by Sharon O | Feb 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
Psalm 139: 23-24 (the message)
Investigate my life, O God, find everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a picture of what I am about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Another version:
Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the everlasting path.
———
Each of these versions speak of searching, knowing, testing and guiding.
The choice is ours every morning when we wake up.
We can ask God to show us what we need to correct.
What we need to improve on.
Even what we need to do, to become more trusting.
In order for me personally to say to God, please show me what needs to be changed.
I have to trust Him and be willing to listen.
I have to allow Him to examine my heart.
I have to be willing for Him to test me.
What if that test causes me pain?
Am I willing to have that pain, so that I can be given a stronger character through it?
I don’t believe we are given circumstances that we cannot handle.
We might not feel like we want to, or feel able, but HE knows our heart, because we have asked Him. He knows our intentions, because we have given Him permission, to get a picture of who we really are.
As age has come upon me, one thing that has been affected is my night driving. The weather makes me anxious, the darkness makes me anxious. My vision is not as good, and that makes me anxious. What has helped in this process is praying. As I am driving, no not with my eyes shut, I am praying for a calm heart, and for Him to remove my anxious thoughts.
If we ask Him, we must be willing to allow Him to lead and guide.
It is trust.
I pray that as we grow in our Christian walk, from our hearts cry, we will be willing to say.
Search me oh God.
See if there is any wrong way in me and remove it.
Make it SO clear to me that I will want it away; and not offend you.
Help me Lord, to have an open teachable heart, so you can guide me.
Psalm 143:8
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
by Sharon O | Feb 9, 2010 | Uncategorized
Sunday when we were in church, the worship leader played a song.
It ministered to my heart, and I felt a longing to share more about what the Lord was showing me through it.
The chorus:
At the cross you beckon me,
Draw me gently to my knees,
And I’m lost for words, and so lost in love
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrender
The song has been playing in my head since I heard it.
I wondered what the word beckon meant.
you beckon me.
Dictionary.com said: to wave and/or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
God beckons us, waves to us, ‘come here, come be with me’. Draw near to me.
His intention for us is to draw near and come closer.
I visualized the scene in the movie, at the foot of the cross where Mary and the ladies were sobbing and grieving. Remember the scene; can you go there with me? How the reality of His death, brought the reality of His Life to them. They were drawn near because of their love. He draws near to us, because of His love.
It is an awesome thought.
Have you ever been somewhere, maybe in a store or after a church service, and you see someone you know, and you wave to them to get their attention. As if to say, come here, I want to talk to you.
That is what this is saying; to wave/nod with the ‘intention’ to make the person come closer.
He is saying to us, “please come, I want to share with you”.
Draw me gently, closer to the one who is asking.
I wondered, in this context what did draw mean?
Dictionary.com said: to drag or pull
So He is beckoning us to come near, pulling our hearts, toward a new experience with Him, to fall on our knees in humble praise. Moving our hearts into a new reality, just as the women at the foot of the cross were moved.
I am lost for words…I think when we SEE Jesus, we have no words, only worship.
I am lost in love…that means focused. Nothing around me can distract me.
God is asking for relationship.
He is calling to us, waving to us, saying to us, “remember me?”
Just as we would do towards a friend who we really want to talk to.
It is an awesome thought to realize, the God of the universe cares enough for us, to ask us to draw near. He desires us to make the move, drawing us gently, not forcing us, but gently drawing us to our knees.
It is not accidental. Come near, He is waving us purposely to come close. Do you grasp it yet? It is relationship.
How blessed are we as people. To have a God who cares for us so deeply, to desire a relationship with us. (remember the hymn ‘what a friend we have in Jesus?)
He promises, if we draw near to Him, HE will draw near to us.
James 4: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
The other part of the song.
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrender.
That means, He breaks our sinful nature softly ‘not in an abrupt’ way.
Sweetly broken, gives me a word picture of how someone would hold a baby. Sweetly nurturing.
We are broken in a gentle loving way. As we surrender our lives to Him, ‘wholly surrender’ that means ‘whole’, all parts of our our lives.
Only through the cross, and only through the Lord and His love can we do this.
Psalm 63:2,3,4
I have seen you in the sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
Psalm 108:1
My heart is confident in you, Oh God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
I pray, that as we walk with the Lord, when he beckons us to come near, we will rush to His side, to spend time with Him.
Just as the women at the cross cried over the reality of His death, may we cry over the reality of the Life He gives to us?
This is my challenge today.
by Sharon O | Feb 7, 2010 | Uncategorized
It was in the middle of the morning. I was watching my niece’s baby, Lily. She is just barely 5 months old, very cute and sweet. She reminds me of a little teddy bear, only a bit busier. I had put a short sleeved shirt on her, the house was cool that day. Not sure why. Usually she moves her arms around in a very busy way, and is so happy to be playing. This day she held her hands together, or her arms across her chest, over each other. Sitting still and seeming to be unhappy. I noticed the chill in the air, and realized she might be cold. The dryer had clothes drying and some of her clothes, were in that load. I pulled them out and put on her a warm shirt with warm pants, changed her diaper and she was content. I moved that illustration to a heart issue. If our hearts are cold, we are less receptive to what is around us. We cross our arms around us, rather than reach out. We hold our hands, rather than the hands of others. It was a powerful illustration for me. She could not say to me; I am cold, yet she could tell me in other ways. Her level of comfort was in distress. How does our heart tell us we are in distress? We lose sleep. We grieve. We argue with others, or become impatient. We frustrate easily, over silly things. We become less friendly or nice to be around. When our hearts are in distress, our whole mannerism is off. Our character is off. We become less focused and free. Less enjoyable to be around. I thought this illustration was powerful. God often allows us to ‘feel’ something in order for us to attend to it. We may try to do works, to make us feel better, or we may try duties or chores, to make us feel better. Just as I attended to Lily’s physical needs, I could not take care of her immediate need. Until I realized what it was, she was cold. I found it amazing as soon as I put warm clothes on her, changed her diaper and put her to bed with two blankets, she slept for two hours. She was comfortable and no longer cold. Her distress level was minimized. It was an easy fix. I just had to pay attention to the need. Can we move this closer, as an example for our lives? How do we know when our heart is hurting or in distress? Wouldn’t it be good to pay attention, and realize, when we close off instead of reach out? Can we ask God to nudge us, when we begin to close off our feelings for others? Can we ask Him to show us, when we hold onto ourselves, instead of those around us? Just as Lily held her own hands, we hold our own. Maybe instead we should reach out for the hand of the ‘Saviour’, who brings order into our world. Then allow HIM to show us what is wrong in our heart. So the challenge today is, ‘what are you feeling?’ Is there something you are trying to push away? Wouldn’t it be easier to just ‘pull out of the dryer’ a warm shirt, acknowledge the distress, and start our day over? God wants us to pay attention to the needs of our hearts, and the hearts of those around us. If I had not paid attention to Lily’s body language, she might have been a sad, discomforted baby all day. I pray that as our eyes open, we listen to the needs of our hearts, and ask God to show us the heart needs of others. We might become truly blessed by what we experience, as we listen.
by Sharon O | Feb 6, 2010 | Uncategorized
The other day Larry and I were talking about building up a pantry. In the days ahead one never knows what calamity may take place. Having assorted canned goods, propane, water and even necessary paper products, might be a good thing. I was making a list of what would be easy to store and keep on a shelf. Then the idea came to me.
How often do we think about building up a ‘spiritual’ pantry? I know the idea is a new and different one. Think of it in this way. When we have a bad day, wouldn’t it be good to grab hold of a portion of peace, or grace, or patience, or kindness? What about forgiveness?
If we have an attitude of the heart that is spiritual and focused on Jesus. It would benefit us to have a storage place of the grace, that we might need for the day.
Matthew said ,”Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be”.
So if the desires of our heart is to be prepared. Then we would need to instill in us, a storage place of the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit can fill us with HIS likeness. So when grief hits us we can pull out hope, when we become fearful, we can pull out peace, when we become angry, we can pull out forgiveness. It is all about choice and decision making. It is becomes a decision of our hearts.
Just as we would create and build a food pantry for perilous times. We must choose to build up within our spirit and our life, an abundant supply, of HIS likeness and attributes. For if we walk in the spirit we must show that, towards others and maybe even ourselves.
So the challenge for us today is this. What is our focus?
Jude 20,21,22: But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
We are not promised safety in this life, but we are promised safety in the love of God.
How awesome of a thought is that. I hope this writing today has been a challenge to provoke a new thought. What are we storing up and becoming prepared for?
by Sharon O | Feb 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
Our pastor was sharing with us a few weeks ago, about the passage in 1 Kings 19:11-13;
Then he was told, “Go stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?”
I have been thinking about this for some time now.
God was asking Elijah, what are you doing? Why are you running from me and hiding?
There are several things to think about in these verses. First one, God knew where to find him. Second, God showed him the majesty and power, that only God can produce. Third, Elijah was humbled.
The other thought I have had rumbling in my mind, like a dryer full of warm clothes.
God whispered. God whispered with a soft quiet voice.
We have all heard about the horse whisperer book, and even maybe watched the movie. Then there was a baby whisperer book, dog whisperer book, and maybe more that I don’t know about. But the thought I am trying to share is this. In order to hear a whisper, one has to quiet their heart. The purpose of those books is to teach the reader how to quiet, a scared, and unruly behavior. I want to challenge us, today.
Do we quiet ourselves long enough, to listen to the whisper? Do we sit still long enough, to hear the softness of a voice of a mighty GOD, who could do much more than whisper? Do we turn the TV off and the computer, the radio and cell phone, to listen? We make time for other voices, why do we not make time for HIS?
It tells me that God knows, the only way we can change, from the inside. Is to be relational through a whisper. It speaks to me of a calming effect. An intimate question. A quiet voice only for us. When you think of a whisper, you think of something private. It is not for all to know or hear. My granddaughter came into the den one day, and said ‘grandma, I have a secret, let me tell you’. As she came close to whisper it in my ear. It was for me and her. She smiled and giggled, knowing I heard her secret, and I was safe enough to share it with her.
Is God doing that, within us?
In order for us to hear God’s whisper to us, we must be still, quiet, receptive and waiting.
A holy hush. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. Be still. Know my power. God showed Elijah power, before he showed him peace. The calming effect of a whisper. I challenge us today, to brew a cup of tea, grab a piece of paper, and quiet our hearts.
Are you ready to listen to the still small voice of a whisper?
The paper is to write down what we hear.
“Be STILL and know that I am God”.
How awesome it is to know, He cares enough for us to reach us through a whisper.
by Sharon O | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
Our oldest grand daughter was a preemie.
She arrived nearly 7 weeks early, weighing 2 pounds 11 ounces. A wonderful bright eyed, very tiny baby. Our first experience with grand parenting.
It was scary, and we were full of prayer. She had to stay in the neonatal side of the hospital for several weeks, and then they released her to come home early. She weighed only 3 pounds 9 ounces. She was healthy and precious and I knew I had to be a part of this child’s life. Our daughter needed to go back to work, and I quit my job to stay home, to nurture this vulnerable precious little baby.
She started out sleeping in an old fashioned, white wicker baby basket. I had found it at an antique shop, it was old and marvelous. When she slept she looked like a little doll, so tiny and precious. As she grew, we moved her upstairs into a crib and into our spare room.
I would leave the baby monitor on, and listen, as I was downstairs doing assorted chores and duties. It was nice, and we were used to the schedule we had grown accustomed to. She knew that was her room, and her space and her bed. It was safety to her.
As she grew older, she began to talk and play in the crib. It was wonderful.
I had the baby monitor on, so I could hear when she would woke up, knowing I might have to get her right away. My favorite memories, were of her waking up slowly, with her tiny baby voice and baby words. She would start by saying ‘Hi baby’ to the doll in her bed, ‘hi blankey, hi teddy’, she always had a menagerie of dolls, bears, blankets and who knows what else she ‘had’ to sleep with.
Valued items for a baby. I didn’t make a big deal about them. It was her bed and as long as she slept, I didn’t care what she took with her.
I would sit in my chair downstairs and listen to the wonderful ‘baby’ noises.
She and I laugh about it now. She is 10 almost 11 and in 5th grade, but she remembers my stories of long ago. She will say to me, “tell me about the time when I was in the crib”… “and I was saying ‘I am running’ “oh my daddy and I were laughing about that” then she would give me the full detailed report, of what I had shared with her so often. It was precious to me.
When she was a baby, I waited downstairs listening to her. She would say, ‘Nama’ (my name when she was very small) ‘I am running’ and I would hear the crib squeak and little feet scuff onto the crib mattress. Then she would say, ‘Nama, I am jumping’ and again the squeak of a crib mattress rubbing against a wire frame. She would jump with great joy, as a child so happy after a nap.
I learned how she needed to wake up slowly and enjoy the quiet time.
It brought me great joy to hear her sweet voice.
After a while it would become quiet. Then I would hear her say, ‘Nama, come get me’… ‘I want out’… ‘come get me Nama.’ ‘please get me out’. Her sad pitiful voice, knowing she herself could not get out of the crib, even if she wanted to do it.
As I think of this scene I often wonder, if God had a monitor on us, would he hear, “daddy I am running…I am jumping…I need you…please come get me…I want out…Please rescue me.”
I wonder, does He listen with the same smile I had; when I listened to my precious grand daughter?
He loves us just as much. He longs for us to say. “Daddy I want out, please come get me.”
We can open the door to our heart, as I opened the door to her room. It is easy.
I would see her reach out to me with a huge hug and smile. She knew I was her rescuer.
She knew, I would take her out of that room and into a different place. She was released into the arms of safety and held by the one she loved.
How is that so different from our relationship to God?
My challenge today is this; do we allow God to delight in us, as we ask Him to rescue and save us?
Do we say, daddy I need you? Do we realize that sometimes we cannot get out of a situation.
Just as Faith could not get out of her crib?
Unless He helps us. We are alone.
She knew she needed me.
We need to know… ‘we need God’.
Are you challenged today?
I pray that this writing gave you a picture of what ‘our daddy’ wants.
As he rescues, protects and rejoices in us.
by Sharon O | Feb 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
Psalm 63:1, “Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (NIV)
We will reach for a soda, a cup of coffee or tea, but the real ‘refreshing of our soul’ is time with the Lord. My challenge for us today, is what are you seeking? What are you reaching out for?
I am trying to lose weight. It has been a ‘challenge’ since the first of the year. I am exercising, watching what I eat or snack on. But I am not so good at reaching for that ‘drink of water’. If it has a bit of juice in it, or a juice like flavor like cranberry or pomegranate, it is easier for me to drink it. All weight loss experts say, water is the key to loss. It purifies and detoxes the body and weight loss takes place rather quickly. So it if it works, why is it so hard to grab that glass, and do what is right?
That is not too different from our time with God. We make time for family, friends and coworkers, but find it very hard to cut out time for God. It is often not an easy choice for us.
The verse says, my body longs for you, that speaks of a desire, to have God so close and so intimate. A relationship, of choice. God I earnestly seek you. That is desire, for relationship.
Our world, in which we live and exist, is a dry and parched land. It offers very little for a ‘soul’ experience. Oh we can go to a special place for refreshment and rest. I love to go to the beach. I love to sit on an uneven log and take in and smell the freshness of the wind, water and ocean.
Watching the surf pounding forward and back with power and majestic strength. I listen in the quietness, for seagulls and children playing in the sand. I find it a great mystery how the powerful waves just ‘know’ how to crash and turn on rocks wet and cold. It refreshes me for a moment.
This verse is talking about a soul, so quenched and so parched. It longs for a cool glass of refreshment. God’s love, God’s spirit through the word, is refreshment to our soul.
God, you are my God. It reflects relationship. God I know you and long to see you and share time with you. Relationship, intimate and close.
Have you ever had a special friend in your life, a good friend. It has been a long time since you have seen them. You long for a time when you can share, catch up and enjoy each others stories. You wake up one day and you tell yourself, I have to see them. I have missed them greatly.
This is the feeling we ought to strive for with God.
Oh God I have SO missed you.
As we enter into the word, it refreshes our spirit. The soul becomes filled with life.
It is water that is refreshment, to our parched and weary lives.
May we challenge ourselves to sit. Drink in the word and allow it to seep into our lives, like a warm cup of tea. Our souls will feel refreshed.
by Sharon O | Feb 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
Our pastor was talking on Sunday about his observations about people.
He said there are two different types. Those who are windows and those who are mirrors. Window people look beyond themselves. They think of others. They are transparent and teachable. They know how to do relationships. They are genuine. Mirror people are those who think of themselves. Always looking what is ‘good for me‘. They are consumed with themselves. They only see themselves. They place their own need in front of everyone else. They are absorbed with what makes me happy. I ask the questions.
Who am I? What do others see in me? The questions really are for us all. To examine ourselves and search out ‘who we are’. I was moved back into memory of my high school days. One of my good friends was Claudia. Our friendship was over shadowed by her terminal illness of cystic fibrosis. Every day walked a life and death journey. Every breath was a chore. But I was reminded of her smile. Her caring spirit. She always thought of others instead of herself. She had no bitterness or anger. She could have for her sister died of the same disease. She didn’t have self pity or a critical spirit. She was sweet. When I would call her and say to her, “how are you?” the conversation would always move back towards me and my life. She was genuinely concerned about my walk with the Lord and my life in the youth group. I will never forget her. For her friendship was warm and genuine and authentic; she was a window person. She died in her twenties. It was a sad day, yet I knew she had longed for her heavenly home. I believe she had one foot here and one foot in Heaven just waiting to leave. I was sad hearing she was gone, but rejoicing that her breathing would now be peaceful. She was a window person. We have all met both types of people and we know who we enjoy more. So the challenge for us today… is to ‘look deeply’ inside, and ask ourselves; am I a window person or am I a mirror person? In asking, we must be ready to listen to the answer.
Lord give us a pure heart and a quiet spirit, so we can hear you and be willing to change.
Help us to grow~ help us to mature in what is good and pure and true.
by Sharon O | Feb 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
I mentioned I have an editor. She sits by my computer chair. When she wants to be petted, she taps my arm with her paw and if I ignore her, she crawls behind me, and puts her head under my arm or taps my back with her paws (almost like a back rub). Since I had to put down my other ‘black cat’, this one has been very spoiled. She gets soft food at night now, just because. Her name is Smudge. She is a tortoise calico. She is around 13 years old and has been my ‘perfect child’. She is always here by my side as I type. If I don’t come into the computer room in the morning she ‘calls’ out to me. Waiting for me to show up with my coffee.
by Sharon O | Jan 29, 2010 | Uncategorized
When you read the word, what image came into your mind?
The image of someone spray painting a fence or throwing a rock through a window?
The definition of vandalism is: willful destruction with malicious intent, to do harm or destroy; OR willful or ignorant destruction of artistic or literary treasures.
Our Pastor was sharing about this not long ago. It provoked a lot of thought in me. (imagine that!) The word vandalism brings to our minds many images. We would never take a spray paint can and destroy someone else’s property. Yet I challenge us to think of this in a different way.
When we talk bad about someone. When we hear a rumor and choose to believe it, and maybe even spread it more. When the words we say become less in line with the truth. We are committing vandalism of the heart. Fragmenting the heart and treasure of one another. Pastor said, it is like we are committing a homicide of the heart. It creates death to a relationship, and places a judgement on someone else’s character.
The willful destruction, is when we choose to spread the rumor, or believe the untruth. The malicious intent, is when we choose to say harmful or unkind things about someone. The intention of doing harm, hurts us, as well as the one we are talking about.
Pastor talked about, not letting anything come near our hearts that would be hurtful. Not letting anything vandalise your honorable self. We need to take note of and remember, “This is not good for me”. So in this journey called life, we must be careful with our words, our thoughts, our actions and our intentions. God has given us all, if we follow him, a discerning truth. If we read the word, if we take caution in our motives, and if we listen to our heart. We will be truthful to ourselves and those around us.
The challenge today is for us all.
We need to examine our lives, to see if there is anything that is vandalising the pureness, and holiness of Gods love for us. And the pureness and holiness of one another.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
Lord God, help us to redeem our words towards one another and be kind.
“And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, Just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:2
