Building a Doll House: The Plan – Chapter 2

February 22nd, 2012 dsisler

NOTE: If you missed Chapter 1, Building a Doll House: And So It Begins – Chapter 1, you can find it in the column under “blog archive” to the right.

We had a kit. We had supplies. We had a plan. We had nearly four months to complete the project for Joy’s Christmas gift. We got started immediately. Mason pulled out every piece and placed a “sticky note” on it with the part number and the number of pieces. He read through the directions and felt they weren’t adequate, so he found a great website that had step-by-step instructions (with photos) on how to build this particular house. We found this resource to be extremely useful throughout the project.

My project was to design each room. The color scheme, wall paper, flooring, and décor of each room was especially exciting to work on. I spent hours looking for the perfect items. In addition to this, I also searched the Bible to find a verse to write on each surface that related to the purpose of each room. Each verse is hand-written under the wall paper, flooring, or shingles. My prayer is that when the wall paper or shingles fall off of this house, my great-grandchildren will see a message from me (and God).
Mason gathered tools and supplies. Lots of tools and supplies. Here’s a list: rulers, squares, saws, clamps, air hammer, glue, pin nails, tape, paint, paint brushes, electrical tools, pencils, sandpaper, and tables. Pretty soon, the loft was overtaken by all things doll house related. Our work station and planning were complete. It was time to actually start building the doll house.
We used a lot, a lot of clamps. Of various shapes and sizes, these supports kept pieces in place while the glue dried or they served as extra “hands” when the task got a bit difficult. Without the clamps some of the work on the house would be impossible, difficult or perhaps delayed. Occasionally we’d come to a spot where none of the clamps would work and in those situations we’d simply hold a piece in place or hope the pin nails would keep it exactly where it was supposed to be until the glue dried. These were not fun times and it made us very thankful for the clamps when we were able to use them.
God gave us several tools to help us through difficult times. Times we might need an extra hand, or an encouraging word, or a hug. Our fellow Christians can be the support we need at times. Remember Ecclesiastes 4:12? God’s Holy Spirit can lead and guide us and God’s Word can give us encouragement when there is no encouragement to be found. Through the true foundation of God’s Word, Jesus as our Savior, and added strength of good Christian friends will we be able to handle the trials we encounter.
Proverbs 14:22b tells us, “Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.” Love and faithfulness. Gifts from God. They may come in the form of friends, but most definitely from God. Do you have a plan? A good plan? I pray that you do. If not, why not seek out the Planner of our salvation and begin the process of building a new life? His plans stand firm. Forever. Let’s use His plan!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Three Weeks

February 21st, 2012 dsisler

Three weeks and over 500 page views later, this blog thing continues. But I have to ask myself, “Why? Why am I writing and posting daily?” For me, it is a sense of purpose. Maybe I don’t have a lot to say, but maybe, just maybe, someone who reads one of my posts will be blessed in some way. But, what about you? Does it make any difference in your daily walk with Jesus? Do you take the time to ponder the thoughts and biblical principles that I write about? Are they just “good stories” to read? I’ve received a few responses from people, several “likes” on Facebook, and a comment or two on the blog itself, but is it really making a difference?

I guess I would have to look once again to the Bible for an answer to this question. I believe that we are to share the Gospel and make disciples throughout our lives and in our realm of influence. So, this is where I might plant a seed and point the way to Jesus. I also know that probably most, if not all of my audience here are already believers. My desire is that someone might stumble upon this blog and see how Jesus cares for them. That His desire for them would be to become a follower. My prayer must be for those who are lost to be found.
And if only a seed is planted, then all the more reason to continue with this blog. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” That’s what it’s all about. Planting the seeds that will lead others to Jesus. God will do the rest.
Paul also encouraged Timothy to “devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” That is exactly what this blog is about. God’s Word and teaching what it is saying to this world and to me! What a tool we as Christians have. There has never been a more public way of getting the message out there than the Internet.
So you may be silent. You may never post a comment here or on one of the other social medias, but know that I’ll be here daily. Writing and posting. Because if I cannot share what God has done in my life, who will? Let’s not leave it to the “stones to cry out” praise to God. Won’t you join me?
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Memories

February 20th, 2012 dsisler
When my granddaughter Joy was younger, bath time for the two of us was special and so enjoyable. A couple times a week, I’d get the chance to sit with her while she splashed, laughed, colored, and many other memorable types of play in the tub. One of which was singing. We would sing all kinds of music. Mostly children’s music, but still, it was so much fun to hear a child sing about Jesus or the alphabet.
When it came time to wash her hair, we’d jump to my favorite musical, “South Pacific,” and sing, “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair. I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair. I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair and send him on his way.” Then I’d let Joy take the floor and she’d say, “Get the picture?” It always brought a smile to my face to hear that phrase in her little voice.
It’s been a long time since I’ve given Joy a bath and with that, haven’t sung this song in quite a while. The other night, out of the blue, I decided to sing this song. I started and when I got to her part, she didn’t say anything. So I filled in for her. I repeated the words again, and again, she didn’t respond, so I did once more. Then she asked, “Why do you keep saying that?” She didn’t remember. None of it. I don’t even know if she remembered any of the bath times we had shared. Needless to say, I was disappointed. These moments were special, very precious to me and it wasn’t even a memory to her.
I suspect this is exactly the reason God gave us a particular command in Deuteronomy 6:6-9. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
God knew that we’d forget. Forget His commandments and His promises. Life would get in the way or maybe we’d simply grow up and forget all that He has given us. Forget and take for granted the promises He made to us. Oh, how I want to remember. All of it. Peter writes a tiny verse in 2 Peter 1:13. He says, “I think it is right to refresh your memory…”Yes! It is right to refresh our memories of some of God’s promises. They are too numerous to recount here, but a few might jolt your memory to dig a little deeper.
  • “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
  • “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38)
  •  “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
  •  “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
  • “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
  • “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)
These are just a few, but maybe these are a few that can be memorized, kept in our hearts, impressed upon our children, or written on our doorframes. God doesn’t want us to forget. “Get the picture?”
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Good?

February 19th, 2012 dsisler

If you have ever been through a rough time, a tragic time, a disappointing time, you may have heard this verse before. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I’ve thought about this verse throughout my lifetime, and probably have used it a time or two. But, until my life was turned upside down last year, I never took the time to study this passage.

 

Good? How can we say it is good when a loved one dies, or when someone close to us is told they have cancer, or when I’m going through financial hardship because of the loss of a job? If we only look at this verse, it is what we are to believe. But I truly believe we can find answers to the questions surrounding this verse of Scripture when we look at the passages before and after it.

 

Let’s break down Romans 8 and allow God to lead us to a correct understanding.

 

  • “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1)
  • “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” (8:9-17; 8:26)
  • We have a future – the temporal things of this world cannot be compared to our future (8:18)
  • We love God and have been called to His purpose (8:28)
  • “If God is for us then who can be against us?” (8:31)
  • “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword?” (8:35)
  • “We are more than conquerors!” (8:37)
  • “Neither death nor life, angels nor demons, present nor future, nor any powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God” (8:38-39)

 

God loves us. He doesn’t want to see us hurt, but God can use those times in our lives to make us better people. You see in Romans 7, Paul makes statements like, “I am unspiritual,” and “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature,” and “when I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” Apart from God, we are not good. We cannot know God’s goodness. It is only through knowing God that we know good. He can work through us to bring out the good in us. To mature us. To develop us into a person He can use for His Kingdom.

 

The good is not the external things. The temporal, worldly things. Events that are crushing, devastating, troubling to our mortal bodies. No the “good” is the internal good God is doing within us. We have the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, comfort, etc. when we are under fire. In our weakness He makes us conquerors. God is on our side!

 

Through my loss, I’ve learned that God is at work in me. I’m here for God’s purpose. I know that through my experience the good developed within me is greater and stronger. And until I’m with those who have gone before, I must continue to allow the Holy Spirit to work “good” in my life.

 

God has reminded me over and over this past year that His grace is sufficient. On that Sunday morning last March, I could not have known what I was heading in to, but God did. His Holy Spirit did. They loved me through the day. They comforted me through the day. They worked on me through the day. And in the end, I knew that God’s grace was all I needed. I knew that I was a conqueror and my faith is stronger today than it’s ever been in my life because of that experience. So I can agree and repeat these words from the Apostle Paul:

 

“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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The Cold

February 18th, 2012 dsisler
I have a cold. It’s one of those times in my life where I want to scream. I have a trip planned in two weeks, a first birthday party to plan, and numerous other important items to check off my list before my trip. I simply don’t have time to be sick! I have managed to stay healthy for over a year. I’ve been around sick people, but have kept my hands washed and their germs off of me. But it didn’t work this time.
Why? Why this time? Well, I was tired, run down, not taking care of myself, and the smallest germ attacked my system. It broke through all the defenses I’ve worked so hard to build up. Defeat. Yes, this cold has defeated me. It’s taken days from me. Days that I need in order to get things done for upcoming deadlines.
This cold reminds me of times when I’ve allowed my spiritual defenses to drop. It’s during those times that Satan knows exactly how to jump all over me and bring me down. When I’m too busy to spend quality time with God. When I’m so tired that I don’t want to spend quality time with God. Even when I’m sick, when my brain isn’t up to par because of medication to spend quality time with God. That’s when Satan attacks. When I am not at my best.
Unfortunately, these times are more frequent than I’d like. So Satan has plenty of opportunity to attack. But surely there is something I can do to prevent it, or to help ward off his attacks. Right? Yes! Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us the perfect weapons to “extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
First, we are called to “be strong in the Lord and his mighty power” and to “put on the full armor of God.” Without God’s strength and armor, we would be defenseless against Satan.
Then we are to put on:
  • The Belt of Truth
  • The Breastplate of Righteousness
  • Feet Fitted with Readiness
  • The Shield of Faith
  • The Helmet of Salvation
  • The Sword of the Spirit
With these tools and the understanding of how to use them, we can stand firm, be alert, and pray. I am so thankful for the tools that God gives us to prepare for battle! Don’t underestimate what God can do through you wearing His armor!So don’t allow your busyness, tiredness, or illness keep you from seeking God’s truths. Keep on keeping on. Stand firm. The battle belongs to God!
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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