Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
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4/14/2021 AddictionWednesday Matters- April 14, 2021
Everyday Recovering Addict As a recovering “self-addict” I try and focus on what God needs to change in me rather than asking Him to change everyone else and my circumstances that bother me. Hey this is Debbie Griffith with Everyday Matters. You see the self-involved person is always seeking a way to avoid pain whereas the God involved person embraces pain and they actually go to the Word of God to guide them through life. Instead of becoming bitter they become better. 1 Peter 5:10 really offers us hope and encouragement because it tells us that after we’ve suffered a little while, the God of all grace Who imparts all blessings and favor, Who has called us to His eternal glory will complete and make us what we ought to be. He’ll ground us securely, and strengthen, and settle us. That’s a great promise. And I want it! So ever so slowly I’m able to praise Him in the pain for I know that’s His will for me. There are blessings and favor from Him in our trials…everyday.
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4/7/2021 True LoveWednesday Matters- April 7, 2021
Everyday Really Loving Ya know that song that goes; “They will know we are Christians by our love?” We all know people who profess to be Christians, attend church, they know the rules. However, we know an authentic Christian by way they live their lives, by the fruit they bear. God’s not asking us to trust someone who doesn’t take responsibility for their part in a big mess, but He does command us to LOVE “that someone.” In Mark 21:21 God says that we can move mountains by putting our faith in Him. Usually, we talk ABOUT our mountains, but God tells us to talk TO our mountains. Talk to your mountain as an authentic Christian by following Mark 11:25; “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them and let it drop, and your Father will also forgive your failings and let them drop. The Lord God, by the power of the Holy Spirit in you, gives you the grace and strength you need to forgive. Real Christians really love by really forgiving…everyday. 3/31/2021 God Calls YouWednesday Matters- March 31, 2021
Everyday Called I am thankful for God’s call on my life to love others. He hasn’t called me to hand out a rulebook or a list of “you should” and “you should nots,” which means He hasn’t called on me to point out the sins of others. He knows I have enough of my own stuff to cleanup, and with His grace, how can I afford not to extend this gift to others? I love people. I want to have fun, be real, love God and love others. But it’s also important to note that at no point does God not stop being holy. Out of His great holiness and power and might and mercy, do we then deny our own sinful desires and bow to Him. Our flesh wants what it wants and more of it. So it’s only by God’s Holy Spirit in us that we can deny the flesh. I know the message of “sin is not in” and love always wins, but true love involves compassion with truth…everyday. 3/24/2021 God Delights in YouWednesday Matters- March 24, 2021
Everyday He Delights in You God loves us like CRAZY! Zephaniah 3:17 tells us He delights in us with gladness which in the Hebrew gives us the image that He is literally spinning around us in love. The picture of Him spinning around me in absolute unconditional love…WOW….it is so amazing. Also, from the same verse we know “He rejoices over us with joyful song.” There is nothing we could do that would cause Him to withdraw His love from us. He will never stop loving us and He loves us with all of who He is in so very many ways. God is “in love” because He is the Bride Groom and we are His bride; His church. I know this is especially helpful to women who have never know the unconditional love of a man, be it a father or husband….God is really enough and it’s our maturity and receiving this love that confirms it is true love…everyday. 3/17/2021 Love Spoken in Every LanguageWednesday Matters- March 17, 2021
Everyday Airport Lady I was in the airport waiting to board yet another plane. It was all taking too long. I sat down and realized the woman next to me was crying and shaking she was so upset. I didn’t think about it; it was as natural as could be to put my hand on her back and begin rubbing it. I leaned in and asked, “What’s wrong?” The woman replied, “No hablo Ingles.” So, I did the other thing that seemed natural, I prayed aloud still rubbing her back while she leaned against my shoulder. I recited the name of Jesus over and over because there’s such power in His name. The woman stopped crying and walked on the plane. A gentleman asked if we wanted to sit together, “Oh,” I said. That’s okay, I don’t know her.” “Oh, I thought Y’all was together?” Nope. The woman departed the plane before I saw her again. This is Jesus. This is 2 Corinthians 1:4, “We can comfort those in distress with the same comfort we have received from God ourselves…everyday. 3/10/2021 GossipWednesday Matters- March 10, 2021
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 about how I use my mouth. 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. But sometimes we may have concerns that we share about someone because we need advice and prayer. Nevertheless, it’s important that what we share is done in a general sort of way with no specific details. Regrettably, there have been times where I’ve talked too much. Go to God and sometimes we need to go to the person we’ve gossiped about. Ask forgiveness and be willing to let the Holy Spirit guide from Psalm 141; “Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth.” Cover others in love with your words; words which build up and not tear down…everyday. 3/3/2021 God Watches Over YouWednesday Matters- March 3, 2021
Everyday Invisible Shepherd My friend Pastor Dave has gone to be with Jesus. But when his cancer returned, he told me how he felt a precious sense of the Lord’s presence. He shared from the book he was reading, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” by Dr. Timothy Laniak who reminds us that many of us have experienced the desperate isolation and cold darkness that Job describes in his memoir. Dr. Laniak and his wife had seasons in their life without the light of understanding or any sense of God's presence which tested their faith in an invisible Shepherd. For several years when their children were young and faced with disabilities and a shift in their life's direction, they entered tsalmavet [deadly darkness]. The light they longed for did not dawn as they expected. But slowly they did reemerge from the valley humbled and sobered because of John 1:5; “The Light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it” …everyday. 2/24/2021 Prayer WorksWednesday Matters- February 24, 2021
Everyday Prayers Working Something happens when we pray that doesn’t happen when we don’t. Let me say that again, “Something happens when we pray that doesn’t happen when we don’t.” BUT if we don’t feel or see an answer to what we were asking for then we may start to think that God isn’t listening. BUT He always hears. Sometimes the answer is “no” and sometimes the answer is “yes.” I think the hardest reply is to hear, “wait.” “I don’t get it. It’s not fair and God I’m starting to wonder if You care or even exist.” We all may have had those thoughts at one time or another but don’t give up. God is always on the move. He’s on “it” whatever “it” may be. Psalm 27:13 I know, “I would’ve despaired unless I’d believed that I’d see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” There is goodness while on earth even though it’s not our final destination. Waiting is hard but with God it’s worth it…everyday. 2/17/2021 Jesus ALWAYS UnderstandsWednesday Matters- February 17, 2021
Everyday He Understands “No one understands what I’m going through and it’s not fair.” Does that sound familiar? Yet we can read in Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus experienced every emotion and suffered every feeling you and I do BUT He did it without sin! He didn’t give in to His negative feelings because He KNEW GOD, He is God. You and I will never be able to say “no” to our feelings if we don’t have within us a strong knowledge of who God is and how much He loves us. When my feelings are hurt by someone the best thing I can do is talk to God; “Jesus do You see what’s happening here and what I’m feeling! Thank You for not condemning me for feeling this way. Help me to forgive, and not pay back the person who’s hurt me.” I pray THAT all the time. God knows. He understands. God is able to work with us and our feelings… everyday. 2/10/2021 The Lord’s PrayerWednesday Matters- February 10, 2021
Everyday Simple Prayer Sometimes I like reading the Message Bible because of its everyday relatable language. I mean look at Matthew 6: 5-13 telling us how to simply prayer; "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place and just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. God knows better than you what you need. Pray simply: Our Father in heaven, reveal who You are. Set the world right; Do what's best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty…everyday! |
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