2010 New Year’s Thanks-olution!

As we embark on this final lap of 2009, may we reflect on the goals we accomplished, the progress and contributions we made, the lessons we learned, the people we helped, the food we fed our spirits and the way we renewed the fire of our gifts. So often, we fall into a trap of making New Year’s Resolutions that we rarely manage to keep after the first week or two of the New Year.

I am in favor of setting practical and obtainable goals, not just at the beginning of a new year, but throughout the year. Is there something from 2009 that you would like to change and make better in 2010 and beyond? So often, we seek to improve our finances, lessen our debts, take more vacations, find a better job, lose weight or get a better education on January 1st. Our failures thereafter, are sometimes attributed to a lack of vision and “discipline.” Your goals require activation in order to work.

If you are the consummate resolution maker and breaker, here is something slightly different that I would like to suggest. Create a “Thankful Journal.” This thankful journal needs to have at least one daily entry. That’s at least 365 entries for the year. Everyone has something to be thankful for, whether you acknowledge it or not. You could be thankful for good health, an unexpected gift someone gave you that day, grateful that you didn’t get into an accident while driving to and from your destination, or that God kept you and your family safe and sound for that day. Also in your Thankful Journal, you could include how appreciative you are to make a progressive step towards a goal you want to accomplish during the year.

As you go about your daily routine, remember to exemplify your nine fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Remember to be thankful that you are able to make a positive difference and impact in your part of the world. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. We had yesterday and have the present moment. So live life passionately and with purpose. Don’t forget to dance to the music, have fun and laugh contagiously like a child.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wishing you abundant peace and blessings, now and forevermore.

From Behind the Pen,
Kym Gordon Moore

Tis The Season!

“A single lit candle can light up a dark room, just as a full moon can light up a midnight sky. Many candle lights can light up the world, just as the sun can turn night into day.”
- Kym Gordon Moore

Let the spirit of this holiday season comfort you and your family with great tidings of joy, love, peace, hope, gentleness, faith and the celebration of The Light of the World. One of my favorite scriptures is from Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Continue to ignite that light from within, so that its radiation breaks the darkness of discourage-ment, despair and the diabolical. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year!

With the eternal flame of peace and blessings,
Kym

General Mills Charlotte Feeding Dreams Community Champions

CHARLOTTE, NC - I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Kelly Hutchinson, Founder of R.E.F.O.R.M. for receiving the first place award, at the 2009 General Mills Feeding Dreams Community Champions Award Luncheon, held at the Marriott Executive Park Hotel, on Wednesday December 2, 2009. Valarie Brooks, Executive Board Member with the Girl Talk Foundation received the $1,000 award for her organization and on behalf of The Dove's Nest, I received the $2,000 award to be applied to their Capital Campaign Expansion Fund.

Susan L. Taylor, Feeding Dreams Celebrity Spokeswoman, was the guest speaker and presented the Community Champions with their respective awards. It was an amazing, emotional and gratifying day. The experience felt so surreal, but in the reality of it all, we left there with a renewed spirit and determination to continue making positive contributions to our community.

Among others included on the program line-up, Beatrice Thompson, News & Public Affairs Director with WBAV-FM 101.9 was the Emcee. Debra Bryant, one of our local singers provided the musical selection. Rev. Thelma Gordon from Liberty Hill A.M.E. Zion Church delivered the invocation. Kimberley Bow Sundy, General Mills, Inc. Multicultural Marketing, PR & Community Relations Manager gave the Feeding Dreams Program Overview. Lafayette Jones, President/CEO of SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. introduced Susan L. Taylor. Modesty Dunbar Thompson, SMSi Lead Ambassador for the Charlotte Market made the prize presentations. Sandra Miller Jones, Founding Chair of SMSi gave the closing remarks.

