Karen Moore's Blog, page 4

Changing the Stories in Your Head

Most of us can probably relate to the psalmist, when he asked God, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” 

We all walk around with stories in our heads. Sometimes they are sweet memories that give us joy. Sometimes they are critical assessments that try to determine our value. Sometimes they are incomplete stories, half-truths, half fiction, but they’ve been there so long, you’re not sure which is which. 

King David had stories in his head too. He had thoughts of the great things he had done that pleased God. He had thoughts of the sinful things he’d done that God had to forgive. His enemies tried to overwhelm him, taunt him that maybe God would not show up this time. Maybe God had reached His limit with His willingness to forgive David once again. Those things perplexed David the same way they perplex us. The thing is that God sees our whole story. He knows every chapter and verse of who we are, and He knows nothing will keep Him from loving us. David was a man after God’s own heart, and you are too. When David was at his best, he prayed. When David was at his worst, he prayed harder. In Psalm 13, after David bemoans all his sorrows of the heart, God changes his attitude and gives him a new story. David remembers all that God has done for him in the past and rejoices. He remembers how loved he truly is. 

If you have stories that drag you down, cause you grief, or make you feel unworthy of God’s love, stop everything and share your thoughts with God. Tell Him that He is your favorite story, the best story you have ever heard and that you come to Him with confidence that He sees you, forgives you, and loves you without conditions. When you feel defeated, ask God to show you a story of victory. When you wonder if you’re worthy of God’s love and mercy, give Him thanks and praise. 

Prayer can change the stories in your head and the attitudes you carry with you through the day. Prayer is not just a nice thing to do, it’s the only thing to do with the power to make a difference right now.  As one writer said, “Prayer is love in need, appealing to love in power.” 

God wants you to live a story that makes your heart sing with joy. 

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Are Your Ears Tingling?

I love some of the Old Testament Scriptures because they often create a picture that’s fun to imagine. Consider this one from 1 Samuel 3:11. The Lord is talking to Samuel and He says, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.”

What kind of news would cause your ears to tingle? We will define “tingle” as meaning that this news causes some kind of emotional reaction. It makes you smile, or express surprise. It makes you wonder what’s going on. You itch to hear more so you can understand what to think or what to do. You tingle with excitement. So, what is it? What kind of news is everybody talking about, questioning, or checking for validity? Samuel didn’t have to worry about fake news or biased reporting. He had one Source and He trusted everything that was revealed to Him. He may not have known exactly what God was going to do, but he realized it would impact everyone. 

It’s worthwhile to consider that we are also impacted by what God is doing in the world today. He’s been doing things in every generation to cause people to sit up and take notice. He’s been searching for people with “ears to hear” what He has to say. It might be more difficult for God to find those people today, but find them, He will. God is stubborn. He is stubborn about loving us. He is stubborn about watching over us and caring about us all the time.

We are news junkies. We live in a world where news is always buzzing. We may wonder who to listen to, or how to think. We may imagine everything is too big for us, too threatening, beyond our control. The good news is that God is still doing something that will make our ears tingle. God is still in control of governments and authorities on earth. He is in the midst of any battle we’re facing, whether it’s physical, emotional, political, or spiritual. 

It’s time to put your ear to the ground and listen for His voice. Look up, look around, and look inside your heart, because God is always talking. If you have ears to hear, they should be tingling today.

May your blessings abound, dear friends!

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I Love You

“I love you” is the most beautiful and most misunderstood phrase in any language. It’s a phrase that reminds us that somebody sees us, and cares about what is going on with us. It’s a phrase that brings a sense of longing, or belonging, or connection. It’s a phrase that comes with a mixed bag of definitions, combined with joy and uncertainty. So, how can we recognize the truth and intention behind those words, especially when “love” has left us bewildered more often than not?

Most of us are starved for love. We rarely get told those words. We may not even remember what love feels like. Why? Perhaps part of the why is that we want love to be real, to be true, to be one of the most important parts of our lives, but often, we just find love to be disappointing. We are mostly familiar with an I love you that comes with conditions, such as, I love you when you do what I expect, or I love you when you get things right, or I love you when you agree with my point of view. It’s the kind of love that has more “I” than “you” in it. I love you when you’re a good kid, or a good spouse, or a good friend is simply a love that’s primarily a one-way street.  So, how do we get to a more genuine, long-lasting, unconditional love?

We get there by practice. St. Francis de Sales wrote, “You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and you learn to love God and man by loving.” A genuine expression of love is one that exists because your heart is fully engaged, fully prepared to love no matter how often you’re disappointed, or make a mess, or disagree with a viewpoint. You love simply because your heart is bigger than any circumstance, stronger than any failure, and confident that love is indeed the answer to the struggles of life. 

In part, this is how God loves you and me. He loves us even when we choose to disappoint Him. He loves us when we make a mess, we can’t clean up by ourselves. He loves us beyond our recklessness and our foolishness and our inability to realize He is always there for us. In fact, 1 John 4:19, says, “We love because God first loved us.”  God never loves you to manipulate you. He doesn’t love you because you’re perfect. He loves you because He is the very essence of love, and He can do nothing but love you. He sees you and wants to love you into becoming all He knows you can be. He sees your best and forgives your worst. 

Imagine how your heart would rejoice if you could truly look at each person you meet and say with gusto, “I love you.” 

The One who forgives you over and over, who lifts you up when you’re down, and loves you unconditionally, wants you to hear His “I love you” so you can echo those words to others as well.

Maybe this is the day to call someone you know, someone you miss, and simply say, “I love you.”

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Who’s Your Who?

One of the good things about life is that we are continually learning new things. One area of great discovery is about learning not only what’s right, or what’s important, but also who’s important. Who’s important in your life? When you were brand new to the world, your parents and guardians were your go-to people. You knew you could count on them no matter what was going on. As you got a little older, you learned that other adults could also be in your corner, offering support and helping you learn things. Eventually, you stepped out into the world on your own sea legs and you hoped you were ready for whatever the world had to offer. Chances are, you were startled to learn that some people were not dependable. Some people were not in your corner. In fact, it turns out that many people didn’t concern themselves with you and your needs at all. Whew!

So here you are, not quite as new to the world and you wonder who’s your who? Who is the person, or who are the people you can go to when life is chaotic and stormy. Who will stand up with you when you’re wrongly accused, or gossiped about? Who will encourage your work and your heart and mind when nothing makes sense to you? It’s important to know who your who is. Bob Beaudine’s awesome book, The Power of Who, might be a good one to read to help you figure things out. It’s likely that the people you would have identified ten years ago, are not the ones on your list now. If they are, then you’ve been blessed beyond measure because you know who to turn to when things are rough, or sad, or amazing.

It seems to me that this question is even more important today than it was a few years ago. It’s important because life is better when you know where to turn and who you can count on. Of course, we’re talking here about those who are a phone call away. Jesus does you one better. He’s your primary who because you don’t have to wait until He’s not busy to call Him. You don’t have to clean up the living room to invite Him over. In fact, you only have to think about Him and He comes running. He hears you call even before you pick up the phone. He anticipates your need and your heart’s desire. He knows you so well, He can enlighten you in an instant. Yes, Jesus is your best Who!

Today, write down three people you would consider to be your people, your intimate friends, your who’s. Send them a note and remind them that you appreciate them, and that you are right there with them in return. When you do, you’ll be able to step back with confidence and know that no matter what else is going on, you are safely connected to your primary Who, and these three others. Now, you’re a force to be reckoned with and that’s a promise!

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On Hold, Or Holding On

Hebrews 10:23 talks about holding on, encouraging us to trust and believe what we have learned in the past. It says, “We must hold on to God’s promise that we have said we believed. And we must never let go. He has promised and he will do it.”

I don’t know how you interpret this idea, but it strikes me that we often feel like we are holding on…holding on to our beliefs, holding on to our principles, holding on to those we love for dear life. We are holding on because chaos makes us feel like we are losing our footing, unable to find a safe place to be. We may often find ourselves feeling like our lives are “on hold.” We wonder if God is still paying attention or if He knows the mess we are struggling to manage. How do we keep holding on, when we’ve been on hold for a long time already?  Now that’s a good question.

I can’t help thinking about the Old Testament story of Moses and the people who were waiting for him to come down from the mountain. Moses was up on Mt. Sinai for forty days and nights and while he was there, God was talking to him about the future. In fact, God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments so the people would understand what God wanted from them. While all that was going on, the Israelites were getting tired of waiting. They were patient for a few days, but as time went by they started wondering if Moses was even going to return. They started doubting everything they had already learned from the God who led them through the desert by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud to make them more comfortable through the day. They forgot what they already knew. They decided they needed to take matters into their own hands. What did they do? They complained to Aaron. They said, “We’re tired of being on hold. We’ve been waiting here now for days. We just can’t hold on anymore.” 

So, what did Aaron do? He said, “I get it. Bring your gold and we’ll make a new god for ourselves.” They did it and they started singing and dancing because they were no longer on hold. Why? Because they gave up their first love and stopped holding on to their Creator. It’s tempting for us to do the same. We look out at the world and wonder how we can manage, how we can hold on to our hope and our possibilities. We wonder if there are other options, other ways to hold on. Often, we end up holding on to things that do not serve us well. 

It’s not easy to hold on, but it’s easier if you think carefully about the One you’re holding on to. It’s easier if you remind yourself that God is still there. He has not gone away. He is still working on ways to help you understand what He wants from you. He’s still sending people into your life to help you move forward. 

Let us trust and believe what we have learned. Let us remember all that God has done to get us through the deserts of life. Let us hold on to God’s promise. 

In fact, let’s hold on to one another in joy and love.

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Courage, Dear Heart

Most of us wrestle a bit with the idea of courage. We might give ourselves extra points for the courage we have to pursue our dreams, to stand up for a cause, or to demonstrate our skills and talents. We might applaud the courageous acts we see exhibited by the unsung heroes who are first responders, classroom teachers, and daily caregivers. We get the idea of courage, I suspect quite well, until we face something that requires us to dig deep down in our courage bucket and see what’s there. Of course, sometimes we don’t realize how much courage we have until we have to tap into our own reserve. So, here we are in a world where people are anxious about nearly everything and wondering how to get out there and face each day with courage. 

One of my friends, gave me a cross-stitched bookmark that she had made with the words, “Courage, dear heart.” She gave it to me at a time when I was going to speak in front of a couple hundred women. I like speaking to women’s groups, but no matter how many times I do it, I always feel a bit anxious. The good news for me though is that I have a chance to build my courage and my confidence each time I speak somewhere. I can grow in courage and that’s a nice thing. How about you? How do you grow in courage?

Joshua 1:9 gives us some encouragement. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I’m thinking we should keep this scripture handy because we can use it every day. In my case, I like to start it from the last phrase. I like to say, “Because God is with you wherever you go, you need not be dismayed or frightened. You can be strong and courageous.” For me, knowing God is with me is the real message. It’s the part that reminds me that no matter what is going on, my strength comes from the Lord. My work is in His hands. My steps are orchestrated by His love and faithfulness. That means, I can shed the weight of fear, and step into the light. That means I can face today with gusto whether I’m ready or not. That means I am not alone, no matter what I might have to do. 

Let’s help each other be more courageous, more certain that we never face anything alone, for God is with us wherever we may go.

Be of good courage today, for God sees you and holds you in the palm of His hand.

Blessings, my friends.

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If God Lived Down the Street

Thought I’d share this new poem. Hope you like it.

 

If God Lived Down the Street

©2024 Karen Moore

 

 

If God lived down the street from me,

I wonder what I’d do.

Would I walk by with head held high

And hope He never knew?

 

 

Would I peek in His windows

Or knock right on His door,

And run away as He showed up

Afraid to do much more?

 

 

Perhaps I’d bake some cookies

Or a lovely apple tart,

Or leave a little welcome note

Signed, “With all my heart.”

 

 

If He walked around the neighborhood

And waved as He passed by,

Would I pretend I didn’t see

Or look Him in the eye?

 

 

If God lived down the street from me

I’d mind my p’s and q’s,

And maybe I’d try harder

To follow in His shoes.

 

 

But I think it works much better

If I imagine God’s up there

And pretend He doesn’t know

The things I hide somewhere.

 

 

Yes, it’s easier to keep Him far,

To keep Him out of range,

For if He lived right down the street,

I’d probably have to change.

 

 

If God lived down the street from you,

Would you be the first to call,

Or would you close the curtains

And not welcome Him at all?

 

 

The funny thing is that I know

God’s in the neighborhood

And every day, He finds a way

To show us all that’s good.

 

 

God isn’t far away from you,

He lives right in your heart

And you might say, He’s there to stay–

You two will never part.

 

 

Yes, God lives down the street from me

And down the street from you,

And if you ever need a hand,

There’s nothing He can’t do!

 

 

Thanks be to God!

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What’s the Message?

Writers are idea people. The skillful ones create a message that is loud and clear. You enjoy their work because you’ve learned something or felt something or gained something useful.  They may have challenged your point of view or helped you understand something that wasn’t all that apparent before. Even writers who primarily set out to entertain you hope to give you something to think about in a new way. 

Recently, I was asked to do a podcast that focused on how a writer develops a clear message. If you’re a writer, maybe some of this will resonate with you. If you’re a reader, maybe you’ll discover why you like the work of one writer over another. So, what’s the message?

Personally, I think writers must have a healthy respect for words. Words are not just letters formed on a page. They are not just random thoughts that somehow spin themselves into a novel. Words are the beginning of your own creation. They are the vehicles by which your voice comes to life. We know how important they are because we recognize that God spoke the world into being. He commanded that there would be light and darkness, land, and sea. His words became manifest in every natural thing we see today. His words are powerful. 

Words, either written or spoken, have power because they guide or inform or change the thoughts of someone else. They make a difference. Therefore, the message, the main idea of those words needs to be rendered with responsibility and care. The Bible says that human beings will be accountable for every word they ever utter. Wow! That’s a scary thought that also serves as a reminder that words matter.

When you write a book, you’re concerned with how those words will affect the readers. You want to create words to encourage readers to come along side you and seek to know more of what you have to say. You want to give visual and verbal clues that help the reader receive the message you intended. That means you have to write clearly and well, respecting the rules of grammar and noting the words with double meanings that could skew your message in the wrong direction.

The premise or the overall theme of the book, or article or speech is the key to clarity. It’s the way you quickly tell someone else what your idea is about. Typically, when you’ve lost sight of what a book is about, it’s because the author went off message and took a detour. You ended up miles from where you thought you would go.

Think of some of the books you love. Most of them have a very clear message, even if you are given that message from several viewpoints. Think of the Bible. It has a lot of writing styles, a lot of themed messages, but one overarching theme. It’s a message that encourages you to know God and tell His story. It’s a theme you can share easily, no matter how many individual scriptures you trip over. 

If you’re inspired to write, it’s because you know you have a message, perhaps a God-given message to share. Be brilliant, be interesting, and most of all, be clear about what you want readers to take away.

Happy writing!  

Here’s the link to my podcast with Dr. Dave Jones

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What Do You Know?

John Wesley said, “When I was young, I was sure of everything; In a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half as sure of most things as I was before. At present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.” Wesley’s quote reminds me of another adage that says, “Knowledge is proud to know so much; Wisdom is humbled to know so little.” 

At some point in our lives, most of us begin to ponder what we know, what we think we know, and what we don’t know at all. We respect those brainiacs who walk around with abundant head knowledge, able to remind us of things that are important, or at least able to play a good game of Trivial Pursuit. We honor the learning process, but in the end, what do we know? 

Perhaps knowledge has served you well. It has allowed you to rise in your chosen profession. It has given you good counsel as you made choices. It has provided for your future. Knowledge is good. Like Wesley, though, I suspect many of us begin to wonder what it is we actually know for sure. What bits of knowledge serve us well? When we were young and the whole world was in front of us, we targeted the kind of knowledge we wanted to acquire and moved to the head of the class. With a few more years and some bitter choices behind us, we began to realize that knowing things didn’t necessarily equip us to be wise. Knowing things was only a part of the puzzle. We could know things, but still not make a wise decision. 

So, I bring this before you to consider the difference between knowledge and wisdom.  Consider your world views and apply all the knowledge you have from news channels and books, from great speakers, and world leaders. Do they have knowledge or wisdom? It turns out God was pleased when Solomon asked for wisdom. He could have asked for riches, or power, or knowledge. He could have asked to live forever, but no, he asked for wisdom to rule wisely. God gave him insight and heart knowledge of people and situations. God gave him the ability to be discerning and decisive. God wants those things for you and me as well. He wants those things for those in leadership. He wants us to be wise enough to know when we need His help, His guidance, and His depth of understanding. 

The older you get, you may discover you want to lean into the One who is Knowledge personified, the One who is wisdom on every level, the One who is still in control.

May you be blessed today by holy wisdom.

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Is that a Fact?

These days it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. We’ve been fed so many fake facts, we’re not sure what to believe. Measuring the pros and cons of a decision you have to make causes your head to spin. You were once taught to be polite. You knew sharing was better than keeping all your toys to yourself.  You learned to be thoughtful and kind, compassionate and considerate. You may have even learned the fact that God exists and He’s still in the world today.

What then are the facts, those things you can trust, those things that make a difference?

You may remember the Bible story of Abraham and Sarah. They were people who had come to know and trust God with everything in this life that matters. They did, until the day they didn’t. One of their unanswered prayers was to have a baby. They prayed for that baby back when they were young. They prayed for that baby when they were older and it appeared that their chances were somewhat slim. Finally, they stopped praying for that baby because they were just too old physically for that to happen. After all, Abraham was about a hundred years old, and Sarah was close to ninety. They were old, but that didn’t make God’s promise to them impossible. It just made God’s answer something that couldn’t have happened according to human understanding. It just meant they had to believe that the only fact that was now relevant was this. God exists. Only God could cause the facts to change. Only God could expand the limits of human biology and time. 

Even Abraham and Sarah were amazed when God said they’d have a baby. Sarah laughed at the thought and God reprimanded her a bit. So maybe the thing to consider is this. Facts don’t lie, but they don’t necessarily tell the whole story. The Creator of all things is a variable that can come into play at any moment. He can open doors of possibility at any time and make all things new again. I’m not suggesting here that any of us disregard the facts that are put before us, but what we might do is take those facts and put them at God’s feet in prayer. Only there can we know what the truth really is. Only there can we hope for change and opportunity to come. 

You may remember that whenever Jesus was going to heal someone He would always ask, “Do you believe I can do this?”  In other words, do you trust me, and do you trust in me? If so, then we can change your desires into facts. Only you can decide about things that present themselves as fact or fiction. Only you can determine your willingness to surrender your perception of truth so that you can open the way for God’s truth to prevail. Only you can answer the question, “Do you believe I can do this?”

The world does not have all the answers. God does. That’s a fact!

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