Josephine Mary Schmidt

A Place of Refuge for the Soul

Archives for January 2023

Christ Has Not Left Us as Orphans

Vulnerability and How I Overcame Fear

As you may or may not know, I shattered my big toe in Australia while filming a documentary with Leo about the incredible things Jesus has done for me. When in the doctor’s office back in San Diego, where we now live, I was told by the podiatrist to start walking without my air cast boot. It had now been 11 weeks without ever bearing weight on my injury or walking unassisted without my cast. The doctor in his office didn’t help me take my first steps. He merely told me what I was to do and went out the door. There was no personal service, no helping me, just these instructions to go home and walk without my boot, juggling between the pain and putting it back on until I could walk unassisted without it and my cane. And the whole idea was daunting.

As I squeezed my oversized foot into my sandshoe, trying to stretch the laces as far as possible to make it less painful, tears welled, and I knew I was emotionally weak. I was scared! And physically tired from wearing the boot for so long. And now, this new direction I needed to face. I felt vulnerable without the protection of my air boot cast and tried to see into the future and what lay ahead of me to full recovery.

As Leo watched, offering support, and I stood for the first time, it reminded me of when I first came home after Jesus had delivered me from demon-possession. Jesus had kept me safe at a holiday resort with cabins and a caravan park from the people who had done this to me. At the resort, Jesus taught me His gospel and how to be strong in Him before filling me with His Holy Spirit and leading me back home to live on our property where all this horror had happened. It had been extremely daunting, this new direction without the protection of the resort and haven where Jesus had acted so powerfully. It was a bit like this boot – it had allowed me to keep functioning, protecting my injury so I could heal. 

As I stood in my sandshoes and as Leo cheered me on, I knew I wasn’t alone like when I had returned home, taking my first steps unguarded by the resort to trust in the healing and knowledge Jesus had granted. He was here now to help me in this new direction and unknown weeks ahead to full recovery. Jesus was here in my frail body and insecurities and weakness to be strong. 

Air cast boot on the floor next to someone standing in sand shoes

The following day, I spent my whole day in my sandshoes before resting and putting my foot up for the evening. My recovery will be slow, learning to walk again and hopefully without pain. But so was returning home after such a horrendous ordeal and learning to live there with courage and faith.

But the most important thing is to know where our help comes from and to cry out and receive that help. Once I did not have the mercy of God. But now I am found and have experienced God’s great love and compassion in Christ Jesus. I need to walk worthy of what I have received every day and with that understanding. Jesus died so we could be friends and know Him and live with Him forever in paradise!

Vulnerability and fear can meet us in any situation where the unknown is the future. But Christ helps us through these battles. Remember the past and His previous victories, and the steps forward will be restful.

Shining the Light in a Faraway Land

Plane view of Denver coming in to land
Looking out the window of the plane coming into land in Denver.

Recently, I accompanied Leo to Scottsbluff in Nebraska, USA. He needed to fix a cold head on an MRI medical machine. I went because I still have my foot in my air cast boot after shattering my big toe. When we arrived in Denver, we planned to drive the 3 ½ hours to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in the morning. But our booked hotel room messed us up. And we both felt the Lord Jesus wanted us to drive that night, despite the cold, icy, unfamiliar roads.

Dark night with full moon shining above freeway
Highway in Denver on our way to Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

We had this glorious full moon making the journey easier that lit our path. And we saw this superb nativity scene outside a church, which caused us to make a U-turn, turnaround to take it in and take this photo! It did encourage us; though no one saw us, no one knew how blessed and encouraged we felt! 

An erected nativity scene shine brightly outside church.
It was a dark, cold night as we drove on unfamiliar roads to a place never been before. But we had the company of this full moon’s reflection on the “sun” and this glorious message of truth shining bright reminding us of God’s love that Jesus, the Son of God came humbly to do the impossible – something we could never do ourselves – redeem us back to our Heavenly Father and God.

Leo and I were driving on unfamiliar roads to a place we had never been. But God gave us the company of this glorious full moon, making the journey easier on the dark, cold roads. We saw this message of truth shining brightly, reminding us of God’s love in sending Jesus and that Christ was now with us, leading us to make this journey safely tonight as we trusted His leading to drive.

“You are the light of the world,” Jesus said these words to those gathered, listening to His teachings. Has Jesus taught you? Are you walking to what you’ve obtained and learned from Him? Or have you shrunk back? Have you stopped remembering? Have you allowed a distraction or another example to turn you away from the purity of this instruction?

Even if no one is looking, or if you don’t know if someone is being affected, we must walk worthy to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to save us and redeem us from death and destruction. No one saw us that night; no one that we know of, except our Heavenly Father, who had given us the full moon and led us this way during the night to see that Nativity scene shining brightly. The people who had put it there didn’t know how much comfort it gave us. We are passing people all the time on this journey of life, and often, we don’t see what our example is doing. 

Leo and I were blessed on our travels in a faraway land and place very different from San Diego. The moon reflects the sun, and God has sent His Son, and I hope this encourages you to shine His likeness to the world according to the Word and Holy Spirit.

Has someone done something like this for you?

Trials Continue, but Blessings Remain

Josephine sitting in a wheelchair looking out the window reflecting on the trials and battle ahead.
Sitting, reflecting on the trials and the battle ahead after returning from Australia.

When I came back from Australia, it was very difficult. My foot was badly broken, my big toe shattered, and weeks ahead in a boot, with the Podiatrist rather it be in a cast. I had hope – Jesus hadn’t forsaken me; He had allowed my injuries to show a picture to others. So often, God uses the lives of others to bring a picture so that we are aware of the truth, a reality that is hidden. The Devil roars – he threatens and attacks, but in Christ, we are safe. I may have fallen when filming a documentary. I fell, to show others on camera that the Devil’s attacks are real in stopping us finding Salvation and the knowledge of Christ our Savior.

The Devil keeps unbelievers in a prison they can’t escape without the knowledge of Christ and Jesus opening their eyes and ears. I am very much aware, now back in San Diego, to keep my eyes and ears on the truth. Christ is soon returning, and Satan does not want me to be about my Father’s business – allowing God to use my life to bring the message of Salvation, however, that may look. I’m still in this boot, and probably for weeks yet. My foot still hurts and is still swelling and uncomfortable. But I’m preparing with Leo to film the rest of the documentary and release it. I’m working on releasing a new album of songs and illustrating a children’s book with the message of Christ and hope of God’s love. I’m soldiering on – not shrinking back in fear, doubt, or unbelief that this is my calling, the leading of the Lord for my life.

There are fiery trials, but they do something. Firstly, they show our faith is real and that we have an undying love for our Lord and Savior. These fiery trials are to upset us, make us doubt, and stop speaking and living for Christ, our Lord. Show the picture that you belong in the family of God, and not allow the enemy to make you fall short of the grace God gives to endure. And Blessings will follow; it is a promise in God’s Word.