by Sharon O | Apr 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
Last night as I was going to bed I wondered about those who followed Jesus.
When it was all over.
When the sky darkened and the drama unfolded.
What did they do with their reactions as he was led away to be crucified.
When they saw Jesus on the cross disfigured and beaten.
When they saw the soldiers be rough yelling and mocking him causing him more pain.
When they stood there watching his blood dripping with deep agony upon their hearts.
I wonder
What did they feel like when they heard
the weeping and sorrowful screams echoing into the darkness?
Standing in that empty place of betrayal of heart
I wonder deep into their spirits what it felt like to say
I never knew him.
Denying him.
Denying his friendship and love for them.
Denying the dinners shared and memories made with him.
Denying the miracles witnessed and the stories told.
Denying the truth of who he was and the relationship he had with them.
Peter denied him three times
just like Jesus told him he would.
Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:5)
The others
where did the others go on this horrible night?
Isn’t it like the human nature to protect ourselves at any cost?
If they knew him perhaps they would be put on a cross too.
If they say they didn’t know him they would be safe.
The question that remains for me
was that really a safe way out or just a cowardice intention.
As I went to bed last night my heart was heavy and restless
as I asked myself
would I do any different?
If it was a life or death dilemma where my own life was at risk
if I were to say yes to the question
would I do any different?
It is a question that remains in my restless spirit today.
Perhaps for you too.
When it comes down to the eternal question:
Would we really remain faithful and say we know him?
Peter was sure he would never deny him.
He was positive and angry at Jesus to even suggest it.
Perhaps our Lord knows our hearts intentions much more than we do.
When it was all over the followers had many matters of the heart to deal with and
perhaps we do too.
On this Easter weekend shall we ask ourselves the difficult and hard questions?
I wonder.
by Sharon O | Apr 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
44Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. 45The sun stopped shining, and the curtain in the temple [g] split down the middle. 46Jesus shouted, “Father, I put myself in your hands!” Then he died. 47When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Jesus must really have been a good man!” 48A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. 49All of Jesus’ close friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.
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Isn’t it amazing that those who loved Jesus the most
stood at a distance from him in his greatest hour of need?
Did they stand at a distance because of the brutality
or because of their responses to who he was?
Did they stand at a distance because of their shame?
Do we stand at a distance because of ours?
Did you notice that Pilate spoke to the people three times?
Just as Jesus asked for the ‘cup’ to be removed three times.
The whole scene was symbolic of God’s love in a strange way.
Just like the little baby who came into the world alone in the beginning
Jesus was left on a cross on a hill alone in the end.
Rejected by God because of the sin ‘he carried’.
Rejected by all because they ‘didn’t understand’.
by Sharon O | Apr 6, 2012 | Uncategorized
He could have been rescued.
He could have said
this is enough.
In fact in the garden he tried to change God’s mind.
Jesus and his followers went to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be very sad and troubled. 34 He said to them, “My heart is full of sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and watch.”35 After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, he would not have this time of suffering. 36 He prayed, “Abba, Father! You can do all things. Take away this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.”
He prayed three times the same prayer.
“Father take this away from me.”
The symbolic number three representing perhaps the three days in the tomb and the three in the trinity.
After Judas gave him up to the soldiers.
Mark 15-16-20
The soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace (called the Praetorium) and called all the other soldiers together.17 They put a purple robe on Jesus and used thorny branches to make a crown for his head.18 They began to call out to him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”19 The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They spit on him and made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him.20 After they finished, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified.
Can you even imagine?
Jesus… the Son of God and
the people had no clue what they were doing.
They were part of the plan.
(as he says later “father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing”)
They were in a frenzy to be violent and hateful and he was the object of their hostile behavior.
At any time
At any time
At any time
He could have been rescued.
He could have said this is enough.
Just as he had power to perform miracles
He could have saved himself.
But HE DIDN’T.
by Sharon O | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Matthew 26:6-13**
Tonight… as we quiet our hearts… this is something to think about…
The preparation…
The sorrow is coming…
The week is not over…
Our hearts are anxious… and heavy
by Sharon O | Apr 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
This is the week we quiet our hearts and
think about the Easter story.
It seems so hard for me at times
to really grasp all that Jesus had to take on.
God in his desire to save the people who he loves had to find a way
for us to to find redemption, forgiveness and most of all salvation.
When I think of Palm Sunday and the people welcoming Jesus
as they sang songs of praise and adoration
“hosanna blessed is he who comes” waving branches in a welcome way
I wonder what it felt like for him.
As Jesus rode on the donkey in a slow moving procession
were there deep concerns on his heart
knowing full well
no one understood the moments that were to unfold in the days to come.
The people who were so excited to see him
had no clue how the story would change for them in just a short amount of time.
It also makes me think of the contrast
of Mary his mother who also rode on a donkey with deep concerns upon on her heart.
There were no welcome signs for her or people singing songs of excitement anticipating the birth of the baby to come.
No one understood the prophecy of that event either.
Because of his deep love for us
God had to find a way and
that way became Jesus.
I wonder what it would feel like
to know in ones heart that soon it would be over.
That the the journey you began would soon end and
the preparation of all that you had laid out
along with teachings, instructing and
let us not forget the miracles.
They were all a part of the story. John 3:16-17
His Story… a story of Love.
I wonder what it felt like for him as he laid his head down at night to rest
knowing in his heart
the count down would begin in the heavens.
The orchestrated players would do what was intended and
all the events would unfold into the miraculous.
A story of love would begin in a horrible way.
This is the week we quiet our hearts and
remember Sunday is coming.
by Sharon O | Apr 1, 2012 | Uncategorized
We rejoice
We remember
We are thankful for the Love HE has given us
We remember and We praise Him
In Him we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
In Him we have life and hope
In Him we have forgiveness and life everlasting
On this Palm Sunday we praise Him
For all that He Is and all that He has done for us.
We are thankful
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A beautiful tree in Oregon
{Picture by Larry O}
Joining Deidra on jumping tandem on Sunday
by Sharon O | Mar 29, 2012 | Uncategorized
This is my guest post that was posted on the Sacred Mundane blog :
I hope you enjoy it and perhaps give Kari a thank you for having me on her blog.
I was first introduced to reader Sharon via her “faithsgramma” email. I asked her to share what it’s like to embrace the Sacred Mundane as a grandparent. Enjoy her words today on being a godly “grand.”
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The day I became a grandmother my heart was a mixture of deep prayer and joy along with love on a level I never thought possible.
The call came telling me our daughter was in premature labor 7 weeks early, that life or death issues determined the baby needed to be born too soon for the safety of both of them. It was scary and gut-wrenching.
All I could do was pray.
Faith Elizabeth arrived weighing 2 pounds 11 ounces. She was a precious beautiful miracle baby. I remember standing over her neonatal bed thinking to myself, this is a sacred, holy moment.
On this day a grandma, a mom and a new baby, three generations huddle close to each other celebrating life and every breath.
{… he commanded our fathers so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commandments.} Psalm 78:6, 7
As I watched that tiny little baby sleep surrounded by IV tubes and buzzers I determined in my mind this grandma would share with her ways of God and the words of his truth any opportunity I could.
[These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.] Deut 6: 6, 7
Because she was a strong, healthy little baby Faith was released to go home early weighing only 3 lbs. 9 oz at 4 weeks. When our daughter had to return to work I made the choice to quit my job and stay home with Faith so she could get a good start in a protected environment.
Life as a stay at home grandma is not too different than a stay at home mom.
At times it was a bit boring, doing laundry and washing bottles, the day-to-day things that surround the care of a little baby.
It was in those moments I would continue to believe in this sacred duty. Every time I picked that tiny bundle up and held her close to me I was making memories and creating a safe place that only a grandma could do. It didn’t matter if fatigue was near or frustration walking close, what mattered was the attitude of my heart to be the spiritual grandma who told stories of Jesus and the faithfulness of our God who kept her tiny heartbeat strong.
I stayed home with her till she was age three and as time passed she has grown into a beautiful 12 year old. We have five other grandchildren now, and at times watching them is not always easy or exciting but the calling on my heart is to be a grandma who shares the love of God to each and every one of them.
I want them to know without a shadow of a doubt God is near and he loves them. I am honored to be their grandma, and pray they will love and serve God faithfully.
I am a grandmother embracing the Sacred Mundane.
by Sharon O | Mar 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
We went back up to visit my dad this weekend for
the second time in two weeks.
It is important to go as often as we can allow ourselves to drive the distance.
He looked tired and we knew the drug he had been given opens up the airways and allows for air to flow adding color to his face.
His moods were shifting from intense grumpiness to a smile and small conversation.
It is not often relational or even ‘real’ heart to heart talking
but it is listening to his voice and sensing his presence in the room
that makes the trip worth it for me.
A few days earlier he had a cortisone drip along with an infusion session to fight against the leukemia process.
It helps him for a small season of time but within that process of helping he is given a false sense of energy and stamina and feels like he can do more than he is able.
At one point in our visit he stood up and walked across the room.
We were startled to see him do this as he has not been able to walk that strong for weeks.
It is a false sense of strength for him and he becomes wired emotionally and later physically pulled into a direction of deep fatigue as the drug works itself out of his system.
Cancer is such an evil force.
Our pastor was talking yesterday about the fight between the light and the dark and the spiritual battle we all must deal with.
As I listened to him I saw my dad in a different kind of war of his own.
I could visualize each army of fighter cells armed with weapons of warfare to take him down physically.
It is a force he cannot always reckon with.
His energy is very low and when the prednisone drug is not in his system his breathing is very labored and his stamina very weak.
He agreed to exchange his walker for a motorized wheelchair which helps him move without using too much air.
His normal self is leaving and he is emotionally fighting the process.
It is always hard to give up and give in to the the many changes one must make when an illness takes over.
The process of dying is so hard on all involved.
I have often said it is like the experience of labor and delivery only one is coming into the world and in the dying process one is leaving.
We don’t know when dad will leave us.
We had a good visit and we purposely didn’t stay long as his stamina is low and each visit requires him to push himself.
He does not have the air strength to keep conversation flowing so he listens more than talks.
When we said we were leaving he stood up to say goodbye to us.
When I hugged him I wondered to myself if it would be our last and even wondered how would I remember him. The delicate journey between a father and a daughter is both frustrating and fragile.
When an illness takes over the family dynamics change and life is different for a season.
The grown ‘children’ become the caretakers and as difficult as it is
one would hope and pray that memories stay good and words stay kind.
When an illness takes over and final goodbyes are said
we pray for no regrets and no bad feelings left in our hearts
when a father and daughter says goodbye for the last time.
by Sharon O | Mar 25, 2012 | Uncategorized
Two days apart… we had snow and sun.
It was a nice change to have both but so very strange.
Boots and coats and hot coffee warmed us one day.
Everything white with temperatures of winter.
Then everything turned sunny with temperatures of spring.
No coats needed and we found ourselves wanting iced lemonade.
Changes like this come into our lives each day
each week
perhaps even each month.
Just as dramatic as this weeks weather.
I call them life altering or life changing moments.
In an instant…something is changed.
The question and the challenge for us is:
when the changes come
and they will come
will we be ready for them?
{pictures by Sharon O}
Joining Deidra of jumping tandem on Sundays.
