Me Time

I have often said that I just want a little “me time” which means, “Everyone just leave me alone and let me get away by myself.” I really do not mean that literally for there is always One who I want with me at ALL times. 

     I realize that I am never alone, and I am so glad and blessed by that knowledge. Psalm 139: 7-10 reinforces this: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.”

     This knowledge that I am never alone gives me comfort and peace. I love my "me time."

 

Me Time

 

“Me time” finds me never alone

But with the Lord upon His throne. 

Alone, I do not wish to be;

But just the Lord and me.

“Me time” is a time to praise

Before the lifting of morning’s haze;

Before the beginnings of my days.

“Me time” is a moment for listening-

A moment for partitioning.

It starts while the dew is glistening.

It starts in early morning

Before the sun begins its adorning.

“Me time” is a time to hear His voice;

A time to rejoice:

A time amid the busy day

In my work or in my play.

“Me time” is a call to pray. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/29/2024 

 

 

 

Good Friday and Easter

This Good Friday we celebrate the death of Christ. We celebrate the expectation of the resurrection! 

     Jesus Arose!

     Every day, but especially at Easter, I am reminded of how God took the sinless Christ and, in death, poured my sins into Him so I could have God’s goodness poured into me if only I believe.

     The King James version of 2 Corinthians 5:21 states it like this, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us (me), who knew no sin, that we (I) might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

     The Living Bible version puts in like this, “For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our (my) sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us. (me)!” 

     When Jesus died on the cross, He took the sins of the world. When I believed, I received the Holy Spirit and by God’s grace I had God’s goodness poured into me. 

     For this I celebrate and "Praise the Name of My Lord!"

     

     

 

 

 

Vitamin C

Medical advice says Vitamin C is good, and I need more than a double dose to keep me going. I find that I need it daily. I especially need it early in the morning to start the day: 

 

  Christ in Command

  Christ in Charge 

  Christ to keep me: 

    Calm

    Cheerful

    Caring

    Courageous

    Confident. 

    Carefree

    Compassionate

 

Forever Home

The sun is shining bright and all outside is quiet and peaceful. My home and the outside acreage around it is my haven, but it is not my forever home which will be more glorious than I can ever imagine. 

Forever Home 

 

As a member of God’s household,

I’ll walk streets of gold.

There’ll be no fear.

My eyes will weep no tear.

There will be no sorrow to worry about tomorrow;

No suffering or pain;

Only healthy life running through my vein.

I’ll live with no more sin,

As like in this world I’ve been.

I’ll have no more sickness or sadness;

No more problems to figure out;

Love will just take hold and sprout.

There will be no darkness there; 

I will not be in despair

Or have concern over fright.

God’s glory will be my light,

Stamping out the darkness of night. 

Heaven will be my home

Where I will gladly roam.

I’ll have a prepared place; 

Prepared by Jesus by His grace.

It’s no dream

Or someone’s scheme.

When I cross death’s shore 

I’ll live with the family of God forevermore.

Heaven is for real!

And, God has stamped me with His seal.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  3/27/2024

 

“…And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6b

 

Book Review on Kings

My Bible Study group finished up a study in 2 Kings today. Most of the Kings did evil in the sight of the Lord while only a few did what was right. I find that as "the world turns" people continue to repent history although we read and study about the consequences of our choices. 
     Following is my book review and summary on 2 Kings: 

Book of Kings

 

I studied the Book of Kings

About those who worshiped idol things-

About those who did evil in God’s sight.

I studied about the few who did right.

There was bad and there was good.

No King did all he should or could.

Life was a repeat-

A win or a defeat.

Those who did right in the eyes of the Lord

Received their reward.

Those who did evil 

Ended their reign in upheaval.

In the Book of Kings

I learned about the failure to obey,

The patience of God every day,

How evil can repeat and sprout, 

How judgment will eventually be carried out. 

The Book of Kings teaches history details

And how God’s plan prevails.

It’s about battles, lost and won,

And how God is not, yet, done.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/5/2024 

 

“Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is He who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” 2 Kings 17:39 NIV 

The Lord is...

God is my Creator and He is... 

“…God is love.” 1 John 4:8

“…the Word was (is) God..." John 1:1

 

“God is faithful…” 1 Corinthians 1:9

 

“Great is the Lord…” Psalm 145:3 (The Lord is great and good) 

Jesus Loves

Jesus Loves…and He gave me quite a few examples of what it means to love like Him. These examples are found all throughout His earthly walk as well as when He was on the Cross. 

