There Is No Fear In Love

My husband made this statement the other day that I found to be so true.  He said, "It's easy to say that God is in control, but it is a whole different matter to live your life that way." -- Donald Schmoll

If we are honest with ourselves, all of us must admit that we do have a difficult time relinquishing all control to Him.  I know at this point and time in our life, God is leading us on a different journey that is taking a greater leap of faith than what we have ever taken in the twenty plus years of serving Him.  Upon taking the first steps, we have realized that in our past, knowing we had to trust God and even desiring to do so, we still always tried to maintain a bit of control. 

It has been very difficult for me, especially on the financial part of it.  I love the Lord very much and I know that nothing is impossible with Him.  I know that He can do anything.  There is no situation beyond His capability.  I realized that it was not that I doubted what God could do, but I was doubting that He would do it for ME.

Why was I having such a hard time believing God's promises for ME?  You know what I'm talking about.  You have been there too and may be right now.  I became so troubled because I knew that I was not yet 100% with my husband in all these changes and decisions. It is not that I did not want to be. I DID!  I was so afraid that if I did not get to that place where he was, that my lack of faith would ruin it for us. Oh how the guilt began flooding my mind! What if MY unbelief messed everything up for what God expected for us?

I cannot help but smile at this now while I am typing, thinking that I would have that much power to mess up God's plan and purpose for our lives.  How absurd! I think this is why God kept bringing Proverbs 19:21 to my mind, that we can have many plans in our heart but it will only be God's purpose that prevails.  But all I know is that it sure would make it a lot easier for me if I could only believe.  So, I continued to ponder that question of whether God needed that 100% faith from me in order for it all to work out. I began to realize though, that it really was not about if God needed it but the fact of the matter was, I needed it.  I so desired it!

I began seeking God with all my heart.  I continually prayed in the spirit every chance I got.  I wanted to just stay in the spirit always. I never wanted to leave His Presence because that was the only place on this earth that I found peace, no worries, no pain and hurts and no doubts.  I prayed, "God help my unbelief!"  I just wanted to know that He was going to take care of me. (us)  I just wanted to know that we were going to be okay. 

Then God began to show me why I was having a hard time believing.  The root of my unbelief was the lack of love.  The Scripture He spoke to me was Galatians 5:6 which says that faith works by love.

"Love is the driving force behind our faith.  If you remove or diminish love, faith ceases to be what it should be." -- Andrew Wommack

I have been trying so hard to believe but what I needed to be doing was seeking a greater revelation of God's love.  Then faith would just naturally work.  I've been so guilty of allowing circumstances to blind me of God's love.  My lack of faith in His love hinders Him but as soon as I open to His love, my faith is revived and I then know He will supply.

The Lord speaks in Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." I realized that my unbelief comes when I forget how much He loves me.  There is more than just superficial knowledge that God loves us.  I began praying what Paul did over the Ephesians in chapter 3:14-19 that I would receive a greater revelation of God's love.

In our own home this past weekend, a message came forth through my friend Julia, through tongues and interpretation, that things were going to be okay and that I was going to be okay!  I thank the Lord that He knows what we need. 

God's love for us is unconditional.  Love is not something God does, it is who He is! (I John 4:8)  We need to rest in the assurance of His love. It never changes even though our circumstances do. His love remains unconditional. God is not only with us - He is also in our circumstances. He is in control of all that happens.  No, he is not the author of evil, but is able to use bad things for good.  This does not remove our suffering but it does redeem it - infusing it with meaning.

So many people struggle in life, even Christians, because we do not truly comprehend the love that God has for us. If we did, we would not struggle as much in times of trials. We would always know that we have a God who is our Father who will take care of us and not let anything happen to us but will work all things for our good.

Your life has meaning.  Your life has purpose and God delights in your prosperity. (Psalm 35:27)  Do not be fearful but know that He works all things for your good. (Romans 8:28)  Know that He loves you so much and only wants the best for you.  Perfect love casts out all fear. His love never changes, no matter your performance.  When God's love is perfected in you, keeping God's Word will be the result. (1 John 2:3-5)

Romans 8:38-39

I am persuaded that nothing can separate me from God's love!  Are YOU?

If you want to reach a state of bliss - make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved and the need to judge.  You will begin to truly know what being free really feels like.

Perfected in God's love,

Connie Schmoll

Remember the previous "word" that God gave me that I shared on March 21st.  You can read it again

by clicking HERE. 

What Matters Most

WHAT MATTERS MOST?
When the religious leaders of Jesus day asked Him what matters most, He was able to summarize the Ten Commandments and the entire body of religious law into two simple commands:

* Love God with all your heart.

* Love your neighbor as yourself.

What more is there? It doesn't get any simpler than that. But don’t mistake simple for easy. Jesus Himself showed us the true cost of loving God and others!

What will you do today to show love to your neighbors? How will you show God your great love for Him?

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

God's Message for Today:

Make a daily practice of sitting quietly with the LORD. Begin your day with Him! You have allowed fear and worry to imprison you for many years. Release them to Him! There in the Light of His Presence, they will dissipate. However, some of them will attempt to return throughout your day. Do Not Let Them! When fear or any thoughts of worry attempt to assail you, Capture them and Cast them down with the Light of His Word.

