God’s Word via Pinterest

May 22nd, 2013 dsisler

I love Pinterest. I love looking at the creativity of others and tucking it away in my mind and on my boards. I’m especially drawn to the passages of Scripture that are designed to look appealing to the eye. Those pins get me every time!

 

So today I’m going to offer you some of my favorites…there are so many and if you don’t believe me, just pop on over to my Pinterest board with all of these little gems. You can do so by clicking here. You’ll soon understand.

 

One of my favorites of late has been this beauty using Psalm 34:1 (NIV) as its inspiration. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”

 

Another one that I like is from James 4:8 (NIV). “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

 

And how about this one? “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 – NIV)

 

Here’s another version of one verse in this section.

 

Matthew 11:28 (NIV) offers encouraging words for those who are weary. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

 

Jesus’ words to be kind are reflected in this verse found in Ephesians 4:32 (NIV). “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

 

In Romans 12:12 (NIV) we find these words. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

 

And finally the last one I’d like to share with you is from Jeremiah 31:12b (NIV). “They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.”

 

God’s words are such a blessing to me. I pray that you find comfort and care in each of these today. I pray that hope and joy fill your life and thoughts because of reading His precious word. I pray that your life would be filled with God’s abundant mercies as you learn and accept all that God has to offer you.

 

This is just a sampling of His great love for us. Would you like to know more? If so, please let me know. I’d love to share what God has in store for you.

 

If you are feeling a little weary today because of the troubles in this life, take heart. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). His victory is our victory as we offer Him our struggles and worries.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read through this post. It has been fun searching God’s words through this new website, Pinterest. If you’d like to leave me a comment, you may do so by clicking here.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Difficult Times

May 21st, 2013 dsisler

It has been difficult to sit down to write today. With the destruction of communities in Oklahoma and the threat of more severe weather today, my thoughts and prayers are migrating to that area of our nation.

 

With that in mind, I’ve decided to share a piece that I wrote last year and the lessons I learned from watching a mama robin care for her eggs and ultimately her baby chicks.

 

As we continue to pray for those affected by yesterday’s tornado, let’s keep in mind that we are not left alone and we have a heavenly Father who cares deeply for us as we try to make sense of this tragedy. May God richly bless the community of Moore, Oklahoma.

 

The Robin Nest

 

Last spring, a young robin chose an aspen tree in our front yard to build her nest. She was diligent in her work. Her desire was to have the best possible environment for her babies to live.

 

She was successful! The nest was built and then she waited. Waited for the time to lay her eggs.

 

She was successful yet again! She laid three perfect, blue eggs and then she waited. Waited for the babies to hatch.

 

This was probably the longest few weeks of her life. She sat and patiently kept watch over the little ones.

 

She encountered some obstacles during this time. There were storms. Big spring storms that nearly pushed the tree to the ground. One of her eggs could have fallen out of the nest or even worse, the entire nest could have fallen. But Mrs. Robin sat on that nest. She stood (or sat) firmly over her precious eggs.

 

She constantly protected her eggs. The tree she chose is not that old or large. Neighborhood cats, snakes, or other wild animals could easily have snatched one or all of her precious little ones. She needed to watch continuously for those dangers.

 

The day came when the birds began to break through the egg shells. One by one, these tiny ones poked their heads out and let their mother know they were alive, well, and hungry!

 

Her task was not complete. She tirelessly searched for food to feed these little ones. She continued to protect them from danger. She cared for them as diligently as she possibly could be. She was the best mama these tiny robins could have asked for.

 

As I watched this process, I often thought of how God cares for us. Specifically, how He protects us in His everlasting arms or under His wings.

 

In Psalm 17:8, David prays that God might “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Oh how wonderful! Being the apple of God’s eye. Because I am so special to Him, I know the protection found under His wings is all that I could possibly need.

 

We also see from Deuteronomy 33:27a that, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” In His arms we have refuge. In His arms we find protection. With God, we are in the shelter of His loving arms.

 

Mom’s minister stopped by this week to visit and he read Psalm 17:8 and sang a bit of the old hymn, Under His Wings. It was a great reminder of God’s constant care for us throughout our struggles.

 

Under His Wings

Under His wings I am safely abiding,

Tho the night deepens and tempests are wild;

Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me,

He has redeemed me and I am His child.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,

Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Chorus:

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.[i]

 

When it was time for the babies to fly away, Mrs. Robin was there to watch them leave the nest. She had done her job. She had completed her task.

 

God is diligently watching out for us, protecting us, covering us. Even more so because we are His beloved.

 

Life is so much easier within the arms of our heavenly Father. Regardless of your struggle today, run into His arms. Find rest, peace, and comfort under His wings. I can guarantee that you will find all that you’ve been looking for.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

If you would like to leave me a message, please click here.


[i] Under His Wings, William O. Cushing, Ira Sankey’s Sacred Songs No. 1, published in 1896.

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V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

May 20th, 2013 dsisler

Summer will arrive next week…schools will be finished…vacations will begin…the heat of June, July and August will be oppressive…women’s Bible study will officially be over.

 

While there are some enjoyable events and happenings that go hand-in-hand with summer, I am always sad to see my time leading women in Bible study come to an end. I find great joy in sharing God’s message with others who want to know His Words.

 

So I am sad. There are only two more weeks that we will be together and what lessons we will cover! We are studying “Follow Me” by Randy Sprinkle and this book has changed my way of thinking on prayer and being a prayer walker and warrior.

 

Mr. Sprinkle brought to mind a correlation between our spiritual battles and the provisions we have while in battle. Let me share these with you.

 

As we read through Ephesians, the Apostle Paul helps us to understand the three primary forces at work around us as we live as Christians in our daily lives. In Ephesians 2:1-3, we are battling against the world (v. 2), the ruler of the kingdom of the air (v.2), and our sinful nature (v.3).

 

Oh how blessed we are to see that we have a great hope so that we are not left in this state nor are we left alone.

 

“But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 3:4-5)

 

If these two verses don’t make your heart leap for joy, I don’t know what greater message I could share with you today to lift your spirits. God loved us, when we were unlovable. God saved us, when we were unsaveable. God made us alive, when we were dead. Hallelujah!

 

Paul reminds us again in chapter six of Ephesians of what and whom our battle is against. We are to take our stand against the devil’s schemes; the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world; and the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:11-12).

 

And as we see later in the Book of Ephesians, God didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves in this world and against the evil one and even against ourselves. He offers His armor, His full armor, for our battle. It’s up to us to put it on, but He’s giving it to us.

 

Let’s look at the equipment we have been given.

 

The Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14)

The Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)

The Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15)

The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16)

The Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17)

The Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)

 

With all of this in mind, we as believers are also told to do a couple of things from this chapter. We are to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). We are to stand firm (Ephesians 6:11; 13; 14). We are to pray (Ephesians 6:18). We are to be alert (Ephesians 6:18).

 

Yes, there is a battle raging all around us and the evil one is continually looking for ways to drag us back to our former self. But we have a far greater power within us to lead us into this battle. Don’t give up the fight. Keep your armor on. Be alert. Be prepared. And do it all as you bathe it in prayer.

 

I’ve got the victory. You’ve got the victory. We’ve all got the victory now!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

May 19th, 2013 dsisler

It’s Sunday and I’m taking a break from writing something new. So I give you a baseball themed piece from last spring.

 

I pray that you’ll find God written all over the day. I believe you will if you keep your eyes open!

 

The Great American Pass Time

 

“Take me out to the ball game” can be heard around the country once again. Some may say it’s boring, but I like it. I enjoy the sounds of baseball. Bats hitting balls. Balls being caught in baseball gloves. The voice of umpires as they make calls. I don’t know, I just like it.

 

I’ve been a baseball fan, off and on, throughout my life. I recall watching the Cincinnati Reds with my dad as a young teenager. I really enjoyed this activity with him.

 

I remember playing baseball in our back field with neighborhood friends during that time as well. Getting hit by a line drive baseball was not so fun, but still, it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

 

More recently, I went to a Spring Training Orioles baseball game with my dad, my son, and my nephew. We sat in the first row, just beside first base. It was awesome! We tried to watch for stray balls, but we missed one. My son, Philip, was hit in the stomach. It didn’t hurt him and he was able to keep the baseball, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

 

My husband loves baseball. He comes from a Baseball Hall of Fame family (on both sides). So naturally, his office is covered with baseball memorabilia and we enjoy watching baseball together. We have been anxious for the season to begin.

 

I’m sure you’re wondering how I’m going to bring this around to God. I could talk about the first mention of baseball in the Bible…you know “In the big inning…” But, no, that’s not where I’m heading.

 

I find some wisdom in keeping our eyes open. Watching out for what is coming our way. And God talks a lot about this in His Word. Let me point out a few.

 

  • Matthew 6:22 tells us that “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.”
  • Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
  • And in Psalm 119:37 he says, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
  • “But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.” (Psalm 141:8)
  • John quotes Jesus in John 4:35. “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
  • Ephesians 4:18 says, “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.”
  • “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12)

 

These are just a few verses that teach us to keep our eyes open. To be aware of what’s going on around us and more importantly, what we are to be looking toward. Don’t get caught with your eyes shut. Don’t be looking the wrong direction.

 

If you are a baseball fan, you are as excited as I am that baseball is in full swing. If you’re not a baseball fan, I apologize for spending a whole day talking about it. Whatever the case, I pray that you will watch out for the stray balls of life and that God’s Word will give you insight on how to keep watch.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

I’d love to hear from you! Please click here to leave a message.

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Praise God!

May 18th, 2013 dsisler

Yesterday I prepared for a dinner gathering with some friends. My guest list included the team I went to SE Asia with and the family we visited while there. It was a reunion and a blessed reunion at that.

 

As part of my preparation, I created a “to do” list. If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a list maker. Yesterday was no different.

 

I listed the usual things to do. Clean the bathrooms, sweep and mop the floors, and food preparation tasks. And there were some unusual ones. I cut the grass and cleaned off the patio deck (it’s actually warm enough and there is no snow now so we can use it).

 

I wrote my list while sitting in my living room, looking out toward the mountains. The aspen trees in the front yard have finally been blessed with spring green leaves. There was a pleasant breeze drifting through the screen door. And then, something else came to mind that needed to be on my list. And then another.

 

Enjoy the day!

Praise God!

 

In the busyness of my day, if I am not diligent and mindful, I will forget to do these two things. And that’s just not something I want to do.

 

So throughout my day, as I would return to my list to cross off another task, my eyes would float to the bottom and I would be reminded to enjoy the day and to praise God.

 

It worked so well, that I will never create another list without these two additions. Why? It made my day! I was happier throughout the day and I never once felt as if I were doing chores. Even though I was.

 

And I also know that remembering God throughout my day can be difficult because of the tasks at hand. But I must remember that God thinks of me, so I should be thinking of Him.

 

King David wrote of God’s mindfulness toward mankind in Psalm 8:3-5 (NIV). “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”

 

With all of God’s creation, how is it that God is mindful of us and crowned us with glory and honor? Because we were created to have a relationship with God. God wants that relationship with us more than He cares for the heavens He created. Therefore, we should be more mindful of Him on a daily basis.

 

God wanted that relationship with us enough to give up something very precious to Him. His Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 – NIV)

 

So, I must ask myself. What am I willing to give up for my relationship with God?

 

Jesus asked His followers to give up everything they knew to follow Him. And they did. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 – NIV)

 

Paul chose to follow Christ by crucifying himself. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 – NIV)

 

On a practical note, Paul gave a list of things we are to “put to death” in Colossians 3:5 (NIV). “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”

 

What am I willing to give up for my relationship with God?

 

What are you willing to give up for your relationship with God?

 

A little note on the bottom of my “to do” list seems pretty small. But it is a start. It is a good start. To remember God throughout my day and have a little conversation with Him. To be mindful of God as my Creator and Redeemer.

 

Praise God!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

I would love to hear from you. If you would like to leave a comment, please click here to do so. Grace!

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  • About Me

    "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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