Alarms, Sirens, Whistles, Bells, and “Things That Go Bump in the Night” Revisited 10/28/2020 for Wednesday Treasures

I thought I would share this with you this week for my usual "Wednesday Treasures".  I am not showing any particular "treasures" per se', but am sharing something from the "treasure trove" of special memories. I hope you will enjoy reading along...

This is a previous post from my early blogging days, but it comes directly from my journals of the "Saga of the Steiner Family"... and part of what I had hoped someday would be a real "book"...

But alas, I believe I have come to the realization that the only book I am ever going to write is right here on this blog...you are my readers...and you don't even have to purchase anything to read it!  I guess you could say it is a kind of an "E" book...easily accessible on your computer! So I am definitely up with the times...

To give you a brief history...My husband had felt the call to go to Seminary to work on his Master's. We had three very young sons...and very little money!  Making this move took what I have termed "A Giant Leap of Faith". The links below will give you the two previous chapters of this part of our history.  If you wish to go back and read them now, click on the links below, and then come back here for what is essentially "Chapter Three".  Now, make yourself a cup of tea, and sit back and enjoy the adventure!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Original Post June, 2010:

Psalm 91:9-11 “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

Our lovely, large, old, interesting house!

The Steiner Family Saga...The Story Continues (Click on these links to get the previous chapters:  Part One: "Trust and Obey",  Part 2: "An Open Door" )

Since my husband was called to serve as the Assistant Pastor of a church out in the country, which was a bit farther out from the Seminary, we felt like it would be wise to live a little closer to the church, or at least halfway between the Seminary and the Church to simplify things. Besides, the two-bedroom apartment we were renting on the Seminary Campus was extremely small, and with three growing boys we were feeling quite cramped. So we found a very interesting large older home to rent in the little community of Nova, Ohio. It was very convenient for us as the school where the boys would attend was literally right in our back yard, so I wouldn’t need a car to get them back and forth while John was at school. It was a crossroads community out in the  middle of farm country, but it had everything we needed within walking distance, including the only phone booth I’ve ever seen where you could make phone calls for 5 cents! Of course, you could only call people right in town for that price, but it was rather quaint and fun.

The Fire Station across the street...and the Halloween Day
parade passing by...I believe one of my boys is waving
at us...that looks like Matthew!

There was also the fire department right across the street from our house. We found out about that the very first night we had moved into our house when the fire alarm started blowing around 2 a.m., and kept blowing until all the volunteers arrived to go to the fire! Talk about a “rude awakening”! You should have seen all five of us jump out of our beds and run to the front windows to see the action going on across the street! Our little boys loved it! We just prayed there wouldn’t be too many fires in that region too often in the middle of the night!

The Fire Station also contained the local tornado siren…I found out about that one evening just as a group of ladies had assembled in my living room for a Women’s Missionary Prayer Meeting, and the tornado siren started blaring! With it right across the street you can imagine how loud that had to have been! But worse yet, what was I going to do with eight or nine women in my house if there was a tornado coming? Our only “basement” was a very small dirt dugout cellar under the house, and it was definitely not a place I wanted to take these women! Not only was it dirty and smelly, but it also appeared to have a small creek running through the middle of it every time it rained! No, we would have to just get blown away in the tornado before I would take them down there! So, we did like any good prayer group should do. We stayed right there in the living room and prayed! There was a great sigh of relief when the siren finally stopped blaring about thirty minutes later. I hollered out the front door to the firemen who had gathered across the street, “Is it safe to come out?” They said that they thought the tornado was a false alarm and we should be ok. Whew! That was a relief! And also an answer to prayer, I might add!

There was also a railroad crossing right in the middle of our little village, and the train whistle could be heard for many a mile as it roared through the countryside. We loved to run out and watch the train fly past as we waved at the conductor and the men in the red caboose! What fun for our boys! (I kind of liked it too).

I guess I never realized how noisy this little town was until I started writing all of this down! There was one more sound that I actually enjoyed, and it gave me a sense of peace and calm each day. It was the sound of church bells ringing everyday at noon, and then hymns would play for half an hour from the little church’s bell tower. I looked forward to that each day! We had truly found a perfect home. Or so we thought…



Psalm 91:5-6 “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”


One night John woke me up out of a sound sleep to tell me that he could hear something scratching in our walls! I listened carefully but didn’t hear anything right away. Just as I was about to drift back off to sleep, he nudged me again and said, “There it is again! Did you hear it that time?” I very groggily but emphatically said “No!” But I knew there would be no more sleeping for me that night. So I lay awake and waited for the “scratching sound” to come back. I guess I drifted back off to sleep because the next time John was almost pushing me out the bed saying, “Get up! There’s something really big in there! It must be a huge rat! Listen, can’t you hear it?” I jumped up and said, “Well, what do you want me to do about it?” He said, “Here, take this flashlight and go see if you can see anything!” “ME?” I cried, “Why me?? What about YOU?” He said, “Well, your eyes are better than mine!”

Now, remember, this was a very big old house, and it had been empty for a while before we moved in, so there’s no telling what could have been “living” in the walls of this old house. I certainly was not too anxious to go exploring in the dark recesses of the attic storage room that was just on the other side of our closet and over the kitchen below. And why was my 6’3” former State Trooper husband asking ME to go look for this monster in the night? Oh well, I figured I might as well go have a look because it was obvious I wasn’t going to get any more sleep until I did! So, armed with the brightest flashlight we could find, and John tip-toeing behind me carrying his police night stick, we crept through the closet, opened the creaky old door to the attic, stepped down into the very spooky, cold, creepy room and started looking about for our huge monster! I did notice an opening in the wall that separated our room from the attic, so we shone the light in there. We couldn’t see anything but some old newspapers stuffed in the wall for insulation, (circa 1920’s we found out later). I told John I wasn’t putting my hand in there and whatever was in there would have to wait until morning when we could see. However, we did get a mousetrap and set it with some cheese on it and slid it in the little opening in the wall. Then we went back to bed and tried to get some sleep.

Sometime around daylight I heard a loud “SNAP!” and ran to see what “huge monster” we had caught in our trap. There lay the tiniest, most pitiful looking little mouse I’d ever seen in my life! I called to John, “Oh John! Come see your monster!” Rather sheepishly he said, “Well, it sure sounded big in the night!”

However, we knew that where there was one baby mouse there had to be more, so that day we set a couple more traps in that same area and one by one we must’ve gotten five or more mice out of that wall! But finally the scratching in the night stopped and we were able to relax and enjoy sleeping again!

Thank you Lord, for taking care of the “monsters” that terrorize us by night. If only all of our “monsters” could be just tiny mice! But Lord, You are always right there, calming our fears, comforting us, and rocking us back to sleep. Thank you, most loving God.

Happy days baking cookies together in the large country kitchen of this old house
Of course, everyone had to lick the batter!

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter in the lives of the Steiner Family.  It was truly a time of testing and faith, with never a dull moment.  Somehow we survived, and my husband eventually received his Master of Divinity degree and eventually his Doctor of Ministry degree and we moved on to minister for many years in various places....  I can honestly say that the time spent in this big old house gave us many pleasant memories of how God met our needs and set the course of our lives for future "giant leaps of faith" and other interesting moves.  Click HERE for Part Four: First Snow  

The Choice Is Yours UPDATED

 Anointed for Service

April 12, 1978

Ordination Service for  Rev. John F. Steiner

(Originally written 8/2011)

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  Joshua 24:15



Trooper John

There once was a young man who came to a point in his life when he knew he had to make a decision.  He had a great future ahead of him as a career patrolman, albeit, a dangerous and difficult future, full of life or death decisions and actions, but a rewarding career and the fulfillment of a life-long dream (at least up until that point in his life).  He was an extremely conscientious officer, taking his position as a peace-keeper and people protector very seriously.  No crisis call was too hard for him. He was right there, "Johnny on the spot", literally, when the calls came.  He risked life and limb to get to the accident victims as quickly as possible without jeopardizing other innocent people's lives in the process.  He was a natural born patrolman, and he actually enjoyed the thrill and excitement of the chase and the sirens blaring.    But there came a day when the Trooper had to make a choice....Like a siren's call it came to him, through a series of frightening events and different signposts along the highway of his life, he realized that he was being groomed and prepared to be a different kind of peace-keeper...a peace"maker", if you will, a new type of "life-saver".  Yes, as the newspaper article below describes quite well, "He Traded His Badge for the Bible."   

(double-click on picture to enlarge to read, then
back arrow to return to blog)

  So, you may ask, "Did the road get easier or safer for travel in this new life?"  Well, not exactly.  The road to the ministry was full of dangerous potholes and detours, some which threatened the lives of our precious children and the sanctity of our home itself...the very home in which we had vowed together like Joshua, the leader of the Israelites who led them into the promised land,

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

There were many days in which this "trooper" for the Lord and his young family longed to turn back and "go back to Egypt", just like the Israelites did when things got tough and there was not enough meat to eat and money to pay the bills and people were reviling and ridiculing us for our choice of the "narrow way".  When our children were injured both physically by accident and even in some ways emotionally by cruel and thoughtless people we longed to scoop them up and carry them away to a place of safety and security and yes, even prosperity so they wouldn't have to suffer.  I admit it, we are human.  We felt the pain of frustration, anger, hurt, and even pride.  But for some reason, God would not let us go back.  He said,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."   II Corinthians 12:9

I wish I could say that I was as strong in my faith as the Apostle Paul and that I could cheerfully say, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12:10)

But there were many days that I didn't like being made stronger...I didn't want to see my children go through such difficult times because of the choices we had made...and see my husband oftentimes humiliated by people who thought they were God's ambassadors to keep him humble and poor, and yet, how could  I/we turn back? We took our calling very seriously...and the words of Jesus in Luke 9:62, which said,

"No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Please don't misunderstand me...I am not saying that all of our thirty-some years of ministry were awful and terrible...no, quite the contrary.  There were many, many years of joy and blessing and honor and peace. They were the best years and the worst years...but they were exactly where we belonged.  Yes, God did give us the grace that was sufficient for us.  He did help us to grow stronger in the process.  He took us through some deep valleys, but also placed us on some high mountaintops.  Sometimes the road was rough and perilous, sometimes it was smooth and pleasant.  Whichever the case, I can honestly say, God was always with us. He has never left us nor forsaken us.

I go back to the book of Joshua again, this time to the first chapter and the ninth verse...and this verse became my life verse throughout those years of journeying through what seemed like the wilderness in many ways...

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."



Rev. and Mrs. John Steiner,
At our first church pastoral position

Receiving his certificate of ordination from the District Superintendent

There we were...bright eyed and "bushy tailed", and totally clueless as to the joys and trials that would come our way.

Current as of today, June 3, 2020:

Yes, we have traveled down a long road, actually now for 50+ years together as man and wife.  We are now happily retired,  but we still have servants' hearts.   The road we traveled was long and sometimes quite perilous, but  I will repeat this again, God's Word is true and He is faithful.  He IS with us, and has ALWAYS been with us, and He will NEVER, EVER leave us, wherever we may go.

As we face uncertain days ahead in this world, I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, "a beloved son" in the Lord, and to all of us who serve the Lord:

II Timothy 1:6-7, 12.

6.  "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

7.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

12.  For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."

So let us all persevere together in this life we are living.  God still has work for us to do, until He returns. 

P.S. Note: I had scheduled this to publish on Thursday, June 4th, but for some reason Blogger went ahead and posted it today. Sorry about that. I don't usually post two posts in one day!! Anyone else having issues with the changes that Blogger is making? 

Sermon Notes: Cancelling January

Post Christmas/New Year's Blues...anyone experiencing that?  Sometimes we get a little down when we look at the scales, or the bills, or just feeling like either we didn't do enough or we did too much...failure to live up to expectations of my own, or from others...outside struggles with work, the world issues..Sometimes we feel like we are living in exile...aliens...burdened with a load of cares...Perhaps we'd just like to cancel January and get past it as quickly as we can.

The Israelites felt that way too.  Look at Isaiah 42...The Israelites are the chosen  people, and yet they continued to sin and turn away from the Lord their God.  In verses 23-25, in particular verse 24
"Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers?  Was it not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned?  For they would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law...."

But then we turn over to chapter 43, and God offers them redemption and restoration:

1. "But now, thus says the Lord, Who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel:

'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 

2.  When you pass through the waters, 

I will be with you; 

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, 

you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

3.  For I AM the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;..."

4.  Since you were precious in My sight, 

you have been honored, 

And I have loved you;

Therefore I will give men for you,

and people for your life.

5.  FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU..."

God comes to remind Israel who they are and Whose they are...

• they belong to God...
• He created them, 
• He formed them..
• He gave them their true identity...
• They are loved by God
• He has delivered and redeemed them

But guess what?  God also created us...and as our Creator, He knows us best because He made us, and He's the only One Who can fix us.

When we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He gives us our true identity.

God has called us by name...and He has also called us to be ministers to His people. Not just the preachers, missionaries, teachers...but everyone who is called by His name is called to minister to others.  Pastors are only here to help each of us "ministers" do our own ministry, not to do our ministry for us.  

Your ministry may be totally different from mine...some are gifted in teaching, others are gifted in helping the needy, or the sick, or the lonely, imprisoned...still others may have a gift in hospitality. Whatever your gift or "ministry" is, take hold of it, claim it, and do it.  And remember what God told the Israelites:

"Fear not, for I Am with you..."

Isaiah 43:5

So, the best way to get over the post-Christmas/New Years/January blues is to remember Whose you are... You belong to God. He formed you, He created you, and He has called you by your name. You are His......and you are precious in His sight...and He loves you...He will give men for you...Yes, He actually gave His Son for you, Jesus Christ...to redeem you and give you hope and eternal life!

Now that is something worth getting up and shouting about!!! No need to cancel January!!

Sermon Notes from FUMC Interlachen, FL., Pastor A.C. Myers, 1/13/2019

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.

Some Yearnings of My Soul - Updated and Revisited

I know I already published this particular post, but that was over four  SEVEN years ago in 2011, and then again in 2015 for Random Journal Day, which was a group that met here weekly and/or monthly and dug into our old (or not so old) journals and randomly (or maybe NOT so randomly) chose something to share with you.  This particular journal entry was originally written 30 years ago...and it is still my fondest "dream".  We are closer to it that ever before, but with a few modifications. We don't have a farm per se', but we live in the woods with lots of God's creatures. I don't have to worry about feeding them.  I don't have a garden either, but I can still buy apples at the store and bake apple pies (when I have the time and energy).  We do love to have people in our home...and there is always room "for more laughter, more songs, more tears, more prayers, more stories, more games, more sharing, more caring, and most of all, more love.”  So maybe I am closer to living the dream than I thought.  Thank you, Lord...for hearing the "yearnings of my soul" and acting upon them in YOUR time, in YOUR way. That's always the best way!

(Orginial Post published on this blog 2/27/2011, taken from my journal of many years prior):

Romans 12:13  “Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality…”

The following is an excerpt from my personal journal, written over 20 years ago, when we were serving in the ministry in a church in the midwest...

