Today is the Day

September 3rd, 2015 dsisler

 

Fall is just around the corner and that means, ladies will be gathering in churches all across the country to spend time together in God’s Word. It is truly my favorite time of the year!

 

???????????????????????????????Why? Because women are focusing on what God’s Word has to say to them. They are intentional. They are motivated. They have a great desire to do this one thing that will bring joy to their lives. What a blessing it is for me to see godly women seeking God’s message for their life.

 

If you are on the fence about joining a Bible study, please know that it is not too late. Any women’s ministry program across the country would be happy to take on a new member. So get out there. Find your place at the table. Allow God’s Word to penetrate your heart and transform that heart of stone to a heart of flesh. God can sure do some amazing things!

 

Rocky ladies, our Women’s Bible Connection starts next week, so go to rmcc.org to see all of the studies we have to offer at Niwot and Frederick campuses. There are also evening studies for the working ladies and if you have young children (or older kids), we have MOPS and Mom’s Next at Niwot and Mom’s Connect at Frederick. If you want to get connected Rocky, we’ll get you connected!

 

Why should we study the Bible?

 

  • Because it is God’s Word – 2 Timothy 3:16
  • Because of the benefits – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • Because it is a light for our journey – Psalm 119:105
  • Because we find encouragement and hope in its Words – Romans 15:4
  • Because it brings us joy – Psalm 1:1-2
  • Because we grow spiritually as we study the Bible – 1 Peter 2:2-3

 

Now these are just a few reasons to study the Bible, but these alone would create a real desire within me to get into the Word. What about you?

 

So today, I pray that you will not abandon God’s Word and that you find it within yourself to seek out a Bible study or small group to get into the Bible with. You will not regret it.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

Psalm 127

September 2nd, 2015 dsisler

 

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127:1 – NIV)

 

 

“Unless the Eternal builds the house, those who labor to raise it will have worked for nothing. Unless the Eternal stands watch over the city, those who guard it have wasted their time.” (Psalm 127:1 – The Voice)

 

Who is the builder of your home? Who watches over your household and your community?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

Your War Room

September 1st, 2015 dsisler

 

There are so many tips and ideas about prayer that I saw in the movie War Room that I would like to share with you. Today’s blog post is dedicated to those tips and ideas in hopes that you will find a greater desire to be with the Lord in your personal war room. Some of these ideas may be doable for you. Others may be impossible. Whatever the case, I pray that you will choose to spend more time with God. So let’s get started.

 

prayerIn the movie, Miss Clara opened Elizabeth’s eyes to a spiritual realm all around. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Satan is our enemy and his goal is to steal and kill and destroy. Therefore, we must have a battle plan.

 

Create Space

Miss Clara created a war room in her home. It was her closet. Jesus said “when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6 – NIV) You may not be able to clear out a closet for your war room, but a specific place to pray will be so beneficial.

 

This space should be private and with distractions. In the movie, the women moved everything from their closets. There was nothing to distract these prayer warriors. Again, this may not be possible to remove every item from your war room, but maybe you can find a corner of a room that you are able to use in this fashion.

 

Create Time

This is so important. With our busy lives, it’s easy to say “there’s just no time!” Well, make time. Be intentional. Be consistent. Don’t let anything or anyone get in the way of your prayer time with God.

 

Once you’ve created the time, don’t rush. Take your time with Him. Spend time talking and listening. God will join you in the battle. God will show up in the war room. You can be certain of this.

 

What Will I Do in My War Room?

This is the fun part. You can be creative or you can be traditional. It’s up to you, but here are a few things you may want to do in your war room.

 

1) Get a prayer journal and keep a pen handy. Use this journal to keep track of prayer requests and answers to prayer. You can write your favorite or relevant passages of Scripture in this journal. You can even color in this journal. It’s up to you.

 

2) Get a prayer strategy. Plan to pray for and over each area of your life.

 

3) Put up some reminders. Tape lists, prayers, photos or other reminders on your walls. These will help you to stay focused during prayer time and you will be reminded of the results of your prayer.

 

4) Keep a Bible handy. If you don’t know what to pray, pray Scripture. Allow God’s Spirit to bring to mind verses of Scripture that are relevant to your situation. He has such words of wisdom and encouragement already written for you in His Word. Don’t neglect them!

 

5) Don’t be confined to one position in your war room. Stand, sit, lie down, or jump up and down. Make it comfortable and give yourself space to move. You will find great joy in variety!

 

6) Use music and prayer apps to help you. In our day in age, there are so many technological things available for us to help with our prayer time. Why, I even use my phone to remind me to prayer walk each day! So if you can use them wisely and without distraction, use them.

 

7) Allow God to do the work. Your part is to approach the throne of grace as a forgiven saint. Make your requests known to God. Share your heart with Him. Then, watch. See how God is at work in your life and in the lives of those you love. It will be amazing!

 

Finally, I have to say that I was reminded through War Room to share what I’ve learned about prayer. Miss Clara urged Elizabeth to find a younger woman to mentor, just as she would be asking the Lord to send her another. Let’s not keep this to ourselves. Pass it on. Share your prayer strategy with another. What blessings you will receive because you’ve chosen to share.

 

And just in case you think this might be a waste of time, remember James’ words. “The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16 – NIV)

 

Friends, there is a battle raging. You have a couple of choices. You can continue down the path you’ve been on or you can decide to get off that beaten path and pray.

 

My prayer is that you will determine to be a prayer warrior. Put on your armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). Let’s get in the battle together and let’s not allow the evil one to do any more damage to us, our families, our marriages, our church, our community or our world. Let’s send the devil packing! Are you with me?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

“Warrior” – Monday Musical Musings

August 31st, 2015 dsisler

 

If you read my blog on Saturday, you know that I went to see the movie War Room. It was so good, I knew I wanted to see it a second time before it left theaters and so, yesterday, I met up with another group of ladies and we watched War Room together.

