by Sharon O | Oct 15, 2018 | Uncategorized
When I think of the word rest; I am drawn to the many times it is mentioned in the bible which is called God’s word.
I found 92 references in my search.
Beginning in Genesis 2:2: [By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.]
I imagine if God, the HOLY God, the almighty creator God had to take a rest after creating shouldn’t we be inclined to think it’s something we should do also?
Sunday is known for being a day of rest… it is also known for being very busy.
I remember when our little ones were still taking daily naps; I would lay down and take a rest time when they did so we all could be refreshed later.
It is a good thing to stop and regroup your senses to be still and quiet and rest.
Exodus 33:14 says: [The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”]
I find that to mean a calming of spirit, a deep knowing; you are not alone.
Job 3:13 [For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest]
Psalm 62:5 [Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.]
As I read the parts of the old Testament in my bible gateway search, there are a few meanings for rest.
Rest as in napping or sleeping, rest as in ‘the rest’ of the tribe or people, rest as in the beginning of the word restore.
Kind of funny how after a good rest, we do feel restored.
I love how the word validates such a good thing as a good nap or a good night’s sleep.
My husband and I just got back from a few days at the beach; and we not only feel rested but we feel restored as the beach is always our happy place.
Psalm 116:7 [Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.]
What are your thoughts on the word rest? have you even thought about it?
Can I challenge you to think on this for awhile and let yourself rest in the ONE who gives true rest?
Proverbs 19:23 [The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.]
Isaiah 32:18 [My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.]
I don’t know about you but I really want to claim that verse for my life.
by Sharon O | Oct 11, 2018 | Uncategorized
When I think of the word belong I am reminded of the meaning.
Dictionary.com said; (Being a part of, connected to and in relationship to, someone or something.)
In families it looks like a continual commitment to the purpose of being together.
I don’t like the concept of ‘owning’ someone, it is not like that, in a family we belong together and we are in the mindset to work as a whole.
I think it is a good thing and the meaning can be very powerful.
In the family unit we ‘belong together’ we are bonded through the power of love.
Our children when they came to us were bonded to us as blood relatives they belonged to us.
Sometimes change takes place and marriages fail but the family unit still belongs to each other.
In the concept of church we see it differently, at least I do.
I belong to the church because I want to be there and see it grow and mature and I want to be a part of that growth.
The word belong is used 149 times in the bible. Rather significant amount of meanings.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29
“Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;” Psalm 62:11
In the old testament belonging was a way of knowing what family line someone came from.
In the New Testament it was a bit different not so much which family tribe someone was from but more of gifts given to chosen ones.
[But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”] Matthew 19:14 He said this in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The point of the word as I see it is connection and choice.
If we follow the Lord, we belong to him.[and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.]
1st Corinthians 3:23
When I think of the word belong it brings hope. It is saying, “you are important.”
To belong means you are not alone, you are chosen. You matter and you are special.
I think in many ways we all want to belong to something.
What are your thoughts? When you belong to a group how does it make you feel?
Just a few things to think about.
by Sharon O | Oct 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
The continued lesson from our Pastor Mike is about the word, Belong.
My last writing was about family.
The times shared together through holidays, vacations, meals shared, defining moments that say ‘we belong to each other and we are family.’
It is a how we say ‘we belong here’.
The church is very similar to the relationship of family.
We learn how to belong through the context of commitment and time spent together.
Pastor said if we don’t grasp and embrace the family we will struggle with ‘the OUR Father’ concept.
Families who are healthy look out for each other, do good to each other, carry one another’s burdens.
When someone is sharing a matter of their heart we listen and invest in their journey.
In family we encourage each other to grow and mature.
When we have hard and difficult times we cannot overcome alone. We belong to each other and we walk alongside each other, in the context of family if we don’t make it together we don’t make it all.
The church is very similar. It cannot be whole by itself, it must have people who say “I belong here.”
In family the problems are shared. Your problem becomes my problem and we can work on it together.
The burden belongs to all who align themselves as ‘belonging’. No one is alone.
When a family is strong, the enemy will try to attack and break down the ‘walls of belonging.’
He will attack our identity, our unity, our peace, our faithfulness, and our hope.
It’s really hard to continue to belong when the forces are against us.
