Pages

Monday, September 18, 2017

sermon, "W.I.P. (Work In Progress) ...", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME, September 17, 2017



September 17, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
“The Building”
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)


“W.I.P. (Work In Progress)…”

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 6, verses 47-49. Listen to words of caution from God to the people of God as we seek His will…


As Hope and Ms. Love hugged, for what seemed like an eternity, Hope knew she had found her hope and her remembrance of the hope within her… “Oh Ms. Love, I remember everything you had taught me.” Hope exclaimed, “I am glad that you had those memories to hold on to in your life” Ms. Love answered. “So, what’s next? I have accepted Jesus and now what do I do?” Hope asked not sue of herself. “Well, one thing is that you need to start building your house” Ms. Love explained. “Building my house …what do you mean building my house? I live in a nice apartment now and I don’t think I want to leave it to build a house. Especially if I am building it on my own” Hope said a little anxious about the thought of building something.

“Oh Hope, you have so much to learn. I hope I am up to the challenge” Ms. L. thought. “It’s not a physical house but a Spiritual house. As you build your hope you begin to build a house for the Holy Spirit to reside in…you build up your temple of God.” Ms. L. explained to Hope…she could see the confusion in her eyes as she went on, “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and He resides in you but you need to build the temple larger now because as you get more hope in your life, it is going to need a bigger place to live. As you learn more about God and who He is…your hope is built larger and larger. Then as it gets larger, you get to share it with others but you still need to build that Spiritual house… If you don’t build it, when storm of life some…and they will come…you won’t be able to withstand the storm.”

“All this is so confusing, how am I going to be able to do this?” Hope sighed. “That’s the whole point…you can’t but God through the Holy Spirit can.” Ms. L. tried to explain. Still seeing the confusion Ms. L. suggested. “Why don’t you come by my place tomorrow. We can talk some more and help you in your confusion.” “Oh, that would be so nice, thank you” Hope answered still a little confused but wanting to understand. “Great, here is my address. Why don’t you come by around 10 and we will get you on your way to your own construction?” “Ok…well I will see you then. And thank you again.” Hope said as she hugged her long-lost friend good bye. “Well 10it is then. See you then.”

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 been farming…so to speak. To recap…we have plowed the fields and germinated seeds. They sprouted and we have planted them in 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. 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.

We have tilled the soil so that the seeds of love and hope could begin to grow and sprout new hope within us and within those who Go calls us to plant within. There are times that we may even want to move on because of a painful…fill in the blank. But…God says, not just yet…you need to stay put where you are. So, we bloom where we are…the fruits are shared within our community of the church and out into the larger community of the world. Hope becomes evident in our lives and the lives of others… (If it isn’t evident…is there really any hope to be found?)

We may become weary at times…you can’t just keep putting out and not run out. 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… And we remember all those victories we have had in and through Jesus…that keeps us going forward and hold on to the hope within us.

But…where is the foundation of your hope, what do you hope in? Give time to answer. Well, Psalm 127 verse 1 tells us:
Unless the Eternal builds the house,
    those who labor to raise it will have worked for nothing.
Unless the Eternal stands watch over the city,
    those who guard it have wasted their time.

Do you think we build hope? And if we build is there any type of construction plans to go by? I know we want to build it right. Give time to answer. Our faith walk is something that is built as we walk our lives with Jesus. It builds each time we trust a little more…so it is with our hope. It is built and we continue to build it until it is complete and we are on the other side of heaven. Our lives are truly a construction site as we are built up in Christ Jesus…individually and as the body. We are W.I.P.’s, Works In Progress…a holy construction site for God.

According to the Scripture from Luke this morning, how are we to build our house…what is the true foundation to our house? Give time to answer. WE need to build our house…our Spiritual house…our hope…upon the sturdy rock…the cornerstone that was rejected by man but acceptable to God, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. As we trust and build our house on the Rock of Ages, every time we go through that storm and the house stands…our hope grows…our story grows… it is that story we share to help others build their own hope.

As we become part of the community of Christ Followers, and become part of something so much bigger than ourselves, we have the opportunity to build up the whole, strengthening and creating foundations of love and justice, faith and hope not for just the moment but a lasting ripple in the tide of grace.

It is within community that hope is nurtured and grows. It is built into a living hope within us and within the community. 1 Peter 2:4-6 tells us:
Come to Him—the living stone—who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious. Like living stones, let yourselves be assembled into a spiritual house, a holy order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed. For it says in the words of the prophet Isaiah,
See here—I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone, chosen and precious;
Whoever depends upon Him will never be disgraced.

Our hope will not fail us. Our hope will not leave us or forsake us. Our hope stands the test of time. Our hope in Jesus will bring us through the fiercest storm of life…We shall not be disgraced and we shall not be moved. We are built upon the everlasting rock that will not be moved. We are to be living stones that live out the hope of the gospel of peace, love and grace.

Where and what do you set your hope upon? Are you living in a construction or destruction site? Are you being washed out with the tide or are you standing firm on the solid Rock? Beloved remember that you and I are a construction site, forever being built up in Christ Jesus. We are works in progress and in being such, we have room for improvement and growth…expansion...maybe even a whole renovation project. Bu know this…there is hope, to be found by you and me. Where there is hope…there is possibilities…

Amen!

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
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

No comments:

Post a Comment