And so It Is!: A Repository of Memories

By Albert F. Schmid

And So It Is! presents a collection of sermons, memories, and short stories written by Albert Schmid, displaced midwesterner and recently ordained minister of the First Baptist Church of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The central theme of Pastor Schmids first book is to remind us that God is love, a fact that we certainly need to acknowledge.

This inspiring volume is a repository of memoriesa cornucopia of short stories, poems, sermons, and devotionals that remind us that we are Christs ambassadors and God expects each of us to live and act as though He is making His appeal through us. And how do we do that? Remember, the best sermons are lived not preached.

Because he visits nursing homes and shut-ins as part of his ministry, several of the stories he shares here are from the devotionals he uses during those visits. Whether talking about the meaning of Advent or recounting the story of Jabez, Pastor Schmid inspires with his sermons and stories. He makes them personal, and anyone may be enriched by his interpretations of these timeless stories and Christian traditions.

And So It Is! seeks to teach as well as inspire all who discover the treasures included within.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781450293075

Albert F. Schmid

Al Schmid is the author of three religious and inspirational books. They include: Tomorrows Sights and Sounds, And So It Is, and Yesterdays Reflections. The Unlimited Sky is an autobiography of his 45 years of aviation experience, the celebrities he has flown, the events he has had, and the flight crews he has known and have shared his life.

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BLESSINGS

A Blessing cannot be kept. If it is stopped with the recipient, then the blessing disappears.

We are blessed significantly in many ways, but particularly by being a member of the First Baptist Church East Greenwich, RI. The church provides us with the opportunity to minister and evangelize while serving on the Visitation Committee and as Pastor of Elder-Care.

We are the recipients of a blessing and we need to keep that blessing working by being the source of the blessing to other people.

Rev. Albert F. Schmid

A PRAYER TO

CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Sometime around three thousand years ago, one of history’s great nobodies decided to pray. When he looked at himself and his circumstances, he saw no reason for hope. But when he prayed, he prayed the boldest and most hopeful prayer he could imagine. And God answered him.

God is still answering. The prayer, of a man named Jabez, is motivating millions of people today to seek the Lord in a new way, to cry out to Him for blessings, and to reach for a larger and more full filling life in HIS service.

Too many people put off doing something that brings them joy because they haven’t thought about it, or don’t have it on their schedule, or didn’t know it was coming or didn’t think it was possible.

Someone once said there is really very little difference between people—but that little difference—makes all of the difference in the World.

If you haven’t read THE PRAYER OF JABEZ, I highly recommend that you do. If you are new to the story, you’ll find it in 1 Chronicles, buried in the official genealogies of the tribes of Israel. The historian, writing about 500 years B.C. traces the official family tree of the Jews from Adam through thousands of years up to his own time. The first nine chapters of the book are taken up with naming the names, hundreds of them—most of them unfamiliar and hard to pronounce. It is the most boring book in the Bible

Suddenly in the Fourth Chapter… . one name, the forty-fourth, deserves special comment: Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore him in pain. And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh, that YOU would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that YOUR hand would be with me, and that YOU would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested.

1 Chronicles 4: 9-10

In the next verse, the roll call continues as if nothing has happened—Chelub, Shuah, Mehir . . . . You can scour from front to back in the Bible looking for more insight into this man Jabez, and you will find nothing. A simple man made a simple prayer to God and God granted him what he requested.

In Hebrew the name Jabez means pain. A literal rendering could read, He causes (or will cause) pain. All babies arrive with a certain amount of pain, but Jabez’s birth went beyond the usual. His mother could not understand it.

We know simply that things started badly for a person no one had heard of: he prayed an unusual one sentence prayer; and things ended extraordinarily well.

Jabez’s prayer asked for four things: (1) He asked God to Bless him. (2) He asked God to enlarge his territory, (3) He asked God to be with him… . and (4) He asked God to keep him from evil so that he would not cause anyone else to have pain.

That one prayer and a life that was more honorable than his brothers, earned Jabez a place of honor in Israel’s history books. Fortunately for us, his mini-biography reveals an intriguing record of personal transformation.

If we look hard enough, we will find hiding behind each of Jabez’s request a truth that can change our lives and our futures.

Personal change begins when you cry out to God… . for what He wants for you—with hands open and heart expectant. Miracles begin here. Each day you’ll see new beginnings and new opportunities. You will think new thoughts. The direction of your life will shift, and your name like Jabez’s will be headed for God’s honor roll for all of eternity.

Dear Lord, thank you for making me in your image.

And preparing me for a wonderful and important destiny.

Forgive me for withdrawing into my own meager and limiting dreams.

When I do this, I deny you the freedom to use me as your mouth,

Hands, and heart.

I want to fulfill your world-sized dream for me every day of my life In

Eternity, I want to run into your arms hearing the words, Well done.

Please expand my influence and impact for you beyond all that

I can imagine. I am your devoted servant. Here am I Lord . . . send me.

FIVE FINGER PRAYER

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your praying with it. Pray for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember.

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. Includes teachers, doctors and Ministers. They need support in pointing others in the right direction.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our Leaders. Pray for the president, the leaders of our country and the leaders of business and industry. For our newly elected officials.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many this is the weakest finger, as any piano teach will tell us. It reminds us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble and in pain.

5. And lastly, comes our little finger, our pinky, the smallest finger which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. The Bible says, The least shall be the greatest among you. Our little finger should remind us to pray for ourselves. By the time we have prayed for the other four groups our own needs will be put in proper perspective and we will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

THE OLD MAN’S HANDS

Scripture: Psalm 63: 1-5

O God, you are my God,

Earnestly I seek you.

My soul thirsts for you,

In a dry and weary land,

Where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

And beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life.

My lips will glorify you, I will praise you.

As long as I live, and in your name

I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods,

With singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Amen

David describes his feelings about his relationship with God. He says that he "Earnestly seeks HIM. His soul thirsts for Him. He says that he has Seen God in the sanctuary and has beheld His Power and Glory. David proclaims that GOD’S LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE."

And he declares that his lips will glorify Him, he will praise Him as long as he lives.

David promises that he will lift up his HANDS. Lifting ones’ hands is an act of praise or acclamation and David gives God an enthusiastic vote of approval. He Lifts his hands in PRAISE.

When was the last time that you really looked at your hands? I mean really looked at your hands.

Once a young man watched an elderly man, who was probably 90 years old, sitting quietly on a park bench. The old man didn’t move just sat with his head down, staring at his hands.

The young man sat down next to the old man, he didn’t acknowledge his presence. He wondered if the old man was okay

Finally, the young man not really wanting to disturb him, but wanting to check on him, asked, Are you okay? The old man raised his head and looked, and smiled.

Yes, I am fine, thank you for asking he said in a clear strong voice.

I didn’t mean to disturb you sir, but you were sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure that you were Okay, said the young man.

HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT YOUR HANDS? He asked. Well, No, I guess that I have never really looked at my hands, he answered, wondering what was his point.

The old man smiled and related this story:

1. Stop and think for a moment about the hands that you have. How they served you well throughout the years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools that I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

2. They put food in my mouth. Clothes on my back.

3. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.

4. They caressed the love of my life.

5. They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war.

6. They have been dirty.

7. They have been scraped and raw, swollen and bent.

8. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.

9. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the World that I was married.

10. They wrote the letters home.

11. They shook and trembled when I buried my parents and my spouse.

12. They perspired when I walked my daughter down the aisle

13. And yet they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of the foxhole.

14. And when I lifted the plow off of my best friend’s foot.

15. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook a fist in anger.

16. They covered my face, combed my hair and cleansed the rest of my body.

17. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.

18. Even now . . . . when not much of anything else on my body works well,

19. These hands hold me up, lay me down and continue to fold in prayer.

20. It will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home.

21. He won’t care about where these hands have been or what they have done.

22. What God will care about is to whom these hands belong and how much He Loves me.

23. He will care about whom these hands belong to.

24. With these hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to TOUCH the face of Christ.

The young man left the park. He never saw the old man again, but he said that he would never forget him and the words that he spoke. And he said that when his hands hurt, or are sore, or when he strokes the face of this children and touches his wife he thinks of the Old man in the park.

I believe that old man has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God, and I too want to touch the face of God and feel his hands upon my face.

Thank you, Father God, for hands. AMEN.

Close with prayer.

THE CHRISTMAS TRADITION

I was listening to a radio commentator last night who reminded me that there are only 22 days left before Christmas. Whew! Where has the time gone? Seems like it was just yesterday that we were enjoying Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays. Here it is December and we are rocketing toward Christmas at Mach 4 speed. Only 22 days to go.

As I pondered about what I wanted to talk to you about today, I thought we needed to reflect on this time of year and the events leading up to the 25th of December. What is Christmas?

I turned to my Bible and its concordance and looked up the word CHRISTMAS. It wasn’t there. I quickly went to my Bible Dictionary and found the definition. Christmas is the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ and its observance is celebrated by most Protestants and Catholics on the 25th of December. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 6 and Armenian Churches on January 19.

The first mention of Christmas on December 25th is in the time of Constantine, about 325 A.D. The actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown.

The word CHRISTMAS is formed by Christ + Mass, meaning a mass of religious service in commemoration of Jesus’ birth. And so we find ourselves preparing for the celebration of the birth of God’s son.

The Christian Church has a period called Advent which leads up to Christmas. It is a time that is rich with traditions and symbols. Many of these had their origins in pagan traditions. But Christians interpreted many of them in spiritual ways to help themselves as well as new believers to focus on Christ.

Advent is four weeks of lighting candles, counting the days, waiting with hopeful hearts for the arrival of that SACRED DAY.

THE ADVENT WREATH is a very popular tradition. It traces its origin back to pre-Christian Germany and Scandinavia, where the people gathered to celebrate the return of the Sun after the winter solstice. The circular wreath made of evergreens, with candles interspersed, represented the circle of the year and the life that endures through the winter months. As the days grew longer people lit candles to offer thanks to the Sun God for added light. It started as a pagan tradition.

Lutherans in Eastern Germany are the ones who started the Advent wreath as a Christian religious custom. Today we celebrate Advent with the wreath and the progressive lighting of candles. The first candle lit is the HOPE Candle.

The HOPE candle is usually purple in color.

The second candle is the BETHLEHEM candle, symbolizing the Christ child’s cradle. This candle is called the LOVE candle and is usually blue in color.

The third candle is the SHEPHERD’S candle and is either pink or rose. This candle typifies the act of sharing Christ. The candle is also known as the JOY candle.

The fourth candle is the ANGEL’S candle. It is the candle of love and the final coming. It is also known as the PEACE candle. It is usually colored red.

The largest candle, colored white, is placed in the center of the wreath. It is the CHRIST candle and it is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS TREES are another familiar symbol of Christmas. At this time of year the leaves of other types of trees have turned color and brown and have fallen from the tree. The evergreen tree keeps its fresh green look and is adorned with ornaments and lights symbolizing LIFE.

By the beginning of the 19th century all of Germany had adopted the use of the green fir tree known as the Christmas tree. The tree was decorated with candles, stars, sweetmeats, tiny toys and gilded nuts.

The custom of the Christmas Tree was brought to the United State by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820’s. In 1923 President Calvin Coolidge held the first lighting of an outdoor Christmas tree at the White House. It started a long standing tradition that has lasted to this day.

The White House tree is a giant spruce that stands over 50 feet in height and is decorated with more than 15,000 lights.

In lighting Christmas candles and/or lights we are reminded that Jesus is the light of the world… . the light that we should follow. Scripture reminds us that Jesus said:

"I am the light for the world. Follow me and you won’t be walking in the dark.

You will have the light that gives life." John 8:12.

There are many more traditions and symbols that remind us of the birth of Jesus. They include:

The Advent Calendar, the bells, the Candles, even candy canes. Christmas carols, cards and letters. Christmas Eve services. Manger scenes, mistletoe, poinsettia plants, ivy, Yule logs and more.

You can reflect on your memories of Christmas past. Good memories I trust. For those of us who sincerely wish to observe the season properly we need to slow