The Sofa Challenge

June 17th, 2014 dsisler

Over the weekend, I asked a couple of guys to come over and move a sleeper sofa from the lower level of my home to the upper level. I knew it would be a challenge and one that I was dreading. If you’ve ever moved one, you know why. They are heavy. They’re bulky. They’re awkward.

 

sofaHowever, the sofa needed to be moved. So I connected with a young guy on staff and asked if he could bring a couple of friends over to move this sofa. He said it wouldn’t be a problem.

 

On Saturday, three were expected, but one backed out. There were only two. But they assured me that it wouldn’t be a problem and that they would indeed get it upstairs.

 

I watched as they started up my winding staircase. I also watched as they lifted it directly over their heads to round the last two curves. Honestly. It was like bench pressing a couch! They did it with such ease that I stood there with my mouth gaping. It was pretty remarkable.

 

They placed the sofa in its new location and I thanked them for their efforts. I also said, “You two are too young to know that you’re not supposed to do that.”

 

I fed and paid this pair for their work. They were my heroes! And they are still talking to me.

 

I recall those times in my life when I was too young to know better. When I was certain I could get away with a sin or that sin wouldn’t affect my life. I was too young to realize that there was no way to love both God and the world. Perhaps you’ve experienced this as well.

 

James warned his readers of this dangerous thought pattern. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 – NIV) There is no way we can dabble in sin and get away with it. When we live this way, we are God’s enemy. We’ve joined forces with God’s greatest enemy, the evil one. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be in that camp.

 

As I’ve matured, both physically and spiritually, I’ve come to recognize my sin for what it is. Separation from my heavenly Father.

 

Oh, I still sin. I still allow my sinful nature to overpower my desire to be more like Jesus. I’m old enough to know what I should do. I’ve read and studied enough Scripture to know the things I ought to do. And when I don’t, I sin (James 4:17).

 

When I sin, God “gives more grace.” (James 4:6 – NIV)

 

Growing old (or older) does have its advantages. I’m wiser today than I was at 16. I’m smarter today than I was at 22. I’m more generous now than I was at 30. I’m more thankful now than I was at 35. And I was reminded of this verse this week. “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.” (Proverbs 16:31 – NIV)

 

I am old enough to know that I can’t attain righteousness on my own. I will foul it up every time. But God knew that and He had a plan. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 – NIV)

 

How have you grown “older” in your spiritual life? Do you continue to seek wisdom from God’s Word? Are you allowing Jesus’ righteousness to cover you? Will you be a friend of the world or an enemy of God? I pray that you are old enough to know better!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“Here I Am, Lord” – Monday Musical Musings

June 16th, 2014 dsisler

I don’t recall the first time I heard this song, but it was popular during my college days. For those called to the mission field, this became their anthem. For those going into ministry, these lyrics shared their heart’s desire. And even the student and music ministry crowd could use these words as a statement.

 

IMAG1492But what about the students, like me, who were caught between majors? To be honest, I just wanted to learn about God’s Word. Forget the classes that I had to take along the way to fulfill the requirements of my major. I suspect that’s why I have so many credits and I’m nowhere near a college degree!

 

Well, for everyone who didn’t fall into the above categories, the message of this song is still our anthem, our heart’s desire, and our statement. As a matter of fact, it fits in nicely with my personal mission statement.

 

“With God’s Spirit leading me,

I will direct others to Jesus through my

words, actions, writing, teaching, prayer, and example.”

 

My personal mission statement expresses my desire to share God’s message with others. That’s what this particular song shares as well. Whatever the mission, use me.

 

I have been amazed at how God has used me through the years when I least expected it. Mentoring and teaching has always been a part of who I am, but it’s mainly been in the local church.

 

However, when God’s call came for me to go to a foreign mission field, I was surprised. God had never touched my heart in that way before. But what was I to say except, “here I am, Lord!”

 

So as you read through these lyrics and listen to this melody, I pray that you will stop and focus on what God is calling you to do. Whether it’s to go around the world or across the street, I pray that you will listen to His voice and that you will say, “here I am, Lord!”

