Jehoiada

I have a huuuuuuuge family!  You have no idea how huge…I don’t even know how huge.

I just know that I’m grateful and thankful for them all just as much as I am grateful and thankful to have the privilege of being a part of my family.

No, I’m not talking about my paternal or maternal family, my immediate family or extended family, nor am I referencing in general the family of mankind.

The family I’m addressing is a family that is uniquely distinct from all other families, an amazing family that has sacrificially and unreservedly served our nation (and other nations) for countless years; and will no doubt continue to do so in the exceptional manner in which we’ve done and do until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth (Acts 1:9-11).

My family that I’m speaking of is the United States military.  I’m almost certain you figured that out by now considering our country’s current calendar-period.  One need not be the most colorful crayon in the Crayola box to have figured this out.

On this year’s Memorial Day, I acknowledge my military family, past, present and future – my fellow Army soldiers (Infantrymen, Airborne paratroopers, Drill Instructors and other specialties) my fellow Marines (whom I so enjoyed competing against and working with during my 20+ years of active service), my fellow Navy sailors and personnel, my fellow Airmen and Airwomen, my fellow Coast Guard, Reservists and National Guard members all.  I say to you that you are now and always have been immeasurably and undeniably outstanding…and I’m extremely proud just to be in our “family of heroes.”

As I acknowledge my family with great gratitude and honor, I ask you, the reader, to do something for us.  Just a little something as a way of showing appreciation to us for things we’ve consistently and continually provided and maintained for the U.S. of A. (and others) for years upon years…a little thing called “freedom.”

I ask you simply to “Remember Us.”

As you enjoy the weather, the time off from work, the cookouts, relaxation, shopping and travel opportunities on a day called Memorial Day; just “Remember Us.”

Many of my family members have given everything so many others wouldn’t have to give anything to be who they are and do what they do freely.  So, as you enjoy a hot dog on a leisurely day, a day that’s been designated as a memoriam to my great family, Remember Us – the United States military.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

The Bible conveys a wellspring of instruction on the benefits, merits and necessity of prayer.

Just to name a few, the Living Word emphatically instructs all of mankind to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), to not neglect the practice of prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5), and to resist becoming weary or disheartened when praying (Luke 18:1).

What exactly is prayer (someone may ask)?  Simply put, prayer is communication with God.

There are no requirements to communicating via prayer with God – there is no preferred or set position or posture more accepted than another (i.e. kneeling, sitting, standing or laying down) and there is no particular form of presentation that’s prerequisite (i.e. verbal or non-verbal).  However, God must be acknowledged and honored for who He is (His authority, persona, sovereignty, etc.) and since it is communication with God, prayer must be understood as dialogue and not a monologue. Finally, sincerity of the heart and a personal relationship with God is highly recommended.

On the evening of Friday, May 16, 2008, five people having a personal relationship with God came to my home with a single, united purpose – they came to pray for my wife, my family and me.

They came humbly and without fanfare.  Their mode of travel did not consist of an impressive and luxurious vehicle; they were not attired in the bright, fancy and flamboyant colors and costumes currently familiar among a great number of well-known televangelists or mega-church monarchs.  They were non-descript people who had aligned themselves in truth with the one, true and living God, who came as previously stated with a single, united purpose – they came to pray.

Like a squad of elite, special-forces warriors, they took up positions in the Schneidmill family room like combat veterans who’d already received and analyzed all available intelligence reports on the location, strength and determined design of the enemy forces they’d come to confront and decisively defeat by communicating with God through prayer.

These gentle, yet determined “prayer soldiers” listened attentively as my wife and I shared details pertinent to the reason they’d come to pray for us.  And at what appeared exactly the right and most opportune times for giving input during our thoughts, they politely gave words of powerful encouragement and valuable insight.  Additionally, their “Squad Leader” (Curtis Terrell*) clearly stated that they had come to pray for us because they’d been “mandated” by God to do.

And so they did…they prayed.

They prayed aggressively and with authority.

They prayed with commitment and confidence.

They prayed with fervor and ferocity.

And they prayed with sincerity and tenacity.

I was then, am now and forever shall be grateful for their actions which essentially were outward and visible expressions of love and obedience to God and love for their fellow man (us).

In bringing this week’s submission to a close, I want to mention one more thing that the Bible says about prayer – that the prayers of those whose lives are pleasing to God, whose characters are in right standing with Him; those prayers bring forth an immeasurable amount of benefit (James 5:16).

If the five people who graced my home that evening were not/are not in right standing with God, many, many people today who profess to know and/or have a relationship with God (myself included) are in dire need of help.

These were indeed and undoubtedly people of God, and when the people of God pray (people who consistently live in loving, obeying and serving God in deed more so than word), God is honored, lives are blessed and situations of all sizes and types do certainly benefit.

So, if you’re a “people” of God, I invite you and remind you to pray.  Our nation and world has a myriad of needs today.

And people of God need to pray to seek Him for His help in all of them.

* Curtis Terrell is the Pastor of the Restore the Breach Fellowship church in Germantown, MD. USA.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

With Mother’s Day now three days in our rear-view mirror, I apologetically, emphatically and sincerely wish a happy post-Mother’s Day to all mothers worldwide.

For this period’s Jehoiada submission, I’d like to give some acknowledgement and recognition to a most unique person.

