In this special episode Mike Schoettle, TRM's Director of Spiritual Wellness & Discipleship, has the main mic! Sharing an encouraging message of the Lord's steadfastness. Drawing parallels from his experience working at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo to trusting God to carry you through struggles, we discuss the profound impact of prayer and trusting in the Lord as we navigate through uncertainty.
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In this special episode Mike Schoettle, TRM's Director of Spiritual Wellness & Discipleship, has the main mic! Sharing an encouraging message of the Lord's steadfastness. Drawing parallels from his experience working at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo to trusting God to carry you through struggles, we discuss the profound impact of prayer and trusting in the Lord as we navigate through uncertainty.
To learn more about TRM Ministries: Click Here!
To support TRM, Click Here!
Dear my Father, we thank you for this day and your blessings and provisions. God, thank you for this time. Lord, help us to reflect on you and remember who you are to us today. Lord, thank you for our listeners. Pray your blessing over them, and this time in your holy name we pray, amen.
Speaker 2:Well, hello everybody, and happy Thursday February 8, 2024. I am Mike Schottel, the Director of Spiritual Wellness and Discipleship with the Topeka Rescue Mission, and today is, as I said, thursday February 8, 2024. Just some fun facts. Right before we started, josh, you asked me if I knew what today was, and I was like it's Thursday.
Speaker 1:And then you said I've got to give you the special days.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we got the special days. I mean Barry and Amanda may not be here and Mary may not be here, but we still got to go off the special days.
Speaker 1:But it kind of blew my mind of what you said today was I will always, always say this is from Google, so I'm assuming it's right, Right.
Speaker 2:Well, it kind of threw me off, because when we were like, yeah, today's Fat Thursday, have you ever heard of that? And I thought, no, I've heard of Fat Tuesday the day before Ash Wednesday, but Fat Thursday. It's almost like we start today and then we go through till Tuesday. So you better indulge yourself on those wonderful sweets and the punch keys. Punch keys actually are not a thing out here, as much as they are back where I'm from in Michigan. So yeah, today is Fat Thursday, it's exactly what you may be thinking. So it's time to indulge. You go to McDonald's for breakfast, you could go to Wendy's for lunch and then Finish off the day by going to Larry shortstop for dinner.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, celebrate it before ash Wednesday. Delicious, just pack your arteries. It's also giving hearts day. Speaking of arteries, giving hearts day is an opportunity to donate as much as possible to charity organizations and those in need. It's a great way to show compassion and help those in need.
Speaker 1:Always a good day.
Speaker 2:It's always a good day. It's always great to give Um last one. I'm doing a lot of it. And the second thing is not happening. Laughing get rich day yeah, it's a day to laugh and enjoy, and the many oh it's the many benefits that laughter brings it doesn't bring.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's when you laugh, it helps make you rich.
Speaker 2:I mean I could, man, I guess I am rich. Yeah, yeah, okay, yeah, the biggest benefit of laughter is improving our health. Laughter helps elevate our mood, it lowers stress and blood pressure, unless if you're laughing to the point where you can't breathe and then your blood pressure goes through the roof right, which that would not be bad folks. You got to remember to breathe if you're laughing Yep, cuz you don't want to pass out, and it also strengthens your immune system. Yeah, you got this off of Google, got the Google man. I just got done with a really nasty sinus headache and I I laugh a lot. So Well, you weren't weren't laughing.
Speaker 2:I wasn't laughing hard enough in this way. Laughter makes us rich, because Health is wealth, after all. Yeah, so, mike, why are you on today? I I don't know. They just trusted us to take over and we're doing that.
Speaker 1:We are actually a word for us. I do have a special word.
Speaker 2:It really does my heart well that y'all are trusting me to To say stuff and what the Lord's put on my heart. But yeah, I do. I do have some stuff to share today and yeah, just wanted to take you guys along for the ride. So one of the things that you can also notice just because of how I'm talking I do not talk like I am from Kansas, I am from Michigan. I have a very Hopefully not thick Michigan accent. My sister's got one. I have a friend that has one really bad, but mine, I think, is probably a little bit more muffled and not noticeable, but I did it comes out every once in a while, but not too bad.
