From A to Z

God knows me from A to Z, and He loves me anyway.  Mark 12:30 tells me to love Him the same. "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  So, I want to take a moment to tell God what He means to me from A to Z.  

Lord, 

You are my All;

Living within the very air I breathe, 

So let me boast of the One in whom I believe and the One I receive.

Because of You I am blessed.

You are my Christ and Creator;

My Deliverer-The One in whom I depend.

I cherish the time in which we spend.

You are Everlasting; 

I rise early to talk with You; To be content.

I pray Your will be done in every event; Your wisdom is excellence.

My Father! What a Friend You are and, in You, I place my faith, 

I am grateful daily for my God and Your grace.

You are my Helper and Healer.

Your love inspires even in the midst of fires.

Because of Your Son, Jesus, I have joy.

I cherish Your Kingship, Your kindness and forgiveness.

My Lord! My Life!

My Master! My Maker!

You have made me New;

You have Occupied an obstinate heart and made me over-joyed.

You have given me protection and peace;  

Your promise of Partnership will never cease.

You are the Quiet-voice I seek through life’s troubling quests.

You are my Redeemer and my Rock, giving me rest.

You are the Father of many, but One of an Only Son, 

My Savior and Shepherd, who paid a price;

Made a Sacrifice, to reap me restful sleep.

I am forever thankful as I trust in You.

Within my understanding, you are never unavailable, always infallible.

You are vital, valued, and I thank you for victories.

Daily, I seek Your will. I seek Your warmth. I seek Your walk.

You, O Lord, possess the x-ray to my thoughts and my soul. 

You make me whole!

You have walked with me from infancy, through youth, though old-age;

Turned every page! 

You have taken my yoke. You are my hope.
Through all my zigzags in life, You are my zest for living and being.

"Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 NIV 

How to Pray

Many hesitate to pray because they think, "I don't know how." Yet, God gives us an example in the Lord's Prayer. More than that, God just wants us to have a simple conversation with Him and tell Him what is on our hearts. He hears, and He listens no matter how we choose to talk with Him. We just need to be humble and use His name with respect and in gratitude, then we are to believe.

Prayer 

 

I was given a way to pray.

God gave an ample example:

To begin with: 

“Our Father who art in Heaven.”

 

Jesus said, 

“Whatever you ask in My name.”

 

The names mean the same.

They are One!

And, I must believe for it to be done.

Though I stumble, 

I must come humble. 

 

When I pray, 

I’m to remember, 

When all looks improbable, 

With God, 

All things are possible.

Apart from Him,

I can do nothing

But He does something.

 

In prayer

And in every aspect, 

His name I am to respect

And let it set my heart aflame;

 

When I pray, let me give praise

To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Let their names be within my fingertips

And on my lips. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 10/11/2023 

 

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be gloried in the Son.” John 14:13 KJV

How Do You Want To Respond?

For those of us who knew our Dads, they were not perfect. They made mistakes. They had both strengths and weaknesses. Mine could be harsh, but he was loving as well. 
     In my devotional this morning, it asked the question, "How do you want to respond to your Father? Of course, the question was referring to the perfect Father, and Jesus gave us that image. He held children tenderly, ministered to the sick and showed compassion to the undeserving. The Father loves unconditionally and listens to our prayers. He is a forgiving Father. 

     My answer to the question of how I want to respond to my Heavenly Father is: I want to love you, listen to you, talk to you, study about you, praise you, obey you, and thank you. I also look forward to meeting you face to face, kneeling before you, and praising you in person. I long for my Father's eternal hug.

     I would say that I want to praise Him in song, but I will only be able to do that if God gives me a singing voice and an ear for music; however, I can still do that in heart. 

What's In Your Belief?

Belief is our brain's way of making sense of things. Some in this world do not get the concept of anyone  who would come for the sole purpose of placing their self on an altar of sacrifice. However, for those who have chosen to believe in Jesus, there is more to it than simple belief. Once we take that step of belief it turns our whole life into a miracle. In John 3:16  we find, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believers in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I describe only a few of the many wonderful, fulfilling miracles I receive by belief below.  

What's In Your Belief?

Belief!

What’s in it for me?

Someone to shoulder my grief.

Peace in the soul;

A light that infects the whole.

God’s Word, a light to my feet.

Oh! How sweet!

Belief!

What’s in it for me?

Glee;

A life that’s free;

A Father forever-

His guarantee.

Forgiveness

And loving kindness;

A cleansing from sin;

The Spirit within.

Belief!

What’s in it for me?

A permanent home, set in gold

With no hot or cold.

A city with no need for moon or sun;

It’s illumined by The Son.

I have life eternal

With the Trinity, Three.

That’s what in it for me. 

It never hurts to have belief; 

It gives relief. 

It provides mercy and grace, 

Making for a happy place. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 8/26/2023 

 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 

“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:23 NIV  

 

 

Live Within My Love

     When best friends let us down, we can really be hurt because they don't always accept us just the way we are.  Yet there is One who does.  Jesus will never let us down.  He is a friend who wants to live in us.  John 15, verse 4 tells us, "Take care to live in me, and let me live in you."   Then verses 13 and 14 tell us, "...the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; and you are my friends if you obey me."  He has also told us that He will never walk away from us.  Jesus is the constant in our lives if we will only allow Him to be our friend.  He is never too busy to listen to our complaints; He wants to cheer us up and overflow our cup with blessings.  "You didn't choose me!  I chose you!  I appointed you to go and produce lovely fruit always, so that no matter what you ask for from the Father, using my name, he will give it to you." vs. 16
    

   Live Within My Love

Live within my love -

Let me cleanse your soul;
  make your life whole.    
I chose you;
  let us be one, not two.
I am the truth, the vine;
  you are mine. 
I will guide you through a life that has no end,
  always remaining your friend.
Walk and talk with me,
  for in me, you find joy and glee.    
Live within my love -
I have blessings to bestow;
  your cup will overflow.
I will never walk away-
  a constant in life every day.    
Live within my love-
Obey me and my Father
  Let us bless you farther.
I laid down my life for you;
  I am the friend that's true.
Live within my love.
                       Mary Crisp Jameson

John 15:9  TLB "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Live within my love."