by Sharon O | Apr 10, 2018 | Uncategorized
Being brave while challenging myself is not the easiest thing I can do when writing in this space.
Dictionary.com says: brave means to meet or face courageously: a warrior. exhibiting courage.
To share from one’s heart and share where you have been hurt takes a lot of courage.
This blog began in 2009 with private writings and settings. It was never meant to be open.
It was only for a chosen few; kind of like a personal diary and definitely not shared with everyone.
One day my husband said to me, “if you wrote a book would you know who purchased it?”, of course I would not; so the challenge came for me from him, to open it up to the general public and be brave.
As a private person by nature it was very hard to have others read my writings.
It felt vulnerable. It felt weird and exposed to me. The question came, “what if they don’t like it or I’m not believed?”
These are hard questions to solve when everything inside me said, “It’s not really for sharing.”
As I moved out of the recovery process of ‘childhood trauma’, I began to feel more open to sharing some of what I had experienced and what formed me in those earlier years.
It is never easy to share one’s vulnerable self to others especially, when you don’t know how well it would be received.
As a survivor of ‘a broken home’, one learns to read body language and tone of voice.
If I let myself fret over who is going to read the writings then I hurt my chance to write ‘openly’.
As time moved forward I have chosen to tell my story in bits and pieces, carefully choosing the words.
It is important to know the reason why I want to tell, it’s not just for the purpose of sharing.
Sometimes truth can be left alone and buried.
Sometimes it is never helpful to share things from the past.
My thought is this: If my story can help ONE person move forward towards their own healing place.
Then it is worth it, to take the risk.
We can only help those who we have an identity with; when I meet survivors of some kind of trauma I immediately know… ‘yes, I understand’ because I really do.
Listening is a gift, empathy is also.
To be able to walk alongside someone who is broken and to be able to say to them, “I see wholeness in you”
it’s kind of like being a verbal cheerleader.
In the next few writings I will open up a little bit of life as I knew it.
I hope you will follow along and walk this journey with me.
by Sharon O | Apr 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
The time for reflection continues even though it’s the week after Easter.
Our church on Sunday saw many get baptized and many gave their lives to Jesus for the first time.
It’s amazing and wonderful to see the excitement and growth within our church.
There are a lot of people who I don’t know or recognize anymore but that is fine I don’t have to know them.
I think because the world is so crazy these days people want to know the peace that only Jesus can give.
Plus our church has been focusing on prayer and priorities and looking for a place to settle in.
The miracles keep taking place. We were able to rent a school which six months ago was not possible.
Also we were able to find and put money and paperwork on a building that can be remodeled in a year or so.
It will be our permanent building.
Our church is 20 years old and it’s time to put some permanent roots down.
The community supports us and we support them.
It is a win/win situation and it will be so exciting to see how it all plays out.
Our pastor has grown and the staff is doing what is necessary to keep him rested and ready to serve.
It is exciting to be a part of a body of believers who are not playing church but rather learning to be more spiritual and walk deeper in the faith.
God is real. God is powerful. We have seen and experienced His power and blessings.
I wonder where are you today in a walk with the Lord? Belief is so easy. Trust is too.
All it takes is a heart desire to know without a shadow of doubt that God is who He said He is and His love was poured out to us on Easter because there was no other way.
He knew it would end well. He also knew it had to be hard and harsh.
It was love that gave us Hope.
I pray that you know today, what you believe and what you know to be true.
God loved us so much that HE gave His only son, so that we (whoever believes in Him) might have life forever.
That is a pretty awesome promise.
by Sharon O | Apr 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
[36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
(These were the disciples who were in a room, hiding from the leaders of the day afraid they would be crucified too because they knew Jesus.)
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”]
HE startled them. Can you imagine all of a sudden he is in the room? He appeared out of nowhere.
Wow I cannot imagine that moment when they looked and realized it was HIM the Messiah.
So exciting and yet so necessary for them to see him and keep his truth in their hearts.
[50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.]
He was taken up into heaven. I wonder how that looked? we cannot imagine it.
WE cannot see it for ourselves and even the most creative writer couldn’t put into words the powerful moment that must have been for them to be a part of as he was lifted up into heaven.
Resurrection and life. Jesus was alive and the rest of the story is here with us to this day until he returns again. Many scriptures tell us about that time and the events that might take place.
It is all recorded and written and only in God’s perfect timing will it take place.
Just like the birth Jesus at Christmas time, orchestrated by God, the death was the same and the resurrection and someday the return of Jesus. It is all in God’s perfect timing.
by Sharon O | Apr 2, 2018 | Uncategorized
[3 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. (Luke 24) 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast.
18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.]
I love the verse…they were kept from recognizing him.
He was not only testing them but it was not yet time for him to be revealed to them.
It was in the familiar setting, the breaking of the bread, the knowing in their hearts HE WAS who he said he was for the first time the reality came to them. It was not only exciting but also brought a lot of questions for them. Did we not see him die? did we not see him buried?
The powerful story of resurrection continues as we read more of the story.
by Sharon O | Apr 1, 2018 | Uncategorized
[On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. (Luke 24)
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.]
Can you even imagine?
The women were expecting to put spices on his body and he wasn’t there.
Then to see the angels who looked like men, shining brightly. WOW what a moment of confusion that would be for them. Not only were they expecting to see Jesus but they saw two men in there instead.
I am always amazed that the angels can speak in a way we can understand.
Then I really can imagine what Peter thought, when running to the tomb. His sorrow was replaced with hope then a bit of confusion too for none of them could understand what had happened.
Resurrection had taken place. Jesus was alive it was a time for celebration.
by Sharon O | Mar 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
The day Jesus was crucified was a most horrible day.
They mocked him, beat him, nailed him to a cross and back then it was done in such a way that the one hanging would suffer intensely. It was a horrific way to die.
[44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
When he had said this, he breathed his last.]
It was over… It was thought to be final. It was a sad, dark day for those who walked and watched.
If you ever have watched the movies they make it so miserable and so horrible. I am sure it was.
[50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, (Luke 23)
51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.]
Now remember at Christmas when the wise men gave Mary spices and perfumes? they were a predictor of his death for that was a very strange thing to give a new mom. Burial spices for a newborn?
Yeah it was all to fulfill scripture. It all had to be done in the right way and right sequence.
Let’s keep reading as we move through the rest of the story.
by Sharon O | Mar 30, 2018 | Uncategorized
[63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. Luke 22
64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.
67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
Luke 23
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.
7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.
9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.
10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.
12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,
14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.
15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.]
Can you imagine the crowds? and the intensity? and for the first time I read in verse 12 that Herod and Pilate became friends? What an interesting part of the story.
by Sharon O | Mar 29, 2018 | Uncategorized
The garden where Jesus prayed was called the mount of Olives.
He knew the time was getting near for him to be put to death and it was not an easy thought even for Jesus, for HE knew the humanity part of him had to suffer in a horrible way. Luke 22
[39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”]
THIS is such a sad part of the story. I think for the first time it feels Jesus was asking for another way for all of this to happen. Intense prayer and heart pleading… I love the part where the ministering angel came for him and gave him strength when his own strength was leaving.
The time of his arrest was near and the officers were coming for him.
[52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?
53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Peter Disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.
56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.]
This was a very sad time for Peter. Our humanity often has a ‘save yourself’ mentality and he was no different from the rest of us in a time of chaos and confusion. I think the part of the story that gets me the most is when JESUS looked at Peter. Eye contact with him saying “I love you and understand” this is what had to be done. Such a time of sorrow for Peter. I can’t imagine what he felt at that moment.
Let’s move further into the ‘journey of the cross’ as we read more of the story.
by Sharon O | Mar 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
Judas Agrees to betray Jesus and also Peter learns he will deny Jesus too.
[Luke 22;1 [Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.]
THIS was one of the worst decisions Judas made, the root of all evil is money and he was no different than anyone else who was bribed and tempted. It was a very sad day for him.
THE last supper was the last time they all spent together and Jesus predicted what would happen.
[14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.
18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.
22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”
23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.]
Can you imagine Jesus predicting Judas betraying him? I wonder what Judas thought? for sure he didn’t realize what he was doing for he had followed Jesus and listened to his teachings over and over.
He also predicted Peter’s denial.
[32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”]
Do you begin to wonder what was going to happen? they all couldn’t believe what he was saying and had they known they would have listened closer and leaned into the table in a more ‘interested way.’
The journey to the cross was just beginning and it all had to take place in the right order to fulfill the scriptures written.
by Sharon O | Mar 26, 2018 | Uncategorized
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
[29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.]
THE BEGINNING OF PSALM SUNDAY AND THE WAY TO THE CROSS
[47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.
48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.]
PSALM Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt. The people were praising him.
It was a time of celebration even though they didn’t understand the magnitude of the moments.
Fulfilling scripture as the story unfolds to the day of the cross.
Psalm Sunday, and the week leading up to Easter. One of the hardest parts of the story to read.
