Mary Crisp Jameson - copyright material







Saturday, January 24, 2015

Keep Me Young

    As adults, what's missing in our lives?  Could it be childlike trust as shown by the little girl who asked her mother for a kitten and was told, "No! Not unless God sends you one."  So the child immediately went outside, got on her knees, and prayed, "Lord, please send me a kitten." When the child opened her eyes, a kitten came sailing through the air and landed at her feet.  Her simple, trusting prayer had been answered.  It didn't matter that the neighbor across the way had just tied a rope to a tree limb  and then to the hitch of his truck in an attempt to get a stranded kitten out of his tree. The rope broke, the tree limb popped back in place, and the kitten went sailing across the sky. 
     Sometimes trust, laughter, and just getting rid of the stored up garbage of disappointments and resentments along life's highway of life will bring blessings, joy, and a youthful heart. 

            
 
 KEEP ME YOUNG
Keep me young, Lord, keep me young,
Like little children
With laughter dancing off their tongue,
While chasing friends across the glen.
Keep me laughing, full of joy
Like a playful, grade school boy;
Like the children and the young,
Dreaming dreams
Through the seasons that have sprung,
Waking, flowing as the streams.
Let my love flow easily through my days,
Awed by heaven’s rainbow rays.  
Don’t let me age, Lord, don’t let me age.
Give me childlike faith and trust,
Hope through the turning of a page, 
A life with treasures free of rust.
Make me childlike through the day,
Loving, sharing in my play.
Help me rid my heartfelt pain.
Keep me trusting as a child,
Dancing, singing t
hrough drizzling rain;
Open, growing, meek and mild.
Keep me smiling in this place,
Joyful in my homeland space.
Keep me young, Lord, keep me young.
                                                         Mary Crisp Jameson

 

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Goliath And The Stone

     Goliath was a very big giant of a man. He was so big even the mighty men of war trembled in his presence. According to scripture Goliath was “six cubits and a span.” The interpretation I found shows this to be 9 to 10 feet. We are also told that Goliath wore a coat weighing “five thousand shekels of brass.” I looked this up and found it to be 125 pounds. The weight of this along would put most men to the ground.  Can you imagine a small boy in his youth fearless enough to stand up to this huge giant with only a few stones?
     Just what makes some men and women tremble or get sick and depressed while others, going through similar troubling situations, meet people with a smile, never displaying their problems?  Why can some people face their problems in order to find solutions and embrace life while others hide themselves in self-pity?  How can we all strive to eliminate anxiety and worry?  I would like to believe it is sincere faith in a God who promises to walk with us through the trials of life.    
     The way I would like to spell F-A-I-T-H is like this:

Fear that has said its prayers”
  Abort self-pity
  Implant the positive
  Trust in God with all your heart
  Hydrate yourself in His Word

     When David went out to meet Goliath, he showed great faith.  David said, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”  There was no doubt in David’s mind that he would kill Goliath that day as he shouted, “Thou cometh to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…” 
     When faced with problems so huge we see no way to overcome them, it would be good to remember the slogan I saw on a billboard recently, “For every Goliath, there is a stone.”  

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Made in USA

      The label, “Made in USA”, indicates the product is made in the United States. As an American, I am proud to buy American because it helps our failing economy. Sadly, many manufacturing companies have long since moved out of the United States in order to produce goods and products with cost effectiveness and profitability in mind.
     Thinking further, I began to wonder when the first manufacturing products began and where it all started. Playing with this thought, there is no doubt about it. It all started “in the beginning.” God started it when He created the heavens and the earth and when He created man. God is the owner of the first manufacturing industry and remains, actually, the owner of them all today allowing those inspired to open their own companies to run them as they see fit. The only difference between God’s and man-made ones are that His are for the whole world. It is nation-wide, and God is not stationed in any one area. As owner and CEO, God travels the world daily. God oversees his plan and his designs. He creates His products for everyone and provides well-written, never changing instructions. He gave us Jesus, grace, and salvation. These are not taxed to us, but are given freely to anyone and everyone who will claim them. God designed and fashioned peace, love, and good-will all around the globe. If there are any flaws in His products, they are man-made by our own sin and neglect in not looking to His guidance and direction and by not inviting Him into our lives.    
     I believe if we will custom our products by the example of the One true manufacturer, lives will  be different. If we would package our products by the Word and its advice, the world would prosper universally.  We are told about love, it "suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itslf unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity never faileth...And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."  Wouldn't it be great if all manufacturing companies and their workers would add a touch of love into each and every product.     
     Regardless, whether products are “Made in USA,” or “Made in China,” or made anywhere else in the world the first label and the last label belong to God. In the end, there will be a new earth and a new heaven, God will be the manufacturer of that, as well. He is omnipotent, all knowing, and all power; He is omnipresent.

