MAKING TIME

If I want to be a friend of others and of Jesus, I have to make time. That could mean rising early; it could mean skipping something I want to do for myself, or it could mean just putting others before myself. I believe that is also called love. Making time brings its rewards and it presents moments to cherish. I, personally, need to do better. 

 

M issing a personal scheduled appointment

A ppointing a special place and time 

K issing my personal time good-bye with joy

E liminating television time 

 

T rading off my plans for someone else’s 

I nvesting in growing the friendship

M aking the minutes, hours, and day meaningful  

E mbracing the moments together

Testing Negative for Stupid

I have been reading John Kennedy’s book, How to Test Negative for Stupid. I find his down-to-earth character refreshing and his quotes amusing: however, I have to comment on a few:  

 

One of his quotes is, “I believe that our country was founded by geniuses, but it’s being run by idiots.”  

     I could not help but laugh. Mr. Kennedy rightly stated this from a humanistic viewpoint, and I am sure he would agree that from a Christian viewpoint, our country was founded and created by God and it is run by God. God can take the decisions made by idiots and turn it to good. I quote Isaiah 40:23, “He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.”

 

Another quote I founded interesting and so true with humans is, “I have the right to remain silent but not the ability.” 

     God gives us some words of wisdom about this in Proverbs 21:23, “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

 

One more quote I would like to make a comparison about is, “I’m not going to Bubble Wrap it: The water in Washington, D. C., won’t clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek.” 

     This is bittersweet humor because it is so true. Throughout the Old Testament, there were few kings who did right in the sight of the Lord. However, there is hope, but the “swamp” may always be there. I place my hope in 2 Peter 3:13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

 

For what it is worth, if you can find humor at all in government, read the book!  

 

 

 

 

Come Before My Presence

Psalm 16:11 NKJV “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  

 

The Message version is: “Now You’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of Your face. Ever since You took my hand, I’m on the right way.”  

 

I am trying to envision Psalm 16:11. In so doing, I see Jesus, first. I see His presence with a mighty glow surrounding Him. In His presence is joy; A joy which brings completeness. It provides satisfaction and contentment. I have no need to search for anything more. Next, I see Jesus with His right hand stretched out. As I place my hand in His, all fear is gone. My path is certain and secure. My heart is filled! I have found direction. I have found favor! 

     As the scripture says, my pleasure and my treasure in life is being with Jesus; surrounded by Jesus, and walking with Jesus. 

     As I pray the scripture: “Lord! Come before me and be present with me this day. Take my life, my hands, feet, mouth, and thoughts; Make them Yours so that I can walk in fullness of joy, being content with my direction and with all You provide.”

 

BETTER

Better is a more excellent quality, and I always want better. However, obtaining better does not come with having more money, more status, or even more power. Obtaining “better” comes from searching for what really makes life meaningful; it comes from being able to taste the fullness of God. How do I achieve this? Some ways are: 

 

B eing in favor with God

E ntering into daily communication with God

T elling Christ’s story

T urning from sin to God

E ntertaining all with whom I come in contact with love

R ecognizing that all I have comes from and belongs to God 

So, today, let me do better to obtain better!

Valentine's Day

As I was thinking about Valentine’s Day, I looked up a few quotes:

 

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” David Viscott
 “I am much more when I’m with you.” Unknown
 “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” Audrey Hepburn
 “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” Robert A. Heinlein
 “I love you for all that you are, for all that you have been, and for all you’ve yet to come.” Unknown
 

     I believe those are good thoughts on love; however, 1 Corinthians 13:8-7 tells me what love really is: 

 

Love is patient

Love is kind

Love does not envy

Love does not boast

Love is not proud

Love does not dishonor others

Love is not self-seeking

Love is not easily angered

Loves keeps no record of wrongs

Love does not delight in evil

Love rejoices with the truth

Love protect, trusts, hopes, and perseveres 

 

     Love is for all; family, spouses, children, family, friends, acquaintances, and even enemies. 

     I made up a quote myself and it takes love to accomplish. Here goes: 

“The best way to make a friend out of an enemy is to love him.”  Mary Crisp Jameson

 

Swearing

I think I will be just a little preachy today which is not my usual thing to do, and also since ugly talk and/or swearing in public conversation is a little pet peeve of mine.  To my readers, if I offend someone, I simply ask forgiveness after the fact, but I make no apology about not wanting to hear my God's name used in vain. 

     Matthew 5:34-37 says, “But I say to you, do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. But let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.” For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”   

     Since my childhood, we have come a long way, and not for the better. In my youth there was not any, if very little, bad words on T.V. much less by those who are in roles of leadership. If my parents swore, it was not in front of me. That’s goes a long way in the role of parenthood and respect.

     It would mean a lot in the role of true leadership if our politicians, who are supposed to be role models, left their swearing and/or bad words in their rooms of privacy and broadcast on national T.V. during speeches or interviews. 

     To the politicians and, in all due respect, even to the President of this great United States of America: No value is being added to the position in which the people have elected you to with the use of your swear words and the use of the "F" word. Your positions are to be respected, and the people are to be respected, as well. 

     To the news commenters: Families do not want the use of the "F" word broadcasts in  news being received into their homes, even if it is bleeped.  

     To the movie industry: Families who are trying to bring up children to be respectful, want the ugly words and vain use of God's name left out of their homes. 

     To the book writers: Readers do not want their minds filled with the use of God's name used vainly. This gives no justice to the story and adds no appeal. You may have written a very good story, but the use of God's name smeared throughout the pages of your book ruins the whole concept. 

     In the role of Christians, we are called to the same- that is leave off our swearing and use of God's name in vain. Much can be accomplished with a simple “yes” or “no”.

 

It's Not Fair!

I hear it all the time and have even said it myself, “It’s not fair!” Take today, for instance. I had planned to work my flower beds, but I woke up to rain. “Lord, I need outside, this is just not fair.” This is really minute, but it proves a point. We whine about the smaller of things. Yet, Jesus was silent. He never said, "Father, this is not fair."

 

It’s Not Fair

 

It’s not fair that I am oppressed and stressed.

It’s not fair what I must endure;

Others have better living, I am sure.

Life is not fair I grumble and mumble.

Yet, was it fair what Jesus had to bear?

Was it fair that Jesus’ trials were not just, though they were a must?

Was it fair that Jesus was afflicted, though they were predicted?

Was it fair that Jesus suffered pain, though He did not complain?

Was it fair that Jesus had to die, though He did not whine and cry?

Was it fair that Jesus remained silent when all was violent?

Was it fair that Jesus suffered a brutal infliction at the crucifixion?

Was it fair for Jesus to take my sins to make me an heir?

Was it fair that the world did not care? 

Was it fair? 

Is it fair that when I pull away from God, He is still there?

Is it fair that when I deliberately sin, God still pulls me to Him? 

Is it fair, my sins Jesus must still bear, though I gain love through prayer?

 Is it fair? 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/11/2026

 

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away. Yet who of His generation protested? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was punished.” Isaiah 54:7-8 NIV