Goodbye 2012…

December 31st, 2012 dsisler

It is New Year’s Eve. A day when we will find ourselves rethinking the past year. Did we meet the goals we set last year? Did we have some successes? What about failures?

 

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Maybe it’s a day when we hope next year will be merrier and brighter. Or a day when we say good riddance to this past year. Or maybe a day when we are thankful for what 2012 brought to our lives and hope that 2013 will be just as good or even better.

 

It takes us weeks, or even months, to write the correct date on a check. We have to stop to think how old we are in this New Year. I find this difficult because my birthday is just 13 days into each New Year.

 

For each of us, this day brings something a little different, but for all of us, we look at this day as an end of one thing and a new beginning of another.

 

So as we close out this old year and begin a new one, do you already have some goals set for the year 2013? If so, I’d love to hear about them! Setting goals (or making resolutions) are a great way to start a brand, spanking-new year. The problem is sticking to them.

 

The writer of Hebrews shares a plan in chapter 10 that is headlined, “A Call to Persevere.” Isn’t that what we need to do with our goals? Persevere through them?  Persevere to meet them? Yes! So let’s see the plan set here that leads to perseverance.

 

Hold on confidently (Hebrews 10:19)

Our confidence comes from knowing Jesus. Because we belong to Him, we are able to approach God’s throne and ask for help with meeting our goals. And then with confidence, we can be assured that our goals will be met.

 

Draw near to God (Hebrews 10:22)

If you’re like me, you’ve set goals in the past to get closer to God. Whether it’s Bible reading, study or memorization, we feel the need to draw nearer to Him. Year after year we set the same goals. Why not try something different this year? How about doing it? Draw near to God. Deepen your relationship. You can do this. I can do this.

 

Hold unswervingly to hope (Hebrews 10:23)

Losing hope is probably the reason we fail at meeting our goals. When we feel hopeless, nothing matters. Well, this passage tells us to hold on to hope. Without fail. Without diversion. Without swerving. Hold on to hope. It will be a great motivator for goal-reaching.

 

Consider how to spur one another on (Hebrews 10:24)

Find someone to go on this journey with you. Maybe someone who has the same goals as you, but not necessarily. Find someone that can be an encourager for you and then be ready to encourage someone else. You will more likely be able to reach your goals if you know you have to share with another how you’re doing. Encouragement is also a great motivator.

 

Don’t give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:25)

For the Hebrew Christians, meeting together brought all of these elements together. As a group they were able to fight off the temptation to quit.

 

The price was high for these Christians. We read in this passage that they were publicly exposed to insult and persecuted. Their property was confiscated. But together, they were able to persevere. Together we can persevere. Together we can meet our goals.

 

We may not be under the kind of attack the Hebrew Christians were, but Satan will be there in the midst of your goal reaching and he will continue to tell you that it’s not worth it. But don’t you believe him! It is worth it. Each goal you set for yourself has some value to you. Therefore it is valuable.

 

The precious words from this Hebrew writer are so encouraging to me. They lifted me up at a time when I was pretty low. Some of my goals for 2013 may be lofty. But some are also basic. Loving God and loving others more. It can’t get any more basic than that.

 

I pray that your goals for 2013 are attainable. I pray that you’ll use these steps to help you reach those goals. It would be wonderful to look back on 2013 and say, “I did it! This year I did it!” And know with confidence that it was God who helped you with those goals.

 

Hebrews chapter 10 ends with these words. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-36 – NIV)

 

That is our ultimate goal. To receive the promise of eternal life with God because of our perseverance. I look forward to that day with great expectation. I pray that you do as well.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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This is the Day!

December 30th, 2012 dsisler

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 – NIV)

 

This verse from the Book of Psalm is very familiar and probably one of the verses you have memorized. A good number of songs have been written using this verse and that has led to its popularization.

 

But do you know what the context of this verse is? Do you know why King David wrote these words? Why did David feel compelled to write such words? Let’s look at Psalm 118:24 within the entire chapter to see what was going on.

 

This Psalm begins and ends with the same words. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1, 29 – NIV) And everything between these two verses is what David was thankful to God for and what he found reason to rejoice.

 

So what do we find between the verses?

 

David was thankful in times of anguish. In his anguish, David called to God and God answered. And because God was with him, there was no reason to be afraid. God was his Helper during this time and David was triumphant! (Psalm 118:5-7)

 

David was thankful to have God as his refuge. David knew that man would fail him, but that God never would. So David trusted in God and in the Name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:8-12)

 

David was thankful for the help and strength God provided to him. God was David’s salvation and he knew it. (Psalm 118:13-14)

 

David was thankful as he recounted the mighty things God had done in the past and for what He would do in the future. (Psalm 118:15-16)

 

David was thankful during God’s discipline. David recognized his sinful nature and accepted God’s words in order to learn from his mistakes. David also recognized that God’s words led to life. (Psalm 118:17-18)

 

David was thankful for his salvation. He knew that it was only through God that salvation was possible. In this section, David mentions the gate of righteousness and passing through that gate. Yes, this is great reason to be thankful. (Psalm 118:19-21)

 

David was thankful in the day for all that God had done. For all that He had accomplished. For what Israel had become in its present and for what it would be in the future. “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:22-24 – NIV)

 

[You might recognize the first words of this section from Jesus’ teachings. He referred to Himself with these words. Jesus was the completion of God’s great plan. And in the end, Jesus accomplished it.]

 

David was thankful. For God’s salvation, His leadership, His success, His Name, and His light. David was thankful that God was his God and because God was who He was (and is and is to come), David praised and exalted God. (Psalm 118:25-28)

 

So you see this single verse holds great meaning. We must rejoice in the day because God shows up to help us with any and all situations we face that day.

 

Whether we find ourselves facing trials, temptations, sin, enemies, victory, discipline, or anguish, God is with us. He will never leave us.

 

The Message paraphrases our key verse this way. “This is the very day God acted—let’s celebrate and be festive!” (Psalm 118:24) God is acting. He is working. He is doing. All the more reason to celebrate and be festive!

 

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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Panoramic Eyes

December 29th, 2012 dsisler

I received a phone call from my daughter yesterday saying she was heading to the hospital. But it wasn’t for the new baby, it was for my grandson. He had croup and his doctor’s office suggested she take him in to be checked.

 

By the time I got there, he had two treatments and was resting comfortably. However, he needed to stay for three hours before they would release him.

 

It was a small room and as Percy felt better, this room became even smaller. There simply wasn’t enough to do. So we tried to keep him occupied with games, singing, food, and pacing.

 

His nurse had given him a stuffed penguin and with the help of the trash can, we were able to catapult this creature across the room. Percy squealed with laughter each time his newest toy flew through the air.

 

There were two other things going on as well in this little room. I went to the cafeteria to get Bethany something to eat and while I was there, a bright light set up the beginning of a migraine. I had the sparkling auras in my left eye, and then my left hand went numb. The headache began soon after. I took some medicine and I asked God to intervene. I’m sure these two measures helped to keep it mild. But I really felt horrible.

 

However, I pushed through it because Bethany and Percy needed me.

 

You see, Bethany was also timing contractions. We discussed a game plan if she did go into labor, but as the afternoon turned into evening, the contractions slowed. No baby yet!

 

Throughout the day I was reminded of the video we took during our family Christmas gathering. The camera was focused on the one who was opening presents, but Percy was in and out of the shot. Doing silly things. He wasn’t the main focus, but he had something to add to the making of this video.

 

There is an account of a similar instance in the book of Acts. King Herod was determined to put an end to the Church. He had killed one Apostle and had Peter arrested and planned to try him publicly.

 

With great concern, Herod had armed guards placed near Peter and even connected to him. But God’s plan for Peter was bigger and greater than Herod’s.

 

During the night, an angel woke Peter and led him out of the prison house. Peter was dazed, thinking it was a vision, but when he came around, he went to a follower’s home. The mother of John Mark. A group of believers had been praying in this home for Peter’s safety.

 

When the servant girl asked who was at the door, she was excited that it was Peter and she forgot to open the door. She ran to tell the others. They did not believe her. They could not believe her.

 

Peter was persistent and eventually, they opened the door to find Peter standing there. He told the story of his escape and then left the group.

 

You see, this group thought their prayer meeting was the most important part of the evening, but in reality, the answer to their prayer was. Peter standing outside that door was.

 

We tend to get wrapped up in our own lives and miss the important elements that God places in our path. I know I’ve missed many opportunities, people, and answered prayers because of my tunnel vision.

 

So here’s another resolution for the New Year. I’d love for God to show me the important pieces I’m missing. For God to help me in this area of my life. To take the focus off of myself and place it on someone or something in need.

 

What about you? Do you feel this is an area of your life where you struggle? If so, why not ask God to do the same for you?

 

Today I choose to look at my world through panoramic eyes. To look at the whole scene, not just the one directly before me. I pray the same thing for you!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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What Are We Celebrating Today?

December 28th, 2012 dsisler

Thanksgiving is past. Christmas is over. New Year’s Eve is just a few days away. Soon, the world will return to normal and everyone will say, “The holidays were great…it’s so sad they are over!”

 

But for me, this season continues into January. You see my birthday is January 13 and my husband celebrates his birthday on January 30. And if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I have a granddaughter who will be joining us any time now, so we’ll have yet another birthday to celebrate in the midst of this period.

 

So you see, our celebrations begin with Thanksgiving and continue through to the end of January.

 

What I have discovered is that making New Year’s resolutions on January 1st that revolve around food and weight loss just don’t work for me. I can guarantee that the celebrations in January will involve good, decadent foods that don’t belong on a resolution list.

 

So last year, I decided to wait until February 1st to make these resolutions. It worked! For a while. Then it became more and more difficult to follow this plan because of health issues. Mainly plantar fasciitis. The pain in my feet has made it painful to do any type of exercise.

 

I understand that my weight loss isn’t solely dependent upon my movement. I must also eat less and eat the right foods. However, after being discouraged, it was easier to fall back into my old routine and eat my favorite foods, none of which are of value to my physical well-being.

 

So here I am, months later, still with painful feet and a poor diet.

 

I recall some of the words from a Bible study that made such an impact on my life. Made to Crave[i] by Lysa TerKeurst must come back into my life. Her encouragement two years ago allowed me to understand my desires and cravings and that God designed us to crave Him, not food.

 

So as this year comes to a close and a new one begins, I know that God is the only One who can fill the void in my heart. He is the only One who can satisfy that deepest desire. He is the only One or thing I am to crave.

 

There are some great Bible verses Lysa shares in this book that I’d like to pass along. God’s Word is such an encouragement to me in all other areas of my life, why shouldn’t it be same for weight loss? I pray that you’ll find some encouragement through these words as well.

 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 – NIV)

 

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16 – NIV)

 

“Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible—but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23 – NIV)

 

And I love this one. Israel had been wandering around the hill country for a long time. Then God said to them, “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.” (Deuteronomy 2:3 –NIV)

 

I have been on this journey long enough. It’s time for me to end it.

 

So with God’s help (and a visit to the orthopedic doctor), I am on a path that will take me where I want to be. No, where God wants me to be.

 

You see, when I feel the way I do, I am not useful in God’s Kingdom. It’s difficult for me to move. It’s difficult to find motivation. It’s difficult to jump in and help. And that is exactly where Satan wants me to be.

 

What about you? Are you in need of a change? Do you need to head north? Now your issue may not be food and exercise. It may be laziness, or pornography, or gossip, or ______ (you fill in the blank). Whatever it is, God tells us we’ve been doing it long enough. It’s time to try something different. Something new. Like following His commands and craving Him alone.

 

Now that I’ve said it here on my blog, for the whole world to see, I suspect my motivation will increase. But I know my plans will succeed as I place them into my Father’s hands. He will increase my productivity and desire to do this because I’ve given to Him.

 

What a great year 2013 is going to be!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna


[i] Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst, Zondervan, 2010

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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

December 27th, 2012 dsisler

As I journeyed to SE Asia this past autumn, I was able to see, hear, and experience things that were amazing. I’ve been able to store these memories and stories in my heart and mind until the right moments to share some of them. They have been personal treasures, but on occasion, God allows me to share some of them with others.

 

One of my favorite experiences was on the Sunday we were there. The team and I were able to attend worship with a group of people from all around the world. In fact, there are two international churches that meet in the same hotel. One is more traditional, the other more contemporary in style.

 

We attended the traditional style church service and two of us on the team joined the “choir” for the morning. With new and unfamiliar songs under my belt, we led the congregation in singing praise to God. What a privilege to be able to do so.

 

After lunch, we spent the afternoon prayer walking through and around the churches in the city. We prayed specifically for the leaders of the churches, the people who were willing to love and serve God, and for those who might one day accept Jesus as their Savior.

 

We began our prayer walk with the international churches then proceeded to the Protestant Church. Our last stop of the day was at the Catholic Church. Each church was unique in its own way and the prayers lifted up were magnified because of where we were.

 

We were discussing our next course of action as we stood on the corner opposite the Catholic Church. It was a busy intersection. Restaurants and shops lined the square and each filled to capacity. This was definitely the social hub of this neighborhood.

 

Suddenly, I recognized a tune that was lofting from the Catholic Church belfry. It was “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” I stood on that corner and sang of my God, my King, and His Gift. I sang the Name of Jesus in a place where any mention of His Name is monitored and in most instances, unlawful. And even though I was unable to share the Gospel with others, God had made certain that His message and His Name were proclaimed.

 

This proclamation is not the first time God proclaimed Himself. There are plenty of instances throughout history where God has made Himself known. So let’s look at a few from Scripture to see how He accomplished it.

 

The Patriarchs of the Old Testament heard this proclamation the most. God needed them to understand who He was and how He would be working in their lives. Each generation received a new message from God.

 

Let’s start with the announcement to Abram. The word of the Lord came to Abram in Genesis 15. In verse 1, God told Abram that He was his shield. Later, God proclaimed, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” (Genesis 15:7 – NIV)

 

And again to Abram, God said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1b – NIV)

 

Isaac was given a proclamation by God in Genesis 26:24 (NIV). “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

 

In a dream, Jacob heard from God. “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.” (Genesis 28:13 – NIV)

 

In Exodus 3 we see God speaking with Moses. In the middle of their conversation, to prove who He was God said this about Himself. “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14 – NIV) This was the Name God had chosen for Himself and the one He wanted to be known by.

 

On another occasion with Moses, God proclaimed His Name, the Lord. Exodus 34:5 (NIV) tells us of this encounter. “Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.”

 

Throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, God proclaimed Himself to the Hebrew nation. There are many references to the phrase, “I am the Lord your God.” God repeated Himself so that the message would be heard loud and clear.

 

King David heard God’s proclamation. In Psalm 46:10 (NIV), we read these words. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

As we move into the New Testament, Matthew, Mark and Luke record the baptism of Jesus. At the conclusion of this event, each Gospel writer recalls the words of God. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22 – NIV)

 

This proclamation from God allows us to understand that the proclamations Jesus made throughout His ministry were in fact, words from God. And Jesus did proclaim Himself to be many things, including:

 

I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)

I am the Gate (John 10:9)

I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26)

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)

I am the Vine (John 15:5)

 

God proclaimed Himself throughout Scripture. We can see from each of these references that it is His desire for us to know who He is and what He desires in our lives.

 

The memories I have of my journey to SE Asia are very precious and like Mary, I treasure them in my heart. You may not be able to go on a service trip as I did, but you can still proclaim the Name of Jesus. You can proclaim His Name anywhere and anytime you please. I certainly can too.

 

Let’s make 2013 a year of proclamation! Proclaim the Name of Jesus proudly. Proclaim His message with boldness. Proclaim His grace with love. I for one, intend to do so!

 

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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    In September 2012 I went to SE Asia on a service trip. For more information, check out preachitclearly.blogspot.com.

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