Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
8/17/2020
The Power of the MindMonday Matters-August 17, 2020
Everyday Good Thought Life We live in some dark times and a lot of that darkness is in our own thought life. The best way to overcome the enemy and his dark lies is to think on truth and light. We choose what we think on. I chose to memorize Ephesians 3:16 which goes, “God grant me out of the rich treasury of Your glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power by the Holy Spirit Himself indwelling my innermost being and personality,” I think of that verse as a “sign-me-up” verse. Don’t you want that in your life too? God gives us His Holy Spirit to make His home in us by the relationship we have with Christ. When the Spirit is stirred in us then there is no place for dark and destructive thoughts. God is good, with good truth and promises. Let Him direct your thoughts. Choose what you think on…everyday. 8/14/2020
God Cares for His ChildrenFriday Matters- August 14, 2020
Everyday God Always Cares 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 disciples 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. 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, give to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven. Then, follow Me.” It’s easy to trust when life comes easy but hard when our feelings scream differently. Yet God is aware, cares and will meet you where you’re at…everyday. 8/13/2020
Mental HealthThursday Matters- August 13, 2020
Everyday Choose Your Thought Life I just stared at my journal looking at the verse I had written down from Psalm 139:5, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” I didn’t believe it. I was feeling sorry for myself and God felt far away so I slammed my journal shut. We have a choice on what we think on and I was making bad thought choices. I felt my circumstances weren’t fair and I was tired of waiting. I know where the “Poor Me” road leads so out of obedience I put on fun music and said the verse aloud, “God I trust that You. Your hand of blessing is on my head. It wasn’t an immediate shift in my attitude but the choice to think on what I knew was true and then names things aloud that I was thankful for, made a difference. The truth is, God loves you right where you’re at, no matter how you’re feeling …everyday. 8/12/2020
Your Identity in ChristWednesday Matters- August 12, 2020
Everyday Sharpened Do you know someone who’s served in the military? I know many and one of them is my husband, Dan. Military persons serve as an act of love for others. I remember Dan telling me that in the army they were constantly drilled that they needed to keep their weapons clean and ready for use. A useless weapon not only made the soldier useless, but also a liability because now someone else needs to pick up the slack. In Ephesian 6 God gives us a list of armor, but only one weapon—the Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon of the six God’s calls us to “put on.” Our knowledge of the Word is its sharpness. There are so MANY things screaming for our attention and I’m sure, like me, you are being pulled in many directions. But God never changes no matter what the direction of our day is. So Let the Word be heard in your heart, sharpened and ready…everyday. 8/11/2020
Love Others as God Loves YouTuesday Matters- August 11, 2020
Everyday Golden Rule How many kids, when asked, would know what the golden rule is? Do you? Two of my four sons knew the answer: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” We may know it but do we live it? There are broken marriages, churches, friends fighting, there’s brokenness. Taking this golden truth to heart is another matter. Jesus loves us….really loves us…as we are. And He says; “I give you a new commandment; it is My commandment; it is all I command you; Love one another as I have loved you.” Only compassion and forgiveness count. Love is the key to everything. I think most times we treat others how we think they deserve to be treated but think if Jesus did that with us and gave us what we deserved? I know right? We’d be toast. Not only do my kids need to be reminded of this. I do too. Love one another…everyday. 8/10/2020
God IS the AnswerMonday Matters-August 10, 2020
Everyday Questions God will never tire of us seeking Him or asking questions. I think of my kids and especially when they were younger and all the questions they had. But I always want them to know I love them no matter what. I imagine it’s a lot like God with us. As T.S. Elliot put it; “Oh my soul, be prepared to meet Him who knows how to ask questions.” I imagine question from God might be? Did you know Me and how I much I loved you? There are things about God that are mysterious and secret, things we will never know about Him. But there also are things revealed, and those belong to us. Deuteronomy 29:29; “The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” I follow and trust God because I know He loves me no matter what, as He does you…everyday. 8/7/2020
The Pardon of ChristFriday Matters- August 7, 2020
Everyday Law Discharged “Hey Dan,” I called my husband. “I’m getting ready to head home from a conference,” so I was expecting Dan’s usual request to “drive safe” and wear my seatbelt but instead he offered, “Make sure you don’t wear your seatbelt and use your road rage if you have to.” I couldn’t put on my seatbelt fast enough. This isn’t a positive, but I have a little pride, in being known as a “rule-breaker.” However, I am proud that I’m free from the old testament rules—rules to show us that no matter how well intentioned or hard we try—we’ll never measure up. When Christ died on the cross, He took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with Him. He paid a debt for us that we couldn’t and by receiving this gift, we are set free through His resurrection. Freedom in Christ is not a license to sin but by His grace and strength we can face all of life’s challenges. Obey God’s Word and wear your seatbelt too. Let Jesus take the wheel and direct your steps…everyday. 8/6/2020
This Too Shall PassThursday Matters- August 6, 2020
Everyday Burn I did something stupid. I put a cup of hot water in the microwave to heat for tea. When I went get the mug the boiling water spilled on my hand and I had a second-degree burn. After two weeks I still had scabs and it was disgusting. It throbbed with pain the first four days and when I’d look at it, I’d think; “It will always hurt this much. It will never get better.” Of course, it wasn’t true but I felt it. But time and prayer bring healing. In Genesis 8 God says that as long as the earth remains, there will be “seedtime and harvest.” When you walk in God’s path, you must be patient like the farmer who plants the seed and expectantly waits for the harvest and then looks forward to reaping the harvest. But there is a time between seed planting and harvest. Don’t become frustrated in that process. Galatians 6:9; “Don’t give up.” God’s on it. He knows…everyday. 8/5/2020
Restored RelationshipsWednesday Matters- August 5, 2020
Everyday Reconciliation It’s so hard when someone has hurt you and, “It’s not fair. Why is this happening to me?” I want payback now!” God IS taking care of things in HIS timing. He’s God and we’re not. Romans 12:19 is the promise from God saying. “I’ll take care of it because it’s Mine to avenge.” But you’re having a hard time waiting and you’re angry. You know God loves you but your anger prevents you from rational thought. You’re not alone here. We’ve all been “there.” Remember too that there’s an enemy and he uses others to get us riled up and sometimes in our anger we become sinful and downright mean. Let’s try to get in the habit of asking this question to ourselves, “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked or posted about it. Let the person be taken off your hook and placed on God’s…everyday. 8/4/2020
Hope of HeavenTuesday Matters- August 4, 2020
Everyday Eternal One of the very first verses I remember learning in Sunday school was John 3:16; "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." And I understood as much as I could at age seven that because of the sacrifice of Jesus paying my debt I had inherited eternal life. But I never thought much about how my life on earth would affect my life in heaven. It’s hard to understand that how we live and what we do in this life will affect how deeply we enjoy eternity. The gifts and talents God’s given us to fulfill a purpose continues into eternity. There are far too many people who end their life because they’re in complete despair with no hope. But oh, to know the truth that this earth is not our home and that eternal life in heaven is meaningful with purpose but no more pain and tears. Receive Christ and the hope of eternity …everyday. |
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