Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
3/12/2024
SinTuesday Matters- March 12, 2024
Everyday Itchy Sin Hidden sin is attractive but once exposed, we see how ugly it really is. But often a person acting in sin can’t see the truth of how what they’re doing is not only hurting themselves but also others around them. C.S. Lewis in, The Great Divorce says sin is like an itch that needs to be scratched. At first, it’s small but the more it’s scratched the better it feels. After a while the itch becomes less, but you actually long to have it back. Sin is that way, when you aren't being satisfied by it anymore, you still long to have it. Only God can take that desire away. Sin costs us and the real loss isn’t just on earth but the loss of eternal life. Good news is that if we change our ways and accept God’s grace, we have life, which is what 1 John 5:12 talks about with repentance which brings true freedom, forgiveness and life now and into eternity…everyday. 3/5/2024
FaithTuesday Matters- March 5, 2024
Everyday Step in Faith In the Old Testament as the Israelites were soon to enter into the Promised Land they were faced with crossing the Jordan River during flood season with the Ark of the Covenant. God told them to go forward right into the middle of the river before the water would go down and because of the faith the people had in God they obeyed and trusted God. We read in Joshua 3:17 that; “All Israel passed through until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” I know I would’ve first wanted to test the water with my big toe to see some evidence of God’s promise of the water going down before I stepped into the middle of the river. But often God provides no solution to my problems until I trust Him and move ahead with what I know I should do. Sometimes God wants me to step forward into the unknown because it’s an opportunity for me to know Him better and trust Him with my faith and not my feelings...everyday. 2/27/2024
ThankfulnessTuesday Matters- February 27, 2024
Everyday Thanks for ALL Things I trust God’s love so I really try to obey what He asks from the Bible. But wow is Ephesians 5:20 a difficult scripture to follow; “Give thanks FOR all things?!” Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. Nevertheless I had an amazing experience when applying this for a very difficult circumstance. Visiting a friend two years ago at the Mayo Clinic I had a huge anxiety attack alone in the hallway with hyper-ventilating…the whole works. Driving home the next day I heard God say; “Thank Me for the attack.” “What craziness was this?” I kinda laughed but did it anyway; “Thank You God for the anxiety attack.” I said it once but as I continued to repeat and thank Him for something so awful I began to sense His great love for me. The more I thanked Him the more I felt enveloped by His love so I also added, “You’re so nice to me.” I was so overwhelmed by His presence that I had to pull over because I was crying so hard. His ways are often my “whys?” But His ways always bring peace…everyday. 2/20/2024
RepentanceTuesday Matters- February 20, 2024
Everyday Kind David Repents King David was a great man who committed a great sin and he paid the consequences but he also received forgiveness because he was repentant. In Psalm 51, David’s repentance speech, we see that God desires truth in our inner beings. Make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart,” David pleads with God. That means if we want to receive God’s blessings, we must be honest with Him about our sins. Until we face the truth of our sins we can’t truly repent. Real repentance means we’re sorry enough to ask for forgiveness with the willingness to change. We need to be sorry for the hurt we’ve caused another instead of making excuses for our sin. David became a man after God’s own heart because he confessed his sin. Repentance brings forgiveness and freedom which always leads to healing and restoration, …everyday. 2/13/2024
ForgivenessTuesday Matters- February 13, 2024
Everyday Forgive Like Jesus Think if you said to your spouse, “I forgive you. I just can’t be close to you again” and then think of praying to God, “Forgive me my sins as I've forgiven those who've sinned against me.” What'd happen if God forgave you in the same way you're forgiving your spouse? How'd you feel if you'd just confessed a sin to the Lord and He said “I forgive you but I can’t be close to you again?” You probably wouldn't feel forgiven. As Christians, we cannot overlook the direct relationship between God’s forgiveness and our forgiveness: As Ephesians 4:32 says it simply; “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” God has given us an incredibly high standard to live up to when we have the opportunity to forgive someone. Fortunately, He also gives us the grace and the guidance we need to imitate Him by forgiving others as He has forgiven us. Nothing is impossible with Him, including forgiving someone who has wronged you…everyday. 2/6/2024
RighteousnessTuesday Matters- February 6, 2024
Everyday Airport Truth I was in the airport traveling to speak and I was crabby, and I felt negative. Things weren’t right in my head. So, I did what I tell others, “God to the Bible. Listen to God.” I recited some scripture aloud. Nothing. Then I realized I needed TO APPLY what God was telling me. I remembered Isaiah 32:17; “And the effect of righteousness will be peace--internal and external, quietness and confidence.” Righteousness means I’m in right standing with God but it’s not because of anything I do but because I receive what HE DID for me. Righteousness means we know who we are in Christ! Quietly I walked around the airport saying, I’m the daughter of the King. He began a good work in me. He’s working all things for the good. And after a while of repeating and applying Isaiah 32:17 the effect of righteousness was peace-internal and external. Remember feelings are indicators but don’t let them be dictators. Walk in truth and receive peace…everyday. 1/30/2024
Hope in HealthTuesday Matters- January 30, 2024
Everyday Kidneys It’s been ten years since Brenda’s best friend, Susan, became ill and needed a kidney transplant. Brenda was a fitting donor and chose to donate one of her healthy kidneys to Susan even after doctors said her chance of survival was only 30%, and that there would be inherent risks to Brenda’s health as well. So, imagine the joy of Brenda getting ready to drive to her best friend’s wedding where she would be her maid of honor as Susan married the love of her life. Susan happened to meet her Prince at the hospital ten years ago when she received her transplant. Proverbs 13 tells us that when a longing is fulfilled, we have life. The “what ifs” never gets us anywhere. It’s like one of my favorite posters which reads; “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.” What gets us somewhere is living life with a transplant of hope in believing there’s something good coming…everyday. 1/23/2024
God’s PromisesTuesday Matters- January 23, 2023
Everyday Forever and Never The letter began, “Debbie I’m struggling. I’ve been unemployed since September; I have an aunt who is in the hospital and my husband is constantly reminding me that he’s the one who’s paying the bills. I feel frustrated and far away from God. Feeling far away from God and like He doesn’t care is what the devil wants you to feel and think. Satan is keen on feeding us lies and his two favorites are the “forever” lie and the “never” lie. He tells us about the negative things in our lives will never change and will forever be the way they are. He says the way you are right now will stay that way “forever.” Lies. The truth is God is good and He has plans to bring you wholeness from your brokenness of pain and regret. Trust in God because bad things ultimately give way to better things. Ecclesiastes 3:1; TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven…everyday! 1/16/2024
Mercy of GodTuesday Matters- January 16, 2023
Everyday Cake Mercy “Dan, c’mon, please pay the bill. My allowance won’t cover it.” I was at my husband’s office asking for grace as I handed him the bill for spending too much at J. Crew Catalog. Whew…he forgave and paid the bill. I was relieved. But when I went home, I discovered that a stick of butter, my special cake plate and a container of frosting was missing. I knew my nephew had baked a cake while I was away, so I called and scolded him for not replacing my supplies. When I hung up the phone, I realized I was acting like the ungrateful servant in Matthew 18. A king was about to punish this servant for a debt of millions but instead had pity and forgave. But was this servant grateful? No, he instantly found his friend who owed him a few thousand and when instant payment wasn’t given, he had the man thrown in prison. Okay, so I got the memo. God gives fresh mercy to us each day so how we can afford to withhold mercy from others who need it too…everyday. 1/9/2024
MarriageTuesday Matters- January 9, 2024
Everyday Bouquet I was absent one summer, for an extended period of time, and even though I’m not a “flower person” I cried when I came home and saw this large bouquet greeting me on the kitchen table. It was special and apparently so for our teenage son Joey. He seemed to be continually asking me, “Mom, aren’t those flowers from Dad beautiful?” “Yes. Yes, they are Joey.” And yes, the best thing we can do for our kids is to love our spouse. Unity. If our children see a crack in the foundation, they often find a way to slip through. Of course we have disagreements and we have had our share of fights but it’s how and where we choose to handle conflict, especially with our spouse. It’s important for our children to see unity, not division and so we often have to “agree to disagree” while privately we try and work things out. But of course, with the personalities of my husband and I they’ve seen us passionately argue too but they also see reconciliation. Jesus tells us that, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. When you’re marriage stands strong so does your family…everyday |
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