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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Things that we should try to forget:

• Past hurts, unkind words, unkind actions:

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

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

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

Philippians 3:13-14 says:

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

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

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

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

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

• Forget what is behind.

Things to Remember:

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

Deuteronomy 8:10-11:

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

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

A Good Suggestion:

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

Philippians 4:8-9

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

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

Remember:

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

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

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

Martin Luther said:

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

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

God chooses to forget and forgive our sins. 

Hebrews 8:12:

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

Isaiah 43:25

25 

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

for My own sake;

And I will not remember your sins."

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

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

This is a powerful message to REMEMBER!!  

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

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

"Getting to Know You"

Someone posted a link to this song "Getting to Know You" (from The King and I) on Facebook last night, and it sure brought back some sweet memories for me.

A little over 51 years ago I met my hubby at the community college where we were both attending. I was a new freshman, and he was finishing up his second year there when we met. We were introduced by a mutual friend, who quickly disappeared, leaving us to converse and get acquainted. As our somewhat funny, enlightening and very interesting  conversation progressed, we discovered many things that we both enjoyed, music being one of them. This led to a walk to the music building on campus, where we somehow (? details escape me as how that happened) discovered a copy of the music for this song, "Getting to Know You", and we both proceeded to sing it together!  At the time I don't think I thought about the fact that this song was from a hit musical movie, "The King and I", and that "Anna" was singing it to the children in her care.  It just seemed like an appropriate song for two young people who were just getting to know each other to sing to each other...and one thing led to another...and before the day was over I had accepted a date with this tall, dark, handsome young man...and now some 51 years later I am sitting here, with that same tall, dark, handsome "mature" man sitting in the next room while I write...
     
Here are some pictures from the college yearbook at that time: John, working really hard!                                                                        
                           ⤋                                       ➷

"Finals means burning midnight oil for John"

That's me, busily working in art class........➷

                                                                       

              Me, during "Rat Week" ,                 ⤋ the ritual all new freshmen have to endure as initiation to college

and then if you read below, within about four months from our first date this happened:

                                                                                            ⤋

I wrote more about this last year at this time HERE, and my intentions at the time last year were to post more stories leading up to our wedding, which on last August 16th (2019) we celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary!  Well, my good intentions were quickly put aside as we were in the process of trying to sell our house this time last year, and my scrapbook was packed away and things just got really busy, and I wasn't able to continue this saga.  Perhaps I will try again this year...I may have more time in the near future to reminisce a bit, and now I know where the scrapbook is (I found the box in the guest room closet when cleaning for company)...so I will try to continue the story a little at a time at appropriate moments. Valentine's Day is coming up next week, along with my hubby's birthday, so that got me to thinking about this, especially after my friend posted that song on Facebook last night!  I wish I could have recorded us singing that to each other 51 years ago. I don't know that we would sound quite the same today...but then again...maybe we should try!

So, as you get closer to Valentine's Day, does this bring up some happy memories for you? Or is there a "special song" that makes you think of your beloved? Would love to hear your stories!

Getting to Know You

It's a very ancient saying

But a true and honest thought

That if you become a teacher

By your pupils you'll be taught

As a teacher I've been learning

You'll forgive me if I boast

And I've now become an expert

On the subject I like most

Getting to know you

Getting to know you

Getting to know all about you

Getting to like you

Getting to hope you like me

Getting to know you

Putting it my way

But nicely

You are precisely

My cup of tea

Getting to know you

Getting to know all about you

Getting to like you

Getting to hope you like me

Getting to know you

Putting it my way

But nicely

You are precisely

My cup of tea

Getting to know you

Getting to feel free and easy

When I am with you

Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed

Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?

Because of all the beautiful and new

Things I'm learning about you

Day by day

Songwriters: Oscar Ii Hammerstein / Richard Rodgers

Getting to Know You lyrics © Concord Music Publishing LLC

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday, and I'm thankful! I don't join in the "link up" for the official "Thankful Thursday",  NOTE: I DID LINK UP HERE with Rebecca at "Knit by God's Hand"...so go over and visit her after you read this and see what others are thankful for!  It just seems like a good day to think about what I am thankful for...this could be a LONG post! Never fear, I will just try to pick some highlights of things I am happy about/thankful for from the recent past:

 Life here on "Still Waters Pond" is always a delight every single day...

 We were blessed to see this beautiful White Egret fly onto the pond this past week. The Egrets and Herons have been "MIA" for a while.  I don't know if they fly further south for the winter, or if they just didn't want to intrude on the ducks and geese while they were enjoying their winter haven. But I was happy to see this beautiful bird come and stay a little while. A Great Blue Heron also showed up one day, but I wasn't able to get a good picture as it was still a little dark.

Our fun to watch little "Ring-Necked Ducks" have been so entertaining this past month or so, but now I think they must have started their journey back up north as we have not seen them in several days.  They were so much fun because they are "diving ducks", and they remind us of kids playing in the water, as they all gather around in a circle and it's like they say, "One, Two, Three, Dive!" and they all go under water.  Then one by one they pop back up again, and start the process all over again.

I understand they breed and spend their summers in Canada. I do hope they will find their way back to our little tiny pond again next winter!

Likewise, our Canadian Geese "couple" have spent most of the winter here. They come flying in early in the morning with a lot of honking to let us know they've arrived. Their flight pattern goes right over top of our house and we can't help but hear their grand entrance! They stay around and enjoy eating and swimming on the pond most of the morning hours, and then they fly out again to go who knows where?  I don't know when they will start their journey back up north, but we have certainly enjoyed watching them as well. They seem to get along just fine with the ducks, although they do honk at them if they swim too close.

I am thankful for the beautiful sunsets that we have here over the pond...

 Some nights it just looks like the woods are on fire...

And actually, the next morning we woke up to the smell of smoke, and this is smoke on the pond, not mist!

 Our sunrise was clouded with smokey clouds....Thankfully there was just some "prescribed burns" going on in the area, and not a real forest fire.  We are thankful that our forestry department does do the prescribed burns to help keep the forest clear of unnecessary underbrush and fuel for fires.  However, we are thankful that today the air is clear and we can go outside and breathe again!

I am thankful for a delicious brunch with my hubby at a nearby cafe' on our way home from a neighboring city where I endured some grueling medical exams.  I had a special kind of MRI, that involved a lot of different kinds of "actions", the details of which I will spare you.

 I only share this with you to let you know that I will be having some necessary surgery in a few weeks, nothing life-threatening, but some "repair" work on this old body that hopefully will improve my current "quality of life".  Let's just say that when you are getting up there in age, and you had several very large babies earlier in life, "things" start to "break down" and repairs must be made. 'Nuf said.'  Just keep me in your prayers over the next few weeks and the weeks that follow the surgery. I may not be posting as much at that time.

So it was nice to have this friendly, happy Valentine's atmosphere to relax and enjoy our brunch on our way home.


Another huge thing to be thankful for...this "lovely black truck" (seen below) has a history of its own. It belonged to our son, well, sort of...he used it, but we had actually purchased it for him when he was between vehicles and jobs and needed transportation. Then this truck broke down, and it was too expensive to repair. (Too bad they don't have "Medicare" for old trucks like they do for old bodies! Ha )  So it sat in our yard (this is an old picture from our previous home) for quite a while, and then our son was in a better position to take care of his own transportation, so the truck still just sat. Well, one day a "miracle" happened, and the truck started working again...it was unexplainable, but just one of those little blessings.  However, at this point we really didn't need it anymore.  We moved it with us when we moved to our new house, but it just sat in the yard and we did use it occasionally but it really wasn't reliable enough to use all the time.

(our son with this truck when he first got it)

 Hubby and I had decided that we really needed to get rid of it, but didn't know how to go about selling it and hated the hassle of trying to sell it.  But God overheard us talking about it apparently, and one day this past week a young man came and knocked on our door and wanted to know if we wanted to sell this truck. He is a mechanic and wasn't afraid of the "issues" it might have. He wanted to buy it to work on and eventually it would become his teenage son's truck.  He quoted us a price that was better than we ever hoped to get for the truck, and, long story short, within the hour he came back with cash in hand and the truck became his!!!!

We consider this a true miracle and a blessing from God. With my impending surgery, we expect there will be added expenses like co-pays, etc., that we really don't have the extra money for, so this "gift" is truly an answer to prayer at just the right time.  I love how God knows our needs, and even when we didn't know how to go searching for answers, He provided.

Recently in our little church we have been singing the chorus, "You Are My Hiding Place" (above)

This is based on the verse in Psalms:

"You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah."

Psalm 32:7

When I was in the middle of the MRI test the other day, I started singing this song and other songs about Jesus, and they gave me such comfort, and helped me tune out the loud pinging of the MRI machine. (If you've ever had an MRI, you will know what I mean about the noise).

I love how God provides all that we need just when we need it most.  Beauty to look at that brings us such joy. Protection from fires, A comfortable place to sit with a loved one and enjoy some peace and good food after a grueling test, a miraculous provision of funds when we need it most, and songs of deliverance whenever we might feel a little afraid or concerned.  I also am thankful that the results of my MRI showed that I would not need quite as extensive surgery as originally thought by the surgeon. It will be "enough" as it is, but so thankful it will not need to be more. Praise God!

