Praise the Lord - Notes from Sermon 9/4/16

Praise the Lord
Pastor Keith Schadel
Sermon Scripture: Psalm 148:1-3

Why don't you raise your hands when you sing?
     God is not subject to your posture, so raise your hands if you want to, or don't it's up to you, you will not stifle the Spirit either way.

Why do we pray for God? Do we pray for God?

• If we are supposed to praise God is it not praying for God?
• Why do we praise God? If it's not for God then what is it for?
• God does not need anything from us!
• God is not subject to us, we are subject to God
• God does not need our praise.
• God does not need our fellowship, he desires it.
• God's love is selfless and in order for it to be expressed we were created.
• When God says for us to praise Him, it's for our benefit
• Only God is good.
• When we praise God it puts into perspective for us, God's goodness and things eternal. The really real.
• If the only healing you are praying for is for the body, "None of us are getting out of here alive."
• When we praise God we get to know God better.
• Part of our job when we witness is to introduce people to God. How do we do that if we don't know anything about God.
• The more we know about God. The more we want to know.
• God said, "Let's make man in our image." How can we grow into the image of God if we know nothing about God.
• The more we know about the image of God, the more we understand God's will for us.
• How do we get to know God?
• Study Scripture
• Study the stories of other's relationships with God.
• There are people in this church you can learn from, by learning their story.
• Prayer.
• If you include praise into every prayer you will gain a deeper understanding of God.
• All of creation is meant to praise God.

The 10 Year Un-Anniversary

Ten years ago today my mother took me to meet my new little sister. I had just signed up for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and this was the day we were finally going to meet. I remember being incredibly nervous. I went inside a house filled with chaos and met a little girl who kind of looked like me. We decided on ice cream as our first meeting time and an instant friendship was created. We would meet on a weekly basis that first year and then at least once a month after that. As our lives changed we would meet less often for longer periods of time. In the 9 years and 1.5 months that Autumn was in my life I learned so much about what it means to give of yourself, how to love someone unconditionally, and how to pray for someone through earth shattering events. I also learned that not every broken soul that comes into my life am I supposed to fix.

Almost a year ago I said goodbye to Autumn for the last time. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I cried for months after, and there are times that it still catches me off guard and I feel my heart break. Just last week the lady at the bank asked about her and it kills me a little to say that I have no idea where she is. But it's the truth. I had to choose my budding family over the relationship she and I had spent half of her life creating, when she decided it was a good idea to become a threat to my family. There comes a time when safety trumps years and I had to choose my marriage and my unborn child over a young lady who didn't know how to accept the love I was offering.

Because of this situation, I learned so much about God's grace and can't help but think that my broken heart is just a sliver of what He feels all the time. God's grace is offered freely to us, it is a gift, but we have to accept it. He will not force it on us. I imagine this as a beautifully wrapped present under the Christmas tree (even though  Easter is the holiday we celebrate for this). It doesn't matter how beautiful the wrapping paper is, if we don't open it and accept this gift as our own, it will continue to sit there, it isn't going to throw itself in our lap and say open me, it will just wait until we are ready, or go unopened our whole lives, it's up to us.

This lesson is actually why Adah's middle name is Grace. It was the biggest lesson I learned while I was pregnant with her. I never really understood grace until then, it was just a church word we use a lot, now it is real to me, and something I cherish as one of my most prized possessions. It finds its way into everything I teach and do. God's grace is so incredibly powerful, we will never fully comprehend it, but I think any time we try to love someone unconditionally and they throw it back in our face and say no thank you, we get a glimpse at just what Christ was offering at the cross.

Today, I'm actually not sad, I assumed I would be an emotional mess today, thinking about the anniversary that isn't happening. But those  9+ years were not for nothing, even though I don't  know where she is or what she is doing. God used that experience to help shape me into the pastor, mother, friend, and spouse that I am today. I will always pray for her safety and happiness. I pray that one day she will realize the gift of grace is waiting for her to open and that she will remember that she is not too far gone for the love of Christ to reach her. And I will always be thankful for the time we had and lessons I learned because she was in my life for a season. Autumn may never get to know my daughter but my daughter is being loved more fully because I knew Autumn. It was a match made on paper but blessed in Heaven. It may not have ended the way I had hoped but I am better because of it! There will always be a special place in my heart for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the idea of mentoring young people who need a help getting a good start in life!

This is how I choose to remember Autumn and our time together. I'm working in my heart to not let the end of our relationship define the years we had together that were great!

To Autumn: Wherever you are today. I hope you feel the love and prayers that are surrounding you!

Blessing or Curse? Notes from Sermon 8/28/16

I've decided to start taking notes during the sermon time and share them with you. This will only work on weeks that my child cooperates and goes to the nursery or sleeps through church. So we will see if we can make this work on a regular basis.

Sermon Title: Blessing or Curse?
Scripture: Psalm 46: 1-3

No one is innocent. Not even babies.

Infirmity: Separation from God, that you're born with.
Transgressions: Sins you know you've made.
    God's grace covers both.

We are saved by grace, it is a gift.

There was no concept of disaster before the fall of man.

To live is Christ, to die is gain!

In all things give thanks.

How is it that God uses our suffering for good?

1. Prepares us to be the bride of Christ
• Redemption fee: The thing a groom, in Bible times, can pay to have a priest ceremonially clean an unclean bride.
• Jesus paid the redemption fee for his bride, the church.
• Purity vs. Unclean vs. Lost
• If you are debating between watching a ball game and going and saving a soul, you would have an unclean soul.
• If there is no debate you are going to watch the ball game, you have a lost soul.
• If there is no debate you are going to save the soul, you have a pure soul.
2. Assist to become more humble.
3. Depend on God
4. God's power is revealed by our suffering
• Way more power than you can get from a tank or an airplane.
5. Prepares us for Heaven!
• How many of us would rather Jesus come now than go home and eat with our  families?
• It is a great gift to be ready for eternity.

The Tree of Life

In the Garden of Eden there were many trees. All those that were beautiful and those that were purposeful for eating. There were also two special trees. The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God speaks about the Tree of Knowledge and He tells Adam and Eve not to eat of it, because if they do they shall surely die. After they eat of this tree they receive the knowledge of good and evil and are kicked out of the Garden. They are kicked out of the garden because they are no longer in perfect communion with God, there is a separation. And if they stay in the garden then they can continue to eat from the Tree of Life. It makes sense that if the Tree of Knowledge had fruit that provided knowledge then the Tree of Life had fruit that provided life, and God promised them death as their consequence for eating of the Tree of Knowledge.

Death ascended onto Earth the day humanity received the knowledge of good and evil. Death is sin, which is separation from God. Humanity is not bodies that have souls but souls that have bodies. The body was never meant to live eternally, but the soul was and it was created to live eternally in communion with God. The day death entered the earth there was a separation of human souls from God, that could only be corrected with a blood sacrifice. The only way to commune with God was by first atoning for your sins with a perfect blood sacrifice. But there was still no eternal communion because none of these sacrifices were perfect enough for eternity, therefore they had to be repeated each and every time you wished to commune with God. The most perfect earthly lamb's blood was not enough to conquer death.

Until the day Grace entered the world. God offered the sacrifice of Heaven's perfect lamb on a tree outside of Jerusalem. The cross became the new Tree of Life offered back to humanity so they could re-enter the Garden where their souls could be in communion with God, the way it was originally intended.

Humanity does not deserve to eat from the Tree of Life. We've proven this over and over, you can read many stories about it in the Bible, but also we fail each day to live in a way that earns the fruit from this tree. We can't earn this fruit, the Tree of Life always has been and always will be something given to humanity by our creator. At first it was in the garden where Adam and Eve took for granted its fruit and now it stand in the form of a cross where Christ's blood was shed and Grace flows freely. We still find ourselves taking this gift for granted and it is offered today as openly and freely as if we were standing in the garden with Adam and Eve. We will never be good enough or devout enough to eat from this tree. We will consistently choose the knowledge of good and evil over life, but if we can come to the cross and humble ourselves before God, and accept that Christ is our Savior and it is what He has done not what we have done that saves us, the gift of life is ours. We partake in communion in our church services as a reminder of this act of grace from Christ when He invited us into eternal perfect communion with God through His blood.

Today look to the Tree of Life not the Tree of Knowledge for your sustenance, for from it flows the Gift of Grace and Life eternal!

Kansas Christian Ashram 2016

Do you like a break from work? I know I do, but even better than a break from work is a Christian break from work. Ashram mean to break from work and it is actually a Hindu practice, that has been adopted into a Christian practice of Retreat with an Evangelist, Bible Teacher, Prayer, Worship, and good friends who become family.

A year ago I was asked to lead the youth group portion of the Kansas Christian Ashram. I remember wondering what in the world that was, but knowing the man who asked me, it had to be a cool thing. So I talked with my pastor and did some research and then I agreed to go. I loaded up my pregnant tired self and headed to Sterling, Kansas not really sure what to expect. I met some of the coolest people I have had the pleasure to know. I spent most of my time with the youth but each evening we joined the adults for the Evangelist hour. From the Open heart ceremony to the healing service and the hour of the over flowing heart I was awestruck at this different way to do worship with people I had never met.

I am United Methodist by tradition and I always feel a little out of place when I do worship in a way that is new to me. So I found it extremely comforting to be surrounded by United Methodist Pastors, many of whom know my father in law and my pastor. I remember being incredibly skeptical at the beginning of the week and knowing when I went home that this was something I wanted my child to experience on a regular basis. The first year I was overwhelmed by the whole experience and just how much the spirit moved in just three days.

So I returned this year with my almost 7 month old in tow. Wondering why it was I agreed to do one more things this summer that required us to be away from home and Adah's daddy for a third week. In her seventh month of life we spent three weeks of it away from Adam. But I had agreed so here we were back in Sterling, Kansas ready to teach the youth about calling.

The week begins with the Hour of the Open Heart. And everyone in attendance has the opportunity to share if they wish what it is that they need and want this week while they are at the Ashram. I didn't share because I wasn't sure what I wanted, because what I wanted was not there. I wanted to be with my husband. I wanted my own bed, and the comforts of home, not to be at another commitment depriving my daughter of time spent with her daddy. So I sat in the back and listened as others shared.

The next day I returned after a remarkable night of sleep in the motel (I couldn't believe how comfortable the bed was). We ate breakfast then the youth and I slipped away for youth group. I had forgotten how quiet this group of kids were and we played some games to break the ice and re-get to know each other. We met for 2 hours then returned to listen to the Evangelist. Lunch followed and then we went and sang songs at the Presbyterian Manor and played Bingo. When we returned we had 2 more hours of youth group, then dinner, a Lay Witness Hour, and another hour with the Evangelist.

Thankfully my parents decided to come to Sterling to help me out and they took Adah for the day and came back for dinner. I had two youth with me to help out. And Jake, my intern shared his Testimony on Thursday night. He did a great job. He also joined the band and played guitar for the praise and worship times.

We had the same schedule on Friday, except we had free time in the afternoon instead of the mission work. So I went back to the hotel to nap with Adah. The nap didn't work so well, but we had fun anyway. Then I returned for the afternoon and evening. I was asked to give my testimony on Friday night, and since I made Jake do it the day before I decided to share. I had to leave before the healing ceremony to put Adah to bed but Saturday I returned well rested and ready for the final pieces of the day, knowing Adah would soon be returning to Hesston with my parents to see her daddy.

While I had the youth and Allie had the children, the adults were in Bible Study with the Bible Teacher and in prayer with one another.

Words that would have previously turned me off to an event like this are Evangelist, Ashram, Healing Service, Time of Silence, and Testimony sharing. But there is something about this Ashram that has captured my heart and made me a believer in what it does and what it stands for. These are the things I love about the Ashram.

