A beautiful name

by Sharon O | Feb 19, 2012 | Uncategorized

Names and their meaning.
Following up on my last blog writing I thought I would share a few names and challenge you to look into your name and it’s meaning.
In the Old Testament and in the New Testament names were chosen with meaning and also changed into a new meaning depending on the circumstance surrounding the person and what God was doing with them.
Names are important and they give value.
Years ago when we were expecting our children it was a huge task to think of names that would
a) be nice and something we would enjoy saying over and over
b) be something that would follow them into adulthood as a professional person.
I cringe when I hear the names some of the famous people name their children and it makes me wonder ‘what were they thinking’ when they came up with that name.
It is rather shocking and sad that people do not spend the time to ‘think’ about the name of the most important people in their lives.
Our son was our first born.
We named him Christopher (which means Christ bearer) and Allen (which means harmony)
These names were both favorites of ours and meaningful as my husbands brother was ‘Allen’ and I loved Christopher Robin on winnie the pooh.
These names followed him and he IS a believer in Christ and is also musically inclined.
So the name ‘fit’ the child who is now a man.
Our daugher was our second to be born.
We named her Sarah (which means princess) and Kathleen (which means dear to my heart).
Both were favorites again for us.
I always loved the name Sarah in the bible and she was named after my sister Kathleen.
Both names can be professional and when you hear them they sound good.
Often times when God would do something in someone’s heart he would go back and change their name to represent their ‘moment’ of change.
Names were always important to Jesus, remember when he said “Mary”… using her name so she could recognize it and recognize his voice.
When he called from the grave “Lazarus” he didn’t use a generic name he used the one who he wanted to address.
When he said “Lazarus come forth” can you imagine if he had not done that how many might have come forth?
I hope you are getting the message that whatever your name is…
It is yours and it is about you and it is important.
Remember when it says in the bible at the NAME of JESUS
every knee will bow and every tongue will confess
He is Lord.
It starts with a name.
His name is beautiful.
I would like to add yours is too.

He Knows My Name by Maranatha Singers

by Sharon O | Feb 16, 2012 | Uncategorized

Have your sound on… sit back and relax.

He knows us

by Sharon O | Feb 16, 2012 | Uncategorized

In the Old Testament book of Exodus Moses said to the LORD,
“You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’
If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?
What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
And the LORD said to Moses,
“I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Exodus 33:12-17
When I read this it seems that Moses had a good relationship with God.
It was bold of Moses to be challenging him to show and do things in order for Moses to understand the process ahead of him.
Can you even imagine challenging God?
I am not so sure I could do that.
Although at times my prayers have sounded like a challenge, and He heard and answered. 
It is not my everyday normal approach to him.
I love the fact that God says, “I know you by name” that sounds like a personal relationship.
When we know someones name we have information about them.
Have you ever gone into a bank or a pharmacy and have the person helping you say Hi and use your name to acknowledge you?
It makes you feel important or remembered.
It give you the feeling of welcome and value.
It gives identity and a way to communicate.
When we know someones name they respond to us because it draws attention for them ‘to listen’.
(Just as grandparents or parents have to say the name of the child in order for the child to realize who is needing a discussion or correction)
I also love the promise that his presence will be with us and in that reassurance we can rest.
It sounds like a ‘soul rest’ and a knowing that everything will be alright because ‘my Father’ is handling it.’ After establishing all that Moses continues to the ask questions and challenge the intentions of God.
God said to him, I will answer you because I am pleased with you, (you make me proud), and because I know you by your name.
(Moses name meant ‘drawn from the water’)
There is that promise again.
He knows us by our name and loves us.
Isn’t that something wonderful to think about?
He knows us by our name.
(I know I am repeating this a lot but it’s important for us to grasp)
In a personal way, he does not mistake us for someone else.
He knows us for who we are and who we were meant to be.
It is awesome to think he is pleased with us and desires to know us in a more ‘personal way’.
More than anything I want to be teachable like Moses and find favor with God.
What do you want today?
 
 
 

Matters of the heart

by Sharon O | Feb 3, 2012 | Uncategorized

We were shopping as we normally do
following our list and planning the menu items needed for the week
when I saw her.
She used to come into the pharmacy where I worked and we had spoken to each other on many occasions.
Leaning against her shopping cart while holding onto a cane she saw me as I saw her and we both said ‘hello’.
An elderly lady in her 80’s with white grey hair folded and rolled into a bun on the top of her head.

Her aged face showing deep wrinkles and life experiences.
So often when she would come into the pharmacy I would imagine her sitting on a bench in front of a vanity mirror brushing her long white locks carefully counting 100 times before bed.
She was always very sweet and kind and I imagined she was somewhat independent in her younger years.
This day she looked a bit different as fatigue seemed to weigh heavy on her shoulders like an uninvited guest.
I asked her how she was doing and she began to unravel a story that touched me deeply.
A close friend of hers recently passed away and it broke her heart to say good bye to her.
Every Sunday they would share the day and enjoy each others friendship and now it would be different.
She said ‘Sundays won’t be the same anymore without her’
with tears in her eyes she shared how precious this friend was.
How they would lay on the hospice bed and talk and cry and pray and support each other as the call of death came closer each day.
She looked at me and said,
“I was with her when she took her last breath”.
As soon as I heard those words I knew the moment called for gentle understanding as I put my hand on her arm and said in an almost whispered voice,
“You gave her a gift, your friendship blessed her and she did not pass away alone.”
She took a deep breath and I could see the grief paint its way across her face as the memory of her dear friend came near.
Silence and sorrow stood beside her and held her up as she leaned against the shopping cart.
We talked about her two story house feeling even more big these days. We talked about her moving into a retirement community… someday.
I told her the good points and how the atmosphere of safety was a glamorous thought.
She asked questions and I answered them sounding like I knew what I was talking about.
She appreciated my encouragement.
I even offered to go with her to visit the retirement community so she wouldn’t have to go alone.
We continued to talk and share for over 20 minutes in the middle of the jello pudding and pie filling aisle.
Between cans and boxes and people walking by
her hurting heart and my willingness to help.
It didn’t matter that we were in a big store in the middle of a shopping aisle.
For a few moments it was just the two of us sharing matters of the heart together.
She thanked me for taking the time to listen to her and
she even asked if she could hug me.
Taking the time to listen that afternoon made me wonder
if this was the only conversation she had shared with anyone
since her friend passed away. Her need to talk and share was so evident I couldn’t have walked away.
Our shopping list was finished by a husband who knows his wife.
Matters of the heart are not often convenient or scheduled
they are opportunities to take hold of and observe.
When we begin to say our first ‘hello’ to someone
we need to look into their eyes and really see what they are not telling and then be willing to listen when we ask them “how are you doing?”
Matters of the heart are all around us
we just need to pay attention and be open to the process of caring.