Lori S.

October 28, 2023 by Gabriela YarelizProfiles, Uncategorized

I am super excited to have Lori with us today. Lori speaks to us about her healing, abundant living, some great books to add to your list and her website. She shares tons of resources. Thank you, Lori, for taking the time to share! Thank you for your beautiful vulnerability.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but we moved to a little fishing resort in the northern part of the state when I was four years old. It was the best place to grow up. I enjoyed long summers swimming in the lake, fishing with my dad, meeting all the new guests at our resort each week, hunting frogs to sell as bass bait in our bait store, and lots of exploring. Winters allowed me to experience cross country skiing, building lots of snowmen, ice skating, and ice fishing!

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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 3:17-18

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: This year, I have been focusing on the abundance of the Lord and how it looks to live out of the overflow. The Lord gave me the word, “abundance” this year. At first, I thought it too simple or common a Christian word. But through prayer, I realized that I’d been doing a lot of survival living the last few years and it was time to flip that script. The last few years have held a great deal of loss, caregiving, health issues, and change for us personally, as well as for the world. I fought to keep my head above water. I realized that it had become a habit. I’d gear up each day to be ready to cope. But that was a flight or fight reaction to stress. Instead, I sensed the Lord telling me it was time to rest in Him and live out of His abundance. It was time I lived out true abundant life! So, I began making changes, and it has paid off. This year has been so refreshing for my overall health – mental, physical, and spiritual.

Profession/Mission: I am a writer, author, speaker, and encourager. My mission is to help others uncover God’s unwavering love for both you and me. Together, we explore the Bible and embrace Its life-giving power to help us move forward in life, casting aside insecurity and embracing a future filled with hope and joy. Though we may encounter obstacles along the way, we can find solace in the fact that God is forever faithful and always by our side.

My website can be found at www.LoriSchumaker.com and features regular articles and blog posts focusing on Biblical education and inspiration. It ranges from prayer collections and Bible verse lists to “how to” articles and personal redemptions stories from myself and guest writers. I have a library full of free curated resources available to all my subscribers called the “Library of Hope.” Additionally, I have a little shop with a growing collection of studies, programs, and books.

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? Bumps, Bruises, Brokenness, and the Jesus Who Is Faithful to Save

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I’ve always knew of God and believed in Him. I have a funny little sandbox moment where Jesus comforted me when I was three years old. However, my belief in Him didn’t include a relationship with Him until I was in my 30s. I spent years living in ways that did not honor Him ended up spiraling into shame and emotional destruction. Finally, through a multiple hour prayer meeting with my pastor and a close friend, I experienced the healing power of Jesus. I’d say that was the first time I fully understood what a relationship with Jesus was all about.

How would you describe Jesus? Jesus is everything! He is kind and compassionate, yet firm and strong. He is a servant, yet He is the greatest leader of all time. He forgives what we struggle to forgive, and His love is unfailing. He is steady, consistent, and the only One in whom we can give our wholehearted trust.

“He is a servant, yet He is the greatest leader of all time.”

How has your relationship with Him changed you? Before I had a relationship with Jesus, I was lost. I let what the world and the broken people in it did and said to me define me. I let both my sins and my wins define me. I searched for love and acceptance in all the wrong places and didn’t experience life to its full. Today, all of that is different. I have peace, joy, and abundant hope in Jesus. I know who I am as His child and that definition doesn’t change when I fail, or others fail me. I am steady because I am anchored by Him.

“I know who I am as His child and that definition doesn’t change when I fail, or others fail me.”

What has been the darkest time in your life, and how did you see God in it? The darkest time in my life was when I had an abortion at 17 years old. I was so filled with shame and hurt. I was shunned by those I loved most. I was an embarrassment to the family and not given an opportunity to explore options. After the abortion, I sunk into a vicious cycle of self-condemnation that lasted the next 15 years. It led me to a series of unhealthy relationships, an abusive marriage, a divorce, and depression. But as I look back, I see God with me every step. I would sleep with my Bible under my pillow. I didn’t know the Words inside, but I knew there was power there. I would pray often, crying out for help. He helped me put one foot in front of the other as He walked me up out of that pit of pain. It was after I’d healed a great deal, I opened my heart enough to have that life-changing encounter with Him. I never believed my life could be what it is today. It amazes me every single day!

