What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Monday, February 26, 2018

Come and See!

Hello...Here it is Monday again!  I trust that you have had a pleasant weekend and that today is the beginning of a good week for you.  Since I retired, Mondays aren't so bad...I rather like them. It's a day to get back on track from the weekend and to begin anew for a brand new week. It's kind of nice to ease into the day without feeling any pressure to do this or that...but on the other hand, it is also a time to go back over the things we learned over the weekend...perhaps at church...and put into practice what we've been taught.  So, as a part of my "One Word" for 2018 RENEW or RENEWAL, I am trying to apply what I've heard or read in God's Word and to see where it leads me in this path to renewal.
This beautiful dogwood blossom reminds me of the Cross...
We almost cut down this dogwood tree because it appeared to be dying...
I'm so glad we didn't follow our assumptions...

I hope you don't mind my sharing my notes from the Sunday Sermon with you here. I know you all go to your own churches and have marvelous pastors and teachers too, but this is an exercise for me as well as for you...it helps me to remember what has been taught before I get too busy and put my notes aside or in the trash when I clean out my Bible or purse...There is too much valuable stuff here to lose. So here goes:

Scripture: Read John 1:43-51, but the key verse is #46:

"And Nathanael said to him, 
'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'
Philip said to him, 
"Come and see."
These azaleas and dogwood are blooming along a fence by an old house that has been sadly neglected...no one comes to care for them, and yet they bloom year after year...one might assume that nothing good could come out of there...but come and see...

They were speaking of Jesus here, early in His ministry when He was gathering His disciples together...in verse 43 He had just found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Philip was so excited and thrilled at being called by Christ that he wanted everyone he knew to follow Him as well.  He recognized that Jesus was the One "of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  But Nazareth was a small, dirty, unpopular little town, where no one of any good reputation had ever come from before. Nathanael assumed that anyone worth knowing could not have come from Nazareth.  

Oh! What a sad misconception! Thankfully, Jesus perceived Nathanael's thoughts and helped him reconsider his wrong assumptions before he missed out on the greatest opportunity of a lifetime...to follow Jesus Christ, the Messiah!

I wonder what wrong assumptions we have been guilty of in our lives? Perhaps many of us have been quick to judge others for other less thoughtful reasons...race, nationality, their appearance or clothes, the kind of car they drive or the side of town they came from...or perhaps we ourselves have been wrongly judged for the same reasons.  Maybe we've judged ourselves harshly because we feel inadequate, we lack self-confidence, have inferiority complexes because of whatever we've been taught, told, or experienced by the malicious assumptions of others.
We might assume that nothing good could come out of this very ugly, unusual, dead looking "tree trunk"

Sadly, we let these assumptions become our "hiding places"...they keep us from engaging with God at a deeper level.

We allow our assumptions to become limitations...they "close the possibility of growth, reconciliation, change..."  "No room for God to show up in our lives..."

We need to let God speak to our hearts...but in order to do that we need to be in a relationship with Him before we can grow and overcome these  false "assumptions".  "Our faith hinges on Jesus Christ being raised from the dead..."
These beautiful flowers (Carolina Jessamine) are growing and blooming out of that ugly trunk above...amazing, huh? 

"God loves you no matter who you are or where you're from..."

Christ in you..."God takes ordinary, fallible human beings and makes them do great things..."...Look at Moses, Paul, Peter...and many other examples throughout the Bible and history.

"Thankfully, God is not limited by our assumptions.  But we need to position ourselves to meet God"..."Come and See!"  

(Quotes are from Sunday's sermon, 2/25/2018 at First United Methodist Church, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers)

So now, what am I going to do with this information?  May God help me to apply it to my heart...and to put away those false assumptions that may be limiting my own personal spiritual growth.  Perhaps there is something here for you today as well?  
"Come and see!!"

17 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post. You are so right about so many things here. I cannot tell you I have made the wrong assumption about others. In the last few years I am more aware and try not to make immediate assumptions.

    I hope you have a blessed week, Pamela!!! xo Diana

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    1. It is a life long process that we have to re-learn. As soon as we think we've got it covered, someone or something new comes on the scene to test us. It can be very challenging in this day and age, but with Christ, all things are possible!! Praise God He gives us new eyes to see.

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  2. "Judge not, lest you be judged." Assumptions are such a dangerous route to take. I've really tried over the years to not make assumptions about others based on their appearance, but remind myself that they are God's children, too, and He loves them as much as He loves me. I've found that thought process to be so positive and healing.
    Blessings, Pamela!

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    1. It is sometimes difficult to remember that when we first meet someone or see others in the news, etc. But practicing seeing others through the eyes of Christ really helps us to appreciate the beauty within. Thank you for this precious reminder.

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  3. Pamela, you are such an artist with your words and pictures. Beautiful post. I really hate to admit this because it is something from my past and it really bothers me. But in light of making assumptions, sometimes when I learn a person's birth date, it is tempting to remember where that date falls in terms of horoscopes. I read the book over 50 years ago and some of the personality traits linger in my memory. I have to take those thoughts captive immediately so I don't judge that person.

    Now, that being said, please wipe this from your memory about me!

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    1. Erased...it is so easy to fall prey to those little tempting traps...So thankful that God is helping you to overcome that and to see others in the Light of Jesus...the True Light Who creates us in His image. When we ask Jesus to help us see others as He sees them, it changes our whole perspective on people and life in general. Love you, Nonnie. You are a precious soul.

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  4. Happy Monday to you! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving your comments about old shoes... and thanks for letting me know I'm not alone in finding it hard to let go of old comfortable things!!

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    1. Ha ha!! I was so surprised to read your post about your shoes because I had literally just done the exact same thing. That is hilarious!! They were comfortable too...and now I am trying to break in some that aren't so comfortable. I may have to wear my Skechers to church from now on. They are comfy. So happy to meet you today! Thank you for coming here for a visit as well!! Love to make new friends here!

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  5. "Come and see..."

    I like that, Pamela. I especially like the way good things can come from the most unexpected places.

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    1. Isn't it amazing? God has a way with doing that over and over again, you know!!

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  6. Yes, assumptions can limit us a lot.
    Great post friend and I like the yellow flowers from the tree.

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    1. Isn't that amazing? I was poking around through the woods and discovered that trunk, which is actually a very large vine...and realized that is what those flowers were growing out from! Quite magnificent, I'd say!! Thank you for your visit today. Blessings my friend.

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  7. Pam, thank you for sharing these notes with us...and the pictures. I need to search my heart and see if there is something that I am assuming that is keeping me from a closer walk with Jesus. I do appreciate your sharing your notes with us.

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  8. Beautiful message and photos Pamela. It blessed me very much this morning. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  9. Pam, thank you for sharing your sermon notes; please continue to share. Many aren't able to get to church each week or have a pastor that is less than stellar. Come and see...what a wonderful invitation to Jesus. Come and see...experience Jesus' love.

    Blessings!

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  10. A thoughtful and lovely post, Pam. Yes... Come and see!!

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.