Please feel free to click on the following link and visit the photo gallery from this day's festivities.
http://feedingdreams.com/charlotte/?cat=4

"CNN HEROES: Everyday People Changing The World"

Tonight, I watched CNN's presentation of "CNN HEROES: Everyday People Changing The World." Listening to the stories of the 10 finalists and how they are changing the lives of so many people around the world, just inspires me even more to continue doing something philanthropic with the God-given gifts and talents God blessed me with. As I continue to look around me, there is a constant reminder that it's not about me and what I have, but it's about what I have to use for God's purpose for me. If you didn't get a chance to watch the show Thanksgiving night, check out this link and watch the clips of stories about everyday people helping people.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/index.html

I hope these stories inspire you just as much as it inspired me.

Peace & Blessings,
Kym Gordon Moore
http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Deb Stewart Campaigns with Hope for the Holidays

Volunteers give something quite different and unique to the organizations they donate their time, money and energy to. The divine love, faith, stamina and compassion that personifies our human spirit, are the fruits that sanction our calling to be participators and not spectators when there is a human need to be met.

We met Deb Stewart during our fundraising event for The Dove’s Nest in September. She is also one of the valued volunteers for The Dove’s Nest, but continues to be an advocate for other causes that are not highly publicized. “I get a lot of personal satisfaction in knowing that God is using me to do my part for His glory,” says Deb. Like most volunteers, Deb shies away from a lot of attention. Nevertheless, in spite of her daily personal challenges, she still campaigns for causes to help rally support for those in need. We ask that you read the following heartfelt petition from Deb, for an organization that not many people have heard of located in Charlotte, NC called Blessings in the Storm. We think her message clearly states it all in the following letter she wrote:

Like many of us during the holidays, I struggle to focus on the meaning of the season more than the glitz and goods and social obligations. I have a tendency to over commit and then to re-evaluate in hindsight. Not this year!

With a group of close friends, I’ve pledged to support a local Christian ministry through monthly visits with gifts and prayers, and quarterly fund-raisers. But this quarter, for many, the busy holidays pose a problem: Who’s got time for another party or benefit? This season, we chose a different approach – we’re holding a “non-event,” an easy way to invite friends and family to make a big difference that demands little time or effort.

No searching for the perfect gift, no gourmet food to whip up … Just lots of Christian goodwill extended to people in dire need. I hope you’ll join me! Here’s how it works:

Your donation to our Hope for the Holidays non-event will benefit Blessings in the Storm, a Charlotte ministry that provides shelter for women and children escaping abuse, abandonment, addiction, or poverty. They arrive on Blessings’ doorstep with more baggage than they can carry, and yet they have next to nothing. They’re broke, and they’re deeply broken.

At Blessings in the Storm, they can heal in a homelike environment where rent and utilities are paid and children are well tended while mothers work hard to stand on their own. Blessings occupies four modest homes along a dead-end street in west Charlotte; but to the women and children there, Blessings is no dead end. It opens wide an avenue to healing, faith, and self-sufficiency. The growth I’ve seen among the women at Blessings is inspiring.

As a Christian organization, Blessings does not receive government funding, relying on private donations, and has struggled to meet operating costs this year. Would you consider helping Blessings with a donation of $10 or more, or a gift card to Target or Wal-Mart? Your tax-deductible contribution will help the ministry pay rent and utilities and will allow the women to buy a small Christmas gift for their children. Every penny goes to the ministry, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

If you’d like to donate, please call (980-254-1952) or e-mail me [dstewart@deborahstewart.ws] so I can arrange to receive your contribution by Dec. 10. Checks should be made out to Blessings in the Storm.

Checks can be mailed to my address:
14512 Limestone Lane
Pineville, NC 28134

Or you may go online to:
http://www.blessingsinthestorm.org/howyoucanhelp.html

Please browse this website to learn more about them. Your donations with make a difference this Christmas season and will be very much appreciated by all who love these women and believe in their future.

I know that, like me, you’ll find a great deal of peace and purpose this holiday season by spreading Hope for the Holidays. And I’m thankful that you’ve considered this opportunity to make one less mark on your calendar and leave one big mark on your heart!

Sincerely,
Deb Stewart
God bless you!

Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes Deb Stewart for sharing some Hope for the Holidays on behalf of Blessings in the Storm. If you have any questions about donating to Blessings in the Storm, please email Deb at dstewart015@carolina.rr.com. We urge you to visit the website for Blessings in the Storm http://www.blessingsinthestorm.org/ and learn about this incredible mission started by Loretta Harris-Caldwell. Please go to the “Press Release” link and watch the life-changing video that shows you how Blessings in the Storm, is a blessing of deliverance.

