Making Time

Its been a long, hard year here in the Schmildin household. I have been very preoccupied, run down and far to consumed with the problems of the past year. God has been showing me just how much time I have wasted worrying over the seemingly endless catastrophes that haven taken place over the past year of our lives.

It's so easy to lose focus. But the Lord is forever faithful and has not only been revealing the truth of my ditractedness but also bringing forth new life and hope in my soul. He is giving me a strength and a determination that I do not believe I have ever had before.

In all of my Christian walk I have never really strayed too far from the Lord. I have never walked away, or felt that He walked away from me. Not entirely anyways. This past year, even though I talked with the Lord daily, I have discovered that I wasnt really trusting Him. I know in my heart that God is using all I have been through to teach me how to have an even greater trust in Him, and His ability to work in my life. He is showing me how much time I have wasted as well as working in me at deeper levels to grow and nurture my belief in His faithfulness.

Nothing in this world is as fulfilling and satisfying to me as sharing Gods heart with others. My heart is so full of joy when I type or speak and allow the Holy Spirit to flood the pages or the room with the truths that have been imbedded into the depths of my soul.

I have missed being me...I am looking forward to growing in who God has called me to be. I still have some things to work through...But, Im getting there!

An old friend left this message on my FaceBook page recently,

"Hey Daveda! Congrats on your new grandbaby, you are one of the most beautiful Grandma's I've ever seen! :) On another note...I have decided today, to pray for you to have more time to blog...any selfishness on my part? Maybe a bit. ;)"

and I realized that Im not the only one who misses me.

I am hesitant to say I will blog regularly...yet...but I would like to. So, maybe all of you could pray for me too. Pray that what I am truly passionate about will be what I make the most time for.

and...to my "old friend" Vicky...Thank You!

Even When

I made it here twice this week! Woohoo!! If you didn't catch the weeks earlier post just boogie on down below and take a look.

We have had so many things going on in our lives this past past year...and they are still going. Who knows what lifes going to look like in seven months from now...I wonder??

What I do know and am increasingly learning, is that I don't have to try and figure it out. So refreshing...there are moments when wish I just knew what was coming so I could prepare myself and my heart, but I guess that God's job anyway.

So I will continue to be lead by the Holy Spirit and trust that He is in the process of doing just that, preparing me for what is to come. He's good at that ya know! We often get in His way, thats the problem.

We (I, I'm assuming I'm not alone in this) Try to figure out whats coming, try to reason out scenarios, try to look deep inside and determine what our "faith" says...WOW! Can we all say OVERWHELMING!!!

I'm glad that I am increasingly growing in having my "faith" in the person of Jesus regardless of the outcome. I'm glad that God is teaching me how to continually trust in HIS goodness, wisdom, favor and power at work in my life regardless of what I see.

I'm glad that He is faithful and constant to me, Even When I struggle to believe Him.

"I AM"

I wish I could get to this blog more often, however, it seems as though I feel and it is necessary to write and share with you some deeply thought out insights that are proof read and thought over and over,- or nothing at all.

I don't have as much time to be in blogger world as I used to, but I really miss it. I miss you.

So. I've decided that I am just going to pop on here and share whatever happens to be on my mind. I'm not going to spend a lot of time "proof reading" and "rewording" what I say. I'm just going to put it out there and thats how you'll get it. If you came to my house for a cup of Starbucks House Blend, we would just talk. Just plain, raw, unproofed, thoughts and feelings.

So, lets have coffee.

I don't have a lot to say today other than my life has been full of trials and situations this past year. At the present time, this is still the case as I am sure is true for many or all of you. We all have "stuff" going on, right? Right.

Anyway, a simple sentence gave me peace this morning and I felt like sharing. I believe this is for me, and all of you that are having coffee with me right now.

"I AM, what your looking for."

Simple, Profound, Life-Giving.

"I AM, what your looking for."


Being Loved By Him, With You,
Daveda

Living in Eden

What do you think it was like for Adam and Eve, living in Eden? Can you imagine a place with no shame, condemnation, guilt, or remorse. Close your eyes for just a moment and think about what life would be like if none of these things ever came betweeen you and God; Can you imagine it?

I can. Oh, how I long to learn and have an understanding that goes to the very core of my being, the redemtive revelation of Gods love for me. How my heart longs to recognize at a much deeper levels the oneness that we have with the Father because of what Jesus has done for us.

I believe there is a truth hidden in these thoughts of mine. A truth that will guide and lead us to a place of intwined intimacy with the Father. A truth that encompasses our hearts and souls in such a way that we will never doubt the Fathers love and acceptance of us.

So, what do you think? What do you think life would be like, here and now, if we received and accepted the truth that we have been redeemed back to the place of Eden?

Which Gospel

Thought number one is, WOW! It really has been a long time since I have posted on here. I am hopeful that I will be able to do so a bit more often from now on. Plus, I miss all of my wonderful blogging friends!

So, do you want to know whats on my mind this morning? Good! Because I want to share it with you!

We all hear a vast array of teaching. Some comes from sources whom believe A is the right perception of the Gospel and others believe B is the right perception, others C and so on and so forth. But, how do we know what is really truth with so many teachings available?

I once read in Velvet Elvis, a wonderful book by Rob Bell, that the Bible is like a sparkling Gem. It has many sides and colors. If you look at it one way you see it as blue, another pink, yet another yellow and so on. This is of course paraphrased in my own words and understanding of what I read.

So, does this mean that everything is right? Am I trying to tell you that there is no right and wrong, that what you think or believe is right for you, regardless of what it is?

NO! We must see every color and side of the Bible through the direct revelation of the person of Jesus Christ! Without this we see things void of the Fathers heart and love for us.

Paul tells us in Galatians that there is a true Gospel. The Gospel of truth and freedom in Christ. As a matter of fact, he corrects the Galatians for allowing themselves to be put back under the law, walking away from the freedoms they once walked in through believing in the truth of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Following rules and regulations do not make you righteous in the sight of God. Believing, relying on and clinging to Jesus is what makes us righteous! Even Abraham was counted as righteous simply because he believed God.

I have found in my own life that there are certain rules I live by, but not because they make me righteous, but because they are good for me and make my life easier. Because it is my desire to do what is right for me and my family. It is MY desire to do what I believe glorifies God, in my actions attitude and behavior. Not because I willed it and tried to change myself, but because I have been transformed in these areas through the presence and the power of my Lord!

Believing that Jesus is the source of our righteousness does not mean that we live a life void of any order, it simply means that we have order because we see that it is good. We see that through the power of the Holy Spirit we can walk with ease as we are lead and changed by Him. He will create order in our lives through our surrender to Him. His desire becomes our desire as we are filled with more of Him, and receive deeper revelation of His love for us.

Not every teaching fills you with freedom in Christ. Some teaching points you back to self-effort and teaches that YOU must be able to live a certain way and follow a list of rules to be right in the sight of God. They teach that it is up to you to make yourself right and acceptable to the Father.

But, that's not what Paul said. Paul said that the true Gospel is the Gospel of freedom in Christ through the power of the Holy spirit! This is where radical transformation takes place.

All of your self-effort is like rubbish and dirty rags. Who do we think we are, if we believe we can becom like God without His power working and operating in our hearts and minds? If we could be righteous through our own efforts, then why did Jesus have to die?

What Gospel do you believe?

Endless Possibilities

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with all that life throws your way? Have you ever had a day, week, or a season that seemed too big to get through? Have you ever felt like you know you should be looking up, but your head just feels too heavy?

Me? Yes, to all of the above.

I am grateful that when I feel overwhelmed Jesus can catch and carry all that is coming my way, it is no surprise to Him. When life seems too big, He is bigger. When I can't look up, He is holding me in His hands. When my faith seems to small, His is more then enough. When doubt crawls into my mind, He is still faithful.

If what you are going through right now, seems too big...

If what you are seeing looks impossible...

Don't be discouraged, don't lose hope.

God has not left you or forsaken you.

His promises have not stopped working in your life.

Walk by faith, not by sight, right around the corner is the promise, the promise that belongs to you. The promise that Jesus purchased for you. The promise for your health, your children, your finances, your family etc...

It's there, it's for you, because of Jesus. Because of what He has done for you.
You qualify because you are hidden in Christ.

You don't have to earn it or deserve it. Jesus did them both.

God has not changed His mind about loving you. Even when you may have changed your mind about loving yourself.

If you feel frustrated think about what you are thinking about. The impossibility of your situation...Or, the endless possibilities that are found in Christ.

I needed a reminder today; I though maybe you might need one too.

Being Loved By Him, With You,
Daveda

Personality, From the Inside Out

We all have one. Not one person on the face of the earth is without personality. I have heard the phrase "He/She has no personality." Could it be that their seeming lack of personality, is indeed their personality?

Personality;The complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterizes a unique individual.

Our personality is made up of all that we are. The good and the not so good. I used to be the kind of person that didn't like much about myself. I never thought I was good enough, kind enough, smart enough, pretty enough, or talented enough.

I am happy to say, that I am no longer that person. I must say (at the risk of sounding a bit conceited) I Really like myself. I like who I am. I think I am good enough, kind enough, smart enough, pretty enough, and talented enough. I like who God has created me to be!

The Question: so, how did I get from there to here.

The answer:...Jesus.

I stopped trying to make myself be all that I thought I should be. I stopped comparing myself to others and their gifts and talents. I began trusting Jesus.

The Amplified Bible defines faith as; The leaning of your whole personality on Him (God) in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.

I love it! The leaning of your WHOLE personality on HIM. That covers it all. Because of what Jesus has done for me I can walk in all that He is, instead of all that I think I am not.

As we begin to agree with God about who He says we are, all He says we can be, we will be able to like ourselves. Not in a conceited-I am better then you-kind of way. But in a way that says, I am hidden in Christ, and the Father sees me as such. I am hidden in Christ, and so are you!

We cannot change ourselves. We cannot. We can however ask the Father to help us trust Him to bring about change, and we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He begins changing our personalities from the inside out.

I am not implying that I think I am perfect. Only that I believe God is in the process of bringing His perfection that He has placed on the inside of me, to the outside.

Personality, It all begins on the inside.