Celebrating My Mom~Updated

Today is May 7, 2025, and it is also the 19th year since my mother passed away on this day in 2006.  I know I originally wrote this post for her birthday, but I just felt like sharing it again today to remember her on the day she entered heaven's gates, and also because Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday, and so she's really on my mind!

 It's hard to believe she's been gone 19 years already, and I still find myself wishing I could call her up and just talk, or go visit her and enjoy one of her delicious apple pies (or coconut cream), or sit down at the table with her and my daddy and enjoy being back in my childhood home again with them.  But that will never be possible again on earth, but perhaps there's apple pie or coconut cream pie in heaven? If so, my mother is baking it!  Here's a link to a post I wrote about her pies.

 On January 6, 2025 it would have been her 108th birthday!  I am updating this post from when I originally wrote it on January 6, 2021, so there may be some things edited and some new things added.  

This picture was only given to me recently   (back in 2020) by my cousin, and it has quickly become  my favorite picture of my mother. Here she is, driving the tractor on our farm in Pennsylvania  back in the early 50's or late 40's. We left there to move to Florida in 1956, so it had to be before then. She was so happy as a farmer's wife.  It's what she always wanted to be. My Dad was a great farmer, but in the 50's it became too costly to remain in farming unless you had lots of financial help. And so, with four hungry children to feed and clothe, they decided to sell the farm and move to Florida.  My mother was not a real happy camper about moving away from the farm and especially not to Florida, so far away from the beautiful farm country she loved and her aging parents in Ohio, but she loved her husband and followed him wherever he felt he needed to go.  And God took good care of us in Florida. She adapted...but to her dying day she still missed living on the farm.

These pictures have been added to my collection more recently, so I wanted to include them here for my own reference...our family on the farm, around 1952.  My brother Clifford, Russell, our dog Laddie, Mom, Doris, Daddy and me!

Again, our family, probably  1954...Russell, Clifford Daddy , Mom, Doris and me!

This is my next favorite picture of my mother, taken when she was in her 80's, on the 4th of July. Yes, my mother was always the patriot. She loved her country and was a very proud American.  Today I thanked the Lord that my mother is in heaven, far away from any world government.  She is living with the God Who rules heaven and earth, and one day He will make all things new. 

In the following pictures are some special treasures that remind me of my Mom:

This first group of pictures was taken many many years ago, when my parents came to visit us in Ohio, where my husband was pastoring a church and working on his Doctorate in Ministry. My mother and I went shopping at some interesting thrift and/or antique shops, and we came home with a couple of beautiful antique hats.  We were having fun modeling them, and my youngest son also had fun modeling for us. (He'd probably not be real happy with me for showing this picture. LOL. )

In the first top picture Mom is baking us a pie. Most likely apple since it was fall and I am sure probably found some good fresh apples at an orchard nearby.  My mother was the queen of pie baking. I've written about that before: The Pie Legacy HERE  Looks like she is threatening someone with that rolling pin!  She was feisty, that's for sure! LOL.

I still have both of the hats that we bought that day:

Every time I look at these hats I remember that happy time with my mother. Those are precious memories.

This next picture is a doll that I bought for my mother for her 85th birthday. She looked like my mother must have looked as a little girl...dark brown hair and pretty green eyes.  And she's holding a birthday cake and has a sweet little teddy bear.

The pictures beneath the doll are of my sister and our mother and me, taken at Mother's Day one year, and her birthday the year she was given this doll.

Below are some beautiful dishes that came from my mother's china cabinet.  The plates and some of the teacups and saucers were her Haviland China dishes. I am not sure if these came from my grandmother's dishes, or if these were just some that my mother had purchased through the years because they reminded her of her mother's dishes. Either way, they are wonderful and I love them.  

The two Chinese designed teacups and saucers above in front were definitely my grandmother's  (my mother's mother).

I love this tea towel that is framed and hanging in my special little dining treasure room.  You can read for yourself the note my mother typed and put with the towel when she gave it to me.  The only sad part is that her signature is fading out. It was written in red ink, and now it is getting hard to read. I don't want to write over it, but I may have to so it isn't lost forever.  

My mother knew how much I loved tea things and special keepsakes. That is why I framed this so I could keep it nice and enjoy it forever! Yes, she was right..."At any rate I know you will enjoy this bit of your Mother's past!! Much Love, Mom".  

My mother knew me well.

