365 Days of Praise

“…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. 

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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

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

Plan A MOM – MODEL BEING MINDFUL that YOUR CHILD IS GOD’S CHILD

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times. Perhaps your child is sick or having disciplinary problems. You may have a troubled teen or an adult child who can’t control their spending, drinking, or who lies. In those moments when we as moms feel desperate, we need to remember a very important truth: My child is not mine alone. My child is God’s child and He loves them very much. So much, God sent His only Son to die for our sons and daughters. You are not raising your child alone.

LIVE OUT LOUD

Hannah is an example of a mom who was mindful that her child did not belong to her, but rather was God’s. In keeping with the vow she made to God, she entrusted Samuel into the care of Eli, the priest; to be raised to serve God. She lived her faith out loud; whereas many of us talk about our faith, but don’t demonstrate it when put to the test.

LANDMINE:  THINKING MY CHILD IS MINE ALONE

DESPERATATION dogs the heels of the mom who feels the sole responsiblity for her child. That is a burden too great to bear.  And, it is a land mine waiting to blow.  Blame for others not helping us more, accusations toward those who don’t “do it like we would” in caring for our child, and a host of other thoughts can trip this land mine. But, when we defuse the land mine by remembering we are not raising our child alone, that we have God’s help, we become a different mom.  We find rest for our worried minds by praying about our child.  We no longer “blow” when things don’t go as we wanted.

MORE 2 HELP U

Biblical Example: Hannah’s Plan B Marriage & How She Kept a Godly Perspective, p 66-67

Pam Kanaly Shares Her Story, p 69

LIVE OUT LOUD CHECK-UP, p 72

LOVE OUT LOUD Questions to Discuss with a Friend/Group, p 72

TIP of the WEEK

Defuse the land mine of thinking that your child is only your child. Recognize that your child is God’s child whom He loves very much.

LAUGH OUT LOUD

 I had just returned from giving blood and still had a bandage wrapped around my arm.  Hailey asked, “Why did they take your blood? So you could lose weight?”

PRAYER 

Father, thank You that my children are ultimately Your children, whom You love very much. Help me to be mindful each day that they are Yours. Help me raise them to know, love, and serve You. Protect them when they’re away from me. Keep them in Your loving care. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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

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

Plan A MOM – MODEL TRUST in GOD & DOING THINGS HIS WAYS Rather than Manipulation

“My mother has been a manipulative, self-centered person for as long as I can remember. I was brought up to feel guilty about everything.”

Help! We don’t want our kids to say that about us, do we? However, when I asked Facebook friends to comment on their experiences with manipulative moms, I received a slew of responses. It wasn’t pretty. How can we guard against being manipulative and raising manipulative children?

LIVE OUT LOUD

Manipulation is a learned skill. So is trusting God.

Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Every day is filled with Plan Bs.  What do you model to your child when things aren’t going well? Be aware:  How you respond is how they will learn to respond.

You can teach your children to go to God in prayer, ask for His perspective, and follow His direction in how to respond.

“LAND MINE” – MANIPULATION

Glance over the following manipulative behaviors and consider if you use any to get people to do what you want; thereby teaching your child to manipulate. *

– Withdrawal

– Silence

– Anger

– Pity Party

– Crying

*(More in the Plan A MOM Checkup, p 61)

If you practice manipulative behaviors, your children will grow up to think that is how to get what they want when they want it.  Moms, it is critically important that we teach them that God’s ways are higher than ours. Please take seriously the danger of taking things in our own hands. pg 56

MORE 2 help U in The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World. KINDLE

A Biblical Mom Example NOT to Follow, p 53

Paula Shares Her Story of Having A Manipulative Mom, p 59

LIVE OUT LOUD Manipulation Checkup, pg 61

LOVE OUT LOUD Questions to Discuss with a Friend/Group, pg 62

PLAN A MOM WEEKLY TIP

Teach your children to defuse the land mine of manipulation. Model COMMITTING YOUR WAYS TO GOD and TRUSTING HIM.

PLAN A MOM PRAYER

Father, thank You for showing me the dangers of manipulaiton. Alert me to any manipulative behaviors my children and I have.  Help me to model trusting You rather than manipulating people and situations. Help me train my children to trust You and do things Your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.

BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR!

When our children were babies, their pediatrician wrote out a prescription for their daddy: Name: Keith Williams RX: Ear muffs. 1 pair, extra large. Wear nightly.

GET the PLAN A MOM UPDATE in your MAILBOX

SUBSCRIBE to this Blog in the right hand sidebar OR EMAIL me at debbie@debbietaylorwilliams.com with the message, “YES! I WANT TO MODEL CHRIST TO MY KIDS!” *PLEASE ADD debbie@debbietaylorwilliams to your contacts so it doesn’t get caught in your spam folder! See you next week! Til then, practice committing your ways to God and trusting Him.

Love, Debbie

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

Plan A MOM – MODEL CHRIST’s GRATITUDE to Your Kids

“Live like today was your last day on earth.”

I have no idea who came up with that saying, but no doubt he or she was an optimist. I wonder if it was a woman whose day consisted of dragging herself out of bed to the sound of a crying infant; prodding kids to eat, or perhaps worrying over adult children.

We may ask, if this were my last day on earth, what would I do differently? Would I perhaps have a different attitude?

LIVE OUT LOUD One word can change your attitude as you go through your day. I know. You’re not easily buying that one word can change your life. But it can. Think with me for a minute. Jesus said the things that come out of our mouths come from the heart (Matthew 15:18). Jesus demonstrated thankfulness to God, even when He stood before Lazarus’ tomb: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” Since what’s in our hearts spills out of our mouths, it’s worthwhile to consider what’s in our hearts. Is it “I have to” or “I get to”? Is it a bad attitude or Christ’s attitude of thankfulness even in the midst of seemingly impossible situations?

“LAND MINE” – DRUDGERY

Try it on for size. How would you fill in the blank? “I have to …? .”

Now, using the same sentence, change “have to” to “get to”: “I get to … .” By replacing “have” with “get,” you defuse a land mine of negativity. You choose a perspective that propels you from drudgery to living in the optimism of your God-given day. I speak from experience. Many times I have thought, “I have to . . . ” Then God reminds me that it’s a privilege to fulfill that which He’s given me to do; and remembering that changes my attitude from “have to” to “get to.”

Try it. I challenge you to switch from “have to” to “get to.” When you make it a practice, you’ll discover you have more than a word switch. You’ll also see a change in your attitude, from drudgery to hope-filled purpose—an attitude that is contagious with your children.

MORE 2 help U in The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World. Also vailable on KINDLE – 1ST CHAPTER FREE

A  BIBLICAL “GET TO” MOM, p 44

LAUREN (my daughter) SHARES Her Story, p 44

LIVE OUT LOUD Attitude/Gratitude Checkup, pg 48

LOVE OUT LOUD Questions to Discuss with a Friend/Group, pg 49

PLAN A MOM WEEKLY TIP

Teach your children to defuse the land mine of a bad attitude by adopting an attitude of gratitude. Model GRATITUDE to your children.

PLAN A MOM PRAYER

Father, help me practice a “get to” rather than a “have to” attitude—one that honors You and models a thankful spirit to my children. Help them develop a thankful attitude, one filled with gratitude for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR! 

One day, as we returned home not long after Taylor had first started school, he couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. He rushed right into the bathroom. When he reemerged, I asked him why he hadn’t gone to the bathroom before he left school. “I don’t like to go at school because the toilets are dirty,” he replied. “But I’ve figured out a way to do it if I have to go. I sit on my hands.”

GET the PLAN A MOM UPDATE in your MAILBOX

SUBSCRIBE to this Blog in the right hand sidebar OR EMAIL me at debbie@debbietaylorwilliams.com with the message, “YES! I WANT TO MODEL CHRIST TO MY KIDS!” *PLEASE ADD debbie@debbietaylorwilliams to your contacts so it doesn’t get caught in your spam folder! See you next week! Til then, practice gratitude.

Love, Debbie