Yesterday was a day that was set aside many, many years ago through the proclamation,
written and spoken by Abraham Lincoln. To paraphrase the first two lines of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation: "This year has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. Even though we constantly enjoy these things, we forget their source, along with other bounties, so extraordinary that they must soften hearts grown insensitive to the ever watchful care of Almighty God."
It almost seems ironic that Thanksgiving is declared a ‘National Holiday’ and yet so many who are employed by our nation don’t even want "In God we Trust" on our currency anymore. They have removed the Ten Commandments from public places because it might offend those who do not believe in the God of creation. Supposedly prayer in schools are not allowed but I bet praying is still going on. It amazes me that in this country many want to do disgraceful and unthinkable things and call it freedom. We certainly do live in a sinful and perverse world. This has become a country that is an abomination to the teachings of Jesus! Our job is to not become like the world! Our job is to show the world by our actions that all they say is good , is not even a shadow of what good looks like. It is full of hypocrisy, filth and deceit!
I received an email from the Lemke’s who are missionaries to the Ukraine. Janice says; "We have much to be grateful for. Americans look at the falling stock market and worry about retirement. People in other parts of the world wonder if they will eat dinner. Americans hope new political leaders can protect our standard of living. People in other parts of the world hope loved-ones and livelihood can survive marauders or tribal warfare. Those on welfare in the US rank among the world's wealthiest citizens. We are indeed blessed. I did nothing to deserve the blessings that go with American citizenship, but remember that to whom much is given, much is required".
The Christian community had a chance to let the world know that the Good News was not dead. But a man who believes in abortions and the gay right movement towards marriage was placed in office anyway. How thankful we should be that God can use anyone for His good purposes. We may be unhappy about the choice but we should be extremely happy and thankful that God is still in control. How sweet it is to know that we may make bad choices but even then as we read Romans 8:28 we are comforted with; "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. We, the church have been called!
Our country may be in jeopardy because of the element of evil, but all earthly things will eventually pass away but the Love of our Lord will live for ever and ever. What more can we give thanks for than knowing that Our Lord will never forsake those that belong to Him. Let us pray with thanksgiving that we never forsake Him while living in the flesh so that upon our graduation, we step through the door of eternal salvation with thanksgiving, peace and joy in our hearts. "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for His ways are good and His love endures forever"! Psalm 107:1 Hallelujah, what a Savior! Jane Ann/Janice Lemke

Today is thanksgiving! This is a day that many prepare a big feast and invite family and
friends to sit at their table and declare that thanksgiving is really ‘turkey day’. Please, don’t call it turkey day! I believe that thanksgiving is still the day that we come together around the table to give thanks for God’s goodness. Because of His goodness we have food on the table. We have a table to sit at! The table is in a room that is only one in a house full of rooms that we call home.
Thanksgiving is a day that our nation sets aside to give thanks to God for our country and its freedoms. Freedoms, that we still have in spite of some that seem to be in jeopardy. Thanksgiving is a day that we can be thankful for our families and friends who we love and care for. We give thanks for our schools and public places that bring continuity to our communities and peace among the people. We give thanks for our church families that encourage and lift us up. We give thanks for good times and times when we felt the need only for God.
I have always loved Thanksgiving! This day would bring my family all together, sitting down at one very long table. That was no easy task because we were many. A lot of thought and care would go into the preparations but it was the sitting down together that was always so very special. I remember once we not only had a turkey, but a goose and a duck!
How I love Thanksgiving, oh let me count the ways! The family of my youth and throughout my life. My family that Jim and I have together which includes another daughter and three delightful grandsons and their other grandmother. My extended family that is everywhere and God calls it His church. I am thankful for this country that in spite of its worldliness , God still blesses it. I am thankful for God allowing me to be who I am and no longer hide his love for me under a bushel but I can shout it loud and clear over the internet. Can you count the ways you love Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a time for praising our God because praise should inhabit His people. Praising God with songs of rejoicing brings joy among Gods people. You just need to stop and think about God’s goodness to you. Count the blessings and make note of the tiny splashes of joy that create the huge puddles we walk in daily, because we know that God is with us.
I remember walking home from school as the rain filled the streets and caused us to walk down the middle of the road in order to keep our feet dry. But what did we do? We took our shoes off and walked and splashed in ankle deep water and loved it. We felt the abandonment of the moment! That is what praising God and giving thanks is on thanksgiving day. Giving thanks to our Lord with abandonment of the moment because all things come from Him. In reality thanksgiving is an action, not a day! "Happy are the people that call upon their Lord and welcome Him into their gates with thanksgiving and praise"! Jane Ann

Continuing with the idea of our generation, lets put how we got here into perspective. To
do that, lets look at before I was born. That would make it just over 70 years ago. Herbert Hoover was President. We were in a recession so he raised the taxes on the rich which was to put a chicken in every pot but instead it caused a depression. When I was born, President Roosevelt was president! He held the office for 3 consecutive terms. People thought the give away programs were the beginning of good times. Finally there would be a chicken in every pot!
Our country continued it’s spiral downhill due to wars and rumors of wars. During my highschool years it was the Korean Police Action and we walked away from it under President Truman. What was happening to our Country? What happened to the, all for one and one for all! What happened to honoring our word and God. Even Jesus talking to the Pharisees and scribes said in Matthew 15:8-9; "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain they worship Me. Teaching as doctrines the precepts of Men".
Years went by and we became engaged in the Vietnam war. Again, we were so far from God, many lives became lost. A number so staggering that the people became fearful and President Johnson called it quits and we broke ranks and our promises. Again, what was happening in our Country? The soldiers returned home to a country that no longer gave honor to the war hero’s and many ended up feeling rejected and disgraced. Our country then moved from wars and rumors of wars into a period of somewhat stabilized, perverted government of sorts. Then sexual immorality within the office of the Presidency during the 90's took center stage and brought our country down even further. It appears that many didn’t even care!
I know I am speaking of unspeakable things. Nobody likes talking about these things! We have a habit of putting our heads in the sand. Jesus taught us at the age of 12 when He met with the Learned in the temple, Christians are to be about God’s business! In Matthew 16:26 Jesus says; "For what will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
A beloved scripture is 2 Chronicles 7:14; "If my people who are called by name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land". We can be thankful in spite of our countries failures. We can still be held together by the loving grace of our heavenly Father! Those of us who are called by His name, need to be humble, seeking Gods face in prayer asking forgiveness of our sinful ways and then, and only then, will God forgive our sins and heal our land. Being thankful to our God is not just for a day but for always! We have so much to be thankful for - it should take a lifetime letting God know just how thankful we are! Jane Ann

