Round Robin

March 14th, 2012 dsisler

I am the fourth grandchild on my Mother’s side of the family. While my birth may have been ordinary, I was born into an extraordinary family. A family who always welcomed and lived out true hospitality. A family where each person was different, yet in that uniqueness brought unity. A family where music, laughter, inspiration, tales of “growing up” and walks to the river were available in abundance. A family that was a family.
My grandfather, Grandpa Rich as we knew him, was born second of seven siblings. They were raised on a beautiful farm near Irvine, Kentucky; their father the school master, their mother a homemaker. Through the years the Richardson children remained close. Even as they went their separate ways as adults, there were reunions at the family farm where memories were remembered and made.
Keeping in touch with family in our electronic age is fast and simple. Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, and Skype have reduced the miles to mere inches. Mail delivery from days to seconds.
However, my Grandfather and his siblings used a form of communication that is of the past. It was called the Round Robin. A large envelope would arrive. Inside would be news, stories, adventures, and photos of each sibling and their family. After reading the contents, each sibling would remove the last items they placed in the envelope and would replace them with the most recent news from their family. The envelope was on its way to the next sibling. The anticipation, waiting for the next Round Robin, was exciting. What would the postman bring today?
A letter. Isn’t it wonderful to receive a letter in the mail. A real, paper letter with a stamp on the envelope? It is of the past, for certain, but what a treasure we have lost through the use of the electronic gadgets of today.
Paul speaks of a letter in 2 Corinthians 3. The image that Paul wants to convey is so interesting to me. He mentions that the believers in Corinth were his letter of recommendation, written on his heart. Then he goes on to mention a few more things about this group of believers.
  • They were a letter from Christ (v. 3) – by their actions, they showed to whom they belonged—Christ.
  • Known and read by everybody (v. 2) – their transformed lives could be seen by anyone who came in contact with them.
  • Not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God (v. 3) – ink fades, but what lived within them remained forever.
  • Written not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts (v. 3) – a contrast between the old covenant and the new covenant.
I pray that you will look at yourself as a letter from Christ. I pray that others might look at you and see that you belong to Him. I pray that your transformed life might point others to Jesus through the writings on your heart.
There is no longer a Round Robin within my family. It’s long gone. But the connection is stronger than ever. It is the family bond that will never loosen its grip on the Richardson clan. A family that is a family.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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A New Outlok on Heaven

March 13th, 2012 dsisler

Last year on this date, my 19 day old grandson, Archer, passed away and is heaven with our glorious Savior. A few weeks after that, I woke early one morning to a new vision of what heaven would be like. This is what I envisioned.

 

“I saw a large area with nursery isolettes, cribs and cradles. They were filled with babies. Some of these babies were unwanted on earth. They had been aborted by their mother, tossed into a river by relatives, or left in a dumpster as if they were yesterday’s trash. These babies had never known the care of a loving mother or grandmother or family. These babies were rejected.

 

Among them were also babies who were desperately wanted. By moms who lost these children to miscarriage or still birth. These babies could feel the excitement from their mother because of them, because she was carrying a child that she loved. However, these babies never felt the touch of their loving mothers. It was not meant to be.

 

There also were those babies who were fortunate to be born, to be loved by their mother, to be cherished day by day. But again for some reason, were not able to survive in this world. Disease, infection, accident, or any of the many reasons, these babies left their mothers far too soon.

 

In the nursery were women and men who loved babies. Who loved caring for those who were so helpless and tiny. You know who they are. Those faithful volunteers you see in church on Sunday morning. Week after week. Month after month. Who are care for those tiny ones during church services. That is exactly who is “oohing” and “aahing” over these babies in heaven’s nursery.

 

There are grandmothers and mothers who loved their children and grandchildren on earth. Who desire to spend an eternity holding and loving babies. Lullabies are in abundance. Kisses and cuddles are shared willingly.

 

Occasionally Jesus strolls through the scene. He is thrilled to be among the babies. The smile on His face shows the love He has for these little ones. He stops periodically to show special interest to specific babies, and then moves on.”

 

If you are going through the grieving process now, please know that God cares. He wants to give you comfort during this time. I’ve included some verses of Scripture that has helped me over the past year. My favorites.

 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

“Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.”

Psalm 31:9

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 147:3

“I will turn their mourning into gladness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”

Jeremiah 31:13

 

I didn’t want this day to pass without remembering Archer in my writing. I don’t know if there will be a room like this. I just know that when I was grieving, this was a comfort to me. What I am confident of is that Archer is with Jesus and he by-passed this mean, ugly world for the riches of glory. He is missed each day and will forever be in our hearts. We love you Archer, our Little Mister!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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I’m Alright

March 12th, 2012 dsisler

I used to be clumsy. Not as clumsy as some, but still clumsy. I remember vividly walking into walls on more than one occasion and falling down a flight of stairs in high school. After the flight of stairs incident, I began to walk a bit slower. Take my time and know exactly where my feet were going. That in itself didn’t help with the walking into walls thing. I continued to do that all through high school.
I remember a specific day as I was walking in downtown Akron, Ohio I slipped a bit. I caught myself before falling completely, but when I turned to see what had caused my misstep, I saw a banana peel. I didn’t see it before, but there it was. I actually slipped on a banana peel.
I’m not sure if clumsiness is hereditary, but if it is, my children were certain to get the gene. Especially my daughter Candace. She has struggled with this throughout her life. She’d fall, and before she could even assess the situation, would quickly say, “I’m alright.”Falling down stairs, running into walls (or falling through walls), or tripping over something are everyday occurrences for her.
In my recent Bible searches, I came across the small book of Jude. Have you ever read it? Recently? I hadn’t. It’s only one chapter. 25 verses. It is a short letter written to a group of believers. We don’t know who, but it was a disturbing situation for certain.
This group of believers had been infiltrated by some who felt that they could continue in sin. They believed that they had already been saved and didn’t need to live a Godly life. Jude clearly states that this is an untruth. The real problem was that they were leading others into this belief as well. This is just a portion of the encouragement Jude gives.
“Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others who mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Jude 20-22
I love the phrase, “snatch others from the fire to save them.” It is such a vivid reminder for us to keep watch for brothers and sisters who are being led astray. We must not allow false teachers or even other believers to change the Gospel. For any reason.
But the reason I bring up the book of Jude is the last section of the book. Remember, I was talking about clumsiness and falling. Well Jude encourages once again against falling. Not physical, but spiritual falling. He closes his letter with this Doxology.
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen.” Jude 23-25
Jude gives us another wonderful reminder that we can be kept from falling. Through our faith and trust, God is able lend us a helping hand. His gracious helping hand. All you have to do is reach for it.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Joy’s Mural

March 11th, 2012 dsisler

I’ve stated in past blogs that my granddaughter Joy loves to take a bath at my house. I’m sure part of it is because I let her do things in the bath tub that her mother would not. She can turn her bath water different colors or she can use water crayons to name just a few.
The water crayons are pretty cool and our bathtub wall has a large white canvas for all of her creations. On one particular day, Joy decided to draw a village. Each member of her family was given a house of their favorite color. A number was also attached to each house…the age of the person who theoretically lived in the house.
The village was attached by sidewalks and roads. Some had trees or bushes. Some had elaborate windows and others were plain. This project took Joy several bath times to create and complete. After each bath, I would close the shower curtain as if pulling a drape over a masterpiece, waiting for the artist to return.
Finally it was finished. There was nothing more to add. Nothing to remove. It was finished. It was her best work and the art she was most proud of.
We are viewed by God in this same way. We are His best work and what He is most proud of. Do you wonder why? There are times when I am not my best, some might even say at my worst. When I cannot seem to live up to His standards, but He loves me all the same.
Of course we can turn straight to Psalm 139 to learn just how God created and designed us. “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well…your eyes saw my unformed body.” (Psalm 139:13-16) Yes, we are God’s most wonderful masterpiece, fearfully and wonderfully made.
After each day of creation, God ended the day with the phrase, “And God saw that it was good.” But after creating man, God ended the day with the phrase, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Man was not just good, he was very good. God’s “very good” creation.
Ephesians 2:10 from The New Living Translation says it this way. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” We are His masterpiece, but created for a purpose. One purpose stated here is to do good.
If we look at ourselves from this perspective, I can begin to understand why God looks at me as His most precious creation. Even when I am not at my best, God working through me makes me His best.
Joy’s mural remained on the wall of the bath tub for several weeks, but then, it eventually had to be removed. I washed down the walls and watched as the colors were diluted with water and swirl down the drain. But not before getting several pictures of this masterpiece.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Cast Iron Skillet

March 10th, 2012 dsisler

I bought a magazine to read on my flight home from Florida. The entire magazine is about cast iron skillets. There were articles about the different size and shapes available and the uses for each. There is plenty of advice on how to care for cast iron cookware. It even contained testimony after testimony from famous chefs regarding the impact cast iron had on their chosen career path.
Of course there are loads of recipes to create in these case iron skillets and Dutch ovens. Some I cannot wait to prepare…in a cast iron skillet or not! They sounded delicious and full of flavor. The first one I might have to try is Skillet Steak with compound butter.
The advice was interesting. One would say to never place iron skillets in soapy water, and then another would say it was okay to do so. One said to never air dry, another thought it wouldn’t hurt it. I suspect if the results are the same, how you achieve the finished product isn’t relevant, at least when it comes to cast iron. Or maybe it does matter. They’ve just managed to confuse me on these issues.
I did enjoy the stories from the chefs regarding the cast iron that had been passed down from generation to generation. Some even felt the cookware was as valuable as jewels or family heirlooms.
Is there something that you have received from a grandparent or ancestor that is of value to you? What makes it so? Is it the memory that is attached to the item? Is it valuable because of your relationship with the person who gave it to you? Or perhaps it is the combination of many things. Regardless, when we receive something from a loved one, it is precious indeed.
While inheriting items from loved ones can be wonderful, we have received far greater gifts from God our Father. Here are a few.
Love: God loves us. He wants to lavish that love upon us. 1 John 3:1 states, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” As His children we receive the inheritance. The true treasure, eternal life.
Glorious Riches: Grace. (Ephesians 1:7-8; 3:8).  Again God lavished it upon us. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6-7) Without this glorious gift, we would be lost. Forever.
Jesus: God gave us His Son so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16). We are “…adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ…” (Ephesians 1:5).
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”(2 Corinthians 9:15)
If you love cast iron cookware, one from a great-grandmother would be a treasure! I have a couple that have been handed down and one that I have seasoned myself. Any of them will do. They simply are the best for making fried chicken or cornbread.
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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