TIME TO TARRY IS TEMPORARY

Most of us have sung, “I’m a pilgrim and I’m a stranger; I can tarry, I can tarry but a night…” I believe the words of that song were written to enrich our minds with the reminder that our time is temporary on this earth.
A few days ago I read lines penned by a missionary of reality hitting that she, her husband, and their young family had really moved so far away and that this formerly foreign land was now home. When first married she and her husband had spent a couple of years in that country so it was not an entirely new culture, but during the intervening years they had returned to the states and spent several years in preparation for returning there. During these in-between years, children were born, precious time was spent with family, old friendships were renewed, and close fellowships with new people were developed. Then, along came the move.
In describing the dawning reality of this foreign land now being home, this young woman’s mention of the difficulties connected with being separated by such great distances from close family and friend connections reminded me of my own transient lifestyle of so many years due to my husband’s work-related moves that resulted in our criss-crossing the country on numerous occasions. When one of our reassignments had been issued I told a dear friend, “I don’t know why we have to keep moving. Surely God knows I know what it means that I am a transient on this earth!” By then I felt I had learned the lesson very well and now, even when our moving seems to have stopped, I believe the lesson is so deeply imbedded as to never leave me.
Just as the young missionary woman will learn to live in the new land and be at home away from the land of her birth, and as I have learned to adjust to home being in so many places that are not my original homeland, we all adapt to living in this world. For some of us, we become so “at home” in this world that we forget that this is not our real home. Once we have become God’s children, we know that He has prepared a better place for us to call “home.” It’s where He is and it’s where we should long to be. Just read what Jesus says about it:
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." (John 14:1-4 ESV)
Moving so much has helped me learn the lesson that I am a transient on this earth, so in my thinking, it is simply a part of who I have become. I am thankful for the life lessons that have helped me better understand the words when I sing, “I’m a pilgrim and I’m a stranger; I can tarry, I can tarry but a night…”
Are you singing with me?
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 1-25-2010

THE CREATOR, THE COLLECTOR, AND THE FEATHER

One day I found a feather…
It was so soft and small
From underneath a baby bird
It must have made its fall.

I picked it up and smoothed it out
As I held it against my hand.
I closely studied its numerous barbs
Only the Creator could understand.

Each barb so tiny I could not count,
Nor separate individual “hair,”
Yet each one has a purpose ~
A reason for being there.

Some feathers are for warmth
And some feathers are for flight;
Some feathers provide cover
For the baby birds at night.

So who can make a feather?
And who can plan the needs?
It’s way beyond the human mind
To comprehend these deeds.

Is it so difficult to say that
“God is The Creator!”
And thus admit to self and more,
That there truly is none greater?

I’ve saved that tiny feather…
It is so soft and small;
I “see” God smile as from a baby bird
That feather made its fall.

And landed where I found it
To collect it for my taking…
For memories and reminders of
My Father’s great creating.

©Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 1-15-2010

A JOYFUL HEART IN 2010

In this morning’s e-messages I received one regarding encouragement and when I got to the part about the encouragement of a smile’s being contagious, my thoughts immediately went to, “A joyful heart is good medicine...” from Proverbs 17:22 (NASB).
Coupled with that, for the first time I figured out how that that scripture doesn’t apply to my heart alone! While in actuality I know my attitude affects that of others, here all these years I have looked at that particular scripture so personally, I never stopped to consider how in it’s application, my happy heart is good medicine for another! Actually when I looked up varying translations of Proverbs 17:22, I found that the New King James Versions states my thoughts more succinctly: “A merry heart does good, like medicine…”
Considering all of this causes me to ponder the possibility that perhaps like the saying, “Love isn’t love until you give it away”, a happy heart isn’t really happy until you share what’s inside as well.
Do you want a heart filled with joy in 2010? Try giving away some joy from yours.
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 1-5-10