Uplift Radio

Some time ago a friend asked if she could borrow a purse. The next day when she returned it, I noticed the price tag dangling from it neither of us had noticed. I thought of the old show Hee-Haw and Minnie Pearl who wore hats with price tags dangling from them. If only my thoughts had stayed there. Instead, they turned to sin dangling from my life. Me, walking around with sin that is perhaps unnoticed by others, but that God sees. Rather than focus on a dangling price tag on a purse, my Heavenly Father directed me to be concerned about sin dangling from my life. What about you? Is dangling sin a problem in your life? Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “lay aside the sin that entangles.” Learn how to do that in my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.

“Abby shakes her head all the time,” I commented to my husband about a dog we used to have. Hi. I’m Debbie Taylor Williams with UpLIFT. Keith and I spent several days discussing how Abby was shaking her head. Then, someone mentioned she might have an ear infection.  We immediately took her to the vet who confirmed she did. We felt horrible that we had missed Abby’s sign to us. Signs are important and there is someone else who has given us signs that we don’t want to miss: Jesus. Matthew 24 records the disciples asking Him, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them. The signs are recorded in the Bible. Do we know them? Are we paying attention? Are we ready for Christ’s return? If you’re not sure, here are resources to prepare you for Christ’s return. 

Has it been a while since you’ve flown on a plane? doubt, when you fly, you’ll hear the announcement, “In the event of a drop in oxygen, put your mask on first, then assist your child.” Why are we told that? Because we can’t help someone if we’re gasping for air. The same holds true in life. Many are gasping for air. They’ve lost their financial altitude. They’ve had the breath knocked out of their career. They’re gasping for contentment and joy. We can only help others if we put on our oxygen mask, our spiritual oxygen mask, that is. The breath of Christ living through us, His Spirit energizing our lives. Learn how to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as Romans 13:14 instructs us in my study, “If God is In Control, Why Am I A Basket Case?” advises. Then, help others.

Have you read stories of horses or ducks to a child and then had the delight of seeing their expression when they see a real one? I had such an occasion with a grandchild. On the way to the park, I explained, “Ducks. Quack, quack.” Arriving at the park, I pointed, “There’s a duck!”  Watching my grandchild’s face, I delighted at the moment he saw a live duck.  Leaping from my arms, he ran toward the ducks then gazed at their white feathers and orange bill. What he’d been shown in books, he saw firsthand.  We have never seen God, but Jesus has explained Him. He is clothed in radiance.  His nature is love. Jesus is the exact radiance of God’s glory. Currently, we read about Jesus in the Bible, but one day, we’ll see Him face to face.  And our eyes will widen far more than my grandsons did. Learn about God’s glory in my book, “Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.”

Have you ever had a bird fly in your house?  Several years ago a bird flew into our home. Our lab, Abby, stalked then chased Birdie.  Holly, our Cocker, chased Abby.  I chased everyone…. two dogs and a bird. I finally managed to get the dogs outside, but not before Birdie was injured. Matthew 10:29 came to mind. “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” As I pondered Birdie’s demise, I couldn’t help but note that it didn’t end well for her because she was in the wrong place. It caused me to think about how our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be in the right place with Him and others. How can we do that? By walking by His Spirit. If you often find yourself like Birdie – in the wrong place with God or others, visit debbietaylorwilliams.com – Listen UP.  Learn to walk by His Spirit.

Driving down the road, I saw a sign advertising Pie Soup. Thinking how disgusting that sounded, I realized a comma must have fallen from between pie and soup. Does a comma on a sign make a difference? Yes. Does a comma or pause make a difference in our lives. Yes. How? Days can run together with activities. Without pauses, we may be as unappealing as pie soup. Consider how the following spiritual commas might help frustrated mom, hurried dad, or over-scheduled child. A morning comma between waking and dashing out the door to pause in prayer. A noontime comma to thank God for your food. An evening comma to pray between work and arriving home. A bedtime comma between dinner and going to sleep to read your Bible. Christians are billboards for Jesus. Which spiritual comma might you incorporate to make Christ appealing to others? Find more tips in “The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World.”

Have you heard about the pastor who used four worms for an illustration?  He put the first worm in a jar of alcohol, the second in a jar of cigarette smoke, the third in a jar of chocolate, and the fourth in a jar of soil. Concluding his sermon, he reported that the worms in alcohol, cigarette smoke, and chocolate had died.  The worm in the soil was alive. Then he asked, “What do you learn from this?”  Maxine quickly raised her hand and offered, “If you drink, smoke, and eat chocolate, you won’t get worms.” Yes, some people like Maxine have a view based on their perspective and preferences. However, Jesus presents us with an eternal, Biblical world view. Although we may chuckle at jokes, our eternity and what we believe about Jesus is no laughing matter. Get into the richness of God’s Word and discover how He wants you to thrive even in difficult times. Find resources at debbietaylorwilliams.com.

Have you ever locked your keys in the car? Several years ago after driving my daughter and her sick son to the doctor and returning home, I went into the house only to hear Lauren call from the garage, “Mom! You locked Logan in the car!” Rushing to the garage, I peered into my car and saw my keys and sleeping grandson. “Don’t wake him,” I urged Lauren while trying to find OnStar’s number. After explaining what happened, I heard the words I longed for. “Ma’am, step back from your car while I unlock it.” Then, the car unlocked and Lauren retrieved her sleeping baby. OnStar.  An entity that is invisible to my eye heard my voice and responded to my call for help.  God.  Invisible to our eye hears our voices and responds to our calls for help. Step back. Call on Him. Learn more about ways to call on God in my book, “Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.”

Did you know cookies could get dusty?  Years ago, in the process of dusting a table, I realized the uncovered cookies on the table must also be dusty. Throwing them away, I realized how I can sometimes be like those cookies. I may appear fine, but Jesus sees the dusty sins in my life. Is Jesus concerned about dusty sins we carry about that are invisible to others? Yes. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, His concern wasn’t the grime between their toes. It was the sin that separates us from Holy God. Christ’s concern was for us to be washed of our sin so we can appear before God holy and unashamed. If you’ve never repented of your sin and confessed Jesus as Lord, do so today. You’ll find a prayer of repentance at debbietaylorwilliams.com/meet-jesus. If you’re a Christian, ask forgiveness for sin that affects your fellowship with and usefulness to God.

The other day I stepped outside and was greeted with the worst of smells – a skunk!  Turning to go inside, I noticed a rose. Leaning down, I breathed in its fragrance. When I did, I realized the rose’s fragrance trumped the skunk’s odor as long as I kept my nose to the rose. I soon turned my thoughts to how there will always be skunks in our lives in the form of politics and relationships. We can focus on the skunk or we can lean into Christ, who the Bible calls the Rose of Sharon. We can breathe in His fragrance. We can even be Christ’s fragrance to others as 2 Corinthians 2:14 tell us, “thanks be to God, who manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him.” If the world is seeming stinky to you, lean into Christ. Carry His fragrance to others. Learn more at “How to Live by Divine Nature.”