September 10, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With
Hope”)
“The Remembering”
Psalm 119:33-40
Luke 22:14-19 ESV
1 Samuel 21:1-9 ESV
Hopes Little
Reminder…
The Lord be with you…let us pray… (prayer
for the Spirit’s indwelling as bring God’s words of hope this morning…)
Please stand for the reading of the Gospel
according to St. Luke, chapter 22, verses 14-19. Listen to words of caution
from God to the people of God as we seek His will…
“Well let me get you in
touch with our young adult leader and they can help you get started on this
road of recovery as you recover your life in and through Jesus Christ”, “Thank
you so much Pastor Roy. Pastor Roy was good to his word and found a young adult
group that he felt would be a good fit for her.
As Hope entered the room,
she was a little uneasy as most people are when you are the “new kid”. Everyone
seemed nice and welcomed her. The Adult leader of the group came up to
introduce herself to Hope. The woman seemed familiar but Hope just couldn’t
remember why.
“Hi, my name is Lovely,
but most of the kids call me Ms. Love. Pastor Roy has told me so much about you
Hope. I am so glad you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I know
you are going to fit right in.” “Do I know you,” Hope asked, “you seem very
familiar to me.” “Well I am not sure. I have been working with kids for a long
time. Have you ever been to any kind of camp? I work in camps over the summer.”
“Hmmm…I don’t think so. Well I am sure it will come to me.”
The group began sharing
memories from their past that helped them become who they were today. They
shared memories from camp and from school…about people who made a difference in
their lives. Ass Hope listened she began to search her own memory. Was there anyone
or anything that would be important enough to talk about? The she had this
fleeting thought of one person who made a mark on her life. It was a woman who
used to come and take care of her family when her parents were too sick…too
involved with other things…to take care of them. What was her name? She was
nice and always talked about Jesus. Hope loved the stories of Jesus. It made
her feel sort of good inside. What was her name? all she could remember was Ms.
L.
After the group meeting,
Hope went to Ms. Love, wanting to share her story quietly with her. “Ms. Love”,
Hope began, “I do have a story. It was when I was very young and this lady
would come and take care of my family. All I can remember is Ms. L. She told me
stories of Jesus and it is her memory I have always kept in my heart. I had
always hoped about being loved by Jesus but was always told by my parents I
wasn’t good enough but I still remembered the stories,” Hope said.
“Ms. L., I haven’t been
called that for many, many years. Did you live across the bay in a little
yellow house when you were little?” Ms. Love asked. “Why yes, I did,” Hope
exclaimed. “Is that you little Hope? I thought I recognized you but was afraid
to ask.” “Ms. L, is it really you? I have missed you so and have thought of you
many times.” Hope said with tears in her eyes. “It was the memory of you and
the stories you told me that have helped me hold on. It was those same stories
that made me think I really might have a chance of being love by God.” “Oh
Hope” Ms. Love said as she reached for Hope… “I have thought many times of you
too. To think, I was able to give hope to Hope…” The two of them hugged for
what seemed like an eternity. Hope had now found her hope and her remembrance
of the hope within her…
In
what do you find hope? We live in a chaotic world full of hopelessness and
despair, how can we have hope? We need to cultivate hope in our lives...and
have enough to share with a broken world. This doesn’t happen overnight, it is
a process. But as we begin to have a living hope in us it is as if a light is
turned on in our lives, a bright light. But the question is…how do we hold on
to this hope we have?
Over
the past few weeks, we have plowed the fields and germinated seeds. It has
sprouted and we have planted it in the soil…the good and cultivated soil, that
is sustained by God and His word…the seedlings hopefully have taken root and has
gone deep down into the ground and watered by the Living Water. Beloved, remember, if the seedling…if hope
is not planted, there is no grounding…no growth. It is shallow and when trials
of life some scorching in it is dried up and withers… The only
way to withstand the pressures of life our hope has root itself in good soil
where it receives water…Living Water.
As we till the soil, seeds of love and hope
begin to grow and sprout new hope within us and within those who Go calls us to
plant within. This
is our part in the growing of hope…and to help others to do the same. But
have there been times that you feel you want to move on? We may even want to
move on because of a painful…fill in the
blank. But…but…God says, not just
yet…you need to stay put where you are. As we bloom where we are…the fruits are
shared within our community of the church and out into the larger community of
the world… It becomes evident in our lives and the lives of others… (If it isn’t evident…is there really ant
hope to be found?) There is more than
one way of bearing, bearing our own and helping others bear theirs, and we are
called to both…
We
may become weary at times…you can’t just
keep putting out and not run out. So, we need to sustain our hope somehow.
