Growing Pains

From a mother's perspective I can see how God must feel.
The frustration of a child not living up to their full potential.
The pain and agony of seeing your child suffer the consequences of
their actions even though you know they must experience
the pain in order to experience the growth.
Wanting only the best for your child and trying with everything
in you to teach them from your mistakes but knowing in the end they
too will have to learn from their own mistakes the same way I did.
If they could only see that I am trying to help them avoid
some of the mistakes I too have made in life.
Not wanting them to suffer the excruciating pain that comes
from the consequences of a poorly made decision.
A decision that was made due to lack of experience.
Yet, I know that until they have children of their own they will not
be able to appreciate the advice that I tried to share with them.
Until then they cannot possibly comprehend what it is like to sit back
and let someone you love make a mistake.
One that could affect the rest of their life in a negative way.
I guess that is why they call it growing pains.

Today's Proverbs 31 Woman

The single christian woman in the new millenium is not perfect and has made her share of mistakes.
She may be single by choice or simply because she hasn't met her Mr. Right, yet.
She may be divorced or widowed but for whatever reason she is now considered single.
She's a strong woman, who enjoys a challenge.
She doesn't mind attempting to fix things around the house but realizes
there are times when she needs help and is not afraid to ask.
She sets goals for herself and works toward Godly characteristics.
She, like most people has fears,
but realizes the only way to overcome a fear is to face it head on.
She can be very opinionated when it comes to moral issues and stands strong in her beliefs.
She is there for her friends and is willing to help in any way she can.
She needs love and affection and is willing to give it in return.
As difficult as it is, she resists sexual temptation because she believes God blesses sexual purity.
No matter how tempted she may be she never chases after a man
but is willing to wait and let God lead him to her.
She has learned that she doesn't need a man
but wouldn't mind having one around for companionship.
She likes to have fun and enjoys being active.
She lives life to it's fullest.
She knows what she wants out of life and is not afraid to go after it.
She can take care of herself financially.
She does not give in to loneliness, instead she treats her time alone
as a gift from God and uses it to draw closer to Him.
She sees it as an opportunity to get involved in the church.
She sees her relationship with God as a race.
She takes off running at a steady even pace, set to go the distance.
She doesn't quit or even look back until the race is won.
Then and only then does she turn to see who has been able to compete with her.
Any man who has endured the race and gone the distance
is a suitable companion for marriage.
Until that special someone comes along, she knows God is always there
to fill in the gaps and meet her needs when no one else can.

My Prayer

Dear Lord,
I pray that you would help me to make it through another day.
Give me the strength and courage to fight the battles that I am sure to face.
Help me to stand up for those who cannot stand on their own.
Make me an encouragement to those around me.
That I might bring hope to a hopeless situation.
That others might see my light shining brightly.
The light from the candle that you lit.
Let it shine even through the toughest storms.
Lord stand by me always.
When I am weak, lift me in your arms and carry me
until I am strong enough to stand on my own again.
Help me to be meek and humble, yet loving and strong.
Remind me to thank you always for good times and bad.
After all, it is during the difficult times we draw closer to you.
Give me wisdom in times of indecision.
Increase my faith beyond comprehension.
In return, I will trust in you for all my needs.
I will love you as you have loved me.

marty shuff

Memories

I love memories because you can change them at will.
Fast forward or rewind.
Rearrange them like a scrapbook in your mind
Hitting pause when it comes to the good times.
Creating your own little fantasy,
reliving all the good memories.
Flashbacks of better times.

marty shuff

The Perfect Example

Never has there been such a plain and simple man
From His birth in a manger to the grave He was buried in.
He was a carpenter by trade, but a home for Himself, He never made.
He healed the sick and fed the poor even when He was tired and sore.
People mocked and made fun of Him and still
He died on the cross for each and every one of them.
He set an example through His own sacrifice
of how we should live a true Christian life
so when life gets rough and the waters won’t be stilled
remember Jesus once stood on that same hill.
He has known every temptation common to man
and won every battle the same as you and I can
So stay faithful to God, let Him lead you along the way.
Stay buried in His word and don’t forget to pray.
Remember, everything that happens here on this earth
is a direct result of Jesus birth.
For the Bible states: and we know all things work together
for good to them that love the Lord.
To those who are called to carry His sword.
Grave where is thy victory,
Death where is thy sting?
Jesus has risen, praise Him and sing.

