Happy Sunday!

July 28th, 2013 dsisler

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you’re going to see a pattern develop. And it’s not because I feel my readers need this information. Oh no. It’s me who needs to write, read, and implement these ideas into my life.

 

Now you may be feeling some of this in your own life and if you are, there is a cure. It’s Jesus.

 

So today as we set out to spend the day with family and friends (and God), let’s be mindful of how closely we are walking with God.

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Jet Lag? Yeah Right!

 

I have been dragging the past few days. I’ve been feeling “blah.” I’ve chosen to rest (including sleep) instead of moving about. I’ve pretty much been useless.

 

I believe there are several reasons for this. I suspect I can blame jet lag for some of it. Return culture shock for some of it. Getting used to some processed American food for some of it. But I believe the main culprit is Satan has been telling me lies and then, I in turn, believe them.

 

You see, I thought things like, “You were so busy doing God’s work, take a break.” “You’ve missed so much while you were away; take the time to get caught up.” “You really don’t have anything to do, just relax.”

 

And I did.

 

But here’s the thing. By listening to these lies, I not only did all these things, but I even cut back on my Bible study time. I cut back on my prayer time. I cut back on my personal time with God and guess what? I began to feel disconnected from God.

 

But guess who moved? It wasn’t God! It was me!

 

After a good dose of Bible study with some wonderful ladies, I realized what I had done. I had allowed Satan to pull me in. I cannot believe I was willing to put aside my spiritual well-being and growth for comfort. But I did.

 

So today begins anew…remember my favorite verse? “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 – NIV)

 

Oh, how wonderful to know that God’s faithfulness is greater than I could ever imagine. To know that He is willing for me to start over each morning, just as if nothing had happened yesterday. But I know that I have to do my part. My faithfulness to Him must continually grow. I may never be as faithful as my God, but I can certainly try harder each day to be more faithful than the day before.

 

My personal time with God and the Lord Jesus Christ must come before anything else. Yes, including my sleep if need be.

 

So what is my plan? James 4:8 (NIV) tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 

I must draw near to God (prayer and Bible study). Wash my hands (confess my sin). Purify my heart (become God-centered). These are literal steps I must take to be in God’s presence.

 

Psalm 51:10 (NIV) says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” The next step is to ask God to do His work within me. Allowing God’s Spirit to continue the purifying process and to keep me on the correct path will take me then, to the next step.

 

Being with God. In Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV), David shares these words. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

 

When I dwell in God’s presence, I find rest. I find protection. I find strength. And then I am ready to begin a new day being closer to God.

 

Perhaps you are feeling distant from God today. If so, why not try these simple steps to begin the process of an intimate relationship with the King of Kings? Nothing is worth being separated from God. Nothing.

 

So, don’t listen to that old devil. He’ll try every trick in the book to get you walk away from God. But you just turn to God and say, “You are my King forever! I will trust in You. Let’s take a little walk together. I love You!”

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Shorthand I

July 27th, 2013 dsisler

In high school, I majored in three areas. Business, home economics and music. I didn’t start taking music classes until my junior year, but took business courses and home economic courses throughout my four years.

 

Through the years I have used the skills I learned in those classes more than I could have imagined. From typing to child care (and everything in between) these were abilities that I would use day-to-day.

 

One of the elements I learned in my business courses was shorthand. We were dictated a letter and then we were to transcribe the letter by typing it. When complete, it was turned into the teacher and what was left of the period was free time.

 

I recall always being the first to be finished. I understood shorthand and rarely made mistakes while writing it down. I was a speedy typist. I could transcribe those letters very quickly. My grades reflected my skill. I received an A+ in Shorthand I (I know this because I have a copy of my high school transcripts in front of me).

 

Jump ahead 30+ years and I must admit my shorthand is a bit rusty. I haven’t used it in years. So imagine my surprise when I pulled out a steno pad and started writing. So much of what I learned came back to me. Oh I’m not nearly as fast as I once was…that will take practice…but the letters, the words, the motions seem natural to me.

 

There have been periods in my life when I’ve chosen to distance myself from God. Busyness, rebellion, even sin have helped with the process. For me, these times never lasted very long. I missed being within God’s protective arms too much to stay away.

 

Each time however, I recall a feeling of normalcy once I returned. The feeling of living within God’s will was very familiar and easy to embrace time after time. I may have been a bit rusty at first, but it wasn’t long before I was back into quiet time with God, Bible study and prayer.

 

When we look at the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) who left all the goodness of home to live in a foreign land. He experienced all the world had to offer and yet when he was at his lowest point, he realized what goodness he rejected.

