Oh Little One

November 29th, 2013 dsisler

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. I enjoyed family. I enjoyed friends. I especially enjoyed my grand babies. There is something very special when a baby, toddler or child reaches out to you and wants to be with you. That happened several times yesterday and I am so thankful for the experience.

 

Babies bring smiles to the grumpiest of faces. Babies seem to light up a room when they enter. And I believe it’s the way God wanted it.

 

IMAG1281He chose to allow Jesus to come into the world as a baby. God could have introduced the Light of the world in any form He chose, but God knew the attention babies draw. He knew it was the perfect way for His Only Son to join the human race. As a baby.

 

On an episode of Touched by an Angel, Monica (one of the angels on the show) was with a group of people trapped in a bank vault. A pregnant woman went into labor and it became difficult. Monica prayed a special prayer over that baby and I thought the words were especially precious.

 

“Oh little one, do I have a message for you.

God wants you to be born and the world that is waiting for you was created By Him and it is nothing to fear.

Yes, there will be rivers for you to cross,

But when you walk through the water he will be with you.

And yes, there will be mountains for you to climb,

But when you can’t take another step he will carry you.

And there will be people to cherish and hearts to change.

But He will hold your hand every step of the way

If you just will come out into the light and have faith.”[i]

 

While I understand the meaning and reason for this prayer to the unborn child, these words also have great meaning for us. When we are fearful, these words apply. When we are facing a battle, these words apply. When we don’t believe we can go another step, these words apply.

 

Come into the light and have faith. Trust that God is in control. Know that He will care for you through the most difficult of circumstances. Believe that His peace is exactly what you need.

 

And how do I know this? Because God’s Word shares this message and idea over and over throughout its pages. Take a look.

 

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22 – NIV)

 

“Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165 – NIV)

 

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.” (Psalm 125:1 – NIV)

 

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8 – NIV)

 

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 – NIV)

 

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7 – NIV)

 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 – NIV)

 

You see, God cares for you and me. Sometimes we forget how much, but He does care.

 

So as you go through your day today, I pray that you will hold on to these promises and maybe make the prayer above your prayer today. Personalize the prayer and these verses of Scripture. Make them your own. Believe their words. It’s what God wants you to believe.

 

I will recall these verses today as I see my grand babies again. How precious God’s Words are to me…just like these precious little ones.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] Touched by an Angel, “The Big Bang” Episode.

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Thanksgiving 2013

November 28th, 2013 dsisler

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I wanted to share a line from an email I received this week. The email was from a former boss, colleague and friend. He is a man of God who has stretched my mind through theological discussions and has been a mentor. He is now on staff at a Bible college and I know his students are blessed to call him “professor.”

 

ThanksgivingDerek has such a way with words and concepts. This sentence was no different. Here it is.

 

“I hope your Thanksgiving Day is so good for your soul!”

 

We talk about being thankful on Thanksgiving, but we rarely turn it inward. How being thankful and having a heart of gratitude affects us spiritually.

 

I wonder if King David knew this secret. He must have because He wrote many verses of Scripture that lead us to believe that being thankful is important. Let’s look at some of them.

 

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12 – NIV)

 

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30 – NIV)

 

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 92:1 – NIV)

 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4 – NIV)

 

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5 – NIV)

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name’ make known among the nations what he has done.” (Psalm 105:1 – NIV)

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1 – NIV)

 

I believe David knew how being thankful was good for his soul. We learn so much from David’s words. How to be grateful. To whom we should be thankful. How to be thankful. And that we should share with others why we are thankful.

 

So today as you gather with family or friends, I pray that you will take the time to search your soul and see how it is doing. If something seems a little off, perhaps you might consider that your thankfulness hasn’t quite reached your heart and that it hasn’t affected your soul.

 

But I pray that you, like me will be able to say “Thanksgiving is good for my soul!” I pray that you’ll be able to say, “My heart is glad.” (Psalm 16:9a – NIV)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Hand-written

November 27th, 2013 dsisler

One of my most favorite things to do is find verses of Scripture that are obscure but have an impact upon my life or myself personally. I found such a verse yet again.