This Thursday has been set aside in our country to give thanks to our God. It is called ‘Thanksgiving Day’! Throughout our discussion this week I want to talk about things that most would say; "What do we have to be thankful for?" In spite of adverse conditions and seeing the cup being half full we are truly a blessed nation with much to be thankful for! Just like most things, Thanksgiving Day has a beginning! We are going to take a peek at the beginning and then a few glances at where we are today as we celebrate in 2008. Hang on, this could be tough! I will try to use my words carefully and those who wish to participate in the discussion, remember that we can still praise God from whom all blessings flow.
God’s providence was evident during the sojourn of the pilgrims from their homeland to
the new world. God’s providence led them to the peninsula that became their home even though it was not where they were headed. God’s providence brought them to a people that already had a young Indian named Squanto, who years before learned to speak English while in captivity, in England. I don’t believe any of that which happened was by chance. Many books have been written about it and many believe that God’s divine hand orchestrated the lives of those who left everything to follow Him into the new world. Our country was founded on the beliefs of these men who not only suffered along the way, yet still remained strong in their beliefs that this was God’s desire for the future of his people and for the generations to come.
Did you know that we are the generation who eventually reaped what these dedicated men strove to obtain. They didn’t live long enough to see what this generation would do. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say that each generation that followed stood tall and that down through the years, the dreams of our forefathers came to fruition.
I am afraid that we, just as generations before us, have failed to keep the dreams alive. The dream of a country that believes that God is and ever shall be the ruler of all mankind. A country that holds truth above all things and knows that it will fall unless the inward parts are built on nothing less than Jesus Christ.
Our forefathers knew that this country would not be perfect but they thought that Godly people would be able to do as Philippians 2:15 says; "That you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world". Today the world wants to put our lights out! They want to live in the shadow of what was and not let it ever be again.
Let’s look again at Psalm 100:4-5; "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name for the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness is to all generations". God is faithful even today! Let us be thankful to Him during this season as we ponder how blessed we are! Tomorrow we will look at some of the happenings that have taken place in our generation. Jane Ann

The First Thanksgiving! 11/24/08

For those who follow our daily discussions, last weeks study ended on Saturday morning. Please scroll down for the last thought of last week. Now for this week we are going take a walk down memory lane looking at the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims. I pray that this walk will encourage all of us to be more thankful than ever that our God loves us and is still in control.


THE FIRST THANKSGIVING!
Do you ever wonder about the very first thanksgiving experienced by the pilgrims and their new best friends, the Indians? I know what I have read in history books! I am aware of how the new thinkers are wanting to change history to suit themselves! However, the very first thanksgiving had to be full of many firsts. The first large gathering of people full of excitement because of their great crops that year. The first gathering of foreigners on this new land and those who felt this land was theirs alone. The first time these people came together in unity and began to share in thanking God. Wow! Not to mention the first, of eating new kinds of food!
I was two weeks shy of 24 when Jim and I married in January. As the year moved on we began to approach our first thanksgiving as a married couple. My family gatherings were always large because there were so many. We had just moved into our first home and I was going to be making my first pies! Growing up I baked cakes, Joyce did pies.....I was excited and Clarence, my brother-in-law was giving me pointers and even came out to taste my crust. I even made a criss-cross crust on top of one. Clancy took a bite of the crust and then another small one. He looked up and said; "Add a little butter and this dough would make tasty biscuits". My spirits were not daunted, because these were my very first and they looked good.
We left for church as was our custom on Thanksgiving Day, and then on to celebrate. Later that night as we returned home, Jim and I noticed that all the lights were on and the front door was standing wide open. Our new puppy, Frosty, was sitting behind the screen door whimpering. We both wondered who was in our house? We approached the door. We could hear the TV, and cautiously went inside! No one was there! Our back door was badly scratched from Frosty’s trying to get out to do her business. Evidence that she couldn’t wait was apparent on the carpet by the front door. Obviously, with all the excitement of the morning surrounding ‘pies’, we forgot to secure our home and care for our baby. Some of the air in our bubble began to leak as we tried to put things back in order. How could we have done that? How could we both have neglected our new home and baby in such a careless manner?
Excitement does that to a person! Are you excited when Sunday morning comes? When the church family is planning their big thanksgiving dinner, are you excited? Do you get excited when you know that the church doors will be open and knowing family fellowship is just ahead? Through the years I have known many who are always there when the doors are open. They must be excited! I know that I am, but then I am one who hates to miss out on anything! In the book of Psalm, we find that David’s heart was full of thanksgiving! In 26:7 he says; "That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and declare all Thy wonders"! In 95:2-3 he continues with; "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with singing. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods"! Again in 100:4-5 David says; "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name for the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness is to all generations". The early pilgrims suffered many hardships when they entered the domain of the Indians. Many Conflicts arose among the good and the bad! Those who sought peace were able to find it with those who were also seeking peace. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul encourages us with these words; "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". During this season, think on these things! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/11/08

I know today is Saturday and usually we take the weekend off knowing that being in God’s house on Sunday is part of every Christian’s game plan. But because of life happening within in my family we missed a day for our conversation. We could have just let the lost day go by and start new next week but getting a full idea of what the real playground is suggests we should leave nothing out...... So here we are on Saturday!
Iona, a regular follower of Morning Glory has also visited the coliseums in Athens and Rome and was truly impressed by their massive structures and the vision of those who built them. She mentioned how unhappy it makes her when so many old structures are torn down only to rebuild the same again, but bigger and more modern to attract the rich and famous. I suppose a lot of these kinds of ‘tear down/rebuild’ periods is because every 100 years there are always new and different people. Some like the old but most like current/modern facilities that suit their tastes. Personally, I like the old structures and the romance of remembrance.
In reading the devotion for our discussion we find that even in Biblical days fun and
games were a part of the daily life of children and adults. As in my youth, these games were part of the creativity of the times. I believe our children today and also the adults are missing out on simple basic facts of life that made life a little more exciting. How many times do we hear some child or young adult say; "I’m bored"! "I’ve got nothing to do"!
When my son and his family moved to Idaho, Faye became a stay at home mom and for a time, she found herself at lose ends. That happens when you are so use to a working routine and environment. One morning, 4 year old, Jordan said; "Let’s go to the mall; you’ll have fun; you’ll see"! Jordan was one of those who could create his own fun and enjoy playing by himself. He was creating in his mind a fun time at the mall; walking; looking and maybe getting something to eat? I understand it worked, because he and his mom went to the mall and had a good time!
There is a lot to say about planning and being creative and there is lot to be said about becoming spontaneous. At the spur of the moment; Let’s go to the beach! How about a little one on one? Good clean fun is designed for having a good time and not becoming negative or a sore loser.
In Genesis 2:26-27 God says; "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness". It goes on to say that man would rule over all that inhabited the earth and that God created both man and female. It is important for us to realize that our God was a creative God! He was a God without measure! He was a God with purpose! When They created man in the beginning, man became the expression of God and therefore we too can be creative. Not to the extent that we can create substance out of absolutely nothing but we can be creative in our thinking, our planning and in our productivity.
What would life be like today without TV, Ipods, cel phones or other finger pushing computer games? What if the movie theaters closed for lack of interest and the corner sandlot had a sign that said; "ball players wanted, age not important"! What if the sports parks were closer to home and the language spoken were not only four letter words but instead filled with laughter and the phrase; "Come on and play with me"! We will always have bullies but even bullies can grow up if they have a little help from those who really know how to enjoy the game.
In Hebrews 12:1b it says; "run with endurance the race that is set before us". Of course Paul is talking about the race in life where we fix our eyes on Jesus who had fixed His eyes on the cross. Although we know that life is not a game to be played randomly, because it is not all fun and games! We do know that In Jesus Christ the prize is not for those who begin the race but for those who run the race with endurance and crosses the finish line. Even if we tear down and then rebuild; "Eternal life is on the other side"! Where will you finish the game? Jane Ann

One of my wonderful followers let me know that he was moving forward with the Lord because he didn’t know any other way to play the game. He is one of the blessed ones because he has come face to face with the reality of life and knows that running the race along side Jesus helps his footsteps to reach further than they ever did before. Many face life with obstacles right from the beginning. Lets take a different slant on being in the game and how for some it takes a different perspective than just to win.
Some children have disabilities that keep them from participating with other children in
fun and games. These children can either become embittered because they can’t join in or they can become creative. Many musicians who are blind, had to overcome their handicap by turning their blindness into great achievements. Everybody loved Ray Charles and his contribution to the pop culture of the music industry. There are others who achieved the same status as he, but in different musical fields.
Today, with all the ingenuity of scientists and problem solvers, many without legs, feet and even arms can run a race with creative springs that give them the edge they need to keep moving. It started with the wheelchair! Those who were wheelchair bound began to compete in races, basketball and other activities. A Special Olympic’s was formed so that many children and adults of all physical and mental disabilities could become competitive in the sport of their dreams. Nothing should hold a person back if the desire is strong enough!
I understand, my brother Lloyd was an athlete in school and that his life changed dramatically one day long ago when he became crippled at the age of 16. I know, those on the outside watching, could see the pain and disappointed he began to experience. Through the years he struggled to find his place in the work force; and he did! Through periods of depression, he began to increase in knowledge by reading the dictionary. Throughout his life he made friends and those who knew him discovered his sense of humor and creative thinking.
No matter what our surroundings or conditions are, we can succeed if we have a desire to. If you are a worldly thinker, you may be waiting for someone to come along and help you financially or even with creative planning. However, I have found that with Jesus in such a life as these, you can begin to use your life and discover that your dreams have changed without worldly aid. Remember the story of Joni! All of us are familiar with this beautiful young woman who became paralyzed as a young girl. Upon turning her life over to Christ, she became one of the biggest examples of fulfilling your dreams without even realizing it.
Philippians 4:13 says; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"! I suppose we think that is only for those who are physically fit and creative. No! It is for those who belong to Christ and who follow His commandments. That is what gives the edge to become physically creative, in spite of disabilities. Where are you in life? How is the game plan going? Is your partner helping you? Jane Ann

I prepare my portion of the discussion early on and so I can continue with this weeks study even though my heart and thoughts are filled with saddness and also gladness. The circle of life continues and we must also continue. Jewel always had a game plan! I believe this morning her game plan is to walk and talk with Jesus, getting caught up with friends and loved ones. It makes those here a little anxious to be on the other side. But the circle of life must be played.

11/19 My brothers were into football! Sometimes in the middle of the street we would get a
game of touch football going. I never understood the game but I wanted to be in the game so I allow myself to get pushed and hit and knocked around. Oh, how much fun we had! One afternoon a car came down the road. It pulled along side the ditch and a young couple got out of the car. She was wearing a flowered skirt with a white blouse and sandals. The man asked if they could play with us. I remember thinking how beautiful she was. I was probably 12!
I don’t remember how the game finished but I always thought how special it was to have this unknown couple stopping to join us kids in a game of touch football.
I remember Joyce and I had to get the dishes done in the evening before we could go out to play. The ball game across the street, on the corner lot, was already beginning. I would grab a dish to dry and run out the front door and watch and then run back in to put the dish away and grab another. Finally, we would be done and scurry across the street to get in the last half of the big ‘sandlot’ of a game.
When we were kids we had no trouble sleeping. We were so tired that when Mom said it was time, nobody complained or fussed about it. I don’t remember if it was easy to get up but I know that it was easy to go to bed. Today, kids have trouble sleeping! Once they get to sleep it is hard to get them up. Kids have lots of headaches and stomach troubles. As a kid I don’t remember ever having to deal with that. Physical activity was part of the daily routine and I believe it also gave our bodies a chance to function and process the way it should.
When my children were small we had a good size backyard. We had a swing set, a sandbox and lots of toys. I would allow the kids from the neighborhood to come into the back yard and play. My kids didn’t go out front to play up and down the street until Danny was almost 5. They didn’t need to because what we had, enticed the kids of the neighborhood to come to our house. I’m not saying that what we did was the best way but it kept our kids close to home and out of trouble. I often wonder about some of those kids that lived around us then and still do today.
Ecclesiastes says that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. The plan is to run with perseverance. If anyone was to ask me today what I thought, I would say, be creative and run to win. Always do your best no matter what the challenge! Don’t be afraid to lose, because it is how you run that matters. What is your game plan today? Jane Ann

Today my sister Jewel went home. She has struggled for a while and yet she entered the loving arms of our Lord peacefully. Some of us are of the age where we find saying goodbye has become the norm. However, even what appears to be normal feels far from it. Our heart aches and our thought patterns go to and fro.....yet the peace that passes all understanding is ours because God has said it is so. Hallelujah! As we walk through the valley of the shadows of death, Jewel is now actually lying beside the still waters. The promise that God will never forsake us, either in this life or in death, is ours! Talk to you tomorrow as we continue with our study for this week.

This morning, lets look at a little history of activities that began with some planning, with imagination and on occasion, creativity. The phrase that my mother used often with us kids was; "Go outside and play"! Okay! When we got outside what where we to do? When my children were small we had many things for them to play with so the questions of what to do never seem to come up. Today, the things our children want to play with cost lots of dollars.. So there are the haves and the have nots. We don’t want our children feeling left out, do we?
While touring Athens in 2003, Jim and I were impressed with the coliseum (stadium) where the 1896 Olympics were held. It was an all marble structure, which was originally built in the 4th Century BC. It was amazing to see how small it was compared to the facilities that are being built wherever the Olympics are held today. The oval of the track was quite different. It was much narrower and longer than the tracks we use today. I assume that even with the different dimensions of the oval that it could have been approximately 400 meters long. We never made it to the coliseum in Rome but I understand the ruins are a sight to behold. But when I think about the activities held there eons ago, I am not impressed to the point that I would want to tour it. In my teens we use to go the coliseum in California where the Ram’s football team played and then later on the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team took it over. The word coliseum means large structure used for athletic games. The LA coliseum is still being used by local teams!
Today, many of the baseball diamonds around the country are being torn down and rebuilt to allow for more socializing with restaurants and swimming pools besides the athletic event. Today, there are those who still like to watch baseball, basketball, football, hockey and even soccer. As for me I like to watch a little baseball but when the series is over, I am glad for a rest. Baseball is so intense!
Children today play the games that are provided through the schools they attend. Some are avid players and some are just fans of the games. It is great that today girls are acclaimed as well as the boys. Physical activity is important in our youth especially because of the obesity problem throughout our country. The only problem I see is getting young people to give up their hand held games that keep them mostly sitting and indoors. No activity there, except for the finger movement and if they would only apply that to an instrument, what music could be heard.
Our church held a chili cook-off! We had 9 competitors! After the judging we had one winner. All races end up that way! Even when there is a tie, one is the runner up! Let’s look again at 1 Corinthians 9:24 where it says that all runners compete but only one wins the prize. All athletes exercise self-control, they keep themselves physically fit. Working out becomes second nature to them. What is your game plan today? How are you preparing yourself? Are you physically and spiritually fit? Jane Ann

CREATIVITY IS THE REAL PLAYGROUND 11/17/08

Current days are filled with concerns, heartaches and joys! Sometimes it is good to just let the 'good ole days' run by us again and just remember when. That is what this week is all about!
CREATIVITY IS THE REAL PLAYGROUND
In the 40's and 50's there was no such thing as video games, Ipods or Friday night cruises. No Little Leagues, pop warner football or soccer. Where we lived there was a Civic Center that had a softball league which my brother Lynn played on. The center also had all kinds of activities for children of all ages. Competitive sports were not available until highschool and then there was GAA for girls. For the most part we created our own fun! We played games after dark like; Red Rover, Red Rover; Truth or Dare; King of the Mountain; Hide and Seek. During the day we would play Annie Over; Work Up; Three flies you’re up and if we had enough players, we have a real ball game. And then there was hopscotch and marbles! Kids were creative!
Someone had made a swing that was at least 4' off the ground. It had a long rope tied to a large branch of a Eucalyptus tree that was behind the chicken coop in our neighbor’s yard. At the bottom of the rope was a gunny sack filled with stuff that was large and strong enough for us to wrap our legs around and swing. To swing, we had to get on the roof of the chicken coop. Place the gunny sack between our legs and then go back as far as we could . Then we would lift our legs and let the power of gravity and the momentum following take us forward and right off the roof and out into the air. You could swing and swing! You had to perfect your swing so that you could stop yourself on the roof and not have to jump to the ground. Boy, that was fun! We always tried to have a swing under a tree for our kids and also our grand kids!
We had no television until the late 50's so physical activity was a part of every child’s life. We walked everywhere or rode a bicycle. During the warm weather we played ball in the vacant lot across the street. During the winter in Iowa there was snow. During the winter in California you only had to contend with rain but mostly there was the beach. Most kids ran around in shorts and no shoes, except for me I didn’t like going barefoot. There was so much to do and very little boredom going on. We slept good! Today the key phrase is; "I’m bored"!
Today many children are bored unless they are sitting with their eyes glued on a screen filled with indecencies or hand held, finger pushing computer games. Competitive sports are available through the schools but no longer do you see an empty corner lot filled with kids playing ball. The skating rinks are for hanging out, but with not much skating going on.
*In Bible times children kept pets and enjoyed a variety of games. They didn’t own many toys but had a few that were homemade. There were wooden pull toys with wheels. They made up games so they could play with balls. They played "let’s pretend". They had swings hanging from tree branches. Dolls were created of cloth or shaped from wood. Some dolls even had moveable arms attached from the inside by strings, while others had openings for inserting fingers in the back to control arms and legs. There was a game called Knucklebones which was similar to jacks. Some had clay marbles. They also had something similar to hopscotch. Some owned hoops, just like the Hula Hoop. Chess existed as well as dice games. Athletic events were available, especially archery and wrestling. Many were good with a sling. I would imagine Jesus participated in some of these activities and I bet He was good!
1 Corinthians 9:24 says that all runners compete but only one wins the prize. We are to run to win! All athletes exercise self-control, but only to win a prize that will decay but we as Christians run to win the prize that will endure for eternity. We are not to run to and fro or as one beating the air. We are to run with purpose! Ecclesiastes says that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. The game plan is to run with perseverance, with eyes on Jesus!.
By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/3/08 *referenced ‘Today’s Handbook of Bible Times & Customs’

