From This Wilderness Into His Wonder

After salvation, God has a purpose or plan for each of our lives. He will speak a promise to us, but there is a period of time that we must go through before its fulfillment happens. All believers in the Lord will share a common experience. We all must go through a wilderness time. Before any ministry, there must be a wilderness, but after the wilderness, there is wonder and fulfillment.

In Hebrew, the word for wilderness is midbar. What is interesting is that the root of midbar which is dabar has the meaning of “speak” or “word”. God speaks to us in the wilderness, if we are listening. He also humbles and proves us. The wilderness period can last days or months depending on how quickly we learn its lessons.

There were many in the Bible who spent some time in a wilderness. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah and even Jesus Their examples were meant to guide us as we also pass through the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:1-11) God will make a way in the wilderness. And we will find that so many blessings come from the wilderness.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth' shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

The wilderness experience can be a dry and dark time for us, but we must understand that it's also a place where God is. God comes in where it is dark even when it seems He is nowhere to be found. He made darkness his secret place (Psalm 18:11) and He gives treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places. (Isaiah 45:3)

It can be a lonely place and many times we try to escape it by trying to minister only in our natural strength. But such ministry is useless. The wilderness with all its testing is precious (1 Peter 1:7). It can bring tears to our eyes and soften our hearts but it can deeply affect in a good and productive way how we relate to and minister to others. We develop an intimate connection with God because He is solely the only One we can trust in this time. This connection we develop will help us connect with others.

We develop strength through a wilderness experience.  It can make us stronger in faith. It can cause us to develop perseverance and to acquire maturity. (James 1:3-4)  It can breed character and also humility. God humbles us. He desires to break down our self-life in exactly this way.

Every wilderness experience has its purpose so much like Jesus's time in the Wilderness. The temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) gives us some real guidelines for surviving our own wilderness experience:

He was tested in the area of provision. Jesus responded, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” We may have to learn the hard way but we will get to the place where we know/trust that God is the source of everything. And that His Word is faithful and we can stake our lives on it. We learn faith and endurance.

He was tested in the area of tempting or testing God. Jesus responded, “It is written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” We can be so guilty at times in tempting and testing God. The times of murmuring and complaining. This can keep us in the wilderness so much longer than what was intended. We must remember to not allow our experience to harden our hearts (Heb 3:8-4:11) and stay assured that with every difficult test, God gives us an escape. (I Corinthians 10:13) He chastens us because He loves us. (Hebrews 12:6) There is always a purpose for his tests, so we must count it pure joy when such tests come. (James 1:2,12)

He was tested in the area of Worship of God and Him only. Jesus responded again, “...Away from me satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” We can have so many 'idols of worship' that we place before God. It is often times, things we tend to adore more than God, can get in the way of true worship for only God. Things like cars, jobs, houses, success, fame, fortune, etc. The wilderness can help these things become detestable to us when we develop a deep desire for only Jesus and all He has for us. We begin to see what really matters in life.

My husband and I have been in a very long and trying wilderness. For me, I know that I have to submit to totally trusting God for our provisions. We also have found how untruths are constantly trying to creep into our lives from people we least expected. But we choose to stand alone if we have to before we ever discard God's Word in exchange for a word spoken from a man contrary to God's Word. I also have had to humble myself and repent of complaining and murmuring of conditions we've faced during this time.

Once we became aware of being in a wilderness time and learned that it does have it's purpose, it is so much easier to fully submit to God and his will for our lives. Resisting the devil in the times of temptation, by speaking God's Word over our situations and circumstances, and continually affirming His truth over and over again, he has to flee. (James 4:7) God's peace comes, as our hearts become opened to receive all that God has for us to learn. The only way to resist the devil is God's Word!!

We have been in a wilderness for several years. A lot longer than I think God intended. Why? First, we were unaware that it was a wilderness we were in.

Second, it's taken us much longer because of our doubt and unbelief for provisions. While in this wilderness, God has revealed to me that when we doubt and have a hard time believing is because we doubt His love for us.  His love needed to be perfected in us. Even though we've went through some dry, dark and lonely times, I do think from our perserverance and faithfulness in standing on His Word, no matter what, that God did share some great revelations to my husband and I both. And for that, we are thankful.

Third, we have done so much murmuring and complaining while here. We have finally begun to see and acknowledge that where we are, has been ordered by the Lord and has it's purpose. I then cried out to God and said, OK! We know and understand. Get us out! How do we get out, Lord?

The only way to get out of your wilderness experience is to “ignore the symptoms” (get your eyes off of the “waves”) and believe the Lord and pray and worship Him for who His is – the key is to focus on the truths of Scripture. Wilderness experiences are all about persevering with God. Not giving up! Trusting God! Hanging in there! Knowing He's Faithful! God wants us to go through the desert and come out the other end victorious! He is in complete control of our circumstances and has his reasons for everything! 

As Jesus told Simon Peter that he would go through a wilderness experience and that satan would sift him like wheat, he also said, “But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail, and when you are 'turned again.' that you strengthen your brothers.” Jesus knows what we are going through. He prays for us as well. Though we may stumble along the way, the faith of a true child of God never fails – it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that keeps us moving forward in our journey.

When we pass the test, God will bring our wilderness to an end, because we have learned what he wanted us to learn, as such we then have a great understanding of who God is, how he works. Also we learn how much He loves us unconditionally and will take care of us, what His Word says and how we must rely upon it – as opposed to our feelings and emotions. That is a lot of learning packed into one experience.

The Wilderness is a symbol of “new beginnings.” So as we stand ready to emerge From This Wilderness into His Wonder, what He wants of us now is to walk exclusively by faith, trusting in everything He has taught us over the years and to believe in His Word alone. His goal was to sift us, reduce us and strip us down to Christ alone. That my friend, is God's primary purpose for the wilderness experience.

Connie J. Schmoll

Jesus, What Religion Are You?

I came across a discussion started on a Social Network site, a question asked, What do you think Jesus' reply would be if we asked, "Jesus, what Religion are you?"

First let me explain how I see Religion. I see Religion as...

--a man-made attempt to reach God, not so different from the attempt made to build the tower in Babel (Read the Book of Genesis) to try and somehow climb up to where God supposedly exists.

Man always seems to see God as up, far and away from himself. So a group is formed, joined together following certain beliefs. This becomes "the church" to people today, and they become led by a man who begins building his own personal kingdom and most don't even realize it.

The Bible does not instruct us to "GO TO CHURCH"; JESUS called us to "BE THE CHURCH". The major mistake most make while "searching for God", is to run into a religious organization such as a local church, and begin learning their doctrines, immediately upholding them as "truth." Jesus once stated, "If the blind lead the blind, they both will fall into a ditch." The problem comes in allowing another person to lead you, rather than God's Spirit.

Yes, God will speak to you! "A knowing within yourself," is the spirit of God who will lead you unto all truth. Our goal is for us to learn to look within ourselves, a voice from our spirit, for the answers we seek; for God will speak to us. Paul in Romans said, "...those who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God." Surely, we dwell in God and God dwells in us. The Kingdom of God is within us.

SO...to answer the question....I think if one was to ask Jesus what religion He was....well, many times Jesus was not one to answer directly the question asked. He always came back with something profound, did He not? Or sometimes, He said nothing at all.Or even just wrote in the sand.

I think if Jesus was asked what "religion" He was, I think He would simply reply.....

"I and my Father are One".  He also prayed to the Father that we be One with them!! (Read John 17:20-26)

He's basically saying, there is no need for me to be part of "an attempt to reach God by a set of doctrines".

And neither is there such a need for us because... as the Word says...

The Kingdom of God is within us.

"...as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 'These things which you see; the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.'" -Luke 21:5 (Jesus Christ speaking of religion)

The mistake is not in "running to a religious organization" nor is it in "learning their doctrines"; the mistake is "immediately upholding them as truth" before ever studying it out for yourself and consulting God about them.

Connie J. Schmoll

Moving Forward

"There are moments which mark your life. Moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same and time is divided into two parts - Before this, and After this ... " - unknown

We know that God has a plan all laid out for our lives and even though at times, we have felt like many years have been wasted, we now accept the fact that where we were those first 15 years of serving God was also part of His plan, because we believe our steps are ordered by the Lord.

The way we learned how to deal with this was in Galatians 3:24 where Paul tells us that the law was our school master to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by Faith. So the way we see us then was we were schooled by the law bringing us to Christ but now we have finally graduated to Grace. Praise God!

