by Sharon O | Dec 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
I don’t know how the wise men continued for two long years.
With camels and gifts plodding along at a slow pace reminding each other why they were following a star.
It couldn’t have been easy.
This picture shows what it might have been for them upon seeing the chosen child.
Realizing their journey was finally over and this really was the precious one.
I wonder
would our joy be very similar as the wise men and
I also wonder
what gifts would we be committed to bring
in our own long journey to see him.
Gifts of faith
Gifts of belief
Gifts of thanks
Gifts of gratitude.
Something valuable and precious from our heart to his.
Gifts for the Savior.
A Savior
who grew into a man
and
who gave us
His ultimate gift.
HIS LIFE and LOVE for us.
It was part of the plan
For God so Loved the world
that he gave his only begotten son
so that who so ever believes in him should not perish
but have ever lasting life.
John 3:16
The plan was for us from the very beginning.
It was not an accident or unplanned birth.
This baby was chosen years before he actually arrived.
A baby was born for all mankind to receive a gift for a life time.
The choice is ours to make whether we will accept it.
by Sharon O | Dec 27, 2011 | Uncategorized
Matthew 2:9-11 says:
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
The story of the wise men is often not as accurate as it should be.
In most nativity sets we have them visiting Mary and Joseph and the baby in the manger and gazing at the newborn baby in wonderment. In reality scholars have written that the wise men didn’t find him for two years.
It was a long journey for them and since a camel can only walk 20 miles a day they had to pace themselves and go slow.
There was no fast way to get there.
Over mountains and valleys the quest stayed the same for them.
They wanted to meet the ‘Holy Child’.
It was difficult and often in the midst of many chaotic days.
As the journey continued for the wise men
I believe each time someone came to Mary and Joseph and
confirmed that this child,
their baby was the chosen one
they held him a bit closer and wondered what it would all mean.
It is written that Mary pondered each word and kept them in her heart.
The journey was long for each of them.
Starting with Mary riding on the donkey
as they headed into a place called Bethlehem with Joseph
leading and walking alongside her.
Then the shepherds had their own journey to the place of his birth.
Then the wise men kept at their pace for a very long time to see ‘the Child’ and bring their gifts to him.
The journey to Jesus is often a challenging one.
Even for us.
I wonder if we are willing to take the first step.
by Sharon O | Dec 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
A mother and child
bonding like no other
A mother and child
entering in to a new way of living
A mother and child
forever
will be known in history
A story of love
redemption
rejoicing
renewal
A special love
given to each of us.
God SO loved the world that he gave his son
so we could have life.
Oh come let us adore him
Christ the Lord.
by Sharon O | Dec 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
I would imagine even Santa would worship the newborn baby
of Joseph and Mary.
I think it is appropriate to put both Santa and Jesus
out within the season of Christmas.
So many people say it is either one or the other.
I say you can have both they do not discount
each the other.
In fact I think Santa teaches the gift of giving
just as Jesus did.
Our children knew the difference growing up.
The only thing I say as a grandma
I won’t stand in line any more with the children waiting
to see Santa.
I love to see their faces but
we have done that only to have the child
change their mind after standing and waiting
for a LONG time with grandma and grandpa.
It was frustrating for everyone including Santa.
That is a job for mom’s and dad’s.
by Sharon O | Dec 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
It was a humble beginning.
Like any new parents they would look at fingers and toes and tiny baby ears.
It soon became a reality for them
that this was real
God spoke to them through the angels and it was true.
A baby.
God trusted them because she was pure in heart and
he was a man of Integrity
a good honest man chosen by God.
Light had come into a dark world and because of that light.
Hope came.
The process of loving began with two and then moved to three.
Kind of like the trinity.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit wrapped up in the form of one tiny baby.
Can you imagine with me the moments shared between them all.
by Sharon O | Dec 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
Can you even imagine what it was like for Mary
to touch his soft face and to feel his soft hair and
know that HE was one of the most important things that ever happened to her.
Can you even imagine holding him and looking into his deep intense eyes
perhaps eyes that had wisdom far beyond the newborn baby she was admiring.
Can you even imagine kissing her baby and realizing that you are really kissing
the cheeks of God.
Could she know or even realize what his life would mean for her and
the heart ache she would have during his lifetime.
So much to know and learn about this ‘son’ of hers.
So much to experience and let go of.
Can you even imagine being chosen to be his mother.
by Sharon O | Dec 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
Breath of Heaven
Light in my darkness
Hold me together
pour over me your Holiness
for you are Holy
Breath of Heaven
I traveled so long
and became so weary
wondering about you and wondering how
we would experience your birth
breath of Heaven
you are light in my darkness
I kiss you
and I kiss God
your breath is life to me.
