Sermon Notes "Living in the Presence of God"

I received this card yesterday from a dear person at church.

It blessed my heart so much, I wanted to share it with you.

It speaks volumes to me today as I ponder 

"the whispers of my heart"...and place my trust in the Lord, Who will direct my paths in accordance with His divine plan and will. I believe that with my whole heart...and now I just need to be patient and wait on Him to reveal His plan and see how it coincides with the "whispers" of my heart.

That really doesn't have anything to do with the sermon notes from yesterday's service, and yet, in a way it does.  The title of the sermon was "Living in the Presence of God"...and that is where I am, whether I realize it or not...I am always living in His Presence...and that is where I want to be.

The message was taken from Luke 21:1-4

1.  "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

2.  and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3.  So he said, 'Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;

4.  for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.'"

Jesus liked to watch people.  In this passage Jesus was watching those who were rich in material goods giving their gifts to the temple...and then He watched as a poor widow came along and put in her two mites, which was a pittance compared to what the others were giving. 

But Jesus was excited as He saw what she gave.  It is almost like He said, "Wow! She gave ALL that she had!"  He knew that because she was a widow, to give her two mites was a great sacrifice. But she gave it willingly and with joy in her heart.  Why?  Because she had learned to trust in God and God alone for all her needs. She didn't have a husband any longer to provide for her. 

This widow was a  "near perfect model" of one who depends solely on God. She had spiritual wealth that most people don't have.  She knew the secret that many are still yearning to learn...

• My love of Christ Jesus defines who I am...not my clothes, things, home, wealth
• My identity is based on a true relationship with God
• "The last shall be first and the first shall be last

What is it that defines YOU? (Me?) Is it job, status, looks, car, house, how rich or poor?

Are you consumed with the desire to keep up with others...If so, you will never find peace and true happiness in this world.

We are created to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ...restored to God through Christ.

We often fall for the delusion that because we have money in the bank we think we are safe...

But only when we rely on Christ are we truly safe and happy.

God is our strength and identity and security...

The Apostle Paul said (2 Corinthians 12:9-11) that "when I am weak then I am strong".  Because he had a relationship with God through Christ.

The widow was the "richest person" in the temple that day....She gave ALL that she had.

• Have WE given Jesus ALL that we have?
• Is our identity shaped by our walk with Christ?
• Are we free from the pull of this world?

When the widow gave all that she had, she was free.

We closed the service with the song "Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated Lord to Thee"

Here is a group gathered around a piano singing this song...it says it is the "Keaton Reunion". I don't know who that is, but I love this song and the way they sang it together. What a blessing. Won't you sing it with us?

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

This is my prayer today and every day.  As I listen to the "whispers of my heart", I know that as I live in the presence of God, I want my life to always be "Consecrated, Lord to Thee".  I pray that when the day comes that I am like that "poor widow" described in Luke 21, may I be willing and pleased to give my only two mites for the Lord's service and kingdom.  Amen.

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 from FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 9/23/2018

"Consecrated, Lord to Thee" - Revisited

(This is a repost from 4/10/2016...so some things have changed...but not this message...and I think it is a great message to share one week after Easter...Has Easter made any difference in our lives? Are we more "Consecrated, Lord to Thee?" than before?  If not, maybe it's a good time to review this little song and the message it brings to our hearts.  May this season after Easter lead us into a closer walk with our Lord after all He has done for us...)

Original Post 4/10/2016:

We sang an old hymn this morning in our Home Bible Fellowship...and I was surprised that not many of our small group were familiar with this song...

"Take my life, and let it be 

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be

swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only for my King.

Take my lips, and let them be

filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect, and use

every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

at Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, Only, all for Thee,

Every, Only, all for Thee."

Amen

Written by Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879.

Here is a link to a worship version of this song that I think you will enjoy singing along with me.

Do you know what it means to be "Consecrated, Lord, to Thee"?  

Consecration:

"Most often used in a religious context,consecration is the act of dedicating something to God, sanctifying it and making it holy. "

In this case..."Take my LIFE , and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee." Therefore, I am asking that my whole life be dedicated to the Lord...set apart for His service...made holy by God's Holy Spirit...My moments and my days...flowing in ceaseless praise! My hands and feet...my voice, my lips, my silver and gold, my very mind and intellect...my WILL...my HEART, and my LOVE...my very SELF...ever, only all for THEE!

Quite a tall order...but when I think of all that Christ has done for me...how He gave His WHOLE LIFE so that I might be forgiven of my sins and have everlasting life...is it really such a tall order? No, rather, it is my joy and privilege to dedicate my life to serving and loving and PRAISING HIM..."Ever, Only, all for Thee!"

