It’s Your Choice

May 18th, 2016 dsisler

 

Do you recall just a few weeks ago how I mentioned that I was sad that Bible study was ending? Well it didn’t take long for my summer to fill up with some exciting studies that will be happening at Rocky this summer! You can find out all about them on the side bar of my blog.

 

???????????????????????????????Personally, I don’t know that I could go through a summer without doing a Bible study of some sort. There have been summers when I’ve done a study on my own, but I have found through the years that I thrive on being with other women and digging deeper into God’s Word. Of course, God created us to be in community, so it’s not a surprise that it is in these settings where we find deep fulfillment.

 

So what about you? Do you take a summer break from community? From the study of God’s Word? From attending your local church worship service? Do you check out for the summer?

 

If you have done so in the past, I might encourage you to stay connected this summer. Perhaps you’ve heard the illustration of what happens to a burning log when removed from a campfire. At first it begins to dim and eventually dies out.

 

The same can be said of our spiritual lives when we choose to remove ourselves from our community of believers and especially from God’s Word and His presence. It’s a cold, lonely place out there. Why wouldn’t you want to be with others who want to encourage you in Christian fellowship?

 

There haven’t been many times in my life when I’ve “checked out” from being in God’s presence. But when I did, those were some of the worst times of my life. My choice is not to go there again.

 

So you will be seeing me around Rocky each Sunday during the summer—okay except when I’m in Ohio visiting family…but I love being with that group of believers for worship! You’ll see me leading Bible studies. You’ll see me serving. You’ll see me giving. You’ll see me contributing to the fellowship of believers in any way I can. Because it’s what I choose to do.

 

Recall these encouraging words with me.

 

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:22-25 – NIV)

 

What will you choose to do?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Step it Up

May 17th, 2016 dsisler

 

I have joined my fellow co-workers in a step challenge. Together as a team, we are “competing” against several other companies in the Longmont area to see who can walk the most steps in the month of May.

 

DSCN0582So I got prepared. I bought a little bracelet (a cheap one) that keeps track of my steps. It does a lot more, but the steps were the main goal. I really thought I took more steps than I do in a day’s time, but once I put on the bracelet, I knew I was in trouble.

 

My daily job keeps me at a desk most of the time. My hobbies (writing Scripture and writing a blog) keep me sitting all the time I’m working on these things. I do Bible study. Again sitting. I drive in a car everywhere I go. Again sitting down. I relax in front of television, sitting down. So I think you get the picture. I sit a lot.

 

I hate to admit it, but there have been some days that I’ve only walked 1,000 to 2,000 steps. And on the days when I was traveling and walking through airports I still didn’t break the 10,000 step barrier.

 

UGH! How discouraging, right?

 

I figured out pretty quickly, that this steps thing would have to be intentional on my part. I couldn’t just expect all those steps to happen on their own. And the real motivation was when I plopped in my numbers, I was the last one on the list at Rocky.

 

So now I am more aware of how long I’ve been sitting and I get up and walk. I walk through my lunch break. I walk instead of being idle during down times. I get up off the couch during commercials and walk a figure eight pattern through my house.

 

Folks, your spiritual development is much the same. In order for spiritual growth to happen, you (and I) must be intentional. It’s not enough to expect this to happen on its own. You must do your part.

 

Take a look at Paul’s encouraging words to the Colossians in chapter 1, verses 9-12 (NIV).

 

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray that in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

 

As a believer of Christ, it’s time for each of us to grow in the knowledge of God. Sitting idly by and wondering if it’s going to happen isn’t an option. You must do your part.

 

So I ask you today, what are you doing to grow in God’s knowledge? How are you allowing God’s Word and His Spirit to work in your life? What fruit are you bearing? These are all signs of spiritual development and they all take effort on your part.

 

Peter reminded his readers to “make every effort” (2 Peter 1:5-8) to keep growing and developing. That means, put your all into it. Don’t let it take a back seat. Keep moving toward the goal.

 

Now I could just sit back in this steps challenge and be the person on our team with the least steps this month, but I don’t want to let my team down. I want to show them that I want to do this with them and that my input will have an impact.

 

How much more important is it that we show God that we are part of His team and that we want to do our part and that we are willing to give it all we have? That’s kingdom work.

 

I will admit, it takes more effort than I ever thought to get in 10,000 steps a day with my schedule, but I’m trying. I’m making an effort. I’m giving it my all. And to be honest, I believe that’s all my team is asking me to do. Go Team Rocky!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“With All I Am” – Monday Musical Musings

May 16th, 2016 dsisler

 

We sing songs. We read Scripture. We sometimes don’t even know what we’re singing or reading. We don’t understand the impact the written word/Word has upon our life.

 

0005030206R-849x565But I’d like to challenge you today to take what you’ve read or sung and put it into practice in your life. Allow God’s Word and His Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out. Allow the words you sing to sink into your soul and to be transformed.

 

It’s easy to sing songs like “With All I Am” in a worship service and to be moved by the emotion of the moment. But if we walk away and never think of these words again or find the desire within ourselves to do what you sang in the song, what have you really gained? Perhaps you meant the words when you sang them. You truly want to give your whole life and being to Jesus. But if you don’t actually do something, what have you really gained?