Happy Thanksgiving Day! Thanks for Giving!

Why do we pick out certain days of the year like Thanksgiving, Christmas, the fourth of July, Labor Day or even New Years Day, to get together, eat together, communicate together, cook great meals and celebrate together? Do we have to express how much we love those we care about only on Valentine’s Day? Do we help feed those who have little or nothing to eat only on Thanksgiving Day? Do we have to give praise for Christ’s sacrifice and Resurrection only on Easter? Do we have to wait and give a gift to someone only on Christmas or their birthday?

This year, we’ve seen and experienced a multitude of heartaches, disappointments, pain, grief and tragedies, along with joy, happiness, triumphs, births and life. Let us continue to pray for and assist those who are experiencing great losses, oppression and a sense of hopelessness. We realize that in spite of so many things that need to be fixed in our economic, social, religious, educational, personal and political systems, these things can’t magically repair themselves. After years of abuse to these crucial support systems, that define our freedom and justice we are blessed to experience in this country, let us wake up quickly and stop taking these components of our life for granted. Things can easily turn in the opposite direction if we aren’t grateful and show gratitude for these blessings of opportunity.

Happy we are! Thanks for Giving.

To our military troops and their families, we salute you and say thank you for your courage and patriotism. To the doctors, physicians, nurses, surgeons and therapists, thank you for caring for our health. To our law enforcement officials, thank you for serving and protecting our communities. To our teachers, professors, lecturers and administrators, thank you for our academic opportunity to learn. To our pastors and theologians, thank you for our spiritual development. To our thespians, musicians and performing artists, thank you for sharing your gifts and entertainment. To our writers and authors, thank you for the spoken word that inspires us. To our athletes near and far, thank you for displaying good sportsmanship and athletic willpower. To those who survived diseases, disasters, discouragement and death, thank you for showing us how to rise above all hazards that are determined to destroy our human spirit. To our friends and family who sincerely show how much you care, thank you for your compassion, understanding and support.

Happy we are! Thanks for Giving.

If we look around and realize that those who were with us this time last year are not with us this year, let us remember the impact and influence of their lives in ours. Let us exhibit our appreciation for giving, our gifts of love, peace, exhortation, happiness and joy, or our ability to celebrate the presence of life in humanity and all of God’s creation, every single day we have breath in our bodies. Let’s not overlook the small victories, in search of the big ones. Sometimes, it’s in the small victories that we discover some awesome and abundant blessings.

Happy we are! Thanks for Giving.

May the peace, hope, love and grateful spirit of blessings fill your hearts every day of the year. As we celebrate and participate in the festivities of the season, let us remember to love, share and feed the least of these. Many are starving around us every day, not knowing where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep for the night. We may not have the money in the bank that we want, we may not have all of the things we desire and we may not be where we want to be at this point in our lives, but we are grateful to still be a work in progress. As we reflect on the lives of those who left us with a chapter to learn from, may we continue to write and teach these lessons to empower the generations that follow.

Happy we are! Thanks for Giving.

Be safe, responsible, respectable and joyous during these festive moments of the year. Peace and blessings from our home to yours.

Edifying The Community

By Kym Gordon Moore

We are saturated every day with painstaking, horrendous stories in the news, online, through our mobile devices and newspapers that are impossible to run away from. Literally, we expect to get our daily intake of bad news so much, until when a good story rolls around about an advocate doing something positive and edifying in the community, we are somehow thrown off course.

Earlier this year, Favorite Things for a CAUSE decided to highlight ordinary people doing extraordinary things within the communities of our surrounding area. We came across many volunteers who do so much, yet prefer to remain anonymous, at least for the time being. Those of us who are blessed to be recognized in one way or another, feel undeserving of such publicized recognition. Yet, when an opportunity comes along, where your community leaders scour through mounds of well deserving candidates and decides to recognize you, you find your spirit flushed with humility, because your contributions are done from the heart and out of love. Somehow you prefer to remain in the shadows, but when we look at the bad news that often dominates our sources of communication, we welcome some good news in the midst of the storm.

