Thursday September 25, 2014

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Don Schmidt

From the book of Proverbs

Yesterday I wrote about the privilege of being God’s people.  We Christians must live lives that declare us to truly be His people.  In simple terms, the issue is not God’s love for us but our love for Him.  He loves us more than we can imagine.  He has given us everything so that we can experience the extraordinary blessings associated with loving Him.

How we live truly affects our relationship with God.  When we walk in righteousness.  He responds!   But I want to personalize this in an important way.  Yahweh is the name our God chose for Himself*.  Yahweh is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  When we talk about God, He is the one we are talking about.  Here are some excerpts from Proverbs that describe the blessings he has for His people who walk in His ways:

  • Yahweh is pleased with the prayer of the righteous.
  • Yahweh  loves those who pursue righteousness.
  • Yahweh is pleased with the thoughts of the pure.
  • Yahweh hears the prayers of the righteous.
  • Yahweh is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.
  • Yahweh guards the course of the just.
  • Yahweh protects the way of His faithful ones.
  • Yahweh takes the upright into His confidence.
  • Yahweh blesses the home of the righteous.
  • Yahweh gives grace to the humble.
  • Yahweh loves those who love Him.
  • Yahweh provides favor to the good man.
  • Yahweh delights in the men who are truthful.
  • Yahweh provides peace to the man whose ways are pleasing to Him.
  • Yahweh blesses those who trust in Him.
  • Yahweh provides life, prosperity and honor to those who pursue righteousness and love.
  • Yahweh blesses the man who always fears Him.
  • Yahweh enables men who seek Him to understand justice.
  • Yahweh keeps safe those who trust in Him.

Think of it!  Every one of us is capable of walking in each of these – growing stronger and more Christlike!  Think of each of these as a continuum.  The more we pursue our Lord, the more Christ-like we become.  This is not about earning salvation but about living a faith-filled life that pleases Him – a life that declares His praises.

When we pursue living our lives as His people, His Spirit works an incredible wonder within us.  Our desire is transformed from wanting to be blessed by God to wanting to bless Him.  That is the result of our hearts being overwhelmed by gratitude for His goodness and love.  Let it sink in, to the depth of your being – He has chosen us to be His!  WOW!!!!!

*Note: A wonderful book is “Who changed God’s Name” by Dr. Jim Harvey

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Wednesday September 24, 2014

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Don Schmidt

Exodus 19:4-6  ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on  eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words
you are to speak to the Israelites.”

About three months after the Children of Israel left Egypt, God gave Moses this message to share with them.  It was a communication of His heart for them.  He was giving them the opportunity to be His treasured possession – out of all the nations, He chose them!  They simply had to respond by doing what He required.  Unfortunately, they responded with words not with their lives.

God has always been after a people that will be truly His.  He wants to shower them with His love.  He simply asks that they respond with love in return.  Fortunately we Christians have been born again and received His Spirit.  Our new natures in Christ free us to respond without the “deck stacked against us’ by our old nature.  It can still be difficult, but we have such an advantage over the Israelites.  It makes me pause to think of Jesus’ comment, to whom much is given, much is required. (Luke 12:48)

While it is priceless to be His – to receive salvation and become one of His children – it is even more so to live the kind of lives that He has always wanted His people to live.   Salvation isn’t the end, it’s the beginning!  It enables us to pursue lives that truly reflect that we are His people.  In 1 Peter 2, Peter is exhorting the believers to rid their lives of sin
– to abstain from sinful desires that war against their souls.  He is calling them to live lives worthy of who we are in Christ.

In 1 Peter 2:9-10, Peter writes, “9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

This stunning reality that we are His is beyond words!  It is a privilege beyond measure that we have.  The more we recognize and grasp this, the more we will live lives that truly declare us to be His people.  His mercy, His grace, His Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ enable us to do exactly that!

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Tuesday September 23, 2014

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Don Schmidt

Matthew 5:38-42  38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to  him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

I woke up this morning thinking about going the second mile.  When I looked up the verse I was stuck by its context and by how unlike our typical thinking it is.  This is a whole
different mindset – a different world view.  It is seeing and responding to things so differently.

An old classic movie comes to mind that illustrates how radically different things can be seen and how things sometime aren’t what they seem.  That movie is the Wizard of Oz.  It begins and ends as a black and white movie.  I remember as a boy seeing it and being so stunned when Dorothy wakes up in Oz and everything is in full ‘living’ color.  The richness of the color versus the paucity of the black and white – they don’t change the story line, just what we’re seeing.  Then there is the ogre-like Wizard who is so authoritarian on the screen, but in reality is a little old man behind the curtain.  Here, what is perceived is very
different from its true reality.

Consider that the situations described in these verses are like the Wizard up on the screen – their reality is very different than how we tend to perceive them.  We typically respond to them as threats (like the ogre on the screen), rather than as opportunities.  Our viewpoint is one of self and cultural orientation, and we react accordingly.  It’s like living in ‘black and white’.

But Jesus wants us to perceive these as opportunities and not as threats – and we must recognize how critical our perception is to the process.  It’s not about us but it’s all about Him.  It’s not about reacting but responding with faith.  They are opportunities to glorify our God in how we respond – or not.  Our lives are to be salt and light in the world and reflect the ‘living color’ of the life of Christ.  What a contrast!

Jesus wants our perceptions, understanding and responses rooted in His Kingdom – not in the world.  In this world we  tend to react rather than respond.  We look out for ourselves rather than be guided by His ways.  Life is filled with opportunities for us to respond wisely, reflecting His life within us.  We need to remind ourselves just how different a citizen of His Kingdom is from one of this world.  The people around us will be drawn to Him by seeing us live such lives.

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Monday September 22, 2014

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Don Schmidt

Psalm 62:8  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Have you ever noticed how refreshing some little things can be?  Like a gentle breeze on a warm summer’s day when you’re working outside?  When you’re going through some
difficulties and a friend calls to encourage you simply because you were on their heart.  Reading a scripture, a testimony or about a Biblical truth that speaks precisely to your
situation.

Some of these things are what I refer to as ‘tokens of kindness’ from the Lord.  It is so wonderful when the Lord gives them to us.  I remember when we were really busy with a lot going on.  Added to it was the word from our landlord that we needed to move before our lease expired September 30.  She was planning to move back into the house we’re in.

One night in late July when we went to bed, we were really feeling it and Donna said we need to pray – so we did.  In the midst of the ‘stormy stuff’ going on we prayed to our Lord, acknowledging that we were looking to Him and trusting Him to lead and guide us through everything.

The next morning I woke up really early and was working around the house.  I picked up a book that I hadn’t looked at for a long time, not even remembering what was in it, and just opened it.  I didn’t even look at the front cover.  It turned out to be filled with two page true stories of His Mysterious Ways – Miracles of Prayer.

The random story I turned to and the two that followed all described situations where He provided supernatural presence and guidance to people in need.  One was a blind woman and her guide-dog out in a snow storm with an angel walking with them.  The other two
dealt with people driving through dense fog and a snow storm and making it due to following the lights of vehicles that turned out not to be there!

These three stories all spoke precisely to God being with us and guiding us – just as we had prayed hours earlier.  He might not have manifested His provision supernaturally as He did in the stories, but He didn’t have to.  They reaffirmed the importance of our focus and trust in Him.  What a timely token of kindness!

We weren’t in danger of giving up or anything.  It was simply our Lord giving us some loving encouragement that lifted our spirits – like a drink of cool water when you’re thirsty.  It’s amazing the sustaining power such experiences can have!

We still got to walk through the situations we were in.  But we did so with a renewed joy simply because we had been reminded of and refreshed by His wonderful love for us.  Pray that our ‘eyes’ will see Him more and more as He works in our lives.

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Sunday September 21, 2014

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Don Schmidt

Joshua 4:20-24  20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers,
‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23  For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up  before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Yesterday we talked about remembering the wonderful things that God has done in our  lives – the extraordinary things that stand out over the years.  I likened those events to quarry stones – massive and strong experiences that form a rock-solid foundation for our faith with Jesus the chief cornerstone.

Today’s verses underscore just how important it is to remember the wondrous things that our God does.  The children of Israel were to stack these 12 stones as a memorial, so they would never forget what the Lord had done.  Through His people, the Lord wanted the
people of the earth to know that the hand of the Lord was powerful.

The thing that is so amazing to me is that after Joshua and that whole generation died, “another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for  Israel.” (Judges 2:10)  Unfortunately, mankind has a problem with forgetfulness.

Last year I was reading in one of my journals from years earlier.  I came upon a time with the Lord that was so significant and so special, that I wrote in my journal, “I will never forget this!”  Unfortunately, I had forgotten it – and wondered how many other things have I forgotten..

