Wednesday Treasures and a Story

 

I have a lot to share with you today, but not everything has a picture so I will have to write a word picture of the adventure I had yesterday afternoon.  But first let's have some pictures of some beauty I found yesterday morning while walking in "God's Garden".   I call it "God's Garden", because man did not plant or cultivate it or make it grow.  There may have been a time many years ago when some dear old fashioned lady or ladies from the houses that are now long gone possibly planted or at least appreciated these flowers, but for the most part, I believe these are all growing wild from God's old fashioned gardens that He planted on the earth.

This is just a common Spiderwort (wild) that is growing profusely all around the area where we love to walk on the walking trails through our old historic downtown area.  I've told you about this area many times, it is where the railroad tracks used to go through town, and there were many old homes along the way back in the day, but eventually the train ceased its travels through our town and the roadway nearby became a four lane highway and the old houses were in the way, so they had to go.  But there are remains of their lawns and these wildflowers are taking over. I love it. Everytime we walk there it seems something different is blooming.

There was so much of this Spiderwort growing that I had to pick some and bring it home.

With the flash on the camera it looks more pinkish lavender, but it really is more like what you see above, a bluish lavender, and they were so full and pretty, you'd think they were cultivated flowers.

I love to see how the light shines through the vase, don't you? I know our friend Sandra from MadSnapper does.

Anyway, I did not realize that the flowers would close up overnight, but they did, and now this morning I see that new buds are opening up!  You know, there is beauty even in closed buds opening, isn't there? New life beginning new every morning...

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

The same buds a few hours later:

Even the simple Lantana is putting on a beautiful spring bonnet already...

I didn't bring any of this home, because it has such a strong fragrance that I cannot stand to have in the house. So I left it there for others to enjoy...especially the butterflies and bees.

And the Coral Bean plant is really putting on its prettiest red dress for the party!

This beauty was a new one for me this spring! I'd never seen it before, and now I see it growing almost everywhere around the old downtown and also beside our church parking lot.  It is called Cat's Claw Vine!

Isn't it lovely??

Speaking of "Cat's Claw"...There are no updates on our kitty situation, at least none that I know of yet this morning. If anything new develops I will be sure to send out an announcement!  Just keep praying about this whole situation, because having kittens is not something I bargained for when I said I would feed these cats for my neighbor when she was no longer able to do so. For those of you who have always had cats and have been through this, you may not understand my angst over the whole scenario. But for me it is brand new territory and also something that I do not have full support from other members of my household to participate in, so it is causing a bit of stress here on the homefront.  So we are taking it one day at a time and waiting on things to develop, and praying it all goes well with no complications...or what's the name of that show, "Call the Midwife"?...I may need to do that...LOL.

Blackie Sue, just this morning...

Back to our walk downtown, I wanted to check on the progress of this old Brush General Store building that is being restored.  Progress is finally being made on the roof and the top gable! It's starting to look like there's real hope for this building afterall!!

Now,  for the story I promised...

Remember I told you the sad story about the Sand Hill Crane family having lost one of it's Colts HERE on Monday.  As we know, nature is often fraught with many dangers as it tries to dwell in our fast paced world.  We don't know what happened to that baby, but I'm sure the parents and remaining sibling have felt its loss.  How do I know that? Well, yesterday evening Mama and Daddy Crane very nearly lost the other colt, and their heart wrenching cries were so anxious and filled with urgency and pleading that I literally burst into tears in my own sorrow for their extreme panic as they searched frantically for their lost baby...they flew up into the air together and circled all around the area where they thought he should be...then they flew back to the pond and stood out in the middle of the pond on a little marshy bar and called and called for him.  After a few minutes of searching the surrounding waters and area of the pond, they flew up onto our yard along the shore and both parents called with their shrill, ear piercing call, desperately trying to communicate with their lost child to come home. They paced back and forth, never ceasing in their calls, and if birds could pray, I am sure they were praying for the return of their lost child.

Meanwhile, out in our front yard, there was another kind of commotion going on.  That is where the search for the colt had originated, across the street from our house where there is an empty lot. A man had been walking his German Shepherd dog, who was on a very strong harness/leash, and the dog had discovered the colt in the grass, lying down and curled up in a protective position.  My hubby was on the front porch, and the man told him the colt was over there, and he looked fine, just frightened.  So hubby came and found me on the back porch, pacing back and forth and crying for the heart broken parents and wishing I could do something to help them find their lost baby.  He said, come quick! The baby is across the street in the grass!  So I ran over there and went right up to him, and sure enough, there he was, crouched down in the grass, looking very frightened.  

By this time the parent cranes were walking around our house and crossing the street, but they were further down the street from where the baby was.  So I ran over closer to the parents and tried to get them to follow me to where their baby was, but they got frightened and started to go the opposite way.  So I told John to stay beside the baby so nothing would come near him, and I ran back in the house and got a cup full of bird seed (their favorite thing that we had quit giving to them in order to keep the ducks away from our house).  As I ran toward the parents I held out the cup and started scattering some bird seed toward them, and they immediately turned around and started to follow me! I kept leaving a trail of bird seed along the way as I led them back toward where the baby was.  I got ahead of them as they were still kind of not too sure about following me,  and so I went where the baby was and put some bird seed down on the ground in front of him, and he immediately stood up and looked at me and knew that bird seed was something he liked and wanted.  When he stood up, I called to the parents again, and now they finally saw the baby standing there and they came running toward him.  Hubby and I stepped back out of the way and watched as the family was happily reunited...and they immediately "told" the colt to follow them, and they headed off down the street in another direction together.  

