2 Words to Live By

There two words I live by every single day. They sustain me!

Without God these two words are as nothing.

 

Faith- 

   Faith is belief. 

      Faith gives hope. 

         Faith can move a mountain. 

            Faith does not cease ‘cause God is there. 

 

Grace- 

   Grace forgives. 

      Grace is love. 

         Grace is unmerited favor.

            Grace is always there with belief in Jesus.

Walk on the Water

 Walk on the Water  

God will not let you sink.

It’s written in ink-

In the pages from days ago.

It’s there to help you move mountains and grow. 

The Lord says, 

“Walk on the water, my sons and daughters.

Do not doubt, I will bring you out of the drought.”  

Fear not!

Take God’s hand.

Let Him walk with you across the land.

Let Him bless with all He has planned.

“Come to me,” is Jesus’s plea.

You will not sink-

It’s God’s promise and sealed in ink.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  5/14/2026

 

“Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus...Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘Why did you doubt?’” Matthew 14:29,31

 

 

By Faith

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:1,3 KJV 

I am comforted by the fact I do not have to see to believe. God is truly the creator of all things, and...

By faith…

  I believe in God in whom I do not see.

By faith…

  I believe that God sent His only Son. 

By faith…

  I believe that Jesus died for me.

By faith…

  I believe Jesus rose again.

By faith…

  I believe Jesus went to prepare a permanent home for me.

By faith…

  I believe Jesus will return to receive me for His own.

By faith…

  I believe I will live forever with my Lord.

By faith...

   I Believe!

By Faith

Hebrews 11 says: 

v23.. By faith Moses was hidden.

v24.. By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter.

v27.. By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King.

v28.. By faith Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood.

     

I, Mary, do have faith just as Moses did. My faith may be weak at times and strong at times, but my faith lives within at all times. 

 

By faith, as a youth Mary found the Lord.

By faith, Mary knows she is saved.

By faith, Mary has assurance she is forgiven when she asks.  

By faith, Mary knows that God walks by her side.

By faith, Mary lives to seek God’s promises.

By faith, Mary believes, through her troubles, all will be well.

                  

Steps and Leaps of Fatih

Steps happens! They may be small, short, or long ones, but it requires placing one foot in front of the other. Taking steps is kind of like taking leaps of faith which require a first STEP and moving on from there. My first step toward my “leap of faith” might look something like:  

 

S tep forward

T red onward

E nter the door of opportunity

P lace my hand in God’s

Joy within the Trial

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”

     Trials are not necessarily hardships; they can just be new, scary adventures in life. I know when I retired, I was scared of what lay ahead. Would I be able to live on reduced income? Would I find something I would enjoy doing and being constructive? Would I be lonely? Would I just hobble along and get into a rut with no happy expectations? 

     All this kind of thinking was a trial. A "test" as I looked for a new door of opportunity to open. I never want to miss out on, “Consider it all joy!” I also have to fall back to the following verse of scripture which comes afterward. “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

Faith

The way I would describe my faith is total belief in God and in the way He works for good in my life. My faith gives me hope, peace, and joy because faith assures me that God is walking with me.  I developed my faith over time, but it began when I accepted the Truth. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16) 

 

Faith

 

In the days of my troubles, God is there.

I have faith!

It is far more precious than gold.

Faith in God keeps me whole!

         By faith, I honor God’s name,

        And, His promises, I claim.

In the hour of trials, God stands near.

I rejoice in faith!

God’s my assurance;

My life’s insurance.

By faith, I give God devotion,

For He puts all things in motion.

In hard times, God gives strength.

He makes me rich through faith!

It’s my gold dust;

Because, in God, I trust! 

By faith God takes me to a greater height,

For He is my Light!

In the testing by fire, God brings me through.

I praise Him in faith!

I give Him honor and glory

And thank Him for my on-going story.

 

                Mary Crisp Jameson 9/29/2024

 

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 

1 Peter 1:8 NIV

  

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV 

Exercise

Whether walking or doing a more extensive activity, exercise is important in order to keep my body active and moving. It is a key tool! 

     Keeping my mind active is also a key tool to staying alert. Therefore, I read, attempt Sudoko, color, and do other puzzle activities. 

     However, the most important key tool to use daily for a good active lifestyle is my exercise of faith; it helps me mature spiritually. My exercise of faith keeps me motivated and gives me strength. It feels good to hear the quiet whisper, "Yes, you can, because I am here!" 

Hebrews 13:5b "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 

Faith vs Doubt

I have complete faith in knowing that Jesus is my Savior. However, faith does not stop there. Faith is knowing, without a doubt, that God is in control of all in my life. In my human frail state, I often allow faith to wavier, but why? 

Faith

 

Faith is the certainty of things hoped for;

A proof of things not seen! 

Oh, to know what is in store-

Before doubt creeps in -

Before the wayward sin;

But faith wavers 

When we see no Godly favors.

Pride is applied-

Doubt becomes the guide. 

There’s unblinking, human thinking,

Daily dealings and feelings,

Setbacks to the max;

All which hinder faith

And the listening to what God has saith.

Like the ocean’s ebb and flow;

Like the back and forth of the wind that doth blow;

Like the to and fro of life;

We only see the strife.

Oh, where is the constancy of faith?

The staying power before we cower?

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 9/1/2024 

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 NIV 

 

 

 

Pray The Scriptures

Since the month of May has 31 days, I am again reading through Proverbs. I must say that although I read the scriptures that my prayer life is lacking. I remember a book I was told about one time and it was, Pray the Scriptures. I never read the book but remember a review on it which stated Proverbs was a good Book to try praying the scriptures. I thought I would give it a try, since I really am lacking in my prayer life. Today is the 22nd, and I am reading Proverbs 22, so here goes:  

Lord, 

     I count my life no worthy than others as I know I am the same in Your eyes. I humble myself in Your presence and trust You, my Lord, the One who saves my soul. You tell me to humble myself before You, feed the poor, teach the right path to others, not to steal, and rid myself of tension and quarrels. I look to you, Lord, to help me do all this for I am weak in flesh. 

     I choose, Lord, to strive to maintain a good name and I choose to trust You.  So, when I am weak and my faith fails, please correct my wicked ways, pull me onto the right path, and help my unbelief. Amen!

 

Faith Event and God-Wink Moments

Faith Events and God-Wink Moments

 

I have a great need to build my faith. I would like it to be as strong as David’s confidence was when he confronted Goliath. How did David build such faith? The answer could be that, as a shepherd, he spent hours alone in the wilderness tending sheep and talking to God. He listened for God’s voice. He grew his faith over time in quiet moments alone with God. 

     I would also like my faith to be as strong as Esther’s was when she went before the King without being summoned to do so. She could have been killed, but her faith was strong enough to depend upon God for her safety. How did this happen? She not only prayed and fasted but also asked her people to do the same. Here again, I see someone who trusted because she had prepared over a course of time, and she had talked with God, making Him her priority.  

     I have to admit, I have had not had many giants to face in my life. Although my faith was weak, I had victories. God has also given me God-wink moments; many I simply did not even recognize at the time. 

     I think I will use the day to try and remember some of those moments and be thankful to God for them. 

Possibilities

There is much to be said about the power of positive thinking. I had always rather be positive than negative; however, positive thinking does not go a long way without God governing the situation. In Luke 18: 27 I find, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 

     This morning I come to God and ask that my will fall into place with His will, for He is over it all. Let my thoughts comply with His. 

Faith

 Quotes are a fun way of communicating ideas. I found the following quotes about faith in a book called The Treasure Chest so I thought I would post a few here as a reminder to myself for the times I struggle with letting God be in control and the times I forget that my joy lies in my faith in God to handle all.  

"Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations." Elton Trueblood  

"Faith is a boomerang; begin using what you have and it comes back to you in greater measure."  Charles L. Allen 

"Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable - and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God."  Harry Emerson Fosdick 

"We shall be made truly wise if we be made content; content, too, not only with what we can understand, but content with what we do not understand - the habit of mind which theologians call, and rightly, faith in God."  Charles Kingsley

The above was all a fun and meaningful read, but more importantly is what Scripture tells us about faith:

Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

2 Corinthians 5:7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 

     I pray that 2020 finds me walking more and more by faith looking to Jesus for my help.  Below are just a few things that "Faith" means to me.

F ocus on God
A lways relying on God
I n all things God helps me endure
T rust completely in God
H ave courage knowing God is with me

A New Life

     How many of us have often thought, "I wish I could go back and do it again," or simply wish we could change our lives?  Well, in fact, it is possible.  We have all been given a chance to develop a new life.   When Jesus died and was raised from the dead, we were given a brand new life.  All we have to do is accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
     In developing a new life, we often fail to accomplish our righteous desires.  However, if we fail in our choices, His forgiveness gives us another chance to do it right.  There is always a new day with our Lord!  Through our faith in God and through guidance from the Holy Spirit, we can rid our lives of grievances.  We can develop beauty from within.  We can learn to love others and treat them with respectful dignity even though they say bad things about us.  We can be forgiving without anyone asking us to forgive them.  In 1st Peter we are told to "be holy in all manner of conversation."   Let's face it, our life is a journey, and a journey is a process.  However, the ending to a good journey is one in which we traveled with God at the wheel.
   

Keeping the Faith

     Many often ask, "How do I keep my faith when bad things happen?" or some may say, "How do I tell others about Jesus when I may be scorned or laughed at?"

