by Sharon O | Mar 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
The rule is to write with no editing or over processing for five minutes.
The word given was gather.
Matthew 23:37
“how often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
Dictionary. com says gather is to: to pick up piece by piece, to scoop up or collect or accumulate.
When we think of the word gather it doesn’t sound too important yet in the Bible it is mentioned two hundred and sixty nine times.
That is pretty impressive.
What do you think of when you hear the word?
Gather, collecting together. The image of a mother hovering over her babies suggests protection, and safety.
That is what God is trying to tell us here.
We gather together to be safe, unified and to be less alone.
I think of the word in an old song we used to sing, “we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.”
It is a hymn and a wonderful little tune.
The first part of the Matthew verse has “Oh Jerusalem.” God addressing the people.
The verse seems so fitting right now with the unrest and disharmony over in the land of God’s people.
Many wars and rumors of wars. God is asking a coming together. In safety and in protection.
The verse could also imply we refuse to move and draw near to him.
In order for someone or something to gather, within a group there must be co-operation.
The verse said, “you were not willing.”
That is a powerful line as I cannot imagine telling God, the maker of everything, No, I don’t want to.
Sometimes our independence can cause us great harm or even death if we don’t listen to the warning.
Let us choose with a ‘firm decision to encourage each other,”
Let us choose to gather together in prayer and in compassion.
Let us gather together to ask his blessing over all that we do.
by Sharon O | Mar 4, 2015 | Uncategorized
No these are not blooming yet in our yard but the weather has been incredibly warm in fact the weather man has stated we might even be getting a seventy degree day soon.
I am not ready for this warmth. Although it is nice.
We didn’t really have a cold winter and you know how bad the bugs are going to be since they didn’t get frozen during the cold spell?
Yeah I am not sure I will enjoy it.
Spring is pretty. It is cheerful.
It is almost my favorite time of year as it creates beauty and newness all around as leaves and buds are forming new ‘flowers’.
I say almost because my most favorite time of the year is the fall.
Now you can see the dead fall like ‘leaves’ begin to bloom into a new blossoms, daffodils are emerging from cold and damp grounds along with the crocus bulbs.
I remember as a young person one house we used to always drive by had placed the crocus bulbs in the context of the words, “It’s spring”. So when they bloomed one could see and read those words.
It’s spring where new life is taking place and birds begin to build nests and baby lambs are born.
Found this photo on google as a free stock photo and it shows so much sweetness.
Spring really shouldn’t be here yet, it seems way too soon for bulbs growing and baby animals being born.
I love the awakening from the dark of the earth to the fresh sunny skies of blue and soft clouds.
The master plan of our master gardener created seasons for life and abundance,
after a time of winter rest and darkness.
Just as our hearts and souls need the rest in winter, and a time for hunkering down under blankets, good books and hot cups of coffee.
We also need the freshness spring brings with new awareness that life again begins at a new level.
That hope of new adventures and experiences will take place and we will be warmed by the warmth of the sun and crisp breezes.
I am not ready for this warmth but I am ready for some change.
While we watch flowers growing and little lambs with wobbly legs, let us be reminded that we are in a new season for a new time and hope brings a new sense of anticipation.
Are you anticipating anything fun or exciting in this season of change? Spring is almost here.
Let us wait with great patience for new adventures to begin.
by Sharon O | Feb 27, 2015 | Uncategorized
My husband is getting better slowly.
Recovering from major surgery is always hard on the body.
It is challenging on many levels.
He has done well within the midst of a few set backs… he is back to work part time.
He is also driving now, which I am sure he is happy about.
Any time we recover from any trauma it is a hard painstaking journey.
Physically and mentally it is a relearning of what was once ‘easy’.
A full knee replacement requires a major ‘amputation’ of the leg on the upper and lower with a knee removal, then a new knee is fitted in and around the old ‘space’.
The doctor has done many and knows what he is doing but it still sounds awful.
Yes it sounds horrible and the scar is really rough it is close to 14 inches long.
He was bruised from hip to ankle then we had a trip to the ultrasound room for blood clot checks.
We all know how serious that is.
His surgery was on January 20th and he is very tired.
We both are and it has been draining and hard and worrisome for me, to watch him struggle to stand, then walk and navigate the stairs going up to our room.
He is getting better slowly.
He is trying to do what the doctor tells him and yet they might have to go in for more ‘adjustment’.
Meaning he will be knocked out with loopy drugs and they will realign the leg and shake loose the tightness.
It has been hard. One step forward and then a few back.
Some day we will look back on this and know it was worth it.
For now we are not over this ‘recovery hump.’
by Sharon O | Feb 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
The word for today is open.
You write for five minutes with little editing and deep thought.
Random writing about the word open…
it is deep and wide and we can do this.
With arms open wide… and hearts ready to receive we ‘open’ ourselves to what the Lord can do for and with us.
He is strength and song. he is our salvation and he is OUR God and our father.
We will praise him and extol him… worship and proclaim his love to all who will hear, and all who will listen with an open attitude and a willing heart.
We stand in silence ready to receive.
We raise our hands to worship. To give honor.
To adore and thank our Lord God.
When we are open we are ready to accept, we are ready to find something new and exciting.
The doors are not shut to our hearts, or spirits or emotions.
With arms open wide.
We wait with anticipation to receive of ‘our Lords’ gift to us.
by Sharon O | Feb 15, 2015 | Uncategorized
The new word of the day is When.
We write for five minutes with no editing and no proof reading.
Spontaneous, word choosing, thought provoking five minutes.
When:
To my husband.
We always talk about the future as if it will come, I pray it does but we talk in terms of ‘when we retire’ we are going to get the motor home, pay off bills, re-do the house, then sell it.
We talk of plans to England and to other places of unknown new ‘memories’ to share for us.
We talk of times of relaxation and little rules.
We share what we would like to do when the time is free and there are no obligations to tie us down.
I often wonder would we really like to be free with no accountability.
Will we enjoy visiting different places on different day of the month.
Will we like driving and chatting and finding new restaurants or hiking trails, new adventures to take pictures of for photo albums.
Will we like sleeping in and not having to worry as much.
Will we enjoy the freedom that retirement gives.
I often wonder how will you do when you have no yard to mow and few things to tinker with in the garage.
Will you be totally bored or will you be able to relax and enjoy the carefree life.
I wonder what our new hobbies will be or will we just walk and talk and enjoy our days together.
When we retire it will be very different on many levels.
Insurance will be on us, that is scary. The checks every two weeks will not be as predictable.
Scary too.
But the flip side is the time we can spend together.
It will be good, and sweet and maybe sometimes boring but that is ok, I like being bored with someone I care for.
When we retire it will be us together with our kitties.
And that will be good.