 

“Here I Am, Lord”

 

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.

 

I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

 

Chorus:

Here I am Lord, It is I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

 

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my peoples pain.
I have wept for love of them,

They turn away.

 

I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them,
Whom shall I send?

(Chorus)

 

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save

 

Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?

(Chorus)[i]

 

Click here to listen to John Michael Talbot’s version of this song.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

[i] “Here I Am, Lord,” Dan Schutte, 1981, OCP Publications.

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Today’s Joy

June 15th, 2014 dsisler

Good morning! Another glorious Lord’s Day has arrived! A day of worship, fellowship, and reflection. I pray that you will spend time with your Savior today.

 

DSC01820Today’s blog post continues with my encouragement series. Enjoy!

 

Encouragement – Part Four

 

In the past three blog posts, I have shared an introduction to encouragement and how the apostle Paul was encouraged by those he came in contact with. I stated that there were seven, but in fact, after much research, I believe I’ve found two more!

 

So before I move along, I want to share these with you. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read Encouragement – Part One through Three, you may want to do so before continuing with today’s blog post.

 

Just to remind you these passages show how Paul was encouraged and then we’ll see how we can bring these elements into our own lives to encourage men and women in ministry or on the mission field.

 

Eight

Paul had great love for the people in Ephesus. He spent between three years in this city and many became believers during that period. On Paul’s journey back to Jerusalem where he would eventually be arrested and sent to Rome, he had an encounter with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-21:1).

 

After words of encouragement to them to fulfill their duties as elders and to beware of the “savage wolves,” Paul and the elders knelt down and they prayed.

 

While the only mention of “building up” is from Paul, I believe Paul was encouraged by this encounter. He saw the great love these men had for God and for himself. He saw their desire to follow God’s plan for the Church. He knew their faithfulness would continue to build and grow God’s Kingdom in the future. And he was encouraged that he was leaving Ephesus in good, capable hands.

 

Nine

In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul shares some wonderful expressions of devotion regarding this group of people in Macedonia. In his first letter, Paul urged them to repentance and in so doing, brought about “Godly sorrow that brought repentance that lead to salvation and no regret.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 – NIV)

 

In two verses, Paul says he was encouraged by this group. 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NIV) says, “I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” In turn, I’m certain the people who received this letter were also encouraged.

 

Then in verse 13 of the same chapter, Paul says, “By all this [their repentance, eagerness, indignation, longing, concern, readiness] we are encouraged.” (2 Corinthians 7:13 – NIV)

 

And then Paul says he boasted about this group and that they had not disappointed. He was not embarrassed. Everything he said about them was true. (2 Corinthians 7:14) No wonder Paul was filled with joy when he remembered the church in Macedonia!

 

How You Can Be an Encouragement to Your Minister or Missionary

Encouragement Eight

First, I believe we can pray for and with our minister. Think about it. When was the last time you prayed specifically for the things Paul prayed in Acts 20:28-32? Perhaps you never have. What powerful words these can be. Maybe it’s time to use Paul’s words during our prayer time.

 

And for those on the mission field, I believe we need to pray earnestly for their safety. The elders of Ephesus were saddened by the thought that they would not see Paul again. There can be real danger for our missionary friends. Please don’t forget to pray for them daily.

 

Second, I believe we can join them on their journey. The elders at Ephesus wept with Paul. They understood that Paul was heading to encounter his own “savage wolves.” The elders and the church of Ephesus would be there with him in prayer. It may not be possible to physically be with our missionaries, but we certainly can be with them in spirit. Allow God’s Spirit to make the connection.

 

Third, if we are truly able and prepared, I believe we can let our ministers and missionaries know that we are capable of carrying on or maintaining a ministry (with God’s help). Perhaps you are feeling a tug at your heart right now. It may mean it’s time to take that step forward and take the baton. You’ll know if the timing is right. God will go before you and prepare the way.

 

Encouragement Nine

Be a joy to your minister or a missionary. Act upon their message. Be eager to do what God’s Word says. Have concern for the injustices of this world. And do not bring embarrassment to them.

 

I realize we are not on this earth to bring glory and honor to any man, but to lift up our God as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. But I think we see from this passage that a little Godly boasting is acceptable. The lives we live are to be a reflection of God. Oh, how I pray that I am not an embarrassment to God above all.

 

Well, this was an unexpected twist. And to be honest, I may find even more to add to this list as my study on encouragement continues. I can only ask that God will enlighten my heart to what His Word says about this topic.

 

We aren’t done with this study on encouragement. I pray that you’ll continue this biblical journey with me over the next few days as we learn how to encourage one another.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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The Moon and the Stars

June 14th, 2014 dsisler

Last night as I headed to bed, I noticed how big and bright the moon was. I don’t follow the phases of the moon, so I don’t know if it was full. If it wasn’t, it was pretty close.

 

Moon2I took a couple pictures of the moon, even zoomed in with the camera on my phone. The result shocked me! The stars, which were invisible to the naked eye suddenly, became clear. What I couldn’t see, the lens on my camera not only saw them, but showed them to me!

 

As a believer of Jesus, I have God’s Spirit within me to help me see what I don’t normally see. I’m able to see through spiritual eyes, God’s eyes, that which is happening around me. It may be a nudge from the Holy Spirit to stop and visit with someone, only to find out that things are not going as well as projected. It could be God’s Spirit alerting me to a false teaching. Or it simply could be showing compassion to someone who might otherwise have been overlooked.

 

Jesus shared a couple of benefits of the Holy Spirit in His teachings from John 14. This is what He said. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17 – NIV)

 

From this passage we see the Holy Spirit has been given to us to lead us in wisdom to make decisions or to know what’s happening in a situation. But we also see that we find truth in God’s Spirit. He must be our compass for truth. Jesus talks more about this in John 16:13.

 

In John 16:8 (NIV), Jesus mentions that the Spirit came to “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” God’s Spirit convicts me of my sin. As I become more in tune with God’s message and His Spirit, I come to see areas of my life that are not in line with His commands. But as Romans 8:26 tells us, the Holy Spirit will help us when we are weak.

 

We also see that the Holy Spirit is with us to teach us and to remind us of what we’ve learned. “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) God’s Spirit leads, guides, and directs us into all truth and He will help us to recall such truth. So thankful for this role of the Holy Spirit!

 

When I don’t know what or how to pray for a situation, God’s Spirit is at work. He is sharing my heart and thoughts with God. He intercedes for me in a way I don’t understand. Romans 8:26-27 tells us about this relationship the Spirit has with God. What a blessing to know that even in my weakness, God’s Spirit is strong.

 

These are just a few ways that God’s Spirit opens my spiritual eyes to what I can’t see with my physical eyes. And here’s some good news. God’s Spirit is available to all believers of Jesus.

 

It doesn’t matter who you are, what your station in life might be, or if you’re considered a saint or sinner. If you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit is within you. He is at work within you. His spiritual eyes are available to you.

 

I must say that I’ve not been as accepting to the Holy Spirit’s leading in the past. I’ve ignored some the prompting. I’ve misread a few messages. I’ve turned my back on the guidelines. But when I decided to really make this relationship with Jesus work, the eyes of my heart were then able to see all that was going on around and within me. God’s Spirit really was and is my Helper.

 

If you don’t know Jesus as the One who is able to do remarkable things in your life, please talk to someone about giving your life to Him. It could be here in this forum or with someone else, but I encourage you to make that decision.

 

The moon was beautiful last night, but the beauty of God’s Spirit far surpasses anything in nature. How blessed we are to call Him Friend.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Heart Conditions

June 13th, 2014 dsisler

I’ve aged. Now I don’t think I’m old yet, but I’ve aged. I know this because my parents are beginning to have health issues that they’ve never experienced before.

 

555540_3503136384467_1904624890_nBoth Mom and Dad have had angiograms recently. Turns out Dad has a blockage that is treatable with medication. Mom on the other hand will also start taking medication, but yesterday she had to have 2 stents placed in the arteries of her heart. With a family history of heart issues, we know what is going to happen. Along with medication, diet and exercise are going to be implemented. We will know more about her situation today after the doctor’s visit with her.

 

For Mom and Dad, these procedures were precautionary. Neither of them had any heart attack symptoms, they just felt tired. These preventative angiograms have given them the opportunity to care for their hearts and to keep them healthy. How blessed we are to live in this day of medicine!

 

While heart issues have the potential to be serious, I believe our spiritual heart issues are even more serious. I also believe that we can take some lessons from these experiences that relate to our spiritual hearts.

 

Prevention

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) says it best. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Our hearts will tend to sway toward the evil of this world. Therefore, we must be sure to keep evil at bay.

 

King Solomon realized how the heart can be temperamental. His advice toward the heart can be found in Proverbs 4:23 (NIV). “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

 

When we understand what our heart is capable of, then we have the opportunity to guard it.

 

Pro-action

Sometimes heart conditions can be cured with medication. Spiritual heart conditions can be cured with medication as well. Jesus. A good dose of His love and grace, supplement that with a little soul searching on your own and your heart condition will begin to heal itself.

 

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) asks for a heart checkup. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” When we are willing to allow God to work in our hearts, the junk build up in our hearts will begin to disappear.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 and Proverbs 15:13-15 offers more good medication to take to move toward a healthy heart.

 

Diet

This is a word that lots of people have grown to hate, but in the case for a healthy heart, it’s vital. The same can be said for our spiritual heart. What we feed our hearts will come forth. Jesus told us about it. “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart…” (Matthew 15:13 – NIV)

 

What are we to feed our heart? Peter mentions that we are to “crave pure spiritual milk.” (2 Peter 2:2) Jeremiah ate the Words of God and found “they were my joy and heart’s delight.” (Jeremiah 15:16) Then we see that we are to joyful (Philippians 4:4); we are not to be anxious (Philippians 4:6); and we are to think about the good things of life (Philippians 4:8).

 

These are just a few suggestions to add to your daily diet of spiritual heart health. If you need more suggestions, just ask!

 

Exercise

UGH! No one wants to hear this word, but just as exercise is important for our physical health, we find exercise can be a huge benefit for our spiritual hearts. And just how do we do that?

 

We follow the example of some of our favorite biblical friends. Paul and Silas encountered such a group in Berea. This group of believers not only heard the message and took it to heart, they studied God’s Word. Take a look at Acts 17:11 (NIV). “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Now that is spiritual exercise!

 

Paul encouraged his spiritual son Timothy to do the same in 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV). “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 can use these examples for our own lives. Do you study God’s Word so that you know how to use it in your day-to-day life? Do you examine the Scriptures to see if what you hear or learn is in line with God’s truth? These are spiritual exercises that must be done on a regular (daily) basis. With this added effort, you too will be counted among the noble characters.

 

Jesus shared some ideas about heart issues in His Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:21-30, Jesus used examples of physical sins but turned them internal. He showed how just thinking of these things caused us to sin in our hearts. That’s a big deal.

 

How many times have I thought ill thoughts toward someone? More than I’d like to admit. And while I never took any action on these thoughts, my heart had been hardened and I sinned. That’s the message Jesus was sharing. Our hearts matter. They matter deeply to Jesus.

 

So if they matter to Him, they should matter to us. We should do everything in our power to guard them. And then, when we can’t do another thing, we need to offer it to Jesus and allow Him to continue the work.

 

Mom and Dad will be okay. They need to make a few changes and their lives will be filled with activity yet again. Thank you for your prayers. They are much appreciated!

 

Life will be different around our households from this point forward. The health of our parents will dictate what we eat, what we do, and how we do it all. But the good news is that they are going to be okay. They will work toward healthy hearts.

 

So how’s your heart? Are you struggling with some heart issues? If so, I know a Great Physician who would love to treat your heart condition. Let’s give Him a call!

 

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.

  • 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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