Christmas Cards

December 24th, 2013 dsisler

Christmas cards are one of my favorite elements to the celebrations at Christmas. I enjoy receiving them. I enjoy sending them.

 

MT_12-10_JNI’ve recently heard that one of my friends takes all of her Christmas cards and places them in her devotional book for the year. As she gets to a card, she spends that day thinking and praying for that specific person or family. What a great way to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long!

 

For our family, we create our own card each year. All through the year as we are out and about on photo shoots, we’re on the lookout for a special tree or a unique scene.

 

If we don’t find it out there somewhere, we search through the thousands of pictures we’ve already taken. We spend time searching for the perfect photo.

 

In the past we’ve written our own verse to go inside. Here is one example.

 

“Christmas is more than decorated trees,

And gifts placed under evergreens.

It’s more than just a holiday,

In truth it’s about a tiny babe.”

 

I didn’t say it was good verse writing. But it was an attempt each year to create something special for family and friends.

 

We’ve gotten a bit lazy. We create a card on one sheet of photo paper with just a small note. Not like the old days.

 

God sent His own Christmas card. Oh, it isn’t like anything we have ever seen before, for instead of being carried by the US Postal Service, it was carried by an angel. This was the message.

 

“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12 – NIV)

 

This is where the reinforcements were called in. Suddenly, the angel was accompanied by a great company of heavenly host. They all praised God and said,

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14 – NIV)

 

Now that is a Christmas card no one can top!

 

God’s message to the shepherds on the hillside is the same message God has for each of us. It is good news of great joy, for without the birth of this tiny baby there wouldn’t have been Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

 

God continued with His card sending. We have an entire book filled with His messages. They are all wrapped up neatly within the bindings of our Bibles. What a message He proclaims!

 

The Christmas cards I receive each year are placed in a prominent position in my home. They are special to me. Occasionally I will walk by and pick up each one and re-read the message enclosed.

 

I’m thankful to be able to pick up God’s Christmas card and re-read His message as well. It has become part of my daily routine.

 

Do you spend time reading God’s Word on a daily basis? It has a message specifically for you. It is filled with wonder, surprise, love stories, tenderness, miracles, gifts, hope, grace, and so much more. Regardless of what you are going through, you will find a special message from God that will touch your heart.

 

I pray that as you receive Christmas cards this year, you’ll think of the special message God sent those many years ago and have a renewed sense of wonder about the whole event.

 

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“God with Us” – Monday Musical Musings

December 23rd, 2013 dsisler

It is Christmas Eve eve. If you haven’t felt a sense of urgency from others, you haven’t been very observant. The stores are jam-packed. Traffic is terrific (and I don’t mean it the way it is in “Oh There’s No Place like Home for the Holidays”). People are rushing to get their last minute stuff done before Christmas. It’s pretty wild out there.

 

0005030206R-849x565But as I sit in the quietness of my home, there isn’t much rushing. Oh there are things to do, but I find great joy in writing about the upcoming event. So I sit in stillness and write. I’m excited to be able to share once again about the celebration of Jesus’ birth and what it means to me.

 

The song I wish to share with you today is by Mercy Me, “God with Us.” The song begins by asking two questions. “Who are we?” “What do you see?” If we were to answer these questions, we’d note our unworthiness, unloveliness, unholiness and a few other similar words.  But God answered these questions by sending Jesus.

 

God saw great worth in His creation. We were on God’s mind from the beginning and He thought we were worth saving. Enough so that His plan for the redemption of mankind was set into motion 2000 years ago.

 

This song goes on to remind us some of what we’ve received because of God’s plan. Release. Freedom. A new song. Love. What wonderful gifts from our God.

 

But then the author urges us to give in return. But what can we give? A tiny offering…our own lives. It is nothing compared to what Jesus gave, but it is all we have. And that is exactly what God wants of you and me. He wants me. He wants you. That’s all.

