And Here’s Another

August 15th, 2013 dsisler

Thanks for stopping by! It’s good to know that regardless of where I am or what I’m doing, there are a few people in this world who keep in touch. I appreciate you!

 

We are about half way through this week and you’ve also been gracious to re-read some of my older material. Today is no different. This blog post is from the time period I was with Mom after back surgery. So enjoy the day and the post.

 

SASH

 

Mom is home from the hospital after her second back surgery and battle with a staph infection. A home care nurse comes in to change the dressing on her back. Her nurse takes her vital signs and draws blood as needed. The nurse also gives her an antibiotic through her PICC line.

 

Since the nurse would not be coming into her home daily, I was told that I would need to learn the process of giving her antibiotic.

 

On the first day, I watched as the nurse administered the medication. I studied the papers left behind. Then, it was my turn. Yesterday I gave Mom her antibiotic.

 

An acronym was given to remember the steps of the process. SASH.

 

S is for saline. Flush with saline.

 

A is for Antibiotic. This is the medication Mom needs to rid her body of the staph infection. Medication is to be administered over a 6-10 minute period.

 

S is for saline. Again, flush with saline.

 

H is for heparin. Heparin is used to prevent blood clots. Flush with Heparin.

 

At each step of the process, I was thankful for this acronym. It certainly helped me to remember what came next and where I was in the process.

 

I decided I should come up with my own acronym using SASH. So here’s my version.

 

S stands for seek. Psalm 119:10 (NIV) tells us, “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Seeking God is the first step in the process to drawing near to Him.

 

A stands for accept. “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21 – NIV) After seeking, we need to accept what God has to say. His Word is the only word that will save you.

 

S stands for share. Philemon 6 (NIV) says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” We have accepted the Good News! We must share that Good News with others.

 

H stands for hope. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 – NIV) Hope will keep us going through all the hardships, all the trials, and all the temptations of this world. God’s Scriptures teaches us that our hope is in Jesus and Jesus alone.

 

Mom had great trust in my ability to follow directions and give her the antibiotics correctly.

 

We too must place our trust in God to keep His promises.

 

His promise of unfailing love.  “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:5 – NIV)

 

His promise to never forsake us. “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10 – NIV)

 

His promise to be our refuge. “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heats to him for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8 – NIV)

 

Trust Him. He will give you more than you could imagine. Joy, peace, hope, and power. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Over and Over

August 14th, 2013 dsisler

The new job is going well. Everyone is pitching in to show me around and how things work. It’s good to be back with Shan to help him with his ministry. He is so good at what he does.

 

I can’t quite say that I’m “home,” but I do believe in time I will find my place and I will be “home.”

 

Another post today from my time in Ohio with Mom and about going home.

 

Going Home

 

There is something about that phrase that brings complete joy to my heart. Sometimes I get so excited just thinking of going home that I can hardly stand it.

 

For me, living across country from my entire family means trips to Ohio for special occasions, visits, or holidays. And then once I am there, I am just as excited at the thought of heading toward Colorado and my loved ones left behind.

 

Going home. Why is it so comforting? What makes it so special?

 

If we look at the definition of home according to Merriam-Webster, it is “the social unit formed by a family living together or a familiar or usual setting, a congenial environment, or the focus of one’s domestic attention.”[i]

 

This definition includes some important words. Family. Familiar. Usual. Congenial. Domestic.

 

That’s why the word home brings such warmth and comfort to our longing hearts.

 

When I come home to Ohio, there are a few things I enjoy. Some of my favorite foods are here. Some of my favorite places are here. Some of my favorite people are here. Some of my favorite memories are here. Going home allows me to enjoy of all of these.

 

I’m so grateful that God has something to say about our homes, because it is so important to us. His Word shows us how we should build our homes, how to maintain our homes, about our spiritual homes, and our eternal home.

 

Building a Home

Psalm 127:1 tells us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”

 

When the foundations of our homes have God as the source of strength, there will be greater success. Allowing God to be in the middle of everything that goes on in our homes will produce a useful family for His kingdom.

 

Righteous Home

When we’ve built our homes on God’s Word as the foundation, He offers promises that we can believe.

 

Proverbs 3:33 says, “The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.”

 

And Isaiah 32:18 tells us, “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

 

Following God’s commands and living holy lives leads to blessings within our homes.

 

Spiritual Home

We also have the calling to create a spiritual home within our physical bodies.

 

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23)

 

“As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)

 

Eternal Home

In 2 Samuel 7:10a, God promised Israel a home of their own. “And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.”

