Peace! Peace!

August 14th, 2015 dsisler

 

It’s a peaceful morning. My office setting is quiet. I hear a few birds chirping outside my window. I am enjoying Friday morning (it is Friday right?) as leisurely as possible.

 

flowers from friends1.jpg1Now I would love to tell you that every area of my life is falling into this same status, but it’s not. There are work-related issues that I must deal with. There are family situations that are not perfect. My schedule is full…filled to brim and overflowing to be more precise. I have few a “fires” that need tending.

 

But here’s the thing. All of what is going on around me shouldn’t cause me to move from my peaceful place. Why? Well let me share a few verses of Scripture that might help you as they have me.

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 – NIV) To remain in Jesus means to spend as much time with Him as possible. Reading Scripture. Prayer time. Just thinking about Jesus throughout the day is part of remaining in Him. When Jesus is the center of my being, I will remain in Him. And because I remain in Jesus, He is able to help me with everything I need to do.

 

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) tells us, “You keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” As our trust in God’s provision and grace grow, we find ourselves in perfect peace mindset. Don’t hold back on trusting God. You can. And when you do, He will do some pretty remarkable things in your life.

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 – NIV) Praise. Worship. Peace. They go hand-in-hand. When we can learn to praise Jesus always, we’ll find and know and live in peace.

 

And finally, Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) will show us that it really doesn’t do any good to be anxious about anything. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Wow! These verses are such an encouragement to me. I pray they are to you as well. As we take our burdens to Jesus (and leave them there), look at what we gain in return. Peace. Guarding of our hearts. Guarding of our minds. How blessed we are in Jesus Christ!

 

I know, there are times I do get a little stressed and it shows. But when I’m in that situation, these are the verses I need to recall and remember. Perhaps you need to remember them today as well!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Philippians 1:21 – Word of God Wednesday

August 13th, 2015 dsisler

 

NOTE: I lost a day somewhere this week! It’s Thursday folks, but I clearly woke up this morning thinking it was Wednesday! Oh my!

 

I spent my time with God this morning with a single verse of Scripture. Philippians 1:21. I had a coloring page for this verse, so I picked up my colored markers and began.

 

 

As I colored, I thought about my life. What is it that makes my life so worthwhile? Family. Friends. Work. Writing. Hobbies.

 

But then as I read through the remainder of the verse, I spent time thinking of what my life might be like without Christ. Oh, I would still have all of the things mentioned above, right? The only difference would be that Jesus wouldn’t be the center of everything that I did. He wouldn’t be the center of each relationship I have.

 

Because I have chosen to make Christ the center of my life, He brings a deeper meaning to my relationships, my work, my writing and everything that I do each day. Jesus Himself reminds us of why He came to earth. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 – NIV)

 

What does “for to me, to live is Christ” mean to you? What do you need to do to live “life to the full”?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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All Things New

August 12th, 2015 dsisler

 

We are in the throes of August. Back-to-school traditions are in full swing and some schools have already started. Fall programming at churches are ready to begin. The thought of cooler weather lingers on everyone’s minds. Life is about to change.

 

pencilsAugust has always been a special month for me. My oldest child was born on August 21. My second child was born three years later on August 23. As you can imagine, August birthdays and back-to-school shopping were nearly always combined.

 

August also means that women’s Bible studies all around the world are about ready to begin. Women from all walks of life will spend more time in prayer and study with Bibles in hand starting in just a few weeks. Not that these same women don’t study and pray during the summer, but there’s just something about the fall and the re-gathering of these faithful women that makes me believe the evil one isn’t as excited for August to end as we are.

 

We rarely think of it this way, but August is a time of new beginnings. New studies. New grade levels at school. New teachers. New clothes. For some, new life in Christ.

 

There are plenty of passages that speak to this idea of “new.” King David spoke of a new song in Psalm 40:3. Solomon said “there is nothing new under the sun” in Ecclesiastes 1:9. Isaiah heard new things from God as stated in Isaiah 48:6. God spoke through Ezekiel 36:26 and said new hearts and new spirits were to come.

 

There were new names (Daniel 1:7), new days (Zephaniah3:5), a new teaching (Mark 1:27), a new command (John 13:34), new life (Acts 5:20), a new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:6), a new covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25), new creation (Galatians 6:15), new birth (1 Peter 1:3), a new heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:13), everything new (Revelation 21:5).

 

Early in Jesus’ ministry He was asked why His disciples didn’t fast and pray as John the Baptizer’s and the Pharisees did (Matthew Mark Luke 5:33-35). Jesus replied with encrypted words that we now understand, but for His audience, I’m sure they wondered what bridegroom he was talking about.

 

Jesus then went on to share a parable with those around Him. “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘This old is better.’” (Luke 5:36-39 – NIV)

 

Jesus’ audience understood this parable. They used goatskin to hold wine. As fresh wine fermented, the wine would expand. As it expanded, the new goatskin would stretch. If an older skin was used, it would not expand any further than it already had, so it would eventually burst.