 

IMAG1492I took notes the second time (remember, tomorrow I’ll give you some practical tips on prayer)!

 

The song I’m sharing today is from the movie. It is the last song you will hear if you stay through the credits. It’s called “Warrior” and just like the movie, it is a call to get on your knees and pray.

 

If your prayer life has been lukewarm, today is a call to do something about it. Don’t allow the enemy to continue to dampen your spirit with his lies and deceit. Choose to believe in the One who has come to give you abundant life. Choose to have meaningful conversations with the King of Glory. Choose to be a warrior.

 

And in case you need it, here’s your fight song prayer warrior!

 

“Warrior”

 

I see the smoke on the horizon, I feel my heart pounding in my chest

I hear the war raging all around me, somehow I feel like I was born for this

I can taste the fear that adds new courage, as I raise my shield and lift my sword!

 

Chorus:

And I fall on my knees and fight like a warrior,

I am a warrior on my knees

I call on the Name of the One who has conquered,

Only the Conqueror I believe

The enemy trembles every time,

‘cause he knows the battle is no longer mine

When I fall on my knees and fight

Like a warrior. Like a warrior.

 

Daughters and sons, we can hear you calling,

Broken and weak, we can hear you cry

And even though our enemy roars like a lion,

The Lion of Judah is on our side!

He will go before us and behind us,

Fighting on our left and our right

(Chorus)

 

Our weapons, our trust

Our weapons, our hope

In the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

He says, “I am with you, so don’t be afraid,

‘cause I’ve already won this home.”

(Chorus)

 

Calling on the Name of Jesus, there is power in the Name of Jesus.[i]

 

And now, you really must listen to this song and prepare for the battle. Click here!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

[i] “Warrior,” by Steven Curtis Chapman is the official song in the soundtrack for the movie War Room.

Share

Psalm 63

August 30th, 2015 dsisler

 

I was reminded of King David’s words in Psalm 63 this morning. “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 – NIV)

 

August 2004 Trip2 018mThat’s the desire I want in my life! Sure, I have a relationship with Jesus. Yes, I spend time in prayer and Bible study. Of course, I have quiet time with Him. But does every fiber of my being thirst and long to be the Creator of the universe? How earnestly am I seeking God? I believe I have some work to do.

 

If you are in a similar situation, I pray for you what I pray for myself. For the desire to grow stronger. For the relationship to deepen. For God’s Spirit to penetrate every nook and cranny of my heart, mind and body. For Jesus to be the Lord over every part of me. That’s how we can earnestly seek God.

 

Today’s repeat blog post is about a bad tire. I pray that God will use my words today to draw someone closer to Him. Blessings!

 

The Tire

 

My 2004 Ford Escape has 170,000 miles on it. It has been a great traveling companion and I will be sad on the day we part ways.

 

In preparation for the arrival of my newest grandchild, I asked my husband Mason to check the car over to make sure everything was okay. The fluids, the tires. You know, the things that need to be in working order, especially when I’m in a hurry.

 

One of my tires has been losing air slowly over the past month or so and on occasion Mason has had to fill it. He thought he would buy some tire sealant to stop the leaking. So he purchased a bottle of the stuff and was ready to finish the car prep job.

 

The process for the sealant is to let all the air out of the tire, remove the object that caused the problem (air leaking), add the sealant, fill the tire with air, and then drive. Sounds easy enough doesn’t it?

 

After reading the directions, my husband figured there had to be something causing the tired to deflate, you know, the thing that was to be removed from the tire. So he decided he should probably take the car to have the tire repaired properly.

 

It took 15 minutes, it cost $10, and I have a lifetime guarantee on the repair. My tire is now in good shape.

 

Isn’t this the way we are with our spiritual lives at times. We know there is an issue. We look for a quick fix. But in the long run, the only thing that will make it right is doing the right thing. Mending our soul the right way.

 

Satan is out to get us. He is firing some flaming arrows directly at us. Paul mentions such actions in Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) and how we are to protect ourselves. “In addition to all this (using the armor of God for our spiritual journey), take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

 

The flaming arrows the evil one points directly at us can be lethal. If we are not prepared we will be in trouble. And if we have been hit by a flaming arrow, we must allow full healing of the wound. A quick fix will not work. A job done half way will not work. We must take it to the One who is the greatest Repairman of all time. God.

 

When we bring our brokenness to God, He is able to make the repair. Completely. Satisfactorily.

 

King David knew of this brokenness and what God’s role was to be in the healing process. In Psalm 51:17 (NIV), David said, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” When we give our brokenness to God, our wounded spirits, He will accept that sacrifice and repair the damage.

 

David also knew restoration. Psalm 23:3 (NIV) tells us, “He (God) restores my soul.” Complete restoration. Complete healing. Complete mending.

 

You see, when we give our wounds, large or small, to God, He promises to do the fixing. There is no reason for us to believe we can do it on our own or that we can fix it ourselves. We can’t. It’s not possible.

 

So I ask you today, what wounds do you need to give to God for repair? What brokenness have you held on for far too long? Why not let the great Repairman fix your heart the right way? He’s the expert at it. And with the mending of our souls comes a lifetime guarantee…no, an eternal guarantee.

 

Please don’t go another day with the wounds you carry. God’s arms are out-stretched and waiting to take care of it for you. You just need to give it to Him.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

  • Subscribe by Email

  • About Me

    "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.

  • Bible Studies & Other Happenings

    Bible studies I’m currently leading:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    In September 2012 I went to SE Asia on a service trip. For more information, check out preachitclearly.blogspot.com.

  • Categories

  • Recent Posts

Visit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On Linkedin