 

So today as you read through these words and listen to the song, let’s remember the day and who it belongs to. Let’s recall the happenings all those years ago when a tiny baby was brought into this world. Let’s rejoice with the shepherds and angels. And then, let’s offer Jesus the gift of ourselves.

 

“God with Us”

Who are we
That You would be mindful of us
What do You see
That’s worth looking our way

We are free
In ways that we never should be
Sweet release from the grip of these chains

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing

Chorus
All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified
Emmanuel God with us
My heart sings a brand new song
The debt is paid
These chains are gone
Emmanuel God with us

Lord You know
Our hearts don’t deserve Your glory
Still You show
A love we cannot afford

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing

Chorus

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary
But nevertheless
We lay it at your feet.

Chorus

 

You can listen to Mercy Me sing this song by clicking here.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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The Sunday before Christmas

December 22nd, 2013 dsisler

It’s hard to believe that yet another year has passed and we are nearing the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

 

The message of Jesus’ birth has been heard in messages all across the world during December and these messages have led up to this message. Christmas is coming!

 

These next few days are some of favorite of the year. The Sunday before Christmas leads us directly to Bethlehem. And on Christmas Eve, we are there. We hear the announcement of the Christ child’s birth. We sing with the angels and shepherds. We glorify God for the gift of His Son. We celebrate the redemption of mankind. And we each experience a night of remembrance.

 

I pray that you will find peace in this season. I know some of you are going through difficult times. But I still pray that you’ll find peace. Jesus came as the Prince of Peace and He offers His peace (Philippians 4:7) to those who love Him.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance! Merry Christmas!

 

Building a Doll House: Christmas Morning – Chapter 13

 

Christmas morning arrived. It was time for Joy to see her dollhouse for the first time. However, it was a pretty large gift and would not fit under the tree. So I created a scavenger hunt for her to search for her gift. The hunt ended in the guest room where Joy found her doll house.

 

Christmas 2010 006mmmmmmmmmmmAll the anticipation leading to this moment was worth it. Wondering whether she would like her doll house disappeared the moment she saw it. When Joy saw the doll house, her face told us how she felt. The excitement, the thrill, the joy. It was all there. Expressed by wondering eyes, a smile that melts the heart, and uncertainty of where to begin the exploration. It was priceless!

 

I wonder if this isn’t how God feels when we accept Him as our Father and His Word as our guide to live by. When we get the picture that it isn’t all about “me.” When we willingly and cheerfully give of ourselves to others. Then He looks at us with joy in His heart. With excitement that cannot be contained.

 

He is the Designer and when His creation accepts the challenge to be as He originally designed, God is most satisfied and thrilled by our actions.

 

Christmas 2010 013mmThe Apostle Paul encouraged the Christians in Thessalonica to live lives that pleased God. Take a look at these words. “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1 – NIV)

 

This group of people were pleasing God by their actions and their attitudes. But that didn’t mean they had reached their goal. They needed to keep on doing what they were doing, but do it more and more. So what lifestyle is pleasing to God? Let’s continue with this passage to find out.

 

Paul begins with being sanctified. Sanctified means to be holy or blameless. To be set apart for holiness. There are other passages that call us to be holy. Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:9; and 1 Peter 1:15 to name a few. It means we must live to please God instead of our sinful nature.

 

Which Paul mentions next. “You should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a-6 – NIV) In order to please God, we must rid ourselves of anything that is displeasing to Him. Our hearts and minds must be pure of sexual immorality, lust, and uncontrollable urges.

 

Paul then moves to our treatment of others. He instructs them to be careful not to wrong another brother or take advantage of him. (1 Thessalonians 4:6) As we come to a better understanding of how God wants us to live, we acknowledge the second greatest commandment. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31 – NIV) Paul was simply restating Jesus’ words.

 

In the next section, Paul encourages these brothers to treat others well, but also to grow their brotherly love. They obviously were doing so, but Paul told them they could improve. “You do love all the brothers throughout Macdeonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:10 – NIV) Regardless of how much we love, we can love more. It is part of what pleases God.

