“Before The Throne of Grace” – Monday Musical Musings

May 11th, 2015 dsisler

 

I’ve mentioned before that enjoy listening to a male quartet or men’s choir. Within a good men’s vocal group, there is a richness in the tone and blending of voices that brings joy to my heart.

 

0005030206R-849x565In college, I sang with a women’s choir. Now we sang much of the same type of music. Close four-part harmonies was our repertoire. For some reason though, for me, our music never quite reached the pinnacle of the men’s choir.

 

And for whatever reason, men’s groups have seemed to blossom while women’s harmonic groups haven’t been as popular. But in the early 1990’s, a women’s quartet showed up on the music charts. Their close harmonies rivaled any male vocal group and still today, when I hear one of their songs, I’m drawn to their sound.

 

Perhaps you know some Point of Grace songs. “How You Live (Turn Up the Music),” “King of the World,” “There is Nothing Greater Than Grace,” and “Circle of Friends” might be a song you’ve enjoyed from Point of Grace. I know I have certainly loved hearing them.

 

Today’s song is also one that touches me when I hear it. “Before the Throne of Grace” shares the desire of each heart as we stand before God with repentant hearts and ask for His forgiveness. Knowing we are not worthy of this forgiveness, we find God’s throne of grace to be filled with mercy and love.

 

“Your debt is paid, your name is clear” are words that allow us to face the day refreshed and renewed. Perhaps you need to spend some time at the throne of grace today. If so, know that these very words can be said of you. All you need to do is meet God there.

 

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 – NIV)

 

“Before the Throne of Grace”

 

Before the throne of grace I come

Humble and repentant one

With sorrow for the deeds I’ve done

Before the throne of grace I come

 

Before the throne of grace I fall

With a trembling voice I call

For pardon from the Lord of all

Before the throne of grace I fall

I love the Lamb who took my sin

Whose mercy makes me clean again

 

Before the throne of grace I hear

“Your debt is paid; your name is clear”

Such precious words of life so dear

Before the throne of grace I hear

I love the Lamb who took my sin

Whose mercy makes me clean again

I rise with words of grateful praise

Knowing now the only way

 

Before the throne of grace I stand

All because the Son of Man

Bears my wounds in His feet and hands

So before the throne of grace I stand

Before the throne of grace I stand[i]

 

Click here to listen to Point of Grace sing this beautiful song.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Before the Throne of Grace I Stand,” Words and Music by Scott Krippayne and Tony Wood, Purple Honda Music/New Spring (a division of Benson Music Publishing)/Row J. Seat 9 Songs (adm. By New Spring), 2007.

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A Lot of Rain and a Little Snow

May 10th, 2015 dsisler

 

Our weather in Colorado has been pretty unusual this past week. It has rained every day. Friends have had to deal with the uncertainty and fear of rising water. And to top it all off, last night all that rain turned to snow! We have snow on the ground this morning!

 

But this morning is a glorious morning! It’s the Lord’s Day and I know I have a baptism to assist, so regardless of what the weather is doing outside, I’m dancing for joy in my heart!

 

It’s also Mother’s Day! I won’t have the opportunity to see my Mom today (I’ll call her), but I will be with the beautiful blessings God has given to me (minus my #1 child). Tell your mother that you love her today. Tell her that you are thankful that she is your mom. Give her a flower. Laugh with her. Make her smile. Show her that you appreciate her on this special day…now here’s a little note to my Mom, and then you can read a repeat blog post about flowers.

 

Mom, I love you! I am thankful for the example that you’ve been for me, my children and my grandchildren. I love the love. I love the words of wisdom. I love the instruction. I love the good. I love the provision. I love the strength. I love the encouragement. I love YOU, my Proverbs 31 Mom.

 

No Flowers?

 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about purpose and re-purpose. I shared with my readers of the tool box I re-purposed and placed on my front porch. I had purchased an ivy plant, a spikey plant of some sort, and red geraniums to fill the tool box.

 

DSC02385After two weeks of diligently watering these plants, the geraniums had not changed. There were no new shoots. No prospect of them flowering. I was a bit discouraged. And besides, I found no beauty in non-flowering plants!

 

So I went to the internet to do some research. What was I doing wrong (besides the usual reasons for killing plants in my home)?

 

I learned three things about geraniums.

 

  1. geraniums require 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to bloom – the plants sit in full shade all day long;
  2. geraniums do not bloom in extreme temperatures – it has been near or above 100° daily since I planted them;
  3. geraniums love fertilizer – I have only watered these poor plants…not a drop of fertilizer.

 

Like geraniums, we require some proper tending. Our Christian faith and walk depend upon it. If we look at the early church, we see exactly what God has provided for our spiritual nutrition.

 

Acts 2:42 (NIV) says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” Let’s take a look at these four elements.

