Merry Christmas!

 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the SURPASSING GREATNESS of His power toward us who believed.”

Ephesians 1:18-19

Surpassing greatness. Our God isn’t just “great.” He is “surpassing greatness!” His greatness is beyond anything we’ve known. It’s “out of this world.” All we have to do to glimpse God’s surpassing greatness is look at the stars. Or, look at the greatest star – Christ. Born in a stable. Where else would the Lamb of God be born, but a stable? Surpassing greatness bundled in one tiny baby. Surpassing greatness taking our sins away. Surpassing greatness waiting in heaven to receive us into His arms!.  What a surpassingly great God He is!

Heavenly Father, You are SURPASSING GREATNESS OF POWER. I praise You for extending your surpassing greatness of power to me through Jesus Christ! 

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you. 

 “But God, being RICH IN MERCY, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

Ephesians 2:4 ff

What powerful words these are! If someone has ever made you mad or hurt you or a loved one, perhaps you know what it’s like to be resentful or to harber negative feelings toward the person.  Yet, God doesn’t harbor resentment toward us. He doesn’t hold a grudge in His heart. Rather, on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, He forgives us. He is RICH IN MERCY. 

Lord, I praise You and thank You for being RICH IN MERCY! What a wonderful God you are!

 © Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you. 

 “Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God; who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”

2 Corinthians 5:5

God’s eternal purpose is for us to live with Him in glory. We won’t see the fulness of His glory until we die and are “at home” with Him in heaven. In the meantime, God hasn’t left us alone. He has given us His Spirit as a pledge of what we will inherit. The Holy Spirit is awesome. He is good. He is joy. He is peace. He is lovely. It is in our best interest to understand everything we can and explore everything there is to know about the Holy Spirit; then live by His nature rather than by ours. 

Lord God, thank You for giving us the Spirit as a PLEDGE. Help me increasingly know Him. 

 © Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.

This salads presentation is as fancy as it’s name, and it is so satisfying to the taste buds as well. I mean it is GOOD! This was a side at the Hill Country Ministries’ Open House and many people asked what all was in it and which recipe it was. This would be a fabulous salad to make for Christmas or sometime during the holidays! Hopefully you will try this super easy recipe that is is oh so great!

SPINACH WALDORF SALAD WITH CREAMY APPLE DRESSING Pg. 178

1/2 cup mayonnaise                                                        

2 TBS frozen apple juice concentrate

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 cups red apples, cored and cubed

2 cups red seedless grapes, halved

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

4 cups torn spinach

In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, juice concentrate, and cinnamon; blend well. Add the apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts; toss to coat. Chill spinach and apple mixture until ready to serve. Just before serving, place the spinach in a large salad bowl. Spoon apple mixture over spinach and toss to coat the spinach with the dressing.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

TABLE BLESSING

From You comes forgiveness, mercy and grace.

They are given but not deserved.

I thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son.

The sign of Your unconditional love.

To order your Taste & See Cookbook, click HERE.

 “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.”

Genesis 14:19

Melchizedek, priest and the king of Salem, had no problem knowing who God was. When he met Abram, he immediately blessed him saying, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” How different our lives might be if we lived mindful that God possesses the heaven and earth and nothing slips by Him. 

Lord God, POSSESSOR of HEAVEN & EARTH, how comforting it is to know that You possess my life and everything in it and in heaven. I can rest in You. 

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank youehovah

 “Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Hebrews 1:9

Recently, I watched a friend prepare a salad. First, she washed and dried the lettuce leaves. Next she tore them into pieces. But the salad wasn’t ready to be served. She took a bottle of olive oil and poured it on the lettuce, flavoring it. As Christians, Christ has washed us and put us in places of service in our homes and work places. Sometimes we may feel as the lettuce – torn and shredded. But we must always remember that Christ, anointed with the oil of gladness, stands above us – ready to pour Himself into us and flavor our lives with His joy.

Lord Jesus Christ, I praise You! Pour Yourself and the OIL of GLADNESS upon me that I may faithfully and joyfully serve You.

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank youehovah

This delicious and juicy brisket was served at Debbie’s Hill Country Ministry Open House! It hit the spot and was so good! The presentation was beautiful and it tasted as good as it looked! Everyone loved it! If you’ve wanted to try brisket at home, but haven’t yet…now is the time and here is the recipe! The Cookbook is a perfect gift as well and comes wrapped and ready to go. Plus it’s 2 gifts in one because then a portion of the proceeds benefit Debbie’s prison ministry and providing the ladies with Bible Studies.

BEST EVER BRISKET p. 300

1 trimmed beef brisket (5 lb)

1 bottle liquid smoke

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

onion salt

garlic powder

salt & pepper, to taste

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 bottle barbecue sauce

The evening before, line a baking roaster with foil and put brisket in. Cover with salt and pepper, onion salt, and garlic powder. Mix 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and liquid smoke and pour over brisket. Cover with aluminum foil and marinate in refrigerator overnight. The next morning pour off liquid and add 1/4 cup more of Worcestershire sauce. Cover with foil and bake 225-250 degrees for 8 hours. Check after 5 hours. When almost done, drain all juices off and pour a bottle of barbeque sauce over brisket. Bake 1 more hour or until done.

Variation: Substitute saeasoned salt for onion salt and omit barbecue sauce and liquid smoke.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

TABLE BLESSING

Teach me, Lord,

Give me eyes to see

How Your ways are just

And are the best for me.

To order your Taste & See Cookbook, click HERE.

 “While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return;“

Luke 19:11-12

In this parable, Jesus portrayed Himself as a nobleman who went to a distant country (heaven) to receive a kingdom for Himself and then return. Before He departed, the Nobleman gave talents to His slaves with which they were to do His business. The greatest praise we can give the Lord and Nobleman of heaven is not with our mouths. The greatest praise we can give Him is by our lives – investing the talents He has entrusted to us in His business on earth.

Jesus Christ, Nobleman of heaven, I pray my life brings You praise as I invest my talents to do Your business on earth. 

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank youehovah

 “He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).”

John 1:41

Jesus came to earth as a baby so that He might grow into a man, but not just any man. He came to be our Savior. He came to die for our sins. He came as our Messiah. Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, recognized that He was the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. Andrew, who heard John’s proclamation about Jesus, followed Jesus and asked where He was staying. After spending time with Jesus, Andrew went and found his brother Simon Peter and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Andrew was intentional about his search for the Messiah. He was intentional about telling others he had found Him. Shouldn’t that be being said about us? 

Jesus Christ, MESSIAH, You bring all good things: love, forgiveness, hope, peace, and joy! May I be as Andrew and be intentional about following You and about telling others about You.  

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank youehovah

 “O Lord, surely I am Your servant,
I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid,
You have loosed my bonds.“

Psalm 116:16

Do you ever feel “tied up” with some form of spiritual, physical, or emotional bondage? Or, are you concerned for a loved one who is in bondage?  In Psalm 116 we’re reminded that God can do what no one else can do. He can loosen cords that so tightly bind us that we feel we might die. And, even if we die, He reminds us that He will loosen the bonds of death and give us freedom in His heavenly home. “Unbind him and let him go,” Jesus commanded those who witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. “Unbind her,” Jesus commands when we call on His name. 

Lord, You are the great and mighty God who LOOSENS BONDS. I praise You! 

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank youehovah