Wisdom

September 19th, 2012 dsisler

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy listening to God’s Word. Hearing the Scriptures allows words that I miss reading to jump out and make an impact upon my life. I hear phrases that I’m sure I’ve never read before. So I listen to what God has to say and pray for understanding, wisdom, and recall for future use.

It is no surprise when it happened again yesterday. While listening to Beth Moore recite the Book of James from memory (that in itself is an amazing pleasure), I heard phrases and words that I don’t remember reading before.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 – NIV)
I have learned of wisdom, how to receive it, why I should want it, and who is willing to give me wisdom. But what I’ve never noticed is this list. The list of qualities wisdom possesses and then bestows upon its recipient.
So let’s break this down and learn a little more about wisdom.
Wisdom is Pure
James gives purity first place in the list. David asked that God create in him a pure heart (Psalm 51:10). Free from contamination of the world. Wisdom from God will always be pure.
Wisdom is Peace-loving
I know there are some people in this world who love to “stir the pot.” Perhaps they aren’t really trying to start a fight, but they try to cause some kind of friction. When we possess Godly wisdom, this action would never be part of our lives. Jesus spoke of peacemakers during His Sermon on the Mount. Peacemakers will be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). I think that is a title I’d like to possess.
Wisdom is Considerate
Caring about others and how they are feeling makes this list because it is a characteristic of God. When we show kindness to others, God’s wisdom is evident. Ephesians 4:32a (NIV) tells us to “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” Being considerate was Jesus’ way of life. It should be ours as well.
Wisdom is Submissive
I know submission isn’t a popular topic and it isn’t just for women. Everyone is to submit (Romans 13:1; Ephesians 5:21; James 4:7). Being submissive in God’s wisdom shows great strength. Staying within God’s boundaries and allowing His ways to be your ways shows submission.
Wisdom is Full of Mercy
God has granted mercy to His believers. Receiving mercy leads to extending mercy. That is part of wisdom. James also says, “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:13b – NIV) I don’t know about you, but God’s mercy that is triumphant is exactly what I seek. And when I possess God’s wisdom, I must be merciful to others just as God is merciful to me.
Wisdom is Full of Good Fruit
I don’t like fruit. I like fake fruit even more. God’s fruit, of course, is another matter. When His fruit is abundant in my life, I have allowed the Vinedresser to do His work in me (John 15:1-8). I’ve allowed His pruning, His cutting out of the non-bearing fruit branches, and have accepted His call to remain in Him. The result is an abundance of fruit and wisdom. As a side note, God doesn’t like “fake fruit” either.
Wisdom is Impartial
James speaks of this topic in his book. Favoritism in God’s Kingdom is strictly forbidden. I love the verse, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5 – NIV) God shows no partiality. Neither should we. Because to be honest, I’m not so sure where I would be sitting if it came down to picking and choosing in God’s kingdom.
Wisdom is Sincere
Being fake doesn’t make it in the kingdom of God. Scripture teaches that we are to be sincere (2 Corinthians 11:3), have sincere love (2 Corinthians 6:6), have sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5), and sincere hearts (Hebrews 10:22). We are to be genuine, without pretense or hypocrisy. God’s wisdom is always sincere. It can be no other way.
God’s wisdom is amazing. But it sure doesn’t come without some sacrifice on our part. Giving up some of the worldly ideas we have accepted as truth. Allowing God’s Spirit to guide us in our words and our actions. Godly wisdom totes quite a bundle with it.
But how blessed we will be when we come to realize that wisdom from God will keep us within His will. It will keep us from falling. It will be triumphant. The giving up that is required somehow doesn’t seem so bad. It is very much worth the sacrifice.
Matthew Henry has this to say about wisdom in relation to this verse. “May the purity, peace, gentleness, teachableness, and mercy shown in all our actions, and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives, prove that God has bestowed upon us this excellent gift.”[i]
This excellent gift. Wisdom. It’s no wonder Solomon knew exactly what to ask for from God. How foolish we would be not to ask for this excellent gift.
James says if you have wisdom, “Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”(James 3:13 – NIV) Wisdom is visible. Wisdom is evident. Our humble lives prove Godly wisdom dwells within us.
Have you received wisdom from God?
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i]Henry, Matthew. Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. 1997. Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc. p. 1227
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Packing, Packing, and More Packing

September 18th, 2012 dsisler

I have been packing and organizing for several days now. Preparation for international travel is a bit different than domestic travel. But I have some very informed teachers and they are sharing their experiences to help me with the process.

