Into the grey sky

Suddenly appears a glow

And my heart responds

For the source, I know so well.

Smiling . . . all-consuming love!

By Martha L Shaw – © 5-18-2013

Reblogged from Revelations In Writing:

In weariness, worn;

a frustrated rant.

No harsh words spoken;

only grace to grant.

Child-like complaining,

met with tenderness.

Encouraging words,

brought peace in my mess.

God's kind heart to mine,

on the face of friends;

He restores all hope,

as His love extends.

Reminders of truth,

when it's hard to see;

His grace is greater,

than what comes at me.

Read more… 216 more words

Feeling uneasy – handing it to Him

This gift so long-awaited,

Yet its arrival startled me.

I had grown accustomed to my hunger

And suddenly knew it no more!

In its place came a new excitement,

A new purpose,

A new understanding,

A new path,

And a new experience of grace

Filling me to overflowing.

Then, I saw the fire in His eyes,

Knew the depth of passion,

This love He has for me!

I saw His smile,

Knew His happy tears for me

Would not extinguish the fire,

But only fan the flame

In my soul!

This flame?

It’s burning still!

By Martha L Shaw – © 5-17-2013

Photography by Martha L Shaw © 5-17-2013

If I pray without ceasing and thus make everything I do a prayer to the Lord, I am His and it is Him whom I serve.  So, if I serve you and you do not thank me . . . grumble . . . behave as though you are entitled . . . act spoiled, and I become angry, was I truly serving the Lord?

]]> http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/thankless-task/feed/ 0 marthalshaw t_Just_Jesus024 http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/six-word-friday-count/ http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/six-word-friday-count/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 22:07:02 +0000 Martha L Shaw http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/?p=6992 ]]>

Count on Him above all else!

Click the image and join the fun!

]]> http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/six-word-friday-count/feed/ 0 marthalshaw img_1208796748621_3771 Click the image and join the fun! http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/how-peculiar/ http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/how-peculiar/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 17:33:12 +0000 Martha L Shaw http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/?p=6984 ]]> Perhaps you can relate to something I experienced earlier.  Someone looked at me, snorted, and bore an expression which suggested I was rather peculiar.  This attitude changed when I was viewed as a useful commodity.  It rather annoyed me.  I did, though, suddenly think of Jesus and how often He must have experienced this and how unlikely it was that He’d have reacted as I did.  This got me to thinking about the word peculiar and I have reconsidered.  I find, now, that I rather like the idea of being peculiar.  Okay, stay with me.

Looking at the dictionary, I found at first that the word was linked to that which is strange and odd.  Surely these are not qualities we wish to emulate and be defined as.  Suddenly, though, the words from an old church hymn came to mind and gave me pause for thought.  ”Peculiar honors to our King.”  I can remember singing this as a small child and thinking “why are we celebrating a king getting gifts which he surely did not want?” In my mind were birthday and Christmas gifts from an uncle I didn’t know well . . . things completely unsuitable for me, things in poor taste, or things Mama didn’t approve of.  Even as a small child I wondered what the song really meant.

Looking further at the definition of peculiar, I find answers.  It is described as unusual, uncommon, distinctive, exclusive, and belonging characteristically.  Hmmmm . . . we may be onto something!  The word belonging suggests a special relationship.  It seems that to be peculiar is to be unique and special.  Perhaps this word, as many blessings in life, has been undervalued.  Perhaps, as well, being strange and odd are not necessarily something to wrinkle my nose at?

No wonder the King was honored by His gifts given in love.  It seems to me that thus stated, the love of Christ for us is quite peculiar.  It is surely unique, special, unlike any other love we can know.  In our relationship with Him, we are set apart in our life in this world for we are in it yet not of it.  Ah, and best yet this special love, this peculiar honor, is not yours or mine exclusively!  It is to be shared.  Unlike an ice cream cone which once shared leaves me with less for myself, this sharing of something so special does not deplete.  It grows!  So, in closing I will say that I am pleased to be peculiar in this way and am hoping to pass it on, for Jesus said we are to “love one another as I have loved you.”  How peculiar – pass it on!

Ecclesiastes 11:5

 

Glancing at my weeds

I found a single flower

Rising above them.

Such a blessing oft unseen,

Yet all the while, in plain sight!

By Martha L Shaw – © 5-13-2013