Releasing the Burden

     I was walking a lonely road. The burden I carried was heavy. A Stranger came along the trail and said, “Let me carry that load for you.”

      Stubbornly, I replied, “It is much too heavy. I’ll just shift it to another shoulder.”

     The Stranger commented, “I am strong and can carry that weight. Trust me!”

     I stumbled under the load saying, “It’s my burden, but I”ll let you carry half.”

     He took the part I allowed. My burden lifted some, but the load I still carried made me stumble once again. 

     The stranger reached out His hand to help me up. As He did, I gave Him the rest of the luggage I carried. I simply didn't think I could manage another step with that cumbersome load, and He seemed to be having no problem with what I had already shared. 

     Continuing to walk along the remaining path, I found I had no burden, I was not tired, I was not worried, I felt uplifted. 

     The Stranger didn’t seem to mind, never grumbled, and never stumbled once. He was not tired from what I given Him.  

      We fellowshipped, we sang, I felt no burdensome pain. I found a skip within my step. I found my tears were gone with laughter immersing from within. There was relieve from not carrying all that weigh. I had cast them all onto the shoulders of the Man who walked with me, I had given them to Jesus.

Jesus tell us, "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22

The Eviction

As God's children, He is always there for us in our troubles, even the ones we create by allowing Satan's tricks of deception into our lives. As humans with fleshly desires it seems we create a cycle. We call on God and He rescues. We are thankful, yet we turn right around and choose to sin once more. Then once again call on God. 

     He is continually forgiving me. His love is so great my desire is to please Him at all times although I struggle with sin on a daily basis. Remembering the peace of God's love helps me resist the devil and his ways. 

The Eviction 

 

Satan roamed 

Close to my home.

He snuck in when I opened the door,

Bringing treats from his deceitful store.

His bag of tricks

Was meant to prick.

I nibbled at the enticing bait, 

Never considering my fate.

I looked!

I was hooked!

His wares were toxic waste,

Leaving me shame-faced.

I had heard

How he loved to leave people in shambles and groans,

How he liked to create shattered homes, 

How he enjoyed leading the weak to stray,

How he desired to come and stay.

So I was a sap 

To fall into his trap.

To get out of this trouble I had fallen for

I had to open the door,

Destroy Satan’s clout

And kick him out.

But, I needed help with this affliction.

I needed help to perform the eviction.

I didn’t want Satan to stay,

So I began to pray.

I couldn’t do the eviction alone.

I cried out to the Lord with a mighty groan. 

I admitted the fool I’d been, 

 And asked God to come in

And forgive my sin.

In doing so

I felt His love within me flow.

It was God ‘s ways I wanted to know. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 7/17/2023 

 

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9 KJV 

 

                                           

A Permanent Relationship

Relationship is defined as the state of being connected, or dealings and/or feelings that exist between two or more people. There are all kinds of relationships in life. 

     I’ve had relationships that have come and gone for whatever reason. Some have been good and some bad. Some have been more or less a permanent part of my life. These are relationships I will always value. Whether friend or foe lives are affected in one way or another by our relationships.

     There is one relationship that affected me early in life. A few times I drifted away because I was sure my actions would be frowned upon, but I was always drawn back. I did not want to give up the love and comfort this special relationship gave me. How could I walk away from the One who gave me life? The One who left His royal place of safety in Heaven to come to earth for me? The One who carried my Cross? The One who willingly died so I could live? The One who loves me no matter what? The One who never breaks His promise?  

     Jesus wants a permanent relationship with me. He longs to walk and talk with me daily, and I want to walk and talk with Him, as well.  

     

Scattering in Obedience

We are having a rare month in July this year. The weather which is normally extremely dry is unusually wet. I do not remember ever getting over six inches of rain all at once in July like we did a few nights ago as well as the other July rains in which God has blessed us. The weather may seem strange, but I have no fear of changing seasons because all is in God's mighty hands. He created it all and is in charge of it all. When the world gets ready to end, it will be by God's choice and by His command. 

Scattering in Obedience  

 

The waters of the Red Sea split,

The waves feared and gave way to submit.

In dryness, it left a trail.

Even the wind gave up its gale.

I read, “The Jordan fled”

All because, God’s power dipped its head.

Surly storms dissipated 

Rumbling back and deflated

In fear of God’s mighty word

And the power He stirred.

With the sound of His voice,

The winds calmed; they had no choice.

Mountain walls and flowing waterfalls 

Gave up their charm  

When God reached out His powerful arm.

The simmering sun in all its glory, 

Throughout the territory 

Escapes behind a canopy of gloomy clouds.

There is obedience as the presence of God enshrouds.

Crumbled are the mighty iron-linked chains

As Jesus reigns.

At the sound of His voice there will be no choice;

The graves will give up their dead,

And fear will spread.

At His command, a dying heartbeat will come to life;

No more will be feuds and strife, 

No matter which-

The poor or the rich, 

The minority or those in superiority- 

All will come to know God’s authority.

Let us all repeat,

“Praise the Lord !”

And fall at Jesus’ feet. 

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 7/12/2023 

 

"The sea saw it, and fled; Jordan was given back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs…Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.“ Psalm 114: 3-4, 7 KJV 

^“But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Matthew 8:27 KJV

Going Viral

I suppose news reporters have always been a source of bad news, but these days it seems bad news is all that is being reported. I find myself not turning on the television  because I just do not want to hear it. I am simply attempting to dial back the bad and reset my world to zero. In any case I am trying to not fret the threat. 

 Going Viral

 When my world is in a downward spiral

And troubles seemingly going viral,

I need an uplifting reset-

A dial back to zero and forget;

Let God take care of the threat 

So I don’t fret.

When the world goes crazy

And ideals seem hazy;

When all appears unrightfully strange, 

I need a thoughtful change;

It’s clear I must be of good cheer, 

Dwell on the positive

Instead of the negative,

Seek gratitude

Over an ungrateful attitude, 

Develop thankfulness 

In exchange for selfishness.

Yet, these are hard in my sinful state,

Weighing heavily upon my plate.

They’re not my natural human trait.

So much I don’t understand

Across this land.

So, as in anguish, I stand,

I ask for a hug from God’s own hand.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 6/9/2023 

 

“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 KJV

 

What I Need To Know

As much as I wish I knew what to expect today and tomorrow, I know there is a reason I am not given full details on what could surprisingly occur at any time, even into the future. One thing I do know is that my purpose is to love Jesus everyday. I carry with me daily the knowledge that Jesus came to save me. He died and rose again in order to give me a permanent home in heaven. "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."   John 3:16

In The Garden

Yesterday, I attended an old-time gospel singing at our church and requested a song, “In the Garden.” Asked why, I replied, “Because God walks with me every day.” No truer words could have been spoken. 

     Actually, I went to my garden this morning early, before coffee and a talk with my Lord, to pick a few tomatoes. It ended up being a bucket full. Returning I thought, “Lord, what am I going to do with all these today.” He spoke, “Forget them for now. Let’s talk.” At that, I grabbed my coffee and returned to my “quiet place” to find as the song states, “He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own.” Oh my, how I love that song! It speaks to my heart just as God speaks to me. 

     In fact, I cannot be forgotten for as Isaiah 49:15b-16 (NLT) says, “I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” That tells me my name is engraved in the scars from the cross.  

     I would be remiss by not telling how we followed the song with another of my great favorites and one which was requested by my husband, "Love Lifted Me." That is exactly how I feel. Love from Jesus lifts me up when I take the time to let Him walk and talk with me.