Happy Mother’s Day!

May 12th, 2013 dsisler

It’s Sunday, May 12th. 2013’s day to honor and bless mothers all around the world. I am thankful for Mom and for all that she’s done for me through my life.

 

Mom, it’s been a great journey and I can’t wait to see where we are headed next. I love you!

 

It’s Sunday, May 12th. Also a day for re-posting. So today I bring you a little something from the past. And it is also about a special woman (and man) in my life. My Grandma and Grandpa Rich.

 

My Diamond Tree

 

Years ago, my Grandparents had a terraced garden in their small backyard. They always had great success and many of us were beneficiaries of their efforts.

 

One particular year, Grandpa was laid up after surgery and was not able to help out as he usually did. They asked if I’d like to help. Of course I said yes!

 

I enjoyed the time I spent at Grandma and Grandpa’s. You knew you’d be well fed and would have a chance to hear Grandpa’s newest tale.

 

But during this particular summer, I was in the garden on most visits. Weeding, watering, pruning, and staking were daily tasks and to be honest, it was therapeutic.

 

http://365-days-of-christmas.blogspot.com

After one particular visit, I noticed that the diamond from my engagement ring was missing. Somewhere in that garden lay my precious stone. It was discouraging to me.

 

I quickly recovered from my loss and knew I’d never retrieve it from the soil or the produce. I joked with my Grandparents that if a diamond tree were to grow, the diamonds would be mine!

 

I find it interesting that in Matthew 13, Jesus shares parables with the crowds and the disciples relating the Kingdom of Heaven to several earthly illustrations, most involving working the land in planting or harvesting:

 

  • The Parable of the Sower – hearing the message of the kingdom and how each person responds to it
  • The Parable of the Weeds – speaks of the growth of the kingdom of heaven
  • The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast – the productivity of the kingdom of heaven
  • The Parable of the Hidden Treasure – the priceless value of our eternal life
  • The Parable of the Pearl – what am I willing to give up for that greatest treasure?
  • The Parable of the Net – victory for the righteous

 

Jesus ends this section of parables with this verse. “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his store room new treasures as well as old.” (Matthew 13:52)

 

As a teacher, this concept is a wonderful revelation. Not only are we to teach the old treasures, but the new as well. I love that God continues to show me new treasures each time I enter into His presence and spend time in His Word.

 

That garden never produced a diamond tree. It did however produce very good vegetables, some bonding time with my Grandparents, and a time of reflection for me. Perhaps that hidden treasure is still there, but I know it won’t be found by me.

 

From the parables, we see that we are never to stop learning. Dig deep. Search for those hidden treasures in God’s Word. Be open to His guidance, and you will be rewarded with renewed passion for the old treasures and exhilaration for the new.

 

What are you learning today?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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A Brand New Car! (using an announcer voice similar to that on “The Price is Right!”)

May 11th, 2013 dsisler

You’ve heard me speak of the problems I’ve been having with my current car. So much so, that it’s been sitting in my garage for over a week. I’ve been driving my husband’s truck (with manual transmission) and it was starting to get difficult.

 

So my husband and I have been looking for our next vehicle. We purchased the car issue of Consumer’s Report and scoured the pages for what we thought might be possibilities. We then would jump online to see who had what at local dealerships. We emailed possibilities to one another. We continued reading. It was quite a process.

 

Until he came home from work yesterday. As he was again searching the internet for yet another possibility, I made this comment. “You know we can research until there’s no more researching to do, but until we actually go to look at these vehicles and drive them, we won’t know what we’re looking for. After we’ve chosen the car we want, then we can search the internet for the best buy.”

 

He agreed.

 

So off we went to a local dealership and the “up close and personal” search. We found one we liked and could get a great deal on and were considering it. Then my husband asked what they had in my favorite color. Red. They had a beauty. A step up and for just a little more (really this is true), I could have the car of my dreams.

 

We made the deal, signed all the paperwork and I have a new car. But there was a little problem. It was dirty. It had been on another lot and needed to be detailed. But the detail department was closed for the night. It would be the next day before it could be completely ready to leave the lot.

 

I don’t even have a pic to show you!

I drove away without my brand new car. I mentioned to Mason how I was feeling. Like leaving my baby at the hospital. Something was wrong with the scenario. But it was for the best. Today, my car will be ready for me to pick up in perfect condition and as it should look.

 

As we left the dealership, I told our salesman to take care of my car. He promised he would.

 

I wondered if Jesus didn’t feel a little bit like this as He left earth. He had given all He possibly could for what would become the Church. He had spent three years traveling the countryside, teaching as He went. He healed multitudes of people. He spent sleepless nights in prayer with His Father asking for His guidance in the task. He mentored twelve men who would be the great leaders of His Church.

 

He offered His life as a sacrifice for the ransom of many.

 

There really was nothing more He could offer, except the Holy Spirit to help lead and guide these faithful believers after He was gone.

 

But still, Jesus left His life’s work to a group of men who had proven to be unfaithful to Him. Who had proven that their faith wasn’t as strong as He wanted it to be. Who had proven to fall back on their human, sinful nature on more occasions than He would have liked.

 

But in spite of all of this, Jesus left His Church in their hands. Now He did tell them to take care of it. Peter specifically was told three times to take care of Jesus’ sheep (John 21:15-19). And the whole group was given the mission in Matthew 28:18-20.

 

And as mentioned earlier, Jesus didn’t leave them to do the work alone. In Acts 1:4 Jesus tells the disciples of the gift they will receive. Jesus told them in greater detail throughout His ministry what this gift could offer them, so they had an idea of how the Holy Spirit would assist them (John 16:5-16).

 

Jesus knew He left His mission in capable hands. He knew this small group of disciples would spread His message to the entire world. And it happened just as He knew it would.

 

How are you doing with the mission and message of Jesus? Are you living it each day? Are you sharing it with those who need to hear the message? Are you caring for Christ’s Church as He intended? Do others see Jesus through you?

 

It’s morning. I get to pick up my car today. But more importantly, I have an opportunity today to be better at living the way Jesus has asked me to live. Live a life of faith, grace and love. Live a life that reflects His image. Live as He would live.

 

It’s a larger than life task, but with the guidance of God’s Spirit, I have a greater chance of doing so. It’s only with the help of the Holy Spirit that can be what I am and do what I do.

 

I pray that you too feel the urgency to live this way.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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My Desktop

May 10th, 2013 dsisler

I have an odd mix of items on my desktop that I’d like to share with you today. But then I want to do a little “prayer walking” around my desktop.

 

You see, I prayer walk through my neighborhood. I prayer walk with a group of ladies each Wednesday morning. I prayer drive as I’m heading out each day. So why not prayer walk through my desktop? It is what I look at each time I sit down to write or check email or enjoy Pinterest. But if God is not in the midst of it, this screen could cause some problems for me.

 

I am easily distracted. And maybe a cluttered desktop is just what the evil one needs to keep me occupied with things of this world instead of concentrating on God’s work.

 

There is one verse in James 4 that carries some convicting words. Take a look at it. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 – NIV)

 

Bear with me today…this is important. Perhaps it is something that you need to do as well.

 

The first thing I see as my computer comes to life is the picture of my grandchildren. They are so precious to me, but they are more precious to God. My prayer is that I will be an example of God’s love and grace to them and that my focus must be on teaching them about Jesus.

 

There is a recycle bin. It holds all the trash that I no longer need. I pray that God will take the trash of sin in my life and delete it permanently. I don’t need the guilt or anguish to continue haunting me. Once it’s deleted, it is gone.

 

Zune is the program that goes with my little music contraption. My prayer is that the music that I choose to play is honoring to God. That God would be glorified by what my ears hear.

 

Symantec. I have no idea what this is for, but it’s one of those things that tells you if you delete it, there are consequences and so it’s easier to just keep it. I pray that God will show me those things in my life that are just space takers. If it isn’t important, get rid of it.

 

A Word document that teaches how to make a homemade mosquito trap. It’s pretty popular right now on the internet and I’m hoping it actually works! My prayer is of thanksgiving. For this little critter is so annoying to us, but it is one that God created. Thank you God for your creation!

 

There is a folder of the April snow storms we have had this year. Thank you God for the moisture we have received here in Colorado. Everything is so green and filled with life. Although we were tired of snow, the benefits far outweighed the struggles. Thank you God for your forethought and design. It is beautiful!

 

Well, that finishes the first row of my desktop praying. I’ll save you the details of my remaining prayer walking through my desktop. I’ll work on the rest throughout the day.

 

This morning in my Bible study time, I asked God to show me how to illumine Him. For Him to point me to ways that I could point others to Him. I believe this is a start.

 

Perhaps today you will find the need to do exactly what I am doing. Praying more and illuminating God. If so, let’s travel on this journey together. Let me know how God is showing up in your life. Let me know what you’re eliminating so that God can take His place out front.

 

My greatest desire is to serve God. But I cannot have friendship with the world and with God at the same time. Jesus taught this concept as well. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24 – NIV)

 

Okay, I’m going back to prayer walk through the rest of my desktop. When I’m finished here, I have my laptop to pray over as well. Then there’s my phone…and my Nook reader…and my Zune…

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Trolls

May 9th, 2013 dsisler

My Ford Escape has yet another problem that my husband cannot fix. It needs to head into the shop and so, after eight years and 174,000+ miles, we’ve decided that perhaps we need something a little newer and more reliable.

 

I saw this car…what do you think? Should it be on the top of my shopping list? If you can’t tell, there are trolls plastered all over this car.

 

I have never enjoyed car shopping. I love to look at cars, but please don’t ask me to go and search a lot filled with hundreds of cars to find the perfect one. And as if that isn’t enough, my husband brought me a whole magazine filled with information about cars to look through and choose one I liked. UGH!

 

I do the same thing with greeting cards. I’m overwhelmed by the sheer number and I can’t focus on what I need exactly. So I usually choose the first one I pick up (unless the verse is completely off base). Unfortunately, my husband has gotten some pretty strange cards from me through the years. Some a little more feminine than they should have been. But it’s thought, isn’t it?

 

Had I been sitting at Jesus’ feet during His dissertations on the “lost” articles, I’m not so sure I would have enjoyed those parables. You know the lost sheep and the lost coin in Luke 15? My mind would have gone to the fact that I don’t like looking for items and perhaps He would have lost me.

 

But then He would have captured my attention when He spoke of the lost son. I can relate to that. Not in my physical life, but in my spiritual life. I would have understood the importance of restoration. I would have been drawn to the fact that one lost is too many. I would have rejoiced over the return of the son.

 

I would have found joy in the fact that the Father waited and accepted the son upon his return.

 

Like the son, I’ve wandered. Gone spiritually where I should never have stepped. Spent some time in the bondage of sin. Found myself lost in the pleasures of this world.

 

But also like the son, when I “came to my senses,” (Luke 15:17) I returned to the Father who welcomed me home with open arms. He has forgiven and forgotten my past transgressions. His grace and love have covered me. And I heard my Father say, “we had to celebrate and be glad, because this sister of yours was dead and is alive again; she was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32 – NIV)

 

Oh friend, there is no reason to live in a lost state. Our Father in heaven is waiting with open arms to welcome you. He is ready to share His grace and love with you. God’s forgiveness runs deeper than any of us could ever imagine. Is it time to accept it?

 

And to my Christian friends, if there is sin in your life that seems to have burdened your heart, why not run home? Your Father is waiting for you as well. Accept His forgiveness and grace and you too will come to know the Father’s celebration of your life.

 

Of course I’m reminded of a song. One that you’ll recognize and will able to sing without the benefit of music. Chris Tomlin’s version is perhaps overused, but it still carries the message of finding freedom in Christ and the joy of being found. I can never get enough of God’s grace…can you?

 

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

 

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Chorus:
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine[i]

 

If you’d like to listen to this song, you can click here.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] Words and Music by John Newton, John P. Rees, and Edwin Othello Excell. Arrangement and additional chorus by Chris Tomlin and Louis Giglio. Amazing Grace, Public Domain. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), 2006.

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Keep it Simple

May 8th, 2013 dsisler

I could have finished this line “keep it simple” with another word (KISS). I’m sure you’ve heard it before. But I’ve chosen not to. I’ve heard it more throughout my life than I’d care to mention and believe that it is an unnecessary addition to this phrase.

 

However, I have a little book on my shelf called Smart Women Keep it Simple by Annie Chapman and Maureen Rank. I’ve read it several times through the years…you can tell by the markings and the condition of the spine. But it has been years since I’ve read it.

 

So with my new, crazy schedule, perhaps it is the perfect time to pull this little gem off the shelf and re-read these words.

 

There are a couple of earmarked pages. Those stories or concepts that I wanted to return to visit. And as I read through one section, I was thankful for my forethought of wanting to remember this particular story.

 

It was of an older Russian woman who was a faithful believer of Christ. Multiple sclerosis had ravaged her body and she wasn’t able to do much, but what she accomplished was astonishing.

 

Each morning, her husband would prop her up on the couch, place a typewriter in front of her and with one finger, this devoted woman translated Christian books or the Bible into the Russian language.

 

The author of Smart Women Keep it Simple says, “Every other Christian in the city was watched by the secret police. But because she had been sick so long, the police took no interest in this woman, and she could work undetected.”[i]

 

And here’s another quote from the book. Corrie ten Boom was interviewing the husband of this Russian woman and this is what he said of his wife. “Not only does she translate these books, but she prays while she types. Sometimes it takes a long time for her fingers to hit the key, or for her to get the paper in the machine, but all the time she is praying for those whose books she is working on.”[ii]

 

What obstacles this woman overcame to be a servant of God. She lived in a country where being a Christian was illegal. Her body had betrayed her. However, nothing was able to stop her from doing what God called her to.

 

Annie Chapman goes on to say this about limitations. “Life puts limitations on us; no one is without them. But once we accept those limitations, God is free to use us in our weakness to glorify himself.”[iii]

 

If we view our limitations as to what we are able to do for God’s Kingdom, we are putting handcuffs on God. Our limitations must not be God’s limitations. Tweet this!

 

The Apostle Paul knew limitations. His thorn in the flesh kept him from becoming conceited, but it certainly did not keep him from fulfilling God’s plan through him. Paul came to the understanding that it was only through God’s grace that he was able to become powerful. Paul also understood that God was to be glorified in all that he did.

 

Take a look at Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV). “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

What a wonderful way to look at the difficulties of our lives. Whether it is physical, emotional, financial, persecutions, hardships, insults, weaknesses or a busy schedule, as we allow God to work in our weakened lives, we will be strong.

 

We take the relying on ourselves and place it in God’s hands. Capable hands that are able to carry us through the difficulties, trusting that He will deliver us on the other side. And through it all, we must give Him the glory.

 

I know others have much more difficulties in their lives than I do. I’ve got it pretty good in comparison, I know that. But still, in the midst of my tough days, when I give it over to God, He is able to help me through it. And for that I am thankful.

 

So today as you’re going through the motions of this life, please stop to ask God to be in the middle of it. Ask Him to give you strength. Ask Him to get you through it. He has promised that He will. Accept that promise as your own and know how strong you really can be through Him.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to leave a comment, please click here. Grace!


[i] Smart Women Keep it Simple, Annie Chapman and Maureen Rank, Bethany House Publishers, 1992, pg. 153

[ii] Smart Women Keep it Simple, Annie Chapman and Maureen Rank, Bethany House Publishers, 1992, pg. 153 – As told in Tramp for the Lord, Corrie ten Boom with Jamie Buckingham, (Jove Books, 1976)

[iii] Smart Women Keep it Simple, Annie Chapman and Maureen Rank, Bethany House Publishers, 1992, pg. 153

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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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