Never Lose Your Wonder

Don and I were on our way home from church one evening, and as we rode through the darkness, I could see lightning bugs for miles, glistening everywhere I looked. It reminded me of the email I had gotten earlier from a favorite author, Morgan L. Busse. She was sharing about the 4th of July fireworks events and how she was distracted by all the fireflies (lightning bugs). She was captivated by the hundreds of lights, that it took her attention from the fireworks. Her friend sitting next to her noticed and spoke out to her, "Don't lose your wonder." She at first didn't understand, but then realized he was referring to the fireflies.

I remember as a child, we used to run and jump trying to catch lots of lightning bugs and we would put them in a jar. With some of them, we would even tear off the shiny part and put on our finger like a ring.

As time goes on, we grow up, move on and in the process, lose our wonder of the small things around us.  Can you think back, maybe when growing up or even in your early days of serving God, and remember times that caused you to be so awestruck - a wow moment?

We have so much faith as a child. We are so zealous as a babe in Christ.  Jesus says in His Word to come to Him as a little child because He realizes the faith of a child. The world says, "Grow Up!" when Jesus is saying, "Become as a child."  The thing about a child that is so great is their capacity to believe and their capacity to forgive.  I remember when it was so easy to believe God for anything. I remember the memorials of things He has done.  Why is it so hard to believe now? Why does it seem so much more difficult to endure? God hasn't moved - or changed. Have we? Have we lost our wonder? 

There are so many people who lost their childhood at a very young age.  And when we come to God it's such an amazing change and a wonderful experience!  Things are so beautiful!  God makes life so exciting!  How do we lose that so easily?

Personally, for myself, I used to notice things of nature and hear God speaking to me a lot. He always used many of my favorite things to teach me lessons as He did in the Bible using parables. For me it's been the sparkling fireflies, a beautiful butterfly fluttering by, a flower and it's beauty, a pretty rainbow stretched across the sky after a storm, and an eagle perched high in a tree or soaring through the sky. 

I realized I have moved so far away from that and I miss it. I have just recently once again captured that wonder I used to have.  I remember the excitement of first having a Word spoken over us showing us what our ministry was.  We have strayed so far from that. Isn't it amazing how far we can stray from our actual calling because of hurts and betrayal?  But I praise God that we are finally back to it and beginning to see where we belong. It's not about what state, or what church, but it's about where we belong in God's Kingdom. We can allow people to get in the way of our wonder. We must stay focused on God! We can allow disappointments to blur our vision. We must guard our heart and take no offense!

I found that the times when I had a difficult time believing God for something is when I doubted His love for me.  It happens to all of us!  God can turn around and do something so miraculous for us but then it doesn't seem long that we forget.  Why is it so easy to forget?!?!

I am reminded of the Children of Israel in Numbers 11. They were wandering in the wilderness. God provided for them and they saw miracles, yet again they would complain and murmur, forgetting all God had done.  They lost their wonder!  Our wilderness times can be hard but we must continue to stand! The more we murmur and complain, the longer we remain in that wilderness!

It seems as years pass, we seem to lose our first love. Revelation 2 mentions this, speaking to the church of Ephesus.  Remember your memorials. Remember from where you have fallen. Repent and do your first works.

If you feel you are at that place where you've lost your wonder - lost your first love, repent and do your first works. What does He mean when He mentions "your first works"? Only you can answer that for your own life. Do you spend time in prayer and study the Bible like you used to? Are you spending time with other Believers to encourage and to be encouraged? Do you pray and intercede for those in need of the circle of people God has placed you in, whether it be your job, your home, etc? Have you sought out God for your purpose, your gift and are you using it for Him?

Take a moment right now to think on the way it used to be when you first got saved. Has there been a change?   Was the change good or bad?  Have You Lost Your Wonder?  Maybe it was taken from you?

Become as a child once again and receive all that God has for you!

Connie J. Schmoll

Choose To Forgive

The WORD for today....FORGIVE. How does one know that they have truly forgiven? How does one know that they have truly "let it all go"?

You will know that you have truly forgiven by what comes out of your mouth about the person and the situation.

For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)

Whatever is in your heart, it will come out of your mouth by what you speak. If you harbor unforgiveness, you'll know by the words you speak.   This is one reason why people are sick in their body and cannot seem to receive a healing.  Let it go! Forgive! Be Healed!

Forgiveness is not a feeling....it's a choice. CHOOSE TO FORGIVE today. Let all that junk go that keeps you frustrated! LET the PEACE of GOD RULE IN YOUR HEART!

Be Free!

Connie J. Schmoll

Just As A Ripple In A Pond...

"Just as a ripple in a pond, so does the sting of a painful memory fade away when we let it go."

I really like this quote. It made me think..if you've got a painful memory of the past that has kept you imprisoned, pick up that "painful pebble" and give it a great toss into the "water of forgiveness", let it go, and watch it disappear as that painful memory fades away! LEAVE IT THERE and walk away!

Assembling Ourselves Together...

Don and I just finished reading a new book by Dennis Callen, "Faith To Raise The Dead". I'm reading it again but slower this time hoping to get something new out of it. And I'm glad I started again.

I wanted to share about his take on Hebrews 10:24-25. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  The key words being 'assembling' and 'exhorting'.

You know the Scripture. We've heard it preached numerous times, especially when people are always 'missing' church. I think this Scripture is totally misunderstood. Even though we call our church gatherings an "assembly", the people are not assembled. They are gathered together. The way we are assembled together is through an intimate connection of friendship and fellowship. Let me explain further....

Using a factory as an example: We gather the parts together to build the final product, but until the parts are assembled together and connected, they cannot function for its proper use. All the parts are designed to operate together.

So with the Body of Christ. We love and accept everyone into the Body of Christ, but there are certain people we are suppose to be connected to in order for us to operate properly the gifts God has put in us.

Just think about this now, how there are so many churches who just have people gathered together, but not assembled (no connection through operation of the gifts). I see there are so many actually "forsaking the assembling of themselves together" and don't even know it, because they think gathering together is assembling....and it's not. We think just because we are attending church regularly, we are fulfilling this Scripture, but we can be GATHERED yet NOT ASSEMBLED. Interesting....huh?

Check out I Corinthians 14:26 -  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together (assemble), every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

As far as exhorting, so many people out there already feel bad about themselves, so they don't need to be told all the time their faults. People need to hear more good about themselves, so it is good that we have each other to exhort or encourage one another.

I don't know about you, but my husband and I are finding it more difficult, as we get older and more mature in the Lord, to find the right people, of like faith, to be connected to. Some we have made a connection with, but life circumstances would some how take us in different directions. I am thankful that we have a few great connections still nearby, and I'm praying as time goes on, that we can have more and more connection, assembling, and ministry together with these individuals.

How about you? Are you attending a church regularly yet find yourself guilty of "forsaking the assembling of yourselves together" there? 


Blessings,
Connie J. Schmoll

Looking Unto Him

Do you ever think you really know someone – I mean really and truly know them and then all of a sudden you are taken back by something they do that is very disappointing and very hurtful? I'm talking about a person you really look up to.

I have experienced this numerous times and yet I still couldn't seem to get what the Lord was trying to teach me, until now.

Here I was, my heart crushed, another deep disappointment hovering over me like a cloud of gloom. When moments like these would happen, I found myself always withdrawing from everything and everyone – especially the person who disappointed me. I didn't like this pain that would come and I began to fear being around others – for fear of making myself vulnerable to be hurt again. I would lose trust in people.

The one thing that hurt me the most is once again I lost a true example for me to look to. My heart desired so much for a true example to follow, someone whose life was real! I guess I was more or less needing someone perfect (according to my standards that represented perfection). I realized the reasoning behind this was, if I could find this person and they accomplished this “perfect life”, then this could mean there was hope for me.

The Lord revealed to me through a friend that I was harboring inside of me fear – fear of always being a disappointment to people. Maybe I felt most of my life I had been a disappointment to everyone and therefore felt there was no hope for me of ever being any different – so deep inside there was this longing to find that someone who could show me proof that it could be done – a person could live their life without disappointing someone – then there would be hope for me.

I remember that night, I laid in my bed, my heart breaking from yet another disappointment! I cried to the Lord saying, “Why can't I ever find that person I need in my life – that true example?!”

The Lord softly spoke my name and replied, “Connie, I AM that perfect example! LOOK UNTO ME!” And He directed me to His Word, 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!

Once again, I had let my eyes look to people when I am to keep my eyes upon the LORD! And through this revelation, He also brought deliverance of fear....fear of being a disappointment. We are all going to make mistakes and disappoint someone unintentionally, and people are going to disappoint us, but that is why we must always “live to forgive” and always keep our eyes on HIM.

LOOK UNTO HIM....the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our FAITH!

Connie J. Schmoll

These Signs Shall Follow...

Mark 16:14-18

These Signs Shall Follow.....But Only If You Believe In Them!

After Jesus had risen and showed himself to some, there were the others who did not believe it, so later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen Him after he had risen.

He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He said He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who doesn't believe, will be condemned.

Then He proceeded to tell them what signs (miracles) will follow them who believe. He said in His name (authority), they will cast out demons, they will speak with other tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, and they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

A statement was made in a church gathering by the leader that if you don't have these signs following you, you will not make it to heaven. If you have not cast out a demon, you will not make it to heaven! I do not believe this statement. I have never cast out a demon, so this means I'm not going to heaven? Ridiculous! I do not remember that being part of salvation. My salvation is based on what Jesus did, not what I DO! Our salvation is not based on works!

