Find Peace In Being Still

As I laid in bed Sunday evening, after prayer time, a few thoughts from the Lord entered my heart and I knew it was time to write.

Life can bring such great and wonderful moments, can't it? But as I am sure that many of you are totally aware of, we also will find interwoven in our lives, times of disappointment, as we may see them. I spent a number of years always feeling down from all of life's disappointments until I began asking … But could these times not be God working out His plan? I have learned that just because something may not work out the way we wanted it to, does not mean that it should always be seen as a disappointment, but could very well be God's appointment for the time. This was when I began applying Proverbs 3:5-6 to my life.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.


Trust in the Lord
We must learn to fully trust in God in every situation no matter how it looks to us or even if we do not understand. We don't always have to know the “why” of a situation, but only that God sees the beginning and the end, so we must trust that He is working His plan for our life through it all.

Lean not on our own understanding
When we come up against some things in life that are perplexing, we cannot assume that our human understanding of things is always a perfect guide. Human understanding is limited by a person's knowledge and experience. But as I said before, God sees the bigger picture and knows the beginning from the end. Sometimes we need to look past human wisdom and allow the Spirit of God to direct our lives. Our human reasoning wants an explanation, but the Spirit of God says, "Trust Me!"

Acknowledge Him
It is not always easy to accept an outcome of a situation when we wanted so much for it to be different. Acceptance or acknowledging God in a situation is a very important attitude that we must have in order to incorporate our trust in Him. It helps us accept the outcome in a situation no matter how it looks to us, knowing God was in it.

And just to share ... Ephesians 2:10
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

We never have to fear the road that we have ahead of us, because Christ prepared it specifically for us to walk. Though the road may be treacherous and narrow, especially at the speed life has been going lately, at the end of it is Christ!!

I pray that all of you who are reading this, will keep your eyes fully on Him, trust Him with all your heart and acknowledge Him in everything, and He will direct your path that will always lead to Him and His Will!

Here is a song that God led me to, that has ministered to me and my situation.  No matter how difficult it may be, I WILL find peace in being "still" when a situation is His Will.

"I'll Wait" by The Katinas   https://youtu.be/AC00jhBerYQ

Unconditional Love

In Loving Memory of LilyBud & ChampyBoy

"Dogs teach us many things but none more important than to love unconditionally"

We just recently had to put down our two little dogs. I did not realize just how hard it was going to be. It was such a heart-breaking experience. I must admit also that the after affects have been so difficult to overcome. Guilt has been a really hard one we've been battling. But I have learned throughout my walk with God, that over time, He will not only bring comfort and healing but also teach me something through the healing process.

Once my little fur babies were gone, my husband and I have both been left with this void inside of us. Such emptiness we feel. Why? Because dogs give unconditional love. It made us begin realizing that for 12 years, we have been experiencing unconditional love from them and now that love is gone. Pets are just like family and no matter what, they love us unconditionally and that is why we feel that void in our hearts once they are gone.

The Lord began speaking to me about how He has allowed us to experience that unconditional love through them and He said, “Now that they are gone, Connie, Now Accept Mine.” Do you know what just came to me today as I am writing this? DOG spelled backwards is GOD!

I find it hard sometimes to really comprehend just how much God does love me. And I often ask, why is it so hard? After all, He died for me! That act in itself should be proof enough!! Why do I always doubt His love for me?

I loved my little dogs SO MUCH and I miss them. I miss that love they gave to me and the trust that they had in me. It made me realize just how much that I long to be loved in that way and I know others do too.  Every soul seeks that unconditional love. So it is just as important for me to do the best I can to begin showing that same love to others. Deep down inside I want to believe that GOD loves me that much. I want to truly receive it. Sure, we know that His Word tells us He loves us. We know that! But have we actually truly received it and accepted it that no matter what we go through in life, we will never ever doubt His love again?

Maybe you've already reached that point. Personally for me, that revelation has become very big and deep for me right now and is beginning to fill up every space in my heart that I had allowed other things in to occupy, that was crowding His Love out. I desire to be completely filled up with His Unconditional Love.

If you are going through something today that has totally left a void within you, and you seem to find yourself trying to fill that void with other things but find it isn't working, I can tell you that it is because when each of us were created, we were created with that void in us that was only made to be filled by GOD and His unconditional love for us.

Now...Accept His today!!

Connie J. Schmoll

I found this online today and thought it was really cute!   https://youtu.be/H17edn_RZoY

Remember Humility

On Friday, December 20^th, 2018, I noticed pain in my mid back. The pain increased as the days went by and would move around, to underneath my rib. I began realizing that it most likely was a kidney stone because I'd had them in the past and usually too large to pass. Not getting much sleep for the next few days, I began praying each night to the LORD for healing. Speaking and Praying the Word! Sunday morning at Church, as I voiced my health concern to others, nobody seemed interested in praying for me. Sorry to be honest but most seemed more interested in “feeding their flesh” from the moment we arrived, till the time we left. By Sunday evening, I was in extreme pain and almost gave in to have my husband take me to the ER, but instead I continued to pray and cry.

When Monday morning came, my husband got up, to get ready for work. Before he left, he prayed for me and told me to start praying, “Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me!”. So I began praying that all day. As the day went on, the pain began to slowly decrease until it was completely gone. Thank you, LORD!

That same day, I began reading Luke 17, about the 10 Lepers who Jesus had healed. Do you know what they spoke out to Jesus?!!?  “Jesus, Master! Have Mercy on Us!” Interesting, huh? I began studying and researching Scripture where others had prayed the same thing. To list a few Scriptures: Luke 18, Matthew 20 and Mark 10. Also Psalm 31:9-20, Psalm 57:1-6, Psalm 86:3 and Psalm 123:3-4 mentions it.

The Mercy Seat was a gold cover or lid with two Cherubims beaten out of the ends of it to cover and create the space into which God would appear. This gold cover was placed on the Ark of the Covenant (Ark of the Testimony), a gold covered wooden chest with lid cover described in Exodus as containing the two stone tablets of the 10 Commandments and the Rod of Aaron. (to symbolize God's given leadership and priesthood endowed with miraculous power during the plagues of Egypt that preceded the Exodus. In the teaching of the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was designed to be a symbol of the Presence of God in the midst of His People.

I know that we've been given authority to boldly speak His Word, but sometimes this message can be brought out in a way that people may tend to forget “humility”, and wishing bad upon those who wrong us instead of “forgive them, for they know not what they do” with a heart that Jesus had. We must be careful that we do not develop this arrogancy, that state of acting superior.

By praying, “Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me”, not a bit of pride could ever be present. Through all of this, what the LORD whispered softly to my heart was … "Connie, Remember Humility".

Psalm 123:3-4 "Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud." 

May we never forget how very much in need we are of a Savior and Healer. May we never forget where He brought us from. May we continue to pray for those who are still there where we used to be.

Worship the LORD with me to this powerful song that the LORD place on my heart and always ….

Remember Humility.
Connie J. Schmoll

https://youtu.be/5mmOcpJE9HU

The Gates of Worship

Today's Reading: Psalm 100

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” - Psalm 100:4

Whether the gates of some cities were built for defensive or ceremonial purposes, they all represent the difference between being outside or inside certain areas of the city. Some are open; some are closed to all but a few.

The gates into the presence of God are always open. The familiar song of Psalm 100 is an invitation for the Israelites to enter into the presence of God through the temple gates. They were told to “shout for joy” and “come before him with joyful songs” (v. 1-2).  Shouting for joy was an appropriate expression when greeting a monarch in the ancient world. All the earth was to sing joyfully about God! The reason for this joyful noise was that God had given them their identity (v. 3). They entered the gates with praise and thanksgiving because of God's goodness and His steadfast and enduring love which continues through all generations (v. 4-5). Even when they forgot their identity and wandered away from Him, God remained faithful and still invited them to enter His presence.

The gates into God's presence is always open, inviting us to come and worship.

Will YOU enter in?

Remain Strong In Me, Reinforce Your Foundation!

In recent weeks, the Lord has been speaking a great deal to me about the importance of our foundation in Him. Although many of us are walking in His will over our lives, it is possible to neglect the intimacy required in our relationship with Him and therefore miss His reaffirming presence in our lives. He is our foundation in all things and we are called first to continue to build on what will allow us to stand firm when stepping out in His name.

Not too long ago I was reading a story about a couple working on a deck that seemed to be weakening at the core of it's foundation. I found myself moved by what was exposed as they ripped away the beautiful tough exterior. Underneath the durable surface, much of the framework used in building the foundation had rotted over time. What was meant to hold everything together had been neglected and it became weathered by the elements and storms it was exposed to. The decay of what was once strong had caused such a weakness that it crumbled with the lightest touch of their tools.

I was overwhelmed with what the heart of the Lord was speaking to me and what He wants so many of us to hear. As I continued to read, I heard Him say, "You must always remain strong in me. Reinforce your foundation before moving forward."

Personally for us, we've been there, attended here and there, believed this and refused to believe that, in a constant battle to keep deception out. Untruths constantly trying to creep into our lives from people we least expected.

A time comes when through all the chaos, one must take the time of rest, remain strong in Him and reinforce your foundation, walk exclusively by faith, trusting in everything He has taught you from His Word alone.

"Forever O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." Psalm 119:89

Be Fully Persuaded!

Romans 4:20-22 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness "

If God has ever spoken to you about something:
-- Stagger not at the promise of God through unbelief
-- Be strong in faith, giving glory to God
-- Be fully persuaded that what He has promised, He will do!!

At the End of our Road is Christ!

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

With all the trials that we go through, this verse should comfort us. Before time began, God knew where we would be and what we would be doing. We are all handcrafted by God for good works. The most comforting thing about Ephesians 2:10 is that we don't have to fear the road that we have ahead of us, because Christ prepared it specifically for us to walk. Though the road may be treacherous and narrow, especially at the speed life has been going lately, at the end of it is Christ!! This is why in every situation that we encounter, we need to "acknowledge God" in it. Acknowledging God in every situation helps us incorporate trust in Him and He will direct our path. Proverbs 3:5-6