god Archives - Page 6 of 14 - Turning the Page on Suicide

Posts Tagged: god

Heaven Is not Distant

Posted July 29, 2016 | Karisa Moore

InÂ previous posts I shared my desire for God to move heavenÂ from abstract imagesÂ to concrete, life-giving, substance. Yesterday, while touring Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, God pulled back the veil.

There is a mural painted by Frank DuveneckÂ . My first walk through, I sawÂ only Jesus on the cross and the person I thought might be his mother (actually Mary Magdalene) pleading for a different outcome.Â I began to cry, herÂ position at the cross is oneÂ I’m quite familiar. I came back to the painting later, this time I noticedÂ GodÂ behind Jesus’ out stretched arms! Suddenly I realized that there is a heavenly perspective of our circumstances, not just our view at the foot of the cross.

God is not helplessly watching our vulnerability, he is actively, intimately aware of our sorrow, pain, and longings. He not only knows all things work to our good, but how they work to our good. His arms are outstretched even as our arms are outstretched. For example, when Stephen is stoned, â€œLook,â€ he said, â€œI see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.â€ (Acts 7:56) Heaven is present at this horrific moment and Jesus is standing to receive Stephen. When Saul is about to ratchet up persecution, heaven opens and aÂ blinding light, stopping him in his tracks.Â Â Jesus questions Paul directly. “Why are you persecuting me?” Even when heaven is not revealed to us, God is near! The comforter has come to rest, like a dove, on all who believe.

I’ve been struggling with the level of burden God has given to us. But, seeing the record of those who have gone before us, reminds meÂ that heaven is not distant even when I can’t see.Â I haveÂ security, strength and a power to do what he has called me to do. We can paint earthly reminders of those who have gone before us. We can create vaulted ceilings toÂ reflect the beauty and majesty ofÂ the heavenly realmsÂ and it is breath-taking. How much more so is heaven’s view of us. We are God’s beautiful stain glass window, a glimpse of heavenly glory is revealed in the way he walks with us.

Mary Magdalen at the foot of the cross.

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Posted July 25, 2016 | Karisa Moore

James 5:10Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Jobâ€™s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.â€¦

I’m struggling to write. Sheer exhaustion gets my brain jumbled up. I literally can feel my brain shorting out! After a week and half of unmitigated insomnia I had an absence seizure in the middle of church yesterday. Brian said he suddenly realized that I wasn’t there and tried to talk to me and I didn’t respond. While it didn’t go full blown my head will not quit pounding.

I hate this feeling, but I also know it will pass.

Please pray for sleep, and relief for my family from the physical attack, we are all oppressed by right now. Lord, you are my God, I do not understand what you are doing with all of this. Yet, I place my body in your hands. Please make our path straight! I put my hope in you and persevere through the pain to see your glory. Amen

Garden Cup

Posted July 7, 2016 | Karisa Moore

When the cup we pass around

the table

growsÂ cold with tears

and our empty

souls only know moldy bread, you came.

Pouring sweet water, foreverÂ bubbling generously over the sides

of our limits.

and bread from the banquet table of your papa, the king.

Fireworks in my Grief

Posted July 5, 2016 | Karisa Moore

Today is my wedding anniversary. Losing Jonathan on the 1st could have overshadowed our anniversary if we had not been intentional about turning our pages from the beginning. Each year brings new delights for our anniversary because we took those first painful steps to celebrate our marriage. We both felt numb, but we made it to the baseball game we had planned to see for our anniversary. Last year we returned to West Virginia to visit family and friends. We celebrated our anniversary with homemade peach cobbler, the delivery and reading of the Declaration of Independence and exploring our friend’s farm and museums. This year we celebrated with friends and family around food and fireworks. Next weekend we head to D.C. for a rally onÂ The Mall.

There will always be difficult days in grief, things are not as they should be, but there is still a lot of life to live. I choose to watch with awe, the spectacular fireworks of God’s love and maybe even squeal with delight as he surprises me in my grief.

God’s Tattoo (Isaiah 49:16)

Posted June 30, 2016 | Karisa Moore

I etched part of my story into my arms, temporary

tattoos of my brokenness that time will fade, but you

YouÂ hammered myÂ personhood into your hands

for eternity.

Princesses Forever

Posted June 27, 2016 | Karisa Moore

: My flower

: Kiss the frog and he might squirt you

: Birthday wishes . . . Own entire American Doll store

: Some girly girl time!

NatalieÂ is teaching Â me so much about being a daughter of the King! He is extravagant with his love and calls us his bride. Treasure your daughters, and being served as daughters of our Father in heaven. Many of us struggle with being loved by God. I resisted for a long time, but oh the first time I climbed into his lap and let him hold me, he has shown me such kindness, and given me over the top blessings that could have only come from him.

When I was pregnant with Jonathan I did not expect much in the way of gifts. I was content with second-hand clothes and the simple things.Â The one extravagant thing I longed for was a cradle, but I told no one. A few days before Jonathan’s arrival, my Lamaze partner and her husband showed up at the home I was staying, In their arms was handmade a cherry wood cradle, crafted by my friend’s husband. I knew that it was a gift from God.

My husband was an amazing and unexpected gift from God. More recently this necklace under the Jonathan tree.

Continue your story!

My children, Daniel’s music, and my daughter’s love for animals are an inspiration and delight. These are all parts of one great big love note from God. His consistent comfort, at just the moments I need them are testaments to his presence in my life.

This morning He surprised me with the lilies in a part of the park I don’t normally explore.

Don’t be afraid of your longings. Expect good things from God no matter what battle you may be in the middle of.

James 1:16 Donâ€™t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

A Double Rainbow of Presence

Posted June 21, 2016 | Karisa Moore

Revelation 4:2At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. 3The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow gleaming like an emerald encircled the throne.

Genesis 9:13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

“Sometimes we need a double rainbow!” Daniel exclaimed after having a rough afternoon of missing Jonathan.Â “God really loves me.” We pulled off the road to take pictures. When our lives are filled with storms it can be hard to remember they will not last forever.Â We long for God to reinforce his presence, promise and provision. One rainbow, simply is not enough.

Head knowledge does not suffice when you are in prison, abused, grieving, sick, struggling deeply to overcome sin. Please hear me! Like any child needs to hear the words “I love you”,Â even thoughÂ they may not have the feeling to match, we consistently need reminders that God loves us. We are learning to correctly interpretÂ God’s ways and because he doesn’t operate inside our box we can interpret our circumstances as punishment. Only when we accept His love as irrefutable fact, allowingÂ Christ to make his passion for us a part of our being, do we stop being tossed around like ragdolls when the circumstances change.

In 10 days my son dies. Those are the circumstances of July 1st. My husband is very ill. My daughter and son have dietary issues. Those are the current circumstances of my day to day. I am learning that “even ifÂ __________”, God loves me. Look for the never the lesses”Â and “therefores” in scripture, because what follows is God!

Rainbows are a never the less symbol of his overwhelming love for us. A double leaves no doubt. Scripture is filled with men and women who needed a second sign to confirm that God held their circumstances and would bring good out their brokenness. Abraham, Sara, Moses, Gideon, Joshua, Naomi, Jonah, Esther, Mary, Peter, Thomas, Paul, the list is endless. In almost allÂ cases these mighty heroes of scriptureÂ came to a place whereÂ they obeyed God no matter what! So look for your rainbows and discover how trustworthy God is!

Psalm 139: God’s Complete Physical

Posted June 8, 2016 | Karisa Moore

Lord, you have given me a complete physical and you know the state of my mind, body, and soul.

My daily planner lays open before you.

My thoughts are front page news as you sip your morning coffee.

When I leave for work, or shut the computerÂ down for the night, you observe.

The bottom line, you have made my life your business.

My words are filtered through your righteousness.

and you determine their worth.

You have a 360 degree view–there is not a side of me hidden from you.

I don’t get a personal bubble.

I don’t understand why you are so intimately involved and I’m not sure

I want to.

There is no escaping your activity in my life. Your Spirit is everywhere!

Of course you are in charge of the heavens,

and I can’t find a bunker deep enough to hide from you.

I can sit in first class on American and you are there.

You are the navigator of my ship directing my course, like a

father withÂ his child,Â through a seaÂ ofÂ people IÂ could easily be lost in.

Let’s face it, I can’t play pick-a-boo with You.

You are a giant flashlight illuminating my soul.

In fact, YouÂ sewedÂ my soul together, in my

mother’s womb.

You hold the first 4-D image

of who I am.

And you give your stamp of approval,

who am I to argue with that!

When I was nothing more than a lump of clay, you

knew what I would become.

You have the first edition of my life

before a word was ever written.

I am eager to know your thoughts.

I do not have a databank

large enough to contain them.

That you choose to share your plans

with me when I awake, amazing!

So why do my enemies come between us!

Please remove them, I can’t stop thinking about

their threats and schemes.

Haven’t I obeyed you, and they have not.

Ultimately I know their fight is with you.

When they stand against me, they stand

against you.

We are back to the beginning. Since You know me so well, you know

that I fear how strong my enemy seems. If there is anything that offends you remove

it so that you stay my companion forever.

God’s Signiture Piece

Posted June 6, 2016 | Karisa Moore

We are not dieÂ stamped, manufactured

on the factory floor and manhandled down

the assembly line, only to be discarded if we are

defective.

God’s hands took intimate pleasure

inÂ sculpting man and women.

He dug into earth, kneadingÂ clay into

his own image. Checking proportions, building

the detailed science of vein, muscle, bone and ligament.

smoothingÂ skin to skeleton withÂ thumbs, chiseling

eyes, curling lips and dipping dimples. When he stepped

back, he was pleased–

And signed his workÂ with his own DNA.

Accepting the Lifeline: God’s Yoke is Light

Posted May 29, 2016 | Karisa Moore

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.â€

If you’re a Christian andÂ His yoke doesn’t feel light, why is that? I used to think a light yoke meant my circumstances weren’t heavy, but clearly my circumstances are extremely heavy. Our yoke becomes light when we know God’s gentleness and humility so well that the yoke is nothing in comparison. Paul touches onÂ the difference of our earthly weight compared to the heavenly yoke,Â in Romans 8:18Â I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.Â If my yoke still feels heavy, it is because I am the one still carrying the weight! I don’t know or trust God’s character; giving him fullÂ reign of my life.Â The yoke becomes lighter and lighter when IÂ love Him completely and recognize his complete love for me. Have you ever been secure in that kind of love? Can we accept thatÂ he carriedÂ our burden on the cross, and therefore, find rest (relief) in the yoke of our savior.

Much of faith is getting to know our master’s character so well that we trust him implicitly. Think of it this way. We are drowning in sin, sin we are doing, and sin that someone is enacting on us. We are exhausted and God has thrown out his life line. We must choose to grab the line before we can rest and allow him to pull us to safety. Now I can keep attempting to save myself, or allow others to pull me under in their misguided attempts at saving me, or I can trust the character of God. This is so much easier when we get to know his character. We read his love note (scripture) over and over. WeÂ witness that he has rescued others, we ourselves might have thought hopeless, and we act on his character over and over. I’ll grab the lifeline of the certified swim instructor who has swum the channel! Jesus swam the channel of humanity! He tells us his yoke is light, because he wore the yoke of his father, and knows it to be true.

Observe His gentleness and humility throughout scripture. Don’t discount his love for mankind in the Old Testiment as well as the New. From the birth of creation he has loved and called you by name. We have to decide, will we take His yoke upon us? Will we accept the lifeline and rest?

Posts Tagged: god

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