A Nail Job

July 5th, 2016 dsisler

 

At the beginning of May, I decided to try the gel nail polish on my nails. I loved it! It went on quickly and dried much faster than the usual nail polish. And it lasted a couple of weeks without chipping or losing its shine.

 

Daytona Beach 014mSince then, I’ve made several trips to the salon to get this product on my nails. Then I started reading about what it could do to my nails. Not good. So I followed all the guidelines to get the polish off my nails to begin the healing process.

 

I was mortified. My nails were in such bad shape and many are paper thin. The healing process is going to take a long time, but I’m committed to getting my nails back to what they once were, without gel polish.

 

I believe we can relate this to our spiritual life. At least I can. Sometimes we jump on the latest and greatest bandwagon for developing our spiritual lives. I’m not saying that all of these things are bad, I just think we need to be careful and do our research on what these studies are all about.

 

I also believe we sometimes want the easy way out. We want spiritual formation to happen and we want it happen now. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t happen that way. Spiritual formation takes time and effort on our part.

 

I also wonder if we don’t do damage when we try a fast track. We don’t spend time in God’s Word. We come to conclusions without in-depth study. And we form opinions based on what we have gleaned from our little bit of study. Perhaps that opinion isn’t really in line with God’s Word. The passage we studied might have been for another group of people, or it may have been a quote by a philosopher, or the passage we looked at was just one piece to the whole picture.

 

And then I believe once we realize that we have some misconceptions or very little growth in our lives, it’s time to begin the healing process. And most often, this takes time.

 

So what and how are we to grow spiritually?

 

We should investigate what materials we use to develop spiritually.

 

We should make spiritual formation a discipline in our lives.

 

We should take the time to be in God’s Word

 

We should begin the healing process if needed.

 

I want to encourage you with a few verses of Scripture. I pray that you will find the desire within you to grow in your spiritual walk with the Lord.

 

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14-15 – NIV)

 

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:10-12 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“Let Freedom Ring” – Monday Musical Musings

July 4th, 2016 dsisler

 

For America, today is a special day of remembrance. The day our freedom was secured and when we became the United States of America.

 

american flagThe patriots of the American Revolutionary War fought to allow us the freedom we have today in America. Because of their sacrifice, we should spend today thinking of what it cost them. Some, their property and possessions. Some, their freedom. Some, their lives. But for these men (and women who stood behind them), they would have given all they had for their freedom.

 

I’ve chosen a patriotic song today that I pray will touch you in some way. And of course, it’s by the Gaither’s, so you know it is good.

 

Happy birthday America!

 

“Let Freedom Ring”[i]

 

Deep within the heart has always known that there is freedom
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it
There’s something that keeps reaching for the sky

 

Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
And songs we love to sing have freedom’s theme
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom’s dream

 

Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
We can be free and we can sing – let freedom ring

 

God built freedom into every fiber of creation
And He meant for us to all be free and whole
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul

 

I’ll sing it out with every breath, I’ll let the whole world hear it
This hallelujah anthem of the free
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
The Son has made us free and free indeed

 

Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
You can be free and you can sing – let freedom ring – let freedom ring

 

Click here to listen to this beautiful song.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Let Freedom Ring,” words and music by Gloria and Bill Gaither, Gaither Music Company, 1982.

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Another Year, Another Celebration

July 3rd, 2016 dsisler

 

Here we are again in the middle of our calendar year and it’s a time to celebrate the birth of America! 240 years ago, our forefathers wondered what it would be like to live outside of the oppression they felt from Great Britain. Through sacrifice and a bitter war, America was free. Their dreams had come true.

 

DSC02411mI pray that today you won’t take their sacrifice and dream for granted.

 

As you prepare to worship this Sunday morning, I pray that you will find great joy and abundant life in Jesus. Now that is worth celebrating!

 

Sunday is the day I repeat a blog post, so here’s today’s post. Have a blessed day!

 

Air Plants

 

If you know me well at all you know that I kill plants. Not that I mean to, but I find that I either over water or forget to water. I’ve never found the balance of caring for plants.

 

I will admit that I love seeing beautiful gardens. Maybe it’s because I’m so plant challenged that I’m in awe of anyone who is able to produce such beauty. Maybe it’s because I am reminded of my grandmother’s flower beds that she cared for so tenderly. Whatever the reason, seeing a beautifully landscaped garden warms my heart.

 

I’ve received plants as gifts in the past and as soon as I accepted them, I’ve known the fate of these unsuspecting beauties. They would soon wither up and die or their soil would be covered in mold.

 

Recently someone offered me a plant. I declined. I didn’t want another plant’s death on my hands.

 

However, in my new beach office, I wanted something green. So I remembered the Air Plant. Surely I could care for it. Well, actually my thought process was that it would take care of itself. You know, very little effort or work on my part. Ha!

 

I purchased two and brought them home. Then I did the research for how to care for these plants. It appears that these little gems capture their life-giving nutrients from the air and the sunshine. There’s no dirt (which is nice because remember I manage to get mold all over that stuff). However, they do need a good spritzing about once a week. And the spritzing needs to have some nutrients in it.

 

So my care-free plants that I so hoped to enjoy have turned out to be a little more work than I first imagined. So now I have to remember every Friday to give them a good spray. So far I’ve done my part and they actually seem to be growing!

