Only Imagine

As a weak worldly human, I carry a weigh- a weigh of fear and projection, but God does not want me to do that.  He wants me to depend on and trust in Him.  The best way for me to daily understand His power and find peace, I can:  

 

1.   Imagine: A God standing taller than myself and standing behind me. His shoulders are broader and above mine. He is wearing a backpack. In that backpack are my worries and concerns. He is lightening my load. He “has my back!”  

 

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

 

2.   Imagine: Two sets of footsteps in the sand. One makes deeper imprints. That is my Lord carrying my load. He is walking by my side.

 

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23 

 

3.   Imagine: A set of hands, big and wide. Inside those hands, I sit. He is holding me through my burdens. All my burdens are in His hands. 

 

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1 

 

I don't have to imagine, I know, that God will not “leave me nor forsake me.”  Hebrews 13:5b 

 

 

 

The WOW Factor

When I think about my life, I am in awe of God. From the time He formed me, God had a plan. Within His plan, I cannot help but offer praise for all He has and will do for me. 

The Wow Factor of My Life 

 

I describe my life,

As now, a mother and wife

Enjoying blessings God has given,

Peaceful in His forgiving.

Before a wife and mother

I grew up with sisters and a brother.

My days were filled with caring and love,

Being taught about my Father above.

From days of youth to now,

I offer up to God a great big “Wow”

For how He has stayed

Even when I disobeyed.

I offer a “Wow” for His guiding hand.

As I’ve grown and walked across His land.

Before my youth I was just a child, 

But in His plans, I imagine God smiled,

As He lovingly molded, tucked and nipped

A tiny babe to be held and led-

To believe in His Son who bled.

I offer a “Wow” for my hope in Him,

And I sing a praiseful hymn.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/26/2025

 

“Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp…” Psalm 150

 

 

My Fast-Pass

I believe everyone wants to be able to pass through easily to their destination without a long wait. I, for one, am very impatient waiting in line. 

     God is able and willing to give those who believe in His Son, a fast-pass with no waiting line.

   

     Just look at the pass He gave His children. When the Israelites passed through the red sea, they did not have to wait in line with the Egyptians; the Israelites were given a fast-pass.  

     “He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters to stand as an heap.” Psalm 78:13

     “…I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.” 1 Corinthians 10:1 

     “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” Hebrews 11:29

 

      It delights me to share the Good News that I have been given a fast-pass because I believe in the name of Jesus. I believe that God sent His Only Begotten Son to die for my sins.  I have become a child of God. 

 

The Fast-Pass

 

At ten, I received a fast-pass-

One meant to last.

It’s a special ticket I cannot lose,

And this is good news!

I carry my pass wherever I go.

It makes me glow, 

My fast-pass, to show. 

It’s my greatest treasure,

And, it gives me pleasure!

I like to explain how much it cost

And why Jesus died on the cross.

 My pass was paid for by Someone greater,

And He promises I'll use it later.

With my fast-pass, I won’t be left standing by a gate

Or in a line where I'll have to wait.

I’ll simply pass on through

And be made new.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  3/25/2025 

 

 

 

BEFORE

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

 

Before can be a powerful word...

   Before all, there was God.  

   Before me, He walks. 

   Before all else, God should be my focus. 

 

B efore the world began, there was God.

E verything was created by God.

F or me, He sent His Son to die.

O ngoing is His Word and His work.

R econciled to Him I am, through my belief in Jesus.
E nduring is God’s love for me

TODAY

There is no better day than TODAY! Today is a gift, I must not waste it.

 

TODAY, I will T hink thankful thoughts.  

TODAY, I will O pen my heart toward loving others.  

TODAY, I will D o without complaint.

TODAY, I will A ccept what comes with joy.

TODAY, I will Y ield and let God take the wheel.

 

“This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.” 

Psalm 118: 24

The Stuff Of Life

Looking around this morning, I noticed a lot of “stuff’. I like all these things, but it is ‘just stuff”. There are no special treasures even though I like and enjoy some better than others, and some of it, in my opinion, would be irreplaceable. However, it is all still just stuff that could go up in smoke in an instant. True, I would miss and be sad should it suddenly all be gone, but it is still just stuff. 

    If all my stuff should be caught on fire or blown away in a violent storm, I get an earthly do-over to be selective in acquiring new “stuff”.  However, once I meet my Lord face-to-face, I have no further do-over. There will no further earthly chance to choose new earthly possession of redo how I treat others. I will have made my final choices as I stand at heaven's judgment seat. 

     What matters in the here-and-now is God and people. People are of value to God, and that makes them of value to me. It is good to remind myself that God and people are the “stuff” which matter, and they should be my treasures.

Know Him by Name!

 When I see someone coming my way,  I like to know who it is. John knew in John 1, when he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." 
     Often, in my busyness, I do not recognize the One who lives and walks beside me everyday. I need to get to know Him better. One of the best ways is to study His ways and know Him by name. I should explode with praise over His name and what He does for me daily.

The Trinty- God, Jesus, The Holy Ghost - Three in One. They are:  

Alpha- Almighty
Bread of Life 

Comforter-Christ-Creator-Counselor

Deliverer

Everlasting Father

Father of All- Faithful One-Forgiver

God of the Universe

Healer -Holy Ghost -Head of the Church 

I Am - Immanuel

Jesus -Jehovah-Judge

King of the Jews -Kings of Kings

Lord of Heaven -Lamb of God- Light of the World

Messiah - Mighty God - Mediator-Maker of All 

Nazarene

Omega -Only Begotten Son

Prince of Peace -Physician-Power over All

Quick Forgiver - Quiet Voice of Truth

Redeemer

Savior - Shepherd - Son of God

Truth - Tree of Life -Trinty -Teacher

Upholder of all things -Unchanging God

Vine - Voice of the Soul

Way- Word of Life

Young Child of Mary-Yahweh

Zest of Life -Zeal for Living

Good Morning!

It's a new day in Daylight Saving's Time, and I have already lost an hour. I had better hurry and get around, but First, let me say, "Good Morning to all". It is always a Good Morning when I put God first, and when "I let Him get into my head before I get into my head."

 

G od

O

O pens Doors

D elivers on His Promises 

 

M oves Mountains

O

R einforces My Goings and Comings 

N

I ntercedes for Mr

N

G oes Before Me

Thank you God! Praises to your precious name!

Salt and Spice

Because of my husband’s struggle with high blood pressure, I use no to very little salt. I often forget that when I cook for others, they expect better seasoned, tasty food. In defense, I do use a lot of different spices, but those can become flat if left on the shelf too long. They lose their flavor, and need to be thrown out and replaced.  

     I admit that bland food does not enrich people’s palates. Salt and fresh spices greatly enhance the taste!  

    This is much the same in life. Sometimes, I just have to STOP to remember that I need to add salt and spice to my life as well as others. With God's, He can restore my usefulness and I can become a tasty palate for others. 

     As it says in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again: It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

 

The Unparishable

The Redemptive Plan from Old to New

 

My redemptive plan started before the world began.

God had a plan that He would expand.

The story is woven from beginning to end

About a shedding of blood that God would send.

It’s a story of death, renewal, and reconciliation

From Genesis to Revelation.

God’s redemptive plan is a connection between blood and sin;

Of how slavery can end and freedom ring in.

The plan began when God first covered Adam and Eve with an animal skin;

It was to hide their sin.

Later, the Israelites used doves and lambs for sacrifices to absolve their wicked ways,

But these were only temporary, perishable things during their days.

From the Old Testament to the New, the perishable was used until God send His Son

For His redemptive plan to be finally done!

The narrative shifted

When God’s own Son was gifted.

There was no longer to be a temporary, perishable sacrifice;

One not done twice or thrice,

But only once-and-done by God’s only Son.

And, it was for all and anyone!

When Jesus hung His head, and His broken body was diminished,

He cried out, “It is finished!”

Jesus exchanged His unblemished, spotless perfection for my sin

To give me heaven’s permanent win.

He gave me a once-and-done blood provision-

His Father’s foreknown redemptive vision.

As One, 

Father and Son,

They completed the redemptive plan for man.

Jesus obeyed His Father’s will 

And He lives still!

For this reason, I, too, live still, to count the days

Until, upon heaven’s gate, I gaze.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 3/6/2025

 

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world…” 1 Peter 1:18-20a 

 

Which Comes First?

There is an old mystery often asked, “Which came first? The chicken or the egg!” 

     I actually have no answer, but in reading my devotional about the words that come from my mouth in the way of gossip or words that injure others, I questioned, “What comes first? The heart or the thoughts before I speak. 

     Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Then I found in Mark 7:21a, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…”

     Therefore, I conclude, my thoughts, good or bad, first come from my heart before I think them and then spew them carelessly rom my mouth. 

     Since my heart needs the work, I pray this morning Luke 6:45, O Lord, “Let the words of my mouth and the medication of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” 

 

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone

Everyone means all… and we are told that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Therefore, it is possible that “everyone” can be saved,” but everyone will not call on the name of the Lord.
    Those who do not call on the name of the Lord will not find their name written in the book of life, and “anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15