Debbie Taylor Williams

“Since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His (God’s) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”

Colossians 1:9

How often do we say, “I just don’t know what to do,” regarding our marriage , children, finances, career, or church situation? God has a will for our lives and Paul prays we be filled to the brim with it. In other words, God isn’t asking us to play “hide-and-see” with His will. Rather, God has provided both a general will, given through biblical principles, and a specific will for us as individuals. The Bible and Holy Spirit work hand in hand to guide us into both. One will never negate the other. The more we know the Bible, the more the Holy Spirit can lead us in both God’s general and specific will. Sometimes I wonder if God doesn’t reveal more of His specific will because I’m not obeying His general will, which He’s already given in the Bible. Might that be true of you?

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to not only know You, but to also live according to Your will. Forgive me when I ask for more knowledge; yet I’m not acting according to the knowledge You’ve already given me. Today, may I be a better steward of what I know so that I am increasing filled with the knowledge of Your will for my life. 

from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case? 

When I showed this recipe to my husband and asked him if he wanted it for breakfast, he said…YES! He thought it looked amazing! Most mornings, I have hungry boys, my hubby included, so I need something easy! This is definitely one easy recipe that any boy would love…sausage and crescent rolls?! Please and thank you! My husband requested I use his deer sausage in the recipe, so we did, but just a Jimmy Deans, Owens or any breakfast sausage will do! This would be perfect for a Saturday or Sunday morning, or any morning! It turned out great and my boys, even my picky 5 year old, loved it! Mmmm!

BREAKFAST PIZZA p. 108

1 can refrigerator crescent rolls

1/2 lb sausage                                                    

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese                           

4 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup milk

1/4 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Fit crescent rolls into 9×9-inch baking pan, covering bottom and sides; press edges to seal. Brown sausage in skillet, stirring until crumbly; drain. Layer sausage and cheese in prepared pan. Combine remaining ingredients in bowl, mixing well. Pour over layers. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings

” ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.’ ” Matthew 7:12

TABLE BLESSING

God, thank You for this food.

I pray right now for those who go without.

Comfort and be with them.

Strengthen their faith so they may overcome their doubts.

To order your Taste & See Cookbook, click HERE.

“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ …”

Colossians 1:2

Before you jump ship and wonder how many days we’re going to stay on Colossians 1:2, hang in here with me one more day as we consider our identity in Christ. “Faithful,” Although this can be a general term for believers, Paul uses it as a description of those being faithful to their heavenly calling. Yes, we may fall under the category of faithful. The big question is: Are we being faithful day by day, not only on Sundays? It’s something to think about.

Lord, You are faithful to me. Help me be faithful to You and my heavenly calling. 

from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case? 

Friends, many of you have replied that you miss the morning praise, so….how about we continue a few times a week and also look at who we are in Christ and God’s calling on our lives? And, thank you for your patience when you get a double email, as you did Saturday. I’m trying to fix a timing “bug.” Please don’t give up on me in the next day or two if you get duplicates. We WILL figure this out! 🙂 And, now, from Colossians….

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

Colossians 1:1-2

“In Christ.”  The wording must have baffled the Christians in Colossae to which Paul wrote. Think about it. You would never say you were “in” your pastor. Yet, Paul wrote that believers are “in Christ.” What does he mean? We are more than residents “in” the city in which we live. We also reside “in Christ;” in the blessing of His holiness, His eternity, His grace, His favor, His empowering. Our praise extends beyond who God is, but also to what He has done for us.

Lord God, to be securely “in Christ” is an overwhelmingly grand thought. But it is more than a thought. It is a truth on which I can stand and for which I praise YOU!

from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case? 

Friends, few of you know the story of how 365 DAYS of PRAISE came into being. I’ll be posting about it on my bi-monthly E-Devotional and think you will rejoice with me when you hear the story. If you’re not signed up for my E-Devotional, you can sign up HERE. For those who already receive it, be sure to read it. It won’t be my typical newspaper column. 🙂

And NOW – for our 365th DAY of PRAISE! Believe it or not, I’m having trouble deciding which to post. I still have SEVERAL that I haven’t shared! However, I believe we’ll do the oh so important Yahweh. 

“This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when Yahweh made earth and heaven.”

Genesis 2:4

According to scholar Charles Ryrie, YAHWEH is the most significant name for God in the OT. Here is what He says about it. Yahweh,” literally “YHWH,” has a twofold meaning: the active, self-existent One (since the word is connected with the verb meaning ‘to be,’ (Ex 3:14); and Israel’s Redeemer (Ex 6:6). The name occurs 6,823 times in the OT and is especially associated with God’s holiness, His hatred of sin, and His gracious provision of redemption.” Isn’t it exciting that YAHWEH, our redeemer, who is holy beyond what we can envision and who hates sin, is our gracious redeemer!  

All PRAISE to YOU, YAHWEH, active, self-existent ONE! I sing Your praises and give You honor and praise now and forever!  Amen! 

Lord God, thank You for the opportunity to better know You in 2013. Now lead us in the ways You want us to go so that we better reflect Your name and bring You honor. Amen. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” 

Romans 11:33

Can you hear the passion in Paul’s heart as he spoke of God to believers in Rome? To the Greeks who boasted of their wisdom, knowledge, and ways, Paul said, “You think you have wisdom and knowledge? You can’t begin to comprehend the riches of God’s wisdom, knowledge, and ways. UNFATHOMABLE! That’s our God.    

Lord God, You who are UNFATHOMABLE, thank You for the  UNFATHOMABLE riches that You’ve given me in Christ!

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’”

Isaiah 28:16

Jesus wasn’t just a “man of God.” He did what no other person has done – withstood every temptation. We are tried and tested and we fail or perhaps sometimes successfully stand faithful. Jesus was tested in the fire of temptation, suffering, and human agony and He shone as pure gold. Why? How? Because He is pure God. And, because He is, we’re to build our lives on Him. Say “no” to humanistic and passing social religious views. Say “yes” to Jesus – God’s tested stone.

Lord Jesus Christ, once again I’m reminded of the joy and privilege it is to call You my God. Pure, tested, strong, You are foundational to all I believe. I praise You and worship You!

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.

We’re nearing the completion of our year of 365 DAYS of Praise!

Many have asked if 365 DAYS of Praise will be available in a book. The answer is YES!  You can have your own keepsake of 365 descriptions of God on which to reflect and use for future study or share with others.

REPLY “YES“

to today’s attribute to be notified when it is available. 

“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”

John 2:19-21

The question the Jews had asked Jesus was, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” The “things” Jesus had done included making a scourge of cords and driving the sheep and oxen out of the temple, pouring out the coins of the money changers and overturning their tables; and saying to those selling doves, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” In other words, Jesus acted like He owned the temple and the Jews asked for a sign of His authority. “I’ll give you a sign,” Jesus said in so many words. Destroy the temple and I’ll rebuild it in three days. But, ahh, He wasn’t talking about the building. He was talking about His body; which they did destroy, and He raised in three days. Miraculous, yes. But the point God is driving home to me is the action Jesus took in the temple. He drove out all that wasn’t supposed to be there. Certainly, He feels the same about my body – His temple – in whom His Spirit dwells. 

Lord Jesus Christ, TEMPLE of the Most High, thank You for coming from heaven and tabernacling among man. Please drive out of my body all that is displeasing to You so that I honor You.

Merry Christmas!

 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the SURPASSING GREATNESS of His power toward us who believed.”

Ephesians 1:18-19

Surpassing greatness. Our God isn’t just “great.” He is “surpassing greatness!” His greatness is beyond anything we’ve known. It’s “out of this world.” All we have to do to glimpse God’s surpassing greatness is look at the stars. Or, look at the greatest star – Christ. Born in a stable. Where else would the Lamb of God be born, but a stable? Surpassing greatness bundled in one tiny baby. Surpassing greatness taking our sins away. Surpassing greatness waiting in heaven to receive us into His arms!.  What a surpassingly great God He is!

Heavenly Father, You are SURPASSING GREATNESS OF POWER. I praise You for extending your surpassing greatness of power to me through Jesus Christ! 

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you. 

 “But God, being RICH IN MERCY, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

Ephesians 2:4 ff

What powerful words these are! If someone has ever made you mad or hurt you or a loved one, perhaps you know what it’s like to be resentful or to harber negative feelings toward the person.  Yet, God doesn’t harbor resentment toward us. He doesn’t hold a grudge in His heart. Rather, on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, He forgives us. He is RICH IN MERCY. 

Lord, I praise You and thank You for being RICH IN MERCY! What a wonderful God you are!

 © Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.