“God’s Garden” – Today’s Touch

June 2nd, 2016 dsisler

 

I’m going to try something different on Thursday’s. There are some talented poets who have written some remarking works about God and our relationship with Him. So today, I introduce Today’s Touch.

 

Daytona 500 004I don’t know how it will play out for certain. Only time will tell. But I want Thursday’s to be encouraging and uplifting to you as a follower of Christ. I want Thursday’s to spur you to action. I want you to know that God has a beautiful plan for your life. And I think poetry just might hit a spot that I’ve been missing.

 

If you are a poet who loves to share God’s message with others, I’d love to read some of your work and highlight it on Thursday’s Touch. Send your poetry to donna@fullmeasureofjoy.com. I can’t wait to hear from you!

 

“God’s Garden”
Author Unknown

Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be obedient
Lettuce really love one another.

You will have no garden without turnips:
Turnup for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnup to help one another

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden
Because you reap what you sow

To conclude our garden,
we must have thyme:
Thyme for God – Thyme for study
Thyme for prayer

 

I pray that you smiled as you read through this little poem. I did! But more importantly, I pray that if you read something that needs work on your part, that you will not allow another day to pass without asking God to help you make the change in your life.

 

I would be happy to pray for you today if you have a specific request. Just let me know.

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer

June 1st, 2016 dsisler

 

Isn’t summer supposed to be a bit more relaxed? You know, lazy, hazy days of summer? I just don’t see this idea or concept showing up in my schedule for the three months of June, July and August.

 

???????????????????????????????But the more I think about it, the more excited I am about what is going to be happening in these three months.

 

Bible studies. Creative Bible journaling. Spiritual development training. Stephen Ministry commissioning.

 

And then on a personal note, a new grandbaby arriving. A wedding to attend. Visits with family and friends. Travel.

 

Wow, I think I’ll be busy this summer!

 

But, Scripture does seem to direct us away from laziness. The Book of Proverbs is filled with good advice about this topic.

 

“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Proverbs 10:4 – NIV)

 

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

 

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23 – NIV)

 

 “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” (Proverbs 20:4 – NIV)
 

Okay, so you get the picture.

 

But here’s what I really want you to get. Yes, I will be busy this summer. But in all the busyness, I must not and cannot neglect my personal relationship with Jesus. What happens between me and Him must be my top priority. For me, that means waking at 5 am for that time with Him.

 

It may look different for you, but if being in Jesus’ presence for those special, quiet moments with Him is not part of your daily routine, I would encourage you to make the commitment to do so this summer. Find the way that you connect to Jesus best and do that. Whatever it is, just do it.

 

I would love to hear how you connect with Jesus. Would you care to share?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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A Morning Dove

May 31st, 2016 dsisler

 

I enjoy this time of year. Just warm enough to be able to open the windows to allow the breeze to flow through the house. And the sounds of nature…it is calming to hear the birds singing, the frogs croaking and crickets chirping.

 

flowers-1325012_1280One of my favorite sounds is that of the morning dove. Their cooing reminds me of my Grandpa and Grandma Ike. When I hear a morning dove, I’m transported back to their home, listening to the call of one morning dove to another.

 

These are precious memories to me and I am thankful to have the reminder of those moments years ago.

 

God has placed reminders all around us to help us remember Him. A beautiful sunrise or sunset. Snow on the mountaintops. A gentle breeze. Fresh fruits and vegetables. All of these things remind us of God our Creator.

 

God’s reminders don’t stop with nature. Do you think of God when you discover a particularly truth-bearing verse of Scripture? Or when there is an answer to prayer? Or when you are encouraged by a smile from a stranger? Or when you feel peace in your heart? These are all reminders that God is with you.

 

God reminds us each day to stop and see Him. To stop and speak with Him. To stop and enter into His presence. To stop and seek His will. To stop and be Jesus to others.

 

You see, it’s easy for us to forget and neglect and dismiss God in our lives. We find ourselves too busy to see the reminders God has placed in our path. Sometimes we just don’t care. At other times we are nearly bold enough. And that my friend, is exactly where the enemy wants us to be. In a state of apathy, busyness and fear.

 

Today I would like to encourage you to open your spiritual eyes to God’s reminders. Then I’d like for you to recall all that God has done for you and perhaps through you. But these steps are not enough. There might be something you need to do. If so, do it. Do not allow fear to hold you back. Allow God’s Spirit to move within you and then through you.

 

Several verses are going through my head right now. Like, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 – NIV) Or, James 4:17 (NIV), “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” And, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 – NIV)

 

What is God reminding you of today?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Don’t Forget

May 30th, 2016 dsisler

 

One of my favorite blog posts is about Memorial Day, so thought I’d share again on this day of remembrance. I’m so thankful for the men and women who we were willing to give their life so that I might have the freedom I have. I pray that I will not take any of my freedoms for granted. I pray the same for you.

 

Memorial Day

 

flagToday is the day we Americans set aside to remember the men and women who fought and died in our military forces. From the Revolutionary War to the war against terrorism, those who have fallen are remembered on this particular day.

 

This day allows us to remember the bravery of those who have served in the armed forces. To reflect upon what their service meant. To ponder what America might have looked like had these men and women neglected their call to duty. To beam with pride for our America.

 

Patriotism in our early nation meant giving of oneself for the better of the whole. Sometimes it meant loss of livelihood. Sometimes it meant death. Today, we seem to believe we are patriotic if we fly our flag. But patriotism goes much deeper than that.

 

It is who we are as Americans. It is what we believe in. It is what we are willing to do to protect our values and our families. It is knowing that fighting for what is right is better than not fighting. But most of all, it is knowing that we live in a land where we are free.

 

Unfortunately, we take all of this for granted on most days of the year.

