Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
7/23/2024
ForgivenessTuesday Matters- July 23, 2024
Everyday Offense We can say we trust in God to avenge or defend us but when we take matters into our own hands we aren’t putting a lot of trust in God taking care of our hurt. A big challenge is not to pick up the offense of a friend or family member who’s been hurt. I’m guilty there. But when we take on someone else’s offense we’re sucking the poison of their sin and we become bitter along with them. I’ve seen this happen when a parent’s anger towards someone passes on to their children. Remember if only one side of the story is presented you don’t have the whole truth and may have a cocktail of lies. It’s the enemy’s plan to ruin relationships. God’s plan is to restore. Follow Deuteronomy 30:19 which tells us to make the choices which bring life so that we and generations to come may live meaningful lives. More is caught than taught and the way your children trust God will have a lot to do with the way you trusted God in relationship conflicts…everyday. 7/16/2024
WisdomTuesday Matters- July 16, 2024
Everyday Sharp Do you know someone who’s served in the military? I know many and one of them is my husband, Dan. Military persons serve as an act of love for others. I remember Dan telling me that in the army they were constantly drilled that they needed to keep their weapons clean and ready for use. A useless weapon not only made the soldier useless, but also a liability because now someone else needs to pick up the slack. In Ephesian 6 God gives us a list of armor, but only one weapon—the Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon of the six God’s calls us to “put on.” Our knowledge of the Word is its sharpness. There are so MANY things screaming for our attention and I’m sure, like me, you are being pulled in many directions. But God never changes no matter what the direction of our day is. So Let the Word of God be in your head and heart; sharpened…everyday. 7/9/2024
Beauty in LifeTuesday Matters- July 9, 2024
Everyday Beauty for Ashes Jesus can heal us in all the areas where we hurt. He wants to help us emotionally as well as spiritually and physically. Perhaps there's dysfunctional things that have happened in your past and you’ve experienced rejection and maybe there's been abuse that has left you emotionally wounded. Jesus wants to give all of us beauty for ashes. Isaiah 61:3 says, "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair". To receive the beauty, we must give God our hurts and pains. When we accept Christ as Savior a great exchange takes place in the spiritual realm. God gives us everything He has (and is) and we're supposed to give Him everything we are but also everything we're not, He takes our weaknesses and sickness, and He gives us His strength, health and healing. We give Him our sin and He gives us His righteousness. He will give us beauty for ashes, but you must be willing to give up your ashes. Press into the future and enjoy the new life that Jesus has for you…everyday. 7/2/2024
Eyes on JesusTuesday Matters- July 2, 2024
Everyday Race Running It’s not always good or healthy to say “yes” to everything that seems good and godly. But sometimes God calls us to minister in seasons that are challenging and keep us very busy. What’s comforting to me is to know that if God asks us to do something He’ll always give us the grace and strength to do it. So, it kinda bugs me when people step in and offer solutions to my busyness, even if they mean well, by telling me to stop what I’m doing, especially when you know in your spirit that God’s asked you to do something and you’re feeling overwhelmed what you need is encouragement to run your race. So, let’s cheer each other on from Hebrews 12:2; “Keep going and persevere. You can do it, keep your eyes on Jesus. Your faith will sustain you!” It won’t always be easy but there will always be strength, grace and even JOY when we’re running for Jesus…everyday. 6/25/2024
Love OthersTuesday Matters- June 25, 2024
Everyday Be a Blessing Do you have prayers where you cry about all that is wrong and list what needs fixing, it’s not you but everybody and everything else? Yep. Been there…done that. God gets you. It’s okay. He cares about our pain and all that happens to us and knows about it even before it hits us. Sometimes we stop praying and give up because God didn’t answer the prayer like we thought – our sick friend got sicker and the marriage we prayed would stay together ended in divorce. That’s hard. I’m sorry if that’s been the outcome for you. But remember, GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU. Nothing you do or don’t will cause Him to withdraw His love. There’s something redeemable in your mess and pain right now. Get up, bring a gift to someone this day, a card of encouragement or a muffin, something. Serving someone else will help you focus on hope…everyday. 6/18/2024
WaitingTuesday Matters- June 18, 2024
Everyday Farmer Waits “God how are You going to do this and when are You going to do it? Why is it taking so long?” Have those questions been yours? But think about the farmer who tends his crops. He just keeps sleeping and rising and does what he can to enrich his soil and cultivate his crops but leaves the rest in the hands of God. Jesus spoke of the patient farmer in the Bible from Mark 4:26-28. He sows his seed in the ground and then goes on his way, sleeping and getting up each morning and eventually the ground brings what the farmer has hoped for. The farmer doesn’t know how the harvest will come or exactly when it will come but his job is to get up in the morning, do his work and then go to bed at night. He’s patient until the harvest arrives. Wait in hope. God is working. He is the Great I Am. And while you’re waiting you can grow by being fed by His Word and trusting in His promises…everyday. 6/11/2024
Law & GraceTuesday Matters- June 11, 2024
Everyday You Should Today I want to encourage you to ask God to help you take the “should” out of your life. Think how often you say, “I should read the Bible, I should memorize scripture, I should attend a Bible study, I should lead one.” But remember what Paul says in 2 Corinthians; “The code of the Law kills but the Holy Spirit makes alive.” When we start thinking “I should” is when we get stuck in being religious. Some religious circles want you to believe that God can only be reached through rule keeping and good behavior. This “religious spirit” was alive when Jesus walked the earth, but He died so we could have a close personal relationship with Him and not a religion. Today that same religious spirit still trips people up if they don’t know the truth. Remember the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior. Our personal relationship with Christ enables us to walk in freedom and to be loved as we are, not where we or others think we “should” be…everyday. 6/4/2024
Law & GraceTuesday Matters- June 4, 2024
Everyday Drive Safe “Hey Dan,” I called my husband. “I’m getting ready to head home from a conference,” so I was expecting Dan’s usual request to “drive safe” and wear my seatbelt but instead he offered, “Make sure you don’t wear your seatbelt and use your road rage if you have to.” Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. I couldn’t put my seatbelt on fast enough. Maybe I shouldn’t be proud to be called a rule breaker, but I am proud that I am free from the Old Testament rules—rules to show us that no matter how well intentioned or hard we try—we will never measure up. When Christ died, He took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with Him leaving us free through His resurrection. Not to use our freedom to sin but to be live free with a light yoke and an easy burden. “Wear the seatbelt knowing there’s a huge difference of being under the law and being free under God’s grace and letting Jesus take the wheel…everyday. 5/28/2024
MarriageTuesday Matters- May 28, 2024
Everyday Marriage Break Unfortunately, I hear from a lot of people sharing how their marriage is breaking up due to a spouse finding someone new. “I wish my spouse would give up this other person and want to reconcile, but they have no desire for me anymore. I’m trying to focus on God, but I want deliverance from this pit,” someone wrote me. I ache for this person, but I told them; “With Jesus there is always hope.” The enemy wants us to believe lies and fall into despair. Proverbs 1:31 is also pretty clear about the person who continues in sin; “Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.” But if we choose to trust what we know of God Proverbs 1:33 is pretty clear; “But all who listen to Me will live in peace, untroubled by fear or harm.” Go to the Bible for comfort, read aloud, lament, cry out to God. He knows and cares about hurting heart and He knows how to give you hope…everyday. 5/21/2024
We Need GraceTuesday Matters- May 21, 2024
Everyday Gossip I saw a cartoon once where three women were round a table praying and the caption said, “It’s not gossip if you’re eyes are closed.” I laughed but it also made me think. It’s important that what we share in prayer is either done with permission or an understanding that if the person we’re praying for was sitting next to us we’d still feel comfortable. Legitimately we may share our concerns about someone because we need advice and want prayer for them. Nevertheless, it’s important that what we share is done in a general sort of way with no specific details because often, the details include our judgmental opinion. Gossip to God because He knows the hearts of the matter. Sometimes you need apologize to a person you gossiped about (as I’ve had to). Above all be willing to let the Holy Spirit guide you in prayer and share. Psalm 141 says; “Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth.” That’s great advice. Love others with words which build up and not tear down…everyday. |
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