365 Days of Praise
Plan A Woman Online Book Club
The Plan A Woman Book Club is now on the above BOOK CLUB link. Thanks for your patience while we worked out the kinks. I’ve copied your comments there, which posted under one link under my name. I’m sorry. That’s the best I could do. But, now we’re set! Please keep your comments coming on the Book Club link rather than here. I love them and appreciate you. They’ll show up as your individual comments from now on.
Can This Count As A Vegetable?
Can this Count as a Vegetable?
I’ve always had an appreciation for my husband’s ability to read, process, and articulate his thoughts. However, as is often the case with intelligent people, sometimes they find the more mundane things of life are well…mundane and therefore give them less attention than they might otherwise give them. For instance, I was amazed when we’d been married for several years and he still called my slip by the wrong name. To this day, he really doesn’t care if the green vegetable on his place is called asparagus or broccoli. Simple jokes sometimes cause his eyes to glaze over because he’s searching for some deeper meaning. I, on the other hand, laugh at something silly while my eyes glaze over at deep, legal conversations.
Recently, Keith and I had just such an episode; in which I realized food groups fell into the category of “no interest” to him. We had both decided to make some adjustments in our eating habits. While dining at a restaurant, Keith leaned across the table and with a roll in his hand, asked, “This could count as a vegetable, couldn’t it? It’s made from grain.”
As much as I would have liked to have scolded him for trying to sneak in a roll, I had to laugh. “Good try!” I replied. “No. It is not a vegetable.”
Perhaps you can relate, if not on the roll/vegetable issue, in another area. Have you ever found yourself wanting to call “sin” something that it’s not? Have you ever wanted to chew on anger toward someone and called it “just thinking”? Have you ever held in your hand something that didn’t belong to you and called it “yours”? Have you perhaps feasted on getting ahead at someone else’s expense and called it “friendly competition”? Have you justified a diet of unkindness, by saying it “grew from what someone did to you?”
Although we may call a sin a pretty name or “socially acceptable,” God isn’t fooled. He knows sin groups just as we know food groups. And, as health care professionals expect us to know food groups and make choices beneficial to our health, God expects us to know sin groups and make choices beneficial to our spirit.
What sin groups should we cautiously avoid according to Exodus 20:1-26?
Elevating people and things above God
Taking God’s name in vain, using it carelessly
Not setting aside a day as holy to the Lord
Not honoring our fathers and mothers
Murder
Adultery
Stealing
Lying
Coveting
We may call our words “stretching the truth,” but God calls them lies. We may justify our sin by saying it grew in a garden of innocence. However, God looks at what’s in our hand, not where it started.
What might God be saying to us? If we’re really serious about our spiritual health, then we shouldn’t hold sin in our hand. If we find it’s already in our hand, we shouldn’t try to justify it. Rather, we should call it what it is and put it down like a fattening roll. We should take hold of all the other options God provides, the choices that are healthy for our spirits.
Until next time, be mindful of what’s in your hand. Don’t take that bite if it’s not going to contribute to the spiritual health for your soul. “Thou shall have no other gods before Me,” Exodus 20:3.
Run, but Don’t Drop the Line
One recent Saturday, it was a beautiful day to be outside. As family and friends gathered, we decided among other things, to fly kites. Three year old Lucy held her kite string tightly. Fascinated with the flying toy, she laughed in glee. Then, her kite took an unexpected nose-dive to the ground. Friends and family encouraged her, “You can do it, Lucy. Try again.”
Tightly gripping the kite’s handle, Lucy once again watched the giant paper triangle soar in the sky. Thrilled, Lucy giggled. However, with the shifting wind, the kite lost air and began to swerve toward the ground. An experienced kite flyer knows to run or tighten the string at such times. Lucy, however, didn’t have a clue what to do. Standing there, she watched it swerve and sway, doomed to fall. Then, Lucy’s aunt called to her, “Run, Lucy! Run!” Blonde, tassel headed Lucy, upon hearing the advice, began running across the lawn. However, as she ran, she dropped the kite handle. The kite and string that once sailed through the cloud graced sky, plunged to the ground.
Today, like Lucy, many believers are running hard. They’ve seen the excitement of what God can do and have joined others in service to Him. Some are running ministries to the poor. Others are running ministries to those suffering natural disasters. Many are running the race God’s set before them as they serve their families, raise children, or provide care to the disabled or ill. However, what happens when those who are running drop the line that connects them to the One they serve?
What line might Christians drop? Our eyes on Jesus, our focus on Him.
The writer to the Hebrews reminded believers of the importance of not only running the race set before us, but of also fixing our eyes on Jesus. Consider his words: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
In these verses we’re reminded of the importance of laying aside encumbrances and not being entangled in sin. We’re encouraged to run the race before us. However, we’re also reminded of the importance of fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, of keeping our focus on Him, and maintaining our connection with Him.
What are you running around doing these days? Are you like Lucy, running hard? Are you holding tight to the line in the sky? Or, head down, have you lost the “joy before you” because you’ve lost your focus on the One in the heavens?
I have to run now, but I look forward to being back with you soon. In the meantime, don’t drop the line. Keep your eyes and focus on Jesus!
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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).
Our God is Faithful
“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!