We find ourselves discouraged and pulled down when we allow the enemy to speak lies to us.
Pastor said, “until you have revelation of truth you will never understand the powers that are against you to survive and stay together.” The church is the same way.
He said a dysfunctional family will make more relational withdrawals than healthy deposits.
Health deposits must be a family commitment.
Pastor said we must learn to carry each other’s burdens while dropping our ways of defense.
If someone in your family or church betrays you, only you have the power to decide how you are going to release it and let it go. Healthy relationships honor you and whisper affirming words to your spirit.
Relationships mean showing up for each other. Making time matter. Showing up means sacrificing our agenda and our plans for each other, it is all a part of belonging.
Showing up means you are present with the person while you are listening to them in person.
The key to all of this teaching is this; vulnerability lies in the heart of connection.
It is all a part of belonging. Allowing others to see us, and then allow each of us to connect to the commitment to each other.
When I say I belong to my church Grace chapel, I am saying I value it, I thrive in it and I commit to it.
Showing up is putting action to our words. Life works so much better through the context of relationships.
Let’s learn to do them well.
by Sharon O | Sep 30, 2018 | Uncategorized
There has been more lessons from our Pastor that have been both challenging and stirring.
His new topic is about family. How the church is similar to a family setting.
He shared that in a family you build each other up, you stand beside each other, you take the time to listen and walk alongside your family if they need you.
The church is very similar. We are available to each other. If someone hurts, we hurt with them.
It is a community of ‘caring’ and that is what the church is representing.
Now in all fairness if you were raised in a broken home, a different setting like I was, the concept of family is disturbed or disrupted.
My dad left when I was a young age leaving me to grow up during the formative years without a dad’s opinion or input into my life.
We had grandma’s and grandpa’s and I don’t say they were not a great help; but in the heart of a child to have a parent’s approval and or love is healthy to one’s spirit.
It is nurturing. Healing and creates a wholeness that a broken home does not give.
The church can be a healthy home, or a dysfunctional home and I do believe my husband and I have experienced both kinds.
I generally leave if I feel the dissonance between word and behavior because of my gift of discernment.
I can tell if it is a ‘setting that is toxic’ pretty much right away.
A few times I have confronted a pastor or two which only led us to the point of leaving.
It is who I am, I value true and healthy relationships and if there is a point of discernment for me and my spirit is churning then it’s time to confront, change or leave.
Family is a bit different because you really can’t leave your relatives although some have tried.
Family is blood ties. It is inherited genes and whether we like it or not, we are related to those who we struggle with. I think that is why the church is very similar to family.
It teaches us to have compassion, to care, and most of all to forgive.
The new lesson from our pastor is about family and I think it will be a very powerful time of listening for us as he unpacks the words of truth.
Stay with me as I share more.
by Sharon O | Sep 27, 2018 | Uncategorized
As I sit in the quiet of the beach and our trailer I reflect on the peace and the safety of this place.
We have been here for a few days now, going home tomorrow.
I miss my cats. I miss home. Although the beach is a home to me on many levels.
Even when it’s wet and stormy it is a refuge for me. A kind of soul care.
I love the sounds of the ocean and the power of the waves, then this morning I walked across the grassy path and above me were Canadian geese honking and flying across the sky.
One of my most favorite sounds in the air. I marvel at how they can fly in a form so perfect.
Then I saw hovering over the ocean the pelicans… slowly flying over the waves.
It is a place of wonder to me. The camp is a known Christian camp and we come here every Thursday.
My husband volunteers here and works alongside several other guys of assorted ages.
Lately on the other side of the camp the otters have come to visit.
I have not been able to see them yet but that would be a wonderful surprise to see them in their natural habitat.
I love to see nature as it is, I think often times we mess up the natural nesting places of so many.
Last year over the camp there were a few eagles. They were beautiful flying high as the majestic swirl of their wings moved ever so careful, high above the hillside.
Most of nature I love. Not the bugs or creepy crawly things but nature is a beautiful thing to observe.
Today I am staying in tune with the quiet. The calm and the peaceful process of taking time away.
Life goes on as I restore myself in this place of peace.
Soon the hub of laundry and dishes will be in the background, maybe the local news.
For now I excuse myself of those things and I sit in the peace of a soft breeze warm sun and waves.