 

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve done this. I used to sing a song by Kathy Troccoli called “My Life is in Your Hands” (You can read my thoughts on this song by clicking here). But then I would find myself holding portions of my life back from God. Didn’t I just sing the lyrics stating emphatically that I would give Him every bit of my life? The good and the bad? Yes! So why didn’t I do so?

 

I suspect one reason I didn’t then, and sometimes now, want to commit everything within me to God is because I’m selfish. Or I want to be in control. Or I have sin that is still dominating my thoughts. Or I’m stubborn. Or I just didn’t want to. Now there may be plenty of reasons for not giving God everything, but here’s the thing. God wants it all. He wants all of you. Your heart, mind, soul and strength.

 

So today, let’s look at this song with fresh eyes and a deeper desire to live our lives the way Mr. Morgan expresses in this song.

 

“With All I Am”[i]

 

Into Your hand I commit again
With all I am for You Lord
You hold my world in the palm of Your hand
And I’m Yours forever

 

Chorus:
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You’re the reason that I live
The reason that I sing with all I am

 

I’ll walk with You wherever You go
Through tears and joy I’ll trust in You
And I will live in all of Your ways
Your promises forever

 

Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You’re the reason that I live
The reason that I sing

 

I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You

 

Click here to have a listen!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “With All I Am,” Words and music by Rueben Morgan, Rueben Morgan Publishing, Hillsong Publishing, 2003

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God’s Love

May 15th, 2016 dsisler

 

Just a reminder this morning of how much God loves you. “For God so loved the world that the gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 – NIV)

 

How blessed you and I are because of this great love!

 

Today’s repeat blog post is a good reminder of how we are to share God’s love with others. Have a blessed day!

 

I’m a Candle

 

What I have found in a recent survey is that I have not successfully discovered how to use my own power to spread influence around the world. For the time being, I am a candle. Take a look at what was said about me.

 

“You are a flameperson of great potential! There is a power inside of you that is waiting to come alive! It may not yet have been fully expressed in the world but do not despair because your best days are yet to come!”

 

According to this scale, there is only one way to go. Up. I was below the mark…not too far that I can’t see the opportunity to become a “flame.” Just one point separated me from doing so.

 

So what does this really say about me? That I can’t do it on my own. I know that without God on my side, Jesus being an example and without God’s Spirit leading and guiding me, I wouldn’t be able to achieve a thing.

 

However, maybe this survey does help me to see that I need to push myself just a little bit more. Maybe I need to rely on God’s Spirit a lot more. Maybe I need to learn more. Maybe I need to have my spiritual eyes open a little wider. Maybe…well, just maybe I need to get out of the way and let God do His thing through me.

 

I don’t really want to be a “wildfire” in this world, but I do want to be a “wildfire” in God’s Kingdom. I want Jesus to shine through all that I say or do or believe or think. I want others to see Jesus in me. I want Jesus to be the wildfire that others are drawn to.

 

I may be content to be a candle or even a flame in this world, but when it comes to my faith in Jesus, I cannot be content with this low ranking. I don’t know how to actually analyze and come up with a formula to figure this out, but what I do know is that the Bible gives us examples of how we should live.

 

John the Baptizer lived in a way to point others to the Messiah. Some thought John was the Messiah, but his words proved otherwise. “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16 – NIV) I believe John was a wildfire for Jesus and that his words and actions pointed others to Jesus.

 

We saw a dramatic change in Peter after the Holy Spirit came upon him at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). In his address on the Day of Pentecost, Peter pointed the crowd to Jesus with words of repentance (Acts 2:38). Again, the Holy Spirit was able to use this wildfire Peter to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Of course, Paul was yet another wildfire who took the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul came onto the scene in Acts 9 with his conversion. From that point on, his life was focused on spreading the message of Jesus to anyone who would listen. His life was a wildfire for Jesus that could not be quenched by anything (Romans 8:38-39).

 

And why do you suppose these men were able to be wildfires for Jesus? Because they knew the Light of the world on a personal level. Yes, they had personal interactions with Jesus, but they knew who Jesus was. And we can have that same relationship with Jesus.

 

Jesus shared His Light with all of mankind. Listen to His words. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 – NIV) When we walk with Jesus, His Light shines in us and through us. In turn, we are able to be a wildfire in this world.

 

Even a candle can start a wildfire.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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God’s Armor

May 14th, 2016 dsisler

 

I have been leading some staff women in a study of the Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer. We started last fall and still are not finished. But in our defense, we are holding to just one hour per week to spend together. This hour must include prayer time as well, so we typically just go through one day’s homework each week.

 

IMAG1501What I’ve loved about this process is how much more I am able to absorb from personal study as well as how to put these pieces of armor, their purposes and their use into practice in my life. It’s been remarkable!

 

So today I’d like to ask you, how are you using the armor God has provided for you in your battle with the evil one? Do you live as if you’ve already have the belt of truth wrapped around your ideas, beliefs and day-to-day living? Do you walk in confidence with the breastplate of righteousness protecting your heart? Are your feet ready to go in peace to share the gospel?

 

And once you’ve accepted these pieces of the armor are you ready to pick up the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit? Are all of your battles covered in prayer?

 

I’d like for you to read through the armor of God passage below and think of how you are utilizing each piece today. This is important, so please take the time to become acquainted with your armor. Know how to put it on and how to use it. Then, when Satan attacks, you’ll be ready.

 

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

 

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

 

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

 

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer sand requests.

 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:13-18 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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  • 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.

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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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