As you can imagine, I was so emotionally spent by this experience, I was still crying, but now tears of great joy, for their lost child was found and thankfully this story had a happy ending.  And then I had to hurry up and leave for choir practice as I was almost late...but I was able to go with a happy song in my heart for God heard my prayers and the prayers of the Crane parents, and their only remaining child was restored to them.

In Luke chapter 15 Jesus tells several parables about things that were lost...The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, The Lost (Prodigal) Son.  They all tell about how precious those things were to the one who had lost them, and how much they rejoiced and celebrated when that which was lost was finally found.

This one about the lost sheep is the one that is sticking into my mind the most,  as I watched how those parent cranes searched so diligently and anxiously and cried loudly for their lost child...and then I know they were rejoicing in their own way when they found their baby...just as I was...

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 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."

There is a song that I have always loved called "The Ninety and Nine".  Here it is for you to sing along with and enjoy with me.   As we approach Easter in the next couple of weeks, may we always remember that Jesus came here seeking for each one of us, and He was willing to go to the cross and die for us so that we would be rescued and saved.  And yes, there is was much rejoicing in heaven when we were finally rescued from our sins by the blood of  Jesus Christ.  

The Ninety And Nine

Song by Bill & Gloria Gaither and Guy Penrod ‧ 2011

Lyrics

There were ninety and nine that safely

lay

In the shelter of the fold;

But one was out on the hills away,

Far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains wild and bare;

Away from the tender Shepherd's

care.

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and

nine;

Are they not enough for Thee?"

But the Shepherd made answer: "This

of Mine

Has wandered away from Me.

And although the road be rough and

steep,

I go to the desert to find My sheep."

But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night the Lord

passed through

Ere He found His sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert He heard its cry;

'Twas sick and helpless and ready to

die.

"Lord, whence are those blood-drops

all the way,

That mark out the mountain's track?"

"They were shed for one who had

gone astray

Ere the Shepherd could bring him

back."

"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent

and torn?"

"They're pierced tonight by many a

thorn."

And all through the mountains,

thunder-riv'n,

And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a glad cry to the gate of

heav'n,

"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"

And the angels echoed around the

throne,

"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His

own!"

And just as I was finishing up this post, the happy family came by to thank us for finding their lost "sheep".  

I love it when a story has a happy ending, don't you?

Praise God! 

"Rejoice! For the Lord brings back His own!"

Amen.

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.

Lost and Found

https://goo.gl/maps/Yjk7KSs1caF2 (Click on the link for a map to nowhere)
NEVER MIND THE ADDRESS on this link, THAT IS NOT THE POINT HERE... The point is, if you look at this map, everything is named Fisher something or other...and this is out in the middle of nowhere, and these roads just go round and round and round and I got lost on this merry-go-round yesterday when I made a wrong turn on my way home from a pleasant afternoon with friends.

I thought I would never get out of there alive. I finally stopped right in the middle of the road (because there is NO traffic there, NO people, houses are few and far between...it is a failed subdivision that never made it, and I can see why...) and I cried (literally),

"Lord! Help me get out of here alive!"

I could see the buzzards circling overhead, just waiting and watching for their next meal...Finally I believe I heard the Lord say to me,

"Pamela, You have a smart phone...use it!!"

I said,

"Yes, Lord, and Thank you for reminding me...now help me figure out HOW to use it!",

and I pushed a little "GO" button on the map thingy on the phone, and it started telling me how to find my way back to the main road that I had somehow missed (after going in literal circles for what seemed like hours...but was really only a few minutes..but when you are lost, and the sun was starting to fade in the west...it seemed like forever...) and I finally traced my way back to where I was supposed to be and then the map lady in the phone started telling me how far it was to home...and I breathed a huge sigh of relief and just cried and thanked the Lord at every bend in the road that led me back home.

For those of you who have had your smart phones a long time, I'm sure you are thinking how dumb can a person be...but don't say it out loud, okay? Thank you.

Have you ever been lost? Then you know what I mean to feel totally alone, afraid, confused, and almost hopeless...but the point I want to make here is not about how to use a smart phone to find your way back home.

My point is how to find your way home (not just to your house...but to your eternal home) by calling on GOD. You don't need a smart phone to do that...

Without Christ, we all are lost...regardless of how smart we may think we are.  And Jesus is calling to us...actually He is seeking us and beckoning us to come home.  The Bible tells us that when we do finally come home, there is much rejoicing in heaven...(read the parables in Luke 15 about the Lost Sheep (verses 3-7,) or the Lost Coin (verses 8-10), or the Lost Son (verses 11-32)...In every case there is much joy when that which was lost is found...

I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father kept calling for me to come home when I was a lost soul.  I am also so thankful that He gave me instruction and wisdom on how to find my way home literally yesterday...but also from His book of instructions for eternal life...The Bible.  I'm thankful that I knew He would help me when I called upon Him...and He did not fail me.

"Amazing Grace!!! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was LOST, but now am found, was blind, but now I see!!"