The Promise

My devotional today stated that a promise is valuable only if the one making it is trustworthy. I can agree with that. 

      I was raised to follow-up whenever I made a promise to do something. In fact, the definition of a promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. 

     Have you ever had a friend tell you he would do something, but it never got done? What a disappointment! I was told one time in a program I was involved to “not expect and you would not be disappointed.” That is true, but it takes away from the hope of completion. 

     So, what should I do when I make a promise?

 

P roceed with what I stated I would do

R ise up and getting started with what I promised to do

O vercome any desire to not follow-through with the promise

M ake my promise happen

I mplement a plan to compete the promise 

S et in to get it done

E nd the job- in other words, complete the promise! 

 

     What I need to remember is the example Jesus set when He made a promise. He did not just say He came to save. He actually died on the cross to save. He didn’t just say He would rise the 3^rd day. He arose the 3^rd day. He didn’t just say He was going away to prepare a place for me. He has actually prepared a permanent place for me. I trust in that. Jesus didn’t just say He would send a Helper. He actually sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, and He live within. Jesus keeps His promises!

Get to Heaven

     On September 24th,  I posted a poem about Heaven, and again, on October 12th I posted to remind me of what Revelation 21 said about what Heaven would look like. When I think about Heaven, I am confident in the fact that I will go to Heaven because I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. However, I have to ask myself one more question about Heaven. That question is, "What am I doing to help someone else get to Heaven?" 

     Is it pray for missionaries? 

     Is it give to mission work?

     Is it support my church family and leaders? 

     Is it live as Jesus lived- witnessing by the way I think, talk, and act?

     Is it go out and witness myself- tell the good news about Jesus Christ?

I am reminded that Jesus told His disciples, "Go and make disciples of all nations..."  

     and

I am confident in the knowledge of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." 

    

A Song In My Heart ...

Daily, I am joyful and encouraged!  

     All I need to do is think about what heaven will be like and know that when I take my last breath on earth, I will take my first breath in heaven. Shouldn’t that make me want to shout and sing! 

     As far as the wait to get there, I am also encouraged by knowing I am only passing through this world. I am only here for a short time as compared to eternity in heaven. Oh, what a day that will be!

     As I wait for heaven’s gain, I know my purpose. It is temporary. I am to live as an ambassador for Christ. Although, I have regrets, have sinned, and continue to fail, my hope and confidence lies in the fact that I have accepted Jesus into my life. I live, breathe, and function because I was created by the great I Am, saved by the Lamb, and guided by the Holy Spirit. 

     All is well, and although I will go through troubles and guilt, I can still sing, “Hallelujah to the King”! 

Nothing

I wrote about doing nothing yesterday. After that I was talking with a friend about what Clint Eastwood once said when asked how he stayed active at his age. Eastwood replied, “Don’t let the old man in.” After Mr. Eastwood’s comment, Toby Keith wrote a great song titled, Don’t Let The Old Man In. This led me to write the following about Nothing. 

 

NOTHING 

 

Nothing is as Nothing does!

It may be all the buzz,

But here’s the thing- 

It may be knocking at your door

And wanting to move on in.  

 

Nothing is a common thread,

Roaming around in the head,

But don’t let Nothing in, 

‘Cause Nothing, for sure, will win!

 

Toast each sunrise with Something-

Just don’t let Nothing in.

Sing a song to the heavenly King!

Lift up a prayer to God above.

Show some love!

Give the day to Him.

Don’t let Nothing sweep in on a whim.

 

Many days we’ve lived,

And with Nothing we have strived.

The choice is ours to make,

Within our wake- 

Something or Nothing!

It’s ours to take.

 

Don’t let Nothing In, 

And it won’t win.

It may be knocking at your door,

But how would it be from days of yore,

If Nothing swept in to stay?

So, do something for peace and joy each day.

Nothing is as Nothing does. 

Don’t let Nothing in

And it won’t win.

      Mary Crisp Jameson 10/28/2025

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." Proverbs 10:4 Nov

"Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks." Ecclesiastes 10:18 NIV

The Negative Nothing!

I strive not to do negative- but here goes Nothing!

    Not often, but a few times, I want to wake up and do nothing. However, this feeling seldom lasts. Doing nothing is boring. I feel like I am wandering and not accomplishing something important-something I am meant to get done. 

     If I do not accomplish anything else through a gifted day, I need to develop my fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” 

     What works against developing this fruit is doing nothing and living in fleshly desires as named in Galatians. They are: “sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” 

     

My acronym for nothing which could lead to fleshly fruit instead of good fruit is:  

 

N ot developing relationship with God 

O nly operating for self  

T aging along with the world 

H aving no initiative for improvement  

I gnoring other’s needs

N ot showing love to one another 

G ot no desire for the love of Jesus

 

Doing nothing does not grow my relationship with God. It does not grow and produce good fruit in me. So instead of doing nothing, I can turn off the television, stop roaming around with worldly lust and desires and get out of self. I can read God’s word, pray, praise, worship, and care for others. 

     Doing something rather than nothing can help produce peace, love, and joy.

Who Is Jesus?

The first chapter of John gives a brief description of Jesus. I am quoting only a few short tidbits, but the full chapter would be good to read. A person would have to read and study the entire Bible to get the full image of who Jesus is and what He has done.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In Him was life…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…the glory of the one and only Son…”

So, Who is Jesus? 

 

Jesus is the Son of God in whom to be awed. 

He is Love, coming from above.

He is the Word and worthy to be heard.

Jesus is the Teacher who walked on earth in manly feature.

He is my Creator and my Mediator.

He is my Savior in whom I am to follow, in like behavior.

Jesus is the One who died and rose again to give me heaven’s gain.

He is my Christ who paid the price.

Jesus is Lord of all who receive His call.

 

And…That’s my Jesus!

 

           Mary Crisp Jameson 10/24/2025

 

Dream Big

     I believe everyone needs to dream. In other words, have a goal. I heard President Trump say one time, “If you are going to dream, dream big!” That would be a good thing, but I must add that within that “big dream” and desire, make sure it aligns with God’s will and purpose. What joy would it bring me if I reached a dream, but did not have God in it? 

     Below is an acronym to pay attention to:  

 

D esire a dream while obediently walking with God to reach it 

R est patiently in God, trusting God with the dream 

E nter into praise even when circumstances delay the dream

A lign the dream in Godly ways

M ake a way to change or alter the dream if God leads another direction

 

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

     So, go ahead...and "Dream Big!"