“Crown Him (Majesty)” – Blogging from A to Z

April 3rd, 2013 dsisler

This past Sunday was Easter or Resurrection Sunday. During our contemporary worship service, we sang several hymns that were uplifting and also caused more emotion than usual for me. One of the hymns we sang was “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” with Chris Tomlin’s addition to the message of this hymn.

 

How blessed to be able to sing praise to my God and King for His precious gift of salvation that I have received through His Son, Jesus Christ! And an even greater blessing is that I can sing His praise any time I wish. Not just on Sunday morning.

 

I must tell you that I just took a break to listen to this song and praise God right here at my desk in my office. Oh how glorious!

 

I might encourage you to do the same. Click on this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13zyO42wpSs) to listen to this worship song and sing praise to God in the moment.

 

Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon His throne
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake my soul and sing
Of Him who died for me
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

Chorus:
Majesty, Lord of all
Let every throne before Him fall
The King of kings, O come adore
Our God who reigns forevermore.

Crown Him Lord of life
Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.

Bridge:
All hail, Redeemer, hail
For He has died for me
His praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.[i]

 

As I was researching this song for this piece, I found that the Scriptural reference for this hymn is from Revelation 19:12 (NIV). “His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.”

 

This verse is from the section describing Christ returning as Warrior-Messiah King. Only our Warrior-Messiah King is able to wear these crowns for He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

 

What an image! Years ago an artist painted images of the Book of Revelation and set it to Scripture and music. I had the privilege of seeing this presentation at a national Christian convention. Those images have stayed in my mind and heart through these years.

 

Pat Marvenko Smith, Revelation Illustrated, 1992

Her image of Jesus in this form was most breath-taking. Wouldn’t you agree? For more of her (Pat Marvenko Smith, Revelation Illustrated, 1992) images, please visit her website at http://revelationillustrated.com/.

 

So today, let’s praise the Warrior-Messiah King as we crown Him with many crowns. For it is only through Him that we have redemption and everlasting life. It is only through Him that we have true freedom.

 

If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to share God’s message of grace with you.

 

Thank you for stopping by for my third day of the A to Z challenge through April. And as always, I’d love to hear from you!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] Crown Him (Majesty), Chris Tomlin , Ed Cash , Matt Maher, Worship Together Music, 2012

Share

Blimp – Blogging from A to Z

April 2nd, 2013 dsisler

Blimps fascinate me. They have for quite some time now. Their quiet approach. Their smooth sail. The fact that they are very large and yet have the ability to float through the air. They are a fun mode of transportation and through the cameras fixed upon them, they bring a bird’s-eye- view to many sporting events.

 

Years ago while living in a rural area of Ohio, the Goodyear Blimp would sail past our home. We lived near a main north/south interstate and the blimp would use that interstate as a guide. I often heard the blimp overhead and would run outside to glimpse the beautiful vessel. It was always a highlight for me.

 

Later, while living near Akron, Ohio, the home of one Goodyear Blimp, I created a Vacation Bible School curriculum built around the blimp. I was able to visit the Goodyear facility and tour the museum and gift shop. Those little gifts for the children made a huge impact.

 

I now live near Denver, Colorado and unfortunately, blimps and high altitude just don’t mix well. So, chances of me ever seeing a blimp here are pretty slim. When I do see a blimp elsewhere, my heart races…a glimpse of my beloved Goodyear Blimp continues to fill my heart with joy.

 

I could probably go on about the blimp, but that certainly isn’t my goal here. My goal is to show what God has taught me through my love of blimps.

 

They are Large

The Goodyear Blimps are 192 feet long, 55 feet in diameter and 59.5 feet high, with 202,700 cubic feet of helium and a gross weight of 12,840 pounds.

 

“Wow” is about all I can say. These blimps are very large. But I serve a God who is much larger than anything man could possibly build. A God who is larger than anything man could possibly imagine. And it is God who deserves my biggest “WOW!”

 

There’s a little children’s song that speaks to God’s bigness. Take a look at these words and see if you don’t agree.

 

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,

there’s nothing my God cannot do.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,

there’s nothing my God cannot do.

 

The mountains are His, the rivers are His,

the stars are His handiwork, too.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,

there’s nothing my God cannot do, for you![i]

 

I believe the last little part of that song is where the lesson is learned. God is big and He can do anything…for me and you. It is His desire to be everything and anything for us. We simply need to acknowledge and accept Him.

 

They are Quiet

These large vessels are propelled by two engines, small in comparison to the blimp itself. Because of their size, these airships are quiet in comparison to airplanes.

 

There are times in my life when I need to be quiet and listen for God’s voice and guidance. God knew we would need times of quietness and He gently leads us in this direction in Psalm 46:10 (NIV). “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

In this fast-paced world, finding a quiet place in our lives may be difficult. But if we heed God’s word and allow His quietness to direct our path, we will find His peace and we will know that He is God.

 

They are Safe

In over 50 years of using blimps, Goodyear has flown passengers without any serious injuries. Some say it is the safest form of transportation devised.

 

I find great peace in knowing that within God’s arms I am safe. There are several images of God’s safety in Scripture. In Psalm 3:3 (NIV), King David spoke of God as being his shield. “But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”

 

In Proverbs 18:10 (NIV), we find refuge in God’s Name. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

 

We find that God is the Guardian or Overseer of our souls from 1 Peter 2:25 (NIV). “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

 

And from Isaiah 41:13 (NIV), we can know safety because God upholds us. “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”

 

They Take Their Time

The usual cruising speed of the Goodyear Blimp is 35 miles per hour. However, the top speed for the blimp is 53 mph.

 

Patience is not an easy virtue, but it is one that God speaks to quite often in Scripture. Listen to these words of King David and see if they might be words you need to hear today. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:7a – NIV)

 

Or maybe Isaiah’s words are what you need today. “Those who wait in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 – NIV)

 

Then there are the Apostle Paul’s words in this passage. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 – NIV)

 

Perhaps you need all of them! I know I do! I need to slow down in order to hear and see what God is teaching. Maybe you do too.

 

These are just some of my thoughts on the Goodyear Blimp and what God has taught me along the way. Perhaps you’ve learned something through this piece. I pray that God is teaching you to hear His voice and follow His leading. It’s exactly what He is doing with me.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

If I have piqued your interest at all in blimps, take a look at the official Goodyear Blimp website at www.goodyearblimp.com.


[i] My God is so Big, Butler/Mayfield

Share

“A” – Blogging from A to Z

April 1st, 2013 dsisler

We have actually made it to the first day of April, 2013. In some ways it is difficult to believe (there is still a bit of snow in my front yard!) And yet, the year seems like it is flying! We are already one quarter of the way through the year. There are only 268 days until Christmas. 2013 is sailing by.

 

April 1st of course is destined to be a day of practical jokes. However, I have a few fond memories of this day. My family moved on this day in 1996…oh wait, I didn’t really want to move from my dear friends, so it really isn’t a fond memory and we awoke to snow that morning. Perhaps God does have a sense of humor.

 

Regardless of how I feel about April 1st, I did have a great April last year. I joined a challenge with a group of other writers and I was able to work through numerous issues with my blogging and writing. I have continued to be part of this group and have grown close to several members. It was a great opportunity to grow myself and my platform.

 

This April will be a little different. I found a new challenge to join. It’s called “Blogging from A-Z.” Starting with the first day of the month, we are to write about a theme or an idea or even an item beginning with the letter “A.” On April 2nd, the blog post would be connected to the letter “B.” This would continue through the month, except for Sundays.

 

So with my calendar ready, I’m prepared to share a theme each day in relation to a letter of the alphabet. At first I thought it might be a real challenge, but after preparing my calendar, I’ve decided I could write several months’ worth of blog posts according to this method.

 

So today, let’s look at some Biblical friends whose names begin with the letter “A.”

 

Abel (Genesis 4:1-16) – Abel’s offering was favored by God. Abel’s brother Cain became angry when God didn’t favor his own. Out of his anger, Cain killed Abel and was punished by God.

 

Abigail (1 Samuel 25:2-44) – A wise woman who kept David from bloodshed. She was praised for her good judgment and eventually became David’s wife.

 

Ariel (Ezra 8:16) – Ariel was a leader who traveled with returning exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ariel was sent (with several other leaders) to find a group of Levites to go on this journey to be attendants in the temple. Ariel’s name means “lion of God” or “altar hearth.”

 

Andrew (Matthew 1:29-34; John 1:35-42) – We don’t know much about Andrew, but what we do know is impressive. In John, we find Andrew listening to John the Baptizer and encountering Jesus for the first time. He immediately followed Jesus and brought his brother, Peter to meet Jesus. The rest, as they say is history. And what history!

 

Apollos (Acts 18:24-28) – A Jew from Alexandria, Apollos was a learned man and had great knowledge of Scripture. Although he had been instructed in the way of the Lord, spoke with great fervor, and taught about Jesus accurately, he only knew of John’s baptism. Another “A” named saint, Aquila, along with his wife Priscilla, explained the way of God more accurately to Apollos. Paul mentions Apollos several times, but one that shows his acceptance is from 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV). “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”

 

What examples we can find from these characters in Scripture. We learn obedience from Abel, good judgment from Abigail, and willingness to follow God’s lead from Ariel. From Andrew we learn faithfulness and a sense of urgency and from Apollos the desire to never stop learning and the understanding of sharing God’s message with others. Each of them faced a challenge and with God’s help were able to overcome their challenge.