We must say that the next 15 years have been really tough for us, trying to work through many issues, but through it all, God continues to reveal truths to us, that continually set us free. He is also protecting us from any further untruths that have tried to make their way in. For that, we are thankful.

We are now onto our next season of our walk and are anticipating great things for us. As we emerge from this wilderness into His wonder, we pray that He shows us the path that we must take from here and let us not stumble into any dark places that may lie ahead. We ask for continual working in our hearts to enlighten what is dark in us, strengthen what is weak, mend what is broken, bind what is bruised, heal what is sick and lastly, revive whatever peace and love has died in us.

We will always look to His Word for guidance for it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. May His Spirit lead us to where our trust is without borders. Let our hearts always be open to receive from His Word, by keeping our ears up close to His Heart. To be silent and listen for His Voice. For without Him, we are nothing.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord". -- Luke 4:18-19

 We are very excited for what God has next for us!!

Connie J. Schmoll

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJJJkiRukY

The Seal of God

One Sunday morning, a lady in the Church came to the front and began to share about when she had been called up to pray for a young girl. She didn't know the girl's story, but knew she was in some kind of trouble. As she began to pray for the girl, God directed her to pray protection over her. She later found out this girl was going to prison. When she was finished praying, she wasn't aware of it at the time, but her forehead was directly up against the girl's forehead. She began to explain about the Bulwark Protection. I had never heard of this so out of curiosity, I went home and began to pray, study and do research.

Bulwark is a wall, strong tower, defense, a fortress. It is where the line is drawn and defended at all costs, without retreat, without compromise, ever.

I read Deuteronomy 20:20 “...and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it is subdued.”

Then Proverbs 18:10 came to mind. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.”

This assured me that whatever is coming against a person, whatever is making war against them, we can pray a wall of protection around them, a place of safety, in Jesus name, so they are protected until the enemy is subdued.

But then as I thought deeper and began to pray about what was shared at church about their foreheads being up against each other, I started thinking that there must be something more to this. So I began searching Scriptures with the word Forehead in them. God led me to Revelation 9:4 and He began to send more information across my path. I believe that this was just the beginning of a Word that God wants me to share with His Church.

Amos 8:11-12 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water; but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.”

There is a famine spreading around the world today and it is for the hearing of the Word of God with understanding. The traditions spread today are being called the Word of God yet are just fragments that have been contaminated. This is why it is so important to know exactly what the Word says and have it sealed away in your mind.

Upon the arrival of the Antichrist at the sounding of the sixth trumpet, you will either be sealed in your mind (forehead) or not. If you are, God will give you His protection. Those who are not, Satan, the Kenites and the fallen angels will have a field day with their minds. In Revelation 9:4 Jesus is giving instruction to Satan as to who he can and cannot touch.

Revelation 9:4 “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither the green things, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”

The Seal of God is the Word of God, and it is your mind that is in your forehead. You will either know the Truths of God's Word or you will follow those fragments that are lies. Jesus taught in the simplicity of His Word and we are to accept those Truths as they are given. God's Word is not just for information but it's for our transformation!

The time is coming, spiritually speaking when we must be prepared for Spiritual battle like we have never faced. It is a time we should study and each of us have our spiritual armor on and in place. You see, the battle that we will fight is not in some distant land, but in our minds. It will be fought with words, ideas and concepts that come right out of the Bible, only many of those fragments will be contaminated and be nothing but lies. And we have to know which are!!!

You were given a mind, and Christ expects you to use it. Always check up on what others teach you. Know the Truth from the untruth. We spent 15 years in false teaching and we are seeing this very thing happening in many Churches, so it's been very important to us that we not find ourselves in that place again. That is why I feel such an urgency to warn and say that it is important to get into the Word yourself. A relationship with God through His Word and Prayer are crucial for these times.

Oh and I remembered something else in Deuteronomy 6:8,9; 11:18

Moses was giving God's Commandments to the people and he told them "...You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead."

Frontlets: To go around to bind, a fillet for the forehead. Frontlets were objects containing Scripture passages worn on the forehand and between the eyes, primarily at prayer times. Jews followed scriptural commands, literally, writing Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21 on small scrolls, placing these in leather containers and placing these on their foreheads and left arm.

