Cake Recipe

     It was a rainy day in “A Friendly Shade” and I was forced to stay inside.  I had already cleaned the house so I decided to bake a cake.  Thumbing through my recipes and finding nothing that appealed to my taste buds I finally decided to create my own unique cake recipe. 

 

YELLOW ANGEL FOOD POUND CAKE

     I begin by stirring in a little sin, yellowed with age.  I beat each one separately until the mixture became light and fluffy.  Next I added a cup full of liquid tears, followed by a pinch of unforgiveness which I had been saving back.  I was sure this was going to be the perfect cake.   As the batter turned soft and yellow I couldn’t resist a small sampling. 
     “Yuk! It needs something.” I quickly thought.  “What have I forgotten?”   
     Looking around on the pantry shelf, pushed far back and practically hidden, I soon found just what was needed.  I reached and grabbed what was sure to make this cake one of a kind.  Picking up my mixer, I quickly beat in a dollop of joy, peace, and love.  This cake was looking better all the time.  Tasting once more, my flavor buds promptly agreed. 
     The next step was to slowly pour this mixture into a prepared pan of understanding and hope it baked out ‘just right’. 
     Peeping into the oven from time to time, I watched as it baked.  When the beeper finally sounded I smiled and was pleased at how well the cake had risen.   
      “Amazing! I can’t wait to show off what “I” have done,” proudly stating to myself and quickly walked away to let it cool.      
     Impatient and unwilling to wait much longer, I walked back into the kitchen only to notice something was happening to my beautiful cake. It had begun to crack across the top and to fall in the center.  
     Disappointed, I pondered, “What did I leave out?” 
     Then it hit me like a brick wall, completely taking my breathe away.  I had left out the Praise.  

 

Life

     Our pastor has been preaching on Adversity the last few weeks.  Emphasis has been placed on how we should cope with adversity while realizing that life is all about Jesus.  So here’s where his message interwoven with my thoughts led me as I took the opportunity to enjoy a few moments in “A Friendly Shade.”   

Life

 

It’s not about me,  

 Apology from a neighbor,

A best friend;

From beginning to end,

It’s all about Jesus!

About trusting Him;

Allowing love to fill me to the brim.

It’s not about what I want,

What I wish for,

What I need.

It’s about the blood He bled!

About doing His pleasure;

Glorifying Him in good measure.

 

It’s not about trials,

my troubles,

heartache, or woe.

It’s about how I live as I go,

the Christ-like deeds I show;

About enduring, keeping on,

Remembering the love He’s shown. 

It’s not about worldly status,

Postion, or the clothes I wear.

It’s about prayer; how I share,

And Him!

It’s about His Word,

His death which occurred.

 

It’s not about my setbacks,

But a comeback for Jesus,

The cross,

The blood He gave,

Spreading the gospel to save.

It’s about my Defender,

Protector, and Friend.

From beginning to end-

“It’s all about Jesus!”

                                         Mary Crisp Jameson

Joy in Adversity

At First Baptist today our pastor spoke on "Joy In Adversity: Shining Lights"  The sermon dealt with whatever your circumstances are in life we, as Christians, should remember that life is still "all about Jesus."  We are not to just quit and say, "I've had enough."  We must continue to live in such a way that exemplies God, remembering what God did for us through what His Son.  Below I have put my "kopy kat" version into a poem. 

Joy in Adversity

 

Let me endure thou my journey be hard

Remembering ever, those hands, so nail-scarred.

Help me press on;

Life is not my own.

As the darkness settles into night,

Let me count the stars shining with light.

Help me cling to that radiate hope

To get me past this downward slope.

 

 Give me courage thou I am weary and worn,

Remembering ever, the flesh, beaten and torn.

Help me press on;

Life is not my own.

As the sky clothes itself in a colorful arch,

Help me charge forth as the winds of March.

Let me walk boldly as tree tops that grace the sky

So my life will count; not just pass on by.

 

 Send me strength thou I am burdened with worry,

Remembering ever, the resurrection story.

Help me press on;

Life is not my own.

As the flowers bud and blossom,

Fill me with a joy that’s awesome.

Help me cast my worry aside;

Let Jesus take over this roller-coaster ride.

 

Lift me in the wings of your Word,

Remembering ever, the gospel, I’ve read and heard.

Help me press on;

Life is not my own.

As the rain drizzles and settles the dust,

Help me hold on to the One that I trust.

Let me not waste the blood shed for me,

To live for Jesus is what others should see.

 

 Help me press on;

Life is not my own.

                                                Mary Crisp Jameson – 7/13/2014

Do A Work In Me

As I drove into my driveway after work I could not help but notice how badly the yard needed mowing.  The weeds were quickly shooting up and overcoming the beauty of a fresh mowed lawn.  I determined it was time to restore the yard, make it look attractive, and by all means get rid of those hideous weeds which were invading the good grass around my home.    I needed to do "a work on the yard,"  but more than that, God needed to do a work in me. 

 

Do a Work in Me

 

Do a work in me, Lord!

Change me and keep me restored.

 

Moisten my eyes;

Melt them to tears

For compassion through all my years.

Mold my heart;

Soften it; make it kinder, still;

Let it be forgiving, holding no ill-will.

 

Lord, do a work in me;

A work for you that all may see.

 

Control my tongue;

Let the words you inspire

Flow forth as a witness to set hearts on fire.