Do not doubt His love for you. For perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

When you allow fear to dominate, faith is not there. When you bring fear into your day, you have left God out. Acknowledge Him and keep your mind renewed by speaking forth His Word. Do not be fearful, for He is with you always. He will help you and make you strong.

You have let Him live in your spirit. Now it is time that you let Him reign in your soul.

I Peter 5:7; 2 Corinthians 10:5; I John 4:15-18; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 41:10

Connie Schmoll

Habitation or Visitation?

God's Message For Today...

When we come to God, we are to present our body as a living SACRIFICE....a surrender to God.

Romans 12:1 says,
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

It is interesting that self-sacrifice is considered by God to be our reasonable service. To do that, we must humble ourselves, and lay it on the altar. A surrender to God. The only problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to crawl off the altar. Even if we make this commitment in our hearts right now, we’ll have to renew it again and again because as long as we are here on earth, we will have to make the decision to love Jesus more than self, every day.

Notice that we are the ones who have to make this presentation of our bodies to God. He won't do it for us. It's a sacrifice on our part. We can't have someone lay hands on us and impart this to us. We can't rebuke the flesh and expect it to disappear. We have to give our bodies to God as living sacrifices daily. Offering ourselves to God is not just a one-time deal. We have to die to our own desires daily and not be conformed to the world but let a transformation happen by renewing our mind through His Word and the working of the Holy Spirit through prayer.

Romans 12:2 says,

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"

Surrendering to God is letting Him INHABIT all our moments --- gracing our thoughts, our words and our behavior. We have become His vessel for His purpose and His Glory.

I Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

You're not your own. He dwells in you.  Is your temple where God can feel at home in?

Ephesians 2:22 "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Let me ask you this: 

Would you let somebody into your home that you do not trust? Some say that they TRUST God, yet their thoughts, words and behavior show that they actually only have their temple for God as a place of visitation instead of habitation. It's like they welcome Him when it's convenient for them. They'll let Him in, yet He's only allowed in certain “rooms” (areas of their life) as like they would for a visitor, instead of letting Him inhabit their temple as a permanent residence.

Where does God stand in your life? What is your temple for Him? Is it a place of Habitation or of Visitation for Him?

Let your body be a habitation for the Lord, a place of settled residence. Let Him inhabit every room. It is only when we make the total sacrifice of every area of our lives that we begin to see God's perfect will manifest through our lives.

I trust God and present my body a living sacrifice unto Him that he may inhabit it as a place of settled residence. Amen!

MOVE IN TO STAY, GOD!

Connie Schmoll

Find ME In The Moment

God's Message For Today....

When circumstances become challenging or important decisions need to be made and we know how important it is that we make the right ones, we can sometimes begin to lose focus. Before this happens, know that God is near and whispering, “Find ME in the moment.” He's there waiting to give us peace.

It is very important what we allow to come out of our mouth during this time. What we say can deceive our own selves by speaking negative. Speak words of life. Seek God. That's where peace is.

Psalm 34:13-15 ~ Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

In God's Presence there is peace. We have no worries. We are problem free because we've given them all to Him to take care of. But when we walk out of His Presence, anxiety and fear come in immediately. We can get tangled up in the worry-webs of life.

But how can we stay in God's peace? It's all about focus. We need to keep our mind on Him and trust in Him. When we don't allow fear in, we are trusting Him. Fear is the lack of Faith. Stay in His Word to renew your mind, for this is how faith comes. Spend time praying in the Spirit, for this brings a refreshing to your soul.

Isaiah 26:3 ~Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Don't walk out of His Presence. Stay focused, keeping your mind on Him, and He will keep you in perfect peace where fear and anxiety can't touch you. If you are plugged into God's Presence, you will begin to see situations from His Perspective. Once you are in that place of peace with God, it is there you'll get your answer.

We're plugged into His Presence,

Written by Connie Schmoll & Julia Cole

Seize The Moment

God's Message For Today......

God has a PURPOSE, a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11) and we must CONTINUE on doing the things we have learned (2 Timothy 3:14), not looking back to our past but to SEIZE THE MOMENT..now.. pay attention to what He is doing now and then press on (Philippians 3:13-14) with Him for His Purpose and will for our life!

I don't know about you, but .....

This has really encouraged me for the situation that is going on right now in my life. God is letting us know what we are doing is right and to continue. We have a purpose and it has nothing to do with our past but all to do with our future!

SEIZE THE MOMENT!  Because there IS a reason or purpose for all of this that is happening!

 

Seize the Moment is what is really screaming out to me!

Powerful!

Is there something going on in your life right now that you have questioned whether you are doing the right thing or not?  SEIZE THE MOMENT.  Seek God!  Grab a hold of what God is doing in the NOW.  Don't fret over the past or the future. Don't let your past dictate the future.  Focus on the now!  Follow God! Fulfill His Purpose!

What are YOUR thoughts? Share them below (on website comment box).

God's Purpose Will Prevail

God's Message For Today....

Proverbs 19:21 ~ Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (NIV)

Isn't it so amazing how those broken times in our life leads us straight to God and His true purpose for our life?

"God's Purpose will prevail, even through the path of a broken road...when we believe." -- Connie Schmoll

(If you are viewing from email, visit the website to listen to video), "God Bless The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts