Six Word Saturday

Feeling uneasy – handing it to Him

My Pentecost

It came suddenly,

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

How Peculiar!

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!

Martha’s Worship Wednesday Bible Quote

Love this quote!  To me it defines faith so clearly!  For faith does not ask “why, Lord?” Instead, it says “send me.”

Ecclesiastes 11:5

⁵ As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed^[a] in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

Get Up!

 

Six Word Saturday

Trusting and waiting – Hope in Him.

A Vision of Hope

On the darkest day,

hope sees something more . . .

By Martha L Shaw – © 5-9-2013

Awakening – A Tanka

Day changes to night

And then night returns to day.

Wide-eyed, I wonder . . .

Has anything really changed,

Or only my perspective?

By Martha L Shaw – © 5-9-2013

*

Psalm 139:12

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Time Traveller

 

Ah, peace so softly you travel

To and fro

And like a gentle breeze

Suddenly your caresses

At once bring rest

Yet also startle me

As you somehow swiftly

Whisk my cares away.

I sigh,

I smile,

I relax in your embrace.

By Martha L Shaw – © 5-7-2013

Rejoice Always – A Bible Quote For Today!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV