HAVING TO SETTLE!
Many times throughout my life I have felt that instead of getting what I want, I settle. Many times we have gone into a store to buy a particular thing and discover they don’t have exactly what I want so I accept a different brand; a different color; a different size and even something all together different. I settled!
I remember when my soon to be daughter-in-law, Faye was looking for her wedding dress. We went to many stores and she complained; "I just don’t know what I want, how will I know?" I replied; "Don’t worry, you will know when you see it"! After trying on many, and I mean many, wedding dresses; she put one on and just stood there. Surprisingly enough it was at the same store we had visited many times before, because they were having a huge sale. She knew! She didn’t have to settle! This was the one! Jennifer and I weren’t sure she was ever going to take it off!
Settling is unsettling, to say the least. Many times it is making a change in your life! However, when you learn that things are not the upper most importance in your life, settling is okay. It makes the times when you actually get what you want all the more sweeter.
I have never minded coming in second or even third in a foot race because I knew I couldn’t run. However, when I was the last alto chosen to sing in our primary school choir I felt the instructor merely settled. He kept coming around where I was and chose all of my friends around me and then me. I may be a little conceited but I knew I could sing and could sing better than most my age, because I could actually sing alto.
When the settler’s came to establish communities in the West, they were called settler’s because many times they set up housekeeping in places that were not necessarily where they intended to end up. You’ve watched ‘Little House on the Prairie’. We all knew what settlers were, from watching that show. We knew that being a settler was adventurous and a good thing.
I suppose another word for settling is acceptance. We accept a situation; we accept the way we look; we accept the position we hold; we accept where we are in line. We accept ideas, thoughts and changes in life’s situations and pick up from there. I believe some things are worth settling for, but I don’t believe we always have to accept. We can always continue to achieve and to better ourselves and to look on the brighter side of life.
If you have ever gone panning for gold, you know the process is to collect water and residue from the creek bed and slowly move the pan from side to side. The heavier objects settle to the bottom and that is where you find gold nuggets.
Remember the story of the lame man from birth setting at the gate Beautiful? His job was begging because he had accepted his lot in life and condition. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking them for their financial help. The two men looked upon the man and said; "Look at us"! Startled, he looked up at them expecting to receive something. But Peter said; "Silver and Gold have I none, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk"; Acts 3:1-10.
Upon receiving this gift the man immediately felt his feet and his ankles to strengthened. With a leap, he stood up and began to walk. Instead of receiving gold and silver, the man settled for the greatest gift of all; leaping, walking and praising God.
Settling is not a bad thing unless you accept it as a bad thing. When Jim asked me to marry him, I accepted his offer and have settled down into our life together. When my children came along, I accepted my new place in life as a mother and settled into a motherly routine. Accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have settled down under His wings. Jane Ann
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
GOODWILL OR TRASH! 3/30/09
Recently I experienced a process called 'Goodwill or trash'. I admit spring cleaning always is reduced to 'Goodwill or trash' and I would think nothing of it. But now I view it differently. Perhaps through this weeks discussion, you also will view it in a different light.
THE PIANO!
At the beginning of our marriage, we bought an old up-right piano for $50.00. We cleaned it up and discovered it had a great sound. Jim learned to sing bass with that old piano. My friend Connie, needed more room and I offered to store her spinet for a while. I gave the old up-right to my sister Jean and began to use Connie’s spinet. When Connie decided she wanted her piano back Jim and I began to look for another used piano. We looked and looked and one day we walked into a new piano store. Big mistake! I wanted the grand piano sound and new the up-rights had that so that was where our attention was, until we spied a beautiful Baldwin console. The finish was walnut and it had the ‘acrosonic’ touch. I could feel my heart pounding and my palms perspiring. All the signs of desire were there but I wanted that baby grand sound. The salesman took us into a room that had an up-right, studio and console in it. They were all new! We played them all. The console had the same beautiful quality of sound that the up-right had. It had the same character and general affect that a baby grand would have. I was thrilled! Jim liked the piano also and so it wasn’t difficult to convince him that if he bought this piano for me I would never ask for anything else. Ever! Of course that lasted only for a while!
The morning the piano was delivered, my neighbor Anita, Jim and I were standing at the door waiting for it to come into our living room. I already had arranged the furniture! Again my heart was pounding and my palms were perspiring. After the delivery men left we three just stood there grinning from ear to ear. They were happy for me and I was ecstatic! The piano had only been in place a few seconds when Jennifer, 2 years old took her place at the left front of the piano. Danny, 3 years old took his place at the right front of the piano. Jennifer standing on her tip toes, placed her mouth on the front edge and as on cue Danny did the same thing on the right and they sunk their teeth, simultaneously, into my brand new, newly delivered piano. Surely, I must have screamed and could have squashed them right then and there.
I am sure the shed tears and the feeling of exasperation must have subsided somewhere between then and now because I love to tell this story and remember how precious those teeth marks have been. Danny now owns this piano and of course his boys have made their marks upon this once beautiful and cherished console piano.
We have and will always want things. Things that make our hearts pound and give us sweaty palms. Things that can be damaged, get old, become rotten and eventually decay. Many of us are called ‘pack rats’ because we like to accumulate stuff even when we can’t use it or even if it doesn’t work anymore. I still love remembering, wanting that piano and after it became damaged goods, I cherished it all the more. However, I could still give it away and I did, to Danny!
We are all familiar with Matthew 6 where in verse 19-20, Jesus says; "Do not lay up treasures upon earth, because they will just become moth infested, rusty and even stolen. Instead lay up your treasures in heaven where they are safe for evermore". The reason is found in verse 21; "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". In Matthew 19, Jesus is telling the people that they must keep the commandments in order to enter life with Him. The rich young ruler says I have done this, what else am I lacking? In verse 21 Jesus says; "If you wish to be complete you must go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me!" Don’t wait until you are in your last days to begin storing up your treasures in heaven. Don’t wait! Start today, for your treasures will increase in value as you live each day for Christ. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/9/08
THE PIANO!
At the beginning of our marriage, we bought an old up-right piano for $50.00. We cleaned it up and discovered it had a great sound. Jim learned to sing bass with that old piano. My friend Connie, needed more room and I offered to store her spinet for a while. I gave the old up-right to my sister Jean and began to use Connie’s spinet. When Connie decided she wanted her piano back Jim and I began to look for another used piano. We looked and looked and one day we walked into a new piano store. Big mistake! I wanted the grand piano sound and new the up-rights had that so that was where our attention was, until we spied a beautiful Baldwin console. The finish was walnut and it had the ‘acrosonic’ touch. I could feel my heart pounding and my palms perspiring. All the signs of desire were there but I wanted that baby grand sound. The salesman took us into a room that had an up-right, studio and console in it. They were all new! We played them all. The console had the same beautiful quality of sound that the up-right had. It had the same character and general affect that a baby grand would have. I was thrilled! Jim liked the piano also and so it wasn’t difficult to convince him that if he bought this piano for me I would never ask for anything else. Ever! Of course that lasted only for a while!
The morning the piano was delivered, my neighbor Anita, Jim and I were standing at the door waiting for it to come into our living room. I already had arranged the furniture! Again my heart was pounding and my palms were perspiring. After the delivery men left we three just stood there grinning from ear to ear. They were happy for me and I was ecstatic! The piano had only been in place a few seconds when Jennifer, 2 years old took her place at the left front of the piano. Danny, 3 years old took his place at the right front of the piano. Jennifer standing on her tip toes, placed her mouth on the front edge and as on cue Danny did the same thing on the right and they sunk their teeth, simultaneously, into my brand new, newly delivered piano. Surely, I must have screamed and could have squashed them right then and there.
I am sure the shed tears and the feeling of exasperation must have subsided somewhere between then and now because I love to tell this story and remember how precious those teeth marks have been. Danny now owns this piano and of course his boys have made their marks upon this once beautiful and cherished console piano.
We have and will always want things. Things that make our hearts pound and give us sweaty palms. Things that can be damaged, get old, become rotten and eventually decay. Many of us are called ‘pack rats’ because we like to accumulate stuff even when we can’t use it or even if it doesn’t work anymore. I still love remembering, wanting that piano and after it became damaged goods, I cherished it all the more. However, I could still give it away and I did, to Danny!
We are all familiar with Matthew 6 where in verse 19-20, Jesus says; "Do not lay up treasures upon earth, because they will just become moth infested, rusty and even stolen. Instead lay up your treasures in heaven where they are safe for evermore". The reason is found in verse 21; "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". In Matthew 19, Jesus is telling the people that they must keep the commandments in order to enter life with Him. The rich young ruler says I have done this, what else am I lacking? In verse 21 Jesus says; "If you wish to be complete you must go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me!" Don’t wait until you are in your last days to begin storing up your treasures in heaven. Don’t wait! Start today, for your treasures will increase in value as you live each day for Christ. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/9/08
Friday, March 27, 2009
This will complete this weeks discussion on 'When winters come'. One of my most favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28; "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose".
VICTORY IN JESUS!
As children we were taught the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’. It was pretty much a black and white outlook. I am not saying that was wrong because we at least knew there was a difference and the lines were drawn. Today, I believe children have been conditioned to accept what appears to be good right along with the acceptance and tolerance of the world’s condition. War falls into the category of what is evil and/or what is wrong with our world. Our world doesn’t view immorality or bad character as being on the side of evil but they believe war does.
According to the scriptures anything that is not on the side of good is classified as being evil. "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil"; Ephesians 6:11. I agree that war is not a good thing but God used it many times over to cleanse the nations. I don’t believe that we should war to cleanse the nations but I do believe war is one way that God punishes evil. "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"; Ephesians 6:12. "Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and then having done this; you can stand firm"; Ephesians 6:13.
Our men and women who serve in our armed forces deserve the respect and accolades that are due them. When we meet them on the street we should acknowledge them! When we hear of their honors we should congratulate them! When we meet them or their families personally, we should thank them! When we pray we must include them and our country! Is that too much to ask when they have put their lives on the line and/or on hold for us and our country?
Recently I heard Adam’s friend say; "As Adam watches my back I watch his!" This same young man said; "We know who is watching us so we will be okay"! In 2007, I received an email about; "Red Friday’s". Like so many other causes that have a color, ‘red Fridays’ color is red. A color to remind us to show support for our servicemen and women! This is not political but a way of showing that we care. Jim and I have been wearing a red shirt every Friday since we received that email. If you are interested, check out; www.redshirtfridays.org. Become one of the silent majority that does not wish to remain silent.
Those who support our troops, regardless of what the media and/or our leaders say, can proclaim ‘victory’ is being achieved because of the dedication and perseverance of those out in the fields of combat by wearing red on Fridays. Those who follow Jesus Christ know that there is ‘victory in Jesus’ and we show this by how we live. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our Faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!"; 1 John 5:4-5.
Wearing red on Fridays originated in Canada around 2005. American’s adopted it in 2006! Jim and I began wearing it in 2007 and will continue to wear red on Fridays until our troops come home in victory and Iraq and Afghanistan are free. We wear Jesus Christ daily so our loved ones will know the ‘victory’ they can have in Jesus Christ.
The chorus of a favorite hymn written by E.M.Bartlett in 1939 says; "Oh Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me, and bought me, with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him. He plunged me, to victory, beneath the cleansing flood". May the Captain of God’s Army stand before our soldiers and may our soldiers know they are standing on holy ground when they experience their Victory in Jesus. God bless them one and all! Jane Ann
VICTORY IN JESUS!
As children we were taught the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’. It was pretty much a black and white outlook. I am not saying that was wrong because we at least knew there was a difference and the lines were drawn. Today, I believe children have been conditioned to accept what appears to be good right along with the acceptance and tolerance of the world’s condition. War falls into the category of what is evil and/or what is wrong with our world. Our world doesn’t view immorality or bad character as being on the side of evil but they believe war does.
According to the scriptures anything that is not on the side of good is classified as being evil. "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil"; Ephesians 6:11. I agree that war is not a good thing but God used it many times over to cleanse the nations. I don’t believe that we should war to cleanse the nations but I do believe war is one way that God punishes evil. "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"; Ephesians 6:12. "Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and then having done this; you can stand firm"; Ephesians 6:13.
Our men and women who serve in our armed forces deserve the respect and accolades that are due them. When we meet them on the street we should acknowledge them! When we hear of their honors we should congratulate them! When we meet them or their families personally, we should thank them! When we pray we must include them and our country! Is that too much to ask when they have put their lives on the line and/or on hold for us and our country?
Recently I heard Adam’s friend say; "As Adam watches my back I watch his!" This same young man said; "We know who is watching us so we will be okay"! In 2007, I received an email about; "Red Friday’s". Like so many other causes that have a color, ‘red Fridays’ color is red. A color to remind us to show support for our servicemen and women! This is not political but a way of showing that we care. Jim and I have been wearing a red shirt every Friday since we received that email. If you are interested, check out; www.redshirtfridays.org. Become one of the silent majority that does not wish to remain silent.
Those who support our troops, regardless of what the media and/or our leaders say, can proclaim ‘victory’ is being achieved because of the dedication and perseverance of those out in the fields of combat by wearing red on Fridays. Those who follow Jesus Christ know that there is ‘victory in Jesus’ and we show this by how we live. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our Faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!"; 1 John 5:4-5.
Wearing red on Fridays originated in Canada around 2005. American’s adopted it in 2006! Jim and I began wearing it in 2007 and will continue to wear red on Fridays until our troops come home in victory and Iraq and Afghanistan are free. We wear Jesus Christ daily so our loved ones will know the ‘victory’ they can have in Jesus Christ.
The chorus of a favorite hymn written by E.M.Bartlett in 1939 says; "Oh Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me, and bought me, with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him. He plunged me, to victory, beneath the cleansing flood". May the Captain of God’s Army stand before our soldiers and may our soldiers know they are standing on holy ground when they experience their Victory in Jesus. God bless them one and all! Jane Ann
Thursday, March 26, 2009
FREEDOM OR CAPTIVITY!
"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt." But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. "The people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle"; Exodus 13:17-18.
God knew that if they were to enter into war with the Philistines (and they would) they would want to return to Egypt. When I read this passage and realized that even in those days of the Exodus, the people were afraid of war and would rather be held captive again, instead of becoming free men. Many times the Israelites would bribe their adversaries but it never worked. Being afraid of war can do that!
When we look back on 9/11 we remember the shear fear we felt as a country. We remember how evil men highjacked four airplanes and willingly flew them into two tall buildings, a large massive one story building, a building that held the government of the people and killed three thousand innocent, unsuspecting men, women and children without a moment of hesitation. We also remember the courage of those who intercepted the highjackers on one plane and brought it down before evil could carry out their mission.
When we look back, we feel pride as the country came together as one Nation under God. We banded together in unity as we listened to our President and the Congress reaching across party lines, pulling together the ties that would bind us into one spirit. The country was able to reach deep into their pockets and opened their doors to all that were left dangling by their boot straps.
But memories are short! The Israelites had just left captivity in Egypt but God knew they would want to return if they ran into adverse situations, such as war with the Philistines. America’s memory is short! We now open our arms to those who have attacked us and terrorized us by teaching their beliefs in our schools. By letting the imprisoned out of prison because they have complained of being mistreated. We are willing to offer financial support to companies that have misused their businesses for greed by taxing those who work hard for what they have with the guise of helping those less fortunate.
The sad thing is that even the innocent feel the repercussions of war and the devastation that it brings. The innocent fall pray to those who use their powers that go against the principles that were established to bring freedom and to experience the American dream. We cannot escape war by running away or hiding. As I have mentioned before, war is providential and war is necessary. God has deemed it so! However, we must pray for those who hold office! We must remember that God uses those in office to punish the evil and to reward the good. We must remember that God has promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. I believe in God’s promises; don’t you? Jane Ann
"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt." But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. "The people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle"; Exodus 13:17-18.
God knew that if they were to enter into war with the Philistines (and they would) they would want to return to Egypt. When I read this passage and realized that even in those days of the Exodus, the people were afraid of war and would rather be held captive again, instead of becoming free men. Many times the Israelites would bribe their adversaries but it never worked. Being afraid of war can do that!
When we look back on 9/11 we remember the shear fear we felt as a country. We remember how evil men highjacked four airplanes and willingly flew them into two tall buildings, a large massive one story building, a building that held the government of the people and killed three thousand innocent, unsuspecting men, women and children without a moment of hesitation. We also remember the courage of those who intercepted the highjackers on one plane and brought it down before evil could carry out their mission.