I have a friend named Liz.  I normally address her as Miss Liz.  I don’t address her as such because of any recognition of age, seniority or as a sign of concentrated respect…I just call her “Miss Liz” because to me, that’s definitely who she.

Again, for this period’s Jehoiada submission, I’d like to give some acknowledgement and recognition to “Miss Liz”…and talk about her a little behind her back at the same time.

There are people who are concerned about others so much so that they’ll do something demonstrative to show that…then there are folk like Liz who will make you aware of her concern without demonstrating anything.

There are people who are kind and display genuine acts of kindness…then there are folk like Liz whose kindness seeps from her pores like perspiration during a hot summer’s day.

There are people who are noticeably thoughtful and will call you and pray for you and with you when they know you’re in need of it…then there are folk like Liz who will call you when you hope no one will and pray for you and with you without you knowing about it.

There are people who are undeniably good for you and to you, are encouraging and sincerely have your best interest in their heart…then there are folk like Liz whose evident goodness drips from her every word and deed like butter off of a sho-nuff, southern style corn-on-the-cob, whose encouragement can be felt like a warm sweater on cold shoulders; and whose best interest in you always seems to be greater than what the heart can express.

I’m truly, truly appreciative, grateful and thankful for people who are like those I’ve described heretofore…but for folk like Liz (and yes…that’s you too, Miss Liz), there have not yet been words created and incorporated into human language that could aid me in giving you a fitting acknowledgement.

Folk like Liz are extremely rare…and since I was saying these things behind her back…if you see her or someone like her, please tell her (or that like-person) not to change.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

Anxieties and Concerns, Anxieties and Concerns…we all have them.

There isn’t a day that goes by that each and every one of us doesn’t face circumstances that prompt us to be Anxious or situations that give us reason(s) for Concern.

Before I continue, I want to dispel any assumption that I’m addressing this subject because of the times.

Go with me:

If current gas prices were not high; if the U.S. of A.’s economy wasn’t believed/perceived to be or actually in a recession; if crime (violent or otherwise) wasn’t rampant and becoming more so by the nanosecond; if terrorism was not a top-tier topic; if wars and rumors of wars were not covering and hovering the planet; if healthcare was happening for everyone; education was excellent for all children and political appointees and candidates truly made a priority of serving people, we’d still experience Anxieties and Concerns.

This however, is normal.  It is a human characteristic and tendency.  Were we as human beings incapable or unable of being affected by Anxieties and Concerns, I would be most Concerned about that.

Several months ago, I asked “Jehoiada” readers to pray for my “Treasure” (a reference to my wife – see “My Treasure,” Jehoiada submission, January 13, 2008).  Of those who are or may be reading my periodic attempts at writing (whoever you are), only one person actually inquired as to why I specifically made that request (thank you, John Hall).

With something as minor as that, something that may have simply been an oversight on the part of readers (again, whoever you are), I could have easily experienced Anxieties and Concerns.  In truth, I was Concerned, but had no Anxieties.

I was Concerned because I assume that a significant portion of the Jehoiada site readers are personal friends, people I know personally who genuinely and sincerely care about me and my family.  However, having been blessed with God’s gift of discernment and a substantial understanding of human nature, I didn’t develop any Anxieties because of that…but I did have Concerns.

Due to some preliminary health diagnoses my Treasure received (shortly before the time I requested prayer for her) she has experienced and demonstrated some Anxieties and Concerns.  Though to an extent some of those diagnoses have now been determined to as harmless, there are yet others that remain uncertain, unclear and unresolved. These in turn have developed within her and our children and I as well, more Anxieties and Concerns.

Now, my family and I know God to be the Lord that provides healing for us (Exodus 15:26).

We know God to be the One who is the epitome of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).

We know Him to have and give peace that surpasses all human reasoning (Philippians 4:7), to have and give love that transcends all human knowledge (Ephesians 3:19), and to possess and issue a pure quality of mercy that lasts forever (Psalm106:1).  On top of that, we are assured and certain that He can do anything and everything exceedingly and abundantly far above all we could ask for or think of (Ephesians 3:20).

We believe Him, trust Him and strive as best as we are able to do to obey Him by His Word (the Bible).  And yet, even with all that totally valid assurance and certainty of who He is and what He is capable of accomplishing on our behalf, we still have deficiencies and shortcomings in the area of believing and trusting Him…maybe you can identify.  At a minimum, we’re definitely like the account of a Dad in the Bible that told Jesus, “Lord, I believe You (what You say and do), but I need you to help me in the area of my life that I recognize pays attention to the devastating effects of doubt that grow from my uncertainty.” (Mark 9:24: extensive paraphrase – mine).

The Bible states that anything that is not of faith – that’s not of complete trust and reliance in God, is sin (Romans 14:23).  Like the Dad in Mark’s Gospel passage, I know I’m guilty of that regularly.  You may be able to identify.

But what I have learned and can say with unprecedented assurance is that we have got to trust God for every area of our lives even when we recognize we’re being attacked by or embracing doubt.  I’ve also found out that doing so often takes great individual effort and work.

So, during those regular and often times of our human existence, we must determine we’re going to trust Him and work toward that end no matter how overwhelming our situation looks or appears to be.

That is because God is the answer, cure, deliverance and solution to everything, even our Anxieties and Concerns.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved