by Sharon O | Jan 16, 2021 | Uncategorized
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
Isaiah 43:2
This is so good to read and apply, for right now in our crazy world we have many deep waters to tread.
I feel sometimes like it’s a twilight zone since we started last year.
This new year has not been too much better.
I am in prayer for the political state of our United States.
I am in prayer for President Trump.
So much to come to the Lord about. We are not lacking information or topics.
I love the promise that whatever we go through God will not leave us alone.
I have felt like this in my journey through cancer, and recovery.
It was hard but not difficult.
It was not overwhelming but not easy.
I trusted in the process and in that trust I found comfort which is my word of the year.
My latest radiology review is not what I wanted to hear.
I thought the meeting with my surgeon would be my last one.
After looking at my radiology reviews she wants to see me in six months and then we will decide,
after more radiology pictures, if we need to do another biopsy.
I thought to myself, here we go again.
Some of my friends have gone into the process more than once so I am not unusual or fearful.
I trust my team and I trust the process and most of all I trust my God who will not give me more than I can handle.
Sometimes when we feel like we are drowning in emotions or in fear or in overwhelming feelings.
God is there with us.
We are not alone and when it feels like we are, that is when we call a friend or open the word or find some peaceful music.
The promise is real. It also says, WHEN not if.
So we will find ourselves in these moments, and it is how we handle them that will show our true strength.
When you go through deep waters, I WILL BE WITH YOU.
by Sharon O | Jan 10, 2021 | Uncategorized
My word of the year this year came to me when I was not expecting it.
I took a test that asked a series of questions.
Your word of the year would come up once they tallied the answers and they soon gave me mine.
Of course it is always a choice whether I want to receive it and let it be ‘for the year’.
Last year my word was rest.
Very fitting since I had cancer and recovery and radiation and then quarantine.
What else do you do but rest?
I find as I move into more of a ‘senior age’ group, I like my life to be simple and less complicated.
Not allowing too much to get me rattled.
Other than this ‘election season’.
I have very strong opinions about that but not today.
Each year there has been a word given and played out within my life.
Each one seemed to be very appropriate for the season I was in at the time.
The word of the year given to me was comfort.
Now I thought that would logically follow rest.
I also looked it up and the Bible has 88 references for the word comfort.
Philemon in the New Testament;
{for I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.}
That’s a huge compliment, to be able to refresh others through the comfort of caring.
Zechariah 1:13 from the Old Testament;
{And the Lord responded to the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.}
Have you ever had someone reach out to you with comforting ministering words?
Yeah it’s a gift and a blessing.
For Christmas my sister made both my husband and I big warm soft black and white blankets.
Talk about comfort! Then I purchased a new recliner chair. I didn’t want a recliner but it is what fit me.
Then last night was our first night sleeping on a new ‘wonderful memory foam’ bed.
Comfort. YES. A gift to enjoy daily. YES.
I think in the times that we are living in right now, and for the next few months we all will need more comfort.
My word of the year came to me when I was not expecting it.
by Sharon O | Jan 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
Happy New year
May we have a wonderful and safe 2021
by Sharon O | Dec 30, 2020 | Uncategorized
The end of the year is here.
We made it through 2020 and it was quite a year.
I started off with a cancer journey that went from December through the month of March.
Then covid arrived and although I was resting from radiation it was important to quarantine at home.
Since my personality is a ‘home body’ it wasn’t hard to not go anywhere.
Occasionally we would go for a car ride but I couldn’t go far since the restrooms would not be open.
This year needs to be different.
I think we need a reboot, a restart, a refreshing of our spirit’s.
It has been lonely at times, with long drawn out days, but so necessary to stay in.
The masks makes it hard to feel connected. No one really likes them.
Oh I did my share of sewing some. Then I bought some already done.
I had my year check up this month and all is clear.
They are watching a few spots but it’s good.
You never realize how precious your health is until something threatens it.
What do I want in 2021?
I would love to see family and friends more often.
We have not been in real church since March. That would be a nice experience.
Our church is building a new building and it would be amazing to be in there worshipping.
I am ready for a vacation somewhere.
Most likely in our trailer since it’s the safest way for me to travel.
They say your immune system is still pretty compromised up to a year or more after radiation.
I pray for continued health for everyone.
We will not be going anywhere for new years or new years day.
I did buy a day timer with the hopes of filling it a little bit with plans on the calendar.
I am starting a new budget site for the beginning of January.
We will see how it works and what it ends up telling me.
My son really likes it so I will get signed up, I trust his opinion.
I am praying for a new word of the year.
Always have one, so I need to listen and focus on that word.
I pray your year is a good one too.
Full of many blessings and prayers answered.
The end of the year is here and we say good bye to it as we watch it leave.
by Sharon O | Dec 21, 2020 | Uncategorized
The birth of Jesus was well orchestrated with many different characters.
Each had a role given to them for the specific purpose with in the story.
Beginning with Mary, and the Angel Gabriel, then Joseph, Elizabeth (and even baby John), and Zechariah.
Then we find the Shepherds out in the field with more angels greeting them with song: and Gabriel again.
Then we find Simeon and Anna in the temple, who had waited many years for this very special moment.
Then we also add in Herod who was an angry man tricking the Wise men who were told to find the baby.
I think I would also add the donkey; who went with Mary and Joseph and helped with the journey.
Remembering that the donkey brought her to his birth, the donkey also brought him later to his death.
Scripture had to be fulfilled.
Each character had to do their part; not too different than in the story of his death.
Each one played a role, and each one was needed.
There were many others in the verses that I read, but these were the key players who formed the beautiful story.
As we sing, Oh little town of Bethlehem;
we visualize ‘our picture’ based on Christmas cards of nativity scenes.
We love to sing silent night, Holy Night, All is calm… all is bright.
But really it wasn’t.
Yes it was a Holy night, but it was dim and probably not well lighted with anything but a lantern.
I love the Song, Sweet little Jesus boy, for it says, “We didn’t know who you were.”
I believe that to be true. No one expected a Savior to come the way HE did.
Even Mary might not have fully understood the baby she gave birth to, was the Holy One.
Too much to take in, too much to think on.
Silence was within the 400 years from the Old Testament to the birth of Jesus.
The silence was broken by a babies cry.
I think a lot about Mary, so young and alone maybe only having Joseph with her.
I think of Joseph with a huge responsibility put upon Him;
because God saw that HE could do it and He knew his heart was right.
We hear very little about him after Jesus was born. I wonder so much about him.
I am sure he stayed with Mary and they had other children; but did they ever talk about this
special Holy Birth?
May we read with a new awareness of all that it took,
for this baby to bring Hope to a very dark world.
The birth of Jesus was well orchestrated with many characters.
