Celtic Woman-O Holy Night

by Sharon O | Dec 25, 2010 | Uncategorized

Hallelujah (Light Has Come)

by Sharon O | Dec 23, 2010 | Uncategorized

Have your sound on.
This is very gentle
I pray for you a time of reflecting on this song and this season.
Hallelujah… we have a savior.

Mary’s heart ache

by Sharon O | Dec 22, 2010 | Uncategorized

Very soon after the baby Jesus was born
Mary and Joseph had to leave Bethlehem in a hurry to avoid King Herod and his rulers.
Matthew 2:13-14
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up.” he said,”take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.
Can you imagine Mary’s heart?
A new baby is born and someone wants to kill him
what new mother wants to hear that kind of news.
This was a chosen child
the angel had told her he would be
I wonder what she was thinking as Joseph said to her “we must leave now.”
She had just given birth and her body was experiencing that recovery
and then she was told they had to leave quickly to travel nearly 200 miles on a donkey to Egypt. The road was not a paved road like we have it was rough terrain it was long and difficult and took a long time. As she traveled with Joseph her heart knew they were alone and they were running against the terror of a crazy man…King Herod.
Matthew 2:16-17
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ” A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
I cannot even imagine her fear
in the middle of the night in the dark with only lanterns
her fatigue so heavy as they hurried quickly
her body rebelling against every movement made by the donkey.
She wouldn’t be able to walk herself for she had just had a baby
and she was tired and worn out from the last journey to Bethlehem.
Holding her infant close as he nuzzled in the curve of her arms
I wonder if she cried tears of sadness for this baby born to her.
Can you imagine how she would feel when she heard the cries of the mothers who had lost their son’s because of hers?
It was a constant hiding for Mary and Joseph as they avoided the dangerous men.
Can you imagine trying to raise your son in a place you are not familiar with and where you had no friends or family or anything that was yours?
She knew her son was special and she knew God had blessed her.
She also knew the shepherds had found them but her joy quickly turned into sorrow for the mothers weeping for their son’s.
Mary’s heart ache was only beginning.
For in the process of giving birth to her child she also was also in the process of giving him up.
The Savior was born
and it wasn’t until later in her life did Mary fully understand what that would mean.

A baby was born

by Sharon O | Dec 20, 2010 | Uncategorized

Mary became more uncomfortable as her round frame stretched.
She waited and hoped for relief just like any other expectant mom.
I am sure she had back aches and heart aches
no different than any other mom for the first time.
As she asked herself
how will I love this child,
how will I care for him?
So many questions moved across her mind
I am sure she was overwhelmed
after all she was only a teen.
Can you even imagine delivering a baby in a barn
where animals had slept
in the midst of odors that were unpleasant?
Perhaps Joseph found a clean stash of hay
to place in a well used water trough to use as a manger.
There would be no incubator or warming lights.
There would be no soft blankets or sleepers or diapers or booties
for the tiny legs that would thrash in the night.
Was it cold or perhaps it was very warm.
There were no midwifes to help through the labor process
or crushed ice or even water to wash the baby in the completed birth.
What did Mary and Joseph do?
Custom would say that Joseph had to stay away until the birth was over…
did he do that?
Was Mary alone in the barn laboring with every contraction?
Where were her parents or friends… did they care?
What did she lay down on
perhaps the blanket from the donkey?
So many things we are not told.
So many parts of the story are mysteries.
In the city of Bethlehem there would be a baby
born in the midst of a busy time
and because of that time the stable
was the only place given to Joseph.
Mary being round with child after a long donkey ride
needed a resting place.
I am sure she was so tired and so worn from the journey
a bed of straw might have been a welcome place.
So many things not told to us about the birth of this baby.
Do we care…
are we compassionate enough to wonder
how Mary gave birth to a son
in the city called Bethlehem.
so much to think about ~so much to process.
A baby was born.

