Captain Jennifer Schmidt Reads- Don't Feed the WorryBug by Andi Green

Sunday March 22 Virtual Holiness Meeting

Gathering beyond Walls

Okay, my friends- Extrovert here. While I enjoy a time of social isolation every now and then to just recharge- I'll be honest- I love being around people, talking to people, interacting with people. Thankfully in today's world of internet and social media, there are actually several ways that I can still communicate with family and friends, many that I have already participated in already. For instance, I regularly talk to friends and family through phone calls, facetime, and even joint devotional times through the Youversion Bible App, were we can all do the same devotion, and even have a group chat feature at the end of how the devotion spoke to us that day. Wednesday, I went live on Facebook and did youth programs in front of one of our youth leaders who was running the camera while maintaining the appropriate social distancing distance. Even though there were no kiddos there, I still enjoyed just thinking of the kiddos (and adults) who could and even were (thank you to live comments) watching it live, and even afterward too. That inspired me. The whole thought of virtual church meetings, virtual pastoral care, and virtual interaction with our people has been a challenge that can seem confounding, and even nonbiblical. Some may think of the words of Hebrews 10:25, which says “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” However, when reading this verse in light of recent events I found myself looking at it from a different perspective. There is a popular saying that says “The Church is not a building”, and for today I think we can even approach it by saying the Ministry of Presence doesn’t always require someone to be physically present. You don’t have to physically give someone a hug to find a way to send them the same reassurance that a warm embrace does. Matthew 18:20 says “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” If we can trust that promise, that Jesus will be with us when we gather in His name, can we not also trust that He will continue to honor His promises, even if circumstances permit us from physically gathering, but yet still gathering together, thanks to inventions of modern technology. Along those lines, during classes about counseling, and how it can be conducted through a telephone and video services, I started to think further. What if we as the church, the body, ever-moving, have not been able to fully see that, where once the traffic on the streets was the place to carry the ministry, the traffic of people online can also be evangelistic outreach just as well. So my friends, if you want to have someone come together with you, to gather together, while adhering to social distancing (as an asthmatic who takes precautions anytime the word flu or respiratory virus comes out) I would love to come together, to gather with you as we seek our Father, and know that Jesus will be there too as we pray- together in Heart and Spirit, even if we are apart physically. There are multiple ways we can keep in contact with one another, thought Facebook groups, Facebook group chats- including video ones, google hangouts, zoom- and probably many more than that as well. Stay well and God Bless my friends!

Let Me Be God's Living Instrument- Chair Time Revelations...

Chair Time With God... Last week I had the unique privilege to be ministered to by Pastor Steve Carter, who stressed that as ministers especially, while chair time is important for all believers, for ministers, our own, unique, non-studying for a program or sermon related "chair time"-our one and one time with God and the Lord is even more essential to us. ... ... This was a confirmation of a revelation that the Lord made of point of helping me refine my focus on about a year an a half ago, which was around the same time that my grandmother passed away and I was surprisingly diagnosed with anxiety. I say surprisingly, but I have to say, after returning from time spent with family after my grandmother's passing I had to go in for a 5 year check up...and the Doctor said: "Is there anything else you would like to talk about..." I tell you, it was the Lord that led me to be brave enough to talk to my doctor about what I was experiencing. After that was a burden or load that I was lifted off of me, I began to notice that my level of distraction when it came to my own "chair time" was becoming easier and easier to do and that I was even very protective of it. This multi-tasker with ADD was learning again that sometimes, God should be more than enough to hold your entire focus, and that cycle of the world should not be a distraction when we are spending time with the Lord. You may think that it is easier said than done, and I will tell you that would be the truth. But...When I made the time to focus on Him solely, when I was protective of my time with Him, so that I was faithful to Him, I was able to be more aware of how He is faithful to me, to us all really, in big and small things... Now you may say, well chair time is really hard, I have a family, I have kids...I have... So I will share where I have found some "Chair Time" that is undisturbed...The small little bench in my shower. Sometimes, I even hit my knees during my prayer time- my discussion time with God. When we start to get too caught up in our posture during prayer, and not the position of our heart during prayer- we are focusing on the wrong thing. When I realized that to talk to our Heavenly Father, He is more concerned about our hearts, then outwards appearances, I found that my relationship with Him was able to grow and deepen as well. ...Keeping all that In mind- the Title of this post was a song, a saying, a prayer, that the Lord laid on my heart during this time, that I want to share, that I am being led to share with you... ...This was my prayer "Move Me; Use Me; Mold Me; Show Me; Let Me-Be Your Living Instrument." I even sang it to a melody that was placed on my heart and sat there singing this prayer to Him. Then I was moved to share this with everyone I could...To the point where I suddenly recalled a blog that I had created years ago and hadn't posted on in almost 5 years...I endeavor to be faithful to Him in the small and big things, because The Lord is certainly faithful to me, to us all- in the small and big things.

Beautiful are the Feet of those who bring Good News...

Okay, so I totally forgot that I had a blog, and have been bombarding my facebook with long post...of course including the appropriate label warning everyone that because Facebook is not Twitter, and doesn't limit me to 140 characters or less I am about to take up some prime realstate on their newsfeeds...And have been crafting long post...As I just had to share what God has been speaking and showing to me in His faithfulness. Then, In my "Chair Time"- which will be expanded on in a future post, with special thanks to the name to Pastor Steve Carter, I remembered that I had a blog that had been sitting idle for years... So here I am...And I am choosing this as the first post...It's a picture of my feet...But I am not going to apologize for that...and I hope that you can understand why... God loves you and so do I, God bless You ALL! Here is the original Facebook post "I have to share what God spoke to me...Y'all, as I think about getting older, and aging, I look at myself...and I think... if I were ever asked what I thought my worse feature was...I would say my feet. I legit do not really wear sandals a lot because of that. Yet as I got a pedicure today, sparkly blue...like a Sapphire, my birthstone...I thought...hey, my feet have held up for almost 37 years come Monday. These feet have not only danced, but danced to Praise the Lord. These feet have had the opportunity to bring Good News of the Gospel on 3 continents. Every Sunday these feet are in heels as I bring preach and share Words from the Lord. God has given me these feet to fulfill His will, and it doesn't matter what they look like...as long as they are following Jesus, Who is the way, on the path He has for them-then they are nothing to be ashamed of, but instead are beautiful."

Not What I Want, BUT Always What I Need!

http://bible.com/116/psa.23.2-6.nlt He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the lord forever. Bible.com/app

I'm away from the office this week, working at our Camp in Midlothian, Texas for Older Adult Camp.  Now, I may be busy, but I am finding time to rest, even more so, then I would were I at home.  HE is giving my rest, renewing me.  I was talking to somone the other day about the concept I learned during a sociology class, of an emotional bank.  The principle was that before making "withdrawals" or "debits" by negative comments about things, you first need to make "deposits", by affirmations so that you have more then enough to cover any "debits" you make. 
I started thinking about this in regards to a spiritual bank as well.  Those "Darkest Valleys", are debits or withdrawals in our spiritual bank.  It's like we're a pitcher, and each "Dark Thing", such as trials- sickness, financial difficulties, family problems, or even relationship problems with friends and love ones.  Each of those things takes a little out of us.  If we're a pitcher, each one takes a little liquid out of our pitcher. 
We have to make sure we have enough to still keep the pitcher full, especially in the darkest valleys.  God will do this for us!  His rod and staff with comfort us, He will bless us, even in front of our enemies, allowing us to overcome them (or it, as our enemies don't have to be a person, but anything that keeps us from having a full, loving relationship with God).  His goodness and mercy, His unfailing love will come to us, when we are willing to recieve it, giving us- not what we want, but what we need, we will be full up.  When we are dwelling in the house of the Lord, even though those "dark valleys" take from us, withdrawaling from us, no matter how much it tries to take, we will always have enough to have enough , and our spiritual bank, and even our emotional bank will be able to cover any withdrawal.

Being a Blessing can give you a blessing.

Scripture Thought
http://bible.com/97/2co.9.10-15.msg God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough! Bible.com/app

Let us never forget, as part of outreach, of reaching out to touch someone's life, we are a blessing to them, and an illustration of God's love for them. 
Also, let us remember, when we allow God to use us to be a blessing for someone, we are equally having the unique opportunity to recieve a blessing.  For it is often when we allow God to use us to show His love, grace, and mercy to the world, that we can be reminded of Hos love, grace and mercy for us.