Our Light

by Sharon O | May 31, 2010 | Uncategorized

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:12 I love this picture it shows that all is well. All is in God’s control. All is peaceful and awesome. The darkness moved into the light. Thank you God that you are our light when the darkness feels so dark sometimes.

The Master Gardener

by Sharon O | May 29, 2010 | Uncategorized

Our garden is planted.
We wait now for the seeds to take root and mature into plants full of veggies for our enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.
Our lives are not too different from these seeds…growing and maturing through the reading of the word along with worship and praise.
Sometimes we come to God with a hardened heart and a brittle spirit.
It is in those times where He must cultivate within us
a heart full of worship.
As the farmer would cultivate the dirt for better and richer growth,
God nourishes us and strengthens us
by his power and love through his Holy Spirit.
We ever so slowly begin to grow as the word waters our parched hearts and we receive its nourishment.
Lord help us to listen as we wait with anticipation of a new birth.
Lord God help us to allow the hard soil of our hearts
to be open to what you want to plant within us.
Help us to receive with a willing spirit and trust…
For you are the ‘master gardener.’

In the Old Testament book of Hosea – 10:12:
“Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that HE may come and shower righteousness upon you.”
Lord Jesus come shower us… as we receive your righteousness
and seek to know you more.

Changes

by Sharon O | May 28, 2010 | Uncategorized

Life is full of changes.
For a short time my blog will be taking on some new changes.
I wanted a fresh new look and one that would look a bit more professional and more unique to my style of writing.
The lady who helped me redo it found a script type font and and I think it is a soft look to display for reading.
Feedback is good.
If you like it or totally dislike it or you are undecided or you don’t care.
I am a creature of habit and like things to be the same most of the time.
I don’t rearrange furniture or redo rooms.
Things can be the same year after year.
This is a new decision and a redo is a positive thing.
I hope you enjoy it

The question of time

by Sharon O | May 27, 2010 | Uncategorized

Time…
it is something we all struggle with.
How to use our time wisely efficiently and how to get done the many things that needs to be done every day. We must make a sincere effort to pay attention to what takes our time away from doing what is really important.
Time…
It is deliberate. It is a choice we make to purpose in our heart to rest if we are tired,
to walk if we need refreshing,
to write if we are frustrated or hurting,
to call someone if we are lonely or need encouragement.
It is a choice to turn off the TV and talk to each other.
It is a choice to read the word instead of the magazine or newspaper or the computer or cell phone.
Life is a series of choices.
There are choices we have to make every day as we journey through this thing called life.
Time…
We must choose to be quiet and listen to our restless hearts cry.
On my computer I have a sticky note that I leave as a reminder for me every day to read and reflect on:
We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly.

In the still quiet moments we gain strength and wisdom for our journey ahead.
My challenge today for you and I is to make a choice to quiet our lives so we may hear the still small nudging of what is really important.
In our busyness we can miss out and disconnect from so much.
I pray that we all take the time to slow down,
quiet our hearts and listen to the sounds around us.
WE MIGHT be surprised by what we hear.

A battle is raging

by Sharon O | May 25, 2010 | Uncategorized

Returning to the book ‘Waking the dead’ by John Eldredge;
he writes “The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart.”
He continues to say, our hearts are in darkness not realizing the attacks that are always taking place against our ‘healing’ deep within. As adults we walk around with our souls wounded and not grasping the full and powerful healing of Jesus.

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah 61:1 “He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
We are the prisoners, in a spiritual warfare we are not even aware of. Forces surround us daily and attack our journey as Christians. If the enemy can keep us believing we have no power then he has won. John said ‘we cannot see in the darkness until we add the light to it’. John says our hearts are hidden in darkness and we lack freedom to see who we really can become.

My challenge for us to day is to pray for the Lord to reveal to you the dark places in your heart and life and ask HIM to release them so you can become free.
Jesus said he came to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free and the prisoners from darkness.
I don’t believe he is talking about a ‘physical prison’… it is spiritual.
The purpose of this thing called the Christian life is that our hearts might be restored and set free. John said to make your prayers deliberate and often for the battle for your heart is all around you. If the enemy can make us feel like we have nothing to offer ourselves or others than HE has won this battle.
The battle is for you’re heart and your healing.
Let’s press on for the time is now … for healing and hope and restoration.

A different good bye

by Sharon O | May 24, 2010 | Uncategorized

The graveside service is the final good bye
when someone leaves us.
It is a symbol of an ending to a life well lived.
A brass plate or stone tells the observer who is represented at the grave site as information is etched in scratched out letters.

Mom O’s service was yesterday afternoon in a picturesque military burial setting. The green grass and stormy weather set the mood as we drove through the rod iron gates decorated with flags and military emblems. Dad served time in wars and is eligible for military honors and because she shared his life she is able to be honored this way also other than the gun salute.
She might not have been in a war with combat and battles fought but the war she was in was just as honorable.
We met as a family each one of us representing sons or daughters or grand children who brought meaning to her life. We drove to the hillside where her temporary marker rested next to flowers bent with rain. We walked slowly as we protected our selves from the wind and blustery weather.
Dad stood shoulders bent as his oldest son and youngest son held his shaking unsteady frame up
as he wept for his bride of almost 61 years.
The reality of her death hit his heart hard as he read her name…date of birth and date of death.
Each of us stood in silence as the middle son… began to speak about her life… her love and her Lord.
We sang amazing grace our voices mixed with emotion as the pounding rain deafened our notes against the umbrella’s fold. Before we went to this resting place on the hill pea sized hail pounded the pavement and grass receptive to the force of nature.
Not too different than the forcing of a new life for him now.
We believe he will be alright. His heart along with ours will forever be changed because of our loss. She was mama…mom O…Grandma… grandma grandma as some would call her.
She was a wonderful example of a life well lived and respected by all who met her.
As we drove away in different cars we took with us memories of her stored in our hearts forever. We will miss you mom… till we meet again.

Questions for you

by Sharon O | May 19, 2010 | Uncategorized

Our Pastor asked two questions the other day when he was in the middle of a teaching.

It made me pause and take note.
It challenged me and in turn I will challenge you.
He said: “How do you live?” and “What defines you?”

As Christians what should define us is the word of the Lord.
There needs be a difference between us and those who don’t believe.
A difference so vast and so clearly defined so that those who are seeking a new way will know who to look for to where to find it.
Dictionary. com says: define: to explain or identify the nature or essential qualities of; to fix or lay down definitely; to make clear the outline or form of; to specify distinctly; to describe the nature of basic qualities of: to give form or meaning to: “For him, a life is defined by action”…
Definite means “defined, clear, precise, unmistakable” So is the difference for the observer needs to be so clear it removes all doubt.
It is a definite unmistakable difference.

The question how do you live is not just a question of what do you do for a living, what are your hobbies, what are your interests.
I think he is asking….”How do you live differently…?”
“How do you live intentionally…?”

If we say we are followers of Jesus and HE is the LIGHT of the world, we are supposed to be so different that others will see the light within us.
I think that’s what he is asking for us to consider and think about.
What defines you … if someone were to say, ‘Tell me about this person’…what would others say?
I think of modern day people such as Tiger Woods. He was defined and known as a great and awesome golfer but did that really define who he really was??

Pastor said, “Your life is all about who you are becoming.” … who we are becoming.
It is a process… a journey to a different place in our hearts.
The goal to follow after God and the direction he pulls us towards should be the first thing on our agenda so that we can lead others to go there too. If we are Christians the defining truth of who God is and who Jesus is and the Holy Spirit should be wrapped around us so tightly that there would be no question who defines us.
I think it is a huge challenge for us all.

Lord God,
As we journey through the challenges of our days help us to examine our hearts and examine our lives so that we can say to you: In the morning I wait for your leading Lord …in the morning I rest in your presence. Help my life to be so in tune with you that I become blended with your love and purpose so that it fully becomes the definition of who I am.

Unhealed places

by Sharon O | May 18, 2010 | Uncategorized

Continuing in the book ‘Waking the dead’ John Eldredge says:
“As long as we have unhealed places within us, these rifts of the soul, we will find it next to impossible to live in freedom and victory.”
He continues to share, “These places keep under mining us at critical moments, cutting us off at the knees.”

This makes great sense to me. Have you ever felt so confident in something and really sure of yourself then all of a sudden you get blindsided with words of accusations and messages?
The voices in your head slam dunk your confidence as you hear:
“You can never do that”….or “You are not capable”…or…” Why would you even try you know you are going to fail.”

Growing up in your childhood someone told your tender heart and the spirit within you that you were not worthy or valued and you believed them. The damaging undermining words took root and you allowed the words to take residence in your heart and bend you in ways that you never should have bent.
The words were lies you had no business believing them.

John continues to say,”We desperately need the stream of Healing, so that we may go on to walk this journey with Christ.”

My challenge for us today is to ask what places of healing do we need to work on?
When I say ‘we’ I am asking you and I to look deep inside ourselves and be open to what we see.

John called them rifts in the soul, little cracks that allow negatives words or behaviors to affect us in the midst of moving forward. Our confidence becomes shattered and our belief in ourselves no longer stand strong and firm.

Today…We need to claim healing…
the Healing stream of Jesus and the waters of the Holy Spirit to refresh our souls.
Lord help us… to slow down….
so that we may see…
and feel and remove…
the broken hurt places in our hearts
so that you… ‘THE GREAT and Almighty Healer …can heal us.’

It is all about becoming who WE really are… a healed Child of God.

A heart of love

by Sharon O | May 13, 2010 | Uncategorized

In the book waking the dead; John Eldredge says: “When we see life from the eyes of the heart, we begin to see clearly the battle that rages around us.”
There is a battle for our hearts.
It is a spiritual one taking place daily… we are not aware of it but it is ongoing and always.
John says: “The heart is the dwelling place of our true beliefs. The store house of memories is stored in our hearts.” So what do we believe and what are we seeking?
In Jeremiah 29:13
“You will find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Are we seeking Jesus with everything in us?
John says: “Christ did not die for an idea. He died for a person.”
“Jesus came to give us back our hearts.” do you remember the song;
Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me.
It is a prayer put to music for us to meditate on.

If we are Christian with Christ in us we will know the contrast between the world’s values and the values of God.
In order for us to hear His voice, we must listen with our hearts.
It is our choice: to listen to God or listen to the world.

Ezekiel 36:26
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
John said: “We cannot love others if we are hiding from ourselves”… Lord help us to examine our hearts and motives and show us what is hidden as we develop a new ‘heart’ that is full of love and compassion for others.