Mary Crisp Jameson - copyright material







Saturday, April 25, 2015

Oh! Jesus Love Me!

      I’m keeping it simple in “A Friendly Shade” today. What is more simple than knowing that Jesus loves me? There is no need to dig through science books. There is no need to analyze or rationale it. All I need is faith, belief, and a heart that I’ve asked Jesus to come into and dwell with me. 
 
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 
     Oh, Jesus Loves Me
 
Jesus loves me when I’m sad,
All He wants is to make me glad.
Jesus knows just what I need;
He will supply it all, guaranteed.
 
Oh, Jesus loves me –
Oh, Jesus loves me.
  This I know, as onward I go,
  For the Bible tells me so.
 
Jesus loves me when my days are grey,
He is in my heart to stay.
Jesus loves to walk with me;
He will hear my every plea.
 
Oh, Jesus loves me-
Oh, Jesus loves me.
  Listen to the voice calling out,
  Listen to the angels give a shout.
 
Jesus loves me all day long,
He will keep me going strong.
Jesus wipes away my tears;
He is there through all my fears.

Oh, Jesus loves me-
Oh, Jesus loves me.
  Listen to the scripture telling me so,
  Given to the people so they’ll know.
 
Jesus loves me through the night.
I am precious in His sight.
Jesus loves me young or old,
He’ll embrace and tightly hold.
 
Oh, Jesus loves me-
Oh, Jesus loves me.
  Get saved today, and you will see,
  Hearts will heal- we’ll shout with glee!

Oh, Jesus loves me-
Oh, Jesus loves me.
  How do I know? Oh, how do I know?
  He’s the One who tells me so.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

THREE DAYS!

     “The saddest and the happiest day was in 3 days.”  This was on a sign I saw during  Easter.  As Christians we can only imagine how the followers of Jesus felt, as they stood and watched Him hanging on that cross and even before, when they watched the abuse and the nails being driven into His hand.  Yet joy occurred in just 3 days.   Jesus gave us hope and life in his resurrection.  Death, burial, and resurrection-it all happened in three days.

     As I reflected on this in “A Friendly Shade,” I thought it might be interesting to discover what other Biblical events brought sadness or happiness in just 3 days. 
 
     I went back to Genesis 40 when Joseph was in prison with the Pharaoh’s butler and baker.  They both had dreams which Joseph interpreted. One ended up being a very happy day while the other ended sadly. 
     12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
…………………
     16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
     The question to consider here is, what did the butler do with his joy?  How long did it take before he remembered his promise to Joseph? 

     After the death of Moses, we find in Joshua 1 that the people were told they would finally possess the land promised to them.    This 3-day wait must have been very exciting as preparations were being made.   Here we must remember the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness because of disobedience and lack of faith. 
     11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.

          I cannot leave out the story of Jonah who tried to flee from doing the Lord’s calling.   After being in the belly of a whale for 3 days, can you imagine the happiness of being back on dry land?    Then in Matthew we find a comparison being made.  
     17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights………Matthew12: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

     In Mark 8, we find Jesus feeding the multitude after they had been with Him for 3 days. This act truly shows Jesus’ love and power.  Of course, His healing power had already, time and time again, been demonstrated to the people following him. 
     2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand:

     In Luke 2, we find the story of Jesus when Joseph and Mary were returning from the feast of the Passover.  Unknowingly, Jesus tarried behind, and Joseph and Mary had to return to look for Him.  After 3 days they found him in the temple.   In response to their question about why he has stayed behind, Jesus said,  vs 49: “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
     42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.  43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.  45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.  46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

     We also see in Act 9 when Saul was on the road to Damascus with intent to persecute the followers of Jesus, he was suddenly blinded by a light from heaven.  What joy there must have been when, after 3 days,  he could see again.  Here was a cruel man who suddenly had his life changed.  vs 20 “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”   
     And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.   And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
 
     There are many more references to 3 days in the Bible, but none overshadow the death, burial and resurrection of my Lord.    John 2: 19   Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  

The saddest and the happiest in just 3 days certainly has meaning.           

 

Friday, April 10, 2015

Sleepless in "A Friendly Shade!"

     When I decided to write about the sleepless nights going on at "A Friendly Shade," I immediately thought about the romatic comedy titled, "Sleepless in Seattle." The main character, living in Seattle, was dubbed "Sleepless in Seattle" since his wife died, resulting in many emotional sleepless nights. Hearing the story on the radio, Annie becomes obsessed with the man who cannot sleep. The sleepless nights were about concern for what was missing in his life.   
     Most everyone has sleepless nights at some time or the other. I have them quite often here at "A Friendly Shade." It is also difficult not to become emotionally upset about not being able to go back to sleep.  When all else fails, what can we do in the middle of the night when we are wide awake? I, personally, find that if I can stop agonizing over the need to get some sleep before the alarm goes off, I will find restful time with the Lord. It is in these moments I can offer up prayers for others in need, or I can find peaceful moments by listening for God’s voice in my own life.
     Hopefully we have all read or heard the story of Samuel. What a good example of the voice of God calling in the night!
     1 Samuel 3:3-10
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”