Just the Right Shoe (Sabbatical Post)

December 21st, 2015 dsisler

 

I’ve collected several items through the years. As a child I collected staples…I’m not sure what that says about me. I’ve collected angel figurines, houses, farming tools, dishes, Christmas décor, and anything with the word “joy” in or on it.

 

Other people I’ve known had other collections like rocks, salt and pepper shakers, fossils, Precious Moments figurines and art work to name a few.

 

My Mom has a few collections. Miniature oil cans, thimbles, Bybee pottery, and my favorite, Just the Right Shoe figurines by Raine.

 

These shoes are miniature replica of interesting and beautiful shoes. Some I’ve love to have in my wardrobe. The pictures are some of my favorites. But the thing is they are only the right shoe.

 

There are several passages in the book of Psalm that tell us about the right hand or right arm of God. We are reminded of the power, and the works of the right hand or arm of God. Let’s see what is said.

 

We find joy and eternal pleasures at the right hand of God. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

 

We find salvation at the right hand of God. Psalm 17:7 tells us, “Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”

 

We find victory at the right hand of God. “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” (Psalm 18:35)

 

And in Psalm 44:3 we see, “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.”

 

And also Psalm 45:4. “In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.”

 

We find stability at the right hand of God. Psalm 63:8 says, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

 

And Psalm 73:23 reminds us, “Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand.”

 

In Psalm 139:9-10 we see, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

 

We find amazement of mighty works at the right hand of God. Psalm 98:1 says, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”

 

“Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous; ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’” (Psalm 118:15)

 

I think I’d like to sit a while at God’s right hand. To see and hear and feel and know all that He can accomplish single handedly.

 

It has been fun, as Mom’s friends and family, to add to her shoe collection. Shoes that remind us of something or someone. Shoes to commemorate a special group of people. Shoes that are whimsical or beautiful. But in the end, they are just for pleasure. They are pretty little things for everyone to gaze upon.

 

God’s right arm is not like that. It is useful. It has purpose. Are you within the comfort of His right arm? If not, why not? Wrapped inside, you’ll find everything you could ever hope for.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Ingredients – Blogging from A to Z (Sabbatical Post)

December 20th, 2015 dsisler

 

I love to cook. I find such joy while preparing a delicious meal, whether it is for two, 200 or somewhere in between. I have confidence in my skill and in my desire to find something unique to prepare, as well as my interest in learning something new.

 

Regardless of whether I use a recipe or whip something together, there must be ingredients of some sort. Ingredients make up everything we eat.

 

Sometimes ingredients are better than others. Obviously fresh fruits and vegetables are healthier for us, so when they can be purchased in season, the end product is just more appealing. We live in a time where what we put into our bodies is much more important. Better ingredients make better food (I think I just stole that from a popular pizza joint!).

 

What “ingredients” are needed for a better relationship with God or for spiritual growth? Let’s take a look at some of these elements.

 

Bible Study

An example of studying God’s Word can be found in the book of Ezra. He was “well versed in the Law of Moses.” He arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon and he had “devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” (Ezra 7:1-10 – NIV)

 

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Timothy was told to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” We also should study God’s Word so that we know exactly what His Word says. We then, will be able to be like Timothy.

 

Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) shows us that we are to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

 

Here are a few other verses to take note of that lead us to the same conclusion. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 – NIV) “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2 – NIV) “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b – NIV)

 

Scripture Memorization

Psalm 119:11 (NIV) reminds me of King David’s words. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Hiding Scripture in my heart keeps me on the right path. God’s path.

 

And we find that the Hebrew nation was given a similar command regarding the memorization of God’s commands. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.” (Deuteronomy 6:6 – NIV)

 

You may want to consider some other “ingredients” for spiritual growth that we don’t have time to go into with this post, but you could look up the provided Scripture to see what God’s word has to say about them.

 

Worship (Psalm 95:6; Psalm 122:1, John 4:24; Romans 12:1-2)

 

Meditation (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 119:148)

 

Fasting (Isaiah 58; Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 14:23)

 

Silence and Solitude (Job 33:32-33; Psalm 4:3-4; Habakkuk 2:20; Luke 6:12)

 

Rest (Psalm 119:165; Psalm 127:2; Isaiah 30:15; Matthew 11:28)

 

I love what James says in James 1:22 (NIV), “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” We must put all that we learn through the “ingredients” into practice, otherwise we will not grow spiritually. That is not what God wants us to be or how He wants us to live our lives. We are to do what His Word says.

 

And since I chatted earlier about loving to cook, I had to bring this passage into this piece. 1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV) tells us that we are to crave spiritual milk, because we have tasted that Lord is good. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

 

The “ingredients” listed above lead to spiritual maturity and as we mature, we crave God more and more and only want what He has to offer.

 

So let’s do a little evaluation of our lives by answering the following questions.

 

What are the steps you need to take to move from infancy to Christian maturity? Are you in a weekly Bible study that draws you into God’s Word to learn more about God? Are you attending worship services on a regular basis? Do you have a spiritual mentor who can assist when you have a spiritual question? Do you crave being with God daily?

 

I pray that today you will crave God over anything else.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Lasagna – Blogging A to Z (Sabbatical Post)

December 20th, 2015 dsisler

 

I haven’t made homemade lasagna in years. I struggle sometimes with making casseroles (and yes, I consider lasagna a casserole) because I seem to create a big mess. There are preparations that need to be made before I can put it all together in one dish to make it a casserole. And in the end, I still have a big mess to clean up. So I typically don’t make casseroles.

 

But I was in the mood for good, ooey, gooey, cheesy lasagna. So I purchased the items to make lasagna on my grocery shopping excursion yesterday.

 

I prepared it. Cleaned up the whole mess. And after dinner, just had a few things to throw in the dishwasher (I don’t actually throw things into the dishwasher) and one dish to cover and put in the refrigerator. It was worth it. If you’d like my lasagna recipe, click here.

 

And the lasagna hit the right spot. It was exactly what I wanted and needed. A good dose of homemade goodness that satisfied each taste bud.

 

There is something to be said about satisfaction. In the taste of a certain food. Or the completion of a project. Or the outcome of a situation. But these forms of satisfaction are temporary and to be honest, if God isn’t in the middle of them, there really is no satisfaction at all.

 

You see, God doesn’t want anything other than Him to completely satisfy us. We are to look to Him for that. So let me remind you of a few verses from God’s own Word that will help us to understand this idea.

 

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you, I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” (Psalm 63:3-5 – NIV)

 

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14 – NIV)

 

“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 103:2-5 – NIV)

 

“When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand they are satisfied with good things.” (Psalm 104:28 – NIV)

 

And if these aren’t enough, how about a few more? Psalm 105:40; Psalm 107:8-9; Psalm 145:16; and Psalm 147:12-14.

 

God wants to satisfy us with all of our desires. His hands are full of good things for us. We simply need to look to Him for that satisfaction.

 

I can’t really move along here, until I point out a specific point where many seem to look for satisfaction. King Solomon shared a few words about money that I should at least include here. “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 – NIV)

 

Nothing, nothing brings satisfaction to us except God. It’s the way He created us. It is His greatest desire to be everything to us. He wants us to find complete satisfaction in Him.

 

And here’s what it really comes down to. Jesus satisfied the debt for each of us, therefore, we must find satisfaction in Him. Isaiah 53:11 (NIV) tells us of this satisfaction. “After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.” Jesus’ sacrifice brings perfect satisfaction.

 

And as we look at Jesus’ words through His great teachings, we can find more about satisfaction. In Matthew 5:6 (NASB), this is what Jesus had to say. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” And if we look at this same teaching from Luke, these are words we find. “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” (Luke 6:21 – NIV)

 

Our spiritual lives find complete satisfaction through Jesus, but He also can satisfy the physical. Jesus did so in feeding the five thousand. Matthew 14:20 (NIV) says, “They all ate and were satisfied…” Now perhaps Jesus doesn’t perform this type of miracle on a daily occurrence, and for certain, there are many who go hungry each day, but if we acknowledge that what we have comes from God, God is satisfying our physical needs.

 

If you are feeling unsatisfied with your life today, why not ask God to open His hand for you? Take a look at the good gifts He has for you. Find complete satisfaction in the One who has satisfied your debt. And be satisfied.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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High Winds – Blogging A to Z (Sabbatical Post)

December 19th, 2015 dsisler

 

I live in Colorado. Over the past 18 hours, we have been experiencing some very gusty winds. Our personal weather station only records winds up to 30 mph…we’ve hit that mark on several occasions and believe we have gone above that speed.

 

There is some wind damage on our property. The winds cleared the deck of items that have never blown off and we have had some high winds before. And then there is a portion of the fence that landed in our neighbor’s yard.