 

Apostles’ Teaching

Jesus taught the apostles what He wanted them to share with believers. It was part of the commission Jesus gave to His disciples. “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20 – NIV) It was imperative that the apostles preach and teach the Gospel to new believers. Today, we have God’s Word so that we might know the full message of Jesus. Through its’ words, we are able to gain knowledge and wisdom on how we should conduct our lives.

 

Fellowship

The new believers were to be encouraged by worshiping together. Being strengthened by the number of other followers helped them when they were faced with opposition. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) encourages us by confirming this principle. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

 

Breaking of Bread

Although this could be an ordinary meal, scholars believe this to reference the Lord’s Supper. As we partake of this special meal, we remember what Jesus did for us and proclaim His gift of salvation until He returns. “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23b-26 – NIV)

 

Prayer

While the first three elements of spiritual growth have been corporate in nature, this last element is a more private exercise. When we spend time alone with God, we are able to draw near to Him. We are able to know God intimately. Scripture repeats that we are to be in prayer mode at all times. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) says, “Pray continually.” Through this fellowship with God, our attitude changes. Our spirits are lifted. Our burdens are given to God. We celebrate our joys with Him.

 

As we draw closer to God using these four elements, we cannot help but grow and bloom. Our souls will receive sunshine (Jesus), the perfect climate (fellowship with believers and God), and fertilizer (Jesus’ teaching) to encourage our growth.

 

I will not profess to be an expert on geraniums at this point. I only learned how to best care for them under the circumstances.

 

I cannot move this beautiful showpiece. I cannot control the weather. I can however provide the nutrients needed to produce healthy plants. I also can purchase artificial geraniums to create the image I was looking for. And that is just what I did.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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My Broom Tree

May 9th, 2015 dsisler

 

It has been a great week. New places. New experiences. New ideas. New acquaintances. My mind is overwhelmed with all that was crammed into a short amount of time and space. Maybe that’s why it all happened in Las Vegas!

 

Eiffel TowerWhile I was dazed by all the sites, wonders, scents and tastes Las Vegas had to offer, I met some pretty incredible men and women at the Senior Administrative Assistants Conference who serve Jesus faithfully beside their respective pastors in their home church. Some of these ladies will become friends for years to come. These folks were amazing.

 

I learned some pretty invaluable information. I learned tips and about tools that will make my job easier come Monday morning. I gleaned priceless gems during casual communication while walking, standing in line or sitting around a table. All of this is jammed inside my little brain and within the pages of my notebook. I can’t wait to begin putting it into practice.

 

There were other things I learned along the way. I am able to find my way around Las Vegas without getting lost…despite the mountains on all four sides of this city! I am not the city girl I profess to be. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Las Vegas, at least not to go to the strip. But I’d go to the outlying areas in a heartbeat! These are just a few things I learned…I’m sure you’ll be hearing more as time goes on.

 

What I loved most about this trip however, is that God met me there. Well, He was with me from the start, but when I pushed aside all the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, I saw God. I experienced God. I breathed God. And it was glorious.

 

On our last morning of the conference, we had some time to reflect about our own spiritual well-being. I’ll be honest with you. There are women I met on this journey who were struggling spiritually. Their work puts them on a collision course with spiritual drought. There’s little time to worship, there’s little time to retreat, there’s little time to push aside the demands of the job.

 

You see, an assistant has a brain that is usually focused on a task that needs to be accomplished. Our brains are engaged with a duty instead of meeting God in the moment. So this portion of the week was especially exciting for me. Oh yes, I am always in need of a little spiritual boost, but I knew there were many sitting in that room that really needed to be in communion with God.

 

After a few words of instruction, we were allowed to spread out across the campus of the beautiful church property. Earlier in the week, Shan (my boss) and I had had a conversation about Elijah in 1 Kings 19. At the conference, we gleaned some beautiful information about Elijah from 1 Kings 19. There was something in this chapter God wanted me to hear or see or embrace. All I needed to do was open my heart to what God had to say to me.

 

My Broom TreeAs I left the building, I immediately found my little place where I would come face-to-face with God. There were two rocks under a tree. I couldn’t help but think this was my broom tree and that God was going to meet me there. I was so right. In that hour, I talked to God. I read from His Word. I quieted my spirit. I heard from Him. Right there. In the middle of Las Vegas (not on the strip, but in Las Vegas), in the middle of the desert, God’s glory was revealed. And what a beautiful moment God and I had.

 

Perhaps you are weary. Perhaps you are in the middle of a spiritual drought. Perhaps you haven’t seen or heard from God in a very long time. If that is the case, isn’t it time to reconnect with God? Isn’t it time to reengage with what God longs to provide? Isn’t it time?

 

At the church where we began and ended our conference, there is an area on their campus that depicts some of Isaiah’s words. These are beautiful word pictures for us to envision. Just imagine.