It was during these years that I starting expressing a need to feel a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in my life.  Maybe it was my own little type of “mid-life crisis”…although I was not quite yet forty.  But I think it was because we had moved so much in our lives and even though we owned our home at that particular church, I still longed for a home where I felt like I truly belonged.  I poured out my thoughts and desires in my journal in this way on my thirty-eighth birthday:

“I believe, for now, I am doing all God wants me to do—of course there is room for improvement, but I know I am in the center of His will as far as His place for me in life.  I wouldn’t want to be any other place.  But I just feel like life is rushing past me so quickly, and I have not even begun to do all that I want to do in this life.  Maybe God doesn’t intend for me to do everything, but I hope I’ll get to do some of it!  I really can’t even put into words just what I think I am supposed to be doing!  I know that spiritually I fall way behind.  The Ladies’ Bible Study is a beginning, but I believe God wants to use me even more in a discipling ministry with women, and perhaps even young people.  But first, I feel a need to be further discipled myself!  I’d also like to do some writing; books that are spiritually meaningful and helpful.”  (Here I am Lord, twenty+ years later…is it time now?) (Today: How about 30 years later...wow! Still working on this...)

I went on to describe my favorite dream home, and I think it is something that needs to be shared with anyone who wants to read this.  It may be your dream too!  I can tell you this, that I have not let go of this dream yet, and it continues to haunt my heart…

“My other dream is to have a home that is a haven for people who need to feel ‘at home’.  A cozy, comfortable, secure, interesting, warm and happy place to be; relaxing and homey, with places to just curl up and read a good book by the fire with a cup of tea.  Gardens full of fresh flowers in the spring, summer and fall, and lots of snow in winter!*  Woods to walk through, hearing the autumn leaves crunch as the gorgeous colors float past…where one might come across a deer,

or rabbit, or even a fox!  A nice dog to be a companion on walks—a collie or a golden retriever is nice—perhaps an old barn with the sweet smell of hay and the earthy aroma of manure; a cow or two, maybe a horse and a buggy, some cats lying around soaking up the sun, ducks on the pond, geese in the fields…maybe a cool, bubbling brook meandering through the woods.

(*Current update- I've since retracted on wanting lots of snow in winter. Living in Florida is a better choice for winter when you are retired, trust me!)

Back inside the house one walks into the welcoming fragrance of coffee brewing, and the sounds of a whistling tea kettle calling us to "tea time". There would be the spicy aroma of an apple pie baking in the oven, a pot of homemade vegetable beef soup bubbling on the top of the stove.  It’s a big country kitchen with old-fashioned warmth. Perhaps there is an old wood cook-stove, freshly baked bread, a big basket of apples just picked from the orchard; and a larder full of vegetables gathered from the garden.

I guess I must really want a farmhouse…a place where people are always about…family, friends, missionaries, neighbors, kids, grandkids, grandmothers and grandfathers, college kids away from home, old friends passing through…an inn of sorts, but we never have a ‘no-vacancy’ sign…there is always room for more laughter, more songs, more tears, more prayers, more stories, more games, more sharing, more caring, and most of all, more love.”

I continued on in my journal to say,

“Maybe my ‘mansion’ in heaven will be like this, but it’s so needed here on earth!  If I need it, then many others must need it even more!  Lord, do You hear my heartbeat?  Do You understand what I’m saying? Is this an impossible dream?  Is it not something You want for me?  If not, then I can live with that, but, please, Lord, help me to make every home in which I live a place where You are welcome first of all…and then all those You bring my way.  Help me to always have an open heart and an open home.  Help others to share in this dream too, if it please Thee, dear Lord.”

I concluded this journal entry by writing, “Well, my boys are baking me a cake for my birthday, the first time ever!  I am trying to stay out of the way so I don’t end up having to do it myself!  Thank you Lord, for understanding.  I love you Lord.”

Twenty + years later I am still waiting for the fulfillment of that dream, and yet, in many ways we have had that dream come true throughout the years…maybe not in the literal sense as described above, but certainly in our open hearts and open homes…we have tried to be available to loved ones and friends, strangers and passers-by alike.  And perhaps even this blog is a way to bring a time of laughter, comfort, inspiration and encouragement to its readers.  If we can’t be somewhere in the true physical literal sense, we can certainly be there in our imaginations and hearts…and that is where it all begins.

Thank you for taking a moment away from your busy day to spend a few minutes with me, sharing the vision, welcoming the flood of thoughts that are working their way through your heart and mind right now as we visit our dreams together.  As our world hurls itself deeper and deeper into the chaos and turbulence of recession, depression and uncertainty...we all need a place of quiet rest and peace.  Spend a little time each day, reading God's Word first of all, and then allowing His Holy Spirit to minister to you, and through you to others in your circle of influence.   Kind of reminds me of John and Yoko Lennon's song, "Imagine"...but in a true spiritual sense, living in God's real place of peace.

Ahhhhh...I needed that. Amen.


Okay, friends, back to the future.  I've got some ham and beans cooking on the stove, and will put some cornbread in the oven in a few minutes...wanna come over and have some with us?  Sure smells good!

Have a wonderful day!!! What are some of your dreams from the past? Have you seen them come true?  Why not share a few...

Sermon Notes: Who Do I Love?

I have a confession to make:  I missed church yesterday due to a bout with vertigo and also taking a bit of a stumble and fall (probably more because of my own clumsiness than the vertigo, but this time I had an excuse!)....Anyway I am going to attempt to share the sermon notes with you, thanks to my hubby writing down a few notes and giving me the basic theme of the sermon.  My apologies to the Pastor if this doesn't end up sounding anything like your message...but I pray it will be the message that God wants to go forth...

The Scripture passage for the day came from John 21:15-17.  I won't quote the whole passage here, but leave it for your reading.  However, here are the highlights of those verses from Jesus' own words to Simon Peter:

15.  "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"...

"Feed My lambs..."

16.  "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"...

"Tend My sheep..."

17.  "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"...

"Feed My sheep..."

In the above verses Jesus has singled Simon Peter out from the others to ask him these questions directly...possibly for a couple of reasons...this scene takes place after Christ's resurrection from the dead, and He has appeared to His disciples on the beach,

where He prepared for them an early morning breakfast of bread and fish after their night of unsuccessful fishing (until Jesus came along on the shore and told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat...and then they had so many fish they could barely drag them in)...

Anyway...Jesus turns His attention to Simon Peter, the one who had denied Him three times on the night of His betrayal...and He asks him three times, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Perhaps Jesus asks Peter this three times as a reminder of the three times Peter denied Him...or perhaps there is another motive in Jesus' intentions.  

You see, Peter is about to become more than just a fisherman, and more than just a follower of Jesus Christ...Peter is about to become the first minister of what will become the Body of Christ..the church...and what we are learning here is that the most important, foremost qualification for being a minister in Christ's church is to love  God.  

Jesus asks Simon Peter three times "Do you love Me?"...and then, not before, then Jesus says to him,

"Feed My lambs...Tend My sheep...Feed My sheep."

Not until Simon Peter has confessed and expressed that he loves Jesus is he given a ministry...

And so it is the same for us today...if we are to have a ministry of any kind...and this is not just for those called to become preachers...but for all of us who serve in any way in God's kingdom...the first and foremost requirement is to answer this question from Jesus, "Do you love Me?"  Because if that question is not settled in  our own hearts, then how can we truly love and minister to others?  

Our ministry to others should be based upon our love for God. When we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, then we are better prepared to love those others whom God brings into our lives.  

What did Jesus say to the young lawyer who came to Him, testing him, in Matthew 22:34-40?

37.  "Jesus said to him,

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, 

and with all your mind.'

38.  "This is the first and great commandment.

39.  "And the second is like it:

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

40.  "On these two commandments hang all the 

Law and the Prophets."

Lord, help me to love YOU more...give me a thirst and hunger for You and Your Presence in my life, and then, and only then, will I be prepared to love others as You lead me and guide me. I pray this in the precious Name of Jesus, Who died for me so that I might live.  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, FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, June 24, 2018

Flowers for Mama - Updated 5/13/2018

Updated on Mother's Day, May 13, 2018. This is a repeat of a post I wrote originally in 2010, and then updated in 2011, right after my father had also joined her in heaven.  In honor and loving memory of my Mother and all mothers past and present, Have a Blessed and Happy Mother's Day.  I repost this every year now on this day...missing my Mama still...guess I always will.  She was pretty wonderful.

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12 KJV

(Updated 5/7/11)  Song of Solomon 2:11-13 “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell…”

Many years ago we answered the call of God to go and prepare for the ministry.  My husband chose a seminary in north central Ohio, which was an exciting new adventure for our whole family!  First snow for our kids...first driving in snow and ice for us...lots of fun adjusting to our new surroundings after living most of our lives in Florida. But that's another whole story I'll save for another day.

We had survived our first winter in Ohio living in a very large, old house out in a small community in the heart of farmland. Finally spring arrived in all its grandeur and beauty. I was so thrilled to discover that our yard was blossoming out in every direction! Since we had moved into this house in the early fall we were not prepared for all of the lovely flowers that would appear in the spring. There were tulips and daffodils springing up in flowerbeds all around the house. Then there appeared the blossoms of flowers I had never seen before, gorgeous large white and pink and rosy red peonies! Oh, what a delightful surprise they were! Their fragrance was exquisite.  Then the fruit trees started to blossom…we had apples, pears, plums, and cherries! It was a veritable "Garden of Eden". 

Me with my sweet little boys circa 1980:
Matthew in the space helmet, Benton, and Scotty
in front of the lilac bush
Mother's Day, Nova, OH

Next the lilacs started blooming…talk about fragrance! I was especially excited to see these delicate flowers appear because lilacs were my mother’s favorite flower, and since moving to Florida after being born and raised in the north, she was sad to discover that she was unable to grow them in the south. Every spring she would talk about the lilacs and long to see and smell them again. In honor of her, I joyously placed vases full of the beautiful flowers everywhere in the house and filled our home with their sweet perfume.

Since my Mother and Dad’s anniversary was in the middle of May, I thought I would surprise them with a “fresh bouquet” from our garden. I gathered up bunches of lilacs, tulips, and apple blossoms, and carefully packed them and mailed them to Florida by priority mail. I wish I could have been there to see my mother’s face when she opened that box and saw those lilacs! She said although they were a bit wilted, she could still smell their heavenly fragrance emanating from the package. Even though they were falling off of the stems, she saved the blossoms and enjoyed them for days to come. I believe that was the best present I ever sent her.

Lilacs, tulips and apple blossoms from our yard, May 1980

Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I think of this today, as my dear mother has been gone to heaven for five years, exactly today. (written on 5/7/2011) My sweet Daddy has just joined her in heaven, about two weeks ago. (April 19, 2011)  Since Mother passed away in the month of May, we requested that the florist find fresh lilacs to make a special bouquet for her funeral. They were able to do so, and I know it brought a smile to my mother’s face in heaven to know that we had done that for her. I can even imagine that the fragrance of those beloved flowers reached all the way to heaven’s gates.

I love you Mom...and we still miss you every day!  So happy for you that Daddy is there with you to help you celebrate this Mother's Day.  Love and kisses to you both...Your baby daughter, Pam

“Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:28

Random Journal Day: A Letter to a New Pastor's Wife

Here it is again...Random Journal Day...the day when the bravest among us open our old journals and share things that we wrote in the past...hopefully for your edification in some form or another...

In my perusal of old notebooks and journals, I came across a copy of a letter that I wrote to a young woman who was about to become a pastor's wife.  She was already married to her husband...and he was about to become a pastor for the first time.  They were members of the church in which my husband was the pastor, and thus I was "the pastor's wife".  So I felt somewhat qualified to share these thoughts with her as they prepared to begin this new adventure.  Look over my shoulder and read what I wrote way back in March of 1990:

Dear Julie,

This is just a personal note from me to you as you prepare to begin this exciting journey into "ministry".  It appears inevitable that you will someday soon join the ranks of those privileged women known as "Pastor's Wives".  It is truly a privilege and a high calling to be the wife of a man called of God into full time Christian service.  However, there are several things you should try to remember:

• First, you are the PASTOR'S wife, not the CHURCH'S wife...your first ministry should be in the home, as a wife, mother, counselor, helpmeet, lover, encourager, and perhaps even exhorter.  You will find this aspect of your "calling" to be the most challenging, most rewarding, most exciting, and most fulfilling.  If you neglect it for any other "ministry", no matter how important it may seem, not only will you suffer, but your husband and family will suffer also.  Always remember you are to be the "helpmeet" for your husband, the Pastor, and not the "helpmeet" for the church.  All other areas of ministry must come second to that of being the wife of the Pastor.

• Second, don't let the demands and needs of the ministry rob you of your joy in serving Christ.  There will be times when you will feel a real need to get away from the "maddening crowd", and find a place of refuge and retreat.  Don't wait too long to set aside that time.  Not just for yourself, but for your husband also.  Keep your relationship with Christ alive and exciting by spending time alone with Him daily, and then special times set apart for retreat and recuperation.

• Keep your relationship with your husband alive and exciting by spending time alone with him daily, and then special times set apart for retreat and recuperation.  Both relationships are equally important, and both relationships need equal time and care.  But I warn you, you will have to remind yourself from time to time that this is most important.  Your schedules will get so hectic and wild that you will feel like a stranger to Christ...and you will feel like a stranger to your husband. Guard against this, Julie, with all your heart, and plan ahead.  Try to always build into your schedules time for rest, recuperation, and recreation.  Don't allow the pressures of the masses close in on you.  God is able to take care of their needs with or without your help...and He can use your talents and gifts best when you are rested and happy.

Your life in serving Christ will be an adventure everyday.  He has wonderful plans for you. (Jeremiah 29:11).  Just keep your eyes on Jesus.  He will never let you down.  (Hebrews 12;1-3).

"Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." (Ephesians 3:20-21)...

Julie, I commit you into His loving, powerful, capable hands.  Please keep in touch with us, and know that we are praying for you both daily.


As I re-read this letter written so many years ago...now from the perspective of a "old pastor's wife"whose husband has since retired from active ministry, I find myself saying "Amen" to all that was written.  I wish that I had remembered to heed my own words throughout all of our years of service in the church...there were too many times that I let the needs of the church dictate my time and rob me of my energy and strength so that I was not able to be the "helpmeet" that my husband needed most.  Looking back, I know that we truly needed to take that time out as a couple to rest, recuperate and "recreate", and we didn't do it.  We allowed ourselves to burn out and thus became weary, sad and miserable in our calling.  We listened to the wrong voices and did not heed the VOICE of our Lord whispering to our hearts to come apart for awhile and be blessed in His presence.  If I had it to do over again, I know I would try harder to listen to what God was telling me to write to "Julie" almost 25 years ago. Things might have turned out differently.  Hindsight is always 20-20. Today I am just thankful that we survived and that we still have each other to enjoy...and we still have our love for the Lord.  We are just expressing it differently these days.  And that's okay too. God understands.

Now, go check out this link and see what others are writing.

Testing, Trials, and Miracles

Another episode in the life of our family, and especially in the life of our precious son Matthew.

