by Sharon O | May 31, 2011 | Uncategorized
Continuing on the last Oprah show and it’s contents.
“People often ask me, What is the secret of success of the show? How have we lasted 25 years? I non jokingly say,
“My team and Jesus.’ Because nothing but the hand of God has made this possible for me… I know I’ve never been alone,
and you haven’t either. And I know that presence, that flow ~ some people call it grace ~ is working in my life at every single turn. And yours too, if you let it in. It’s closer than your breath, and it is yours for the asking.”
“I have felt the presence of God my whole life. Even when I didn’t have a name for it. I could feel the voice bigger than myself speaking to me, and all of us have that same voice.
Be still and know it. You can acknowledge it or not. You can worship it or not. You can praise it, you can ignore it or you can know it. Know it.
It’s always there speaking to you and waiting for you to hear it in every move, in every decision.
I wait and I listen. I’m sill ~ I wait and listen
for the guidance that’s greater than my meager mind.”
“The only time I’ve ever made mistakes is when I didn’t listen.
So what I know is, God is love and God is life, and your life is always speaking to you.
First in whispers…it’s subtle, those whispers. And if you don’t pay attention to the whispers, it gets louder and louder. It is like getting thumped upside the head, like my grandmother used to do… you don’t pay attention to that, it’s like getting a brick upside your head. You don’t pay attention to that, the whole brick wall falls down. That’s the pattern I’ve seen in my life, and it’s played out over and over and over again on this show.”
“What I’ve gleaned from this show:
Whispers are always messages, and if you don’t hear the message, the message turns into a problem. And if you don’t handle the problem, the problem turns into a crisis. And if you don’t handle the crisis, disaster.
Your life is speaking to you. What is it saying?”
My question for us today is this:
What are those whispers that you have been hearing?
Is God calling you for a bigger purpose?
Is He challenging you for something different?
Is it something you really need to stop and listen to and take heed?
Just a bit more to think about as we soon do closure to the last Oprah show.
by Sharon O | May 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
Returning to the last Oprah Winfrey show again I was listening to her words and remembering the years I have watched her show every afternoon. Remembering how she progressed from a ‘talk show’ to a motivational…
“you can do better in your life” show.
And it was good.
On her last show she was reflecting on her thoughts and feelings and she said, “The show has taught me there is a common thread that runs though all of our pain and all of our suffering, and that is unworthiness. Not feeling worthy enough to own the life you were created for. Even people who believe they deserve to be happy and have nice things often don’t feel worthy once they have them. There is a difference, you know, between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing you are worthy of happiness.”
Then she told the story of a lady she knew and had worked with for many years who couldn’t grasp her worth no matter how often she was told by others how special she was.
“What I got was we often block our own blessings because we don’t feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough.”
“The show has taught me you’re worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being here, your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough.”
“I’ve talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common. They all wanted validation. If I could reach through this television and sit on your sofa or sit on a stool in your kitchen right now. I would tell you that every person you ever meet shares that common desire. They want to know:
Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say mean anything to you?”
“Understanding that one principle, that everybody wants to be heard, has allowed me to hold the microphone for you all these years with the least amount of judgement. Now I can’t say I wasn’t judging some days. Some days, I had to judge just a little bit. But it’s helped me to stand and try to do that with an open mind and to do it with an open heart. It has worked for this platform, and I guarantee you it will work for yours. Try it with your children, your husband, your wife, your boss, your friends. Validate them. ‘I see you. I hear you. And what you say matters to me.”
I think this is something good for us to think about…
Who do you need to validate today?
Is it your children or your family?
Maybe perhaps even yourself?
I found it refreshing that in the midst of her wealth and fame and affluent lifestyle. She found a place within her heart and soul to reflect back and say to herself and to others.
“You matter in this world, don’t you ever forget that.”
by Sharon O | May 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
Pressing into more of the last episode of the Oprah show.
She shared some really significant thoughts that will push me into thinking deeper and more passionate about what I want my life to represent.
She said, “You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you are responsible for the energy that you bring to others.”
When I think of these words I move back into the days working at a pharmacy and the variety of people I met.
Some were my favorites. They would come in with a bounce in their step and a smile on their face and they were full of hope and life and you loved sharing with them even if it was just for a few minutes.
They were contagious in their zest for life.
Then there were the others who would come in like it was doomsday and their job was to rob joy from anyone near them.
They each brought energy.
One kind was compassionate and hopeful, the other was defeated and dreary before they even started.
Remember Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh?
No matter what kind of day it was for him, he was just ‘Ho Hum’ looking for something different.
Oprah said, “In my makeup room I have a sign and it says, ‘Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space.”
“It is a simple but powerful lesson. All life is energy and we are transmitting it at every moment. We are all little beaming signals like radio frequencies, and the world is responding in kind.”
I think for today my question would be…
What kind of energy do we want to give to others along our path?
We have each seen both kinds.
Which is more helpful and welcoming?
Which one brings life and which one brings death?
Just a little something for us to think about.
by Sharon O | May 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
The other day as I was watching the last episode of the Oprah show.
I was impressed with her confidence and her complete control of her new destiny.
She appeared to be someone who knows herself well and is not afraid to let others see it.
I was captivated by her words.
The affirmations for women and the message she passed on to each and every one listening.
“No matter who you are… your message matters. Each one of you has your own platform. Do not let the trappings here fool you. Mine is a stage in a studio, yours is wherever you are with your own reach, however small or however large that reach is.” She continues, “Wherever you are, that is your platform, your stage, your circle of influence. That is your talk show, and that is where your power lies. In every way, in every day, you are showing people exactly who you are. You are letting your life speak for you. And when you do that, you will receive in direct proportion to how you give in whatever platform you have.”
As I listened to her I reflected on the questions:
What kind of platform do I want this blog to represent?