I hope that you are also counting your blessings today. When we stop and take the time to look around us, we can see many ways that God has blessed us, often without our even asking. 

Thank you for being one of those blessings!! You are, you know!

Have a blessed and beautiful and thankful day.

Getting Ready for Company!

Hello!  Company's comin!  Gotta get the guest room ready!  I know, I know...if you've kept up with me since our move you thought it was already ready...(Click HERE for that story!)  But there were still some things that needed to be done, and it's been a slow work in progress.  The "guest room" also became the Christmas gift wrapping room, so it was kind of a mess for the whole month of December and some of January as it also became the storage room for the boxes for the decorations as they came off the tree and from around the house until everything could be taken back out to the storage shed. So it was a good thing we didn't have any overnight guests during the Christmas season!

But now we definitely have some overnight guests coming for a night this weekend, and so I had to get to work and get this room in "ship-shape".  You will notice that it has once again become the "Bear Crossing Bed and Breakfast" room.  That is temporary as I didn't have any other complete bedding for a "couple" to sleep in this room. The other bedspread and items were just a little too feminine for a man and a woman I thought. So this decor should appeal to both. 

Oh, you are wondering who's coming? Well, it's my cousin Becky and her hubby Pat from Ohio, and they are just passing through on their way further south, and won't be able to stay but the one night...but I am sure we will have a good time while they are here. Becky and I grew up together and we always have lots of happy memories to reminisce about when we get together.

I want to tell you about the quilted vintage tablecloth hanging on the wall over the bed. First of all, I struggled to get it up there straight (and it still is a little "off center" but it will have to do). I couldn't hang it in a square shape because our ceilings are slanted at that point, and it just didn't look right no matter how hard I tried to straighten it. So this was the only way it would work.

Anyway, the significance of this beautiful quilted vintage tablecloth is that it was a gift to me from my dear friend Sharon before she passed away from cancer last summer.  Here is my hubby and me below with Sharon, during happier, healthier times:

 And the quilted vintage tablecloth was actually quilted by Sharon's sister Barbara, who has a wonderful gift for quilting. Sharon said that her sister suggested that she give the quilt to me when Sharon was beginning to pack up her house and prepare to move back to Minnesota to live with her family there during the final days of her life. I felt extremely honored and blessed to have this very special gift.

Here is a little closer look at the detail of the quilt:

Barbara always signs the backs of her quilts with a special patch with her name, date, and a message. Since this was originally a vintage tablecloth, this message and blessing is very appropriate:

Another view of the quilt below.  It could still be used as a tablecloth, but I would hate to spill something on it and ruin it, so it will forever be used as a wall hanging, a special memorial to our dear friend Sharon.

 Now, back to the guest room tour...in front of the window I have set up my hubby's grandmother's antique Singer Sewing Machine in case our guests would like to spend some time exercising on the "treadle", since we don't have a "treadmill".   Just kidding. LOL. 

On the nightstand is the little lamp with the bear roasting marshmallows over a campfire, while the owls look on from the tree branch and the squirrel sits on the ground hoping the bear will give him a marshmallow too!

Now, especially for my cousin Becky, I have added this lovely portrait of our Great Grandma Mursch. She was the mother of our Grandpa Mursch.  Becky's mother and my father were brother and sister.  This particular Great-Grandmother died at a young age, leaving four living children  and I think she also had at least two infant children who passed away as babies. We don't know much more about her. My Great-Grandfather remarried and had one more daughter and two step-children. Anyway, I thought Becky might "enjoy" sleeping with Great Grandma watching over her...

But if they should have a hard time sleeping, here is my collection of very old books to entertain them...

They will also be watched over by this handsome Indian Brave. This was painted by our son Matthew when he was about eleven years old. He actually won a ribbon at the county fair for this painting. It's pretty special to me.

 There's that pillow I made for my hubby's cousin Janice, using vintage linens that were embroidered by her grandmother, Nanny Martin, who is also my hubby's grandmother. You can read more about that HERE.

And so, thus concludes the tour of the "Bear Crossing Bed and Breakfast" Guest Room. I do hope my cousin and her hubby will be comfortable here and enjoy their stay. I wish they could stay a little longer, but at least they will have lots of interesting things around them while they are here. 

"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

Good Night dear friends! Sleep Peacefully!

Sermon Notes: "I Will Be Happy When..."

The title above was the question posed by our pastor in the beginning of his sermon today. The sermon was based on Matthew 5:1-12,  also known as "The Sermon on the Mount" and "The Beatitudes".  You probably remember them starting out as "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..."  and so on and so forth...

How would you answer the question, "I will be happy when..."?  Some people might answer with things like, "when I can retire...", "When I can pay off these debts...", When I grow up and can do what I want...", "When I can get out on my own"... "When I can buy a new house, or car, or whatever we think we need..." 

The "Beatitudes" listed in verses 1-11 all start out with "Blessed are...".  Some versions say "Happy are" instead of "Blessed".   "Happy are the poor in spirit?"..."Happy are those that mourn?"....
"Happy are the meek?" "Happy are those that hunger and thirst?"  "Happy are the merciful?"   "Happy are the pure in heart?"   "Happy are the peacemakers?"  "Happy are the persecuted?"

I wonder how many of us would have filled in the blank on the original question,

• "I will be happy when..."  with, 
• "when I am poor in spirit, 
• or when I am mourning, 
• or when I am meek, 
• or when I am hungry and thirsty, 
• or merciful, 
• pure in heart, 
• a peacemaker, 
• or when I am persecuted???" 

It is kind of an upside down way of looking at our own "set of rules".  We think the blessed or happy are the rich, the strong, the winners, those who get their hunger and thirst fed at the best restaurants in town, etc.,  and not the other way around. 

But Jesus said that we are blessed when we are poor in spirit, because ours will be the kingdom of heaven...

The word "poor" in the Greek translates to "abject poverty".  True poverty is a cruel thing. Those who live in poverty long for a bit of kindness. They crave a bit of dignity. 

The poor in spirit bring nothing in their hands that God needs...

• they come in their brokenness hoping to be mended
• they come in their sin hoping to be forgiven
• they come in their grief hoping to be comforted
• they come in their illness hoping to be healed

We try hard not to be poor in spirit.  We try desperately to be in control all our lives.

Our best efforts, however, leave us exhausted.  We are so desperate to do it our way that we are exhausted.

We are used to demanding what we want and expecting to get it.

There was a wealthy man whose son lay dying in an emergency room of the hospital, badly injured. He pleaded with the doctor, saying, "I will pay for the very best doctors, hospitals, surgeons, specialists, whatever it takes, wherever we have to go to save my son."

The doctor sadly said to the distraught father, "Your money can't buy anything here. All you can do now is wait and pray."   Sometimes we are brought to that place of desperation before we realize that all we can do is wait on God and pray.  When we come to that place of being "poor in spirit", then we are blessed as we realize the true kingdom of God surrounding us and in us.

“Henri Nouwen once asked Mother Teresa for spiritual direction. 'Spend one hour each day in adoration of your Lord, she said, and never do anything you know is wrong. Follow this and you'll be fine.'”

"When our need is the greatest, there is where we'll find our blessing from God."

So now I ask myself and you to answer that question, "I will be happy when..."   And the answer is: When I realize that coming to that place of utter dependence upon God is where I will find true blessing and happiness and peace.  

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

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

Welcome February! The "Love" Month!

Welcome February!

It's time for hearts

And flowers...

 No matter how small or seemingly insignificant,

they each have their own special kind of beauty...

Kind of like people, huh?

And it's time for changing the calendars to a new month...(and I also finally changed the background of my blog...did you notice? Nothing fancy...just a little  color change for a while.)

(My Tea-Time Calendar always has lovely things to look at...

Thank you to my sister Doris for always remembering to give me this

as a Christmas gift for the new year!)

Perhaps where you are it still looks a lot like this:

President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday we will celebrate later this month, had some wise advice:

As I look around my house I think things are already looking a bit like Valentine's Day is coming...

It seems like Valentine hearts, roses and tea time all remind us of this season for love...

Even "Pinky Flamingo" is sporting a red bow in honor of the Valentine Season...

Hearts are stretching out to spread the love all around...

Hmmm, this looks familiar... (testing...did you read my last blog post?) LOL.

Even these candle holders seem to be sharing a special message of love with us:

"Live as though heaven is on earth"; "Love Always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres"; "Laugh...Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."  

Sounds like some good words of wisdom to me!

Especially that one about Love...kind of reminds me of something I read somewhere else...

Oh yes...I found it:

I Corinthians 13:7-8a

"(Love) bears all things, believes all things, 

hopes all things, endures all things;

Love never fails."

I think we should rename February the "Love" month, because it just seems to fit the theme everywhere we look!  I don't think there's any harm in that, do you? We sure could use a lot more love and a lot less strife in this world.  

So, let me be the first to wish you and yours a

And remember this:

"Now abide faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love!"

I Corinthians 13:13