 

One of my favorite patriotic gospel songs is “Statue of Liberty.” In this song, a comparison is made between our American freedom and our freedom in Christ. Here are the lyrics to this song and if you’d like to listen and see a beautiful slide show, you can click here.

 

In New York Harbor stands a lady,
With a torch raised to the sky;
And all who see her know she stands for
Liberty for you and me.

 

I’m so proud to be called an American,
To be named with the brave and the free;
I will honor our flag and our trust in God,
And the Statue of Liberty.

 

On lonely Golgotha stood a cross,
With my Lord raised to the sky;
And all who kneel there live forever
As all the saved can testify.

 

I’m so glad to be called a Christian,
To be named with the ransomed and whole;
As the statue liberates the citizen,
So the cross liberates the soul.

 

Oh the cross is my Statue of Liberty,
It was there that my soul was set free;
Unashamed I’ll proclaim that a rugged cross
Is my Statue of Liberty![i]

 

I believe these lyrics show how our Christian faith is intertwined with our American lives. Where religious freedom meets political freedom. As a Christian, my faith must be seen in all areas of my life.

 

Holy Land Experience 038In Scripture we see that our spiritual freedom comes through living by God’s teachings. David knew how to be free. “I run in the path of your commands, or you have set my heart free.” (Psalm 119:32 – NIV) Isn’t this what we are all seeking? A heart set free? David shares the secret. It’s up to us to accept it.

 

Jesus also spoke of the freedom by following His teachings. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32 – NIV) As we study and implement Jesus’ teachings, truth will become clear. It is the truth that will set us free.

 

And one more passage from 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV) that tells us where freedom can be found. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” When the Spirit of the Lord resides within us, freedom is abundant.

 

I am called to live a life that honors God because of the freedom given in America and through the cross of Christ. I cannot take either lightly. Too great a sacrifice has been given for each.

 

Revolutionary War soldiers fought with great courage for what they believed in order to establish a nation that offered freedom and liberty to its citizens. Each military member since that time has fought for that same reason.

 

Jesus gave His life so that I might know true freedom and liberty. Spiritual freedom. Everlasting liberty.

 

Today I remember both. If you have not already enjoyed Christ’s freedom, why not do so today? It will be a day to remember!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Statue of Liberty,” © Words & Music by Neil Enloe, 1974

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Let’s Rejoice!

May 29th, 2016 dsisler

 

It’s Sunday morning! Time to get up and head to the house of the Lord!

 

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Sunday mornings are special (I pray they are for you as well). I understand King David’s words in Psalm 122:1 (NIV). “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” There is great rejoicing within my soul when I can join others in worshipping God my Creator and Jesus my Redeemer. To be in God’s presence is exciting.

 

So today I pray that you’re excited about heading to the house of the Lord. You will be blessed beyond measure when you approach God’s throne.

 

And today is also the day of the week that you will read an older post that I’ve written. I pray that you’ll enjoy reading about a clock or two. Have a wonderful day!

 

A Clock or Two

 

I found one last piece for my beachy office. A clock. I found that I struggled with finding the time while working away at my desk. Even though there is a tiny clock on my computer screen, I never could focus in on it.

 

My daughter and I were perusing Hobby Lobby last week and we saw this clock. A porthole replica that had been turned into a clock. Yesterday I decided it was time to get it. So now, I am the proud owner of this porthole clock. I’m sure it will help me with my time issues.

 

It just so happened that our bedroom alarm clock has decided to stop working as well. One or two mornings of not waking up on time will put a real damper on the day. So another clock was purchased yesterday and again, will help with time issues.

 

I don’t know about you, but there are occasions when I allow my time issues to push out the most important thing for me to do each day. Spend time with God. If you seem to be in the same boat, you know how disappointing it can be to stop one day and think, “when was the last time I picked up that devotion book or the Bible?”

 

It’s easy to get discouraged, but the good news is that God hasn’t moved. He’s still there in your special place waiting for you to join Him.

 

Even Jesus, our beloved Savior took time to be with God (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12) and He encouraged His disciples to find quiet time (Mark 6:30-32).

 

So how can we find these opportunities when our clocks tell us we must get moving? Let me share a few helpful hints.

 

Make it a habit

Be consistent. Even if you only have a few moments, do it. Don’t let a day go by that you don’t spend a little time with God.

 

Set an alarm

I have found that when I set alarms or notifications to do specific things, I tend to do them. Whether it’s sending out a meeting agenda or a reminder to pick up a birthday card, it works for me.

 

If it works for you too, why not set an alarm to spend some quiet time with God. Find that perfect place, sit and read a little Scripture and then finish up with prayer time. I am positive it will make a difference in your daily life.

 

Keep a journal

I love writing down what I’ve learned from God each day. However, by keeping a journal I’ve come to see my inconsistencies. When I thought I was spending daily time with God, my journal told a different story.

 

Journal keeping has helped me to be more consistent with this time. It might just be exactly what you need to do as well.

 

Don’t get discouraged

I am encouraged by the fact that God’s mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23). When I forget to spend time with God, I have the opportunity to make it right. I can run to Him, ask forgiveness and He will sit and visit with me (and you).

 

James encouraged his readers to “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8 – NIV) We can remember these words each day and see if it doesn’t make a difference.

 

What I’ve come to realize is that my time is God’s time. When I waste my time, I waste God’s time. When I run late, God is running late. When I don’t take the time to visit with God, I miss out on being in the presence of the One who gave His Son so that I might live. Kind of puts it in perspective, doesn’t it?

 

Time is easily squandered and wasted. I pray that you will take the time today to be with God. Enjoy His presence. Rejoice in your Savior. Find solace in His arms. Find peace in His Words.

 

Time is ticking!

 

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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