What values to I want it to show as others read the words written?
What is the message I want to deliver within every writing?
For today, this is something I am thinking about.
More will come as I process her last ‘goodbye’ speech.
by Sharon O | May 26, 2011 | Uncategorized
Do you ever have those day or weeks that you feel down and discouraged and perhaps questioning hope?
This weekend I was feeling very tired and somewhat frustrated.
On a new medication for a bladder infection.
For those who understand this problem it is not so fun.
Then on Sunday I noticed my face becoming more round.
Again.
By Monday my face looked like a helium balloon with small slanty eyes.
Folks we have been here before.
I headed into the doctor and he was completely baffled and did a bunch of lab tests.
Today my face is very round.
I would show you the picture but I don’t want to scare you.
It looks exactly like the mumps I had two years ago.
Discouraged?
Yes.
Tired?
Yes.
In pain?
Yes.
Trying to find something positive in this.
Lord God give me the strength to press on and learn whatever I am supposed to learn.
Help the doctor get the results back and help me to be calm and perhaps enjoy the sun in the yard as I plant flowers.
Even with a fat face.
I am on two different antibiotics now.
Just ending the antiviral drug for the shingles I had 4 weeks ago.
My body is under a major attack and my immune system needs an overhaul.
If you feel like praying I would welcome it.
(updated news: I am on prednisone now for the swelling)
Tests are non diffinitive waiting for the real ‘mumps’ test results.
by Sharon O | May 23, 2011 | Uncategorized
Well it is so nice to know I can plant the flowers we bought now that the world did not end.
I look forward to creating the colorful look while the birds make their nests preparing for a new family.
Soon the courtyard will be welcoming and inviting us out for dinners on the round table as the little white lights reflect off the fence line and the fountain bubbles and falls with its fresh water sound.
The courtyard has many memories for us, good and bad.
A memorial service for my sisters husband while she was on hospice.
Remembering the songs we sang to the guitar played by the hospice chaplain.
Remembering the family parties and the children playing on trikes and throwing kong’s for Emma my dog.
It won’t be long till we can enjoy strawberries and blueberries freshly picked for a breakfast shared.
The sun is very hot on the back side of our home and the courtyard is something we can enjoy in the evenings or the cool of the early morning.
I welcome the sun after a long season of rain and clouds and windy weather.
Perhaps we can even plant our garden for fresh vegetables are the best.
I am feeling hopeful and although someday I want to see the Lord and Heaven and all that is there waiting for us.
I just wasn’t quite ready this time for it all to end.
by Sharon O | May 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
Just in case you didn’t see this!
Or this one!
I personally believe this does more harm than good.
My opinion only.
If I was a non-believer would this make me want to be one?
Does fear make us want to change?
And they are also predicting it will be at 6PM so just in case they are right ~
What shall we do on Saturday??
by Sharon O | May 19, 2011 | Uncategorized
So the news is saying a few churches feel the end of the world will be on Saturday the 21st.
That is my dad’s birthday should I send a wish before then or perhaps call him~
Just in case I don’t get the chance?
What about my grand children?
Should I write letters to each of them letting them know my love and my prayers have always been with them. That they are precious and wonderful and my life changed for the good the day I met them and I feel so blessed to have them in my life?
Just in case I don’t get the chance?
What about my children?
Should I write them letters and mail them off letting them know my heart and love for them? That I am proud of them and that they are wonderful adults who have become wonderful parents.
Just in case I don’t get the chance?
What about relationships shattered and broken
waiting to be restored~
Do I rush to restore them?
Just in case I don’t get the chance?
What about my husband?
Should we take tomorrow off and enjoy each others company perhaps for the last time?
Just in case we don’t get the chance?
Do I put off paying bills or buying groceries?
How should I act or think if end of the world is coming soon?
Today is Thursday.
The rumor is for Saturday. That is only two days away.
Perhaps I won’t have to vacuum or clean the bathroom it won’t matter if the world is ending.
Should I be totally irresponsible and drive to the beach and walk in the sand and play with great abandon?
Just in case I don’t get the chance?
Would we truly live our lives differently
if we had a certain amount of time and that is all we get?
Just a few things for us to think about today.
(beach picture by Shelley Collis a good friend of ours)
by Sharon O | May 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
A bleeding heart plant
the flowers shaped like a heart
lowering itself ~ hanging like a fragile string
white
pure
representing
a heart that is broken
and
droplets of pain
and
droplets of tears
run down a face that is not familiar with the warmth of tears falling.
God has been moving my heart into a depth of broken-ness over the past year and a half.
We grow stronger when the wounds heal and the heart strengthens its self with time.
In time relationships may get better ~
In time the harshness of the hurt ~
can begin to soften and the act of forgiveness can become a gift.
Is there a gift you need to give to some one today?
I pray that your heart will be ready.
For real healing takes place when we open ourselves.
Lord give us the strength and the desire to do what it takes to heal our broken bleeding hearts.
As we learn to be humble, with grace and mercy towards one another.
by Sharon O | May 14, 2011 | Uncategorized
I am so looking forward to some sunshine. We have been hit hard with clouds, rain, cold, wind and fog for months and it is almost depressing. Plus with our families ‘health issues’ and other things that have been on the list for concern. It is time for sun and warmth.
Praying that your week has been one of joy and peace for you and yours in the midst of times that are often crazy either in real life or on the news or the Internet.
We just have to hold onto the realization that God is mighty and just and we are treasures in his kingdom.
Nothing is without purpose or reason and He is in control of our lives even when we feel sometimes He isn’t.
Let us pray for each other and lift our ‘loads’ to a God who can carry them.
We are not alone as we walk this road of life ~ let us call on each other and be strong.
Tomorrow is a new day and I pray it is a good one.