Glory to God

by Sharon O | Dec 16, 2010 | Uncategorized

The shepherds were a rough group of men
they had to be strong and able bodied to be able to fight off lions
or other animals that might come near the sheep.
They had to be not fearful of the dark or of the enemies
waiting in the dark.
They were not a highly respected group of men either.
They were dirty and the job they had was very dangerous.
They were simple outside rugged men
who would sleep on the rough ground and walk many miles
to get their job done.
They stayed with their flocks day and night and did what they needed
to protect them and keep them safe.

Isn’t it incredible that God would use them to be a part of the
‘nativity story?’
Isn’t it like Him to use a rough group of men who were so
unsuspecting and not likely to be placed in a story that would be
such an important part of history?
Kind of like a ‘virgin girl’ chosen to give life to a SON
and a common man choosing to marry her.
Luke 2: 8-13
And there were shepherd living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them.
and they were terrified.
(Remember these men were not terrified of anything
this had to have been a miraculous and stunning moment for them)
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.
(Isn’t it interesting the angels always have to say ‘don’t be afraid’ before talking
to people?)
Do not be afraid.
I bring your good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom
his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about.”
(Some writers actually said they left their flocks and hurried off to find Mary and Joseph and the baby in the manger. I wonder is that not too different from the fishermen leaving their fishing nets to go follow him later on?) Leaving everything they knew and everything important
to follow after the call of their hearts.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby,
who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at
what the shepherd said to them.
(Remember the shepherds were not necessarily anyone the people would listen to and yet they were amazed when they heard them share the story)
What they had to share was important and the people listened because it was life changing for them. I imagine they were excited and could not contain those emotions. What a difference that would be to see a shepherd who was once serious and task oriented talking about why they left their sheep and how come they did and why they had to go in such a hurry.
Their faces would show the ‘knowing.’
In the midst of the nativity story God revealed to them
the least suspecting
the least logical.
The shepherds, a rough and tough group of men tending their flocks
in the dark of the night just like any other night.
Only this night was to be different.
If God can reveal himself to them
do you suppose he can do that to us too?
Would we leave our jobs or agenda’s to follow in a new direction?
So much to think about and so much to ask of ourselves.
The nativity story was miraculous and the miracle’s were everywhere.
Isn’t it awesome that God uses normal every day people
to share a story for everyone?

Holy is His Name –

by Sharon O | Dec 13, 2010 | Uncategorized

Have your sound on…
John Michael Talbot is one of my most favorite singers.
He is relaxing and restful to my soul.
Along with Michael Card.
I pray you can enjoy and sing along.

Shared miracles

by Sharon O | Dec 9, 2010 | Uncategorized

The relationship between Mary and Elizabeth
was very special.
They were cousins with a wide age range between them.
They were two women sharing the same experience.
Elizabeth was past the child bearing years and miraculously
expecting a son she would name John.
Mary still in her youth and a virgin miraculously expecting a son
she would name Jesus.
They both shared a miracle and they both knew
how miraculous each of those were for each other.
When Mary found Elizabeth she was encouraged and affirmed.
I am sure she was wanting so much to talk and share and tell
the story of the angel and what was said between them.
Elizabeth believed her story and believed the call on her life
and affirmed her by saying “my baby leaped upon hearing you.”
How could she not believe for she was carrying a child and
that certainly was not possible had it not been for a miracle.
Elizabeth ministered to Mary in such a way that I don’t believe
we can realize.
She confirmed in her heart she was special.
She understood and believed her story.
Can you imagine the hugs between them almost a sisterhood?
When Joseph heard about the baby he wanted to quietly send Mary away
to protect her and her family from shame.
For to be with child and not married
was a tremendous shame in that culture
and Joseph knew that it would be hurtful to her.
Through his obedience he showed Mary love and compassion
by taking her to be his wife.
That is what happens when we care for someone
we want the best for them.
Each of them were a part of a miracle
the miracle of life and birth and peace and hope.
The story of their shared miracles continues through out history.
The story of the baby born in a city called Bethlehem
and the wise men who came from a far to see him.
Each of them were a part of a miracle and
a story of love and redemption too.
If we opened our hearts
we would be a part of it also.
Are we ready to open our hearts?

He knows my name

by Sharon O | Dec 8, 2010 | Uncategorized

Have your sound on please.