To complete this study for this week, I want to look at Jeremiah 17:5-8; "Thus says the
Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness; in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

This chapter begins with a dissertation about the sins of Judah. Their wealth and treasures were used as spoil for the price of their sin. They would lose their heritage that God had given them and they would end up serving their enemies far from home. All because God’s anger was as a fire which would burn forever. The first line of this scripture indicates that man was not to put their trust in each other and in themselves; It concludes with putting our trust in the Lord, above all! Not just trusting in the Lord but who’s trust is the Lord!

In short; Let us view God as the one in charge of our lives. Let us remember that trusting Him takes the burden of proof away from us. When we read John 3:16; "For God so loved the world that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish but have everlasting life" , the reliability of God’s word is our proof. As we discussed earlier, when young we leaned upon those who had authority over us and those who were close to us. When we go out into the world, whether entering the service, or furthering our education and/or into the work place we feel almost invincible. Nothing bad is going to happen to us! I am making my own decisions and life is going to be good because I will make it so. I received news this morning that a dear friend of many years has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is slow growing but it has had time to get to a 6 or 7. Their love for the Lord is evident in that they will fully rely on God throughout this experience of walking through this field of 'C'. Invincible? No! Why me? Why not you! God becomes more evident in our lives when we fully rely on Him.

Don’t short change yourself by taking short cuts! Realize you are in this for the long haul and God is there every step of the way. Putting our trust in man instead of God is saying out loud; "I don’t need anyone". Putting our trust in God instead of man is saying quietly; "I can F.R.O.G because He is my Lord and Savior"! Jane Ann

We all have had someone we can call upon when we are troubled. Perhaps a friend, a family member and sometimes our pastor. Some need their ear to listen to them and some need it for their trusted advice. I have Jim! Who is there for you? Who comes to you?

One of my goals was to not disappoint those around me. I never wanted to
hurt anyone or make them ashamed of me. Did I succeed? No! However, usually the one I hurt was mostly myself. When we rely on ourselves to be perfect, it doesn’t work very well! The reason why is because we, in ourselves, are not perfect. I have heard many say; "I don’t need anyone else, I can do this alone"! Okay, try it alone and see where it gets you!

There is an old song that has become a favorite for many; "Learning to Lean"! As children we learn to lean upon our fathers and mothers for support. We lean upon their instructions and advice. When we are troubled we quickly run to them for comfort! We learn to lean at a very young age! As we get older, we want to lean upon ourselves, thinking that we need no one else. We have arrived! We are in charge of our own lives! Yet, we still seek someone else to lean on!
I’ve watched Jim through the years! He was and is very capable to handle many things physically and mentally. When he read God’s word, cover to cover, he was convicted that God was truth and He was committed to Jim personally. Jim no longer had to struggle through life alone. He had Jesus to lean upon! That didn’t mean that his physical and mental prowess was diminished, it meant that it was greater than it had ever been. Why? Because he was free to ask for help with the physical and he was willing to share his knowledge with others and to allow others to share with him. Learning to lean is not a weakness but an untapped hidden strength!

A great verse found in Proverbs 3:5 says; "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Another word for lean is rely! All things come to those who wait upon the Lord. He is our rock and our shield when we F.R.O.G. Jane Ann

Even though our subject is 'relying on God', using words like; depend; confident; trust; having faith , can give us a broader view. Let's discuss how trusting in God is an example of cause and effect.

When my son was about 2, Jim would hold him up by his two feet in one hand. Danny
would stand there unwavering. Jim thought it was a great trick! One afternoon as Jim was showing Danny’s trick, his little foot came lose from his left shoe and he started to teeter and would have fallen if Jim had not caught him. Needless to say Danny was not as trustful to do that trick again and of course as he got older, there were more tricks that he didn’t want to do.
In the book of Micah chapter 7, it talks about sin and hope of mercy. In verse 5a it says; "Put no trust in a neighbor, have no confidence in a friend". I am using this line because I think it is fitting that if we truly put our trust, confidence and rely on our neighbor, friend or even family we will eventually become disappointed. Christ is the only one that Paul says in Hebrews 2:13a; "I will put my trust in Him".
As a Sunday School teacher for many years, and if you are blessed enough to watch some of these children grow into adulthood, you will find that you are imperfect. Being a Sunday School teacher does not exempt you from making mistakes. One little girl, who grew to womanhood, followed my teaching of God’s word to a point that became detrimental to her, me and our relationship. Her understanding was basically correct but how she used it was more of what she wanted and not necessarily what God wanted. Psalm 118:8 says; "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man"! As Christians our need to F.R.O.G is super important. It is good for our health, our physical condition and peace of mind. When we begin to think we know so much more than our instructor, we can find ourselves in trouble. Of course I am talking about the perfect instructor, Jesus Christ! We are to rely on God’s teaching to direct our paths. When we come to a fork in the road. Prayer is the key! Using this key and putting aside what we think we want or what we think should happen, allows us to not rely upon ourselves but upon God. Jane Ann

