Christian

Thankful For My Extra Special Grandmothers

/ emmalmoore / 7 Comments

After reading a beautiful poem about a grandmother, memories of both my grandmothers flooded my mind.

We called my mother’s mother Nana. We called my father’s mother Grandma Peekie Boo. I was named after both of them. No my name is not Nana Peekie Boo.

It was my first Mother’s Day. My infant daughter was two months old. I was still trying to adjust to motherhood and at the same time my hormones were still trying to get back to normal. I didn’t get a present from my daughter through my husband and that wasn’t a good thing. Tears started streaming down my cheeks in a steady flow that wouldn’t stop.

My Nana in her frail state went to her bedroom and came out with a present for me to ease my pain-a beautiful dress. My Nana’s love and generosity eased the pain and her words of comfort blessed me. I had five months of her loving kindness before she home to heaven.

Grandma Peekie Boo was a master at crocheting. She was so good at it that she could sleep while crocheting and never miss a stitch. Grandma created beautiful masterpieces. She taught me to crochet.

The last time I spent time with Grandma Peekie Boo was when I was taking her to New York to visit her sister when I was sixteen. We traveled by train all night. I’d fallen to sleep when The Lord awakened me. Grandma was trying to get ready for bed by beginning to undress. I was able to stop her.

It was difficult to stay awake and found myself being awakened again. This time she had undressed further. I had to take Grandma to the restroom to get her redressed. That wasn’t an easy task because I had to balance and hold her up and keep the both of us from falling. I struggled to stay awake after that because I was afraid Grandma would completely disrobe the next time.

We made it to New York without further incident. After a day of recuperating I boarded a train back home alone. That was the last time I saw Grandma Peekie Boo before she went to heaven.

I’m thankful to have been named after two great women of God. They left a legacy that I’m proud of and I’m forever grateful.

Who or what are you thankful for today?

You May Be The Only Bible They Read

/ emmalmoore / 2 Comments

When mission field comes to mind do you think of a different country or a different state? Did you ever think evangelizing as something you do on a regular basis? If not think about it. It can be the community swimming pool, the nail salon, the grocery store or the bowling alley. These are just a few to get your thoughts flowing. There are more than I can think of.

You don’t have to strap on your Bible and arm yourselves with tracks to be a good witness for God. You may be the only Bible the people will ever read. It is not necessary to beat them over their head with the Word. We are the living Word. We are the light. We are the answer. Our assignment is to go into all the world–at home as well as other countries.

The part of the Body of Christ that I belong to bowl in leagues and tournaments. That is our mission field and as a result of doing what God has assigned us to do many people have given their life to the Lord. We go into the bowling establishments armed with bowling balls and the light of God. We are the Bible they read. Week after week the story doesn’t change.

We should be doing what Jesus did. He was out in the world–not behind walls waiting for the world to come to Him.
It’s awesome that God can take something I love to do and use me to do my part in evangelizing that part of the world.

Can God depend on you to evangelize the world through something you love to do?

Stop Pecking – Look and Listen

/ emmalmoore / 3 Comments

Last week I set up a bird feeder in my back yard. Since then I have been waiting for the birds to flock to the feeder and join in the feast set for them. For the last five days I’ve been waiting for them to show up for the feast but none accepted the invitation to be seated at the table and served a delectable meal.                     Bird Banquet
This morning I heard a beautiful melody that drew me to the window. As I gazed out the window my eyes fell upon five little birdies on the ground pecking away searching for food.
I’m in the window acting like a game show host trying to get them to look up. “Look up, look up,” I kept encouraging them as if they could hear me and see the prize that was awaiting them. They’d get close to the pole and then hop away but never look up at the banquet house they were invited to.

 

 

I got a revelation. I saw myself looking in all the wrong places or not  at all for what God has for me. He’s encouraging me–go this way, go that way. No, no, no back up. Turn around. Wait 15 minutes. Never hearing, never seeing–just not getting it. Off I stomped. Believing God never answered my prayer.

He did answer and had it waiting for me but I didn’t see it. I didn’t hear it. I didn’t still myself to get directions. I didn’t trust Him. My works will help God get me what I prayed for because of course He can’t supply my need by Himself.

When I walked away from the window the birds were still on the ground pecking away. Silence fell upon the yard and not hearing the chirping I figured they moved on to look elsewhere. There it was again, the same melody that drew me to the window earlier. I ran to the window and to my amazement one bird came to the banquet table and was feasting on the meal prepared for them. He looked up. He won. I’m sure he will go out and gather others and bring them back for the festive celebration and they all will know they don’t have to labor pecking for food any more in this yard–just show up.

We don’t have to work hard in our own strength to obtain the blessings God said He has for us in His Word. We receive them by faith and we will have them in God’s perfect time.

What do you do when you think God hasn’t answered your prayers? Do you try to make it happen in your time and strength?

The Love Expression of My Father’s Day Remembrance

/ emmalmoore / 1 Comment

I only have a short time left on my temps. Momma said she wasn’t going to pay for any more. I’m never gonna get to drive. I whined to my Dad every day he picked me up and drove me to school. My Mother paid for my temps twice and threatened not to pay for another one when it expired.

My Dad didn’t respond to my whining. He was smart. He knew what I was doing. Daddy was acting out what my Momma told me time and again, if you don’t hear nothing, you ain’t suppose to say nothing. He was saying nothing.

Then one day… I came out of the house to get in the car one morning and I found Daddy sitting in the passenger seat. He told me to get in the driver’s seat because I would be driving to school. That was the beginning of my driver’s training. I went to a school that was far from where I lived so I got plenty of practice. I sometimes picked up my brave best friend on the way to school. He saw me through to the day I passed the test to get my regular license—I had to take the parking test twice.

My Dad drove me to school every day that year. He made me feel really loved because he never did that for my siblings.

He’s in heaven now. Many times through the year—not just Father’s Day I reflect on my love for my Dad and his love for me. Those thoughts and the love I feel for him puts a smile on my face.

The love of my heavenly Father also puts a smile on my face every day of my life. He makes sure I have provision and there is no lack in my household. He is my peace beyond all understanding when things in my life seem to go awry. I talk to Him and trust He will lead me into all truths. Unlike a natural Father He never leaves me nor forsakes me. Father God has a plan for me as He stated in His Word (Jeremiah 29:11).

I was given to my earthly Father by my heavenly Father who loved me the best he could while one earth. Father God loved me before I showed up on the scene and has loved me ever since and vowed never to stop—no matter what. I honor and thank both of them for showing me true, overwhelming and everlasting love.

What love expression from your father do you cherish?

KINDNESS-CAN YOU SPARE A LITTLE

/ emmalmoore / 5 Comments

Definitions of kindness: of a friendly or generous nature; showing sympathy, mercy, empathy, or understanding; beneficial to something’s function. Kindness is the act of being caring or warm in spirit. Having human kindness includes being friendly, generous, and having a warm heart. To have human kindness you must be free of habits that do not promote warm, friendly relationships. These bad habits include being haughty, being quarrelsome, and being envious of others.

If you came into contact with someone who doesn’t fit your idea of normal how would you treat them? Would your perception of normal get in the way of showing kindness to that person? Could you bestow any of the above kindness attributes to that person? Would you want someone to be kind to you no matter what they thought? I believe you would. I want kindness toward me from every person I come in contact with. Likewise my goal is to be kind to every person I meet.

Throughout the years I’ve witnessed many people being mistreated in a subtle way because they didn’t live up to the perception of normal in the eyes of others. They didn’t dress normal. They didn’t look normal. They didn’t talk normal—normal according to the perceiver—all outside perceptions. No one took time to look at their hearts.

I’ve had the opportunity to become acquainted with the rejected ones. I found that they were “normal”. Who would have thought? They operated in the above definition of kindness. The “ultra normal” missed out on receiving kindness by rejecting them because they didn’t look, act, or dress right. 

Lord, fill us up with Your kindness so it overflows on to every person we encounter that they will know they have been touched by an everlasting love that can only come from You.