CLAY IN HIS HANDS

A pot made of clay

by skilled hands . . .

we, too, are thus made

by the Creator God’s hands.

So many types of clay,

so many types of pots,

the Lord GOD lovingly made us all.

They come in different colors, strengths,

yet,

all have value,

all made with equal amounts of love.

Sadly, more importance is placed

on global warming,

than human life.

News broadcasted multi times daily

speaks more of “another” shooting.

than a “tragic” one.

Is there a right or wrong side of the street??

a right or wrong skin color??

We were created with immeasurable love, all of us.

Will we ever put the guns down?

By Martha L Shaw – © 2019

 

 

 

 

CREATED WITH A SPECIAL PURPOSE!

Perspective

A wee one picked a pretty flower

and gave it to her Mom.

Everyone around her smiled with joy.

She grew older and was taught

a dandelion was “just a weed”

but did the flower really change

when the eyes of her heart

were closed?

She grew up

and made them into

such delicious wine!

How eye opening!

By Martha L Shaw – © 2015

HERE COMES THE SUN!

As I rolled over

preparing for the new day,

and also avoiding it . ..

I got up anyway.

Deep breaths . . .

surrender . . .

but I MUST . ..

What if . . .

I stepped out on the back porch.

The birds sang so beautifully

without any consideration

for the grey sky

or cold February wind.

Suddenly,

I took no notice either!

The Master artist,

looking at all my broken pieces,

DID’T see the mess

reflected in my mirror!

He saw His own likeness

and all at once I did as well,

and I shall follow Him always!

By Martha L Shaw ©2019

 

 

 

 

 

SHEEP VERSUS HUMANS

When I was a child my Sunday School teacher told us a story of the lost sheep.   I was NOT impressed.  Most of my young classmates thought “oh, they are so cute.”  Not me!

You see, after hearing about still water and green pastures and a shepard, I thought the sheep had a good life and decided the one the shepard had to hunt for to protect him from getting hurt . . . well I thought he was stupid.  Follow the leader, eat, play, sleep, trim the grass . . . ie snack time, repeat next day.so why not do as your told, wandering sheep?

HOW’S YOUR LIFE GOING?

The Bible tells us that we have a Good Shepard and we are His sheep.  All we must do is listen and follow.  How’s that working for you?  As for me, this sheep often neglects to pay attention, thinking MY idea sounded good, “maybe God will support MY idea instead.”  WRONG!  The loving Good Shepard came after me, protected me, loved me, and taught me which way to go WITH HIM.

Ultimately, supporting myself is NEVER going to lead me to the life and purpose God has for me.  I am trying to listen better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIKE THE MOTHER BIRD

Just as a mother bird broods 

to protect her young . . .

giving them warmth,

safety,

covered with her love,

and when the time comes

sets them free

to do as they were created to do . . .

so, too, does our Creator God

love and protect us

in the shelter of His wings.

We may not see Him,

but His love, power, and grace

are with us always.

By Martha L Shaw – ©2018

 

 

 

 

YOU WERE CREATED WITH A PURPOSE

We trampled on the dandylions,

wishing they were gone!

Then, someone saw them anew . . .

and such a fine wine was born!

by Martha L Shaw © 2018

WHAT a life . . .

My Nana was SO VERY special to me.  When I knew her she always seemed very, very old and was said to be very, very sick but somehow I saw her differently the more I grew and visited her. Her one room apartment was so welcoming!  Bedroom, dining table, kitchen . . . all one small combined room.  She was on a very limited diet but bought candy and my favorite ice cream . . .

 

She should have been sad, depressed, lonely . . . she was too weak to leave her room, but she was not like that.  She called old Rocco when she needed groceries.  His little old store was near the home she had before Grampy died.  I knew he didn’t deliver nor carry what she needed, but actully ALWAYS had what she wanted. She called weekly and he went to the big store and secretly bought her groceries, he delivered then, he knew just where everything went and wouldn’t let her lift a finger, nor accept a tip, but he would visit.

I was always buying paper and her favorite pens . . .  and postage stamps, she told me to ask what pictures were on them . . , “you know what I like Muffin.”  For a shut in, she sure found a lot of friends to write to all over the country, and we had a tiny family.  Go figure!

If I was going to visit, I had to call first, She constantly had company.  How’d she meet them?  They had grand times visiting!  When I went to the small local stores, the shop keepers, long gone now remembered her from waaaay back and asked after her. . . . always.  She got tons of mail responding to those letters plus cards from the shop folks.

I can still remember sitting on the floor at her feet hearing stories of the old days and never did she run out of them.  She always made me feel special . . . so very loved.

At her funeral all were shocked she passed.  Yes, she was sickly all her life but nobody saw her that way.  She was just that sweet Miss Lee who made them feel so special.  To this day, I have never seen such a crowded funeral!

So many people feel hopeless these days . . . what can I DO . . . I can’t . . ., yes, but . . .  I can’t change the world!  My sickly Nana lived 20 years in one room but she dressed in pretty clothes  and heels and white beads in summer, always crocheting gifts, always smiling, with company or not she was never alone.

ME?  I can’t change the world . . . but why not?

Nana Lee changed a big piece! 

God knew what He was doing!

Nana Lee on the right.

This written by Martha Lee, her loving granddaughter!

 

 

FIND YOUR TRUE PURPOSE!

 

Regardless of how long you work to buff a rusty nail,

it will NEVER be a candle stick.    –M L Shaw

AFRAID TO BE A CHAMPION?

Friends, a champion is not one who has beaten all the rest, but rather the soul who has achieved oneness with God’s purpose for life!  – Martha L Shaw

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!

 

 

 

 

 

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