1. Immediately I became a part of the family. There are no outsiders here, everyone is part of the family and everyone is cared about, talked to, and invested in.

2. My child was loved deeply here. From the adults to the children everyone loved my child and asked about her when she was away with her grandparents.

3. The youth have a special place in my heart and I look forward to seeing them again.

4. The grandparents. Most of the children and youth were there with their grandparents. This is powerful to me, these grandparents were investing in the spiritual lives of their grandchildren even if their parents were unable to attend.

5. The chef at the college. This might seem weird but this man just has an overflowing kind of spirit. He loves his job, and he takes great care in serving the people that come into his kitchen.

6. The youth I brought with me were loved and cherished by all, and invested in. They were not seen as too young or incapable because of their age, instead they were encouraged and pushed in the direction of the their callings and used in a way according to their gifts. They were appreciated in the way that I appreciate them, they were seen the way I see them by more than just me.

7. I got to teach and to learn. I spent 4 hours of each day teaching and then I also got to spend the same amount of time learning. This is rare when you work in the church to get to go somewhere that feeds into you as much if not more than you are pouring out into others.

I pray that you will prayerfully consider making this part of your summer next year. July 19-22, mark your calendars now. Visit http://kansaschristianashram.org/home/  for more information. Your soul will be renewed, prayed for, invested in, and loved in so many ways, no matter your age or background!

Slow Down

Adah,

Tomorrow you turn 6 months old. It's hard to believe that six months ago I was at the hospital trying to will you to come out. You were so content to stay inside and swim around. You barely stopped moving long enough for the nurses to keep you on the heart monitor. And you definitely didn't want to slow down long enough to do your job to come out naturally. So at 7:46 the next morning they had to force you out through a C-Section. I wish I could go back and relive the first three weeks of your life knowing where we are now. Secretly I think I was mad at you for not coming out the way that you were supposed to. I was in pain physically and you didn't want to sleep much and I just wanted to cry and be held but Daddy had to go back to work and then so did Aunt Nicole and Grandma so I had to do it, and I had to do it by myself. It was so frustrating and I was mad at myself for feeling this way toward the best thing in my life, I knew it wouldn't last and I'm so thankful it didn't.

We have come so far since those first few weeks. 

The first picture here is from the day you turned 5 months old. The second one is from today. You have changed so much this past month. You now sit by yourself and play for long periods of time, and you roll all over the place. You babble constantly and love to blow bubble and make raspberry sounds. You haven't really stopped moving since God blessed us with the gift of you. Even your sonogram pictures are blurry because you wouldn't hold still. It is so much fun watching you figure out this world and watching you play is my favorite past time. 

But this morning with this picture comparison all I could think was slow down. Stay little for awhile longer. This picture took my breath away. So sweetheart it is ok with me if you want to slow down a bit. But I know that won't happen because that just isn't you. You have to be on the move and go go go is just your style. So I guess I'll try to keep up with you and enjoy every moment as it flies by. 

I pray that as you speed through everything you don't lose your smile, your silliness, and your sweetness. I love you sweet child of mine!

Love, 

Mommy

Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman

Happy Father's Day, Adam

Daddy, look at me now!

Your heart jumped with my heartbeat on the screen.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your breath I took away with my first cry.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your voice was the first I could recognize.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your arms are where I found my first rest.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your name is the first on my lips.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your song is the one that brings me peace.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your hands hold mine as I learn to walk around.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your smile is what I look for as I take my first bow!

Daddy, look at me now!

Your patience is guiding me as I learn to drive this car.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your approval is what I need on this very first date.

Daddy, look at me now!

You're the one I need to show me how a man should be.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your arm is where I'll be as you walk me down the aisle.

Daddy, look at me now!

Your breath I will take, each step of the way.

Daddy, look at me now!

You're the most special one on this first Father's Day!

Love,

Adah

6/19/16