by Sharon O | Oct 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
There is a story in the new testament of a lady who had had been sick for a very long time.
She had suffered greatly for twelve years.
In that culture she was untouchable.
Untouchable.
Can you imagine not being touched for twelve years?
Can you imagine her suffering and her isolation?
Can you imagine her thoughts when she heard of a powerful healer
that perhaps was not far from her location?
“A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went,
because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.”
John 6:2
Can you begin to imagine how she gathered the strength
she needed for the long journey to where he was?
She had heard he was a gentle man
who did miracles and changed lives.
It gave her hope for herself
and she needed to find him.
For if she did find him
she knew in her heart where her healing would come from.
She knew if she could just get close enough to touch the hem of his robe
her illness would be gone.
I don’t know what Jesus looks like but he could look like this.
I believe he is very approachable.
I believe we will feel safe with him when we are in his presence.
I believe he is full of warmth and compassion.
I believe he shows the love of the father
in all things and through all things.
In Matthew 9 of the new testament; one version of the story is recorded.
{He was teaching a group of people when a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his robe.
She said to herself, “If I only touch his robe, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her.
“Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”
And the woman was healed at that moment.}
In Luke 8 of the new testament more is recorded about the same story.
(Have you ever been in a very large crowd with a mass of people pressing against you pushing and shoving as you all go in the same direction?
it is a horrible feeling)
{As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.
She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
(Isn’t it interesting that he could feel the power leaving?
I am sure others touched him but not in the way she did)
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed,
came and trembling fell at his feet.
In the presence of all the people,
she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
Then he said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” }
Can you imagine having Jesus heal you in such a way?
Can you imagine having him look at you with deep intense eyes
that are eternally wise and holy
and calling you daughter or son?
I don’t know what Jesus looks like;
I believe he is very different than anyone we have ever met.
I imagine his eyes are piercing as he looks deep into
the soul who sees them.
I imagine he is approachable and full of love.
I find it interesting that all she wanted to do
was to touch his robe
she didn’t expect him to talk to her
or even notice her
she didn’t draw attention to herself
she just wanted to touch his robe.
To her surprise this gentle man took notice.
To her surprise he spoke to her.
I wonder how her life changed
after she saw him.
I wonder when she shared the story
about when she was healed
did she include the part where
he asked
“who touched me?”
It is a story of healing and hope
and of love and miracles.
It is a story of a SAVIOR who asked,
“who touched me” and a woman who took the risk.
by Sharon O | Oct 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be your name
means ~
Holy is your name ~
you are set apart ~ we have perfect adoration towards you.
We adore you
We regard you with the utmost esteem
We pay divine honor and worship towards you
We love you intensely
You are:
Eternal, Infinite, Limitless, Holy, Just, Love, Truth, Patient, Gentle, Jealous, Sovereign, All Powerful, Eternal, Creative, Wisdom, Merciful, Perfect, Beautiful, Glory Filled, Awesome, Forgiving, Master, Exalted Protector, Provider, Deliverer, Rescuer, Redeemer, Present.
Your kingdom come ~ Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
means ~
God’s power reigns wherever He is
There are no boundaries where He cannot go.
Give us this day our daily bread ~
means He provides for us
our needs are met every day
And forgive us our trespasses ~
means we will fail him
at some point in time
As we forgive those who trespass against us ~
means someone will hurt our heart
and we will have a responsibility towards that hurt
And lead us not into temptation ~
means He allows us to be tempted
but we will do well if we follow Him
and not go the other path
But deliver us from evil ~
means He will protect us
and give us a way out
For thine is the kingdom ~
means He is ruler over all
And the power ~
means He is God almighty
and the glory ~
means He is worthy of praise
for ever and ever.
Amen
by Sharon O | Oct 19, 2011 | Uncategorized
Luke 11: 1
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.
When he finished, one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them,
“when you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Luke’s version was brief and rough around the edges.
Another interpretation of the same prayer from Matthew adds a few more instructions of how we are to ‘set’ up our prayer time.
Matthew 6: 6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door
and pray to your father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
(Isn’t it awesome that HE KNOWS before we ask?)
This then is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,
your father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others their sins,
your father will not forgive your sins.
There are a lot of words to think about
some are heavy
and some are words that both challenge and encourage us.
Are we ready to say with an eager heart,
“Lord teach us?”
by Sharon O | Oct 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
Last Sunday our Pastor was teaching about prayer.
He said the model for us on how to pray came from Jesus.
The interesting thing is Jesus addresses God as father
at least
sixty times in the new testament.
It had never been done in that personal of a way before.
In the Old testament He was always addressed as God over a nation
not a personal father.
Pastor said it was very interesting that the disciples
did not ask Jesus to teach them how to heal
or how to speak to others
or how to do miracles
they asked him to teach them, ‘how to pray.’
Perhaps because they wanted
the same kind of relationship with God
that they could see Jesus having.
Perhaps because
Jesus spoke to God as His dad
Abba
Daddy
Father
When we pray
we need to start out with relationship like that too.
“Our Abba father,
actually means ~ my daddy ~ my dad”
Just as if you were a child coming home and
running into the door saying ‘Hey dad’
I need to talk to you about something very important.
Our father ~ is relationship
Who are in heaven ~ is location
Jesus knew God was in heaven
Daddy
Jesus prayed.
My dad I come to you with a request from my heart
let this cup pass from me.
As he prayed in the garden before his betrayal and death.
Jesus speaking words to His father God
words that were deep
and honest
from his anguished heart.
Jesus saying to God his father, “I wish there was another way.”
The disciples knew that Jesus prayed from a different place inside himself
not the way they could ever pray.
They asked him
“can you teach us to pray?”
I wonder do we ever ask the same question?
If we haven’t do we know why?
Just a question for us to think about.
by Sharon O | Oct 15, 2011 | Uncategorized
In order to grow
we must be willing to let go of our comfortable self.
In order to grow
we must be willing to change.
In order to grow
we must be willing to do what it takes to be different and new.
In order to grow
we must have the fight within us to press forward and not fall back.
In order to grow
we must adapt and open our eyes to new visions of reality.
In order to grow
we must hold back our fear and trust in our ability.
In order to grow
we must desire the outcome of our goal and ask questions.
In order to grow
we must be willing to do the hard work towards a new beginning.
In order to grow
we must be willing to give consent cheerfully.
Are we willing to do all that is needed
to grow with an open heart?
by Sharon O | Oct 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
It has been raining and I love it.
The cool moist air is wonderful and refreshing.
The trees are just starting to change from green to multi colors of red, orange and yellow.
We can enjoy the rain or fight it.
We can rejoice in it’s cleansing process or we can be grumpy.
The choice is ours.
I choose to enjoy the damp crisp October air.
Even if I have an allergic cough and can’t breathe very well sometimes.
I choose to embrace the changing of the season
where death makes way for birth.
If the old leaves did not fall new leaves could not grow.
If the dormant season did not take place
new flowers would not rise up and spring would look very different and dark.
I think our lives are a lot like the seasons.
We can dance in the rain and rejoice in it’s refreshment
or grumble about all the uncomfortable changes it brings.
The autumn season of our lives can be good
as we move slow and reflect inward.
Life is not about complaining
It is about learning how to live in the moment and being thankful.
{I am not sure where this picture came from or who took it, but I like it for this blog post}
by Sharon O | Oct 8, 2011 | Uncategorized
The theme this week has been rest
and today I feel there could be a few other words to explore.
Restore:
to bring back to a former condition; to bring back to a state of health, soundness or good spirits.
The other word is renew: to revive, to begin again.
After a time of rest and refreshment we begin again
with more energy.
With more of a willingness to start the task of life over.
For example after a vacation we come back different.
We return refreshed and ready to face life’s challenges one more time.
Restoration and renewing of oneself is good.
It is positive and necessary.
Sometimes we need to step back and evaluate where we are going
and what are we doing.
Sometimes it takes rest to do that
not just a time of being sick
but a time of resting.
A time to stop.
A time to listen to our hearts struggles
before we should even begin to do anything else.
Sometimes it gives us the courage to say,
“I don’t want to do this anymore.”
When I quit my last job I prayed about it and I felt peaceful
when the phone call took place between my boss and I.
My words came out so controlled, “I am not coming back.”
It felt good. It felt right.
After eight long years of working and giving myself to a company who really ‘didn’t care’ about me as a person. It made me feel empowered to say, ‘this is not good for me anymore’ and when the response I received was ‘ok’ it validated my right decision.
At that moment I knew I needed time.
A time for rest
A time to restore
A time for renewal
A time for a heart to feel listened to and a spirit to feel peaceful.
A time and a season for many things.
Are you feeling that you need time for something these days?
Give yourself a gift and make that time for the condition of your heart.
Life is too short to not begin again and do what needs to be done.
Say what needs to be said and then rest.
It will be your joy when you realize the peace you receive when you stop
and do no more.
by Sharon O | Oct 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
A time to rest.
The last four days I have been down resting.
A bug or a virus or an allergy or a seasonal illness brought me down again.
My body was tired.
My brain fogged over.
My energy slow moving.
Sleep was good.
Sleep became a healing place.
Warm blankets and soft pillows.
Comforting pajama’s and soft robe wrapped their arms around me.
Comfort is good.
It is like a hot cup of tea steaming in your hands.
Breathe in the smell of spices and leaves.
Breathe in the smell and listen to the quiet sound.
Silence is not comfortable.
Silence teaches us what haunts our hearts.
I wait and listen.
The word I receive is rest.
When the new year started the blog world was naming
their word for the year. I couldn’t think of a word.
Last year’s word was grief for we had many levels of that going on.
I prayed and the word came to me…
Rest… to rest and restore my soul.
Did you know that every night when one goes to sleep
they restore themselves at the cellular level.
Rest: the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep:
a good nights sleep ~ mental or spiritual calm; tranquility ~
relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.
to be quiet or still. to bring to rest; halt; stop.
Rest is refreshing.
Rest is healing.
Do you need to slow down and rest today ~
is your body and mind telling you that refreshment is needed?
by Sharon O | Sep 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
Friendships.
The blog world is writing about friendships this week.
It has made me step back and think of all the wonderful friends who have been in my life.
Some were for a season.
Like those who I see in my high school year book.
Don’t even remember half of them. They wrote wonderful things but my memory is dim and I cannot remember how they fit into my ‘life as a teen.’
Some were for a special event. My daughter does relay for life and through that she has made friends.
Some friendships are in your work place so long as you work there and then when you leave they leave too.
Some friendships are long term and like as in a marriage vow the unspoken words till death parts us is a way of saying,
“we will be friends always.”
One friend of mine I have known since junior high school.
I was in her wedding and she helped in mine.
Our children are grown with children of their own. At one point in time we even drove to Colorado from Oregon with a little baby in our car just so we could see them again.
It was a ‘real’ friendship from our heart to theirs. No distance could keep us apart.
 |
A day at the fair.
New hair cut and glasses
don’t make the best picture of me
but she is always beautiful. |
My best friend is someone who lives down the street from me.
We see each other about once every few months now.
But it wasn’t always that way. About 9 years ago her husband died and being a widow and alone she missed having someone to talk to.
I cannot count how many Friday nights I spent at her house talking and sharing and eating a meal together. My husband knew if I was with her it might be a long night. I tried to go anytime she called me for I knew her heart was hurting and she needed a friend to listen.
Her story has a wonderful ending. She met an awesome man on a dating site and I even helped.
I am rightfully called ‘the matchmaker.’
They have been married for about two years and I am so happy that she found a new love and new family although it isn’t as easy to see her now. Sharing my time with him is the right thing to do as they need to build their love and life together. God blessed her for waiting and waiting for the right man to come into her life.
Sometimes good friends can even be family although that can have some challenging moments.
Husbands can be a best friend depending on how strong the marriage is. I still think we should have girlfriends in our lives for it is a different relationship than one with a husband.
Sisters can be wonderful friends depending on the family.
Friendships are gifts we can give ourselves.
In order to have a good friend we have to spend time strengthening that bond.
Just as in a marriage one cannot be strong if they are distant or distracted.
It takes time and effort to create a good friendship.
It takes a commitment and a willingness to give and give even more.
I hope we all can find a good friend in our life.
It is something very good for us.
I believe we were never meant to live this life alone.
To care for someone and think outside of ourselves is the best ‘gift’ we can give.
It is a treasure for a life time.
by Sharon O | Sep 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
This last week the blog world lost a good friend.
She was beautiful and kind and even though I never met her
they say she was someone who you would want to spend a long time with sharing and praying
and just enjoying each others company.
She had a rare disease that kept her in her apartment for the last three years of her life.
The way she saw people or stayed in contact with them was through her computer.
They say she always thought of others and reached out to them
even when her own difficult journey continued to be a burden for her health.
When I heard about her she reminded me of a friend of mine
who I had in high school and throughout our early married years.
Her name was Claudia.
She was a kind sweet spirit and always thought of others before herself.
She had cystic fibrosis a horrible lung disease that did eventually take her life.
Claudia loved people.
When I would call her the conversation left her and moved to how I was doing before I even realized what was going on.
She loved deeply and knew the illness she suffered from was serious.
She was beautiful and radiated the love of God and his faithfulness in everything she did.
When she passed away I was given a Bible with her picture inside
it is something I will always treasure.
When we lose someone
we think of them in a new and different way.
We remember conversations.
We remember moments shared.
We remember what they looked like and how much we cared about them.
But I often wonder
does it also make us think of what others would say about us
should it be our time to leave?
Would would they be able to share about us?
What would our epitaph say or describe?
Epitaph means: a commemorative inscription on a tomb
or mortuary monument about the person buried at the site.
A brief poem or other writing in praise of a deceased person.
I often have told my husband if I leave before he does I want my stone to say:
“I told you I was sick.”
But really a stone does not represent me or who I was as a person.
It would be nicer to have a small maple tree planted.
Where one could observe the changing of seasons as the leaf colors reflect the passing of time.
Our lives do have seasons.
We have good ones and some that are not so good.
Colors are vibrant when we are younger and then as we age and enter into the autumn season of our lives the colors deepen and grow darker as we reflect the beauty of growing old.
When it is my time to leave my hope is to leave such a ‘meaningful’ reflection that others will say,
“She loved the Lord and she cared for others too.”
When the end is near I pray our lives will have meaning and purpose
so that others will know
who we were and who we loved
when it is our time to say our final goodbye.
