Neighborly

June 8th, 2013 dsisler

What does it mean to be a neighbor?

 

I know what Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 – NIV), but what does that look like?

 

I’ve been praying for my neighbors, but what I’ve come to know is that I know nothing about my neighbors and that I haven’t been as good at this neighborly thing as I should.

 

We’ve been battling feral cats and kittens in our yard. They originated from a neighbor two doors down. I’ve become quite emotional about these animals and have tried to stay calm while speaking to the family about the cats. Our conversations have only been about the cat situation and that’s as far as it’s gone.

 

We have an acquaintance relationship with our neighbor to the other side. We chat when we’re out doing yard work. It was their yard our fence fell into this past winter. We have had some conversations with them through the years, but not enough to know all that was going on. We found out last night that Mrs. M passed away this past Tuesday. I saw Mr. M three times yesterday and didn’t connect with him at all because of the running around I was involved with. All the while, he was hurting and I missed it.

 

I could provide all kinds of excuses. But none of them are good. Each simply points to the acknowledgement that I am too preoccupied. Too busy. Too involved in my own life that I have missed opportunities to show Jesus’ love to my immediate neighbors.

 

So I’ll go back to my original question. What does it mean to be a neighbor? How do you connect with those who live 20 feet from your home? How are you showing Jesus’ love to the people who live on the other side of that privacy fence running down either side of your house? What actions are you taking to let your neighbors know that you know the answer to all of life’s tough questions and that you believe in a God who is able to mend all the brokenness in their lives?

 

Prayer was a good start for me, but it wasn’t enough. I’ve missed opportunities to show Jesus’ love to all those who live near me, not just those who live within the walls of my home.

 

I don’t know that I have any answers today. These are my initial thoughts and now I must figure out how to make all of this right in my world. What I am certain of is that I cannot do this on my own. God must be in the middle of it and lend His hand along the way. He must prepare the way for me to go and be the neighbor that loves as I love myself.

 

How can you be a better neighbor today?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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Peonies

June 7th, 2013 dsisler

I love poppies…red to be exact. And a faithful gardener in my neighborhood has created a little area I pass each day that is full of red poppy blooms! What a beautiful treat!

 

I also love peonies. I have one plant in my yard and I’m thankful that I don’t have to be a faithful gardener to produce some beautiful blooms on said plant. Well, maybe if I were a little more faithful, I’d have even more blooms, but that’s besides the fact.

 

I do enjoy flowers, but I’m not as dependable when it comes to watering, caring or even willing to put more effort into this plant. It’s a good thing I’m not this way in other areas of my life.

 

My marriage. My work skills. My relationship with my children and grandchildren. The upkeep of my home. My spiritual life. In each of these areas, if I were as dependable as I am with my peony plant, these would all fall to pieces and they would be in ruin.

 

But I also know what is important. My peony plant brings joy to my heart when I see the blooms, but it doesn’t really have an effect on my day-to-day life. However, my relationships, my skills, my home, and my spiritual life are elements of my life that cannot be ignored or neglected.

 

So each day I must grow. Sometimes the growth is barely noticeable and other days I grow in enormous ways. But if I do not grow, I become stagnant. And in the worst case scenario, a little bit of me dies from neglect. I don’t know that any of the above mentioned areas of my life are so insignificant that I would be willing to allow that. So I’m determined to grow!

 

I’ve spoken of Jesus’ message in John 15 on numerous occasions. Jesus encourages us to grow. To produce fruit. To remain in Him. His words are nourishment to the soul and as we come to understand His words, we understand that we must grow.

 

In Romans 7:4 (NIV), Paul also encourages us to bear fruit. “So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.”

 

We also read of growth through the Gospel. “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” (Colossians 1:6b – NIV)

 

And again in Colossians 1:10 (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.”

 

We must continue to grow in knowledge and in bearing fruit. Each day we must get into God’s Word to see where growth should take place and then we must allow growth to take place. It may be difficult. It will be work. But when good fruit is produced, it is worth it all.

 

The one thing in my life that does need to die is my sinful nature. Romans 7:6 (NIV) says, “But now, by dying to what once bound us (sinful nature, sinful passions), we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”

 

Are you growing today? What steps are you taking to ensure growth? Are you learning from God’s Word today? Are you willing to put to death that which is separating you from God?

 

These are all questions each of us must ask. From the newest of Christian to the oldest, each day I must be willing to grow. In all areas of my life.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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A Bit Heavy

June 6th, 2013 dsisler

Yesterday morning as I was setting out for work, I picked up my bag that has gone with me on many adventures. It seemed heavy, so I thought I’d clean it out before I headed out the door.

 

To my surprise, there were a number of pairs of shoes in that bag. Each shoe that dropped to the floor meant a lighter load to carry. I left all of those shoes at home.

 

With my plantar fasciitis, I switch out my shoes all day long. And depending on what I’m doing determines which shoes I wear. If I have to make several trips up and down the stairs, I wear shoes with backs to keep them on my feet. If I’m walking through the building a lot, I wear a different shoe. If I know I’ll be standing, still another shoe. So you see how important it is to have the choices.

 

But all of these needs makes for a very heavy bag and there comes a time when a lighter load is more important than anything else. Sometimes it is important to assess the situation and determine what can be eliminated. Sometimes it just makes sense to weed out the things that cause burdens.

 

So am I talking about shoes or something else here? I think both.

 

I personally know that I bring burdens upon myself that are not necessary. They may not seem so burdensome at the time, but after carrying that burden for a while, it can weigh me down.

 

I also personally know that there are burdens placed upon me by others that I may or may not have any control over. But again, after carrying the burden, I become weary from the load.

 

And then, there are the unforeseen burdens that just seem to show up on my doorstep (like the feral kittens in my backyard). The need to help is greater than the load that accompanies the burden. But after time, it becomes more difficult to see the outcome because of the weight of the burden.

 

We all carry burdens. It’s part of life. But it’s how we react, respond and eliminate the burdens that makes the difference.

 

So let’s take a look at what the Bible says about burdens and how we are to handle them. I pray that by the end of your day, you too will have the weight of your burdens lifted.

 

King David praised God for His willingness to carry our burdens. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19 – NIV) God wants to help us along the way. He is willing to carry our burdens. Each day as we give our burdens over to Him, God will bear them for us. But let’s not forget to praise God for what He is doing in our lives.

 

As King David shared the account of Israel coming out of Egypt, he shares God’s words and message with his readers. “I (God) removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (Psalm 81:6-7 – NIV) We too have the opportunity to cry out to God. We don’t have to carry these burdens alone. He will rescue. He will answer. He will remove the burden as we call out to Him.

 

Jesus tells us that if we are carrying a burden to great to bear, He wants us to come to Him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 – NIV) Not only can we find rest in Jesus, but our burden becomes light. This may be the most encouraging passage for burden carriers!

 

The Apostle Paul encouraged his Galatian readers to share their burdens with one another. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 – NIV) Christ’s law is to love one another. When we assist our fellow Christians with their burdens, we are loving as Jesus would.

 

And on another note, Paul mentioned an important element to the Hebrew believers in Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) that we should consider. “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Are you a burden to your church leaders? Are you a complainer? Do you only offer criticism?  If so, you may be creating a burden that isn’t necessary for your leaders. Perhaps this is something we all need to look at to see if we need an attitude adjustment.

 

There is no need to carry the burdens of this world by ourselves. God, Jesus and fellow Christians are there to help along the way. But we must do two things. One, we must ask for help. Two, we must release the burden. By doing so, we will find rest. “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”[i]

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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[i] “Leave it There,” Charles A. Tindley, 1916.

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All is Calm

June 5th, 2013 dsisler

I’ve recently found a recipe on Pinterest for something to help with the calming of children. It’s called a calming jar and it is to be used during time out or any time a child need to focus their attention on something other than the situation at hand.

 

I wonder how this might work on adults? Put one of these jars into the hands of someone who is angry or disgruntled and just maybe, their attitude might change? It might be worth a try in some instances.

 

But for me, I know where my calm comes from. It’s not from a jar. It’s not from myself (I know for a fact that I can get pretty worked up). It can’t be bought. It isn’t found in a location. My calm and my peace comes from God and His Holy Spirit who lives within me.

 

I’ve been on several interviews over the past three years and finally decided to be honest when asked the question, “How do you deal with a difficult customer/patient/client?” I can almost guarantee my response was the reason I wasn’t chosen for the job interviewing for.

 

So you’re probably asking, “What did you say?” Well, let me tell you.

 

First, I told them I would pray. Ask God to be in the middle of the situation and direct my words and my actions.

 

Second, I told them I would rely on the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead and guide me through the situation.

 

I must be honest, this method doesn’t work 100% of the time. It only works when I am open to the God and His Spirit to work in me. There are occasions when I miss the opportunity and the old me shows up instead of the God-working-in-me me.

 

So my response would still be the same if I were to go on an interview today. However, I must be willing to initiate this plan in order for it to work correctly.

 

I believe that God’s Spirit has a great effect on me and my emotions. When I allow Him to work through me, it is amazing what He can accomplish. I am calm. I am at peace. I am open to opportunities. I am a reflection of Him.

 

When I don’t allow the Holy Spirit to work through me, I am frenzied. I am uncertain. I am in turmoil. I am a reflection of me.

 

So today, as we head out into this world, let’s be mindful of how we act. Let’s be prepared to ask God’s Spirit to step in when necessary. Let’s be focused on what God wants us to do instead of what we want to do. Let’s use God’s Spirit. He is much more effective than a calming jar!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

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55+

June 4th, 2013 dsisler

Mom and I were visiting several years ago and we stopped by one of our favorite restaurants for lunch. I encountered several emotions the moment she ordered off the “seniors” menu. I was surprised. I was saddened. I was adamant that she wasn’t old enough to do so. However, she was. Somewhere along the line, my mom aged without my notice. Which in turn meant that I also aged.

 

As I approach that “senior” age, I am beginning to understand the value of a “senior” menu. Most of the time I cannot finish the amount of food brought to me in a restaurant. A “senior’s” portion would certainly help in that area.

 

There is also the monetary value. As my husband continues to approach retirement age, we realize the importance of saving…even if it is a little bit with a “senior” discount. We always ask if there is a discount and at what age discounts can be applied.

 

As I grow older, my body isn’t as cooperative as it used to be. Granted, I’m overweight, I have plantar fasciitis, and I have arthritis in several joints, but still, nothing seems to work as it once did. And it can be very frustrating.

 

Take yesterday for example. I was asked to help with the décor for our Vacation Bible School. As I was placing gaff tape all over the floor of the church lobby, I thought how sore I would be this morning. On my knees. Up and down. Bending in places my body doesn’t typically bend. It was inevitable. I would feel the strain this morning.

 

But in all reality, it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, I know I moved more yesterday than I had in a while, but it is good for me. I need to be pushed in order to gain flexibility and strength.

 

My spiritual life is the same. When I am pushed to give God just a little more, the outcome is amazing.

 

After finishing the Bible study “Follow Me,” by Randy Sprinkle, I was pushed just a bit more in my prayer experiences with God.

 

There was a guest speaker at church this past weekend and he encouraged us to spend just a little more time in God’s Word each day. His suggestion was to read God’s Word just 10% of the down time in your day. I was pushed to make an effort to do so.

 

You see, sometimes we get lazy in our spiritual life just as we do in our physical life. And if someone or something isn’t there to tell us otherwise, we’ll just keep going down the same path and eventually won’t be doing anything to better ourselves spiritually.

 

And let me tell you, God doesn’t put a retirement age on spiritual growth. He expects us to continue to grow until the day we are united with Him forever (Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon and Luke 2:36-28 – Anna).

 

So today, as the young children of our community come to our version of Vacation Bible School, they will be urged to grow spiritually. They are the future generation of LifeBridge Christian Church and we need to share the importance of spiritual development with them.

 

What are you doing to grow spiritually? What steps have you put into place to assure your discipline in these areas? How often do you pull out your Bible to read God’s precious Words? Have you spent time with God this morning in prayer?

 

My summer will be filled with Bible study, writing this blog and writing a Bible study for the fall. I will be busy. I will be filled with joy. I will be growing. Being with God and growing in His ways are better than life.

 

David understood this and he wrote about it in Psalm 63. Take a look at what he has to say.

 

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

 

“I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

 

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

 

“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

 

“My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

 

“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

 

“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

 

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:1-8 – NIV)

 

Are you with me? Are you ready to be pushed just a bit? If so, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you. If you want to leave a comment, please click here.

 

Ready? Set? Grow!

 

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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