tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post5963303258866453361..comments2024-03-29T02:30:39.118-07:00Comments on Sharon Sharing God: THE "STUFF" OF DREAMSSharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840994989201507494noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-24360066666913548732016-02-01T22:46:33.632-08:002016-02-01T22:46:33.632-08:00Thank you Sharon for your permission to share this...Thank you Sharon for your permission to share this story on my face page of Tell me a Story. I do hope you have some new readers.a joyful noisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08712092116466408490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-25287867694782715872014-08-09T23:39:25.532-07:002014-08-09T23:39:25.532-07:00Hi, Nice to meet you, I'm Lynn from My enraptu...Hi, Nice to meet you, I'm Lynn from My enraptured heart. I loved this story of your dream. I understand totally about being sentimental with "stuff". I am too. I too, don't want to be around when Salvation Army comes to pick up a large item or we take boxes to Good Will. We live in FL, I had this lovely winter jacket with a hood and fur around the hood. Really it may get cold here sometime and I need to be prepared. hehe. Seriously at the time I bought it we were traveling up North in Fall and some of those nights are cold to me with my FL blood after 30+ years here. I carefully laid the jacket on a chair. Somehow something else that was going to GW was put on top of the jacket and yes, off my beloved piece of clothing went with everything else. Sadly, I did not realize this for a few weeks. By that time it was way too late. I gave myself the mental picture of someone needing to go in a cold region and not having a jacket or the money to buy one and finding mine. That made me smile and feel so good about my jacket "having a new home" that now, when I give and donate stuff I specifically ask the Lord to bless that person who needs whatever I am giving and then that person "paying if forward" again. Since then I have had only twinges when giving away stuff. For the most part, mind you. I am still very sentimental about certain items which only have value to my heart. Have a blessed day now!Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16235486703363466753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-91398887216770440712014-08-09T20:13:52.869-07:002014-08-09T20:13:52.869-07:00sharon, i can identify w the struggle over "t...sharon, i can identify w the struggle over "things." we have moved twice in the last year. last yr. we sold our home and moved from TX to AL to be closer to family. this year we moved into an apt. to get more serious about down-sizing. our summer has been spent clearing away boxes of stuff that we should have dealt with last year when we had the space to do it in! not fun! it's nice to be shedding a lot of that stuff tho' and in something smaller so the housework in minimal!martha68https://www.blogger.com/profile/16210599251566858182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-59074660248553646192014-08-09T09:04:34.596-07:002014-08-09T09:04:34.596-07:00Hi Sharon! I am so impressed that you remember you...Hi Sharon! I am so impressed that you remember your dreams...although this was a pretty vivid one, wasn't it. I think dreaming is our brains working out all the stress and flow of life that goes so fast, and needs to be looked at again. So here you are, doing just that.<br /><br />I can't imagine how amazing it must have been to see all your 'stuff' in that canvas tube. So surprising! (And your husband wasn't surprised at all.) I'm so glad you could see that it all connected to 'letting go' in this life. I think it's hard for everyone to do that. But you led me to remember that things here are 'things' and not the important focus. People and faith...that's the key.<br /><br />Beautiful as always my friend. Good to see you again :)<br />Ceil Ceilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06293917798735764739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-40656376173128739472014-08-09T08:11:41.602-07:002014-08-09T08:11:41.602-07:00This was so good, Sharon. So good. You are a wonde...This was so good, Sharon. So good. You are a wonderful writer and bring your dream alive. I don't dream and maybe that is a thought for a blog post someday. Judith Kowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13556208309928431416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-58090787550311170032014-08-08T21:09:08.251-07:002014-08-08T21:09:08.251-07:00Oh my dear Sharon... I was reading every word you ...Oh my dear Sharon... I was reading every word you wrote here with much emotion. That dream could very well have been mine... and the way you wrote this post, there was something in it that made me feel I could very well have been the one writing it. For the very sentiments you expressed are the exact same sentiments I have about my "stuff." Thank you very much for sharing this dream. How powerful that dream really is. And I just love the way you write so honestly about your heart. So refreshing. And of course, ultimately, it is the heart lesson that touches a deep spot in my heart - that it is only God who matters. But I realize that in heaven, all the things that mattered to us in this life - our stuff which have been so much an expression of our personhood and life story - will be with us for eternity. A constant reminder to us of how uniquely we are created and fashioned, and God loves us the way He wired us! Isn't that exciting?Crown of Beautyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993686012020045284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-34246612526339806892014-08-08T07:52:42.636-07:002014-08-08T07:52:42.636-07:00The Lord has been really putting on my heart...wha...The Lord has been really putting on my heart...what do I deem valuable.<br />We have so much, projects our boys made, Christian books, computers.<br />I know I need to purge and clean house, but the question is where to begin.