 

Just as God promised the Israelites that home in the Old Testament, He has promised us an eternal home. A place where we can go home and be with Him forever.

 

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)

 

My parents have moved from the houses where my siblings and I grew up. I have no emotional attachments to where they live now. Although the houses are not the same, where they live is still “home” because of my family who live there. Because of the familiar, usual, congenial, domestic environment that exists there. Because at home, wherever it is, there is love.

 

I believe God created us with this longing for home so that we might have a deep desire to go home. Not just our physical homes, but our eternal home. It’s no wonder that we want to go home.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home

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Tell Me if You’ve Heard This One

August 13th, 2013 dsisler

Today’s post is from a time period when Mom was in the hospital last spring and I spent an extended period of time with her. It was good for us to be together and I learned so much about Mom while I was there.

 

It’s about teams and how ultimately when God is on our team (and the leader of our team), that we become larger than imaginable.

 

I heard this line in a song and love it. “Don’t compare it to me. Compare it to God.” Regardless of what we’re facing, with God as our teammate, we are in great hands.

 

My Team

 

You read about my Mom yesterday. She is an amazing woman. My siblings and I are so blessed to be able to call her “Mother.” Again, today I ask for your prayers.

 

I left the hospital last night to head to her little apartment for the evening. In thinking about today’s blog post, I asked her what she wanted me to write about. She thought a moment, and then said, “About the people who care for us when we are ill. About the people who keep us well.”

 

The doctors, nurses, aides, and all the staff at the hospital could be included in these two statements. It takes the entire team to give the care needed for healing.

 

Of course, some have more education than others and perhaps feel inferior, but it does take a group of people.

 

There are some good teams and bad teams in Scripture. Some that worked well together and some that did not. But from the beginning of time, we see the importance of getting along as a group.

 

Tower of Babel

In the beginning, everyone on earth spoke “one language and a common speech.” Genesis 11:1) This group of people got together to build a great tower that reached to the heavens in order for them to make a name for themselves.

 

That wasn’t to be. God came into the picture. He confused their language so they could not understand one another.

 

The result was that the tower was not completed, new languages were created, and the people were scattered throughout the earth.

 

David and Goliath

King Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified at this giant of a man sent out from the Philistine army to battle. (1 Samuel 17)He was large. He was taunting. He was confident in himself.

 

40 days passed. Each day Goliath would come out and yell at the Israelites. Each day, no one would come forward. The entire team had lost confidence in God.

 

Until David arrived. He volunteered to fight the giant.

 

With his sling shot, five round stones, and God, he engaged in battle with Goliath. And the team of God and David won the battle. Now that is a team!

 

Paul and Barnabas

Here was a great evangelistic team. They had preached the Gospel and were able to be great witnesses for Christ. However, there was a disagreement. (Acts 15:36-41)

 

Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul did not. They had “such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.”

 

Barnabas took John Mark to Cyprus.

 

Paul chose Silas and they went to Syria and Cilicia.

 

Each team strengthened the churches they visited.

 

There were great teams and not so great teams. There were leaders and followers. There were workers and slackers. The Bible is full of them.

 

But the one thing in common for successful teams was when God was allowed to be the leader of the team. Through prayer, obedience, and surrender, the team of God and I are more powerful and successful than imaginable. With God as my partner, I can do anything. Anything!

 

Today is going to be another long day. But with God, I know I can make it through. With God, I will be okay when I fall asleep tonight. With God, I’m prepared for battle.

 

God and me.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Second Verse, Same as the First…

August 12th, 2013 dsisler

This week you’ll be reading posts that you may have already read. I’m taking a little break from writing a post daily to prepare myself for a new job. I pray you’ll understand.

 

So of course there were a few posts about music to share (again) with you about music. But I chose this particular one because it not only speaks of a specific song, but it also speaks to worship and how music integrates with our worship.

 

So enjoy “All My Fountains.” It’s one of my favorite songs!

 

“All My Fountains” – Monday Musical Musings

 

I love to worship God. I love to praise Him for who He is and for what He has done in my life. I love to be in His presence to adore the One who dramatically changed me forever. The good news? We have the opportunity to worship God all day long, every day. It isn’t reserved for Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

 

As a matter of fact, Romans 12:1 tells us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Our daily lives are to be our worship!

 

I also love to attend a worship service. My home church is pretty large. A mega-church. Not one of the largest in the country by any means, but still a mega-church.

 

While I was on staff for nearly six years, I learned the ins and outs, the mechanics of putting together a worship service at LifeBridge Christian Church. I believe because of that, I enjoy it so much more. I know the time and effort the team must expend each week for our worship services to be as they are.

 

One of my new, favorite worship songs is of course, by Chris Tomlin. And just a note, I believe God has poured out so much talent into this one person. He writes just the right words. He puts them together in a way that gives great meaning for our worship.

 

I ask God’s continued blessing upon Mr. Tomlin and the work he does for God’s Kingdom! I would also ask that for every Christian song writer. These men and women use their talents to spread the Gospel. It might just be the only way someone will hear the message.

 

Favorite worship song…yes, it would have to be “All My Fountains.” It’s taken from the passage in Psalm 87:7 (NIV), “As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you.’”

 

Everything in our lives must come from God. Everything.

 

All My Fountains

This dry and desert land, I tell myself, “Keep walking on.”
Hear something up ahead, water falling like a song.
An everlasting stream, your river carries me home.
Let it flow, let it flow.

A flood for my soul, a well that never will run dry.
I’ve rambled on my own, never believing I would find.
An everlasting stream, your river carries me home.
Let it flow, let it flow.

Open the heavens, come Living Water;
All my fountains are in You.
You’re strong like a river, your love is running through;
All my fountains are in You.

Come on, and rain down on us, rain down on us, Lord.[i]

 

If you’ve never heard this song, you may want to listen to it by clicking here.

 

I know what it’s like to be in a dry and desert land. Both physically and spiritually. It is difficult to breath. It is difficult move. But when the relief comes. When the rains fall. When my soul is back in line with God’s Word, I know in that moment that there is nothing of value outside of God’s will.

 

The refreshment. The restoration. The renewing. It all comes from God. All my fountains must be in God. Must come from God.

 

What fountains are you chasing today? I pray that you will seek The Fountain of Living Water. I pray that you will make Him the center of your life. There you will find all that you’ve been looking for.

 

Come Living Water!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] All My Fountains, Chris Tomlin, Passion 2011, Album: “Passion: Here For You” Copyright 2011, sixtepsrecords/Sparrow Records

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It’s Sunday

August 11th, 2013 dsisler

The first day of the week. I pray that today you’ll be in God’s house worshiping His Name above all others. I pray that you will not neglect the fellowship of believers. I pray that you will not forget to remember what Jesus did when He gave Himself for you. I pray that you will listen intently to the Word of the Lord spoken by His messenger today.

 

It is a good day to be in God’s presence!

 

“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1 – NIV)

 

Today I’d like to share a post from last spring about a trip to Florida with my family. One of my favorite stories and so much to learn from God in the midst of it. Enjoy!

 

A Fish and a Kayak

 

On my recent trip to Florida with my family, my brothers became pretty good at fishing in a kayak. They learned the pattern of the tides, the current of the water, and how far out into the bay they could go.

 

On these fishing excursions, each of them caught quite a few fish. Most were too small to keep, but they were content with spending the day slowly drifting on the water.

 

The problem they encountered was that when they found fish, there was no way to anchor the kayak to that spot. Before they could get their line reset, they were beyond the location and would once again need to drift until more fish were found.

 

My brother Michael came up with a solution. There were small buoy’s, almost like large fishing bobbers, out in the bay. Michael grabbed one of them and tucked it into the kayak to keep him in that location.

 

It wasn’t long before he realized that he was not staying in one location and in fact was drifting. Not only was he drifting, but the buoy was as well.

 

I believe we can get in that same mess with our spiritual lives. If we are not careful, our minds will pull us in a direction that might not be the correct route. Here are a few verses that will help us with keeping our minds from drifting.

 

Hebrews 2:1 gives us a good piece of advice. “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Paying attention will allow us to stay on the correct path that God has set for us to follow.

 

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) Keeping our minds steadfast brings peace because of the trust we’ve placed in God.

 

And how are we to do this? Romans 12:2 gives us a guide. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Renewing our minds will lead to transformation.

 

And Ephesians 4:22-24 gives a little more insight. “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Putting off the old self and putting on the new self is possible through the attitude of our minds. God’s righteousness and holiness will be evident through this process.

 

“The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7) In this verse we see that being clear minded and having self control go hand in hand. By keeping these two elements in line, prayer will be the outcome.

 

And finally, for what purpose are we to prepare our minds? For action! “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13) After we’ve set our minds right, we must get our minds ready for action. For whatever Satan might throw our way. We must be ready.

 

Perhaps you remember the old television advertisement for the UNCF, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Especially when it involves your spiritual life. Use your mind. Develop your mind. Keep focused on what really matters. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) Quit drifting!

 

My brothers learned the fine art of fishing and kayaking in a few short days. Apparently, there is nothing that a little fishing won’t cure.

 

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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