Karen Moore's Blog, page 16

As Is

Have you ever checked the clearance aisle in a store and seen some articles that were slightly damaged, or somewhat faded, so they were marked, “as is?” Of course, the understanding is that if you purchase those items you have to take them as they are. They won’t be fixed or repainted or rebuilt in any way. You simply agree to purchase them “as is.”

This is such a great phrase because it’s actually a reminder to each of us that we were initially accepted by God, “as is.” We invited Him into our lives, and despite the cleaning up that He knew would have to be done, He came. He saw us just as we were, knew we’d need some fixing up to be worthy of Him, but when we accepted His Son, He had a place to start. He could work with us, reshape us and even rebuild those broken parts of us to make us whole again. It was a great day. In fact, it was the greatest day of our lives!

So, what have we done for Him since then? Are we shinier, handier, more useful in any way than when He first found us? Have we allowed Him to clean us up, so we no longer have those old attitudes and ideas? We can get a little rusty, or a bit stuck in old habits and patterns that don’t serve us well. Sometimes we’re so enamored of the person we imagine ourselves to be, that we’re not even aware that we need shaping. We even think others are wrong who might try to change us. We tell them, we are fine just the way we are. We try to convince them to accept us “as is.” The problem is that they can’t actually do much to help move us along, and when we’re stuck in our own tin can, kind of like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, we can’t tell how to fix ourselves. We need help. We need extra oil.

Often, we forget who we are; forget that God has claimed us and made us His own. The Scripture says that God makes us new every morning. Wow! That’s a pretty awesome thing! Every day, we wake up shiny and new, ready to take on the world. When we do, we’ll encounter a lot of people who want us to accept them just as they are, “as is.” The good news is that we can. We can do that because we have the light of Christ within us and that light will keep us confident and strong. We might even help a few of our brothers and sisters discover they too can be renewed. They just have to ask Jesus to accept them, “as is.”

You’re looking really awesome today!

 

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Prayers for Women Around the World

Since March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day, I’d like to dedicate this blog to lift up women around the globe. No matter where we live, no matter what our back story may be, we can learn from one another and equip each other to do the work we do in the world. Women of every age and stage face the critical bias of the times in which they live. Back in 1909 when the first Women’s Day movement began, it was about equal rights for women, and about giving women the right to vote in national elections. Now, over one hundred years later, we still find women around the world who do not have a say in what happens in their governments, or even a say over what to wear or how to live happily and well. This day is set aside to celebrate the achievements of women and the strides they have made toward freedom of choice and the opportunity to become all that they were designed to be.

Lord,

Today we pray for the women around the world to be strengthened in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for their good health and for the options they have to live full and rewarding lives. We pray that every need they have, emotionally, physically, and spiritually would be filled by Your gracious hand. We ask for discernment and compassion to open doors that have been closed to them before. Give them the freedom to learn all that they can about their chosen field of discipline and help them become generous leaders in the work they do.

Look into the heart of each woman who seeks You and help her rise above the challenges and the obstacles that may confront her. Help women in every culture to lead with integrity, with intelligence, and with a heart for those around them. Inspire their thoughts with a desire to know You, the Creator of the whole universe, the One who knows each one of them by name.

Thank you for those women who have paved the way for better jobs, equal pay, and leadership positions. Help those who are broken-hearted and uncertain about where to go from here. Send them relief and renew their spirits. Empower those who are overwhelmed and sustain those who are working night and day to make a difference. Let every woman feel Your presence and know that you will provide the gifts and talents they need right now.

We pray for our grandmothers to be bold in their beliefs and blessed beyond measure.  We pray for married women and single women to be strengthened in every possible way. We pray for women who know exactly what they want to do to make the world a better place to be encouraged to do so. We pray for our sisters and daughters to be filled with love and possibility. We pray this will be the year of joyful celebration for women in every walk of life, every nationality, every faith, and every creed. Bless each one with Your grace and mercy. 

Thank you for being with women everywhere.

Amen

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Keep on Glowing!

It gave me great joy recently to spend time with a couple hundred amazing women and talk about prayer. Prayer is one of those topics that pulls us together in a sense of community and it also gives us a chance to be close to God in real and personal ways. Sometimes we can pray with every fiber of our being, invested in each word, passionate and certain about this sacred form of communication, and other times, we stumble through the words, not quite sure where we want to go. The blessing to us is that God hears our prayers either way. He sees us heart first and so whatever is moving our spirits to connect with Him, matters in a big way. Personally, I am a student of prayer with a lot to learn. I want to discover more of what is possible in prayer, what I can do to build a deep and lasting relationship with the only One who truly has answers to the things of this world. He knows we need Him. 

From my view on the stage at this event, I could see the beautiful faces of women who are just like me, still open to finding all the ways they can know God better and shine their light. I think the room fairly glowed with joy. I wrote a little poem a while back, (I told you I was once a greeting card writer) that I want to dedicate to the ladies of New Covenant Methodist Church, and it goes like this:

Keep Glowing!

You have a light inside you

That is meant for you to share,

And when God looks from Heaven,

He sees you shining there.

He sees you lift a  burden.

Or dry another’s tear,

He sees your warmth and love

For those you hold most dear.

You are the light from Heaven,

A joy to those you know…

You make the world a brighter place

By giving it a glow!

 

I am so grateful that we can trust God with our prayers, our hopes, and our dreams. He knows what lies before us and wants to help us with every step we take. We simply have to call His name!

Blessings, dear friends.

Let’s keep praying with all our hearts, minds, and, souls!

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It Sure Is Dark In Here!

Most of us feel uncertain when we’re surrounded by darkness. Dark country roads and dark city streets can shake us up a bit, reminding us how vulnerable we are. We hear more sudden noises and see more shadows in the tiny bits of light around us. Even childhood images of being in dark places flash through our minds. Yes, we definitely want a flashlight.

I remember when I was just a kid, we lived on a country road and sometimes we’d be walking home from some event at church or from a friend’s house and the dirt road would seem so much longer, so much scarier. My sisters and I would talk along the way to help relieve the tension we felt. I can even remember taking that walk alone a few times and praying the whole way home. 

Even King David was leerier of things in the dark. In Psalm 143 he sent up this prayer. He said, “My enemies are chasing me; they crushed me to the ground. They made me live in darkness like those long dead. I am afraid; my courage is gone.”

Fortunately, we seldom face that kind of darkness, but we can still have moments when our courage is gone, and we feel afraid. Hearing of devastating news from around the world, or in our own backyard can do that. Getting a startling diagnosis that came on like a crouching enemy we didn’t even know was there, can do that. Simply making changes, moving forward, trying new things, can all do that. There may be no limit to the things that cause us to feel afraid and lose our courage.

So, here’s the reminder! God sees just as well in the dark as He does in the light! He knows exactly what is going on with you and He never leaves your side. He walks with you on a dark road, one where uncertainty looms in the shadows. The shadows cannot extinguish His light though. He rushes toward you to put an arm of protection around you, offering you peace in the very moment you need it most. He hears your prayers and lights the way for you to walk more closely with Him. Jesus is the Light of the world, and nothing can change that. His light came on inside you the day you invited Him into your heart. He’s still there and nothing can separate you from Him. No darkness can overshadow you. You’re always on His radar so hold on to your courage, lift up your hands in praise, and remember you walk in the comfort of God’s love wherever you are. Most days, you won’t even need a flashlight. 

Oh, yes, here comes the sun!

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If I Could Start Again

Sometimes, I look at the woman in the mirror and I try to imagine what I would do differently if I could start again. What if I could turn back time, have the perspective I have now, and make wiser choices. What if I could get it right more often, follow the rules more clearly, and understand things better? That’s a big thought! Then right behind it comes one more thought…don’t look back. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife, she got stopped in her tracks and couldn’t go any further. She got stuck forever. 

The good news is you don’t even have to remind God to forgive you again for the things you did so foolishly, because once you have offered Him your heartfelt sorrow, He cleans the slate. He removes your wretchedness as far as the east is from the west. He wants only one thing. Don’t do that again and move forward. Trust Him more fully.

You can start over, you can fail, and you can start over again. The better you learn the lessons from your failures, the better your future will be. God will help you. In fact, He will lead you to the places you need to go, the ones He designed for you in the first place. You don’t have to resist His help or wait till later to get in line with Him, you can do it now. You can start over this very minute. 

There is a catch! You do have to do more than ask for forgiveness. You have to ask for forgiveness with your whole heart. You have to mean what you say. You have to seek God’s ways for your life like you’ve never done before. He doesn’t want the old you! He wants the new you! He wants the you that asks for His help, that surrenders your ego and your plans. He wants the you that won’t look back. The Creator, the One who designed you with a particular purpose in mind, is standing there with you at the mirror. He sees you and He knows you regret the foolish things you did in years past. All He wants is for you to reach out to Him, trust Him with your life from here, and know that He wants only your good. He wants you to thrive and live fully and happily. He wants you to leave regret behind. Don’t turn around! 

Jesus walks before you, beside you and with you always. Seek Him. Know Him. Give Him a chance to help you become all you were meant to become. 

After all, He makes things new every morning!  Even you!

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Another Step Forward

Making progress! Moving on! Yes, that’s what we want. We want to feel like we’re getting somewhere and that what we’re doing is worth the effort. We want to stop looking back and just keep our faces toward the sun. Oh, that sounds good! 

So, what gets in the way? Why is it that we often take one step forward and two steps back? From a secular perspective there are a number of things we could talk about here, but let’s work on this thought as people of faith. Why do we still find ourselves standing behind the obstacles?

If you’ve been trying to meet a new goal but haven’t gotten there yet, consider some of these ideas. To get started on anything important, you have to take it to God. God is the greatest resource we have for getting things done. When we start with Him in heartfelt prayer, ready to listen and consider any direction He gives, good things happen. With this step, we let God know we care about what He wants for us. We care about the relationship we’re building with Him. Even good things like volunteering and joining groups, can keep us from what we are meant to do. In prayer, we discover the truth of anything we clearly believe is important. 

Once we’ve prayed and are confident we’re on a good track, then moving forward should be easy. Right? No, not really! Just because it sounds like a good idea, you still may have to gather additional tools or skills to get the job done. It may mean you have homework to do and people to meet. It may mean you’re the right person for the job, but you’re not quite fully equipped. Diving into Scripture could allow the Holy Spirit to reveal possibilities to you, things you may have not considered.

If you have fears or doubts, they can cause you to procrastinate, putting off till tomorrow the things that would move you ahead today. You’ll invite interruptions, distractions, and endless reasons why you have other things that must get done before you can get back to this one thing…the thing that is your calling.

How do I know all this? I know because I’ve done it many times. When I have a new book idea and feel clearly that I have understood the direction God would have me go, I still will hesitate. I’ll question whether I heard God right, or whether I should give it more time before I start. All I understand now is that if I don’t move forward, eventually God will give that assignment to someone else. Believe me, I’ve had it happen to me.

So, today, let’s make some progress. Let’s make sure we love the idea we want to pursue. Let’s pray about the idea until we are clear that we have the green light from God. Let’s keep praying about the idea with every step of the development, seeking counsel from others, and support from Scripture. Let’s not overthink it or put off the things that we know without any doubt are ours to do. After all, God has already gone ahead of you, and He knows exactly where you’ll end up. Just trust Him! He’s right there with you!

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Thou Shalt Not Scam Thy Neighbor

Ever since the New Year began, my phone has been blowing up with scammers!  They come with bold, bald-faced lies of everything and anything they can do to get me to fall for their scheme. “Oh, you can now drive your car again,” said one. Well, I never stopped driving my car, so that one didn’t catch me. “Oh, your order has been sent, so here’s your invoice for $480.” Of course, I didn’t order anything. Most of the time, I delete these things, or I send them off to a website that handles fraud. The problem is, they just keep coming. It is beyond annoying.

2021 showed an increase of nearly 70% in the number of scams being orchestrated by imposters and investment schemers. That amounted to over $5.8 billion. The most common scams were those surrounding Cryptocurrency, rental assistance, tax imposters, and bogus debts. The problem is that the scammers are good. They do their homework, they know where you are vulnerable, know where you live, and have mastered the art of deception. If you want to know what the devil looks like, here he is. He lives behind fake phone calls, computer screens, and any other places where he can get your personal information. The past two years have only increased the numbers of lies and deceivers. 

So, why do I bring this up to you? We’ve become immune to fake news, lies, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and countless Internet schemers.  We hardly know what the truth is. We are reluctant to trust anyone or believe anything. We are living in the turmoil caused by a double-edged sword in the mouth of technology. The difficulty is that no matter how brilliant we might be, we can still be conned by these deceptive groups. Sadly, they are winning much too often, and once you’ve lost your money to them, they are long gone. 

So, all I’m thinking here is that we have to handle this with prayer. We have to be intentional about helping each other recognize the schemers. We have to pray! Pray for wisdom and discernment to handle these things well. Pray for your friends and neighbors that they will not be deceived. Pray for God’s protection for everyone you know, and pray the deceivers develop a conscience.

May God guide you into all truth today and keep you from falling prey to scammers.

 

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Please Be My Valentine!

So, what if Valentine’s Day, coming your way tomorrow, was not a greeting card holiday? What if it actually meant something? Something important?

Personally, I don’t think Valentine’s Day is a greeting card holiday. I think it’s something much deeper, much more interesting, and much more loving than that. I think it’s the assignment that was given to each of our hearts on the day we were born. We were meant to be each other’s Valentines. We were meant to love one another first and foremost. Why? It’s simple really. When we do things with love, then our motivations lead us in the right direction. We think good thoughts. We desire great things for those around us.  We love as the scripture says, because God first loved us. God set the standard. He is our Eternal Valentine.

It’s no small thing to realize you have always been loved, valued, and cherished beyond measure. God knew you and bragged about how wonderful you would be, before you were even born. You came with a purpose, and that mission had something to do with sharing the special kind of love only you have to give. You are a unique light, a bright beam designed to inspire the hearts of others. Maybe you never realized it, but you’re a Valentine all year long!

If each one of us got up every morning and thought about what we could do to love others better, then everyone would know they matter. Knowing we matter and make a difference simply by being in this world, is an awesome thing. Love changes our LifeView and gives us a sense of continuous well-being. It challenges us to try harder to see others as God sees them. Jesus gave us only two commandments. Love God, and love others as yourself. I suspect most of us find these two directives challenging. We likely fall short of the goals.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try a wee bit harder. Maybe it’s time to send a Valentine to someone who needs to know you still care, you’re still there, and you want only the best for them. Maybe it’s time to forgive someone or invite someone into your life in a loving way. Maybe it’s a good time to send a Valentine.

Sending you big love today with lots of hearts and flowers. 

 

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How Big Is Your God?

Back in the early 50’s, J.B.Phillips published a book called Your God Is Too Small. I remember reading the book early on in my faith journey, but it strikes me that it is almost more profound today than it was then. After all, some of us have lost sight of who God is, and others have decided to just give up on the notion of God altogether.

Phillips casts God in a variety of roles in his book, imagining that our thoughts of God limit our perspective. He talks about the God who is a managing director, and the God who is a kindly old man, and the God in a box. Today we might have other versions of this. We might have a God that gives us all the answers on the Internet, or a God that just can’t handle the difficulties of the world today. After all, how big can God really be?

I would suggest that God is bigger than any thought, description, notion, or idea that we might have of Him. God is beyond our imagination, beyond our ability to comprehend, and bigger than our limited view of reality. So what do we do to give God more space in our minds and hearts? How do we grow up to a more adult version of God, the one who really is, and not just the one we want God to be.

Actually, Jesus gave us the answer. He said, “Ask, seek, and knock.” In other words, we have to open our minds to every possibility that God is actually bigger than we are, that He knows more than we do, and that He cares about who we are as human beings. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Only then can God show you who He is. He’s not trying to make it difficult for you. He wants you to know Him and to discover how much He has to give you. He wants to help you step away from the confines of your own limited thinking, and reach out past the stars, past the negative thoughts, and into the amazing assurance of His existence.

When you seek God with all your heart, you will find Him. When you seek to have more room in your heart, you will be able to make more room for Him. God wants to be bigger in your life!

 

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Here I Am Again, Lord!

Some of us show up pretty regularly at God’s doorstep. Generally, we’ve got our hat in our hands and we’re hoping we might share the things on our minds. We come with a sense that this is the place to be, the right thing to do, but with a nagging uncertainty about whether God will let us in, and listen to what we have to say.

My question about this is why? Why do we feel reluctant to talk to the One who is there for us 24/7? Did God ever say, you can only come on Thursdays at 2? Did God put a limit on the number of times you might show up in a day or a week? The thing is that God has unlimited resources, and He wants to help you with whatever is going on in your life.

He sees you! Yes, He does! He sees when you’re joyful and excited about the future. He sees when you’re discouraged and suffering from setbacks you never imagined would come your way. He sees you and waits for you to invite Him into your life. He wants to comfort you, celebrate with you, shine a light on the path so you know where to go from here.

He wants all that, but do you? Many of us have become discouraged by the world around us. We don’t know what to trust or who to believe. We don’t know who really is on our side or who is simply waiting to make us miserable. We imagine that there’s nothing we can do to change things.

We’re wrong! We can do the same thing that the patriarchs did, the same thing that Jesus did, and the same thing we learned to do as children. We can bow our heads and pray. We don’t do it because we’ve been living the most righteous life. We don’t do it because we think we deserve answers. We do it because of who God is. We do it because the Creator of the universe designed us with a heart to know Him and to believe in Him and He wants to be part of our lives no matter what we’re going through. God already believes in you. He just wants you to let Him in to your life.

No matter where you are, or where you’ve been, you can turn to Him and simply say, “Here I am again, Lord!”  I promise He will be pleased to hear from you.

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