Meditate

My Scripture for today is Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in His law he meditates day and night.”

 

I’ve never tried to meditate. I looked up how. It said to: Find a quiet spot-Set my position -Close my eyes -Focus on my breath- Return or start over if I lose focus or get off-track 

 

Yet, how do I mediate on the Lord all day? I came up with: 

 

M ake time

E nter into communication with the Lord

D o it minute by minute, day and night

I gnite my love for Christ

T alk to God

A lter my fleshly desire

T ake the initiative to put God first

E mbrace the Lord and His Word

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The Price of My Sin

Jesus and the Price of Sin 

 

Eve started it and Adam followed.

Yet, if I had been there, it would have been me.

All the children were next. Like a flock of sheep, we tag along.

The cost was great.

At first, there was a sacrificial blood offering.

Sin was too great. The blood offering required more.

Picture the greatness of God’s love!

He delivered to us His only Son. 

Jesus came. He left His Father. He left His home.

Here was the picture of a man who had no sin. 

He came to walk among those who did.

What more did He have to pay? What more was the cost?

What did Jesus have to endure for me!

Jesus had to live with what He knew was to come. 

There was a willingness, yet, “His sweat was like drops of blood.” Luke 22:44 

“Judas betrayed him.” (John 18:2) In sin, I, too, betray my Lord.

Peter denied Him. I, too, have denied Him.

Jesus was flogged. (John 19:19) He was beaten with a whip. 

His flesh was torn- His blood ran red.

“The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head.” John 19:2

“They slapped Him in the face.” John 19:3b

He was forced to carry His own cross to Golgotha. John 19:17

What more would my sin cause?

It was the spikes driven into His hands and feet.

It was the pressure upon His body hanging there on the cross.

It was grotesque what Jesus suffered for my sin.

Yet, upon the cross, He forgave a thief when He said, 

“Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:24b

Jesus had to look upon His mother standing there in grief and tears. 

 Not only was Jesus nailed, but His “side was pierced.” John 19:34

The soldiers “divided up His clothes by casting lots.” Matt. 27:35

In Jesus’ final hour, He suffered when His Father looked away.

He called out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matt. 27:46b 

God had looked away, for my sin had been placed upon His Son. 

Jesus cried again, “It is finished! John 19:30

He had paid the price. He took my sin. 

The Intervention!

An intervention is a purposeful action to alter a process or confront a loved one.

Have you ever had an intervention? You might have, without even knowing it.

 

I believe God did and still does many interventions.

     Jonah had an intervention when he was going the wrong way. God sent a storm and a big fish. Jonah’s unexpected joy ride last 3 days before he was spit out and turned around.

     Paul had an intervention when he was walking the Damascus Road. He was going the wrong way. God sent a blinding light to stop Paul from what he intended. His blindness lasted 3 days before His eyes were opened.

     Moses had an intervention. He was encouraged to return to Egypt by a burning bush. It took some talking between him and God to convince Moses that he was the man for the job.

     Consider the flat tire, the appointment missed, the unexpected event-anything that changed your plans for the day: were those interventions? 

     Regardless, at the end of day, always be thankful.

         

Freedom

I woke up feeling grateful for living in a free country, having the freedom to make choices. I just pray my choices are righteous ones that lead to pleasing my Savior and Lord.

 

It is good to be free, not chained in bondage; Sometimes gaining freedom takes action:

 

F-reedom to make a choice - one not leading to bad consequences 

R-eaching out to the One true God.

E-xpeling evil fleshly thoughts

E-ntering into thankful praise for my Lord

 

The scriptures tell about being free and having freedom: 

 

“For freedom Christ has set us free’ stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

 

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord, the Lord answered me and set me free.” Psalm 118:6

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 

 

 

Daily and Hourly Trust

TRUST

 

Life is an exciting journey with God in it. 

 I may not know what is in the day but I know God walks with me. 

He is with me in the valleys and on top of the mountain peaks,

in the desert plains and in the moisture laden fields,

in the happy times and the sad times, 

in the waking hours and in my sleep, 

in the drought and in the rains, 

in the laughter and the tears,

in the gain and in the loss,

in the lows and the highs.

Trust in Him.

God is there!

Attention Getter!

“And he looked, and behold, the bush was burning fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, ‘I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.’” Exodus 3:2b-3

 

Two thoughts here: The Lord was getting Moses’ attention.

                               Moses turned aside to look.

 

Two questions now: What does it take for God to get my attention?

                               Do I turn aside and obey or go my way?

2 Words to Live By

There two words I live by every single day. They sustain me!

Without God these two words are as nothing.

 

Faith- 

   Faith is belief. 

      Faith gives hope. 

         Faith can move a mountain. 

            Faith does not cease ‘cause God is there. 

 

Grace- 

   Grace forgives. 

      Grace is love. 

         Grace is unmerited favor.

            Grace is always there with belief in Jesus.

Storm at Sea

 When you go through the sea of life who do you call out to? Who do you reach for? 

Storm At Sea

 

There was a storm at sea

It was no small tempest.

The waves beat against the boat,

Lightening flashed,

Thunder rolled; 

It was wet and cold.

 

Peter decided to step out into the storm-

Fear overcame,

But God reached out His hand

To help him stand.

 

Jonah decided to run away. 

He couldn’t run.

He got tossed overboard and swallowed by a fish,

But God gave Jonah his wish.

 

As a prisoner, Paul set sail.

The storm raged.

No sun nor stars appeared.

The sailors felt hopeless and caged.

Yet, Paul trusted,

And God gave the men their lives.

 

The winds blew.

The thunder rolled,

And waves climbed higher,

No one knew what they’d go through,

Yet the hand of God was there in mighty power.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  9/3/2026 

 

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.” Luke 27:20 

 

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