365 Days of Praise

Wonderful time with the ladies this morning. Lord, you are good!!!

Cumberland Maryland ….PRAY Conf…Thank You Lord for the opportunity to serve You.

View from back door of my cabin at Benito Park. Loved ministering to the women there.

The view from the front door of my cabin.

Bird? Praise!
Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams, February 2010

“Waaa!” Standing on his tip toes and reaching for the door handle, our fifteen month old grandson cried, glancing over his shoulder at me. “Waaa!” In other words, “Would you hurry? I want you to open this door so I can go in the utility room and play with the dog’s food and water.”

“Logan, where are the birds?” I hurriedly responded. Swooping him into my arms, I carried him to the nearest window. “Logan, where are the birds?” I repeated. Silently we both starred out the window. “Birds, where are you?” I called. Walking to another window, we looked out of it, calling, “Birds, birds. Where are you?” Walking to a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh window, we continued our search for birds. Since Logan was old enough to know what a bird was, he’s been intrigued with them. The mere mention of a bird changes his attention from whatever he’s unhappy about to searching the sky for birds. When mommy or daddy leaves, we look for birds. When Poppy leaves for work, we look for birds. When he gets a booboo, we look for birds. When he wants to scale the piano, pull over the lamp, or play in the dog bowl, we look for birds.

Is it easy to always spot a bird? No. Sometimes we decide they must be sleeping, because no birds are in sight. However, we keep looking. We know there are birds somewhere. We’ve seen them before. We know we’ll see them again.

As I’ve pondered Logan’s fascination with birds and how focusing on them has seen him through many a toddler trauma: dropped luvee, separation anxiety, or “no” to the TV remote; it’s reminded me of how my gaze heavenward sees me through many adult anguishes: too much to do, too little time; delayed flights; deadlines; or computer bugs. Gazing heavenward, redirects my mind. It doesn’t alleviate the challenge before me. However, it reminds me that I have someone to whom I can turn in the midst of the challenge. I have a heavenly Father who loves me, is all powerful, and wise.

Directing our thoughts heavenward is more than a healthy habit. It’s a commanded practice; a discipline that benefits us and honors God. Rather than worry, fret, and wring our hands, God tells us to praise Him.

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting,” (Psalm 106:1). The Hebrew word for praise means to boast. In other words, when things aren’t going according to plan, I can direct my thoughts to God. I can boast in Him, “Lord, You are a God of all wisdom.” I can pray, “Help me see this situation through Your eyes. Give me Your wisdom for how to handle it.” When I am frustrated, I can redirect my thoughts heavenward. I can look out the window and boast, “God, You are a God of patience.” I can pray, “Fill me with Your patience.”

Through the years it has been my passion to increasingly know my Lord. My heart resounds with Paul’s in wanting to “know Him and the power of His resurrection,” Phil 3:10. The more we intimately “know” God, the more we can boast about Him. The more easily our hearts are redirected to praise Him and look for His provision in our situations.

How good are you at spotting birds? How quickly do you redirect your mind from worry, fear, or unwholesome thoughts to God’s bounty and presence? In whatever situation you face today – closed doors, lost opportunities, or dropped balls, I hope you’ll join me and turn your boast and praise to God, the all sufficient One.

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting,” (Psalm 106:1).

Sad…just had to put Holly, our 14 yr old Cocker Spaniel, to sleep.

“God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor 1:9).

Friends,

I have a collection of “300 A-Z Names, Attributes, and Titles of God“. Of those, “faithful” always rises to a top place in my mind when I praise God. I suppose because I see evidence of God’s faithfulness every single day!

The past ten days God has proven Himself faithful by helping me meet deadlines for my new book, “The Plan A Woman in A Plan B World, What to Do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan” while also teaching the pilot of the same, prepare Listening Guide Handouts, edit the DVDs of the taped teaching sesssions, keep scheduled appointments, write the devotional article “No Plug In’s Please” for the faith section of the newspaper, prepare for a retreat I’m doing in a couple of weeks at Denton Bible Church which is based on my Bible Study, “If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?” while also celebrating Taylor and Ali’s one year anniversary in Austin, Valentine’s Day with Keith, celebrate birthdays, decide whether to put our 14 year old Cocker Spaniel to sleep, babysit our 15 month old grandson while our other adult children were out of town, and fly to Phoenix to lead my P.R.A.Y. with Passion Across the Nation Conference. Now, in case you’re thinking, “The reason you’re a basket case is because you overschedule,” I’m happy to announce, I’m really not a basket case these days. And, I didn’t schedule all of the above. Nope. An author really doesn’t know the exact date her book is going to be sent to her for a final proof. It just happened to fall in the same week. And, I had told Lauren that I’d babysit a year ago. Once again…what are the chances their business trip would fall during the same week the book was due and the P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference was scheduled and our dog’s condition would worsen?

I assure you, when I saw that all of the above was falling into the same week, I did wonder how in the world I would be able to accomplish it all. I thank God for His Holy Spirit who prompted me through each hour and guided me what to do first, second, third. He’s a great organizer. But you probably know that, having observed our heaven and earth! 🙂

I also thank God for my husband. Keith is such a godly support and prayer partner. And Logan, our grandson, absolutely adores him. Logan had the opportunity to spend Friday with his other grandmother while I was in AZ and then he and Keith played Friday night and Saturday until I got home.

Oh, did I mention I got a 24 hour virus in the midst of all of the above. Yep! Sweet Logan, Lauren, and Chris had been sick prior to their arrival at our house last Tuesday. I had the opportunity to empathize with them when I caught their bug. Thursday at 7 p.m. I called the event planner at North Phoenix Baptist Church and told her I wasn’t sure I would be able to get on the plane the next morning. Thank God, a whole slew of prayer warriors began praying and I woke Friday at 5 a.m., 24 hours after the bug had begun, fit and fiddle. God is good. God is faithful! How can we NOT praise Him?

Friends at North Phoenix Baptist Church and all those who came from other churches to join us at the P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference, you are dear! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much while teaching a three hour conference. You’re a hoot! And, it was so good to see friends from Royal Oak, where I’d led a retreat last year. I love YA’LL even if you did laugh at my southern accent. Yes, P is for praayse! 🙂

Keep looking up friends, at our FAITHFUL GOD!

Love,

Debbie

P.S. Holly, our dog, is still with us. I think she’ll outlive me!

PTL! P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conf at North Phoenix Bapt last night. On my way home…

“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:1-2

Amazing that the same Spirit rests on all who call on Jesus to be saved!

Today, praise God for Christ, our Messiah, for His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.

Join me in repenting of any way in which we’ve lived independently of His Spirit.

Ask God to fill you with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.

Throughout the day and evening, yield to our Great God who loves us so much He sent His Son for us.

Christ filled blessings to each of you,
Debbie

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