Autumn Brings Change

 

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall"
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Job 14:14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Change. Seasons change and with them life.  Life comes with many seasons.  We live in a world of change.  Every change concerning us, with the time and season of it, is unalterably fixed and determined by a Supreme Power, and we must take things as they come, for it is not in our power to change what is appointed for us.

Autumn is a season of change, transition and renewal.  Everything is dying.  But too, if you notice, Autumn brings such beautiful colors.  As their bright green colors fade, the leaves eventually turn to such brilliant colors of crimson, gold, red and orange, offering us a wonderful spectacle to behold, a brushstroke of genius only God can artfully paint.  Then, those leaves must fall, leaving that beautiful tree bare and vulnerable as it must survive the harshest of seasons.  It seems they fall almost as quickly as they change.  The tree must go through that season to begin a new life, a new cycle, with budding blossoms fragrant and beautiful.  In order to flourish into a new season, the trees must let go of its decayed leaves.  The leaves fall from their branches as the wind sweeps in.  The swirling leaves are stirred by the wind as they fall.  The change is happening.  The transition has come.  The renewal is essential.

For us, this season of life can be the hardest.  It moves us into a real cold time.  Autumn is a short time for us, yet it brings major changes.  Change is hard, but there is beauty there that we do not yet see.  The air gets cold around us and there has to be a dying out to life at this time.  Just as the trees must let go of their decayed leaves, we must let go of any unnecessary weight in our lives.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

What are you holding on to that may be preventing a freshness to the new season ahead?  What is hindering your fresh relationship with God? Let it go!

All glory comes then when you dare to begin, dare to change, ushering in each new season, and forever trusting God with each unpredictable new step.  Never stop believing and growing.  We can never fully know what God's intentions are for us, but we can always do our absolute best with where He has placed us right now.  Only then, when we have learned all there is to learn and are truly grateful in this place, this season, will God move us to a new, more bountiful, and blessed season.

Get ready.  The windy time it brings sort of just sweeps us into our next season.  But no worries, this next season brings clarity.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Connie J. Schmoll

Troubled Waters

I was reading in John 5:1-9 about the man who was healed by Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda. There were a multitude of sick folk there waiting for the moving of the water. At a certain season, it was believed that when an angel went down into the pool and troubled the water, the first to step in was healed of their sickness.

 

The Pool of Bethesda had a strong attraction. When the water was troubled, the first to DO this – step into the water – they would be healed.

 

I believe that God will “trouble our waters” just to get us to the place He needs us to be. It isn't about the pool at all. Think about this: When the waters are troubled, the ships have to seek out a port, a place of safety very quickly or risk being capsized. For us, when difficult situations (troubled waters) arise, we run to God, or to someone who knows God and ask for prayer. Because we know it is GOD who is our Refuge and Strength.

 

Check out Psalm 46:1-3. I got excited when God led me to this portion of Scripture. I thought...wow! Fits perfectly.

 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though THE WATERS THEREOF ROAR AND BE TROUBLED, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

 

In this story, it seems Jesus was there to heal this one man, yet I believe that many others left healed as well – not by the “troubling of the waters” in the pool, but by the powerful spoken words of Jesus.

 

Under the shelter of religion, there are the sick, lame and blind who can't be healed unless they do a work, walking into the pool, dipping themselves. They are helpless and hopeless, so near the pool. But Jesus has none of the Law's requirements to put upon us for our healing, only to believe in the One who is greater than angels. Just as this man and many others, we look for our healing from outside circumstances, instead of seeking the Healer. People travel here and there, to this event and that conference, seeking their healing, instead of seeking The Healer!

 

We sit on our mat, self-imprisoned by the circumstances of our life, waiting for them to change, when what needs changed is within. Jesus doesn't change our circumstance. He changes us. He calls us into a new way of being, seeing, acting, speaking and thinking. It makes our circumstances more manageable and we engage them from a different place and position. “The Pool of Bethesda” is drained of its power over us. There is freedom, where once was imprisonment.

 

Are you sitting on your mat just waiting on things to change? Are you constantly looking for “a pool of Bethesda”? Are you constantly seeking your healing? Seek Your Healer!

 

STAND UP, TAKE YOUR MAT AND WALK!

 

*I included the song, "Bridge Over Troubled Water". I still can't believe that after GOD gave me this thought, this song then played one day over the Christian radio station! GOD IS GOOD! 

 

 

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER by Simon & Garfunkel 

Summer Brings Fullness

 

SILENT SEASONS OF THE SOUL

Summer Brings Fullness

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

I was on my nature walk and looking around, I thought, Wow! Such FULLNESS! All the trees have blossomed. More flowers are in bloom. Babies are born: A cute kitten joins the family at breakfast. Hungry baby birds chirping from the corner roof of our home. Garden plants are flourishing! And with it all comes all the pesky critters as well that serve their purpose.

I think of summer time as a real fun sunshiny time in our lives. There are so many things to do and enjoy in the summer months. Weekends at the lake, backyard barbecues, pool parties but yet there are also those times when the Lord has nursed my broken heart more than once through the years with gifts of sunshine and ice cream. Because even though summer brings lots of sunshine, there may come extremely hot periods of spiritual challenges. There will be trails of beautiful and bittersweet moments. Some summers have overflowed with joy and some filled with deep sadness and pain. Each summer is unique and has it's own story to tell. But as we get deep into summer, there comes a time where it can get pretty hot and dry.

With summer being a cultivating and fruit bearing season, in our walk with God, we get into enjoying this mountain top experience and get so busy, we can neglect some things we should be doing for our spiritual life, and all of a sudden, our life becomes dry and barren and we may find ourselves in a 'desert experience'. This is where we long for the things of God once again. We develop a “thirsting” in our soul. And of course, Jesus Christ is that Living Water that we need to quench that thirst.

As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

It is so important that during this fruit bearing season, the fruits of the spirit must be cultivated and the way to do that is to always remember who the Gardener is and remain in Him. Embrace the abundant life that surrounds us. Seize the joy of the season, relax, have fun, celebrate, abide in gratitude for the blessings. Yes, Fall & Winter will soon come but do not let thoughts of the unknown rob you of the joy of the moment. There is so much of God during this time but then will soon come … the change.

Connie J Schmoll

Spring Brings New Life

SILENT SEASONS OF THE SOUL

Spring Brings New Life

As I peered out the front window and seeing the rain pour down, just as with the cold Winter season, I had to remind myself that the rainy Spring season has its purpose as well. Our outdoor plans would have to wait.

After a cold and harsh winter, we always eagerly anticipate Spring. What do I like about Spring? Springtime makes me think of new beginnings. Spring brings New Life!

During the Spring season, we can experience many rainy days. Rain is a necessity to all life. When rain falls after a long dry spell, all nature undergoes a refreshing or a revival. Little or no rain results in barren land. The ground is parched – desperate for the rainfall to quench its thirst. Rain is much needed to bring growth. Flowers popping out of a hard seed, pushing their way up through the dirt, a deep dark place is opened, eventually tasting the bright rays of sunshine and finally blooming in all their glorious color. Trees budding. The sound of birds singing. New life of beauty springs forth.

Rainfall or the storms of life, as we may refer to our life's trials are never fun, yet they are needed. Just as God brings rain to wash the impurities from the atmosphere, for the same reason, the storms of life come to purify our hearts. We receive a lot of rainfall in our lives at times, but we must realize that trials in our life helps us to grow in the Lord.

Hebrews 6:7 "For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God."

In the end, Springtime brings us our biggest hope when we celebrate Easter. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He did a complete work for us. He said, “It is Finished.” He took our sins, our struggles, our inadequacies, and all our fears to the cross with Him. Just like the world may think it has victory over us, Satan thought he had victory finally over Jesus. But the story didn’t end there. Jesus not only took our punishment on the cross, He conquered death and rose again on the 3rd day.