 

We see in this parable that Jesus brought a new way of life that could not fit into or be confined by the old religious ways. Jesus also used this moment to show how some would be reluctant to change from their old traditions and look earnestly at the message Jesus was teaching.

 

Paul later expanded on this idea of new life, new way and new attitude. In Ephesians 4, Paul said it this way. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 – NIV)

 

Perhaps this is the perfect time of year to think of new beginnings. Maybe it’s the time we should think about resolutions. For me, this is an exciting time. I am rejuvenated by the possibilities of the fall.

 

I pray that you are able to jump into a small group or Bible study. I pray that if you need an attitude adjustment, need to take off the old you and put on Jesus or are ready to take a step toward Jesus that you will do so this fall. Jesus is waiting to join you on this journey.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

Photo from freedigitalphotos.net

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Feeling Dumb

August 11th, 2015 dsisler

 

I am technology challenged. I try to stay on the cutting edge, but the more I try the more frustrated I become. This morning, all I can say is UGH!

 

???????????????????????????????I’m trying to get Windows 10 on my home computer. But in order to get this, there is a list of ten things I have had to do. Update, upgrade and prepare for this next best thing. I sure hope it’s worth the effort!

 

And I know the folks at Microsoft think they are helpful, but all they are doing is adding to my frustration. Their use of technological terms in their “help” section just makes me feel dumb. I don’t understand what they want me to do or even where to find what they’re asking me to find. Surely they know there are folks like me who need these help steps in simple terms. Step by step instructions on how to do what they consider to be a simple task.

 

I then realized that perhaps I do the same thing. I believe I make things more difficult or frustrating for people who aren’t on the same level of understanding as I am.

 

Take for instance Bible study. I have a system. I have used this system for years and years. But a brand new believer might be overwhelmed with the idea of opening the Bible, reading through a passage and saturating my mind and heart with the words and then waiting to see how God’s Spirit leads me to understanding. That could be difficult to understand.

 

Or what about prayer? The amount of time that I spend in prayer may be unfathomable to a new believer. They may only be able to experience short, quick prayers at the moment.

 

And what about our churchy words we use. Sanctification. Justification. Righteousness. Redemption. But even words like faith or glorify or blessed or worship could be difficult for some to understand. I’m not saying that we should toss these words out of our vocabulary, but what I am saying is that perhaps we should be prepared to share the meaning of these words as we communicate with new believers.

 

Can you explain sanctification? Or justification (and not just the little quip “just as if I’d never sinned”)? This just might be a good exercise for each of us as we set out in our world to make disciples. Let’s figure out how to make disciples with language they can understand. Let’s not use our “churchy” words. Let’s use our own words to share the Gospel message in a clear and understandable way.

 

I love Paul’s request for prayer in Colossians 4. This is definitely a great prayer request for each of us. “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” (Colossians 4:3-4 – NIV)

 

Paul hits it right on. We’ve got to figure out how to clear up the mystery and proclaim the message clearly. There are ways to accomplish this task and when God opens the doors, we need to be prepared.

 

I suspect I’ll get Windows 10 eventually. But I’ll tell you right now, I don’t believe it will be my doing. I believe someone else (my husband) will get it taken care of for me.

 

Friends, a light bulb has turned on for me. I must remember to approach my fellow believers in a way that is not above their understanding. I never want to make someone else feel dumb or inadequate or frustrated by complicating the simple truth of the Gospel. It’s been a good morning.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“Flawless” – Monday Musical Musings

August 10th, 2015 dsisler

 

I heard this song recently and loved it. As I began researching the lyrics to this song, I loved it even more! Why? Because I love being seen through God’s eyes as flawless.

 

IMAG1492It seems for many years in my life, I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t pretty enough. I wasn’t thin enough. I wasn’t enough. The worst part was that I believed every lie spoken to me. The evil one kept me in bondage with my self-image issues. I believed his lies over the truths found in God’s amazing grace.

 

It’s been a tough road to get over these feelings of insecurity, but I’ve managed to break free of this bondage and find I am exactly as God created me to be. I am who I am and what I am through Jesus Christ. That’s enough.

 

And oh how I love to sing about God’s amazing grace. I stand before God free of blemish and flaw because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) assures us that we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Confidence that I am flawless with God’s amazing grace.

 

So take a look at these lyrics and definitely click on the link to listen to MercyMe’s version of this song. I pray that you will be blessed.

 

“Flawless”

 

There’s got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there’s worth in what you do

Then Like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace

 

Chorus:

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

 

Could it possibly be
That we simply can’t believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that’s exactly what He did

(Chorus)
 

Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I’m ok
Because the cross was enough

Then Like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to grace, grace,
God’s grace

(Chorus)[i]
 

Click here to listen to “Flawless.”

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Flawless,” Words and Music by Bart Millard, Mike Scheuchzer, Nathan Cochran, Rob Shaffer, Barry Graul, Solomon Olds, David Garcia and Ben Glover, MercyMe Music, Wet As a Fish Music, Universal Music, Brentwood Benson Publishing, Simple Ville Publishing, Soul Glow Activator Music, Moon and Musky Music, 2014.

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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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