White Clothing

A few days ago, I posted about my Imperishable Clothes-the clothes I will put on in the ‘twinkling of an eye” when Jesus comes again. 

     Today, I make mention of their color. On that day, my clothes will have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. Although, by earthly color coding, white is not my color, I look forward to wearing white. 

 

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put ion yor eyes, so you can see.” Revelation 3:18 

 

“I answered, Sir you know. And he said, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14

 

 

The Future

How often have I said, “Oh, if I only knew the future!” I suppose some people have resorted to fortune tellers in an attempt to find out but to no avail. Only God knows “the plans He has in store.” 

     Even Daniel told the King, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery…but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”  

     Based on this, I do know one thing about my future with God. It involves: 

1.     Study 

2.    Prayer

3. Obedience

4. Listening

    By doing this, I see in my future: 

1. Faith 

2. Hope

3. Love 

4. Joy

5. Endurance

 

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Imperishable Clothing

There are a lot of sayings relating to clothes. Some of which are:  

 

It fits like a glove- Dressed to the nines- Dressed to kill- Roll up your sleeves- At the drop of a hat- Birthday suit- Falling apart at the seams- A card up your sleeve- Flying by the seat of your pants- Walk a mile in my shoes 

 

I probably have said some of these from time to time. But just as sayings fall by the wayside, fashion trends in clothes do too. Often, I wish a garment would just wear out so I would feel better about discarding it. 

     Yet, when I think about the life of clothes, I think about how the Israelites wandered for forty years. They grumbled about a lot, but I do not remember reading about them grumbling about tattered or threadbare clothes. God provided their needs as He watched over them. 

     I am glad that God watches over me and has clothed me with the garment of salvation provided by Jesus, His Son, who died on the cross for me. I am thankful that one day I will be clothed with imperishable clothing. It will happen in the twinkling of an eye when Jesus returns to take His children (me) home. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:54 “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

 

 

 

Questionnaire

Below are a few questions found in Isaiah 40. I will attempt to answer them and see if I score 100.

 

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand? God 

Who marked off the heavens by the breadth of His hand? God

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket? God

Who weighed the mountains on the scales? God

Who weighted the hills in a balance? God 

Who weighs the islands as though they are dust? God

Who sits enthroned above the circle of the earth? God

Who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them by name? God

Who never tires? God

Who helps His sheep (me) soar on wings like eagles? God does

Who helps me run, walk and not faint? God does 

Who sent the Spirit to live within my heart? God did

 

God is far greater than I can ever grasp!

My Friend

I looked is the definition of a friend. It is “someone we know well, like, and trust. A friend is one in whom we might share common values and beliefs.”  Next, I thought about how I would define a friend.  

     When I think about a friend, I think of someone I have known, someone I trust, and someone I can tell my secrets to and who will not be unkind. My friend will listen and guide while not judging me.

     While considering what I want in a friend I remembered the song, What a Friend We Have In Jesus.This song written by Joseph Scriven truly describes the best friend I would ever have.  In the following I removed “we” and “our” and inserted “I” and “my” to make it personal.  

 

What a friend (I) have in Jesus
All (my) sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

O what peace (I) often forfeit
O what needless pain (I) bear
All because (I ) do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have (I) trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
(I) should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can (I ) find a friend so faithful
Who will all (my) sorrows share?
Jesus knows (my) every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

 

I must say, few people have true, lasting friends, but Jesus is a friend who will always stay true, always listen, always walk through trails with me, and He will always be forgiving and loving. 

     I hold fast to John 13, “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends…No longer do I call you slaves,…but I have called you friends…You did not choose Me but I chose you.”

 

Shifting Prayer Toward God's Desires

Too often when I pray, I am asking for health, healing, blessings either for me or others. I was reminded this morning of what Paul prayed. Even in his trials, he "shifted his prayer toward what God desired" not what he desired. The devotional referred to Colossians 1:9-14. I am listing these thoughts from the devotional to remind me how to pray for what God desires: 

1. To be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
2. To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all ways. 
3. To bear fruit in every good work. 
4. To increase in the knowledge of God. 
5. To be strengthened with God's power so I can remain steadfast.
5. To joyously give thanks for all God has done for me. 

Lord, I pray for all of the above in my life today and in the future. I pray for Your Almighty will in my life. Amen!

Heart Vs Head

Woe to the one who has to analyze everything! There are just some things the human mind cannot comprehend, like: Why would Jesus leave His heavenly throne; His Father in glory and come to earth to be persecuted and to shed His blood for me? Why would He continually offer grace when I ask forgiveness but keep on sinning? Why would He walk with me through my trials and continue to bless me? Why does my heart leap with joy when I pray to Him? It is not for me to figure out. It is only for me to "Believe!"

Heart vs Head Knowledge 

 

Heart knowledge

Is so much more than college.

To know Him fills me to the brim;

It elevates-

Makes strong the waits.