I know I was blessed to have had such a wonderful mother. Lately I've been hearing other people discuss their relationships with their mothers, and so often they were not pleasant memories.  My mother and I certainly had our "moments", especially when I was a teenager and tended to be quite sassy. There were times I didn't understand her moodiness at all (but later I figured it out to be menopause and then she also dealt with low blood sugar issues). But one thing I knew for sure, my mother loved me and all of her children fiercely.  If she fought with us it was because she loved us so much and wanted us to be safe and sound in mind and thought...at least in the way she thought we should think. She loved a good debate, which I discovered was a hereditary trait from her father and brothers...and loved to discuss politics and religion. She was very opinionated and didn't compromise on much. But that was one thing I respected about her. She knew her mind and she stood strong on principle.  

I will finish with a passage from our morning devotions found in I John 4:7-11

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God;

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, 

that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

10.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us 

and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11.  Beloved, if God so loved us,  we also ought to love one another."

So let us love one another, regardless of our differences of opinion.

Here are a couple more pictures of my mother. 

These are her sisters Margaret and Belle, and Mom (Dorothea),  is the little one  with the cute chubby cheeks on the right.

And below, 

Margaret holding my mother (Dorothea), their brother Truman, and sister Belle

My mother around age 19:

My mother would shoot me for sharing this one of her with her new hair dryer on Christmas day:

Her family with their car back in the 1920's: Chalmer, Belle, Mom on the ground, Margaret in car, my Grandma, and Truman.  Grandpa was always taking these pictures, so he's not in them!

And one last one of her family: Margaret on ground, Belle standing, Chalmer in high chair, Truman, Mom (Dorothea), and my Grandmother. Their dog on the ground.

Here's a picture with my Grandpa Tedlie, mom's brother Chalmer home from WWII, and my mother, back in the 1940's.

Okay, that's enough family photos...but I just wanted to share a bit about my mother on this, her special day.  Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom!  (Update: and Happy Heavenly Mother's Day, as well as the remembrance of the day you entered heaven's gates, 5/7/2006)

UPDATE: If you are blessed to still have your mother, please take the time to honor her in a special way this Mother's Day.  Life is short! We don't get to keep our mothers here with us forever!

And if your mother has also already entered heaven's gates, honor her memory in some special way. Regardless of whether or not she was perfect or always did everything right. No one is perfect. But most of us try to do the best we can with what we are capable of doing. And if there are still some hurts from the past, today is a good day to forgive.

Matthew 6:9-15

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

"Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Amen.

Soon and Very Soon...

What a service we had today!!!

This is a link to a pre-recorded service/message for today.  It starts out with our choir singing 

"Soon and Very Soon, We Are Going to See the King, Hallelujah!"...but actually that song was sung by the whole congregation at the close of the service.

Also, the Pastor preached/taught from Matthew 18:15-35, entitled

"How to Get Along When You ain't getting along"...talking about forgiveness...a message there for each and every one of us for sure.

But what you can't see in this video is the real service that was going on. As I said above, this was pre-recorded ahead of time. Our choir recorded the song last week at choir practice. The Pastor pre-recorded his message on another day during the week before an audience of video recorder and perhaps his wife handling any technicalities (or maybe not...he may be alone with just the camera, I'm not sure). We started recording the messages like this back during the pandemic of 2020 for the benefit of everyone who had to stay at home and not attend church in person.  Then as we started coming back to church, using masks and social distancing, we continued the recorded services for those who were not well or who still did not feel comfortable coming back to church in person.  As time went by, the masks came off and we once again crowded into the pews together, rubbing shoulders and giving hugs, singing out loud and coming forward for the Lord's Supper (Communion) each week.  But still, we continue to record the choir singing a song that people at home can sing along with, and the pastor records his message so those who cannot come for whatever reason can still be a part of the worship service from a distance. It's not live-streamed, so there are still no other people in the audience, and no interaction with one another. It may be okay for those who have health issues and are not able to participate in person for one reason or another, and I am not being critical of that because it definitely serves a purpose, but it was never intended to become the norm for church attendance and worship.