 

At the last supper, I imagine I was there with Judas. When Jesus fed Judas, He fed me. When Jesus washed Judas’s feet, He washed and cleaned mine, as well. Jesus had such love for me, He was willing to feed a deceiver. He allowed me a choice just as He was willing to forgive for the act of betrayal.

 

At the last supper, I imagine I was also with Peter who said, “I will never deny you. Peter did and I have too. Yet, I was fed, my feet were washed, and I was forgiven just as Peter was loved and forgiven. 

 

When Jesus was arrested, I imagine I was there among the crowd when they mocked and spit upon Him. I was there when one of the criminals asked to be remembered. I was there when Jesus said, because you asked, “today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus was talking to me. I imagine I was at the foot of the Cross when Jesus took His last breath just after He cried out in agony and pain, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus was praying and interceding for me. In death, He was loving me.

 

To say I love Jesus is easy, but loving Him and others the way Jesus loves is not so easy. To do so, I must follow in Jesus’s footprints – His example- and strive to love like Him.

 

Display of Color

I enjoy adding hints of white and black to my decor, but I am so glad the world is not just black and white. Life would be boring without color. The colors all around me display the glory of God. God is great!

Display of Color

 

The Artist’s hands paint a world for all to see;

A mix of colors over land, sky, and sea.

His every stroke-unique!

Splashes of color across the canvas, they streak.

O Lord!

I in awesome wonder what thy hands hath made-

How colors ignite in sapphires, topaz, and jade;  

How violets and red blend and spread;

How blues give way to indigo as colors mix and flow.

How green paints a worldly scene,

Turning to red, orange, and brown.

How colors expand from sky down to the ground,

How yellows turn to gold,

How all creates a masterpiece to behold,

How blacks and white give dark and light.

O Lord!

 My heart rejoices in Your awesome art.

You, the Artist, have created a visual sight,

Pleasing and right

With hues and tints here and there.

Nothing can compare.

What wonders Your hands hath made!

A palette of colors 

Painting a vision with precision.

O Lord, my God!

Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

I marvel at what Your hands hath made.

How great thy art!

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/22/2024 

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth 

His handywork.” Psalm 19:1 KJV

 

Washed

Yesterday, when I came inside from working in the yard, my boots were dusty and muddy, so I pulled them off at the door before entering the house. As I sat and looked down at my feet, I found my socks to be dirty, as well. I yanked them off and desired to have my feet washed but was too tired. My back was hurting and my feet ached from push-mowing the lawn. I thought, “Who would wash my feet for me?” 

     This brought to mind when Jesus washed His disciples feet. Jesus and his disciples’ feet must have ached from all the walking they did in sandals across mountainous plains. Their feet would have been muddy and/ or dusty. As He and His disciples gathered around the table for their meal, Jesus took it upon Himself to wash His disciples’ feet. One of His disciples, Peter, was appalled and declared to his Master, “Never shall You wash my feet.” Jesus’ reply was, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”  

     At that point, I knew who would and had washed my feet. In fact, Jesus washed all of me by His death upon the cross. 

The Cost of a Bridge

A few days ago I talked about some great bridges that have been built. I also told about the bridge to Jesus which I most wanted to travel. But then again what if I wanted to build a bridge myself? What would be the cost? Could I actually build a bridge? 

     I found one of the answers in 1 Peter 3. "Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate, and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so you may, inherit a blessing. 
     The cost is actually not that great and not that costly. I can and am able with the help of Jesus to build a bridge.

Questions and Answers

My Daily Hope devotional this morning stated, "There is no other book in the world like it! (referring to the Bible) It has the answers to life's questions, including: Why am I here? Where am I going? What is the purpose of life? Does my life matter? What's the past? What's the future? Where did I come from?" 
     Thinking about these questions, I decided to attempt to give an answer as pertains to me.

Why am I here? To love Jesus and others

Where am I going? To heaven

What is the purpose of life? To worship God and tell others about Jesus

Does my life matter? It matters because God created me for a purpose

What's the past? A life filled with forgiven mistakes which I cannot redo but wish I could

What is the future? A life filled with hope and the reward of heaven

Where did I come from? From God; a creation formed by His hands. He breathed life into me

Bridges in U.S.A.

There are many interesting bridges across the U.S.A. Some of which are: 

 

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension one-mile-wide bridge connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

 

The Brookyn Bridge is a cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City which spans the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was the first bridge fixed across the East River. 

 

The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses the East River in New York City. It connects Lower Manhattan at Canal Street with Downtown Brooklyn at the Flatbush Avenue Extension. It has a length of 6,855 feet. 

 

The Bridge to Nowhere is an abandoned bridge on a washed-away road in the San Gabriel Mountains that spans across the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. A trail uses several river fords to reach it. Expect an extended outdoor hike to reach this treasure.  

 

The above are just a few of the man-made famous bridges that could be described and discussed. However, there is another bridge of more importance. It is not man-made! It is the bridge on the highway to Jesus Christ. That is the one I want to travel. There is only one way to get there, and the path is mapped out in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

 

 

 

 

 

The "D" Words!

I do not like certain “d” words. They often start with darts from satan, because he wants to keep me down and in doubt. He wants to discourage me. He wants to delay my joy. He wants my life to be difficult. He wants me to be depressed. He wants to defeat me. He wants to dazzle me with things of this world. He wants to draw me to his ways. He wants to deceive and dupe me.

     Because I wear the shield of faith, I suppose I will always have satan’s darts thrown at me, but if I stay on guard and trust God, no matter what “d” words I confront, I have the promise of victory. 

     Hallelujah! Praise my Lord!

The Hands of Jesus

This morning I read about how Jesus stopped in his travel to make a clay ball of his spittle and applied to a blind man’s eyes who had been blind since birth. I could just see his hands as he performed this wonderful miracle. 

     Then I imagined seeing the scars left from the nails as He allowed the soldiers to hammer them into His hands for me. My imagination then led me to see “me” in His scooped hands, because “He holds the whole wide world in His hands.” I saw His hands open as He gently set me down so I could dump all my worries and cares into them. I watched as He closed His hands so I wouldn’t see my worries anymore. Finally, I saw His hands as He reached out to take mine to lead me through my travel today, and I said, “Thank you, Lord.” 

God's Armor

Why must I put on God’s armor today? I know I am not perfect and that I will be a pushover for Satan about something today. Yet, the armor of God brings me back to Him. His armor makes me want to repent and be forgiven. Should I slip, His armor protects me. By putting on the armor of God, I am assured that I will always be a child of God desiring to do what is right in His eyes. 

Proverbs on Wisdom

Solomon said in Proverbs, chapter 1 that the first step to becoming wise is to trust and reverence the Lord.  In chapter 2 he says, “For the Lord grants wisdom! His every word is a treasure of knowledge and understanding.” In chapter 3 he says, “Don’t be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord…” In chapter 4, he says, “Learn to be wise and develop good judgement and common sense! Cling to wisdom-she will protect you. Love her- she will guard you…The good man walks along in the every-brightening light of God’s favor…”

 

     My desire is to love God, be wise, and gain wisdom. Some ways I can do that are:  

W alk with God

I dentify as God’s child

S eek God first

D o as God guides

O bey God

M ake time for God, all the time 

Victory

I do not like war. I enjoy peace and calm and wish it on others, as well. God knew when He created me, I would have to fight battles. I am referring to battles within over good and evil. But God did put within me a way to be victorious- a way to win. 

     “The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4. This is the Power that allows my victory. 

     Having said this, I am reminded of the song, Victory in Jesus.

"Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever.

He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.

He loved me 'ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him.

He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood."

     

Capture The Rapture

After reading The Great Disappearance by Dr. David Jeremiah, I was inspired to write the following: 

Capture The Rapture 

 

No one knows the time,

but God’s children listen for the chime

for when Jesus will appear in the air.

A trumpet will blair,

but not all will hear.

There will be a mighty shout, 

“Come Forth!”

 Graves will open from the East, West, South, and North. 

Bodies will be disbursed;

All will happen unrehearsed!

First, the dead in Christ will rise to the skies;

Wind will gather the scattered dead. 

In that day, there will be nothing to dread;

Only a reunion in the sky with Jesus’ cry.

Quickly, the living will ascend and disappear-

away from others standing near.

Bodies will join souls;

Joy will erupt with Jesus in control.

What a sight for those who see!

What a joy to fall at Jesus’ knee! 

He came to set the body free

and to heal in the great reveal;  

No flaw, only awe-

No scars or mars, no prison bars-

It will be a mystery for those left behind

who remained blind.

They did not see this great event 

or where the people went.

Hours will be spent in confusion

With no right conclusion.

God had come to get His own

leaving the blind to moan and groan.

Look up; Look ahead!

All will not remain dead.

For God’s children, there will be a rapture; 

 a bodily capture. 

This will be the great disappearing,  

Leaving the left-behind, confused and fearing. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  2/28/2024 

 

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV