by Sharon O | Jan 4, 2014 | Uncategorized
In the midst of sharing Christmas writings I didn’t feel it was appropriate to fit in our new addition.
So as the 2013 year ends we begin 2014 with not one new kitten but two sweet little girls.
My husband had fears around me not wanting to go travel and do some fun things if I had a kitty.
I came up with the idea of …
“if we go traveling and have two they won’t be lonely when we are gone.”
After some time of thinking and pondering the situation.
Both emotionally and financially he agreed it would be nice to have two kittens to join our family realizing after losing Smudge this was the first time in 30 years I had not had a ‘cat’.
This was a huge loss for me.
His final decision was: He would pick the next one out and then name it since Molly was named by me as I saw an M on her head.
We knew of some friends of ours who had a litter of five girls and I began to ask questions.
Then she shared pictures with me and then we went to go get our new baby.
The first day was a challenge.
They kept their distance from each other and were not sure of the new ‘change’.
It didn’t take too long though before they loved each other like sisters.
They fight and wrestle and then end up in a pile to sleep together.
It is adorable and peaceful to hear the purring again.
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| Miss Molly our first |
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| Miss Mosey our second
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| They love boxes and wine corks |
We were not sure how our old ‘Emma’ dog would deal with the additions to our home but she has adjusted just fine and will move out of the way if they bug her too much
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| Emma Rose age 14 |
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| Molly really likes Emma Rose |
by Sharon O | Dec 31, 2013 | Uncategorized
As the year is drawing to a close and there is a new one just ahead.
What thoughts do you have or
new dreams or
new ‘goals’ do you have for the year?
Weight loss is normally a new ‘goal’.
Becoming more spiritual and reading more books is good.
Walking or moving into an exercise program is good.
Financial goals and facing a new budget is good.
So much to think about as we enter a new year of possibilities.
I have my small list and some of it is very manageable.
Some of it I will be challenged by the choices I must make but it will be good.
I choose to do what is healthy and to enjoy life.
I also always want to always remember my life’s motto.
by Sharon O | Dec 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
Luke 2:
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.
But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
In more than one writing we are told that Mary ‘treasured all the things she heard and saw’ in her heart.
We can’t really blame her for storing these precious memories so close.
Imagine the first meeting with the Angel.
Out of no where a bright angel comes into the room and announces to her she will carry a child and she will always be important in the kingdom of God.
She was a young teen anticipating a life with Joseph and perhaps someday children but as she listened the angel said ‘right now’ a baby is expected to show up and you are the mother chosen.
Imagine her thoughts when the angel said “it will be a son and his name will be Jesus”.
Mary knew Hebrew and she knew the name of the one who would come someday.
She treasured in her heart the words and the visit by this heavenly visitor.
Have you ever had a ‘profound’ conversation with someone and after the fact
you play and replay it back in your mind and spirit many times over?
I am sure Mary did the same.
The words of the shepherds later on as they spoke of this ‘great one’ they needed to see.
The words of the wise men and the special gifts given to Jesus.
Imagine with me as she would hold this precious new born baby.
She became more aware with each passing moment that her baby would be different.
Treasured in heart memories are a part of all new mom’s as we look at our newborns.
As we study their faces with the wispy hair, tender soft cheeks and dimpled fingers and toes.
Mary had many things to treasure.
Many words and many experiences that only ‘she’ would see and be a part of.
Imagine what it would have been like to feed him.
Help him crawl and walk.
Teach him to talk and memorize scripture.
I find it interesting that the word said ‘he grew in wisdom’, he was God in flesh
did he lose the all knowing ability then regain it later when he performed miracles?
He grew in stature and in favor with God and man and it says he was obedient.
Interesting words for me.
I can’t even imagine Jesus the child becoming disobedient.
Mary had many facts and experiences to store deep in her heart
all of them life changing and life altering which brings us back to an original question of mine.
Are we ready to receive when we are given the choice to follow a new direction for our lives.
It is definitely something for us to think about.
by Sharon O | Dec 24, 2013 | Uncategorized
by Sharon O | Dec 24, 2013 | Uncategorized
When it came time for them to dedicate their son to the Lord as was the custom back then.
Joseph and Mary made the journey to the temple to not only circumcise him on the eighth day but also dedicate him with his chosen name.
The name given to them and him by the angels.
They both remembered the words given,
“You shall call his name Jesus.”
In the temple there was man named Simeon who had waited for the chosen child for years to arrive.
Luke 2:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.
When the parents brought in the child ‘Jesus’ to do for him what the custom of the law required,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying:
“Soverign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the nations: a light for the revelation to the gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Can you even imagine what Joseph and Mary was thinking about?
this was a dedication anticipated for many years.
I can’t even think of the thoughts they must have had when hearing this news from someone they had never met.
by Sharon O | Dec 21, 2013 | Uncategorized
More people were brought into the ‘story’ for Mary and Joseph and they were continually amazed at the prophetic words from the old testament to the time set before them.
They realized and knew their baby was unique and different.
The angels had told them he would be named Jesus.
The angels announced to the shepherds to go see.
Later on the wise men would go see also this chosen baby.
Mary would hide within her heart and store the lessons she learned about her tiny baby.
Every new mom spends hours and hours looking at her precious little new one.
Marveling at the tiny toes and tiny fingers.
Soft sweet cheeks and tender curls of hair.
I wonder how it was for her heart to know this was a very special chosen child.
I wonder if she knew ahead of time that her heart would break many times over as she would have accepted the calling on her life to be his ‘mother’.