 

My husband waited for our neighbor to get home from work before temporarily fixing the issue. It was dark, cold, and the snow began before they fixed it to their satisfaction.

 

I am reminded of the section of Scripture when Jesus walked across the water to meet His disciples. Among the disciples were seasoned fishermen and they had been sent by Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus retreated to the mountains by Himself to pray.

 

While Jesus was praying on the mountainside, the disciples were battling wind and waves in the middle of the lake.

 

In Matthew 14:25 (NIV), the story gets interesting. “During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.”

 

In the middle of this raging storm, Jesus walked to the disciples, who were a considerable distance from the shore. The disciples were terrified and cried out in fear. Not of the wind and waves, but of the “ghost” walking toward them.

 

But then Jesus spoke, telling them who He was and not to be afraid. Peter questioned that this was really Jesus. Why didn’t Peter recognize Jesus’ voice? Didn’t Peter just leave a miraculous event and had heard Jesus speak? Peter had been with Jesus for quite a while at this point and he still didn’t recognize His Master’s voice?

 

Peter asked Jesus to prove who He was. He wanted evidence that this person was who He said He was. It’s no wonder Peter received these striking words from Jesus. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31 – NIV)

 

We may not be so different from Peter. In the midst of wind and waves in our lives, perhaps we question if Jesus is really speaking to us. Perhaps we question if He is really with us.

 

So what can we learn from this passage of Scripture? Let’s look at a few points.

 

Lesson #1

Recognize the voice of your Master. If we are in God’s Word, we will hear Jesus’ voice. We come to know and recognize His voice. Get into the Bible. Read it daily. Know for certain when you hear Jesus’ voice that you will recognize it.

 

Lesson #2

We can believe that Jesus is with us. If we look to Jesus’ words, we find that He is with us. Later in the Book of Matthew, Jesus reassured His disciples (and us), that He would be with them. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b – NIV) We have His word. Jesus is with us.

 

Lesson #3

There is no reason to doubt. Yes, Jesus is with us at all times, but there is no reason to doubt that He is with us through the difficulties of our lives. Regardless of what winds and waves we experience, Jesus is with us. He will show up in our most distressing times, but we must be looking for Him, not something or someone else.

 

Lesson #4

Do not fear. Fear is crippling. Fear keeps us from doing what we need to do. With Jesus by our side, we are able to work through the wind and waves and press on to victory. Remember what happened to Peter because of his fear? He began to sink. We will too if we do not look to Jesus for His presence, strength, and guidance.

 

The fence doesn’t look so bad this morning. The winds have died down a bit and there is still work to do, but it is much better than it was last night.

 

Much like our lives, things seem to look better when daylight arrives. Don’t give up. Keep working toward the goal. Look to Jesus. He is always with you.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Gobbledygook (Sabbatical Post)

December 18th, 2015 dsisler

 

I received a book from Dad last year. It was a text book on writing. I read it. Maybe not all of it, but I read quite a bit of it. I can honestly say that there is more to this writing skill than I ever dreamed. I have learned so much!

 

I came across the section about gobbledygook. Yes, there is such a word and it pertains to writing!

 

“Gobbledygook is writing that suffers from an overdose of traits guaranteed to make it stuffy, pretentious, and wordy.”[i] It is an attempt to make writing sound better than it is by adding words to give it a “fuller” feel.

 

If you have ever read a legal document, you’ve read gobbledygook.

 

Jesus had something to say about gobbledygook. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

 

This verse is in a section where Jesus teaches His disciples about prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). His model prayer follows.

 

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed by your name,

Your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.”

 

This prayer spoken by Jesus gives us the purest, most concise way to pray to our heavenly Father.

 

When we get rid of all the over used words, traditional phrases, and church jargon, we can get to the heart of prayer—sharing our hearts with our Father.

 

Entering God’s presence with our souls bared is where Jesus wants to meet us. Getting down to the real issues, using real, honest words with our God is where He will reward us.

 

And when we are to the point where we don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit steps in for us. Romans 8:26-27 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

 

Even when words cannot express what’s on our hearts or our emotions, God will hear us.

 

Gobbledygook has no place in our conversation with God. Pure, simple words are all He desires from us. With that, I’m done!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] Alred, Brusaw, Oliu. The Business Writer’s Handbook. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2000. p. 271.

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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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