Money

As a retired banker and loan officer, I am going to have a little fun writing this one. I have seen too many who cannot afford to acquire homes or pay bills simply because they mismanaged their money.  

Money

Some have it. Some don’t.

It’s mysterious!

It talks,

It walks,

It flies,

And it hides. 

In a blink, money can simply disappear.

It can do harm,

Or it can do good

It is sought but not easily found.

It can be given,

Or, it can be taken

Money can bring on tears,

Or it can bring laughter.

It can be turned into more,

Or it can be turned into less,

Money has power-

It can plant seeds of growth,

Or, it can establish debts galore.

Money has needs-

It needs a proper handler-

One with discernment,

A budget planner,

And a tracker of sorts.

It needs someone who seeks, not earthy treasures, 

but those above.

That would be one who establishes its worth.

 Mary Crisp Jameson  9/2/2026

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 

 

(Descriptive)...“When your eyes light on it, it is gone for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle.” Proverb 23:5a

Discernment

 I am sharing one thing that hit home this morning as I was reading my "In Touch" devotional. The writer was talking about "Listening to God." In it was prayer. He stated, "When we bring our heart to Him, we should linger - making space for Him to speak into our stillness." That spoke volumes to me for I had to ask, "How often do I really linger in stillness?" The rest of the devotional led me to write about developing discernment.

Discernment

 

Discernment does not come easy.

It takes a work.

I have to lend God my ear,

And let Him draw near.

I have to truly seek and yearn,

Using scripture to learn.

It’s the source of revelation

And a way to know what God is like.

There are circumstances I must endure,

Yet staying strong and Godly pure.

Then there is prayer.

It’s not a one-way dialogue ‘cause God is there too.

It’s a two-way talk

I have to have concerning my walk.

Then we return to the listening ear

Allowing His words draw me, to Him, ever near.

Developing concernment takes some space-

A space filled with prayer

A two-way communication allowing God to be in there.

So here’s the summation for a bit of concernment.

I need:

A listening ear,

My Bible open,

God in my circumstances,

A yearning within my learning,

Prayer with space for God to talk,

And a daily constant repeat within my walk. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 9/1/2026 

 

“Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice in understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5

 

In The Wait

I have had several projects going on, and they never seemed to come together. Then finally last week they all fell into place. The wait was frustrating. When I read about David call out to the Lord, I simply had to write about the wait because God is in the wait with me. 

In The Wait

 

“How long, O Lord?

Will You forget me forever?

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness.

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

That’s the lament David cried.

It was simple in God’s eye.

It was an honest plea from David laying his anguish out.

God was listening-His was still watching- He was still about.

For David, the delay was frustrating,

But God was with David in the waiting.

God heard!

He was stirred!

Yet, David’s request was deferred.

Then we see another thread

And one we have read.

David trusted-His heart rejoiced,

And that’s what David voiced.

This was a simple and earnest prayer

And God was there.

God didn’t need perfect or rehearsed words to hear

He simply wants His children to draw near.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow

God never veers away

He is in the wait, today.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  8/31/2026

 

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? But I have trusted in your steadfast love.” Psalm 13:1a, 5a

 

When and Then

I completely agree with Rick Warren’s Daily Hope this morning. It was about “when and then.” He wrote about when so and so happens then I will be happy. He gave examples. It is so true! As he wrote, “happiness is a choice.” Having something “when” won’t make you happy “then.” Therefore, enjoy what you have NOW!

The One I Call

 It's always good to have a friend to call at any time. It gives me comfort to know my friend is available at any time and is always there.

The One I Call 

 

God is the only One-

The One and Only!

It’s to him I call;

I call God when I fall down,

When I frown,

And when I feel like I’m about to drown.

I call God when I feel up,

When He fills my cup,

And when I feel anxious and all bound up.

I call on God when I’m in the valley, 

And I call on Him when I’m on top of the mountain.

I call on God whether good or bad-

Whether happy or glad,

Whether taking a walk or just doodling on a notepad.

I call on God any time, any hour, any minute, any second,

‘Cause I can, and isn’t that grand?

I reckon I just need to check in.

I call on God anytime, anywhere,

‘Cause He is there.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 8/24/2026

 

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” 

Psalm 145:18 ESV

Wait! How Long?

I believe I posted this poem some years back, but it came to mind this morning. The reason is that I am waiting on the Good Lord to send rain. I have been waiting for weeks now. He is rather slow doing this. 

     Then I thought that really God is just telling us, "How long have I waited for you? How long before you will give me your time? How long before you praise me for your daily blessings which I give? How long before you lift my name up and tell others about me? I have waited now it is your time to wait!"

