Everyday Matters by Debbie Griffith

9/21/2023

New Life

Thursday Matters- September 21, 2023
Everyday Living Water

Life is not easy and frankly sometimes I think it should be because I’m following Jesus but just because we have freedom in Jesus doesn’t mean we have freedom from problems. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. Only some days don’t you feel like it’s all upstream?

But it’s often the upstream swimming that makes us strong and more determined than ever to reach our goal. And hopefully that goal is following the path Jesus has for you because it really is the best path although it may not always FEEL that way. I always have to remind myself that Jesus is the WAY even though very often He doesn’t answer things my WHY. I remember speaking at a retreat with the theme; “Come to the Living Well.” My desire was to share the hope in Christ, so the gals were thirsty to drink from the fountain of Living Water which Jeremiah 2:13 talks about and not broken down cisterns that we make for ourselves which leave us dry and weary in a dusty world…everyday.

9/14/2023

Deconstructing

Thursday Matters- September 14, 2023
Everyday Questions

God will never tire of us seeking Him or of all our questions. I think of my kids and especially when they were younger and all the questions they had. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. But I always want them to know I love them no matter what. I imagine it’s a lot like God with us. As T.S. Elliot put it; “Oh my soul, be prepared to meet Him who knows how to ask questions.” I imagine questions from God might be? Did you know Me and how I much I loved you for all eternity?

There are things about God that are mysterious and secret, things we will never know about Him. But there also are things revealed, and those belong to us. Deuteronomy 29:29; “The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” I follow and trust God because I know He loves me no matter what …everyday.

9/7/2023

Peace

Thursday Matters- September 7, 2023
Everyday Aslan

I love the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis and in the second book, Prince Caspian, there’s a wonderful illustration of how Aslan, the main character in the series, portrays the character of Jesus. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters.

There’s a scene where Aslan meets and comforts Susan; He’s all powerful but also gentle and compassionate. Aslan appears mysteriously to the four children to show them the way they should go in order to help Prince Caspian but because of her doubt, Susan is the last of the group to see Him.

When she must greet Aslan she’s crying and I expect that Aslan will reprimand Susan for her lack of faith but instead He says, “You have listened to your fears, child. Come, let Me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?” He doesn’t scold but instead breathes His peace into her heart and soul. This is so like God because as we read in 2 Corinthians 2: 3 the Father of mercies and God of all comfort longs to do the same for us...everyday.

8/31/2023

Life is Hard

Thursday Matters- August 31, 2023
Everyday Hurt

"How do we love and accept difficult people?” Someone asked me that question. I know…right? God loves us ALL and we are all created in His image. The ONLY way to love others genuinely is by the love God gives to us. 2 Peter 1:9 really made me think, “For whoever lacks the genuine quality of love is blind to what they have been given from accepting Christ. Jesus has wiped off, erased from the books, our own sinful lives.” He has cleared us. We’re free.

I KNOW it’s hard. You’re hurt. It’s unfair. The “other person” has the problem and not you. BUT love covers. God covers you, He sees and knows all the stuff you shouldn’t have done and the things you should’ve done and He still loves you. He wants you to show that love to others (and you may have to set boundaries). Forgive others so you’re set free, just like God loves, frees and forgive you. You can do it with Him and the Holy Spirit…everyday.

8/24/2023

Pride And Love

Thursday Matters- August 24, 2023
Everyday Me Myself and I

Pride is a difficult problem for us to deal with because it hides. Pride deceives us and causes us to think we do not have it which is exactly the hope of the enemy so he can bring destruction into our lives. Obadiah 1:3 tells us, “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” “Yeah,” I think, “Me, Myself and I are my greatest problems.” So much of the time I’ve been full of myself when I need to be full of God!

Pride and love do not mix. Love is not proud and boastful nor does it keep a record of the hurt from others. Love “shakes it off.” Love doesn’t look down on others but how often do others who feel bad about themselves put someone else down hoping they’ll feel better? I think this happens a lot. Love values every individual. Let’s be full of love and acceptance for others, we all are of value and significance as God tells us this…everyday.