I think everyone must have a wart story! Warts are a mystery to me especially when they say they are caused by a virus. Here is another wart story. Years ago, a friend of mine took her 10 yr old to have surgery performed on her hands and feet because she had warts. It turned out to not be a very good thing! Scars remain to this day and perhaps emotional scars because it was such a traumatic event in such a young life. Today there are products on the market that simplify the wart removal procedure. I should try it on my face and arms!
I am not changing the subject but I want to add a little more interest to our topic for this
week. I want to be a snowbird! I think Arizona, New Mexico or Southern California is calling
me right now! Last winter was long, white and very cold! A week ago we had snow flurries off and on and one full day of nothing but snow. Then, it was gone but I know it is coming back. I have often wondered where the name ‘Mother Nature’ came from. A good mother only wants what is good and healthy for their children. However, our heavenly Father says; "The rain falls on the good and the bad". Our Father created the universe and all the elements we have, to make it suitable for our environment. It works for our good and for our health! But being a snowbird has become suitable for many. How about it? Do you think its worth considering?
There is a statement by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:9 that says; "We felt that we had received the sentence of death, but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead". I know this verse seems a little extreme because Paul was literally talking about his death, but the point I want to make here is that no matter how depressed, confined or traumatic our lives seem, we need to bring ourselves into total submission to God and fully rely on Him.
What comes to your mind when you think about relying on someone? I learned early on in my marriage that Jim was very reliable. I knew that each day he would be home for lunch. I knew that shortly after 5:00 pm he would walk in the door. I could basically set my clock by him! Even though Jim was very reliable, there were times when he didn’t appear as usual and I would begin to wonder where he was and if he didn’t show up soon, then I would begin to worry.
Our God has shown us that he is more trustworthy and reliable than anyone we know, or anything we can do. His word tells us that we can depend upon Him and we can place our confidence in Him for all our needs. Human nature is such that our reliability depends upon circumstances. God’s nature is such that He never fails! As we continue through this week discussing F.R.O.G. think about times in your life where you were able to F.R.O.G. and times you didn’t. Let me know your thoughts! Either post them on the blog or email me....Jane Ann

FOGGY CAME A COURTIN 11/10/08

Good morning! This week we are going to talk about 'fully relying on God'! It would seem we are detouring with the following devotion, but, in all things we should be patient. Eventually, we will get there.....

FROGGY CAME A COURTIN
In my late teens I developed a wart on the middle finger of my right hand. It was just below the pad and just above the first knuckle. I had never had a wart before! In my job I used a standard typewriter. Electrics were out there but were still relatively a new thing. I began to notice this wart, more and more because I would feel it as I typed. I showed it to my friends and they said; "Have it removed"! I asked my Doctor about it during a regular visit and he said he could burn it off. He assured me it would be quick and painless. He stuck a needle into my finger which hurt and then brought out an angry looking instrument, which when applied to the wart, literally burned it off. I could smell my flesh burning. Not a very good thing!
Afterwards, I felt sort of melancholy and so my sister Jean wrote an ode to my wart. Goes like this; "A wart on my finger had I. Alas and alack I would sigh. People started to scoff, so I had it burned off and served it with cheese on Rye". Clever Huh? The core of that wart is still there. You can’t see it, but I can feel it when I run my finger across it.
Toads and frogs are very much alike. They are both small, tailless, amphibious animals which feed on insects. The toad likes the land, whereas the frog likes water. Once while digging a small hole for a plant a toad jumped off the shelf just under the grassy top of my hole. Scared me half to death! This last year I have discovered warts on my face and hands. I asked the Doctor about it and he said sometimes the elderly (me elderly?) get warts. I mentioned it to a friend of mine and she said; "oh yes!" She showed me her hands and arms which were adorned with worts. I have learned to accept the dry spots and wrinkles. I new that age spots were coming, but warts? Warts are a regular occurrence with children, but adults?
My new solution to these warts is to pick them off. I have picked and picked until some of the ones on my face are gone. My hands are blotchy where I have picked some of them off. I probably should accept this new condition but I don’t think I should even have them. I have never in my life played with frogs. The closest I have come to a frog is Norma. She is a bubbly, exuberant lady, full of life. She brought to the Women’s Ministry, at our church, an idea called F.R.O.G. An acronym for "Fully Relying On God"! Pretty cool! She began collecting frogs of all kinds. Figurines, shirts, etc! She proclaims that frogs are a good thing!
I am sure there are many scriptures that bring us to the point of "fully relying on God". I called Norma because I wanted to use the one she used. She said; "my favorite scripture is Galatians 2:20, but I don’t know what that has to do with F.R.O.G.". So I looked into the scriptures and found that In Exodus 8:2 God sent frogs as one of the plagues. In Revelation 16:13 it talks about unclean spirits that look like frogs, coming out of the mouths of three different entities. Looks to me, that frogs were dangerous to some and unclean to others. Let’s look at Norma’s scripture again, because I think this scripture could work for us. It reads as follows; "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me". If Paul were here today, I think he would agree that what he said many, many years ago could be said like this; "Through Christ and my faith in Him, I can fully rely on Him because He was, and is and will forever be, the "Son of God". I know that the warts we get on our bodies can be a problem. However, they are easily removed! One day, when I stand before Him, warts and all, I want to be able to say; "With Christ at the core of my being, I have stood before imaginary giants and giants of real magnitude, fully relying on God". How about you? Are you F.R.O.G? By: Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/7/08

This morning we come to the close of our culture discussion. Sometimes I wonder if we will survive these times and if our grand children will ever experience the kind of days I lived in, in my youth. No generation is perfect! They all have their problems but nothing is perpetual. Nothing lasts forever!
I hate it when rules of a game are changed. What was wrong with the old rules? It use
to be that when the hitter, hit a home run the ball had to go over the fence. Today, depending upon what ball stadium you are playing in, if the ball hits the wall above a painted line it’s a home run. If the ball hits below the line it is in play.
I know it is difficult to ascertain what our culture is today. I know that as Christians we
feel that because we live in the world, that not all is bad. I know that sometimes we think we need to be with those who are of the world in order to show them God’s love. There is a story in the Old Testament that most times is overlooked. 2 Samuel 6:7 tells the story of Uzzah who was walking along side the Ark of the Covenant during it’s return to Jerusalem. God’s instructions were; "Do not touch the Ark or you would die"! The Ark began to sway towards the side he was walking on, so he reached out reactively and touched the Ark to stabilize it. He died! Uzzah had good intentions as he reached out and touched the ark. However, he broke God’s commandment!
We have good intentions and because they are good we forget to ask ourselves; "What would Jesus do"? We go ahead with our good intentions and many times they backfire. We find ourselves knee deep in trouble and/or in remorse. Our culture today is not full of the refinement that Christians would consider good. Many times we are not politically correct as has been the custom of our times. However, knowing God’s word is important! Knowing what is right or wrong is helpful but knowing God’s word is important! Knowing that the path is straight and narrow is necessary, but often we find ourselves on the street called broad and can’t seem to find our way out. The refinement of becoming part of the kingdom is knowing and understanding that the gate is narrow and few there will find it. Let’s plant our feet on the narrow path, which directs us towards the narrow gate and with prayer and supplication to our Father who is in heaven, many will follow us right into the arms of Jesus. Jane Ann

I received an email from a Morning glory follower and she shared with me her concerns regarding the same sex marriage ban issue in California. It passed just as it did previously, but was overturned by the state supreme court. Her concern is that it could be overturned again! I suppose that is something to be concerned about since the supreme courts who were designed to interpret the law, can overturn what the people have voted overwhelmingly for. It is a culture change! People have choice and choosing this lifestyle is their decision, but they want everyone to agree that it is a good thing. Godly people cannot do that and still be following God. He created man and a woman for each other to replenish the earth. The most wonderful things is, that Jesus went to the cross for them just as He did for everyone. While there is life, there is hope for all. All can repent and come to the Lord! Now for thoughts for today’s discussion.
Our world today is full of whatever you want or whatever you want to do. No holds barred! What use to be against the law is now lawful. What use to be outlandish is now stylish. Green hair anyone? I pray that this too shall pass! We shake our heads at some of the things we see and hear but then we walk on by.
It is true that the kingdom of God is a peculiar people! We are the ones that seem to be out of step and that is the way it should be. However, if you find that you are in step with these
new cultural scenes, perhaps you need to stop and take stock of your pattern of living. Remember the story of the ‘Prodigal Son’ as found in Luke 15? The younger son didn’t
like his life living at home with his Father and his brother. He asked his Father for his inheritance so that he could go out into the world and make it on his own. In verse 13 it says; "Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living." Isn’t that what we do as Christians? We find we don’t like having to be obedient to someone we can’t even see. We want more than toeing the mark. We want to have fun! When the young man in our story comes to his senses, he heads back home with his tail between his legs. Ashamed! Sad! Hopeless! Not all Fathers are as sensitive as the Father in our story. He was waiting for his son to return and when he did, there was a great celebration.
No matter what kind of culture we find ourselves in; No matter how deep we seem to have fallen; No matter how sad, ashamed and hopeless we feel, our heavenly Father is waiting for us to return to Him. His arms are outstretched, waiting! He calls to us to leave the cultures of the world and the lifestyles that they offer and return to His peace, comfort and rewards that He has awaiting us. Why not turn back to Him now? Jane Ann

This is the morning after the 2004 Presidential election. I still got up and the sun will rise! However, the results of this election has defined what our culture is today. To name a few; "Abortions, Homosextual marriages, Higher taxes and Government handouts. We must live according to God's word and that means we are to honor the man in office and in doing so we honor God. Let's go into our study for this week and see how it plays along with the happenings in our world.....

In Leviticus 18 God is giving instructions to the Israelites through Moses that they were
not to do as those in the lands they conquered or lived in. Even though they lived with these foreigners they were not to keep their statutes or laws. They were to abide by God’s statutes and His ordinances. "I am the Lord"! If you read this chapter, you will find that the people in these countries were wicked and believed in gods who required wicked things from their people as dictated by those who led the people. One of God’s warnings is found beginning in verse 24; "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these things, the nations I am casting out before you, defiled themselves. You will be cast out, just as those before you were cast out". If you remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, in Genesis 19:24, God rained brimstone and fire and destroyed these two cities. Why? Because their culture was depraved!
Our culture today is becoming a nation that has moved out from under the umbrella of God’s protection. We Christians should not be misled to believe, that because our country says it is lawful doesn’t mean that it is lawful for the Christian. ‘Oh be careful little hands what you do’ is a song we teach little ones in Sunday School. If you learned it, then you should be living by it! Today our culture says; ‘Living together before marriage is okay’. Today our culture says; ‘It is okay to abort your baby during or even at full term’. Today our culture is coming around to allowing users of marijuana to grow their own. Today our culture allows predators of children to be released from prison, where 9 out of 10 commit the same crimes but only worse. The list goes on and on! I have found that many young Christians have chosen that living together before marriage an acceptable lifestyle. Somewhere along the line this destructive chain needs to be broken. Someone in the family needs to stop and say; "I belong to God and this is not for me"! Someone needs to set a new precedence to follow God’s established ordinances! Should it be you and me? Prayer is the key to all things.....Think on these things! Jane Ann

When I begin to look at what is viewed as common in our community I realize how much has changed since I was a girl. Most things I can appreciate those who came up with the ideas. One are the wonderful roads we travel on that can take us to one place or another. Can you imagine travelling to Medford in a buckboard drawn by a horse. During our fuel crisis I bet some wished they had one today but we just drove to Salem and was praising the Lord for those who went before us and created such wonderful roads. This week we are going to talk about our culture and some of the things that are taking place that makes it harder for the Christian.

We think, jewelry worn today is somewhat outrageous. I remember my son, while in highschool wanted to wear a chain necklace. It was a new fad! We said no! His Jazz group was to wear a chain necklace as part of their costume. We agreed he could do that! In the 70's a TV show, ‘The A Team’, was very popular and one of the good guys was ‘Mr. T’ and he wore oodles of chains around his neck and even earrings. Again a new fad arose! ‘Did you know’, that in biblical times men wore jewelry’? In Judges 8:4 it tells us that the custom of Ishmaelites was to wear gold earrings. Remember the story of Rebekah? Abraham’s servant sees her by the well. After he asks who she is, he puts a ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms. This was to signify that she was now spoken for, however he still needed to get her fathers approval. Let’s think about the ring in her nose. Today we see many with rings in their eyebrows and studs in their noses. I am appalled at this sight! I hate it when someone waits on me at a restaurant with these things sticking out all over their faces. I don’t care if they choose to wear these things but I don’t appreciate their lifestyles flaunted in my face, and over my food.
Even though I wear jewelry, I guess I am more under the dispensation of 1 Timothy 2:9 where he says; "Women are to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God". Now, I have pieced ears! Took me a long time to do that but I love the daintiness of pieced earrings. I also like to wear long necklaces that you have to loop in the middle. Mainly, because I have a lot of them! In biblical days, bracelets were common among both men and women. Some could slip over the wrist but others hinged open and were locked on the wrist with a pin.
You have heard the phrase; "What goes around, comes around"? Our culture, style or whatever you wish to call it, is pretty much what it was in the days that Christ walked this earth. I often wonder if he was appalled at their jewelry and their clothing as he was at their lifestyles. All of these things affect us. It is part of our culture, that I am not particularly fond of. However, It behooves us to look past the wrapping and look inside, in order to reach the person that Christ went to the cross for. We are not to judge the world because as Christians our walk with the Lord has already judged them. We are to control our tongue and use salt to season when it is necessary. We can’t reach the world if we are too critical, but in all things we are to use love. Jane Ann

CULTURE SHOCK INVASIONS 11/3/08

A new week and a new month....we are moving right along. My plan was to talk this week on a very difficult subject 'grieving' but since last weeks was also difficult because of this time in our lives, I decided to use a devotion that hits us where we live. Right in the middle of our culture!
I am sure my story will ring some bells in your memories of the way things were and what they are today. If you can share your thoughts with me, by making comments, please do so.

CULTURE SHOCK INVASIONS
When I was about 8 or 9 my sister Jean took me and some of my sisters, to see Dennis Morgan in the movie "Christmas in Connecticut". It was my first time ever to ride on a street car and then cross the bridge that spanned the Missouri River from Council Bluffs Iowa to Omaha Nebraska. We went to the café that my Dad worked at and he gave us a fried chicken dinner which we ate sitting on stairs in the back room of the café. Again another first, eating in a café! Dennis Morgan was our heart throb at the time! Years later I saw that movie and others, with him and thought he doesn’t hold a candle to Charlton Heston. Moses and Ben Hur, Wow?
Today I really don’t like going to movies. Some stories I like watching up front and personal but I think movies have become far to personal. Becoming engrossed in the story is not enough for me to sit through explicit sex, unnecessary violence and rooting for the bad guys. Jim loves movie popcorn and so he usually eats his popcorn and then we leave. Expensive popcorn!
One of my problems is that unless the actors have a relatively sound character and no unpleasant baggage broadcasted through the media of magazines, TV, typecasting or their politics, I don’t want to watch, listen or see them. Have you ever noticed the list of names that are now actors, who use to be rappers and rock stars? They have changed their names probably to hide their real identities. There is Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Meat Loaf, Yahoo Serious, Snoop Dog and Emenem. When I see a nonsense name I am not interested!
In my lifetime I have seen some cultural changes in hair styles, clothing and how to wear them. I’ve seen the attractive modest look give way to the extreme, leaving nothing to the imagination. The culture shock is that this is not only drawing young adults, men and women. But it includes children, the elderly and even Christians. The belly button is no longer something cute on a baby but a focal point to be decorated to draw attention like a fireplace does for a room. It use to be that a look could say volumes but today the phrase; "A picture is worth a thousand words" seems to win the battle in drawing the lookie lues!
Every generation, experiences culture shock. If you look in the dictionary you will find that the word culture can mean; enlightenment, education, refinement training. It is the refinement of knowledge, crafts, art, literature, beliefs and customs of a people. There are many cultural differences in our world and have been since the beginning of time. Some cultures we can readily accept because they help us to change for the better. Today’s culture says that anything goes! If it feels good, do it! I find no refinement there! Many cultural changes are detrimental to our morals and Christian standards. Where do we draw the line?
If you believe there is right and wrong and I do! If you truly believe there is a God and I do! If you believe there is a heaven and a hell, and I do! Then you know that we should not fall into these culture traps that say; "Everybody’s doing it"! Better still; "My Mom and Dad don’t care, why not"! If you are a Mom and Dad, you better care. You better be about knowing where your child is not only at 11:00 o clock but all the time. You had better get on the ball and teach your children that the goal is not to be like others but to become like Christ. If you want to be happy and to have your children happy teach them about things that are good. We are to be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world". The lights on Broadway suggest that glamor is the way to go. I suggest that Christianity in any culture is the only way to go! In Provers 3:35 it says; "The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up to shame"! Joy comes in the morning when there is Christ in you. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/3/08