Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
11/23/2023
The Name of GodThursday Matters- November 23, 2023
Everyday God Name We hear it all the time, the phrase “Oh, my God!” to express a thought or idea that is incredible or unbelievable. But as we grow in a relationship with Christ we need to realize that when we say, “Oh, my God” we’re, in fact, violating one of God’s Ten Commandments; “You shall not use the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) My husband tells the story, when as a new believer returning to play cards with his buddies, he very intently asked them not to swear using God’s name; if they did he wouldn’t be able to play. There was a stunned silence until one of his friends spoke and said, “Okay, we’ll respect that.” Another guy said, “But can we still say, ‘blankity-blank and blank?’” My husband said, “Sure, that’s fine, just don’t use the name of the Lord in vain.” There’s such power in God’s name. He is Holy. He is Love. He and His name should always be respected and honored…everyday. 11/16/2023
CreationThursday Matters- November 16, 2023
Everyday Why Create? Why did God create us in the first place. I don’t have the answer, but I think it’s because He wanted someone in His image to love. In the beginning of creation, He gives His creation a freewill to love Him back too. Forcing someone to love you is not real love. I like what Pastor John Piper has to say on the purpose of creation being one of the most amazing things about God and without us on His created earth His grace could not be realized. That is why He created us. He knew we would sin, so He chose Christ’s sacrifice before creation - because He wanted to reveal the glory of His grace. This earth experience is hard with hard circumstances like our health and broken relationships and yet we have the hope of God’s promises and in faith we can SEE His grace displayed with love now and in heaven. God isn’t limited by our sin - only we are.” This earth is not our final destination. We have the hope of living perfectly with purpose by the righteousness of God…everyday. 11/9/2023
Difficult TrialsThursday Matters- November 9, 2023
Everyday Storms “It seems in life when it rains it pours, and in the downpour, I can no longer see my blessings. That’s what a listener Becky wrote. I get it. “I feel like the disciples who were overcome with fear and concentrated on the storm instead of Jesus. I don't plan on giving up, but it sure seems like a daily struggle to hang on.” I’m sure we’ve all been in a storm we thought would never let up. We’ve all been in the middle. In Mark 4:35 Jesus told the disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side” and yep, they got to the other side. Sometimes we can’t SEE how we will get there but by FAITH we can know and trust that God will bring us through. We need to hang on with our faith and not our fear. And even though our storm may be of hurricane proportions like the disciples had, Jesus is right there with us, fully aware, fully awake and ready to bring us through…everyday. 11/2/2023
Holy SpiritThursday Matters- November 2, 2023
Everyday Love Spirit There will always be people in our lives who are difficult. And I also fall into the category of being a difficult person too. Oh, but for the kindness, the grace of God, how could we live without Him? We must realize that the Holy Spirit according to 1 Peter 1:22 is the One Who purifies our hearts so we can allow the sincere love of God to flow through us to others. Walking in the love of God is the ultimate goal of Christianity and should be the primary pursuit of our lives rather than trying to get even with others. Jesus came and pronounced that all other commandments are summed up by loving God and loving others. When I think of what I can do for myself or how I can get others to bless me I'm filled with ME! But when I think of other people and how I can bless THEM I find myself filled with the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of love…everyday. 10/26/2023
ShameThursday Matters- October 26, 2023
Everyday Shame Jenny said, “The knowledge of my husband's addiction caused me great shame. I remember being in a mom’s group and conversations going on about all the normal mom-stuff like potty-training, sleepless nights, a shared recipe and the entire time I’m smiling and pretending. I thought; ‘If only they knew.’ I was afraid to let go of this image.” I’m so sorry if you’ve been through that hard place of betrayal like Jenny. But please share your story because you’re not alone. Shame keeps us hidden, hurting and silent. It builds walls and fights against being real. You need to know that “guilt” says you did something wrong. “Shame,” on the other hand, says that you are something wrong. You are NOT something wrong you’re your hurt feelings aren’t wrong. Jesus loves you, me and all the “Jennies” our there. He loves us where we are and in Matthew 11, He says to come as you are. Alright then, let’s give it to Him. It’s gonna be okay and it will get better…everyday. 10/19/2023
SinThursday Matters- October 19, 2023
Everyday Other’s Sin It’s painful enough when someone we love sins, but it’s made extra difficult when their choices result in us experiencing pain and grief too. It’s hard. I’m sorry if you’re there in that place right now. You’ve made a mistake; you have consequences but so do others around you. But it’s often in times of conflict that we’re drawn closer to God. His promises are ones of absolute hope, and He promises that “all things will work for the good” if we trust in Him. It’s also in the Bible that the words “fear not” are written 365 times. There is grace for each day of the year. Another promise in Hebrews 13 is God’s emphatic love for us; “He says, I will not in any way fail you or leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not ever leave you or let you down.” God is real. He is the comfort you need from all your fears in a very real way…everyday. 10/12/2023
Letting GoThursday Matters- October 12, 2023
Everyday God Hook It’s so hard when someone has hurt you and, “It’s not fair. Why is this happening to me?” I want payback now!” God IS taking care of things in HIS timing. He’s God and we’re not. Romans 12:19 is the promise from God saying. “I’ll take care of it because it’s Mine to avenge.” But you’re having a hard time waiting and you’re angry. You know God loves you but your anger prevents you from rational thought. You’re not alone here. We’ve all been “there.” Remember too that there’s an enemy and he uses others to get us riled up and sometimes in our anger we become sinful and downright mean. Let’s try to get in the habit of asking this question to ourselves, “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve posted about it. Relationships are the meaning of life, with God and others. I continually need God’s grace, when someone has hurt me, for me to let the person be taken off my hook and placed on His…everyday. 10/5/2023
Loving OthersThursday Matters- October 5, 2023
Everyday Mother Teresa It’s so much easier to point out what’s wrong with everybody else rather than look at our own junk to clean up. But we are all sinners, and we all need help which is why our first step toward reconciliation is to confess our sins, receive God’s pardon and walk forward in a restored relationship with our Creator. We cannot do anything to merit grace, and yet we look at someone like Mother Teresa and think surely she entered into heaven because of what she did. If we emulate her sacrificial love in some small fashion, we are lulled into a false sense of security that persuades us that we have no need of repentance today. When the little saint humbly confessed her brokenness and her desperate need for God, either we were uncomprehending or we secretly suspected her of false modesty. Yet she got it, and by the love she received, she gave in great amounts to others. Real love, real grace, receive it and then walk forward and give the same to others…everyday. 9/28/2023
God’s PromisesThursday Matters- September 28, 2023
Everyday God Said I went through Genesis chapter one and underlined all the verses where I saw the words, "GOD SAID." And I got really excited because I realized that everything on this earth came into existence by the power of God’s words! He this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God said, “Let there be stars and vegetation” and there was. And then the big finale’ when God said, “Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image,” and man was created! It just made me think about Hebrews 4:12 knowing that His Word is living and active and when spoken can have such power in our lives. I don’t know about you but far too often I trust in my feelings rather than the truth of what God tells me in His Word, the Bible! I mean there are all these super truth promises He has for us! I really am trying to choose to say what I know rather what I feel …everyday. 9/21/2023
New LifeThursday 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. |
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