ANNOUNCING THE INFANT PRINCE!

HIS CARESS

 

Is it just the breeze

Or the brush of angel’s wings

Which refresh my soul

And bring me such peace?

 

By Martha L Shaw ©2015

LAWS . . .Wondrous???

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.Psalm 119:18 ESV

As a child, I often thought “Why is the teacher always picking on me?” At the time it seemed not only was I picked on, but a very high percentage of the time!  As an adult, I saw things differently. Rules and laws save and protect us and for certain keep us on the right path so that we will learn and accomplish what we very much need to.  As we mature in life and in relationship with our Heavenly Father, Teacher . . . it is espectially important!  We are created out of His amazing love for a blessed purpose which could result in our hurting ourselves and others if we do not obey!

Our Father God is waiting for us to seek forgiveness when we disobey and His sadness while waiting for us is due to His immeasurable love!  How incredible is it that once we repent, He eagerly holds us and leads us to the right path!!

 

THE INVITATION

You are my lantern!

. . . my Light and my salvation.

I am Yours always.

By Martha L Shaw – ©2018

AND CHURCH IS NOT A BUILDING!

A

A building is not just a place to be but a way to be.  – Frank Lloyd Wright – and a church is built of flesh, bones, willing spirits, loving hearts and God!

MY FIRST GLIMPSE AT JESUS

My mentor was a humble man.

He didn’t look for praise,

he gave it.

In actuality,

he gave and gave and gave!

Many would say “He had NOTHING.”

They were wrong.

Sweaty and tired from hard work,

he’d be the first to offer a hand.

If someone needed a friend,

he’d sit down,

smile,

and say  “Hi,  pal!”

He’d offer a cup of coffee.

He didn’t have much,

but I say he had it all.

It takes so little to change someone’s day,

or perhaps their life.

He could not share his wallet,

but he always shared his heart.

He was and is my mentor!

If you look at me I hope you’ll see

His eyes looking back at you,

for when I looked at his I’d see

Jesus looking back at me.

By Martha L Shaw – © 2018

My mentor and my Dad

Ronald E Shaw

 

 

FACELESS

We walk the streets .. .

the buzz of digital noise . . .

and echo of animated humans . . .

yet we do not hear nor see them. . .

they are faceless . . .

We wonder what the world is coming to . . .

we ask where is the Lord in this . . .

He looks lovingly at His lost creation . . .

and weeps .. .

By Martha L Shaw – ©  2018

 

 

 

DIRTY FEET-SMELLY FRIENDS-JESUS’ CHOICES?

Jesus chose those 12 and surely eyebrows raised then as now. Consider seeing them sitting in the dirt eating fish Jesus cooked for them.  Smelly fishermen and others gathered with Him, and Him soiled from prepping the meal for them. . . FOR THEM!?

Sadly, so VERY sadly we are no different today!  Those whom we judge are not soiled, OUR OWN HEARTSAND MINDS ARE AND THIS MUST CHANGE!  Surely, you noticed the reaction at church to these:

• the single mom with 4 kids
• the lady who coughs so much
• that guy with the cane
• the teenager alone
• the elderly lady with dirty hair
• the old man with a wrinkled shirt
• that odd smell

Do you sit  near the pew they select?  Welcome Them?  Introduce yourself?   Hug?  Shake hands? Introduce them to others?  Escort them to coffee?  Jesus was waiting for you by the door!

 

Matthew 25:31-46

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

WANTED: Any Condition

 

This body,

Full of flaws,

Has become the sanctuary of the Most High

Simply because

I gave all of me

To Him.

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017

It

This body of mine truly is full of broken  parts, weak joints, weak  eyes, legs which barely walk, fingers which can barely type, etc. so  your prayers and help from God and physical training is appreceated!  That’s what I was doing last week!

 

THE MORNING AFTER . . . Reflecting on the Flame

 

Here I sit at my desk looking at images of yesterday’s Pentecost splendor as the tongues of fire touched all in attendance just as they did that first time. 

How did His disciples feel on this day?  Did they feel as I do? Did they feel almost slain by the lingering heat from the flame of yesterday?  Surely their countenance would never be what it once was as the Light shining through them was something never known before and which they’d risk EVERYTHING to share . . . and here I sit, in my brokenness desiring to do the same and confident that He will guide me all the way.

Acts 2:3

³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated

and came to rest on each of them.

ARE YOU A THIEF?

Treasure Hunt

We search high and low,

seeing everything

and finding nothing.

Frowning becomes moaning

as we steal the joy from other hearts

and toss it away in disgust.

The challenge will never be met

lest we realize the Truth.

What we seek is already within us!

By Martha L Shaw – © 2015