My Many Faces

I have many faces from A to Z. It is up to me every day to choose which face I wish to see in the mirror and which face I want others to see. What will they be?

 

The face of: 

Aggression or Amazement 

Brutishness or Bravery 

Carelessness or Compassion 

Deceit or Delight 

Envy or Empathy 

Fear or Faith

Guilt or Gratefulness

Hopelessness or Happiness

Impatience or Insightfulness 

Jealousy or Joyfulness

Karma wishing or Kindness

Laziness or Leadership

Manipulation or Meekness 

Narrow mindedness or Niceness 

Obstinance or Obedience 

Pettiness or Peacefulness 

Quarrelsomeness or Quietness

Resentfulness or Respectfulness

Selfishness or Sincerity 

Thoughtlessness or Tenderness

Unpleasantness or Understanding

Vainness or Victory

Willfulness or Warmth

Yearning or Yielding

 

 

 

The Outline Of Love

One of my hobbies in my spare down-time is coloring. I saved the word, Love, for last and decided to only outline it. The outline reminds me that God surrounds or outlines me with His never-ending love and protection. 
     He loves Israel, as well. In Isaiah 49, He tells His people, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are ever before me."  

     I am outlined, engraved, surrounded, encircled, protected, and eclipsed in His love!

The Crooked Letter

Here in the South, many have used a chant to spell Mississippi. It goes something like: M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-humpback-humpback-I. Don’t ask me why I thought of this today. However, I did decide to use the “S” (crooked letter) to inspire ways I can strive to enhance my Christian walk. 

 

S avor the moments

S earch the scriptures

S eek God’s ways  

S eize opportunities

S erve others 

S hare open-heartedly

S harpen wisdom with God’s Word

S hout God’s greatness 

S ing praises

S mell the flowers along the way  

S ow seeds of kindness

S trengthen my walk with God

S oar like an eagle .....

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31  

 

The Many D's of Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 tells me there is an unseen battle going on, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces…” In other words, Satan is in my midst. To quote the Daily Hope devotional, “Satan throws darts at me. They are darts of doubt, disappointment, discouragement, and depression”

     I have to remember that God’s delay does not mean He is not around me working for my protection and for my best. The wait means God is doing something; it is not a denial.  The pause within the wait is to strengthen me; to rise me up - not keep me down.

     What can I do while in my timeless battles? When in doubt, I can pray. When discouraged, I can hope. When disappointed, I can remain cheerful. When depressed, I can serve others. I can be diligent for I know the answer is on the way. The following verse is one in which I can cling.

     "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31.

 

Keep On

I have read Matthew 7:7 many, many times. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

     What struck me this morning was not the receiving, the finding, or the open door. It was the “Keep on”. The persistence! The determination! The not sitting around! It’s the doing something during the wait!

Till The Land

I had a small area in my garden that, over the years, had been devoted to asparagus. However, the asparagus never produced anything but a few spindly, stringy stalks that turned to fern before developing into eatable produce. I had let this area basically become dormant over the years, hoping the asparagus would grow. It never did!

     Yesterday, I decided to remove the asparagus and till the land into a small garden spot. That was a task! It seems roots and vines were all underneath the surface. They kept choking the tiller tines, and I was constantly having to remove the vines to keep the tiller running. I ended up clearing just below the surface area but never removing all the roots and vines. I will tackle it again another day. 

     This all reminded me of how much it takes on a daily basis to keep the invasive roots and vines out of my own life. If I don’t stay in the Word and talk with God daily, I can easily let troubles, fear, dry moments, and depression take root. I am in constant need of God’s direction. I am in constant need of His lessons on life so that my life does not lay dormant and grow deep roots which are hard to extract. 

     Because of my lack of tilling over the years, it may take me months to get all the roots out of that garden area. I know it took the Israelites 40 years to reach the promised land because of their refusal to till their hearts. 

     Lord, I pray it doesn’t take me 40 years to get the roots and vines out.

    

     

I Care

1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

 

My prayer: 

Father, I know You care for me and thank You for Your never-ending love, and I care for You too. You are the Great Creator, my Master, Alpha and Omega. You are God, Lord, and Christ. I care when Your name is used in profanity or even in an off-hand way. Your name is holy. Lord, I care! 

     Please forgive me should I ever slip and break Your commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."   Amen

Ask

 James 4:2 “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” 

     This verse says a lot to me so I think I will ramble a bit. 

     My words matter. My heart matters. Am I asking for the right things- things that would give me righteousness instead of selfish desires? Do I take the time to “ask”?

     God has poured out blessings to me because He is a loving God, yet what blessings have I not received because I have not asked, asked in the proper matter, and asked for what is pleasing in God’s eyes? 

     I go back to the Prayer of Jabez when he prayed, “Oh, that you would bless me… and God granted his request.” 

 

The House With No Cost

Summer finds me needing to do a little maintenance around my house. There is always something to do or even a remodel to either keep it in working order or in an up-to-date condition. Often, I think I just need a new house with no yard and no maintenance. I want it clean, up-to-date, and a restful place. I also really prefer not to have to spend money to make the swap. 

The House With No Cost 

 

I want a new house;

One purchased without money or price.

That would be nice.

I want no lease or rent;

One without dollars and cent.

I want it furnished and well-stocked

And the doors not locked.

When weary, it’s where I will find rest,

Where I will feel blessed,

Where I will be good-enough,

Where there will be riches with no fluff,

Where the walls will be shiny and glean,

And where I will be washed clean.

I want a house with plenty

Without paying a penny.

I want a house, I can call home

When I make my final roam.

I want a house where I can dwell with Him,

My God, who fills me to the brim

And formed my every limb.

I want a house,

Dressed in glory,

When I end my earthly story;

A house- my final resting place 

When I gaze upon His face.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  5/6/2024 

 

“Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given 

us of His Spirit.” 1 John 4:13 KJV

 

Planting Seeds

I just had a birthday! Another year older! Yet, I still desire to plant a seed of some kind for God every day. 

     I remember when I was working, there were days I did not want to be there. I wanted to be home, but I knew I had a seed to plant and some kind of harvest to reap. There were often people I did not want to meet, talked with, or struggle to find an answer to their problems, but I smiled and did it anyway. I had a seed to plant!

     Even after retirement, I have seeds to plant whether it is making a dessert to take to a friend (of which I had whether eat myself) or even to visit to a lonely relative, or run an errand (although it may be time-consuming). These seeds are rewarding. The harvest may be small or great, but it is worth-while. 

     You might say, I am a little selfish. If I bring joy to someone, it brings me joy, as well.  It's a good feeling, and that never gets old!

 

Psalm 126:5-6 KJV  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. “

 

Miracles

My daughter-in-law took the picture below. It brought to mind the miracles of God; how He can take my troubles and turn them into blessings. As Mark 9:23 says, "Everything is possible for one who believes." To take it further, Matthew 17: 20 tells me, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." 

 

A Little Twist

 In Touch gave a verse, "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewardship of the manifold grace of God." (In other words-Use your gift to serve) In my  Daily Hope the verse was Luke 6:38, "Give, and you will receive...The way you give to others is the way God will give to you." ( In other words, to reap a great harvest, you must plant generously.)
     Putting these two devotionals together, I am to use my gift to plant and to serve. To twist the meaning just a tad, I have gotten my garden planted between the rains and the cool weather. I planted it generously, and I do plant to share (serve others with its product). Now, I am waiting to see the harvest.  
     I suppose I can twist God's word into anything I please, but, I am sure, God desires that I  really seek to delve into His Word to find the true meaning of Scripture.  He wants me to find the true gift He has bestowed upon me and to use it to serve and love others. 

     Maybe planting a small garden is one of my gifts, but I know there are others I need to use in order to serve and to serve generously.