“Agnus Dei” – Monday Musical Musings

January 6th, 2014 dsisler

There are some songs or hymns out there are just plain difficult to sing or play. In years past, I’ve had to sing or play some of these songs and while I understand their value, I must admit I would fret over the notes to sing or play instead of worshiping God.

 

0005030206R-849x565 The song I offer today is not one of those songs. It’s simple. It’s easy. There are very few words. It’s beautiful. And for all of these reasons, I find it very easy to praise God throughout this song. It’s one of my favorites because of its simplicity.

 

In this song I find peace, comfort, strength, assurance, and rest. In this song I can praise God for all that He is in just a few words. Therefore I can sing with eyes closed and hands lifted in complete surrender to Him. It’s that simple.

 

Revelation 5:12 (NIV) is the song sung by thousands and thousands of angels around the throne as seen by John in his revelation. Their song was simple as well. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

 

The Lamb of God deserves our best, but sometimes He is best praised through simple words.

 

Today I pray that you will take the time to praise the Lamb for all that He’s done in your life for only He is worthy of our praise. I also pray that this song would be a catalyst of your praise.

 

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 5:13-14 – NIV)

 

“Agnus Dei”

 

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Holy
Holy are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Amen[i]

 

If you click here, you’ll find an acappella version of this song which I know you’ll enjoy.

 

Or you can click here for the more traditional Michael W. Smith version.

 

Let’s make today a great day of praise!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] “Agnus Dei,” Words and music by Michael W. Smith, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, 1990.

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Football

January 5th, 2014 dsisler

I don’t talk about football much. Actually, the blog post you’ll read below is the only football related post I’ve shared in nearly two years. But since we are nearing the end of football season, I thought I might repost this particular one.

 

FootballYou’ll know how old this post is because of the content, but it’s still relevant. And what’s more, sharing the Gospel is never out of season or old news.

 

So today enjoy re-reading Tebow Time.

 

Tebow Time

 

I live near Denver, Colorado. It is Bronco’s territory. I’m not a huge football fan, however, this past season, I must say I watched more Bronco’s than in the nine years that I’ve lived here. Why? Because of Tim Tebow. It was exciting to watch him. My attention was drawn to what he was capable of on and off the field.

 

Up until this point, I haven’t said anything about Tim Tebow on my blog. But if you haven’t figured it out, I’m going to talk about him today.

 

My granddaughter Joy followed Tebow more than I did. She was able to tell us all about his trade and new position. Well, sort of. This is what she said about his new job.

 

“He is in back of the quarterback at the Jets.”

 

Now for those of you who do not know what he is doing, he is the back-up quarterback for the New York Jets. I guess it is the same thing, at least that is what she heard.

 

I have admired Mr. Tebow for his strong Christian belief, but more so for his willingness to share that belief with everyone. For him, it doesn’t matter who is watching or listening. And the great thing is, people did watch and listen! People are watching and listening!

On Easter Sunday morning, Tim Tebow spoke at Celebration Church in Texas. This is a portion of Jim Vertuno’s article about the morning.

 

“Tebow told them he welcomed the attention on his convictions as well as the ‘Tebowing’ prayer pose he often strikes on the field because it puts his faith and prayer in the public conversation.’ It’s being talked about,’ he said. ‘That’s exciting.’”[i]

 

Yes, that is exciting! I’ve often likened Tim Tebow to John the Baptizer. Not because of their dress or food choices, but because of their mission to tell people about Jesus! Each unashamed of the message to be spoken. Each unwilling to change that message.

 

We may not have personalities like Tim or John, but we are to be telling people about Jesus. In our own way. In our own circle. We are commanded to tell our story of how Jesus made a difference in our lives with unbelievers.

 

The Great Commission is mentioned in two of the Gospels. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Mark 16:15-16 says, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

 

With the message that we have, why wouldn’t we want to share this good news with the lost? We might not have the platform that Tim Tebow has, but we do have some influence in our world. With our friends, family, co-workers, even the person you’re standing in the grocery store line with.

