The Importance of Accepting Others
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.

He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've got a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.

A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There's a miracle called -Friendship- that dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift It always brings and you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

If You Never...

If you never felt pain,
Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?

If you never went through difficulties,
Then how would you know that I'm a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial,
Then how could you call yourself an over-comer?

If you never felt sadness,
Then how would you know that I'm a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake,
Then how would you know that I'm forgiving?

If you knew all,
Then how would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you never were in trouble,
Then how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken,
Then how would know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem,
Then how would you know that I can solve them?

If I gave you all things,
Then how would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you,
Then how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power,
Then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect,
Then what would you need Me for?

Help Us Remember

As followers of Christ, we should never judge and we should never be quick to anger. Read this below as a reminder and give someone a big smile today instead :)

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Help us to remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day, that she is rushing home to cook dinner and help with homework, to do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who takes forever at the checkout stand, is a worried 19-year-old college student, who is balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us that the scary looking bum, begging for money
in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!)
is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow
through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive.
Let us show patience, empathy and love.

Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us,
but to all humanity.

Remind us each day that of all the gifts you give us,
the greatest gift is love.

Encoragement when i need it

"Encouragement When
We Need It the Most"

"They helped every one his neighbour: and every one said to his brother, BE OF GOOD COURAGE". Isaiah 41:6 KJV (Capitals are mine for emphasis)

A GOOD HABIT I HAVE ENDEAVORED TO DEVELOP OVER THE YEARS

No matter who we are, all of us are going through something, and need a word of encouragement. A good habit I have endeavored to develop over the years is to find something good about everybody, and compliment them on it. There are enough people with toxic personalities injecting their poison wherever they go. When people spread gossip and evil reports, don't you feel dirty, and like you need to take a bath? These kind of conversations are non-productive and only serve to drag down those who engage in such practices.

REACH OUT TO THE DOWN-AND-OUTERS AND GIVE THEM A BOOST

When we receive a good report of encouragement it produces the desired affect of lifting us up. There are enough "downers" in this world already without us adding insult to injury to the list. Jesus came to our planet not to push people down further than they already were, but to reach out to the down-and-outers and give them a boost. In my mail it is not unusual to read words such as, "Some days I do not want to live anymore". This does not come from those who do not know the Lord, but from Christians who have been serving the Lord for a long time. They have been so continually put down, that they are despairing of life itself.

THE LORD SEEMS TO ARRANGE FOR GOOD REPORTS TO COME TO US FROM ALL DIRECTIONS

When we need it the most the Lord seems to arrange for good reports to come to us from all directions. Recently friends in Oklahoma and Missouri surrounded me with hospitality and godly love. This included a couple I have known for 30 years, and two professors who were in my meetings about 40 years ago, and the pastor of the mother church of Pentecost on the West Coast, USA, whose life was changed dramatically when he was a teenager in one of the spiritual renewals I preached. Happily they shared with me during a time I needed to hear good reports.

ONE LITTLE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT CAN TIP THE SCALES

Have you encouraged someone lately? It could make a difference which would make one feel like a failure or a success. People need to feel worthwhile and as though they are needed and appreciated. The devil knows that his time is short and he is pulling out every trick in the book to bring discouragement to those on the front lines of battle of spiritual warfare. One little word of encouragement can tip the scales favorably to be a catalyst to propel one over the top to be the best they can be for the Lord.

Bishop Marvin Schmidt

World Changers International

"Making a Difference in Our World"

Bishop_Marvin@WCI888.com

"Your First Source of Inspiration and Information"

Marvin Schmidt

MIRACLE!!! MIRACLE!!! MIRACLE!!!

1 Corinthians 13

¹IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such ^[a]as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

²And if I have prophetic powers (^[b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

³Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or ^[c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.

⁴Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

⁵It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

⁶It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

⁷Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

⁸Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (^[d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

⁹For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

¹⁰But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

¹²For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as ^[e]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand ^[f]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been ^[g]fully and clearly known and understood [^[h]by God].

¹³And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

INSTEAD OF LOVE PUT YOUR NAME AND SEE THE MIRACLE!!!!

CELEBRATING GODS GRACE

May 2011: Celebrating 54 Years in the Ministry
June 2011: Beginning of Year 55
"The Comeback Kid"

"For A JUST MAN FALLETH (is knocked out; fails) SEVEN TIMES, and RISETH UP AGAIN: but the wicked shall fall into mischief". Proverbs 24:16 KJV (Capitals are mine for emphasis) AS A LITTLE BOY I WOULD LIE ON THE BACK PORCH AND PREACH TO THE STARS This is the year of transition and "the comeback". Fifty-four years ago this month I preached my first public sermon. In the beginning three minutes my mind went blank, and when I tried to speak, I could only stutter and stammer. It looked like "the call to preach" was a big fantasy, as I could not talk properly. But, after refusing to give up, the anointing broke through, and loosed my tongue to preach with power and Holy Spirit authority. As a little boy I would lie on the back porch and preach to the stars. When one shot through the night sky I would say, "That one is being slain in the Spirit and coming to Jesus for salvation". "I POPPED OUT AND DISCOVERED AMERICA" Marrying late in life, my Mother was barren, but longed to have a child. After reading about Hannah and Samuel, she put the open Bible at that passage on her stomach, and covenanted with God that if He would give her a son, she would give him back to her to preach the gospel. Nine months later "I popped out and discovered America". MY MESSAGE TO YOU TODAY IS . . . I was born without a hip-socket, and years later x-rays revealed that it was impossible for me to walk. But, by the grace of God, in my 72nd year of life I walk--still going around the world preaching the gospel. Even though in the natural I could not speak or walk properly, I am still going strong. That is why I am called "the Comeback Kid". My message to you today is, "No matter what obstacles are thrown in your path, you can 'do all things through Christ who strengthens you'".

Bishop Marvin Schmidt

World Changers International

"Making a Difference in Our World"

Bishop_Marvin@WCI888.com

"Your First Source of Inspiration and Information"

Marvin Schmidt

"The Only Sermon My Grandmother Ever Preached"

by Stephen Trussell on Friday, August 6, 2010 at 2:38am

”He endured the cross, despising the shame..Heb. 12:2

My Grandmother’s name is Rose Moore, I surely love her! I will never express my love for her in the past tense, because true love is eternal and I know there is coming a Day when I shall once again see, hear and feel her loving heartbeat as she welcomes me home!

The greatest thing about my grandmother, and I believe ones like her, is their TRULY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!

There was a time when all the other members of my family (Preachers, Prisoners, Rich & Poor) had given up on little Stevie, (wow, how I hated that name)! They wouldn’t answer their phones, wouldn’t open their doors, wouldn’t invite me to church, or to come over for Christmas or Thanksgiving. I had one uncle who took me off his visitors list while he was in prison (now that's sad), and there were some who didn’t even want me to be at my Grandmother’s funeral!

The only time I ever remember seeing her angry (and I realize now it was righteous indignation) was when the family had gather for an intervention to talk about how some ‘TOUGH LOVE’ program was the only thing that could help little Stevie, and Oh how they loved to quote:

1Cr 5:5

"To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

I remember her small frail frame rising to it’s feet that day in the middle of our living room with my Dad, Mother, Uncles, and Aunties, all sitting around as if they were members of the Great White Throne Judgement

Then it started; The only sermon my Grandmother ever preached!

"Let me tell ya’ll something about “Tough Love’;

TOUGH LOVE; is leaving the very throne room of God to come and dwell among men!

TOUGH LOVE; is being despised and rejected by all mankind!

TOUGH LOVE; is bearing the sins of the whole world upon your shoulders!

TOUGH LOVE; is receiving the stripes of affliction for all humanity!

TOUGH LOVE; is asking someone to pray with you in your darkest hours and they all fall asleep!

TOUGH LOVE is having soldiers cram a crown of thorns upon your already beaten head!

TOUGH LOVE is having spikes driven into your hands and feet as they hammer you onto a tree!

TOUGH LOVE is then carrying that cross up Calvary’s Hill while being spit upon, mocked and lashed with cords of bone and glass!

TOUGH LOVE is being raised up high and a spear pierced into your side!

TOUGH LOVE is during all this pain and shame to still be able to say “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”!

TOUGH LOVE is the lonelines you would feel as your own Father turns His face away!

TOUGH LOVE is crying out from the depths of your agony ‘My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me!!

She stopped! Silence Reigned! There were no Amens to be heard, no hallelujahs filled the house, no offering plate was passed, no, not even an altar call was made!!

From that day forward, never again was I called little Stevie, but Stephen!

From that day forward, ever phone call I made was quickly answered!

Every door was opened whenever I knocked!

Every Thanksgiving I was handed the first plate of Turkey and Dressing!

Every Christmas I was asked to open the first present!

When my uncle was released from prison, he called me to come pick him up!

When my Grandmother passed on, I was asked to give her Eulogy!!

As I was pulling away from the grave side service on that cold rainy day, I looked back for one last time, and there Saints, the brightest Light I have ever seen, piecred the darkness of those clouds and shined directly upon her grave, but then as suddenly as it came, it receded back into the heavens, leaving behind, and filling my car with the sweetest fragrance of Roses I have ever smelled.!!

“Tough Love”

That was the title of : The Only Sermon My Grandmother Ever Preached!!

Think I'll preach it Sunday, if that's OK with you Grandmother? I LOVE YOU!!