I’m Back!

May 28th, 2012 dsisler

It’s been nearly five weeks since leaving my home in Colorado to care for Mom after surgery. But last night, I arrived home.
I’m back with my husband and kids. I’m back in my own home. I’m back within view of the mountains. I’m back at my desk. I’m back.
I missed Mom last night. I wondered how she was doing. I prayed she would stay safe. I missed laughing with her. I missed her.
I thought of the people in the Bible who also left their homes to live someplace else temporarily. People like Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, and Jesus to name a few.
But I want to chat about Jacob. He had been deceitful his whole life. To his brother Esau and his father Isaac. And the final straw within the family dynamics was Jacob’s deception to his father to gain his brothers blessing. Esau was angry and Rebekah feared for Jacob’s life.
Jacob left to live with relatives. But his goal was to find a suitable wife. And he did. But Jacob was then deceived by his uncle. In the end, Jacob has two wives. He loved one and tolerated the other.
Years pass. Children are born. Jacob’s flocks increase. Laban becomes jealous of Jacob’s wealth. Jacob heads home.
Unsure of what the encounter with his brother might be, Jacob sends gifts ahead to ease the reunion. But Esau didn’t want the gifts; he wanted his brother back home where he belonged.
God visited with Jacob along his journey. In a dream…the Jacob’s ladder dream where God promises Jacob the land he slept upon and that his descendants would be “like the dust of the earth.” In another dream God told Jacob to go back to his native land. Angels of God met Jacob along the way to reassure him. Jacob wrestled with God all night long and in the end received a new name. God told Jacob on another occasion to go to Bethel and build an altar there.
Yes, God was with Jacob on this journey. He led Jacob, He encouraged Jacob, and He assured Jacob of His presence.
When Jacob died, “he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” Jacob joined those who had gone before him. Those who had been faithful to God and His instruction. His father and his grandfather.
(For more information about Jacob, his family, and his life, his story can be read in Genesis 25-49.)
God is with us on our journeys in life as well. He is there to lead us, to encourage us, and to assure us of His presence. With eyes wide open, we can seek and find Him.
Yes, I’m back. It’s good to be here. But memories of Ohio linger and sometimes I’m saddened that I live so far away. I trust that God will gently guide me through this transition. Just as He always has.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Which Is It?

May 27th, 2012 dsisler

Driving along a stretch of road this past week, a corner caught my attention. A Bob Evans restaurant on the corner with a Golden Corral sign in front of it. I laughed out loud when I saw it and wondered how these two restaurants had allowed this discrepancy to occur.
At first sight, the signage looked deceitful, but as I looked around, I could see the Golden Corral behind the Bob Evans restaurant.
Perhaps it wasn’t deceitful, but it certainly wasn’t correct.
Deceit is such a devastating word. It brings to mind such evil connotations. It shows that someone is willing to lie to make someone else believe that lie.
God has a great deal to say about deceit. In my New International Version Study Bible Concordance, there are 65 references to deceit in some form. Deceit, deceive, deceitfulness, deceived, deceiving or deceiver. They all come from the lord and master of deceit, Satan.
Let’s look at a few passages where God speaks of deceit and how it can affect our lives.
Psalm 5:9 says, “Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.” This is a description of a deceiver. It isn’t appealing. It is not attractive. And yet, we each know someone who fits this description. A deceiver.
Jesus shares a list of evils where deceit is included in Mark 7:20-23. “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All of these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” These evils should not be in the heart of a Christian. These evils create unclean hearts. Unclean hearts break Jesus’ heart.
Paul and Barnabas encountered a sorcerer who was filled with deceit on Cyprus. This account can be found in Acts 13:4-12. “Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?’” (Acts 13:9-10) Paul knew evil when he saw it. He knew deceit was within this man. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we too can uncover deceitfulness. Use this special weapon against evil.
Hebrews 3:13 reminds us, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Sin is deceitful. It tells us that no one will get hurt. It tells us that no one will know. It tells us that this little thing will bring us great pleasure. It is wrong! This passage tells us that we have been called to be encouragers. Encouragers for a purpose. To keep others from sin.
Deceit is sin. Deceit is evil. Deceit in any form should not be in our hearts. Satan will try to lead us in that direction and will bring people into our lives who live by deceit, but with the Holy Spirit, we can fight against this evil. Let no one deceive you dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
For further study on deceit, these verses might be helpful. Leviticus 19:11; Jeremiah 17:9; Hosea 10:2; Ephesians 5:6; and 1 Peter 2:1.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Just the Right Shoe

May 26th, 2012 dsisler


I’ve collected several items through the years. As a child I collected staples…I’m not sure what that says about me. I’ve collected angel figurines, houses, farming tools, dishes, Christmas décor, and anything with the word “joy” in or on it.
Other people I’ve known had other collections like rocks, salt and pepper shakers, fossils, precious moments figurines and art work to name a few.
My Mom has a few collections. Miniature oil cans, thimbles, Bybee pottery, and my favorite, Just the Right Shoe figurines by Raine.
These shoes are miniature replica of interesting and beautiful shoes. Some I’ve love to have in my wardrobe. The pictures are some of my favorites. But the thing is, they are only the right shoe.
There are several passages in the book of Psalm that tell us about the right hand or right arm of God. We are reminded of the power, and the works of the right hand or arm of God. Let’s see what is said.
We find joy and eternal pleasures at the right hand of God. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)
We find salvation at the right hand of God. Psalm 17:7 tells us, “Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”
We find victory at the right hand of God. “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” (Psalm 18:35)
And in Psalm 44:3 we see, “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.”
And also Psalm 45:4. “In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.”
We find stability at the right hand of God. Psalm 63:8 says, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
And Psalm 73:23 reminds us, “Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand.”
In Psalm 139:9-10 we see, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
We find amazement of mighty works at the right hand of God. Psalm 98:1 says, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
“Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous; ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’” (Psalm 118:15)
I think I’d like to sit a while at God’s right hand. To see and hear and feel and know all that He can accomplish single handedly.
It has been fun, as Mom’s friends and family, to add to her shoe collection. Shoes that remind us of something or someone. Shoes to commemorate a special group of people. Shoes that are whimsical or beautiful. But in the end, they are just for pleasure. They are pretty little things for everyone to gaze upon.
God’s right arm is not like that. It is useful. It has purpose. Are you within the comfort of His right arm? If not, why not? Wrapped inside, you’ll find everything you could ever hope for.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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The Eiffel Tower

May 25th, 2012 dsisler

It was science day when I went to Kings Island last week and there were a lot of middle and high school students at the park. Each ride had a sign near the entrance with the scientific reason the ride worked the way it did.
Many (not all) of the students had notebooks with them to write down the information. I felt kind of bad for them…being at this great amusement park on a school day, and having to do school work!
I rode the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I do not like heights, so I didn’t get close to the edge, but I did want to go again to see the beauty from way up in the sky. On the deck, a Kings Island worker answered questions about the tower. Its height. The difference between it and the real Eiffel tower. How it was built and a few other interesting bits of information.
A couple of boys asked the worker if the tower moved at all. She proceeded to tell them that it did. It swayed back and forth. She also told them that if they held on to the bars at the edge of deck, they could feel the movement. They would be able to feel it sway.
After doing so, the boys declared, “We’re getting out of here!”
I know Satan works hard to keep me from following God’s commands. He tries to get me to justify my reasoning for doing something contrary to God’s Word. He works overtime to sway my opinion from God’s and when that happens, I fall into his trap.
There are a few verses in Scripture that speak to this topic. Let’s take a look at them.
Matthew 11:7-9 “As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.’”
John was a prophet of God who was not easily swayed by the opinions of those around him. He stuck to his message. The coming of the Messiah!
Matthew 22:15-16 “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then…’”
This passage could go on with any number of issues brought to Jesus, including healing on the Sabbath, what the greatest commandment was, or in this case, what to do about taxes.
Jesus was not swayed. He stuck to His message. He stuck to His mission. God’s plan to redeem mankind. I don’t know about you, but for that I am eternally grateful.
2 Timothy 3:6-7 reminds us, “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”
This is the type of woman I never want to be. I know I’ve been guilty of this in the past, but now, with the power within me, I will not be easily swayed by my evil desire. I will stand firm in my faith. I will stand firm in my trust. I will stand firm in my knowledge of the truth that Jesus saves!
After walking around the tower deck, it wasn’t long before I too declared, “I’m getting out of here!” Not to anyone in particular and not even out loud, just to myself. I had accomplished a feat that although difficult, was fulfilling and satisfying. I’m thankful I pushed myself to this limit.
I am thankful for the examples of John and Jesus and for Paul’s words of encouragement to not be swayed. I pray that I am fully aware of the possibility of being swayed. Of all the sly elements Satan uses to pull me from my foundation. And when I feel like I’m heading in a direction I shouldn’t, I quickly say, “I’m getting out of here!”
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Fish Fry

May 24th, 2012 dsisler

My two brothers have been busy fishing. In just a few days, they caught over 60 fish. Now the fun begins. We had a fish fry last night with a portion of my family. For those who were sick, we certainly missed you.
Fried fish, cornbread, hush puppies, corn on the cob, cole slaw, potato wedges, Frisch’s tartar sauce, Carvel Ice Cream Cake and cheese cake made up the menu. It was as good as it sounds!
We are a family that loves fish. Always have. Always will. Some love to fish. Some love to eat fish.
When my oldest child, Philip, was 3 years old, we went to my Grandma Rich’s house for a fish fry. By the end of the day, Philip had hoarded several pieces of that fish into his sister’s diaper bag. He loved Grandma’s fish and he wanted some for later!
I wish I had been on the shore when Jesus prepared breakfast for His disciples in John 21. The disciples weren’t certain of their role in the world any longer. Their Teacher had died and rose from the dead. He popped in and out of their lives and they really never knew when He’d show up the next time.
The fishermen of the group went fishing. Now it may have been that it was what they knew they could return to. It could have been they needed something to eat. It could have been they had their most valuable thinking sessions on a boat. I don’t know the exact reason they went fishing, but they did.
They didn’t catch a single fish during the night and early in the morning, a man from shore called to them. “’Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’”
The disciples did so and the nets were filled to over flowing. Then the recognized Him. John proclaimed, “It is the Lord!”At that moment, Peter ran to shore to be with Jesus.
When the others joined them, they saw Jesus cooking fish over an open fire. He asked for some of the fish they just caught and said, “Come and have breakfast.” Jesus served the disciples fish and bread on that shore.
None of the disciples dared ask who this man was. They knew it was Jesus. He had come to them again. It was the third time He appeared to them since His resurrection.
On a side note, there were 153 fish that were caught and the nets were not torn. Jesus provided for this group of followers. Physically as well as spiritually.
How I would love to eat fresh fish, prepared by my Lord over an open fire on the shore. To hear His words, “Come and have breakfast.”
But, I believe I partake each time I enter into God’s Word. Each time I study what God has to say to me, I am being fed by the Master. I pray that I will never take it for granted. Simply enjoy the feast.
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.

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