 

This group of Christians were then asked to “make it their ambition” to do a few more things. To lead a quiet life. To mind their own business. To work with their hands. To live lives that will win respect of outsiders. To be independent of others. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

 

For me, this seems like an odd list of objectives for living a holy life. The only directive that seems to be related to God in any way is the section about winning the respect of others. That our holy lives would reflect God and that would bring others to Christ. But clearly, these elements are to be pursued. Pursued ambitiously!

 

I suspect by using these guidelines to live by, we would have less opportunity to allow sin to creep into our lives. A quiet life would imply that carousing isn’t taking place. Minding our own business would imply that our lives are free of gossip. Working with our hands would imply that we desire to accomplish good, not evil. Being independent in our well-being would imply that laziness is absent.

 

In all of these areas then, others for certain would see God working in us and through us. Our holy lives would indeed win the respect of non-believers.

 

And holy lives are pleasing to God. I said it earlier, but it is worth repeating. God is the Designer and when His creation accepts the challenge to be as He originally designed, God is most satisfied and thrilled by our actions. Tweet this.

 

So, what steps are you taking today to live a holy life? What ambitions have you set for yourself? What more do you need to do?

 

As Paul said, “do so more and more.” There is always room for improvement. Each of us can move a little closer to God. And in doing so, we are living a life that is pleasing to Him.

 

Many playful hours have been spent in the rooms of the doll house. And I suspect there will be many more to come. This play area has brought great pleasure to our granddaughter, but to be honest, it brings great pleasure to my husband and me as well.

 

Each moment Joy spends rearranging furniture or playing with “the family” brings joy to my heart. Her imagination, her enthusiasm, and her enjoyment make the building of this doll house all that more meaningful. And I smile!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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The Poinsettia

December 21st, 2013 dsisler

Let me tell you a story. It’s a legend actually, from Mexico. It is one that is told over and over, especially at this time of year and it is about the poinsettia.

 

In this legend, a poor girl names Pepita wanted to take a gift to the Christ child. But she had nothing of value to bring to the child. Her cousin Pedro told Pepita that the gift itself didn’t matter. If she offered her gift with a heart filled with love, anything would be an acceptable gift for the Christ child.

 

Pepita began gathering weeds and created a bouquet. As she lay her gift at the Christ child’s feet God was touched. He was moved to action. This small gift of weeds was transformed into beautiful flowers. And not just any flower, but into poinsettias. Each brilliant red and shaped like the Christmas star.

 

poinsettia

 

I love poinsettias…they are red, they are readily available at Christmas and they remind me of what Christmas is all about. Jesus. But I must tell you, when I heard this legend, I thought of the wonder of the whole Christmas story. That God was interested in sharing His Son with the world (and me). Of what the birth of His Son represented (redemption of mankind). But especially what happens when a heart filled with love accepts Jesus as their Savior.

 

Transformation, like the weeds to poinsettias, is what Jesus evokes within us. We want to be different because of the gift from God. We can offer our hearts and lives to him in their worst state (like the weeds) and when Jesus is finished, our hearts and lives are transformed into something beautiful and useful (like the poinsettia).

 

Romans 12:2 (NIV) is a passage that I use quite often in my writing. When we offer our lives to God for His use, we must be different. We must be changed. We must be transformed. And this verse says it best. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

What a promise! Transformation allows us to know God’s will for our lives. We are able to follow His ways and guidance with peace because we know how good, pleasing and perfect His will is for our lives.

 

We often ignore God’s will and the understanding of His will. When we do so, we are bound to live our lives with uncertainty. With unrest. With no clear direction. But when we allow God’s Spirit to transform us, we are able to see more clearly the path God has laid for our lives. It’s in that transformation that we find confidence, peace, and direction.

 

These days poinsettias come in many shapes, sizes and colors. They are each beautiful in their own way. Maybe this is our way of understanding that we are all unique. We each come to God at different times in our lives under different circumstances. But the real gift is that God takes us where we are and creates beauty from weeds we lay at His feet.

 

I don’t know where you are in your life today. Maybe today is the da that you need to offer the “weeds” to God. Maybe you need to offer God your heart with love. If you do, His transformation will be amazing. Perhaps even miraculous! And isn’t that what the Christmas season is about?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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How Are You Living?

December 20th, 2013 dsisler

I write a lot about how we are to live. Probably because it’s difficult to live up to God’s expectations. And it’s not just for you, my reader. My writings on living-the-right-kind-of-life are for me as well. We all fall short in this area, but I find that when encouraged (and of course allowing God’s Spirit to do the leading), we find the ability to live according to God’s plans.

 

PoppysPerhaps you’ve read this quote. “Live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” (Will Rogers) While there is some humor in this quote, I believe there is a real message for us. So let’s take a moment to peruse our lives and see how we are to live.

 

There is a single verse in the book of Acts that tells a great story of the Berean people, but it also sheds some light into the way we should be living our lives. Acts 17:11 (NIV) says, “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.”

 

I see three areas in which the Bereans excelled.

 

First, they were noble in character. They far exceeded the Thessalonians in this area. While Paul and Silas were in Thessalonica, the Jews who were not persuaded by Paul’s teaching became disgruntled.

 

This group hired “some bad characters,” thugs as we might call them. These thugs stirred up the crowd and soon a mob was formed and rioting began. Paul and Silas fled for their lives.

 

The Bereans weren’t like this. They had chosen to listen peacefully to all that Paul and Silas had to say. They were noble in character.

 

We, like the Bereans, are called to live noble lives (Proverbs 12:4). Have hearts stirred by a noble theme (Psalm 45:1). Think noble thoughts (Philippians 4:8). Have noble purposes (2 Timothy 2:20-21). Plan noble plans (Proverbs 12:4).

 

Outstanding qualities are what defines nobility. We must live lives where others might say what was said of the people living in Berea.

 

Second, the Bereans eagerly received Paul and Silas’ message. Their desire was to learn all that Paul and Silas had to teach them.

 

Are you eager to receive God’s message? Do you long to hear God’s Word preached? Are you listening to what God has to say to you?

 

God has given us a message that is filled with hope, joy, and grace. Why wouldn’t we want to eagerly listen?

 

James takes this idea one step further. James 1:22 (NIV) says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

 

Yes, we must listen and learn, but we then must put that knowledge into action. We must be willing to take that same eagerness of hearing the message and then eagerly follow God’s teachings.

 

Eager receiving equals changed lives.

 

Third, they checked Scripture for themselves to see if Paul and Silas’ message was an accurate one. I love this little section of Scripture because it tells me that the Old Testament scrolls housed in the Synagogue were available for the people to study.

 

The Bereans wanted to know if what Paul and Silas were preaching fell in line with God’s Word. And, after careful examination, they knew that it did. Because it was a continuation of God’s story. It was the best part of the story. Salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

When was the last time you pulled out your copy of God’s Word to see if what you heard was in line with Scripture? I hope it’s often. I would even pray that you check all that I write in this blog.

 

My reason for thinking this way? When you study God’s Word, when your knowledge of what He has to say grows, when you want to know the fullness of Scripture, then you will be blessed beyond words.

 

We can take an example from Timothy. Paul shares his charge to Timothy in 2Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV).

 

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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.”

 

Knowing Scripture will take you to the highest of heights. It will change you. God’s Word will teach, rebuke, correct and train as you learn from it. And best of all, God will be able to use you in a far greater way because you will be equipped.

 

We can learn quite a bit from this one verse of Scripture and from the Bereans. I pray that each of us will find an eagerness to be in God’s Word daily. To hear His message as often as it is presented. And to live noble lives that praise, honor, and glorify God.

 

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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