 

In Deuteronomy, God gave His instruction to the people of Israel to help them be His people. From feasts to tithing to the Ten Commandments, God laid out the plan. And because of His all-knowing, there is a section in Deuteronomy 17 where God makes this statement.

 

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, you will say, ‘Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,’ be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite.” (Deuteronomy 17:14-15 – NIV)

 

Now isn’t that interesting? Nearly 400 years before the people of Israel begged God to choose a king for them, He said that they would do so (1 Samuel 8).

 

God also gave instruction for the chosen king. What he was to do and not do. But the part I love is found in Deuteronomy 17:18-20a (NIV).

 

“When he (the king) takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left.”

 

HandwritingThe chosen king was to write out the law. All of it. Not just a portion of the law, but all of it. He was to read it, learn and follow the law all his days.

 

I can’t help but wonder if this wouldn’t be good practice for our modern-day presidents and prime ministers or kings.

 

But I do believe there is application here for me. I have found great joy, satisfaction and pleasure in writing out portions of Scripture. For instance, I don’t copy and paste Scripture into my blog writings. I write (well, I really type) God’s Word into my post so that I am forced to think about what the verse is saying.

 

When I work on a Bible study and question is asked about a particular verse, I typically write out the verse of Scripture in my notes so that I add one more element to Bible study. God’s words are flowing from my Bible, through my eyes and into my brain and out through my hand onto paper. And I might add, it doesn’t miss my heart in that process either.

 

Last year I led Beth Moore’s study on the Book of James and one of the levels of study was to write out the entire book. I had such pleasure in doing so. I found that it was therapeutic and I became closer to James through the writing of God’s Word.

 

In building the doll house for our granddaughter several years ago, I wrote a verse of Scripture in each room and then covered it with wall paper. I want my future great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren to know that their Baba loved the Bible and also loved writing it.

 

I don’t know if you’ve ever done this, but I believe if God said it and found it beneficial, then it is a practice that we might consider. It’s my greatest desire to hide God’s Word in my heart so that I am more in line with Him (Psalm 119:11). This is just one more way to do so.

 

We have a new year coming up. Perhaps it would be a good opportunity to make the commitment to write out God’s Word. Just a few verses each day and maybe start with the New Testament. What a great legacy to leave for our children and grandchildren! Our own hand-written Bible. Just a thought.

 

God took the time and worked through men to write out His Words for us so that we might know Him and love Him. I pray that God’s Word is penetrating your heart. That His message is in your thoughts. That His instructions and precepts are your guidelines for living. That’s exactly what the Bible is supposed to do.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Glorify

November 26th, 2013 dsisler

I am preparing to lead another group of ladies in Bible study that will begin in January. I’ve searched studies trying to find the perfect lessons to teach. I’ve landed on a Bible study that delves into the teachings of Jesus through parables.

 

The particular study I chose is written by an author whom I love. I’ve done two other studies she wrote and I am excited to use her material again.

 

DSC02392mAs I was looking through the two studies I’ve done, I came across the verse in John 17 when Jesus was praying for His disciples. This is one phrase He said in that section. “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.” (John 17:10 – NIV)

 

The band of men that Jesus had chosen had brought glory to Him. Oh there had been the inappropriate questions, the outbursts, the missteps. But there were also brilliant statements like, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16 – NIV) And “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69 – NIV)

 

Jesus knew there would be more blunders before it was over as well. Judas would betray Jesus (John 18:1-11). Peter would deny Christ three times (John 18:15-18; John 18:25-27). Thomas would doubt (John 20:24-29). But Jesus still believed His glory would shine through these men.

 

We find ourselves in similar situations. We want to glorify God in all that we say and do, but sometimes we mess up. The good news? Jesus still believes in us. He believes that His glory will shine through us.

