Are You Washed?

October 5th, 2013 dsisler

I haven’t written about the flood for a while, mainly because I haven’t been out and about as much. But yesterday I had the privilege of going out to work with Samaritan’s Purse into the town of Lyons that had so much damage from the flood. The town was cut off. Residents had to be evacuated. Homes were washed away by the raging river. Lives were turned upside down.

 

Barbara is one such resident.

 

We spent the day at her home that was cut in half by the river. Her barn now stands on an island. There are massive piles of debris everywhere. Mud is caked up to three feet deep in many areas. A team of 17 people barely made a dent in all that needs to be done. And this is just one home.

 

We woke yesterday morning to cold temperatures, wind and snow. It wasn’t the ideal situation for working outdoors, but I knew I’d stay warm with the physical labor ahead. However, when we got there and jobs were being issued, the one nobody wanted was left hanging. Washing items found among the debris.

 

My friend and I volunteered. We knew we’d be cold by the end of the day, but we also knew we’d have some interaction with the homeowner, and that’s important in situations like this.

 

Flood 2We had to draw water from the river to wash the mud-filled items to “clean” the items that were found in the debris. There was already a workstation put together. Marilyn and I just picked up where the last crew stopped.

 

I found this to be quite interesting. Each item required a different method for getting the mud off. Some were easiest cleaned if we took them to the river and allowed the raging waters to remove the mud. Others required a good scrubbing with a brush or sponge. While still others were cleaned best when a paint brush was used with a genFlood 1tle touch.

 

I have found that it’s been like this with my life. When I am in tune with Jesus, at gentle touch is all I need to know that I’ve missed the target and there needs to be some clean up.

 

Sometimes it’s taken a bit more for me to see the sin in my life and for it to be removed.

 

But then there have been times when I needed to be taken to the river and dunked to allow the raging waters to get my attention. It’s during these times that I’ve been so stubborn and selfish. When I’ve wanted to hold on to what made me happy. When I’ve turned my back on God and his precepts.

 

God calls it “stiff-necked.” And there are nineteen such references in Scripture.

 

In Deuteronomy 10:16 (NIV), God asked Israel to “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.” This sounds like a New Testament verse, doesn’t it? Jesus taught that sin begins in the heart. God planted the seed from the beginning. Mankind didn’t listen.

 

Other actions mentioned in Scripture in relation to being stiff-necked are: wickedness, rebellious, didn’t trust, not submissive, disobedient, stubbornness, turned their backs, refused to listen, not responsive to discipline, and resist the Holy Spirit.

 

Wow. No wonder a good washing at the river is needed when we are in seasons of such disobedience. There’s a lot to be washed away.

 

But the good news is that God has no desire for any of us to perish. He is standing on the side of the river holding on tightly to you (and me). He will make sure that the river doesn’t pull you under. And when you come up from this good washing, your heart will indeed be clean and circumcised.

 

Discipline isn’t fun. But there are times in our lives when that’s exactly what we need. When we are submissive to God’s discipline, we are able to understand the full extent of His love for us. Our relationship with God will be healed. Our relationship with God will be better than before. And our relationship with God will be restored.

 

There is still much work to be done here in Colorado. The flood clean-up will be on-going for months to come. Just because my life has returned to normal, it doesn’t mean that everyone’s has.

 

So please keep our efforts in your prayers. Pray for our strength. Pray that we will not grow weary (Galatians 6:9). Pray that the workers will continue to show up each day (regardless of the weather). Pray for financial support to continue. Pray for the safety of the teams that head out each day. Thank you!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Sparks are Flying

October 4th, 2013 dsisler

As I was out and about yesterday, there were two vehicles in front of me with their flashing lights on. The rear car was being towed by the front car. It wasn’t a safe situation, so I kept my distance.

 

As I followed this pair, I realized that neither of them were very good drivers. If one swayed, the other followed. They were in both lanes of this two lane road and also on the shoulder.

 

sparkOn occasion sparks would fly. The chain between these two vehicles didn’t seem to be the safest way to transport the obviously disabled car.