This story takes place way back in time...when my husband had decided to begin his preparation for the ministry and attend a graduate program in Bible and Missions.  We had moved out of state far away from family and familiar surroundings, and we were hoping that John would not have to work full time so that he could devote as much time as possible to his studies.  We were also hoping that I would not have to leave the children (two little boys at the time ages 3 and 18 months) to go to work.  A seemingly tall order, “but with God, all things are possible!” (Matthew 19:26)

Somewhere along the line I responded to an ad seeking a couple to be house-parents at a home for boys.  The ad said that this home was located on a farm about fifty miles from the city in which we were living.  Although the distance from the college might present a problem for John, the other details appeared to be a workable solution to our dilemma.  The directors of the home contacted us and came to our home for an interview.  The job itself looked simple enough; we would be house-parents to approximately ten boys, each about ten years old. We would live in a “cottage” with them, and would have our own personal bedrooms and bath.  I would be responsible for the laundry of our group and the general upkeep of the cottage.  This was a “Christian” home for boys, and we were to have devotions with them at bedtime and attend church together on Sundays.  It certainly looked like an answer to our prayers.  I would not have to leave our own children while working, and our room and board would be provided along with a small salary.  John learned that there was a family in that town whose son was also attending the same college, and they would be able to car-pool!  The main concern was the fact that we would be giving up a certain amount of family privacy and freedom, but it was a ministry to young boys who needed a strong father and loving mother image.  We felt God was giving us the “go-ahead” to embark on this new adventure, and we moved to the “farm” the first of September.

The Testing Begins

James 1:2  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, know that the testing of your faith produces patience…”

The experiences we had over the following several months are too numerous, and some too depressing to describe.  The ministry with the boys was very special to us; we learned a lot about giving and receiving love with those who were craving such attention and demonstrations of affection.  However, our relationship with the Director of the “home” was less than idyllic.  Although he claimed to be a Christian, the examples of Christ-likeness were, in our opinion, few and far between.  There was such a spirit of fear, dogmatism, and overpowering authority that we sometimes cringed beneath the load.  Our spirits were quenched in the fire of this man’s wrath that was often displayed.  Our hearts would break as discipline was often unmercifully doled out and we would fight back tears of anger and frustration at being totally unable to do anything about the situation.  My days left alone there at the farm were often filled with fear, anguish, and bitter remorse.  John would come home after school to find me thoroughly defeated, and yet quite often fighting mad.

One day, however, something happened that changed our lives completely.  It was my responsibility each afternoon to greet our “boys” at the school bus, and supervise them in getting out of their school clothes and into “work clothes”.  “Play clothes” were unheard of as playing was considered a waste of time.  I would then escort them to the dining hall where they were to do homework until supper.  While the boys from our cottage were changing their clothes on this particular day, my own two little sons were out in the yard riding their “big-wheels” around on the sidewalks. 

Matthew on his big wheel

I kept looking out the door to check on them, and they were fine. Besides, one of the other house-parents was standing nearby in the yard talking to the Director.  I had no sooner gone back inside the cottage to hurry the boys along when one of the older boys from the farm came running into the cottage yelling, “Come quick! Your son has just been hit by a car!”  There was no time for questions, and in a panic I ran to the dining hall where I was told he had been taken.  To my horror and shock, there sat my ashen-hued eighteen-month-old baby, bleeding profusely from the scalp, barely crying, with a towel wrapped around his head.   “Let’s get him to the hospital!” I screamed in anguish.  The Director hesitated, and then responded, “Well, I suppose he should go…”

I grabbed baby Matthew in my arms and immediately ran to the car of the other house-parent.  This woman was the lady who had actually run over Matthew as she had started to back out of the driveway, but her car was the only one available and we had to move quickly!  She jumped in the car and away we drove.  Sorrowfully, I had to leave my three-year-old son, Benton, standing there with an elderly lady who had “just happened” to come spend some time at the farm that week. She assured me that she would take care of him.  I wanted to reach out and comfort him, as he was so obviously distressed.  After all, it was his screams that had alerted the driver of the car that something was wrong in the first place! But we had no time to lose, and we rushed away to the local hospital.  All I could do was pray that God would give him the comfort that only He could give at such a time. 

We literally flew through town to the small hospital, honking the horn and driving down the middle of the road as fast as we could go.  As I held Matthew tightly in my arms I cried, “Please don’t let my baby die!” and “Please, Lord, let there be a good doctor at the hospital when we get there!”  This was a small rural hospital, and good doctors were scarce in that community.

We safely arrived at the hospital, and as the Lord would have it, the BEST surgeon in town “just happened” to be in the hospital!  Matthew was taken to an examining room, and I was allowed to stay with him and hold him while they took the x-rays and examined his head.  He was then whisked away into surgery, where they cleaned all the dirt and gravel from out of his terribly torn scalp, and pieced the skin back together.  Meanwhile John arrived at the hospital.  When he got home from the college he was given the startling news and rushed right over immediately.  Soon the doctor came out of surgery and assured us that Matthew was stable, but he wanted to send him to the large county hospital fifty miles away by ambulance so that he could be observed by a neurosurgeon.  He told us that Matthew had a large fracture on one side of the skull, extending from the crown of his head down to his ear.  On the other side of the skull was another hairline fracture, but there was no indication at that time that either of the fractures was depressed.  That was encouraging news to hear, for a depressed fracture would have heightened the risk of brain damage.

Later that night I had a terrible time trying to sleep in my little cot next to Matthew’s crib in the hospital room.  Every time I’d close my eyes, I’d see the whole incident over and over again, and I’d wake up trembling and crying.  Finally the emergency room doctor gave me a sedative, and I was able to rest.  The next morning I was awakened early by a phone call from a young lady at the college where John was attending.  She told me that the whole college had been praying all night long in shifts for Matthew, and they just wanted us to know that they cared.  I rejoiced to tell her that Matthew had slept peacefully through the night, and his vital signs were excellent, and that it appeared their prayers had certainly been answered! As a matter of fact, he was standing up in his crib at that moment talking to me! We spent a week in the hospital, and Matthew was released with no sign of brain damage or other complication!  What a miracle!

At the end of the week we returned to “the farm”.  Benton had been wonderfully cared for by that same dear lady who had arrived at the time of the accident.  However, she had departed for her home that morning before I arrived.  I did not even have a chance to thank her.  It was as if God had placed her there just for that purpose for that period of time, and when her task was over, she was sent back home.  I have thanked the Lord many times since for sending “Big Mama” to care for our son that week.

As you can see God carried us through some difficult tests and trials on our road to learning to trust in Him.  I wish I could say that from then on everything was rosy cozy...but real life isn't like that,  especially when one steps into the arena of standing up for the truth. But I can honestly say that even though times were rough, God was always there with us, and He has never let us down. No matter what the outcome of the tests and trials.

Baby Matthew, after his accident. Back to his happy normal self, praise God!

I'll have to finish this story later.  It gets better...but just so you aren't left wondering, no, we did not stay at that place very long after this accident...and yes, God did provide another place for us to live and the means to survive until John finished his course of study that year...but that's another story for another day.

As of this writing, March 20, 2014, our son Matthew, now age 41 years, is battling for his life again, this time from a much deadlier foe, cancer. For more on Matthew's life story, see this: "God's Perfect Timing", and this: "Trust His Heart".

Post Script: On May 25, 2014, God called Matthew home to heaven. His battle  with cancer was over, and he was perfectly healed at the moment he stepped foot into heaven's gates.  For more on this please read: "How Could I Not Want This Day to Come?".  Thank you for your continued prayers for Matthew's wife and son Noah.

Stretching My Love

"Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left..." Isaiah 54:2-3a  

Illustration showing the successive stages in the erection of a tent.  The tent would be made of goatshair cloth.

(Ralph Gower, The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times)

In this morning's devotional reading at home before breakfast I read the following verse from Luke 13:29:

"They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, 

and sit down in the kingdom of God."

And after that my husband had the opportunity to preach at a little country church not too far from our home with the possibility that he may be extended a call to become their pastor.  It's been a few years since he has served in that capacity; as a matter of fact, it has been so long that his favorite suit did not fit when he tried to get into it this morning...and I didn't even have a pair of pantyhose without runs in them, so we went "casual"...which was actually fine, since everyone else was "casual" as well. Do you know that some stores don't even carry pantyhose anymore? Whatever happened to the racks of  "L'eggs" in every store? And when did they stop putting them in those neat little egg shell containers?

Remember them? I don't wear dresses very often these days, and I don't have the kind of legs that should be seen bare in church. When you work indoors all the time and don't get out in the sun much, people have to put on sunglasses to look at my white legs. But, I digress...this is not sounding very spiritual for a potential pastor's wife.

In thinking about this possibility of entering back into the arena of full time ministry, I do so with some concern and "trepidation".  Not fear so much as careful consideration. There are many things to consider. It is a commitment of time, energy, and love.  Yes, love.  If you don't have love for the people you are serving, it will be a very difficult place to be. I know that not everyone is always easy to love. Sometimes, believe it or not dear friends, even I am not easy to love! Just ask my family. If they are honest, they will say that's true.  (Okay, hubby and kids, you don't have to be so quick to agree!)  But I want to be honest myself...I know that I do not always love others the way I should. There are times that I can be too quick to judge by appearance or circumstances and think unlovely thoughts about others. I can be selfish with my time and my energies and gifts. I can withhold my acts of involvement because I just don't want to get involved...or I am too tired, too busy, or too "I just don't want to do that today".  I am human. I need God's help to be all that HE wants me to be.

Guess what?  I believe God just wants me to be me.  I really don't have to perform a certain way or do things that I really am not qualified or trained to do. But I do have to let God love through me. If He has called me to this place...He will give me the grace and strength and energy I need to do whatever it is He asks me to do. I just have to learn to listen to HIS VOICE...and know when it is God calling me as opposed to when it is the expectation of others calling me.  I will need a lot of discernment...and love.

The closing "prayer" of the little devotional I was reading this morning was actually written by a "Sister" Melannie Svoboda...yes, a "Sister" as in a "Nun", one who has committed her life to service for Christ. (No, I am not a Catholic, but that doesn't matter. We are sisters in Christ.) This is what she prayed:

"Inclusive God, stretch my loving beyond where it is today."

I like that. I need that. Even if we don't receive the call to serve in this ministry, I still need to learn to "stretch my loving beyond where it is today."  Trust me, I really do need that.  I need to be prepared to "Enlarge the place of my tent..." because things just might be getting busier and fuller in the days to come. And I need to get a new pair of "L'eggs" really soon.

How about you? What might God be calling YOU to do today?

For more about our history in the ministry click here