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108516587512383397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-15952067195860736192014-08-07T21:41:49.087-07:002014-08-07T21:41:49.087-07:00Love how you just chat with God over "what co...Love how you just chat with God over "what could you maybe be showing me." I think we just keep asking and being willing to listen. I get the fear of losing stuff. I have been one to tell God that He has permission to take it from even if He has to pry it out of cold dead hands! I can't let go without his help!Lisa Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806263533922265424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-51306962073682110332014-08-07T12:21:03.988-07:002014-08-07T12:21:03.988-07:00Hmmm... Second time in the last 24 hours I have re...Hmmm... Second time in the last 24 hours I have read about folks struggling with "stuff." I have been there, but our frequent army moves keeps me from collecting to much-- most of the time. Every time we head to a new duty station, I wait for a day when the purging mood strikes me and I go to town, tearing through our stuff and donating to Goodwill like Jesus is coming tomorrow. <br /><br />I have released multiple SUV's full of stuff to Goodwill... Kind of like ripping off a bandaid, do it quick and feel the freedom as you heal. <br /><br />Always love your words. Thanks a million for sharing them weekly at #EverydayJesus. Much love. Sharita Knoblochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499132955069545784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-59941000203153330972014-08-07T11:37:20.110-07:002014-08-07T11:37:20.110-07:00Boy! Do I know this place of yours! I have a Memor...Boy! Do I know this place of yours! I have a Memory Box Room in my basement - a large walk-in closet where my kid's childhood is kept. Along with what I have of my own, too. And then - there are the bins and racks of props and costumes acquired through the years. Resources all. But, some are treasures, too - I never know when I'll need it. When I purge, I always find that within a month I need something I got rid of. Gah! <br /><br />And, then there are the homes of my grandparents I've been a part of liquidating over the past dozen years. I am also the one who will have to do my dad's house, and both my aunts. Lots of stuff.<br /><br />God uses them to inspire me with story. Thankfully - but stewarding them can be weary. And hold us down to one place. There is comfort in the familiar. In the end - it all belongs to God for His purposes. May I be wise enough to know that - and thankful for each treasure He blesses me with in its season.<br /><br />Joy!<br />KathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-53161239340802394322014-08-06T10:36:20.834-07:002014-08-06T10:36:20.834-07:00Hi! I found you at the linkup! I am loving all o...Hi! I found you at the linkup! I am loving all of the verses you included in this post and they are touching my heart today! My girls have grown from littles to school age and I have a real hard time parting with all of their baby "stuff" even though I know we will never ever need it again. Thank you for your words today!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14809059422915030016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-8179800807401061202014-08-06T10:20:31.585-07:002014-08-06T10:20:31.585-07:00You're not alone in the dreams department. I h...You're not alone in the dreams department. I have some interesting ones too. I'd like to find out what they mean but sometimes I think it's better left unknown. :)<br />I also have a hard time getting rid of mementos and regret some of my earlier purges. You're right, you can't take it with you! Far better things are awaiting us! :)<br />Linking up next to you at Coffee for your heart.KAShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09745876085929812032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-16279478676010465542014-08-05T16:44:36.268-07:002014-08-05T16:44:36.268-07:00Ugh, I'm at Barnes and Noble and I think I jus...Ugh, I'm at Barnes and Noble and I think I just lost my comment. A friend of mine dreamed last night her daughter traded her legs in for a pig hoof transplant. I sure spiritualist that! About three years ago we went though downsizing with my parents. It's difficult when everything holds childhood memories. One thing that helped is taking pictures of precious (to us!) things. We have the same emotional pull when we look at the picture but the stuff is gone. I love how you back your posts up with so much Scripture. I always look forward to them. ~PamelaPamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577919062812348914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-66953117338974830682014-08-05T16:44:05.265-07:002014-08-05T16:44:05.265-07:00As someone with a degree in counseling, I have to ...As someone with a degree in counseling, I have to say, I think you did a pretty fine job as a "couch psychologist" ;-D. Really, the memories you have bravely allowed yourself to dig through here, all the emotions this raises and the way you are sifting through, is not easy for any of us. I think you're courageous. I love how you're gracious with yourself, too, trusting that the One who knows you so well understands the way you tick - and in the struggle of it all, you land on the real treasure. We're all in process, aren't we? I appreciate you sharing this story through Unforced Rhythms. Amber Cadenashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16495600314886616325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-27769148746860833352014-08-05T16:36:16.020-07:002014-08-05T16:36:16.020-07:00Hello, I felt so to think really we all have the s...Hello, I felt so to think really we all have the same feelings deep down! But in the long run as we get rid of things we are free to move and change things up. I have always said give things away and God will give you new things. Release is very freeing to some of us! You just have a very big heart and tender! <br />Thanks for sharing Sweet dreams always, Roxyliving from glory to gloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123718369605106023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-78450055076198668492014-08-05T15:21:32.130-07:002014-08-05T15:21:32.130-07:00I hang on to things for sentimental reasons but al...I hang on to things for sentimental reasons but also, as Wanda said, I think I might need something one day. I guess everyone holds on to too much stuff but I don't mind keeping things that were given to me by those I love. Those things hold a special place in my heart. As we have gotten older my hubby and I have given more and more things to charities, Goodwill, etc. Good post, again, dear Sharon.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10888547092318964711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-8580883182379835622014-08-05T15:01:53.833-07:002014-08-05T15:01:53.833-07:00Yet another thing we have in common Sharon, althou...Yet another thing we have in common Sharon, although my clinging to things doesn't seem to be because of emotional reasons. I tend to think I just might need the one day. I had every intention of getting rid of stuff while I was off on vacation but sadly I haven't gotten rid of anything and it's time to get back to work. Wandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07438544740170524813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-60076481386397857032014-08-05T14:23:55.028-07:002014-08-05T14:23:55.028-07:00I hung on every word of this. I wish that I had hu...I hung on every word of this. I wish that I had hung here sooner, but I was called away yesterday before getting a change to read like I wanted to. <br /><br />I see SO MUCH here. It's not just the "stuff" for me, although I am trying to have much, much more discipline with that than ever before. For me, it's the abstract "stuff" that I think I have given away but am clearly not willing to see it float out to see because I am constantly swimming out to retrieve it. <br /><br />This post made me think about how happy I am when I look in a closet or other "innie paradise" as I call it around here and find it more empty than full. I get a feeling of being able to BREATHE. I think God wants me to have that same feeling with my emotional stuff. I think He is really tired of me cleaning out my emotional closets and then running out to the emotional thrift store and buying back my JUNK. <br /><br />Make sense? I hope so. <br /><br />I'm trying to get my act together. I even dyed my hair darker today just to help my brain along. I'll let you know how it goes...Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05671482394424988047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-77939404130827418152014-08-05T14:22:49.589-07:002014-08-05T14:22:49.589-07:00Your post triggered a memory that I will write up ...Your post triggered a memory that I will write up a short story and I will mention your post in my story. ♥a joyful noisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08712092116466408490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-16414037240552006562014-08-05T12:26:05.859-07:002014-08-05T12:26:05.859-07:00Loved this post! I have "stuff" and many...Loved this post! I have "stuff" and many times a too close attachment to it. I am in the process of purging a lot of my stuff this summer. It is hard and so time consuming. Somedays more stays than goes. I need to keep reminding myself that I can't take it with me when I'm gone and remember that God is all that matters. Blessed to be visiting you from Testimony Tuesday. MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-37404132711986106572014-08-05T11:34:35.495-07:002014-08-05T11:34:35.495-07:00I think I live right at the base of the hill from ...I think I live right at the base of the hill from you. I will remember to pray for you when we see those storms roll over the mountains. I remember the one last year. Scary! I totally understand attachment to stuff. It seems like there are cycles of seasons where, for a period of time, things aren't necessary then we give them away only to move on to another season where particular items would now be useful again. I have to trust God to provide for each season when that anxiety rises up. Thank you for sharing! I hope you have found much comfort in knowing that you are not alone and so many share your struggles. Blessings! Rachael Rachael @ Inking the Hearthttp://inkingtheheart.weebly.com/inking-the-heart-blog/finding-rest-in-restlessnessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-28917987844046231112014-08-05T11:22:23.452-07:002014-08-05T11:22:23.452-07:00Stuff does have value and memories with it, but we...Stuff does have value and memories with it, but we must hold everything loosely and let it go at any time. I recently told my girls to look through my pretties and take anything they would like to have. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us here at "Tell me a Story.a joyful noisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08712092116466408490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-88499845678208927922014-08-05T08:53:45.581-07:002014-08-05T08:53:45.581-07:00First of all, you are definitely not weird. I can ...First of all, you are definitely not weird. I can relate so much to this habit. I'm a hoarder. Anytime I'm excited to throw things away, even things that haven't proven useful for years, I have a hard time with it. I think it's definitely true to say that the circumstances of our upbringing play a role in shaping our relationships to material things, possessions, money, 'stuff'. But like you say, God really does set us free, some times instantly, other times gradually. I've known both instances. But I think the cool thing is the way he'll use our experiences and stories to help one another in that process of liberation. This post is a great example of that. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805672470482986932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-55609005921725149382014-08-05T08:30:22.002-07:002014-08-05T08:30:22.002-07:00Without my husband, I might be a hoarder too. I at...Without my husband, I might be a hoarder too. I attach lots of sentimental value to things as well. That was a crazy dream, the kind I would have. But very interesting! And a great reminder that stuff is just stuff; only Jesus lasts.Lisa notes...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07103364395238899215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3168946904182381428.post-89319483290593138402014-08-05T06:45:53.268-07:002014-08-05T06:45:53.268-07:00Great post - so transparently honest and vulnerabl...Great post - so transparently honest and vulnerably written. Thank you for sharing this... I'm sure it touches most of us. Gentle Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11625746235099531114noreply@blogger.com