Travel Observations

September 12th, 2012 dsisler

My husband and I drove from Ohio to Colorado over the past 48 hours. It took us just over 23 hours to do so. It was a long trip, but there were a few things I took note of as we were traveling and I thought I would share them with you.
Observation #1:
The leaves that filled the very large trees throughout the Midwest were just beginning to take on a yellow color…we missed seeing the fall colors of the east by just a few weeks.
We love autumn in Colorado, but the variety of trees in the east make for a spectacular season.
I am so thankful that God has provided such beauty and wonder for our eyes. He was the perfect Creator. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV) says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” The time is coming for beauty to be seen throughout this great land of ours. Don’t miss it. Take the time to enjoy God’s creation.
Observation #2:
Our Ruby Tuesday waiter in St. Peters, Missouri was the best we’ve ever had. He was efficient. He was eager to assist. He was energetic. He was engaging. He was even entertaining.
This young man has been taught well. And not just by Ruby Tuesdays. He had a servant heart. I cannot help but wonder if he may someday be the next great minister on the horizon. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me.
To all of the young people (or anyone who beginning a new venture) who read this blog, here are some verses of encouragement for your future.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3 – NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23 – NIV)
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (Psalm 105:4 – NIV)
Observation #3:
A speedometer that doesn’t work is of no help…especially on a long stretch of highway without any other vehicles in sight (more to come on this venture in a future blog post).
The only thing I can say about this is in a time like this, trusting God is all there is. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.”
Observation #4:
There are very friendly gas station attendants throughout the State of Kansas to make your night travel a bit more exciting. I am once again thankful for those who have seen potential in these men. Placing them in areas where weary travelers could gain a bit of reprise from the hours of boring travel.
For the weary traveler, remember God is watching out for you. He will never grow weary of helping you. Psalm 121:3 (NIV) tells us, “He won’t let your foot slip. He who watches over you won’t get tired.”
Observation #5:
There is a town of Quinter, Kansas. As I scanned through the radio stations to find something to listen to, there were five that came in. I thought it was kind of appropriate for the good folks of Quinter.
If you search the number “five” on www.biblegateway.com, you’ll find pages of references to this number. And something you may not know (I didn’t until I took the Jonah study by Priscilla Schirer), God gave Jonah a message to deliver to the Ninevites. In his language, it was only five words. Five words that changed the lives of the people in an entire city.
Five seems to have significance in Scripture…I’d love to hear about Quinter, Kansas. What impact have the people of this village of “five” had on the world.
Observation #6:
Don’t be surprised at who will prepare your breakfast in Limon, Colorado. We were the only customers in this diner. It was very early in the morning. Even the cook wasn’t awake…he was napping at a booth near the back of the restaurant. Our waitress woke him and he prepared the best breakfast we had on our entire trip.
Of course we didn’t know he was the cook. He looked like an exhausted truck driver seeking refuge from the long haul. Luke 6:37 (NIV) says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Our lesson: don’t make judgments on what we see. Take the time to get to know a person. A situation. Then see what God does with it. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a quote to take away from this one. He was just waiting to use his talents. Who might I have overlooked in my lifetime?
These are my observations. Of course there are more, but this is all time allows for today. What are you observing along the way? Is God placing people in your path for you to take a look at and see potential? Can you encourage just one person today? I am certain you can! Just keep your eyes and heart open to God’s prompting. You will be amazed!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Here We Go Again

September 11th, 2012 dsisler

Greetings!
I’ve just returned from a 20+ hour road trip with my husband. We are exhausted and so I am going to do it again…post an old blog post for you to enjoy again. I’ve got a great idea for tomorrow, so you won’t want to miss it! But until then, here’s a post that has to do with driving.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
DO NOT SPEED

Last February, I visited Daytona Beach for two weeks. There were several reasons for being there, but one of the best reasons was to access the ocean. I stayed at my great aunt’s home that was about four blocks from the beach. Each day I would set out to walk the blocks that separated me from the beach and stroll down the beach a while, then head back to the comfort of my family.
On one of these excursions, I passed a motorcycle that had a sign across the wind shield in large letters and in plain sight of the driver, “DO NOT SPEED.” Apparently, the driver of this cycle needed reminding that speeding was not a good idea.
Now I typically drive faster than I should. Driving 5 to 10 miles over the speed limit is not unusual for me. I have, however, found that in our community, police officers don’t appreciate even that. To keep myself in check, I use my cruise control around town. I have no desire to receive my first speeding ticket in the Tri-Towns area.
Most highway systems these days have large electronic signs where important messages can be displayed for all drivers to see. Colorado is no different and I pass several signs each day in my travels.  My favorite message of late states, “75 means 75. Violators will be ticketed.”
Sometimes we all need reminding that we should or shouldn’t do something, whether it’s gossiping, lying, swearing, being kind to others, sharing the Gospel with our neighbor, or speeding. So God could say, “do not lie means do not lie.” Or “love your neighbor as yourself means love your neighbor as yourself.”   And even “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God means do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Has the “ah ha” moment hit yet?
What about the times we take “signs” for granted? We see them each day and perhaps become used to them. They are just part of the scenery and then we ignore them. We go back to our old way of life and don’t take to heart the message. I think in those times, we need to remember to look at the signs and really see what they or God is saying. Ask God to enlighten the eyes of our hearts and bring us back to the message He has for us.
God’s Word continues to give us these reminders, but unless we are in His Word on a regular basis, we might miss some of them. Don’t ever think that God doesn’t have something to say to you. Be open to His subtle hints and be aware of His blunt reminders.
To be honest, that “75 means 75” sign has made an impact on my life. I now find myself traveling I-25 at 75 miles an hour more times than not. I still use my cruise control around my community. And part of this slowing down in my driving has helped me to slow down in all areas of my life. I now have more quality time and opportunity to spend with friends, family and most of all God. I pray these same things for you. May God bless you today in your travels and in your relationships.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Goodbye…Again

September 10th, 2012 dsisler

This has been a year of goodbyes. Two weddings and a surgery recovery guaranteed that I’d be able to visit with family this year. And the best part has been that the phrase, “I’ll see you soon” has been attached to each goodbye…until now.
I’m leaving family today but I don’t know when I will see them again. There isn’t another wedding to plan for. There isn’t a future trip already in the works. It’s just goodbye. Unfortunately, I’m finding that saying goodbye on this trip has been very emotional.

 I’m not alone. There have been others who have had emotional goodbyes. There are even a few of them in Scripture.

One scene of saying goodbye can be found in Ruth 1:8-14. Weeping and clinging are found in these verses. Saying goodbye to loved ones can be very difficult.

Paul found himself in the middle of a riot and uproar in Ephesus. Acts 20:1 (NIV) tells us, “When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Mcedonia.” Here we see a great example of how to say goodbye when anger might be in the midst.
And then we see an example of one desiring to say goodbye to his family so that he might follow Jesus. Luke 9:61-62 (NIV) allows us to view the scene. A disciple said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”
That seems like a logical request, but Jesus wanted this disciple to know that sometimes it costs us everything to follow Him. It is up to us to determine how much we are willing to give up to put our relationship with Jesus first in our lives.
Jesus also speaks to the cost of following Him in Matthew 6:33 (NIV). “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seeking God’s kingdom first is not natural to us. We would much rather seek our own desires first, but if we follow this guideline, we see that God will give us all the things seek (but just so you get the picture, when God’s will is before our own, some of the original desires of our heart become unimportant…our hearts change).
Yes, saying goodbye has been emotional. To be honest, I don’t really want to say goodbye. But there are some bright spots ahead that lighten the load of my heart. I will soon see the smiling faces of my grandchildren. I will be able to embrace my beautiful daughters. I will continue to prepare my body and heart for the service trip to SE Asia. I will begin leading women’s Bible study.
See, there are a great many things to be excited about. So today I choose to think of these upcoming events and not the goodbyes.
God Be With You Till We Meet Again
God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you,
With his sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.[i]
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i] Text:Jeremiah E. Rankin, 1828-1904, Music: William G. Tomer, 1833-1896
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The Chase

September 9th, 2012 dsisler

The 2012 season of NASCAR is coming to an end. With next week’s race, the chase begins and there are ten races remaining. There are only twelve drivers eligible to be the champion. The driver with the most points at the end of the chase will be named the champion.
Last night, NASCAR aired several commercials that described an eligible driver’s year or life and how each had led to the last ten races and the chase. At the end of the commercial, an announcer said, “The Chase. A dozen journey’s. One destination.”
That phrase caught my attention…just as the marketing pro had intended. But not for the reason they wanted. I immediately began thinking of how I could write about this phrase and use it as a Christian analogy.
Each of us has been on a journey. A spiritual journey. Our journeys have taken us to places we would never have imagined being. They have taken us to some of the greatest moments. The journey has taken us to some uplifting areas. Great sorrow has accompanied some of us along the way. We’ve even been to some dark places. And it wouldn’t be a worthwhile journey if joy and happiness hadn’t showed up at times.
Yes, it has been a journey and each journey is unique.
I’m sure, if you are like me, there are parts of your journey that you wish you could erase from the journals of your life. Times of rebellion and sin. But without these moments along the journey, I might not have learned the lessons needed. Because I experienced what those periods felt like (mainly separation from God), I know I don’t want to experience that again. I strive to keep sin out of my heart.
And I’m also sure that if you’re like me, you wish the spiritual highs could last forever. Because we have experienced the spiritual lows, we are able to appreciate the spiritual highs. On our journey, it’s what we do with these moments that really matter.
And of course, there is one destination. Heaven. For the Christian, that is our goal. That is where we will be champions. Reaching that finish line to be with Jesus forever and ever.
On our spiritual journey, it isn’t a chase. At least not for us. Because God is the one chasing. He is pursuing us throughout our journey. When we wander off the path, He is there to call us back to Him.
Perhaps the greatest example of this journey can be found in Psalm 23. It shows the ups and downs of life and how our heavenly Father is with us through it all. He is there to lead, guide and direct our footsteps. He is there to quiet and restore. He is there to encourage and sustain. He is there.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
(Psalm 23:1-6 – NIV)
How’s it going on your journey? If you are struggling, don’t hesitate to look to the One who is able to get you straightened out. He has the ability to keep your journey on His righteous path. He’s pursuing you. Just stop and let Him take control.
If you feel your spiritual journey is going well, there is always room for improvement. Find a way to deepen your relationship with Jesus just a little more. Memorize more Scripture. Spend an extra 15 minutes praying. Share the Gospel with one more person. The benefit will far outweigh the effort.
A spiritual journey. A destination. I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of it. I pray that you are as well.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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The Golden Lamb

September 8th, 2012 dsisler

My husband and I will be celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary on September 15. We’ve been on vacation for the past two weeks and have had an enjoyable time together, and to be honest, neither of us realized our anniversary was just around the corner. Until yesterday.
Yesterday, we unexpectedly wound up at the oldest inn in the State of Ohio. The Golden Lamb in Lebanon. This inn holds special significance and meaning to us. We spent our wedding night in the Charles Dickens room of this inn and thoroughly enjoyed the history of the town and location.
So in the midst of a torrential thunderstorm, a power outage, rain soaked hair and clothing, we enjoyed a fabulous dinner with my Dad.
I love when God unexpectedly shows up in my life. Whether it’s by seeing a passage of Scripture that fills my heart with sunshine or when I am convicted of a sin. It might be a person through whom Jesus speaks or a glimpse of beauty along the way.
Whatever it might be, when God unexpectedly shows up, I know blessings are not far behind.
But I’m not alone. God has been doing this since the beginning.
Noah (Genesis 6-9) had an unexpected visit from God although he was a righteous man and walked with God. One day, God said to Noah, “Build an ark.” And in Noah’s obedience, he and his family were blessed with life.
We read of Abraham’s unexpected visit in Genesis 12. God told Abraham to leave all that he knew and go to a place where God would tell him to go. God shared a promise with Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV). “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all people on earth will be blessed through you.” What a blessing Abraham received because of his obedience.
Daniel’s unexpected visit came from an angel (Daniel 6:1-28). But maybe it wasn’t as unexpected as we might think. Daniel had been loyal to God and God had blessed Daniel. When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s pit to be killed, God sent an angel to spend the night with Daniel. In the morning, Daniel was able to share the account with King Darius and bring joy in the midst of sorrow. Daniel received a blessing from God and was also a blessing to others.
Paul shares his conversion story several times through Scripture. Acts 9:1-19 is the first account. On a journey to persecute Christians, Jesus unexpectedly stopped Saul along the road. For three days, Saul was blind and did not eat or drink a thing. When he received another unexpected visitor, Ananias, his life would be changed forever. Saul was baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and preached boldly of Jesus from that day forward. Paul’s blessings from God were tremendous and blessings poured forth from God to others through Paul.
On a tiny island, a servant of God spent his last days alone, without human companionship. It was here an unexpected visitor brought a vision to John. This vision is recorded in the Book of Revelation. John was blessed and encouraged by the vision.
He learned from his vision that Jesus was victorious and that hope was available for those going through persecution. Revelation 1:3 (NIV) says, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
The blessings didn’t end with John. We receive the blessing of encouragement as well when we read this book.
I love unexpected encounters with God. Knowing something could happen at any time keeps me alert to the possibilities. I pray that you’re looking for these encounters as well.
I was blessed beyond words by having dinner with my Dad and Mason. In the midst of all the turmoil and uncertainties of the night, we were able to enjoy the best food The Golden Lamb had to offer. I’m so thankful for these two men and that God chose them for me. I am truly blessed.
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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    In September 2012 I went to SE Asia on a service trip. For more information, check out preachitclearly.blogspot.com.

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