Mornin’!

January 31st, 2013 dsisler

We have had some beautiful weather here in Colorado of late. Mild temperatures and lots of sunshine have brightened our days. The moon has been gorgeous as it rises over the horizon and the sunrises have been spectacular! Add the blanket of white snow, and it has been picture perfect.

 

So I thought I would dedicate today’s blog to some Scripture about the morning. The newness of the day. Just listen to what God has to say about this new beginning and how He wants to be part of it.

 

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3 – NIV)

 

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 – NIV)

 

“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 59:16 – NIV)

 

“Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.” (Psalm 65:8 – NIV)

 

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14 – NIV)

 

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.” (Psalm 92:1-3 – 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. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” (Psalm 143:8-10 – NIV)

 

Yes, it’s morning. Perhaps the sun has already risen where you are. These verses are good reminders of whom we should seek in the morning. They are good reminders of God’s unfailing love and dedicated faithfulness to those who call Him the King of their lives.

 

I pray that as you go through your day that you’ll keep these verses in your heart and your mind. I know they will lift me up throughout my day.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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A Birthday Wish…or Two

January 30th, 2013 dsisler

Today is special for a couple of reasons. It is my husband’s birthday! It is so exciting to celebrate this special day with him and show him how much I appreciate what he does for our family. Happy birthday Mason! I love you!

 

Today also marks the one year birthday of Full Measure of Joy. I published my first blog post on this date in 2012. I didn’t have any real goals when I began writing. I knew that I wanted to share with others how God shows up in my day-to-day life and what He teaches me along the way. And I also wanted to post something every day.

 

I have published something each day this past year and have been totally amazed at how God showed up throughout my writing. I would have never dreamed how easily this goal was. I can only continue to give God the glory and praise for helping me along the way.

 

Which I suspect brings me to my second goal. If I hadn’t relied on God this past year, I’m certain I would have given up about week three. But I was certain I had something of value to share with others. That valuable piece of information revolves around Jesus and what He continues to do through me. Without Him, I wouldn’t be able to do anything (John 15:5).

 

Early on with Full Measure of Joy, this verse of Scripture joined my arsenal of favorite verses. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3 – NIV)

 

I loved this verse with regard to my blog because I had given it to God. I felt from the beginning that it was His. This verse reminded me that I had committed it to God. Therefore, regardless of how many people stopped by my blog or how many comments I received, it was successful.

 

I saw this quote recently and haven’t been able to find the original source, but I believe there is some good in it. “Write your plans in pencil, but give God the eraser, because He will remove the wrong, by replacing it with the best for you.”

 

I not only use pencil a lot, but I also use erasable pens. I’m covering all my bases on this one!

 

This quote reminds me of the passage in James 4 that is titled “Boasting About Tomorrow.” This passage tells us that we should never plan without asking if it is God’s will. If we don’t, according to James, we are boasting and bragging.

 

I suspect with the second year of Full Measure of Joy there will be change. I believe the first thing I must do is set some new goals. You know, like a business plan. But not really a business plan. Just something a bit more tangible than what I’ve used this past year.

 

But I know at the top of the list will be that God is in control of all of it. He’s the real Author of Full Measure of Joy. And to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

So happy, happy birthday Mason and Full Measure of Joy! It’s been a great year!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Remain, Love, and Bear Fruit

January 29th, 2013 dsisler

Finally, snow is blanketing Colorado this morning. It has been a dry, warm January (winter for that matter), but when the snow started yesterday afternoon, it was enjoyable to be out and about in it. And as the snow settled on the trees and the sun began to set, we entered into a winter wonderland that was pure beauty.

 

Now I’m not a fan of cold weather, so I’ve enjoyed this unseasonably warm winter. However, I must admit that I’ve missed seeing snow. There is no green. It’s all dried up. So everywhere you look here in Colorado is brown. Not very attractive. But that has all changed this morning.

 

I also will admit that when I moved from Ohio to Colorado, I never dreamed I would miss rain. But I do. When I can stand in the rain, I do so.

 

So what exactly am I doing out in the rain or in a falling snow? I’m being refreshed. I’m being rejuvenated. The feeling of life is being restored to my body.

 

At times, we encounter this same feeling within our souls. Everything is dried up. It’s all brown. There’s no green to be found. Sometimes we call this “spiritual burn out.”

 

Whatever we call it, we are not to be in this place. God never intended for us to be withered. So how does it happen? I believe it’s because we’ve cut ourselves off from the Vine.

 

Jesus speaks of this in John 15. He is the Vine. We are the branches. And over and over we are told to remain in Him. Apart from him we cannot survive. Connected to the Vine we thrive and bear fruit. But we must remain in Him.

 

In this section of Scripture (John 15:1-17 – NIV), Jesus repeats “remain” eleven times, “love” eight times, and “bear fruit” nine times. I believe these are the three main ideas He wants us to hear and put into practice in our lives.

 

So we are to remain in Him. A synonym search for remain renders such words as continue, endure, persist, keep on, stay and linger. Synonyms for the Greek word are abide, dwell, and live.

 

These words help me to understand the true meaning of remain. It’s always. It’s continuously. It’s never-ceasing. But it’s more than that. It’s residence. It’s permanence. It’s life.

 

And the great news is that as we remain in Jesus, Jesus remains in us. Now that is a wonderful promise.

 

We are also to love. Love God and others are the two greatest commandments. And this passage once again points us in that direction. God loved Jesus and Jesus loved us and we are to remain in that love.

 

We see Jesus’ love for us in verse 13. “Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus’ love for us is greater than we could ever imagine. What a shame it would be to step outside of His great love.

 

And then we are to bear fruit. Actually, we are called to bear much fruit. And if we don’t bear fruit, the gardener will cut off those branches. We will dry up, wither. There will be no life in us.

 

You see, there is no life outside of Jesus. There is nothing outside of Him. So we must bear fruit. It is our lifeline.

 

By bearing fruit, we show the world that we belong to Jesus. By obeying God’s commands, we show our love to the Father and the Son.

 

The end results of remaining, loving, and bearing fruit for us are greater yet.

 

We receive joy. Jesus’ joy. Complete joy.

 

We become Jesus’ friend. A friend who is in the know. A friend whom Jesus died for.

 

We are chosen. Chosen to go and bear fruit. Fruit that will last.

 

We are given what we ask for. Through the power of Jesus’ Name, our requests are granted.

 

I don’t see any reason not to follow Jesus’ commands here. We receive so many benefits by remaining in Jesus, loving God and others, and bearing fruit. Why would we want to remain in a withered state?

 

There is a great hymn written in 1890 that I thought of yesterday. As I sang through the words, I was reminded of how God wants to work in my life. That as I remain in Him, I am sheltered from the “desert” this life offers that continues to dry up and wither my soul.

 

As you read through the words of “He Hideth My Soul,” I pray that you’ll see just how beneficial it is to remain in Him. It is a great comfort to me this morning.

 

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

A wonderful Savior to me;

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

Where rivers of pleasure I see.

 

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

He taketh my burden away;

He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,

He giveth me strength as my day.

 

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,

And filled with His fullness divine;

I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God,

For such a Redeemer as mine!

 

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise,

To meet Him in clouds of the sky;

His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,

I’ll shout with the millions on high.

 

Chorus:

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.[i]

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] He Hideth My Soul, Lyrics: Frances Jane (Fanny J.) Crosby, Music: William James Kirkpatrick, 1890.

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A Job Interview

January 28th, 2013 dsisler

I am going on a job interview this morning. I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs over the past two years and to honest, I’m pretty weary of the whole process. However, when I am called for an interview, I get excited. Not that I’ll get the job. If my track record for interviews continues, I will not get it.

 

What I like about job interviews is it allows me to reflect upon my life and see how I’ve lived through my work place and work ethics. It gives me the opportunity to see how I’ve grown in all areas of my life, not just my work skills.

 

One particular area I know that has grown is sharing my faith and my beliefs during a job interview. In years past, I never mentioned my faith during the process. Not that I was ashamed of it, but there never seemed to be occasion to mention it.

 

But what I’ve come to realize is that the interviewer isn’t going to bring it up. If I want to talk about God and how He leads me through my day, I must be the one to initiate it. And I have.

 

My interviewer today sent a list of questions to answer before I even showed up. Of course, two of the questions asked how I might deal with an angry client. You know, someone who isn’t getting what they want fast enough. It’s a pretty typical question.

 

My response? I am a Christian. I rely on God’s Spirit to lead and guide me through situations such as this.

 

I’m not sure how this will go over in this particular job, a hospital setting in a liberal city, but I do know it’s what God would want me to say and how He wants me to live.

 

I cannot separate my faith from other areas of my life. It’s who I am. I am a child of the King at home, at work, at the mall, at the voting station, and at a baseball game. And not only am I a child of the King, the King sits on the throne of my heart. I cannot compromise my faith or my beliefs depending upon the situation I’m in. It must be all or nothing. It’s what Jesus asks of us.

 

Jesus told His disciples in John 14 about the gift of the Holy Spirit He would send to help them after He left. He said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-18 – NIV)

 

God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, the Comforter, the Breath of the Almighty, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Grace and Supplications, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, this is the Spirit with me and in me.

 

Without God’s Spirit I wouldn’t care about others. A job would be a job. But with God’s Spirit, I am able to show compassion to those who may seem unworthy by others standards. With God’s Spirit, I can be a reflection of Jesus to those I connect with.

 

So today, I won’t apologize for who I am or to whom I belong. I’m a Christian and God’s Spirit leads and guides me in each situation. Oh, how thankful I am for God’s Spirit. Can you say the same?

 

How does God’s Spirit lead you through your day? Do you utilize this precious gift as much as you should? What Name of the Holy Spirit mentioned earlier is most impactful to you?

 

Why not drop me a line? I’d love to hear what you have to say about God’s Spirit.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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A New Day Dawning

January 27th, 2013 dsisler

Years ago, as a child, I had the opportunity to meet the Good Twins. They were traveling through Upstate New York and they stopped by our small congregation. I vividly remember their music filling the small church building where my father ministered.

 

Years later as a young mother and minster’s wife, I had the opportunity to meet them once again. They performed for yet another small congregation, but this time in Ohio. They hadn’t changed. Their music was just as delightful as I remembered and their kindness was unforgettable.

 

One of our daughters became ill during the concert and fell asleep in one of the pews. After tearing down their equipment and before leaving, they each stopped by to say goodbye to little miss Candace. It was a touching moment for us.

 

I recall one of their songs. I can hear it in my mind just as if they were standing here singing it this morning. Their voices clear and with harmonies that can only be found in siblings and even more so with twin brothers. Read through the lyrics of New World Coming.

 

There’s a New World Coming
And it’s just around the bend.
There’s a new world coming
This one’s coming to an end.

There’s a new voice calling
You can hear it if you try.
And it’s growing stronger
With each day that passes by.

There’s a brand new morning
Rising clear and sweet and free.
There’s a new day dawning
That belongs to you and me.

Yes a new world’s coming
The one we’ve had visions of.
Coming in peace, coming in joy, coming in love.[i]

Now you may recognize this song from another source, Mama Cass. While I am unsure of her intent, the Good Twins sang this song with Christ in mind. When we allow Jesus to be the ruler of our hearts, each day is a brand new day and the new world is definitely heaven.

 

And as a Christian, I know for certain that Jesus offers new life and a new world in peace, joy and love.

 

But these are not my words or my ideas. Let’s read through some of Jesus’ words as He spoke of such a life and world.

 

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15 – NIV)

 

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14 – NIV)

 

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 – NIV)

 

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12b – NIV)

 

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32 – NIV)

 

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b – NIV)

 

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26 – NIV)

 

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-4 – NIV)

 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 – NIV)

 

Of course this is just a partial list of what Jesus had to say. Just a sampling. But in this small group of verses we recognize that the blessed new day the Good Twins sang of only comes through Jesus. It is only through Him that we can believe the words to this song.

 

Well, today is a new day. The sun has risen and it looks to be a bright day here in Colorado. But as I look to this day on my spiritual journey, I can say it too is a bright day. For my today belongs to Jesus. He holds it in His hands.

 

This same assurance can belong to you today. It’s available to anyone who seeks Jesus and gives their life to Him. There is a new world coming and it is just around the bend. There is a new day dawning and it belongs to you and me. Don’t you think it’s about time to enjoy life with Jesus?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] New World Coming, Mama Cass Elliot, 1970

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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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