So Long

March 9th, 2012 dsisler

It’s over. It went too quickly. My vacation has come to an end. I think the hardest part of this particular trip is saying goodbye to loved ones. I’ve said goodbye all week long. It began with the Bride and Groom as they left to go on their honeymoon. Then to extended family and newest members of the family. Around mid-week I said goodbye to nieces and a future niece. And finally to every other family member that has been with me this week.

Today will be difficult. I know I will see them in five months, if not before, but it has been a special week. A week of reconnecting. A week of coming together. Living together. Together.
But the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end.” Yes, the time we’ve had here in Florida must come to an end, but what made it special does not. We are family and that will never change. It still doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.
I am reminded of Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders In Acts 20. He was headed to Jerusalem. He knew this would be the last time he spent with this group of beloved believers. And he made the most of his time with them. He spoke to them. He encouraged them. He didn’t candy coat their situation or his own.
The Ephesian church would be attacked by the outside world and from within. It was going to happen. But the elders had been taught well and were prepared for such battle. The Holy Spirit and God’s Word would give assistance during these future battles. Paul also encouraged them to keep watch over the church and be shepherds of that flock. He was leaving this church in good hands.
At the end of this encounter, Paul and the elders knelt in the sand on the beach. They prayed and wept. Embraced and kissed. All too soon it was over. Each would go their separate way to face what lay ahead. Yes, they would miss Paul. Paul would miss them. But their spiritual bond was far greater than the physical separation.
Goodbyes have never been easy for me, but this one will be the most difficult yet. I just need to keep reminding myself that it is only for a short while. So instead of goodbye, I think I’ll say “so long.” So long Florida. So long beautiful ocean. So long family. I love you all!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Geocaching

March 8th, 2012 dsisler

My husband and I used to enjoy geocaching. We would seek out the perfect locations to search for the cache and we’d head off to find the treasure that another geocacher had strategically placed.
We found, too, that typically there would be a great photo op nearby as well. So for each of us, we found satisfaction in this hobby. It was something we could do together and see some beautiful scenery in Colorado.
My brother, Billy, came for his annual visit during this time period and we thought he might enjoy the hunt as well. We planned a couple of trips out to look for these items.  
We even put together a cache to hide. We found the container, chose the items to place inside, and documented the hiding place of our cache. We found it to once again be a successful activity for each of us to enjoy.
On our final day out, we ventured into the mountains a bit more and ended up on a one lane road with the steep mountain above and below us. The problem? Another vehicle joined us on the road from the opposite direction. We were face to face with a larger SUV with very little options.
I pulled as far to the right as possible and the other SUV drove around us. I was thankful to hug the mountain. I surely didn’t want to drive out over the edge. Just a few hundred feet away, we stopped, found our cache and returned to our vehicle to head home.
It was then we knew there was a problem. An odd sound drew us from the vehicle. We changed the flat tire and began moving. Unfortunately, a second tire was flat. We had no option but to continue driving with the flat tire. There was no cell phone coverage. No one was passing our way (except a young man on a dirt bike who stopped and said, “Bummer!” Yeah, we got that).
We slowly made our way off the mountain. It was a long day. It took hours. Frustrating hours. Disappointing hours. But my brother coined a phrase that day that I have used a few times. “A good story is better than a good time.”
What does that phrase mean to you? Hopefully it isn’t your life story. Hopefully, like me, there have been a few times in your life when things didn’t go as planned and in the long run found some interesting bits of wisdom gleaned from the situation.
Proverbs 19:21 tells us, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”I have made plans. Sometimes my plans don’t turn out the way I wanted or wished, but I know I’ve learned something each time my plans have failed.
My Dad has been asking me this question for as long as I can remember. “What did you learn?” If we cannot find some wisdom or lessons from our failures, we are doomed to continue to fail and make the same mistakes over and over.
But I think more importantly, we can ask ourselves, “How can God use this?” If our story cannot be used by God, it will not be of value. His purpose must prevail in these situations in our lives.
We don’t geo cache any more. It was a fad for us. But I know there will be another adventure lurking around the corner and we just might say, “A good story is better than a good time.”
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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So Close

March 6th, 2012 dsisler

I am in Florida. For me, there is nothing like the feel of the ocean breeze on my face. Watching the sea birds, especially Pelicans, fly or hover over the top of the water is amazing. Seeing fish jump from the water, little lizards scurrying about, and hearing the sound of unusual birds fills my heart with gladness.
I do have a problem however. We are staying in a beautiful home on Sarasota Bay. The ocean is seven miles away. I am so close. I can feel its effect. But I am not actually on or in the ocean.
We see the tide come and go. There are remnants of sea shells left behind. Sand is underfoot…everywhere! The breeze is refreshing. The smell of the sea is here too. But it’s not the same.
I am once again reminded of the Israelite nation. They too, were close to their final destination, yet so far away. They had messed up. Believed the wrong spies, and were penalized for their misguided belief. Wandering. Wandering around the desert for years until all the unbelievers died. Wandering the same terrain. Over and over again.
They longed to be in the Promised Land. They had heard of it throughout their lives and I’m sure this generation thought it was finally going to come true. But to their dismay, it would once again elude them. How disappointing it must have been. They were so close, and yet, nowhere near the milk and honey.
We can sometimes get in a rut. Doing the same thing over and over again without any real improvement. Perhaps it is the same prayer that is prayed. Or the same passage of Scripture read over and over. Or maybe it’s the same promise to God that you will stop allowing a sin to creep into your life. Oh how God wants us to get out of that rut. Do something different. Make a difference.
Maybe it’s that you keep going round and round the same ideas from the Bible, but never bring it to completion. Like salvation. You’ve read, heard, and studied the Bible. You believe what God’s Word says. You’ve repented of your sins and of your past and have confessed that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. Have you been baptized for forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit? If not, why not make that decision today? God calls us to Him. His desire is for all to come to salvation. Today.
After years and years, the Israelites were finally on the bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho and the Promised Land. They could finally see it. It was within their reach. But there was much to be done before they could finally take that first step into their new home. They needed to follow God’s guidelines and believe that it was through God they could have victory.
God spoke to Joshua just before Israel’s move. He said, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7) The Promised Land was the final destination for the Hebrew nation. It was the fulfillment of the promise made by God. It was their ultimate destination.
When we find ourselves in a situation where we have fallen into sin or have become stagnant spiritually, we should read these words and heed the message. Don’t get side tracked. Stay on task. Keep looking toward the goal. With God, you will reach it.
I have not seen my ultimate destination here in Florida, but it is only seven miles away. I will not fall short of the goal of reaching this destination. Yes, there are a few obstacles in my way, including a strip of water called the Sarasota Bay. But I guarantee that in the next few days, my feet will be walking on sand at the edge of Gulf Coast. Finally.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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More Than Special

March 4th, 2012 dsisler

It is Sunday morning. A special day for many reasons. First and foremost, it is the Lord’s Day. The day set aside for we as Christians to worship and celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that you will take the time to do so on this day.

Secondly, I am in Florida with all my Ohio family. We are staying in a beautiful house on the ocean. We’ll be here for the week enjoying the sunshine, the Gulf Coast, and…the humidity! But I’m the only one who really notices it. The dry air of Colorado has spoiled me for sure. But, I am on the beach with my family.
Third, my nephew is getting married today. He is marrying a lovely, young woman he adores. What more could a couple ask for than to marry their best friend. Congratulations Matt and Ashley! May God bless your marriage abundantly!
Yes, the day is special, but the people I’m with make this day even more special. They are family. They are loved ones. And it goes beyond our family or physical bond. There is a spiritual bond between us. We are part of a greater, bigger family. God’s family!
You want to sing it, don’t you? The music is forming in your head. Yes. Yes, I can hear it gradually getting louder…“I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…”[i] Yes my family is part of God’s family, but it is more than that. It is the world-wide family of God. What a treasure and that makes us all special!
We are special because “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for 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 5:2527) He loved the church. He loved the body of believers. He gave all that He had…Himself, so that we might be radiant.
Because of God’s priceless unfailing love. God loves us more than we can express. And Scripture proves it over and over. “The eyes of the Lord on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” (Psalm 22:19) “How priceless is your unfailing love.” (Psalm 36:7a) “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”(Psalm 119:76)
Also, we have precious promises from God. “He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire.” (2 Peter 1:4) Promises like, salvation (1 Peter 1: 8-9), the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21), eternal life (John 3:16), and that He will always be with us (Matthew 28:20b).
Today is a special day! Not just for my family, but for all believers in Christ. What will you do with this special day?
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i]The Family of God, Bill and Gloria Gaither, 1970.
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Beauty Within

March 3rd, 2012 dsisler

Do you remember the cartoon, Popeye the Sailor Man? What about his girlfriend, Olive Oyle? Olive Oyle was my dad’s affectionate name for me growing up…I occasionally hear it from him still. With that as a nickname, you can imagine how difficult it would be to believe that I was the slightest bit pretty, and never, ever beautiful.

For most of my life, I’ve not felt beautiful. I’ve been told by people things like, “your nose is too big,” or “you’re not pretty enough,” or “there’s someone else who is more attractive to me than you are.” The list could go on, but you understand.
There’s a group of people in this world who want me to believe these lies. They’re called advertisers. It’s estimated that we see anywhere from 400 to 3,000 advertisements per day (depending on which researcher you choose to believe, researchers can’t seem to agree on this one). But here’s something they can agree upon. 1 out of 11 of those ads we see are created by people who want me to believe that I’m not pretty enough.
Here’s some startling statistics from 2009:
  • 80% of 10 year old girls in America are on a diet
  • 80% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance
  • Frequent dieting increases the chance of being depressed by 70%
  • Liposuction increased 389% over the last decade
  • 1 out of 11 ads/commercials has a direct message about beauty
  • On TV, 1 out of every 3.8 commercials sends a message about attractiveness
  • In America, $20 billion is spent annually on cosmetics; $300 million on cosmetic surgery; $33 billion on dietary products
I’ve given my share to this dollar amount. Here’s what I’ve purchased with the hope that this product would do exactly what I was told it would!
  • Hair color
  • Shampoo
  • Hair product
  • Eye products
  • Foundation
  • Face cream
  • Weight Watchers membership card
And one more section of statistics. A scan of recent research, polls, and surveys suggest that:
  • The average women is 5’4”, 140 to 145 lbs., and wears a size 11-14 dress
  • Store mannequins are 6’ tall and are approximately 34-23-24
  • The average model is 5’11” and 117 lbs.
  • 25 years ago a model would typically weigh 8% less than the public, now it is typical for a model to weigh 23% less than the average woman
Beauty is an obsession in our lives. And I believe God wants us to be beautiful. He believes we are beautiful! But it is difficult to separate our thinking from what God tells us and what the “world” tells us. Remember all those statistics? I believe the only way we can do so is by spending more time with God than with the media. By being influenced more by God than being influenced by our culture. And we know how to do that. Bible study, prayer, worship…these will infuse God’s beauty into our lives.
We may not be spectacular or particularly beautiful on the outside. Perhaps even rough and plain. But there is a treasure of God’s beauty within. As we continue to study God’s Word and spend time with Him, His Spirit is polishing our inner “crystals.” We are becoming more beautiful each day. Our inner beauty will far surpass our outer beauty when we allow this transformation to take place. I pray that you’ll listen to what God is telling you. I have!
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a)
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.

  • 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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