365 Days of Praise

“Debbie, have you seen the trees out front?”, Keith asked. “It looks like they’re dying.” In the process of hand watering our trees, he’d noticed bark missing on the upper trunks. Concerned about what kind of pest might be attacking the trees, Keith began checking into it. A friend mentioned it might be a porcupine. Late that night after I was snug in bed, Keith got a spotlight and went to check on the trees. At midnight, the gnawer moved in for his nightly feast, climbed one of the trees, and began gnawing at the bark. After spotting him, Keith took action with a .22 rifle.

The next morning when I woke, Keith told me that it had been a porcupine. Following Keith to the front yard, I looked at the tree trunks where the night feaster had stripped the bark and noticed for the first time what Keith had observed days earlier, shredded bark at the base of the trees. Then Keith took me to see where he had laid the porcupine to “rest in peace.”

“That porcupine would have gnawed the tree to death if you hadn’t stopped him,” I told my husband, grateful that he had been observant. Then, God spoke to my heart about how things can “gnaw” at us and the importance of paying attention rather than ignoring what’s “eating” at us.

Night and Daytime Gnawers

Other People. Is there someone you don’t like? Are they “driving you up the wall”? As school begins, I’ve thought about how my children always wondered who their teacher would be and if their friends would be in their class. Seldom did we go through a whole school year that there wouldn’t be something I would notice was “gnawing” at me. It might be a teacher who gave what I considered to be too much homework or the “click” of students that looked down on those who weren’t like them.

Tapes in Our Minds Others Have Said. Sometimes the worst gnawers are “tapes” of what others have told us about ourselves. A parent may have repeatedly told you, “You’re no good.” Or, “You’ll never amount to anything.” A spouse may have nagged us, “You never make enough money.” Or he may have criticized us, “I don’t know why I married you.”

Tapes in Our Minds We Say About Ourselves. We can often be our worst daytime gnawer. We have perceptions about ourselves, lives, and families, and compare that with how we perceive others are. “Why can’t my spouse be like him/her?” “I’ll never be as good a Christian as I’m supposed to be.” “I’m a failure as a parent, spouse, friend.” “I’m fat, ugly, of no good.” Of course the worst night time gnawer is, “Everyone would be better off without me.”

Action Steps When Something is Gnawing at You

First, spotlight the gnawer. In other words, pay attention if you’re agitated in spirit, mind, or emotion. Don’t ignore it. Take the gnawing thought to God’s throne room where there’s plenty of Light and ask Him what you’re thinking is true, honorable, and right. Ask Him if it’s lovely and of good repute? Consider if there is any excellence in the thought or anything worthy of praise in what you’re thinking? If not, “lay it to rest.” Get rid of it once and for all. Release the negative thought or tape to Jesus who died and was buried for our sins and others. Leave the negative buried and walk in newness of life with Jesus. Philippians 4:7-9

Second, recognize that perceived enemies and thoughts that bring harm to relationships or bring you down are sometimes due to what the Bible calls “world forces of darkness; spiritual forces of wickedness.” (Ephesians 6:12) The Bible is clear when it tells us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 6:12. So when you can’t stand the drug culture, the gangs, the bullies, all the negative and harm that you see going on in our world, look beyond the damage on the “tree”. Turn your spotlight on the darkness that is bringing out the night creature that is doing the harm. It’s not that the child is a bad child. It’s that there are world forces of darkness that want to enslave our children to drugs, alcohol, sport sex, and ruin them. Our responsibility is to pray! We may not have children in school any more, but we can pray for the teachers, coaches, principles, and aids. We can pray for the children and teens. We can pray for the parents and day care workers. We can love others and stand with our spotlight.

I would never have noticed our trees until they were so severely damaged that they were beyond restoration. It took my husband’s watchful eye to see what I ignored in my very own front yard. What’s going on in your “front yard”? Are you letting it gnaw at you and others? Or, are you doing something about it?

Heavenly Father, there is so much evil in this world. In addition, I come up with my own wrong thoughts. Help me dispel the darkness in my heart, mind, and emotions in prayers as I shed your light on my thoughts. Help me be faithful to pray for others whom the enemy is gnawing at. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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One, then two raindrops fell on my windshield last week. Excitedly, I looked up at the heavens and began praising God. Barely were the words, “Thank You, God,” out of my mouth before the rain stopped. Yet, I was grateful. A few drops meant more might come.

Yesterday, I glanced out the window and saw several raindrops. Running outside, I knelt, again looking heavenward, thanking God for the raindrops and praying He mercifully continue to pour down rain on our parched earth. It only sprinkled for a few minutes. But those few minutes were praise worthy. They were a reminder that God sees. God cares. God hears. He is sovereign. If God wanted to pour rain upon our land, He could and would. So we look heavenward and ask, “God, what is your purpose in withholding rain?” Although none of us can answer for God, I can’t help but wonder if it isn’t to cause us to humble ourselves before Him.

