WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL?

The faithful and hardworking gardener fertilizes the vegetables and pulls and discards the weeds.  This makes all the difference.

                                          by MarthaL Shaw       

 

 #faith

#faithful

#Garden

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#FridayMotivation

#hard working

#quote

#servant

#working

JOURNEY WITH JESUS

The path,

this sacred journey,

is filled with sharp turns .. .

corners around which we cannot see,

but oh, the beauty He has placed there

just waiting for us!

Keep moving forward

with Him!

By Martha L Shaw ©2015  Words and Pictures

A STONE’S THROW

I took a stroll

On a clear day.

Passing a brook,

I bent to pick up a stone

And tossed it in

And OH the ripples

Spread far and wide

From that one small gesture.

Believe!

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017 – words and image

“He Spoke To His Sheep . . . “

“and the sheep got out their date books, scheduled a time to get together, and then at the appointed time sat at the round table and discussed how to interpret what they’d heard before voting on which action to take . . . ”  Was that it?

NO!  It wasn’t.  The sheep knew His voice.  They didn’t stop and think about it, they didn’t sleep on it, nor did they call the lead sheep to get permission to act on what He instructed them to do.  They followed Him.

This is huge.  There are several reasons I’m thinking of this just now.  My life has been “nuts” in some stressful ways for what seems a long time now . . .  close to five years.  I can see HUGE LIFE CHANGING BLESSINGS which I truly believe only came to me because of the HUGE SCARY “HELP ME JESUS” stuff that is also in the picture and not entirely resolved.

That being said, I truly do feel His presence, His love, and when I’m focused on Him I know He is leading me and has a plan.  People close to me sometimes seem to think their plan is the one.  They do not agree remotely on what their plan is.  They don’t think this sheep is listening too well.  They often seem pointedly urging me to change paths and disregard His instruction.

Well, I’m not living in a palace, surrounded by gold, or any of that.  But, thus far, I have not been tossed on the street begging for a crust of bread.  I still believe, when I’m not scared and cranky, that He has a plan and that it’s gonna happen and that He loves me and has something more than I could desire or pray for in store.  So, I shall pray, get scared, and pray some more . . .  and follow Him.

John 10:4

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

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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Blessings From The Compost Heap

I sit here seeing only ruin around me and being unable to climb out of its vastness and praying somehow His purpose in it will come to fruition.   I realize I may not see His purpose but there is peace to be found in knowing He uses all things.  As I did a bit of reading just now, this quote came to me:

All the flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today.

– Anonymous –

It seems in life there are times when we, or I, are called to be the compost nourishing the seeds from which tomorrow’s flowers grow.  These times can be uncomfortable and even painful, but if it blesses the Lord, it is good.

A new season is coming and the flowers will bloom!

The pieces will all come together.  He will see to it.

(quilt is my work)

HIS GRACE IS ALWAYS IN SEASON

His Garden

The gate was open.

I could feel the gentle breeze beckoning me.

I heard the choir sing.

Were they birds or angels . . .

it mattered not.

The beauty of His grace at once

brought me rest and excited me!

I stepped inside . . .

By Martha L Shaw – ©2015

#faith#love#spirituality#God#peace#mountaintop#strength#FAMILYLIFE#GREATGIFT#GREATGIFTS#Advent#baby#Christianity #Christmas #faith #God #GREATGIFT #Jesus#manger#Motherhood #poetry, #Spirituality

Transformed by the Cross

My transformation

mosaic of brokenness

reordered by God

By Martha L Shaw ©2016

REST . . . SOAR . . . SERVE . . . UM, SAY THAT AGAIN?

As followers of Christ and in our commitment to Him and to our personal relationship with Him we are called to be His vessel.  We “know” what a vessel is . . . or we think we do.  Have you ever looked up the definition?  I just did.  Not sure why, but as soon as I saw what the definition stated I became convinced the Lord called me to seek this information and to share it.

A vessel is a utensil that is used.  It is also an airship.  INTERESTING.  Consider . . . as a utensil it serves the one who carries it.  The burden is in the hand holding it. We need to remember as well the second part of the definition for that word as we ponder our commission as Christ followers.  A vessel is also an airship.  As such, it SOARS!

Wow.  I am loving being a vessel now that He’s shown me these words. 

Rest in His hands and soar!

WHAT IS FAITH?

 

When you hold a balloon in the palm of your hand it is a tiny small thing. Seems unlikely that if I toss it from my bedroom window that it could drench my kid sisters with water, yet when used, that balloon becomes “enough” to serve my purpose . . . faith is like that.

 

I find myself praying for more faith yet last night when the question “what is faith” was asked at study group, the Spirit spoke to me saying “Faith is trust in action.” Like that small balloon, my small bit of faith “is enough” for Jesus to use for His purpose . . . if I trust Him. Martha L Shaw