Josephine Mary Schmidt

A Place of Refuge for the Soul

transformation

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?

Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 2

Transcript of a video message of Josephine teaching on Luke 13 in the Sequoia Redwood National Park.

Part 2 – Belief Starts with Repentance

Opening Song – “Stuck” by Josephine Mary Schmidt

“Right in the middle of my heart, You set Your love in me.
Right in the middle of my life, You let Your anchor down deep through me.
I hold onto the faith You gave me. You showed me You died on the cross, but You’ve risen victoriously.”

Hi, 

We’ve moved locations because you can see that this big tree has come to destruction. And that’s one of the points I wanted to make. Even though this tree behind, the one I was standing in front of before is probably over a thousand years old – and that’s a long time, that’s like ten times a person’s, actually more; eleven times someone’s lifespan. Unless some tragedy comes to you, which happens to many people. You know, we have an end. Jesus has come. God has made a way to come to Him and bear fruit that’s pleasing to Him. And if we don’t, Jesus is warning, we will be cut down. It’s something that we don’t think will happen. But this tree came to an end. 

So, I want to continue on in Luke Chapter 13, which was what I was in before, and remember the key verse; fourteen – “unless you repent, you too will perish.” And that’s the point, isn’t it – perishing? Everything’s good today, but people have Covid-19 and then, that’s it, they died, and it was unexpected. People have car accidents, plane accidents, evil happens to them; they are murdered. Things happen! This is not a perfect world. And God doesn’t want that to be a tragic end to us. He wants us to come to repentance. That’s the point – it doesn’t really matter in the end how you perish. The point is you perish. That’s what saddens God, that’s why He sent Jesus, His Son.

So, Jesus goes on after He gives those two parables about the tree and the yeast, He says, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” – Luke 13:24. These are Jesus’ words. They are not mine. I’m not passing judgement on people. This is what He is saying, and they are not able to because they are not bearing the fruit that God wants because He sent His Son to die for our sins and give us new life in Him. 

Jesus is pleading for us, remember. He says, “Give it a year. I’ll dig around it. I’ll fertilize it, and if not, if it doesn’t bear fruit, then cut it down.” (Paraphrased)

I’m really wanting to encourage you – know the Word of God, yourself. Have a very strong relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s what we need. Make every effort, be clean, to be found worthy. Belief starts by repenting. But then we have to do works worthy of that repentance – John the Baptist – that was his message. And then Jesus came and taught the lessons on how to be clean, how to be living with the blessings of God. Taking the Word of God to heart and applying them in our lives. But it does start with a new beginning – us deciding that God’s way is right and it’s going to bless. 

I remember when I realized; I had a terrible tragedy happen to me. And I actually became demon-possessed by a very wicked man who had come into my life, pretending to be my music-manager. Because I was desperate to understand life. I was so dissatisfied, and I cried out to know the meaning of life and this man entered my life to deceive me. And before that, I was caught in hypocritical religion, and I suffer for forty years, crippled by Satan in a false Christianity, a Lutheranism that told me that I was saved because I was baptized as an infant. I never heard that I needed to repent, and live the life that Jesus was teaching. Never was told that, never heard the gospel. And I was crippled and suffered for forty years. I couldn’t straighten up. I couldn’t get the beauty of life, the strength to overcome the Devil, and this evil man came into my life because he was sent by the Devil. He wanted to stop me receiving what I had wanted since a child. A came to church wanting to worship Jesus. I actually wanted to worship Jesus Christ as a little girl. But I was crippled. 

No one ever told me the gospel. That’s the point too; God wants us to learn and grow and then teach others, so they can find their shelter in our lives, in our words, in our messages. That’s what He wants. And Jesus was so angry at those hypocrites. They cared more about their possessions and assets. Do you care more about your life, and your house, and your well-being than someone’s eternal salvation? Surely, the answer is no.  Care about people’s souls, their eternity that they wouldn’t perish, and a tragedy is their end-measure. I remember so well thinking this is my lot, this is how end, and it was tragic, and it was so unfair, and unjust, and it was not what I asked for. I’d asked to understand the meaning of life. 

But Jesus is saying – “make every effort to enter through the narrow gate” because He will deny all evil. Anything not pleasing to the Father will not be allowed into heaven. People may have a form of Christianity. I did, for forty years, but it’s not correct, wasn’t producing the fruit. That only comes from Jesus digging around and cutting off, and then fertilizing and we, feeding on the Word of God. He said, “I am the Bread of Life.” 

As we were driving up, this is called, “King’s Canyon.” I don’t actually think we are in King’s Canyon at the moment. But we drove up here into King’s Canyon, and I thought, “Isn’t that funny King’s Canyon; Jesus is called King of Kings, Lord of Lords,” and I sing that at the end of one of my songs called, “Stuck” that we did a video message for, right here. And I looked up the word, “canyon,” it’s a gorge where usually a river is found. Jesus came to give Living Waters. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. That we would be free from Satan’s crippling in our lives. And he cripples people, and they bend over, and they are burdened. Many people want to worship Jesus. They want to worship God. But there’s hypocrites around them, telling them false, a false Christianity, and their lives are representing the picture of a mustard seed that’s been planted by God, and it’s grown, and there’s people getting relief from their lives. They are coming and perching themselves in their lives, and what they are doing.

In Luke Chapter 13, verse 24 when Jesus talks about – “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” He’s talking about those who are doing evil. They say, “Lord, Lord,” but He doesn’t know them. They haven’t fed on the Word of God. And He talks about a place where there is weeping of gnashing of teeth. This is where the people are going to go. And it’s a place made for the Devil, not for people. God wants no one to perish, but all to come to repentance. I remember the gnashing of teeth when I was demon-possessed. It was so horrendous. It was so painful in a way, I can’t explain. It’s not a physical pain, but a spiritual anguish; your soul, you can’t explain, but the gnashing of teeth gives a good description. It’s so painful; I just remember that.

And Jesus heard me cry. He came and met me; a woman bound by evil spirits. A woman bent over and crippled, unable to straighten herself up. Unable to find the words of life because of the hypocrites in the church I belonged to, unable. But Jesus, Himself taught me. And that’s our message today. He teaches us, He fertilizes us. We are to be the picture of the kingdom of God.

So, I was listening to a song on the way up by “The Neverclaim’s.” And I’m probably going to mess the lyrics up. But basically, he was saying that Jesus is able to bring new life. He’s certainly given me new life. I’m like, well actually, I’m greater than that tree, (Josephine points to the huge sequoia redwood that has fallen and is broken on the ground behind her). I’m not going to have destruction come to me. And I have a song called, “Stay Free” – “stay free, stay free, stay free in Jesus,” (Chorus Lyrics). We filed a video clip up here in the Sequoia Redwood National Park. “Your glory fills my heart, your truth has set me free, stay free, stay free in Jesus,” (Verse Lyrics).

Jesus wasn’t welcomed in the synagogues. He wasn’t welcomed, and He’s so not welcomed in many places. He has new life for us, and it’s very different from who we were. It is possible to have the love of God in you. It’s possible for to have a new life in Him. And I want to end my message today with 1 Peter 5:8, and I want you to think about who are you listening to? Who are the leaders that you are listening to in the church? Are they bearing the fruit that our Heavenly Father wants? That Jesus enabling them to bear? I’m not challenging anyone, but I think it’s important to point out that in the last days there are false prophets and there are false teachers – Jesus warned that, and you would know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:15-16). 

This isn’t a righteousness of our own, this is being fed by Jesus, and taking it up. It’s His work in us, but we make every effort to enter in. Not take for granted the food that God has for us. Learn the Word of God and this Scripture 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

And then it will continue, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).

The same kind of suffering, all over the world, the Devil’s bringing that in people. But we stand strong, we stand firm in our faith. There’s no easy path to heaven’s door, but we have a great advocate. We have a great friend who’s feeding us, and we must listen and put His words into action. We don’t want to tree that’s in threat of being cut down. We don’t a tree that comes to destruction. These redwoods are amazing, and they have stories to tell, I’m sure. They’ve withstood massive fires, but they will come to an end. All of this will come to an end. So, unless you repent, Jesus said, you too will perish. Beliefs starts here, the new life starts here. So, I hope this is an encouragement to you today.

Ends with song, “Stuck,” playing – 

“Oh, You’re the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the great and mighty One.

You hold me tight.

I wrap my arms around Your love, and together, we shine so bright.

I’m stuck in the middle of this love.”

Transcript from Josephine Mary Schmidt’s teaching video message called, “Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 2.

©Josephine Mary Schmidt

Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 1
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Pottery Flower Sprig and Redemption

I am encouraged by this message. In this audio message, I share a recent event, where the Lord Jesus has greatly inspired me. He is in control, and all I need to do is to listen and believe, and allow Him to bring great things. What’s best for me – and you! I hope you enjoy this special message of redemption and a pottery flower sprig I made through the leading of God’s Spirit.

Calved Pottery Sprig
Pottery Sprig I calved from clay.
  • Pencil Drawing of a Flower
    My drawing of the flower I saw in prayer.
  • Pottery Calving Tools
    Calving tools used to make sprigs.
  • Calved Pottery Sprig
    Pottery Sprig I calved from clay.
  • Wooden Calved Mirror
    Calved Wooden Mirror
  • Calved Mirror
    We should reflect the glory of the Lord and His redemption in our lives.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

By God’s Hands

Dusk over the city
Dusk over the city.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

I remember the first time I read this passage; I was so excited! I knew it was true. Jesus was alive in me, and the transformation work of God in me had begun. I was being changed. And this process still goes on today. Not that I’ve already obtained said Paul, but I press on. (Philippians 3:12) Paul gives both encouragement and testimony in the book of Philippians. It’s what we should be doing – showing others the power of God alive and at work in us. We, His believers, are the light of Christ, bringing the message of the gospel and a changed life, from sinner to a child of God, by the witness of our life.

“Follow my example,” encouraged and instructed Paul. (Philippians 3:17) 

I remember weeping to God in thankfulness for the apostle Paul and his life. If Paul hadn’t suffered in the way that he had for the gospel to bring the message of freedom and salvation to others, we would be lacking it! So many have taken their comfort in his life. Narrow and difficult is the way, Jesus said, and few find it. (Matthew 7:14) But Paul found it, and encouraged not only others to find it, but lived the result of Christ being received into his heart and life.

Aren’t you glad you found it? I presume you have since you are reading this post. Be encouraged and press on today. Live as Paul did, imitated Christ so others can find the King of Life and the love of God, He sent into the world to redeem His children. (1 Corinthians 1:11) 

Look to our Savior for the steps you are to take and be empowered. Remember, we are not alone. Thousands, upon thousands around the world, believe in Jesus. God has not left us as orphans. Jesus is with us today and every day. He is helping us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Meaning, the fear of not disobeying our Father by not listening to His Son and His teaching and Word. We don’t want to miss out on His glorious transformation work in us that He wants to faithfully complete. (John 14/Philippians 2:12)

Scripture References:

  • Philippians 3:12 – Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
  • Philippians 3:17 – Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
  • Matthew 7:14 – But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:11 – Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
  • Philippians 2:12 – Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
  • John 14:18 –  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.