So I have not posted in some time, which makes me feel a little guilty. Somehow I have allowed my life to get so busy that I have not taken the time to do something that I so enjoy. Writing this blog has helped me to communicate to, well at least a few of you, how I am feeling and thoughts that God has impressed on my heart. I love to talk and I love even more to talk about God. He is my Rock and My salvation. He is my shelter from the storm and my guiding Spirit through this thing called life.
2 Chronicles 15:15 "And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around."
So this entire post is out of a spot of frustration, I have been sick for a few days and I still have trouble resting. I was listening to Sons of Korah on youtube and sure enough a sermon idea came to mind. It has taken all my strength not to write it. So instead I write this blog which brings great joy to me.
Atleast once a week I hope that you take the time that God has given to us as a gift (the Sabbath) and rest. It is a spiritual gift and practice and possibly the hardest of all but one that will bless your soul immensely. TRY IT! YOU WILL LIKE IT!
if we learn to find rest in this world, we may just get out of here alive.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The parable of the sower
In the book of Luke we get to hear the parable of the sower. What a great parable, well this morning it read a bit different to me. It read of great hope and the way that we see others. Not only the way that we see each other but the way or lack there of that we treat each eachother. The parables lies in Luke 8:5-8
5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
When I was reading this parable this morning I got a great vision or feeling in my heart. If we were to just walk innocently with our bag of seed, remember that faith the size of a mustard seed or all we need to do is plant the seed, if or since the bag has a small hole in it, we would scatter seed wherever we went.
I go this picture of a simple person all but skipping. Maybe they were skipping somewhere, but were skipping and just enjoying Life.
So the new parable is as follows: A man that loved Jesus had recently built a beautiful home that he and his wife and children adored. They shared this blessing with anyone that would listen or come over. They always spoke praises of what God has down for them in their lives, how God had provided for them to receive this home. Well, work still needed to be done and this day he decided to finish seeding the lawn, as there were some bear spots, it happens he felt and he was excited and happy to do the work. So he started out on his way to town to get the seed. Being such a beautiful day he decided to walk. Along the way he saw the man that owns the house on the very next corner. He took but a second to say good morning and God bless you to the man, who grumbled something under his breath, but the man kept going with joy in his heart. He came across a young man who was seemed to be just hanging around downtown, it turns out that this youngster was listening to his I-pod, the man greeted him with a good morning and a God bless you before he noticed what the kid was up to, it did not matter to him anyway. The boy never heard a word he the man had said to him, but the man kept walking undeterred. When the gentleman finally got to the store he greeted everyone he saw there with joy in his heart and a smile on his face. He purchased his grass seed and shared another gracious good morning with the clerk. As the man left the store he encountered a young woman who seemed a bit distraught. He took just a brief moment to say Good Morning and God Bless you, to which the young woman told him to leave her alone and continue on his way. He felt the need to tell her that God loves her and that he would pray for her. She muttered something that may have resembled a thanks, and the man continued on. What the man did not notice was that his bag had a small hole in it. Oh sure it was just a little hole in the weaving of the bag. As he passed several other people along the way, some met him with joy and some without, the bag still leaking seed, sometimes on dirt, sometimes on a sidewalk, sometimes it fell on rocks, but the man didn't even notice or concern himself with what was going on behind him. This went on until he got home. When he arrived he finally noticed the hole in the bag and that some of the seed had spilled out. He shrugged it off and went inside where he told his wife of the wonderful adventure he had just had and how beautiful it was out this morning. Never mentioning anything about the hole in the bag and the seed he had spilled out. There was no need to grumble about the lost seed, only the beauty he had just witnessed.
The point is not that we waste seed or time with people, it is that we take the time to spread seed and give some time to others. That we take the time we are given and use it wisely, not muttering and grumbling but loving and smiling. Jesus called us to love our neighbor as ourselves and not judge one another. If we can spend a little more time focusing on what God has given us and what we are to give others, instead of what is going on and how those people are receiving it, we might just change the way things look and feel around here.
If we do this thing right, we might just get out of here alive!
5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
When I was reading this parable this morning I got a great vision or feeling in my heart. If we were to just walk innocently with our bag of seed, remember that faith the size of a mustard seed or all we need to do is plant the seed, if or since the bag has a small hole in it, we would scatter seed wherever we went.
I go this picture of a simple person all but skipping. Maybe they were skipping somewhere, but were skipping and just enjoying Life.
So the new parable is as follows: A man that loved Jesus had recently built a beautiful home that he and his wife and children adored. They shared this blessing with anyone that would listen or come over. They always spoke praises of what God has down for them in their lives, how God had provided for them to receive this home. Well, work still needed to be done and this day he decided to finish seeding the lawn, as there were some bear spots, it happens he felt and he was excited and happy to do the work. So he started out on his way to town to get the seed. Being such a beautiful day he decided to walk. Along the way he saw the man that owns the house on the very next corner. He took but a second to say good morning and God bless you to the man, who grumbled something under his breath, but the man kept going with joy in his heart. He came across a young man who was seemed to be just hanging around downtown, it turns out that this youngster was listening to his I-pod, the man greeted him with a good morning and a God bless you before he noticed what the kid was up to, it did not matter to him anyway. The boy never heard a word he the man had said to him, but the man kept walking undeterred. When the gentleman finally got to the store he greeted everyone he saw there with joy in his heart and a smile on his face. He purchased his grass seed and shared another gracious good morning with the clerk. As the man left the store he encountered a young woman who seemed a bit distraught. He took just a brief moment to say Good Morning and God Bless you, to which the young woman told him to leave her alone and continue on his way. He felt the need to tell her that God loves her and that he would pray for her. She muttered something that may have resembled a thanks, and the man continued on. What the man did not notice was that his bag had a small hole in it. Oh sure it was just a little hole in the weaving of the bag. As he passed several other people along the way, some met him with joy and some without, the bag still leaking seed, sometimes on dirt, sometimes on a sidewalk, sometimes it fell on rocks, but the man didn't even notice or concern himself with what was going on behind him. This went on until he got home. When he arrived he finally noticed the hole in the bag and that some of the seed had spilled out. He shrugged it off and went inside where he told his wife of the wonderful adventure he had just had and how beautiful it was out this morning. Never mentioning anything about the hole in the bag and the seed he had spilled out. There was no need to grumble about the lost seed, only the beauty he had just witnessed.
The point is not that we waste seed or time with people, it is that we take the time to spread seed and give some time to others. That we take the time we are given and use it wisely, not muttering and grumbling but loving and smiling. Jesus called us to love our neighbor as ourselves and not judge one another. If we can spend a little more time focusing on what God has given us and what we are to give others, instead of what is going on and how those people are receiving it, we might just change the way things look and feel around here.
If we do this thing right, we might just get out of here alive!
Monday, September 26, 2011
the TRUTH
So this afternoon I have been doing an inductive bible study on the book of Hebrews, which has little to do with what I am about to write about other than to note why I am in the bible today. So, I am thumbing back into Psalms and run across a message which says: Fred, " Do not fear, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43: 1
I am not sure how that got in there, but I am sure that an angel disguised as a friend gave this to me for such a time as this. The thoughts of insignificance and lack of faith in the abilities God has placed in me sometimes gets a bit overwhelming, today being one of those times. I am not an academic person.
I am now, God called me to seminary and called me to be a pastor. he would not have done it if He was not going to see me through it. He never called the israelites into a battle and then left them for dead. When they were actively pursuing Him and true to His word, He was always there for them.
When Joseph was sold into slavery, when Daniel was in the Lions Den. When the Israelites marched around Jericho and then shouted and blew horns. The point is the tif God truly does being you to it, He can and will bring you through it.
God changed Abram's name to Abraham, He changed the names of many of His beloved. He has changed my name as well, not that I might be a great and well written biblical scholar, but that I might be able to walk into the calling He has placed upon my life.
Sometimes a new perspective is the best as well as exactly what we need. He is GOOD and his love endures forever. I need to walk out in to the newness that was brought upon Christ's death upon the cross. He did it for you and for me. Change your name if it helps you to recognize that the old is dead and the new lives. Live out the destiny that God created you for, even upon creation and Christ paid for it upon Calvary.
If we do this thing righteously, we just night get out of here alive!
I am not sure how that got in there, but I am sure that an angel disguised as a friend gave this to me for such a time as this. The thoughts of insignificance and lack of faith in the abilities God has placed in me sometimes gets a bit overwhelming, today being one of those times. I am not an academic person.
I am now, God called me to seminary and called me to be a pastor. he would not have done it if He was not going to see me through it. He never called the israelites into a battle and then left them for dead. When they were actively pursuing Him and true to His word, He was always there for them.
When Joseph was sold into slavery, when Daniel was in the Lions Den. When the Israelites marched around Jericho and then shouted and blew horns. The point is the tif God truly does being you to it, He can and will bring you through it.
