Mary Crisp Jameson - copyright material







Saturday, May 18, 2013

Popular Phrases For My Walk With God


     As I sit underneath my “Friendly Shade” and wondered what I would write about for God, I decided to try my hand at using common, popular phrases just to see how they would apply to our walk with God.  Below are a few I came up with: 

When God gave us beauty on earth, it was “only the tip of the iceberg.”
When He promised us an eternal home, it goes “beyond our wildest dreams.”
When God inspired the written Word, He gave us the greatest Book ever written, “hands down!”
When He promised never to leave or forsake you, He meant He’d never leave you “high and dry.”
When God asked us to seek Him, He never meant it to be “a hard pill to swallow.”
To witness for God, we must be willing to “go out on a limb.”
He’ll return in the blink of an eye just like “greased lightning.”
We don’t have to see God, we know He lives within our hearts.  It’s more than “a gut feeling.”
When you see heaven, it will “knock your shoes off.”
To love God is a “no brainer.”
God is our Savior, and that’s “no ifs, ands, or buts.”
We are asked to believe in God, “no questions asked.”
You don’t have to be the “sharpest tool in the shed” to know God exists.
When you reach heaven, you will be “on cloud nine.”
When you seek God, you will be “on the same page”  with Him.
Love God, and you will be “seeing eye to eye.”
When you follow God’s Word, troubles will disappear “easy as pie.”
It you deny God, it will be like  “ships passing in the night.”
When God returns I pray for those that get “the short end of the stick.”
When you seek riches and fame and leave God out, you will be seeking “fool’s gold.”
When you have God in your life, you won’t be “in a pickle” when troubles come your way.
When you don’t seek and wait for God’s direction, you may be “jumping the gun.”
When God returns for His people, “the jig is up.”
When you feel your “back is to the wall,” seek God and “keep on trucking!”
Bring up your children in the admonition of God, and you’ll be proud when people say, “Like Father, like Son.”
Believe in God with all your heart and “play for keeps.”
Read God’s Word every day; give Him “quality time.”
With God in your life, you will be able to “roll with the punches.”
Be careful who you follow in life, and it won’t “rain on your parade.”
Be strong in your Christian walk, “talk the talk and walk the walk.”
They say “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” but I say, people recognize a strong Christian walk with God, and you can "judge a book by its cover."

     I could go on and on but I must end with one last comment.  I am so very thankful that I had Christian parents who brought me up in the church, and I am not lost out in the world seeking something I cannot find like a “needle in a haystack.”  I am so glad that God does not require that I "walk a mile in His shoes."   All He asks is that I "accept and believe!"
 

 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Getting To Know God

     I was thinking as I settle in under “My Friendly Shade” about how often I ask God for help to solve my problems, but how little time I take to simply get to know Him.
     Who is Jesus?  How was He treated?  What does He do for us?  Oh, to only know Him and His ways!

Jesus is:
Alpha – Almighty
Bread of Life
Comforter-Christ-Creator-Counselor
Deliverer
Everlasting Father
Father of All
God of the Universe
Healer – Holy Ghost- Head of the Church
I Am –Immanuel
Jesus- Jehovah
King of the Jews- King of Kings
Lord of heaven – Lamb of God - Light of the world – Living Bread
Messiah- Mighty God – Mediator
Nazarene
Omega – Only Begotten Son
Prince of Peace – Physician
Redeemer
Savior – Shepherd – Son of God
Truth – Tree of Life
Upholder of all things
Vine
Way
Young Child of Mary
Yahweh

 He was:                                        He is:
Accused                                    Alive! Always Available
Beaten & bruised                     Beside us every day
Condemned                              Comforter in times of need- Covers with His Grace
Despised                                   Deliverer from our sins
Executed                                   Emergency line - Ever present
Forsaken                                   Forgiving
Greatly feared                          Giver of good gifts
Hurt                                           Healer
Ignored                                     Intermediator
Judas betrayed                        Judge
Kicked and knocked down     Kind   
Lied about                                Loving to all
Mocked                                    Merciful 
Nailed to the cross                  Nutritional way to eternal life- Never-ending love
Oppressed                               Omnipotent presence
Persecuted                               Protector
Questioned                              Quarterback in the race of life
Rejected                                   Ray of light    
Smitten                                     Shelter in the storm -Savior    
Tempted                                  Teacher through His Word
Unmercifully treated              Unchangeable
Victimized                               Valuable friend and lifeline
Wounded & whipped           World-wide caregiver and worthy of worship

                                   

                                   

 

 

 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Intimacy


     With all the controversy over same sex marriage, now we have some people coming out and saying they do not even believe there should be an institution of marriage at all.  Our world is gradually deteriorating, and the blame is being placed on the breakup of the marriage and the lack of a missing parent in the home. 
     Just why are marriages failing?  Could it be a lack of intimacy?  When I say intimacy, I am not talking about a familiar sexual act but, rather, a close, warm familiar personal relationship; something that runs deep within.  There can be no deeper intimate relationship among a husband and a wife than to just be able to pick up the spouse’s hand at any given moment in time and pray together.  I remember the first time I shared a burden with my husband.  He instantly reached for my hand, and we stood right there and prayed.  I was overwhelmed. 
     Just a simple action places a spiritual friend deep within your soul, and this special, oh so special friend becomes the intermediary, not only between you and God, but also between disagreements that occur in marriages, as well.
     Prayer in family relationships, as well as the personal life, results in many blessings.  Yet, we often forget that God seeks a friendship with us and not just as a giver.  Most of us, including me, see Him as a giver because that is what He does.  He wants to bless us; He wants to give to us.  Maybe that is why so many of our prayers are rendered as “give me” prayers.  We know He loves us, and we want to claim His promises.  However, before we seek Him to fulfill our desires and wishes, we are first and always supposed to praise Him in name.  We need an intimate relationship with God.  The example given in Matthew says, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” 
     There is no greater intimacy in marriage than for a spouse to simple pick up the other one’s hand and pray, “Thank you God for being the Master of our home. Thank you God for the many blessings you bestow.  We love you Lord for all you do,” and then seek Him with your current needs and concerns. 
     It is so easy to pray for someone, but how easy is it to pray with someone?  It will change your relationship.  Intimacy - such a simple act but it makes so much difference!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

God Is A Better Healer Than A “Band-aide Fix”

     My husband drives me crazy when it comes to a minor, temporary repair.  His choice of temporary fixes is, none other than, tape.  Tape can make a great patch job, but it is only a “band-aide fix.”  When the tape is removed the surface is left with a sticky residue; often very resistant to coming off, or else, we become complacent with the fix and just leave the ugly tape in place. 
     Band-aide fixes may have their place, but in the real realm of things it would be best to do it right the first time, thus savings time, money, and energy.  If you can’t figure out how to repair it correctly, then it is time to consult an expert.
     To solve life’s problems, there is no better expert than God.  He is the One who can either help you do it right the first time, or the One who can easily remove the “band-aid fix” without leaving a residue that will not go away.  God created you.   He knows where He created you to be; He knows who He created you to be; He knows what He created you to do.
     Speaking of “band-aide fixes,” God also created this world.  It was created by One God “under liberty and justice for all.”  If our nation’s leaders would come together and seek God’s will and unite in spirit for the good of this great country and its people, we would not need a “band-aide fix,” as the President has declared we currently have.   
     It takes working together to make leadership.  It takes leaving the “I want” out in order to consider the American people and what is best for them.   It takes creating a balanced budget and stopping extravagate government spending.  The American people do not need more taxation with more government spending. We do not need a "bridge to nowhere."
     To get rid of the "band-aide fix," we also need to eliminate unnecessary spending on aide to support programs that go against what this nation was founded upon.  Legalizing drugs, same sex marriage, and abortion will not heal our land. When the Israelites rebelled against God, their “band-aide fix” lasted 40 years.   I pray that we will be able to return to the "promised land."