If we don’t grow in hope then we are dead…what’s the sense? We become tired,
discouraged, exhausted, and disappointed. We need to revive ourselves with the
word of God…go to the well that will give us rest and rejuvenate us to
continue. We also are to help others revive as well…
Another way of sustaining our hope is remembrance.
As we remember, recall, those times when our hope was enlarged we will be
encouraged. It is in the remembrance of Hope that we are buoyed up to
continue…
When have you had to recall having hope? When have
you had to remember in order to continue? Give time to answer. When we
look at the rings of a tree, we can see the passage of time. We, a humanity,
seem to have this need to mark time…moments of significance in our lives. Do
you remember when you truly accepted Jesus as your savior? How about when Jesus
became “real” to you?
The
scripture from Luke has us remembering that fateful night when Jesus died for
all of humanity. For me, this brings to
remembrance of how He took on my sin. It brings to remembrance of how He took
on the guise of a servant and washed the feet of the Disciples and called them and
us to do likewise. It brings remembrance of my sins being nailed to the cross.
It brings to remembrance so much more than just these few things for me. How
about you? Give time to answer. It is in the remembrance we find and
rekindle our hope. Kind of like “Hopes Little Reminders” for us.
David,
the man after God’s own heart, also needed reminders in his life. He needed to
remember how Got him through “a” to get to “b”, so to speak. God had always
been with him, even as a child. He
defeated a lion and a bear to keep the sheep of his father’s flock safe. He
knew God was with him…just as we do…even if you don’t feel Him there.
There
is an account in 1 Samuel that looks innocent at first but when you look at it,
it has a deeper meaning. It is found in chapter 21, verses 1-9. Listen to the
story and then we are going to unpack it. Read
the account form the ESV Bible…
David
is running for his life right now. Saul is looking to kill him because he knows
that David is going to succeed him. I am sure that David must have thought that
this was the end. He may have even thought that God had abandoned him. But…but…listen to these few words…
“8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then
have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my
sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” 9 And
the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine,
whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a
cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but
that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.””
“The
sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah,”
the sword of remembrance, so to speak. He was remembering how God had helped
him defeat Goliath. He remembered how God had watched over him as he watched
his father’s flock…how God had helped him through…Fill in the blank. He had renewed hope. I am sure he had fought
many battles with this sword and it brought to remembrance God’s goodness and
mercy. Hopes Little Reminders.
What
is your Goliath’s Sword in your life? What is it that you hold onto on
remembrance of God’s goodness? What is it that you hold onto to hold onto your
hope? What and who are the people you hold in your memory that sustain ad
reminds you of hope? Beloved hold on to that reminder for dear life. There will
be times when that’s all you will have. But even though that may be all you
have, what it gives you is irreplaceable. It is what gives you hope and a future…in
the future. It reminds you of the Goliath’s you have overcome with and in the
grace of God. There is hope, to be found
by you and me. Where there is hope…there is possibilities…
Amen!
=====================
September 19,
2017
September 17,
2017
buried in the
good soil, planted
September 17,
2017
I remember
everything you taught me
September 17,
2017
she remembered
every lesson
September 17,
2017
the student
became the teacher
September 17,
2017
she had found
her hope
September 17,
2017
on the rock,
on the foundation
September 17,
2017
start building
your house
September 17, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 9
“”
Psalm 103:1-17
Luke 6:47-49 (The Voice Translation)
1 Peter 2:4-6 (The Voice Translation)
Psalm 127:1 (The Voice Translation)
and
sermon, “W.I.P. (Work In Progress)
…”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
September 17,
2017
&
edited
September 16, 2017
there is life
in this hope – v2
edited September
15, 2017
the hope of
America must not die – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
the dream of
America must not perish – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
hope reminds
us – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
life is in
this hope – v2
edited/new
name September 15, 2017
there is life
in this hope
edited
September 15, 2017
we must hold onto hope – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
Hold hope
tightly – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
don’t let go
of hope – v2
September 12,
2017
life is in
this hope
edited
September 12, 2017
hope grows –
v2
September 12,
2017
hope grows
September 12,
2017
hope reminds
us
September 11,
2017
the hope of
America must not die
September 11,
2017
the dream of
America must not perish
edited
September 11, 2017
the seed of
hope must not die – v2
September 11,
2017
the seed of
hope must not die
edited, new
name September 10, 2017
don’t let go
of hope
September 10,
2017
Hold hope
tightly
September 10,
2017
we must hold
onto hope
September 10, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 8
“The Remembering”
Psalm 119:33-40
Luke 22:14-19
and
sermon, “Hope’s Little Reminders…”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson Memorial
United Methodist Church
September 10,
2017
&
Matthew
18:18-20
Matthew
18:15-20
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Searching
the Scriptures”
September
4, 2017 to September 10, 2017
by
Mark H. Stephenson
devotion
for September 10, 2017
read
September 10, 2017
&
edited
September 10, 2017
we can have
hope – v2
September 4,
2017
we can have
hope
September 4,
2017
it is hope
that sustains us
September 4,
2017
it is hope
that ignites us
September 4,
2017
hope fuels us
September 3, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 7
“The Sustaining”
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 46:4
Psalm 54:4
Psalm 55:22
Isaiah 50:4
Matthew 11:28-30
Revelations 22:17a
and
sermon, “Hope’s Sustaining Power”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson Memorial
United Methodist Church
September 3,
2017
&
August 30,
2017
there is power
in our words
August 30,
2017
there is power
in God’s grace
August 30,
2017
there is power
in our prayers
August 30,
2017
there is power
in our hope
August 30,
2017
our words have
impact
edited August
29, 2017
our hope
cannot stay hidden – v2
August 29,
2017
our hope
cannot stay hidden
August 29,
2017
we are called
to witness – 2
August 29,
2017
we each are
the witness
edited August
29, 2017
only Christ
can redeem us – v2
August 29,
2017
only Christ
can redeem us
August 28,
2017
none of us are
worthy - 2
August 28,
2017
he told her
about Jesus
August 27, 2017
he shared his
faith
August 27,
2017
offering her
hope
August 27, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia
McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 6
“Bearing Hope”
Psalm 138
John 15:1-8 GNT
Philippians 1:9-11 GNT
and
sermon, “Hope Bearer…”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 27,
2017
&
August 20,
2017
Help me go
grow
August 20,
2017
before I gave
my life to Christ
edited August
20, 2017
I have been
you – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/08/i-have-been-you-v2.html
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/08/i-have-been-you-v2.html
August 20,
2017
I have been
you
August 20,
2017
whatever your
station
August 20,
2017
slave or free
August 20,
2017
grow there
August 20,
2017
give to them
willingly
August 20,
2017
show them
compassion
August 20,
2017
offer mercy,
grace
August 20,
2017
do not resist
them
August 20,
2017
strip them of
power
August 20,
2017
may hope find
a home
edited August
20, 2017
may hope abide
– v2
August 20,
2017
may hope abide
August 20, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 5
“Residing with Hope”
Psalm 133
Luke 3:10-14
1 Corinthians 7:20-24
Jeremiah 29:4-7
and
sermon, “Where Hope Resides”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 20,
2017
&
August 19,
2017
nurturing hope
edited/ new
name August 19, 2017
if the
seedling isn’t planted
August 19,
2017
if the seed
isn’t planted
August 19,
2017
It is hard to
believe
August 19,
2017
Hope begins to
sprout and root
edited August
19, 2017
Hope
germinates and grows – v2
August 19,
2017
Hope
germinates and grows – v1
August 19,
2017
hope is like a
seed
August 19,
2017
a flickering
of something
edited August
19, 2017
a kernel of
hope – v3
edited August
19, 2017
a kernel of
hope – v2 (2)
August 19,
2017
a kernel of
hope (2)
August 19,
2017
seeds of hope
within us
August 13, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
week 4 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm
105:1-6
Mark
4:1-8 NIV
Ephesians
3:16-19 NIV
John
4:13-14
Zephaniah
3:17
Romans
12:12
Romans
15:4
and
sermon, “Nurturing Planted Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 13,
2017
&
August 10,
2017
our roots are
anchored in Christ
August 10,
2017
we are
grounded in Christ
August 10,
2017
our hope is
grounded
edited August
6, 2017
we must accept
the seed – v3
edited August
6, 2017
we must accept
the seed – v2
August 6, 2017
we must accept
the seed
edited August
6, 2017
for hope to
grow – v2
August 6, 2017
for hope to
grow
edited August
6, 2017
Hope is
planted – v2
August 6, 2017
Hope is
planted
August 6, 2017
the roots
going deep
new name/
edited August 6, 2017
the seedlings
planted
(editing “the
young plants planted”)
August 6, 2017
let your roots
grow down
August 6, 2017
cultivate the
hope inside
August 6, 2017
plant the
seeds of grace
August 6, 2017
plant the
seeds of love
August 6, 2017
get them in
the ground
edited August
6, 2017
germinated
seeds – v2
August 6, 2017
germinated
seeds
August 6, 2017
the seed
growing
August 6, 2017
living in hope
August 6, 2017
may our hearts
be open
edited August
6, 2017
that we might
understand – v4
August 6, 2017
the young
plants planted
August 6, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
week 3 - “Planting Seeds of Hope”
Mark
4:1-8
Parable
of the Sower
Psalm 145:7-8; 14-21
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
Colossians 2:6-8 NLT
Sermon, “Planting Seeds of Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 6, 2017
&
August 2, 2017
hidden in our
flesh
August 2, 2017
growing in our
soil
edited/ new
name August 2, 2017
growing in the
good soil
August 2, 2017
growing in the
ground
August 2, 2017
hidden in the
ground
edited August 2,
2017
After the
planting – v2
August 1, 2017
We must water
and feed
August 1, 2017
Like seeds,
like yeast
August 1, 2017
that we might
understand – v3
August 1, 2017
we must
understand
August 1, 2017
not in riddles
but parables
edited July
31, 2017
that we might
understand – v2
July 31, 2017
that we might
understand
July 31, 2017
we must hear
God’s word
edited July
31, 2017
we are
seeking, searching – v2
July 31, 2017
We are
seeking, searching
July 31, 2017
We have the
seed planted
merged July
31, 2017
Before the
planting – v2
July 31, 2017
After the
planting
July 31, 2017
Before the
planting
July 30, 2017
We want to be
the good soil
July 30, 2017
we need that
hope to work within us
edited July
30, 2017
we must
embrace the seeds – v2
July 30, 2017
we must trust
in God
edited July
30, 2017
a little more
hope – v3
(editing
original again)
edited July
30, 2017
we must
embrace the seeds
edited July
30, 2017
embrace the
seeds
July 30, 2017
embrace the
seed
July 30, 2017
hope is alive
within us
July 30, 2017
hope planted
within us
&
July 29, 2017
we are the
soil – v2
July 29, 2017
do we nurture
the seed – v2
July
16, 2017
do
we nurture the seed
edited July
16, 2017
do we care for
the message – v2
July 16, 2017
do we care for
the message
July 16, 2017
do we welcome
the seed
July
16, 2017
are
we the soil
July
16, 2017
we
hold the seed
July
16, 2017
we
are the sower
July
15, 2017
we
are the soil
edited
July 15, 2017
held
by the thorns – v2
July
15, 2017
held
by the thorns
July
15, 2017
choked
by the briars
Matthew
13:18-23
Matthew
13:1-9, 18-23
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“The
Promise and Work of God’s Word”
July
10, 2017 to July 16, 2017
by
John Adcox
devotion
for July 15, 2017
read
July 15, 2017
&
edited
July 29, 2017
a
miracle in the seed – v2
July
29, 2017
searching,
seeking - 2
July
29, 2017
a
miracle in the seed
edited
July 29, 2017
seeking
treasure – v2
edited
July 29, 2017
Finding
Treasure – v2
merged/edited
July 29, 2017
Seeking
treasure, Finding treasure
July
29, 2017
seeking
treasure
July
29, 2017
Finding
Treasure
Matthew
13:44-52
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Treasures
from God”
July
24, 2017 to July 30, 2017
by
Chris Folmsbee
devotion
for July 29, 2017
read
July 29, 2017
&
July
28, 2017
tiny
acts of love
edited
July 28, 2017
out
of God’s great love – v2
July
28, 2017
the
kingdom of God growing
Matthew
13:31-33
The
Parables of the Mustard Seed
the
Parable of the Yeast
Matthew
13:31-33, 44-52
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Treasures
from God”
July
24, 2017 to July 30, 2017
by
Chris Folmsbee
devotion
for July 27, 2017
read
July 28, 2017
&
edited July
27, 2017
Germinating
Seeds of Hope – v2
July 27, 2017
Germinating
Seeds of Hope
July 30, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 2 - “This Living Hope”
opening prayer
video
Psalm 128
Matthew 13:1-9
Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:18-24
Christ explaining the Parable of the Sower
Psalm 139:13-16
Matthew
13:31-33
Parable
of the Mustard Seed
Parable
of the Yeast
prayer
before sermon
and Sermon, “Germinating Seeds of Hope”
text:
video:
by Raymond A.
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Raymond A.
Foss
closing prayer
video
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 30, 2017
&
edited July 26, 2017
a little more hope – v2
July 26, 2017
a little more hope
July 26, 2017
we are imprisoned by our fears
edited/ new name July 24, 2017
we are strangled by anxiety
July 24, 2017
immobilized by fear
July 24, 2017
freed by hope
July 23, 2017
Hope is Trust
July 23, 2017
why are we so anxious
July 23, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 1 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Jeremiah 29:11-14 Amplified Bible
Romans 5:1-5 Amplified Bible
John 3:16-17 Amplified Bible
and Sermon, “This Living Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 23, 2017
All of my
poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See
all 44,940 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, hope, prayer, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church, poem, seed, home, Psalm 103, Psalm 127, Luke
6, 1 Peter 2, work in progress, build,
#Christ #God
#Spirit #Faith #prayer #love #grace #poem #seed #Psalm103 #hope #Psalm127
#Luke6 #1Peter2 #rock #foundation #house
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