Karen Moore's Blog, page 11

What If I’m the Obstacle?

I usually thrive on setting goals, diving into a new project, and finding my way toward a fulfilling solution. I love starting a new idea and watching it grow to become something I never even imagined at the start. I love creating a new book and allowing it to unfold in ways that alluded me at the beginning. Oh, yes, and I love when a book is done! 

Sometimes though, I find myself in a space where I can’t form an idea that has any merit at all. It’s not that ideas don’t come, it’s that they don’t form a relationship with me so I can work with them. When that happens, they fade away, and I try again to imagine what I should do next. So, I wanted to share what I’ve discovered. I’ve learned that almost always, the biggest obstacle I ever have to overcome when I want to move forward, is myself. I’m reminded of the quote from Mother Teresa where she said, “Let me get out of the way, Lord!” That’s me! Let me get out of the way!

When I’m in the way, it usually means this has happened. I’ve gotten away from the One source that guides me. I may do my morning devotions, but I’m a half-hearted reader.  My thoughts are overloaded with my current life concerns. My heart is trapped in worry. My ideas run around like they’ve been caught up in a whirlwind, but they never quite land. It appears that I am truly the obstacle. 

It reminds me of a prayer time I had a while back when I imagined I was following Jesus up the side of a mountain trail. I was following, but like my half-hearted devotions, I was only somewhat attentive to things around me. Absorbed in my thoughts, I finally realized I was facing a huge obstacle. It rose like a pillar and blocked my way. I called out to Jesus, but by then, He was way ahead. Like I’ve done in so many frustrated prayers, I called out in anguish, and He stopped. He turned. He started back toward me, and I watched Him. He got bigger and bigger as He approached, and my obstacle got smaller and smaller. By the time, He reached me, the obstacle was just a pebble at my feet. He looked at me, stooped and picked up the pebble, and opened His hand to show it to me. Then, He smiled and tossed it over His shoulder. I blushed. I knew it was me that stopped looking at Him. I had created a pillar of worry. 

I often think of that prayer time, because I still can do that. I like to think I’m more quickly aware of setting up another obstacle. but I know it can happen in a heartbeat. I try to get out of the way.

Only Jesus can turn obstacles to pebbles and worry to peace. All He asks is that I keep looking up. Hope you keep looking up too.

Blessings to you.

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My People and Yours

It’s hard to be grateful for the difficulties in our lives, but it occurs to me that one of our greatest assets in times of trial, are those people who care about us, those folks we call “our people.”  For the past several weeks, my husband and I have been preparing ourselves for the fourth major surgery that he’s had in less than five years. Before the surgery, we were nervous. We didn’t know exactly how we would manage life because everything about it seemed scary. We quickly realized that God has blessed us with amazing, beautiful, wonderful people who have helped sustain us over the years as friends and family. The surgery was last Tuesday at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, nearly three hours from our home. Preparing for it was daunting, except for one important thing. We have people! 

We discovered we had angels in our midst as people stepped up to help us in every possible way. They prayed with us and for us. They asked their friends, who didn’t even know us, to pray as well. Before we knew it, we had friends from California, to Texas, to Savannah, to Lady Lake, and Nashville, and other places appealing to God on our behalf. They not only prayed, but they sent encouraging words, and gifts, and devoted their personal time to being sure we had what we needed. They helped us to see God’s hands at work, and before we knew it, we weren’t nervous anymore. We were fortified, enriched, and able to go with the mantra of “Just Trust” as one of our friends suggested.

Whatever is going on in your life, I pray that you have great people who surround you with courage and peace and prayers. God has put His people all over our planet and they sometimes become His ambassadors, His angels, His reminder that He will never leave us. My husband is still in the first week of his recovery and it’s not going to be easy. The surgery relieved one aspect of pain but brought on another. That means we will still have to accept the help of our friends and the encouragement of those who love us because the journey isn’t over yet. I tend to think that it’s a rare day that we don’t need the support of our loved ones. All I know is that when any of them need me, I hope I respond with a resounding note of joy because I want to be one of “their people.” 

May God fill your life with people who bring courage and joy to your soul.

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Faith Fullness

Recently, I was struck by the word “faithful.” I couldn’t help thinking that faithful must mean, “full of faith.” Okay, that made me realize that it’s unlikely I’ve ever been “full” of faith. I’ve had some faith, but I’m probably down a quart or two most of the time, when it comes to “full” faith. I do like the Hebrews 11:1 verse that says, “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.” 

I think I understand that idea. After all, that’s the faith by which I perceive the world, and even my family and friends because I have hope. My hope isn’t just whimsical or magical. It’s a hope based on the awareness that I am not in control and that God truly exists. Therefore, I believe many things that are still upside down in the world, can be turned right side up again. I feel sure God is with us, so I have hope, and that hope makes me want to have more faith.

I cling to this scripture from Deuteronomy that says, “So know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God. He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes for people who love him and obey his commands.” It reminds me that even if I have rocky faith, God doesn’t. He is forever faithful. He does not forget who we are. That idea encourages me to look for God in all things.

So if I have hope, and if God is faithful, than I have to actually want my faith to grow. Now, that’s a challenge. What will help fill up my faith quotient? Part of the answer has to do with the condition of my heart and my spirit, and the truth that I want to carry around with me. If I want faith to be my anchor, than I have to learn everything I can about it. That means I read God’s word and seek His direction. It means I trust Him when things look bleak, and I turn to Him when I don’t have any answers for the circumstances around me. To be full of anything, I have to do everything I can to discover it, trust it, and gobble it up. I have to immerse myself in it because just giving it a casual glance will never get me where I want to go. My fuel gauge will always be running on empty. Faith has to be active and running for it to ever get to fullness.

Finally, Hebrews 11: 6 says, “Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.”

Okay, I’m taking that as a challenge. I’m taking my scrawny faith and holding it up to God and saying, “Show me more. Teach me more. Help me become more faithful, more full of faith!

I like the little adage that says, “Doubt knocked on the door, but when Faith answered, no one was there.”  Maybe I simply have to trust that Faith will keep showing up, and fill my days with joy.

Blessings to you, oh, faithful friends!

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Because God Knows You

Have you ever considered what it really means that God knew you before you even arrived on planet earth? Psalm 139 tells us that God knew us as we were knit in our mother’s womb. That means God knew when you’d be here, and what you’d do with your life. He watched over your choices, your development, your sorrows, and your desires. Sometimes He let you wander off on your own, but He wouldn’t let you wander too far. At times He turned His head because it grieved His Spirit to see your rejection of all that He wanted for you.  Most of the time, He stayed close to you, even when you didn’t know He was there.

Why does He do all that? Because He wants to be part of all you do in life. He wants to make your soul dance. He wants you to know Him and love Him right back.

Think for a moment about the people who understand you really well. Walk back through some of your experiences together, remind yourself of the stories that helped you become great friends. When someone knows you well, they become your go-to person, your confidante and pal. You trust them with those deeper things you wouldn’t share with anyone else. You help each other through those troubles that come to all of us. It’s a thumbnail sketch of the kind of relationship God wants to have with you.

Because God knows you, His love for you never ends. Because of the work of Jesus, God sees your heart. He doesn’t just see your mistakes; He sees your potential. He knows who you are meant to be, and He works diligently to help you become your best self. When you look in the mirror, you may not know the person you see there because your reflection is only one tiny aspect of who you are. Your job is not who you are. Your bank account is not who you are. Your looks, your charm, and your education are not who you are. 

Under every circumstance requiring sympathy or celebration, you are and always will be, a known and beloved child of God.

If you are not certain about that, just ask God. He’ll help you figure things out.

Because God knows you, He will spend your entire lifetime trying to help you see that He is there.

From His view, to know you, is to love you!

 

 

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Your Way, My Way, God’s Way

The culture that spawned the “Me Generation” and the ideals of “looking out for number one,” has become part of everything we know. We applaud individualism and striving to find our personal best, and much of the time, it’s a really good thing. A part of me wonders though, if we can actually over-do a good thing. Can we get to the place where we prize one individual’s efforts or ideas so much, we forget about the common good? Can we treat every idea, even if we disagree with it, as okay simply because we want everyone to feel good? What happens then to any understanding of basic right and wrong? 

Our current culture feels a lot like the Old Testament description of the days that followed Joshua. Joshua became the leader of Israel in the Promised Land after the death of Moses. After Joshua died, there were generations that did not know about God because no one told God’s stories, and the people did what they thought was right in their own eyes. Chances are, that didn’t mean everyone was loving their neighbor as themselves.  

Personally, I can’t help wondering then, if we are doing a disservice to ourselves and to our families and our communities when we each march to a different drummer and leave everyone else behind? For those of us who believe God had a plan when He started this planet spinning, we might recall that this whole individualistic desire is what changed everything from the get-go. God had built a paradise, and the first two inhabitants of that world loved it until they decided to not do things God’s way. Given the chance to simply go after the forbidden fruit, they did so. They wanted to do things their way, even though they knew God firsthand.  Now we continually choose between doing things our way, or God’s way.  Maybe that helps us recognize how easily paradise was lost. 

God’s way is always about relationships. It’s not just me living in a world I created all by myself. It’s me living in a community, a place where people help each other, love one another, and find ways to make things better all together. Don’t misunderstand. I am all about good leaders, and people who open the door for others to see new possibilities. I just question where it ends if every individual is the priority, and nobody has a sense that we’re all in this together. 

I can respect your way, applaud your way, even admire your way, but I want you to like my way too.  After all, “I’m okay, you’re okay.” Your way, or my way though, can’t win over God’s way. I suspect that if God was to speak to us directly, He might ask, “So how’s that ‘going your own way’ thing working for you?”

One peek at the news and we can find the answer.

 

 

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Spur Me On, Lord!

I’ve always loved this Scripture from Hebrews 10:24. It says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Wow! What an idea! 

Sometimes we ponder what it means to have a purpose in life. Often when we do that, we’re looking for that exceptional thing we can do that will stand out, or stand the test of time, that thing we might even be remembered for. To that end, we imagine our purpose has something to do with achievement and goal setting and in some ways it does. But, wouldn’t it be something if our actual purpose, our real goal in life was simply to walk together and help each other along the way. What if we were designed to simply spur each other on to love and good deeds? 

It seems to me that the world would be a different place from the one that creates morning headlines. We wouldn’t be striving for something that might seem extraordinary and then feel discouraged when it just doesn’t happen. We would be focused on the other guy. We would be looking at each other and wondering what we can do to make a difference, to help bring relief to a difficult situation, or to give mercy and grace to someone we simply don’t understand. 

People have spurred me on in the work I do, encouraging me when I was ready to give up, speaking into me when I thought no one really noticed my efforts. Those people spurred me on toward love and good deeds. I often give thanks or say a prayer for those people who helped me get past the obstacles and encouraged me to stay the course. Maybe we could each do a little more of that. When we’re done, we can give thanks to God for putting those people in our path when we didn’t even realize how much we needed them.

Your kindness, your love, and your encouragement have worked to shape someone into being all God designed them to be. No doubt, someone in your life did that very thing for you. What fun it would be if we could all show up at the same party and give each other praise and High-fives for the gifts of love we shared. If you still wonder what your purpose might be as you rise each morning, maybe this will give you something to consider. Let’s do all we can to spur one another on toward love and good deeds!

May God bless you big today!

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Lost and Found

When you lose your car keys, it’s irritating, especially if you were trying to get somewhere and the clock is ticking! If you lose your gloves, you probably only miss them when there’s a chill in the air. Jesus talked about the woman who lost one of her ten coins, and about the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to go after the one that had strayed away. Both the woman and the shepherd celebrated when they found the thing that was lost.

With a little effort, you find your keys, and if you can’t find your gloves, you probably buy a new pair, but what do you do when you feel lost? What happens when you feel like you’re just wandering around, living without much purpose, and wondering what you should do next?  It’s unlikely that the local Lost and Found department can help. What can you do when you feel more lost than found?

Probably the first thing to do is go to the One who set up shop on planet earth simply to find the lost. Jesus came to find the lost sheep and bring them back to the fold. The times may have changed since Jesus was on earth, but the sheep are still lost, and the shepherd is still going out to search for them. Jesus wants to light your path so you can find your way home again. 

If you ever feel like you belong in the Lost and Found, remember that like the woman searching for the lost coin, you may have to sweep out some old thoughts and ideas, or be willing to move some things into the past that keep you from finding yourself in the present. When you do, you’ll discover lots of reasons to celebrate being you. You’ll want to call your friends and tell them how happy you are. 

Being in the Lost and Found isn’t comfortable. We don’t like losing our bearings. But like your keys that have been in plain sight all along, you’ll soon find your way again.

Keep in mind, the Good Shepherd always knows where you are. 

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I Forgive You…Sorta, Kinda!

So, as we consider the whole idea of forgiveness, it might be worth it to look at why God is so much better at it than humans are. After all, God forgives you and me every time we ask Him to. He forgives and then He lets the errors of our ways go, so neither of us have to think about them again. Of course, we still think about our sins and offenses, even if God doesn’t. Jesus said believers have to actually forgive each other at least 490 times. 490 times! Of course, most of us don’t carry a check list around to see if our offenders have exceeded their limit or not, but my musing today is about what it takes to truly forgive someone, over just kinda forgiving someone. The difference here is that partial forgiveness means we’re still holding on to the offense. The offense gives us a story to tell, so people sympathize with us. If we’ve already forgiven the person who mistreated us, or we don’t remember the offense, then we don’t have a good story to tell. But is that worth the sorrow it really causes?

One of the examples I appreciate from Jesus is that He often healed people by saying, “your sins are forgiven.” That is a bit puzzling because needing forgiveness doesn’t seem like the same thing as needing healing, or is it? What if our need to forgive, or our need to be forgiven is working against us? What if we have allowed memories to haunt us to the place where every time we go through them again, the hurt persists like an ulcer just eating away at us? 

Bitterness is a root that likes to be fed, that wants us to remember our pain. Bitterness carves a hole in the soul that weakens everything else about the body, blinding the heart and mind against any positive response. Yes, forgiveness for the bitterness and sorrow we carry around needs healing. When Jesus forgives us, He does so once and for all. He doesn’t hold anything back. That’s good, because every offense we’ve ever done to another human being, is really an offense we’ve committed against Jesus. That means only HIs forgiveness, His love, can heal us and give us a chance to move on. 

Human beings are equal opportunity offenders, but we are seldom equal opportunity forgivers. Perhaps today is a good time to seek God’s help in any area where forgiveness comes into play. You’ve sinned against others, they’ve sinned against you, and only God can work in your heart to find the peace that real forgiveness brings. Is it seventy times seven? Or is it seven hundred seventy times seven? 

The good news is that God doesn’t count all your sins.  He just wants you to have Jesus in your heart, mind, and soul. With Christ, you are totally healed, totally forgiven, and totally loved. 

There’s nothing kinda, sorta, about that!

 

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I Just Can’t Pray Today

Sometimes we struggle with our connections to others. We feel estranged from people in the family, because they simply can’t understand what we’re going through. We’re still hurt by the recent conversation we had with a friend and so we don’t feel like sharing our concerns with them right now. Beyond that, we simply aren’t convinced that talking about things will make a difference. Emotional reactions are part of living and so they can reflect reasons why we sometimes struggle to pray.

After all, what is prayer except the opportunity to talk to God about the things that matter to us? We choose to talk to God because we believe He cares about our lives and wants to help. We believe all that to be true until we become too weary, too discouraged, too uncertain to even lift our thoughts in prayer. We simply don’t have it in us.

The difference though in not being able to talk with your family and friends, and not being able to talk to God is significant. A conversation with other human beings depends on timing and emotions and opportunities to talk. As precious as it can be to share our hearts and minds with others, the outcome is always limited by their opinions or values or personal truths. God isn’t locked into any of those things. He is faithful, which means that any time you want to talk with Him, He shows up. You don’t need an appointment. You don’t need to be in a good mood. You simply have to desire His presence.

Since God is omnipotent, He already knows those things that you want to discuss. He knows you so well, He can hear all the things you don’t say, as well as those you do say. He understands you like no one else is able to. So, when you don’t feel like you can pray because you’ve already tried to pray many times, without sensing change, then do this. Tell God how difficult it is for you to pray because you’ve waited so long to hear from Him, or you’ve tried so hard to understand what He would have you do. Tell Him that you are willing to pray, even if you’re not sure why you do it. Honesty is always helpful to meaningful conversation.

As far as I can understand, there is only one prerequisite for talking to God. You have to invite Him into a conversation. When you humble yourself before Him and let Him shine His light into your heart and mind, you’ll be amazed at how much you enjoy praying again. After all, talking with someone who loves you is always a helpful thing.

God loves to hear you pray!

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How Big Is Your God?

Isaiah 44 reminds us that God was pretty specific about His role in the matters of planet earth. He said, “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. By myself I made the earth and everything in it.”

That is certainly clear! For me, that begs the question about how big we think God is. What do we truly believe God is able to do? Is it possible we’ve gotten so used to creating a God who fits in our own understanding, that we’ve lost sight of who God really is? It’s worth pondering because we live in a culture that applauds the intelligence of computers and the ingenuity of those with brilliant minds, and we leave all the credit in their hands. We are amazed at what man can do. Why aren’t we amazed at God’s creation?

Today, I’d like to pull us back to the beginning, to the One who actually ordained everything we see and literally placed you and I in the midst of it all. Sometimes I think we forget that God is not a human that we can manipulate or control or create into everything we want Him to be. God is supernatural! God is big! In fact, God is so big that nothing is too hard for Him. Imagine that! Nothing is too big for Him. If that’s the case, isn’t it odd that we work really hard to reduce God into something we can understand? Isn’t it amazing that we try so hard to put God in a box?

So here’s my thought. Give God a chance to be bigger in your life! Let Him create opportunities for you. Let Him guide you and inspire your way. When you do, the events of the world will not give you anxiety. The actions of others will not be all there is. Everything will have more possibility because you can see God’s hand at work. In fact, I feel pretty certain that the more you intentionally look for God, the more you will see Him. 

Let the Divine heart of God raise your spirits today!

 

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