Tiny Effort Greatly Rewarded

Plant a mustard seed.

Simple, often overlooked

Yet richly provides.

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017

THE STORM HAS PASSED . . .

Hopeful

A new week begins.

Sun is peeking behind clouds.

You are here with me.

By Matha L Shaw ©10-22-2015

KEEP LOOKING!

The sky is so large

Yet we often see just clouds

He gave so much more

By Martha L Shaw ©2016

 

AT ALL TIMES GIVE THANKS

Smiling,

The cloud rained down.

The droplets kissed the dry land.

Refreshed and blessed,

The blades of grass looked heavenward      

And the sun began to shine.

By Martha L Shaw ©9-30-2015

Attitude of Gratitude

Little flower,

petals swaying in the breeze,

bows her  head

as rain comes.

Then she looks to the sun

in joyful thanks!

By Martha L Shaw ©9-23-2015

His Gifts

If  these were leaves

And I was five again,

I would leap into the air,

Land in a giggling heap of joy,

Then raise my arms in gleeful abandon

And do it all over again!

I just might anyway!

By Martha L Shaw – ©7-2-2014

Daily Prompt: Seven Days

You wake up tomorrow morning to find all your plans have been cancelled for the next seven days and $10,000 on your dresser. Tell us about your week.

Wow. that’s a whole lot of money in my world just now just as it is in the lives of many folks I know.  The first thing I’d do is deposit this into the bank and get out the checkbook.  On the way home from the bank I just happen to pass by my church, so the first check written would be one for ten percent which I’d donate to my church.

The second check would pay off unsecured debt.  The rest of the week?  I’d go on a retreat and pray to discern the Lord’s plan for the remainder, His plan for the next steps in my spiritual journey, and for certain in thanksgiving for the miracle of provision provided.

There is a beautiful place to go for said retreat and quiet time . . .

It is a place I’ve gone to for day trips and have hungered to spend more time there . . .

I’d sit beneath the tree and pray . . .

I’d enjoy the presence of the Lord without distraction of earthly things . . . .

I’d gaze at flowers, listen to birds, bask in sunrise and sunset and see Him in every single one . . .

I’d light a candle and read His word . . .

and talk to Him some more, being certain to take the time to listen.

I’d be the pen in His hand, writing as He enables me . . .

and my week would be filled with Him day and night

As my week comes to a close, I’d fall into step with Him certain of His love.

Quote of the Day – Money

Money often costs too much.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson –

I can remember, in another life as they say, working hard and being so hungry for the VP title.  Those who had it said “it means nothing.”  It wasn’t until I had it that I realized how right they were.

As I write this and contemplate Emerson’s words, I do so having, in the past, had not so much to worry about and having now the constant awareness of my financial concerns.  As with the fancy title, money really doesn’t matter all that much.  True, knowing I could pay my bills felt good and now the monthly “I wonder how” is showing me a different viewpoint, but honestly?  I was more stressed back then even than now.

One way or another, the Lord provides in ways most important and I am a flawed human who needs constant reminder of His love.  His mercy is UNCEASING though and while I learn more and more about our relationship, His and mine, and grow deeper and deeper with Him – learning anew what the word trust means, He understands, loves, forgives, and provides.

Emerson’s right.  Money truly does cost too much.  It’s all about trusting the Lord and reflecting His love.  I can’t afford to deal with the rest of it.  He’s handling it.

Prayer Without Ceasing? Listen To This!

We have all read and heard the scriptural teaching us to pray without ceasing.  Can this be done?  How to interpret these words has been discussed and will continue to be.

I believe, and continue to learn this, that if I do every large and small thing to the Glory of God then I am praying without ceasing.  The task so dreaded or the challenge I cannot imagine nailing well . . . the dirty job I wish was for another and not me . . . surely if Jesus was standing there with me and asked “Do you love me?  Clean my toilet” would I not do so?

Yesterday, this came to me over my lunch break at my new part-time job.  The job has been frustrating and disappointing.  Things have not gone as “they” promised.  The reasons, even if I was sure what they are, don’t really matter.  But I felt a nudge and recalled a story a Christian friend spoke of in a testimony at a meeting some time back. He is a teacher and goes to class early and takes this time to pray at each empty desk in his classroom.  Wow!  His relating this humbled me and brought tears to my eyes.

That was some time ago and I’d forgotten it in the highs and lows of my own struggle.  So, yesterday as I faced a combination of “ho-hum” and “Lord, HELP!!!!” He reminded me of my friend’s prayers and I knew He wanted me to do likewise.  As I prepared a drink for another, He wanted me to pray for this unidentified son or daughter of His.  As I mopped the floor, cleared up one mess or another, He wanted me to pray for those who’d find rest in this booth, who’d come for food . . . that they’d find rest in Him, meet Him, be fed by Him . . .

This blew me away!  I wondered how many times He had tried to tell me these things as I shook with fear over my own crisis . . . even while He has a solution in hand and has people praying with love for me.  This time, I finally heard Him and I’m reminded of the following:

1 Samuel 3:8-10

⁸ The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord,for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Fan The Flame!

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled – Plutarch –

I like this quote.  I woke up this morning discouraged by the well intended advice I had received from friends at church last night.  I prayed about it as well as the situation I am battling with and the Lord comforted me and encouraged me and led me in the direction He had for me for today and now I feel much better.  I don’t know what next year holds for me,nor next month, next week, or even tomorrow . . . but I know I am in step with Him and that in Christ, I am a vessel He has filled to use for His purpose and that the passion or fire within me was placed there by Him.  By listening and following Him, it will be kindled.  Praise Him at all times and in all places.  He is good.