By the N.T. Times, the frontlets were known as phylacteries. (Matt 23:5). And they also wore them on their forearms for when they crossed their arms, it was close to the heart. Jesus condemned the ones who called attention to themselves by wearing larger than usual ones.

We are to hide His Word in our hearts so we don't sin against him, it says in Psalms 119:11.

Please be alert! Build up those bulwarks of Truth, for defense purposes. You must have the Seal of God on your forehead, by being equipped with His Word. Wear the frontlets daily by speaking His Word over situations and all circumstances of life! Draw the line and defend at all costs. Do not retreat. Do not compromise, ever. Stand strong on His Word. And always be equipped with the full Armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Know the Word of God and the God of the Word!

Speaking of a future Jerusalem for those who have “held the line” in this life:

“We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the Truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” (Isaiah 26:1-3)

If receiving this by email and you are unable to view the video, go to my site to view the song, "Living Word" by Jeremy Camp

Follow Me

One Sunday morning, Don and I had come into Church, sat down in our seats and a few minutes later, Shelly, one of the new Christians in our Church came bouncing in.  She always says that Don and I have taught her so much!. But what Shelly doesn't know is how much she has taught ME.  She always comes in with really good questions for Don, but this Sunday, she walked up between us and said, "I was reading in Matthew last night and Jesus said, "Follow Me."  (Silence) Then I said, "Wow! Something so simple yet so powerful!". 

God never meant for His Word to bring confusion or frustration.  He simply says, "Follow Me." I told Shelly that we all need to be reminded of this. I know I did! I find Jesus saying, "Follow Me" five times just in Matthew.

Matthew 4:19 - "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 8:22 - "And Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead."
Matthew 9:9 - "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed him."
Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let hm deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Matthew 19:21 - "And Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Throughout our walk with God, it can be so easy to leave the right path, taking our eyes off of Jesus and onto something or someone else.  And when we do, we end up in chaos, or even a storm and we are left wondering what happened! All because we took our eyes off Jesus.  Remember Peter? When Jesus bid him to come and walk on the water? When he took his eyes off Jesus, and looked at the storm, he began to sink.

This brings to mind a devotional that I wrote a few years ago titled, "Looking Unto Him."  When I was growing up, I always felt like I was a disappointment to everyone. And I know that from age 15 through 23 up until I was saved at age 24, the lifestyle I lived then: drugs, alcohol, premarital sex...I definitely was a disappointment to my parents and others.  Then after I get saved, I once again found myself in the same place where the leaders in my home Church always made me feel like a disappointment to them and I didn't know why.

So here I was, as years went by and I was growing in the Lord, I was always searching for someone that was "real" that I could look to as a good Christian example.  When I would find someone, they would end up doing something that disappointed me and I was so heart-broken and I'd withdrawal. This happened several times, until I finally realized what God was trying to show me. I went to my room and cried out to God, asking Him, "WHY?!!  Why can't I ever find that person I need in my life - a perfect example! Somebody I can look to!"

You see, since I had felt like a disappointment to others all my life, I was looking for someone to be that perfect example that I could look to, because if I could find somebody like that, then there was hope for me...to change!

I know, I know!  Pretty stupid, right? We know that nobody is perfect. But that is the place I was at back then.  So that night in my room, crying out God, asking why, the Lord softly spoke my name and said, "Connie, I am that perfect example!  Look Unto Me!"  And He directed me to Hebrews 12.

The Lord has given us examples to follow in the Bible and we cross paths with many great Christians throughout our life, but God never expected us or them to be perfect. He gives us leaders, examples to follow but He is our ultimate example! We are to be like HIM! No one will ever project that image of perfection except Jesus Christ! If everyone was perfect, why did He have to come? 

 

And yes, in Scripture, it was Paul who said, "Follow me as I follow Christ". In every example in the Word where it tells us to follow Paul, it is translated, from Greek as, "Follow my example" or "Imitate Me as I follow Christ's example and Imitate Him."  (1 Corinthians 11:1) The examples that God puts before us, we need to be sure that they are following Christ. But our eyes are to ONLY be on Christ!  He is the only Ultimate Example of Perfection. And we must follow only Jesus and keep our eyes on Him!!  Praise God!

