Deadline

December 14th, 2012 dsisler

Today is the day. If you’re like me, you probably have a deadline today as well. It is the last day to send packages by postal service. Yes, I have a package to get out and yes that means I’ll be standing in line with some of my closest friends to get the package to Ohio for Christmas.

 

I tend to aggravate myself when I wait until the last moment to get something done. Whether it’s shipping a package, writing a blog post, or preparing my home for guests, when I put things off, I only cause more stress for myself. So why do I do it?

 

Who knows? There are many excuses, but none are sufficient or make me feel any better.

 

God knew that we would have a problem with procrastination, so He has given us a good number of passages that speak directly to us on this topic. Let’s look at just a few of them to see what He has to say.

 

We’ll begin in the Old Testament. With the sayings of a wise man, Solomon.

 

“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4 – NIV)

 

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 – NIV)

 

Part of procrastination is laziness. These verses clearly tell us that when we are lazy, we are not productive. We cannot expect to produce anything good in our lives when we are lazy. It just doesn’t work.

 

In the New Testament, we see Jesus speaking with a few prospective followers. To one, Jesus spoke of His nomad lifestyle in response to the willingness to follow Jesus anywhere. To another, Jesus spoke of burial in response to a request of waiting for his father’s burial. And to another, Jesus warned of the importance of moving forward in response to saying goodbye to family members (Luke 9:57-62).

 

The message was clear. Nothing should keep us from following Jesus. We must not wait. We must be intentional and immediate in our actions. We must not procrastinate.

 

If procrastination is an issue for you, here are a few verses to help you along the way to becoming better time manager of your life.

 

First, we must give it to God. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” What a promise for us to hold on to. If today you know you have a long “to do” list, commit it to God. He would love to share this day with you!

 

Then we need to ask God for His help. God’s strength is available for us. Philippians 4:13 (NIV) reminds us, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

 

We may need to ask for help from others. Solomon knew the importance of good counsel. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22 – NIV) And in Proverbs 20:18 (NIV), we see, “Make plans by seeking advice, if you wage war, obtain guidance.”

 

And finally we read in Ephesians 5:16 (NIV) to “…make the most of every opportunity…” It’s time for us to stop procrastinating and make the most of our days and our lives.

 

Now I know you’re saying, “But there are other ways to get a package to Ohio and their deadline isn’t today.” Yes, that’s also true. But if I don’t do it today, I’ll just be in line next week. Someplace else. With a different group of people. So I’m opting to get it done today.

 

What are you going to get done today? What have you been putting off for another day that you can do today? Do you, like me, need God’s help in getting it done? Then may I suggest we all look to Him for our strength today. Maybe today isn’t going to be so bad after all.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

Christmas Golden Puffs

December 13th, 2012 mhauser

2 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
¼ cup oil
¾ cup milk
1 egg
Powdered sugar

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg together. Add remaining ingredients. Stir with fork until mixed. Drop into deep fat or oil that has been heated to 375°. Fry about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Roll warm puffs in powdered sugar. Makes 2 ½ – 3 dozen puffs.

Note: A recipe from my Grandma Ike. We enjoyed them on more than Christmas morning and still do. Very delicious! Enjoy!

 

Share

Building a Doll House: Be Flexible – Chapter 10

December 13th, 2012 dsisler

NOTE: If you missed Chapters 1-9 of Building a Doll House, you can find it in the column under “blog archive” to the right.

 

If there is one thing I’ve learned through my life, it is to be flexible. On a recent trip to SE Asia, that was the number one rule. Be flexible. With family get to get-togethers, a great rule to keep in mind is to be flexible.

 

The same was true with the doll house. We had to be flexible. There were times when we didn’t have the right tool to move ahead, so we had to wait on a section. Or on occasion, we were waiting for elements of the doll house to dry, so we had to be flexible at times.

 

And then there were the occasions when one of us didn’t want to work on the doll house which meant, the other had to wait. Be flexible. It was a great rule to keep in mind while working on the doll house.

 

But why is it so important to be flexible? I have come to believe that it’s to keep frustration at bay. So that we might be able to work on a project, with someone, or be with a group of people without losing our cool.

 

Be flexible!

 

Jesus’ disciples knew how to be flexible. They would travel from location to location. They listened to Jesus’ teaching and watched the crowd’s reaction to Jesus. They never knew what was going to happen next, but they knew it would be exciting!

 

Oh, on occasion they would get a little tense. Like when the young children were brought to Jesus for a blessing (Matthew 19:13-15). Or when the crowds were so great and there was no food (Matthew 14:13-21). Or even the time when Jesus went to the tomb of His dear friend Lazarus (John 11:1-16).

 

But the disciples remained flexible through it all.

 

Later we see the importance of flexibility in sharing the Gospel. Depending on the crowd, the way they presented the Gospel was different. The Apostle Paul was an excellent communicator and was able to discern this very thing.

 

We see how he began his messages with Old Testament history when he spoke to a mainly Jewish audience in Acts 13:16-22. He then brings Jesus into the story as the fulfillment of the promise given by God and continued his message of salvation (Acts 13:23-41).

 

We don’t know for sure what Paul said to the crippled man at Lystra (Acts 14:8-10), but they were intent. They were exactly what the man needed to hear at that moment and we see his faith and healing.

 

In Athens (Acts 17:16-34), Paul spoke before a group of philosophers. Again, his message began differently. He noticed one altar “To An Unknown God.” (Acts 17:23 – NIV) And then he began preaching God’s message. “Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you…”

 

Wow! What a message! Paul knew exactly how to present the Gospel to this group as well as others. What a lesson we can learn from Paul.

 

You see, I don’t speak to my 22-month-old grandson the way that I speak to my 30-year-old son. In the same way, I should be flexible in how I share the Gospel with others. I must learn to take note of my audience and then proceed as needed.

 

Now please hear me. I’m not saying that we change our message. In no way is that to happen. God has given us His message in Scripture and we must teach or preach it as is. But we must learn to share God’s message in a way that it will make a difference to the person hearing the message. They must understand how the Gospel will change their life.

 

The Apostle Paul shares another thought of flexibility in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. His point becomes clear in verse 22. “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22 – NIV)

 

That is flexibility!

 

I know that it’s easier to stick to one way of sharing the Gospel, with one message. We memorize it and can share it easily. But if the person you are speaking to isn’t getting the message, what good is it? We really do need to be aware of our audience and change our approach or methodology for effective discipleship.

 

Be flexible. These are two words that I’ve learned to embrace. I pray that you are able to embrace them as well.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

Promises

December 12th, 2012 dsisler

Promises are important. Keeping promises are even more important. I don’t think anyone can say otherwise. Promises we make to our children and grandchildren show our integrity when we fulfill them.

 

In the beginning, as God made promises to Abraham and Jacob, He proved over and over that He would keep the promises made.

 

The promise of a son. The promise of land. The promise of great nations. The promise of wealth. These were all fulfilled within the lifetimes of these men. But the promise of the Messiah would take generations before fulfillment.

 

In the book, “A Newcomer’s Guide to the Bible,” the author has this to say about God’s promises.

 

“Just because what He promises seems impossible, that does not preclude it from happening.”[i]

 

The promises God made to these men far exceeded their imaginations. Some were quite possibly outrageous to them. But in the midst of their disbelief, God fulfilled the promises and kept His promises to each of them.

 

Another statement that caught my eye says this about trust and faith.

 

“To truly trust God, we must be willing to maintain our trust even when what He says exceeds our comprehension. That is the essence of faith.”[ii]

 

We sometimes struggle with the same feelings that Abraham and Jacob felt. We disbelieve the promises of God. Surely He doesn’t intend to bless me in such a way because of my sinful behavior.

 

But guess what? He does! So what are some of the promises God has given to us? Let’s look at just a few.

 

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) reminds us of God’s promises. “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. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

 

All that we need spiritually is provided to us through God. Through God’s Holy Spirit we are able to live good lives and escape Satan’s snares.

 

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) assures us of God’s provision. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

 

With this promise, we are able to offer all of our concerns to God. It is His desire to be engaged in each part of our lives. As we share our needs with Him, He will meet them.

 

Which leads me to Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV). “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

He wants to carry our burdens for us. And with that comes the promise of rest.

 

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV), we are promised grace…all-sufficient grace and strength. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

 

What powerful words for believers! In all times, in all situations, day in and day out, God is all we need. His grace is all we need.

 

You and I know there are many more promises in God’s Word for us. When we take the time to search for them, we can rejoice in the fact that He loves us more than we could possibly imagine. He wants us to receive His promises.

 

Of course at this time of year I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the greatest fulfilled promise of all…Jesus. How thankful we should be because of God’s integrity in fulfilling His promises.

 

Today I ask that you take the time to thank God for His fulfilled promises in your life. I pray that you’ll never take them for granted and that He would continually receive the glory for all that you’ve received.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] A Newcomer’s Guide to the Bible, Michael C. Armour, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, MO, 1999, p. 49

[ii] A Newcomer’s Guide to the Bible, Michael C. Armour, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, MO, 1999, p. 49

 

Share

Christmas Golden Puffs

December 11th, 2012 dsisler

Many years ago, I lead a group of ladies in a home Bible study. It was one of my favorite groups and times of my life. Preparation to lead the Bible study was more than rewarding. I was and still am, blessed far more than the ladies I lead.

 

Preparations of my home and the dining room for guests meant that my house would be clean for at least one day of the week…with three young children that was an added blessing. Preparation of a breakfast food was fun too. I usually found new recipes to try on this group. They were my guinea pigs.

 

Another element to this study that I thoroughly enjoyed was the presence of my cousin Dawn. We knew one another in a family setting as children. I’d seen her grow into a wonderful Christian woman. But in this group, studying the Bible, we grew as sisters in Christ, and that was very exciting for me.

 

One morning for this group, I prepared Golden Christmas Puffs. It was a family recipe. One my Grandma Ike made for us on many occasions. And it thrilled me to share this family treasure with my cousin.

 

When she arrived, I picked up the platter of these yummy confections and exclaimed, “Look what I made!”

 

She replied with, “Yeah, I see.”

 

She clearly must have forgotten these delicious donuts. So again, I exclaimed. “They are Golden Christmas Puffs. Grandma Ike used to make them for us all the time.”

 

Dawn looked at me and said, “Grandma never made them for us.” We laughed it off, of course, but this was an awkward situation to be certain.

 

Sometimes we make preparations in our lives that work out perfectly. Other times, we should have just skipped the preparation.

 

But the one thing that will never be wasted time is when we prepare our hearts. Prepare our hearts for God’s entrance, God’s grace, God’s forgiveness, God’s heart to replace our own.

 

How do we prepare our hearts? Here are some steps to take to come to that place.

 

Open Your Heart

Acknowledge your weakness. Understand that you cannot prepare your heart on your own. God must be in the midst of this preparation. We see several passages in the Book of Psalm that leads us in this direction.

 

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 – NIV)

 

“Blessed are they who keep his statutes and see him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:2 – NIV)

 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 – NIV)

 

A few other passages you might want to read are Psalm 26:2, Psalm 27:14, and Psalm 73:26.

 

Ready Your Heart

After you’ve accepted the fact that you need help with preparing your heart, it’s time to ready your heart. We must ready our hearts through prayer and Bible meditation.

 

Through Prayer

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psalm 84:2 – NIV)

 

Through Bible Meditation

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 – NIV)

 

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 – NIV)

 

Accept God’s Heart

God’s heart is filled with grace, love, mercy and holiness. It is pure, steadfast, and undivided. These are characteristics we must be willing to accept as we allow our hearts to be affected by God’s heart.

 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 – NIV)

 

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.” (Psalm 57:7 – NIV)

 

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11 – NIV)

 

Enjoy a Grateful Heart

As our hearts are turned to God and the preparation is complete, we are able to come before Him with grateful hearts. Hearts filled with rejoicing. Hearts filled with thanksgiving.

 

“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” (Psalm 9:1 – NIV)

 

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

 

“Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!” (Psalm 64:10 – NIV)

 

I would have loved the hand-written copy of this recipe from my Grandma Ike’s recipe box, but it has been lost through the years. The memories, however, remain strong and as my grandchildren grow older this treat will show up at family gathering to make even more memories.

 

Golden Christmas Puffs are a special treat for my family when I prepare them. I’d love to share the recipe with you! I’ll be adding a new page to my website that will include old family recipes and recipes that we have enjoyed through the years. If you have a chance, please take the time to visit that page. I guarantee you’ll enjoy each recipe as much as we have.

 

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