I believe from this portion of Scripture in Mark, it says these signs shall FOLLOW us IF we believe. If we have the faith to believe in them! We don't go LOOKING for demons. In other words, if the opportunity arises, we have the authority to cast out demons, but we are not to go looking for demons just so we can make it to heaven. Just like the drinking of poison, or handling of snakes, we don't go doing those things. We are not to tempt God! The Bible is stating that if we happen to drink something poisonous, or are made to drink it, or if we are bitten by a snake, God will protect us....just as he did Paul when he was bitten by a snake. No harm came to Paul. (Acts 28:3-6)

We are to do all things in the power and demonstration of the LORD. I will not lay hands on just anybody, nor will I let just anybody lay hands on me. You never know what can be transferred from a person onto you. When the opportunity arises and God directs me to lay hands on someone that they may be healed, I will do so. I am to have the faith that they WILL recover. The same as everything else. The opportunity came when I spoke in tongues, receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I believed and I received!

Making judgments on others, saying that they won't make it to heaven because they have not cast out a demon, or spoke in tongues, or drank deadly poison or handled a snake or laid hands on the sick so they can recover, is very wrong!!

The key word is “follow”. These signs (miracles) shall follow them that believe. As I stated before, we don't go looking for them. When the opportunity arises, we have the authority, and we have His protection. But we have to believe!

You have to believe or these miracles won't follow. They are not going to happen, if you don't have the faith to believe. The Bible isn't saying you're not truly a believer if these signs don't follow you, thus keeping you out of heaven. If that were true, we all need to be going out and looking for demons to cast out, and poison to drink and snakes to handle all the time. Our salvation is NOT based on what WE DO. It is what HE DID FOR US! 

It was the faith of the eleven that He was focusing on or was targeting.  Jesus was telling them that these signs (miracles) are going to be following them but only if they believed for them to happen!!  Because as you see in the beginning when He first sat down with them, He was rebuking them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they didn't believe those ones who had come and told them Jesus had appeared unto them. One of them was actually Mary Magdalene whom Jesus had cast 7 demons out of! 

Connie Schmoll

Stay On The Straight Path

I have heard it said a lot that we need to thank God for our trials, but I don't know about you, but when I'm going through a hard time and something bad is happening, I have a really hard time thanking God for it. But then, I realized that He is not asking us to thank Him FOR the circumstance but we are to give thanks IN the circumstance. Instead of complaining during those times of trial, just begin thanking God that He is in it with us and is working all things for our good.

In I Thessalonians 5:18 it says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. IN everything give thanks....not FOR everything give thanks. We are to give thanks in every circumstance.

James 1:2-3 says to Count it all joy when we face trials, knowing that the testing of our faith brings perseverance. I do not believe this Scripture is telling us to be happy about our circumstance, but it is merely encouraging us to keep a good attitude about it while in the trial; an attitude that even if we don’t see the purpose of the trial, God will use that trial to build into us what we need for life. This is a promise of Scripture that goes beyond what we currently see.

I remember a guy at church said that he couldn't understand why people should be thanking God for their trials because God had shown him two paths: one was a straight path and the other a squiggly path representing those times when a person falls by the wayside for whatever reason and then gets back on the path. Off and on, off and on constantly. Now just picturing this path, it is obvious that it will take us much longer to get where we need to be, by constantly going off and on the path constantly.

Do you think it is possible to always stay on the straight path without ever being side tracked? I do.

Just look at what Proverbs 4:11 says, “I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths”. (NIV)

Just picture for a minute that path that God has set you on. Paul refers to it as “running the race”. And he tells us to lay aside every weight that so easily besets us. (Hebrews 12:1-2) No path is going to be perfect. There are going to be obstacles along the way, but the key to staying on the path is how we handle those obstacles. Are we going to let them knock us off the path by our murmuring and complaining  or are we going to stay on that path by acknowledging God in it with us and continue to keep our eyes on Him, trusting Him to help us make it over that obstacle without ever leaving the path?

Proverbs 3:6 tells us to Acknowledge Him and He will direct our path. He'll make our path straight, but only if we acknowledge Him in it with us, which is actually initiating our faith in Him.

I honestly believe that during this journey of life set forth by God, He will get us to where He wants us, and that anytime we begin to set our eyes upon the circumstance instead of keeping them on God and the finish line that is ahead, we make the situation a lot harder for us and it causes us to remain in that trial a lot longer than God intended.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If You Complain, You Remain?” Remember the Children of Israel? They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and all they did was murmur and complain. I think it is very important how we react to our wilderness moments. I think our reaction will determine how long we remain there.

When you focus on your problems, it cuts off the revelation, the faith and the victory. Possessing a grateful heart and expressing it daily will affect how you see things. You begin seeing and believing something before it actually is manifested. Your understanding is no longer darkened. Did you know that Romans 1:20-21 states that unthankfulness darkens the mind? So you see, something as simple as saying, "Thank You" can bring light to a situation that seemed hopeless. Keep your eyes on the Lord and always cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving and He will keep you on the straight path!

Connie Schmoll