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.

Where Does the Time Go?

     

"I have been young, and now am old..." Psalm 37:25a

I've been noticing lately that I tend to become easily distracted...can't seem to stay focused on any one thing for very long...keep getting side-tracked and off course. Before I know it, I look at the clock and say, "Where does the time go?"  How can it already be time to...

• get ready for work, or 
• get ready for church, 
• get supper ready, 
• get ready for bed, 
• get up in the morning...?

It's not just time that I seem to lose, but it is also what I am doing at one moment, and can't remember the next.  You know, like:

• Now, why did I come in here?
• Ok, where was I?
• Where did I put that...?
• What am I looking for?
• Ok, I'd better get back to what I was doing before I interrupted myself...what was I doing?

And then there are those constant questions that I ask myself out loud...

• Now, why did I come in here?
• Ok, where was I?
• Where did I put that?
• What am I looking for?....

Oops, I think I already said that!  Ok, you get the picture!

I don't think there is anything to worry about. Almost everyone I know at my age has the same problem...if they would only admit it.  It's just becoming a bit bothersome.  I keep forgetting what I am trying to say here. 

I know I am not alone...this has probably struck a note with many of you. Old age is creeping up on us...waking up (not breaking up) is so very hard to do...you know, stretching the joints back into place so we can get out of bed, frequent wake up calls during the night so we can go you know where, turning up the TV or the phone so we can hear, oh, why bother to list everything...the list is getting too long.

I found it kind of interesting that The Psalmist, King David, had similar complaints:

"I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are full of inflammation,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and severely broken;

I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

Lord, all my desire is before You;

And my sighing is not hidden from You.

My heart pants, my strength fails me;

As for the light of my eyes, 

it also has gone from me."

"My loved ones and my friends 

stand aloof from my plague,

and my relatives stand afar off.

Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;

Those who seek my hurt

speak of destruction,

and plan deception all the day long..."

Psalm 38:6-12

For those of us who are fortunate enough to still be employed, we sometimes fear that the younger co-workers will be watching and waiting for us to make a big mistake, perhaps so they can move in and take over our jobs, citing our incompetence due to "old age".  It would be so easy to give in to despair and fear, throw in the towel and say, "Ok, I quit!" before we are really ready.

However, rather than giving in to paranoia and despondency, there is one thing I do know for certain:

"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;

I say, "You are my God,"

My Times are in Your hand."

Psalm 31:14-15a

And:

"I have been young, and now am old;

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his descendants begging bread." Psalm 37:25

I do not need to fear old age creeping up on me, nor do I need to fear what others may try to do to me...for I know that God is always by my side...and always ON my side. What I do need to do is:

 

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the Lord,

and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:3-4

I may not always remember what I am doing from one minute to the next...and I will always have questions. But I will not forget to trust in the Lord...He will carry me through to the next stage of life...and then someday graciously and lovingly carry me home to be with Him forever. Even if I do forget this, He will NEVER forget me!!! Now that's something worth remembering!!