Who's in Charge?

      We were attempting to clean the fall and winter fallings of pine straw and leaves from our 5-acre plot today.  Since we did not do the usual fall clean-up, the yard was a mess. Our burn pile was growing higher and higher, but the wind was blowing too hard to set it on fire.  Finally, about six, just before dark, the wind flag stopped whipping in the wind and settled, showing almost no breeze at all.  I looked at my husband and stated, "Can you believe this?  All day we have wanted to burn, and now it is too late and we are too tired to watch an overnight fire."  My husband reminded me of who is in charge when he replied, "Praise God! He knows what He is doing." 
     A simple statement can put me back on track.  God is in charge of the seasons. He is in charge of the wind and the rain. Who am I to question or complain?  As it was stated in Gone With The Wind, "After all tomorrow is another day."

What a Day Brings

As I began the day, I have to take a moment to ask myself a few questions: 

What kind of life do I want to live? 

What do I want my character to show? 

Who do I want to please? 

How will I obtain results? 

Actions to Rate

If all the world’s a stage,

O, let me turn a graceful page. 

Let my actions bring positive results

Which follow me as an aging adult.

Let me make a difference

By who I wish to please and appease. 

Let good actions mount, 

For it’s to God, I give account. 

Let each deed bring a good affect;

Like good-will and respect.

Let my talk carry weight.

For at the end of day, 

In God’s good grace, I wish to rate? 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  2/27/2023 

 

 

 

 

The Gift of a Day

      This morning I woke up refreshed ready to start a new day. In doing so, I opened up my In Touch devotional and what popped up was "Today is a gift that will be gone tomorrow, don't throw it away."
     After reading it I wrote the following and decided to share: 

The Gift

 

Here today, 

Gone tomorrow,

The gift that fades away.

Was it used well?

Can others tell?

Were there moments wasted,

Never tasted?

Were opportunities misspent,

A kiss not lent,

A following of Satan’s scent?

 The gift of a day!

Unwrap it with pride,

Take it in stride,

Joy in the ride.

A day you cannot reclaim!

Don’t waste it in shame.

Don’t throw it away;

Your gift of a day. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/24/2023

 

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15 NIV  

 

 

Fear the Lord

     Two of my favorite devotional apps are In Touch and Daily Hope.  Both led me down 2 different avenues of thought this morning, but I decided to try and blend my thoughts on them into one. 
     Daily Hope stated that “if we wanted to get ready to be used by God, we need to use time in the best way possible. You can’t make time, you can’t borrow time, you can’t save time, and you can’t extend time. You can only use it.”
     In Touch led into Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
     You may ask, “How do I connect these two avenues of thought?” First of all, I do not need to be “too busy” to make time. I need to use time well in order to learn about God, to get to know Him, to honor Him, to actually “Fear Him.”
     As my sovereign Ruler and, with my time, I need to: 
F ear the Lord
E steem the Lord 
A dmire the Lord 
R everence the Lord   

     Said another way is:  

Fear The Lord 

The beginning of wisdom is to fear

The Sovereign God standing near;

In the on-going religious climb

There is a time; 

Time to read His Word,

Acknowledging biblical principles heard.

Time for understanding,

Time for Godly mind-expandin’,

Time to reverence,

Time to esteem His name

With no vice or shame.

Time to praise

All of His ways. 

Time to fear

The God standing near.

 mcj 

Book Review

     I just finished reading a book entitled The Cross and The Switch Blade, by David Wilkerson, first published in 1962.  It was a profound, powerful, true story of a preacher who went to New York to work among the street gangs and addicts. If there is ever a doubt that God works, this story will change your mind.   

     In one of the final chapters, a converted street gang member, turned minister, gave a talk about ten spiritual gifts received when a person turns their life over to Christ. I list them here for my own reference:

 

Power-Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

Comforter – John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Protection – Acts 16:6 “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.”

No longer hounded by the mind of the flesh-Ephesians 2:3-6 “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts…But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…by grace you have been saved…”

Have Life- 2 Corinthians 3:6 “…the Spirit gives life.”

Living with Spirit of Truth- John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…”

Access to the Father- Ephesians 2:18 “For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Hope- Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Liberty- 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Overpowering Experience- Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”

 

 

 

Weeds

      I have been rather sedentary this winter season, as usual. There is nothing like cold weather and rain to keep me inside by the fireplace. The problem is that I get complacent with no desire to make improvements or “weed the garden.”
     So, yesterday the sun was shining bright with warmer weather, which gave me a desire to venture outside.  I decided to actually weed the garden.  I pulled the bigger weeds that were forming deep roots. The smaller weeds were too numerous without getting out the tiller, although the tiller would only bury them deeper to eventually re-appear on the surface again. I hated that those roots were getting established.  I knew they would give me a problem later before my summer crop harvest.
     The more I weeded, the more I thought about how I needed to also root the weeds out of my life every single day before they grew deeper and spread.  I also thought about what I really wanted to grow, not just during the summer sunmy days but through the cold and the rain, as well.     
     The weeds I am talking about are gossip, envy, jealously, selfishness, self-pride, and so much more.  The longer I allowed these weeds to grow, the deeper they would grow. What I desired to plant was good seed; love, good-will, a prayer life for others, a joy when other receive blessing, and much, so much more. I did not want my life to be full of weeds, growing ever deeper. I no longer wanted to be sedentary and complacent although I would have to fight my fleshly nature.
     Next, I read what Jesus said when he explained the parable about the weeds in Matthew 13, “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom.  The weeds are the people of the evil one.”  
     My conclusion is that it does not pay to let even the small weeds grow. They eventually become bigger, growing ever deeper, spreading, creating havoc, smothering out the good seed. It appears I have a daily work to do with the help of Scripture and God by my side. I am continually a "work in progress." 
     
      
    

The Letter

      Have you ever opened up a letter and it just touched your heart and wished that you had the ability to write something that inspiring, as well? I believe all Christians have that ability. A well written letter comes from the heart. 
     The way we live our lives is our spiritual letter. We can be the inspiration someone needs. Just a smile to someone having a bad day- just a happy simple greeting goes a long way. 
     The way we live our lives is our spiritual letter. We can be the inspiration someone needs. Just a smile to someone having a bad day- just a happy simple greeting goes a long way. 
     The way we live our lives is our spiritual letter. We can be the inspiration someone needs. Just a smile to someone having a bad day- just a happy simple greeting goes a long way. 
     In 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 we find, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
     We have a choice! We can be a “letter that kills or one that gives life”. (v.6)

  

Comparison

      We all do it from time to time. But we shouldn't.  Why do we fall to that level?  It has to do with fleshy desires. Comparing this, comparing that! What we have, what we don't have, how we look, how we wish to look, desiring to be like someone else-what size we are, what color our hair is, and on and on. Yet God created each person to His own liking.  He, the only true Artist and Creator, molded each one of us into the image He wanted us to be and He gave each one their own uniqueness.  
     The following is my little reminder to self that I don't have to be a beauty queen, thin or trim, a voice in the crowd, or perform an action just to please.  I only need to be just me.

No Need to Compare

 

I have no need to compare.

I have what I have.

I am who I am;

Being God’s own created lamb.

There’s no purpose looking at other’s worth-

Just my own,

Which God placed upon this earth;

No reason for envy or jealously,

Being given my own molded melody.

Comparing would be foolish and silly

Can size, color, wealth be changed, willy-nilly?

Not really!

My own creative skills

Were knit within to fill God’s bill

With no beautiful frills;

Just a purpose to fill His will.

Comparing would leave me in despair,

Complaining, “Life’s not fair!”

 I’d be missing blessings;

My own special dressing;

Delaying gifts 

Meant to carry through seasons shifts. 

God counted every hair;

Where I am, He is there.

I have no need to compare,

I am who I am, 

And God stays near,

Always here to care.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/17/2022

 

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”  Galatians 6:4 NIV 

 

 

  

Love Continued..

     Yesterday, I talked about love.  In was Valentine's Day! I thought it very appropriate.  Today, I continue with thoughts on love, but to be honest, they are taken from God's thoughts found in 1 Corinthians. It's just a little poetic gathering of words put together using aid from scripture.  A fun hobby I enjoy doing.  

Love  

Love is being patient;

Being kind- 

Not just to friends of mine.

Love endures;

Emotionally, it cures.

It does not seek its own pleasure; 

Other’s desires are what it treasures.

Love does not hold grudges,

Nor judges.

Love forgives, 

In righteous hearts, it lives.  

Love seeks the best,

Is not self-possessed;

Does not test.

It will heal 

The anger you feel.

Love is arms open wide,

Self-denied,

Others satisfied.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/15/2023

 

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps to record of wrongs. Loves does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13 NIV 

 

I invite you to click on "view web version" and check out the book on Jesus in Nursery Rhyme for your kiddos. Just click on the book to take you to the Amazon Book Store.

Love

      "Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous, love does not brag, and is not arrogant." We would all do well to remember this verse in our daily activities.  It is so easy to be loving and forgiving of  our family members and close friends, but what about strangers, their rudeness and their hostility which causes us to react in kind? They know nothing of our problems and what we face, but then we know nothing of theirs. 
     Love means giving someone a hug when we have no desire to do so. Love means opening our hearts and minds to overlook bad behavior. Love means victory -being positive over negative reactions. Love might just mean Everything to someone who is having a very bad day. 

   L ove anyway

   O pen arms to the hostile

   V ictory over negative reactions

   E verything to someone having a bad day 

Love needs to be passed around..."FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD..." John 3:16 

Refuel

     To rest or not to rest? To work or not to work? 

     I, personally,  can always find an excuse to work on Sunday, but I am told to rest and refresh. 

     In Exodus God told Moses in verse 14, "You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you."  Then in verse 17 we find, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He stopped working and was refreshed."  

     Today I chose the word Refuel in order to discuss ways to refresh on the Sabbath:    

  R ejoice in the Lord
  E joy family
  F ree time to relax
  U nderscore enjoyment
  E nter into praise
  L aze and Love others

You are invited to view my Web Version and click on "Reflections on Psalm 23" on the left in order to go directly to Amazon Books.  This little booklet is temporarily on special. Better than a store-bought card!

Go Forth

  In Genesis 13:17, God said, "Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it, for I will give it unto thee."  He was talking to Abraham at the time, but I believe He tells us that same thing today.  This day, God has given to me.  So, my motto for today is: 

Arise. 
Go forth. 
Be happy.

Laugh more. 
Stop complaining. 
Stop envying. 
Live for the day. 
Love what God has given me, not what He has given someone else.  

Habits

      A recent article in the Baptist Trumpet regarding habits provided several quotes which I found interesting.  I post them as follows to help me remember the importance of establishing good habits.  

"Your habits shape your identity, and your identity shapes your habits."  
"Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become." 

                            James Clear 

"The habits you do on a daily basis create the person you are." 

"If you want to change your future you must change your present, and you change your present by changing your habits." 
"In order to see godliness, there has to be dailyness."  
"Dailyness is where the sacred meets the routine." 

                            Robby Galaty 

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten." 
                            Baptist Trumpet writer wrote "as quoted by many"

In an effort to improve my habits, I will strive to : 

    H ave daily quality talks with God

    A dopt more friendships and A void those who pull me down 

    B ridle the tongue

    I mprove listening skills

    T hink positive thoughts---Be Thankful in all things

    S eek God's will in daily actions

Spiritual DNA

      When I was reading my devotional this morning, it stated that "Salvation is solely the work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, but for most Christians, being born again came about with the help of spiritual 'midwives'. These are the Sunday school teachers, parents, evangelists, pastors, friends and strangers." Then it asked me to sketch a picture of my spiritual DNA.
     I decided to take up this challenge, but when I thought back a lot of the names would not come to mind although I could remember their influence.  

     I was raised in a small town named Village, and God truly sent me a "village" to influence my life for Jesus.  
     First and foremost my spiritual DNA began was my mother, father, grandparents, and a generation of parents before them.  Then there was the 1st pastor I remember by the name of Bro. Bennett.  On through the years, there were other pastors- many of whom visited and came to lunch.  Among them were: Bro. Gilliam, Bro. Packard, Bro. Carter, and Bro. Donovan, just to name a few.  

     Among Sunday school teachers, GA leaders, friends and neighbors there were: Ms Vivian Johnson (SS Teacher) , Mrs Opalene Machen, Val Wooley (song leader), Karen Randolph (song leader), Mrs. Jackie Mooney, Mrs. Helen Cheatham, Mrs. Eva Nell Randolph(GA's), Mrs. Dans (GA's), Dot Wilson (neighbor), Lucille Jacks (neighbor), Mrs. Mavolee Jones, Mrs. Inez Harris, Gordon Gunnels, Ruby Crumpler, and so many, many more. Most, if not all of these named have already met Jesus. They were the faithful in Christ who demonstrated Christian living.  
     This story has no ending.  My Spiritual DNA continues with my husband, child, and others who touch my life, but there are 3 other special ones who are my "Heros in Faith" as well.  Being the youngest of four, I look to my "older" siblings to keep my spiritual DNA on track.