Christmas Wrapping

December 19th, 2012 dsisler

I’ll admit it; I have a problem with Christmas wrapping paper. My children believe that is one thing they will receive when I’m gone. My stash of Christmas wrap.

 

I have tubs of paper. Some still in the original packaging. I’ve been known to sneak rolls of the stuff into my house and hide them from my family. I definitely have a problem.

 

I must also admit yet another problem. Each person in my family has a special color or theme for all of their Christmas gifts. So I’m always on the lookout for that special wrapping paper for that special person.

 

This is how it goes. My son’s gifts are wrapped in snowman paper. One daughter gets purple and one daughter gets blue. My son-in-law gets wrapping paper with “joy” on it. My husband Mason receives his packages in my favorite wrapping paper of the year.

 

For the grandkids, they get wrapping paper with Santa on it. My granddaughter gets red. My grandson’s favorite color is orange, so from the beginning I thought orange wrap with Santa was for him…yeah, that was a bad idea. There’s none out there. So I create my own. Solid orange wrapping paper with Santa stickers.

 

With another grandchild on the way, I’ll have to come up with yet another color combination! Maybe my method will go out the window next Christmas!

 

I read a question yesterday that piqued my interest. Who wrapped the first Christmas gift?

 

If you are like me, your first thought went to Mary. We read in Luke 2:7 (NIV), “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

 

But then I read another answer to the question. God wrapped the first Christmas gift. In the midst of the angel appearance, Mary was told “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the son of God.” (Luke 1:35 – NIV)

 

God wrapped His Gift in the womb of this young woman. Oh, I love the picture of Mary wrapping the infant Jesus in swaddling clothes. It touches my “mother’s heart” more than a Hallmark movie.

 

But how much more I love the picture of God lovingly gift-wrapping His precious Son for all of mankind to receive.

 

I must admit I can get caught up in the gift giving and wrapping of those gifts. I must continue to remind myself to focus on the Gift that was wrapped in a special package and was given so long ago.

 

Dr. Seuss may have recognized this fact and stated so in his children’s story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Grinch believed that if all evidence of Christmas was removed from Whoville, Christmas would not come. So the Grinch took it all away. But Christmas came in the same manner it had year after year…without the trappings of Christmas commercialization.

 

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”[i]

 

Yes, Christmas does mean more than packages and bows. It means that God loved us so much that He was willing to share His precious Son with the world, because we needed a Savior.

 

It’s not too late to keep our thoughts and hearts on God’s Gift as we celebrate Christmas this year. No earthly gift could be as beautiful as the Gift God wrapped up for us on that first Christmas. I believe it’s time to unwrap our Gift!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Dr. Seuss, Random House , 1957.

 

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Life, Godliness and Strength

December 18th, 2012 dsisler

I received a couple of little books after experiencing the untimely death of my grandson in 2011. A dear friend gave me “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. My home church gave me a book on grief after a Blue Christmas service for grieving families. And the pastoral care ministry sent me a little booklet from “Our Daily Bread” that includes a month’s worth of devotions for people going through the grieving process.

 

These were all very good tools to help me focus on the hope, love, and blessings that remained in my life. It was a difficult time, but I knew that my grandson was safe in the arms of Jesus and that my world and life would continue.

 

Life hurts. There is no way around it. Heartache will invade our lives. Sadness has a way of consuming us. Grief can overtake us. Yes, life hurts.

 

But my gracious, heavenly Father has something to offer. His Word offers hope. His Word offers peace. His Word offers release. As we place all of our hurting into God’s hands, we open our hearts to the healing process. We allow His precious gifts to fill the empty places of our hearts.

 

You’ve probably read many verses of Scripture about God’s graciousness over the past few days. They’ve been seen in posts on Facebook, Twitter, and even Pinterest. I pray that you’ve found comfort in the Word of God, because that is where I find all that I need.

 

I love the books of 1st and 2nd Peter. They are words written by a man who had seen great hardship and heartache of his own. His life had been spontaneous and turbulent. And yet, we read these two books written by one who came to know the difference Jesus could make in a life. A life changed by the Holy Spirit. A life changed by knowing God’s power.