 

As a co-sharer of the Gospel, we hear these words from Isaiah spoken of us. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7 – NIV)

 

Yes, my God reigns! And I’ll shout it from the mountaintops! Thank you Tim Tebow for being such an encouragement and example to us. May each of us be the Gospel carrier God asks us to be.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] http://mycenturylink.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9U0PDCO2%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1013&page=1

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Christmas Lights

January 4th, 2014 dsisler

It happened yesterday. My husband took down all of the outdoor Christmas lights. He knew we had a stream of bad weather coming in (it’s snowing pretty heavily this morning) and if he didn’t get them down yesterday while it was near 60° it would be a couple of weeks before he could get them down.

 

DSCN0035I reluctantly agreed. Although I’m a lover of Christmas lights, I understood his dilemma.

 

It didn’t take long for me to be disappointed as we turned down the road leading to our home either. We went out after dark last night and my house was bare. No lights. Nothing to draw me toward the house. I was a little sad.

 

I’m reminded of how thankful I am to have a great Light to run to. The Light of the world doesn’t come and go with the season. He doesn’t dim when the weather is bad. His light shines through the darkest of dark and leads me home to Him.

 

So today, let’s look at Jesus, the Light of world.

 

Isaiah told of this great Light in his book. “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)

 

John the Baptizer also told of this Light. He testified concerning the Light. “The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (John 1:6-9)

 

And when Jesus walked onto the scene, the Light had arrived and He proclaimed it. “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

 

On another occasion Jesus said, “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:5)

 

And as Jesus taught the crowds about the Light, He said, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness over takes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put our trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:35-36)

 

Once we become “sons of light,” we are called to be a light in this world. We are to reflect the Light so that others might see Jesus through us.

 

Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

 

Our light is to be visible to all we come in contact with…in order to praise God!

 

Paul shares in 2 Corinthians 4:6 a little about light. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

 

Just as God created light in the beginning, He has placed light in our hearts. That light has meaning. That light contains a message. That light gives direction. That light is a beacon. That light draws us to it.

 

What power we have received! Romans 13:12 also tells us to “put on the armor of light.” We have this power from the Light all around…inside and outside.

 

So, what are you waiting for? The Light is here! The Light is waiting for you to shine! Don’t keep the Light under a bushel…oh no! I pray that you will “let that little light shine” for all to see and so that God would be glorified.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Bible Doing

January 3rd, 2014 dsisler

I would like to share another thought from one of the books I’m reading. There is a chapter in Love Does by Bob Goff titled, “Memorizing Jesus.” This chapter of all the chapters in this book resonated with me. I understood it. I knew what the author was talking about.

 

And yet, as I read through this chapter I was in shock.

 

Daytona Beach 014mIn order to draw closer to God, the first thing Mr. Goff did was quit going to Bible study. He admits that he is a fact collector and memorizer. He’s an attorney and that is an important part of his job. But when he did the same thing in regard to God, something was missing.

 

So a group was formed and it was called “Bible doing.”

 

This is what Mr. Goff says about this group. “At our Bible doing, we read what God has to say and then focus all of our attention on what we are going to do about it. Just agreeing isn’t enough. I can’t think of a single time where Jesus asked His friends to just agree with him.”[i]

 

And here’s another idea about getting engaged from this chapter. “If you get engaged like that, you’ll be able to remember Bible verses better because you’re living them instead of just reading them.”[ii]

 

I’m not sure how this will change how I lead Bible study from this point forward, but I do know that it changes how I do Bible study personally.

 

If God’s Word doesn’t change us, affect us, touch us in some way, it’s just words. Time spent with God is meant to change us, transform us, mold us into something new. If we aren’t changed, we haven’t allowed God’s Word to penetrate our hearts.

 

In John 3, we see Jesus’ interaction with someone who was a Bible scholar and yet had not allowed God’s Word to penetrate his heart.

 

Nicodemus visited with Jesus at night. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling counsel and yet, he didn’t understand what Jesus was teaching.

 

And this is what Jesus said to Nicodemus. “You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (John 3:10-12 – NIV)

 

Nicodemus knew God’s Word, perhaps even had portions of it memorized, but he hadn’t allowed God’s Word to change him. I believe it was working on him however, otherwise he wouldn’t have visited Jesus for further instruction.

 

Jesus shared the Gospel (John 3:16) in its simplest form to Nicodemus and this late night encounter made a difference in his life. He didn’t just hear the words, but he encountered the Word.

 

We too have the opportunity to encounter the Word. We can be changed by the Word. We can live the Word.

 

Jesus ended His session with Nicodemus with words that can make a difference in our lives too. “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:21 – NIV)

 

When we come to understand the truth, we start doing. Truth is our motivator. Truth spurs us on. Truth we find in God’s Word will point us in the right direction. And everything we do must point others to God.

 

How is God working through you? What is He teaching you through His Word? Are you a doer of the Word or just a studyer? What do you need to do to make the change?

 

Like I said earlier, I do know this will change how I look at Scripture personally. God’s Word calls me to action. All I really need to do is accept the call.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] Love Does, Bob Goff, Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2012, page 199.

[ii] Love Does, Bob Goff, Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2012, page 201.

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A Look Back

January 2nd, 2014 dsisler

I have chosen to share a post I wrote last March. It is about my family heritage. And today, it’s important for me to share about my Grandparent’s generation.

 

Until yesterday, I was honored to tell people that I had two great-aunts still living. Over the past few years, I had become closer to these two ladies than ever before.

 

Aunt Lois and Aunt NormaI visited with them on the farm in Kentucky, on the ocean in Daytona Beach, even in my living room here in Colorado. It was an honor to have had such women in my life. Women who dared to go where their dreams took them and live highly fulfilled lives.

 

These two women enjoyed their time together. I recall hearing their laughter and tears. Their plans to remain safe on visits. Their walks down memory lane. The bond between the two. Their smiles. Their words. Their encouragement.

 

Aunt Norma passed away last week on December 26. Aunt Lois followed yesterday, January 1.

 

They are together again and they’ve joined the rest of their siblings. I am certain all of heaven is a buzz with the arrival of Norma and Lois. And they are all laughing and singing together yet again.

 

Round Robin

 

I am the fourth grandchild of Carrice and Madeline on my Mother’s side of the family. While my birth may have been ordinary, I was born into an extraordinary family. A family who always welcomed and lived out true hospitality. A family where each person was different, yet in that uniqueness brought unity. A family where music, laughter, inspiration, tales of “growing up” and walks to the river were available in abundance. A family that was a family.

 

My grandfather, Grandpa Rich as we knew him, was born second of seven siblings. They were raised on a beautiful farm near Irvine, Kentucky; their father the school master, their mother a homemaker. Through the years the Richardson children remained close. Even as they went their separate ways as adults, there were reunions at the family farm where memories were remembered and made.

 

Keeping in touch with family in our electronic age is fast and simple. Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, and Skype have reduced the miles to mere inches. Mail delivery from days to seconds.

 

However, my Grandfather and his siblings used a form of communication that is of the past. It was called the Round Robin. A large envelope would arrive. Inside would be news, stories, adventures, and photos of each sibling and their family. After reading the contents, each sibling would remove the last items they placed in the envelope and would replace them with the most recent news from their family. The envelope was on its way to the next sibling. The anticipation, waiting for the next Round Robin, was exciting. What would the postman bring today?

 

Letters. Isn’t it wonderful to receive a letter in the mail. A real, paper letter with a stamp on the envelope? It is of the past, for certain, but what a treasure we have lost through the use of the electronic gadgets of today.

 

Paul speaks of a letter in 2 Corinthians 3. The image that Paul wants to convey is so interesting to me. He mentions that the believers in Corinth were his letter of recommendation, written on his heart. Then he goes on to mention a few more things about this group of believers.

 

  • They were a letter from Christ (v. 3) – by their actions, they showed to whom they belonged—Christ.
  • Known and read by everybody (v. 2) – their transformed lives could be seen by anyone who came in contact with them.
  • Not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God (v. 3) – ink fades, but what lived within them remained forever.
  • Written not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts (v. 3) – a contrast between the old covenant and the new covenant.

 

I pray that you will look at yourself as a letter from Christ. I pray that others might look at you and see that you belong to Him. I pray that your transformed life might point others to Jesus through the writings on your heart.

 

There is no longer a Round Robin within my family. It’s long gone. But the connection is stronger than ever. It is the family bond that will never loosen its grip on the Richardson clan. A family that is a family.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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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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