DEFINING LOVE

They gave Him bitter wine to drink

and He took it

so that we might have

that which was sweet.

By Martha L Shaw – ©  2017

AROMA OF LOVE

 

Your very presence

sweetest perfume to my soul

you are mine always

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017

HOLEY WHOLY HOLY – BLANKETED IN HIS LOVE

When I was very small  I had a green blanket on my bed.  To anyone but me, it was nothing special at all.  After I had it for a while, it was full of holes, but Mama knew not to replace it.  As I tried to sleep at night, I would suck my fingers on one hand and hold my green blanket with the other, all the while rubbing the fuzz with my fingers.

 

Poor Mama must have constantly swept my bedroom floor of all the fuzz and my special blanket was surely less warm than it had been . . . to Mama.  Not to me, for my heart was reminded of how much I was loved and how safe I was simply by being wrapped in it.

 

The blanket was not magic and Mama, though neither she nor I could truly know my heart, left it with me until I outgrew it.  I know now, but not then, that there is just one source for the love I felt and that God is the source. He was also the one who knew my heart then as now.  I am older now and do not need the blanket, but the little girl I was  still lives inside me and she STILL  feels blanketed in Abba’s love.

 

THE SHEPARD’S CARE

Ah,

young sheep,

so eager to see the world around him . . .

that he strolled alone . . .

further and further, he went.

The tender young outlier

knew not the dangers

surrounding him.

But,

the kindly shepard,

counting the flock,

knew at once of his stray,

followed after the wayward one

and drew him back

onto the right path!

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017

 

 

 

Dear Aunt Astrid!

I had an aunt whom I assumed may have been born an old lady. The little niece recalls a wrinkled nose more  than a smile. I recall giggling after a burp and being told “Not prudent for a young lady.”  Wonder how she knew?  Anyway, I did not know what the word meant, but but but . .  I had heard of prudes and one more thing!

Stand in front of a mirror and say PRUDENT and imagine you’re still a 5 year old.  Tell me!  DOESN’T IT MAKE YOUR FACE LOOK FUNNY?

THE COOKIE GOSPEL!

Okay, it is difficult to find a Bible translation with the above book in it, but stay with me!

One of my favorite things to do is bake for folks.  My late Mother did also and so it stirs up happy memories, so when I began to have some limiting physical challenges as she had, I could not do exactly what I used to do.  This was the stage at which Mom gave up.  So, my reaction?

• What?  I cannot bake?
• It was fun!
• People were happy!
• Dang, what good am I?

For a while I wished I could do what I “lost”and pouted!  That blessed nobody!  Eventually, the Lord spoke louder and got my attention.   He gave me a heart and mind and I gave up too soon!  If I was meant to accomplish something, He would provide a way!  So, when He said “make a different cookie!”  I realized if I had quit sulking, I might have gotten a lot  more baking done a lot sooner.

This isn’t really about cookies, though the story is true.

When the road turns in a new direction, the trip isn’t over yet!  His plan is ALWAYS best.  There have been loads of surprise road blocks in my life, but when I FOLLOWED HIM, what He planned was SOOO MUCH BETTER than mine!  Can I get an AMEN?

BAKE COOKIES!

White chocolate chip cookies

1 cake mix (I used butter pecan)

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

choc chips of your choice (I did not measure)

Mix well and bake at 375 for about 9 minutes on a parchment lined baking sheet, pay attention as time may vary.  Should be light brown on bottom and will be very soft until cooled!  I made mine just under golf ball sized. Smaller will need less time and ovens vary!

Laugh!  I always have a few cake mixes, when they are on sale, and dislike cake generally.  VERY handy for baking all sorts of non-cake treats in a hurry!  As for cake, I prefer my ice cream solo!

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWTTERING TALE – NO NEED FOR LONELINESS!

 

Uncle Bob retired to Cape Cod,was widowed, and kept company with others left behind. Wild rabbits popped by to visit regularly. (128 characters)

WRITE YOUR OWN TALE – JOIN THE FUN!

About the challenge: Each Tuesday like mercury colliding  will provide a prompt photo, and your mission is to tell a story based on that prompt in 140 characters or less.

If you accept the challenge, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale. A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.