His love ascends and never ends-

It transcends!

An ounce of heart 

Blows head knowledge off the chart.

To know Christ is not overpriced.

He is the Bread of Life-

The end of heart’s strife.

He is what I panted after.

He is my laughter!

He is my delight, protecting through the night. 

He takes away the dark and gives life its spark.

To know Him is to love Him,

Sending the heart leaping into a happy hymn. 

Heart learning is, Jesus, yearning-

Wanting more of what He has in store.

Heart knowledge, not college,

Makes Jesus my friend as I comprehend;

I’m no longer man born of female-

No longer frail and living just a few more days-

No longer traveling a wayward maze.

Heart knowledge is letting Jesus amaze

Until, upon His face, I gaze.

The more He pulls my heartstrings, 

The higher my heart sings.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 10/14/2024 

 

“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”  Ephesians 3:17b-18

Book Review on "Confronting The Presidents"

My Book Review on Confronting the Presidents

 

I have never been a history buff and did not think I wanted to read the book my neighbor offered, but I thought, “Why not? At least skim through it!” So, I accepted the book and began reading. I found I could not put it down. 

     Confronting the Presidents by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard was fascinating! It was not overridden with government policy but, rather, shared personal likes and dislikes- what their preferences were for meals, work, social status, etc. 

     I found that George Washington did not attend his demanding mother’s funeral nor pay for her headstone. I found that President Benjamin Harrison and his family were so afraid of the first installation of electric lighting in the White House that they hired a man whose only job was to turn the lights on and off. They were afraid of being electrocuted! Franklin Roosevelt won four terms in office before the 22^nd Amendment, making it illegal to serve more than two terms, was passed. There were some Presidents who rose out of poverty while others were born into wealth. There were some who were discipled and others not so much. Some Presidents cheated on their wives and others were drunks. Many made it through their terms because of support from their spouses, and the portrayals of the wives was interesting, as well.

     All in all, Confronting the Presidents is kind of like reading People Magazine. I recommend it!

 

      

Lazy

My devotional today was about being lazy in life. You know, “Not diligent in my work and faithful in my walk for God”. So, I asked myself, “Am I being lazy?”

 

L ax in talking with God 

A ble but not willing to find time for God 

Z ero in my praise

Y awning through my walk with God

 

The devotional ended with a prayer much like this: “Lord, Forgive me and help me choose to turn away from my lazy and neglectful attitudes. Please help me to follow through and become someone who is industrious for You.” 

Bedtime Prayer

There is a bedtime prayer I remember saying as a child. It went something like this: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep: For if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” 

     As I have gotten older, it is not so much I sleep through the night; instead it is how often do I wake. Was it something I ate or drank? Was it worry? Was it some other reason; like, God getting my attention? 

     I remember how Samuel was awakened in the night because God wanted to give him a message. Then there is Job 33 which says, “In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.” Also David wrote in Psalms, “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel in the night…” 

     There are verses in Scripture that tell me “God works through the night.” 

     I think my new bedtime prayer should be, “Now, I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, but if He wakes me in the night, I pray to hear ‘cause He is near.”

     I not only have to be alert to His call in the day but in the night, as well. My night-time waking moments may be to simply pray for someone or just thank Him and praise His Holy Name. 

     

     

A Wasted Year

Yesterday, I studied how the Israelites had to wander 40 years because they were not ready. Then I read the scripture where Jesus told Simon to go out into the deep water and cast his nets. It got me to thinking about missed opportunities and missed or prolonged blessings because of my fear or lack of faith and was inspired to write the following:  

A Wasted Year

 

What joy could have been mine, 

Had- 

I sought God’s design.

Instead-

 I struggled with a wasted year,

Because- 

My future was not clear.

God put a wink into my heart 

And held out His hands for mine to link.

But-

 I did not reach back.

My life had to be set in white or black.

So-

I was pitching tents, 

Not-

Looking for God’s turn of events.

I had weary hours,

Not-

 God’s scented flowers.

I was stressed,

 Not-

In God’s rest. 

Oh! What a wasted year!

Things just were not clear.

Yet, 

God whispered again into my ear,

But-

I had too much fear.

So- 

I wandered another year.

There was so much more I could have won,

If-

 I had only looked to the mighty One.

Instead- 

My year has been wasted;

Whereas-

I could have had His blessings,

And-

Tasted.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson. 10/7/2024 

 

“He said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’” Luke 5:4 NIV 

 

Deep Water

When I was reading Luke 5, two scriptures jumped out at me. 

 

vs.4 “He said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

vs 6 “When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break.”

 

I am a firm believer in having a plan, but sometimes I just have to jump into the deep water and find out what blessings God has in store for me so they are not missed blessings. This is what I call- “Pure Faith”! 

Day 3 on Prayer

I have been thinking a lot about my prayer life and found a good prayer by David in Psalm 19:131-14. David made his prayer very personal and gave the Lord honor. “Keep your servant also from willful sins. May they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” 

     Solomon also issued up a good prayer in Chronicles 6. I like how he begins by giving God His rightful honor, and the end acknowledges God’s power. “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven or on earth…You spoke with Your mouth, and with Your hand have fullfilled it this day.” 

     I also need to consider the prayer Jesus prayed just before He was nailed to the cross. Jesus was burdened when He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus was under a heavy fearful, painful weight, but He remained willing to do God’s will. Jesus completely put His request in God’s hands and was willing to accept God’s answer. 

     I need to do the same.  

Prayer's Continued

Yesterday, I talked about The Lord’s Prayer which is a wonderful example given me in Matthew 6 on how to pray. There are other prayers given in scripture that are also good examples. I especially like the prayer Jabez prayed in 1 Chronicles 4:10:

 

“Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not greive me!  And God granted him that which he requested.” 

 

     I love this prayer. It tells me that it is okay to ask for God’s blessings although I must continue praying for others and their well-being. I am, however, a little afraid to pray the next part about enlarging my coast, because God may give me more to do than I want, but this is part of being a child of God; He is my Shepherd! "He maketh me lie down in green pastures. He leaders me beside still waters. He restores my soul." 

     The third part of Jabez's prayer is asking God to be with me and protect me from going astray. What a wonderful feeling it is to know with confidence that God is my Protector and Shepherd! I have to note the assurance in the last sentence, “And God granted Jabez his request.” I cling to those words, knowing God will grant me my request, if they are within His purpose for me. 

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Prayer Template

Some people are gifted with elegant prayers and can go on and on. I am not one of them. My prayers are often short and vocally lacking, but God hears the words in my heart. 

     I have attempted to pray the scriptures, and also searched and found some of my favorite prayers. Of course, the very best example is the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. 

 

vs. 9 “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (This tells me to recognize the name of my Father first and give His name the place of honor.  I also like 2 Corinthians 1:3 as a beginning for prayer, “Blessed be the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”)

 

vs. 10 “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (This is such a good way to start the day by asking the Lord to let His will take place in my life and remove my own self-will. It is submission to God.)

 

vs. 11 “Give us this day our daily bread.” ( I like to make this more personal by changing it to: Give me this day my daily bread. This is me telling God that He is my daily nourishment.)  

 

vs. 12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Here again, I want to make it more personal by using “I” instead of us and we. I am truly asking for God’s forgiveness, but also telling God I will be forgiving, as well.)

 

vs. 13a “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Again, insert I, but also this is an acknowledgement to God that I know I am weak and I need His help keeping me away from Satan’s powers during the day. Having asked this of God, I have assurance of His protection.)

 

vs 13b “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen”

(Just as in the beginning of this prayer where I am giving God honor, the ending acknowledges His power and His Kingship over my life.)

 

White Chili

White Chili

 

I decided I wanted to cook something different this week. It had been several years since I made White Chili, but I could not find my recipe. Therefore, I settled on my go-to option and downloaded one from the computer. 

 Application: Search for what I want.

 

After reviewing the recipe, I found it called for a can of white beans. There were no cans of white beans in my pantry, but I did find a partial bag of dried white beans. It would take a bit longer but why not just cook the dried beans and then make my White Chili? 

 

Application: When one path does not get me to my destination, try another.

 

Finally, after the soup had cooked, I wondered why this recipe was called White Chili. Maybe it was because the beans and the chicken were white, but my broth was not white. I wanted “White” Chili. Determined! I decided to add a bit of sour cream. Guess what? I did not have any sour cream, so I used a cup of Half and Half with a tablespoon or so of cornstarch and brought the soup to a simmering boil to blend it in. Bingo! I had White Chili.

 

Application: When life takes a twist. Move on! Mix it up! Have Fun! Find a way!

I understand most people will not want to use my newly created White Chili recipe, but it was not only experimental, but fun in the making and ended up delicious. Of course, it was served with good ole Southern oven-baked cornbread and a a slice or 2 of healthy onion.

 

“I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.” Ecclesiastes 7:25 KJV 

 

The Big "M"

Some people mark their bodies with tattoos. Others prefer to mark their lives, either with vanity, wickedness, or righteousness. If I had to choose a mark, it would be to mark my life with a capital “M”. The “M” would not be for Mary because that would be about self-Me and My. I would want to follow the example of Jesus. 

     Jesus made the greatest mark of all time. In His example, He never made life about Himself; He made it about heart for others. Therefore, the “M’s” that I would choose to mark my life are: 

 

           The Big “M”

     Making a difference

     Melting the scripture into my life

     Managing life with God in it 

     Merging God and scripture into me daily

     Making God my main morning priority

     Marked as a child of God

     Manufacturing good  

     Making Merry

     Maturing in God

     Motivated to witness 

     Manifestly sharing God’s Word

     Meekly walking by faith 

     Mostly praising God 

 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 NIV