Saturday, June 30, 2018

6/30/18 message of Jarrod Cunningham and Chrissy McCarthy - wedding message, based on Romans 12, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME



 Romans 12:1-2, 9-19 (MSG)

Jarrod and Chrissy, so here we are at the big day. I remember how excited you two were and still are for your wedding. There have been lots of plans and it may have seemed all too overwhelming at times. But I am sure that as your big day has unfolded today, it has all been worth it.

So, this is the moment that I am supposed to impart some mystical wisdom upon you that will help you on this new adventure of marriage. Well, I am sorry to say that is not the case. You see I am still working it out myself. Marriage is something that you have to work at…it’s about giving and receiving. But, what I can do is to share a little bit of wisdom from God’s Word with you.

I am sure you have been to weddings that they talk about 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter and how it tells you how to love one another. As a matter of fact, I read it earlier and it does tell us how to love each other. Not only in marriage but with those we come in contact with. I also read from the Book of Ruth and how you two are now going to be with each other always. That too is a great scripture for a marriage.

But this afternoon, I want to talk about another piece of scripture found in Romans chapter 12. The first piece of scripture I want to share from God’s Wisdom is verses 1-2.

“12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

As you come together in marriage, you need to make a 3-fold cord to make it strong…each of you and God. As you put God first in all things, you will be blessed. You won’t be fighting over who should be the most important. You will both be looking to see and do what God would have you do. Un-like living in a me first world, when you put God first, you are not all about yourself and everything is about God’s will. It is a blessed way…a more excellent way…of life and marriage.

The second piece comes from the same chapter but verses 9-19…

“9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”

Love each other with your whole heart…not just surface love but deep love. Hold on to what is good and don’t let the world take it from you. Think of others before yourselves as you serve others and each other.

“11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.”

Too many people call it quits at the first sign of trouble. They think it is too hard. You two are not making a contract but a covenant with each other. A contract can be broken by either party, but a covenant says I am in it for the long haul. How do you do that…prayer…hard prayer…pray for each other and with each other.

I have created a gift for you to remember this practice of prayer… Prayer beads. But these are not just ordinary prayer beads…Let me explain.

On first look they look like two ordinary sets of prayer beads. But look closer…even thought they are separate, they are intertwined with each other. Even though you are separate…you two are intertwined in marriage and in prayer. Pray for and with each other.

Notice how they come together at the bottom…both colors meeting together. With a heart that leads to the cross. Come together as one with your hearts as one as you give your life, your marriage, your future to Jesus Christ.

“14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.”

Meet each other and people where they are. Don’t hold back your love and prayers, even from your enemies. If you pray for an enemy soon they become a friend because you can’t consider someone an enemy as you pray. It changes your heart…if not the situation…

“17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.””

Don’t go “tit for tat” with each other. You can’t say someone made you act in a certain way. The only thing you can control in most situations is how you react. Try not to be reactive but be proactive in your relationship with each other and others. And believe me…if you leave room for God…you will see miracles happen.

Well that’s about it. I hope this was a help. My last words to you is this…
Love each other madly, deeply, and truly…until your last breath…

Amen.

==================
June 30, 2018
the wedding of Jarrod Cunningham and Chrissy McCarthy
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Ruth 1
1 Corinthians 13
Romans 12:1-3, 9-19



and wedding message


video
text

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 24, 2018
&
edited June 30, 2018
push through our struggles
edited June 29, 2018
pushing through his struggles – v2
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed we are – v3
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed we are – v2
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed it is – v2
edited June 29, 2018
all the flawed pieces – v3
edited June 28, 2018
I have hope – v2
June 28, 2018
I have hope
edited June 27, 2018
all the flawed pieces – v2
June 27, 2018
all the flawed pieces
edited June 27, 2018
how blessed it is
edited June 27, 2018
how blessed it would be – v2
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we are
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we would be – v2
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we would be
June 26, 2018
how blessed it would be
June 26, 2018
pushing through his struggles
June 24, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 133
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
and sermon: “Can We Just Get Along Here…”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 24, 2018
&
June 24, 2018
God cannot do harm
June 24, 2018
God will search
June 24, 2018
searching for us - 2
edited June 24, 2018
This is our perfect Father – v2
edited June 23, 2018
stitched into the family – v2
edited/resorted June 23, 2018
This is our perfect Father
edited June 23, 2018
a more excellent Father – v2
edited June 23, 2018
never too lost – v2
June 23, 2018
searching for us – v2
edited June 21, 2018
our Father runs to each wayward child – v2
June 21, 2018
our Father runs to each wayward child
June 21, 2018
searching for us
June 21, 2018
never too lost
edited June 19, 2018
God runs to us – v3
edited June 19, 2018
the Good Father – v2
June 19, 2018
a more excellent Father
edited June 18, 2018
God runs to us – v2
June 18, 2018
God runs to us
June 18, 2018
the Good Father
edited June 18, 2018
The Perfect Father – v2
June 18, 2018
the perfect father
June 18, 2018
stitched into the family
June 17, 2018
Father’s Day
(and John Wesley’s 315th birthday)
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 20
Luke 15:11-27
the Prodigal Son
and lots of other scripture
on references to God as Father
and sermon: “Good, Good Father”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
(a nickel in the mystery box – In God We Trust)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 17, 2018
Father’s Day
&
June 16, 2018
All who do the will of God
June 16, 2018
These are the ones
edited June 16, 2018
the blood of the vine – v2
June 13, 2018
kinship by choice
June 13, 2018
the blood of the vine
June 13, 2018
blood of the vine
June 13, 2018
not by blood
June 13, 2018
not by blood but by choice
June 13, 2018
not of blood but of Spirit
June 10, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 138
Mark 3:20, 31-35
“The True Family of Jesus” (New Living Translation)
and sermon: “Family Ties”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 10, 2018

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, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,180 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Faith, Family, Father, God, grace, love, Pastor Ruth Foss, Spirit, prayer, hope, marriage, wedding, 1 Corinthians 13, Ruth 1, Romans 12, Jarrod Cunningham, Chrissy McCarthy,sermon,

#sermon #Jesus #Christ #Spirit #Faith #Family #God #grace #love #sacrifice #prayer #hope #vine #choice #bonds #kinship #children #baptism #Father #Son #life #wedding #marriage #Ruth1 #1Corinthians13 #Romans12 #husband #wife

sermon, Can We Just Get Along Here, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME, June 24, 2018





June 24, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Psalm 133 NIV
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 NIV
(My Last sermon of year 5)

Can We Just Get Along Here…?

The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray…

(Prayer I thanksgiving for 6 years and looking forward to the 6th. Prayer for Spirits leading, and that God would be heard through me…)

A reading from Paul’s 2nd Epistle letter to the church in Corinth, chapter 6
Verses 1-13. Listen to and for the Word of God to His people…to the church of Christ…

Hopes Story…
As Hope walked away she was very confused. She knows what it is like to have a father and yet her friend was talking about this Heavenly Father who was nothing like her earthly one. How could this be…could it really be true that there is a Father that loves her and would never do any harm to her. Sure, her father would apologize and say I would never happen again but that never was he truth. Could she really take a chance?

As she walked she saw her friend on the corner talking with someone…actually, more like fighting with someone. As she walked over to see if she could help, she was taken back at how this other person was speaking to her friend…

“Do you really think that God is going to accept you? Look at you! You have been in all kinds of trouble. You even had a child out of wedlock. Do you really think you are worthy of God’s love? Seriously! If I were you I would buy myself a fire suit because you are going to hell and that’s final. I can’t believe you would even think that God would accept you. The bible clearly states that…” “Hey, Charity, right? How are you? Look I owe you an apology” Hope interrupted, “Hi I’m Hope, and you are?” Hope asked the other person sanding with Charity. “I am unimpressed. We were having a conversation here until you barged in… Is this one of your misfit wanna be’s thinking they are going to heaven friends. Look if you are hanging out with this sort you are going to hell just like her and there will be no hope for Hope” the woman chuckled as she walked away.

“Hey Charity, are you OK? I really am sorry about how I ran off last time. That was pretty rude of me. I just have a hard time when it comes to talking about fathers. Who was hat jerk that was talking with you…or should I say belittling you?” “Oh her. That’s just this woman from the church down the street. She is a Christian like I am, but she claims I am in no way a Christian and that because of what my past looks like I will never get to heaven. It is what she believes…as well as everyone else in that church.” Charity said…almost embarrassed because of what this woman and others of her church believed.

“Wow, I always thought that Christians always go along and were like cumbiaing all the time. Huh, I don’t know if I could stand to be part of a group that tried to hurt each other like she tried to hurt you.” Hope exclaimed. “That’s the problem. We are supposed to be working together and a lot of time we do. But there are those moments where we fall short of what God would want. In a perfect world we would get along and help each other as we shared Jesus…but we don’t live in a world like that…not right now any way. Hey Hope, you wanna go get something to eat? I really could use a friend and what you just did for me tells me you are a friend.” “Sure” Hope answered. “I have some questions about the whole Heavenly Father thing, so it would be a great chance to talk. Led the way.”

These two new found friends walked away together not realizing how much they would impact each other’s lives…

Good morning. It is so good to be here this morning. I realized that today’s sermon is m last for this era in our relationship…the end of year 5. Next week, we begin a new era…year 6 as I begin my new appointment on July 1st which also happens to be next Sunday. It has been an interesting 5 years. We have had our ups and downs, but we have persevered together. I look forward to this new era of God doing a new thing in and among us.

But…there are places and people that haven’t faired maybe as well as we have. There are people and place that are in such turmoil that they are unable to endure. This has even happened not only in our churches among the saints within but also church pitted against church. It is painful when we can’t seem to get along. When we let things divide us and not focus on the things that bring us together. It is that way in a lot of family’s and that is what we are…the family of God with lots of brothers, sisters, and mothers but only I Father overseeing the family. It must break our Fathers heart to see His children fighting against each other instead of banding together with a common goal…to share His Love.

 In Hope’s story, we heard about a condition within God’s family…the church…a heart condition. This heart condition happens when we forget whose heart we are to model…the worlds or Fathers heart. The Psalm told us how wonderful it is and how pleasing it is when God’s children work together, in harmony, loving one another with the love of Christ. And how God showers His blessings upon a relationship like that.

But this isn’t a new condition to the body. It has been going on for a long time. We hear of them arguing over who hey follow because of who baptized them. They fought over what you could and couldn’t eat. In the scripture from Corinthians this morning they were they were putting stumbling blocks…rules and regulations…in the way of people. Their hearts were closed and needed o be opened so that the work of the kingdom no be in vain. Something that is still carried on today…unfortunately.

Church…this is the time of God’s favor. This is the time when the workers are few, and the fields are ripe. This is the time for change… ©

Are you suffering from a heart condition? Is there a healing that needs to happen so that the kingdom work may be done? Come to the Master Healer who will heal that condition…take that heart that has been hardened b the world…and give you a heart of flesh that beats for Him and Him alone…

Amen…












==================
June 30, 2018


edited June 30, 2018
push through our struggles
edited June 29, 2018
pushing through his struggles – v2
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed we are – v3
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed we are – v2
edited June 29, 2018
how blessed it is – v2
edited June 29, 2018
all the flawed pieces – v3
edited June 28, 2018
I have hope – v2
June 28, 2018
I have hope
edited June 27, 2018
all the flawed pieces – v2
June 27, 2018
all the flawed pieces
edited June 27, 2018
how blessed it is
edited June 27, 2018
how blessed it would be – v2
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we are
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we would be – v2
edited June 26, 2018
how blessed we would be
June 26, 2018
how blessed it would be
June 26, 2018
pushing through his struggles
June 24, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 133
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
and sermon: “Can We Just Get Along Here…”
video

text



by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 24, 2018
&
June 24, 2018
God cannot do harm
June 24, 2018
God will search
June 24, 2018
searching for us - 2
edited June 24, 2018
This is our perfect Father – v2
edited June 23, 2018
stitched into the family – v2
edited/resorted June 23, 2018
This is our perfect Father
edited June 23, 2018
a more excellent Father – v2
edited June 23, 2018
never too lost – v2
June 23, 2018
searching for us – v2
edited June 21, 2018
our Father runs to each wayward child – v2
June 21, 2018
our Father runs to each wayward child
June 21, 2018
searching for us
June 21, 2018
never too lost
edited June 19, 2018
God runs to us – v3
edited June 19, 2018
the Good Father – v2
June 19, 2018
a more excellent Father
edited June 18, 2018
God runs to us – v2
June 18, 2018
God runs to us
June 18, 2018
the Good Father
edited June 18, 2018
The Perfect Father – v2
June 18, 2018
the perfect father
June 18, 2018
stitched into the family
June 17, 2018
Father’s Day
(and John Wesley’s 315th birthday)
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 20
Luke 15:11-27
the Prodigal Son
and lots of other scripture
on references to God as Father
and sermon: “Good, Good Father”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
(a nickel in the mystery box – In God We Trust)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 17, 2018
Father’s Day
&
June 16, 2018
All who do the will of God
June 16, 2018
These are the ones
edited June 16, 2018
the blood of the vine – v2
June 13, 2018
kinship by choice
June 13, 2018
the blood of the vine
June 13, 2018
blood of the vine
June 13, 2018
not by blood
June 13, 2018
not by blood but by choice
June 13, 2018
not of blood but of Spirit
June 10, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 138
Mark 3:20, 31-35
“The True Family of Jesus” (New Living Translation)
and sermon: “Family Ties”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 10, 2018

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, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,180 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

blood, choice, Christ, Faith, Family, Father, God, grace, love, 2 Corinthians 6, Pastor Ruth Foss, Psalm 133, sacrifice, Spirit, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, prayer, hope, sermon,

#sermon Can We Just Get Along Here 
 #Jesus #Christ #Spirit #Faith #Family #God #grace #love #2Corinthians6 #Psalm133 #sacrifice #prayer #hope #vine #choice #fire #water #bonds #kinship #children #baptism #adoption #resurrection #Father #Son #life #child #seeking @pastorruthfoss