The Friend I Forgot

October 24th, 2012 dsisler

I have a friend at church who is such a special lady. She is caring. She is kind. She asks great questions to start conversations. She loves studying the Bible. She is protective of our ministry staff. She prays for everyone. She makes sure everyone remembers the time change. She never misses a service or an event at church. She is forgiving. She is a valuable person who I am blessed to call my friend.

Martha doesn’t drive, so if she needs to get to church, it isn’t uncommon for her to call. Last night was such an occasion. We had a special prayer meeting at church (which I must say was a wonderful service and very moving) and I was privileged to get to pick her up and take her.
As I was driving to get Martha, I remembered a time when I was to bring her to church. However, I forgot to stop by and get her. It was a Wednesday morning for  Women’s Bible Study. We have a short worship service before heading to study and after the first song, the leader said, “Where’s Martha?”
I immediately stood up and said, “I was supposed to pick her up!” I then proceeded to hustle out of the auditorium, ran to my car, and as quickly as possible drove the mile to pick up this dear friend.
We can be forgetful in our day-to-day lives. It’s common. But we can also be forgetful in our spiritual lives. While this too is common, there is more at stake when we forget God.
But, we are in good company. David mentions in Psalm 119:93 (NIV), “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.” We know there were times when David did forget God’s precepts. Even with a bold statement as this. However, we must strive to never forget God’s teachings. Holding on to them is life.
So let’s see what we are to remember. What we should never forget.
We should never forget God. In Deuteronomy 6:12 (NIV), Moses reminds the Israelites of this very thing. “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
We should never forget God’s words. Proverbs 4:5 (NIV) says, “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.”
We should never forget to do good things. “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16 – NIV)
We should never forget God’s timing. Peter tells us to remember this one thing. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9 – NIV))
While God tells us that He will not remember our trespasses, God will not forget a few things. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10 – NIV) God never forgets the good we do.
There is one thing that we must forget. I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll mention Paul’s words again from Philippians 3:13b (NIV). “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” We must forget our past and remember our future in Jesus Christ.
Martha didn’t let me forget for a while that I had forgotten her. She wanted my cell phone number for future reference and I gladly gave it to her. To be honest, I don’t want to forget Martha again.
I don’t want to miss anything that God wants me to remember either. God prompts me in ways that are just as effective as a phone call and for those reminders I’m thankful.
Let’s not forget today. Let’s be diligent in remembering all that God has shown us through our spiritual journey. Let’s be ready and willing to do what He reminds us to do. Let’s never forget all that He’s done for us. Because let’s face it. The alternative isn’t appealing.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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And Waiting Again…

October 23rd, 2012 dsisler

I have anticipated this day for over two weeks now. The other half of our service team to SE Asia returns home today.

I’ve missed them so much. They were inspirational. They were prayer warriors. They were cheerful. They were wonderful mentors. They led wisely. They are good friends.
Being back in America without them has been okay, but the idea of them returning, to reunite the team is more than exciting to me. It is exhilarating!
I wonder if this was how the Apostles felt after Jesus left them. Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) shares the account of Jesus’ instructions. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”
They were to wait. Wait for the rest of the team to arrive.
It isn’t fun to wait. I’ve had to wait quite a bit in my lifetime. Wait for pregnancies to come to term. Wait for news of an upcoming, possible job. Wait for the arrival of wonderful guests. Wait for surgery to be finished on a loved one.
Waiting. It isn’t an easy task.
The Apostles kept busy while they were waiting however. After Jesus left them, they returned to Jerusalem to wait as Jesus had requested. We see in the first chapter of Acts that they chose a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:12-26).
In Luke’s account of the time after Jesus’ ascension, we come to an understanding of other things the Apostles did while waiting.
“When he (Jesus) had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:50-53 – NIV)
The Apostles were continuously in the temple. They continuously praised God. Now that was something to do while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. They were preparing themselves for what was to come.
Under these circumstances, I suspect the wait wasn’t as difficult as we might think.
So what should we do while we’re waiting?
Be productive. Don’t sit around with only the wait on your mind. Find something to do that will be of good. It will help take your mind off the wait period.
I believe we can also spend time with fellow believers. Just as the Apostles were always at the temple, we can find ways to be near others who believe as we do. This too will help us from becoming so focused on the wait that we miss the anticipation. The joy of something to look forward to.
And then the last thing we can learn from the Apostles is to praise God while we’re waiting. Of course we should praise God all the time, but in times of waiting, I believe praising God will again take our focus off of ourselves and place it directly on God. And let’s face it, there’s always something to praise God for.
I wish God had brought these concepts to my mind two weeks ago. I might have viewed this wait period much differently. Yes, I’ve done these three things, but I might have done a few things differently.
The good news is that now that I’ve learned a lesson, I can use it the next time I am required to wait. And that starts now.
I’m waiting for my fourth grandchild to be born. A little girl. Oh, how difficult it is to wait, but I know the importance of waiting for this baby to develop fully before birth.
So until that time, I will be productive. I will continually be in God’s house with His people. And I will not stop praising God. And so it begins.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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To Color or Not?

October 22nd, 2012 dsisler

Have you ever experienced mental exhaustion? Brain tiredness? Boy I have. There have been times when I’m just not able to calculate, work through, or analyze another thing. My brain is just plain tired.

On my recent trip to SE Asia I experienced this almost daily. I saw and experienced so many things in a day that by the time my head hit the pillow at night, I couldn’t think of another thing, let alone analyze anything I had seen. So I’d just go to sleep and pray for a fresh start the next morning. The problem was that I just added more experiences and sights to my already overloaded brain.
It’s been two weeks now since I’ve returned and I’m recalling incidents that I could never have remembered or thought about there. It’s amazing how our brains store such pieces of information.
For fun, I read through magazines that have little impact upon my life. Oh I might find a recipe I’ll stash away for the future or I’ll read a section on weight loss and wonder if I’ll ever lose the weight I need to lose, but for the most part, it’s just something light.
In a recent article I saw a little blurb about coloring. Now I love to color. I’ve just never been in the habit of coloring without my children or grandchildren. But according to this little paragraph, perhaps I should consider it more often.
According to British researchers, “coloring just two minutes can increase your mental energy by as much as 29%.” These researchers believer that “the repetitive, precise motion stimulates the brain’s alertness center.”[i]
Yes that is one way, but another way to increase mental energy is by saturating it with God’s Word and His message.
Scripture tells us that God examines our minds (Psalm 7:9; Psalm 26:2; and Jeremiah 17:10). Our minds are the one place we can hold secrets from our earthly friends and family, but God knows those secrets. He gets into the nooks and crannies and knows our thoughts. When I think of it this way, I am even more determined to keep the awful thoughts out.
So just how can we free our minds of unwanted thoughts and mental exhaustion? Romans 12:2 (NIV) gives us insight. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We must first allow God to transform our minds.
Then our minds need a new attitude. “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 – NIV)
Our minds must be prepared and ready for action. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13 – NIV)
So what are the results? First, we’ll gain peace. But just not any peace, you’ll gain God’s perfect peace. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 – NIV)
And then, because your mind is set on God, you’ll be able to pray more effectively. “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7 – NIV)
So if your mind is faltering, flailing, or feeling fatigued, you have a few options. You can color or you can rely on God’s strength, wisdom, and expertise in renewing, restoring, and refreshing your mind.
Let me know what works for you. How do you keep your mind focused when you are most distracted? How do you use God in situations like this? Are you a colorer or a depender? Perhaps you are both? Whatever it is, let me know. I’d love to hear from you!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i] Women’s World, Volume XXXIII, Number 44, October 29, 2012
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The Rattlesnake

October 21st, 2012 dsisler

Yesterday was a beautiful autumn day in Colorado. The mountains were clear with fresh snow covering the tops of the highest peaks. There were clouds, but that kept it just cool enough to enjoy the opportunity of wearing some of the warmer clothing tucked away in my closet.

I was out and about yesterday. Nothing exciting…grocery shopping. And while I was scooting around town I was listening to Christmas music.
I really was having a pleasant drive until I heard a strange noise. It sounded like a rattlesnake. My heart started racing and became very heavy in my chest.
Now normally, I wouldn’t have even considered the possibility that there might be a rattlesnake in my car, but I had been on a large hay farm the night before. I was helping at a barn dance and dinner that our 50 and Better ministry was hosting for the group.
My car was parked by a grouping of trees and I just imagined that while we were whooping it up inside, a rattlesnake had found a warm spot inside my car.
Now remember, I was still driving. My heart was still racing. Then I heard it again. By this time, logic had regained control of my physical reaction. It was then I realized that it was on the Christmas album.
Who puts rattlesnake sounds on a Christmas soundtrack to enhance the music? Really? It just isn’t natural. So, just to be clear, I did not have a rattlesnake in my car. Really.
I don’t exactly know what I would have done if there had been a rattlesnake in my car. It’s just not something I’ve ever had to think about before. But I do think I will formulate a plan in my head for such an occasion.
I believe we must do the same when Satan shows up in the least likely places. When he wants to turn our hearts and minds away from God. We must have a plan.
Jesus had a plan and it was a pretty good one. Perhaps we should adopt His plan as our own and use His weapons against Satan. So let’s look at Jesus’ plan.
Jesus’ temptations are found in three of the Gospels…well sort of. Mark only shares two verses of this experience, but he does add an interesting piece that I’ll talk about later (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; and Luke 4:1-13).
So here’s the set up. Jesus had been baptized and the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the desert. In the desert Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. Nothing is mentioned of His day-to-day activities, but fasting in itself denotes spiritual growth time. An opportunity to spend quality time with God during that period of fasting.
So I could only assume that is exactly what Jesus was doing. Spending these last days of solitude with His Father before His ministry turned public.
Then the tempter arrived. When Jesus was physically at His weakest, the temptations began.
Satan tempted Jesus in three ways. First with food. This was only natural since He hadn’t eaten in forty days. The second temptation was to put Himself before God and be attended by angels. And the third was the offer of land if only Jesus would worship Satan.
Jesus heard Satan’s claims. Satan even quoted Scripture to Jesus. And of course, Satan misused the passage he quoted. But Jesus used His weapon of choice when battling Satan. He too, used Scripture. “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:7 – NIV)
So how can we utilize Jesus’ plan in our own lives?
First we need to understand what we are up against. Mark 1:13 (NIV) says that Jesus was “with the wild animals and angels attended him.” Now I don’t know if Mark meant that Satan was a wild animal, but we certainly can look at him that way. We need to know that the tempter will become whatever he needs to become so that we might fall into his trap. Remember, we are with the wild animals.
Second, we must know ourselves. Are we weakest when we are tired? Does hunger bring you to your knees? Whatever it might be, we must realize in those moments, the tempter will attack.
Remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)? Jesus spoke these words to him. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” And then Paul responded with “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 – NIV) When we are at our weakest, we must rely on Jesus for strength.
Third, we must use Jesus’ example of using Scripture to battle Satan. Now you may not know exactly how the tempter will tempt you, but you certainly can still plan for it. Find passages that will lift you up. Memorize them. If you feel you can’t do that, write them on index cards (remember my Scripture cards?) and carry them with you. Be prepared. Don’t be caught off guard.
And lastly, we must remember that Satan will never give up. Luke’s account ends with these words. “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:11 – NIV)
Another opportunity will arise for the tempter and he will take advantage of that opportunity. Knowing that he could show up at any moment gives me the resolve to be prepared even more. I don’t like surprises that much.
So do you think you might be ready the next time the old devil shows his ugly face? I believe that you will be if you use Jesus’ example and follow His lead. When we allow His Holy Spirit to help us remember these simple steps, we have more than a fighting chance. We will be victorious!
I feel kind of silly talking about a rattlesnake like it’s an everyday occurrence in my world. I’ve never seen one (except on TV and through glass at the zoo). I’ve never heard one (except on TV). But still, the possibility got my attention.
Now, I’m off to get rid of that Christmas CD.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Missed it By That Much

October 20th, 2012 dsisler

Have you ever missed out on something wonderful? Something that you know you would have enjoyed if you had been part of it? Something so awesome that it would have fulfilled at least one of your dreams in life?

I have.

Earlier this summer, my favorite race car driver, Michael Waltrip, came to Denver. He was raising money for the folks who lost their homes and possessions in the devastating wildfires we’ve had this year.

Mickey (as he is known by his family, friends and fans) signed autographs at the NAPA distribution center and then delivered a check to the disaster relief fund at the Colorado National Speedway. But it gets even better…he raced that night in his famous NAPA #55 Toyota.
And here’s the crazy part. This speedway is two miles from my house. I hear the cars race on Saturday evenings during the summer. That particular night they were really loud. I remember making that comment.
So how did I miss this? I don’t get a newspaper. I watch the news irregularly. I didn’t follow MWR tweets the week before. And I missed it.
I am not the only one who has missed out on something wonderful.
I’m sure there were plenty of people who missed what Jesus had to say. They sat at His feet hearing His words, but they never really sunk in. They thought His words were entertaining, but that was as far as the words went.
There is one such account we find in Scripture. You’ll know him as the Rich Young Man or the Rich Young Ruler. Three of the Gospels record his story. And the ending is the same in each (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; and Luke 18:18-30).
This wealthy young man had heard Jesus’ message. Perhaps several times. It had made an impact on him and he desired to find out how to guarantee his spiritual salvation. His exact question was, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17 – NIV)
Jesus quoted some of the commands given by Moses in the Old Testament. The ones about murder, adultery, lying, and honoring parents. This young man was pleased to declare that he had kept them all since he was a young boy. Perhaps he thought he had this. Perhaps he thought he was going to be able to get by with these obediences of God’s commands.
But then, Jesus spoke again, with love in his heart for this young person standing before Him.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21 – NIV)
Oh, how disappointed this poor lad was. Scripture says his “face fell.” He had heard Jesus’ teachings, but had missed the real message. He hadn’t realized the importance of putting God first in his life.
Upon hearing these words, he knew that he could not do as Jesus requested. Scripture says he had “great wealth.” He wasn’t willing to give it all away for eternal life. And this man walked away from Jesus.
Jesus continued with His teaching after this encounter. Teaching about the rich and heaven. And in the midst of this teaching, Jesus delivered two one-liners that we all know.
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 – NIV)
And, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:31 – NIV)
What can we take away from this account?
I believe we can understand the importance of putting God before everything else. Anything that we love more than God will be in the way of our relationship and that relationship will be damaged.
I also believe that Jesus is telling us here that even if there is something between us and God, with God’s help, we will be able to put it behind us. With God, we are capable of placing God first in our lives.
And I believe Jesus is sharing the timely message that a servant heart is what God is looking for. The attitude of our hearts make us usable vessels. When we have a willing, servant heart, God can do mighty things through us.
And lastly, I believe we can understand the importance of getting the whole message. God’s entire message. Don’t pick and choose the parts you want to learn, know and obey. It is a whole package deal. You take it all or leave it all. There can be nothing in between.
I pray that you haven’t missed it. Missed the important message that Jesus shared with this young man. It is a life-changing message. It is a mind-altering message. It is a forever message. If you have missed it, what is holding you back from accepting God’s message? What is standing between you and eternal life? Is it worth it?
If you’ve only captured a part of God’s message, I pray that you’ll take the time to continue studying God’s Word to hear the rest of the message.
And if you haven’t missed it, praise God for His glorious gift of grace and salvation. Praise Him for what He has done in your life. Thank Him for the changes He has made. Don’t take His gift for granted. Share His message with those around you. Let them know exactly what it has meant in your life.
This missed opportunity to meet Michael Waltrip was actually the second time I’ve missed him. I just shake my head and wonder if it will ever happen. I don’t know.

What I do know, however, is that I haven’t missed God’s message. I understand it fully. I have accepted it fully. I try (very hard) to live it fully. I find complete satisfaction in knowing that my future is secure in God my Savior. I pray that you have that same satisfaction.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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  • About Me

  • "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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