“Overwhelmed” – Monday Musical Musings

June 22nd, 2015 dsisler

 

Music has always held a special place in my heart. I remember listening to the radio in our car as a very young child and singing along to the melody. I treasured my first stereo and record player. Memories flood into my mind as I remember specific moments in time when music was at the center of the memory.

 

IMAG1489With this love for music so deeply imbedded within, it’s kind of ironic that when I get in my car most days any more, I never turn on the radio. I rarely listen to music in my car and when I do, chances are pretty good that it will be a Christmas tune.

 

So what do I do when I’m driving along without music in the background? I spend a lot of time with Jesus.

 

We talk. I think. He spurs my memory. I delight myself in Him! I am quite often overwhelmed by Him.

 

When I first heard the chosen song for today, I felt an instant connection to the lyrics as well as the melody. Oh how I love this song!

 

As you read through these lyrics and listen to this song, I pray that you too will be overwhelmed by God’s presence. I pray that you will find that moment when you are so overwhelmed by God that everything else (the cares of the day, pain, busyness, ________?) will fall to the side.

 

Today I pray that you will delight in God’s presence. I pray that you will be captivated by His beauty. I pray that you will be overwhelmed by Him.

 

“Overwhelmed”

 

I see the work of Your Hands
Galaxies spin in a Heavenly dance, oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

 

I hear the sound of Your Voice
All at once it’s a gentle and thundering noise, oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

 

I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

 

God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

 

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God
All that You’ve done is so overwhelming

 

I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

 

God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

 

You are Beautiful, You are Beautiful
Oh God, there is no one more Beautiful
You are Beautiful, God you are the most Beautiful

 

You are Wonderful, You are Wonderful
Oh God, there is no one more Wonderful
You are Wonderful, God You are the most Wonderful

 

You are Glorious, You are Glorious
Oh God, there is no one more Glorious
You are Glorious, God you are the most Glorious[i]

 

 

You won’t want to skip over listening to this beautiful song. Click here!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Overwhelmed,” Words and Music by Michael Weaver and Phil Wickham, Word Music LLC, Phil Wickham Music, Seems Like Music, Weave Country, 2011.

Share

Happy Father’s Day!

June 21st, 2015 dsisler

 

Another year has come and gone and today we celebrate all things dad-related. If you are blessed with a dad who has always been there for you, I pray that you will take the time today to share your thoughts and feelings with him!

 

Dad and TractorMy Dad has been such an influence on my life. You’ve read a lot about my Dad through my blog. Maybe you feel like you know him. But let me tell you, all the writings in the world will never be able to express the love and admiration I have for this man. I could write volumes about our special times together. Laughing, crying, building, working, playing, contemplating, living, teaching and much more have helped to mold me into the woman I am today.

 

Thank you Dad for all the memories and love you’ve shared with me. You’re the best! I love you to the moon and back!

 

Speaking of life lessons, here’s an older blog post about some lessons I learned with my husband, who also just happens to be a great Dad to my children!

 

Life Lessons

 

A couple of nights ago, my husband and I were enjoying a pleasant evening outside. We were checking a section of the yard that didn’t seem to be getting water from our sprinkler system, so he began fiddling with the thing.

 

Have you heard the phrase, “it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye?” Well that’s kind of what happened that night. As he was poking and prodding that stubborn sprinkler head, a piece of plastic flew up underneath the rim of Mason’s safety glasses, and hit him in the eye.

 

After doing everything possible, we decided a trip to the emergency room was in order. We arrived at the hospital at 10 p.m.

 

Apparently there had been a lot of emergencies that evening, so they placed Mason in a room that was designed for children. The décor was obviously designed to bring joy to a young heart. I mentioned it to Mason…he liked it.

 

Here are a few things I learned from this little excursion to the hospital.

 

Lesson 1: Small incidents can have a huge impact.

A tiny piece of plastic. That’s all it was. But boy did it have an impact. I am but one person on this earth in the midst of billions of people. But I can impact my world by sharing God’s love and grace with anyone I come in contact with. I may not even be able to share this message, but my attitude and my demeanor shows that I am different. That, my friend, is impact.

 

We must live in this world, but we must not fall into the traps of the world. We must think the way God thinks, not the way the world thinks. We must be different. Others must be able to see Jesus in our lives.

 

Some Scripture to consider: John 17:15-16; Romans 12:2; Galatians 2:20; and 1 Peter 1:16.

 

Lesson 2: Interruptions in life are inevitable.

I’ve mentioned before that I participated in a Bible study on the book of Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. Now there was interruption. My service trip to SE Asia, that is interruption. This small piece of plastic in Mason’s eye? That was an interruption. But again, how we handle that interruption is the key.

 

Jonah ran. Do you find yourself running from interruptions? If they are God appointed, you might as well stop running. He wants to teach you something and you best be listening.

 

I accepted. Is there a situation where you need to accept an interruption as part of God’s plan? If so, accept it wholeheartedly. God will bless your acceptance.

 

Mason gave in. He really didn’t want to go to the hospital for a whole list of reasons. But he finally said, “okay.” What if he hadn’t? Any number of things could have happened, from infection to the loss of his eye. God knows what’s best for us. Maybe it’s time to just give in.

 

More Scripture to consider: Jonah (only 4 chapters…an easy read); Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 19:1-10; John 14:21; and Acts 9:1-19.

 

Two and a half hours after arriving at the hospital, we headed home. Mason with a sore eye, tetanus shot, pain killers and an antibiotic. Me with a better understanding of how things can turn bad so quickly. His eye is doing much better and he is beginning to feel like his normal self.

 

You know it’s going to happen. I must ask these questions.

 

What are the interruptions in your life? What interruption are you running from? What interruption have you accepted? What is your attitude about these interruptions?

 

You will be interrupted, I guarantee it. I pray that God will direct your decisions and attitude during these interruptions. I know for sure, there is so much to learn.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

Flashing Lights

June 20th, 2015 dsisler

 

Just east of our home are two radio towers. For air traffic safety, each tower has lights. Some remain on all the time. Others flash. Some are red and some are white. But these lights provide warning to small aircraft that these towers are there.

 

???????????????????????????????At dusk and dawn the flashing lights on one tower changes from the “not so annoying,” normal lights to a strobe light. This flash is much brighter. More prominent in the sky. More intense. More annoying.

 

I’ve wondered why there is even a change in lights and why at these two times of the day. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it’s because air traffic may have more difficulty seeing these towers at dawn and dusk. As an extra precaution, strobe lighting was added.

 

I believe there are times in our lives where we have more difficulty seeing obstacles that can cause misstep or even sin. There are plenty of passages of Scripture that lead me to that conclusion. Let’s look at some of them.

 

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 – NIV) When our bodies are not up to the task, we can allow ourselves to be more vulnerable to sin.

 

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:9 – NIV) The love of money is a temptation that each of us must encounter during our lives. This passage warns what can come from this love.

 

James gives some insight into a temptation. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17 – NIV) We may be tempted to just sit by and not do a single thing. According to James, that can lead to sin.

 

David seemed to think that his tongue could cause him to sin. “I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” (Psalm 39:1 – NIV). James also cautioned us against the tongue in James 3:1-12.

 

Paul warns us to be careful when dealing with another who is in sin. Temptation can draw us in if we aren’t. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1 – NIV)

 

Another area when we may fall into sin is when we are angry. “In your anger do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26a – NIV)

 

Oh we find ourselves in situations where temptation pulls at us. When we step over the line, we then find ourselves in sin.

 

During times of temptation, we have the opportunity to walk away from that temptation. God will provide that way.

 

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 – NIV)

 

God is so faithful to us…even when we are not faithful to Him. Look for His escape plan. It’s there, just when you need it!

 

Galatians 5:16 (NIV) gives us one way to resist temptation. “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

 

And here’s another. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 – NIV)

 

God has also provided His armor to help us in this battle against temptation and sin. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm…” (Ephesians 6:13-18 – NIV)

 

Keeping God’s Word close to us is also a way to fight this battle. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 – NIV)

 

When we are alert and watching for the evil one who prowls around like a lion, ambush is much more difficult. God has provided all that we need to resist the devil and his temptations. We must make the choice to follow His guidelines.

 

I know the strobe lights on the towers are necessary. They provide protection, safety, and awareness to those in the skies. When I look at these lights in this way, I am thankful for what they represent and how they are a reminder to me of what I should be doing. Watch and pray.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

I Got Nothing

June 19th, 2015 dsisler

 

This morning has been quite unusual. It’s a day I don’t have to go into the office, so my morning has been relaxed. However, my husband didn’t have to go into work this morning because of a doctor’s appointment, so that made it even more laid back.

 

Balloon Parade 2014 (11)I didn’t stray from my morning routine. Coffee. Devotions. Quiet time with God. Prayer. It’s at this moment when things went awry. I typically move to the computer and begin writing. But when I did this morning, there was nothing. Not a single thing I wanted to write about. A blank page stared at me for a long time.

 

I moved from the computer to the couch and did a little work. Still nothing came to mind to write about. My husband got up to get ready to leave for the day. Through that time, nothing popped into my head. I spent a little time with my daughter discussing her weekend plans. Again, where were the words? Where were the pieces of wisdom? They certainly were not in my head.

 

So now, it’s nearly three hours from the time I typically post a blog and as I sat down to a blank screen, I wondered what could I possibly write that would be worth someone taking the time to read.

 

So I pulled out my Bible and looked up the word nothing in the concordance. These are the Scriptures listed.

 

2 Samuel 24:24

I love this verse because it points out that we need to have skin in the game. We will only get out of our relationship with Jesus what we put into it. What does serving Jesus cost you?

 

Nehemiah 9:21

As Nehemiah recounted the Hebrew nations’ journey in the wilderness, he shared the message that they lacked nothing. God provided everything they needed. Another good reminder for me. While I feel like I have nothing to share, God has poured abundant blessings into my life. Now that’s something.

 

Psalm 73:25

One of my all-time favorite worship songs is taken from this verse (“Made Me Glad”). Yes, this world has nothing for me. I pray that you can say the same.

 

Jeremiah 32:17

This is it. This is what you need to know today. “Nothing is too hard for you [God].”

 

John 15:5

And again, “Apart from me [Jesus] you can do nothing.”

 

So believe it or not, nothing has really turned into something this morning. I’ve revisited some beautiful ideas from Scripture and feel well-prepared for my day ahead.

 

I pray that your nothingness today will also be turned into something because of Jesus. Now, I have something.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share

A Cracked Crown

June 18th, 2015 dsisler

 

When my youngest daughter was 16 years old, she had one tooth that needed a crown. When we arrived at the dentist’s office, a young, handsome dentist presented my impressionable daughter with a single rose (it really was like a scene from a movie). This little act of kindness made the whole process much easier to handle.

 

Daytona Beach 014mNow, let’s talk real world here. It’s been twelve years since the crown incident. A great deal of living has occurred since then. And that crown has finally cracked.

 

This scenario is much like life. We begin almost in a fairy-tale dream. As youngin’s we believe everything will fall into place and life will be grand. Perhaps the handsome prince will arrive with a rose. With his skills, this prince will create a beautiful life. A perfect, beautiful life.

 

[Record scratch sound effect]

 

Now, let’s talk real world here. Things don’t always turn out like our fairy-tale dreams do they? No. Our handsome prince disappoints. Our dream girl breaks our heart. A career becomes work. Financial success becomes a burden. Poor health or medical diagnoses inflict deep pain. Loved ones pass on from this world.

 

Life doesn’t go as planned and the cracked crown can be found in a corner buried under a heap of trash. Can you relate?

 

I’ve had my share of cracked crown moments in life. But dear friend, I’m here to share some encouraging words from our Sovereign Lord. When there doesn’t seem to a glimmer of hope in your day, I pray that you will remember the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah through God’s Spirit in Isaiah 61. Take a look.

 

“The Spirit of the Lord, the Eternal, is on me.

The Lord has appointed me for a special purpose.

He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to repair broken hearts, and to declare to those who are held captive and bound in prison, ‘Be free from your imprisonment!’

He has sent me to announce the year of jubilee, the season of the Eternal’s favor; for our enemies it will be a day of God’s wrath; for those who mourn it will be a time of comfort.

As for those who grieve over Zion, God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy and praise instead of depression and sadness.

People will call them magnificent, like great towering trees standing for what is right.

They stand to the glory of the Eternal who planted them.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 – The Voice)

 

This chapter goes on to describe the rebuilding that would take place. How the ruined cities and lives would be restored. And then, hope is presented.

 

“The whole earth sprouts newness and life in the springtime, and green shoots break through the well-seeded garden soil. That’s what it is like with the Eternal’s victory.” (Isaiah 61:11a – The Voice)

 

Don’t you love these words? That’s what it is like with the Eternal’s victory! A new crown. Gladness. Joy. Praise. Security. Freedom. Healed heart. Comfort. Glorious riches. Victory.

 

Perhaps you need a little bit of this victory today. Or maybe you need a lot. If you need to experience the Eternal’s victory, Jesus has paid the price. Jesus removed His royal crown to wear a crown of thorns for you (and me). All you need to do is accept Jesus as the Lord of your life. If I can help, I’d be happy to help you with this decision.

 

For those of you who have already accepted Jesus, maybe you need to have your crown repaired. If so, Jesus is great at mending what needs fixed. Take all the broken pieces of your crown and lay them at Jesus’ feet. In return, Jesus will give you a beautiful crown.

 

Let’s make an appointment!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

Share
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

  • Subscribe by Email

  • 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.

  • Bible Studies & Other Happenings

    Bible studies I’m currently leading:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    In September 2012 I went to SE Asia on a service trip. For more information, check out preachitclearly.blogspot.com.

  • Categories

  • Recent Posts

Visit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On Linkedin