Painting A Picture

It is hard to laugh when tragedy strikes. Few can do it.  I have to remember what Ecclesiastes 10:8 stated, “Whoever digs a pit may fall into it.” My Bible Study author put it this way, “It is foolish to step back and say, “I’m pressing on to higher ground, when we just dug ourselves a pit and fell into it.” Then again, I have to remind myself about the gift of life I am given; a gift meant to be enjoyed, and as I think about the gift God has endowed upon me, I wonder what kind of picture He would like for me to paint that tells the story of my life. I already know how He paints. I need look no further than my backyard to see His creative beauty. I need look no further than scripture to see how God painted a picture in the lives of others or how Jesus painted His picture of healing, teaching, and death upon a cross meant for me. 

 

Painting A Picture

 

I know the picture of being a saint, I cannot paint,

But I can paint a life of rejoicing

In the face of grief, through my belief.

I can paint a picture of pressing on before I’m gone.

I can paint a picture of unwavering hope, ‘cause God helps me to cope.

In the face of trials and worrisome miles,

I can create a master piece of endurance before I cease.

I’m just an artist at work

Enjoying my life, whether a captain of many or just a lowly clerk.

The picture I paint is one of preparation

And of building a Godly foundation.

I do it by skipping along, singing a song, ‘cause God is on His throne.

I do it ‘cause, God said, “This is the day the Lord hath made.”

So, I will not let my joy fade.

God gave me the gift of time

And said, “Be glad in it.”

So, I must paint joy through the hours that tick.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/5/2026 

 

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24 KJV

 

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 KJV

I Do What I Do Not Wanna

 Woe to me when I do things I regret. Woe to is all, for we all have regrets. However, there is hope in our "Woe!" God forgives! 

This Thing I Do but Not Wanna Do 

 

This thing I do but do not want to do-

This thing I do not, but want to-

I do not understand this state of sin, 

But I know God can change me from within. 

He changes my want to.

He changes me through and through.

He can clean up what I do not want to do-

Like, 

I don’t want my wayward deeds to sprout like weeds.

I don’t want to take what will addict and cause conflict. 

I don’t want to get stoned with my problems just postponed. 

I don’t want to do what will cause harm or offend in the end.

I don’t want drugs to take that, my character, would re-make.

I don’t want to visit bars and drive fast cars just for temporary applause.

I don’t want my tongue to, gossip, spread or Satan’s voice get in my head. 

I don’t want to be involved in selfish plunder and be caught in my stupid blunder.

All the things I could do, but do not want to do only lead to a phony thrill.

They are against God’s nature and His will.

They lead to a temporary kick and leave me feeling unfit.

They anchor the bars of Satan’s prison cell and cast his spell. 

If I should do what I do not want to do, shame on me, for God can free.

The things I do not want to do-

Lead to embarrassment, guilt, and shame!

They smear my name. 

They leave me feeling cheap but, with God, newness I reap. 

He takes my despair and gives me the breath of clean air,

He helps me grow and my joy overflow.

He helps me do what I wanna do,

Instead of what I do not wanna. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/4/2026

 

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:15-20 NIV  

Conversation

My Daily Hope Devotional used the GNT version of Proverbs 20:5 today, “A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.” The NIV version put it like, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep water, but one who has insight draws them out.”

     The author applied the verse to conversation. Since I am not a great conversationist I found his views interesting. He said in order to draw thoughts out of someone, “engage and ask open-ended questions and then when they stop, ask for them to ‘tell me more.’” He further stated that “not only does this show you care about their thoughts, but it also improves your listening skills and conversation level.” 

     I have to say “Amen” to his points, and will take some of the examples he gave in order to strive to improve my conversation skills and really get to know someonoe’s heart. 

     I have to add another scripture to this which comes from Proverbs 1:5 niv, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” 

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we behold His glory!"

     John 1:14 NJKV

The God Of It All

There is nothing better each and every morning when I wake than to acknowledge to God that He is the God of the day and to praise Him for it. God is truly the God of it all! 

 The God Of It All 

 The God of my soul

Is the God of the whole;

He’s the God of the mountains

And the God of all fountains.

My God is the God of the storms

And of all that forms.

