. . . AND YOU WERE THERE

I needed to be near you . . .

I chose this cathedral . . .

I heard the choir sing . . .

Your presence was unmistakable . . .

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017

When I Stray

In the night

I gazed at the light streaked sky

before the raindrops even touched me . . .

Already concerned about damaging winds

which never came my way.

By Martha L Shaw ©9-25-2015

Sunday Post: Captivating

 

Captivating

Life,

Like the earth around me,

Often seems hard,

Dry,

Barren.

Where is the rain?

Where is the fruit for which I hunger?

Ah,

But when you squeeze my hand;

I am reminded that I walk this path

Not alone but with you.

Suddenly,

I am enchanted!

The Light in your eyes

Illuminates my world anew.

I hear you  . . . I see you . . .

in the flora and fauna . . .

in all that surrounds me.

How could I have failed to see?

These human eyes,

Why do they betray me?

As I gaze into yours,

I see myself

Changed by your love.

I am captivated by the opportunities

Suddenly my own,

By the beauty you’ve laid before me.

I wonder,

How could I so long have missed it?

By Martha L Shaw  – words and pictures © 3-2-2013

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Heart and Sole

My feet hurt.

The shoes don’t fit properly,

But it’s cold

And so I keep them on

And stumble further along the path.

I stop to rest

But am fearful of removing them

Even for a moment

For the pain

Upon rising

Shod once more

Will be even more intense.

As I rest,

An older man passes me

Slowly and resolutely

He plunders ahead.

I notice how old and tattered his shoes are

And realize with a start

That his painful journey

Has been so much longer than mine.

I say a prayer for both of us.

By Martha L Shaw – © 1-23-2013

When The Light Grew Dim

As I started along the path with you

the light was so bright

and there was a gentle breeze

whisking me along the path

at a gentle skip.

Night came

and the air chilled.

The way grew dark and I couldn’t see you near me,

but I knew you were there still.

As the darkness lingered,

I was less certain . . .

I couldn’t feel your hand in mine

and the sound of your breathing

was lost to the night sounds

from wildlife lurking near.

I thought my heart would stop for sure,

but then the moon began to glow brightly

with the promise of rest

to strengthen me for

a new day.

By Martha L Shaw Copyright 12-17-2012

The Pathway – Thoughts And A Quote For Wednesday

I’m on a path with Christ.  You are too, right?  So, sometimes the way is rough and I can’t see where I’m going and am not sure how the challenges will work out . . . I get so caught up in the worrying and yet, Jesus is with me and has a solution.  He had one before I was in the “fix” I’m in and His being with me all the time?  Wow, how AWESOME!  You know?  I know you do.  So, why this babbling?  Yup,  another quote and it got me thinking.  Traveling the path with Jesus . . . . it’s like those Sunday drives we went on when I was a little girl.  Yes, at the end of the drive we got an ice cream cone, but along the way we had a lovely time driving and seeing pretty things, talking, singing, playing games as we went . . . I loved my ice cream – usually pistachio in a cone.  Know what though?  The afternoon driving about . . . the journey, or path if you will . . . it’s that part which comes to mind again and again and means so much to me even now.  Why then do I worry and stress about the path with Jesus?  I’m safe.  He loves me.  The journey is a blessing!  I’m with Him and He loves me!  Here’s the quote that got me thinking:

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. –Margaret Lee Runbeck-

Why Do I Love Him? Saturday Quote

This is why . . .  it is also why I write . . . why I am a poet . . . why I am an artist . . . why I share and teach and give testimony.  It is why I hunger for more of Him. With Him, the flood waters, the raging fire, all the trials I walk through can also be times of rejoicing and filled with beauty if I but look on them with the eyes of my heart and feeling His hand in mine.

The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms. – Thich Nhat Hanh –

Easily Shaken?

These are tough times.  I can’t think of a soul in my life who doesn’t feel “it” and know what I mean.  While perhaps there are always “big” issues to be dealt with, these times seem to provide MANY and all at once.  Coping, maintaining a positive attitude, knowing what to do, knowing where to turn . . . is not always simple.  What’s the answer?  For me, it’s to try to stay in step with the Lord.  He is with me in the present.  If I turn  back, I am likely to stumble, and racing ahead isn’t any better, really.  Rushing through things is seldom the most effective approach and often results in a failed effort followed by a “do-over.”  There is an answer though:

“I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV

How’s YOUR Attitude?

Life is an amazing opportunity and blessing.  Yes, it is full of challenges and true, we are all surrounded by others who don’t always choose to see the light, and who focus often LOUDLY on their own darkness.  We can’t change other people, but we can pray for them and stay the course in our own lives and let Jesus take it from there.  Please don’t give up.  We all have a path to follow and regardless of our circumstances, there is a divine purpose for our lives.  The Lord will lead us if we are willing to surrender to Him.  This quote says it well:

Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive, it isn’t.

– Richard Bach –

Sonshine . . . Dear Friends . . . Pot Roast Cooking!

Today is a totally delightful day.  Not saying everything is life is perfect for we know that this side of heaven can’t be exactly that, but my smile is as bright as the sunshine would be if I weren’t wearing dark glasses! 

A very dear friend who I have not seen in 7 years has flown in to visit me and be my houseguest for a week!  He is a wonderful man who is full of life, full of the love of Christ, is eternally young, and is a retired Episcopal priest.  I am smiling as I say retired priest because I don’t know any priests who’ve pulled off retirement . . . I think they just live on and one day they say “go in peace to love and serve the Lord” and find themselves face to face with Him.  Vocation . . . . it’s so much more than work.

Many of you are aware that I’ve been seeking a “job” or more correctly financial provision since relocating to SC 4 plus years ago and a permanent answer hasn’t yet come, but spiritually life is AMAZING so no complaints.  That being said the Lord has planted a seed in me which can only be described as a passion for a vocation and not just a job.  I am beginning to know what that is, only just beginning. 

I ask you to pray with me that I will continue to hear His voice and follow Him faithfully in the path and plan He has for me and kn0w that though He asks me to do things that make me gasp sometimes, I have never known more joy in my life than when I follow Him NO MATTER WHAT HE ASKS OF ME.  He is always there with me.

This will be a delightful week for me and I am sorry if I am a bit off schedule on sharing with all of you but fear not, I will have lots to share when time permits.  Meanwhile, having an extra person in the house and it being a man with a healthy appetite literally, spiritually and otherwise, I’ve got an excuse to do a lot more fussy things in the kitchen than what I usually do as this house usually is home to just my elderly Mom who is on a restricted diet, and me.  I   enjoying having someone to spoil lavishly.  Just now I have a pot roast with all the expected accompaniments cooking and can I tell you my house smells great?  There will be home-made bread in the house, home-made corn chowder, and all sorts of scones, muffins, other elaborate things to feed the body with as we share at table and feed our hearts and souls. 

Time to check my roast!  Can you smell it?