by Sharon O | Jul 4, 2018 | Uncategorized
Independence day is a day that reminds us of our freedom we have in this ‘United States of America.’
Typically it is a day for hotdogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, rodeo’s and parades.
We must also remember it is a day for celebration of our freedom.
God Bless America, we say with our lips but we must also believe it to be true.
God HAS blessed us and kept us safe.
We can be very thankful for that and for the testimony of our patriotic father’s before us.
Freedom always costs something. Someone has to pay the price.
Remember the veteran who is recovering from serving or is currently serving.
Remember the call to serve their country no matter what that eventually will mean.
Some come home physically and some come home in a box.
Each one of them paid a price so we can remain free.
Our country right now is in a political mess and I just want to say to everyone, be quiet.
Today we celebrate the independence day fourth of July.
Whether you have a family BBQ or a potluck dinner with friends.
Today we all can be thankful for the blessing we received.
by Sharon O | Jun 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
The next teaching from our Pastor is a continuation of the topic ‘The Increase.’
This time it was our Pastor Scotty with his Scottish accent.
He begins with the statement, “When the season of your life is busy the best thing you can do is stop.
“Stop and breathe.” Read the verse in Psalm 46:10 {Be still and know that I am God.}
We will find increase when we stop.
Stopping our work to rest in God: Sabbath
Stopping our pursuit of people to be alone with God: Solitude
Stopping our words to listen to God: Silence
Stopping our actions to wait before God: Stillness
There is increase through taking a break and stopping as we lean into the lessons learned.
Scotty said, “stopping rejuvenates us, even God stopped and rested on the 7th day.”
Stopping raises us. It reminds us to remember the sabbath and keep it holy.
Stopping reminds us that we need rest. It creates a discipline within us to stop and be refreshed and to be renewed to restore our strength.
Silence reminds us of our identity and it reminds us of the work God has done within us.
Sabbath is God’s way of saying, stop, notice your limits and be sure to not burn out.
Stopping releases us into the freedom that God has given to us.
Stopping reorients us. Even Jesus went alone to pray often withdrawing to a lonely place to pray. {In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.} Mark 1:35
We are encouraged to make every effort to rest.
{ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.} Hebrews 4:9,10,11
When we say, “be still and know” it is a heart and mind relational experience. Like when you say, I know her or him. Relationship status. The word still can also mean cease striving, stop your fighting, calm down, desist and learn in your quiet.
Stopping reveals God to us if we listen and pay attention.
(For example my husband and I go the beach weekly.
When I stop and listen; I feel and hear the majesty of our creator. I can’t help it, it is clear to me all around as I see the beauty.)
Finally stopping increases our transformation. Transformation meaning: a seemingly miraculous change in the appearance;change in form, appearance, nature, or character.
When we truly begin to take time for stopping we become increasingly more aware of our need for quiet, restful and peaceful moments.
Let us be still and know, that He is God.
{Unsure where image came from. Credit unknown.}
by Sharon O | Jun 24, 2018 | Uncategorized
Although I am in the middle of sharing our ‘Pastor’s teachings’ the Friday word prompt that was presented this week, got me thinking.
The word is Ocean.
We just got home from the short time we spent at the beach. Our favorite place to go and relax.
The ocean is mesmerizing. It is peaceful and always it is just what our spirits need.
Sand and fresh air along with the sound of the oceans waves…rushing forward and back.
My husband found a tiny shell that was perfect. A tiny sand dollar smaller than a dime.
How wonderful is that? It was perfect in form without a crack.
We took our trailer this time, and we take our computers for me to write with and books to read.
Most times my husband works at the camp but this time we took Friday to play.
We drove up north and acted like a tourist visiting little towns we haven’t seen in a while.
Finding a good lunch at a new restaurant, snacks at a candy shop (I had very little other than a chocolate peanut cluster) and then dinner at our favorite fish brew pub.
It is good to get away sometimes. Life is too serious and too demanding.
We are retired but it still gets busy and sometimes you just have to say, “we are out of here.”
The ocean is our favorite place. The bonus part of this trip we even got to enjoy some sun.
The ocean and sun is too great combinations in our area. Most days are overcast and cool.
What a blessing to walk with a cool breeze and sun on our faces.
Just had to share our ‘last few days’ with you.
by Sharon O | Jun 21, 2018 | Uncategorized
In the last post I shared what our pastor has been teaching and today’s post is part two of ‘the increase’ series.
On Sunday he continued with the concept that God has given us everything.
His provision is always with us and the way we access it; is by fully trusting in Him.
Trust is a foundation for many relationships including the one we have with God.
Pastor said we often see an increase of faith after a season of loss.
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
Trust is so crucial to our growth and our basic belief.
Then he moved into a story that was interesting, I have read it before but this was a new ‘twist to it’.
Daniel was a prophet of the Old Testament and the story is about a conversation he had with an angel.
10:12 {Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.”} Daniel prayed but it took 21 days for the angel to arrive to speak to him because of interference from the forces of the enemy. Basically he said, your prayers were heard but it took time to reach you.
Pastor said often times there is more going on behind the scenes then we are aware of, we are just waiting… thinking that nothing is happening.
We feel that our requests went no where and that is often not true.
Then he shared about the story when Lazarus Jesus friend got sick and passed away.
Jesus told the disciples that the delay for him to go to Lazarus was for their sake, for their faith to increase while waiting. Even though they grieved and couldn’t realize why Jesus was not coming to him.
HE knew a greater story would be told after they experienced the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus knew the importance of time when grieving someone who was loved.
Pastor said, lamenting is an important part of grief. It cannot be short circuited.
He said sometimes the best one who can walk alongside you in your time of grief; is the one who can be quiet.
Then he shared the story of Job and how his family, his home, his job and everything including his health was destroyed so that in the end; his faith could be stronger.
He also shared that this can be very misunderstood.
God doesn’t take away so we can benefit from that loss, but He does enable us to grow within the experience of loss. The concept and question; will we become bitter or better?
He also taught the way NOT to be with someone who is suffering.
In the story his wife said to him, ‘curse God and die.’ That is not encouraging or helpful.
Job had no one who would encourage him as he grieved. It is hard to understand the story of Job. 
Why he had to go through so much and in the end he was blessed more abundantly than before, I don’t pretend to know the why … I just know Job stayed strong.
Pastor said, sometimes our outcome is way different than the beginning.
Loss of health could equal peace, loss of relationship could equal honor, loss of job could equal presence, loss of dreams could equal purpose, loss of a marriage could equal hope. Nothing is without a reason.
There is always an eternal perspective on our lives whether we realize it or not.
Sometimes loss is preparing us for a greater good. We just don’t see it till the process is over.
Romans 8:28 {And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.}
by Sharon O | Jun 15, 2018 | Uncategorized
Our Pastor has begun a new series finishing the one called ‘the time is now’ and moving into a new one called ‘the increase.’
We are growing as a church and each week I see the ‘fruit’ of a good leadership surrounding us.
Our Pastor is a man of integrity as well as his ‘circle’ who pray over and protect him.
It’s not easy being a Pastor and also keep a family and lead a growing group of people.
He began with identifying what is the increase.
It is a season to unpack, and discover how we experience it together.
In the new testament book of 2nd Peter 1:3 {His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.}
God has given us everything we need for a godly life.
In relationship with God we can have every access to His gifts and benefits. It is a blessing to walk with him, because of His love we have choice and certainty.
We access our increase by trusting in the promise of his provision for us.
Trust is always a foundation of all relationships.
Proverbs 3:5-6
{5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path}
Pastor said this kind of a trust is similar to leaning in. Resting on… allowing His direction.
Trust with all of your heart. Heart is everything about you anchored into Who He IS.
And lean not on your own understanding which can block your trust. Your understanding of Who He Is will always minimize God, for you are not that smart.
In the new testament book of Philippians it says:
{4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.}
Sometimes we will receive a deep and abiding peace which doesn’t match what we are going through.
That is what it means, when it says ‘surpasses all understanding.’
We don’t see the how, or why but we trust in the outcome of what we experience.
It transcends our ability to know.
In the book of Romans there is a verse that is often misquoted.
{8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.} The good in this verse means no hassle for us, it is the presence of God.
The all things is the fullness of God. His power, His voice and His goodness.
Therefore, ALL things work for good as we lean in and trust. Then trust increases our peace.
It is a quiet tranquility and freedom from the disturbances around us.
The solution to our ‘lack of increase or deficit’ is peace.
Isaiah 32:18 {My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.}
What an amazing and wonderful promise for us to hold onto.