 

Back in his father’s arms, he knew his mistakes were forgiven. His sense of normalcy had returned. He was once again living within the will of his father. I’m certain he felt unworthy and not-so-good at being a son again, but with the encouragement from his father, he was able to rejoin the family.

 

That is exactly how our heavenly Father reacts to repentance. Forgiveness, wrapped in loving arms, draws us closer to the Father. We rejoin our heavenly family through encouragement and it’s as if we’d never left.

 

I’m thankful for God’s grace. For His desire to have a relationship with me. For the love He abundantly lavishes upon me. For His ability to make me feel special and deserving when I know that I am not.

 

Perhaps you’ve taken a detour on your spiritual journey. If you have, remember the Father is waiting for your return. He is waiting with open arms to embrace and encourage you. He is so anxious to see you that He will meet you along the way. There’s no need to tarry. Simply return.

 

If you have no idea what it feels like to be in God’s arms, maybe it’s time you tried it. God’s grace is amazing. Talk to someone you know who is grace-filled. Let them lead you to the Father through Jesus. And if you have questions, I am eager to help.

 

Shorthand may or may not be part of my future. But what I do know is that I have a future with God. And He accepts me just as I am.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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A Fantastic Day!

July 26th, 2013 dsisler

I’ve been working a lot of hours this week due to a personnel change and it’s beginning to be apparent. Two nights ago I went to bed at 9 p.m. I couldn’t even stay awake to watch the 9th inning of the Colorado Rockies baseball game.

 

And then as I was completing my closing procedures at work yesterday, I heard myself singing. For those of you who have preschool children and watch Sprout television, you’ll recognize this one.

 

“Yay! Hooray! We had another fantastic day and now it’s time to say…Goodnight!”

 

I laughed.

 

I’m not sure that the store had a fantastic day as far as business, but I had a productive day. On Thursday’s, cleaning is on the “to do” list. Dust the shelves and clean the glass. Everything (books, Willow Tree figurines, and everything in between) gets moved and the dust from the week is removed. I added floor mopping and mat washing to the job list as well.

 

I had a fantastic day!

 

It was just an ordinary day that somehow, someway was turned into a fantastic day.

 

I wonder if that isn’t how it was for some of the folks who encountered Jesus. Ordinary people doing ordinary things and suddenly everything changed because Jesus walked by.

 

Maybe it’s exactly how the Samaritan woman at the well felt when she met Jesus on her daily trip to gather water.

 

She was going about her day-to-day tasks. Much like I did yesterday. Dusting. Cleaning. Preparing meals. And then she went to the well for her daily amount of life-sustaining water. She had no idea that this particular day would change her life.

 

But the One she met at the well offered her living water. Eternal life-giving water that would never leave her thirsty again. And this woman, this sinful outcast woman, accepted what Jesus had to offer.

 

She didn’t keep it to herself however; she went to her town and brought others to hear of Jesus’ offering. Many believed that Jesus was the Messiah that day. Their words in John 4:42 (NIV) help us to understand their belief. “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

 

The people from this Samaritan village found love, joy, grace, and forgiveness at the well that day. They met the Savior of the world. Their personal Savior.

 

Each of us has the opportunity to meet the Savior of the world. We have a choice upon meeting Him. I made my choice to accept Jesus as my Savior years ago. Have you?

 

If you have made that commitment, let’s be intentional about making our days fantastic and productive for God’s Kingdom.

 

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, why not make today the best, fantastic day you’ve ever known?

 

I’m sure as the Samaritan woman was finishing her tasks for the day, she could be heard singing, “Yay! Hooray! I had a really fantastic day and now it’s time to say…goodnight!”

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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A Light to My Path

July 25th, 2013 dsisler

One of my greatest joys is to teach women about God’s Word and how it relates to our daily lives. I love how God used and uses His Bible to show us the inadequacies and the successes as we go through our spiritual journey. When I can share these truths with others, I’m so blessed.

 

I lead a wonderful group of ladies on Tuesday evenings that I have grown to love and cherish because of their desire to go a little deeper into Scripture to find the greater value of knowing God’s message inside and out. But they’ve gone beyond knowledge. They implement these truths into their daily lives. They live out their faith. They are spiritual warriors in their own worlds.

 

While I love getting deep in God’s Word, I also love teaching those who know nothing or very little about God. I love sharing the Gospel. I love sharing God’s grace and forgiveness. I love sharing the importance of learning and studying God’s plan through His Word.

 

Several years ago, I was asked to lead a study on a wonderful book called A Newcomer’s Guide to the Bible[i]. The book is a great tool for beginners, but I found it to be inspiring for me as well. It gives a clear view of how the Bible is a complete work. How it fits together perfectly. It shows that God had a plan from the beginning and how He connected that plan throughout.

