“We Are the Reason” – Monday Musical Musings

December 5th, 2016 dsisler

 

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard that I was a music major in high school and college. The memories I have of special teachers and professors still come to mind as I listen to music.

 

???????????????????????????????One class was especially meaningful to me. Conducting. Mr. White brought this to life for me and I used his method of conducting for many years as I directed choirs. He was also the choir director for the women’s choir, so I saw him in action throughout the year.

 

Our Christmas concerts at CBC (now CCU) were always very special. They were the highlight of my year. It was during one of these concerts that I heard “We Are the Reason” for the first time. I believe Mr. White sang this song, but I couldn’t be 100% certain.

 

I recently heard it again and as you can imagine, my mind drifted to college and that Christmas concert. And then, to Bethlehem, Golgotha and the empty tomb. You and I are the reason Jesus came to earth. He came to bring life and offers abundant life to those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

 

As we continue toward Christmas, I pray that you will take the time to worship Jesus for the gift of life that He has provided. I also pray that you will give Him every part of your life to Him. And then, I pray that you will share this message with another who is seeking this same gift in their life.

 

“We Are the Reason”[i]
 

As little children
We would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys
We knew we’d find
But we never realized
A baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by
We learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves
And what that means
On a dark and cloudy day
A man hung crying in the rain
All because of love, all because of love

I’ve finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do every word that I say
I’ll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

He is my reason to live

 

This is one you’ll want to listen to! Click here for this beautiful message.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “We Are the Reason,” words and music by David Meece, Word Music, 1980.

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Certain Hope

November 30th, 2016 dsisler

 

Woke up this morning to a coffee pot that didn’t brew a whole pot of coffee. Apparently, soon after it began brewing, it quit. Just stopped. Without warning.

 

coasterWe do have a Keurig, so I searched for a K-Cup that was non-flavored…finally found one and had an okay cup of coffee. When the rest of the household woke, I scoured the basement for an older coffee maker to brew a pot.

 

Okay, I drank a cup of coffee, but it just didn’t taste like I had hoped. The flavor wasn’t as good as I am accustomed to. Great disappointment emerged. Guess I’ll be shopping for a new coffee maker after work!

 

We are in the season of Advent and I am using Season’s Illustrated Advent Bible Journaling study. So far, it’s exceeded all my expectations and I know this will be a special Advent season for me.

 

Yesterday’s passage was from Psalm 62:5. It says, “For God along, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” The study went on to talk about the certain hope we have in the Lord. We know we can trust and hop in Him because of all that He has done in the past. God has been faithful through my life therefore, I can hope to receive all the blessings and promises He has given.

 

I can hope to get a good cup of coffee each morning, but there’s no guarantee it will happen. On the other hand, I can have certain hope in God my Father because He is good. Always has been. Always will be.

 

What have you placed your hope in that has failed you? A relationship? A possession? A job? Unfortunately, things of this world are not always good and perfect, therefore, there is every chance that we will be disappointed.

 

But our God is good and perfect and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Every time.

 

Today I would challenge you to grab hold of the certain hope we have in the Lord. You will not be disappointed.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“Blessed Be the Name” – Monday Musical Musings

November 28th, 2016 dsisler

 

It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving. Maybe you’re feeling a little sluggish after eating turkey for days on end. Or maybe you decided to eat the deliciousness of this holiday in moderation. Whichever you chose, I pray that you had some precious touch points with those gathered around the table with you.

 

IMAG1492More importantly, I pray that you spent some time over these past few days thanking God for what He’s done in your life. To name a few, the provision and gifts that He has so lavishly poured into your life. I am so thankful for these and much more.

 

Today’s song tells us of how our great and mighty God would bless us each day with His presence. As you read through the lyrics and listen to the tune, I pray that you too will see how wonderful our God is and how much He has given each of us. Let’s not forget to thank Him for all He’s done.

 

“Blessed Be the Name”[i]

 

Chorus:

Blessed be the name of the Lord Almighty, He’s a great and wonderful King

Blessed be the lovely name of our Savior, He’s the Lord of everything

He’s the great I Am, He’s God in man, what a wonderful mystery

He’s Jesus Christ and He’s everything to me

 

I was feeling alone in the dark and the cold and He came and took me in

He put a mighty sweet Spirit of love in my heart where a mighty bitter one had been

I can’t understand how the Most High God could love a lowly soul like mine

But I’m so glad He did because I’m living each day in His love divine

(Chorus)

 

Jesus put a wonderful Spirit of love in my heart for all mankind

I can cast all my troubles and care on Him and He gives me a peace of mind

He’s the Vine, I’m the branch, I’m abiding in Him and His words abide in me

I can ask anything in His will and my Lord will do it for me

(Chorus)

 

Here’s a fun version of this song by The Singing Americans. Click here to enjoy!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Blessed Be the Name,” no information about this song was found.

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Thanksgiving 2016

November 24th, 2016 dsisler

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Several years ago, I received an email from a wise man. He said, “I hope your Thanksgiving Day is so good for your soul!”

 

cornicopiaWe talk about being thankful on Thanksgiving, but we rarely turn it inward. How being thankful and having a heart of gratitude affects us spiritually.

 

I wonder if King David knew this secret. He must have because He wrote many verses of Scripture that lead us to believe that being thankful is important for our souls. Let’s look at some of them.

 

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12 – NIV)

 

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30 – NIV)

 

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 92:1 – NIV)

 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4 – NIV)

 

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5 – NIV)

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name’ make known among the nations what he has done.” (Psalm 105:1 – NIV)

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1 – NIV)

 

I believe David knew how being thankful was good for his soul. What do we learn from David? How to be grateful. To whom we should be thankful. How to be thankful. And that we should share with others why we are thankful.

 

So today as you gather with family or friends, I pray that you will take the time to search your soul and see how it is doing. If something seems a little off, perhaps you might consider that your thankfulness hasn’t quite reached your heart and that it hasn’t affected your soul.

 

But I pray that you, like me will be able to say “Thanksgiving is good for my soul!” I pray that you’ll be able to say, “My heart is glad.” (Psalm 16:9a – NIV)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Jesus, the glorious Emancipator

November 21st, 2016 dsisler

 

A repeat…enjoy!

 

I heard an old gospel hymn yesterday and there was one line that caught my attention. Jesus, the glorious Emancipator.[i] That single line brought such hope and joy to my soul in that moment. It was amazing!

 

0005030206R-849x565I suspect the true meaning of that term really hit me. I live as a free woman. A free woman in Jesus Christ. Without the freedom I have through Him, nothing else would really matter.

 

Physically, I’ve never been a slave. But spiritually, I have been held in bondage by sin and it’s from that bondage that Jesus has set me free. Yes, Jesus is the glorious Emancipator!

 

This hymn reminds us of all that Jesus freed us from.

 

Freedom from all the carnal affections,

Freedom from envy, hatred and strife;

Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions,

Freedom from all that saddened my life.

 

Freedom from pride and all sinful follies,

Freedom from love and glitter of gold;

Freedom from evil, temper and anger,

Glorious freedom, rapture untold.

 

Freedom from fear with all of its torments,

Freedom from care with all of its pain;

Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer,

He who has rent my fetters in twain.

 

Some of these words may seem unusual to us in our world today, but we as Christians, know exactly what they means. Freedom through Jesus, the glorious Emancipator.

 

Jesus Himself spoke very similar words to the lyrics of this song in John chapter 8. Let’s see what He had to say. “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)

 

Yes, freedom comes from Jesus, but from His own words we see that we need to be doing something. We are to hold to His teaching. Learn it. Know it. Live it. Be it.

 

We also see from this passage that it is truth that sets us free. Jesus’ truth.

 

It seems very simple, but when I read the words of the old hymn mentioned earlier, I can see where I still may be held in bondage. Perhaps there are still some critical pieces that need work. Somebody, please throw me a file!

 

Someone is willing to help me escape from the bondage of sin. That someone is Jesus.

 

The good news for all of us is that He can be the glorious Emancipator for each of us. Not just a chosen few or the select. But all. Even the vilest offender in Jesus’ arms is free from the bondage of sin.

 

Are you burdened with sin? Are you held in the bondage of sin? Do you wish to be free from it all? If so, I can introduce you to the glorious Emancipator. His truth and freedom exceeds all you could ever imagine.

 

Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters,

Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;

But I received a glorious freedom,

When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

 

Refrain:

Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,

No more in chains of sin I repine!

Jesus the glorious Emancipator,

Now and forever He shall be mine.

 

Click here to listen to this tune. Of course…it’s a Gaither version!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] Glorious Freedom, Haldor Lillenas, 1917

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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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