Open Hands

April 28th, 2012 dsisler

I came across this section of Scripture a couple weeks ago. It is one that I believe will become part of my arsenal. My stack of verses I use on occasion in my battle against Satan.
“The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:13b-16 – NIV)

Yes, God is trustworthy. Yes, He keeps His promises. Yes, He is faithful. Yes, He upholds us. Yes, we look to Him. But look at the last line.

He opens His hand…
This reminds me of the game I’ve played with my granddaughter. You know, when you place something in your hand, close both hands and ask, “which hand is it in?” With the same excitement, I am able to see what God holds in His hands for me.
A plan. An answer to prayer. A word of wisdom. A comforting thought. And the list could go on and on.
Regardless of what I’m searching for, or what I desire, God knows exactly what I need and He provides it.
He satisfies the desires…
I’ve learned in the past year how important it is for me to look to God for my satisfaction. There are great benefits for me by doing so. And boy can I get into deep trouble when I look to something or someone else for that satisfaction.
I don’t want to seek satisfaction in anything else but God. But I fail. So I continue to go back to God, ask for forgiveness, and allow His hand to be opened yet again to offer a precious gift.
A gift of grace. A gift of forgiveness. A gift of life.
This passage reminds me of another verse I mentioned earlier, also from the Book of Psalm.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14 – NIV)
With God’s open hands, His unfailing love, and all the satisfaction I can stand, I stand before God as a woman seeking Him. Seeking God alone. And with that, I am able to sing for joy and be glad all my days. Thank you God for pulling me to You with open hands.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Blinders

April 27th, 2012 dsisler
I’ve mentioned that living on the “prairie” in eastern Colorado has brought with it some excitement. It was a beautiful fall day. The front door was open and a fresh breeze was flowing through the house.  At one point, I looked outside and a large hot air balloon filled the entire doorway.
It was one of the colorful ones and it was landing just across the street from our house. I grabbed my camera and headed outside to take some pictures.
There were a number of our neighbors outside checking out this unusual site, just as I was. One of them said, “Did you see the one behind your house?”
“No I didn’t!” I replied.
I turned and headed back through the house. When I got to the kitchen, I could see it through the window. I then went to the back yard. Sure enough, there was another hot air balloon landing in the field directly behind our house.
I took a lot of pictures that day. I watched the entire process of landing the balloon to folding the balloon and loading it onto the trailer.
There were a few things that really surprised me. First of all, how large these balloons were. I had never been that close to a hot air balloon before and was impressed by its size.
Secondly, I didn’t realize how many people could fit inside the gondola of a hot air balloon. I suppose there are different sizes, but this gondola held 8 people. More people than I really thought it could hold.
Thirdly, I was amazed that I missed the balloon in my back yard. The most obvious one was the one I overlooked.
Perhaps that is the way we are with our lives. I know that in my past, I’ve been so busy with ministry duties, that I’ve missed seeing people who were hurting. People who needed someone to talk to. People who need to hear words of encouragement.
I’ve walked around with “blinders” on and have just ignored people. That part of my life is finished. I know that my eyes must be open and see people the way Jesus sees them.
God asks us to live our lives a certain way. Micah 6:8 says, “He has sown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
God requires that we love mercy. We are to see others through God’s eyes. We are to love others the way God loves them.
I now pray that my eyes would be open to the cries of those I encounter. I pray that my eyes would see people as Jesus sees them. I pray that I would not miss a thing.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

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My Team

April 26th, 2012 dsisler

You read about my Mom yesterday. She is an amazing woman. My siblings and I are so blessed to be able to call her “Mother.” Again, today I ask for your prayers.
 I left the hospital last night to head to her little apartment for the evening. In thinking about today’s blog post, I asked her what she wanted me to write about. She thought a moment, and then said, “About the people who care for us when we are ill. About the people who keep us well.”

The doctors, nurses, aides, and all the staff at the hospital could be included in these two statements. It takes the entire team to give the care needed for healing.
Of course, some have more education than others and perhaps feel inferior, but it does take a group of people.
There are some good teams and bad teams in Scripture. Some that worked well together and some that did not. But from the beginning of time, we see the importance of getting along as a group.
Tower of Babel
In the beginning, everyone on earth spoke “one language and a common speech.” Genesis 11:1) This group of people got together to build a great tower that reached to the heavens in order for them to make a name for themselves.
That wasn’t to be. God came into the picture. He confused their language so they could not understand one another.
The result was that the tower was not completed, new languages were created, and the people were scattered throughout the earth.
David and Goliath
King Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified at this giant of a man sent out from the Philistine army to battle. (1 Samuel 17)He was large. He was taunting. He was confident in himself.
40 days passed. Each day Goliath would come out and yell at the Israelites. Each day, no one would come forward. The entire team had lost confidence in God.
Until David arrived. He volunteered to fight the giant.
With his sling shot, five round stones, and God, he engaged in battle with Goliath. And the team of God and David won the battle. Now that is a team!
Paul and Barnabas
Here was a great evangelistic team. They had preached the Gospel and were able to be great witnesses for Christ. However, there was a disagreement. (Acts 15:36-41)
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul did not. They had “such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.”
Barnabas took John Mark to Cyprus.
Paul chose Silas and they went to Syria and Cilicia.
Each team strengthened the churches they visited.
There were great teams and not so great teams. There were leaders and followers. There were workers and slackers. The Bible is full of them.
But the one thing in common for successful teams was when God was allowed to be the leader of the team. Through prayer, obedience, and surrender, the team of God and I are more powerful and successful than imaginable. With God as my partner, I can do anything. Anything!
Today is going to be another long day. But with God, I know I can make it through. With God, I will be okay when I fall asleep tonight. With God, I’m prepared for battle.
God and me.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Mom

April 25th, 2012 dsisler

I didn’t want to write a blog post today. I’m tired…mentally and physically. I arrived in Ohio to help care for my Mom after recent back surgery only to find she had been readmitted to the hospital. Prayers for her continued healing are greatly appreciated.
Several years ago, Mom published a cook book of her many delicious recipes with some wonderful stories. She asked each of her children to write a little bit for the forward. My first draft was vetoed (by my Mom)…the second draft was accepted.
So I’m sharing my first draft with you today. I pray that you will be able to see the wonderful woman she is through my words.
My Mom is a balcony person in my life. What is balcony person? They are the people in your life who are always on your side. They will cheer you on when no one else seems to. They believe in you and they see the vision of what God made you to be.
Mom sacrificed so that I could take voice lessons in high school because she thought I had a good voice and that voice lessons would make my voice great. Mom sold a set of silver salt and pepper shakers when I became engaged so that I could buy the wedding dress she knew I’d look stunning in.
My children know that Grandma is on their side as well. She’s the one that spent hours with Philip helping him to find a job and encouraging him to keep looking.
She was at as many of Candace’s high school dramas that she could and really enjoyed each one she attended!
Mom was thrilled about her grandchild’s (Bethany) elopement and the birth of her first great grandchild, Joy. Even more by the birth of her second great grandchild, Percy.
Mom has always said that her grandchildren have a safe haven at her home.
When we are with Mom, we may not always hear what we want to hear, but that’s another characteristic of a balcony person. They believe and expect you can change. They don’t believe that what you were yesterday will hinder you from being what you are today or what you can become tomorrow.
Mom has held the standard high for me and that’s okay. She’s also taught me how to be a balcony person for my own children and grandchildren. I know first-hand how much it means to be an encourager to my children.
We see a glimpse of the ultimate encourager in the Bible, Barnabas. Barnabas had God’s heart for people. He sold property to help those in need, he accepted Paul for what he had become, and encouraged the church leaders to accept Paul as well.
Barnabas embraced Gentile believers and encouraged them to continue to seek God’s grace. Barnabas was willing go to bat for a young man that Paul didn’t believe was suitable to be a traveling companion.
Barnabas had a gift. The gift to encourage anyone who crossed his path, regardless of who they were.
The lesson we can learn from Barnabas and my Mom is that everyone needs encouragement. Everyone needs a balcony person. Don’t pass up an opportunity to let someone know how much they mean to you and to God.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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A Roundabout Way to Ohio

April 24th, 2012 dsisler

Today I am getting on an airplane headed for Ohio.
A direct flight from Denver to Dayton is $100 more than a flight from Colorado Springs to Denver to Dayton.
So I got up early, passed Denver International Airport to arrive in Colorado Springs. I will fly back to DIA and then take the same direct flight from Denver to Dayton.
I wondered if I would be able to just get on the plane in Denver. Mason didn’t seem to think that would be a good idea. It’s a good thing the flight from Colorado Springs doesn’t take off until 9:15 a.m.
I will get to Ohio, just by a roundabout way.
There were several people in Scripture who, like me, took their time getting to where they needed to be.
The Israelites
In the desert for 40 years. Wandering about. Wearing the same clothes. Eating the same food. Walking the same roads. It must have been frustrating, but God’s lesson through it all was to learn to depend upon Him. Obey His commands. Live wholly committed to God. That is all He ever wanted from the Israelites, and that is exactly what He wants from us.
Jonah
Told to go to Nineveh. Chose not to go. Boarded a ship. Thrown off the ship. Swallowed by a large fish. Deposited by the same fish three days later onto land. Continued to Nineveh. Jonah ran from God. We are guilty of doing the same. When we are called to do something difficult, it is easy to run instead of depend upon God for the strength, wisdom, and desire to carry out the task.  
Paul
Doesn’t understand. Does not do what he wants to do. Does what he hates. Romans 7:15 can be confusing. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” But aren’t we again, just like Paul? Doing what we know we shouldn’t and ignoring what we should? Paul urges us to be mindful of our actions and know that we have abundant life through the Spirit.
Well, I will get to Ohio in a roundabout way, but in the process I’ve learned how saints of the past have dealt with their own misdirection. Let’s learn to stick to God’s path. It will always lead us exactly where we need to go.
“My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.” (Psalm 17:5)
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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