 

How is this possible? Let’s take a look at a few passages that show us how we glorify Jesus.

 

Through Music

“So that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.’” (Romans 15:9 – NIV)

 

Through our Physical Bodies

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – NIV)

 

Through Service and Generosity

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” (2 Corinthians 9:12-13 – NIV)

 

Through Living Good Lives

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:11-12 – NIV)

 

Through Suffering

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (1 Peter 4:16 – NIV)

 

I would also mention that when we have a willing spirit, God will use us to glorify Himself. God will be glorified through you when your spirit is moldable. So be open to what He’s calling you to.

 

January seems like a long way off. It will be difficult to wait, but as my Dad has told me many times, “I bet you do.” Yes, I will wait for January. But in the meantime, I will be a little more focused on how God is being glorified through my life. I pray that you’ll be doing the same.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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“Come Thou Fount (Glory of God)” – Monday Musical Musings

November 25th, 2013 dsisler

We are into the week of Thanksgiving now. It’s one of my favorite weeks of the year for several reasons.

 

I love to cook and this is the week I shine. I create a menu, make a shopping list, purchase the goodies, clean my house top to bottom, put up some Christmas decorations, set the table, begin prepping for the big day, and then Thanksgiving arrives.

 

I rise at the crack of dawn and begin the real task of the day…getting that meal started that will be enjoyed later in the day.

 

I set the big table in the dining room. My husband isn’t a big fan of this, so I only use my dining room table at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

IMAG1241This year I also played around with creating a pretty menu to place on my fridge…it’s usually my hand scribbled notes and I cross off the items I have completed. But I wanted something a bit more special this year. Take a look at the pics…which do you prefer?

 

But here’s my one dilemma about Thanksgiving. There isn’t much music that is attached to the day. “Over the River and Through the Wood” is definitely one to use on this day, but there aren’t many recordings of this tune.

 

There are a few hymns that speak to Thanksgiving, but really not enough to even make an album. I wonder why this holiday isn’t as musically decorated as some of the others.

 

Maybe it’s because our hearts and thoughts are to be elsewhere. We are to be thanking God for all that He has done for us and for what He’s done in our lives. This is a day for our gratitude to create the music for us.

 

IMAG1239I did choose one hymn that’s been re-made to share today. “Come Thou Fount” was written in 1758 and it is a hymn with an abundance of things to be thankful for. Grace, mercy, redeeming love, help, good pleasure, safety, rescue, and goodness.

 

The songwriter is thankful for the gifts from above and desires to sing praise to God with his music. But then he asks for God’s work upon his life.

 

He asks for his heart to be in tune with God’s grace. He asks to be taught the music from above. He asks for God’s guidance and safety through travel. He asks that his heart be bound to God. He asks that God would take his heart and seal it. These are such wonderful words. All words and prayers that we can ask for ourselves.

 

The one section of this song that is probably most confusing is in the second verse. “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” What does that mean?

 

This idea is taken from 1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV). “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far has the Lord helped us.’” The word Ebenezer means “stone of help.” The author of this hymn raised his stone of help to God. He asked God to help him through each situation.

 

What a picture we see in these few words. Perhaps we need our own stone to raise when we need help. Of course, we could certainly just ask, but by raising a stone, we are doing something. We are reminded of something. We become engaged in the act of asking. I believe I will find my own stone and name it Ebenezer.

 

You’ll find the words to “Come Thou Fount” below and a link to listen to the updated version. I pray you will find this hymn will lead you to a life of thanksgiving.

 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;

God of glory, voice of thunder
Split the cedars, bring us under
Oh the shadows of your wings
You give us strength
You give us peace

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.[i]

 

If you’d like to hear this version of this song, you can click here to listen to it.

 

I pray that you will have a blessed day and that you will be thankful for all that God has given.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] “Come Thou Fount,” Robert Robinson, 1758, Chorus addition, Zach Williams, Arrangement, Nick Duke/Adam Sams, from Your Love for Me, released 15 March 2012.

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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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