We not only serve a God who creates amazing beauty, but we serve a God who loves us so very much that He sent His son to die on a cross for us and defeated death by rising again. I can't think of a better time than on beautiful Spring days to reflect on the love the Father has for us. The troubles of this world will fade away, but the love of God, the work on the cross and his victory will last forever.

In longing for some future good, we forget that every day—regardless of the weather or our circumstances—is a gift from God to be used for His glory. We must stay the course because the things we experience today will lead us to where He needs us to be tomorrow.

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Connie J. Schmoll

Rushing Wind

 

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. -- John 3:5

I remember the day that I was born of the Spirit. What an awesome experience! The inside of me was changed! I remember standing at the window of the little house I lived in, just staring out the window and wondering how I could explain this awesome experience to others. I was so excited about my new life and longed to tell others, but to find the words was not easy.

While staring out the window, I noticed it was a windy day. As I looked up, I watched the branches of the trees sway back and forth. And in that moment is when "a thought" came to me. I knew it was the wind causing the branches to move yet the actual wind could not be seen; only the effects. I had never thought of it this way before, that we cannot actually see wind. Then it came to me! This was a brilliant way to explain about my experience of when the Spirit of God rushed into me, leaving such an effect of change soon to be seen on the outside as well. Wow! I got really excited!

Being a new Christian, I had not read much of the Bible, so little did I know that this "thought" that came to me, was also in the Word of God. When I did read it later in John 3:5, it was another great time of excitement that came upon me. I realized then, that God had communicated with me, something that came from Him before I had even seen it in His Word.

In Acts 2:3-4 Luke mentions the Spirit, with the same description of a mighty rushing wind, that came and filled all the house where they were sitting. What an awesome sight it must have been then and what spiritual power that was manifested there.

I heard a song that reminded me of this, called "Rushing Wind" by Keith Green. My husband, Don sang it once in Church. I had heard this song before but until he sang it that day, I had not really heard the words like I did on that day. Here are a few lyrics from the song:

Rushing wind blow through this temple, Blowing out the dust within
Come and breathe your breath upon me, I've been born again

Holy Spirit, I surrender; Take me where you want to go
Plant me by your living water; Plant me deep so I can grow

You see, in just the past few weeks, God, once again, has done a miraculous work within me. Although this time, it wasn't the born again experience but still it came like a rushing wind. It was this song that helped me to be able to see and explain what had taken place inside of me.

As some may  know, my husband services computers for many local friends and businesses in our area. There are times when he goes to check out people's computers and he will always take along a can of compressed air. Most PC users never get inside their computers for anything unless they know what they are doing, so when my husband is the first to open them up, he sees a great accumulation of dirt and dust inside. He uses this compressed air to blow all this dust out of the computer. This helps the computer to stay cool and not overheat.

I began to think about my experience with God and realized that this was the exact picture of what God has done in me. His Spirit as a rushing wind, blew out the dust and dirt of the past, cleansing me within, bringing restoration and healing to me. Oh how refreshing!

Allowing a great amount of dirt to stay inside your computer for along time can cause problems in the computer. It is just the same in our life. There is so much dirt that we can accumulate from past hurts and if we allow them to lie dormant inside of us, we start to have major problems in our lives.

I have made this "Rushing Wind" song a prayer unto the Lord, daily asking Him to blow through this temple, blowing out the dust within. Surrender to Him now and allow Him to cleanse you of all your past hurts and pain, and bring restoration and healing to your spirit.

Connie J. Schmoll 

RUSHING WIND by Keith Green

Winter Brings Clarity

 

 

 

SILENT SEASONS OF THE SOUL

Winter Brings Clarity

I used to dread the Winter season until God began to speak to me about the Silent Seasons of the Soul and just as with the seasons of life having its purpose, so does the seasons of our soul.

