365 Days of Praise
Are We Tolerating What Jesus is Against
Jesus is the Son of Man who knows what it is to live in human skin. However, what is inside of Him is different from us. His innermost being is holy glowing purity. Revelation 2:18-20a describes the ascended Christ as having “eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze.” Revelation 1:16 describes His face as “the sun shining in its strength.”
Imagine that visual for a minute. Jesus’s face was like the sun shining in its strength. Following these magnificent otherworldly descriptions of Jesus, we’re told that Jesus, the Son of God, says this,
I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first,, but I have this against you that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
Yes, Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is slow to anger, but we must never forget that He is also the Son of God reigning in glory. He sees our deeds and what we tolerate that is against Him. Is there anything we need to repent of before we ask Him for His continued blessings?
Lord Jesus, SON of GOD, forgive us for tolerating what You hate.
God of Joy and Love
It’s a new day, but let me ask you something. Are you short on joy today? It can happen. We race toward special days or live expectantly of something and then it comes and goes. Or, things don’t go as we expected or wanted. What do we do when that happens? We have a choice. We can get down and discouraged. We can dwell on the negative. Or, we can go into God’s presence and talk things over with Him. We can be mindful of Jesus’s love for us and how He longs to fill us and be our companion. I encourage you to choose to see life today through His eyes and every day as a gift. Use today to express gratefulness to Him for every single blessing before you: a place to live, family, work, the blessing of a ministry, friends, and your health. Thank God for the freedom to live in a country where you can worship with other believers…if that is the case. I know some of you who receive this worship under oppressive circumstances. Thank God for those partnering with you and the protection God has given you to continue the work you do. In whatever circumstance you find yourself, ask God to fill you with His Spirit and joy. Yield to His divine direction throughout the day. Be a Christian who is known by your love and joy. Meditate on and live by the following:
You (God) will make known to me the path of life;
*In Your presence is fullness of joy*; In Your right hand there are
pleasures forever. Psalm 61:11By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another. John 13:35
Prayers of My Heart journal can help. I speak from experience. The habit, the discipline of beginning every day focusing my mind on what I’m grateful for that God did the day before is a powerful mind and thought shaper. It begins my day thinking on the positive and God’s powerful sway in my day and life. Writing is a proven brain changer. There is no reason to go into the next year with the same old negative thought patterns when God tells us what to not do – be anxious and what to do – be thankful and to think on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good report, excellent, and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8
Lord God, thank You for the blessings in our lives. Turn our hearts and thoughts toward You today. Help us to see life through Your eyes and fill us with Your Spirit and joy.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, sweet friends. I hope your day is filled with the joy that only our sweet Savior can bring. Love, Debbie
1 It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
O Come Let Us Adore Him
Friends, it’s our opportunity to come and adore Jesus. Prophecy has been fulfilled. The Child was born. God’s Son was given to us. The government of the world rests on Him. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. He is the Mighty God. He is Eternal Father. He is the Prince of Peace. Celebrate. Worship and adore Him. I love you, sweet friends.
Copyright “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
Narcissus
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” Romans 12:10
This month we’ve been preparing our hearts for Christmas by considering how the decorations and plants we use can point us to Christ. I’ve shared how many of the traditions I’ve brought into our home are those I got from my mother. However, when Keith and I married, my mother-in-law introduced me to the narcissus, which has a tall slender stalk and small paper-white blossoms in contrast to the thick-stalked amaryllis with its giant red blossoms my mother adored.
Incorporating the narcissus into our traditions was a reminder of how Christmas is a time to value what other family members bring into our lives. I am grateful for not only the fragrance of my mother’s life, but also for that of my mother-in-law’s. So if you enjoy decorating with a narcissus, consider how it points us to prepare our hearts for Christmas. First, as the narcissus is white, we are reminded that Christ has cleansed us of our sins and made us pure white as He is. What a glorious thought! Second, as the narcissus has a distinct fragrance, we are to be distinct among the world, carrying the unique fragrance of Christ to others. Third, as we consider the fragile blossoms of the narcissus and its unique differences from the amaryllis, let’s remember that God has made each person unique and that relationships can be fragile. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, may we value the gift of not only our relationship with Christ, but also the gift of our relationships with others. May we remember Christ’s words to us to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love; to give preference to one another in honor,” Romans 12:10.
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
Holly
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” Acts 1:8
Mother loved decorating our home for Christmas, as you well know by now. In addition to placing candles and angels in each room, we placed holly boughs above each door. Today I look at holly with new eyes and a fresh appreciation for what it represents. The evergreen plant is a symbol of everlasting life in Christ. The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’s holy head. The red berries are reminders of Jesus’s blood shed for our sins. This Christmas season, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit opens our hearts in a fresh way to all the Father did in giving us the babe Jesus, Savior of the world.
3 Days till CHRISTMAS! Do you need a last minute gift? How about a donation in honor of that special someone who already has everything? We’ll let them know of your thoughtfulness and our ongoing mission to spread the Word and love of Jesus. In the “notes” or “comments” section, provide the name and address of the person you are honoring. We’ll take care of the rest. Thank you! And remember, your donation is tax-deductible. Questions? Email me: [email protected].
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
Amaryllis
The Amaryllis is perhaps one of my favorite symbols of new life in Jesus. Why? It symbolizes the beauty of resting in Christ and living expectantly. As with many of the traditions I hold dear, this one, too, originates with my mother who bought a red amaryllis bulb at the beginning of the Christmas season. My sister, Vicki, and I enthusiastically watched her bury the ugly brown bulb in a flower pot. Then, we helped her pat the soil around it. As a young child, it was hard to believe that a beautiful red flower would emerge from the dead-looking bulb. Every day we would check the bulb searching for a sign of life. Mother faithfully watered the plant and assured us, “It’ll grow.” Finally, the day would come. We’d discover a tiny green stem protruding from the bulb. Then the stem would grow before our eyes, becoming taller and stronger each day until finally, pregnant with life, it bloomed. That which had been brown and lifeless emerged with red showy flowers. It was only natural that I continued the tradition with our children and explained the spiritual significance of each stage of the plant. First, in order to be who Christ intends us to be, we must identify with Him in His death. Dying to ourselves includes burying ourselves in the Bible to learn His ways. It means filling our dry souls with the daily flow of the Holy Spirit who is as living water within us. We must also rest in Christ and trust Him for our growth, knowing that as my mother assured us about the amaryllis, “It’ll grow,” so we will one day emerge in heaven in full bloom. So will our Christian children. Be assured, sweet friends, in times when there seems to be no activity and no growth, “God is causing the growth,” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
4 Days till CHRISTMAS! Do you need a last minute gift? How about a donation in honor of that special someone who already has everything? We’ll let them know of your thoughtfulness and our ongoing mission to spread the Word and love of Jesus. In the “notes” or “comments” section, provide the name and address of the person you are honoring. We’ll take care of the rest. Thank you! And remember, your donation is tax-deductible. Questions? Email me: [email protected].
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
The Christmas Poinsettia
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” Acts 1:8
Do you have Christmas traditions that you carry on that were a part of your childhood? Among the many that I have already shared, another is that of my mother decorating with poinsettias. The poinsettia derives its name from Joel Robert Poinsett who brought the plant from Mexico to the United States in 1829. Why do Christians like getting or giving poinsettias at Christmas? Their blood-red petals remind us of the blood Christ shed for our sins. The green leaves remind us of the eternal life we have in Him. The gold crowning center of the flower reminds us that Christ is the crowned King of heaven who reigns on high. The Poinsettia calls us to consider if Jesus is the crowning center of our life if we worship and bow before Him if we let Him reign over our thoughts, decisions, and behavior. Just as I did not know about poinsettias until my mother introduced them to me, so we have friends and neighbors who do not know Jesus. Why not give a poinsettia to an unsaved friend or family member and share the meaning of the poinsettia, the meaning of Christmas?
5 Days till CHRISTMAS! Do you need a last minute gift? How about a donation in honor of that special someone who already has everything? We’ll let them know of your thoughtfulness and our ongoing mission to spread the Word and love of Jesus. In the “notes” or “comments” section of the donation page, provide the name and address of the person you are honoring. We’ll take care of the rest. Thank you! And remember, your donation is tax-deductible. Questions? Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Blessings, friends!
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
The Christmas Tree
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14
A Christmas tree is often the centerpiece around which Christmas activity occurs. However, this Christmas, as we gather around the evergreen tree to sing carols or open presents, let’s turn our thoughts heavenward to the tree that stands at the centerpiece of our faith – the tree of life that stood in the Garden of Eden, the tree of life on which Jesus was crucified to secure our eternal salvation, the tree of life we will see in the New Jerusalem.
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Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
Ornaments
“You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Ornaments decorate Christmas trees and reflect the lights on trees. As we observe them hanging on the branches and reflecting the lights, they are a reminder of the need for us to hang close to Jesus so we reflect His light. Ornaments also reflect the personality of the one who bought them. Likewise, Christians who hang close to Jesus reflect His personality – His love, joy, peace, and kindness. When I was a child, we would sometimes bring the box of tree ornaments into the family room but not take the time to hang them on the tree for several days. Wrapped and cushioned they remained in the box, not adorning the tree, not reflecting the tree lights, not showing forth the personality of the one who purchased them. May that not be said of us, sweet friends. Rather, may we each hang close to Jesus so we reflect His light and personality.
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Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams