Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
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5/30/2023 Gospel is ChristTuesday Matters- May 30, 2023
Everyday The Gospel I’ve been in Christian group settings where Christians say, “I am a follower of Jesus” instead of, “I’m a Christian,” because of the stigma it may bring. And “yes,” I’ve been one. Sometimes we get bogged down about being right and then putting down others who do “it” wrong. We end up talking issues, rules and programs and what’s missing from these discussions is the simple message of the Gospel with is; love God, love others and do stuff to show His love in action. 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 relationship Jesus offers. It’s not based on what we do but what He’s done. Are you living is such a way that shows Jesus has changed your life …everyday?
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5/23/2023 Church StuffTuesday Matters- May 23, 2023
Everyday Church I love people. I love traveling and meeting new people in everyday random places like gas station. You can have church anywhere. Cuz when church stops being about us, it can be about God again. Church is meant to crush our selfishness and church without God does none of that. Often our evangelism becomes winning people to our doctrine or our denomination instead of reaching the people next door who have no direct access to freedom in Jesus. As I travel speaking I get a reality check every “church person” would benefit from. Our job is to get people to know Jesus personally. People need God desperately and not in a Pollyanna, “it’s all for a reason” sort of way. Jesus came to save the lost by letting them know they are loved right where they are at and not where they should be. Don’t just go to church, be the church…love without conditions…everyday. 5/16/2023 Everyday LoveTuesday Matters- May 16, 2023
Everyday Blue Collar God often chooses the underdog. Think of David in the Bible who is the youngest of his brothers, a shepherd boy and was made King. And then there’s Gideon, who was threshing wheat at night and God tapped him and said; “Gideon you mighty warrior.” He was used to conquer the fierce and large group of Midianites. Jesus chose everyday people for most of his apostles and hung out with “sinners” more than the upper class. We most often look on the outside and judge a person’s success based on what we see on earth. Our real success is not here. It’s in eternity. Matthew 19:30 says, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” One of the simplest instructions from God is one of the most challenging from Mark 10; “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me”…everyday. 5/9/2023 Identity of YOUTuesday Matters- May 9, 2023
Everyday Change Me Sometimes I talk too much. Even if I’m talking about good things, it’s still better if I follow the advice of Proverbs 10:19; “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” I know that the mouth that blesses, praises and prays can also irritate, hurt and harm. I remember a time I was home from college and having a heated argument with my dad, who’s an unbeliever. I was so frustrated, and I wanted to lash out and say something to prove my point but from experience I knew my brilliant but angry words would not change a thing. It’s crazy but I actually said aloud Proverbs 15:1; “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” It was weird but the argument stopped immediately, as soon as I spoke the Proverb. God had the last Word. My prayer is Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to God in every way...everyday. 5/2/2023 What Does God ThinkTuesday Matters- May 2, 2023
Everyday Acknowledge Wouldn’t it be nice if every time we asked God a question, we could just randomly open our Bibles and there’d be our answer? But the thing is, our answers are in the Bible and when we spend time there everyday we begin to learn the ways of God. We also begin to trust God knowing from Proverbs 3:6 that if we acknowledge God in all of our ways, He will direct our paths. Acknowledging God really means to care about what He thinks. In the Bible in I Chronicles, the Prophet Nathan, told David that he could go ahead and build a house for God. But the next day Nathan got word that one of David’s sons would build instead. What’s cool is that because David had a heart for God, he could praise God for this answer even though he might have been a little disappointed. Acknowledging and caring what God thinks makes a huge difference in how we respond to things and what the outcome is…everyday. 4/25/2023 Blessed in TrialsTuesday Matters- April 25, 2023
Everyday We Are Poor When I honestly accepted who God said I was, loved, redeemed and not a mistake, I felt I could stop pretending and performing. I need Him desperately. It is not the “they” who are poor, sinful and lost. It’s awareness that we ourselves are the primary target. Unless we acknowledge that we are the sinners, the sick ones and the lost sheep for whom Jesus came, we do not belong to the “blessed” who know that they are poor and inherit the Kingdom. It’s a dangerous zone when get our assurance from wealth or our status. Realize THIS, that ”they” is you and me, wretched, pitiably poor and so often blind. Isaiah 64 lays things out clearly when we begin to think, “I’m doing really well here.” “We’re all unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy garbage. It’s what Jesus did on the cross that cleans us up and sets us free…everyday. 4/18/2023 Kindness of HumanityTuesday Matters- April 18, 2023
Everyday Flea Market As I stood in a hut, waiting in a crammed line to buy a necklace from a flea market vendor I decided to pray for the artist rather than sigh with exasperated impatience. I thought; "Being patient isn't so much about the amount of time I wait but more about my attitude while I wait." Besides this was another opportunity for me to develop my fruits of the spirit and the fruit of patience is far from being ripe. When it was finally my turn at the counter the artist's mother who was helping said, "I've been watching you wait in line and you weren’t impatient by all that was around you. There’s something different about you. You have peace." It's not always what we say but how we behave that makes an impact. And it’s not always easy but from 1 John 4:16 we can rely on God’s love for help. Because when we live in God, He lives in us…everyday. 4/11/2023 DepressionTuesday Matters- April 11, 2023
Everyday Heartsick It's so hard when I’ve been hoping and praying for something, and it doesn’t happen at all like I expected or wanted. How true is Proverbs 13: 12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” But even with heart sickness and prayers unanswered my way I know God has the way to work all things for the good. In the meantime, it’s good to recognize the disappointment because it’s part of the recovery process. Of course, we can always find someone that’s worse off than us or a reason why, we shouldn’t complain but I think the healthier response is to actually acknowledge the letdown, express our emotions and then move forward with God’s plan. Proverbs 18:15; "The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear it if the spirit is crushed?" My aunt always says, “I rather have sickness in my body than sickness in the mind or spirit.” And I agree. But thankfully there’s a God who’s there to help and heal us through all our sicknesses…everyday. 4/4/2023 KindnessTuesday Matters- April 4, 2023
Everyday Scooters I remember when I was the substitute teacher for 2nd grade gym and oh how excited the eight-year-olds were for “Friday Free Day” which meant hula hoops, balls and scooters. Unfortunately, for Caleb, there weren’t enough little floor scooters to go around. So, after 10 minutes I asked Megan to give her blue scooter to Caleb. She was about to do when she noticed a red and orange one rolled to the side. But as I led Caleb to the scooters he stopped me, tears coming, and sniffled; “I know it doesn’t matter and all colored scooters are the same, but I just need a blue one.” Megan obliged giving up her blue for red but wondered; “Why?” “Oh, just because,” I said. God gets out “crazy” too. Psalm 55:2 says, “Attend to and answer me; I’m restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan.” No matter how little your need is, it matters to God because you matter to Him, absolutely and completely…everyday. 3/28/2023 God Accepts YOUTuesday Matters- March 28, 2023
Everyday Come and Drink “Where are you looking to satisfy your deepest desires and longings?” John 4 tells of the women at the well with whom Jesus spoke. She had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband, yet Jesus doesn't give her a lecture on immorality. He spoke to her about her thirst. Someone shared this quote referring to John 7; "Christ enters the ‘Tuckered Towns’ of the world, stands at the intersection of ‘Worn-Out Avenue’ and ‘Done-In Street’ and compels, ‘If you are thirsty, come to Me! If you believe in Me, come and drink!’ For the scriptures declare that rivers of living waters will flow out from within." Only Jesus can satisfy that ache in your heart. If you're eating the junk food of the self-centered life, you'll never be satisfied. God is in the filling business and He wants to satisfy your deepest desires. He can fill your emptiness. Look to Him. He will bring you fulfillment and hope…everyday. |
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