Everyday Matters by Debbie Griffith

9/13/2024

Words

Friday Matters- September 13, 2024
Everyday Useful Words

Two most useful words that we need to actually use more often are “okay” and “no.” Many times, we’re trying to be such people pleasers, so we say YES instead of NO, or we try and fix ourselves and others when it’s better to say, “Okay” and accept what’s happening. It could go like this, ““No, that is not who God says I am,” or “No, that is not where God wants me” followed by, “No, I will not be an approval addict.”

The other useful word “Okay” can work like this; “Okay, you see it this way and I don’t.” “Okay, I am sick right now, but it will pass.” In scripture we read where Jesus didn’t answer at all but allowed people to follow their own folly and He mostly used the word “no” when speaking to the religious leaders. Do you trust God to the extent that even when it's hard you’re at peace to say, “Okay” and “No?” I’m not there but I know with Him it’s possible and useful in moving forward…everyday.

9/6/2024

Mental Illness

Friday Matters- September 6, 2024
Everyday Emotional Pain

Emotional pain is harder than physical pain? Can I get an “Amen?!” I mean I get physical pain from my recovery with scoliosis back surgery and having mono and flu where I never thought I’d leave the bathroom floor. However broken relationships, the loss of a loved one, and the failure of a plan or dream, well … that kind of pain is so much harder for me.

But it helps to remember God uses pain to get our attention. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. We rarely change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. But why does it get so hot? I hear ya. The answer is God’s love turns-up, it warms when it all seems so cold and hopeless. He’s always aware and He always cares. Proverbs 20:30, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Yes, God loves you, everyday.

8/30/2024

Sufficient Grace

Friday Matters- August 30, 2024
Everyday Sufficient Days

Some days are harder than others and yet God’s grace is always sufficient. God supplies what you need each day, so you can avoid fatigue, burnout, weariness and “mind crazies.”

We must learn to live one day at a time or go crazy with the “what ifs” of the future. Yet, everyday we get a new batch of grace to go forward with. AMEN because I always use my allotted amount each day. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:34 to meet each day’s challenges as they come and not to borrow trouble from tomorrow and then at the appointed time God’s grace will be available to us in sufficient supply. He helps us to face and overcome whatever may occur in our lives. One thing that helps me is to think about who I can be a blessing to someone else and not just focus on myself. God’s grace IS sufficient for you right now (2 Corinthians 12:9). “IS” is a present tense verb. Take a deep breath. You’re gonna be okay today, tomorrow and…everyday.

8/23/2024

Friendship

Friday Matters- August 23, 2024
Everyday Best Friends

“We’re best friends now!” is something I say when I’ve really made a connection with someone and have met them for the first time. Everyone has a story and I find myself taking the time to listen to people’s stories. I always take a selfie afterward too. This fall is Gigi, who is originally from Brazil. She loved this whole concept of “best friends in 30 minutes or less” because when you ask questions and listen to the heart there’s this wonderful joy that turns to love as you begin to fully know a real person and not a performer or poser.

Gigi shared her wild child past living in Brazil and as I listened to Gigi, it was fascinating to hear about her life. For many seasons she lived in darkness, making harmful choices and yet, because of her relationship with God, He never let her go and did not let her past define her future. She is fully known by God (I mean Jesus knows the good, bad and ugly), loved and redeemed, which enables her to be me and others…everyday.

8/16/2024

Sobriety

Friday Matters- August 16, 2024
Everyday Drunk

What does mean to be righteous? Well, it means we are in right standing with God and that means we know who we are in Him…. loved, redeemed, not a mistake. Greater self-effort and determination will never liberate you. Shifting your focus will. This means letting God lead you and not your flesh.

Again, in the Bible, Ephesians 5, tells us not to be drunk with wine but instead to be drunk with the Holy Spirit. When a person is drunk on alcohol, they feel, think and act differently. I’ve been there, done that. But the exact same is true when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we feel think and act differently. The Christian life is not the result of trying to act like a Christian; that’s only frustrating. The secret is developing our relationship with God empowered by the Holy Spirit. As God's Spirit fills us, we better understand who God really is. Our lives are changed from the inside out and good behavior is the end product…everyday.

8/9/2024

Anger

Friday Matters- August 9, 2024
Everyday Untamed 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.

Hebrew 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, but being honest has always opened a door to healing. God’s words of forgiveness to our wrong actions brings freedom…everyday.

8/2/2024

Christianity

Friday Matters- August 2, 2024
Everyday Hungry

Generally, I don’t think most Christians think of themselves as superior just because they’ve accepted Jesus into their lives. Religious people…well yea…there may be a superiority factor there. Let’s say; before someone becomes a Christian, they’re always eating but never really filling up, they’re always hungry. But one day they taste and see that the Lord is good, and they realize they were actually starving (Psalm 34:8). But once Jesus is in their lives they’re completely filled up. So, I’d ask the unbeliever, “If you saw someone that was starving, and you had at one time been hungry and starving yourself would you be superior to that person because you’re not starving anymore?”

A big problem lies in the fact that a lot of people think that Christianity is just another religion of judgment. But Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could have a religion. He died and rose again so we could be saved and have a real and intimate relationship with Him, one that leaves us filled and satisfied…everyday.

7/26/2024

July 26th, 2024

Friday 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

Beauty

Friday 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

Ministry

Friday 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.