Speaker 1:Oh well, thank you, you're welcome yeah they're thanks.
Speaker 2:So, with being from Michigan, grown up on the eastern side of the state, my, my family moved in 2010 To the western side of the state. So the Kalamazoo area and if you're ever in the area, the aerospace and science museum, also known as the Kalamazoo air zoo, is seriously one of the coolest Places to visit in Kalamazoo. While I was in college, I had the opportunity to live to not live there. I worked there for a year. Let me tell you that was some of the most incredible, some of the most incredible work that I've done, but also, as somebody who has a debilitating fear of flying, it was still just an absolute blast. Like they would sometimes have us go on tours up in the play and I'm like, no, no, thanks, I'll, I'll stay down on the ground. So this museum, it's a huge museum. It's it's kind of like the one that we have here in Topeka, but it's way bigger. So there's hundreds of aeronautical engines, dating back from the Wright brothers all the way up to one of the last SR 71 blackbirds in existence. During my time there, I had the opportunity to work alongside some great co-workers, amazing volunteers, who had actually flown some of those planes that were on exhibit from World War two To the current wars of the US military that they fought.
Speaker 2:In my job I was not a tour guide, I wasn't any of the, you know, I wasn't given the history at all or anything. I was actually a ride operator. Yeah, it was also cool because my dad would call me a glorified carney. So, yeah, he's like man. How'd your carnival job go? I'm like dad. Come on, um. So I was a ride operator and what my job entailed to Was that I would operate and maintain some of the rides in the museum we had. There's a ferris wheel, an indoor ferris wheel. What's really cool about this place is everything was indoor. So if the the weather was bad, it was always sunny in 75 at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.
Speaker 2:So we'd have people come in field trips, families come in. We actually had a bunch of Amish people come in once for rum springer man. They, those rebels, those 16 year olds just wanting to have fun. They'd come in and do our flight simulators. That was probably the coolest ride. We had a flight simulator that you could do barrel rolls, twist in turns, 360 degrees. It was four-dimensional, fully immersive. It would follow every, every single move that you wanted to do high speed climbs, um, engine cutting, nose dives and as many barrel rolls that you wanted to do, um, that was probably the most fun one.
Speaker 2:The worst one that I would probably say was Nobody wanted to get put on it. It's called the Montgolfier balloon race, so named after the guy who invented the hot air balloon. It was a large carousel like ride that would raise in the lower around 20 feet and I'd travel about 10 miles an hour and everyone hated to be put on this ride because it was known as the protein spiller. Oh yeah, so death, taxes and operating this ride at least Once a week was always hurt for somebody to for that to happen. I Hated that ride. I hated working that ride.
Speaker 2:But there was one day in particular when everything changed and it really brought Something full circle for me of who I am as a believer, who I am as a son of God, as a, as a child of the Lord God. So I just wanted to share how that day went for me and what impact it's left on me. So everybody hold on tight. So it was a. It was a June afternoon in Michigan and the humidity in Michigan isn't I wouldn't say it's as bad as here in to be in Kansas, but I mean, when you're breathing in and the humidity it's like breathing soup. So it was a hot and humid Afternoon in Michigan, which normally meant that we'd be busting at the seams and people would be coming in to see your exhibits, but surprisingly it was a really slow day. There had only been a few times that I'd started the ride up and I was. I was doing the the balloon race ride and I had a handful of people get on. So really, if there's anybody who wanted to ride it, I was. I was glad to have them on because it was. You know, I'm doing something that actually I was getting paid to do.
Speaker 2:While I was enjoying some downtime, I saw a man approaching the ride and he was maybe in his late mid to late 30s. He had dark but he had gray hair. He also had a look of him that he was tired. He was weary of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and with him when his two kids, his world. He had a daughter. She was maybe about eight or nine years old. She had dark hair, just like her dad's, but it was in a ponytail with a pink scrunchie. I Remember all this because of a photographic memory. There was a son, but six or seven Big beautiful hazel eyes with a smile that could light up any room, and I could tell that his son was the apple of both of his dad's and his sister's eye. He was so sweet, but he was also really frail and you could just tell just by the wheelchair that he was in. He had cerebral palsy.
Speaker 2:When those little boys saw the balloon ride, his eyes lit up and he just began pleading with his dad to ride. And his dad said I don't know about this bud, I don't. I Don't do spinning rides and I know your sister does not want to ride. And she excitedly replied oh no, I do, I want to ride this. If he wants to ride it, I'll go with them, it'll be fun. So he came over to me and said so I don't think I can handle riding this, but my kids want to. Is it safe for my son to ride this with his condition? And I was like, yeah, absolutely. We have people that are in wheelchairs all the time. You know we can assist them on, we can assist, I'm off, it's totally safe. I Assured him that it was totally safe. So because it you know it's completely handicap accessible. So he proceeded to ask how long the ride was, how fast it went, and I assured him it wasn't fast at all. He told them that they could get on and I allowed him to get his kids situated on to the ride and the son was so happy he blew his dad a kiss and he said I'll see you when I get off.
Speaker 2:I Escorted the dad back to the waiting area so that he could safely watch his kids ride the ride. So I went back to the control panel. I started the ride up. Both of the kids are laughing, laughing and waving. But as soon as it got to the full height and the full speed, that Joy and laughter was incredibly short-lived.
Speaker 2:It was about a minute and a half into the ride the boy became hysterical and he began to scream. He began to, began to cry with all of the strength that he had. The little girl began to shout for help and the dad ran over to me yelling for me to shut it down. But I had already engaged the kill switch the moment I heard the kid crying. So before the dad even got back, you know it got over to me. He's like I need you to shut this down. I was like, sir, I Need you to remain calm. I cannot have you in here because the ride is still moving. It is not safe for you, but what I can do is I can go over and get your son out. I have to be the one to get him out. He quickly replied you know how? Do I know you can get him. He needs to be lifted out of the ride. I don't know if you're strong enough to help my son, and I just calmly said back to him I can get him, but I need you to trust me. Do you trust me? And I'm not kidding. I felt like a Latin-esque King Jasmine and in that one Disney movie, while they were getting onto the the, the magic carpet, and I said do you trust me? And he said yeah, man, I trust you, just please help him.
Speaker 2:By that time the ride had stopped spinning and it was on its way back down to the starting position and while the girl was trying to comfort her brother, she tearfully pushed me away and said no, he needs my dad. My dad's the only one who knows how to help him. He's stronger than you like, man. What way to get humbled by a ten-year-old? It's like back off man. You can't pick him up. My dad's the only one that can.
Speaker 2:So I just looked at her and I said Look, my name is Mike and I know you're scared, but I'm gonna have to be the one to get your brother out and I need you to trust me. I promise I Will take good care of him, do you trust me? And Immediately she just had a piece come over. She looked at her brother, held his head in her hands, and she said this is Mike and he's gonna help you. I Promise I won't let anything bad happen to you. And with tears in my eyes, I said the same thing to him. I said, buddy, I know you're scared.
Speaker 2:This ride is a little shaky and it's a little uneasy, but I need you to gather up all the strength you have just for a moment and hold tight to my arms Once I have a good footing. So this ride doesn't shake, I'm gonna pick you up and I'm gonna take you over to your dad. Okay, do you trust me? And I was humbled once again by a beautiful boy saying, with a smile on his face yeah, I trust you, but you're not as strong as my dad. Please don't drop me. It's such an awesome job. Grabbing my arms for support and with the strength that he had and as soon as I had the footing, I picked him up and carried his body over to his Dad, who was crying tears of joy. As I handed the boy over to his father, he planted the little boy, not the dad Planted a big wet kiss on my cheek and he said thanks, mike, you are strong.
Speaker 1:It's like yes, I did it.
Speaker 2:So what does this have anything to do with the devotional, if I can speak for all of us? We may have something going on in our lives that feels uneasy, too fast or just downright chaotic. Life is certain to have its twists and its turns, and while we may feel like it's going to be an easy ride, we wake up hysterically asking for help. Just like that family was facing a lot of problems. Just like that family was facing chaos and the fear of feeling helpless, we also can be witness of that mess unfolding in our lives. There's two passages that come to my mind and, as cliche and well-known as they are Sometimes, the most well-known passages are the ones that we need to be reminded of. Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 5 and 6, says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight. I love this passage because it puts into perspective how important it is to trust in the Lord. King Solomon. He wrote this advice to his son, pointing out the importance of trusting in the Lord with absolutely everything you have. Solomon is literally saying hey, don't be leaning on anything you know, because you're going to fall flat on your face. Lean all of your weight on Him. What this looks like is if I were to put all of my weight on a chair with a broken leg. What's going to happen? That chair is going to snap and I'm going to fall and I'm going to bite it hard. And then everybody watching is first going to laugh and then ask if I'm okay. Leaning on God and fully trusting Him is like putting all of your weight on Him with hopes that His strength is going to keep you up. And here's the kicker His footing. His strength is always certain. Even when you're facing the most insane turmoil, his strength and grace is always sufficient and you will get through it. And that's what brings me to the next passage, philippians, chapter 4, verses 6 and 7. Paul writes Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds. In Christ Jesus. This passage is so pure with a promise that I can't do anything but smile that every time I read it.
Speaker 2:The church of Philippi was in this area that was heavily influenced by the Roman culture. Of course they were feeling anxious because they had the world's strongest empire at the time breathing down their necks. Paul was lifting them up, telling them Look, I know there's a lot of pressure on you right now, but just keep seeking the Lord, keep thanking Him for what he is giving you and what he is doing through you. Draw closer to Him, just like those who have come before us. He will grant you the peace, and though you won't even know how to explain it, I promise you that the peace will be there. Friends, this goes for us as well.
Speaker 2:There's times of uncertainty. Right now, I know the enemy is at large, he plays dirty and he's a bully, but guess what? We serve a God who is bigger than our enemy. We serve a God whose strength is our hope and he is in the business of showing favor to those who call upon Him. Whatever you're facing at work, whatever you're facing in your community, whatever you're facing at home, whatever you're facing in your life that you just can't tell anybody about because you feel like you're going to be a burden, guess what? The Lord is mighty, the Lord is strong. The Lord's footing is sure. The Lord's got this. He sees you and he hears you. So, because of that, call upon Him, ask Him to flip the switch so that he can come in and grab you off of this ride, that he can make this ride, this chaos ride, just a little bit more calm. Call upon Him in your time of need and He'll push that button and get you to safety. But once he pushes that button and gets you to safety, all you need to do is trust in Him and hold on tight.
Speaker 2:Well, everybody, I'm really glad that I could share my heart. I could share just a little snippet of what my life would, what my wife would call my forest gump moments Just being around. Those who need to be loved, need to be trusted. But they're not necessarily forest gump moments. It's Holy Spirit moments. He puts you in these situations for you to be the love of Christ, to meet people's needs where they're at.
Speaker 2:Whatever it is that you're facing, you're not doing it alone. You've got a community, you have people who care about you and if you have even a prayer request, we have means to be able to pray for you. So if you have something that you want to share, you can message us on Facebook, you can message us through our website at trmonlineorg. If you enjoyed this podcast, please don't forget to subscribe, don't forget to rate or share, but we are here for you If you are in our community. If you are, it doesn't matter if you're here in Topeka, here in Kansas, or if you're listening in California, washington, or shoot, even if you're like, let's say, in Nepal. If you need prayer, we're here for you. We're here to walk alongside of you and we're here to show you that there is a love and a peace that surpasses all understanding. So may you all be blessed, may you all seek his face and may you all have your storm calmed. It's been a pleasure, everybody. Thank you very much.