Many people will resort to relocating to a warmer climate because they despise the cold or think it would be better for their health. I used to think the same thing until I read about how even the cold season has its health benefits.

The other day, I was standing on our back porch and I looked out across our back yard and noticed how clearly I could see the old empty, beat up mobile home across the alley. It has sat empty for years and is now uninhabitable and torn up, and is basically just an eye sore.

Before all the leaves had fallen from the trees, this mobile home was not even visible. Then I looked around and realized just how much more visible things were now. Step outside. Look around. Look at how much more you can actually see now.

This reminded me of a video I watched of Melissa Helser sharing about the “Necessity of Seasons”. (I've included the video below for your viewing). A great lesson of encouragement.

When the winter season comes after the leaves have fallen from the trees, you are able to see things beyond what you could before. The “winter” seasons of our lives can be the greatest opportunities to see what is to come, for us. Our winter season's process does not have to be in vain. Even though the winter of our soul can bring forth a cold, pressed, dry and lifeless life, it has its purpose and God can reveal the most --- giving much clarity of situations.

What clarity is winter trying to show you? What is it that you may need to let die in order for God to bring about life? Never wish away winter and end up missing out on its true purpose because Winter Brings Clarity. And clarity exposes purpose by unveiling expectations.

When I looked up the root word of clarity and its meaning? I saw words like, brightness, radiance, glory, splendor, clearness, make clear.

It's also important that you need to be rooted and grounded in Christ and His Word and commit to spending each day meditating on Scripture. You'll need clarity in order to move forward in life into your next season. Clarity brings more energy and focus to your day.

Remember, your soul will not stay dark forever. You have the confidence in knowing that just like the trees, you WILL bloom again, because the next season is coming, and with it....NEW LIFE.

“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” Ephesians 1:17-18

Other Scriptures to meditate on: Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 4:5, James 1:5, Ephesians 3:16-17, Philippians 4:7, Psalm 119:130

 

 

Necessity of Seasons

https://youtu.be/VP7y0hw4GrY

 

 

The Empty House

In our little village, there are numerous buildings and even houses that sit empty. There is a pretty house located on main street and for years, the owner had intentions of turning it into a Bed & Breakfast but it never happened. Instead, this home sits empty. It is not good for houses to sit empty for years, not being maintained. They become run down, sometimes broken into and vandalized and can even become hangouts for druggies. It saddens me to see this place just sit empty, when it could become a home for a family to fill with good things!

This reminded me of the “Empty House” parable that Jesus shared in Matthew 12:43-45:

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

OUR HEART IS LIKE A HOME. When we come to Christ, our heart is cleansed. If we do not make the effort to fill our home with good things, then evil things are likely to return and with a vengeance and then there is the danger of our heart becoming hardened.

God’s presence should be an ongoing experience in our lives. If his presence is missing from our lives something else will take his place.

When a person empties himself of sin, yet remains empty, not filling himself of Godly things, then the evil spirits return and find it empty, and brings 7 other spirits with it, making the state of that person worse than before.

Using demon possession, Jesus warned that it is not enough to go through an initial period of repentance and removal of sin, unless reformation continues and something positive is put in place. Otherwise, the end might prove worse than the beginning.

If you have found yourself slipping back into your old ways, begin asking yourself:

-- Have I been filling myself with Godly things?

-- Have I started missing Church? Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17)
-- Do I feed myself on God's Word? Read Bible Daily. Fill heart with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. (Eph 5:19)

-- What kind of people am I keeping company with? Choose your friends carefully (1 Cor 15:33) They will either help or hinder (Prov 13:20)

It does no good for us to “clean up our act” while avoiding a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All those things of the world that you choose to partake of, attempting to fill that void in your heart, will not bring you fulfillment. It is just temporary, and will bring harm and destruction.

Keep in mind.....

You cannot have communion with darkness and expect the Light of God to dwell in you. (2 Cor 6:14-7:1)

Connie J. Schmoll