Friday, April 26, 2013

What My Lord Did For Me!

I woke during the night and was wondering how I could praise my God, and bits and pieces of the following came to mind until I could sit beneath my "Friendly Shade" and compose the rest.  I hope all those who read it will use it to praise and thank God for all He planned and did for us. 

My Lord
could have been born in a mansion
protected by a mighty, stone wall.
Yet, He chose to lie in a manager stall
among the cattle and sheep.
A bed of straw was where he fell asleep.   
He did it all for me!
 
 My Lord
could have lived among the rich,
wrapped in a royal robe living in grandeur.
Yet, He chose to walk among the lowly and poor.
He had no home to call His own
when He could have had a footstool and a throne.   
He did it all for me!

 My Lord
could have had a life of leisure,
served with every imaginable, elegant meal.
Yet, He chose to serve and heal.
His feet were dusty and his sandals were worn.
Still He was mocked and His flesh was torn.     
He did it all for me!
 
My Lord
could have died in luxury surroundings.
Yet, He chose a cross.
He let them drive the nails through His hands.
The earth shook and darkness split the lands.
Blood covered His body and fell beneath his feet,
so His salvation plan would be complete.
He did it all for me!

                                                                        Mary Crisp Jameson – April 2, 2013

 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

It's Just Things

     It’s just things!  The drug addicted individual lost it all; furniture, job, and trust.  It’s just things!  The long time job that someone thought would last forever is gone.   It’s just things!  The house caught fire and all was lost.  There are no more family pictures, no financial records, and no more treasured material possessions.   These are just a few examples of things that can be lost overnight.  They are just things!
     Don’t get me wrong.  I am very materialistic myself, and if I lost it all I would be devastated.  I would cry and mourn my losses.  I have to remind myself daily that God is the One who is important.  We are just passing through this life here on earth.  What we have are only things!   They belonged to God in the first place; He owns it all. 
     When losses occur I still have God in my life.  This is an assurance that cannot be taken away from me.  Once I accepted Him into my life and believed in Him, I have Him forever.  He cannot be lost.   
     Because of God, as the song goes, “The anchor holds though the ship is battered.  The anchor holds though the sails are torn.  The anchor holds in spite of the storm.” 
    Our country is a gift from God.   It is to be honored and protected.  Horrible events happen; earthquakes, bombings, tornados, and a host of other events that destroy the lives of people we love, that take down homes and leave a path of destruction, but Christians continue to have a hope.  We have a promise that loved ones which are lost have a heavenly home.  We are assured of being taken care of.  We have a promise that we have a heavenly home much more beautiful and serene than anything we could ever image here on earth. 
     Earthy possessions are just “things”. 

Friday, April 12, 2013

A Full Glass

   If you were given a glass half filled with some kind of visual matter, would you say it was half empty or half full?  Most of us have heard the synopsis that if you answered, “half empty,” you would be classified as a negative person, but, on the other hand, if you answered, “half full,” you would be classified as a positive person.  However, both answers are actually wrong.  You see the glass is really not half empty or half full; it is full! You just cannot see the air that fills the other half.  
     Consider for a moment that if this same glass were your heart held up for the world to see, what would people say?  What type of substance would you choose to place in it to fill it half full?  I would imagine that if your heart were half filled with impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasures, idolatry, hatred, jealously, anger, complaints, and criticism most people would see the other half as being filled with the results of these products.  They would see emptiness, loneliness, and a seeking of some unknown desire that leaves a feeling of being unfulfilled.  Yet, if your heart were half filled with love, joy, peace, faithfulness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control, the other half would be filled with the working of the Holy Spirit.  There would be trust, obedience, and a true desire to follow the laws of God.   We reap what we sow within outselves; the rewards can be great.  What do you want people to see in your life?   
     There is a choice to be made; choose wisely.