Everyday MattersThere's a reason for everyday.
Despite the bad and the good, everyday matters. |
5/8/2024
Be KindWednesday Matters- May 8, 2024
Everyday Gentle Answer Sometimes I talk too much. Even if I’m talking about good things, it’s still better if I follow the advice of Proverbs 10:19; “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” I know that the mouth that blesses, praises and prays can also irritate, hurt and harm. I remember a time I was home from college and having a heated argument with my dad, who’s an unbeliever. I was so frustrated, and I wanted to lash out and say something to prove my point but from experience I knew my brilliant but angry words would not change a thing. It’s crazy but I actually said aloud Proverbs 15:1; “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” It was weird but the argument stopped immediately, as soon as I spoke the Proverb. God had the last Word. My prayer is Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to God in every way...everyday. 5/1/2024
HumilityWednesday Matters- May 1, 2024
Everyday Humility Remember that song, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in everyday way?” We laugh because, “as if.” But sometimes we’re so busy pointing out the faults of others that we don’t take time to look at our own. But true humility is not a denial of your positive attributes. It isn’t a humble person who says, “I’m not good at anything.” This is an expression of pride which says, “Look at poor me. I must have special consideration because I’m so weak. Please pity me...treat me well.” On the contrary, the truly humble person recognizes their strengths and weaknesses and so rather than a concentration on yourself, humility leads you to look around you for opportunities to encourage and help others. When you understand that humility is knowing both your strengths and weaknesses, it helps you to be confident in the gifts God’s given you rather than feeling bad about what you don’t have. Happy and free people are humble people…everyday. 4/24/2024
BrotherWednesday Matters- April 24, 2024
Everyday Older Brother “I’m a high school graduate because of my older brother,” Kevin told me. I’m healthy and I’m alive because of my older brother Tim.” Today Kevin is 18 and his older brother Tim is 29. When Kevin was seven and Tim was 18, he got an apartment on his own so they could live “on the good side of town.” They moved out of the Crack House their drug addicted mother was living in and who’s now sadly passed away. Tim worked two jobs to pay the bills and always made sure Kevin was safe, fed and at school on time. “He basically saved my life,” said Kevin. “I could never repay him, but I can step up and make a difference in someone else’s live like he did mine.” God makes a difference in your life when you let Him. Stress less on all the things, you think, He might take away and instead focus on the freedom and love He has to give, no matter who you are or where you’ve been. Share God’s love with others. God loves us…everyday. 4/17/2024
The HeartWednesday Matters- April 17, 2024
Everyday The Heart Take comfort in knowing only God knows your heart yet I know it stings when someone judges you harshly because they can’t see your heart. The human heart is arrogant, and often cares for itself above all, prone to judge others, prone to make demands of others. The heart is also needy and incomplete with holes that can only be repaired by God’s perfect love. Jesus brings healing. His Word which is both justice and mercy. First, we must deeply understand and truly own our brokenness. 1 John 1:8 people, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” The Bible doesn’t call us to judge others, but it calls us to always be mindful and humbly recognize our own weakness. Whatever righteousness we possess was given by Christ’s work on the cross. God is grieved when we use the Bible on others as a weapon. Love others, don’t judge…everyday. 4/10/2024
Bible FactsWednesday Matters- April 10, 2024
Everyday Lazarus Facts In the Bible there was a man named Lazarus who died; that was a fact but when Jesus, who is the Truth, walked up to the tomb and spoke; that truth changed the facts. Throughout the Gospels we repeatedly read of people who were sick and demon possessed. But when they went Jesus, and He spoke, their facts changed. They were healed, delivered, and set free. We must never magnify the facts of our circumstances above God and the power of His Word. In Isiah 55:11 we see that God’s Word does not return to Him empty but always accomplish its purpose. When we learn to speak God’s Word instead of rehearsing how we’re feeling or our opinions, we are also releasing God’s power. The Word of God spoken in faith, from a believer’s mouth, can change circumstances. It helps if you say the truth aloud, “I am loved, as I am, right now because I am God’s child”…everyday. 4/3/2024
BibleWednesday Matters- April 3, 2024
Everyday Good News What’s the message out there? I know…right? That’s a loaded question. There are a lot of messages “out there.” But there’s one message that I’ve become more passionate in sharing lately. Okay this is IT. The message of Jesus is to LOVE and forgive others, which you can only do once you have seen your bad self and accepted His forgiveness. I have accepted this GIFT even though what I feel and see in me is often wrong, unfair, hurtful, and judgmental and to make it worse, there’s always more where that comes from. But again, that IS why Jesus died for us. He paid MY debt and forgives all my sin. When He died every sin we commit, all future ones, (like tomorrow’s sins) can be forgiven. I think this is why they call the Gospel, Good News which is actually great news. The fresh new hope and grace you can get each day is a gift of never ending love and grace…everyday. 3/27/2024
God’s GreatnessWednesday Matters- March 27, 2024
Everyday God is Bigger God is bigger. We may know this in our heart but it’s acting it out like we believe it that makes the difference. One of the hardest things to do is to forgive someone who isn’t’ sorry for what they’ve done cuz “it’s so not fair!” And because it’s not fair we want them to know how wrong they are. What does God want? Go to 1 Peter 3:9 and read; “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That’s what God asks, and He’ll bless you for it.” Do you think God tells us to be good to those who’ve hurt us just because He wants to watch us suffer? No. The enemy works through people to hurt us and if we end up hating that person because they’ve hurt us then Satan’s job has been accomplished two times over. But if we respond with love then we’ve gotten Satan back and he’ll about trying to mess with us in our lives…everyday. 3/20/2024
BibleWednesday Matters- March 20, 2024
Everyday Apply the Word Wow is Ephesians 5:20 a difficult verse to follow; “Give thanks FOR all things?!” That almost seems kinda messed-up even thought I know that obedience brings a blessing. Visiting a friend a few years ago at the Mayo Clinic Psych Ward I had a huge anxiety attack alone in the hallway with hyper-ventilating…the whole works. But when driving home the next day I heard God say; “Thank Me for the anxiety attack.” I kinda laughed and thought…that’s crazy but I did it anyway; “Thank You God for the anxiety attack.” I continued to repeat and thank God for something so awful but then I began to sense His great love for me. I felt overwhelmed by His love and so I starting saying; “You’re so nice to me.” His presence was so real I had to pull over to the side of the road because I was crying so hard. God’s ways aren’t always ones we understand but His ways are perfect…everyday. 3/13/2024
HurtingWednesday Matters- March 13, 2024
Everyday Hurting with Children I called a friend for a favor and while talking to her I sensed a deep heaviness and hurt in her spirit. When I questioned her, she shared that she was going through a very difficult time with her two oldest children. I knew she had been dealing with some sad and difficult issues, but I was just baffled why God had allowed so much time to go by without fixing the situation. “Why her God, I wondered, she is so good, and she loves You so much?” I prayed for her as she cried and then remembered the verses, I had just read from Lamentations Chapter 3 and knew they would encourage my friend, so I shared, “The Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion according to the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.” There is no pat answer for all our hurting “whys” but there is always hope in a God who cares…everyday. 3/6/2024
GossipWednesday Matters- March 6, 2024
Everyday Tongue “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James pulls no punches. That muscle in our mouth can kill or heal, spark wars or absolve a world. Professor and Author Chad Bird says this; “From beginning to end, the Bible speaks about the power of speech, for good or for ill. With speech, the Lord God worded the world into being. And with speech, the serpent wooed the world into evil. When God commanded, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor,” he made explicit what we all know: that human society, relationships, justice, and one’s own soul are destroyed by lies. Some of the hardest moments in my life were when, knowing a lie would be the easy way out, that it would save me embarrassment, but in speaking the truth, even though it hurt, it also opened a door to healing. Think how God began our world with the words, “Let there be,” and how He heals through the words, “I forgive you” …everyday. |
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