Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
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6/3/2020 Prayers Make a DifferenceWednesday Matters- June 3, 2020
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.
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5/27/2020 The EnemyWednesday Matters- May 27, 2020
Everyday “Oh, you again…” “If God has such great plans for me why is it they all seem to be falling apart?” Everyone seems against me. Some talk about a devil but is he even real? Does he have horns and carry a pitchfork? Yep, the devil is real. He’s not a Halloween costume and he has plans to destroy the ones God has. Face the fact that there’s an enemy who’ll never leave us alone but we don’t have to let him bother us. “Oh, it’s you again,” I’ve said, rather than caving into the temptation to give up. Satan throws garbage lies at us because it's the way he is able to hurt God. When someone attacks your kids you take action to protect them because you’re on their side. God is on our side too. We are created in His image. “Be bold,” I told my son, David. “You can be aware of the devil but you don’t have to let him get to you.” We have redemption through Christ and nothing that’s happened to us is so destructive that God can’t redeem it…everyday. 5/20/2020 Raising ChildrenWednesday Matters- May 20, 2020
Everyday Kid Training “I absolutely get what you’re saying about raising a good and godly kid,” shared Beth. It’s not like I haven’t heard the Proverb, “Train up a child in the way they should go. When they’re old they’ll not depart from it.” “But our oldest daughter is determined to do everything the hard way no matter what advice and direction we give,” continued Beth. “Why didn’t this verse apply to our family? We felt as if we failed God, failed our daughter, but God’s grace showed us that despite our best efforts and prayers our daughter had a free will to choose her own way. It’s not that she departed from the way she was trained; she just never arrived there in the first place. We did our best with our own imperfections.” Beth and her husband will never give up on their daughter and God certainly won’t either. God cares about our kids more than we do. So while you wait receive His peace and grace that He gives you and your children each and everyday. 5/13/2020 The Lord’s PrayerWednesday Matters- May 13, 2020
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! 5/6/2020 It’s all about GRACEWednesday Matters- May 6, 2020
Everyday Performer I am performer. I love the stage. I love to take on a new character, an accent and present to an audience. But when it comes to real life I don’t want to perform. I want to be viewed as real, honest and sincere. No matter how long we’ve known Jesus personally, or professed ourselves as a believer it’s still important to go back to our ABC’S of Christianity: Admit, Believe and Confess. Admit we can’t go at it alone. We need the grace of God. Believe Jesus is who He says He is, trust Him. And Confess our own sin and stop trying to point out everyone else’s. Just think if your “thought-life” was recorded from just yesterday? Think of the judging of others, including yourself. HOWEVER there is a God who knows EXACTLY our thoughts, dreams, hurts, motives and desires. He’s there with grace to make us new. Jesus loves with no conditions. He is always on the move in our lives with redemption and grace. This crazy love is from Jesus in a relationship and not through religion…everyday. 4/29/2020 Love in MarriageWednesday Matters- April 29, 2020
Everyday Marriage Advice The other day I read this article giving me the “Do’s and Don’ts” on how to get a grip on a marriage gone bad. Some points were good such as; “Do speak honestly of your unhappiness to your partner and don’t bad mouth your spouse to your friends” BUT the “DO” that really threw me was; “Put yourself at the center of your life, go deep within yourself to find your strength.” I said out loud, “Are you kidding me, I’d just get depressed?” But the writer continues, “Who can be the center of your life but you?” I know the answer! JESUS! He should be the center of our lives! And when He’s not that’s when we have problems, not only in marriage but in everything. I just read some great “DO’S and DON’TS” in Philippians 2: 3 and 4; “DO regard others better than yourself and DO NOT be selfish, thinking only of yourself.” What great advice from the Counselor who has all the answers...everyday. 4/22/2020 Encourage OthersWednesday Matters- April 22, 2020
Everyday Compliment Crazy “It’s not fair. They don’t deserve my kindness and I’m certainly not going to compliment them on anything because they already tell me how great they are anyway.” Very often those difficult people in our lives are family members. We think; “How can they be so clueless to their own junk and continue to point out mine?” But here’s the deal; we may not think they deserve our love or kindness but neither do we deserve God’s grace and kindness toward us. The advice given me was; “Debbie, just lavish them with love. Compliment and see what happens in your heart and in theirs.” Guess what it works. Love someone with simply acts of kindness by praising the good of who they are and you’ll be amazed at how God changes your heart and theirs. God tells us in John 13:34; “Love one another as I have loved you.” It’s hard at first…really hard. But the change, the blessing, the beginning of healing in a broken relationship…oh, you’ll be thinking; “Why didn’t I do this sooner…everyday.” 4/15/2020 Prayer WorksWednesday Matters- April 15, 2020
Everyday Prayers Working Something happens when we pray that doesn’t happen when we don’t. Let me say that again, “Something happens when you pray that doesn’t happen when you 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. I love Psalm 27:13, “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. 4/8/2020 EmpathyWednesday Matters- April 8, 2020
Everyday Compassion for the Hurting There’s someone hurting who needs healing, someone unloved who needs our touch; elderly, needing to feel that we care; and someone who is weak and needs the support of our shared weakness. I get it. Author and speaker, Brennan Manning, who has since left this earth, still inspires me. He said; “One of the most healing words I ever spoke as a confessor was to an old priest with a drinking problem. “Just a few years ago,” I said, “I was a hopeless alcoholic in the gutter in Fort Lauderdale.” “You?” he cried. “O, Thank God!” When we bring a smile to the face of someone in pain, we have brought Christ to them. I know what it is to hurt and I know pain. What helps me? It’s NOT to hear more of what I should and should not do. I need to hear; “There’s hope. I’m sorry for this ache in your heart.” Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who have reason for joy. We are all in this together…everyday. 4/1/2020 Sharing Your FaithWednesday Matters- April 1, 2020
Everyday Airport Lady I was in the airport waiting to board yet another plane. It was all taking too long and it was crowded. I found a spot and sat down and the woman next to me was crying and shaking she was so upset. And as natural as could be I put my hand on her back to sooth her. I leaned in and asked, “What’s wrong?” She 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 was Jesus at work from 2 Corinthians 1; “Comfort those in distress with the same comfort you’ve received from God…everyday. |
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