Monday, September 04, 2017

sermon, Hope's Sustaining Power, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME



September 3, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
“The Sustaining”
Psalm 105:1-6
Matthew 11:28-30
Revelation 22:17a AMP


Hopes Sustaining Power…

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. Matthew, chapter 11, verses 28-30. Listen to words of caution from God to the people of God as we seek His will…

 Matthew 11:28-30New International Version (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”


As hope prayed, “Dear Jesus, I have not been all that nice in my life. I have had a hard life and have done some pretty hard things. But I can’t do this life thing alone anymore. I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for all that I have done. I need You. Please come and live in my life. Please come and help me because I can’t help myself. Please make me new and give me hope and peace in my life…Amen,” she began to have this feeling of peace. She hadn’t felt this in years and she wanted to do all she could to hold on to it. As a matter of fact, she actually began to feel hope spring forth in her life. “I never realized that this is what was missing. I am so glad that Jesus has come into my life but how do I hold onto this feeling?”, she thought.

Almost as if he could hear her thoughts, Pastor Roy began to say, “Hope, I am so glad you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now comes the fun part…you get to spend time getting to know Him. The more you know about Him and God the more your hope will grow in you. You see getting to know Him is what sustains us…helps us to be able to hold on to our hope.” “Oh boy…that sounds like a lot of work,” Hope exclaimed. “It really isn’t that much like work. Actually, it’s rather fun. Once you begin doing it with all your heart, mind, and soul… But fair warning. The world around you hasn’t changed, you have. There is still that chaos and despair but now with this living hope in you, you can now become part of the change that needs to happen in the world.” Pastor Roy warned.

How do I begin?” Hope asked. “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. I am so glad you made this life altering decision. I will be praying for you.” “Thank you so much Pastor Roy. And I am glad I made this decision too.” Hope said, “I don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago” she laughed as she left Pastor Roy’s office. Little did she know how her new-found hope would be challenged…

In what do you find hope? Face, it, we live in a chaotic world full of hopelessness and despair.  Even so, we can have hope. It can be hard to cultivate hope in our lives...and have enough to share with a broken world. We all now that hope doesn’t happen overnight and 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? “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4).


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, 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.
 It is in the tilling of the soil that the seeds of love and hope begin to grow and sprout new hope within us and within those who Go calls us to plant within. And remember…we have to tend and nourish hope…it is our part in the growth in us and others…

Now there may be times that we feel we want to move on. We may even want to move on because of a painful…fill in the blank. We may be going through a fire and feel we are done… 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… The fruit of hope becomes evident in our lives and the lives of others… If it isn’t evident…is there really ant hope to be found? Not only are we called to bear fruit…we are called to help others…bear their burdens… There is more than one way of bearing and we are called to both…

So now, we are bearing fruit and bearing with each other. But I want you to remember that growth happens in spirts and is continuous our whole lives…when we stop growing both physically and spiritually we are dead… Now can we do this non- stop? Give time to answer. Why not? Give time to answer. We become tired and weary… The King James dictionary defines weary as:
WEARINESS, n. from weary.
1. The state of being weary or tired; that lassitude or exhaustion of strength which is induced by labor; fatigue. With weariness and wine oppressed.
2. Lassitude; uneasiness proceeding from continued waiting, disappointed expectation or exhausted patience, or from other cause.
WEARY, a.
1. Having the strength much exhausted by toil or violent exertion; tired; fatigued.
2. Having the patience exhausted, or the mind yielding to discouragement. He was weary of asking for redress.
3. Causing weariness; tiresome; as a weary way; a weary life.

We become tired, discouraged, exhausted, and disappointed. How many of you have felt this way before? What did you do in order to feel better, how are you sustaining yourself? Give time to answer. “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4).

In the Matthew scripture from this morning, we have a clear direction of what to do when we are weary and tired. We have a clear direction on what will sustain us. It is coming to the Lord and allowing Him to give us rest. We have the choice of whether or not we are going to allow His healing and resting presence in our lives…which would you want to choose. Which gives hope and which way causes despair? “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

Not only are we to come to the Lord who is the Sustainer of Life, we are to help others sustain their lives. God has created within us a need to be part of something…to be part of each other’s lives. You know the feeling of wanting to be a part of something bigger than yourself.  Think about it, if someone didn’t invite you to be part of this thing we call the body of Christ…this one big family, would you still be searching for that one thing that is missing…the longing to belong to something far greater than yourself?

If you don’t receive the sustaining of the Lord how can you help in the sustaining of others? “The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught’ (Isaiah 50:4).

Are you feeling tired and fatigued? Is there just a feeling of despair that you just can’t shake? Do you feeling like you are just running on that hamster wheel, not able to find that rest you are so in need of? Come to the well that gives Living Water so that you can be a fountain for others. Come and rest by it’s cool waters and drink your fill. Come to the green pasture and renew the hope within you. Come to the font of Joy, of Peace, Of Love, and of Hope. There is hope, to be found by you and me. Where there is hope…there is possibilities…

“The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come;”

Amen!

=====================
September 4, 2017


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
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message

by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 27, 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
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 44,840 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 105, Matthew 11,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #prayer #love #grace #hope #poem #seed #Matthew11 #Psalm105





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