A Splinter in My Eye

 One of my devotionals this morning was about the the plank or the splinter in the eye. I know from experience how painful that can be, but it is not about the physical pain as much as the mental pain to self and others. We all have those flakes of dust in our eye from time to time only we don't realize they are there, because we are too busy seeing the one in someone else's eye. 

A Splinter in My Eye

 

I cannot lie

Or deny, 

I have a splinter in my eye.

It’s just a speck of wood

But doing me no good.

It messes with perception; 

Causes deception;

Stirs a bad reaction.

This splinter is just a speck

But a noose around my neck.

It blinds the mind;

Blurs the vision;

Causes division,

Controls decision.

With a sinner’s sigh,

I cry,

Not to grow old 

And cold

With a splinter still in my eye.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  5/24/2023 

 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4  NIV 

Advice From A Tree

 One of my most enjoyable parts of the day is morning time sitting on the patio with a good cup of coffee while being amazed by the beauty of the stately oaks in my back yard. The pines are okay, as well, but the oaks are my favorites. So, when I saw this writing posted on Facebook, it hit home with me, and I had to share it. 
"Advice From A Tree"
   Stand tall and proud
   Go out on a limb
   Remember your roots
   Drink plenty of water
   Be content with your natural beauty
   Enjoy the view
           copied...Unknown author

Fruit

 My husband eats a lot of fruit. I don't! He actually thinks he has to have some kind of fruit every morning for breakfast, just give me bacon and eggs. However, I know fruit is good for the body. Fruit is also good for the soul. In fact we are to share our fruit; that is the fruit of the Spirit:

 Love, 
Joy, 
Peace, 
Patience, 
Kindness, 
Goodness, 
Faithfulness, 
Gentleness, 
Self-Control.

Right Timing

 A lot of ladies, like myself, get excited when.early spring appears. I want my flower beds and flower pots planted. This year I really rushed the season a bit. 

     I always plant a very red geranium in my patio pot, but in the early season a red one was no where to be found. I went against my better judgment and purchased a very dark pink thinking it would do just as well, yet I knew in my heart it was not the red one I really wanted. As a few weeks passed and the longer I looked at that pink geranium,  I realized I had to hav the red, and they could now be found in several gardening stores. I could not help myself- I purchased what I really wanted! 
     This rush to settle instead of "waiting" for the right timing ended up costing me stress, time, labor, and money.  How often in life do we jump the gun to have it NOW?  It seems I am the cause of much of my own dissatisfaction and problems.

    How often do I tell God, "I want it! And I want it now? It would do good for me to remember that God's timing is not my timing. He knows best!

Persevere

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

     My first thought this morning when I woke was that I cannot change yesterday, but I can change today and look forward with hope for tomorrow. I was going to write about that, but then I read the above verse and asked the question, “What’s in it for me?” With that thought came the next, “Life is not about me.” I should never lose heart in working toward a dream or doing for someone else regarding of whether I see results or whether it benefits me. Persevere anyway! Never grow weary. There is a purpose, and only God knows. 

 

 

Opportunity Day -Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s Day! All across the country mothers are being contacted by  their children, being sent flowers, getting special hugs, and children are popping in to see their moms and even take them to church and out to lunch. Children are remembering the mothers who have already passed on and missing their Mom's special touch. 

     Yet, this day is a day similar to all other days. It is an opportunity day! An opportunity to show love to someone, an opportunity to do a good deed and think a good thought. It is an opportunity to be nice and kind. It is an opportunity day to give someone in need a hug.  Most of all, it is an opportunity day to thank Jesus for the blessings of the day, to be hungry for His word, and to be filled by His great love. 

Think

What would happen if we stopped to think? Think before we speak? Think before we act? What exactly should we think about? 

     Two verses come to mind. One is Philippians 4:8, “Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue…and any praise, think on these things.”  The other verse is Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”   

     So, what think I? How think I? I cannot change the world, but I can change me. 

 

Think to give Thanks 

Think to be   Honest

Think to        Illuminate

Think to be   Nice

Think to be   Kindhearted       

Pass It On

There's a lot to be said about, "Pass It On!" It's good to return a kindness or in other words, care for others.  This though really came from Jesus when He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." He encouraged it even further in Luke 10 when He told the story of the Good Samaritan. As He finished the story in verse 37, He said, "Go and do the same." 
     In light of caring for others, I found a few quotes from others I thought were good and would work as encouragement for me to daily "Go and do the same." 

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be world." 

Bill Wilson

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." 

Aesop

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference." 

Helen James

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the 

knowledge  that one day someone might do the same for you."

Diana Spencer. 

Responsible

^{When God made man, he set them above all other creations. We see that in Genesis 28:1, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”  He gave man the responsibility to keep the land clean, so why do we have litter today? God said replenish the earth, not destroy it.}   

     ^{There are other examples of man’s responsibilities. Look at Joseph. Being sold as a slave to an Egyptian, Joseph trusted God and he also became trusted, so much so that the Egyptian left Joseph in charge of all his household. There is gain in being responsible and trusted.}

     ^{Still another example is given by the 3 men who were entrusted with their master’s money. One hid it, the other two invested it -one better than the other.  When the master returned and asked for an accounting, the one who hid the money had it taken away. He was not wise or responsible with money.  At the end of the parable we find, "Unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath sall be taken away from him.”}

     ^{In Matthew 28:19 we are told, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Herein lies another responsibility.}       

     ^{What all this means to be is that we are to be responsible with what we have been given. We are to cherish and upkeep our land. We are to be diligent and wise with the use of our money. We are to be trustworthy, and we are to trust God as well as share God's love to others. Most of all, "We are to be thankful!'}

A Song of Praise

 I love reading the Book of Psalm. David wrote many songs of praise to God. As I was reading one this morning, I felt the desire to write one of my own. It is as follows: 

A Song of Praise 

I will praise you, O Lord;

With my whole heart, I praise.

By Your love, You amaze!

I praise Your marvelous glory

Oh, let it be my daily story!

I praise for how my joy is complete

As I lay my burdens at your feet. 

I praise you in the morning.

I praise you at the noon of day.

I praise you in every way.

I praise your majestic name

For how it sets my heart aflame.

I praise you in the night.

I praise You as the King of Kings;

Heaven’s reigning Knight.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson. 5/5/2023 

 

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalm 9:1 KJV

Birthday

 My husband came into the living area last night and confessed, "I am in trouble." I looked up and questioned, "Over what?" He replied, "I forgot to get you a birthday card for tomorrow." He was being so considerate, I decided to relieve his troubled heart and said, "That okay. At this age it does not matter." When I woke to a new day this morning, I thought, "Hmmm, think I will write my own birthday thoughts." So here goes: 

My Birthday

 

Hello wonderful day?

God, you got it already going my way.

I just want to say, “Glory Be!” 

It’s me.

I can hear and still see.

I’m seventy-five 

And alive!”

God, it appears 

You’re letting me live my years-

In no hurry

To ease my quarry

Over these wrinkles and lines

That adorn my face and shine-

Or this thinning hair

And aches getting out of a chair.

Ever tighter is getting this knitwear

Around my person,

And it seems to only worsen.

But that’s okay.

Even as my hair turns gray,

I’m happy on, this, my birthday.

I’ll kick up my heels, play,

And try not to sinfully stray.

I know, one day, you’ll take my hand

Before I decay.

So, I’m happy to just sat and pray.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 5/1/2023