Be Happy! Laugh Hard!

     There are several verses on “a merry heart.” Today, as in every day, I strive to find laughter! I believe it is a weapon with healing power! Better than vitamins! I invite all my readers to strive to find joy and laughter, for “Today is the day the Lord has made.” 
 

Following are a few good verses on “a merry heart.”
  Proverbs 17:22a “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
  Proverbs 15:15b “He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” 
  Proverbs 15:13a “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.” 

 

     Laughter and joy seem to go hand-in-hand. Aside from the verses above, I also found a few good quotes of interest. 

 

“We don’t laugh because we’re happy – we’re happy because we laugh.” – William James
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”- Charlie Chaplin
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” -Victor Hugo
“Joy is God’s smile; love is God’s laughter.” – John O’Donahue
“Your body cannot heal without play. Your mind cannot heal without laughter. Your soul cannot heal without joy.” – Catherine Ripperger Fenwick 
“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it.” -Charlie Chaplin
“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” – George Bernard Shaw 
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” Mark Twain
 

 

 

Come Before My Presence

Psalm 16:11 NKJV “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  

 

The Message version is: “Now You’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of Your face. Ever since You took my hand, I’m on the right way.”  

 

I am trying to envision Psalm 16:11. In so doing, I see Jesus, first. I see His presence with a mighty glow surrounding Him. In His presence is joy; A joy which brings completeness. It provides satisfaction and contentment. I have no need to search for anything more. Next, I see Jesus with His right hand stretched out. As I place my hand in His, all fear is gone. My path is certain and secure. My heart is filled! I have found direction. I have found favor! 

     As the scripture says, my pleasure and my treasure in life is being with Jesus; surrounded by Jesus, and walking with Jesus. 

     As I pray the scripture: “Lord! Come before me and be present with me this day. Take my life, my hands, feet, mouth, and thoughts; Make them Yours so that I can walk in fullness of joy, being content with my direction and with all You provide.”

 

Sing A Joyful Song

 I have so much to be thankful for, and I am in awe of the blessings given by my Lord. My heart if full, and I sing a joyful song.

I Sing a Joyful Song 

I shout joyfully to the Lord,

And strive to be of one accord, 

For it is He who made me;

I am His, the lamb in His meadow,

And through Him I flow and grow.

 

I sing a song of joy to the Almighty One;

Through Him all things are done.

In His hands are the depths of the earth;

He made all things of worth.

In His hands are the peaks of the mountains.

The sea is His-He made it!

His hands formed the dry land;

By Him all things were made rich and grand.

 

I rejoice and am glad in the Lord,

For He is the God world-wide,

And the One forever by my side.

He firmly established the earth.

He set the seas.

He formed the creatures, trees, and bees.

 

Though I walk through the city streets,

And feel the winter breeze or the summer heats,

It is His.

Though I walk through the crops and fields,

It is His and what it yields.

Though I walk upon the forest floor

Or across the ocean shore,

It is His,

And I praise His holy name,

For it is from Him I came!

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 7/10/2025 

 

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Psalm 95:6 KJV 

Early Morning Delight

I have never been one to sleep late, In fact, there are some mornings, I cannot wait to start the day. I do, however, enjoy, first, my morning sessions with God. He is the One who wakes me to the joy of the day.

 Early Morning Delight

 Within my early, morning yawn, 

My Lord comes like a light shining at dawn.

In His ornateness, 

He comes with all His divine greatness.

In my morning hour, 

God awakens me with His gift of strength and power;

He is my safe haven through the day, 

Making straight my way.

In my awakened state, I feel the comfort of His arms;

Here to protect throughout day’s harm.

At first light, 

I know I am precious in His sight.

His presence replaces the covers upon my bed,

Relieving the burdens of my day’s dread.

God is my morning glee,

And He is here for me.

Within His safety net, 

I do not fret.

I arise to greet the day; 

Come what may!

He is my shield, 

And with Him I am sealed.

At dawn’s early light, 

God is my delight!

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/3/2025

 

“There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun*, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky.” Deuteronomy 33:26   (*Israel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOY

 Christmas is just around the corner, and I have joy! 

Joy

I may frown.

I may groan.

But in my heart, 

There is joy. 

I may mourn,

Be worn,

Feel torn,

But deep, deep down

I won’t drown

Cause I’ve got joy.

I may be sad,

And I may cry,

But I know why

I still have joy.

It’s ‘cause I believe,

And to Him I cleave.

He lives in me, 

Gives me glee,

And will not flee,

My life is Spirit-filled,

God willed,

Sin killed-

And that’s my joy!

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 12/15/2024 

 

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 NIV 

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.”

What Matters?

What Matters? 

 

What matters to God? 

It’s not the size before His eyes.

It’s not the dollar amount

Or the savings account.

It’s not the hurry but the pleasure.

That’s the measure of the treasure.

It’s the joy in the heart,

And that’s just the start.

He likes a happy giving,

An honest forgiving.

A willing participation,

And this is my today’s narration. 

                 mnj

 

Do You See Joy

When I read James 1:2, “Consider it all joy…” I wondered how I might strive to do that even through trials. Then I did a spin-off and wondered how others see me in everyday life. Am I: 

 

Positive or Negative

A mover or a whiner

Tolerant or complainer

Loving or unloving

Unruffled or worrier

Pleasing or unpleasing

 

     Do I smile or frown, laugh or worry, look happy or sad, forgive or hate, complain or strive to fix it? 

     Then I was reminded of what Paul wrote in Philippians 4, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

Good Tidings

 Good Tidings I wish for all this Christmas Season! 

Jesus is the Reason.

I pray that our divisions will cease; 

That our joy will increase,

And all will walk with Jesus, the King of Peace. 

My Joy Comes

I had a rather hard-working afternoon yesterday for an old lady and was sure I would wake up this morning feeling sore and tired. I was tired but still joyful. No matter how old I get, I can still find joy. With humor, honor, and glory. I must say God is old too, even “older than dirt.” Why not? He created the dirt, the world, me, and all that is in it. He created life and the things that give us joy. 

 

 My Joy Comes

 

My joy springs from the Lord.

He lives!

He reigns and gives and gives.

My joy comes from:

The breath-taking beauty at the onset of the sunset;

The colorful rainbow arch across the sky in which I spy;

Stars in the night-a zipper forming the big and little dipper.

The Lord shows He lives!

Always, He gives.

My joy comes from: 

A fresh mowed lawn kept green with morning’s dewy dawn;

Merry songs from chirping birds although I know not their words;  

The peace from an easy flowing river in which only God can deliver.

Joy is in my heart when I see:

A butterfly flapping its wings in the Spring;

Raindrops watering dried crops;

The voice of God, heard when my mind is confused and blurred.

My joy comes, and my heart hums.

I’m in awe of what God has done for me under the sun.

Yet,

Pleasures do not compare under the sun to what will be done

When I reach Heaven’s home where I will roam.

Until then, I delight in what He gives,

But, more so, because He lives!

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  9/22/2023

 

“Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name in the dance: let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.”  Psalm 149: 2-4 KJV

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

                  

Letting Go - Moving Forward

     There is a lot we can learn as we walk across the wilderness with the Israelites.  They did not want to be in bondage in Egypt, so they stepped out in faith and followed Moses in order to escape.  During their first trial, fear came upon them and they wanted to turn back, although they knew they would, once again, face enslavement.  In fact, every encounter with a problem left them complaining.  Their wandering in the wilderness was not an easy adventure.  Every trial left them complaining and rather than preparing themselves for a future of hope and joy, the Israelites kept looking back with regret for leaving an undesirable life of imprisonment.

      We do the same today when we leave the undesirable.  When loneliness, hardship, discouragement, and other emotions come along we develop a fear of the unknown instead of letting God take the wheel to lead us forward.  We lose our hope and our joy when we fail to rely on God.  We often just want to turn back and do a repeat although we know the past was undesirable. 

     So what can we do?  We can let God be the center of our focus instead of circumstances.

                                       We can look forward with hope instead of backward with regret.  

                                       We can take the focus off ourselves 

                                       We can discover new talents, new abilities by leaving fear behind.

                                       We can continually look forward with happy expectations and joy 

God is walking right by your side, just as He gave the Israelites a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.

God's Laws

      We often don't like man's laws.  But what about God's laws?  Are we such a sinless people that we don't like God's laws either?  Yet, if we want to be wise and discerning, God's laws are perfect.  They protect us and give us true joy.  God's laws never change although some are endeavoring to amend them to fit their own worldly desires.  Let us all look to scripture for the way we should think, live, and treat others.  The only way we can cleanse our hearts is to stop amending God's laws to fit our own personal agendas.  And the only way we can learn God's laws and gain true joy is to read and embrace His Word.  

Psalm 19: 7-11 "God's laws are perfect.  They protect us, make us wise, and give us joy and light.  God's laws are pure, eternal, just.  They are more desirable than gold.  They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.  For they warn us away from harm and give success to those who obey them."   

     

     

Joy of Christmas

     Christmas is about Jesus and being joyful, but to have joy we need to let go of sin.
     Sin as defined is "an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law."  And, that divine law is the very Word of God.  Scripture tells us how to act, how to love, how to forgive, how to share, and how to control our speech.  Scripture further tells us much about the results of sin in our lives.
     Yet, have we ever considered what really causes us to sin?  The cause of my sin is "me."  In order to control my sin I have to lend my thoughts away from "me" and toward those things which don't wrap around the "me factor."  Proverbs 30:15 talks about the leech who had two daughters, "Give! Give! they cry."  In other words "Gimme! and Gimme more!"  The "me" factor is the very reason we see greed, cruelty, hatefulness, envy, murder, and unforgiveness in our land. 
     When I live in such a way that life is not about me and dwell on life being about God, my Father, Jesus, His Son and my Savior, and the Holy Ghost who dwells within, then, and only then, do I find contentment, peace, and joy.

JOY

Joy

I love to wake up in the mornings and quote Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it."  However, to rejoice, I need true joy in my heart.  So, what is joy?

J esus
O ver
Y ou

Jesus over you!
Showing a love that's true.
He's found everyday; everywhere!
In the heart, in breathe, and in the air. 
He is the Joy that fills the soul;
The One who makes you whole.
Directing and showing the way;
Controlling the day!
Jesus! Alive in Spirit;
A gift to embrace and inherit.
Before all and in all;
Picking you up when you fall. 
A joy!
Who can destroy?
A Joy that's true;
Jesus! Over you.

"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."  Colossians 1:17

Change of Heart

     When people first fall in love, they simply glow.  They can't wait to see each other, to hold hands, to talk and laugh together.  Yet as time goes on, some simply began to take it for granted.  There is no extra effort to keep the spirit of love growing;  they become comfortable and complacent.   While others continue to build a solid foundation, adding steel and anchors to make it strong.  Each new day is a revelation, an attraction, a growing.  Companionship becomes a passion.
     I asked myself, "What do I want?"  The answer is a joy which comes from a passionate companionship.   For me, the only way I can love myself , my husband, my family, and others is to, first, develop a loving, growing, passionate relationship with God.  Only with God can I find the joy within to love others.    God must, first, be my solid foundation upon which I build a structure of  steel and iron around all that effects my life.   I should be thrilled at meeting my Love in the garden alone and allowing Him to fill my heart.  It reminds me of a song:

In The Garden 

        I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

What a love song!  God is awesome!  Let me fix my eyes upon His Almighty presence.  He is the One who gives me joy and peace;  He is the One worthy of my praise.  Thank you God for your voice of encouragement, hope, and blessings.  

I'd Rather Have Jesus

     How fast we get addicted!  I left home without my cell phone.  When I realized it, I had no time to return for it.  My spouse was with me.  He had his, so I really had no need for mine, BUT I wanted it which made me irritated, to say the least.  I was on the verge of letting my "absent" phone ruin my day.  How stupid can I get?  
     My phone is for security purposes, it should not be what determines my joy.  There is nothing that is truly more the source of my joy than Jesus.  So often when I don't have what I want or forget to take with me what I want, I let these idols interfere and I forget, for a moment, that Jesus is with me at all times.  My joy is with Him. 
 
     This reminds of a song, I'd Rather Have Jesus.   So, if I don't have my phone, if I don't have a new car, if I don't live in the best of homes, if, if, if..... I'd rather have Jesus!

1. I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
   I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
   I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
   I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
   
   • Refrain:
     Than to be the king of a vast domain
     Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
     I’d rather have Jesus than anything
     This world affords today.
2. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
   I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
   I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
   I’d rather be true to His holy name
3. He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
   He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
   He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
   I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Joyfulness

     I just finished reading the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119 in the New Living Translation version.  It is filled with loads of insight for discernment.  Actually, it tells us how to find joy, and if we miss joy in our lives it is our own fault.  I believe God wants me to live a joyful life.  It is a gift that I, personally, do not want to miss.  Below are a few verses about JOY but don't just take them out of context.  Read the whole chapter to get the full meaning.

     Verse One: "Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of His laws."
     Verse Two: "Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts."
     Verse 35: "Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found."  I have joy through Christ, but to find happiness increases my joy.
     Verse 43: "Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope."  This one does not include the word JOY, but if I had no hope I would have no joy.
     Verse 92: "If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery."
     Verse 162 "I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure."  Who does not rejoice when they find treasure?  I rejoice even when I win a "free" prize, but I can have "free" joy everyday through my Christ who died for me.  Oh, let me rejoice!

     I simply cannot leave out one of my favorite verses.  But this one is from the KJV which is the one I always fall back to:  Verse 105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
    

Joy and Laughter

     Psalm 90:12  "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."  Thinking on this verse, I decided that much of what gets us through the brevity of life is joy.  Not only that, but joy is good medicine, and joy in the Lord is required. 

Psalm 98:12 "May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise His holy name."

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

     God is truly the essence of my joy, and the reason for my gratitude.  However, somewhere along the way I had to develop laughter, that true "belly laugh" which gets me through the daily chores of the day.  I am not an expert on emotions or behavior but for me laughter goes full circle.  By that I mean, when I committed to following Christ, I was given the gift of joy which brings about a desire for laughter of the soul which connects my inner-person to my joy which increases my gratitude to God.  Often, in life laughter has be to practiced in order to find it when it is truly needed.     



                 
     In an article written by a Laughter Yoga Teacher, he writes, "Think of yourself like an ocean; underneath the storm, deep down, the sea is calm and peaceful.  Your emotions are like the waves on the surface, turbulent or calm and peaceful.  Deep down is where your "authentic joy" is sitting."

     For me, laughter is fun and it's free.  Even though laugher can be contagious, it would be rather embarrassing for anyone to be around me when I really want to exercise or practice my "belly laugh."  Most of us have heard that infectious baby laugh or giggle which goes on and on until everyone around is also laughing.  In the privacy of your alone-time try it sometime. 
     What does this do for me, you might ask? It removes the frown from my face.  It relieves my tension and stress, and I believe it helps connect my true inner-self to my joy.  If nothing else, it makes me laugh at my own silliness. 
    Life is brief!  I want to treasure my joy, mixing in a measure of laughter which can circulate throughout my body from my toes and up into my mind and spirit. 

O, Lord! Thank you for my joy and help me laugh through the brevity of life.

Independence Day

     It is a joy to celebrate Independence Day.  To watch the fireworks on display and to know we are a free people.
     In no way do I want to take away the idea of Independence Day and our freedom, but there is another thought I have about independence.  This applies to joy and happiness.  So many people today are dependent upon things and people.  We expect instant gratification to make us happy.  We look to spouses or family members for our joy.  If they do not perform like we expect, we allow those actions to take away our joy.   
     Actually the only true personal independence in maintaining joy comes through faith in our Lord and Savior.  We need to stop expecting others to make us happy.  That will never happen.  Our joyful independence comes from within ourselves.  God, the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the only true sources for lasting joy.  Our final Independence Day will be when the Lord appears to take us home to be with Him.   

1 Thessalonians 4:17

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

 

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.