“I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

Revelation 1:8

Our LORD GOD pronounces this title upon Himself. He wants us to know that He is in all, before all, and after all. There has not been a time in which God did not exist. There will not be a time in which He does not exist. He is the well-spring of life, the sustainer of life, and our future life. We do well to look up in awe and praise Him. 

Lord God, ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and end; who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty, we praise YOU!

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,’”

2 Corinithians 3:5

The Greek word “adequacy” means sufficient, ability or competency to do a thing.  The apostle Paul addresses the fact that we’re not adequate to live out our faith. We’re not able to be the “fragrance of Christ” to others. (2 Cor 2:15-16) But, and this is a huge BUT: our ability to be and do that to which God has called us, IS FROM GOD. God is ADEQUATE. Let us therefore pray to be filled with His Spirit and mind.

Thank You, God, that you are ADEQUATE. I praise You!

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

“…Christ….seated at His (God’s) right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.’”

Ephesians 1:20-21

Above all.  ABOVE all.  Above ALL.  Do we get it? Christ is ABOVE ALL.  He is seated in the heavenly places and invites us into His presence in prayer.  

Lord Jesus, You are ABOVE ALL. Above all powers and prinicipalitites and names; ABOVE ALL that constrains and binds us. Above all our worries. We praise You!

IF YOU MISSED AN ATTRIBUTE DURING OUR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, YOU CAN FIND THEM LISTED on the 365 DAYS of PRAISE BLOG. 

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

“…our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,’”

2 Timothy 1:10

Jesus Christ annulled death’s power when He died for our sins. The curse of sin – death – was broken. Life eternal with God was ushered in.  

Lord Jesus my Savior, I praise You, ABOLISHER OF DEATH!

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

“…the Lord abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment.’”

Psalm 9:7

Friends come and go. People in our lives come and go. But our Heavenly Father is with us forever.

I praise You, my LORD, who ABIDES FOREVER .

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

“Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.’”

Genesis 17:1-2

The Old Testament word for “Almighty” means “most powerful.” The New Testament word means “he who holds sway over all thing, the ruler of all.” Together, these words reveal that the Almighty is the most powerful being who holds sway over all things.

God wanted Abraham to know His power and ability to hold sway over his life.  God wants us to know, too.

ALMIGHTY God, I praise You, the most powerful One who holds sway over all things. Hold sway over my heart today so that I walk blamelessly before You.

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

“and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.‘”

 Romans 4:21

Many of us may boast about what we think we can do. But God is ABLE to do what He promises.  As we read the Bible and His promises, we can have full confidence in Him and His Word. 

*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE. If you’re using Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to record God’s attributes each day, you can click here for prayer journaling tips.  

LIVE OUT LOUD “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:9 LANDMINE: THINKING I KNOW WHAT’S BEST

What I would give to know a few of the daily details of John the Baptist’s upbringing.

His saintly, elderly mom likely had her hands full. How many times did Elizabeth have to call John in from chasing lizards to sit down for his Scripture lessons?

Did she pull her hair out in frustration at his strong will and grow exasperated telling him to take off those animal skins and put on some normal clothes? When she saw him pick up and nibble his first locust, did she scream, “Get that out of your mouth!”? Did Elizabeth continually repeat to herself that God had a plan for her son’s life and that she’d just have to trust Him? I think the answer is probably yes.

John didn’t follow traditional religion in the sense of worship method and dress code. John didn’t follow traditional teaching of laws and rules either; he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Lk 3:2-3). And he suffered for his righteousness stand: Herod threw him in prison (Lk3:21).

Where was Elizabeth during all this? Was she already in her grave? Was she alive and fretting, wondering what had become of her son? Was she crying out to God, “What happened to the joy and gladness you promised?”

I imagine if we asked Elizabeth, “What did you think would be best for John to do?” she might say, “Come home, shave, put on some priestly clothes, and put yourself in a position to announce the Messiah.” The truth is, mothers don’t always know what’s best.

What was Jesus’ opinion of John? “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John…” Luke 7:28.

What does this mean for us? We don’t always know what’s best for our children or us. However, rather than holding to a land mine of MY WAY, we can walk in faith on THEE HIGHerway.

MOM2MOM, STONEBRIAR, COMMUNITY CHURCH, FRISCO, TX

MENTORING MOMS, OAK HILLS, SAN ANTONIO
INVITE DEBBIE TO YOUR MOM’S GROUP

MORE 2 HELP YOU

PLAN A MOM TIP

Defuse the land mine of thinking, “I know what’s best” by looking for God’s HIGHway and traveling it in faith.

PLAN A MOM TESTIMONY

Nicki Carlson testifies to God’s ways being higher than hers, p 124

LOVE OUT LOUD QUESTIONS

Discuss with a Friend/Group, pg 128 Forward to your friends!

PRAYER 

Father, thank You that You have a plan for my children’s lives. Thank You that Your plans are good and righteous and holy. Help me and my children follow in Your plans. In Jesus’ name, amen.

LAUGH OUT LOUD

I walked into the living room, where Jonathan was playing with his toy cell phone. He had a very serious look on his face and promptly told me ,”Mom, you need to call the doctor. The monkeys are jumping on the bed.” -Nicki Carlson

Where do kids come up with the things they say? lol

Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams, The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World

COPYRIGHT “THE PLAN A MOM IN A PLAN B WORLD, DEBBIE TAYLOR WILLIAMS KINDLE READ THE 1ST CHAPTER FREE

Don’t SKIP this week’s Plan A MOM.  Model Christ and teach your children about GOD, just as Jesus taught those around Him about His Heavenly Father.

LANDMINE:   PROCRASTINATION

Do you intend every day to teach your children about God?  BUT…something happens – the tub runs over.  The disposal breaks.  A sock lands in the fish tank.

You’re so busy managing one crisis after another, you don’t have time to sit down and teach your kids about Jesus.  So another day passes.  And another.  Procrastination is a land mine that will hurt your children.

GET OVER THE HUMP – START TODAY

Fill your heart with Jesus and His Words so they flow out of you.

Deut 6:6-7 says, “These words….shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently…and talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

In other words, you don’t have to schedule a 30 minute family devotional for 7 a.m. every morning and then feel like a failure if you don’t adhere to it.  Instead, wake to God each morning. Tell Him you love Him.  Praise Him, “Lord, You are faithful.  You are good.  You are the Guardian of my soul.” Read an encouraging verse or passage. Don’t feel that if you don’t have time to read a chapter, you can’t get to your Bible. Open it and think deeply on just one verse if that’s all you have time for.

Have a Bible by your bed and on your kitchen counter.  If you leap from the bed to fixing the baby bottle, read a verse while you’re mixing the formula. If you nurse, TURN OFF THE TV and read your Bible out loud to your little one.

TURN OFF YOUR IPAD and sing praise songs or hymns to your children at nap time.

MORE 2 HELP U – IDEAS for TEACHING YOUR KIDS about GOD

INFANT & TODDLER, p 94

PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN, p 95

SCHOOL AGE & TEENS, p 95

ADULT CHILDREN, p 95

LIVE OUT LOUD CHECK-UP, p 98

LOVE OUT LOUD Questions to Discuss with a Friend/Group, p 98

TIP of the WEEK

Defuse the land mine of procrastination.  Teach your kids about God TODAY by letting Him flow from your heart. 

LAUGH OUT LOUD

Father, thank You for giving me the privilege of teaching my children about You. Help me be sensitive to Your leading and how to teach them. Help them to receive Your teachings with open, responsive hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

GET the PLAN A MOM UPDATE by EMAIL: Subscribe to this BLOG

COPYRIGHT “THE PLAN A MOM IN A PLAN B WORLD, DEBBIE TAYLOR WILLIAMS KINDLE READ THE 1ST CHAPTER FREE

Let’s face it: we moms are so used to juggling all the pieces of our lives and our family’s lives—organizing, coordinating, making sure everyone’s taken care of—that it’s easy to slip over the line and control a little more than we should. But where, exactly, is that line? How do you know when you’ve gone over to the dark side—when you’ve become one of “those” moms? Sarai, who convinced Abraham to sleep with Hagar, is an example of an overly controlling mom and wife. She accomplished an immediate goal, but the result was devastating. Rather than follow her example, how better it would be for us to learn from it. You can model living your faith out loud by modeling not leaning on your own understanding, but rather trusting God and His higher ways.

LANDMINE:   BEING OVERLY CONTROLLING

CHARACTERISTICS OF OVERLY CONTROLLING MOMS

Shifting into “Make Things Happen” Mode

Treating People Like Objects

Using God’s Words to Justify Behavior

DANGERS of BEING CONTROLLING

Being Despised

Blaming Others

Becoming More Controlling

Burdening Others

BIBLICAL SOLUTIONS for the CONTROLLING NATURE

Proverbs 3:5-6

-Take Your Thoughts to God.

-Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

-In All Your Ways Acknowledge God

We do our kids a favor when we model going to God in prayer rather than reacting to life’s situations.

>Plans are disrupted. “Let’s pray about what we should do.”

>Austin doesn’t get into the class he wants.  “Let’s ask God to show us why the class you’re in is the right place for you.”

>Kerri doesn’t make the team. “Let’s pray and ask God what sport or activity you might do instead.”

MORE 2 HELP U

Factors that Contribute to Our Being Controlling p 78

READ THIS! An Interview with Thelma Wells about Her Daughter, p 81.  

LIVE OUT LOUD CHECK-UP, p 84

LOVE OUT LOUD Questions to Discuss with a Friend/Group, p 85

TIP of the WEEK

Defuse the land mine of being overly controlling by trusting God with your child and practicing Proverbs 3:5-6.

LAUGH OUT LOUD

When Morgan was about three, I decided to try the disciplinary methold of lightly spanking with a wooden spoon when she needed correcting. One morning we were in the kitchen together and I said, “Morgan, this is a wooden spoon and when you need correcting for something, I’m going to lightly tap you on your hand with this spoon.” She said, “Oh, no, Mommy, that spoon isn’t for panking – it’s for ‘tirring!” Needelss to say, I found a different kind of discpline. – Jeri Sprouse”

PRAYER 

Father, thank You for the reminder that Your ways are higher than my ways. Help me to trust You rather than lean on my own understanding. Help me let go of the minor things and major in that which has eternal value. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me new opportunities with You and my children. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

GET the PLAN A MOM UPDATE by EMAIL: Subscribe to this BLOG