That’s Gonna Leave a Mark

August 15th, 2012 dsisler

Today marks my 200th blog post. It seems like I started writing this blog just yesterday…not 200 days ago. It is amazing to me that God has continued to bless me with words to put to paper. It is amazing to me that I have a group of readers who seek out this blog on a daily basis. It is amazing to me how writing this blog has changed my life.

Today marks a milestone in my writing. A significant event for certain. So today I will dedicate my writing to some milestones in the Bible and in my life.
Milestones in Scripture
While there certainly are hundreds, maybe thousands in Scripture, I will only discuss a few here. And please note, that this is myinterpretation and you may think I’m way off base. If so, let me know what you believe I’ve missed.
I was going to start with creation, but I think the bigger milestone in the beginning was that first sin. The fall of man. In Genesis 3, Moses gives the account of Adam and Eve’s first encounter with Satan and how he manipulated them into thinking his way was better than God’s way. From that moment, mankind would be seeking a Redeemer and God would provide.
The next milestone would be the establishment of Israel. In Genesis 12, Abram is called into God’s plan. God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 12:2-4 (NIV) says, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.”
That blessing would be Jesus. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell us of the coming of the Messiah. The fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem His people. John says it this way. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17 – NIV)
The final milestone I’d like to share is the establishment of the Church. The book of Acts tells of the beginning of the Church and throughout the remainder of the New Testament, we see glimpses of the characteristics that the Church should reflect.
As Paul teaches on the relationship between a husband and wife, he slips these precious words about the Church into the passage. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27 – NIV)
Milestones in my life
I have had quite a few myself, but I can only mention the few that have had real significance in my life. Events that changed me. That had an effect on who I was or am. My baptism at a small church camp in Upstate New York; the birth of my three children; the birth of my three grandchildren; the call to go on a mission trip to SE Asia.
These events have had a huge impact on my life. In a way, they define who I am. Yes, I know who I am in Christ, but these milestones have redirected my thoughts, shifted my ambitions, and transformed my focus.
Because of these milestones, I am a changed person.
Milestones in your life
What life-changing events have taken place during your lifetime? What events have had the most impact upon you? What events have changed who you are?
As you think of these milestones, there may be some disappointing or difficult times that make your list. There have been plenty in my life as well. But as I look to the positive events, they far outweigh the negative and the negative events have helped to make me a better person. I am able to appreciate the mountain tops because I’ve worked through the valleys. I pray that you will be able to say the same.
Another portion of the definition of milestone includes the idea that it can be a marker along a roadside that indicates the distance to or from a location. How are you marking the milestones of your life? What marks those significant events? How do others know that you’ve been on a life-journey and what changes do they see in your life because of that journey?
As you ask yourself these questions, please spend some time with God asking for His guidance through the milestones of your life. Seek counsel through His Word. Acknowledge His presence during the milestones. And then mark them in some way.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 – NIV)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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God’s Message

August 14th, 2012 dsisler

I stepped outside my front door yesterday morning to water my flowers and I found a little note. It had fallen behind my flower box, so I almost missed it.

I was thankful that I didn’t overlook it. For inside was a message of hope. A message of forgiveness. A message of grace. The message was the Gospel!
Someone had taken the time to type and print this message, wrap it into a neat package, and deliver it to my door step. How blessed and honored I feel to be the recipient of this message.
Did you receive that message yesterday? Were your eyes open and searching for the message God had for you? If not, I’d like to share the message with you today.
What is God’s message? I’ve gathered a short list here…there are many more messages in God’s Word, but this is a start. These are not in order of importance, but in order according to where they are found in the Bible.
God Made You and You Belong to Him
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3 – NIV)

Do Not Be Afraid
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 – NIV)
God Loves You
“For God so loved the world [you] that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever [whoever is you] believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 – NIV)
Jesus is Preparing Heaven for You
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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 14:1-3 – NIV)
Repent and Be Baptized
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 – NIV)
God is On Your Side
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 – NIV)
You Are a New Creation
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 – NIV)
You Are Chosen
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 – NIV)
Jesus Will Return
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20 – NIV)
God’s message is one of love, grace, forgiveness and acceptance. You can’t be guaranteed of that in this world, but with God, all of these are possible.
How have you responded to God’s message? Have you embraced it and accepted it? Have you allowed it to make a difference in your life?
Or are you keeping your distance from God, not wanting to hear the full message? If so, why? Why not accept His message today?
I plan to be more alert to the messages God scatters throughout my day. I pray that you won’t miss the message that God has for you. It just might be life changing.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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God’s Lists

