To risk

by Sharon O | Apr 17, 2012 | Uncategorized

Relationships can be very challenging at times.
Whether that is within a marriage or a close relationship such as family or friends.
We all need people in our lives who are willing to be honest and open with us.
It is a love that isn’t afraid to speak the truth.
It is a love that is not based on condition.
It is a love that is looking for the best in and for each other.
It is a love that loves enough to risk the necessary words to bring life and health and perhaps wholeness to the relationship.
Sometimes in a relationship someone has to risk more by sharing deep feelings from their hearts and spirit.
It takes work and effort to create a good healthy relationship.
Relationships are to be valued and treasured.
They are not to be taken lightly even when they change like the weather sometimes.
When they change that is when we challenge and encourage each other to be stronger.
Even Jesus had friendships who were special to him.
Remember when he met Mary at the tomb entrance and said her name?
He knew that was what her heart needed to hear to bring her hope.
Remember when he addressed Thomas and said to him “touch me”?
He knew the real part of the relationship was meeting him where he was emotionally.
Within the context of his doubt.
We are not any different.
We were never meant to live our lives alone.
It is a part of ‘who we are’ and who we were meant to be.
God made Adam to not be alone so he gave him Eve.
It is an emotional part of us as well as a spiritual part of us.
We need each other.
Do you have a special someone you can share with pray with or encourage?
To risk is to love with an open heart and an open hand and be willing to receive from a new emotional depth perhaps for the first time.
It is in the giving and taking and learning to understand within the relationship that bonds us.
Sometimes it is the process of reaching out and opening our arms towards one another and then asking ourselves the most important question.
Are you willing to take a risk today?

Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant – Thy Word – [Live]

by Sharon O | Apr 15, 2012 | Uncategorized

BE SURE YOUR VOLUME IS UP… GREAT SONG.

Your name

by Sharon O | Apr 11, 2012 | Uncategorized

The days after Easter seem like the calm after the storm.
I often think of the story of Mary when she got up early while it was still dark and looked for Jesus.
It would have been quiet and her heart would be restless.
Wouldn’t that make sense?
If you loved someone and they passed away you would want so much to say one more thing to them, to look into their eyes, perhaps hug them.
So much left undone and if you could see them one more time it would help.
You can’t blame Mary for missing her very special friend.
Her sorrow and grief weighed heavy on her heart as she walked to the place where they laid him.
When she arrived there she found the stone rolled away.
On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
Startled and deeply saddened she lost hope that she would ever see him again
not even knowing where or who would have taken him.
Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. 
She was still weeping, when she saw two angels inside. 
They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. 
One was at the head and the other was at the foot. 
The angels asked Mary, “why are you crying?” She answered, “They have taken away my Lord’s body! 
I don’t know where they have put him.”
As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. 
But she did not know who he was. 
Jesus asked her, “why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” 
She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
He said “Mary” in a way only she would recognize with his familiar voice and style using her name in a personal way.
Can you imagine?
You are waiting
You are looking
You are weeping
You are feeling hopeless
and you hear ‘YOUR NAME’.
If we want to get someones attention we use their name.
Anyone who has children knows this to be true.
Perhaps Jesus wanted to get ‘her attention’ and let her know
“I am here”… “I have never left you.”
Perhaps he wants to get our attention too.
What would our reaction be if he were to say to us ‘our name’
In a gentle quiet way.
Would we be listening and open?
{verses from John 20:11-16}

The Trees of the Field – Homecoming Friends

by Sharon O | Apr 8, 2012 | Uncategorized