The "I" in Idolatry

Idolatry is defined as extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone. Also, I read in a devotional several days ago that the “I” in Idolatry could be just that, I. 

     In other words, am I just looking out for “me” and what only pleases “me” or daily thinking, “What’s in it for me?” 

     In studying about Solomon, he stated that with all his riches, he denied himself nothing. He had everything. So, you might say he lived in “I”dolatry. In the end, even with all Solomon had acquired, Solomon in his wisdom expressed that life was meaningless without God in it.  

     Comparing Solomon’s life to Paul’s life, they were completely different, yet Paul had learned to be content without luxury. After Paul's conversion experience, he lived only for God and sharing the ministry. In 2 Corinthians Paul tell us: 

1.     5 times I received 39 lashes from the Jews

2.    3 times I was beaten with rods

3.    Once I was stoned

4.    3 times I was shipwrecked 

5.    A night and a day I have spent in the deep

6.    I have been on frequent journeys in dangers from rivers, robbers, countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on sea, and dangers among false brethren.

7.    I have been in labor and hardship

8.    I have had many sleepless nights

9.    I have had hunger and thirst, often without food

10. I have been in cold and exposure

11.  I have had daily pressure over concern for all the churches

I have to take note of Paul’s last comment in item #11. His concern was not over the hardships he listed in numbers 1-10, his concern with for the churches and His work for God. He certainly was not into the “I” factor. 

     Both Solomon and Paul, in different ways, gave me the final analysis. I, like everyone else, will have an earthy death -earthly riches cannot be taken with me - my earthly deeds will be forgotten by man. The only thing I have is my hope in Jesus Christ who has gone before me to make an eternal home for me if I only believe in the Son of God. It is really very simple. Believe and gain joy in my earthy walk with God. 

     

 

Women of the Bible

In a Barbie world, 

  Be an Esther, 

  Be a Hannah,

  Be a Ruth,

  Be a Deborah,

  Be a Mary

 

Romans 12:1-2 KJV “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not transformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” 

 

     After seeing the above quote and scripture someone posted, I decided to look up these women and provide a more detailed observation about their character. I can always learn a lesson by studying about the faithful women in scripture. Below is a short description for how and why they are mostly remembered.  

 

Hannah was the woman seen praying to God for a child. Her tears were great, and she vowed to dedicate her child to God if only He would answer her prayer.  God heard and saw Hannah’s distress. He answered her prayer, and Hannah fulfilled her promise. Hannah was dependable and faithful.

 

Esther was an orphan raised by her cousin. Because of her beauty, she was taken into the king’s harem, not realizing that she was a Jew. Esther had to reveal this to the king in order to petition him to save her people; although, it could have meant death for her. She was courageous and faithful. 

 

Ruth was a widow who chose to follow her mother-in-law back to her homeland, thus leaving her own parents and country she knew. She became the great-grandmother of David through her marriage to Boaz. Ruth was loyal and steadfast.

 

Deborah was the only female judge and prophet described in scripture in Israel’s history. She was a decisive figure in the defeat of the Canaanites, a judge, and a prophetess in Israel. She wrote the Song of Deborah to give God glory.  Deborah was wise, dependable, and a leader.

 

Mary was selected by God to be the mother of Jesus. She willingly obeyed God even if it meant being stoned to death. She was obedient, had endurance, and was faithful.

 

They all loved God!

Delilah was not mentioned in the quote above, but I suppose the Barbie could be her. Delilah was the one who used her beauty for deceit, all for a bag of coins. She was the one who betrayed Samson.

Why Am I Doing This?

There are some days I get a feeling and stop! I ask God, “Lord, what am I missing? Is there something I need to be doing that is escaping my attention?” I may not get an answer. I may not, still, see beyond my own plans. However, I have stopped long enough to realize God is working on me in His season, so I relax and just trust in Him. 

 

Why Am I Doing This?

 

What is there to life? 

I mow the grass, it grows, and I mow again.

What is there to gain.?

I clean the house, it gets dirty, and I clean once more.

From all my labor, what is there in store? 

I go to work, return home, sleep and repeat;

My life seems set into columns within a spreadsheet.

I draw a paycheck which seems to disappear within my hand;

I work for another, but it never goes toward what I planned.

What do I achieve? 

What in life do I weave? 

What is the aim if all stays the same?

Mowing, working, cleaning, cooking-

For something more, I am constantly looking.

What do I gain from my toil as I walk this earthly soil? 

These are only questions I ask about life’s task,

For I cannot fathom all that God has in store with every chore.

But I know within it all, God has a plan within my lifespan.

So, I’ll rejoice and enjoy my life-

its God gift to me;

I’ll just do my work, love God, and be carefree. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  2/1/2026

 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV 

 

 

A Heartbeat Away

Time is just a heartbeat away. At the end of the day, I may say, “This has been the longest day,” or I could say, “I can’t believe the day is already over.” It’s the same within a year, it moves so slow or so fast, yet, it is all, just, a heartbeat away. 

 

A Heartbeat Away 

 

My heart beats today,

Which means another one, on earth, to stay.

From the day I was born, I was being prepared

By the God who created me and cared.

Numbered is every hair. 

Who else could do something so rare?

God made it all 

In order to respond to His call. 

Even the flower has its power.

The stars are not the same;

He gave each one a name.

There is a purpose to every season,

And I have life for a reason.

Every day comes into play;

Rather I sweep a floor or paint a door;

Rather I attend a meeting or express a happy greeting;

Rather I go to the store and more.

It’s really up to me, within every heartbeat,

Who I let direct my feet,

And the source of who I let navigate my course.

Within the beat of my chest

I have another grace-filled day to be blessed-

Another day to live and a purpose to find-

A reason to exist among mankind. 

I won’t find it in a self-help book;

There’s a better place for me to look. 

I won’t find it on a TV screen.

I won’t accomplish it by being selfish or mean.

Like the flower, 

It’s in Christ I have my staying power.

One day my heart will stop

And from earth to heaven’s home, I will swap.

You see, I was really made to last forever,

And wasn’t God clever?

He made a way, in death, for me,

‘Cause I accepted Christ, you see.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  1/31/2026

 

“He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.” Psalm 147:4 KJV

 

Chasing the Wind

Solomon was given great wisdom, yet even he pursued pleasures. Later he set a course to test or examine all he had gained and determined it was all vanity without God in it. Studying about Solomon’s experiments led to the following: 

 

Chasing the Wind

 

I was chasing after the wind,

Deep in sin,

Living in the fast-lane,

But there was no pleasure to gain. 

I filled my closets full

With silks and worsted wool,

Diamonds and jewels,

And attended the best of schools.

Yet, there was a void

Which left me empty and annoyed.

I bought the best of trucks and cars

In my wishful, lustful pause.

Their shiny luster did not last-

My joy soon was past.

Meaningless! Meaningless!

All was chasing after the wind

With a hopeless sting.

I was employed by the best;

With work, I was obsessed

And achieved financial riches untold,

But my heart was left chilled and cold.

My mind did not rest upon my bed

For who would gain when I was dead?

There was no satisfaction in it all

Until God came to call.

My laughter, my riches, my gain

Held no joy without the One who was slain-

Without the One who removed my sin-filled stain.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson – 1/30/2026 

 

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 

Good

I have been iced in for a few days from the ice storm that swept through. During this time, I had two different neighbors text asking if I needed anything. My response was, “Thank you, but I am good,” and I was. I had plenty of food, warmth, and all was well or good in my soul. It reminded me of the song written titled, “It Is Well With My Soul.” The author could just as easily said “good instead of well”. 

     In Genesis after God completed creation, He saw that it was “good.”

     In Romans, it says that, “All things work together for “good” to them that love God.”  

     Good is used in scripture many, many times to describe God and His goodness, for God is “good.” In fact, it is good with my soul ‘cause, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”

Keeping Up With the Jones

“Keeping up with the Jones” is something I have heard all my life. Some do it quite well, financially, while others only thrive to do it and, in so doing, stay in financial debt. What is it about wanting to do and have the same as others? Truly, we are all the same in some ways:

1.     We all struggle with fleshy desires. 

2.    We all wake up and then go to sleep. 

3.    We all have hurts and get ill from time to time.

4.    We all have cheerful moments and sad moments.

So, what make a person really, really different in a special way? 

1.     Some make wise decisions while others make foolish ones.

2.    Some choose Jesus’ thoughts and ways over Satan’s.  

3.    Some have been given the Holy Spirit while others have not.

4.    Some have the hope of eternal life while others do not. 

I think I would rather “keep up with the Christians” than “keep up with the Jones.’” I found that to keep up with the Christians, all I had to do was to “Believe” and I became financially rich. It has never put me in financial distress. 

 

“For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34 KJV