by Sharon O | Aug 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
We go to the beach quite often and the camp where we go to every Thursday has a place that was created for conversation and sharing.
When I walk by it I imagine the many conversations taking place in the dark while eating smores together around the fire pit full of warm crackling flames.
It is a place for friendships and challenges, and even maybe a place for prayer.
Those who created it called the spot ‘a conversation pit’.
It is in a circle in the sand with hand made benches and one can see the ocean that is barely visible if they walk upward on a sand bank.
Many who have sat in this place find it peaceful and relaxing and the invitation for conversation is a bonus as they sit there with each other.
If you were there what would you talk about? It is an invitation to be real and honest.
Sharing from one’s heart is difficult for most of us.
Most of the time when I go down to the beach I try to walk 2-2.5 miles.
It is relaxing and good for me.
But when I do go I am not just by myself. There are other people here.
My last blog writing I shared about a special friend of mine, and this kind of
goes back to my thoughts about friendships and the matters of the heart sharing.
When you have a special friend you value and then add special time spent together; it becomes a part of your favorite gift you can give yourselves.
I value all the friends I have in my life and strive to make them a very important part of my life.
A conversation pit does not have to just be at the beach, it can be in a coffee shop with someone, or church or a restaurant.
Wherever you both feel safe to share openly and honestly about matters of your heart.
Have you ever been in that kind of setting?
by Sharon O | Aug 10, 2018 | Uncategorized
The gift of friendship is one that I do not take lightly.
We just got back from a trip to central Oregon to see my good friend and her husband.
Our boys used to play together and it has been a friendship of over 30 years.
It was a wonderful time of sharing with each other and also exploring a little of the area.
We went to the high desert museum which has been on my husband’s bucket list.
It was a hot day and to be inside some of the time was nice.
My friend and I have been close for many years. She is a gift to me.
As we have aged we have changed in our physical appearances and also our health.
Both of us are dealing with potential problems that should they get worse; we will need additional help.
We pray for each other and we encourage each other.
It is a friendship of comfort. There are no games and no hidden agenda’s.
It is a friendship that challenges the best in us to come out and the not so good to leave.
I value her and her wisdom and her ability to rise above her situations.
She is a warrior who survived losing her first husband, and who waited for over 7 years for the right ‘other’ man of her dreams to come into her life. She is happy and loved now.
She is classy and smart and I am so very glad to be a part of her life.
The gift of friendship is just that, a gift we unwrap carefully and then treasure.
It is something that creates in us a ‘feeling’ of value.
I believe in her and she believes in me. We pray for each other and always want the best for each other.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life but only true friends leave footprints in your heart.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
by Sharon O | Aug 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
Last Saturday we had a very different day.
Our family went out just like many others to watch a local small town parade.
There were over a hundred entries between bands playing, people marching and floats of all kinds.
Our grand daughters were on a float for the soft ball team and our grandson’s were in the parade because of their karate class.
People of all ages were there to have fun and enjoy the small town feeling.
Just before the float our grand daughter’s were on; a church float in front of us had assorted ages of children.
At one point as the float moved by us a little girl who we later found out was six years old, fell off the float and was run over by the wheels of the flat bed truck.
People were screaming, hysteria was happening.
I covered my eyes so I didn’t watch everything although I did see her completely under the tires.
The driver then moved forward and then backed up to get her out from underneath the truck.
My oldest grandson told me about it after it happened.
As soon as they were able someone picked her up and ran her to the fire department that was about a quarter of a block away. Soon after that we heard a life flight helicopter descending and then ascending up into the air taking her to a children’s hospital. It all happened so fast.
My heart was sick, my stomach weakened by the visual of that little girl.
The atmosphere changed for all of us and it was really hard for me to get into the festive spirit of parade waves after that.
I just kept praying for that sweet little one.
Later that day or maybe it was the next day the family posted pictures of her in the hospital and she survived. MIRACULOUSLY.
God protected her completely and she was released to go home about three days later.
She was very bruised and very fragile but she survived with no broken bones or head trauma.
All I can say is we witnessed a miracle.
No one can ever tell me our God is not a God of miracles; because we witnessed first hand an amazing one.
It was such a relief to me and many others to know she survived.
I have been quiet here on this page; as I have had to take care of myself.
It just proves things can change in an instant without notice.
Her family gives all glory to God. She is truly a miracle.
When I saw one of my grand daughter’s after this all happened she said to me, “grandma she will be ok when they ran her to the fire station she was crying, that means she had breath. You can’t cry without it.”
We could all breathe a little easier knowing she survived a most horrible accident.
Sunday at church I kept reframing the image of her on the ground, with angels surrounding her speaking whispering healing words to her.
It was an incredibly different day for many of us who were there at that parade and we hope we never experience it again.
(sharing this without permission of the family, it is only as I witnessed it.)
by Sharon O | Jul 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
[Kind words are like honey – they cheer you up and make you feel strong.] proverbs 16:24
I love the way this verse says, kind words cheer you and make you feel strong.
My best friend lives about three hours away from me but that doesn’t stop us from talking to each other. We will block out a two or three hour time in our day just for a phone call.
I always hang up feeling good, feeling empowered, better and I could say, stronger.
I think she does too. We are friends, and we build each other up.
When you have someone who believes in you that is a powerful gift to give yourself.
[Gracious speech is like clover honey — good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.]
[She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.] proverbs 31:26
My friend is not only a retired school teacher she loves to teach and share the word of God and the ways it applies to our every day lives. She always brings encouragement to me, I love listening to her.
[By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,] Galatians 5:22 Oh the word faithfulness is powerful.
When you have had a long time friendship you become faithful to the meaning of friends.
You value them. You treasure them and want the best for them.
[As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.] Colossians 3:12 Just as we get up in the morning and choose what jeans to wear and what top will match; we can choose to clothe ourselves with the attributes of God too.
[Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.] proverbs 21:21
To pursue something is to go after it, to do what it takes to get it done.
I think life and honor is a pretty good trade off for pursuing righteousness.
[He has told you, O mortal man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?] Micah 6:8
Such a good question. What does the Lord require?
To do justice, have kindness and be humble in your walk with God. Pretty simple.
[Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?] Romans 2:4b
I love this question. Don’t you know? It’s his kindness that will lead you to repent and want to be with him. It draws us to him.
Kind people make it easy for me to want to be with them. It is a safety net. A comfort zone.
It’s all about having compassion and tenderness; indulgent and considerate, helpful and thinking of others. Kind words are such an easy choice in the world we live in, where harshness and hatred is often spewed against one another.
[32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.]
Ephesians 4:32
Kind words are like honey, they cheer you up and make you feel strong. Let’s continue to ‘lift each other up’ as we go about our days of work or retirement.
by Sharon O | Jul 26, 2018 | Uncategorized
May we always choose to use life giving words when communicating with others.
It is so often that we enter into conversations when we are out shopping, or in a group settings such as a church or work.
How easy it is to first listen so we know what is happening around us but also pay attention to who we are with.
To listen with the intention of fully hearing the words said and expressed from others.
We all know what we feel like when we express our feelings and then feel unheard.
It always goes back to what Pastor said, “words can be life building or they can tear down.”
Have you ever been around someone who is generally negative all the time?
They do not create a safe place for sharing matters from a heart.
The greatest gift we can give is to listen with the intention of understanding.
[kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.] proverbs 16:24
I tend to gravitate to kind people. You know them, they are considerate of others, they show appreciation, they are full of thanksgiving in attitude and behavior.
I keep thinking of the line that Pastor said, “The sad part is the words that could have given life and hope to someone is often not said to them.”
Have you ever had someone speak truth over you? affirming your heart dreams and goals?
It’s like a cheerleader saying, “you can do it, I believe in you.”
It is so easy to choose words that give life, it is also easy to listen and process how we are going to share with others. There is a saying around face book world that says we often listen to respond instead of listen to ‘hear’ what the other person is sharing.
[This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;] James 1:19
When I looked up the word hear it is found 1835 times in the bible.
The word listen is found 371 times, the word understand is found 256 times.
[“How long will you hunt for words? Show understanding and then we can talk.] Job 18:2
[“But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.] Job 34:16
The word speak is found 671 times in the bible.
So in the big picture of what I am trying to share is this, it is more important to hear in order to be in relationship with God and with others.
When I was in counseling my counselor would tell me he was listening to my words and also my body language. Both are important.
When someone comes to you and says “can we have coffee and talk sometime?”
They are actually saying, “will you make time for me to share with you, will you listen?”
It’s an excellent challenge and question. Ready for a cup of tea and conversation?
by Sharon O | Jul 24, 2018 | Uncategorized
As we learn more from our Pastor Mike on the series of The Increase.
This time he reminded us of the increase that comes from our words.
The power of our words spoken to ourselves and those around us; it can either build up or tear down depending on what we choose to say.
Words that build are affirming, positive and life giving.
[Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.] proverbs 18:20
[The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.] proverbs 18:21
[Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.]
proverbs 13:3 Meaning those who guard their lips preserve their life.
[Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.] proverbs 16:24
It is up to us to speak life and health to those around us.
It really is very easy to speak encouragement to someone.
The sad part is the words that could have given life and hope to someone is often not said to them.
Pastor Mike said it is so important to check our words carefully before we say them.
Life words come from God and they are given to give hope and breath to us and those around us.
[The sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.] Isaiah 50:4
Every morning, he wakens me. Isn’t that an amazing promise?
He gives me words so that I in turn could use to comfort others.
Pastor said, “There are times in your life when God will speak to your spirit before it hits your mind.”
You must listen and pay attention!
There are six deadly ways we cannot hear.
1. when we choose to lie to others.
2. when we choose to blaspheme God or others.
3. when we choose to gossip about others [a gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.] proverbs 20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid anyone who talks too much.
4. when we choose to curse using bad foul words.
5. when we choose to use perverse words. [let no unwholesome words come from you.] Ephesians 4:29
6. when we choose to use harsh words in anger.
There are six life giving ways we can grow from.
1. words of love – speak for those who have no voice.
2. words of encouragement – be affirming to each other.
3. Words of perspective -bring wisdom and knowledge.
4. Words of power. We have authority that we don’t often use.
5. words of worship. Praise and adoration.
6. words of confession and courage.
Pastor said, “If there are words that are destroying your growth do not allow them to stay.”
Ending prayer, “Lord align our hearts to yours, open our ears to listen and hear, create in us an awareness of you as you speak to us in a way that we can listen with courage and boldness.”
May we always give life giving words in all that we do or say. Amen