 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 – NIV)

 

You see in the midst of our pain, trials, and grief, we can lean upon the divine power of God and His Holy Spirit. This power is everything we need for life and godliness. I find great comfort in knowing that I can rely on God’s power when I need it most.

 

On the day my grandson died, God continued to remind me of such power. He reminded me of the source of my strength. In my weakest moment that day, I knew that God’s grace was enough. I knew that it was only through Him that I would find the strength to continue (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

 

Another passage of Scripture that is encouraging to me is also found in 2 Corinthians. This passage assures us that even when life’s crushing blows seem more than we can handle, we are not alone. We have Jesus and His power within us.

 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 – NIV)

 

My dear friend, there is no reason to go through our suffering on our own. God desires to be in the midst of our pain. More than that, He wants to take it away and heal our hearts. Please don’t let another day go by without asking Him to be your source of strength.

 

I miss my grandson, there is no denying it. But I know where he is and who he is with. My Redeemer, Jesus. And until the day I see Jesus (and Archer) face to face, I’ll continue to rely on God for my strength, my godliness, and my life.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

For more information on my view of heaven, please read my blog post at https://fullmeasureofjoy.com/?p=345.

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House of Bread

December 17th, 2012 dsisler

Several months ago I mentioned a little piece of information about Bethlehem. You know, the Bethlehem where Jesus was born. In passing I mentioned that the meaning of Bethlehem was “house of bread.”

 

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Bethlehem was not an important city to the people of Jesus’ day. However, significant events had taken place in Bethlehem before this time. Rachel was buried there. The story of Ruth took place in and around Bethlehem. King David was born and raised in Bethlehem.

 

But by the time Jesus was born, Bethlehem was just a small, insignificant village.

 

God had great plans for Bethlehem, however. It would be the location of the birth of the Messiah. And it is mentioned in Old Testament prophecy.

 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2 – NIV)

 

Ah, Bethlehem would one day become great. Not because of what man did in that village, but because of what God would do.

 

This prophecy in Micah continues with the great announcement of how the Messiah would change the lives of people. It ends with the announcement that “he will be their peace.” (Micah 5:5 – NIV) What a blessing in our world filled with turmoil.

 

We see parts of this passage again in Matthew. When the wise men stopped in to see King Herod, they were told that Bethlehem was the birthplace of the newborn King.

 

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6 – NIV)

 

However, the meaning of Bethlehem’s name wasn’t significant until Jesus began His teaching. In John 6, Jesus speaks of being the Bread of Life. “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 – NIV)

 

The Bread of Life (Jesus) was born in the House of Bread (Bethlehem).

 

In the midst of proclaiming Himself as the Bread of Life, there is a little verse that points us to the incarnation of God. It has become one of my favorite “Christmas” verses.

 

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33 – NIV)

 

Yes, the Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread, but there is so much more meaning to it. He came so that the world might have life through Him!

 

And just a few chapters later, Jesus says He is the Light of the world. “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 – NIV)

 

Through Jesus we have life and the light of life. He is everything we could possibly need or want.

 

Have you accepted Jesus as your daily Bread? Is He your life? Your light of life? I pray that He is. I pray that as we come to the final week before Christmas that you take note of what this season is really about. The Bread of Life offering real life to us.

 

But perhaps it’s time for you to accept Him as your Savior. To find a deeper meaning of Christmas this year. If so, please let me know. I’d be happy to chat with you about how to do so and what a difference it will make in your life.

 

I believe God used a simple, day-to-day staple to remind us of Jesus. Bread. Each piece of bread you pick up or eat should be a reminder of where our life truly comes from. The Bread of Life. Jesus.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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The Bicycle

December 16th, 2012 dsisler

My family has always loved Christmas. Family gatherings were especially wonderful. The food, laughter and excitement of opening gifts were more than any child could stand.

 

We moved to Upstate New York when I was 7 years old and that meant getting together with family wasn’t as frequent. So the times we were together became even more special.

 

One Christmas that I remember well was the year my sister, brother and I received bicycles. Oh, the excitement when we rounded the corner and saw them. My parents really did a great job that year!