     Paul gives us an example of what we must do and trials to expect.  But it is all worth it for the cause of Christ.
     After Paul's conversion on the way to Damascus, he lived his life for God.  In 2 Corinthians he describes many of the trails he faced as a missionary to the people.
     "Paul was jailed, beaten and at death's door.  He was flagged 5 times with the Jew's 39 lashes, beaten by Roman rods 3 times, pummeled with rocks once.  he was shipwrecked 3 times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day.  He was in hard traveling year in and year out.  He had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes.  He'd been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those he though were his brothers.  He knew drudgery and hard labor, many a lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.  He knew daily pressures and anxieties of all churches.  He felt humiliation.  He even had to crawl through a window in the wall, let down in a basket, and run for his life"
     Why did Paul do it all? And, how did he keep the faith?  The answer is given.  The Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."  Paul states, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Who Touched Me?

     "Who touched me?"  was the question Jesus asked of the woman wanting to be healed.  Jesus was not angry about the touch, but He felt it.  He even told the woman, "Be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace."
     Jesus wants us to touch Him.  He wants us to look to Him for His touch.  He feels our distress and heals.  It is truly amazing what can happen in our lives if we will only seek Him in faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Jeremiah 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Contentment

     Don't we all just love to stumble upon a secret?
     Paul didn't just stubble upon the secret to being content.  God revealed it to him, just as He reveals it to me if I seek to find it.  Paul has made it easy and shown me how to discover contentment through his writings in Philippians.  From my interpretation, true contentment cannot be found without full and complete faith in God. 
     I have found that when my faith is weak it leads to: 
            F  ear
            A nxiety
            I mpatience
            T hink negatively
            H arvest few Godly blessing

     These are all actions which do not lead to a life of contentment.  Rather than remaining in a weakened state of faithlessness and discontentment, I would do good to consider the words of Paul, while he was in prison, when he wrote in Philippians 4, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content...I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

      When I think about doing all things through Christ, I have to remind myself what our Bible study director said today, "We can do all things as long as it is what God wants in our life."  God is the Navigator, not me. 
     Also, just what is this secret to contentment?  It is certainly not self-indulgence or the "I" factor but rather, to "always be full of joy in the Lord.  Be considerate in all you do. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy or praise.  Keep putting into practice all you and learned and received." 
     Paul had already stated, "For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith." (NLT)  
      It appears that my actions, attitudes, and my FAITH in and LOVE for God is the key factor to contentment.   In summary:

  More desire for God's work over personal self-indulgence

   More love toward others over love of self                           
   More faith in God over fear and anxiety                              
   More reliance upon God's timing over impatience              
   More seeking what God wants over my wants             
   More thankfulness to God over personal credit    
   More pure thoughts over dishonorable negative ones
   More heartfelt joy over sadness and unhappiness
   More prayer over going it alone
     These added together =HEREIN TO BE CONTENT            

Faith

Just what is faith? And what can it do for us?  There is not a lot I can tell anyone about faith, but the following scriptures explains one aspect of it.  As I read these scriptures I pray to have "faith as small as a mustard seed."  As hard as I try to live by faith, I often find myself lacking. 

 

Hebrews 11  "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. ..."

People were healed because of faith.  Matthew 9:2 "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 9:22 "Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment."

Matthew 9:29 "Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”

Matthew 13:58 "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."

 

Matthew 15:28 "Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment."

Matthew 17:20 "He replied, “Because you have so little faith. 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.”

Matthew 21:21 "Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done."

Mark 2:5 "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 4:40  "He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 5:34 "He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 10:52 "Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."

Luke 8:48 "Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 12:28 "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!

Luke 17:6 "He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you."

Luke 17:19 "Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

1 Corinthians 2:5 "so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."

2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we live by faith, not by sight."

Oh! Jesus Love Me!

      I’m keeping it simple in “A Friendly Shade” today. What is more simple than knowing that Jesus loves me? There is no need to dig through science books. There is no need to analyze or rationale it. All I need is faith, belief, and a heart that I’ve asked Jesus to come into and dwell with me. 
 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

     Oh, Jesus Loves Me

 

Jesus loves me when I’m sad,

All He wants is to make me glad.

Jesus knows just what I need;

He will supply it all, guaranteed.

 

Oh, Jesus loves me –

Oh, Jesus loves me.

  This I know, as onward I go,

  For the Bible tells me so.

 

Jesus loves me when my days are grey,

He is in my heart to stay.

Jesus loves to walk with me;

He will hear my every plea.

 

Oh, Jesus loves me-

Oh, Jesus loves me.

  Listen to the voice calling out,

  Listen to the angels give a shout.

 

Jesus loves me all day long,

He will keep me going strong.

Jesus wipes away my tears;

He is there through all my fears.

Oh, Jesus loves me-

Oh, Jesus loves me.

  Listen to the scripture telling me so,

  Given to the people so they’ll know.

 

Jesus loves me through the night.
I am precious in His sight.

Jesus loves me young or old,

He’ll embrace and tightly hold.

 

Oh, Jesus loves me-

Oh, Jesus loves me.

  Get saved today, and you will see,

  Hearts will heal- we’ll shout with glee!

Oh, Jesus loves me-

Oh, Jesus loves me.

  How do I know? Oh, how do I know?

  He’s the One who tells me so.