There are now five short days until I leave with my friends for SE Asia. The preparation is nearly complete. Our hearts and minds are being equipped for the work God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. It will soon be time to see what God’s plan has been all along.
I read the passage of Jesus sending out the seventy-two in Luke 10 again recently. As I read this passage I was stunned that I didn’t see a phrase before. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” (Luke 10:1 – NIV) Did you catch it?
Jesus sent these disciples to prepare the towns and villages for His arrival. They went before Jesus to share a message of hope with the lost and hurting of their world. They were sharing that these towns and villages could anticipate a wonderful experience when Jesus arrived. That was what the seventy-two were sent ahead to do.
But Jesus didn’t send these men into the world without a message or without instruction. Jesus continued for fifteen more verses with these instructions. Let’s see what Jesus told them.
Jesus began His instruction with a verse you’ll recognize. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2 – NIV) Jesus’ first instruction was to pray that God would send willing hearts to work.
Jesus’ next instructions were for them not take anything with them or speak to people along the road. “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” (Luke 10:4 – NIV) I believe Jesus wanted these disciples to understand God’s provision. That when they were doing God’s work, He would provide all they needed (I have learned this lesson in mighty ways).
Jesus also wanted this group of disciples to understand the urgency of the message. Stopping along the way would only hinder the message delivery.
The passage continues with instructions like remaining in one household (Luke 10:5-7); how to treat a town that accepts them (Luke 10:8); and how to treat a town that doesn’t accept them (Luke 10-12).
Jesus also told them what to do in each town and what their message was to be. “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Luke 10:9 – NIV)
What a mission! What a message! What a task!
But Jesus gave these seventy-two men all authority to speak and be His spokesmen. His final words to them were, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16 – NIV)
Amazing things were accomplished on this journey. The men returned with joy and told Jesus stories of what had happened. Why even the demons submitted to them when Jesus’ name was spoken. What a wonderful experience!
Jesus was also full of joy. The task had been accomplished. The message had been spoken. The towns and villages were prepared for His entrance. Now the spiritual future of the world was in His hands.
Jesus didn’t need seventy-two men to prepare the way. Jesus doesn’t need me to tell His message. Jesus wants me to be His spokeswoman. He wants me to know how important it is to depend upon God for all that I need. He wants me to know the excitement of sharing the Gospel with a lost or hurting soul. He wants me see the marvelous things He will accomplish through me because I said “yes” to His call. He desires that I be filled with joy because of His salvation.
I can do all the packing and organizing I want, but He is the One preparing my heart.
I don’t know what lessons you might take away from this post, but I know what I’ve learned. That I’m being sent ahead of Jesus for a purpose. To bathe SE Asia in prayer. And through that prayer, this area will be prepared for Jesus’ entrance.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Follow Me

September 17th, 2012 dsisler

I am currently reading through the book Follow Me: Becoming a Lifestyle Prayerwalker by Randy Sprinkle. It is actually a Bible study, but for now, I’m just reading through the book for preparation for my upcoming service trip. It is amazing to me that in just six days, our team will be heading to SE Asia.

There is a story in this book that caught my attention. There was even a physical reaction to this story. Goosebumps formed on my arms. Chills ran up my spine. It truly is a moving account.