When we look back, we feel pride as the country came together as one Nation under God. We banded together in unity as we listened to our President and the Congress reaching across party lines, pulling together the ties that would bind us into one spirit. The country was able to reach deep into their pockets and opened their doors to all that were left dangling by their boot straps.
But memories are short! The Israelites had just left captivity in Egypt but God knew they would want to return if they ran into adverse situations, such as war with the Philistines. America’s memory is short! We now open our arms to those who have attacked us and terrorized us by teaching their beliefs in our schools. By letting the imprisoned out of prison because they have complained of being mistreated. We are willing to offer financial support to companies that have misused their businesses for greed by taxing those who work hard for what they have with the guise of helping those less fortunate.
The sad thing is that even the innocent feel the repercussions of war and the devastation that it brings. The innocent fall pray to those who use their powers that go against the principles that were established to bring freedom and to experience the American dream. We cannot escape war by running away or hiding. As I have mentioned before, war is providential and war is necessary. God has deemed it so! However, we must pray for those who hold office! We must remember that God uses those in office to punish the evil and to reward the good. We must remember that God has promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. I believe in God’s promises; don’t you? Jane Ann
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
VICTORY GARDEN’S
I was just a child during WWII but I have read and heard about those at home who did their part during the war. Many women took jobs that normally were held by men. Many women became pilots, mechanics and gardeners. You name it and women were doing it!
One of the things that was going on, was under the auspicious cooperation of Eleanor Roosevelt. She took history and re-invented it by planting a garden at the White House in 1943.
Much of the countries food supply was being used for the troops. She and others felt it would be good to encourage those at home by bringing back the Victory Gardens.
The idea of these gardens began in England during the 1600's. 300 years later WWI wanted to keep both troops and citizens morales high by developing a sense of patriotism and participation in the countries war efforts. At that time they used the terms of ‘liberty garden’ and ‘war garden’. After WWI it became known as "Victory Gardens".
I understand that today there is some talk about beginning the ‘victory gardens’ again I would imagine that many have their home gardens without the encouragement of the government, nevertheless a garden is always a good thing!
One of the scriptures in the Old testament always interested me. "When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, to be happy with his wife whom he has taken"; Deuteronomy 24:5. Today that is not a law nor does the church consider it a law of God, that needs to be honored. However, I like it! I suppose one reason for the young man to remain with his wife for at least one year was so they could establish a home with children on the way. God knew the devastation of war! God knew men would die! God knew that it was necessary for the man to have an heir. God knows so much more about us than we could ever imagine.
Perhaps God’s idea of a victory garden would be to raise up children who will learn to love and to live for Him. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven"; Ecclesiastes 3:1. Chapter 3 goes on with; "a time to be born, time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap; a time to kill, a time to heal; a time to break down, a time to build up; a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, a time to refrain; a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, a time to cast away; a time to tear, a time to sew; a time to keep silent, a time to speak; a time to love, a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace". A time for everything?
A victory garden served it’s purposes in years past and might serve a purpose even today.
I would like to encourage a different type of garden. A prayer garden! A garden of pray’ers full of many clean hands and pure hearts! Pray’ers that will lift up our government by name! A garden of pray’ers that seeks God’s face filled with color and fragrance. A garden of pray’ers lifting up our troops before the Commander and Chief that has declared us righteous through His Son, Jesus Christ. A garden of prayers that brings peace and beauty to those who pray. Jane Ann
I was just a child during WWII but I have read and heard about those at home who did their part during the war. Many women took jobs that normally were held by men. Many women became pilots, mechanics and gardeners. You name it and women were doing it!
One of the things that was going on, was under the auspicious cooperation of Eleanor Roosevelt. She took history and re-invented it by planting a garden at the White House in 1943.
Much of the countries food supply was being used for the troops. She and others felt it would be good to encourage those at home by bringing back the Victory Gardens.
The idea of these gardens began in England during the 1600's. 300 years later WWI wanted to keep both troops and citizens morales high by developing a sense of patriotism and participation in the countries war efforts. At that time they used the terms of ‘liberty garden’ and ‘war garden’. After WWI it became known as "Victory Gardens".
I understand that today there is some talk about beginning the ‘victory gardens’ again I would imagine that many have their home gardens without the encouragement of the government, nevertheless a garden is always a good thing!
One of the scriptures in the Old testament always interested me. "When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, to be happy with his wife whom he has taken"; Deuteronomy 24:5. Today that is not a law nor does the church consider it a law of God, that needs to be honored. However, I like it! I suppose one reason for the young man to remain with his wife for at least one year was so they could establish a home with children on the way. God knew the devastation of war! God knew men would die! God knew that it was necessary for the man to have an heir. God knows so much more about us than we could ever imagine.
Perhaps God’s idea of a victory garden would be to raise up children who will learn to love and to live for Him. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven"; Ecclesiastes 3:1. Chapter 3 goes on with; "a time to be born, time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap; a time to kill, a time to heal; a time to break down, a time to build up; a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, a time to refrain; a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, a time to cast away; a time to tear, a time to sew; a time to keep silent, a time to speak; a time to love, a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace". A time for everything?
A victory garden served it’s purposes in years past and might serve a purpose even today.
I would like to encourage a different type of garden. A prayer garden! A garden of pray’ers full of many clean hands and pure hearts! Pray’ers that will lift up our government by name! A garden of pray’ers that seeks God’s face filled with color and fragrance. A garden of pray’ers lifting up our troops before the Commander and Chief that has declared us righteous through His Son, Jesus Christ. A garden of prayers that brings peace and beauty to those who pray. Jane Ann
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
LAST LETTER HOME!
My brother Lonnie joined the Navy during WWII. He served on an Air Craft Carrier and even crossed the equator. During those days that was a big thing! The Sailor’s commemorated that feat by having their left ear pierced. Lonnie returned home after his time in the service but never talked much about his service of duty.
Jim’s brother Glenn was a B24 Pilot in the Air Force during WWII. His plane was shot down over Germany and he was taken captive. He spent 9 months moving from one Stalag to another. Glenn returned home and would reveal bits and pieces of his captivity but didn’t really talk much about his experience.
Jim’s nephew Russell was an artillery officer in the Army during Viet Nam. He lost one of his legs due to friendly fire but never regretted his time served for his Country. Russell’s father, Carl was also an Air Force Pilot and flew a B17 in WWII. In 1952 during the Korean conflict, he was flying a B47 for the Air Force. He had landed his troubled plane, which was on fire. He was the last one out and upon exiting something caused him to return to the plane and it exploded. He suffered 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body. He died a few days later!
Denny, the husband of my niece Judy, was injured from a mine explosion during Viet Nam and has suffered many years from those wounds. Just a few years ago he had his leg amputated. In both of our families many have served our Country through the armed forces. Some during peace times and some during not so peaceful times. I suppose the stories could go on and on about the ravages of war in families that were closely associated to the men and women who have served.
In 1968, I cut out of our local newspaper an article entitled; "Marine’s last letter home found in a personal Bible". 41 years ago a family read this letter and mourned the loss of their son. Every time I read this letter, I too mourn the loss of their son! It reads as follows:
"Dear Mom and Dad; This will be my last letter. It will be delivered to you in case of my death. Believe me, this is an extremely hard letter to write,. But I must face reality! I want you to please remember two things. I hope they will both help and comfort you. First, I died for a cause in which I fully believe - in a fashion that goes with our name. Second, when I die, I fully believe that my soul will go to heaven. I believe in God and I believe he looks after his loved ones. So you know that I am really all right and I will see you both some day. I want you to know that I love you all very much. You are the most wonderful family that anyone can ever ask for, and I thank God that I was so fortunate. Please don’t let this create a bitter feeling in your hearts for the service or for the war. I guess it is something that will have to be done and men will have to die to do it. I know the blow will be terrible, but I am praying that God will give you the strength to face the fact and he will console you...I love you all so much!"
The ultimate sacrifice can be made during war! Physical and psychological conditions can be the result of war! The wind blows strong during the winters of war! But the love for our Lord is what gives us the strength to see it through. Prayer, day by day, is the key! Jane Ann
My brother Lonnie joined the Navy during WWII. He served on an Air Craft Carrier and even crossed the equator. During those days that was a big thing! The Sailor’s commemorated that feat by having their left ear pierced. Lonnie returned home after his time in the service but never talked much about his service of duty.
Jim’s brother Glenn was a B24 Pilot in the Air Force during WWII. His plane was shot down over Germany and he was taken captive. He spent 9 months moving from one Stalag to another. Glenn returned home and would reveal bits and pieces of his captivity but didn’t really talk much about his experience.
Jim’s nephew Russell was an artillery officer in the Army during Viet Nam. He lost one of his legs due to friendly fire but never regretted his time served for his Country. Russell’s father, Carl was also an Air Force Pilot and flew a B17 in WWII. In 1952 during the Korean conflict, he was flying a B47 for the Air Force. He had landed his troubled plane, which was on fire. He was the last one out and upon exiting something caused him to return to the plane and it exploded. He suffered 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body. He died a few days later!
Denny, the husband of my niece Judy, was injured from a mine explosion during Viet Nam and has suffered many years from those wounds. Just a few years ago he had his leg amputated. In both of our families many have served our Country through the armed forces. Some during peace times and some during not so peaceful times. I suppose the stories could go on and on about the ravages of war in families that were closely associated to the men and women who have served.
In 1968, I cut out of our local newspaper an article entitled; "Marine’s last letter home found in a personal Bible". 41 years ago a family read this letter and mourned the loss of their son. Every time I read this letter, I too mourn the loss of their son! It reads as follows:
"Dear Mom and Dad; This will be my last letter. It will be delivered to you in case of my death. Believe me, this is an extremely hard letter to write,. But I must face reality! I want you to please remember two things. I hope they will both help and comfort you. First, I died for a cause in which I fully believe - in a fashion that goes with our name. Second, when I die, I fully believe that my soul will go to heaven. I believe in God and I believe he looks after his loved ones. So you know that I am really all right and I will see you both some day. I want you to know that I love you all very much. You are the most wonderful family that anyone can ever ask for, and I thank God that I was so fortunate. Please don’t let this create a bitter feeling in your hearts for the service or for the war. I guess it is something that will have to be done and men will have to die to do it. I know the blow will be terrible, but I am praying that God will give you the strength to face the fact and he will console you...I love you all so much!"
The ultimate sacrifice can be made during war! Physical and psychological conditions can be the result of war! The wind blows strong during the winters of war! But the love for our Lord is what gives us the strength to see it through. Prayer, day by day, is the key! Jane Ann
Monday, March 23, 2009
WHEN WINTERS COME! 3/23/09
This week we are going to look at war. We like to complain about our government and our position in the world, but this week I want to look at some of the realities of war from the past to today. My grandson Adam is preparing for his stint in Iraq and that brings this subject close to our family. I know that some of you are in the same boat. Holding onto God as our anchor will keep us in safe harbors.
WHEN WINTERS COME
Jim’s Mom lived in a small trailer near us on our property in Sam’s Valley. The property had lots of trees and was surrounded with hills. During the spring it would come alive and during the summers it was full of color and sunshine. My favorite was the winters when the trees became bare and the moon would pale. The starkness of winter was stunning! Jim’s Mom hated that look! She said it was cold and empty! The older I get the more I understand the thoughts of my mother-in-law. I too feel the cold and the emptiness during winter especially during the winters of war that lasts not just for a season but for many seasons.
My #1 grandson, Adam, upon graduating from highschool enlisted in the Army National Guard. He signed up for the educational program which means he is not army active but can be deployed at anytime as needed. Of course this strong willed young man seems to have that devastating internal urge to use his manhood by using his mental and physical prowess to strategically win his battles. But then he is a sharp shooter! The men in the family are pleased with Adams decision because our Country is and has been for several years at war. We need young men and women who are willing to not be fearful and put their lives on the line to protect the interests and freedoms of this wonderful Country. However, the women who are closest to these who have chosen to go, know we could be facing a very long winter.
War can be devastating to families who have seen their loved ones go off and never come back. The return of a loved one from war, whether whole or maimed is a welcome sight. War can tear families apart and war can tear Countries apart because of those who dare to become dissidents. Dissidents are those not wanting war because of lives lost and because we are not the police of the world. These dissidents haven’t noticed the senseless deaths on the highway because of drunk drivers. The amount of deaths due to drug overdose. Nor diseases that ravish the body. Most dissidents are immature idealists! The statistics are everywhere and the numbers are staggering. Loss of life in war is hard, but this is one time that I can agree with much difficulty, that the loss of life in war is honorable and just. My heart aches for families who have experienced such a loss but I know in their grieving they are also proud of their spouse, brother/sister or child’s sacrifice in time of need.
The world looks upon our God with; "Why does your God allow these things"? The Christian world often looks upon God with; "God is love, war is mans doing"! Joshua 5:13-15 puts God in perspective as to where God stands when it comes to war. Joshua asks if the man with sword drawn was an adversary. He says; "No; I am commander of the army of the Lord"! The commander tells Joshua to take off his shoes because he is standing on holy ground. When you read about the exploits of God’s army you will find that they would annihilate the land and destroy all that breathed. The reason why God’s army was so fearsome, was if you did not believe in God and follow His commands you would pay the price.
God’s army was and is great because they followed their formidable leader. That same formidable leader puts man in charge of army’s to punish the lawlessness of man. Nobody likes war not even God! Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:6; "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet." Nation against nations, famines and earthquakes; all this is just the beginning. We cannot escape war by running away or hiding. War is providential and necessary. God has deemed it so! "But he who endures to the end will be saved"; Matthew 24:13. Putting our trust in God is what will keep us warm during the winters of war. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/14/08
WHEN WINTERS COME
Jim’s Mom lived in a small trailer near us on our property in Sam’s Valley. The property had lots of trees and was surrounded with hills. During the spring it would come alive and during the summers it was full of color and sunshine. My favorite was the winters when the trees became bare and the moon would pale. The starkness of winter was stunning! Jim’s Mom hated that look! She said it was cold and empty! The older I get the more I understand the thoughts of my mother-in-law. I too feel the cold and the emptiness during winter especially during the winters of war that lasts not just for a season but for many seasons.
My #1 grandson, Adam, upon graduating from highschool enlisted in the Army National Guard. He signed up for the educational program which means he is not army active but can be deployed at anytime as needed. Of course this strong willed young man seems to have that devastating internal urge to use his manhood by using his mental and physical prowess to strategically win his battles. But then he is a sharp shooter! The men in the family are pleased with Adams decision because our Country is and has been for several years at war. We need young men and women who are willing to not be fearful and put their lives on the line to protect the interests and freedoms of this wonderful Country. However, the women who are closest to these who have chosen to go, know we could be facing a very long winter.
War can be devastating to families who have seen their loved ones go off and never come back. The return of a loved one from war, whether whole or maimed is a welcome sight. War can tear families apart and war can tear Countries apart because of those who dare to become dissidents. Dissidents are those not wanting war because of lives lost and because we are not the police of the world. These dissidents haven’t noticed the senseless deaths on the highway because of drunk drivers. The amount of deaths due to drug overdose. Nor diseases that ravish the body. Most dissidents are immature idealists! The statistics are everywhere and the numbers are staggering. Loss of life in war is hard, but this is one time that I can agree with much difficulty, that the loss of life in war is honorable and just. My heart aches for families who have experienced such a loss but I know in their grieving they are also proud of their spouse, brother/sister or child’s sacrifice in time of need.
The world looks upon our God with; "Why does your God allow these things"? The Christian world often looks upon God with; "God is love, war is mans doing"! Joshua 5:13-15 puts God in perspective as to where God stands when it comes to war. Joshua asks if the man with sword drawn was an adversary. He says; "No; I am commander of the army of the Lord"! The commander tells Joshua to take off his shoes because he is standing on holy ground. When you read about the exploits of God’s army you will find that they would annihilate the land and destroy all that breathed. The reason why God’s army was so fearsome, was if you did not believe in God and follow His commands you would pay the price.
God’s army was and is great because they followed their formidable leader. That same formidable leader puts man in charge of army’s to punish the lawlessness of man. Nobody likes war not even God! Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:6; "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet." Nation against nations, famines and earthquakes; all this is just the beginning. We cannot escape war by running away or hiding. War is providential and necessary. God has deemed it so! "But he who endures to the end will be saved"; Matthew 24:13. Putting our trust in God is what will keep us warm during the winters of war. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/14/08
Friday, March 20, 2009
Today we have many salts on the market than some say are better than others for seasoning our foods. We think there are so many more uses for salt today than in days of old. However, salt was considerated an expensive commodity at one time and was used as a profitable article of commerce. We consider lt necessary and we praise God for it!