 

“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into boom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.” (Isaiah 35:1 – NIV)

 

“I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs.” (Isaiah 41:18 – NIV)

 

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19 – NIV)

 

This is what God wants for you friend. To be new. To be refreshed. To be filled with joy. I pray that you will not allow today to go by without finding this Spring of Living Water to wash over you and bring new life to your soul.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Gone Again – Vegas Respite Day 4

May 8th, 2015 dsisler

 

Phew! One more day and then I’ll be back to my normal routine in my normal little town in my normal home. I can’t wait to share all of my experiences with you!

 

SE AsiaI wonder how your week has gone. Have you seen God’s glory throughout your day? Have you allowed God’s Spirit to walk with you? Have you been able to share Jesus with others? I pray that you have!

 

Again, another repeat blog post about work. Enjoy!

 

There are Days

 

Sometimes I think I’m getting old faster than I should. There are reasons for this. I know I don’t eat as well as I should. I know I don’t exercise…at all. My job keeps me at a desk for most of the day. Not to mention that the activities that bring me the most joy (Bible study and writing) require that I remain stationary while engaged.

 

Yes, I know that part of how I feel is more my fault than not. But my, oh my, there are days when my body aches.

 

I shouldn’t complain. Some of my friends and family have real health issues. They have physical constrictions that I can’t even begin to imagine. Many of them never complain. Never.

 

I am reminded of a passage of Scripture in 2 Corinthians. The Apostle Paul shares his thoughts about our temporal bodies. In this book, Paul revealed that he had asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh three times, and yet, God allowed the thorn to remain. The lesson learned from this conversation is that God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). This truth still remains.

 

In another section, Paul spoke some beautiful words about our earthly bodies. “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – NIV)

 

I love some of the language of these verses from The Voice. Take a look. “So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day. You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here. So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes. All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away. Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see, which live on and on.”

 

I suspect I will always feel old if I continue on the path that I walk each day. I know and believe however, that my soul is being restored each day and that new life is being breathed into me by God.

 

What is breathing in new life to you every day? I pray that it is God’s Word, God’s grace, and God’s presence. For it is through these very things that we are strengthened.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Gone Again – Vegas Respite Day 3

May 7th, 2015 dsisler

 

Yes, I’m still gone. Still in Las Vegas. Still enjoying the group of assistants who have gathered to learn about themselves and about how to do their jobs more efficiently as we serve Jesus.

 

SE AsiaI pray that as you head out to work today that you will take Jesus with you. Even if you can’t talk about Jesus at work, Jesus must go with you. Don’t leave Him at home. Ask Him to join you in your day. Be reminded of His presence through your day. Allow Him to lead and guide as you do your work. I’m sure it will make a difference.

 

Today’s repeat blog post is yet another about work. I pray that you will find a little nugget in this words. Blessings to you today!

 

To the Work!

 

Tonight in my women’s Bible study, we will begin looking at and working through the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. While some think that Jesus’ parables are just little stories He told, we have come to realize that there are deep thoughts in each parable and plenty of ways to relate these lessons in our lives. Today’s lesson is no different.

 

There’s a Florence Nightingale quote in our lesson book that should stir each heart. See if you don’t agree.

 

“If I could give you information of my life it would be show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything.”[i]

 

In the parable of the talents, we see three men given different amounts of money. Two invested the money stewarded to them. They worked hard at making something of what was given to them. They were rewarded by making more money and blessed by their master.

 

The third man worked…just a little. He dug a hole and buried the money. Obviously, nothing was gained by this action and by doing so, enraged the master.

 

How much or how little are you working for your Master? How much or how little are you using your talents for the Kingdom of God? How much or how little are you developing the talents that have been entrusted to you?

 

Much like Florence Nightingale, we are ordinary people. Nothing extremely special about you or I. But when we allow God to work through us and when we put our own hard work into it, God will do some remarkable work. Perhaps some of His best work.

 

Today I pray that you will take a look at your talents and skills and determine whether you are using them for God’s good. If not, what changes need to be made?

 

I also pray that you will ask God to use you in a way you can’t even imagine. Use you in a way that is outside your comfort zone or abilities. When He does, it will be in those moments that you will know God had His hand in it.

 

Let’s get to work!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] Live Deeply: A Study in the Parables of Jesus, Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose, David C. Cook, 2009, page 167.

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    "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19


    I am a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. I lived in the beautiful state of Colorado for 20 years where I found great inspiration for my novels and devotional writings. Currently living in southwest Ohio.

    I am passionate about helping women find their way to Jesus through Bible study, teaching, speaking, inspirational writing and creative Bible journaling.

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    In September 2012 I went to SE Asia on a service trip. For more information, check out preachitclearly.blogspot.com.

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