Look Up and Praise

     Psalm 34:19 reminds us that although we all know troubles, "the good man does not escape all troubles-he has them too."  Yet, as the verse continues, God gives us encouragement, "The Lord helps him in each and every one."  Even before this verse, we are told what we should be doing daily regardless of troubles.  It is found in verses 1and 2 , "I will praise the Lord no matter what happens.  I will constantly speak of His glories and grace. I will boast of all His kindness to me.  Let all who are discouraged take heart."
So, I conclude that when troubles come:

Look Up!

          Praise!

Born Holy but Lowly

      We get excited about Christmas when December rolls around.  There is all kinds of glitter,  lights, and merriment.  However, there would be no Christmas without Jesus. Everyone expected a King, and He is One, but He was born lowly.  Not as expected.

Born Holy but Lowly

Glory, glory, glory!

The scriptures tell the story.

A child is born,

Only to be scorned.

A Savior has come,

But cursed by some.

The Angels sing,

“Behold, the King!”

Born lowly

But holy.

Holy, holy, holy!

Born is Christ,

Come to be a sacrifice.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 12/4/2022

 

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 NIV 

 

The Angel to Mary

      The Christmas Season is in full bloom. Our Church service started today with a Christmas Carol.  The preacher followed with scripture beginning in the first chapter of Luke when the Angel appeared to Mary.   As I studied the reading further, I put into verse the following: 

The Angel to Mary  

“You have found favor

And will bear a Savior. 

The child will be the Son of God.“ 

Mary was troubled but awed.

The Angel said,

“Word will spread,

But there is no need to fear

The Lord will be near.

He will be with you,

And carry you through.

Your baby will be the Christ child,

Remaining undefiled.

Name Him Jesus!

He will become great, a royal king;

At birth, the angels will sing.

He will be holy,

Though born lowly.

Shepherds will draw nigh

To see this Son of the Most High.

As God’s own,

He will receive a throne,

Reign forever and evermore

After unrighteous sins He has bore.”

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  11/27/2022

 

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to Him a throne…and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end… Therefore the child to be born will be called holy-the Son of God.”  Luke 1:31-33,35b

 

 

 

 

Give Thanks

      Although Thanksgiving is squeezed in between Halloween and an overlapping of early Christmas decorating and shopping, lets not forget that Thanksgiving is a very special time of the year when families gather to give thanks together.  Let us, also, not forget that giving thanks is a year-round activity.  

     This Thanksgiving I did not start to clean the leaves from the yard.  I wanted the fall color to lay around.  I wanted the season to feel like Thanksgiving.  I did not start to play Christmas music or start any Christmas decorating because I did not want to overlook the Season of Thanksgiving.  I simply looked forward to quality family time with loved ones I had not seen all year.   Along with good food and lots of it, my family did enjoy a good time together with much thanks for the blessing through the year.  Following is my praise and thanks to God.   

    In Everything Give Thanks

I have riches untold

Far beyond gold;

Not money in banks

But much in which to give thanks.

There is the sovereign Father

Protecting when tempests gather.

I’m adopted by the One in charge-

The One over the world at large.  

Then there is my Jesus;

A Treasure come to give me life,

To rid me of worry and strife,

To help me flourish, thrive, and survive.

Shifting through my gift of gold, 

I find a happy soul.  

I find a living Spirit

Among the treasure I inherit.

I give thanks!

I give praise

To the Father of my days-

The One who gives me riches, a gold mine, 

A sturdy supporting Vine.

I give thanks for my permanent place;

Riches by His grace.

In everything, thanks I give,

‘Cause my Savior lives.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson. 11/24/2022

 

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Love

1 Corinthians 13 tells us "Love is patient, love is kind,..it is not self-seeking."  Yet, love for all mankind is often hard to do.  The world is not patient.  It is not kind and most are self-seeking.  Love can be broken out many ways but today I am breaking it out as if attempting to show love toward a stranger, yet it can apply to all.  We do not know what the stranger may be facing.  Maintain patience, overlook rudeness, speak a kind word. 

L ook around and notice people and share a smile or a pleasant greeting.
O verlook a stranger's rudeness or crude remarks.

O pen up your heart. 

K eep an open mind.

My prayer today is: Lord, may all my words be kind, May I follow your example toward loving others.  Let me be patient and not self-seeking.  

Believing Is Seeing

      We have all heard the saying, "Seeing is believing!"  However, I read another this morning which  also makes a lot of sense, "Believing is seeing!"  The writer explained it, most importantly, as faith.  We believe in God and know that He exists.  He is our creator, yet we do not see Him.  But, we do see His works.  In the devotional the author stated, "Some things you'll never see unless you believe them first."  Here is where I want to take another spin.
     I have always believed in setting goals.  How can we achieve them if we don't first believe they are possible?  And by believing, we can actually see our goals turning into reality in our dreams.   By believing, then seeing, we can move forward with courage and determination to make something worthwhile happen.  Our actual success comes from keeping God in the plan.  He is the One we need to "believe in and see in our hearts and mind" first and foremost.  

Desires of the Flesh

     Most everyone knows how to “get into” the things of the flesh.  We have experienced the fact that desires in life often just drop into our lap, and once we desire something, we hunger and crave it.  We seek and pursue it.  We even invest time and effort into acquiring it.  Yet, if it is not from God but from the world, and once acquired, there is usually no lasting joy, peace, or comfort.  Sometimes it even causes pain.
      So wouldn’t it be better to, first of all, acquire a taste or a desire for what the Lord desires before we “get into it?”  Then we can place our efforts into hungering, craving, seeking, pursuing, investing, and acquiring what will actually end up providing contentment, joy, peace, and hope.