 

What challenges are you facing today? Please know that with God, we have the ability to be overcomers and conquerors (Romans 8:37). There is no reason to face these challenges alone. God is with you!

 

I look forward to this April challenge. I pray that you will be blessed by my words and through God’s abundant blessings.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

Oh Glorious Day!

March 31st, 2013 dsisler

It’s Sunday morning. Not just any Sunday, but Resurrection Sunday. Easter Sunday.

 

As a child I recall going to the cemetery on Easter morning for sunrise service. Later as an adult, Easter sunrise service was a highlight of the year. It was very meaningful and that single hour seemed more special than any other hour of service.

 

There are sunrise services each year at different locations here in Colorado that promise to be spectacular. Red Rocks Amphitheater hosts a service each year, as does Royal Gorge Bridge. These are always well attended.

 

Many mountain communities have their own services scheduled, as well as local churches. If you are looking for a sunrise service, here in Colorado or in your local community, I’m sure you can find one.

 

Maybe a cemetery is not the popular choice these days for sunrise service, but Easter Sunrise services certainly are.

 

Why do you suppose that is? For Christians, I certainly know. We see this morning as victory over death. As a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead on this day so long ago. And what a glorious day it is!

 

But what about unbelievers, what attracts them to these services each year? Perhaps something is missing from their life. Perhaps they are seeking peace, hope, anything.

 

The good news? Jesus can provide peace, hope, or anything anyone is seeking.

 

He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. He is the All, the Bright and Morning Star, the Guardian of our souls. He is the Prince of Peace, the Word, the Everlasting Light.

 

He is the Hope of Glory, the Fountain, the Living Stone. He is the Mediator, the Physician, the Advocate. He is the Bread, the Spiritual Rock, the Lamb of God.

 

He is the Good Shepherd, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Counselor. He is the Door, the Alpha and Omega, the Chief Cornerstone. He is the Gift from God, the Messiah, the Redeemer.

 

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

 

On this Easter morning, whatever it is you’re seeking, you will find in Jesus Christ. If you have any doubt, just follow the advice of the angel when speaking to the women in Matthew 28:6. “Come and see…”

 

Come and see what Jesus can be for you. Come and see what Jesus can do for you. You will never be the same.

 

For your personal reading, the Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ may be found in Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; and John 20:1-9.

 

When the secular influence is stripped away from Easter morning, all that remains is Jesus and His resurrection. Jesus fulfilling all of my needs. Jesus accepting me for who I am. Jesus my Bright and Morning Star.

 

As for me, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

The Wait

March 30th, 2013 dsisler

It’s the day after Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. Now the disciples and followers waited. Waited for the day they could prepare Jesus’ body for final burial. Waited for whatever might happen next. They certainly weren’t sure what was going to take place.

 

If you had been a follower of Jesus, what would you have felt on that Saturday after the crucifixion?

 

Despair

Hopelessness

Anger

Sadness

Disappointment

Helplessness

Uncertainty

Grief

Shock

Fear

Gullible

 

To be honest, these are all valid emotions. But how could it have come to this?

 

The followers of Jesus believed Jesus to be the Messiah! They believed God had sent Him to fulfill His promises! Why did God let this happen? How could He let this happen?

 

It was a sad day—how could they possibly know that this was part of God’s plan? How could they possibly know that Jesus would be alive the next day? How could they possibly believe that Jesus would be victorious over death?

 

Because they had seen it

They saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). They saw Him bring the Widow’s son at Nain back to life (Luke 7:11-15). They had seen Jesus raise Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25; Mark 5:22-24, 38-42; Luke 8:41-42, 49-56). These were undeniable miracles. They knew it was possible.

 

Because Scripture had told them

The prophecies of the Old Testament gave them the hope that it was possible. Here are a couple of them.

 

Psalm 16:9-10 says, “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” And we can be assured that the believers knew this because Peter used these very verses on the Day of Pentecost while discussing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Isaiah 53 gives a description of the suffering Savior. Verse 10-11 says, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify any, and he will bear their iniquities.” Paul points to this and other Old Testament Scripture in relation to the resurrection of Jesus when he states “according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:4)

 

Because Jesus told them

On at least two occasions, Jesus said He would rise from the dead.

 

Matthew 20:17-19 tells us, “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!’”

And also, John 2:19 says, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.”

 

These same promises are ours today. There is no reason to feel any of the emotions listed earlier in regard to your spiritual life. We have hope. We have a future. We have the promises of God.

 

We also know that Jesus was alive on Sunday morning. For that, we can rejoice and be thankful.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

  • Subscribe by Email

  • 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.

  • Bible Studies & Other Happenings

    Bible studies I’m currently leading:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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

  • Categories

  • Recent Posts

Visit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On Linkedin