 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighy.” Revelation 1:8

 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.”  Revelation 21:1

Thursday, January 8, 2015

A Lump Of Clay

      We know that in the beginning God created man, and He created him from the dust of the earth.  We are told in Genesis, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;" then later as Adam and Eve are being cast from the garden to work by the sweat of their brow, God says, "... till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 
     In creating man, God became the master Potter giving life so that man would know and love Him.  "He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."  Our work is to tell others about Him. 

                  A Lump Of Clay

I was just a lump of clay until the Potter came my way.
I watched as he picked me up and gently lifted me toward the light.
A sparkle lit his eye and twinkled bright.

I heard him say, “Oh, yes! I have a special design for you.
You’ll no longer be a hardened rock. I have much more for you to do.”

“How?” I thought. “I have no life or spirit.
I’m just some ugly dirt with no heart or merit.”

The Potter began to mash and unfold.
Then he quickly started to roll and mold.
I felt a warmth inside me spread and glow.
My hardened core felt soft as dough.
How wonderful ! The gentle strokes of this master Potter.
Here and there, he added tenderness with drops of living water,
smoothing it carefully into my very core.
I knew I would never be like I was before.
I felt soft, yet strong.
I wanted to feel like this my whole life long.
When all was finished, the Potter blew in a breath of air.
I had become a sculpture, not beautiful, but fair,
with blemishs here and there.
I was in awe, but I didn't want to have a flaw.

“Masterful Potter,” I finally spoke,
"Why did you not make me beautiful like some other folk?”

“Your work will not be by appearance but by perseverance,” he replied.

 “But, why? I cried. "Can't you remove these bumps and lumps?"
 
Ever so kindly, he shushed me, “It won't matter what other people see.
You’re beautiful by design. Please don’t pine.
Your heart is pure. Your course is sure.
Those bumps are there to make you strong; they belong.”

The Potter continued smiling and began to say,
“You were once just a lump of clay.
In due time, your design will do the work that's mine.
You’re unique, a work of art, a masterpiece from my heart.
You were just a lump of clay till I, the Potter, came your way.”

Sunday, January 4, 2015

A God Who Is!

      Our pastor is starting the New Year in Genesis which means creation or beginning.  He read from Genesis 1:1 today, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."  At the end of the sermon, he summed up God as the God who IS!  Holy! Holy! Holy! 
     When I woke up this morning, I had no idea what, if anything, I would be able to blog about today, but here is what I came up with after this morning's sermon. 

      A God Who IS!

In the beginning God was and IS!
He created the heavens and the earth.
A voice spoke, “Let there be…”
That was the beginning for human birth,
And He said, “All is good.”  Look and see!

Next there was the light,
Starting the day,
Separating it from the night,
Just for the man made from dust and clay;
A man given a living soul;
One to love God, to join in song,
To clasp their hand in His, to take a stroll,
To love and follow along. 

From the very start,
God loved through man’s sinful fall.
Though they walked apart,
God loved them all.

Holy! Holy! Holy!
To the great, I Am.
So great, God’s Son came in human flesh,
Saying, “Follow me!”
There’s a new beginning; a new life, afresh; 
A cleansing; a victory to be won with glee.

This Son of God; He bled and He arose!
In death he shouted, “It’s finished!
A death, super-imposed;
A death that cannot be diminished.
A new beginning; a victory. Just believe!
Jesus bled, died, arose and said,
“Have faith and receive.”
Believe in the blood that flowed, crimson red.   

Believe in the God who loved the world and all in it;
The One who sacrificed this Son of His.
Herein, is the beginning for the sinful and unfit-
A God who IS!

Holy! Holy! Holy!
To the great, I AM,
The Creator and Savior of man,
A God who IS!
                  Mary Crisp Jameson
 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Don't Miss The Journey

     I have decided not to start 2015 with any resolutions. I usually don't keep them anyway. However, I do want to kick off 2015 with an idea or a new beginning.
      The Bible starts off in Genesis with a story to tell. "In the beginning" there was the creation and “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” We are all a part of that creation, and we also have a story to tell.
     In this New Year of 2015 let us all look at ourselves as who we really are. We have a unique story of our very own to tell. Thinking on new ideas, I have decided that it is a complete waste of time and energy trying to be, or wish I were, someone else. I do not have the same looks, the same body build, or the same successes. It does no good to live in the negative world by telling myself, “I’m not pretty enough, talented enough, or rich enough.” My life and and legacy has been planned just the way I am meant to be by the one great Creator, and He said, “It is very good.” It is up to me not to miss the journey.
     Luke 12:7, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
     Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
     So, in 2015 I have a new beginning; there is me, formed by God. My story lies within the boundary of what I look like, how I handle my circumstances and the environment in which I live. My strength will come from God and through a positive outlook on life. Let me not miss the journey! My prayer is that I can embrace this New Year of 2015 walking in the path God has set before me, glorifying Him along the way.
Let me not miss the journey
wishing I were in someone else’s place.
Help me rejoice in my own face;
every frecke, every blemish,
every winkle that all may see.
Let me embrace and fill the space
in the journey meant just for me.
 
Ecclesiastes 6:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT) "Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny."