“Spirit of the Living God” – Monday Musical Musings

May 18th, 2015 dsisler

 

On May 1, my Dad celebrated 60 years in the ministry. And the thing is that he is still working for God in His kingdom! Oh how I pray that when I’m 80 years old I am still as useful to God as my Dad is.

 

IMAG1492Growing up with Dad was wonderful for me. I learned to love cars and how to care for them. I learned how to build things. I think I learned how to pull off practical jokes from Dad…let me say, the lessons were taught, but I don’t know think I learned them all that well. I learned some tough life lessons with help from Dad. I learned about God’s love and His Word through Dad. And I also learned to love music from Dad.

 

Dad enjoyed listening to music as well as engaging his own talents. I recall Dad singing “It’s nighty night time, at the Howard’s” at bedtime. He led our congregation in worship each Sunday. His trombone was heard on more than one occasion at home. And his banjo skills, they were like none I’ve ever heard (please recall that practical joke mention above…maybe someday I’ll share this story).

 

Seriously, Dad was a good musician and vocalist. Some of my most treasured memories of Dad and music are from camp.

 

There were fun songs like “Stand Up and Shout it!” and “Rise and Shine” and “I’ve God the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy” and “Fishers of Men.”

 

And the more meaningful songs like “Thank You, Lord” and “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” and “God is So Good.”

 

Oh there are so many more I could share, but I want to land on one that is still meaningful to me today. And I might add, could be a beautiful prayer to begin each day.

 

“Spirit of the Living God” only has 35 words in the whole song, but placed in this order and taken to heart, these 35 words are mighty powerful! As I read through the words and listen to this tune, I’m reminded yet again of what this really looks like in my life.

 

Melt me. I must disappear so that God can be visible.

 

Mold me. I must be transformed by the words I read and hear from God.

 

Fill me. Once I’m out of the picture, the void in my heart is filled with God’s Spirit.

 

Use me. This willing vessel is able to be used when the three steps above are taken.

 

Simple, yet profound. Easy enough, yet so difficult. Desired, yet ignored.

 

But, when we allow God’s Living Spirit to fall afresh on us, we are one step closer to being Christ-like.

 

Today I pray that you will take these words to heart and join me in singing this song. Today it is my prayer. Why not make it yours?

 

“Spirit of the Living God”

 

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on me

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on me

Melt me

Mold me

Fill me

Use me

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on me[i]

 

To listen to a traditional version of this song, click here.

 

To listen to a contemporary version of this song, click here.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Spirit of the Living God,” Words and Music by Daniel Iverson, Birdwing Music, 1935.

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Let’s Go to the House of the Lord

May 17th, 2015 dsisler

 

It’s Sunday morning! Time to get up and head to the house of the Lord!

 

???????????????????????????????Sunday mornings are special (I pray they are for you as well). I understand King David’s words in Psalm 122:1 (NIV). “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” There is great rejoicing within my soul when I can join others in worshiping God my Creator and Jesus my Redeemer. To be in God’s presence is exciting.

 

So today I pray that you’re excited about heading to the house of the Lord. You will be blessed beyond measure when you approach God’s throne.

 

And today is also the day of the week that you will read an older post that I’ve written. I pray that you’ll enjoy reading about our senses. Have a wonderful day!

 

My Senses

 

I read a lot of blog posts each day. Some are spiritual in nature. Some are associated with the publishing field. Others speak directly to writing. A recent blog post about writing shared the idea of using our five senses to speak to our audience.

 

I was intrigued by the thought, so decided to try it. Using the five senses given by God, I will show how I see, feel, taste, hear and smell God.

 

I See God’s Handiwork

Living in Colorado has allowed me to see God’s handiwork up close and personal. The Rocky Mountains, wild-flower covered meadows, glacial lakes, animals of all sizes, a big sky with thousands of stars, and the faces of my children and grandchildren.

 

Because I believe that God is the Creator of all, I see His handiwork in all that I see. Genesis chapter 1 gives the account of God’s creation. From “Let there be light” to “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:3a, 26a – NIV)

 

God’s handiwork can be seen anywhere. We simply need to open our eyes to see Him.

 

I Feel God’s Love

Of all the books in the Bible, we can see the abundant examples of God’s love in 1 John. If you haven’t read it in a while, or if you cannot feel God’s love around you, read through it. Several times. You’ll begin to feel God’s love.

 

The verses that stand out to me are:

1 John 3:1 (NIV) “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

 

1 John 4:8 (NIV) “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

 

1 John 4:9 (NIV) “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

 

1 John 5:2 (NIV) “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.”

 

You see we can feel God’s love when we produce love for others and follow His commands.

 

I Taste God’s Goodness

I don’t know that there is anything better than a great taste on my tongue. It might be sweet or salty; spicy or mild; creamy or chunky; chocolate or non-chocolate. If it is the right combination, my mouth waters with delight.

 

That’s the way it is with God. Except that His goodness tastes good all the time! There isn’t a time when He gets it wrong.

 

Psalm 34:8 (NIV) says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

 

God’s Word is also described by taste buds. Psalm 119:103 (NIV) says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

 

I understand these analogies. I love to eat. I know exactly what David is trying to say in these verses. Unfortunately, when I substitute food for God’s goodness and His Word, I am filling my life with lies, not truth. How are you doing on this one?

 

I Hear God’s Voice

Hearing God’s voice is a controversial topic. I have never audibly heard God speak to me, but I hear what God is saying to me. Through His Scripture, through His messengers, through my meditation. I hear what God wants to say to me through His Holy Spirit.
Jesus said in John 8:47a (NIV), “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.” When my heart is in tune with God’s teachings, I hear what God says. Loud and clear.

 

Oh, what it would have been like to be with Jesus and to hear His teachings! That would have been glorious. Luke 5:1 (NIV) says, “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.” The people of that time had an opportunity to hear God speak directly to them. How blessed they were.

 

And like the crowd that followed Jesus, I want to hear all that Jesus has to say by reading and studying God’s Word, by listening to those who preach the Gospel, and when God’s Spirit stops me in my tracks to get my attention, I will listen.

 

I Smell God’s Fragrance

In Hosea 14, Israel finds the blessings that come from repentance. God’s healing. God’s refreshment. God’s life-giving nourishment. God’s provision. God’s comfort. And God’s splendor that would be as the fragrance of the cedar trees of Lebanon.

 

The cedars of Lebanon were famous. Famous for their value and for what was built with them. Royal homes and temples dotted the landscape of the Near East and these structures were built from the cedars of Lebanon.

 

They also must have had the most wonderful scent, because God’s splendor was compared to that scent.

 

I know what cedar smells like. It is a scent that is like nothing else. That is what God smells like. Now I may have to purchase some of those cedar blocks for my closet.

 

Well those are my thoughts on my senses and God. I’m thankful to have all my senses, for I know there are those who do not have the luxury of having all five. I pray that each day I will take the time to use my senses to find God.

 

What could you add to my list? How do you see, feel, taste, hear or smell God?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Priority

May 16th, 2015 dsisler

 

Here’s another lesson I learned at the Senior Administrative Assistants Conference. The word priority, by its very nature, can only be one thing. As soon as we pluralize this word, it loses its meaning.

 

Duh!

 

???????????????????????????????But how often do we say, “I need to get my priorities straight”? Nope. You need to get the priority straight.

 

What is that one priority? I think in each area of our lives we can have that one priority. For my home, I want it to feel comfortable. For my work, I want to be better each day. For my relationship with my spouse, I want to live our lives as one. For myself…ugh. There are too many priorities!

 

So what would our one priority be in our relationship with God? This is tricky. My first thought was Matthew 6:33 (NIV). “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” That’s a good one.

 

But then I thought of Jesus’ response to the question, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” In Mark 12:30-31 (NIV), Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

 

Now what? Jesus has given us several things to place in high prominence in our life. So which one are we to make our top priority?

 

I don’t know that I have the answer, but I believe the two go hand-in-hand. When we love God as spelled out in Mark 12, His kingdom and His righteousness will always be first. When we love God and put His kingdom and righteousness first, I believe we will naturally love others as Christ loved us.

 

But did you catch how we are to love God? Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. Not just with these four elements, but with all of them. My entire heart is to be God’s. My entire soul is to be God’s. My entire mind is to be God’s. And my entire strength is to be God’s. All of me is to be God’s for His use. In His kingdom!

 

This is my priority.

 

Will I mess it up from time to time? Certainly. Will I make another important thing my top priority? Probably. But if my goal each day is to love God with my whole being (with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit), I will have a better chance of hitting the mark.

 

So what is your priority? I pray that your priority is God’s priority. If not, maybe it’s time to get your priority straight!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Survival Kit

May 15th, 2015 dsisler

 

I am still rethinking and reliving my time at the Senior Administrative Assistant Conference last week. I learned so much, and yet, there were moments of fun and smiles along the way as well.

 

IMAG1501For fun, we received an Administrative Assistant Survival Kit. Inside this little kit were items that we might need to help us with our job. Take a look at what we received.

 

  • Marbles – to replace the ones lost on the job
  • Starburst – for that burst of energy you’ll need
  • Payday – need we say more?
  • Paper Clip – to help hold it all together
  • Mint – because you are worth a “mint” even if you are not told so often
  • Rubber Band – to remind you to stay flexible
  • Peppermint Patty – to help you keep your cool
  • Piece of String – for when you get to the end of your rope
  • Tootsie Roll – to help you roll with the punches
  • Matches – to light your fire when feeling burned out

 

Obviously, this was not a serious survival kit. The candy was eaten pretty quickly and the rest of the kit is still in the bag. But I suspect a spiritual survival kit is exactly what some might need. So let’s see what we can come up with. What shall we put in our survival kit?

 

God – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 – NIV

 

Jesus – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 – NIV

 

Holy Spirit – “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 – NIV

 

Prayer – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 – NIV

 

The Bible – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – NIV

 

Worship – “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 – NIV

 

Fellow Believers – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 – NIV

 

A Kind Word – “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25 – NIV

 

Strength – “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right o to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7 – NIV

 

Hope – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 – NIV

 

Belief – “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 – NIV

 

Gratitude – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Psalm 28:7 – NIV

 

An Anchor – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 – NIV

 

Endurance – “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6 – NIV

 

If I were really in need of a spiritual survival kit, I would want to start with this kit. But I must say, there are a boat load of items I find in Scripture that I am thankful to have as I need them.

 

Perhaps these are exactly what you need today. If so, I pray that you will spend time with each item in this kit. Become acquainted with the item. Learn about it. Use it. Enjoy it. Rely upon it. After you’ve spent some time with each item, I will venture to guess that you won’t feel like you’re surviving any longer. I believe you will know what Jesus called, abundant life.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Summer Reading Plan

May 14th, 2015 dsisler

 

This is the most difficult time of the year for me. Bible studies have stopped. My routine is out of whack. I flounder a bit. But eventually, my schedule settles and I find contentment in my day-to-day rhythm of life.

 

booksI thought I’d share one of my goals for the summer. My summer reading plan, because part of me telling y’all this is that I will be held accountable for what I’ve said. I will accomplish this because I’ve told you, my most trusted and valued blog reader my plan.

 

I’m already in the middle of this beautiful book called A Sudden Glory by Sharon Jaynes. It’s a borrowed copy of the book, but my plan is to purchase the book and read it again! It’s that good. Her main idea is that in Christ we “live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Good stuff.

 

As a partner book, I will be reading Becoming Spiritually Beautiful, again by Sharon Jaynes. In this book, Ms. Jaynes helps readers to understand that real beauty begins on the inside and works its way out. Another reminder to look at myself from God’s perspective.

 

At the Senior Administrative Assistants Conference last week, we had the privilege of hearing Joan Burge speak to our group about being the best assistants we can be. She’s written several books, but the one we received is Become an Inner Circle Assistant. Doesn’t that sound amazing? Especially in light of Jesus’ inner circle. I look forward to gleaning much from this book.

 

And finally, I plan to read through C. Gene Wilkes’ Bible study, Jesus on Leadership: Becoming a Servant Leader. There are seven principles of servant leadership and I will be asking God to join me on this journey of serving others with a heart like Jesus’.

 

Now I also have other things to do this summer. Write a Bible study. Handwrite a portion of the New Testament. Memorize Scripture each week. Read God’s Word on a daily basis. And prayer walk.

 

Perhaps I have lofty goals. But I believe my main and ultimate goal is to keep my mind occupied and to be with God. If I accomplish these, I will be content.

 

So what are your plans for the summer?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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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 Jacksonville, Florida.

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