Forever changed.
Forever new and different.
Remember those life changing, life altering moments.
Our choice is to accept them or resist.
I think in this setting and in this time Mary accepted all that she saw and all that she experienced with an open heart and a willing spirit.
Her baby was born in a town called Bethlehem and she would love like she had never loved before.
It is a special kind of love between a mom and her baby.
A child is born and captivates the hearts of so many who knew him.
It was a special kind of love.
by Sharon O | Dec 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
There is great contrast between the Shepherds and the Magi ‘or wise men.
When the Shepherd’s heard the news they quickly went to go see the new baby.
(Doesn’t that remind us a little of some fishermen later on who left everything to ‘go be with him?’)
They left their flocks and went to see for themselves leaving no safety for their sheep left behind.
The wise men had to travel quite a distance to see for themselves and also follow the star leading them.
The Shepherd’s were led to a stable. A barn.
Something they were very familiar with being near.
The wise men were led to a home. A house.
Similar to a palace that they were familiar with too.
Their journeys so different yet so very much the same.
Both travelling to the same place in different ways.
Both to see this baby they had heard about.
Each were fundamentally necessary to the story.
Each unique.
When the Shepherd’s saw they left to announce.
The wise men announced then they went to go see.
The contrast for each were all a part of their separate journeys.
The Shepherd’s had a here and now perspective.
The wise men had a there and then perspective.
They were interpreters of dreams and trusted by many.
The Shepherd’s had traditions to follow and lean on.
The wise men had superstitions and practices.
Both the Shepherd’s and the wise men had powerful stories to tell and others believed and were amazed when they heard them.
Remember God often used special revelations to get His point across.
Moses had a burning bush talk to him.
Balaam had a donkey.
Sometimes when God approaches us we want angels to help us but no star to guide us.
Sometimes we want the singing and the awesome approach from God but we don’t want the brightness of the moment to reveal to us our ‘unbelief’.
The question for us is ‘how do we see God in our familiar settings?’
What kind of a journey are we on and are we willing to go ‘see’ where he is leading us or showing us.
(some of this came from notes last Sunday in our church service.)
by Sharon O | Dec 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
In sharing the Christmas story we are reminded that God used not only simple people but also those who were not so simple.
He used opposites to declare the story.
Shepherds were lowly and not paid attention or noticed.
The magi or ‘wise men’ were noted as royalty and important.
Well known in the region and credible in word and in behavior.
God used both sets of ‘people’ to complete the story.
Both were doing their jobs and He invaded their space and changed the direction they were going.
Both were amazed and after seeing went away and told others.
Two different groups of people to prove that God can change lives no matter who we are.
Both were interrupted and approached by the supernatural side of God.
Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, and he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were over joyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
God interrupts our lives and often gets our attention so we can see a new direction.
Just as He did with them.
He can do that for us too as the story continues.
by Sharon O | Dec 19, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Shepherd’s were not the typical visitors one would expect when a baby was born.
They were a rough bunch of men not necessarily welcomed by the towns people.
They were seldom noticed and often not liked by those around them.
Their role was to protect and keep from harm the herds of sheep.
If you can imagine their rough appearances and even perhaps smells.
Just as God used Joseph, and Mary and the others in the ‘nativity story’ we cannot forget the role of the shepherds and their experience.
I find it interesting that God would use these men.
They were not royalty or noted as special.
They were simple shepherd’s doing the job they always did.
If we can imagine that night.
The holy night where the darkness of the sky looked even amazing.
Looking up they realized this was a very different look for the stars.
I wonder if they brought it to each other’s attention.
I wonder also if it was a distraction to see this glorious sky forming above them.
Perhaps because these men were normal and ordinary just as Mary and Joseph were
God saw that it was good to allow them to be a part of this very special story.
Wouldn’t they be credible witnesses for others them?
Simple people bringing to life a very special story that would change everything for everyone.
As they watched the night sky an angel appeared to them and tells them to not be afraid.
Now you have to remember these men were not afraid of anything.
They were used to fighting off wild animals.
When they saw the angel they shook in fear and listened as the angel said to them, “fear not”.
Luke 2:8
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you 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.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
God chooses simple people to share a profound story.
Just as He chose Mary and Joseph and all the others.
Does it make you wonder if He could choose ‘us’ too?
by Sharon O | Dec 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
Thinking of Mary.
I often wonder how was it for her to be in a barn for long hours as she waited for her baby to deliver?
Can we even imagine her pain or her fears or maybe even her loneliness?
If we can imagine each contraction she held her round frame and breathed in the surroundings around her.
Remember she was very young and still in her teens.
Without a mom or midwife or doctor or maybe even fresh water to help her thirst.
She labored in agony not really knowing what to expect.
Not having a labor coach or soft music to soothe and distract her.
I don’t suppose just because he was ‘God’ in flesh her labor was any easier than anyone else who has delivered a baby.
We are not told it was easy and I wonder what did Joseph do during this time of waiting.
Maybe if we stretch our imagination there might have been the innkeepers wife nearby to help her.
Maybe if we stretch it even more there was tea or even a mild ‘sort of medicine’ the town ladies knew to use to make it more comfortable for her.
We are not really told about the delivery.
We know the baby came and he was wrapped in cloths and he was placed in a manger.
She didn’t have nurses who would come check on her or help her nurse him.
She had Joseph and we don’t know what kind of help he was to her.
In the middle of a barn.
In the quiet of the moment.
Mary delivered her baby.
A son was born.
Her son
and I think of Mary alone in the barn remembering the angels words.