 

We really wanted to use this in our women’s Bible study program, but the problem is that this book is all reading. A person going through the book would never have to open the Bible by reading this book. So our women’s ministry director and I took on the task of writing a companion study to go along with the book. It was the first study I’d ever written and I must say I was hooked!

 

I say all of this because I am now working one-on-one with a young gal and we are going through A Newcomer’s Guide. This will be my 4th or 5th time, but I can see how God will show me different ideas this time through…just as He has done in the past.

 

You see, God’s Word is very relevant for our lives today. It is living and active. And it points us to the exact place we need to be in our relationship with God.

 

Perhaps you understand what I am saying. Verses pop out that you’re certain you’ve read before, but never meant anything to you until a certain moment. Or a passage will have greater meaning depending on what is happening in our lives. That’s how God’s Word works.

 

This also validates that we must never stop studying the Bible. God will always show us something as we approach our study time with an open heart and mind. Don’t ever underestimate what God will teach you when you’re an eager vessel.

 

Perhaps we read verses of Scripture like Psalm 119:105 (NIV), “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” and wonder how God is able to do this. But He does. God directs us through His Word to show us the path we are to take. And as we study Scripture, we’ll gain more insight into that path and we’ll learn to hear His voice.

 

I’d love to hear from you about this topic. Have you experienced anything I’ve mentioned today? If so, how? What new information has God shown you through your study time? Has He pointed you directly to a passage that you needed for a specific situation?

 

I can honestly say that He has for me.

 

I pray that you’re getting into God’s Word today. I pray that new insight will be shown to you because of your eager heart. I pray that God will show you exactly what He wants you to learn today.

 

God’s Word is a precious gift to us. Let’s never take it for granted. Let’s spend as much time reading the pages of this book as possible. Let’s glean potential knowledge and wisdom from its inspiring words. Let’s see what God has to say to us today!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] Armour, Michael C., A Newcomer’s Guide to the Bible. College Press Publishing Company, 1999.

 

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A Walk

July 24th, 2013 dsisler

Perhaps you watched it. The tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon by Nik Wallenda on June 23, 2013. If you did, you were joined by 13 million viewers in the United States. I must say, the television in my home was turned on, but I couldn’t watch.

 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p480x480/1010930_590542984324044_2068129668_n.png

 

I have a fear of heights. I can fly in a plane and even look out the window, but put me on the edge of a balcony and my stomach flips and flops until I’m forced to back away. And yes, even television programs can cause this same reaction.

 

So seeing this high wire dare devil walk on a 2-inch wide wire for 22 minutes and 54 seconds was not enjoyable for me and I found myself wandering through my home looking for things to do.

 

I could however hear what was going on. I heard Mr. Wallenda praise Jesus, pray to God for safety and for conditions to improve, and thank God for the beauty he saw. What a testimony to the 13 million viewers.

 

Mr. Wallenda’s influence that night was staggering. I thought of my own influence of others. I wondered how I do in my day-to-day life. Do those around me know that I am a believer because of my words? My actions? My countenance? Or do I have an influence at all?

 

I know that I have influence over some. I wouldn’t be a Bible study leader or even have followers on this blog if I didn’t. But how visible or audible is my influence?

 

The Apostle Paul was a great influencer as a Jewish leader and destroyer of those who were Jesus followers. But as he came to know Jesus, his influence grew astoundingly.

 

By teaching and preaching God’s truth of the Gospel, Paul was able to point others to God’s grace and forgiveness. Not only was his life changed, but he led others to that same changed lifestyle.

 

After Paul’s account of his conversion in Galatians 1, we see the influence he had on the early church. “And they praised God because of me.” (Galatians 1:24 – NIV)

 

This is a tough question to even type. Do others praise God because of me or am I the one they pray to God about?

 

I don’t know that I can answer any of these questions, but what I can do is my best. Give it my all. Be the woman of God that God wants me to be. In the end, it really will be up to God if I did what He called me to do.

 

Nik Wallenda’s story is written down in the book, Balance: A Story of Faith, Family and Life on the Line.[i] Take a look at Nik’s words the first page.

 

“God is my center.

 

God’s grace is the balancing pole that keeps me from falling into self-obsession and self-deception. Whatever I have achieved—and will ever achieve—is the result of my relationship with Him.

 

This book is a continuation of that relationship. I invoke His Holy Spirit in helping me understand my past. I need His insightful compassion to illuminate my story and the story of my remarkable family.

 

As God inspires me every hour of every day, I pray that the same inspiration informs every page of this book. I pray that the miracle of His limitless love touches me as I write, just as it touches you as you read.”

 

Now those are words of influence.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] Balance: A Story of Faith, Family, and Life on the Line, Nikolas Wallenda, FaithWords: Hachette Book Group, 2013.

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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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