8/17/2023

Life is Hard

Thursday Matters- August 17, 2023
Everyday Not Right

Okay so you’re talking to a person who says they know and love Jesus. Great. But the more you talk the more you realize that you’re kinda saying the same thing but you’re not. I love to talk about Jesus and how He is love but He is holy too. And now I realize that not everyone who agrees Jesus is love understands that He is holy.
I’m on the same page as pastor and theologian Warren Wiersbe. “False teachers deny the inspiration of the Bible, the sinfulness of man, the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross, salvation by faith alone, and even the reality of eternal judgment. They deny the deity of Jesus Christ, for they know that if they do away with His deity, they can ignore the entire body of Christian truth. Christianity is Christ, and if He is not who He claims to be, there is no Christian faith.” Christ is our Savior and only through faith in Him can we have eternal life…everyday.

8/10/2023

Text Messaging

Thursday Matters- August 10, 2023
Everyday Texting

“Are you serious you just sent me this text?” wrote my friend Kelly. “My husband and I were having a discussion, okay an argument, and I’m sitting on the couch because I need a clear mind to hear from God. It is 1:00 a.m. and “bzzzz-bzzzzz” you send THAT scripture?” I live in Minnesota. Kelly lives in Colorado. We’ve met once. I sent her a text message at 2:00 a.m. my time but it was at the moment God knew she needed it.

And this is what I shared from Luke 21:15; “Kelly, Jesus will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute.” We need to wait on God for His wisdom which will not come from the mind but from our inner being. Jesus help us against our natural inclination to manipulate things to work the way we want them to work. We believe in You and wait on You. AMEN.” God promises to give us wisdom if we ask. Let’s ask Him…everyday.

8/3/2023

Emotions

Thursday Matters- August 3, 2023
Everyday Feelings

It’s so important to remember; feelings are indicators, but don’t let them be dictators. Get it? Feelings are valid and they indicate good and bad things happening in our lives but we shouldn’t let them lead us, especially when we feel afraid.

I read this post on Instagram which said; “And then I realized that to be more alive I had to be less afraid so I did it, I lost my fear and gained my whole life.” We may feel fear but the way to lose “it” is to go forward in courage despite what we feel which I know is insanely difficult but always worth it. The only way we can do that and leave our fears behind is by leaning into the grace and hope God gives us. Think about what God says in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous.” Don’t give up because of feelings. Don’t let fear immobilize you because God will be the one who keeps on walking with you and He won’t abandon you EVER…everyday.

7/27/2023

God Speaks

Thursday Matters- July 27, 2023
Everyday Word Power

Lazarus was dead; that was a fact but when Jesus, who is the Truth, walked up to the tomb and spoke; that truth changed the facts. Throughout the Gospels we repeatedly read of people who were sick and demon possessed. But when they went Jesus, and He spoke, their facts changed. They were healed, delivered, and set free. We must never magnify the facts of our circumstances above God and the power of His Word. When God speaks things change.

In Isiah 55:11 we see that God’s Word does not return to Him empty but always accomplish its purpose. When we learn to speak God’s Word instead of rehearsing how we’re feeling or our opinions, we are also releasing God’s power. The Word of God spoken in faith, from a believer’s mouth, can change circumstances. WE experience negative facts in our lives, but God’s truth is more powerful than facts. It helps if you say the truth aloud, “I am loved, as I am, right now because I am God’s child”…everyday.

7/20/2023

Knowing Peace

Thursday Matters- July 20, 2023
Everyday Umpire of Peace

I always thought that having peace was a feeling and so I thought if I prayed God would give me a feeling about how to proceed. Years later, through prayer and understanding, I realize God’s gives peace in the way of “knowing” rather than just a feeling. This comes by way of the Holy Spirit.

Think how an umpire in a ball game decides if a player is “in” or “out” and in Colossians 3:15 there’s the Umpire of Peace, “Let the peace from Christ act as umpire in your hearts deciding and settling all questions that come into your mind.” We are able to ask God a question and trust the Holy Spirit on how to proceed. I remember my young friend, Rhonda, asking me if she should take an additional job because finances were tough but then again the long hours would affect her family too. At first, my feelings were, “Take the job.” But after we prayed together neither of us had peace. So Rhonda refused the job and almost immediately help came in a different way. Pray with and for peace the “Umpire of Peace”…everyday.