Stop Doubting

The following words are important in my life. I find them through God. 

 

Grace – comes from God

Comfort- is in God’s outreaching hand 

Presence- God’s presence is continual, always

Compassion- God’s sees, God understands, and heals 

Forgiveness-is daily bestowed by God when requested

Restoration- is the rest, peace, and mercy given by God 

 

What I needed to do to receive the above was to believe. I did! Have you?

 

“Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas (insert your own name), “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27

He Did!

Have you ever lived with someone who constantly tells you, “I’ll do it,” yet, they never do? You’re disappointed, but you love them anyway. Think on this!

 

     He said He would do it, and He did! He shows His love! He proves His love!

     God said He would and He did. He sent His Son.

     Jesus said he would and He did. He died for us! And He sent the Holy Spirit.

    They said They would, and They did! 

     God said you would be saved if you would believe in His Son. And you will! 

     It is so simply- just trust!

 

I Believe

We all believe in something, and no matter how hard someone tries, there is no way to change your mind. I, too, have a belief, and no one can change my mind. I believe in the One true and righteous King of the Universe. 

I Believe 

 

Lord! I believe!

I believe You are the Son of God;

That You died for me.

I believe Your arms are open wide-

You are always by my side.

There is nothing more I must decide-

Only to believe!

I believe in Your grace

And the promise of my permanent resting place.

I believe You forgive me in my wrath,

You forgive my wayward deeds,

You forgive my unfruitful seeds.

I believe I am saved-

No longer lost,

And it was You who paid the cost.

Lord!

I believe every scripture verse;

You are the King of the Universe, 

The Bread of Life,

The Light of the World,

The Beginning and the End.

Lord! I believe!

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 2/20/2026

 

“Do not let your hearts be troubles. You believe in God; believe also in me." John 14:1 

 

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31 

 

 

 

Keeping Up With the Jones

“Keeping up with the Jones” is something I have heard all my life. Some do it quite well, financially, while others only thrive to do it and, in so doing, stay in financial debt. What is it about wanting to do and have the same as others? Truly, we are all the same in some ways:

1.     We all struggle with fleshy desires. 

2.    We all wake up and then go to sleep. 

3.    We all have hurts and get ill from time to time.

4.    We all have cheerful moments and sad moments.

So, what make a person really, really different in a special way? 

1.     Some make wise decisions while others make foolish ones.

2.    Some choose Jesus’ thoughts and ways over Satan’s.  

3.    Some have been given the Holy Spirit while others have not.

4.    Some have the hope of eternal life while others do not. 

I think I would rather “keep up with the Christians” than “keep up with the Jones.’” I found that to keep up with the Christians, all I had to do was to “Believe” and I became financially rich. It has never put me in financial distress. 

 

“For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34 KJV

 

     

    

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

Just Be

Sometimes I want to just be; you know like just live and not think or do but just B. The only way I can do that and feel good about myself is to be in a walk with God like: 

 

B elieve

B reathe God’s Word 

B ear fruit 

B uild righteousness

B enefit others

B ake kindness

B elong in God’s family

B righten someone’s day

 

There are so many ways I can just B.  

 

Follow Me!

I love that Jesus said, 

    "Follow Me!”  And...

           …you shall not perish but have everlasting life.       John 3:16

           …I am with you always.                                    Matthew 28;20

           …My peace I give unto you.                                    John 14:27

           …You shall be given the Holy Spirit to teach you.  John 14:26

Because I believed and followed, I have joy. 

                  

Christmas in the Flesh

      Christmas is just around the corner.  Storefronts host signs of "I Believe".   Hopefully we will stop our busy pace and really think about what Jesus did for us and appreciate the life He gave and truly "Believe".   In our warm cozy homes with heat, air conditioning, soft beds and ease of transportation we have much to be thankful for, but Jesus "had no place to lay His head."  

Luke 8:58 "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."

     When Jesus left His own Father in Heaven with its streets of gold and became flesh He was laid in a manger for "there was no room for Him in the Inn."  I imagine that manger was, more than likely, a carved out stone, not even a wooden trough.  It was rough, cold, and hard.  There was no heat in the stable.  Life as a carpenter's son was probably not easy.  I imagine the carpenter did more carving of stone with a chisel than with hammer and nail.  I have been to Israel and seen the mountains and stones.  We would have much complaining to do should we have to travel those terrains on foot, and in roughly made sandals, at best.  However,  nowhere in Scripture have I read that Jesus complained over giving up His heavenly comforts.  Jesus became flesh for us.  He desired it.  He came to be sacrificed so we could live and so we could "Believe!"

I Believe!

     As the year comes to a close, I want to acknowledge God for who He is and for all He has done for me in 2017.  He has given me love, blessings, guidance, protection, and forgiveness.  I believe He is the Creator or all and Jesus is the Savior of the world. 

 

I Believe!

 

I believe! I believe!

For all it's worth,

I believe in Jesus;

in the holy baby's birth.

I believe! I believe!

By faith,

I believe in the written Word;

all it saith.

I believe! I believe!

Whereby, He became the sacrificial lamb,

I believe in everlasting life;

in the great "I Am."

I believe! O yes, I believe.

                             ---Mary Crisp Jameson



Believe

     Jesus said in John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God send not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
     I love this scripture!  It is all about salvation through faith.  Even though we have not seen God in person, the Christian has felt His mighty presence and seen His works in their lives and in the lives of others. 
     Other synonyms we can use for "believe" is to rest assured, be convinced, to have confidence in, to affirm, to give credence to, and to accept.  We accept that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and to give us eternal life, and by accepting, we rejoice in the truth of the cross.  With our acceptance, we obtain the living presence of the Holy Spirit.  We obtain peace, joy, and love. 
     For those who have heard but not believed, and have chosen to use antonyms like; reject, dispute, discard, and ignore, rest assured there will be will be a future, either in heaven or in hell.  What will be your final decision?  Is it worth the chance?  Is it not time to let God enter your heart so that heaven can be your final destination? 
     Here in "A Friendly Shade", I rest assured that the Bible leaves no doubt there is a life after death, and for me, it will be heaven; my final home which will be filled with light, "for the glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. "  (Revelation 21:23b)