How about you?  Have you ever...could you ever...would you ever...ask God to "Take my life and let it be CONSECRATED, Lord to Thee"?  It's a big step...but one that has eternal rewards...and joy everlasting. 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!...Revisited from 11/17/2012

Note: This post was originally written five years ago (11/17/2012), so my "tongue" is well-healed today...and I praise God that His mercy and love and strength continues to endure forever. I just wanted to share a few pre-Thanksgiving thoughts today!  Have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving week!! 

The Secret Garden 11-18-2017

Original Post written 11/17/2012 and all pictures are from today 11/18/2017:

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! 

For His mercy endures forever."  

Psalm 136:1  

If you read this particular Psalm, you will see that it repeats the second part of this verse, "For His mercy endures forever", after each and every verse, all 26 of them, in fact!...I think the Psalmist is trying to make a point...read it through and see what you think!  If you don't learn any other thing from this Psalm, you will definitely learn that the mercy of the Lord endures forever!  And that is a good thing to know when you are going through deep water, difficult times, health issues, financial crisis, loss of loved one or impending loss of a loved one, governmental concerns, etc., etc., etc., no matter WHAT you are going through, it is good to know and believe and experience the fact that the mercy of the Lord endures forever, and for THAT, we should always "give thanks".

 11/18/2017: This male cardinal was quietly resting and safely hidden in the bushes outside my kitchen window.

I give thanks for his beauty and for the reminder that we are safely hidden in Christ from the onslaughts of the enemy of our soul...

Now on to the rest of the message for today...I would like to give thanks today for several things.  This being Thanksgiving week here in America, many of us are counting our blessings and expressing our thanks for all of the marvelous ways God has cared for and blessed us with His abundance and mercy.

This past week (2012) I have been a little quieter than usual.  Maybe you hadn't even noticed...but it's true.  A week ago I had some dental work done, and in the process my tongue was injured.  Not seriously, but enough to make it extremely sore and painful, whenever I eat and even when I talk too much. (Which for me, is always).  I never realized how much I took my tongue for granted until it became so difficult to do the normal things I enjoy doing...like eating and talking.  With the big Thanksgiving Dinner coming up in the very near future, I am anxious for my tongue to be healed.  I've thought about how awful it would be to never have a normal tongue...not only would it be extremely difficult for me to eat like a normal person, but I also would not be able to communicate in a way that others would understand or appreciate. Not that others always enjoy my communication that much, but what if I could never talk normally again...or sing praises to the Lord with my heart AND voice? I know that I would be very sad.  Perhaps some others who know me and love me might be a bit saddened by that as well.

So today I am taking this opportunity to thank the Lord for my tongue. I thank Him for the many ways He has used my tongue to sing praises to Him throughout my lifetime, and to share His love and words with many.  I know that I have not always used my tongue for these holy and beautiful purposes. There have been many words that I wish I had never spoken, and things that I have said that have brought pain to others. I have been known to speak without thinking many times, and then living to regret my foolishness.  I am truly sorry for those words spoken in haste or in anger or in denial of my own guilt.  Thankfully, the mercy of the Lord endures forever, and He has already forgiven and forgotten these broken promises and regrettable lapses of good judgment, and His mercy has already covered all my sin and folly.

During this week of remembrance of God's mercy and blessings, I list my tongue at the top of the list. This is only the beginning.  There is much more to follow.  But for today, this will do.

Thank you, Lord, for my tongue, my voice, my ability to communicate.  May my words only bring hope and encouragement and comfort to others within my sphere of influence, and may You, Oh Lord, be glorified in all I say or do.

To quote one of my old favorite hymns: ("Take My Life, and Let It Be", by Frances R. Havergal) verse 3:

"Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only for my King,

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee."

and then from another "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues" by Charles Wesley, :

"Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing

My great Redeemer's praise,

The glories of my God and King,

The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,

Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad,

The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the Name that charms our fears,

That bids our sorrows cease:

'Tis music in the sinner's ears,

'Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,

He sets the prisoner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean,

His blood availed for me.

Glory to God, and praise, and love

Be ever, ever given

By saints below and saints above,

The Church in earth and heaven."
Amen.

A few fall pictures from our "neck of the woods" today 11/18/2017:

Picture from the shelves in our foyer
11/18/2017


Two roses blooming in the midst of the decaying leaves..."Beauty for Ashes" perhaps?
New Life springing out of the old?
Praise God for His gift of new life!!

Yes, the autumn leaves are falling, even here in sunny Florida,
where it was 47 degrees this morning!

Have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving!