“M” – A to Z Challenge

April 15th, 2016 dsisler

 

My grandkids crack me up. It seems that each time I am with them, I laugh and find myself smiling days later as I think of their shenanigans and the things they do. Last weekend was no different. Here’s a few things they did.

 

mWe played outside. Basketball, skating, searching for a frog, finding a turtle (a figurine, not a real one) and picking up favorite rocks. Then inside, we pulled out Pie Face again. We play this game on Easter and the moment we started, Percy started laughing and never quit. He did the same thing this go round. His laughter is contagious and we all found ourselves laughing at him.

 

nativity sceneApparently the nativity scenes were in on the action as well. Looks like this little lamb got a lift!

 

 

lamb on car

 

And then, Percy wanted to do something special. So I took a cue from my brother (he does this with my oldest granddaughter) and sent him on secret missions. I tried to explain that he needed to be quiet and stealthy and get from one location in the house to another without being seen. He didn’t quite get it, but he had fun and it was something he could do on his own. By the end of the day, Percy had touched Gido’s big toe, brought paper from my desk and distracted Gido as Joy passed by on a secret mission of her own (his dance and song were priceless!).

 

Secret mission work is tough work. But Percy was up to the challenge.

 

As a believer in Christ, each of us has a mission. Jesus shared that mission in Matthew 28:19-20. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

That is our mission. To make disciples wherever we are. But for me, I sometimes think it feels more like a secret mission. A secret for myself that I don’t share with others. Do you feel that way sometimes? It’s hard to put ourselves out there and share this great news with others, but it doesn’t have to be? Jesus is with us through each twist and turn of sharing the Gospel.

 

Today you may find yourself on your own mission for Christ. If so, I pray that you will find the boldness and courage to share the Gospel by utilizing the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you believe you should be on mission for Christ, I pray that you will allow the Holy Spirit to work through you to make disciples. And if you just don’t want to be on mission? Sorry, you don’t get a pass on this one. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ is to make disciples. Each one of us. So start praying for the Holy Spirit to give you what you need to carry out this mission.

 

I’ll be praying for you throughout my day for God to reveal moments for you to be on mission for Him. It really is exciting! God be with you!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“L” – A to Z Challenge

April 14th, 2016 dsisler

 

Life. I remind myself quite often that I am living the good life. I have a sign in my office to keep this thought before me. I thank and praise God each time I think of the goodness in my life.

 

lBut I realize that life isn’t good for everyone. I realize that some are hurting. I realize that some have no hope. I realize that circumstances have drained them of every ounce of positive thinking.

 

If you find yourself in this situation and live in my area, I would like to invite you to an event this evening that just might help you to see that, even when life throws you a curve ball, you are able to lean upon God and hold tightly to His goodness. You can find more information about this event by going here.

 

“Life” happens, the good and the bad. So how can we make it day after day when life is difficult?

 

We can hold on to God’s grace

“My (God’s) grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 – NIV)

 

We can lean into His strength

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 – NIV)

 

We can find contentment in God

“…I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether living well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11a-13 – NIV)

 

We can praise God for His faithfulness and compassion

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your (God’s) faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 – NIV)

 

Life can be difficult and if you find yourself in that situation today, please let me know. I’d love to be praying for you and your situation.

 

Please know that God cares for you deeply. He asks you to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 – NIV) Why not let Him carry your burden? A life in God’s arms is pretty amazing. Isn’t it time you started living?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“K” – A to Z Challenge

April 13th, 2016 dsisler

 

If you have had the privilege of having a rich heritage, you probably have some keepsakes around your home. Dishes, utensils, occupational tools, toys, jewelry or wood working equipment could be in the mix of some of your keepsakes. Some may be valuable as far as the world is concerned, but for the most part, these items are valuable to you or they are a keepsake because of the sentimental value placed upon the item.

 

kI’m no different. I have plenty of these keepsakes in my home. I am thankful for all of them and I hope that one day my children and grandchildren will find the meaning and importance of these items.

 

But what I pray more than anything is that the keepsakes they find to be more valuable are the things that a price tag can’t be placed upon. My faith. My values. My knowledge from studying Scripture. These are some of the things that I want to pass along to my loved one. These are some of the things upon which I pray my legacy is built.

 

God knew the importance of sharing His ideas with future generations. Altars or memorials were built to remind younger generations of His mighty work in the lives of the Hebrew nation. One in particular is found in Joshua 4:20-24. In this passage, Joshua set up the twelve stones taken from the crossing of the Jordan River and set them up at Gilgal. As future generations saw these stones and asked what they meant, they were to share the story of entering the Promised Land. What a keepsake!

 

If we think of a keepsake as something by which we remember another, God’s commands are keepsakes for us to remember. God shared other ways to remember these keepsakes in Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NIV).

 

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”

 

Another passage with instruction on keeping God’s commands and guidelines is found in Proverbs 7:2-3 (NIV). “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

 

God’s keepsakes are far more precious and valuable than any earthly keepsake. Sometimes we forget the importance and sometimes we disregard their value, but when we are in line with God’s teachings and when we remember them as keepsakes, we are one step closer to living the abundant life.