August 13th, 2012 dsisler

I’m a list maker. I make to-do lists. I make grocery lists. I make don’t forget lists. I make topic-writing lists. I make Bible verse lists. When I worked outside my home, I used lists to keep myself organized and on top of projects. My life is more efficient when I have a list (or lists).

I have a drawer full of “list” pads of paper. Some have seasonal designs and others I was drawn to because of the color. If I find this type of pad with “joy” on it, I’ll buy it regardless of its color. I enjoy finding and purchasing list pads.
I have two running lists going right now for upcoming trips. These lists contain items such as: phone charger, seat belt clip, sunglasses, extra keys, camera, etc. You know, the items that in all likelihood would be left behind unless they are written down.
The first trip is still two weeks off, but the list has been going for over a week now.
As you look through the Bible, you’ll find quite a few lists. God, I believe, is a list maker. Not for His sake, but for ours. Some are extensive lists, while others are just a couple of items. They are lists just the same.
God begins and ends the Bible with lists. In Genesis (Genesis 1:1-27) with the listing of events of creation to Revelation (Revelation 22:1-6) with the description of the River of Life. And there are plenty of lists in between.
There are lists of how we are to live in this world. The Ten Commandments are probably the most famous of them all and can be found in Exodus 20:3-17. And there are others. Galatians 6:1-5; Ephesians 4:1-6; and Colossians 3:12-14 to name a few.
There are plenty of lists which name sins that God will not tolerate and the things we are to remove from our lives. The seven sins that God detests can be found in Proverbs 6:16-19. A few other lists include Matthew 15:19; Galatians 5:19-21; and Ephesians 5:3-4.
There are lists of genealogies. Jesus’ can be found in Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-37.
Jesus spoke of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11.
Lists of spiritual gifts are located in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; and Ephesians 4:11-13.
And then there are listings of God’s attributes that we are strive to put into our lives. Like love. These characteristics can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Like faith. Biblical examples of faithful people can be found in Hebrews 11:1-40. Like nobility. The great “virtuous woman” passage is found in Proverbs 31:10-31.
Yes, there are lists upon lists in God’s Word. These are just a sampling. Do you have a favorite list in the Bible? If so, let me know what it is. I’d love to hear from you.
I’m certain on one of these trips I will forget something. Regardless of my preparation and planning, I’ll miss at least one important item. My forgetfulness, however, will not stop me from making lists. My forgetfulness only fuels my desire to make yet another list. Just so I won’t forget a thing.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
P.S. – I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but if your mouse hovers over a Scripture reference on my blog site, the Bible passage will appear. I thought this blog post might be the perfect time to mention it.
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Always Protects

August 12th, 2012 dsisler

My family enjoys a version of jalapeño poppers that are baked. My husband faithfully cleans the peppers, I fill them with a mixture of cream cheese, shredded cheese, and bacon, and then they are baked in the oven. These delicious little appetizers make my mouth water at the thought.

We completed the preparation of these poppers for dinner last night. We were using the grill for hamburgers, so we decided to grill the poppers instead of baking them. They were even better!
When the poppers were ready to be removed from the grill, my husband grabbed a few pot holders from the kitchen drawer and carried the hot tray inside. As he made his way to the kitchen he mentioned that his hands were getting hot. He set the popper laden tray down, but the pot holders would not pull away from the tray. They had melted from the heat of the tray.

 It became clear that the grill tray held much more heat than a normal baking sheet that is designed for an oven. It also became clear that standard household potholders were not the right protection against such heat.
As Christians, we must be aware of the spiritual protection that is available for us. Satan knows our weaknesses and how to draw us out from our protection. We must be wise to remain within the boundaries of our spiritual protection.
David certainly knew about God’s protection and asked for it frequently. In Psalm 5:11 (NIV), David rejoiced in God’s refuge.“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”We can rejoice in God’s protection as well, because we love His name!
Another passage in which David praised God for protection is Psalm 32:7 (NIV). He says, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” When we hide from our enemies within the shelter of God’s protection, we will be delivered.
We read in Psalm 31:28 (NIV) that when we act justly and are faithful, God protects and is faithful to us. “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.”
In Psalm 40:11 (NIV), David says, “Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.” God’s love and truth always protect. What a promise!
So how can we utilize God’s protection to its fullest? Ephesians 6:16 tells us that “In addition to all of this [putting on the Armor of God], take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” A shield protects its bearer from oncoming blows. That is exactly what our faith is to do. Provide protection for us against our enemy.
We can pray for protection as Jesus did for His disciples in John 17:11 and 15 (NIV). “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one was we are one…My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.”
We can know that God’s love and truth will always protect us. (Psalm 40:11)
I want to mention one more passage that David wrote. Psalm 91. You’ll recognize it as soon as you begin reading. David was in need of protection and found a secure place with God.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1-2 – NIV)
Do you feel the need for God’s protection today? Is Satan on the prowl? Is Satan ready to pounce? If so, look to these passages and use them in your prayer time with God. Ask God to be your protection. Take up your shield of faith. Head into battle knowing that Satan’s flaming arrows have no effect upon you. You will be victorious.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Life Lessons

August 11th, 2012 dsisler

A couple of nights ago, my husband and I were enjoying a pleasant evening outside. We were checking a section of the yard that didn’t seem to be getting water from our sprinkler system, so he began fiddling with the thing.

Have you heard the phrase, “it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye?” Well that’s kind of what happened that night. As he was poking and prodding that stubborn sprinkler head, a piece of plastic flew up underneath the rim of Mason’s safety glasses, and hit him in the eye.

After doing everything possible, we decided a trip to the emergency room was in order. We arrived at the hospital at 10 p.m.

Apparently there had been a lot of emergencies that evening, so they placed Mason in a room that was designed for children.

The décor was obviously designed to bring joy to a young heart. I mentioned it to Mason…he liked it.

Here are a few things I learned from this moment in time.

Lesson 1: Small incidents can have a huge impact.
A tiny piece of plastic. That’s all it was. But boy did it have an impact. I am but one person on this earth in the midst of billions of people. But I can impact my world by sharing God’s love and grace with anyone I come in contact with. I may not even be able to share this message, but my attitude and my demeanor shows that I am different. That, my friend, is impact.
We must live in this world, but we must not fall into the traps of the world. We must think the way God thinks, not the way the world thinks. We must be different. Others must be able to see Jesus in our lives.
Some Scripture to consider: John 17:15-16; Romans 12:2; Galatians 2:20; and 1 Peter 1:16.
Lesson 2: Interruptions in life are inevitable.
I’ve mentioned before that I participated in a Bible study on the book of Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. Now there was interruption. My service trip to SE Asia, that is interruption. This small piece of plastic in Mason’s eye? That was an interruption. But again, how we handle that interruption is the key.
Jonah ran. Do you find yourself running from interruptions? If they are God appointed, you might as well stop running. He wants to teach you something and you best be listening.
I accepted. Is there a situation where you need to accept an interruption as part of God’s plan? If so, accept it wholeheartedly. God will bless your acceptance.
Mason gave in. He really didn’t want to go to the hospital for a whole list of reasons. But he finally said, “okay.” What if he hadn’t? Any number of things could have happened, from infection to the loss of his eye. God knows what’s best for us. Maybe it’s time to just give in.
More Scripture to consider: Jonah (only 4 chapters…an easy read); Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 19:1-10; John 14:21; and Acts 9:1-19.
Two and a half hours after arriving at the hospital, we headed home. Mason with a sore eye, tetanus shot, pain killers, and an antibiotic. Me with a better understanding of how things can turn bad so quickly. His eye is doing much better and he is beginning to feel like his normal self.
You know it’s going to happen. I must ask these questions.
What are the interruptions in your life? What interruption are you running from? What interruption have you accepted? What is your attitude about these interruptions?
You will be interrupted, I guarantee it. I pray that God will direct your decisions and attitude during these interruptions. I know for sure, there is so much to learn.
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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