Isaiah 9:6

CHRISTMAS PEACE

12/07/2020

Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams

 

CHRISTMAS PEACE

Debbie Taylor Williams 

Christmas is not the tinsel.

Christmas is not the tree.

Christmas is about God’s love,

His love for you and me.

Christmas is about the season

When in each of our lives

We thank God for our Savior

Who gives to us new life.

A baby born of woman, yet God

A God born of man, yet divine

God gave to the earth a Savior

Peace, eternal, divine.

So if you are seeking heaven

Would you look and seize the Truth

God’s gift of Jesus on earth

Is God’s gift of Peace to you!

Blessings, sweet friends, as we set our hearts on Christ, the Prince of Peace.

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If You Feel Like a Ragamuffin

08/18/2020
Do you ever feel like a ragamuffin? Disheveled, poorly treated, overlooked. A modern-day Cinderella? Everyone knows her story. Countless versions of it have been written and made into movies. Why is it such a popular theme? If you’re a guy, the prince, you get your bride. If you’re a girl, you get swooped off your feet by the rich lord of the land and live happily ever after in a palace in a kingdom. Guess what. If we’ve confessed Jesus as Lord, Cinderella’s story is ours.  Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Jesus is the PRINCE of peace. Not only that. He’s chosen us ragamuffins to be His bride. Our Prince is coming for us and we will live happily ever after where He is Lord over His kingdom. Smile.

Jesus, PRINCE OF PEACE, thank You for coming to earth and taking us as Your bride. We can’t wait to come to Your glorious kingdom and live happily ever after with You. 

“His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, PRINCE OF PEACE.” Isaiah 9:6

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Comfort in Dire Moments

04/03/2020

Recently, someone messaged me the following regarding Covid-19:

Make no mistake. When loved ones are removed from your home by ambulance because the virus has hit them hard, you are not going to be able to follow them there, sit by their hospital bed and hold their hand. You are not going to be able to pop in at 7.00 pm for visiting hours. They are going to have no one other than exhausted and brave hospital staff to see them through days or weeks of barely breathing through a ventilator until they either die or recover. They are not going to be well enough to text you. You are not going to be able to phone the ward to check in on them regularly (staff will be too busy for that). During that time, they will be completely alone, while you sit at home waiting to hear whether they have made it . Imagine that person is someone you love dearly. Because it’s going to be a reality for many in the coming weeks. And if that person in the hospital happens to be you, going through that ordeal completely alone, it would be nothing less than terrifying. Please stay home and only go out if absolutely necessary. Social distancing is imperative right now for your family and mine.”

Grim? Absolutely. The worst to think about. However, we who have placed our faith in Jesus have this blessed assurance. In  Isaiah 9:6, we’re told in relation to Jesus that among His many names, “ETERNAL FATHER, Prince of Peace” are listed. Charles Ryrie explains that Eternal Father literally means, “Father of Eternity; that Messiah is eternally a Father to His people, guarding, supplying, and caring for their needs.” There could be no more comforting thought in response to the above message. We have a Father of Eternity who is present with us and our loved ones in our alone moments. He is present – guarding, supplying, and caring for them and us. This is a blessed assurance. Who do we need to share the good news of Jesus with today?

ETERNAL FATHER, our hearts are overwhelmed with Your provision for us in Christ Jesus. Move every one of us who calls Jesus our Savior to boldly speak the truth and hope that we have with everyone in our sphere of influence.

#biblegatewaybloggergridmember

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If You’re Wondering What to Do About Something

12/10/2019
IF YOU ENJOY THESE DAILY DEVOTIONALS, PLEASE GIVE ANY AMOUNT TO HELP OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS OF MAKING THEM ARRIVE IN YOUR INBOX. YOUR GIFT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE & DEEPLY APPRECIATED. DONATE HERE. THANK YOU! 🙂 

Are you at your wit’s end? Do you need someone to talk to who can help you sort out your problems and worries?  God understands. Our Heavenly Father is the original COUNSELOR. And, Isaiah 9:6 says this about Jesus. “For a child will be born to u … and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,….”  In other words, our Heavenly Father and Jesus are Wonderful Counselors who are available to counsel and guide us. They’re excellent listeners, and we can hear their answers when we quiet ourselves in their presence. Talk to God, then follow His counsel. I record what God prompts me to do in my journal, Prayers of My Heart. It helps me follow through because I can review what I’ve recorded. What might God’s prompts sound like? “Call a person who is going through health problems.” Or, “Spend your time working on _____ today.” Make 2020 your best year by recording and following through with how the Wonderful Counsel prompts you. ORDER TODAY so it will arrive before Christmas! HERE.

LORD, You are the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR. Increase our sensitivity to Your Voice. Help us take seriously Your counsel and follow through on what You lead us to do.  

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If You Feel Like a Ragamuffin

09/08/2019
Do you ever feel like a ragamuffin; in other words, disheveled, poorly treated, or overlooked; a modern day Cinderella? Everyone knows her story. Countless versions of it have been written and made into movies. Why is it such a popular theme? If you’re a guy, the prince, you get your bride. If you’re the girl, you get swooped off your feet by the rich lord of the land and live happily ever after in a palace in a kingdom. Guess what. If we’ve confessed Jesus as Lord, Cinderella’s story is ours.  Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Jesus is the PRINCE of peace. Not only that, He’s chosen us ragamuffins to be His bride. Our Prince is coming for us and we will live happily ever after in His kingdom. That’s a big hallelujah!

Jesus, PRINCE OF PEACE, thank You for coming to earth and taking us as Your bride. We can’t wait to come to Your glorious kingdom and live happily ever after with You. 

“His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Eternal Father, PRINCE OF PEACE.” Isaiah 9:6

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Is Your Life a Mess of Puzzle Pieces

03/05/2019

 LISTEN

Do you feel like your life is a mess of puzzle pieces and you don’t see how everything is going to come together? Do you wish there was someone you could talk to; who could advise you? If you’re in that place, Isaiah 9:6 says Jesus is your “go to” Counselor, and He’s wonderful! How does He counsel us? He counsels us in prayer. He counsels us through the promptings of our heart. He counsels us in the Bible through His teachings and by His example. For instance, in Matthew 15:32-38, there appeared to be a problem – 4,000+ people who were hungry and no food. Did Jesus wring His holy hands? No. Instead, He asked the disciples how many loaves of bread they had. They replied seven and a few small fish. Jesus “took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and ….” You know the rest of the story. Jesus THANKED His Heavenly Father for what He had in His hands. He acted in faith with what was in His hands. Thanking God for what we have is powerful. If you’re struggling with discouragement and don’t know what is going to happen with your life, start recording your heart-felt prayers and questions in Prayers of My Heart journal. Instead of turning over the same puzzle pieces in your mind, pause in your Counselor’s presence and see what He impresses on your yearning heart. Do what He tells you. He is, after all, the Wonderful Counselor.

Jesus, thank You, wonderful COUNSELOR, for Your presence and Your wisdom. 

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If You’re Wondering What to Do About Something

12/30/2018

IF YOU ENJOY THESE DAILY DEVOTIONALS, PLEASE GIVE ANY AMOUNT TO HELP OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS OF MAKING THEM POSSIBLE. YOUR GIFT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE & DEEPLY APPRECIATED. CLICK HERE NOW

LISTEN

Are you at your wit’s end? Do you need someone to talk to; someone who can help you sort out your problems and worries?  God understands. Our Heavenly Father is the original COUNSELOR. And, Isaiah 9:6 says this about Jesus. “For a child will be born to us, … And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  In other words, our Heavenly Father and Jesus are Wonderful Counselors who are available to counsel and guide us. They will listen. They will answer. Talk to God, then do as they counsel. A great place to record what God counsels you to do is in Prayers of My Heart Journal. It is proven by research that the very act of writing helps record it on our brains so we’re more likely to follow up on it. You can order Prayers of My Heart at www.debbietaylorwilliams.com or your favorite book store. Make 2019 your best year by following God’s Wonderful Counsel. ORDER HERE.

LORD, You are the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR. Increase our sensitivity to Your Voice. Help us take seriously Your counsel and do it.  

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When You Feel Like a Ragamuffin

09/03/2018
Do you ever feel like a ragamuffin; disheveled, poorly treated, and overlooked in the world; a modern day Cinderella? Everyone knows her story. Countless versions of it have been written and made into movies. Who doesn’t love the story line? If you’re a guy, the prince, you get your bride. If you’re the girl, you get swooped off your feet by the rich lord of the land who lives in a palace and reigns over his kingdom in peace. Guess what. If we’ve confessed Jesus as Lord, Cinderally’s story is ours.  Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Jesus is the PRINCE of peace for whom our soul yearns. Not only that, He’s chosen us ragamuffins to be His bride. We’re not forgotten or uncared for. Our Prince is coming and we will live in His kingdom joyfully ever after.

Jesus, PRINCE OF PEACE, thank You for coming to earth and receiving we who confess You as Lord to be Your bride. We can’t wait to come into Your glorious kingdom and live with You forever. 

“His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Eternal Father, PRINCE OF PEACE.” Isaiah 9:6

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Thank you, ETERNAL FATHER

03/15/2018

“His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, ETERNAL FATHER, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Bible scholar Charles Ryrie provides insight into the description ETERNAL FATHER. In his Study Bible he explains that this literally means, “Father of Eternity; i.e., Messiah is eternally a Father to His people, guarding, supplying, and caring for their needs.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that our ETERNAL FATHER is guarding, supplying, and caring for us and all who call on His name?

ETERNAL FATHER, thank You for guarding, supplying, and caring for all who call You Father.  

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Thank you, COUNSELOR

02/23/2018

 “And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Do you need help? Do you wish there was someone you could talk to; who could advise you? If so, Jesus is your “go to” Counselor, and He’s wonderful! How does He counsel us? He counsels us in prayer. He counsels us through the promptings of our heart. He counsels us in the Bible through His teachings and by His example. For instance, in Matthew 15:32-38, there appeared to be a huge problem – 4,000 + people who had been listening to Jesus teach all day were hungry, and there was no food. Did Jesus wring His holy hands? Did Jesus become hopeless? No. Instead, Jesus asked the disciples how many loaves of bread they had. They replied seven and a few small fish. Jesus “took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and ….” You know the rest of the story. Jesus THANKED His Heavenly Father for what He had in His hands. He acted in faith with what was in His hands. Did you know that thanking God for what we have rather than bemoaning what we don’t have is powerful?

If you’re struggling with a downcast spirit, start recording each 365 attribute of God. This morning I re-read in praise each attribute beginning with January 1. I was reminded of how wonderful and big our Lord is.  I love recording in Prayers of My Heart that He CONTENDS FOR me. SO … how about your COUNSELOR? He is worthy of our praise!

Jesus, thank You, wonderful COUNSELOR, for always being there. 

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