He’s the God of the ice and the snow;

The God of the winds that stay calm or blow.

My God is the God of the rains

And the drought across the plains.

He’s the God of the waters, streams, and seas; 

The God of the animals, birds, and bees.

God is the God of all weather during the year,

He’s the God of all I breathe, see, smell, or hear.

He’s the God of the heavens and the stars.

He’s the God of all that is ours.

He’s the God of the whole,

And it’s to Him we need to glorify and extol.

God is the God of it all,

Whether great or small.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/26/2026

 

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27 KJV

 

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Act 17:24-25 NIV

 

BE HAPPY -continued...

When I talk about the bad, I am talking about God being in control over the bad. Since Adam and Eve, man has created bad with their schemes, but God uses the bad for good; He can use it to grab attention, to create growth, or even to turn it toward His preplanned works. However, through the bad, God stands ready to help.  He has already helped by sending His Son to save us and allow for forgiveness. He has already sent the Holy Spirit to His people (believers) in order to give them courage and guide them. God stands ready at any given moment to hear, forgive, and walk u through the bad. Through the bad, faith that God is in control can keep me “happy.” 

Be Happy

 

Whatever the Lord designs is within His plan

And not for man to understand.

He made the one, and He made the other; 

Both the good and the bad,

And said, “Be happy and glad!”

For if God makes the road straight,

Who can undo their fate?

Therefore, be happy!

Move forward or wait. 

If God makes the road to twist and bend,

Who can question what God will send?

It cannot be undone-

So be happy instead,

Walking through it with the Living Bread.

He knows what is to come

And what the end is from the beginning,

And declares, “Be happy, not glum.”

The Lord says His purpose will stand

With the might of His hand;

His plans are sure and pure-

Man cannot know how the wind will blow.

Man cannot know coming events or its contents.

Man cannot straighten the road, but God carries the load,

And gives good measure within His pleasure.

He makes the one and He makes the other;

The good and the bad-

And says, “Be happy, not mad.”

We experience them both-

They are made for grown.

So, rejoice in God’s choice!

For with the stroke of His hand, He spoke, 

“Be happy!”

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/22/2026

 

“Consider what God has done; Who can straighten what He has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God had made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” Ecclesiastes 7:13-14  

“‘I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” Isaiah 46:10 

BE HAPPY

Being content and happy can be a mindset in that I need to stay focused on God. The following helps me do this. 

Paul said, “For I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstance.” Philippians 4:11b

HOW!

 

“I can do this through Him who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13

(Resting in God)

 

“His kingdom (sovereignty) rules over all (me).” Psalm 103:19b

(The Lord is in charge)

 

“God works for the good of (me) those who Him.” Romans 8:28a

 

“His divine power has given us (me) everything we (I) need.” 2 Peter 1:3a

(God’s power covers my needs)

 

“In Christ you (I) have been brought to fullness (made complete).” Colossians 2:10a

 

SO! 

 

“When times are good be happy, but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.” Ecclesiastes 7:14a

 

“May the righteous be glad and rejoice ...be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3 

AND...

Be thankful with praise, for "When God gives someone (me) wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their (my) lot and be happy in their (my) toil- this is a gift of God." Ecclesiastes 5:19

 

 

Known and Unknown

I just checked my calendar to plan my week, but there is just so much I can plan, for I do not know what will occur to change any plans I make. I can only be happy in the moment, knowing that what comes this week, God walks through it with me. 

The Known and the Unknown

 

I do not know

How the wind will blow.

I do not know what life on earth will bring-

What will occur with my off-spring,

What will come tomorrow,

Whether I will have joy or sorrow, 

Whether I will have pain or gain.

I do not know of sin’s cost, misfortune, or loss.

I do not know about the following day

Or what will cross my pathway. 

I can only pray. 

The present and future are not in my hands,

For God is in control of all plans.

Only one thing is certain

As I peep through future’s curtain-

Earth’s death will come with no warning;

It could be tonight or the morning.

It could come a year or more from now,

And there’s no way to know how.

Only one thing I do know-

Only One will help me grow,

Only One will get me through.

Life is unknown 

Except by the One upon His throne.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  2/23/2026

 

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” 

Genesis 3:19