 

What keepsakes in God’s Word are you holding onto today? What keepsake in God’s Word will you pass along to those you love? What “keepsake of this world” do you need to toss to the curbside?

 

Keepsakes are very precious and meaningful. And God’s keepsakes are even more so!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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“J” – A to Z Challenge

April 12th, 2016 dsisler

 

The word “joy” has always been special to me. I grew up being reminded of this word when my parents used my full name. Donna Joy. Occasionally my dad still calls me by my first and middle name. It still sounds good.

 

jI passed the name Joy to my daughter. Her name is Bethany Joy. And she liked it so much she shared it with her daughter, my granddaughter, Joy Marie. Of all the names in our family, I never thought that Joy would be the name that would continue through generations.

 

But I’m also excited that it is. Mainly because of what this tiny, three-letter word means to the Christian. Joy is one of the characteristics that we are to possess, expose, create, and enjoy. Joy should be evident in our lives, regardless of what our circumstance. It’s in these moments that others are able to look at us and notice that something is different.

 

So what is joy?

 

According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, joy is “the happy state that results from knowing and serving God.”[i]

 

Holman goes on to say, that “joy is the fruit of a right relation with God. It is not something people can create by their own efforts.” No wonder we live in a world where possessions mean so much to people. No wonder folks are searching for the next big thing. If they aren’t looking to God for their joy, they will never find it any place else.

 

King David knew that his joy was found in God. Take a look at a couple of verses from the Book of Psalm.

 

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11 – NIV)

 

“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8 – NIV)

 

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:12 – NIV)

 

David knew that being in God’s presence, following God’s precepts and living in God’s salvation is what brought joy to his life. Oh yes, there are plenty of passages in Psalm that take the reader into David’s joyous heart, but without this firm foundation of joy, nothing else would have mattered.

 

It’s the same for us. When we are secure in our relationship with God, when we know and follow God’s precepts, when we have accepted God’s salvation, it’s then that we can live lives filled with joy.

 

Earlier, the biblical definition of joy mentioned that it wasn’t something we could gain on our own. It was from God. In fact, it is a fruit of God’s Spirit. When we live by the Spirit, we will produce the following fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

And if you recall, Jesus mentioned in John 15 that the only way we can produce abundant fruit is by remaining in Him. And there is our tiny word again. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11 – NIV)

 

Here’s the tough part for people to understand. Just because we have joy, Jesus’ joy within us, doesn’t mean that we won’t face trials or troubles. It doesn’t mean that we won’t or can’t be sad. But what it does mean is that when we encounter such trials our joy cannot be shaken because we have a relationship with God, Jesus and His Spirit.

 

James tells us that we are to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2 – NIV) Not because of the trial, but because of what it produces. Perseverance and a closer relationship with God.

 

I’ve been through many of those trials and I’ve learned that when I allow God to be at the center of my being, others can see His joy within me and they note the difference.

 

I don’t know if the name Joy will continue to be passed down through our family, but I certainly hope so. If nothing else, I pray that God will continue to see His joy flow through the lives of my family. Because He brings me such joy.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] Holman Bible Dictionary, definition of joy, http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T3512

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“I” – A to Z Challenge

April 11th, 2016 dsisler

 

 

There are many verses in the Bible that I read and wonder, “Have I read that before?” Or “Where has this verse been?” It’s true. I am so amazed sometimes.

 

iPart of the reason is that I believe as I read Scripture, I’m in a different place or season and a verse or passage speaks to me more clearly or has great meaning for my life. Other passages or verses are “new” to me because I haven’t studied specific books of the Bible.

 

I’ll be honest. I’ve steered clear of those that are more difficult. The letters written to the Corinthians believers and the Roman followers are books that I’ve dabbled in. I’ve not taken the time to really delve into their words or deeper meaning for my life. It’s never too late to dig into specific passages or books of the Bible.

 

In 1 Corinthians 14, there is an entire passage on the gifts of tongues and prophecy. Here’s another reason I’ve steered clear of this book in particular. The tongues and prophecy thing. My thoughts and beliefs (through Scripture and teaching) have not taken me down this path before, so I’ve not studied some of the Scripture in Corinthians because I thought they were irrelevant.

 

Now I’ll admit, I’ve read these verses in the past, just not recently and definitely not with my spiritually mature eyes and heart.

 

I’m being pretty open and honest about my thoughts on tongues and prophecy here. Study and seeking God’s will in my life may change my thoughts, but it might not. Because there’s a verse in 1 Corinthians 14 that caught my attention.

 

“But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (1 Corinthians 14:19 – NIV)

 

For now, this is where I am going to land. I know what I can understand today. I know what I can share today. There are plenty of verses in the Bible that I can understand and those are the words that I choose to share today.

 

What five intelligible words will I use today to instruct others? Here are a few examples:

 

  • Jesus loves you! Love Him!
  • Forgiveness is found in Jesus!
  • God’s grace is sufficient! Amen!
  • Love the Lord! Love others!
  • God’s riches at Jesus’ expense! (GRACE)

 

What five intelligible words will you use today to instruct others?

 

I am so thankful that I still have a great desire to study God’s Word to find new truths for my life. I pray that you are eager to do the same. Growing in a deeper relationship with the Lord and pointing others to Jesus is my mission. I pray it is yours as well.

 

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

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