 

And then it happened. The chain broke and both vehicles took a quick right turn and stopped by the side of the road. I was thankful that while these two vehicles were figuring out their next strategy that I was able to get around them safely.

 

The swerving, swaying, jerking, unexpected movements and unsteadiness remind me that sometimes in our lives we seem to be following God’s plan well. And then something causes us to become unsteady and get off track. It could be an incident. It could be someone. It could be an attitude. It could be a temptation.

 

Whatever it might be, we suddenly find ourselves on the side of the road of life in a broken-down vehicle and what seems to be the one who took us down this road.

 

When we are in this position, we have the best roadside assistant plan available. Grace. We can call on the One who is able to do far more than we could imagine. We can call on the One who has lavished His great love upon us. We can call on the One whose mission is to seek and save the lost. We simply need to call Him.

 

But what is best is if we strive to never get in this position at all.

 

So how can we be steadfast in our daily walk and not wind up on the side of the road?

 

Ask for God’s help! Psalm 51:10 (NIV) gives us David’s prayer. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” David realized that a steadfast spirit would wane with the situations of life and that only God could restore it within him.

 

Know that God will come to your aid just when you need it. 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” What a blessing to be able to approach God’s throne with this request.

 

What are the results of being steadfast? Psalm 112:6-8 (NI) assures us, “Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.”

 

Are you catching some of these phrases? “renew a steadfast spirit,” “restore and make you strong, firm, and steadfast,” “no fear of bad news,” “his heart is secure,” “trust,” “look in triumph on his foes.” What promises! And God can make these promises because He is steadfast in all His ways.

 

Psalm 111:7-8 (NIV) tells us that our God is steadfast. “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast forever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.” I don’t know about you, but that spurs me on to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful!” (Hebrews 10:23 – NIV)

 

By staying the course, sticking to the narrow path, we know we are heading in the right direction. I pray that God’s words would resonate in your mind when you are tempted to get off track.

 

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Success

October 3rd, 2013 dsisler

For those of you who’ve been reading my blog a while know, I read books other than the Bible, Bible studies, or commentaries sporadically. I rarely read a novel and mostly what I read outside of the above mentioned books are inspirational. Books like “Hand Me Another Brick” by Charles Swindoll, or “Smart Women Keep it Simple” by Annie Chapman, or “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World,” by Joanna Weaver.

 

Sometimes it takes me a while to read through these types of books because I have so many other things to do. There’s my time at work, my study time, my writing time, my family time, my kitchen time, my sleep time, and of course, my “I don’t want to think” time. But in my own time, I will finish a book.

 

Love DoesAnother book I picked up is “Love Does” by Bob Goff. I’m doing a better job at getting this book read because it’s the way I write. He tells a story and then relates it to God. You see little glimpses of this man through his writing. Whether it’s a funny story or one that is a bit more somber, Mr. Goff has figured out that God is right there in the middle of life. God shows up. It’s up to us to see Him.

 

I also enjoy a book when I find brilliant snippets of wisdom. Pieces of advice that I can tuck away in my heart to be retrieved at just the right moment. I found such a piece in “Love Does” recently.

 

“I used to be afraid of failing at the things that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”[i]

 

This quote stopped me in my tracks. My thoughts have been focused on these words. What is it in my life that I’m succeeding at that really doesn’t matter?

 

Quite a few things actually.

 

Is it really all that important that I’m successful at decorating my home or office(s)? Is it really all that important that I’m successful at meal planning and meal preparation? Is it really all that important that I’ve successfully written and e-published a novel? Is it really all that important that I’ve successfully beaten level 35 of Candy Crush?

 

Don’t get me wrong. I find joy and excitement in these things (well maybe not the Candy Crush thing), but they really don’t matter. Not to anyone else anyway. If my time is wasted in doing things that really don’t matter, I’m not leaving any room to be successful at the important things.

 

We find the account of an encounter with Jesus in Luke 10:38-42 with Mary and Martha. These two sisters whom Jesus had a special bond were at odds with one another.

 

Mary and Martha each were each successful. One was successful at what was important. The other successful at what wasn’t. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to His words. Martha was busy preparing a meal for this crowd. Martha was agitated and wanted Jesus to force her sister to help her.

 

Jesus could have used Bob Goff’s quote above when He spoke with Martha, but instead He used His own.

 

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 – NIV)

 

We too can be distracted by the things of this world that pull us away from what is really important. Being with Jesus must be the one thing where I am successful. When I am successful in my relationship with Jesus, everything else will fall into  place. It opens the door for me to be successful in other areas of my life.

 

I can almost guarantee that if you were to come to my home in the next week that you’d find my home decorated for autumn. It’s what I like to do and I enjoy it. But I can guarantee that if something else of greater importance develops, the fall décor will remain in my basement.

 

When we learn to balance the important things in our lives with the less important, that’s when we will be most successful. Mary and Martha had to figure it out and so do we.

 

Where are you most successful? Have you chosen what is better?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] “Love Does,” Bob Goff, Thomas Nelson, 2012, pg. 30.

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Bacon!

October 2nd, 2013 dsisler

When I was 8 years old, Dad and Mom moved our family to Upstate New York to begin a new church plant. We were separated from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins by miles of highway and hours of boredom. If you haven’t guessed, it was long before the days of electronics to keep children occupied.

 

After long hours in the car, the sight of my grandparents, their smiles, their hugs, their love far outweighed the long journey.

 

But like many other events in our lives, those visits would come to an end, and we would once again load up and head back to New York. My paternal grandmother would usually create something scrumptious for us to eat before heading out. One of my favorite food treasures were my grandmother’s Christmas Golden Puffs. You can view the recipe by clicking on the “family recipe” tab above.

 

As I grew older, a new addition was added to our family. Our little brother was born when I was 13 years old. But this little bundle of joy didn’t stop our visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s. Nope, we would load up the family station wagon and head for Ohio and at the end of each visit, the same routine was followed.

 

IMAG0996Except, little Michael was usually still sleeping when we got into the car. He didn’t get the chance to have the table fare the rest of us enjoyed. So my Mom would make him a little bacon sandwich for him to eat when he woke up.

 

I don’t know why I remember this, except that I thought he was so lucky to get that little treat. Now I could have made a sandwich of my own to take on the journey, but I never did.

 

So on occasion, when there is left over bacon in my fridge, I make a bacon sandwich for breakfast. It’s satisfying. It fills my heart with memories. It is so good.

 

When we allow God to fill us with His goodness, we can find greater satisfaction. His satisfaction is not temporary. His satisfaction will not disappoint. His satisfaction is good.

 

We can look to and for many things in this world to bring satisfaction to our lives. But when we look to God for all satisfaction, we know it’s all that we will ever need. God wants to supply and satisfy every need that drives us.

 

“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11 – NIV)

 

Satisfy means “to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands; or give full contentment to.” Full contentment.

 

When Isaiah wrote the words above, he wanted Israel to understand that Jerusalem was like a garden without water. They had turned from their water source and Isaiah lets them know that if they were willing to turn from their former way of life, they would be like a well-watered garden.

 

The satisfaction that God’s people were looking for was God. Only God would satisfy. He was their water source.

 

For us as believers in Christ, Jesus offers living water. Living water that revives, refreshes, and satisfies. Living water that “wells up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

 

We can only have full contentment and satisfaction in Jesus Christ. He will satisfy your needs.

 

For me, I know that I have allowed food to be a source of satisfaction through my life. That’s why I have so many memories connected with specific foods. But what I’ve also come to know is that God’s greatest desire is for me to be satisfied by Him, not food or anything else.

 

I don’t want to find satisfaction in anything else besides God.

 

Where is your struggle? Where do you look for satisfaction? I pray that today, you’ll be able to look to God and know that He is this source. He will provide all that you need. Spiritual food and water for your soul.

