TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

News coming into our home during the past weeks has not been that good. It’s not that we always expect everything to be nothing but good news but things seem to be a little skewed to the wrong side of the scales lately.
Young parents tend to think when the children have grown that the concerns for their well-being will lessen. I am here to tell you that is definitely not so! The parental responsibilities lessen but many of the concerns remain those of a mom and a dad. Flu bugs, job changes and/or needs, houses sold and bought, children/grandchildren born and adopted, breaking bones, developing life-threatening ailments…all these and more. Does it really matter if the children are 3, 30, or 40? We’re still parents no matter how old we are and they are still our kids no matter how old they are! And if the news is dire we want to do what we can to help. When there is good news we want to join the celebration!
Friends of our generation are developing severe health issues: some illnesses can be helped by rather severe surgical procedures, others require long-term treatments that are often worse than the ailment’s symptoms had so far produced, making the patient wonder which was the better choice to have made.
Other friends are losing several family members and longtime friends in death within a short period of time, leaving them feeling there is no one left to talk to who understands the time of life when patriotism was high on the agenda in everyone’s mind, freedom to roam the countryside without fear of molestation of any kind was true freedom, water was free of pollution, people were never too busy to be helpful to a neighbor. Sound like “pie in the sky” to you? Just talk with some of the folks who lived through the Depression Era and you might be surprised at what they can tell you.
World news that invades our homes through multiple sources is certainly not particularly encouraging nor is the current ongoing battle of mud-slinging on the homefront.
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you ruled the world? Thankfully I never even played with the idea knowing it is way beyond anything I could begin to imagine, but I do know Who is ultimately in control and I have always been thankful to be able to leave it in His hands. He is patient allowing us freedom to choose our various paths all the while desiring that no one perish. (“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NASB) I wonder how He remains so patient but He is God. I am not.
More comfort is summed up in the few words that Jesus spoke to His disciples that can be applied directly to the state of the trials and tribulations in our lives today as well:
“…in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b NASB)
©Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-25-08

WHAT ABOUT THOSE POLITICAL CARTOONS AND STORIES?

Political stories and cartoons are always with us on any wavelength and in any print form imaginable. The question that has been on my mind lately is, “What are we going to do about them?” You may or may not have noticed but in the upper right hand corner of our site there has been a poll that needs a simple click answer…no signing in…just a click to show your preference…but only one person has answered it in the past two weeks. Yet, I still ask, “What are we going to do about them?”
You may question why it is so important to me. After all, aren’t they just funny things we share and aren’t some statements of true facts? And aren’t we supposed to be alerted to what is true and what is not regarding the people we put in office? Yet how do we know if the comments we are passing along are true or just things written to raise a ruckus? And aren’t the cartoons just plain funny, not really hurtful or believable, something that even the candidates would laugh at about themselves?
Recently an e-mail came into my box that had some factual information that had made news headlines in the past, along with some facts that I didn’t check out because I didn’t plan to pass the piece along. It wasn’t very long until another e-message came railing at the sender of that particular piece. Following almost immediately came an answering message stating that a relative of this sender always enjoyed a good joke. It seems that just that one piece prompted one person to see it as somewhat newsworthy while another found it very offensive yet another found the same thing humorous. All the same words, all written about the same politicians, and only the author knows for sure whether it was meant to inform or as a piece of political satire.
What are we going to do about these political commentaries? It seems to me we need to take a more serious approach than we sometimes do by seeking what God’s Word tells us about those in governmental authority. (I know the candidates are not necessarily those in authority but consider the reasoning…the WHY…behind God’s teachings as well as the WHAT…His Word.) One scripture that stands out is headlined in my Bible as: A Call to Prayer in I Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB): “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
What are we going to do about those political cartoons and stories? It seems we need to proceed with caution and remember that as the Children of God we are to be different, to make a difference, and with God’s guidance apply His wisdom to determine what’s trash, what’s newsworthy, what’s funny, and most of all to remember what “is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This means even the politicians and those who write about them.
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-19-08

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET OUR ATTENTION?

Yesterday morning we were studying about Jesus’ feeding of five-thousand men plus women and children from Matthew 14:13-21 in our Bible Study. The teacher said, “If that happened today it’d have to get your attention.” I wonder…
In 1964 when our three children were young we were blessed to live next door to an elderly couple who had never had children but loved little ones dearly. Their names were Alice and Jack but she was affectionately referred to as “Bunky” so our children were allowed to call them Bunky and Jack. It was like having built-in grandparents living right beside us and our discussions during our times together were much like that of family.
One memorable occasion that stands out among many was the day when discussion of space travel came up and Bunky declared, “Oh, those Hollywood movie men are just making those pictures to fool us, making up those pictures on a movie stage somewhere, not real at all!” What she had seen, she had not believed. Granted, she had not seen Freedom 7 in person but television coverage provided ample opportunity of believable footage. Would seeing Freedom 7 at the Space Museum in Washington, D.C. have convinced her? Perhaps. Perhaps not. She was not ready to believe what she saw.
There are times when we see things occur when we say, “I can’t believe my eyes!” although we know we really saw what we saw! Truly amazing things happen every day, some of which we ignore and take for granted. For example, have we noticed the newly opening leaves on the trees here in our city this past week or the fact that daylight comes to greet each morning and night closes each day? Do those things get our attention?
In order to get our attention do we actually have to see Jesus feed the five-thousand men plus the women and children or are we like Bunky when she truly believed the movie producers were making up things to fool us? What does it take to get our attention?
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
(Romans 10:17 NASB)

© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-18-08

TRANSIENTS AMBASSADORS

Transients: that’s what we are on this earth. I was reminded of it once again a few days ago when dear friends announced they’d be moving away. Their telling brought back memories of the many moves my family and I have made and an observation our then eighteen-year-old daughter made, “Why is life so full of so many goodbyes?” The only answer I had for her at that time was, “We just don’t notice the hellos as much.”
Why don’t we notice the “hellos” as much? Is it because as transients we don’t expect the relationships to last? Is it because we fear investing our hearts in relationships, knowing we’ll have to say goodbye and we don’t want to hurt? Developing long-term friendships can be viewed as something to be avoided or, as worth the pain of knowing we will eventually have to say “Goodbye.” Everyone knows goodbyes are pain-filled moments but to think of all the happiness we’ll miss if we choose to avoid the hellos seems unthinkable and perhaps just a bit selfish.
Back to “Why is life so full of so many goodbyes?” After the announcement of one of our sooner-than-expected transfers, I said to the wife of one of our elder’s, “I think I really understand quite well what it means to be a transient on this earth so I don’t understand why God keeps moving me around!” She responded, “Maybe He just wants you in lots of different places.” With those few softly spoken words and such assurance from her heart, I felt very special and the message was implanted in my heart with each additional move! If at that time I had been really listening to what I already knew was in His Word, the following particular personally marked scripture would have stood out as it clearly stated exactly why God had sent me here and there as my sister-in-Christ described using different words. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB) says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Wow! Pay attention to the gems!
As I think back over the transience of my own life, it’s been quite a trip! The people I have met along the way have added so much richness to my soul and the real blessing is that the goodbyes of so many have not been permanent. Some have gone on to Glory. If we never see so many others on this earth again Heaven is where we will all meet one day. Yes, I miss the ones with whom I no longer have contact because of death or through some lost addresses but the ones I truly sorrow are the ones who have chosen to walk away from God, because those are the real goodbyes; yet I so look forward to meeting our loved ones in Heaven and being completely aware of each and every “Hello!”

© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-13-08

GRACE

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 KJV)
This scripture quoted and the thoughts expressed as recently as eight days ago by a woman in our adult Bible Class on a Sunday morning not only brought a fond recollection of my mother’s frequently repeating the same passage, but presented it from a slightly different angle.
I’d always thought of it from the point of view as the beginning words state, “Let the words of my mouth…be acceptable in Thy sight...” conveniently casting aside the remainder of the verse. Even though I was fully aware of the words apparently I chose to not hear them until that day last week…
Our teacher asked, “What are your temptations?” Our oldest member, age one-hundred-and-one, raised her hand. The teacher approached where she sat so he could hear her more clearly and use the microphone to repeat her words. She answered, “My thoughts.” She then went on to quote the above verse with the explanation that the meditation of our heart means our thoughts.
Since I had used my selective hearing regarding that verse even with the knowledge of how many times I’d heard the quote from my own mother’s lips, I sat there in stunned amazement at what I had been missing for all of my sixty-eight years!
I had chosen my favorite verse regarding my thoughts, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7a KJV) and in doing so how many others had I tuned out? So many times I read passages I am thoroughly familiar with and realize I am seeing something for the first time. In this case, I really heard something for the first time from a completely familiar scripture. My lessons? I ought not hurry through my scripture reading. I must take time to consider each phrase with meaning. With this lesson in mind can there be any question as to why we are told to “Study…” as discussed in the first message on this site?
Also we can so easily see why we are to “appeal to the older women as mothers” (I Timothy 5:2 NASB) and no matter how old I get, I delight in benefiting from the wisdom, pure love, and hugs from Godly older women.
Let us celebrate all the older women who have enriched our lives and today join me in wishing a very Happy Birthday to our dear Sister Grace who is celebrating 102 years!
Written to honor our Lord
and to thank Him for you, Grace,
and for the years He is giving you!
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-11-08

GENERATIONS OF SMILES

I don’t know how many years my husband’s grandparents were married but it brings a few smiles to recall some of the tales Nana told us when we were young and contemplating our marriage.
One of the stories that remains precious and almost unimaginable knowing Nana as the sedate wife of a minister, great student of the Bible, and wonderful gentle lady of distinction she came to be, was about how she, as a young woman actually purposely dropped her handkerchief as she traveled on a train in order to catch the attention of the gentleman who became her husband!
Another tale she told that stood out in my mind from the day she told it was about how shocked she was soon after their marriage when she realized it was up to her to use her own hands to wash out his soiled socks! No dozens of pairs of socks in those times or automatic washers, girls!
I suppose one story that many minister’s wives can relate to and the closest I ever heard as a faint murmur of complaint from Nana’s lips came when she told of an occasion when she had at least three little girls hanging around her skirts while being the one responsible for all the boiled potatoes for a church potluck. She said she wondered why it had to be her job just because she was the preacher’s wife! Couldn’t people see she had her hands full with those little girls? She smiled as she recalled spouting off (my words, I don’t recall hers) to her husband about it and I can imagine him giving her shoulders a bit of a squeeze as he answered, “You gotta love ‘em, Mama.” She had overcome the feelings of frustration a very long time before she told that story but she had never forgotten how it felt to be a young mother trying to do so many things because it was expected of her. She carried that understanding into her mature years and I believe she helped Grampie see through new eyes how difficult it was for young moms at times as well.
Our dear Nana was with us through her 107th year of life, past the 48th anniversary of our marriage. She loved to recall the part she and Grampie played in our marriage as well as the fact that it was in their home where he performed the ceremony and she played “Here Comes the Bride” on the piano as I descended the front stairs into their living room.
All of these memories brought smiles to her heart as she followed the admonition “to teach what is good” (Titus 2:3b) at every opportunity she had with me through word and deed in all those years.
Now my smiles are mingled with hers.
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-7-08

DAILY DIAMONDS

Why do we as women of God allow the teachings of the world and/or the actions/reactions of other people permeate our deepest beings to the point of allowing ourselves to feel so invaluable as human beings? I have been pondering this question and what I can do about it since it came to light so obviously with reader responses to the article “I’M INVISIBLE”.
I cannot even begin to suggest that I have all the answers but one thought that comes to mind is that we MUST allow the LOVE and THE WORD of GOD be what permeates our very beings; we have to spend more time dwelling on HIS TRUTHS. That said I understand that time is in short supply but WHO gives us our time? THANK HIM! His Word tells us to, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) I do believe if we spent more time in HIS WORD we would better understand how valuable we are. If we allowed a few pertinent scriptures such as John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” and John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” to soak into our souls like water into a sponge, and kept refilling our spongy souls with the WATER OF LIFE, we would most likely feel a whole lot more valuable and visible, regardless of what we perceive and react to, from the world inside and outside our homes.

~
DAILY DIAMONDS
We are Daily Diamonds
Sometimes buried beneath the sod
But never so far under
That we’re not seen by God.
~
He is our Creator…
His hand is ever near
To help us and to hold us,
To wipe away a tear.
~
Sometimes our path seems weary
When the same old road we tread
And the dust of coal is lying
All over face and head.
~
But the Great Diamond Cutter
Knows just where to trim;
He sends the Living Water
And we’re no longer dim.
~
We shine with eternal beauty,
We sparkle in Living Light;
We are Daily Diamonds ~
We’ve passed through the dark night.
~
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-5-08