Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
8/8/2023
Kindness & ForgivenessTuesday Matters- August 8, 2023
Everyday Kindness & Forgiveness Love is kind. Love forgives despite what the other person does. Yeah, I know the part about setting boundaries with the person who is still operating in dysfunctional behavior. But I’m talking about really forgiving someone who’s hurt you and not rehearsing the hurt by dragging the memory around in your head. I know right? It’s hard. There are those days where you know what you know about forgiveness, yet something triggers a past hurt and all kindness goes out the door as swiftly as it came in. The temptation is to rehearse our hurts and expectations more than our forgiving attitudes and hearts. LORD HELP! I think of the woman prostitute who anointed Jesus feet with costly perfume and what Jesus said about her; “She loves much because she’s been forgiven much.” Each day I try (when not overwhelmed by my own junk) to thank Him for His grace and loving kindness that never ends despite myself…everyday. 8/1/2023
Your SignificanceTuesday Matters- August 1, 2023
Everyday Important What makes you feel important loved or even liked? How often do you check the “likes” on your Instagram or Facebook post? I know. Been there. Done that. But REALLY the place I feel the most love is when I know who I am and whose I am. I’m God’s girl. He loves all of you and He LONGS to have you rid yourself of the garbage and dirt that makes you feel ashamed or unloved. We’re so important and significant to God. He gets us, gives us gifts to have purpose and He never stops loving us. Jesus instructs that we’re to be willing to accept ourselves as least in importance. The least is a symbol of those who have the lowest places in society; the poor and the oppressed, the prostitutes, the tax collectors. But Jesus concern was that these should not be treated as inferior (Matthew 18:10). He was well aware of their feelings of shame, and because of their humility and His compassion they were of REALLY great value. Remember with God, you’re always popular…everyday. 7/25/2023
Who is Jesus?Tuesday Matters- July 25, 2023
Everyday Claim of Christ Attending a retreat or conference to learn more about Jesus can be a great way to grow and connect with others and our shared humanity. But nothing can replace one on one time alone with Jesus reading His book of hope and redemption. Jesus calls us to Himself, “Abide in Me, dwell in me, come to me.” Significantly, Jesus doesn’t say “Come to a day of renewal, a retreat, a prayer meeting, and a conference. But “Come to Me.” Is Jesus King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Yes, and if He is not the Savior of the world, He’s a lunatic. He’s the Risen Lord who must be proclaimed as the world’s only hope. Who else would dare to say, “I am the way, the truth and life. Whoever believes in Me will have everlasting life; and the one who does not believe in Me will be condemned. This is a pretty powerful claim and one to not take lightly. To be sure there are a lot of great events to attend but nothing is better than attending to a relationship with Christ…everyday. 7/18/2023
No ShameTuesday Matters- July 18, 2023
Everyday It's Personal Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve or talk about it because it’s personal, it’s private?” I think it’s sad that someone would want to keep private the hope and truth they have in Jesus. But then if it’s just a religion someone has I guess I can see why they’d want to keep it private, there’s no freedom in religion, only rules. But once a person “gets” the relationship, they get excited about sharing the freedom they’re experiencing. Our son Peter recently got a tattoo of the Sword of the Spirit inked on his right arm and he literally is displaying is faith. Millions throughout the centuries have suffered or died in order to get the message of God’s love and forgiveness out, the message of a personal relationship with Christ, not a religion. Sharing my testimony of what God has done in my life freely and openly allows me to understand Romans 1:16, “I’m not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it’s the power of salvation to all who believe.” I plan on getting tattoo “the helmet of salvation” on my arm. It’s simply another way to share the hope of Christ…everyday. 7/11/2023
Holy Spirit ChangesTuesday Matters- July 11, 2023
Everyday Change Even before I begin to encourage you I can hear some of you crying: “BUT Debbie just listen to this injustice in my life…it’s so not fair!” “BUT Debbie I don’t have a godly husband and my life is ruined because of him.” “BUT Debbie I’m not like you I can’t just call on scripture when I need it!” “BUT Debbie I know I shouldn’t care so much what others think but I can’t change.” It sounds like a lot of you have “BIG-BUT SYNDROME.” Because there will always be excuses and even good reasons why you feel the need to start many of your sentences with “But-But… I can’t because…” But I’m telling ya while you can’t change someone else you can allow God to change you and the things you think on. How about following what Romans 12:2 has to share; “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” through the power of the Holy Spirit…everyday. 6/27/2023
HopeTuesday Matters- June 27, 2023
Everyday Surrender with Hope French fashion designer and businesswoman Coco Chanel said, “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time pounding on a wall hoping for a door to open and circumstances to change. AND YET when I finally surrender, I mean really and not just say it and allow God to work with what He decides is best I have hope. Changes may not come in the way I imagine but it’s God’s best way. Psalm 103:7 is a “go-to” verse for me, “Put your hope in God for with Him is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption.” We can put our hope in other people or circumstances but when we let God have full control He is always on the move, and He’ll open doors. Look for the blessing and lesson in all difficult circumstance and difficult people in your life and God will bless you…everyday. 6/20/2023
Christian LivingTuesday Matters- June 20, 2023
Everyday Living for Christ I know Jesus lives. He died and rose again. I can say it and I believe it. But the real question is; “Do I live my life as evidence that I believe Jesus is alive in me? Jesus died and He rose again and from His greatest act of love, His greatest power flows. The living Christ is then certainly not a dead hero. The Christian lives in Christ and Christ lives in the Christian by the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about it; we are empowered to lead a new life where sin has no place and if we don’t really believe or live this way then where is our faith? When I woke up today I was worrying about our son’s future and choices but I certainly wasn’t acknowledging the power of the resurrected Christ who lives in me and receiving the peace He had for me concerning our son. How often are we unwilling to believe that we have been transformed and that the impossible has become possible through Christ who loves us and our children more than we could ever imagine …everyday. 6/13/2023
Unconditional LoveTuesday Matters- June 13, 2023
Everyday Performer I am a theater major. I get how to portray characters on stage. I also know how to perform as if the world was the stage but it’s not the way I want to be. Who really wants to be around pretenders or performers? Don’t we all want REAL sincerity, honesty? The more I live life I see no benefits to performing or pretending like everything is okay when it isn’t. It doesn’t mean to walk around with a bad attitude if life is hard but being transparent in your hard place will help someone more than your sing-song performance that life is all butterflies and bunnies. Oh look how God loves you in it all. He’s not mad at you. He may be heartbroken over your choices in sin but with confession He takes your sin, offers forgiveness and frees you. No more pretending or hiding. His grace is always there. Look up. Be honest. Let go. Surrender and let the risen Christ live in you so you’re a new creation, the old life is gone and you’re made new…everyday. 6/6/2023
ReconciliationTuesday Matters- June 6, 2023
Everyday Breakthrough I get to share Cindy’s breakthrough in giving real forgiveness. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. I had been mentoring Cindy and even though she said she’d forgiven her father she continued negatively talking about him and avoided him. “I did forgive him but you don’t know how much he hurt me.” She had become bitter. So I told her; “Based on what the Bible says it really doesn’t matter how great the offense was. We serve a God Who is greater and if we will handle the offense in the right way, He’ll bring justice and recompense when we allow Him to.” God says in Isaiah 61:7, “Instead of your former shame you shall have a twofold recompense.” A recompense is a reward. It’s payback for past hurts. Think of it like worker’s compensation. You work for God and as long as you do, if you get hurt on the job, HE WILL PAY YOU BACK! Cindy finally let go and forgave her dad. She’s set boundaries but they’re reconciled. Remember God is your Vindicator…everyday. 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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