 

Now, I no longer let "life's disappointments" cause me to run to my room and cry.  God has shown me in His Word, what to do. Did you know that if you are filled with the Holy Ghost, that you have the power to never let anyone hurt or disappoint you ever again! His Word simply says, "Guard Your Heart!"  And that's what I do.  We have the power to let something in or keep it out. It's our choice!  And if you have allowed some hurts and disappointments in, simply FORGIVE, let it go and move on. Our time is too short and it's not worth harboring bitterness in our hearts. We are not hurting anybody but ourselves when we do that. If there is someone you haven't forgiven, please do it today!
  My husband, Don introduced me this song, titled, "It Is You".  I am sharing it here (the link if viewing from email).  Whenever I feel myself shifting and my eyes start to leave focus on Jesus, this song immediately helps me get back to one with Him.

Just worship the Lord while listening to this song. Let it bring you into oneness with Him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZqGmrxJ4b8

The Miracle Within

Message today from Acts 3:6
Peter said to the lame man..."...Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

The lame man was sitting at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful asking for alms. It was the hour of prayer. As Peter and John reached him, Peter fastened his eyes upon him with John and told the lame man to look upon them. And the man gave heed unto them expecting to receive something of them.

Peter spoke, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

He took him by the right hand and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God!

If YOU have been Born Again, and been Baptized with the Holy Ghost - God's Spirit living in you, then YOU have a miracle within you for somebody else. Step out in faith and let God use you!!.

Read Acts 3:1-8 This man was EXPECTING to receive something from them. Somebody is out there waiting on YOU!!

It is the same as the woman in Luke 8:40-48 with the issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus's garment and was healed. So many times when reading the story, we put ourselves in the place of those who witnessed this or the one being healed. We identify with everyone else but Jesus! But He sent us to be His witnesses, to imitate Him, and to stand in His place, not everyone elses. We are to put ourselves in the place of the one wearing the garment - the anointed one. We have been anointed by God - we have His Spirit living in us - we have a miracle inside of us for someone else! 

Take Your Place! Begin to pray every morning for Divine Appointments from God and go throughout your day, expecting God to perform a miracle through You!! Praise God!!

Connie Schmoll

Vision & Mission

Sharing another message from Bro. Jackson Mongaine Lemeleny, from Kenya.

What are you living for?

Vision is the whole essence of your living. The reason you are sent into the world by God is for you to fulfill a vision. If you can see it, you can have it.

WHAT IS VISION?
· Vision is a discovery of God’s plan as it relates to your life.
· Vision is also foresight with insight
· Vision also means beginning a thing with the end in mind

No man ever saw glory without first seeing the vision. Whatever the mind can conceive, believe, it can also achieve. Vision is conceived with the mind.

To have sight without vision is worst than being born blind. Vision is not the same as ambition. While ambition is what a man desires to become in life, vision is what God created him to become.

The only meeting point of the two is where the will of a man is lost in the will of God. Vision is higher than ambition.

To become truly successful in life, your vision must become your ambition.

-- Bro Jackson Mongaine Lemeleny

Note added by Connie Schmoll:

God has a purpose, a mission for each one of us.  What Vision has He shown you for YOUR life? We are all connected in some way, for the work in the Kingdom of God.  Where do YOU fit in? What is Your Purpose and Mission for God? God gives the PROVISION for the VISION!

Worship

Bro. Jackson Mongaine Lemeleny from Kenya, visited our Church last month and shared God's Word with us. Just meeting him, we knew that he was a man of prayer and that he spent time in God's Word. His messages were anointed and brought change in my life. I wanted to share a short message that he had posted on his page that really spoke to my heart and showed me the importance of Worship.

His message was from Acts 13:2 - "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the week whereunto I have called them."

They were ministering to the Lord (worshiping)  and fasting (abstain from food), when the Holy Ghost separated (appointed) unto them where they were called to go.

WORSHIP is the key note of Destiny...
WORSHIP creates the atmosphere for hearing God's Voice.
WORSHIP opens the eyes and the ears of the heart to hear God's Voice.

If you are wondering what God's plan is for you, begin to spend time in prayer and worship to the Lord, and in His Word, and He will speak to your heart the will of God for your life.

A friend shared with me once, that the word EAR is in the word HEART. We must always keep our ear right up next to God's Heart, always open to hear His Voice.

PRAISE GOD!