 

However, we lived in Upstate New York where we received an average of 115 inches of snow per year. That means there is snow on the ground from October to May. There was no chance of riding those bikes outside for several months.

 

So once again, my parents came to the rescue. We hauled the bikes to the basement and we rode around in circles until the snow melted in the spring. Perhaps this is where my NASCAR fan roots actually began.

 

Christmas is a special time and gift-giving is fun. But if we stop there, we are really missing what Christmas is all about.

 

In the Emmy and Peabody award winning special, A Charlie Brown Christmas[i], Linus understands what Christmas is about. He recites the passage from Luke 2:8-14.

 

There are other programs that get the Christmas story into the plot. Those programs are to be commended for keeping the Christ child in the middle of their Christmas, but they are becoming harder and harder to find these days.

 

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, how are you keeping Christ before you? Are you making an effort to remember Jesus each day? Do you speak of God’s gift to those you have influence over? Does your lifestyle reflect the sacrifice, the love, the grace, the forgiveness given through the incarnation of God?

 

Is your excitement limited during the Christmas season to the worldly view of Christmas? Or does your excitement equal that of the shepherds? How do others view your excitement?

 

Another element to the Christmas story is the visit of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12). They traveled a great distance. They left their homes, their families, their conveniences to find a King. They followed His star.

 

The wise men were overjoyed.

 

Are you overjoyed this Christmas season? Certainly there are those reading this post who are having difficulty in life. There are troubles to be found. But when Christmas is about the Christ child, we have every reason to be overjoyed.

 

We see also that the wise men bowed and worshiped the King. In the midst of our troubling days, we must take the time to worship our King.

 

And perhaps you are searching. Searching for the Christ child as the shepherds and wise men did so long ago. There is no reason to continue with the search. The King of all kings has already arrived. He’s ready to sit on the throne of your heart. Are you prepared for His entrance?

 

Please don’t allow another Christmas season to pass without taking note of the real meaning of Christmas. Or perhaps you know the Christ child and it’s time to share Him with those around you.

 

There were plenty of Christmases filled with joy and excitement for my siblings and myself as we were growing up. We were blessed with parents who created special moments for us. The memories of those times are held dear and we speak of them often. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the memories!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] A Charlie Brown Christmas, Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz, 1965.

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Such Sorrow

December 15th, 2012 dsisler

 

Today we are a country in mourning. Mourning the loss of precious lives that were senselessly murdered. Young and old alike, they were taken from their loved ones long before it was time.

 

For these individuals and families, my deepest sympathies pour from my heart. My prayers are being lifted to God as incense for His peace and comfort to envelope each person who was affected by this incredibly selfish person.

 

Today, we as a nation must look at all recent attacks and ask ourselves difficult questions. How could this happen? Why did it happen? How could they have been prevented? I’d say these are questions that may not be answerable, but there that there is a solution to the troubles our nation is facing.

 

http://www.creationswap.com/media/12795

The loss of life has brought to my mind the fact that we have taken God out of every aspect of our secular lives. We’ve removed prayer from schools. We’ve removed the Ten Commandments from public spaces. We’ve removed religious symbols from society. And we as Christians have sat back and allowed it to happen.

 

We know that God values life. All life. After conception through to the day we take our final breath, God places great value on life. Psalm 139 reminds us of how God intricately weaved each of us in our mothers’ womb.

 

Yes, there were precious lives taken, but to be honest, we’ve been murdering innocent babies for decades. Future leaders, analysts, inventors, creators, teachers, businessmen, preachers, or workers in another field where lives could possibly be touched.

 

If we as a nation don’t value the lives of our young, how could we possibly expect individuals to do so?

 

We’ve been brought to our knees yet again. But not from threats outside our borders, but from within.

 

It’s time for us to take action. Not against gun control. Not against mental health agendas. Not against gaming regulations.

 

It’s time for us to take action for God. To take back what has been taken from us. One nation under God.

 

Let’s pray like our lives depend upon it. Because to be honest. They do.

 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – NIV)

 

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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