IN HIS IMAGE

If the rose

Knew only its thorns

Would it still be sweet?

By Martha L Shaw ©8-24-2015 

Words and Image

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Finding Love

I primped and perfected

or so I thought

but felt nothing.

I floated in an ocean of if only

and why not

as the waves grew higher

and brought me down.

You reached out,

you lifted me up,

you loved me.

You saw your beloved

absent of all those doubts

and insecurities.

The waters stilled

and as I looked at my reflection in them

I saw you.

By Martha L Shaw – © Words and Image 2015

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING!

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

 

A FEAST FOR THE SOUL

CAN BE DEFINED IN SO MANY WAYS

 

By Martha L Shaw – ©2015 https://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/

By Martha L Shaw – © Words and Pictures 5-3-2015

By Martha L Shaw – © 2015

On Being An Instrument

The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.

– Dorothea Lange –

I love the message contained in those words . . . there is such truth in them.  Taken literally, I can recall many times I’ve looked at photographs and been surprised at how different things looked!  I admit, if I’m in the photograph, I tend to think “oh, I wish I’d worn more makeup” or “why did I wear that blouse?” but generally I’ll see my garden in a picture and think “wow, it looks GOOD.”  My livingroom, in a picture, will catch my eye anew as I see things I walk by everyday with fresh eyes.  Vision . . . pictures . . . words . . .

What leaps off the screen to me as I reread the quote is the word “instrument.”  What is an instrument?  My church has many fine musicians.  As they perform their part in leading worship I seldom fail to feel the power of the Holy Spirit lifting me up.  The piano, drums, guitars, organ, violin . . . beautiful and life-giving instruments of praise.  Instruments.  Think about it though.  What is an instrument?  On its own, it’s not much.  It’s simply a thing.  Still and silent, it cannot encourage without a hand to pick it up and enable it or use it for a higher purpose than it can ever have left idle in the room.  As followers of Christ and as a people called upon to a higher purpose for Him, we can learn much from those violins and guitars and such.

We are animate as humans and thus we can perform without a hand holding us, this is true.  I’ve tried it.  Speaking for myself, I know without the Lord’s constant presence in my life, I am nothing.  Without the Holy Spirit leading me, protecting me, filling me, I can do nothing.  I need to surrender and be an instrument through which a divine hand plays music and inspires.  The music that this instrument that is me has any hope of producing comes not from the instrument herself, but through giving over myself to my love of Jesus and allowing Him to work through me. 

He has a purpose for my life.  He has a song for me to sing.  With His love and through Him, I will sing!  Sing with me, won’t you?  He has a song for each one of us to sing in the divine choir that is the Body of Christ in this world.  Choose to be His instrument! 

‘The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.’  Habakkuk 3:18-19

Olympics – Gold Metalist!

You!  It can happen!   It’s true! 

I know, the thought of something like that, to many of us, is ‘OH, yeah, but . . . ” However, I am merely stating facts here.  You have it in you to have your very own Olympic GOLD metal around your neck.  It’s there.  You – you’re already a winner and you didn’t have to get sweaty.  You didn’t have to fly to London, work through the crowds in the London airport . . .  Jesus Christ won the GOLD for you.  He’s holding the prize in His hands and it’s got your name on it.  YOU = Winner of Olympic Gold? 

Sounds crazy, but what sort of Olympic event are you facing right now?  For what BIG challenge are you trying to find strength?  In which event are you thinking “not sure I have it in me”

Philippians 4:13

^\”13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

 

FACE IT, MY FRIENDS – YOU’VE GOT IT IN YOU!

 

A Good Work – Quote To Bless You

The Lord just led me to this verse, but I know it’s not a message for me to keep to myself: 

“Being confident of this very thing,

 that he which hath begun a good work

 in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Philippians 1:6 KJV