I have the honor of being in good company with two extraordinary women who were nominated to represent the General Mills Feeding Dreams Community Champions program in Charlotte, North Carolina. Throughout the past few months, you read and learned about The Dove’s Nest, the organization I represented for Feeding Dreams. Please feel free to revisit our previous blog posts in case you missed those articles. Although we have a couple of weeks before finding out how the results from the online voting will rank the award placement for each of our organizations, we have enjoyed this ride. Kelly, Valarie and I are committed to getting the much-needed support for the organizations we represent, since all of them rely on donations from generous people in the community.

So to all of you who are doing something in your community beyond the call of duty, we salute you and thank you for being a participator and not a spectator. Can you possibly imagine the type of world we would live in if everyone did “one” positive thing each day to make the world a better place?

Be inspired…Then be an inspiration!

“He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” - Proverbs 22:9 (RSV)

All You Can Read!

All You Can Read is a massive media directory of 22,800 local and international magazines and newspapers from all over the world. Over 200 countries are represented at AllYouCanRead.com.

Their magazine and newspaper listings are categorized not only by their country of origin, but are also subcategorized by topic - be it art, business or travel. Enjoy exploring this amazing site full of international media outlets!

http://www.allyoucanread.com/

Announcing the NEW Pens & Pals Blog

We are introducing a new blog designed to highlight selected authors and performing artists who are introducing their latest projects to the public and potential customers. Features are by invitation only or from a recommendation by one of our featured friends. Additionally, I will share with you any good reads, music or information I come across, occurring in related industries that would be a cost-effective marketing helpmate in our highly competitive fields.

While I believe in and respect The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, there are some publications we will pass up, if we feel it will compromise the integrity and decency of this site’s focus and purpose. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at pensandpals@aol.com. We respect your privacy and will never sell or share your personal information without your permission. I look forward to sharing your story with our audience.

Kym Gordon Moore
Author of Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit
http://www.kymgmoore.com/
http://www.outskirtspress.com/DiversitiesofGifts
http://www.pensandpals.blogspot.com/

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Charlotte, NC

It is such a rewarding and exhilarating experience to participate in an event that commemorates the lives of those surviving and succumbing to breast cancer (women and men alike). We were among about 15,000 people participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K event in Charlotte, North Carolina this morning. This photo gives you a glimpse of the masses that turned out very early this morning from our vantage point! There were even more people behind us!





It was amazing how many children, senior citizens and even dogs came out and were a part of a spectacular cause! My hats off to the organizers and sponsors who worked diligently to make this event possible and successful! I have to give a “shout-out” to Yoplait who sponsored the Race for the Cure and is also one of the supporting brands of the General Mills Feeding Dreams Community Champions Campaign for 2009, that I am a proud recipient of.




My friends Ebony Moore-Roach (Founder of Miss Ebony’s School of Etiquette, Inc.), Ros (one of Charlotte’s Finest Police Officers) and I got together and walked early this morning! What a rewarding experience! I can’t wait until next year!

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Diversities of Gifts for The Dove’s Nest: It’s A Wrap!

Well, “Diversities of Gifts for The Dove’s Nest Fundraiser” is over! I must say that we had a diverse audience of some beautiful spirits gathered at The Duke Mansion in Charlotte, NC. There were some heart moving stories that ignited the spirit of love, compassion, awareness and transformation, invoking everyone to take action and get involved in their communities, to serve those in need. We gained some amazing support from unexpected places and for that, we are truly grateful. A big…no a HUGE thanks to all of our supporters and volunteers who made this event a success! We will compile post-event information and photos soon! So stay tuned!

The Dove's Nest Fundraiser

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN BEGINS…

In 3 days, we will be celebrating the great mission of The Dove’s Nest, during the “Diversities of Gifts for The Dove’s Nest Fundraiser” on Saturday September 19, 2009 at 2:00pm. It will be held at The Duke Mansion (http://www.dukemansion.com) in Charlotte, NC. For more information on purchasing tickets or to make a donation, go to http://www.favoritethingsforacause.com. See you there!

Straight Talk with Bea Thompson from WBAV-FM Interviews Feeding Dreams Champions

Bea Thompson, host of Straight Talk on WBAV-FM 101.9 in Charlotte, NC interviewed the General Mills Feeding Dreams Community Champions from Charlotte, NC. The show aired on Sunday August 23, 2009. Bea gave each recipient, Kelly Hutchinson (R.E.F.O.R.M.), Valarie Brooks (Charlotte Girl Talk Foundation) and Kym Gordon Moore (The Dove's Nest) an opportunity to talk about the organizations they are representing for this community service award. General Mills Lead Ambassador for Charlotte, Modesty Dunbar Thompson, was also on hand to explain the Feeding Dreams program to listeners and petitioned that everyone go to http://www.feedingdreams.com/ to vote for the champion of their choice.




Kelly Hutchinson
"R.E.F.O.R.M."

Valarie R. Brooks
"Girl Talk Foundation"







Kym Gordon Moore
"The Dove's Nest"

Modesty Dunbar Thompson

Lead Ambassador
Charlotte, North Carolina

Kym Gordon Moore & The Dove's Nest Need Your Vote!!!

I was recently chosen as one of General Mills’ Feeding Dreams Community Champions in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am honored and humbled to be among some amazing and very outstanding Community Champions chosen in the Charlotte, Birmingham, Memphis and Norfolk areas. However, on behalf of The Dove’s Nest, a subsidiary of The Charlotte Rescue Mission, I am seeking your “vote” that will determine the total amount of the monetary donation this organization will receive from General Mills. If you are not familiar with The Dove’s Nest, it is a women-specific recovery program that provides a loving, highly-structured Christian environment to help women understand and deal with the core issues of their alcohol and/or drug addiction.

In essence, here’s how the General Mills Feeding Dreams Community Champion voting procedure works:- Voting is in progress. There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To vote, log onto http://www.feedingdreams.com/ and follow the online instructions for voting. Voting ends at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 6, 2009. Limit 1 vote per person per day. You do not have to live in Charlotte in order to vote for Kym & The Dove's Nest. (Additional conditions can be found on the “Voting Rules” page)

Each charity will receive a donation from General Mills, but how much depends on how many votes we receive. In the Charlotte area there are three Community Champion recipients representing their chosen charity. As noted, I am representing The Dove’s Nest. Monetary donations will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place charities, based on who gets the most votes. To help you further understand how important your vote means, I am currently working with The Dove’s Nest to contribute to their Capital Campaign Fund for an expansion facility scheduled to break ground next year. This facility will increase from the current 12-bed facility to a 90-bed facility, to accommodate a growing waiting list of those women in desperate need for their services. This is why the 1st Place Award is so important to The Dove’s Nest and me.

Have you ever personally experienced homelessness, hunger, hopelessness or helplessness? Were you ever the victim of an addiction, abuse or monumental adversity? If you haven’t, let’s hope that you never will. Nevertheless, as our journey in life progresses, we all will eventually deal with some type of monumental adversity, whether it’s spiritual, physical, mental or emotional. For that reason, as the Feeding Dreams Community Champion, I am currently coordinating a fundraiser scheduled for September 19, 2009 to donate the proceeds to the capital campaign project for The Dove’s Nest. If you would like to contribute to this Capital Campaign Fundraiser or if you are interested in attending the “Diversities of Gifts for The Dove’s Nest Fundraiser", please feel free to send me an email at diversitiesofgifts@kymgmoore.com. Your generous gift will bless so many women in need.

I would like to thank you in advance for your vote, support, donations and prayers. Please feel free to forward and share this newsletter or link (http://www.feedingdreams.com/) with those on your email list and ask them to vote for Kym and The Dove’s Nest. May God continue to bless and keep you.