We need to share these experiences particularly with our family.  They affirm the greatness of our God and cultivate hearts of gratitude within us.  They also build the understanding in all of us that they are but a foretaste of the many experiences that the Lord has for us.  The best is yet to come.  Not just in eternity, but here and now.  God wants to show  Himself strong amongst His people – so that the world will know!

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Saturday September 20, 2014

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Don Schmidt

Acts 4:11 This [Jesus] is The stone despised by you builders, who has become the  cornerstone.

Do you ever stop to think about the really special things that God has done in your life?  If you had to, could you identify the most meaningful experiences that you’ve had with Him – the ones that just stand out above the rest?  Maybe you’ve written about them in a journal or in some way recorded them because they are so special.  If not, you need to.

Donna and I have a significant number of such experiences with the Lord like that.  They are encounters with God and His power and love that are so important in our faith.  Miracles, amazing answered prayers, supernatural provision and exquisite encounters with Him – they are more than treasure.  They are part of our foundation in Him.  They
are part of the rock we are built on.  The Lord has given us an illustration that really reveals the role these special experiences with Him play in our lives.

We had an old house in Peninsula, OH where we raised our boys.  Nearby was a swimming hole that used to be a stone quarry.  The foundation of our house was not built upon bricks or cement blocks.  At its core, the foundation was made up of quarry stone.  Some of these stones were massive: six feet long, two to three feet wide and two feet tall.  It was rock solid!

The Lord let us see that these special experiences that we’ve had with Him are like quarry stones.  They are massive and strong and are in the foundation of our faith embedded next to Jesus, the chief corner stone, who anchors everything.  These experiences  represent God’s interventions in our lives that cannot be denied.  Because of Jesus, they join with Him in making an unshakable foundation for our faith.

It’s so important to regularly remember the wonders of our God and what He has done!

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Friday September 19, 2014

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Don Schmidt

Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”  Isaiah 66:2b “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”

Another of my favorite movies is Fiddler on the Roof.  It is a musical about the life of a family in the small Jewish village of Anatevka,  Russia   Set in 1905 it tells the story of Tevye, his wife, Golde, and their five daughters and how they cope with the difficult
realities under Tsarist Russia.  It is filled with wonderful music and many moving scenes.

Among the most moving for me are the wedding scenes for their oldest daughter, Tzeitel.  She fell in love with Motel, the young tailor and her father, against tradition, has agreed to let her marry him.  In the Jewish ceremony, the couple stands underneath a wedding
canopy.  The scene struck me as being very special – particularly the canopy.

This scene of the canopy came to mind when I was studying these verses.  Humility comes before honor.  God esteems the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at His word.  Honor is not something we can give ourselves.  It is given to those whose lives merit it.  It is something that is bestowed – and will remain as long as the life is consistent with what God requires.

Here is where the picture of a canopy is such a blessing.  Think of the honor and esteem that come from God as a canopy that is lowered down over us when our lives meet God’s requirements for it.  It will abide with us and over us as long as we are faithful.  The only
control we have over it is to live lives that God considers worthy of it.  In John 12:26b Jesus says, “My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

The wedding scene also includes the very special and moving song, “Sunrise, Sunset” sung by the family.  Towards the end of it, Perchik & Hodel, two of their daughters wanting to be married too, sing the line, ‘Is there a canopy in store for me?’  Let us think of the canopy not in terms of a wedding, but in terms of living such a life that God bestows His canopy of honor over each one of us.

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Thursday September 18, 2014

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Don Schmidt

John 8:31, 32  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

One of the more important teachings that I heard years ago that has impacted me greatly involved these verses.  It had to do with becoming and staying free.  Simply put, in order to become free and stay free we each must become a ‘Lover of the truth”.

Three days ago I wrote of the blessing of family, friends and co-workers who were willing to be a part of my repenting process in dealing with my anger.   This was something I asked them to do.  But how do we respond when such input hurts or comes in an inappropriate manner or from someone we don’t like?

Suppose you’re in an interaction that becomes a bit unpleasant.  As you walk away, a close friend discreetly says to you, “You could have been more kind in your response.”  Versus, being told by a participant, “Boy, were you a jerk in that meeting!” and then he walks off.

Criticism or ‘descriptive observations of our behavior’ are more palatable to us if they’re offered in a kind manner.  Even so, they can still be difficult to receive.  A concerned spouse says, ‘You’re angry.”  Your response, “NO I’M NOT!!!!”

When such information is offered in anger, in sarcasm, by someone we don’t have a relationship with, or particularly by someone we don’t like, we tend to react defensively.  The tendency is to reject the message because we reject the messenger!  Whatever truth
might be in the criticism/observation offered us we tend to reject out-of-hand because of who offered it or the way in which it was given.  We choose to react rather than respond – and it is a choice!

At times God will specifically use unpleasant people with negative deliveries to present us with an important truth about ourselves.  It’s a test – and life is filled with them.  Will we look past the messenger and how the message is presented to find and embrace the truth He  has for us?  The more we become lovers of the truth, the freer we become.  We
choose to respond rather than react. Lord Jesus, help us all become lovers of the truth!

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Wednesday September 17, 2014

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Don Schmidt

1 Chronicles 16:11-12  Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

The other day I had an unexpected surprise.  It was a typically busy day with lots to do and not enough time to do it all.  In the midst of this I went to get a document I needed and it wasn’t where I thought it was.  So I had to hunt for it.

The search took on a life of its own.  I knew it was in the office but the issue was where.  (Those who know me have heard of my Prego filing system -“It’s in there.”)  While going through a stack of stuff that I hadn’t looked at in quite awhile, I encountered the surprise.  No it wasn’t money – but in some ways it was even better.  It was a stack of pictures from years ago.  Needless to say, I stopped my search and sat down and looked at the pictures.

The joy I experienced in savoring each one.  Our sons growing up, dogwood trees in bloom at our home in Peninsula, grandbabies, being with friends, trips to Brazil…  Some of the pictures were more special than others because of the memories and good times they linked to.  They were like a doorway into a gallery of memories – of treasured experiences that had not been thought of for too long.

One common theme running through so many of the pictures was the goodness of God to Donna and me.  Yes there have been difficult times, stressful situations and all the other stuff of life – but through it all and overshadowing it all has been the presence and blessing of our Lord.

How good and powerful it is to remember Him and the things He’s done – in our lives and throughout history.  The wonderful memories develop hearts of gratitude and strengthen our faith!  How good it is to recognize Him in the midst of everything – the good times and the difficult times.  We can become so blind that we don’t see the forest for the trees.  He is with us, intimately involved in every aspect of our lives.  We are never alone.   We need to recognize just how important it is to seek Him – to regularly set aside time to remember what He’s done and treasure the memories we have of Him.

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Tuesday September 16, 2014

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Don Schmidt

James 1:20  For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. (Amplified)

One of my all time favorite films is Chariots of Fire* – the 1981 British film that tells the
fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics.  One is Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and the other is Harold Abrahams, an
English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.

In the film, Harold Abrahams is a gifted runner who was stunned by being beaten in a race by Liddell.  He recognized the need to run faster, so he approached Sam Mussabini to become his coach.  After watching Abrahams run, Mussabini said to him, “I can find you
another two yards.”  Two yards to a sprinter can be the difference between the Gold medal and being an ‘also ran’.  Abrahams embraced the good news that Mussabini could enable him to improve.

There were things Abrahams needed to change in order to experience the excellence he was capable of – and he committed himself to that process.  This is such a vital principle that we need to understand in dealing with the ‘stuff’ in our lives that we must continue to deal with.  There are habits or remnants of habits that might not keep us from being ‘good’ or ‘better’, but they can definitely keep us from becoming the best that we can be.

Yesterday I wrote of my experience at Grad School where I was totally unaware of becoming angry.  In that classroom discussion I was so angry that ‘steam was coming out of my ears!’  Talk about being blind to the obvious!  Our anger does not promote the righteousness of God (James 1:20).  It is a habit that will promote unrighteousness.

Thank God the Lord made me aware of this problem and enabled me to effectively deal with anger over the years.  He has done the same with many Christians.  But how many of us recognize that there may still be subtle remnants of anger that pop up in our lives.  Such remnants keep us from the excellence we are capable of and that God expects from us.  Let us remember that no matter how much we improve, the Lord can always find another ‘two yards’ within us.

**********

*Chariots of Fire was nominated for seven Academy Awards (1981) and won four, including Best Picture.  After both winning Gold medals in the 1924 Olympics, Abrahams went on to become the elder statesman of British athletics. Eric Liddell went on to missionary work in China.  All of Scotland mourned his death in 1945 in Japanese-occupied China.

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