Lasso

June 22nd, 2016 dsisler

 

There is so much in my mind. All sorts of thoughts, ideas, concerns, “to-do lists,” schedule, Bible study prep, family dynamics and much more. And my mind just isn’t keeping up. It’s a bit weary from this past weekend of travel and parties. It’s a bit weary from lack of sleep. It’s a bit weary from these crazy allergies and medication. And as much as I’d like to just relax and allow my mind to recoup, there just isn’t time.

 

My mind is on overload and these are the exact moments when I need to lean more heavily onto Jesus. You see Satan knows where I am this morning. So his goal is to get me to make poor decisions because my mind is weary. His goal is to tempt me with things I shouldn’t even consider. His goal is to point me in a direction that isn’t good for me. And he knows that this is the exact moment when I am weakest and he will take advantage of that fact.

 

But I’ve caught on to the enemy’s tactics. I know what he’s trying to do. And I also know that he isn’t going to win this one.

 

On Sunday morning, I had the opportunity to go to church with my Dad and listen to him preach. It was a pretty awesome morning. The first song we sang in worship is one of my favorite songs. We use it in Praise in Motion and we call it the lasso song because that’s one of the moves. But as I stood there and sang the words to this song, I had a deeper love for this song. Not because I was going through the motions (as I sometimes do when we sing a Praise in Motion song in worship), but because I caught the meaning of the song.

 

The song is “Greater” and I’ve shared it with you before (you can click here to see my thoughts), but what I want to share this morning is that this song begins with an invitation to those who are tired. Bring it. Bring it to the One who is greater than your tiredness. There is no reason to carry this burden of weariness all by yourself.

 

Jesus knew we would be tired and that Satan would use our weariness against us. That is why He invited us to bring our load to Him. “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 – NIV)

 

Are you ready to give your weariness to Jesus? If so, you can lasso that tiredness and dump it at the feet of Jesus. That is where you will find rest. Sweet rest.

 

I have a busy day ahead, but I know that Jesus is right beside me to give me the strength and mind I need to get through it. Because greater is the One living inside of me than the one living in this world.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Another Break – Day 8

June 21st, 2016 dsisler

 

And one more day of repeated blog posts. I look forward to sharing what happened over the weekend.

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Listen

 

???????????????????????????????I have mentioned many times that I love listening to God’s Word. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the two reasons that rise to the top are because I hear things that I don’t always read and because hearing God’s message is the way our biblical friends came to know God’s Word.

 

I currently have been listening to 1 & 2 Peter. I have enjoyed finding morsels of goodness through this audio version of the Bible. If you haven’t tried it, I would encourage you to do so.

 

I also enjoy listening to preaching on the radio. Yes, music is a passion, but there’s just something about hearing God’s messengers preach His Word as I drive about town.

 

I recently heard a message by Charles Stanley titled, “How to Listen to the Word of God.” Of course, it caught my attention and so I thought I would share his thoughts here. If you are new to reading my blog, please know that I rarely do this, but I felt Pastor Stanley’s words were far better than I could express. I pray you will enjoy this as much as I did.

 

“You must listen to God’s Word:

 

Eagerly (Nehemiah 8:1-2) – When you come to a worship service, ask God to speak to your heart.

 

Attentively (Nehemiah 8:3) – Your attention span is determined by your desire to know God and His will for your life.

 

Trustingly (Nehemiah 8:4-5) – Our world is unpredictable. We must place our faith in something that gives us assurance—and God’s Word is trustworthy.

 

Expectantly (Nehemiah 8:5) – In Nehemiah’s day, the people couldn’t understand the original languages of the scrolls. But they stood in anticipation of hearing God’s Word.

 

Prayerfully (Nehemiah 8:6) – The people bowed low and worshipped the Lord.

 

Patiently (Nehemiah 8:7) – The people listened for hours as God’s Word was read.

 

Humbly (Nehemiah 8:6) – The people fell on their faces in humility because of their ancestors’ sins, which had caused them to miss the Lord’s blessings.

 

Purposefully (Nehemiah 8:12-17) – They wanted to gain insight into the Law. Each time you come to church, ask God for insight about His character.

 

Happily – There was great joy when the people listened to the Law. You are responsible for your own attitude toward the church.

 

Repentantly (Nehemiah 9:1-3) – The people listened with repentant hearts. If the Lord brings something to your attention, don’t blame the preacher. Be honest with God about it.”[i]

 

You may or may not find anything in this list that sparks your interest, but I pray that being in God’s presence through His Word does. The next time you hear God’s Word spoken, I pray that you will be reminded of a few of these ideas.

 

When we listen to God’s message with eager, humble, expectant hearts, amazing things will begin to happen. I can’t wait to hear God’s Word again. Can you?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “How to Listen to the Word of God,” Charles F. Stanley, intouch.org.

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Another Break – Day 7

June 20th, 2016 dsisler

 

Okay this is a recoup day…still in Ohio with family, but it’s a bit more relaxed. It’s been so good to be here and I will miss them all, but I’ll be back in a few short weeks for Liam’s birth. What a great summer!

 

Another fun story from my childhood. Enjoy!

 

Digging Potatoes

 

CCI was raised in Upstate New York. If you’ve never visited that area of the country, you’ll not realize how well produce grows there. The summer months were beautiful. Our family had a large garden. A garden that was probably overwhelming to most, but it kept our family fed throughout the year and it was something of great pride for my parents.

 

Caring for this large piece of land was a daunting task. The plowing, planting, weeding, and harvesting were all done as a family. However, I do believe most of the weeding and hoeing was done by the children in our family. Plant after plant. Row after row. Day after day. We spent hours in that garden. Watching our friends play baseball close by did not make it any easier either.

 

The most memorable time of harvesting for me was the potato harvest. Typically, it was later in the season. Usually a cold day, and when combined with water to rinse them, created a frosty atmosphere.

 

We had a small tractor with a plow attachment, but it wasn’t heavy enough to bring the potatoes to the surface, so one of us would have to sit on the plow. It wasn’t a comfortable ride. The plow was not equipped with a seat. The steel bars were extremely hard. The up and down motion of the plow created a desire to hang on tight. I’m sure if we had a video camera back then, there would have been some great video for our viewing pleasure. Thank goodness they weren’t available to us or our neighbors at that time.

 

Row after row the tractor would dig up the potatoes. After the plowing, all those potatoes needed to be picked up, washed of all the dirt, and then placed in the cool cellar for use throughout the year. We were thankful for what was harvested during the fall months. Each time a potato was brought up from the cellar, I remembered the day we dug them from the ground.

 

Our spiritual journey sometimes looks like this. We bury attitudes, unforgiveness, bitterness, disappointment, hurt or sin deep into our hearts. We sometimes allow these little nuggets to fester and grow until there’s nothing more to do with it than to dig it up.

 

With the help of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, we dislodge the growth from our heart. It comes to the surface, but it’s pretty ugly. It’s covered with dirt and grime, but that’s the nature of hurt and sin. There’s nothing pretty about it.

 

But suddenly, a cool, refreshing flood of forgiveness and grace washes away the filth of the sin. Our spirits are renewed and our hearts are healed.

 

And the sin that once festered deep within us is tossed to the cellar where it is never to be seen again. The hurt that once held us captive is nowhere to be found.

 

It may be a difficult process. You may be tossed back and forth. But the end result is so beneficial. Feasting on God’s goodness will always be the best tradeoff for the effort given.

 

So what’s growing in your heart today? Do you need to harvest some bad fruit? Are you willing to allow God to dig up those hurts or sins that have taken root in your heart? If so, I know that God will be with you every step of the way. Just ask and He’ll join you during this harvest.

 

“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

 

 

 

 

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Another Break – Day 6

June 19th, 2016 dsisler

 

It’s Father’s Day! I am blessed to be with my Dad today and to worship with him. But I also have the privilege of hearing him preach the gospel. This is truly a blessing!

 

Top of the WorldI pray that you will make the most of every moment you are with your parents…especially on this special day to honor dad’s.

 

Also, if you’re in Colorado today, Carlos Whittaker will be speaking at Rocky. You won’t want to miss hearing his message about moment makers.

 

Have an exceptionally blessed day!

 

All-Stars

 

If you are a baseball fan, you know the Major League Baseball All-Star game was played last night. You might also know a few details about the importance of this game. When the players break for the All-Star game, the baseball season is officially half over. The All-Star game also determines the home-field advantage for the World Series each year.

 

Whether you’re an American League or National League fan, the All-Star game brings together all the great players of the year onto one field, at the same time. It is usually an exciting game to watch.

 

I love the idea of selecting all-stars. Maybe it’s the people who have made an impact upon my life. Some of these all-stars might include grandparents, parents, spiritual mentors, or close friends. When I think of these folks who have come along side me on this journey, I’m thankful for each of them. For their words of encouragement, as well as for their honesty when my life didn’t line up with God’s vision. These are the people of whom I can say, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3 – NIV) I pray that you have some of these all-stars in your life as well.

 

It would be difficult to name all of the all-stars of the Bible, but perhaps I can share a few of my favorite all-stars.

 

Joshua – there is so much about Joshua than meets the eye. My Mom usually is sure to mention that when Joshua is spoken of in Scripture his heritage is mentioned as well. Joshua son of Nun is repeated over and over. While not every family has a great tree, for those of us who do, let’s not take our God-believing heritage for granted. I am blessed to have generations of faithful believers to remember as I sit and read Scripture or write a piece about my faith. I thank God for their faithfulness.

 

Rahab – living in a pagan world among pagan people, Rahab heard stories about God. Maybe it was like a fairytale of old, but something inside of Rahab believed in the Hebrew God and she turned against her own people and city to come face-to-face with those who followed God. In the end, her belief saved her and her family. It also got her into the best family lineage ever!

 

Tabitha – this godly woman was always doing good and helping the poor. She was the woman in town who was always ready to lend a hand to help others in need. Then one day, she got sick and died. Those whose lives had been affected by Tabitha were moved to ask for assistance. Peter arrived at their beckoning and raised her from the dead. I’ve often wondered if Tabitha wasn’t a little ticked off, but perhaps her servant heart flowed with grace in this situation. Either way, Tabitha makes my all-star list for her willingness to help those in need.

 

If you’re like me, you have your own list of all-stars. Who are they? Why have they made your list? What lessons can you learn from your all-stars?

 

The sweetest news today is that we are all all-stars in Jesus’ book and He will always be there cheering us on. He urges us to be better at what we do and He encourages us to get into the game. Are you ready to step up to the plate?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Another Break – Day 5

June 18th, 2016 dsisler

 

We’ve finally arrived at the day for a beautiful baby shower for my newest (not quite born) grandchild, Liam Daniel! I can’t wait to introduce you to this little one in a few short weeks.

 

Enjoy today’s repeat blog post…what a fun experience! Blessings!

 

Climb the High Mountain

 

IMAG2196mOver the weekend, my husband and I took a trip to the mountains. It was a beautiful time to be in the Rocky Mountains. Everything is so green right now and the wild flowers were out in abundance. It was a wonderful trip.

 

At one point, I was sitting in the car by myself on the passenger side (this is unusual when we’re in my vehicle). The driver’s door opened and a woman got in. She was surprised and embarrassed. We laughed. She got out and walked to her red vehicle. It was a great encounter.

 

Further on, we walked around Sprague Lake. There were two couples who seemed to be having a wonderful time reconnecting. They were laughing, snapping pictures, and anyone around them could not help but be infected with the joy they were experiencing. They asked if I could take a group picture of them, so I did. Afterwards, we sat on the same bench and they took a few pictures of my husband and me.

 

God taught me a few things on this little venture.

 

Surprises

While there are some bad surprises in this world, the good surprises are what bring joy to our lives. Those chance encounters with old friends or a phone call out of the blue. Maybe a card in the mail or a bouquet of flowers. These surprises warm our hearts and bring a smile to our faces.

 

And you know how much you enjoy these surprises, so why not surprise a friend or a loved one in the same way you’ve been surprised? Share this joy with others. You will be encouraged as well.

 

Encounters

The folks that Mason and I encountered on this journey were from all walks of life. Young families just starting out to grandparents caring for their grandchildren to everything in between. Some were laughing, some were quiet, some were skipping, some were hobbling. But when eyes met and a smile was shared, each person felt the connection.

 

The connection that we are all on a journey. Where we are headed is important, but what we do with our lives on that journey is what counts. Our words, our actions, our attitudes, these are what make our journey sweet or bitter.

 

And we know that God is with us on this journey. Look at what the Israelites were told. “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord you God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” (Deuteronomy 2:7 – NIV) I believe that as faithful sojourners, these words apply to us as well.

 

As we head out into our day-to-day lives, let’s keep in mind that we are going to have surprises and encounters along the way. But we can be assured that we are not alone. If you need to be reminded of this, take a look at Psalm 16:11, Psalm 23:3, Psalm 119:35, and Psalm 142:3.

 

I’d like to share a poem I found about climbing a mountain. I pray that you will be inspired to live life to its fullest and to make this journey with Jesus by your side.

 

Climb the High Mountain

 

Climb the high mountain

Up God’s pathway

Looking unto Jesus

Lest you go astray.

 

Climb the high mountain,

Hard it may seem.

With Jesus as your guide

You will find your dream.

 

A life that is filled

With His love and His peace,

A life now and beyond

That will never cease![i]

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] Climb the High Mountain, Perry Boardman

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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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