Pay attention

by Sharon O | Feb 7, 2010 | Uncategorized

It was in the middle of the morning. I was watching my niece’s baby, Lily. She is just barely 5 months old, very cute and sweet. She reminds me of a little teddy bear, only a bit busier. I had put a short sleeved shirt on her, the house was cool that day. Not sure why. Usually she moves her arms around in a very busy way, and is so happy to be playing. This day she held her hands together, or her arms across her chest, over each other. Sitting still and seeming to be unhappy. I noticed the chill in the air, and realized she might be cold. The dryer had clothes drying and some of her clothes, were in that load. I pulled them out and put on her a warm shirt with warm pants, changed her diaper and she was content. I moved that illustration to a heart issue. If our hearts are cold, we are less receptive to what is around us. We cross our arms around us, rather than reach out. We hold our hands, rather than the hands of others. It was a powerful illustration for me. She could not say to me; I am cold, yet she could tell me in other ways. Her level of comfort was in distress. How does our heart tell us we are in distress? We lose sleep. We grieve. We argue with others, or become impatient. We frustrate easily, over silly things. We become less friendly or nice to be around. When our hearts are in distress, our whole mannerism is off. Our character is off. We become less focused and free. Less enjoyable to be around. I thought this illustration was powerful. God often allows us to ‘feel’ something in order for us to attend to it. We may try to do works, to make us feel better, or we may try duties or chores, to make us feel better. Just as I attended to Lily’s physical needs, I could not take care of her immediate need. Until I realized what it was, she was cold. I found it amazing as soon as I put warm clothes on her, changed her diaper and put her to bed with two blankets, she slept for two hours. She was comfortable and no longer cold. Her distress level was minimized. It was an easy fix. I just had to pay attention to the need. Can we move this closer, as an example for our lives? How do we know when our heart is hurting or in distress? Wouldn’t it be good to pay attention, and realize, when we close off instead of reach out? Can we ask God to nudge us, when we begin to close off our feelings for others? Can we ask Him to show us, when we hold onto ourselves, instead of those around us? Just as Lily held her own hands, we hold our own. Maybe instead we should reach out for the hand of the ‘Saviour’, who brings order into our world. Then allow HIM to show us what is wrong in our heart. So the challenge today is, ‘what are you feeling?’ Is there something you are trying to push away? Wouldn’t it be easier to just ‘pull out of the dryer’ a warm shirt, acknowledge the distress, and start our day over? God wants us to pay attention to the needs of our hearts, and the hearts of those around us. If I had not paid attention to Lily’s body language, she might have been a sad, discomforted baby all day. I pray that as our eyes open, we listen to the needs of our hearts, and ask God to show us the heart needs of others. We might become truly blessed by what we experience, as we listen.

A new pantry

by Sharon O | Feb 6, 2010 | Uncategorized

The other day Larry and I were talking about building up a pantry. In the days ahead one never knows what calamity may take place. Having assorted canned goods, propane, water and even necessary paper products, might be a good thing. I was making a list of what would be easy to store and keep on a shelf. Then the idea came to me.

How often do we think about building up a ‘spiritual’ pantry? I know the idea is a new and different one. Think of it in this way. When we have a bad day, wouldn’t it be good to grab hold of a portion of peace, or grace, or patience, or kindness? What about forgiveness?
If we have an attitude of the heart that is spiritual and focused on Jesus. It would benefit us to have a storage place of the grace, that we might need for the day.

Matthew said ,”Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be”.
So if the desires of our heart is to be prepared. Then we would need to instill in us, a storage place of the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit can fill us with HIS likeness. So when grief hits us we can pull out hope, when we become fearful, we can pull out peace, when we become angry, we can pull out forgiveness. It is all about choice and decision making. It is becomes a decision of our hearts.
Just as we would create and build a food pantry for perilous times. We must choose to build up within our spirit and our life, an abundant supply, of HIS likeness and attributes. For if we walk in the spirit we must show that, towards others and maybe even ourselves.

So the challenge for us today is this. What is our focus?

Jude 20,21,22: But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

We are not promised safety in this life, but we are promised safety in the love of God.
How awesome of a thought is that. I hope this writing today has been a challenge to provoke a new thought. What are we storing up and becoming prepared for?

A quiet voice

by Sharon O | Feb 5, 2010 | Uncategorized

Our pastor was sharing with us a few weeks ago, about the passage in 1 Kings 19:11-13;
Then he was told, “Go stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?”
I have been thinking about this for some time now.
God was asking Elijah, what are you doing? Why are you running from me and hiding?
There are several things to think about in these verses. First one, God knew where to find him. Second, God showed him the majesty and power, that only God can produce. Third, Elijah was humbled.
The other thought I have had rumbling in my mind, like a dryer full of warm clothes.
God whispered. God whispered with a soft quiet voice.

We have all heard about the horse whisperer book, and even maybe watched the movie. Then there was a baby whisperer book, dog whisperer book, and maybe more that I don’t know about. But the thought I am trying to share is this. In order to hear a whisper, one has to quiet their heart. The purpose of those books is to teach the reader how to quiet, a scared, and unruly behavior. I want to challenge us, today.
Do we quiet ourselves long enough, to listen to the whisper? Do we sit still long enough, to hear the softness of a voice of a mighty GOD, who could do much more than whisper? Do we turn the TV off and the computer, the radio and cell phone, to listen? We make time for other voices, why do we not make time for HIS?
It tells me that God knows, the only way we can change, from the inside. Is to be relational through a whisper. It speaks to me of a calming effect. An intimate question. A quiet voice only for us. When you think of a whisper, you think of something private. It is not for all to know or hear. My granddaughter came into the den one day, and said ‘grandma, I have a secret, let me tell you’. As she came close to whisper it in my ear. It was for me and her. She smiled and giggled, knowing I heard her secret, and I was safe enough to share it with her.
Is God doing that, within us?
In order for us to hear God’s whisper to us, we must be still, quiet, receptive and waiting.
A holy hush. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. Be still. Know my power. God showed Elijah power, before he showed him peace. The calming effect of a whisper. I challenge us today, to brew a cup of tea, grab a piece of paper, and quiet our hearts.
Are you ready to listen to the still small voice of a whisper?
The paper is to write down what we hear.

“Be STILL and know that I am God”.
How awesome it is to know, He cares enough for us to reach us through a whisper.

Her name is Faith

by Sharon O | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized

Our oldest grand daughter was a preemie.
She arrived nearly 7 weeks early, weighing 2 pounds 11 ounces. A wonderful bright eyed, very tiny baby. Our first experience with grand parenting.
It was scary, and we were full of prayer. She had to stay in the neonatal side of the hospital for several weeks, and then they released her to come home early. She weighed only 3 pounds 9 ounces. She was healthy and precious and I knew I had to be a part of this child’s life. Our daughter needed to go back to work, and I quit my job to stay home, to nurture this vulnerable precious little baby.
She started out sleeping in an old fashioned, white wicker baby basket. I had found it at an antique shop, it was old and marvelous. When she slept she looked like a little doll, so tiny and precious. As she grew, we moved her upstairs into a crib and into our spare room.
I would leave the baby monitor on, and listen, as I was downstairs doing assorted chores and duties. It was nice, and we were used to the schedule we had grown accustomed to. She knew that was her room, and her space and her bed. It was safety to her.
As she grew older, she began to talk and play in the crib. It was wonderful.
I had the baby monitor on, so I could hear when she would woke up, knowing I might have to get her right away. My favorite memories, were of her waking up slowly, with her tiny baby voice and baby words. She would start by saying ‘Hi baby’ to the doll in her bed, ‘hi blankey, hi teddy’, she always had a menagerie of dolls, bears, blankets and who knows what else she ‘had’ to sleep with.
Valued items for a baby. I didn’t make a big deal about them. It was her bed and as long as she slept, I didn’t care what she took with her.
I would sit in my chair downstairs and listen to the wonderful ‘baby’ noises.
She and I laugh about it now. She is 10 almost 11 and in 5th grade, but she remembers my stories of long ago. She will say to me, “tell me about the time when I was in the crib”… “and I was saying ‘I am running’ “oh my daddy and I were laughing about that” then she would give me the full detailed report, of what I had shared with her so often. It was precious to me.
When she was a baby, I waited downstairs listening to her. She would say, ‘Nama’ (my name when she was very small) ‘I am running’ and I would hear the crib squeak and little feet scuff onto the crib mattress. Then she would say, ‘Nama, I am jumping’ and again the squeak of a crib mattress rubbing against a wire frame. She would jump with great joy, as a child so happy after a nap.
I learned how she needed to wake up slowly and enjoy the quiet time.
It brought me great joy to hear her sweet voice.
After a while it would become quiet. Then I would hear her say, ‘Nama, come get me’… ‘I want out’… ‘come get me Nama.’ ‘please get me out’. Her sad pitiful voice, knowing she herself could not get out of the crib, even if she wanted to do it.
As I think of this scene I often wonder, if God had a monitor on us, would he hear, “daddy I am running…I am jumping…I need you…please come get me…I want out…Please rescue me.”
I wonder, does He listen with the same smile I had; when I listened to my precious grand daughter?
He loves us just as much. He longs for us to say. “Daddy I want out, please come get me.”
We can open the door to our heart, as I opened the door to her room. It is easy.
I would see her reach out to me with a huge hug and smile. She knew I was her rescuer.
She knew, I would take her out of that room and into a different place. She was released into the arms of safety and held by the one she loved.
How is that so different from our relationship to God?
My challenge today is this; do we allow God to delight in us, as we ask Him to rescue and save us?
Do we say, daddy I need you? Do we realize that sometimes we cannot get out of a situation.
Just as Faith could not get out of her crib?
Unless He helps us. We are alone.
She knew she needed me.
We need to know… ‘we need God’.
Are you challenged today?
I pray that this writing gave you a picture of what ‘our daddy’ wants.
As he rescues, protects and rejoices in us.

Who am I

by Sharon O | Feb 1, 2010 | Uncategorized

Our pastor was talking on Sunday about his observations about people.
He said there are two different types. Those who are windows and those who are mirrors. Window people look beyond themselves. They think of others. They are transparent and teachable. They know how to do relationships. They are genuine. Mirror people are those who think of themselves. Always looking what is ‘good for me‘. They are consumed with themselves. They only see themselves. They place their own need in front of everyone else. They are absorbed with what makes me happy. I ask the questions.
Who am I? What do others see in me? The questions really are for us all. To examine ourselves and search out ‘who we are’. I was moved back into memory of my high school days. One of my good friends was Claudia. Our friendship was over shadowed by her terminal illness of cystic fibrosis. Every day walked a life and death journey. Every breath was a chore. But I was reminded of her smile. Her caring spirit. She always thought of others instead of herself. She had no bitterness or anger. She could have for her sister died of the same disease. She didn’t have self pity or a critical spirit. She was sweet. When I would call her and say to her, “how are you?” the conversation would always move back towards me and my life. She was genuinely concerned about my walk with the Lord and my life in the youth group. I will never forget her. For her friendship was warm and genuine and authentic; she was a window person. She died in her twenties. It was a sad day, yet I knew she had longed for her heavenly home. I believe she had one foot here and one foot in Heaven just waiting to leave. I was sad hearing she was gone, but rejoicing that her breathing would now be peaceful. She was a window person. We have all met both types of people and we know who we enjoy more. So the challenge for us today… is to ‘look deeply’ inside, and ask ourselves; am I a window person or am I a mirror person? In asking, we must be ready to listen to the answer.
Lord give us a pure heart and a quiet spirit, so we can hear you and be willing to change.
Help us to grow~ help us to mature in what is good and pure and true.