I saw this quote on Facebook today and shared it, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people:

And today in our service there was a good example of the real church in action, in person.  In the middle of the Pastor's sermon, there was a bit of a commotion in a pew toward the back of the sanctuary. An elderly woman had suddenly fainted. Immediately someone across from her noticed and jumped up to her aid. We have several nurses in our congregation, and they each one also jumped and ran to offer assistance. A gentleman in the back called 911. The Pastor stopped his sermon and led the congregation in prayer for this dear woman.  The EMT's arrived in short order and came in and began to assess her situation. By then she had regained consciousness, Praise God, and she sat up and asked for us to sing a song while the the EMT's continued to check her out. We sang Jesus Loves Me and Amazing Grace.  Meanwhile someone who knew that she lives alone and that her daughter lives out of state, and that she had just been here but had left to go back home, was able to get her phone number so that she could be contacted right away. It turns out that this woman is diabetic, and she admitted that she had not eaten any breakfast this morning. Soon the EMT's took her out to the waiting ambulance and she was transferred to the hospital. The Pastor then, amazingly, was able to pick up where he'd left off in his message and completed the sermon. Then is when the congregation sang the song from the video seen above, "Soon and Very Soon, We are Going to See the King, Hallelujah!", and it was sung with such joy and exuberance, because we know that each one of us will have that day when we will meet Jesus face to face...where there is no more crying there...and no more dying there...Hallelujah, Hallelujah! We are going to see the King!"  And again there was a prayer for our dear friend who appeared to be doing much better and who wanted to hear us singing instead of showing fear or alarm...a very sweet and calm spirit pervaded the room...and we all left feeling a sense of knowing that the Spirit of the Lord had been in that Sanctuary with us today for sure...

My friends...this was the church in action today. It was a great example of how much we each need the fellowship of the church, the Body of Christ in service to one another...praying, singing, ministering, and healing...

If you are at all physically able to attend church, please do. 

"The church needs you, and you need the church."

Amen.

 

Tuesday 4 and More

 

A Variety of Questions for You


Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 and thank you so much for joining in!

Let's do a variety of questions this week, okay?

1. Did you have a favorite cartoon program or character as a young person, or even today?

Oh my goodness, I used to love to watch the Saturday morning cartoons...but we had to do our morning chores before we could sit down and watch TV.  I honestly can't think of a favorite cartoon character.  I loved them all...Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester and Tweety Bird, Porky Pig, Roadrunner and Wiley old Coyote, to name a few. Then there was Popeye and Olive Oil, The Flintstones, The Jetsons.  Gosh, there were so many good ones. I loved them all. Probably Bugs Bunny stands out on top, however.   "What's Up Doc?"

2. Can you whole heartedly give people a second chance or do you find yourself still worried about trusting them?

I do believe in forgiveness and giving people a second chance.  The Bible tells us to 

The Lord's Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13, tells us that as we ask God to forgive our own trespasses or sins, we are to also forgive those who have sinned against us...

And if you keep reading in Matthew 6:14-15, we are told that if we don't forgive others, then God will not forgive us either...

However, I will say that if a person continues to "sin against me" multiple times, as a human it is difficult for me to keep forgiving that person when it appears they really aren't sorry.  However, when Jesus was asked about how often we should forgive someone, this is what He said:

Wow...and that doesn't mean I should keep count up to 490 times and then that's it, you're out!  It means that I must keep forgiving...

However, I will say that forgiving is one thing, but allowing a person to continue to hurt you over and over is another thing. I can forgive, but I don't have to stand there and keep taking a beating emotionally, physically or otherwise. I do not believe that Jesus intended for us to allow people to despitefully use us and cause us harm. That is another issue altogether.   There are times that we must forgive and walk away, and I believe God totally understands that and will help us find that way out when it is necessary to do so.

3. Are there things/activities you'd like to add to your life or do you feel you have enough to do, going on etc. to keep you satisfied?

At this point in life, being retired, I feel like I have enough to do, between home, family, and church activities.  However, there are some things I would still like to do if we had the money...do some traveling for one...see some places we've never seen, and visit some people we'd love to visit. I wish I had the energy (and money) to do some special projects around our home, but on the other hand, I am learning to be content with what I have and am very thankful to have it.  I just found this little video with scripture verses about contentment...This says it better than I could write it:

4. Can you live without your phone, TV, social media?

My first reaction to this is a resounding "YES!!"  And then I stopped to think about it more seriously, and I realized that without social media, in particular, we would not even be having this conversation. You would not be reading my blog and I would not be reading yours. We would not have made all these delightful friendships online without the aid of social media. So, from that standpoint, I must say that I do appreciate this blessing of being able to communicate with you and many others around the world...people I would never have had the opportunity to meet without this means.  On the other hand, there are times that I wish I could shut down the phone, tv and computer and just go away somewhere and be totally free from technology.  We do limit our time on tv these days. We only watch some basic news to make sure the world is still spinning, but we try to stay away from the daily stress of the hyped up media and especially the "fake news".  My cell phone has become rather indispensable, however, giving us directions on how to find places when traveling, and staying in communication with family on a regular basis. I do love to be able to pick up the phone and call someone whenever I need to...although I find myself using the texting method more and more because it is less intrusive and people can respond when convenient.  

 I do love to hear the human voice, however, and really wish that texting and instant messaging weren't quite so prevalent these days. I miss my phone calls to my mother...we used to call each other every Saturday morning without fail. This was back when we lived many miles apart and could only see each other maybe once or twice a year, so that weekly phone call was like a lifeline. I'd share with her what our family was doing, how our little boys were growing and getting into mischief, etc., and what the weather was like where we were...we lived "up north" and she and my daddy lived back home in Florida. She would tell me what they'd been doing and all their activities since they'd retired, etc. It was a wonderful visit. Of course, back then long distance phone calls were expensive, so we had to limit our calls to once a week, but to me it was money well spent. Actually, I think she usually called me to save us the cost of the call because she knew our funds were tight with raising three little boys, hubby in seminary, and/or living on a Pastor's meager salary. I've often wished there were phones in heaven...I'd sure love to hear her voice again...(not to mention other special people who have gone on before).  

Well, I guess that's the end of the questions for today. I was going to add some other stuff, but will just close with a few pictures from the past few days:

The neighborhood black kitty is back and up to her old tricks...the "opportunist" I call her. Now that the Bluebirds are taking up residence again, she is ever hopeful...

I will have to keep a close eye on her.

The Bluebirds aren't the only ones active here in our yard...

The Cardinals enjoy flying in and out for some birdseeds. I haven't seen the bob-tailed cardinal lately, but only these two.  I don't think he could have grown a new tail that quickly, could he?

Oh, and this juvenile Bluebird is still hanging around, taking a bath, watching the activities of his parents as they build their new nest in the birdhouse.  I'm not sure what he's going to do when they starting sitting on the nest and raising the new brood...maybe he'll help bring food...I don't know, but it's interesting to see that he is still here:

He's sitting on top of the birdhouse where the folks are busily building the new nest. He guards it while they are off gathering more twigs I guess...

And he has found a perch with pictures of his other feathered friends...I guess he thinks he's one of them. I love it...

Okay, time to go for now. I hope you have a blessed Tuesday...

Now let's go see what our other friends have to say on this Tuesday 4 day. Thanks for joining in!!

See you later!!

Oops! I Almost Forgot! (Sermon Notes and Weekend Wrap-Up)

Here it is getting to be late Monday evening, and I still haven't sat down to write about our weekend. Probably because it was busy today as well as yesterday...and I know you may be wondering about how things went...

If you read my post last week HERE about getting ready for company, you are probably wondering how our guests liked the guest room, etc., etc.  Well...that's another story...Oh, yes, they loved the guest room...they just didn't get to spend the night there after all!  Their travel plans met with some unexpected delays due to weather, and they were not able to get here Saturday night as originally planned.  So instead they traveled here to visit with us on Sunday afternoon, but had to keep going as they had other commitments further down the road, and were unable to spend the night. We still had a wonderful visit over lunch at our local "True Grits" restaurant, and then they came here for the grand "tour" of the house and guest room. Sadly, we forgot to take any pictures while we were together! We were just too busy visiting and talking and reminiscing, and totally forgot about pictures!  However, my cousin did bring me a "hostess gift" from their recent visit to New Orleans...

She knows how much I love tea, and so she brought me this bag of very delicious "Rooibos Tea" from the "World Famous bottom of the Cup Tea Room".


We didn't have time to share a cup of tea together yesterday as they really needed to get on the road, and so tonight I treated myself to a very special cup of tea...and it really was delightful!

I didn't realize until after I sipped my cup of tea that I was drinking from a beautiful little tea cup that our grandmother gave me years ago. I am sure Grandma would have been pleased to know that her two granddaughters were still staying in touch and carrying on the family traditions that she inspired.

It was our mutual Grandma who created this lovely needlepoint picture many years ago!

So thank you, cousin Becky, for thinking of me when you were in New Orleans! I only wish we had taken the time to drink a cup together...but maybe next time!!

Now, before I forget...I wanted to share the sermon notes with you from our Sunday message.  The title, or actually the theme of the message was "Mastering the Spiritual Discipline of Selective Recall".  I know, that's a mouthful, but you will understand it better if I can "recall" all of the important details!

We all have memories that we'd probably like to forget...or that are just really hard to "let go of".  

Selective Recall means that there are some things that we need to forget and some things we need to remember.

Things that we should try to forget:

• Past hurts, unkind words, unkind actions:

          Let it go! If it can't be undone, then let it go!

          If remembering hurts  you...forgetting might help you!

• Our Own Mistakes...Past sins...If you are struggling over guilt of your past sins, do what God has done...Forgive Yourself!

Philippians 3:13-14 says:

"13.   Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 

14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

We often play the "if only game"..."If only I had done this", or, "if only he/she/they had not done that..."

Hanging on to what you think is sin...Is Sin!  You are putting up a wall between you and God.

Look at the scripture above...Paul was practicing "selective recall".  

• Forget what is behind.

Things to Remember:

• Things that God has done for you. 
• Every blessing, every gift, every answer to prayer.

Deuteronomy 8:10-11:

10.   When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

11.  “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,

A Good Suggestion:

• Each day write down three things you are thankful for.
• Put it on your calendar or in a journal
• Remember what God has done in your life
• Remember what others have done for you

Philippians 4:8-9

8.   Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

9.   The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Remember:

• Whatever is noble
• Whatever is right, pure, lovely
• Whatever is admirable, excellent, praiseworthy...

The choice is yours...what you choose to remember and forget.

You can't control what comes into your head, but you can control how long you dwell on it.

Martin Luther said:

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head. but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”

So it is a matter of choice what we choose to remember and choose to forget. It takes persistence and obedience to Christ...a daily discipline.

God chooses to forget and forgive our sins. 

Hebrews 8:12:

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Isaiah 43:25

25 

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions 

for My own sake;

And I will not remember your sins."

God also chooses to remember His promises to us.  When we read through the Old Testament and Psalms, we see many examples of how God remembered His promises to His children, and were always followed by something that He did for them.  

Back to Philippians 3:13-14..."Forget those things which are behind...and reach forward to those things that are ahead...and press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus..."

This is a powerful message to REMEMBER!!  

Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor John Bennett, 02/09/2020

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

Sermon Notes: God Gives Second Chances

Our choir sang this beautiful song this morning before the sermon:

And He's Ever Interceding

And He's Ever Interceding Someone to go the extra mile, Just like a mother caring for her child; A friend who sticks through thick or thin, No matter what you've done or where you've been; Just like one great big family, A stronger, older brother He will be; So quick and ready to defend The younger, weaker to the end. Chorus: And He's ever interceding to the Father for His children; Yes, He's ever interceding to the Father for His own; Through Him you can reach the Father, So, bring Him all your heavy burdens; Yes, for you He's interceding, So, come boldly to the throne. Just like sheep, we've gone astray, Struggling 'neath the debt we could not pay; Not ever hoping to renew The love and fellowship that we once knew; But He began to intercede; Crying, 'Father, please, forgive, I plead.' And as the nails pierced in His hands, God, once again, reached out to man. Chorus: And He's ever interceding to the Father for His children; Yes, He's ever interceding to the Father for His own; Through Him you can reach the Father, So, bring Him all your heavy burdens; Yes, for you He's interceding, So, come boldly to the throne. Tag: Yes, He's ever interceding, so come boldly to the throne. What a great message in song to set up for a sermon about how God gives us second chances.  Our scripture lesson was from John 8:1-11....the story of the woman caught in adultery that they wanted to stone.  I had just written about this passage recently in a blog post..."Come Out and Be Separate", but this sermon today took this to a different level.  In the book of John 8:1-11, Jesus is talking to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and was about to be stoned.  After He said to the people holding the stones, (verse 7)  "He who is without sin among you,  let him throw a stone at her first" the people all one by one dropped their stones and walked away, being convicted by their own consciences...(for ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God! (Romans 3:23)  But then in verse 10, Jesus stood up and looked at the woman and said to her: "Woman, where are those accusers of yours?   Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord.  And Jesus said to her,  "Neither do I condemn you;  GO AND SIN NO MORE." In this passage, back in verses 5-6, the scribes and Pharisees were trying to test Jesus, to see how He would handle this situation.  Verse six says they were testing Him, "that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear." But their "trap" did not work, and instead verse nine tells us that those who heard what Jesus said (in verse 7) were convicted by their conscience...and went out one by one.  Have you ever had a good dose of conviction? If so, it will immobilize you...your ears will open right up...your eyes pop open...and your spirit within you says, "I need to do something about this!"  And what do you do? Go to God and PRAY CONFESS your sin Ask for Forgiveness Repent...Go and sin no more God is very willing to forgive us when we confess our sins and ask Him to forgive...and then we can humbly get down on our knees and give Him praise and thanksgiving...because God has given us a second chance when we come to Jesus with repentance. Conviction is rough...we wonder...those men who were condemning this woman...we wonder what did that conviction of their own consciences mean to them? Did they also repent in their hearts? Some examples of other men in the Bible who had a second chance... Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-11) The Disciple Simon Peter after he denied Christ  (John 18:15-27)  and then Jesus asked him if he loved Him...(John 21:15-17) after the Resurrection from the dead. Thomas the Disciple: He first doubted that Christ could possibly have come back to life after the crucifixion, and then Christ came and showed Thomas His hands and His side, so that Thomas then truly believed. (John 20:24-29) Jesus is coming again soon.  Are you looking forward to His return without worrying about if you will be accepted by Him?  Have you been convicted in your heart of sins that need to be confessed, repented of, and forgiven? One day we will be like a little child running to the lap of her father and being gladly received...we will run into the arms of Jesus and be able to crawl up into the lap of our Heavenly Father with nothing between us...no fear at all when we face Him...because God, through Christ, has given us that second chance.  May we gladly accept that free gift. Praise God for giving us those second chances in life!!! Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Guest Speaker, Rev. John Steiner, 3/3/2019 Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you. Thank you for your continued prayers for our Pastor A.C., and for our church. God is answering prayer, and we are hoping our Pastor will be able to come back and preach next Sunday.  Also, thank you for your prayers for my husband, who spoke today.  It was a wonderful day in the house of the Lord.  God is Good! All the time! God is Good!

Sermon Notes: "Playing by the Rules"

Jesus calls His first disciples in the fifth chapter of Luke. Jesus had been preaching through the towns and along the shores of Galilee...He was teaching, preaching, casting out demons, healing the sick...and the crowds were pressing so hard about Him that He had to get into a boat and asked the fishermen to row out a ways so that He could speak to the multitudes who were standing on the shore.  When He had stopped speaking (Luke 5:4), He said to Simon (who was also known as Peter),

"Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

Simon told the Lord that they had been toiling all night long and had caught nothing, but "nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net." (Luke 5:5)  

And the Bible tells us that they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking...and they had so many fish that their boats began to sink!  Simon Peter was so astonished at this huge catch of fish that he "fell down at Jesus' knees saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'" (verse 8).

Verse 10 tells us that Simon's partners, James and John, were also there and they were very amazed as well.  Jesus then said to Simon, 

"Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."

"So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him." (Luke 5:11)

And thus began the adventure of their lives that would not only change their lives, but all the world for all eternity...

So now fast forward to Luke chapter 15. Jesus and His disciples have been traveling throughout the land, and many multitudes of people are following them, and listening intently to all the teachings of Christ.  Even the "tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him." (Luke 15:1)  The Pharisees and scribes were complaining, saying "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2)  So thus begins a series of teachings of parables about God's grace and unconditional love, as evidenced by these stories of joy over being "lost and found".  

In Luke 15:3-32, Jesus gives them examples that show us how God Himself rejoices when that which was lost is found...See the parable about the lost sheep in verses 4-7, the lost coin in verses 8-10, and then the most profound story of all, the lost son, or better known as "The Prodigal Son", in verses 11-32.

In each of these parables we see how first there was that keen sense of loss...and then that thrill of discovery, joy, and jubilee when that which was lost was found.

Imagine what it must feel like to be God, when He sees His lost "sheep", "sons and daughters" come back to the fold of home...to the bosom of God Himself.   

Luke 15:7 tells us, 

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents 

than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:10 says:

"Likewise, I say to you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents."

And even closer to home, in the story of the prodigal who returns home, there is much celebration and rejoicing:

Luke 15:20

"And he (the younger son) arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him."

 and the father tells his older son in Luke 15:32

"It was right that we should make merry and be glad, 

for your brother was dead and is alive again,

and was lost and is found."

These examples show us that God plays by His rules...not our rules. The prodigal's older brother was envious of the attention shown to his errant brother...He did not think it was fair that there should be such a celebration on his behalf when he had squandered his inheritance with riotous living and had ended up living in the squalor of the pig sty. He was crying "No fair! I've been good and haven't been so rebellious...and you've never done anything special for me." The father said to him in Luke 15:31,

"Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours."   The father is representative of God here, and how He looks at those who have been lost and found...He will always celebrate the sinner who comes back home to the Father.  And so should we celebrate as well and rejoice with the Father.

Who do we know who might be out there somewhere, lost and wishing they could come home, but they are too ashamed, too embarrassed, too fearful that they will be rejected and scorned by family, friends, and even the church?  The church especially...should be a place where we welcome the sinner with open arms  when he or she has repented and is in need of our love and forgiveness...and grace.  

Grace...that love that is so undeserved, but given freely with joy when we least expect it.

Again, think how God must feel when that errant child comes home...God plays by His own rules...not ours, not the Pharisees', not even the "church"...sad to say ... God throws a big celebration, dances with the outcast, welcomes the sinner home with open arms.

This is the love that God the Father has for us.  All of us were once dead in sin before we came to the Lord.  God does not hold our sins against us...God is not embarrassed by anything we have done...He welcomes us home with open arms.  Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross, God has provided a way for you and me to return to the family of God. Please don't let fear or embarrassment keep you away...let grace win the victory.

Sermon Notes from FUMC Interlachen, FL., Pastor A.C. Myers, 1/27/2019

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

My Sermon Notes: "On The Cross"

I hope you don't mind my sharing these weekly sermon notes with you...as we approach Easter in another week, we have been looking at the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ, and now some of the things that actually happened while Christ was on the cross...

In Mark 15:24-39, as Jesus hung there on the cross, dying for you and for me...the people in the crowd were taunting him, mocking him and saying things like, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save!" (vs. 31) .  Back in verse 24, we see the soldiers and others at the very foot of the cross, gambling (casting lots) for His garments, determining what every man should take... and to get the whole picture, we need to also look at Luke's Gospel, chapter 23, verses 33-34:

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33.  "And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him,

and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

34.  Then Jesus said, 

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do...."

And here is where the real message begins...

1.  If Christ could forgive them...surely we can forgive others...

2.  If we have ever felt unworthy to enter God's House of praise...remember that Jesus Christ is bigger than any sin we could ever commit...

3.  In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said  to "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

4.  Are we forgiving others?  We can't do this on our own...we need to ask Jesus to forgive us so that we can forgive others...

5.  Are we growing in our walk with Christ?  That should make us more humble...

6.  Jesus offered  Himself as the Sacrifice for our sins...He was the "scapegoat" that carried away our sins...He is our sin offering...  (see Leviticus 16:5-11 for more information about the "scapegoat")

7.  Jesus cleanses our consciences...He gave Himself to win forgiveness in God's mercy...His offering won God's forgiveness for us

8.  Jesus has gone before us...He made atonement for the entire human race...there is no longer a gap between us and God...Jesus entered the most holy of holies to secure our redemption for all time....

9.  Jesus died to set us free...this is the story of the church...

The question is...

Is it YOUR story?

At the close of this message we sang the following song, which truly touched my heart. 

I am including it here as sung by Keith Green. It was written by his wife, Melody Green:

There is a Redeemer,

Jesus, God's own Son,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

Holy One,

Jesus my Redeemer,

Name above all names,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank You oh my Father,

For giving us Your Son,

And leaving your spirit,

'til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory,

I will see His face,

And there I'll serve my king forever,

In that holy place.

Thank You oh my Father,

For giving us Your Son,

And leaving your Spirit,

'til the work on earth is done.

There is a Redeemer,

Jesus, God's own son,

Precious lamb of God, Messiah,

Holy one,

Thank you oh my Father,

For giving us your Son,

And leaving your Spirit,

'til the work on earth is done.

And leaving your Spirit,

'till the work on earth is done.

Songwriters: Melody Green

There Is A Redeemer lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP

(Sermon Notes from FUMC, Interlachen,FL, 3/18/18, Pastor A.C. Myers)