And Waiting Again...

I have anticipated this day for over two weeks now. The other half of our service team to SE Asia returns home today.

I’ve missed them so much. They were inspirational. They were prayer warriors. They were cheerful. They were wonderful mentors. They led wisely. They are good friends.

Being back in America without them has been okay, but the idea of them returning, to reunite the team is more than exciting to me. It is exhilarating!

I wonder if this was how the Apostles felt after Jesus left them. Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) shares the account of Jesus’ instructions. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”

They were to wait. Wait for the rest of the team to arrive.

It isn’t fun to wait. I’ve had to wait quite a bit in my lifetime. Wait for pregnancies to come to term. Wait for news of an upcoming, possible job. Wait for the arrival of wonderful guests. Wait for surgery to be finished on a loved one.

Waiting. It isn’t an easy task.

The Apostles kept busy while they were waiting however. After Jesus left them, they returned to Jerusalem to wait as Jesus had requested. We see in the first chapter of Acts that they chose a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:12-26).

In Luke’s account of the time after Jesus’ ascension, we come to an understanding of other things the Apostles did while waiting.

“When he (Jesus) had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:50-53 – NIV)

The Apostles were continuously in the temple. They continuously praised God. Now that was something to do while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. They were preparing themselves for what was to come.

Under these circumstances, I suspect the wait wasn’t as difficult as we might think.

So what should we do while we’re waiting?

Be productive. Don’t sit around with only the wait on your mind. Find something to do that will be of good. It will help take your mind off the wait period.

I believe we can also spend time with fellow believers. Just as the Apostles were always at the temple, we can find ways to be near others who believe as we do. This too will help us from becoming so focused on the wait that we miss the anticipation. The joy of something to look forward to.

And then the last thing we can learn from the Apostles is to praise God while we’re waiting. Of course we should praise God all the time, but in times of waiting, I believe praising God will again take our focus off of ourselves and place it directly on God. And let’s face it, there’s always something to praise God for.

I wish God had brought these concepts to my mind two weeks ago. I might have viewed this wait period much differently. Yes, I’ve done these three things, but I might have done a few things differently.

The good news is that now that I’ve learned a lesson, I can use it the next time I am required to wait. And that starts now.

I’m waiting for my fourth grandchild to be born. A little girl. Oh, how difficult it is to wait, but I know the importance of waiting for this baby to develop fully before birth.

So until that time, I will be productive. I will continually be in God’s house with His people. And I will not stop praising God. And so it begins.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

My Return

I have written a lot about going away on my other blog, Full Measure of Joy. About being away from home and returning home. I have traveled quite a bit this year. This is yet another post about returning home.

I am returning home to the ones who love me most in this world. I am returning home to the conveniences that I’ve held close. I am returning home with determination to never take anything for granted again. I am returning home to share a story or two about the people of SE Asia. I am returning home to be used by God.

Honestly, I don’t know how God is going to work through me after this journey. I thought it would be clear. I thought He would have given direction. But as of today, I don’t know what His plan is.

I can say that I learned quite a bit, however. I now know that I am courageous, flexible, peaceable, open and willing to learn, have a good attitude, and a welcoming smile. I now know that my gift of communication is truly a gift from God that I am willing to use. I now know that I love traveling overseas.

But there is still so much more to learn. I now know that I will be open and willing to learn how God is going to use my experiences from this journey to teach me and lead me.

My journey is not over. It has just begun.

As I am given insight, I will share. Until then, I will continue to use my writing to study God’s Word to see what God is teaching me. I will use my writing to encourage others. I will use my writing to share the Gospel with anyone who is willing to listen. And above all, I will use my writing to glorify God.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. And know this, we are not alone. God is always with us.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 – NIV)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

Packing, Packing, and More Packing

I have been packing and organizing for several days now. Preparation for international travel is a bit different than domestic travel. But I have some very informed teachers and they are sharing their experiences to help me with the process.

There are now five short days until I leave with my friends for SE Asia. The preparation is nearly complete. Our hearts and minds are being equipped for the work God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. It will soon be time to see what God’s plan has been all along.

I read the passage of Jesus sending out the seventy-two in Luke 10 again recently. As I read this passage I was stunned that I didn’t see a phrase before. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” (Luke 10:1 – NIV) Did you catch it?

Jesus sent these disciples to prepare the towns and villages for His arrival. They went before Jesus to share a message of hope with the lost and hurting of their world. They were sharing that these towns and villages could anticipate a wonderful experience when Jesus arrived. That was what the seventy-two were sent ahead to do.

But Jesus didn’t send these men into the world without a message or without instruction. Jesus continued for fifteen more verses with these instructions. Let’s see what Jesus told them.

Jesus began His instruction with a verse you’ll recognize. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2 – NIV) Jesus’ first instruction was to pray that God would send willing hearts to work.

Jesus’ next instructions were for them not take anything with them or speak to people along the road. “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” (Luke 10:4 – NIV) I believe Jesus wanted these disciples to understand God’s provision. That when they were doing God’s work, He would provide all they needed (I have learned this lesson in mighty ways).

Jesus also wanted this group of disciples to understand the urgency of the message. Stopping along the way would only hinder the message delivery.

The passage continues with instructions like remaining in one household (Luke 10:5-7); how to treat a town that accepts them (Luke 10:8); and how to treat a town that doesn’t accept them (Luke 10-12).

Jesus also told them what to do in each town and what their message was to be. “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Luke 10:9 – NIV)

What a mission! What a message! What a task!

But Jesus gave these seventy-two men all authority to speak and be His spokesmen. His final words to them were, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16 – NIV)

Amazing things were accomplished on this journey. The men returned with joy and told Jesus stories of what had happened. Why even the demons submitted to them when Jesus’ name was spoken. What a wonderful experience!

Jesus was also full of joy. The task had been accomplished. The message had been spoken. The towns and villages were prepared for His entrance. Now the spiritual future of the world was in His hands.

Jesus didn’t need seventy-two men to prepare the way. Jesus doesn’t need me to tell His message. Jesus wants me to be His spokeswoman. He wants me to know how important it is to depend upon God for all that I need. He wants me to know the excitement of sharing the Gospel with a lost or hurting soul. He wants me see the marvelous things He will accomplish through me because I said “yes” to His call. He desires that I be filled with joy because of His salvation.

I can do all the packing and organizing I want, but He is the One preparing my heart.

I don’t know what lessons you might take away from this post, but I know what I’ve learned. That I’m being sent ahead of Jesus for a purpose. To bathe SE Asia in prayer. And through that prayer, this area will be prepared for Jesus’ entrance.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

God's Passport

I received my passport in yesterday’s mail. It was very exciting. It is so beautiful! Each page has a photograph of America’s past events or unique features from our nation. My photo is one of the best ever taken of me…that made me happy. I actually have a passport!

I am one step closer to achieving my goal of making a difference in SE Asia!

A brochure from the U.S. Department of State accompanied my passport. It begins with these words. “With your U.S. passport, the world is yours!”

I understand their standpoint, and I fully intend to use this passport to see the world. But David reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1 – NIV) The world belongs to God. He created it. It’s His.

God loves this world. He loves the people of this world. So much so, that He was willing to sacrifice His Son for us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17 – NIV)

However, while we are here, we are to make an impact in this world. Matthew 5:14 (NIV) says, “You are the light of the world.” Jesus tells the crowds that their “light” should shine so that others could see their good works and glorify God. We are to do the same. If the world doesn’t see God in you, it’s time to ask yourself “why not?”

We are also called to go into the world. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15 – NIV) We must preach and teach the good news to all creation. Whether it is our next door neighbor or a group of people on the other side of the world, we must go.

While we are in this world, it won’t be easy. Jesus told the disciples at one point that it wouldn’t be. John 16:33 (NIV) contains these words of Jesus. “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Yes we will face trials and suffering, but we too know the Overcomer. And because we know the Overcomer, we overcome this world and all its troubles.

“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:3-5 – NIV)

What beautiful words! Victory is ours when we believe in Jesus Christ!

Passport – check!

Go and share (mission) – check!

Overcome – check!

Victory – check!

Financial support – [insert buzzer sound]

I do not have all the funds needed to go on my service trip. So once again, I am asking for your help. I would love to be able to add your name to my list as a supporter. As someone who feels the great burden of sharing God’s Name with those who have never heard the name Jesus.

I would also love to add your name to my prayer warrior group. Without my prayer warriors, I would not be able to consider this trip. So please let me know if you’d be willing to join me on this journey.

I have a passport. The world is mine. Watch out world, here I come!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

50 Days and Counting

As dawn breaks this morning, it is 50 days and counting until my service trip to Southeast Asia. There is still so much to do and yes, I am still running out of time!

What I’m Doing

I applied for my passport and it is being processed. This was such an easy process and as of this morning, all is going well and it is on target to be returned in plenty of time for my trip.

I am studying up on the location, religious tendencies, and culture of the area. This is an interesting aspect of the trip. Learning about the cultures of Southeast Asia has been so exhilarating and fun. I can’t wait to see if what I’m learning is really the way it is.

I have sent letters, emails, and have had one-on-one conversations to raise awareness and support for my trip. I’ve learned from past experiences that this piece is so important. Communication with others is the key. If no one knows I’m going, how can I expect them to be of assistance? It has been so wonderful to connect with others and know they will be supporting me along the way. Thank you to those who have made commitments.

I have prayed, prayed, and prayed some more. God is taking me on a prayer journey for certain. My prayer time has blossomed into precious time with my heavenly Father. I am not willing to compromise in this area. Conversation with God keeps me motivated!

What is God Doing?

He is preparing me by reminding me of specific and relevant Scripture. I love God’s “living and active” Word (Hebrews 4:12 - NIV). I have adopted a section from the book of Colossians as my mission statement. It says, “Devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” (Colossians 4:2-4 - NIV)

He is preparing me by sending encouragement. I love 1 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV). “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” God is encouraging me, but He is also sending encouragers my way. I am so thankful for the people who have excelled in this area.

He is preparing me by allowing my faith to grow. The financial support for this trip has not been completely raised. But I am still holding on to the fact that God has called me to do this. “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” This phrase is found in two sections of Scripture. In 2 Kings 19:31 and Isaiah 9:7 (NIV). I believe God will come through.

He is preparing me by covering me with His peace. Jesus shared this thought with His disciples in John 14:27 (NIV). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” I have God’s peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 – NIV). How could I possibly do this otherwise?

What You Can Do

You can pray for me, the team, and the people of Southeast Asia. If you would like to receive prayer updates, please let me know. I’m working on setting up a system to share requests with others. I’d love to have you on my team of prayer warriors.

You can support my trip financially. I do need more funds in order to go on this trip, so if you have any desire to do so, please don’t hesitate and send your gift today. I would like to see this part of the journey complete so that I can concentrate on other areas that I feel are so important. I thank you in advance for your contribution.

You can trust that God is in control of this service trip. The same peace that covers me is available to you as well. You can be assured that God will accomplish great things through these 13 days in Southeast Asia. You can trust that He will finish what He started!

I wrote this blog post differently than I typically write. I made an outline and then went back to fill in with more detail. Maybe that’s the way God wants me to look at this service trip. Create the outline, but wait for Him to show up and fill in the details. I’m just a willing vessel. He is the Master.

Thank you for reading yet another blog post about this important vision for my life. I’m thankful you’re on the journey with me. Together, with God, we really can do remarkable things.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

Make a Difference in Southeast Asia

Greetings!

While listening to details of a service trip to Southeast Asia this past weekend, tears began to form. My heart began to race. My heart was opened. Something inside me insisted to be loosed. My heart was breaking for what breaks God’s heart, the lost in this dark world.

I believe God is calling me to go on this service trip. But in order for this to happen, God needs to jump into with me and provide. The trip is scheduled for September 23 - October 5. If you are counting the days, yes, it’s quickly approaching. A short 67 days until we leave.

There is so much to do and very little time. I need your help. There are two ways that you can be part of this special time for me and for God’s passion to be expressed.

First, you can become a prayer partner. A great deal of this trip will be focused on prayer. I ask that you join us in prayer.

1) I don’t have a passport. Please pray that the process will be expedited and that my passport is one issue that I won’t need to think about.

2) I don’t have the money. I need to raise $2,500 in a few short weeks in order to be part of this team. Please pray that God will provide the money needed for me to go.

3) I don’t have a great deal of knowledge of the area we’re going. Please pray that God will open my heart and mind to the needs of this area.

4) Above all please pray that God would be honored and glorified on this mission trip.

Secondly, you can become a financial partner. I don’t have the funds to go on this trip. I have been unemployed for nearly two years. After the monthly bills are paid, there’s nothing left. What I do have is the belief that God has placed this desire in my heart and that He will provide all that I need. So again, I ask that you join me. Here are the financial hurdles that need to be addressed.

1) Plane tickets will be purchased on August 1. The flight will cost between $1,200 and $1,250. This amount must be raised in two weeks. Would you be willing to support this mission trip by sending money today?

2) The remaining $1,250 will need to be in place by September 1. This money will be used for transportation, training, and living expenses while in Southeast Asia.

Please understand that you may mark your contribution to go towards my trip. To do so, you may include a sticky note with my name on it or include my name on an envelope when submitting your contribution. Do NOT write my name in the memo line.   Also, if the trip is canceled, if I can’t attend, or if I’ve met my fundraising goal, your contribution will remain in the missions fund at LifeBridge to be used for other mission related expenses. Your contribution is a non-refundable, tax-deductible gift and you will receive a year-end statement of your contribution(s).

To become a financial partner, please make checks payable to LifeBridge Christian Church (LBCC) and send the check to me at 300 Garfield St, Dacono, CO 80514. You may also send the check to LifeBridge Christian Church, ATTN: Imrie Anderson at 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont, CO 80504. Remember to place a sticky note on the check with my name on it.

I believe that God will join me on this journey and because He is with me, I can hold tightly to His power, His strength, and His wisdom. My faith can rest assured that He will come through. Are you willing to join us?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna Sisler

Here am I. Send Me.

During our worship service this past weekend, an upcoming service trip was presented to the congregation. Some details were given. Things like the date, the location, and the importance of service trips to name a few.

The couple leading the group are veteran missionaries. They have a deep desire to share the Gospel with anyone willing to listen, especially in foreign countries.

At some point during the presentation, tears began to form. My heart began to race. My heart was opened.

I have heard missionary presentations on many occasions. More than I could possibly say. But this time, something inside me insisted to be loosed.

I approached the couple after church and told them I thought I was being led to go on this trip. Through tears I expressed this desire. I hadn’t talked to my husband or my family, but I thought it was the thing to do. I was given information about the trip and walked away with a sense of peace.

At home, I approached the topic with my husband…again through tears I tried to express my feelings about this journey. He had a few questions, and was supportive in how I was feeling.

But in the end it really was about money. I’ve been out of work for two years. We are just meeting our monthly bills with his income. There is nothing to spare. Not even for a service trip.

I knew that going into it. I also knew that if this was where God was leading me, I’d have to raise the money to go and He would provide all my needs. My faith and trust in Him would have to take me to this place.

But it seemed like there was something more. The words to one of my favorite worship songs kept running through my head. Hosanna[i] by Hillsong. The bridge seems to say exactly what I’m feeling at this point.

Heal my heart and make it clean;

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like you have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks yours;

Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause.

As I walk from earth into eternity.

What has touched me through these couple of days is the fact that my heart is breaking for what breaks God’s heart. The lost.

Through my entire life, the lost have been in my thoughts and prayers. I was raised in a minister’s home. I went to Bible College. I was in local ministry for 16 years. I was on a large church staff for six years. I have lead women’s Bible studies for nearly 30 years. I know what God’s purpose and plans are for the lost.

But this service trip touched me. I was being changed. My heart was breaking.

So why should I go on this service trip?

Because Jesus’ mission should be my mission. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10) Whether it is across the world, my next door neighbor or someone living within my household, my mission should be to share the Gospel with others, in word or deed. My life should be a reflection of Jesus’ ministry and mission.

Because the world is ready. Jesus told the disciples in Luke 10:2 (NIV), “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workings into his harvest field.” There are people who are seeking God. They know something is missing in their life, they just aren’t sure what it is. I know the missing piece. I know Him personally. So get ready world, the message of Jesus is coming!

Because I can. I’m reminded of Isaiah’s words in chapter 6 verse 8. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (NIV) Someone must go, and I can, so I will speak Isaiah’s words. “Here am I. Send me.” My voice will be God’s voice. My words will be God’s words. My message will be God’s message.

Because God has been preparing me for this moment. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) reminds us, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” All those years in ministry, teaching and learning has led me to this moment. To believe that there is more to life beyond my tiny world of existence. God has prepared me for this opportunity. It is up to me to accept it and allow Him to work through me for His kingdom’s sake.

I have a meeting this evening with the leading couple. My questions will be answered. The mission will be presented. But in the end, I know I will be signing a contract to go on this service trip.

There are some hurdles to jump. A passport. Immunization shots. Money. But God will join me on this journey and because He is with me, I can hold tightly to His power, His strength, and His wisdom. My faith can rest assured that He will come through.

You’ll hear more of my journey over the next few weeks. I can’t wait to be able to share more details. But until then, I pray that God will break your heart for what breaks His.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

---

[i] words and music by Brooke Fraser © Brooke Fraser/Hillsong Publishing (adm in the U.S. and Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music)