Peace & Blessings Always,
Kym Gordon Moore
Author of "Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit"

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS CELEBRATED THROUGH GENERAL MILLS, INC. FEEDING DREAMS™ PROGRAM

Online Polls Open Today at FeedingDreams.com; Vote For Your Favorite African-American Community Champion And Help Support Their Charitable Efforts And Powerful Work

MINNEAPOLIS - August 7, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Following on the heels of last year's inaugural Feeding Dreams™ initiative to celebrate everyday heroes who are doing extraordinary things to improve communities, General Mills is proudly serving up seconds and expanding its reach to help recognize African-Americans who are selflessly volunteering to make their communities better in four southern cities. Read more...

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

“Diversities of Gifts for The Dove’s Nest Fundraiser”

“When a woman feels a sense of hopelessness or is hurting, it affects her family, her community and those around her. When you heal her spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, you heal her family, as well as a community.”

– Kym Gordon Moore

Often, it is difficult for someone to understand where a person is going if they do not understand where that person has been. If at some point in your life, you never walked in the shoes of trials, disappointments and tribulations it’s hard to comprehend how uncomfortable those shoes feel and the difficult journey they endured.

Kym Gordon Moore, author of the book “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit” and recipient of the General Mills’ Feeding Dreams Community Service Award, is announcing “Diversities of Gifts for The Dove’s Nest Fundraiser”, kicking off on Saturday September 19, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event will be held at the elegant and historic Duke Mansion located at 400 Hermitage Road in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This capital campaign fundraiser will benefit expansion facilities for The Dove’s Nest, a women-specific recovery program that provides a loving, highly-structured Christian environment to help women understand and deal with the core issues of their alcohol and/or drug addiction. In conjunction with the Favorite Things for a CAUSE mission, our goal is to raise at least $25,000 from this event, to support efforts that will help to increase the program’s bed capacity from 12 to 90.

If you would like to receive more information on our upcoming fundraiser and how you can get involved with the expansion project of this sanctuary for homeless women, please send an email to diversitiesofgifts@kymgmoore.com. Include your name, email address and any contact information in the body of your email. In the subject line of your email, include: “Diversities of Gifts for the Dove’s Nest”. Albeit this event is for a worthy cause, it will surely be educational, enlightening and entertaining. We are so excited about this opportunity to help so many women in need and look forward to seeing many of you at The Duke Mansion in September! This is one benefit that you don’t want to miss!

The Dove’s Nest - http://charlotterescuemission.org/category/outreaches/dovesnest
http://www.diversitiesofgifts.blogspot.com/
http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Diversities of Gifts for The Dove's Nest

Kym Gordon Moore, author of the book “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit” was recently named as one of the recipients of General Mills’ Feeding Dreams Community Service Award, for her volunteer work with The Dove’s Nest, a subsidiary of The Charlotte Rescue Mission, located in Charlotte, NC. The Dove’s Nest is a women-specific recovery program that provides a loving, highly-structured Christian environment to help women understand and deal with the core issues of their alcohol and/or drug addiction.

She will soon announce an end-of-the-summer project to benefit The Dove’s Nest that she is collaborating with Francene Marie Morris, her co-founder with Favorite Things for a CAUSE. Stay tuned for the exciting details yet to come announcing this worthy project that will help so many women successfully navigate through their recovery process at the Dove’s Nest.

http://www.charlotterescuemission.org/dovesnest.php
http://www.kymgmoore.com/
http://www.francenemarie.com/

Outskirts Press announces Diversities of Gifts from Indian Trail, NC author Kym Gordon Moore

Outskirts Press, Inc. has published Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit by Kym Gordon Moore, which is the author's most recent book to date

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 28, 2009 – Denver, CO

http://www.prlog.org/10269002-outskirts-press-announces-diversities-of-gifts-from-indian-trail-nc-author-kym-gordon-moore.html

Barnes & Noble – http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?ATH=Kym+Gordon+Moore

Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Diversities-Gifts-Kym-Gordon-Moore/dp/1432730428/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246509821&sr=1-1

www.kymgmoore.com

The Fruit of Patience

Can you write down three things that you find it hard to wait on? What does it mean to be patient? Do you find that you can hardly wait for school to get out at the end of the day? Is it hard to wait for Christmas or your birthday to arrive? Do you find it hard to wait when preparing to go on vacation?

We live in a world where almost everything is done in fast motion. Many people have a problem being patient. Oftentimes, their impatience lead to making serious mistakes that can cause major problems affecting the lives of a lot of people.

Being patient is not always an easy thing to do. Patience is steadfast, able or willing to endure under difficult circumstances. To be patient is to understand that a process requires you to wait for a result. It does not mean that you are to tolerate something that you know is wrong or foolish. To be patient is not to be lazy or a pushover. Patience requires living by faith. Patience requires understanding and can strengthen you. I went to undergrad college with a young man named Carl who had cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of the nervous system affecting body movement, muscle coordination and speech. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movement. Carl was very kind and maintained an independent attitude. He didn’t want pity simply because of his uniqueness, but hoped for opportunity and fair treatment. He knew that he walked, talked and responded differently from the rest of us, but that did not destroy his determination to be the very best student, individual and friend that he could be. The way Carl walked was in a clumsy manner due to his cerebral palsy. Although his speech was a little slurred and not always audible, this didn’t stop him from trying to communicate with people.

We were very compassionate and patient with Carl, as well as with other students who shared similar disabilities on campus. If Carl dropped his books, someone picked them up unless he wanted to do it himself. We never made fun of him. If Carl wanted to walk with us, we walked slower so that he could keep up. And despite it all, if we had a party on campus, Carl came and he danced and danced and danced. Now that is a true testament of the gift of life. Keep smiling and keep dancing, even when your heart is breaking. Why? Because we are celebrating life and trouble does not last always! If I were in Carl’s position or as some of the other students in wheel chairs trying to get to class, I would hope and pray that someone would be patient with me. It is so easy to turn your head and look the other way just to ignore those who have physical challenges. Remember that you can be what most consider normal right now and the next minute find yourself in the same predicament as other individuals facing the adversity of unexpected disabilities.

Have you thought about what it would be like if God was impatient with us? What if he was impatient every time we did or said something wrong or insensitive? What if he was impatient with us if we didn’t grow or learn fast enough? The one thing that tries God’s patience is when we are disobedient to his Word. God expects us to be forgiving and patient with others, just as He is with us.

Impatience has consequences. It can lead to missed opportunities, making poor choices and decisions that you may regret later. Don’t be so anxious to get something done so quickly, unless it’s a life or death situation. Are you a patient person? If not, how can you practice being patient? Pray for God to show you how, why and when to be patient.

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Celebrating the 4th of July

I would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July. Please be certain to exercise caution if you’re traveling on the highway and for God’s sake, don’t drink and drive. Remember that we are blessed with the awesome gift of freedom in this country. Let's take a moment to remember everyone who risked and sacrificed their lives for the rest of us to enjoy our land of the free. Be sure to celebrate responsibly!

Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit Is Here!!!

God has such an amazing and incredible way of gently letting you know that for your faithfulness, it’s your time. Today was such an incredible day! As I am blessed to wake up and experience a day that I never experienced before, I am simply in awe of the great things that continue to unfold through the lessons of creation that surround me with divine love. As I received so many birthday wishes, celebrating my 51st birthday today, I am almost overwhelmed by the pleasant surprises that God is placing on the table he prepared for me.

A year ago, I hoped to be here today, but who knows what tomorrow brings? Thus, I celebrate today, I cherish the memories of yesterday and I let God take care of tomorrow. I cherish my true and dear friendships, my family and my faith. I embrace the divine strength that The Lord imparted in me. I learned to let go of the trivial, the complacent, the spiritual leeches and the nonsensical. In addition, although I embrace the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance), I also realize that adversity is waiting to strike in the shadows; yet I fear no evil.

While celebrating my gift of life, I received a package today, delivered by UPS. I expected my package this week and hoped it would be here by my birthday, but I was uncertain about the estimated time of arrival for it. I opened the box and behold was a surreal sight that literally brought me to tears. Copies of my new book, “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit” was like the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae that took this birthday to a completely new level. If it came yesterday or arrived tomorrow, I know that the excitement would still be there, but the significance of it arriving on this day, was more momentous than I expected. I don’t know what God has up his sleeve as I move forward on my journey, but I’ve buckled my seat belt because I feel that it is something big! “Big, really big,” as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show used to say.