The story tells of a widowed Scottish minister, John Harper, traveling on the Titanic with his young daughter. When he realized there was no hope for the mighty ship, he placed his daughter in the hands of an officer and returned to second class to assist others.
It is noted that Mr. Harper began directing people to the lifeboats. His words were, “Women and children and the unsaved into the lifeboats first.”[i]
There is also evidence that while in the icy waters, Mr. Harper’s last words were “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”[ii](Acts 16:31 – KJV) At least one soul was saved that night…a survivor who later told the events of an encounter with Mr. Harper and the message of salvation that was accepted.
But the feeling that I get is that Mr. Harper wasn’t acting this way because he was on a sinking ship. Because there was a sense of urgency. I believe that this was a lifestyle for Mr. Harper. To share the message of God’s salvation to anyone and everyone.
So I must ask myself this question. How often do I quote Acts 16:31 throughout my day? Are these words on my lips only during times of urgency? Do I really care about the lost of this world?
When I accepted the call to follow Jesus, I accepted Jesus’ mission. That mission is to seek and save the lost. Mr. Harper got it. I think I get it at times, but not all the time.
The thought “you’re being too hard on yourself” just ran through my mind. No I don’t think I am. That’s the devil telling me to “back off. There’s no reason to share that message with others today. There’s still plenty of time.”
It doesn’t matter if there is plenty of time. The message must be spoken. The message must be shared. I am called to speak this message to those who are lost.
Being a disciple of Christ requires action on my part. If we look at how the disciples reacted to Jesus’ call, we’d see some remarkable actions.
Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their boats and fishing nets behind to follow Jesus. (Matthew 4:18-22). There was no hesitation on their part. They didn’t know what their future with Jesus held. They just knew there was something to be done.
In Luke 5:27-28 we see the calling of Levi (Matthew) the tax collector. This call led Matthew to action. He left everything behind.
Jesus found Philip and then Philip brought his brother Nathaniel (Bartholomew) along. (John 1:43-51) Jesus’ words about Nathaniel are so interesting. “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” (John 1:47 – NIV) How amazing it would be to hear those words from Jesus!
Each time Jesus called a disciple, His words were simple. “Follow Me.” They chose to follow Jesus. Without hesitation. Without questions. Without answers. They followed.
When Jesus says “Follow Me,” He asks us to be clothed in His characteristics. Follow His actions. He asks us to pick up His mission and follow through with it.
“Follow Me” are Jesus’ words to all of us. Whether we choose to leave everything to accept that call is what it is really about. Have you accepted the call? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? Have you left it all behind to be a disciple of Christ?
I must admit, there are times when I am not the best follower. I allow my human nature to take control and push aside Jesus’ characteristics. But I also know that Jesus is loving and eager to accept me back into His circle.
Peter found this same acceptance after his denial of Jesus. Peter fully accepted the call on a little beach after breakfast. Peter had gone back to his old way of life, but Jesus called him once again to follow through with His mission (John 21:1-18).
Don’t underestimate what God can do in your life. What God can do through you. Follow Him. He will lead you in ways you’d never dream possible.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i] Sprinkle, Randy. Follow Me: Becoming a Lifestyle Prayerwalker. Alabama: New Hope Publishers, 2001. p. 22.
[ii] Sprinkle, Randy. Follow Me: Becoming a Lifestyle Prayerwalker. Alabama: New Hope Publishers, 2001. p. 23.
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So Forgetful

September 16th, 2012 dsisler

I forgot. He forgot. We forgot our anniversary yesterday.

How is that possible? How could we both forget such an important day? We were tired. We are each burdened by time and projects. We were overloaded.
But is that really a good excuse for forgetting our anniversary? Probably not.
I got to thinking then how often I forget about God. Do I remember God throughout the day as much as I should? Probably not.
I am not the only one who has this remembering issue. Time and time again, God expressed to the Israelites not to forget Him. To remember Him and all that He had done for them. If they had a hard time remembering God (and they saw His power and might first hand), how much more is it a possibility for me? I’d say a pretty good chance that I’ll forget God throughout my day.
So I’ve come up with a few passages to help me remember. To not forget all that God has done for me. Why not join me to see what God has to say about this topic.
God knew from the beginning how mankind would forget Him, so He gave them the task of placing tassels on the edge of their clothing to remember His commands (Numbers 15:37-41).
The purpose wasn’t for God’s ego, it was for Israel’s sake. So that they wouldn’t prostitute themselves and allow their hearts and eyes to be distracted from God. Does this sound like something that might happen to us? It most certainly does.
God expressed this again in Deuteronomy chapter 4. “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.” (Deuteronomy 4:9 – NIV) Oh, how the words “slip from your heart” tugs at my heart. I never want that to happen!
David knew of the possibility of forgetting God. His solution? “May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you [God].” (Psalm 137:6a – NIV) These are the words of a man who knew forgetting God was not an option. How far are you willing to go to remember God and all He’s done for you?
People under the Old Testament covenant were not the only ones to forget. Jesus spoke to His disciples about this as well. Jesus had to remind the disciples of miraculous feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 8:18.
The women were reminded at Jesus’ tomb of Jesus’ words. “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee. ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words.” (Luke 24:6-8 – NIV)
Jesus gave us all the command to remember something special in Luke 22:19 (NIV). His words, “Do this in remembrance of me,” are for us. To remember Jesus as we partake of the Lord’s Supper on a weekly basis. We must be reminded weekly to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. For me. How forgetful could I possibly get?
But there are a few things we are to forget. Isaiah mentions them in Isaiah 42:18 (NIV). “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” And Paul states that his past is forgotten as well. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Philippians 3:13b – NIV)
Forgetting our past should be easy. God has forgotten it. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 – NIV) He remembers our sin no more.
We salvaged our anniversary. We finally remembered and all is well within the Sisler household.
My lesson? That my greatest desire is to keep God first and foremost in my mind. I don’t want my busyness in His Kingdom to keep me from remembering the King.
I will recite King David’s words again and perhaps you can join me, “These things I remember as I pour out my soul.” (Psalm 42:4a – NIV). Remember. Don’t forget. God has done wonderful, remarkable things in my life. I will not forget!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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What? It’s Not Christmas?

