Karen Moore's Blog, page 10

What’s in a Name?

 

Your name is a big deal!  When you enter into the world, your parents spend a lot of time figuring out what to name you. Sometimes they know your name will come from a relative or someone they admire. Other times they pour over baby name books, looking for something unique and special. It’s not easy because you will live with their choice for a long time.

Historically, names helped identify where a person lived, or what a person did for a living. In scripture, since they were patriarchal in their culture, names reflected their family of origin. Sometimes, God chose someone’s name. He sent angels to the parents of John the Baptist and to the parents of Jesus, defining their names and their life purposes. He sent prophets, like Isaiah, to declare the name of the One who would come to redeem the world.

As we get closer to Christmas, we might reflect on some of the names of Jesus. Isaiah 9 calls Him, “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.” The New Testament gives Jesus names like “Lamb of God, Light of the World, Messiah, and Name above all Names.” Imagine having the name above all names! The meaning of the name Jesus is “God is salvation.” He came into the world to redeem His people, and He was also called Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

When I looked up my family’s surname of Moore, I didn’t find anything quite so glorious. The Middle English definition means “area of uncultivated land.” Hmm! Not so fancy, really.  The Irish definition is somewhat better framing the name around a Gaelic descendent meaning “great chief or proud and mighty.” We gladly claim Thomas Moore who was an Irish poet, songwriter and entertainer. My dad liked to write poetry and so do I, so maybe there’s a connection in all this. Of course, Sir Thomas More, the former Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, must surely belong on our family tree, even with a slight change in the spelling. Hmm, so what’s in a name?

Whatever my name means, or yours, we will never have the multitude of stunning names given to us that lead people to salvation. That name belongs to only One, and as you reflect on all that Christmas means to you this year, give some genuine thought to what the name of Jesus means to you. Since everything about His name means “good news” to us, we know He will take all of our names and hold on to them throughout eternity.

This Christmas, bless His Holy Name!

 

 

 

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Christmas Prayers and Blessings

 

It’s Never Too Late

Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law. But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.

                                    Luke 1:6-7, NCV

 

Christmas is coming! Some of us decorate our homes, make multiple shopping lists, send greeting cards, and plan special events with family and friends.  It’s all wonderful!  In fact, it’s all Divine!  Christmas is God’s idea. He was the first gift giver. Let’s look at the way He answered the prayer of two of His faithful ones.

Meet Zechariah and Elizabeth…

Elizabeth and Zechariah lived simple lives, doing their best to serve the Lord. They were respected and loved by their friends and neighbors.  They trusted God could do anything. One of the prayers of their hearts was to have a child of their own. They prayed and prayed, but Elizabeth did not conceive.  They continued in prayer for many years until Elizabeth became too old for childbearing.  They were sad, but they accepted God’s direction for their lives.  There was nothing more they could do. Having a baby was simply impossible for them. 

So, What About You?

Have you ever prayed and prayed, hoping for a miracle for something important to you?  If you have, then you probably understand the disappointment Zechariah and Elizabeth may have felt. God knew their hearts, but He had a bigger plan for them.

God knows your heart too. Your prayer may seem impossible, or hopeless, but it isn’t. God is the same now as He was then. He still hears the prayers of His people.  

God Answers the Prayer

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.

            Luke 1:11-13, NIV

Zechariah was a priest and he had gone into the temple to pray.  He was chosen by lot to go and offer incense to the Lord.  As he prepared to do so, an angel appeared to Him. Zechariah was dumbfounded, amazed, and terrified all at once. As he struggled to recover, the angel spoke to him and tried to comfort his fears, immediately offering a message of hope.  He said, “God has heard your prayers.”

As Zechariah stood stunned by the appearance of the angel, he heard this message.  You’re going to have a baby!  Your prayer of many years is going to be answered. Not only that, but you will have a precious son whose name will be John.  Zechariah was so shocked by all of this, his mind could not take in the message.  “What are you saying? Elizabeth and I will have a baby son?”

The angel affirms this query and tells him that John will be a blessing to many. People will be happy he has been born. He will prepare the way for One who is to come.

As you prepare for Advent, think about what it would mean to you to know God is working even now to answer your heartfelt prayers.

 

Draw near to God this Christmas.  

Let Him know you are still listening, still hoping, and still trusting in His love and mercy.

God hears you when you pray!

 

 

 

 

 

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Keepsakes and Memories

One of the beauties of Christmas is that it inspires thoughts about family and friends who once shared the season with us and filled our hearts with warm memories. We fondly remember our family traditions. We’re touched by keepsakes of ornaments handed down to us and now displayed with great joy.

Here’s one of my memories as a young girl. We lived on a dirt road, in an old house that only had a coal stove for heat. Sometimes in stormy weather the windows would rattle as the cold air made its way through the house. My dad would put plastic sheets over the windows to help keep his little flock a bit warmer, and mom would keep the oven going making Christmas cookies and steamy soup. My sisters and I would dream of Christmas morning as we strung some popcorn to hang on the tree. We always had a fresh cut tree that dad dragged in from the woods right next to our house. It smelled like evergreen goodness for weeks. 

I remember one year when we’d had a lot of snow, and it was difficult to get a car up the hill we lived on. As a six-year-old, I worried about whether Santa could even manage to get to our house. After all, I wasn’t even sure he knew where we lived. I kept my worries to myself, while mom continued to bake red and white candy cane cookies, and chocolate fudge. She was particularly good at making fudge. My sisters and I all sang in the choir at the church and often had to walk down the hill to get there. I just remember my older sister doing her best to keep me warm as I trudged along, quite sure we’d all freeze to death.

When the big day finally came, it wasn’t the kids who jumped up in the early morning, scrambling to get to the Christmas tree. It was mom! She couldn’t wait to start Christmas because she was so excited about what she knew was under the tree. Wrapped in our big blankets, we’d head to the tree and wait with anticipation. We did our stockings first. There was always an orange, and some candy, and usually a new color book and crayons. There might even be an extra surprise or two. When the stockings were done, mom would hand out the first gift and off we’d go…new pajamas, check! New slippers, good! It was generally the time of year when we got a few very practical socks and underwear kinds of things. But then, it wasn’t over! At last, the present that had excited my mother enough that she couldn’t wait till morning. It was a new record player! It was given to my sister Donna, but it was a gift for all of us. We put on some music and danced around the living room. It was a moment that made my mother smile in ways I had rarely seen. 

As it turned out the snow was so deep, my aunt and uncle couldn’t get their car up our hill to come to dinner, but that didn’t stop them. They crunched through the deep snow, bearing new baby dolls for little girls and frilly purses to delight us. Despite the snow, it was one of our warmest Christmas’s ever!

That sweet memory blesses my life every Christmas. May God bless you as you unwrap some memories of your own this year!

Joy to the world!

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Time for an Advent-ure!

For those who celebrate Advent, the theme this year is share, share, share! It is an awesome theme for the Christmas season and one that inspires the heart. What do we mean by the word “share” that could make this season merrier for those around us? Here are a few thoughts. 

You can share…

…the Christmas Spirit–Christmas Spirit is the sense that hope fills the air, with something mysterious, something wonderful. Our minds are awed by the idea of shepherds who were astonished by the glorious sight of angels as they proclaimed that the Son of God, the Redeemer of all humankind had been born. They were amazed at the sight of angels and so are we as we try to imagine it. It’s the story of love that we’ve heard every year since we were born, the one that still captivates us and gives us a desire for good to win out over suffering, and for joy to permeate every sweet soul. It’s our chance to share the Light of the world.

… the attitude of Christmas, the one that makes us feel more loving and giving and generous. We look for ways to give to community services, and volunteer in soup kitchens and nursing homes and homeless shelters. It’s our opportunity to be grateful for the abundance that blesses our lives every day and open our hands and hearts to those in greater need than we are. It’s a chance to pray for people who seldom have anyone to lift them up into the ever-faithful presence of God. It’s music that fills our souls with delight and carols that we love to sing over and over again. It’s an attitude of sharing.

…the symbols of Christmas that decorate our homes, reminding everyone that we still believe in the beauty of Christmas. It’s sharing gifts of love with those around us, and baking cookies that make every one smile. It’s Santa and reindeer and little faces anticipating the big day. It’s a feeling that only comes once a year.

Chances are, you know a few people who have lost their Christmas Spirit and mumble a few “humbugs” as they go through the season. They imagine it to be some kind of retailer’s holiday, some opportunity for endless charities to ring your bell. It could be that of course, if we let it be that, but it can be so much more. It can be the sweetest memory of childhood, the miraculous story of courage, the simple reflection of all that it means to spread joy and love. It’s all up to you, of course. God did His part. He sent a gift of love that exists for all eternity. 

With a little Christmas Spirit, we can return the favor. Thanks for all you do to make a difference at Christmas and all through the year.

Let the advent-ure of sharing begin! 

 

PS: Thanks to FeedSpot for featuring my blogs in the Top 100 Christian Women Blogs. Please check their site when you get a chance.

 

 

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Okay, What’s Your Point?

Most of us are curious and inquisitive. It’s important for us to know why something must be done, or why we should think a certain way. In fact, we are easily irritated if it takes someone too long to get to the point of any conversation. Of course, time is a factor, because we never imagine we have enough of it, but what else drives this need? How do we understand the point of life?

We may assume life has something to do with the things we achieve, or the status we bear. We imagine if we work hard enough, create an accumulation of things, and are generally kind to others, we will see life through a positive lens.  Therefore, what we achieve or what we do must be the point of life.

The problem is that over time we recognize life has little to do with what we become, or what we achieve. Those things alone are simply one measure, so Life must have another point altogether.  When we put God into our story, we see that the point of life is about what we allow God to do with our time and talents. If we give God room to guide our steps and give us the knowledge we need, then we discover our achievements have everything to do with Him, and little to do with us. After all, He inspired our hearts, gave us our gifts, and opened doors for us. The more we know God, the more determined we are to get to His point. We want to understand His purpose and plan, His intentional design for us. 

Some of us still don’t understand the point. We want it to be made clear, set in stone, or black and white. Of course, if we think about it, we know it has been set in stone, in black and white, in “lossless” audio, in UHD, and nearly any way God can reach us. The more we move away from the attitude of, “I can do all things,” and adopt an attitude of, ” I can do all things through Christ,” the greater will be our life experience. We won’t care as much about what’s in our trophy case, as about what God has done for us and within us.

So, to repeat an old adage, “We are not human doings, but human beings.” We are striving to be all that God knows we are meant to be.

That means the point of life isn’t about our humanness, but about our holiness. 

I think I need to ponder that point. 

Blessings to you!

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With Every Birthday Candle

As a long-time greeting card writer, I’ve had the chance to write a lot of birthday cards. It’s an assignment that can seem fairly simple as you write the first dozen or so, but if you have to write twenty-five, let’s say, it becomes a different project. It causes you to have to really think about what it means to people at various ages to celebrate another birthday. When you’re three like my grandson, Morgan, you ask your mom to make an excavator cake and she does! I’ve got pictures! Whew! If you’re going for a milestone birthday, like any of those that end in zero, you’re pretty good until they move past the 4-0 and the 5-0 and maybe the 6-0. One of my dear friends just passed the 8-0, and I have another who will soon reach 1-0-0. 

Of course, we all appreciate the benefits of birthdays because it means we’re ready to celebrate another year, and the older we get, the more we appreciate life. So what are birthdays besides milestones and chances to blow out birthday candles and open gifts from the people who love us? I think they are chances to really celebrate all that we have, and all that God has done for us. They are an opportunity to pull up a cozy chair and make a note of the things that were special just this past year. They are an opportunity to reflect on where we want to go from here. My thought is that as long as we’re breathing, then there’s more for us to do, more that God intends for us. After all, we don’t get to go home until our work is done. 

If you haven’t thought about any of this lately, let me remind you of why you are so special. You are special in every way, because there is absolutely no one who is just like you. You are unique and God designed you with great pleasure and purpose. He knew what you came to this planet to do, and He’s been applauding you and upholding you and guiding you every step of the way. He sees everything you’ve done and all you’ve tried to do and He’s so proud. You are some of His best handiwork! 

If you aren’t sure about all that, then just look at where you are and where you want to be and blow out one birthday candle with gratitude. After that, blow out one that frees you of those crazy things you’ve long ago been forgiven. Blow out the one that wants to hold you back, and the one that shines for all you’ve learned. Blow out the one that stands for love. Oh wait, it relit itself. 

Your birthday is not only important to you, but also to everyone who has come to know you and love you, and who has been blessed by your presence in their lives. Remember that the God of all that’s possible is doing a happy dance on your birthday and looking forward to what you’ll do next.

Happy Birthday, to our dear friend, Robert! 

And Happy Birthday when your day comes around again, because you mean the world to more people than you know. 

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Grateful for You!

The season of autumn, arrayed in all its glory, comes with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. A bright chorus of gold and orange and reddish leaves trumpet the amazing things that God has done and when we choose to see it, it comes alive in living color. We are grateful then for what we have been given and so we celebrate with friends and loved ones to declare the hope we have each day and the blessings we’ve received.

So, what is an image of gratitude? What one thing in your life causes you to feel grateful, to know for sure that you are blessed beyond measure? If you think about it here, you’ll have an easier time as you go around your Thanksgiving table defining something you truly feel grateful for. Of course, there’s never just one thing. At Thanksgiving we might share how much we appreciate the people at our dinner table who have been with us, supported us, loved us, and walked with us through all life brings. We might be grateful for mom’s apple pie, or our aunt’s squash casserole. It’s a wonderful gathering of people who know us well and love us despite our idiosyncrasies. 

We might be thankful that our puppy has finally stopped chewing slippers or that our pets are such a gift to us. We could go on and on about our children and how much they have grown and blossomed into beautiful human beings. We may give praise for the friends who sustain us and laugh with us and who simply know us so well we are at home any time we’re together. 

Some of us will remember difficult times and be grateful they are over. We’ll see how God’s hand was at work in our lives and how much we realize we couldn’t have come this far without His guidance and blessing. We appreciate that with God we can be authentic since there’s nothing about us God doesn’t know already. That means we don’t have to pretend to be anything but the one He designed. 

If we were challenged to make a list of everything we are thankful for, we might find it humbling to see how much we have been given, how fulfilling and joyful our total existence is.  We would probably note the little things that make a difference in our day, things like good coffee on a chilly morning, or moments of peace and quiet when we can reflect on life and love and what an honor it is to be a child of God. All of these things matter, and we are truly blessed.

For you, my dear friends, who support my work, who read my blogs, and buy my books and share my thoughts with others, for you, I am continually grateful. You inspire my heart with your sweet comments, and you give me a desire to try harder to do work that helps in some way. You give me purpose and strength and joy. I am ever so grateful for each of you! May God bless you over and over again!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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It’s Clean Slate Day!

Hey, welcome to Clean Slate Day! This is the day you can let go of all those past miseries that keep you loaded with grief. You can rise up and be ready to shine because God’s promise to you is this. The RSV version of Lamentations 3:22-23 says: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

Wow! What a powerful thought! You and I just need to remember that God’s love is steadfast. What does that mean? It means that it is firm, fixed, not subject to change. Have you ever experienced love like that? I hope so, but the fact is that’s exactly how you are loved. I’m thinking that if God can’t change that part of Himself, you can’t either. His love never ceases and that means He’s all about you, He wants every good thing to happen for you and in you and with you. He won’t stop trying to give you the moon or whatever it is that makes you recognize how close He is to you. 

Now look at the next part of that scripture. His mercies never come to an end. Do you or have you ever needed mercy? Have you ever felt humbled by the things you’ve done that break God’s heart? If so, your willingness to put your humble self before Him, allows Him to extend never-ending mercy to you. He sees that your heart is sad that you walked away on your own. He sees that you need His mercy and grace and kindness to overflow in your life. 

If God’s steadfast love and His mercy are made new every morning, then you can declare it “Clean Slate Day” any time you want. All you have to do is acknowledge that you’ve got a few things you’d like to erase, or apologize for, or confess to, and once you’ve done that, God shows up. He shows up to give you love and forgiveness. Whew! Don’t you feel lighter already? 

With that fresh glow of grace that you received this morning, you can cast your beam on someone else who needs to know that it’s Clean Slate Day. Hope you have fun watching those around you wake up to the joy of knowing it’s a new day and all is well! 

Happy Clean Slate Day my friends!

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Give Me Some Space, Please!

Psalm 118:5, NIV says, “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.”

Have you ever felt somewhat hemmed in by your surroundings, or the noises in your head? You can feel so confined, you hardly know how to think your own thoughts. It’s interesting that in this Psalm, when the writer is hard-pressed, struggling, feeling pressure from every side, God answers by bringing him to a spacious place. God gets him out of the box, out of that sense of being fenced in and puts him in a place where he can breathe. If you’ve ever asked someone to “give you some space,” or give you some quiet time to think things out, this Psalm may resonate with you.

As human beings, we often feel pressured by our jobs or our families, or even by the dismal news that plays on day after day. We wish we had more time because there never seems to be enough time to do all we intend. Of course, sometimes we create the box we’re in all by ourselves. We say “yes” to one more project, committee meeting, or family responsibility than we can actually handle. We fill up the calendar and wonder when we’ll get a break, or when we’ll have time to do the simple things like reading a book or talking to a friend. 

Imagine now that you are looking at a beautiful landscape that goes on for miles in every direction. Nothing disturbs it. Nothing seems hurried. It just goes blissfully on as far as the eye can see. Hold that image and breathe in the presence of God’s spirit, allowing Him to fill you with a deep sense of peace. That panoramic view offers perspective and calm. In that place, you can put down the stress and the anxiety of life and let yourself be free to enjoy the moment.  That’s what God did for the psalmist, and that’s what He lovingly does for you. Just call out and He will answer.

The One who created time and space and everything your eye can see knows what you need. He’ll help you step away from the pressing things and move closer to the blessing things. Give God all the space that surrounds you and He will bless you in great measure. 

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Prayer: The Last Resort, or the First

Most of us have a personal definition of prayer. For some of us, it’s a mystery. We don’t quite understand why God is so willing to lean in and talk to us. After all, we’re just doing our best to live a decent life. Some of us imagine we commune best with God when we’re walking on a mountain path or staring up at a moonlit sky. That sense of peace can certainly feel like a prayer. Some of us seek God when we’re in trouble, or we feel troubled for the circumstances someone dear to us is experiencing. The fact is that whether we’re foxhole pray-ers or early morning pray-ers, we have the opportunity to take advantage of the greatest gift God could give humanity. He opened the channels of communication just for us. He instigated this thing called prayer. He instructed us to call on His name any time we needed His help, His comfort, His direction for our lives. He made it possible! 

Imagine what it would be like if you were facing a dark moment, a sense of confusion or hopelessness, and you had nowhere to turn for help? Imagine what it would mean if you could not bow your head, or raise your arms, or sit silently in the presence of the One who designed everything you know. It seems to me that prayer is the greatest privilege of being human. It is the most important heart-to-heart dialogue you will ever have. Why? Because you ask and God hears. God hears and at precisely the right time, He answers. He answers because you are precious. You are one of the most important humans He ever designed. He was there when you were knit in your mother’s womb, it says in Psalm 139. That means He knows you and there is never anything you need to hide from Him. He sees you and loves you just as you are. 

So, sometimes I wonder why it takes us so long to ask God for help. If we had access to some of the greatest sages, teachers, and thinkers of all time, wouldn’t we be continually bombarding them with questions, and waiting for instructions and messages that would help us live better lives? Ah, but we do have that kind of access. We can tune in to God before we get into difficulty. We can seek His help before we make a life-changing decision or before we act on a temptation and lose our way. God is ready anytime to meet us and help us. If only we would start with Him, instead of choosing HIs help as a last resort.

I simply want to encourage you to trust that God is there and know that He cares about every detail of your life. He wants good things for you, and He will show up when you call His name. All you have to remember is that prayer was God’s idea in the first place. He invites you into a conversation any time you choose. Prayer is a rock. It’s a place you can stand that will always lift you up and give you strength.

Let’s always pray for one another. Let me know how I can pray for you. 

And here’s where it started: Seth also had a son, and they named him Enosh. At that time people began to pray to the Lord.”  Genesis 4:26, NCV

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