Category: Uncategorized

Intro
During this month, we are have been talking about the book Jesus Is by Judah Smith. I would encourage you to read it, because each page helps you find out exactly who Jesus is to us, right here, right now. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. I hope you are beginning to see God’s character through the person of Jesus Christ. If we want to be more like Him, let’s go about doing what He told us to do. It starts by loving God, and then loving people! In the process, we get to receive grace and give it to others. Here is your daily eword.

There is an interesting parable in Matt 20, that talks about people getting hired to work at a vineyard. The ones hired early on in the day got the same pay as those who started just before the day was done. The ones who worked all day didn’t think it was fair that they were all paid the same amount. I like to think of this parable in regard to salvation. The one who gets saved at their deathbed receives the same wonderful benefits of heaven as the one who served God their whole life. It seems like Jesus is making it totally clear that God is a grace God. He is not trying to keep people out of heaven, and he is not giving brownie points to those who do everything right. He loves regardless of what we have done, and nothing we could do could make Him love us more. That is what is so amazing about God, and that is what is so amazing about His grace. He loves, period. The benefits of following God are that all of our life long, we can experience His grace. There is nothing better than serving our grace filled God. He love is unequaled. Jesus is…. full of grace.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

God has taken our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. God’s gift to us is abundant life! Jesus is the one who made us alive spiritually. Once we were lost and out of fellowship with God, but in Jesus, that all changed. We are made a new creation, the old is gone the new has come. In him, we live and move and have our very being. He is our breath of life. When we gave our heart to Jesus, it was like breathing our first breath. Life became real. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the birth of lots of babies. I love babies. There is nothing as wonderful as the birth of a baby. That first gulp of air brings life to them. What a miracle of God each time a baby takes their first breath. As believers we experience the same miracle. We are made alive! We are breathing in his grace, and breathing out his praise, every day. Life goes from black and white to full color when we breath in the breath of God. Jesus is….the breath of life, who has made us fully alive! Jesus is Life

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

I like walking. I walk at least 12-15 miles each week, so I wear out walking shoes quickly. I have runners in my family, but for me, I would rather walk. Running is hard work! It takes your breath away if you are not in shape for it. It works your whole body, your heart, your arms, legs, and your joints. Today’s scripture is in Hebrews 12:1,2 and it says for us to run with endurance. So I may like to walk for exercise, but the race we are in as Christians is a runner’s race. We can’t poke along and take it easy! We have a job to do. We have things to accomplish, let’s get this race going. Running a long race takes pacing yourself, but it also takes endurance. We are in this for the long haul. Let’s get good at running our race. The beauty of the race we run for God is that we don’t compare ourselves to others, because we are accomplishing the race that God set out for us individually. So how is your race going? Are you still at the starting blocks? Or are you getting close to the finish line. We don’t want to quit or withdraw from our race before we are done. And when we are done we want to hear, well done, good and faithful runner! You have finished your race, enjoy life eternal! Let’s run with endurance, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and our race.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I am free at last. Martin Luther King Jr said those words that reverberate through the annals of time. Thank God, slavery has been abolished. Our slavery to sin has been abolished as well. Our freedom in Christ came at a terrific price; it cost Jesus his life. In Romans 7, we see the struggle that sin presents. We want to do right, but we follow the flesh instead. The question becomes, how can we be free? The answer is that Jesus paved the way. We have to continually rely of God. Jesus actions of dying on the cross, and rising from the dead, conquering death, hell and the grave, made a way to set things right. We became the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We wear his righteousness. When flesh wants to take the easy way, our spirit rises up and takes the God path. Are you struggling today with bondage of any kind in your life? Jesus is…your total freedom. Thank you God, that no one has to be bound by sin, that Jesus made a way for everyone to be free.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

What quenches your thirst? Are you a Gatorade person? Or maybe ice tea? Or do you depend on good old fresh, cold water to quench your thirst? I’m a water person! Even when I’m drinking a cup of coffee, I have a few cool glasses of water along with it. Jesus told us, that He is the best thirst quencher. When he was talking with the woman at the well, he used natural water as an example or being totally refreshed and filled by having a relationship with him.

Can you imagine never ever being thirsty again? Natural hunger and thirst happen naturally. We feel them everyday. I do think that Jesus used such a natural illustration so that we could understand how much we needed Him. If we want to fill the whole that no one else can fill, we need Jesus! We don’t need just a little bit of Jesus, we need a lot of Jesus! I love the saying that says, Every day I need a little coffee, and a lot of Jesus. We really could do without the coffee, but our need for Jesus is everyday, every hour, every minute and every second. Jesus is…. the way we will never have to thirst again.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

One of the worst things about going on a road trip is summer is the dreaded sign that says construction zone, men at work. The slow speed limit, the backed up traffic, waiting in long line of cars, all require patience and endurance. Men are at work for sure, at work to make our drive miserable. We know the outcome after construction is done will make our trip better, but sometimes it is hard to have patience in the meantime. From the time that we give our heart to Jesus, God is at work in us. He is working to make our life the best it can be! We all know and love the scripture in Romans 8:28 that says all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose. It is so wonderful to know that even if the enemy tries to derail us, God can turn it around for good. He is working in us. I like to think of it this way, if it isn’t good yet, it isn’t done yet. Aren’t you so thankful that Jesus is….working in us? We are not left to ourselves to try to do life on our own. We draw our strength, our life, our very breath from Him. I hope that builds confidence in you. We are under construction and Jesus is…..working out His will in you.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Do you believe that Jesus is…the way we develop endurance and integrity? Being a mom is a lot of work…..I think most all of the moms would agree with me! Raising kids is no picnic, and helping them grow up to find their destiny and be productive in life definitely takes the help of the Lord. Some of the virtues required are flexibility, humor, wisdom and endurance. Flexibility is important, because you do a lot of bending and stretching!!!! Not only physically, but in every way, we have to bend and stretch to pick up messes(!) and then stretch to help our kids reach their dreams. Humor is important, because without it, life is just plain boring! Let’s enjoy every moment of parenting, find humor and reasons to laugh and enjoy life, even in the hard spots. Bill Cosby once said, if it is going to be funny later, why not make it funny now. “Moments” happen that we have to capture with laughter.
Wisdom and endurance end my list. Without the wisdom of God, parenting, and mothering would be hit and miss! We see our kids through teething, toddlerhood, schooling, puberty, and adolescence, all the way to successful adulthood. That takes endurance! It also takes a lot of prayer. One of the scriptures I have prayed over my kids daily is from Isaiah 54:13 All my children are taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace…..to verse 17… and no weapon formed against them will prosper. A wise parent prays consistently and operates in Godly virtues to not only teach her children, but to train them up in the ways of the Lord, so that when they are old, they will not depart from them.

Jesus is….the one who helps us riase kids with character and integrity.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

During this month, we are studying the book Jesus Is by Judah Smith. I would encourage you to read it yourself, because each page helps you find out exactly who Jesus is to us, right here, right now. I hope you are beginning to see God’s character through the person of Jesus. If you want to be more like Him, let’s go about doing what He told us to do. It starts by loving God, and then loving people! In the process, life gets a whole lot more fun! Here is your daily eword.

Jesus did interesting and unusual things when he was on a boat. One day, he and his disciples got on a boat and he told them to cross over to the other side. It was smooth sailing so Jesus went to the bottom of the boat and took a nap. That doesn’t sound unusual, a nap on a boat actually sounds wonderful. The smooth sailing quickly turned to a sudden storm, and soon the disciples who were with Jesus thought the boat was going to sink. This is when Jesus did something unusual. He spoke directly to the storm, and the waves and wind were still. If you have listened to your dailyeword for any length of time you know how important words are to me. This story about Jesus speaking to circumstances is one of the reason I make such a big deal about using our words to encourage others. Our words have power. Jesus demonstrated that on the boat with His disciples. If you are in circumstances that seem overwhelming, we can speak peace to the wind and waves in your world. Don’t settle for sinking, when your words can change your world for the better. Jesus is the one who spoke to waves, to teach us how change circumstances with our words. Let’s cross over and use our words the way Jesus did!
During this month, we are studying the book Jesus Is by Judah Smith. I would encourage you to read it yourself, because each page helps you find out exactly who Jesus is to us, right here, right now. I hope you are beginning to see God’s character through the person of Jesus. If you want to be more like Him, let’s go about doing what He told us to do. It starts by loving God, and then loving people! In the process, life gets a whole lot more fun! Here is your daily eword.
13 Crossing Over Luke 8:22-25
Jesus did interesting and unusual things when he was on a boat. One day, he and his disciples got on a boat and he told them to cross over to the other side. It was smooth sailing so Jesus went to the bottom of the boat and took a nap. That doesn’t sound unusual, a nap on a boat actually sounds wonderful. The smooth sailing quickly turned to a sudden storm, and soon the disciples who were with Jesus thought the boat was going to sink. This is when Jesus did something unusual. He spoke directly to the storm, and the waves and wind were still. If you have listened to your dailyeword for any length of time you know how important words are to me. This story about Jesus speaking to circumstances is one of the reason I make such a big deal about using our words to encourage others. Our words have power. Jesus demonstrated that on the boat with His disciples. If you are in circumstances that seem overwhelming, we can speak peace to the wind and waves in your world. Don’t settle for sinking, when your words can change your world for the better. Jesus is the one who spoke to waves, to teach us how change circumstances with our words. Let’s cross over and use our words the way Jesus did!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

We have this saying in our house and it is this. Help is only help, if it helps. So if it is in the kitchen, if it is with the livestock, or mowing the lawn, if you plan on helping, be diligent! Hebrews 13:5, and 6 says that the Lord is our helper. I can guarantee that God is help that helps. I know there have been times in my life when I don’t know what to do. I call on the helper. I know there have been times in my life when I need to make a decision. I call on the helper. I know there are times in my life when I need strength, or wisdom, or joy, or rest, or peace…..that list could go on and on. Guess who I call on? The helper! Let’s ask Him for His help together. Father God, in Jesus Name, we thank you that you are willing and able to help us, at all times. When we make our own mess, you help clean us up, when we are blind sided by the devil, you help us through, when we need your guidance, you lead us clearly on the path. We are so grateful that you are our help in time of need. Our refuge and our fortress, a strong tower, and our defense. Thank you for being our helper, and sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit so that we can find help any time we need it.
Jesus is our helper.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Here is a little known act about me. I am really strong! I’m strong internally, you’ll have to believe me about that, but I am really strong physically too. Just don’t try to arm wrestle me. There are a few guys who have beat me, but not too many! I know that sounds braggadocios, but I don’t depend on my own physical strength or even internal fortitude day to day. I depend on the strength of the Lord. There is someone who lives inside of me who is stronger and wiser and more powerful than I could ever be. I depend on the strength of God, from sunup to sun down everyday. I face things every day, just as a leader, wife, mom and friend that I cannot handle on my own. I need the strength of the Lord.

How strong are you on your own? You may be internally strong, and may even be able to beat me arm wrestling, (ha, ha!) but where do you draw your strength from? Each day we have to decide, do we try to do this thing called life on our own, or do we draw from the supernatural strength we have found in Jesus? We have a refuge and a fortress when the enemy comes against us. When sorrow tries to overwhelm us, when distressing situations come against you in your world, we can run to Jesus. Jesus is… where we find strength.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS