CELEBRATING SPECIAL DAYS

A couple of days ago was our grandson’s first birthday but as far as I know there was no celebration with cake, no special one-year candle with flame to watch him blow out, no tiny fingers to dig into the frosting, and no picture-taking of this momentous event. I wonder if anyone in his immediate family was even aware of his one-year-old birthday, and were it not for my special reminder calendar, it probably would have slipped past my notice, yet it was a very special day that should never be forgotten, the anniversary of the day one year ago when he chose to become God’s Child.
How is it that we human beings make remembering the day of our physical birth one of such importance and yet few have even an inkling of the date we enter God’s Family? A partial answer may be that we have parents and medical personnel who dutifully record the physical details of our births. When we become Christians we are individually old enough to answer the question, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?” and thus, we should be able to record our own statistics; yet, it seems we seldom do. However, if we know the date, we seldom follow through with a yearly outward celebration. Is this because we feel it is a matter of a more personal nature, or just as we let the world know we rejoice in the fact we were physically born and are celebrating however many years of life, should we not let our countenance show our rejoicing over the number of anniversaries accrued since the original celebration of our spiritual birth?
Maybe it’s time to consider having a special cake with candles including flames to blow out, and frosting to stick our fingers in, and yearly celebration picture-taking remembrances of our Real Birthday, as a renewal reminder of the commitment we made whether it was one year or fifty years ago.
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God…”
I John 3:1a (NASB)
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-20-2010

TREASURES IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

How many times have you done what you perceived a kindness for another that turned into a totally unexpected blessing in your own life? A recent experience of a few days ago brought that thought to my mind and I’d like to share it with you.
Because of the happy welcome we received at Christmas, our church group was invited to return to a local care facility to sing again, to and with the residents on Valentine’s Day. This time the songs chosen centered on love, particularly the love of God for each individual. It was delightful to observe the residents as they not only recognized the songs but also how many of them joined in and sang the old story along with us.
Residents were being brought in before and during the songfest and right after arriving in the dining room where we were gathered, a long-legged man in a wheelchair decided he was ready to leave, so placed his feet over the footrest of his chair and paddled his way towards the doorway. A woman resident who had come in with the assistance of a walker, left her seat and promptly took off after him, grabbed the handlebars of his chair, and quickly back-walked him (and herself) to the area he was supposed to be. He seemed acquiescent and malleable as could be about the whole thing and since the woman didn't bring harm to herself by her hurrying walk without her walker, the whole scene tickled my funny bone! I managed to control my mirth but felt this unexpected pleasure was truly a gift from God.
Though none have topped that, there have been other experiences in the past couple of weeks that, as I look back I see as God’s gifts to me as well. One very special one was a hug from a 5-year-old girl who I later learned was a foster child who had been in 6 foster homes in 7 months prior to the most recent one where she now had been for 3 months. Maybe she saw that I needed a hug and here I thought she was looking for one! On a different day while at the post office, I was able to verbally thank a military member for his service to our country. His response surprised me as he reached to shake my hand, while saying, “Thank you.” Obviously he wasn’t used to being approached by a grandmother-type person letting him know he was appreciated and he appreciated that. Ooh...it felt good to be in my shoes that day and judging by his response, he might have said, “Likewise!”
I thought I was doing these things because God wanted me to be His ambassador where I am, yet He chose to use these times as opportunities to turn my gifts back into treasures for me. What a God we serve!
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:38 NASB
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-16-2010

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

PERFECTIONISM

When it comes to perfectionism there is no harsher critic of me than me. For as long as I can remember I have longed for everything in my life to be not simply “practically perfect in every way” as Mary Poppins allowed, but my preference would be, “without flaw.”
With Christmas just past and perfection in mind, I am reminded again of the times in childhood when I received new coloring books and crayons. The alluring beauty of the photos on the front covers helped me choose colors that were as close to perfection as possible to use for the first pages of pictures I would color. Once started, I would feel devastated to have ruined the fresh, clean pages with my childish marks of imperfection. Usually I garnered the courage to start afresh on another page but I was always more than simply aware of the ruined (in my opinion at least) pages of past efforts.
It would be nice to be able to say that with age I have moved on but more honest would be to say I have perhaps mellowed a fraction. With perseverance, eventually I did learn to color to my satisfaction and pleasure…mostly. I know (and always did know) I will never be a quilter based on my desire for those corners to come together perfectly (there’s that word again). Over the years I have found other projects to create that have given me the satisfaction of near perfection, counted cross-stitch being the closest. And thankfully the computer allows me to create cards that print wonderful pictures and fonts so my imperfections don’t have to be seen until I fold and/or sign the cards.
But, real life, like the pictures I colored in the books of my youth, ends up with many daily “pages” that are filled with marks that are less-than-perfection and there are disappointments that mar the memories, sometimes causing me to feel I don’t have what it takes to keep trying new pages because I know I will smudge the fresh beauty. However, this is real life, not a coloring book, so I will try again because I know that even with my imperfections, through the blood of Christ, God helps me make those daily moments and pages as fresh as they were when they were brand new…perfect…and He will help me as I choose to continue to walk daily with Him.
1 John 1:7 states: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with the other and the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
My longing fulfilled if I but remember:
Perfectionism: Without Flaw…God’s way
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 12-30-2009

EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT

Recently I received an e-mail asking I respond to the question, “What are you thankful for?” Based on the recommended scripture, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change," (James 1:17), it didn’t take me long to come up with many answers and I’d like to share some of my reasons for thankfulness at Daily Diamonds.
It is not just at this time of year, but so often during the year...almost each Sunday when my thoughts center around Christ's death, burial and resurrection in celebration and remembrance of His supper as we are commanded to do (Luke 22:17-20,I Corinthians 11:23-26, Acts 20:7) that I thank God that Jesus was willing to come to live on this earth. That kind of boggles my mind, that He would be willing to leave Heaven...what kind of love is that? I pray that I learn to love more like that but know I am far from beginning to fathom even the smallest inkling.
Following that my thought is often coupled with how thankful I am that because Jesus came to this earth and lived an obedient life to the point of death, was raised and is at the right hand of God, and I have chosen to follow Him as God's child, I have the privilege to pray in Jesus' name! Without Jesus as my Mediator, God would still have to see me as a sin-filled being, but now instead He sees me through the blood of Christ. (Romans 8:1-4)
I am also thankful for the stories and lessons left to us of Jesus' time on this earth… His very own words and answers to some of life's questions. I can go to the Bible at any time and read the messages presented that Jesus wants me to have.
I am thankful for the people who helped teach me about Him...first my family who instilled in me that the answer for life is/was God, because as a child I always knew He was and is. Hebrews 13:7-8 says, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes, and forever.”
In summing up a few of my responsive thoughts, I am thankful that in an ever-changing world, the good and perfect gifts I was given at the beginning have been with me throughout my life and will continue to be with me right through to the end and on into glory!
What gifts I have been given! I am thankful!
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 12-17-2009