So I am excited to present to you, the debut of my new book, “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit.” It is available on Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com. More information is forthcoming of events and additional availability sectors embodying the message and ministry of this Christian Inspirational Book. Thank you for allowing me the time to share this update with you.

God Bless!
Kym Gordon Moore
http://www.kymgmoore.com/

So Long Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon!

My goodness what a week this has truly been! In the midst of the wonderful, celebratory things that occurred over the past seven days, it seems like we heard one tragic story after another. Among those tragedies, we lost some well-known celebrities who made an unforgettable impact on our lives and those in our global communities.

At some point and time, we all experienced the loss of someone near and dear to us and as long as we live, we will endure more. Of course, that’s not one of those moments we sit and wait for, and we fret about those days that will certainly come. Somehow, deep within our hearts, amid the pain, sorrow, grief and heartbreak, we feel a ray of hope that indicates things will be okay sooner or later. We may never get over our losses, but I believe that God will bring us through it and heal our hearts of the devastating pain, even when we don’t understand why. I am a firm believer in the scripture that sadness may endure for a night (and maybe even a few nights), but joy comes in the morning.

It seems that although you know people are struggling and suffering from the pain of a horrific terminal illness, when you read or hear about them passing away, leaving the life on earth that they once inhabited, it still does not make the news any easier to swallow. Despite the personal adversities that we read about Ed, Farrah, Michael and other celebrities, it clearly shows that these larger than life individuals had the same struggles, pain, strongholds and sorrows just like the rest of us. I believe that although we did not understand the challenging things they faced daily, because they were constantly in the public’s eyes even when they didn’t want to be, we still connected to their fragileness and humanness.

So as we say so long to Ed McMahon (A landmark on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson), Farrah Fawcett (An original “Charlie’s Angel”) and Michael Jackson (The King of Pop), let’s continue to keep their families and friends in our prayers. They will truly be missed, but never forgotten.

God Bless,
Kym
www.kymgmoore.com

The Birth of Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit

CONCEPTION: One Sunday morning in February 2007, my husband and I were completing our morning devotional and Bible study. While flipping to another page in the New Testament, I landed on 1 Corinthians 12. Immediately, my eyes zeroed in on the fourth verse “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” I felt The Lord telling me to write down that verse. For whatever the reason was, I did not know, but wrote this verse down anyway. At first I thought that this was going to be the title of a new article, but it remained incubated in the pages of my Bible.

EMBRYO: I began writing many spiritual and inspirational articles, but little did I know they were the formation of chapters for this book. I also began writing and compiling more pastoral poems, thinking they were to be included in a planned chapbook. But of course, it was too early to tell what this embryo was going to be.

1st TRIMESTER: It became clearly evident at this point, that this embryo was beginning to take the shape of a book. I began incorporating Biblical scriptures within my article content and my pages began to expand. I meditated about what my book cover would look like and its Biblical significance. I documented a rendition of what I visualized the cover of my book would look like.

2nd TRIMESTER: I began outlining my table of contents and put my manuscript in order. Five months later in July 2007, my manuscript was mailed to The Library of Congress for my Certificate of Registration.

3rd TRIMESTER: My third trimester was one of the hardest and longest lasting periods. I began adding and subtracting more material that The Lord was revealing to me with my manuscript. I had premature contractions when I thought it was time to send my manuscript to the publishers, but the Lord revealed to me that it wasn’t time just yet. I became anxious, but prayed and practiced the fruit of patience. In January 2009 the birthing process was about to begin. Today, I am the proud parent of the latest addition to our family, “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit.” I was notified this morning that my baby will be in my arms next week…just in time for my week-long birthday celebration!

When I wrote this book, it was not written with the intention of becoming a “best seller” but if it does, then I am okay with that too. I pray that this book will be a catalyst of inspiration, encouragement and blessing to those who read it. This isn’t the first book I wrote. There are two others that were previously written years ago and received their Certificate of Registration from The Library of Congress; but The Lord revealed to me that they wouldn’t be the first out of the gate. "Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit" contain the fruits of the Spirit, and if it meets God’s approval, then that’s alright with me.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/