 

I am reminded of the image in the Book of Isaiah when Israel was described as “…a garden without water.” (Isaiah 1:30b – NIV) They were a rebellious nation and had suffered. They were being punished for their rebellion.

 

But Isaiah continued to give Israel hope throughout the book and in Isaiah 58:11b (NIV) he assures them, “…you will be like a well-watered garden…”

 

Yes, if Israel was willing to put their rebellion behind them, if they were willing to stop the blaming and gossiping, if they were willing to give to those in need, if they did as God asked them, God would rescue them.

 

If Israel allowed God to lead them, they could once again be great. A great light would shine from Israel. Their broken lives could be repaired. Their ruined spirits could be restored. Through the Repairer and Restorer. God.

 

We have the choice to be one of these two gardens. If we are rebellious against God, then we can expect to be a garden without water. If we are obedient to God, then we can expect to be a well-watered garden.

 

Isaiah also spoke of the coming Messiah throughout this Messianic prophetic book. We know this Messiah to be Jesus. Jesus, the Living Water. “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him like a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 – NIV)

 

Through Jesus we have the opportunity to be a well-watered garden, with abundant life.

 

Plants and gardens are green when water is present. We too can be green (spiritually healthy) when Jesus is present in our lives and when we seek out the watering holes.

 

The watering holes of prayer, Bible study, Bible reading, fellowship with other Christians, worship, and serving others. By continually visiting these watering holes, we will always be green and will have the Lord to guide us in all we say and do.

 

I haven’t done so well with the plant thing, but I’m so thankful that I am much better at tending to my spiritual life. I’m thankful that my relationship with Jesus showers Living Water upon me. I’m thankful that the “spiritual gardener” within me has a green thumb.

 

How are you doing with this? Are you green (spiritually)? Does the grass (your spiritual life) crunch under the footsteps of your day-to-day life? Are you parched? Are you feeling the drought of separation from God and His people?

 

There is an easy fix. A relationship with Jesus Christ in which you can have Living Water. And through the Living Water you will be bubbling with abundant life. Now, who wouldn’t want that?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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A Bit Lazy

July 2nd, 2016 dsisler

 

I wrote a prayer a while back that asked God’s Spirit to remind me when I became spiritually lazy. I read through that prayer again this morning and realized that I had landed in that arena. Oh I look busy spiritually. I do Bible study. I lead Bible study. I journal. I talk about God. I talk to God. But I think I lean more on the lazy side of my spiritual development.

 

???????????????????????????????This week, I went through two days of learning how to lead others on a spiritual formation path. I suspect if I’m going to be leading it, I better be living it!

 

So before I lead a group of ladies this fall, I will begin this journey on my own. I will begin to answer the questions, “Who am I?” and “Who is God?” and “What does God want to do through me?” Understanding these questions will help me with my spiritual walk with the Lord. I look forward to seeing how God answers these questions in light of my personal spiritual formation.

 

God has answered this prayer over and over throughout my life. I’m thankful this morning that He has revealed a weak link in my spiritual armor. Laziness. For me, it’s time to get busy!

 

What about you? Are you spiritually lazy? If so, what steps do you need to take to get out of that spiritual slump? If you feel confident in your walk with the Lord, are there ways that you can grow closer to Him? Is there someone you know who could use some encouragement from you as they journey through their spiritual walk?

 

I pray that God’s Spirit will be at work in your life today and that you will recognize His promptings.

 

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the 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 3:14-21 – NIV)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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July 4th Weekend

July 1st, 2016 dsisler

 

I am ready for a long weekend! I feel drained after a couple of busy weekends. So today is the beginning of my 4th of July weekend. What a glorious day.

 

Eagles 050Now if you’re like me, perhaps you are just thankful that you have a few days off, but there are some important things to remember through this weekend.

 

First, we must remember that there were great sacrifices made so that we, as American citizens, might enjoy the freedom we hold so dear.

 

Our financial advisor sent a letter with a list of important events that revolve around this special date of July 4th. I want to share them with you.

 

1776 – USA declared independence from Great Britain.

1777 – On the 4th of July, 13 guns were fired once in the morning and once in the evening in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated our country’s first birthday with toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, fireworks and parades.

1778 – George Washington marked the 4th of July with an artillery salute. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams held a dinner for fellow Americans in Paris, France.

1781 – Massachusetts became the first state legislature to recognize the 4th of July.

1791 – The first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred.

1826 – On July 4th, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died.

1831 – Former president James Monroe died on July 4th.

1884 – In Paris, on July 4th, the Statue of Liberty was presented to the USA.

 

What a history we have here in America. The blood of patriots from our past flows through the veins of many in this country. We have much to be thankful for on this holiday weekend. Let’s not forget those who paid the price for the freedoms we have today.

 

Second, above all else, we must remember that Jesus’ sacrifice allows each one to live freely through His Spirit. Take a look at a few verses of Scripture about freedom in Christ.

 

“…Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36 – NIV)

 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2 – NIV)

 

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17 – NIV)

 

And if you want to read more about freedom in Christ, read through Galatians 5.

 

I pray that you will have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend. I also pray that you will not take any freedom in your life for granted. Great prices have been paid for you.

 

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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