Change my desires.

Give me a patient love;

One others can grab hold of.

 

Lord, do a work in me;

A work for you that all may see.

 

 Weaken my knees;

Bend them for kneeling

As I pray for other’s healing.

Rid me of selfishness.

Lend me a listening ear,

One willing to simply sit and hear.

 

Take my arms and my hands;

Make them strong

To hold and comfort, thou it take the whole day long.

Strengthen my legs and my feet;

Help me run, with joy, a constant pace

To complete my task ‘til I see you face to face.

 

Do a work in me, Lord!

Change me and keep me restored.

 

      Mary Crisp Jameson – 7/6/2014

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

 

Independence Day

     We celebrate our independence, a day in history that established freedom for America, on July Fourth.  It was not won without a battle but was a cause worth fighting. 
     Today, we have a greater cause.  We were given another freedom much earlier when Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished!”  At that point in time, we were given a choice to be liberated and the freedom to break the chains that hold us in bondage. 
     It is never too late to break the chains, the opposing forces in our lives, which   keep us tied down.  Addictions of any kind can be broken “one day at a time” or even “one minute at a time”.  Is it time to fight the battle and win the freedom and peace that “surpasses all understanding?” 
     As I was thinking of winning the battle to gain the freedom and blessings of the Lord, I remembered the parable of the talents, whereby, 3 men were given different proportions of talents. One simply hid his and did nothing with it while the other two invested wisely.   The master was displeased with the one who did not use the talents but to the others said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” 
     I believe God wants to bless us.  He wants us to be healthy, carry joy and peace within our hearts, and He wants to bless us with financial success. 
    Not only do we have to stand up and win the battle for our Christian beliefs, but we must win the battle of the world that tries to control our thoughts, actions, and words which, in turn allows us to receive God's blessings.  Any addiction that seeks to control, keep us depressed, and reduces the joy of our spirit keeps us in chains.  But how do we invest our lives?  Maybe we need to take a few moments to THINK and PRAY before we take action.   Maybe we need to STOP and ASK, "Do I need this? What will it do for me?  How will I feel later?  Will it help or hurt someone else?  Is this what God wants in my life? Is this good for me? How will these words affect someone else?  How will these words affect me later?  How will this food or drink make me feel, and what will it do to my body?"
     We have a cause worthy of fighting.  We have a promise of peace, a falling away of the chains in life that bind us to bondage.  If we have the courage to make changes, we can have victory and celebrate our own Independence Day knowing we have invested and been faithful over a few things.  It would be good to hear, "Well done!"

    

    

Healing Through Praying For Others

     Early every spring I replace the fern and the geranium that I keep in large pots in “A Friendly Shade.” These two plants are entirely different.  Although the geranium blooms most of the summer, its beautiful flowers are frail and the petals shed easily with the wind. Its fading flowers require clipping quite often in order to keep it thriving and blooming.  The fern, on the other hand, requires little attention.  It is hardier and needs less watering. Its roots run deep, wrapping tightly in and throughout the pot of dirt.  I feel like it is saying, "I am fine, you have other things to do.  Just clip a single dying leaf here and there and be on your way." 

      The fern reminds me of someone cemented in the Word. Although the strong Christian may be blown to and fro from time to time, he handles what life brings. When troubles and sadness slip in, his spirit is not broken for he obtains his nourishment and strength by spreading his roots. Life is not all about him.   

    A good example of such a Christian is my Sunday School teacher. He recently made an emergency trip to the hospital for heart surgery. This was not a simple procedure or a quick recovery. He had to endure several rounds of shock treatments even after the surgery. During this time of illness our new pastor visited with him. It was in the course of the conversation that this sick man told the pastor, “I am sorry I could not be in town to welcome you and help you get settled.”  Another time his wife stated that her sick husband “prayed for every doctor, nurse, and attendant who came into his room.” This is not a man who simply thinks of himself. He is rooted in the Word and soaking up nourishment for healing by praying for others.
     I suppose that is why he is a Sunday School teacher.  Even though he is not in my Sunday School class while he is recovering, he is still teaching.  He has taught me not only about circling myself in prayer but also about healing myself through whatever problems or illness I may encounter by circling others in prayer. 
     Bro. Butch is busy striving to live what our pastor preached about today, "It's not about me- It's all about others, because- It's all about Jesus."

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Philippians 2:4

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love...And to know the love of Christ, which passeth anowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:17, 19
    

The Garden

    I have a garden neatly fenced, tilled, and planted in “A Friendly Shade.”  It is filled with a combination of squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers because it takes them all to create a flavoring of fresh food for the table.  This garden is important to me, and I strive to keep it weed and bug free.  If the plants look thirsty, I add water to rejuvenate their vines.  Then I proudly stand back to watch as blooms form and burst forth with delicious vegetables.    
     Just as I tend my garden, God watches over His.  There is a song that reminds me of how God attends to His garden. 

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

      I am the product of God’s garden.  It is God who waters, weeds, and harvests.  I bloom and produce because of Him.  When I am weak, He makes me strong.  When I am tired, He refreshes me. When I am apprehensive, He gives me peace.  When I need direction, He is there. 

     My growth is not for a season to be wilted down and tilled under but rather is ongoing, needing constant renewal from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  It is because of this right mix of love in my life that I can wake up refreshed with new flavorings in my life.