God changed Abram's name to Abraham, He changed the names of many of His beloved. He has changed my name as well, not that I might be a great and well written biblical scholar, but that I might be able to walk into the calling He has placed upon my life.
Sometimes a new perspective is the best as well as exactly what we need. He is GOOD and his love endures forever. I need to walk out in to the newness that was brought upon Christ's death upon the cross. He did it for you and for me. Change your name if it helps you to recognize that the old is dead and the new lives. Live out the destiny that God created you for, even upon creation and Christ paid for it upon Calvary.
If we do this thing righteously, we just night get out of here alive!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
relationships that change the Shame game for His glory
Christ tells us as Christians that we will face persecution as believers. That we won't be recognized in our home towns. Never in the bible does it say that we will life a life free from persecution or that we will have an easy life.
Too often we act as though we expect to get through this life without battle scares and sorrows. That is not the promise at all. It sucks somedays to be quite honest. It would be a lot easier if Christ would have made that promise to us and subsequently we would not suffer, but He didn't.
An unfortunate consequence is that we go through life almost alone sometimes, it is the rare friendship that is true enough to listen and understand everything. i.e. we don't have a real place to take our issues. Most of us are unaware of our responses to things, as in we don't know why we act the way that we do.
I recently went through a class on shame and grace. What an amazing experience. Rev. Robert Walter taught it at The Masters Institute in Minneapolis Minnesota. We were taught such great things as identifying some of the things from our childhood, times when we were shamed, or guilted into certain things. Those play a part in our childhood and how we felt with things as well as our adult lives and how we still do things.
As we learn how to recognize those symptoms and how to deal with them, we can then start the healing process. Learning how to forgive and break the chains that bind will without a doubt break the chains that bind. In my life there have been so many different things that have brought shame, but I thought that I forgiven those things and those people that caused the shame. I thought that I had forgiven myself for the things that I have done to myself and others. I had stated that I forgave and found that for what ever reason I am holding onto some of those things.
We (my seminary class) got an amazing opportunity - we got to do some Theophostic prayer. An amazing time that involves some of those ingrained memories and thoughts. Recognizing the belief as well as the feeling and then asking Jesus what He might think about it. The amazing part is seeing for yourself that He cares for us, He cares for me and for you. We worship a great God and I am thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice. By my own effort I am not worthy, by His economy, I am made worthy.
Learning to be real with each other and being there for one another, is a great beginning. I pray for God's strength to continue the therapy with Christ and the healing that I know He wants for me. Phillipians 3:20-21-"20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." I continue to grow in Christ and continue to flesh out what the word relationship means. He has laid this on my heart and as well as a genuine love for people. His healing will aid me in being the same person in all circumstances. To be able to Love all His kids, not just the ones that I agree with.
I praise God for His goodness and long for His spirit to dwell so richly in me and for me to be able to walk with Him in all that I do.
If we do this thing in His will, we may just get out of here alive!
Too often we act as though we expect to get through this life without battle scares and sorrows. That is not the promise at all. It sucks somedays to be quite honest. It would be a lot easier if Christ would have made that promise to us and subsequently we would not suffer, but He didn't.
An unfortunate consequence is that we go through life almost alone sometimes, it is the rare friendship that is true enough to listen and understand everything. i.e. we don't have a real place to take our issues. Most of us are unaware of our responses to things, as in we don't know why we act the way that we do.
I recently went through a class on shame and grace. What an amazing experience. Rev. Robert Walter taught it at The Masters Institute in Minneapolis Minnesota. We were taught such great things as identifying some of the things from our childhood, times when we were shamed, or guilted into certain things. Those play a part in our childhood and how we felt with things as well as our adult lives and how we still do things.
As we learn how to recognize those symptoms and how to deal with them, we can then start the healing process. Learning how to forgive and break the chains that bind will without a doubt break the chains that bind. In my life there have been so many different things that have brought shame, but I thought that I forgiven those things and those people that caused the shame. I thought that I had forgiven myself for the things that I have done to myself and others. I had stated that I forgave and found that for what ever reason I am holding onto some of those things.
We (my seminary class) got an amazing opportunity - we got to do some Theophostic prayer. An amazing time that involves some of those ingrained memories and thoughts. Recognizing the belief as well as the feeling and then asking Jesus what He might think about it. The amazing part is seeing for yourself that He cares for us, He cares for me and for you. We worship a great God and I am thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice. By my own effort I am not worthy, by His economy, I am made worthy.
Learning to be real with each other and being there for one another, is a great beginning. I pray for God's strength to continue the therapy with Christ and the healing that I know He wants for me. Phillipians 3:20-21-"20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." I continue to grow in Christ and continue to flesh out what the word relationship means. He has laid this on my heart and as well as a genuine love for people. His healing will aid me in being the same person in all circumstances. To be able to Love all His kids, not just the ones that I agree with.
I praise God for His goodness and long for His spirit to dwell so richly in me and for me to be able to walk with Him in all that I do.
If we do this thing in His will, we may just get out of here alive!
Friday, August 26, 2011
under attack
Off I go. It is the first week of Seminary and already under heavy attack. I have been praying that I could afford school without working. I want more than anything to do a great job for the Lord. I want to be all that Jesus died for me to be. I want to be able to go to school and not work, outside the 15 hours a week internship.
The enemy is hitting me so very hard that I am feeling terrible. I am having times where I feel as though I should not even be here. That is a lie, in the name and blood of Jesus I cast that lie out of my life. This vessel is for the Lord.
I know all the right things to do to cast these thoughts out of my head and heart. I know that they have no place in me, and yet they come. These thoughts invade my sleep and take over when I am not even looking. Taking away the joy of the Lord from my very soul, from my heart. I don't feel like even going to school. I am under attack.
Turn to the word of God Fred, turn to the word of God. So I am praying and praying and God tells me to open up the book. So I open the book and what do I see? Ezekial 15 - Jerusalem, a useless Vine. great God are you telling me I am worthless? Of course He isn't. I am an heir to the thrown, I am a Prince in the Most Royal Family. I Frederick J. Schumacher am Jesus' little brother. I am not worthless. I am worthy of this inheritance. I am worthy of what God Himself has called me to. I am "I Am's" boy. While Ezekial 15 talks about a worthless vine, Ezekial 16 talks about God's love and provision. It talks about how much God loves us. Although on the day of your birth you were not even washed, you lay there in your blood, God saw you and had more for you. 16:6 says"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood,'LIVE!' " I made you flourish like a plant of the field.
This passage goes on to talk about all the provision of God. When it seems as though you are not enough as Jerusalem surely felt, repent from you worldly views and flourish in God's gifts. He loves you and you can't do anything about that. When the enemy is telling you that you are not enough, tell him to kindly go back to hell where he belongs. Tell him that he has no place in the son or daughter of the Most High God.
God's love endures forever. Do not turn back into the ways of the world. Do not turn to jewels or rely on your own beauty as it talks about in the rest of the chapter. Stay in Daddies arms. Stay where the Son is so nice and warm on your heart, that your skin even feels warm.
Please grab a friend when the enemy is attacking, you may very well be on the brink of something wonderful for the Kingdom. Be encouraged that you are under attack, that means that you are worth it.
If we do this thing right, we might just get out of here alive!
The enemy is hitting me so very hard that I am feeling terrible. I am having times where I feel as though I should not even be here. That is a lie, in the name and blood of Jesus I cast that lie out of my life. This vessel is for the Lord.
I know all the right things to do to cast these thoughts out of my head and heart. I know that they have no place in me, and yet they come. These thoughts invade my sleep and take over when I am not even looking. Taking away the joy of the Lord from my very soul, from my heart. I don't feel like even going to school. I am under attack.
Turn to the word of God Fred, turn to the word of God. So I am praying and praying and God tells me to open up the book. So I open the book and what do I see? Ezekial 15 - Jerusalem, a useless Vine. great God are you telling me I am worthless? Of course He isn't. I am an heir to the thrown, I am a Prince in the Most Royal Family. I Frederick J. Schumacher am Jesus' little brother. I am not worthless. I am worthy of this inheritance. I am worthy of what God Himself has called me to. I am "I Am's" boy. While Ezekial 15 talks about a worthless vine, Ezekial 16 talks about God's love and provision. It talks about how much God loves us. Although on the day of your birth you were not even washed, you lay there in your blood, God saw you and had more for you. 16:6 says"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood,'LIVE!' " I made you flourish like a plant of the field.
This passage goes on to talk about all the provision of God. When it seems as though you are not enough as Jerusalem surely felt, repent from you worldly views and flourish in God's gifts. He loves you and you can't do anything about that. When the enemy is telling you that you are not enough, tell him to kindly go back to hell where he belongs. Tell him that he has no place in the son or daughter of the Most High God.
God's love endures forever. Do not turn back into the ways of the world. Do not turn to jewels or rely on your own beauty as it talks about in the rest of the chapter. Stay in Daddies arms. Stay where the Son is so nice and warm on your heart, that your skin even feels warm.
Please grab a friend when the enemy is attacking, you may very well be on the brink of something wonderful for the Kingdom. Be encouraged that you are under attack, that means that you are worth it.
If we do this thing right, we might just get out of here alive!
Monday, August 15, 2011
time of need
It is so amazing how, when you think that you couldn't possibly get any more in need of people or reliant upon friends, God shows you another situation. When yo think that you might have a firm grasp on what humility is, think again. God will allow you to learn even more about it.
I have been laid up for a little over a month. I blew my back out the week of Easter. ( It is quite ironic that on the week of easter, I find out the true weight of the cross, or at least enough to get an understanding if only a little bit). I can't carry a five pound bag of potatoes, and yet I need to move in the next few days or so.
Having to rely completely on others for everything is so very humbling. I am moving and for the first time in my life my body is incapable doing any of it or of working as a carpenter. It is time to put my words from the pulpit in to action in my life. When the bible says to rely fully on God and not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough to worry about on it's own. I need to believe that God will in fact provide for me and the journey that He has for me. Seminary is tough enough without all the worries of my inability to provide for myself, not being able to focus and concentrate for any amount of time.
The Proverbs speak of our trust in God: Proverbs 3: 21-26 "My child, do not let these escape from your sight: Keep sound wisdom and prudence, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down," your ill not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked: for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
God I love you and I have to admit, I don't doubt you, it is me. Sometimes I doubt my ability to listen and follow through with what it is that you will do for me. I need You Lord!
I have to say thanks to God for getting me through the sermon on Sunday. Lord you showed up in the writing and the delivery of the message. You gave me the courage to share my life with the congregation. You gave excellent scripture verses that tied with my life so well. You gave me strength to stand for 30 minutes. Lord you have provided everything that I need, now please let forth the victory chant that tells me we are going to make it. Lord show me how to fight from the victory of the cross. How do I not let the enemy into my life at this stage. God you name dreams of victory - You are Glory! You are Victory! Jesus, the price you paid on the cross is more the enough! Help me walk that in all that I do, help me get rid of doubt.
Dear Lord, help me get out of this thing alive!
I have been laid up for a little over a month. I blew my back out the week of Easter. ( It is quite ironic that on the week of easter, I find out the true weight of the cross, or at least enough to get an understanding if only a little bit). I can't carry a five pound bag of potatoes, and yet I need to move in the next few days or so.
Having to rely completely on others for everything is so very humbling. I am moving and for the first time in my life my body is incapable doing any of it or of working as a carpenter. It is time to put my words from the pulpit in to action in my life. When the bible says to rely fully on God and not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough to worry about on it's own. I need to believe that God will in fact provide for me and the journey that He has for me. Seminary is tough enough without all the worries of my inability to provide for myself, not being able to focus and concentrate for any amount of time.
The Proverbs speak of our trust in God: Proverbs 3: 21-26 "My child, do not let these escape from your sight: Keep sound wisdom and prudence, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down," your ill not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked: for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
God I love you and I have to admit, I don't doubt you, it is me. Sometimes I doubt my ability to listen and follow through with what it is that you will do for me. I need You Lord!
I have to say thanks to God for getting me through the sermon on Sunday. Lord you showed up in the writing and the delivery of the message. You gave me the courage to share my life with the congregation. You gave excellent scripture verses that tied with my life so well. You gave me strength to stand for 30 minutes. Lord you have provided everything that I need, now please let forth the victory chant that tells me we are going to make it. Lord show me how to fight from the victory of the cross. How do I not let the enemy into my life at this stage. God you name dreams of victory - You are Glory! You are Victory! Jesus, the price you paid on the cross is more the enough! Help me walk that in all that I do, help me get rid of doubt.
Dear Lord, help me get out of this thing alive!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A rant if you will
The point between Love and Law
This is the point where my Lord dwells
His home is between judgment and righteousness
Between Ego and humility
Where the love pours out like wine, on both the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the smart and the "ignorant"
Lord how do we enter into this place that you have prepared for us Lord
The place where love is the law
The place that following you Lord is the place we desire to be
To be in constance fellowship with you Lord
How is it that we have gone so far on your grace,
and have yet to walk on our own with you
Lord I feel as though I fail you more than I champion for you
What is this allusive point that I hunt for,
that place between my head and my heart where I seem to get lost more than I am found
To love you to the point of ridicule
To love you to the point of persecution
God my God how is it that you still love me in spite of me
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