Hurry And Wait!

I threw the cover from my arm as I shut off the alarm;

Then jumped from my bed to get everyone fed.

I’d overslept, but still got the floors all swept.

I threw on the wash, but I was late, “Oh my gosh!”

“At this rate, Lord, you’ll just have to wait.”

I rushed into work, and said “Hello” to the clerk.

It was half past eight, and I was running late.

As I sank into my job my head began to throb,

But soon it was ten, and I threw down my pen.

It was time for my break, and that’s something I’d take.

I’d enjoy the time for it was all mine.

I had to relax, find some coffee and snacks;

Read the news and get other people’s views.

As it came to an end I had more work to attend.

“I’m in such a state, Lord, you’ll still have to wait.”

I had unopened files which I stacked in different piles.

They were enough to make me swoon, but I planned to quit at noon.  

As I looked at my watch, my task looked top-notch.  

So I wrapped up loose ends to lunch with my friends.

 Reservations had been made, and all was prepaid.

As I entered Mel’s I knew there’d be stories to hear and to tell.

The noise was loud, coming from all of the crowd.

“Lord, it’s no time to pray- not in this café. 

I’m sure it’s alright to wait till tonight.”  

At the end of the day there were events to convey;

Kids to get into bed and stories to be read;

There were movies to view and mail to go through.

Time was slipping by as I began to close my eye.

I crawled into bed -fluffed up the pillow as I laid down my head.    

“Lord, it’s awful late. I’m so sleepy you’ll just have to wait?”

                                                                 Mary Crisp Jameson   

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock… Revelations 4:20

Do You Know?

I just published a book, Old and New Testament Gleanings. It is a one to two page summary of each Book of the Bible in poetic form. The link to Amazon is below.  I am now in the process of writing a sequel which provides a one page character description of characters in the Bible. Below is a sample of what is to come. 

Do you know who Rhoda was in the New Testament?  Her name was only given one time. Following is who she was. 

“And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.” Acts 12:13-14

 

“They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind. But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, ‘It is his angel.' But Peter continued knocking.” Acts 12:15-16a

 

“But Peter continued knocking.” Acts 12:16a

 

Rhoda

 

Imagine if you will

a girl who was so surprised she forgot to think.

She moved simply by her instinct.

Peter had knocked on the door.

Rhoda, a servant girl, came to answer.

Peter spoke. What he said, we know not what,  

but Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice.

She became so excited she did not open the door- it remained shut.  

This was at Mary’s house, and there was a group there praying. 

 Instead of letting Peter in, 

Rhoda ran to tell the group that Peter was at the door.

 Peter was left standing while still knocking and being ignored.

But Rhoda was too joyful and stirred to think to let him in.

The group at the house were responding in disbelief.

The chatter was probably not brief,

and Peter was still knocking.

One was saying, “Your out of your mind.”

Another may have leaned back to listen and remained, in amazement, reclined.

Rhoda excitedly continued insisting that Peter was at the door.

Another joined the conversation, “It must be his angel,”

as Peter continued knocking.

Finally, they opened the door and were amazed.

Rhonda joined everyone as they praised.

Why were they in awe? 

Why was Peter left knocking?

Peter explained to them,

“An angel awakened me in my cell

and said, ‘Peter, get up quickly.’

The chains fell from my hands, 

and the angel led me past the guards and out the gate.”  

No one had expected Peter to be at Mary’s house nor knocking,

least of all Rhoda.

Rhoda was just a servant girl stirred with excitement-

Her joy was so deep, she forgot to open the door.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Gleanings-Mary-Crisp/dp/B0H3H975TC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FKTUERLUMML7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZE7UJ19V-D9-_B6RkTDmVWL0c6OVITU59j_hiSjM3pIZM0kWsNIWW6pzMG094YLt20_e0ZhWrFm7U0Ioh5y4YGCP19QZTlcD_E_MVlJ7R7A8I6TRS_lM3_KUxRXH2d5-VFJ4ZyKjY1nmY3XyvU_fEg9TpVsRmIzEPIR8UoC4b_304FI3UyruPPLDlHpDdOVZolUcvKaEeBAmybI0LboXvtweHJqHz2wRvakl7edSrzs.Ipk4GQqUB0pW5XQt4ddUtsBzFaZiD4x2IMY1Y9zhVAM&dib_tag=se&keywords=old%2Band%2Bnew%2Btestament%2Bgleanings&qid=1787174860&sprefix=old%2Band%2Bnew%2Btestament%2Bgleanings%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-1