Rather than doubting God’s goodness because He doesn’t immediately send rain in response to our prayers, might it be more appropriate for us to kneel and acknowledge that although we have intellect and some power and control on earth, we have no power to make it rain? We are humbly dependent on our Lord and God. Might we also, while asking for rain, thank God for the gifts He has rained on us? We might praise God for our health. If our health isn’t good, we can praise Him for equipping doctors to help us. We might praise God for family. If relationships aren’t good, we might thank Him for the opportunity to pray and seek His wisdom for how to restore harmed relationships. There is no end for what we can thank God.

I can’t help but wonder if we began praising God for the few drops He sends our way instead of complaining that it was “barely anything”, if He might send more. Or not. For it’s really up to God and His sovereign will, which is ultimately our good, whether we understand it now or not.

Whether we’re in a dry spot physically or spiritually, humbly kneeling in prayer with praise on our lips never hurt anything and always helps everything.

“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Father, thank You for Your perfect will and for being in control. Forgive us for arrogantly disregarding our behavior and thoughts that are an offense to You. May this be a time we humble ourselves before You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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# 4 Be in the moment with the person you’re with rather than thinking about something else.

When Keith and I were just starting our family, my sister, Vicki, gave me a framed quote that said, “When you work, work hard. When you play, play hard.” That advice made all the sense in the world to me. I immediately thought of the times that I had been with one of our children, but been thinking about my ministry. Or, I had been with Keith and thinking about chores I needed to do at home. Taking to heart the advice to be mentally and emotionally present made a huge difference. First, I relaxed and enjoyed the one I was with. Second, knowing that there was a time to work and a time to play, I gave myself the freedom to play when I was Keith and the kids. Then, when it was time to settle down and work, I was more efficient.

Jesus modeled the ability to “be in the moment” with the one He was with. He never came across as rushed or rude.

What difference might it make in your family if you took to heart the advice to be in the moment with the person you’re with rather than thinking about something else?

“There is an appointed time for evertying. And there is a time for every event under heaven, Ecclesiastes 3:1.

In Christ’s Love,
Debbie

Raising Faithful Kids in a Flawed World

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# 3 Attend church together.

In our home, church wasn’t an option. It was as normal a part of our weekly routine as going to work and school. Apparently, it was a normal part of Jesus’ routine. Our only account of Jesus as a boy is of Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. Later, as an adult, we find Jesus in the synagogue quoting and reading Scripture. We find Jesus teaching us that His Father’s House is as a place of prayer.

If we want to raise our children to be faithful to God in the midst of our flawed world, is it not reasonable that we would do everything possible to attend to our children’s spiritual lives?

Why not commit today to attend church with your children and raise them with them with God’s teachings and wisdom?

“After three days they found Him (Jesus) in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions,” Luke 2:46.

In Christ’s Love,
Debbie

Raising Faithful Kids in a Flawed World

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# 2 Apologize if you do something wrong.

We’re all going to mess up. The question is, when we do, are we going to be repentant and apologize for our bad behavior or words?

Just as it is important for moms and dads to model saying the three words, “I love you,” it’s important to model saying the two words, “I’m sorry.” Need we be reminded that it was the repentant man whom God heard praying and who went home to his house justified; and not the self-righteous one? (Luke 18:10-14)

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion,” Proverbs 28:13.

Blessings to you as you model before your children a humble, repentant heart. Your example will serve them well.

In Christ’s Love,
Debbie

Raising Faithful Kids in a Flawed World

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# 1 Always say “I love you” when you part for the day.

Today, Keith and I are celebrating 36 years of marriage. It’s no wonder that when I began compiling a list of things that I consider important for a healthy family, this is the first point that came to mind.

If it isn’t a practice in your home to say the simple words, “I love you” when family members leave or you part for the day, why not begin? It will alter relationships for the better.
And, if Jesus felt it important to tell us that He loves us, certainly it must be important to follow His example and tell one another.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” John 13:34.

I’ll be anxious to hear how your relationships have changed for the better at the end of our 75 days!

In Christ’s Love,
Debbie

Raising Faithful Kids in a Flawed World

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Driving down I-10, I glanced at the clock on my dashboard and noted “10:20”. “Good. I’ll get to the airport about 11:40 and have time to get a salad before I board my plane,” I thought to myself. Then I did a double-take. “No, wait! My plane LEAVES at 11:40!” That’s when panic set in. “There’s no way I can make my plane to the Iowa P.R.A.Y. with Passion Across the Nation Conference! What was I thinking?” I scolded myself as I thought back to before I left the house. Thinking I had plenty of time, I had watered the plants, tidied the house, visited with the men working on our home, patted our dog, Abby, goodbye, and Keith had prayed for me as he always does before I head out to teach.

“What was I thinking?” I again scolded myself. Being a seasoned traveler, I have a well rehearsed travel schedule; leaving myself ample time to get to the airport. But this morning I clearly wasn’t thinking. I had the information I needed to get to the airport on time, but processed it incorrectly.

Have you ever done something similar? Have you ever “missed it” in relation to what you thought someone was saying when in reality they were saying something totally different? Have you ever had it “in your head” that something was a certain way and you later found out you were wrong?

Jesus warns us about something He wants us to clearly “get”. He doesn’t want us to have it wrongly in our head. It was nearing Holy Week, when Jesus would be arrested and crucified. His time was short and His message important. The disciples were wrongly thinking: “He was nearing Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.” (Luke 19:11) So Jesus told them a parable to help them understand that the kingdom of heaven wasn’t going to immediately appear. Rather, He, like the nobleman in the parable, was going to a distant country to receive His kingdom and would then return. In the meantime, He gave entrustments to His servants to do business with until He returned.

One of the main points in Jesus’ parable is that He expects us to faithfully use what He has entrusted to us. In other words, if we think, “I can’t see Jesus. He’s not here. I don’t know when He’s returning. I’m timid to attempt to serve Christ and His purposes,” then we are thinking wrong! Very wrong! Christ tells a dramatic parable to make the point that He has given to each of us an entrustment in the form of being able to contribute to other’s needs, teach, encourage, serve, help, exercise faith, or some other gift. We’re not to be like the servant in the parable who hid what he had been entrusted with. (Luke 19:20) The nobleman, Christ, upon His return, didn’t sympathize with the fearful servant. Instead, He judged him for being disobedient. The nobleman (Christ) had specifically said, “Do business with this (His money) until I come back,” Luke 19:13.

To make sure we are clearly thinking, let’s summarize.
Christ is returning.
Christ has given each of us an entrustment.
He expects us to serve Him while He is away.

What entrustment has God given to you? Is it to raise your children to know the Lord? Is it to model kindness to your family? Is it to teach by example Christ’s ways of relating to one another at your workplace?

When plans don’t go our way, when our husband doesn’t do what we expected, or our children don’t behave like we wish they would,or our co-workers aren’t kind, it’s easy to get discouraged. However, often God has another plan; one that involves growing us and others.

If we’re thinking, “I don’t like my life. I don’t like my responsibilities,” maybe we should think again and consider them as entrustments from God. Maybe instead of burying our head in the sand, we should acknowledge that the Lord has entrusted us with our family, friends, and responsibilities, and we should get busy about the work of modeling Christ to them in anticipation of His return.

Lord, it’s so easy for us to think self-centeredly and not think correctly on Your words and commands. Help each of us today to “get it” and not miss the point. You’re the nobleman who has a heavenly kingdom. You’re coming back. You hold us accountable for what we do with what You’ve entrusted to us. May each of us be alert to ways we can faithfully serve You in our homes, churches, and places to which you’ve called us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Judy looked forward to a quiet night.  Enroute to a family reunion, she dreaded the upcoming barrage of questions she faced. “What happened to you and Jake?”  “I wish you would work it out, dear.”  Dare she blurt out, “He’s a creep and routinely bereats me?”

After checking into her motel room, she headed for the front desk. “Where’s the closest place I can get dinner?” she asked.  After receiving directions, she checked her watch.  It was early, but she decided to go ahead and pick up dinner so she could get back to her room before dark.

“This is going to be a horrible night!” the woman taking her order bemoaned.”  Judy suddenly forgot about the reunion and felt for the woman, wondering what problems she had when the customer in line behind her, asked, “What did you order?”  Turning, Judy faced a nice-looking, well dressed man.  He repeated the question, “What did you get?”

Judy wanted to blurt out, “What do you care?” but instead politely answered, “a salad”.  Sam seemed to forget he was supposed to be placing an order.  “You don’t really want to take your salad to go.  Can I buy you a beer?” 

Suddenly Judy was uncomfortable. “No, thank you.”  She started to explain she didn’t like beer, was married, and for him to buzz off, but decided the short answer might help him better get the hint.

Sam continued with unabashedly flirtatious remarks while Judy noted his wedding ring and gold igtheus bracelet. Certainly he would have seen her ring which she wore even though she and Jake were separated.

The above scenarios play out thousands of times and begs two questions to be answered.  First, why do we behave badly; if not in the above ways, in our own way?  The second is, can we do anything about it? 

The first question is easy to answer.  We behave badly because we have a sin nature.  It’s described in the Bible as “carnal” and is the opposite of righteous.  It’s the child in us that wants what we see, wants it now, and doesn’t care about the effect it has on others or the harm it brings.

The second question is harder to answer, but God does have an answer.  Yes, we can do something about our bad behavior.  Consider the following and which is an important step for you to take at this time in your life.

*Change begins in the heart.  

Deuteronomy 10:16 commands us:  “circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no more.”  At physical birth, circumcision is a procedure to remove the foreskin.  In spiritual terms, it is symbolic of removing the “fleshly” nature; that which is set against God.  It’s “removed” so a person can live by God’s Spirit.  Spiritual circumcision takes place at our spiritual birth when we confess, “Jesus is Lord,” and we repent of our sins to follow Christ. It’s done by Spirit of God. Romans 2:29, Col 2:11. 

*Change requires we set our mind on God’s ways, rather than give in to our fleshly tendencies.

Having been “circumcised of the flesh,” we’re to live according to God’s nature and ways. This is where unbelievers fall.  We fail to take to heart God’s command that we no longer live according to our flesh, but rather according to the Spirit. Consider Paul’s warning:  “Those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” Romans 8:5-6.
Colossians 3:2 continues, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth.”  1 Peter 2:11-12a echoes, “abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.  Keep your behavior excellent…”

Bad behavior?  Good behavior?  Do you have a ring, a cross, or an igtheus hanging around your neck or on your finger?  Do you claim to be a Christian?  If so, check your heart.  Have you truly repented of your sin to follow Christ and His ways?  If you have, check your mind.  Are you setting your mind on God’s ways of thinking and living? 

Yes, we can do something about our behavior.  It starts with our heart and continues in our minds.

Father, thank You for the insight You give us about our behavior.  Thank You for circumcising our hearts so that we can live by Your Spirit.  Train us to set our minds on you and live by Your Spirit.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect,” Romans 12:2

When You Can’t Find a Silver Lining, Look for the Gold

Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams

February 15 I attended a memorial service for my pastor, John Petty, who died of a gunshot wound to the head.  No foul play was involved.  As family and friends have grieved, a question begs to be answered:  What if you can’t find the proverbial silver lining when going through a dark Plan B time?

I don’t have the answer to many questions, I know the one who does: Jesus.  What did He do when no silver lining appeared visible, when He was tired, lonely, and grieved?  He looked up.  Go with me to the following places where a silver lining just wouldn’t do, so Jesus set His eyes on the gold: God.

In John 11:35 we find Jesus weeping over Lazarus’s death.  Jesus had already been charged with the accusation that if He had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. What did Jesus do in the face of death?  He directed friends and family to look up to the glory of God.  “Jesus raised up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.’”  (Jn 11:41) In this tragic incidence, Jesus said we have a Father in heaven.  He hears and is all powerful.

In Matthew 14:19 Jesus wasn’t confronted with a friend’s death, but rather a sea of 5,000 hungry people.  The place was desolate.  The hour late.  “Send the crowds away,” the disciples suggested.  However, Jesus had a different plan in the midst of this bleak situation.  Taking five loaves of bread and two fish in His hands He “looked up” and blessed the food. There may not have been a silver lining in the clouds that day, but God reigned and more than met their needs.

What did Jesus do when He wasn’t ministering to others, but rather, was faced with His own despair?  Matthew 26:38-41 tells us Jesus called friends to be with Him.  As the doom of the cross lay before Him, Jesus asked His friends to keep watch with Him.  He stated “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” so keep watching and praying. (v 42) Jesus fell on His face and “looked up.” He focused on the gold and praised God as His Father.

Jesus isn’t the only one who models setting our eyes on the gold when there isn’t a silver lining.  In 2 Chronicles 20:3 when Jehoshaphat was afraid and faced with an overwhelming enemy, he “turned his attention to seek the Lord…” … “O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not the God in the heavens? …Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. We are powerless…nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (6,12)  “Then…the Spirit of the Lord came.”  (14)

What can we learn?  Knowing our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak, we can follow Jesus’ and Jehoshaphat’s example.  We can ask friends to stay and pray with us. We can set our eyes on God and look to Him.  We can praise, “Our Father, power and might are in Your hands. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”  Would you pray that with me now?

In Christ’s Joy,
Debbie

Debbie Taylor Williams
www.debbietaylorwilliams.com

Plan A Woman In A Plan B World, What To Do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan, copyright Debbie Taylor Williams 

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