Marty Shuff

Prayer Is.....

Prayer to me is simply talking to God as if He were my best friend, after all He should be.
Having a relationship with God is better than anything I have ever known.
I say that because God fully and completely satisfies.
He's like water being poured into your soul.
He fills every single crack and mends every little hole.
He is like cold water, very refreshing,
yet He is also hot water, soothing and relaxing, easing all your pain.
He is comfort-like a huge teddy bear to a small child.
You can snuggle up to Him and get warm and cozy.
I feel safe in His arms, loved and cared for.
I cry on His shoulder and He sends words of comfort.
I cannot even begin to describe the overwhelming sense I get when I am close to Him.
It's a combination of complete joy, extreme energy,
utter excitement, and intense love all rolled into one.
I have truly experienced a God who is so overwhelming that He is beyond our imagination.


Marty Shuff

God's Angels

Today I experienced an angel, you know,
one of those moments when you are in desperate need
and suddenly you look around and see someone walking toward you.
Someone planted by God in that moment of need.
A helping hand, someone who unselfishly takes time out of
his own busy schedule to help you.
It is so awesome to experience God at work.
I hope that someday God allows me the privilege
to be someone elses angel.
A way to say thank you to God and also help
someone in need and maybe just maybe
put a smile on a desperate face in desperate need.

Marty Shuff

My Battle With Sin

Lord, you know I struggle with everyday life
I can and do create my own strife.
Help me to break free from this bondage I am in.
Help me overcome my addiction to sin.
So how do I break free from Satan's hold?
Make me angry, make me bold.
I want to be a warrior and fight to the end.
Go with me to battle, so that I may win.
Help me to master the desires of the flesh.
So that I may have victory over Satan's quest.
To destroy my witness and ruin God's plan.
Teach me, Oh Lord, how to firmly stand.
Give me the strength to do your will.
So that my purpose on earth can be fulfilled.
The victory is yours Lord, I know that you win.
And Satan is defeated in the very end.

The Silent One

A fetus lies in his mother's womb,
comfortable, cozy, all nice and warm.
He feels her heartbeat as he sleeps.
Then one day something happens,
something unusual,
suddenly from out of the darkness
something moves toward him.
He tries to move away from it,
but it follows him, piercing his flesh.
It hurts, oh so badly.
He fights and struggles against it,
but to no avail.
He wants to cry out for help.
Help from that soothing heart he hears.
But alas, no one is there, no one to hear, no one to care.
Another life is needlessly aborted.

The Mighty Power of God

Nothing portrays God better than the ocean.
It belongs to God because He created it.
Like the ocean we cannot fathom the mysteries of God.
Can you probe the depths of the Almighty?
They are deeper than the depths of the sea.
The seas lift up their voices to praise God
through the pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea
the Lord on High is mighty.

Marty Shuff

The Struggle to Surrender

Why can't I surrender to you, O' Lord?
I want to but fear holds me back,
it stops me in my tracks.
Am I afraid I won't get what I desire?
Satan tries to convince me that you are a liar.
Why can't I see, that you want so much more for me?
More than I could ever imagine.
Blessings that I cannot fathom.
I am hooked on my own cheap pleasures.
A drug that I seem to treasure.
It is an addiction to sin, a battle I know I cannot win.
Not without you in my life,
can I hope to rid myself of all this strife.
Chaos is what my life has become.
Sin has left me completely undone.
Like Paul, I want to do what is right?
I truly want to win this fight.
My arrogance seems to devour me.
Will I ever let God have the victory?
Nothing is impossible in God's sight.
It is time for me to give up the fight.
To surrender my will is so hard to do.
Help me, Oh Lord, just give it to you.

Marty Shuff

God's Call to Us All

God's Call to Us All

I am overwhelmed with loneliness.

My heart aches to be loved.

I think loneliness is God calling out to us.

It is His way of bringing us to our knees.

A way to make us realize that He is what we need.

As much as we long for human touch,

He wants a relationship with us, just as much.

He whispers softly in our ears.

But we're so busy we rarely hear.

Yet, He finds a way to seek us out,

if we let Him, He removes all doubt,

that He truly loves us in our wicked state,

but will not leave us at hell's gate,

If we would only learn, that God is where we need to turn.

By: Marty Shuff

Healing from the Past

Healing requires feeling.
In order to heal we must revisit those old wounds.
We must take ourselves back and view it as a spectator.
But as you do look for God, search your mind, ask God to reveal
where He was and what He was trying to say to you that you could not hear.
Experience the pain, if you let Him, God can and will remove it.
Cry those tears that were never shed.
Grieve the loss of your childhood.
Let the child inside come alive.
Take her in your arms and hold her.
Let her feel God's love.
Let your tears wash away the pain.
Let the bad memories flow out of you.
Don't let Satan confine you.
Allow God to remove the chains that bind you.

To My Son, With Love, Jesus

My son, why do you run from me?
If you asked, I would give you the key,
to wisdom and knowledge beyond belief.
Open your mind so you can explore
what I have hidden behind that door.
A life full of blessings and a love with no end.
I truly want to be your friend.
I will heal you from your past,
if you give it to me
I will mold you into the man,
I know that you can be.
I want others to see what you have overcome.
But I will not force myself upon anyone.
I love you ________, in spite of your sin,
I want to be involved in your life,
but you must invite me in.

A Godly Adventure

Show me your Great Adventure Lord!!!
What do you wish to convey?
What spiritual gift have you given to me?
What would you have me to say?
Each life affects many others,
just like a ripple in a pond.
Life is full of both good and bad
how will you respond?
God uses all things for His good.
But we must turn it over to Him.
Life is a journey, sit back and relax,
and look for the treasure within.

The Loneliness Inside of Me

I long for love and affection. To be held in someone's arms.
To know someone truly cares.
I'm starving for affection, the affection I never got as a child.
I want so much to reach out to someone and just once, have someone reach back.
Why can't anyone see, the loneliness inside of me.
Is everyone so calloused, that they are blind to those around them?
Or do I just hide it well?
I need the nourishment that love and affection provide
because without it I can't survive.

A Beautiful Butterfly

The beauty of a butterfly is a sign of God's incredible love
the brilliant color is hope found in Christ.
The fluttering wings are freedom from strongholds in our lives.
There delicate nature is God's undeserving grace that he pours out on us.
We are all just caterpillars, awaiting our metamorphosis
to become one of God's most beautiful creatures.

Your Hearts Desire

Children see things through the eyes of God.
Their innocence is their greatest gift.
For a child, nothing is impossible, nothing is out of reach.
They see hope and love everywhere they turn.
I wish there was a way to keep that hope alive.
But society has a way of pushing that aside.
I see the effects of an apathetic world and the bitterness that resides.
I see that life has robbed so many people of their hearts desire.
As a young adult, we all had hopes and dreams. We were on fire.
But somewhere along the way, those hopes and dreams began to fade.
With the busyness of life, we tuck those things away.
But the soul still yearns to have those dreams revived.
Passion and desire are what keep that hope alive.
Without passion our soul begins to die.
Have you sacrificed your soul to just "get by."
We must find a way to reignite that fire!
What IS your hearts desire?

Abortion

A baby was conceived today,
By two very young kids.
Out of passion.
Rejected by their parents.
Touching out of need
Irresistable need.
Of love and affection
No one to care.

A Prayer

Lord when my light for you dims, reignite the flame.
Lord when you see me straying take hold of the reigns.
Lord when you hear me crying, reach down and dry my tears.
Lord when you see my body tremble, cleanse me from my fears.
Lord when I go to my knees in prayer, I know that you are there.

A Bucket Full of Holes

For years I felt like a bucket
that had been shot full of holes.
all the love and energy that was put into it
came pouring out as fast as it went in.
Then I found you Lord.
Now the holes have all been patched
and I feel alive again.
Full of life, love, and happiness.
I realize occasionally my bucket
could still spring a leak
but I feel confident that you will be there,
to help me to repair the leak,
before it gets out of hand.
And though I know my bucket
looks tattered and worn,
I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Because each dent and patched hole represents
a struggle in my life that has made me
the unique individual I am today.
And right now I am very pleased
with the unique individual that I have become.

Freedom from Bondage

God free me from the bondage of sin
and release me from the chaos within.
Take my hurt, my pain and fears,
and wipe away all my tears.
You love me in my ugly state,
as my transformation you await.
You know what lies within my heart
and the plans you have that I've yet to start.
I try each day to do your will
your plan for my life I want to fulfill.
And yet, the struggle continues on
until the victory I have won.
I must break old habits and change my ways,
to avoid the games that Satan plays.
My time on earth is short and sweet
I must lay my struggles at your feet.
God give me the victory this I pray
Help me to grow stronger everyday.

Sit Still My Child and Listen

Why do you not take the time to sit quietly
and wait upon my leading?
You are always in such a hurry never slowing
down for even a moment.
There is so much I want to tell you,
If you would only listen.
I only want what is best for you.
I want to help to guide you through.
How do I get your attention?
There is so much I want to show you,
If you would only listen.
You are always running ahead of me,
Instead of waiting patiently.
I have a plan for you
It is full of wonderful blessings.
There is so much I want to give to you,
If you would only listen.
I will not raise my voice, as the world does,
Instead I gently whisper.
You see, raising my voice does not require
the closeness I desire.
But a whisper draws you near.
It is a secret shared between intimate friends,
blown softly in your ear.
You see my friend, an intimate relationship is a choice.
So if you want to hear my voice,
Sit still my child and listen.
By: Marty Shuff

God's Vessel

God, use me as your vessel. Pour it in so I can pour it out.
Let your words overflow onto everyone around me.
Allow your words to heal the broken hearted and bind up the wounded spirit.
Let them be a healing ointment to hurting souls.
Ease the pain and suffering of a misguided world.
Teach us to look at others through your eyes.
Help us to see what lies beneath the angry hateful words that spew from so many mouths.
Prick our hearts and prompt us to reach out and give a hug to a hurting soul.
Teach us to follow through when you nudge us to do something that makes us uncomfortable.
Help us to see that we don't need to understand your method.
But instead to trust that you know best.
By: Marty Shuff

Metamorphosis

Have you ever compared the life of a Christian to
the life of a butterfly?
We start out much like the caterpillar,
unattractive and difficult to love in our sinful nature.
Then unexpectedly Jesus comes into our heart
and something incredible begins to happen as we
accept Him as our Savior.
We too, like the butterfly, must undergo, what
can be a painful metamorphose.
The transition is a difficult process with much
learning along the way. We must wrap ourselves
in the thread of God’s word, breaking through the
cocoon of sinful habits and emerging as the
beautiful butterfly God intended for us to be.
By: Marty Shuff

The Ocean

The vast view of the ocean amazes me.
I love to watch the waves as they roll in.
The water reaches endlessly out to touch the sky.
Blue touching blue. White waves crashing into the
sandy beaches bring a squeal of delight.
It all just reinforces the awesomeness of God.
His power and yet His gentleness combined.
The water has a soothing effect as the breeze from the
ocean cools the intensity of the sun.
The ocean heals in many ways. The salt can heal a wound.
The waves crashing into the shore bring peace and comfort to a tortured soul.
The shadow of a bird on the sand as it flies overhead
just adds to the delight.
Children playing and laughing and building castles in the sand
are an amusing sight.
One spot in this crazy world that seems unhurried and relaxed,
a very nice change from the hustle and bustle of the world around us.
The cool waves as they move in and out caressing the body
and gently rocking me back and forth,
all just reinforce that there truly is a God.
A very wonderful caring God.
You have given us so much to delight in.
The wonders of a child making new discoveries in the sand.
The uncaring and relaxing effect the ocean has on all of us.
The birds diving into the ocean for food and reappearing
with their catch in their mouth.
You take care of us Lord giving us all we need.
What makes me think that I can make better choices for myself
then this awesome God who created this wonderful world.
You, God are far wiser than I.
Take my life and do with it what you will.
By: Marty Shuff