 

If you believe you have stepped away from the Living Water, why not turn around and see what you’re missing. You don’t have to live in this crazy world without satisfaction. Just look to Him for all that satisfies. You won’t be disappointed, for what God has to offer is very good.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Kids Say the Darndest Things

October 1st, 2013 dsisler

If you are from the Art Linkletter era, you’ll recognize the title of today’s blog post. Some of the most popular commercials throughout time have involved children. Children seem to have life figured out (in their own minds) and so often give advice to their friends.

 

boysTake for example a conversation I overheard a few years ago between a couple of boys. This was their conversation.

 

“I have to go to confession.”

 

“What is that?”

 

“Oh you should come. It’s when I go in and tell the priest all of the things I’ve done wrong. I can tell him anything. All the bad stuff I’ve done and he can’t tell anyone, not even my mom!”

 

And then there was this conversation I overheard this past Sunday as two young lads were filling up on free coffee at the coffee station.

 

“A donut would be really good with this coffee.”

 

“Yeah it would. But we haven’t had donuts here since my mom was like 32 and she’s like 50 now.”

 

I had to laugh. This young man couldn’t have been more than 10 years old. Did he even know his mother when she was “like” 32?

 

Kids. Yes, they say the darndest things.

 

In a recent study of the book of James, I became aware of some of the family dynamics that probably took place in the home of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and His siblings. Obviously we don’t know for certain what played out in this home, but what we see in Scripture was captured after years of growing up together.

 

I’m sure there was sibling rivalry. Rumors probably flowed freely on the playground about Jesus. Possibly a dislike for Jesus just because He was the oldest. And in all likelihood, words spoken that were mean and designed to be hurtful.

 

And these feelings didn’t stop just because they grew up. We see encounters between these siblings as adults in Scripture. Matthew 13:53-58 and Mark 6:1-6 give us a glimpse into the family setting. While in His hometown, this is what the folks there thought of Him. But listed in this section are two verses that show us the family dynamics of this family.

 

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56 – NIV)

 

Aren’t these beautiful verses? Jesus grew up in a large family! Four brothers and several sisters. And who is the first on the list of brothers? James. The author of the book of James.

 

Another passage that shows us what Jesus’ family life was like is in John 7:1-10. Jesus’ brothers seem to taunt Him. Almost daring Him to go public with His ministry. And this little verse says it all. “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” (John 7:5 – NIV)

 

How that must have hurt Jesus and Mary. The two people on earth who without a doubt knew the truth. But Jesus continued with His work while His brothers lingered just outside the circle.

 

Take a look at these passages. They describe moments during Jesus’ ministry when His family were nearby. Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:20-30; Luke 8:19-21; and John 2:1-11. They watched from a distance, but like so many, they were drawn to Him.

 

Relationships between these brothers were eventually mended. They no longer considered Jesus to be out of His mind. They were believers!

 

At the gathering after Jesus was taken to heaven, Jesus’ brothers were in the group (Acts 1:13-14).

 

Jesus appeared to James after His resurrection as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:7.

 

James became a pillar of the early church (Galatians 2:9).

 

Paul spent some time with James while in Jerusalem. (Galatians 1:18-19).

 

James wrote what is believed to be the first book written in the New Testament and when studied carefully, Jesus’ language is continued through this short book.

 

Another sibling of Jesus and James wrote the even shorter book of Jude.

 

These young men grew to be great leaders in God’s Kingdom and Christ’s Church. As I look at this family from a mother’s perspective I’m certain Mary could not have been more proud of how these youngsters turned out. Her heart must have been filled to overflowing with joy.

 

What insight we find about God’s family as we look into Jesus’ earthly family. We may have differences. We may be unkind to one another. We might even say we act like brats. But when it comes down to it, we are family. We are part of God’s family. And we must learn to get along and love one another regardless of our differences.

 

Just like our Lord’s earthly family, we must find come to the place where Jesus is the most important element. He must be the Lord of our lives. He must reign in our hearts. It’s then that we can come along side our siblings in Christ and really do Kingdom work.

 

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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