Bitter or Better

Doing a play on words, I consider the following a few to consider. Which would I prefer to be a part of my life? I would choose the more positive so that I do not “fall short.”  

 

Bitter or Better

Controlling or Caring

Playing or Praying

Sedentary or Seeking 

Wicked or Wiser 

 

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15 

Hebrews 12:2 In My Words

^{One of my bible study questions asked me to take Hebrews 12:2 and put it into my own words. Actually, it asked me to put part "a" into my own words but I could not just take a part of the scripture, I had to use the whole.} 

^{Hebrews 12:2  "}Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

My Revised Version in My Words 

Jesus laid aside His princely crown

When, from heaven, He came down.

He did it, in joy, for me.

He endured the cross!

He took on my shame to give me gain.

In the human form of man,

He, in joy, completed God’s plan. 

He, in joy, followed His Father’s will

And lives still!

He, the author and finisher of my faith

Now lives at God’s right hand, 

And I look to Him, in faith, for grace. 

Mary Crisp Jameson  2/27/2025

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.

                  

To Know Him

     Not a lot of us really open up to allow others to really know us.  However, God knows all there is to know about our every thought and reason for our actions. 
     What I consider most important is that God wants His people to really know Him.  The Message put it like this in Hebrews 8, "They won't go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.  They'll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great.  They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean."
     Again in John 14 when talking with Thomas, "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."

The One True Book

    The Bible is an engaging book which reveals the nature of God and the teachings of Jesus.  Each time I read it or do a biblical study I learn more about God's love.  Of all the books I have read or own, my Bible is the most prized of them all.  It is my Daily Bread!  In fact, if I go many days here in "A Friendly Shade" without reading, talking to God, or listening to a gospel message I actually began to feel lonely.  My joy begins to slip away.  Only God and His Word can give me true peace and comfort.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The One True Book

I've traveled the world, but not been everywhere;

tossed aside, yet fragile from wear.

Often laid abandoned, covered in dust;

freely chosen by those who trust.

Past, present, and future, I can explain;

Peace and comfort I give to ease your pain.

The young and the old find joy in me-

I share life across the land, across the sea.

Direction, guidance, truth-

I'm here to tudor the elderly and youth.

From cover to cover there are stories galore,

with the faithful seeking more.

Rejected, abandoned, scorned

by those forewarned.

Loved, cherished, sought

by those who find wonder my pages hath brought.

I am life

to children, husband, and wife.

I am alive!

With me, ye shall thrive.

I share the way to mansions bright,

the Cross, and pathway to the Light.

Read me, share, me- I am the Bread!

A must to the family and its head.

I am the Old and the New,

the gospel that is true.

I am the Bible, God's Holy Word,

spreading across the world until all have heard.

                                                               Mary Crisp Jameson  

Staying Positive In A Negative World

     Have you ever gotten up in a really good mood only to go to work and be brought down by someone with a negative outlook? I mean, you smile and cheerfully say “hello,” only to be met with a grumpy unsmiling response. Suddenly, your mood has changed. Or you went to work and your co-worker started in on all the unpleasant changes taking place. Did that cause a change in your outlook or attitude about your job? Did your joy disappear?

     So just how do we stay positive and joyful in a negative world? How do we keep from being the grumpy person, ourselves, taking someone else’s joy away?
     First, we need to figure out what has created our grumpiness. Maybe, it is not being satisfied with what we have. We have not learned to be content. Maybe it is unforgiveness, financial problems, sickness, injury, or death of a loved one. The list could go on and on.
     Regardless of the reason, we all have choices on how we handle life’s events.
     Number one, I do not have to have a bad day just because someone else chooses to have one. I can be there for a friend, to listen and help, but as an on-going drama I do not have to get involved.
     Next, life is too short to let unforgiveness rob me of my joy. We have to realize that to harbor ill-will against someone else only hurts us. I firmly believe that unforgiveness prevents the Holy Spirit from working in our lives to give us complete joy. What is the loss of pride to make amends compared to the gain of a joyful heart?
     If the problem is financial, maybe we can manage to change our outlook on the way we choose to spend money and be willing to take some conservative measures.
     If the problem is changes at work, and those changes are out of our control, maybe it is time to be thankful we have a job, that is, if we truly enjoy the place where we work. If it is a job that we wake up every single morning and dread, it might be time to look for one that can provide a more rewarding experience. Again, life is too short not to enjoy what we do on a daily basis.
     Whatever the reason, I have to go back to “choices.” We have to choose to be joyful. We have to want to be cheerful. We have to want to wear a smile. We have to want to be friendly toward others. We should grasp every moment and strive to be positive and happy.
     When it comes right down to it, to stay positive in a negative world means we have to count our blessings. We will all have sorrow and trouble, but I believe how we choose to handle it will determine our joy. Proverbs 14:13 says, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” What keeps the laughter in my heart is faith and belief in God’s Word and His promises. Hebrews 13:5 gives us words to live by and a promise, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
     In my weak moments and times of trials, I strive to remember Isaiah 40:31, “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 be faint.”
     Knowing God is always with me gives me hope and joy! “…Be of good courage.” Strive to smile and laugh more. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”