September 15th, 2012 dsisler

As I was driving around town yesterday, I found myself listening to Christmas music. For some of you reading this, it is not surprising. But for the others, here is my confession. I’m a Christmas nut. I love everything about Christmas and listen to Christmas music year round. In fact, five of the six CD’s in my car are Christmas albums.

One of my favorite artists is Jim Brickman and he has some fabulous Christmas albums, one of which is in my car. Near the end of this album is a version of “O Holy Night.” It is a duet performed in French. It is now my favorite version of this Christmas classic.
As I listened, I couldn’t understand any of it except the word, Noel. But I know the words to this song in English, so I know the message of this song.
I realized in that moment, that God’s message is the same, regardless of the language. Yes, I’ve heard these words before, but I really understand it now.
Genesis 11:1-9 gives the account of why there are language barriers in the first place. A group of people desiring to reach God by building a tower was not a good idea. God caused the group to speak in different languages to confuse those doing the construction. From that point on, God’s message would need to be translated into different languages in order to be understood.
Can you imagine how the folks on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) felt when they heard God’s message in their own language for the very first time? What a thrill it must have been!
Even for me, an English speaking woman in the United States to be able to pick up a version of the Bible that I can read and understand should be exciting to me each time I read it. Yes, God’s Word is exciting to me, but it has never been so because it is in English!
The original Scriptures were not written in a language that I read. In fact, the Bible was written in two languages that I can’t read. If not for some dedicated scholars of the past, I might not be able to hold a copy of God’s Word in my hand, much less have multiple copies sitting on my shelf.
We can look at Philip and Ethiopian in Acts 8 to see that even if there isn’t a language barrier, understanding may not come easily. Let’s look at the passage.
“The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:29-31 – NIV)
God’s message is the same, no matter what language it is heard, read, or studied.
So what can we take away from this?
First of all, I think we can be more appreciative of the fact that we have God’s Holy Scriptures in our own language to read. Don’t take these precious words for granted. Memorize as much of it as possible. Study and understand what God’s Word has to say. Feel privileged that you have a copy of the Bible. There are others in this world who do not.
Second, understand that God’s message never changes. It is the same today as it was in the beginning. It is the same regardless of the language in which it is presented. Appreciate the magnitude of that message and be certain to speak it clearly.
Third, who do you know that needs assistance with understanding God’s Word? What role do you think God is leading you to? How can you help others understand God’s message? Don’t underestimate how God can use you in these circumstances. He is an amazing God!
Oh, I know that Christmas is still over three months away and there are a few holidays to celebrate between now and then. What can I say? Christmas makes me happy. Christmas music fills my heart with warmth.
No matter what language we say it in, Merry Christmas [Melkin Yelidet Beaal (Ethiopian), Joyeux Noel (French), Fröhliche Weihnachten (German), Buone Feste Natalizie (Italian), Sung Tan Chuk Ha (Korean), Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia (Polish), Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom (Russian), Feliz Navidad (Spanish).[i]] means Merry Christmas.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i] http://www.santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm
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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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