in John 4 who came to draw water at the well. He didn’t meet her with condemnation. He first met her thirst. He offered her living water (eternity with God), but also let her know He knew all about her. She ran back to town to tell others about Him, not because she felt condemned, but because she had been offered hope and a way out. People are not drawn to judgment. They are drawn to true friendship and that is what Jesus is, a real best friend. No greater love can a man have than to give His life for His friends (John 15:13). Think of the ways you are most loved, it’s when someone meets and loves you right where you’re at. Be that kind person who loves others like that…everyday. 7/19/2024
BeautyFriday Matters- July 19, 2024
Everyday Tabernacle When I read all the verses in Exodus describing the different colors, stones, metals, woods, etc. that were to be used to build the tabernacle I thought, "Why take so much space in the Bible for that? Why not devote more time to guidelines in dating or parenting, something a little more helpful?" But by these chapters God showed me how much He cares about detail and beauty. I realized He cares even more about the detail and beauty of the people He created in His image to honor His name! God’s perfectly happy with us enjoying beauty by the way we dress and decorate our homes and gardens. Of course, there needs to be balance but how freeing to know God made us unique, so He certainly doesn't want to take that away from us. In accepting Christ as Savior, we have the hope from Revelation 21 where every tear will be removed and we’ll belong in a place more beautiful than we can imagine; heaven…everyday. 7/12/2024
MinistryFriday Matters- July 12, 2024
Everyday Mall Shopping I remember many years ago I was shopping in the Mall of America when this woman seemed to jump out of nowhere to show me some face creams from her little kiosk. And as she’s giving me this demonstration she says, “There’s something different about you, something special. What do you do?” So, I told her, “I’m in ministry with speaking and radio and I simply share how real God is in my everyday life.” “Well, I’m Jewish,” she says, “and God is my best friend especially now because I’m missing my home in France.” Then I told her how my son Joey at that time was taught in Sunday School to pray for Israel. She just hugged me and cried, “I pray a double blessing on you and Joseph this day. Thank you.” That same day I had read Isaiah 44:3, “I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring and My blessing upon your descendants.” The whole experience was amazing, and it reminded me what being in ministry is all about (no matter where you are); Be a blessing and share God’s love to those He puts before you...everyday. 7/5/2024
TransformationFriday Matters- July 5, 2024
Everyday Change Me Oh, that place when you know the only change that will happen is if you God ask to change you. So, crying in the middle of a dark living room I asked God to forgive me, to change and mold and make me to be more like Him. I didn’t ask that He change the other person but instead I knew the only real solution was that my heart be changed. And still, you can cry, “It’s not fair,” and God gets it. I often don’t understand why a particular heartache is happening but it isn’t always for me to understand. Know the answer to the question, “Can God be trusted?” And He can because of His grace and comfort to meet us right where we’re at. Humble yourself by swallowing your own pain and pride and look at Peter 5; “Humble yourselves under God and He will lift you up in due time and then cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” ...everyday. 6/28/2024
Gods Not DeadFriday Matters- June 28, 2024
Everyday God Is Alive You know that song, God’s not dead. He’s surely alive. It’s one the musical group The Newsboys sing about. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. And as Author and Pastor Timothy Keller explains, “Most people love those who love them, yet God loves and seeks even people who are His enemies.” The opposite of love is not anger, but indifference. “The more you love your son, the more you hate in him the liar, the drunkard, the traitor,” (E. Gifford). To imagine God’s situation, imagine a judge who also is a father, who sits at the trial of his guilty son. He knows his son deserves the punishment and as Judge He can’t let the crime go unpunished. So, He offers his child a way out. Admit the wrong and accept the Judge’s pardon. Accept what Jesus offers you, or can ignore the Judge’s offer and suffer the punishment. Jesus is the perfect pardon, and you need to accept Him to have that hope and have that freedom—Everyday. 6/21/2024
Mother TeresaFriday Matters- June 21, 2024
Everyday Way 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 I might very well be in that camp but I hate to admit it). Much of the time we get bogged down about being right and putting down how others who are doing it wrong. We end up talking issues, rules, programs or how we should being 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. 6/14/2024
Fear NotFriday Matters- June 14, 2024
Everyday Fear Not I don’t like feeling afraid but what’s worse is letting fear make my decisions for me. Going into mediation with someone you have a conflict with can give you the worst feelings but the way to conquer fear is to press on through it and get to the other side where there’s freedom. Second Timothy 1:7 tells us that fear is not from God and that God gives us power, love, a calm mind and self-control. You may FEEL the fear, but you can go forward despite it. When God told Joshua repeatedly to fear not, He let him know that fear was going to attack him but that he must walk in obedience to do what God asked. You are not a coward if you feel fear. We are cowards only if we let fear rule our decisions. Fear produces physical and emotional symptoms. For me, when I feel fearful, I get dizzy and sick to my stomach. It’s hard to go forward. But the other side is freedom which is the side of power…everyday. 6/7/2024
KindnessFriday Matters- June 7, 2024
Everyday Altar Call You want to look up but you can’t because the burden you’re carrying is so heavy and you feel strange because the alter call at church was about going forward to pray for a prodigal child and your kids are all in church wondering, “What’s wrong with mom?” Others come forward to pray with those in front but I sat alone. Then suddenly, a woman, who could be described as the exact opposite of me, gentle and quiet, put her arm around me. It was quiet and not a word was said but gradually more tears started rolling down my face and then I started to sob. This woman gave the love and understanding of Jesus, who also wept with loss and felt alone. She put her arms around me and just sat with me because she knew what my heart must be feeling. Jesus waits with us, sees our tears and cries with us. Sometimes He sends just the right person He can work through to meet us in our need…everyday. 5/31/2024
KindnessFriday Matters- May 31, 2024
Everyday Golden Rule How many kids, when asked, would know what the golden rule is? Do you? I remember asking our four sons when they were younger and not all knew the answer which is, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” We may know it, but do we live it? There are broken marriages, churches, friends fighting, there’s brokenness. Taking this golden truth to heart is another matter. Jesus loves us…. really loves us…as we are. And He says, “I give you a new commandment; it is My commandment; it is all I command you; Love one another as I have loved you.” Only compassion and forgiveness count. Love is the key to everything. I think most times we treat others how we think they deserve to be treated but think if Jesus did that with us and gave us what we deserved? I know, right? I’d be toast. Not only do our kids need to be reminded of this, but we do also too and then live by example with kindness toward others by God’s grace not out of vengeance when we’ve been hurt. Simply, love one another…everyday. 5/24/2024
Mission WorkFriday Matters- May 24, 2024
Everyday India Tech Again, I found myself dealing with my Internet provider so I could once again send and not just receive an email through my website account. God bless Amrinder who I spent 138 minutes with trying to solve my problem. And although this wasn’t my first time feeling frustrated and impatient with computer technology, I needed Holy Spirit intervention and deep breaths to keep calm and carry on. I can live my life following Colossians 3:17 as a representative of Jesus because of His grace represented in how I deal with crazy-making issues. Yes, I was calling to receive a service, but I also had the opportunity to serve by listening and asking questions. It turns out Amrinder was from India and so we talked about the movie Slum Dog Millionaire. I heard from someone who knew about the poverty and the use of children that the movie addresses. I not only got my tech issue fixed but I was able to fix my focus on listening and loving another. Life is about loving God and loving people… …everyday. |
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