“But as I look back, I see God with me every step. I would sleep with my Bible under my pillow. I didn’t know the Words inside, but I knew there was power there.”

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season?

My weekly Bible study with a beautiful group of women.

Connecting with faith-filled friends.

Attending, being involved with, and serving at our home church.

My new favorite Bible: The Care and Counsel NKJV Bible.

The AACC World Know Hope Conference.

The Bible App.

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst.

Continually creating content and resources for my readers.

Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care With Neuroscience and Faith by Lisa C. Qualls and Melissa Corkum

How to Care for Aging Parents by Virginia Morris

All the Neil T Anderson books

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?):

Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care With Neuroscience and Faith by Lisa C. Qualls and Melissa Corkum

I’ve learned a lot this year about new developments and strategies for parenting our daughter. We adopted her when she was almost five years old. Prior to us, she only lived in an orphanage in Bulgaria where she experienced trauma, neglect, and abuse. As much as we want to believe love heals all things, it doesn’t. It takes lots of love, but lots of education, help, and of course, Jesus! And even then, we may never witness the type of healing we hoped for. Yet, this year, we’ve found great help through working with Melissa Corkum and the SSP (Safe and Sound Protocol). The resources in this book and the protocol has been a miracle in our lives.

“The resources in this book and the protocol has been a miracle in our lives.”

Top three essentials: I don’t know if these are essentials or 3 favorites! Maybe a mix of both! And naming only three is TOUGH!

My phone with all it’s resources on it like the Bible App.

Cherry Pepsi One.

Sunscreen (I live in AZ).

How did God speak to you recently? This summer our daughter chose baptism. The day was beautiful beyond words. She had talked about baptism for a long time, but I held back. I didn’t want it to be about doing it because everyone else was. Our Selah has significant special needs which makes it difficult to discern her understanding of things. So, I hesitated for a long time until August. I felt God prompting me. Yet, I had doubts. However, the day of the baptism, the Holy Spirit filled the room. His presence was tangible. Our sweet girl felt emotions she’s never felt or expressed before. It was the most beautiful day of this year for sure! Through it, God taught me about trusting His nudging and following through to see the beauty He creates. A bonus was that her big brother got to be there to witness her special day before he headed to Hawaii for his freshman year in college!

Hobby: I love writing, walking, listening to music, traveling, photography, and making things beautiful as in home décor and my web and product designs!

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Read your Bible! Pray! Stay in community.

Favorite person in scripture? Joseph

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? That He is filled with compassion.

How do you engage with your community? I engage through my blog, email, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and a little bit of X.

Favorite holiday? Christmas

A goal you have? I have two. Write another book and visit the Holy Land!

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep:

Traditions are important to our family. We have so many and enjoy them all! Over the years, I actually stumbled into how powerful traditions are in raising a family. Not traditions that are so constrained they become resented. But traditions that you squeeze into the margins to make memories and build unity. Here is a short list!

1. Family vacations at least once a year (even if it’s just a few days and nowhere fancy, just being together). Cabo is our family favorite, though. Since it’s a short 2-hour flight for us, we’ve gone many times during summer breaks.

2. Christmas morning with 3 presents from Santa (even though no one believes in Santa anymore!), presents from one to the other, a break with cinnamon rolls, stockings, and dinner with extended family.

3. Lots of decorating and baking over the holidays.

4. Looking at Christmas lights.

5. The annual Celebration of Christmas at Dream City Church.

6. Sunday dinners.

7. Church and prayers together.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? Why did innocent children have to suffer at the hands of evil? Why did it take so long to get to our daughter when we know she was in such a horrible situation?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Jesus, abortion recovery, adoption, mental health.

What does your morning routine consist of? I’m a terrible morning person! My routine has been all over the place because of health reasons and my kids. Ideally, I get my daughter off to school, catch up on daily events, check my calendar, spend time in the Word, go for a walk or work out, and then work.

What is on your nightstand? Right now, cough drops and a humidifier as I’ve been recovering from Covid! I’ve got a copy of Harris Faulkner’s Faith Still Moves Mountains as well.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity is knowing and loving Jesus so that we can love others well, experience the joy and peace of His grace, and live lives that glorify Him until we go to Glory to meet Him face to face.