SEASONED JUST RIGHT!
Today our Doctor’s suggest that we eat foods without added salt. But most argue that nothing tastes good without added salt. Then again, many say that we can get use to eating without salt and we won’t even miss it. I have cut down on cooking with a lot of salt and use other seasonings to help with the taste of food, but I find that eating an egg without salt is like eating something that is very bland. I discovered that Job felt the same way in Chapter 6:6-7; "Can something tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? My soul refuses to touch them. They are like loathsome food to me". How about that?
Using various seasonings is a good thing! I have enjoyed experimenting with flavors and feel very confident when it works. Salt is not the only seasoning that brings flavor to the table.
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one"; Colossians 4:6. When we season our speech with a little salt it is pleasing and we can get along with each other. However, salt is an abrasive and our speech can also become abrasive. A little goes a long ways but too much is not good for the soul.
"Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh"; James 3:12. What do you suppose James is saying when he says; "Can salt water produce fresh?" He is saying that salt water cannot produce fresh water by itself, anymore than a salty tongue can become tamed by itself. Our salty tongue can become fresh by taming it. The only way it can be tamed is through Jesus Christ.
Don’t make your speech salty or abrasive but seasoned just right as in love. Love brings a balance! "But no human being can tame the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison"; James 3:8. Today with all the scientific experiments and through recycling procedures, saltwater can be turned into salt free water, usable for drinking and for many other valuable uses. Man can take saltwater and make it fresh. Jesus can take salty speech and make it seasoned with love.
"O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"; Psalm 34:8. I love to bring my understanding of a verse by paraphrasing it; "The Christian is the salt of the earth! Christ is the salt of the Christian! Together we can season the world! Together we can taste and see that the Lord is good!"
Think about how you are seasoning your family and your church family. Think about your repentance and your walk with Christ. We are to place ourselves on the table so that the world and the church can taste and see that He is good! Jane Ann
SEASONED JUST RIGHT!
Today our Doctor’s suggest that we eat foods without added salt. But most argue that nothing tastes good without added salt. Then again, many say that we can get use to eating without salt and we won’t even miss it. I have cut down on cooking with a lot of salt and use other seasonings to help with the taste of food, but I find that eating an egg without salt is like eating something that is very bland. I discovered that Job felt the same way in Chapter 6:6-7; "Can something tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? My soul refuses to touch them. They are like loathsome food to me". How about that?
Using various seasonings is a good thing! I have enjoyed experimenting with flavors and feel very confident when it works. Salt is not the only seasoning that brings flavor to the table.
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one"; Colossians 4:6. When we season our speech with a little salt it is pleasing and we can get along with each other. However, salt is an abrasive and our speech can also become abrasive. A little goes a long ways but too much is not good for the soul.
"Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh"; James 3:12. What do you suppose James is saying when he says; "Can salt water produce fresh?" He is saying that salt water cannot produce fresh water by itself, anymore than a salty tongue can become tamed by itself. Our salty tongue can become fresh by taming it. The only way it can be tamed is through Jesus Christ.
Don’t make your speech salty or abrasive but seasoned just right as in love. Love brings a balance! "But no human being can tame the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison"; James 3:8. Today with all the scientific experiments and through recycling procedures, saltwater can be turned into salt free water, usable for drinking and for many other valuable uses. Man can take saltwater and make it fresh. Jesus can take salty speech and make it seasoned with love.
"O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"; Psalm 34:8. I love to bring my understanding of a verse by paraphrasing it; "The Christian is the salt of the earth! Christ is the salt of the Christian! Together we can season the world! Together we can taste and see that the Lord is good!"
Think about how you are seasoning your family and your church family. Think about your repentance and your walk with Christ. We are to place ourselves on the table so that the world and the church can taste and see that He is good! Jane Ann
Thursday, March 19, 2009
SUPERSTITIONS!
Like you, I have grown up with many superstitions like black cats, walking under ladders, itchy palms. Walking on cracks, breaking your mother’s sugar bowl and eating the last piece of whatever. Some have been referred to as ‘old wives’ tales and others I am sure have been handed down through the ages because of something that may or may not have happened but became a legend.
After retirement I began to watch the home improvement and cooking shows on TV. I have to admit I have enjoyed these immensely. On one of the regular cooking shows staring Rachel Ray, one thing caught my attention. Most times when she dips into the salt bowl and sprinkles the salt into her pot on the stove, she throws the rest over her left shoulder and says; "for good luck". Where did that superstition come from?
In doing a little research through the encyclopedia I found a few religious uses for salt that perhaps could have led to this superstition and/or others. According to the Prophet Muhammad, God sent down four blessings from the sky; fire, water, iron and salt. Salt is used as the third item in the rite of the Tridentine Mass. References Celtic Consecration which includes Exorcisms. In the Hindu mythology it is used in housewarmings and wedding ceremonies. Also, in many Pagan religions, salt is a symbol of earth. A purifier of sacred space! Interesting huh? I am sure there are others but that is all I found today.
I don’t believe salt is a product that can make or break us in anyway except for how we use it. Too much is not good! Too little is not good! A balance is needed! I’ve heard it said that if you add your seasonings, including salt, towards the end of your cooking the flavors are fresh and you don’t need to use as much. Whereas, if you season and salt early in your cooking you keep adding because it never quite tastes like you have enough.
Another superstition is; "Never watch a pot boil". I suppose if you are watching, it appears to take longer than if you just let it boil. Well, I believe you need to keep an eye on the boiling pot because I forget and have come back to a sizzling pot that has nothing left to boil. If you had salted the water before boiling it leaves your pot in a poor state. I think the superstition should be; "Never leave a pot to boil" because you could burn your house down. Never over season because instead of building bridges you could be burning bridges. Instead of a tasty dish to serve before kings you could be serving burnt toast and no one will want to come back to your dinner parties.
Leave superstitions behind you! I love the sermon on the Mount. If you want guidance on how to live a Christian life, it is all there. In the latter part of chapter 6 Jesus is talks about dealing with trust and/or anxieties. What you should eat or wear leads the topic. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day"; verses 33-34. Throwing salt over your shoulder for good luck isn’t going to cut it. Being Irish won’t bring you good luck but I do enjoy reading the Irish blessings and inspirations. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul and might! Jane Ann
Like you, I have grown up with many superstitions like black cats, walking under ladders, itchy palms. Walking on cracks, breaking your mother’s sugar bowl and eating the last piece of whatever. Some have been referred to as ‘old wives’ tales and others I am sure have been handed down through the ages because of something that may or may not have happened but became a legend.
After retirement I began to watch the home improvement and cooking shows on TV. I have to admit I have enjoyed these immensely. On one of the regular cooking shows staring Rachel Ray, one thing caught my attention. Most times when she dips into the salt bowl and sprinkles the salt into her pot on the stove, she throws the rest over her left shoulder and says; "for good luck". Where did that superstition come from?
In doing a little research through the encyclopedia I found a few religious uses for salt that perhaps could have led to this superstition and/or others. According to the Prophet Muhammad, God sent down four blessings from the sky; fire, water, iron and salt. Salt is used as the third item in the rite of the Tridentine Mass. References Celtic Consecration which includes Exorcisms. In the Hindu mythology it is used in housewarmings and wedding ceremonies. Also, in many Pagan religions, salt is a symbol of earth. A purifier of sacred space! Interesting huh? I am sure there are others but that is all I found today.
I don’t believe salt is a product that can make or break us in anyway except for how we use it. Too much is not good! Too little is not good! A balance is needed! I’ve heard it said that if you add your seasonings, including salt, towards the end of your cooking the flavors are fresh and you don’t need to use as much. Whereas, if you season and salt early in your cooking you keep adding because it never quite tastes like you have enough.
Another superstition is; "Never watch a pot boil". I suppose if you are watching, it appears to take longer than if you just let it boil. Well, I believe you need to keep an eye on the boiling pot because I forget and have come back to a sizzling pot that has nothing left to boil. If you had salted the water before boiling it leaves your pot in a poor state. I think the superstition should be; "Never leave a pot to boil" because you could burn your house down. Never over season because instead of building bridges you could be burning bridges. Instead of a tasty dish to serve before kings you could be serving burnt toast and no one will want to come back to your dinner parties.
Leave superstitions behind you! I love the sermon on the Mount. If you want guidance on how to live a Christian life, it is all there. In the latter part of chapter 6 Jesus is talks about dealing with trust and/or anxieties. What you should eat or wear leads the topic. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day"; verses 33-34. Throwing salt over your shoulder for good luck isn’t going to cut it. Being Irish won’t bring you good luck but I do enjoy reading the Irish blessings and inspirations. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul and might! Jane Ann
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
SALT IN THE WOUNDS!
The phrase; "It is like rubbing salt into my wounds" makes me cringe. We have salty tears which you can taste if your tears reach your mouth. Body perspiration seeps into open wounds and burns for a fraction of a second. The idea of rubbing the salt makes me think of forcing the salt to cause additional pain. Rubbing sore muscles is good but rubbing salt can be painful.
As you age some have the misfortune of thinning hair. I am one of those! One of the ladies in my early Sunday School class suggested I use salt. I would shampoo my head; towel dry; sprinkle table salt all over my head and rub the salt into my scalp. If my scalp was sunburned or itchy the salt would burn and be uncomfortable. I would then rinse the salt off and sooth my scalp with a dab of baby oil. It sounds like the salt would cleanse the pours and the oil would clog them back up again. After a bit I would shampoo my head once more. I was to do this for about 4 or 5 weeks. You know, it worked! The unclogged pours allow hair growth; I was amazed! Years later after medicines caused more hair loss I remembered this formula and my hair has slowly filled in again. Of course age accounts for a lot of the hair loss.
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others"; Philippians 2:4. When we look to the interests of others we refrain from rubbing salt into old and new wounds. "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets"; Matthew 7:12. When you are known by your fruits people will treat you as you have treated them. We do not live by the standards of ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. Instead we are to love one another. We are children of the King and we should act and live royally. "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect";
Matthew 5:48.
Many times, for the sake of being truthful, we often hurt one another with the criticism or helpful suggestions. I remember once wearing a red dress. I new it wasn’t my best color nor the prettiest I had in my closet but I chose to wear it anyway this Sunday morning. A friend, calmly came up to me just before church and said; "If I were you I wouldn’t wear that dress ever again"! I was singing a solo that morning and of course I felt that salt being rubbed into that wound until I returned home and was able to get out of that dress and never wear it again. That was one of the longest Sunday mornings of my life!
We often talk about forgetting the past and pressing onward and upward. Then we add;
"but I just can’t forget". When we torture ourselves with the past it is like rubbing salt into old wounds isn’t it? We feel the pain all over again and depression sets in as we refresh our memories of the old me of days gone by. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"; Matthew 11:30. Whenever I yoke myself with Jesus I can stand tall. My shoulders are squared back; my back feels stronger and I can walk confidently. How about you? Jane Ann
The phrase; "It is like rubbing salt into my wounds" makes me cringe. We have salty tears which you can taste if your tears reach your mouth. Body perspiration seeps into open wounds and burns for a fraction of a second. The idea of rubbing the salt makes me think of forcing the salt to cause additional pain. Rubbing sore muscles is good but rubbing salt can be painful.
As you age some have the misfortune of thinning hair. I am one of those! One of the ladies in my early Sunday School class suggested I use salt. I would shampoo my head; towel dry; sprinkle table salt all over my head and rub the salt into my scalp. If my scalp was sunburned or itchy the salt would burn and be uncomfortable. I would then rinse the salt off and sooth my scalp with a dab of baby oil. It sounds like the salt would cleanse the pours and the oil would clog them back up again. After a bit I would shampoo my head once more. I was to do this for about 4 or 5 weeks. You know, it worked! The unclogged pours allow hair growth; I was amazed! Years later after medicines caused more hair loss I remembered this formula and my hair has slowly filled in again. Of course age accounts for a lot of the hair loss.
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others"; Philippians 2:4. When we look to the interests of others we refrain from rubbing salt into old and new wounds. "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets"; Matthew 7:12. When you are known by your fruits people will treat you as you have treated them. We do not live by the standards of ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. Instead we are to love one another. We are children of the King and we should act and live royally. "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect";
Matthew 5:48.
Many times, for the sake of being truthful, we often hurt one another with the criticism or helpful suggestions. I remember once wearing a red dress. I new it wasn’t my best color nor the prettiest I had in my closet but I chose to wear it anyway this Sunday morning. A friend, calmly came up to me just before church and said; "If I were you I wouldn’t wear that dress ever again"! I was singing a solo that morning and of course I felt that salt being rubbed into that wound until I returned home and was able to get out of that dress and never wear it again. That was one of the longest Sunday mornings of my life!
We often talk about forgetting the past and pressing onward and upward. Then we add;
"but I just can’t forget". When we torture ourselves with the past it is like rubbing salt into old wounds isn’t it? We feel the pain all over again and depression sets in as we refresh our memories of the old me of days gone by. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"; Matthew 11:30. Whenever I yoke myself with Jesus I can stand tall. My shoulders are squared back; my back feels stronger and I can walk confidently. How about you? Jane Ann
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
TOO MUCH SALT!
Medically speaking salt is very necessary for our bodies. When we lose salt we become dehydrated. When my son Dan was a baby he had a fever. The Doctor was very concerned about him becoming dehydrated which would mean hospitalizing him. He gave me some directions to follow so that would not happen. I gave him water enemas three times a day until the fever broke.
Salt tablets are given to those who work in the hot sun and a saline solution in an IV is used in hospitals to keep the workers and/or patients from becoming dehydrated. Salt is an important nutrient for our bodies. I believe that salt is necessary for our bodies to stay alive.
Not only are we affected by salt but the animals also need this to stay well and healthy. The farmers and ranchers have salt licks and salt blocks available for their animals, even the ones that are out on the range. I have seen deer using these, so obviously this need for salt is built in.
The Dictionary says salt is a sodium chloride. It is used for seasoning and preserving. It is used in curing meats by covering it with salt which will preserve it for later use. Many years ago my brothers use to go deep sea fishing. Many times Mom would salt the fish and freeze it. I remember using some of the barracuda that had been in the freezer for several years. The salt had softened but preserved it and so I made fish balls and deep fried it for a Luau. Those who ate them seemed to like them. There were no left overs and no one got sick afterwards.
One of the cooking shows on TV says; "Do not salt the foods you are cooking at the beginning because it will cause too much liquid. Salt your food just before you finish cooking".
I must learn to remember this, because I have always seasoned at the beginning.
So what happens when you have too much salt in your body? Some of us have been told we have high blood pressure or we are retaining liquids along with various other chronic diseases.
We are given medicines which bring the blood pressure down by reducing the liquid around our hearts and medicines to expel the excess liquids. Then we are told to watch our salt intake!
There is a puzzling scripture in Judges 9:45; "And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He took the city and killed the people that were in it and he razed the city and sowed it with salt". I am not a gardener by any means, but I can reason and I don’t find it reasonable to put a lot of salt on the ground to be a good thing. Abimelech used the salt to sterilize the ground so that it couldn’t be productive again. In this verse we find that using a lot of salt can cause the ground to become toxic. Too much salt in our bodies can be toxic!
Saltmaking is not an unhealthy trade, except for a slight soreness of the eyes. Actually the atmosphere of salty steam acts as a preservative against colds, rheumatism and neuralgias. "Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another" Mark 9:50. Looking at this verse again, what do you suppose Jesus means when He says; "If salt becomes unsalty, how do you make it salty again?" Jesus is saying that we should always have salt in ourselves. We can do that by being at peace with one another. As Christian’s we must refrain from losing our saltiness and that is through repentance.
Jane Ann
Medically speaking salt is very necessary for our bodies. When we lose salt we become dehydrated. When my son Dan was a baby he had a fever. The Doctor was very concerned about him becoming dehydrated which would mean hospitalizing him. He gave me some directions to follow so that would not happen. I gave him water enemas three times a day until the fever broke.
Salt tablets are given to those who work in the hot sun and a saline solution in an IV is used in hospitals to keep the workers and/or patients from becoming dehydrated. Salt is an important nutrient for our bodies. I believe that salt is necessary for our bodies to stay alive.
Not only are we affected by salt but the animals also need this to stay well and healthy. The farmers and ranchers have salt licks and salt blocks available for their animals, even the ones that are out on the range. I have seen deer using these, so obviously this need for salt is built in.
The Dictionary says salt is a sodium chloride. It is used for seasoning and preserving. It is used in curing meats by covering it with salt which will preserve it for later use. Many years ago my brothers use to go deep sea fishing. Many times Mom would salt the fish and freeze it. I remember using some of the barracuda that had been in the freezer for several years. The salt had softened but preserved it and so I made fish balls and deep fried it for a Luau. Those who ate them seemed to like them. There were no left overs and no one got sick afterwards.
One of the cooking shows on TV says; "Do not salt the foods you are cooking at the beginning because it will cause too much liquid. Salt your food just before you finish cooking".
I must learn to remember this, because I have always seasoned at the beginning.
So what happens when you have too much salt in your body? Some of us have been told we have high blood pressure or we are retaining liquids along with various other chronic diseases.
We are given medicines which bring the blood pressure down by reducing the liquid around our hearts and medicines to expel the excess liquids. Then we are told to watch our salt intake!
There is a puzzling scripture in Judges 9:45; "And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He took the city and killed the people that were in it and he razed the city and sowed it with salt". I am not a gardener by any means, but I can reason and I don’t find it reasonable to put a lot of salt on the ground to be a good thing. Abimelech used the salt to sterilize the ground so that it couldn’t be productive again. In this verse we find that using a lot of salt can cause the ground to become toxic. Too much salt in our bodies can be toxic!
Saltmaking is not an unhealthy trade, except for a slight soreness of the eyes. Actually the atmosphere of salty steam acts as a preservative against colds, rheumatism and neuralgias. "Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another" Mark 9:50. Looking at this verse again, what do you suppose Jesus means when He says; "If salt becomes unsalty, how do you make it salty again?" Jesus is saying that we should always have salt in ourselves. We can do that by being at peace with one another. As Christian’s we must refrain from losing our saltiness and that is through repentance.
Jane Ann
Monday, March 16, 2009
WHEN SALT GOES BAD! 3/16/09
Good morning! This week we are going to discuss salt. Each time you use it think about the ways that God thought about it and perhaps our new incites will cause us to be full of flavor.
WHEN SALT GOES BAD!
We were wandering around an old antique store that had an old book section. It was our 39th anniversary. I found an old book published in 1892, called; ‘The Everyday Cook Book’ by Miss E. Neil. I begged Jim to buy it for me for our anniversary. It was only $15.00! This book covered everything you could eat or drink and cosmetiques. A section on miscellaneous stuff from how to make soap and to restore someone from a stroke of lightning. It had instructions on how to clean house and to teach your children the same. Dressmaking and the art on how to dress well, and some of the secrets of beauty. There is even a section on laughter! Miss Neil covered everything that had to do with living in the latter part of the 1800's.
Here are a few of these treasurers. ‘If your coal fire is low, throw on a tablespoon of salt, and it will help it very much.’ ‘To cleanse a sponge you rub fresh lemon thoroughly into a soured sponge and rinsing it several times in lukewarm water, it will become as sweet as when new’. You know, that one is still being used and is probably classified as ‘an old wives tale’. How about this one for a chest cold; ‘A flannel dipped in boiling water, and sprinkled with turpentine, laid on the chest as quickly as possible, will relieve the most severe cold or hoarseness’. I think I will keep my Hall’s Eucalyptus throat lozenges! Instructions for how to dust a room is ingenious. ‘Soft cloths make the best of dusters. In dusting any piece of furniture begin at the top and dust down, wiping carefully with the cloth, which can be frequently shaken’.
I was reminded of this book when I met a lady at the big supermarket the other day. She was buying 3 generic boxes of baking soda. I said; "boy, you must be going to do a lot of baking"! She smiled and told me this story. "I am cleaning my drain! My grandmother did this and so I have always cleaned my plugged drain with 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of white vinegar. I pour each one in separately and after it finishes bubbling I run warm water down the drain and the clog is gone. Works every time and it is cheap!" "My grandmother also used salt to exfoliate her skin....she would take a bath in it". I told her about my thinning hair and that I used salt to unclog the pours on my scalp. I don’t think she was particularly impressed with my story but I was with hers.
Did you know that your taste buds are always changing and as we get older our taste buds begin to lose their properties that make them taste buds? Thelma, a friend of mine, could hardly wait to die. One of the reasons was that nothing taste good to her anymore. Even adding salt didn’t help any more.
Jesus says something interesting about salt in Matthew 5:13. "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost is taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men". Mark 9:50 says; " how will you season salt again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another". Luke 14:34-35 says it still another way. "When salt goes bad it is neither fit for land or the dunghill. Men throw it away".
God is not talking about how we use salt as an abrasive to restore hair or remove a clog in our drains. He is merely likening us to the salt we use at the table. It brings flavor to our palate in such a way that we can’t help but delight in what we are eating. Jesus says that when we season our world as salt seasons our food, those around us will want what we have. However, if we lose this salt or flavor in us it can’t be restored. We are no good! Men will pay no attention to us but instead throw us away. Think about who you are in Christ! Think about how the world sees you? Are you full of tasty goodness or distasteful? By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/5/08
WHEN SALT GOES BAD!
We were wandering around an old antique store that had an old book section. It was our 39th anniversary. I found an old book published in 1892, called; ‘The Everyday Cook Book’ by Miss E. Neil. I begged Jim to buy it for me for our anniversary. It was only $15.00! This book covered everything you could eat or drink and cosmetiques. A section on miscellaneous stuff from how to make soap and to restore someone from a stroke of lightning. It had instructions on how to clean house and to teach your children the same. Dressmaking and the art on how to dress well, and some of the secrets of beauty. There is even a section on laughter! Miss Neil covered everything that had to do with living in the latter part of the 1800's.
Here are a few of these treasurers. ‘If your coal fire is low, throw on a tablespoon of salt, and it will help it very much.’ ‘To cleanse a sponge you rub fresh lemon thoroughly into a soured sponge and rinsing it several times in lukewarm water, it will become as sweet as when new’. You know, that one is still being used and is probably classified as ‘an old wives tale’. How about this one for a chest cold; ‘A flannel dipped in boiling water, and sprinkled with turpentine, laid on the chest as quickly as possible, will relieve the most severe cold or hoarseness’. I think I will keep my Hall’s Eucalyptus throat lozenges! Instructions for how to dust a room is ingenious. ‘Soft cloths make the best of dusters. In dusting any piece of furniture begin at the top and dust down, wiping carefully with the cloth, which can be frequently shaken’.
I was reminded of this book when I met a lady at the big supermarket the other day. She was buying 3 generic boxes of baking soda. I said; "boy, you must be going to do a lot of baking"! She smiled and told me this story. "I am cleaning my drain! My grandmother did this and so I have always cleaned my plugged drain with 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of white vinegar. I pour each one in separately and after it finishes bubbling I run warm water down the drain and the clog is gone. Works every time and it is cheap!" "My grandmother also used salt to exfoliate her skin....she would take a bath in it". I told her about my thinning hair and that I used salt to unclog the pours on my scalp. I don’t think she was particularly impressed with my story but I was with hers.
Did you know that your taste buds are always changing and as we get older our taste buds begin to lose their properties that make them taste buds? Thelma, a friend of mine, could hardly wait to die. One of the reasons was that nothing taste good to her anymore. Even adding salt didn’t help any more.
Jesus says something interesting about salt in Matthew 5:13. "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost is taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men". Mark 9:50 says; " how will you season salt again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another". Luke 14:34-35 says it still another way. "When salt goes bad it is neither fit for land or the dunghill. Men throw it away".
God is not talking about how we use salt as an abrasive to restore hair or remove a clog in our drains. He is merely likening us to the salt we use at the table. It brings flavor to our palate in such a way that we can’t help but delight in what we are eating. Jesus says that when we season our world as salt seasons our food, those around us will want what we have. However, if we lose this salt or flavor in us it can’t be restored. We are no good! Men will pay no attention to us but instead throw us away. Think about who you are in Christ! Think about how the world sees you? Are you full of tasty goodness or distasteful? By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/5/08
Friday, March 13, 2009
This morning completes our discussion regarding success or failures. I know we all have had many along the way. In Christ we should abound in every good thing!
SUCCESS OR FAILURE that is the question!
We had our car worked on towards the end of 2008 and the auto repair shop gave us a 2009 calendar, called "Motivations". On each month there is a motivational statement that I find motivational. However, I couldn’t find who wrote them, except for a thank you note to ‘The Disabled & Handicapped Workshop; http://www.tdahworkshop.com./ Last Monday, you read the first of four different devotionals that I had written. They all deal with life! All were successful situations because I like to live in the positive, but each one could have had super bad consequences except for the attitudes that are implied.
The month of February, my calendar said; "Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"; Matthew 19:26 In April it says; "The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be". "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"; Ephesians 2:10.
In June it says; "Trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed". "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" Psalms 31:24 One more is found in March; "Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation". "Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that. As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." Jas 4:15-16
In 1988 Ann Landers received a clipping, from a reader, that had been posted in the Wall Street Journal by United Technologies Corporation. I have kept it all these years and in writing today’s blog, Jim reminded me of it. It is called ‘Don’t be afraid to fail’! "You’ve failed many times, although you don’t remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot. R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on. English novelist, John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times but he also hit 714 home runs."
Many times our failures eventually turn into successes but we need to wait. Many times our successes turn into chaos but then again success is success. Mom’s success was her many children who grew to know and love the Lord; Jim’s presence of mind saved the day; Adam’s determination even at such a young age gave him the edge he needed to win the game. My Dad’s total acceptance of God during his total desperation brought total freedom. The unexpected in my life brought the satisfaction I found wanting even though God’s blessings seemed to walk with me daily.
Successes and failures come and go! Review your life since your failures. Can you see where the pit falls were merely steps on a ladder that has brought you little and big successes along the way? "He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful"! 1 Corinthians 1:8-9a; Ellen, a follower of Morning Glory reminded me of a declaration God made several times in the Old Testament. My favorite is; "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9; If this was important for God to mention at least five times in days of old, it is important for today.
Yes, success rises from risks, but waiting upon the Lord is where we should be as we walk daily in Christ. The attitude of gratitude can be our measuring stick, but being obedient to God's word is our rule of thumb; taking life one step at a time! Jane Ann
SUCCESS OR FAILURE that is the question!
We had our car worked on towards the end of 2008 and the auto repair shop gave us a 2009 calendar, called "Motivations". On each month there is a motivational statement that I find motivational. However, I couldn’t find who wrote them, except for a thank you note to ‘The Disabled & Handicapped Workshop; http://www.tdahworkshop.com./ Last Monday, you read the first of four different devotionals that I had written. They all deal with life! All were successful situations because I like to live in the positive, but each one could have had super bad consequences except for the attitudes that are implied.
The month of February, my calendar said; "Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"; Matthew 19:26 In April it says; "The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be". "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"; Ephesians 2:10.
In June it says; "Trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed". "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" Psalms 31:24 One more is found in March; "Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation". "Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that. As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." Jas 4:15-16
In 1988 Ann Landers received a clipping, from a reader, that had been posted in the Wall Street Journal by United Technologies Corporation. I have kept it all these years and in writing today’s blog, Jim reminded me of it. It is called ‘Don’t be afraid to fail’! "You’ve failed many times, although you don’t remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot. R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on. English novelist, John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times but he also hit 714 home runs."
Many times our failures eventually turn into successes but we need to wait. Many times our successes turn into chaos but then again success is success. Mom’s success was her many children who grew to know and love the Lord; Jim’s presence of mind saved the day; Adam’s determination even at such a young age gave him the edge he needed to win the game. My Dad’s total acceptance of God during his total desperation brought total freedom. The unexpected in my life brought the satisfaction I found wanting even though God’s blessings seemed to walk with me daily.
Successes and failures come and go! Review your life since your failures. Can you see where the pit falls were merely steps on a ladder that has brought you little and big successes along the way? "He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful"! 1 Corinthians 1:8-9a; Ellen, a follower of Morning Glory reminded me of a declaration God made several times in the Old Testament. My favorite is; "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9; If this was important for God to mention at least five times in days of old, it is important for today.
Yes, success rises from risks, but waiting upon the Lord is where we should be as we walk daily in Christ. The attitude of gratitude can be our measuring stick, but being obedient to God's word is our rule of thumb; taking life one step at a time! Jane Ann
Thursday, March 12, 2009
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR!
We always had a piano! With only a few lessons, my Dad mostly played by ear. He was good! Lisle took lessons and had a different style than my Dad. Jean played by ear. Her style was even more different than theirs. I wanted to learn to play the piano! Mom said we couldn’t afford lessons. My friend Iona Kay took lessons and offered to teach me how to read notes. I became her protege when we were in the 5th or 6th grade. Her piano teacher agreed to let me appear in one of Iona Kay’s piano recitals. We played a duet; The Little Chatterbox! I was so overwhelmed by our success that I wanted more. I practiced on my own for many years so that when I was a freshman in highschool I signed up for the beginners piano class. We were tested and I was transferred to the intermediate class because I could read notes. That was a mistake because I didn’t really know anything else, like timing, modulations. I didn’t even know what key I was playing in!
I always felt a little slighted because I couldn’t take piano lessons. Jeri had violin lessons, and Mom rented an accordion for Joyce. In the last half of my sophomore year I had to go home immediately after school so I could get the evening meal ready for the family. However, Joyce got to be on the drill team at school. She got to wear the little short skirt and boots with pom poms. Years later I would tease my sisters that Mom loved them best! They were younger than I was! I eventually figured out that by the time those things were wanted, finances were better.
After I married, Jean, Joetta, Jim and I took an evening piano class where we used cardboard as a piano and learned how to cord. I was now making progress! Joetta and I took a ladies class and I learned how to play Silver Bells, as it was written. I thought I was good! Joetta could play pretty good. Jewel, even could play but I still struggled because I never had the natural talent that the others had. I use to pray that one day I would play good enough to be the church pianist. Fat chance of that, but I prayed anyway!
As some churches do, ours had a split. The split was big enough that all the pianists left. We had an organist and bless Leta’s heart she allowed me to play along with her. That was a good thing because she understood timing. Halfway into my 15 years as a church pianist, I remembered my prayers. WOW! It is true, that we should be careful what we pray for. I was not very good but the congregation thought I was good enough. I was a church pianist! I played at Leta’s memorial service some of the songs she would play for communion. Faithful and caring Leta! Her skills were evident but her willing to lead me was a God send!
Many times we read the scriptures on prayer and skip right over the conditions. The following are just a few of my favorite scriptures on prayer. "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith". Matthew 21:22; "Having enough faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you could move mountains, with prayer and fasting you could say ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you"! Matthew 17:20-2; "Whatever we ask in prayer and believe that you have received it, it will be yours". Mark 11:24; "If we have anything against anyone, we are to forgive them". Mark 11:25; "Continue in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" Colossians 4:2b; "We are to pray with thanksgiving when we make our requests known" Philippians 4:6b; "We are to have clean hands and a pure heart! Psalm 24:1-6. The last one on my list is Hebrews 4:14-16 where Paul tells us to approach the throne with confidence. Jesus is our confidence!. He is the son!. He is our bridge to the Father!. Through Jesus Christ we can say to the Father; Your will, no more and no less. Not mine Father, but always your will be done! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/6/08
We always had a piano! With only a few lessons, my Dad mostly played by ear. He was good! Lisle took lessons and had a different style than my Dad. Jean played by ear. Her style was even more different than theirs. I wanted to learn to play the piano! Mom said we couldn’t afford lessons. My friend Iona Kay took lessons and offered to teach me how to read notes. I became her protege when we were in the 5th or 6th grade. Her piano teacher agreed to let me appear in one of Iona Kay’s piano recitals. We played a duet; The Little Chatterbox! I was so overwhelmed by our success that I wanted more. I practiced on my own for many years so that when I was a freshman in highschool I signed up for the beginners piano class. We were tested and I was transferred to the intermediate class because I could read notes. That was a mistake because I didn’t really know anything else, like timing, modulations. I didn’t even know what key I was playing in!
I always felt a little slighted because I couldn’t take piano lessons. Jeri had violin lessons, and Mom rented an accordion for Joyce. In the last half of my sophomore year I had to go home immediately after school so I could get the evening meal ready for the family. However, Joyce got to be on the drill team at school. She got to wear the little short skirt and boots with pom poms. Years later I would tease my sisters that Mom loved them best! They were younger than I was! I eventually figured out that by the time those things were wanted, finances were better.
After I married, Jean, Joetta, Jim and I took an evening piano class where we used cardboard as a piano and learned how to cord. I was now making progress! Joetta and I took a ladies class and I learned how to play Silver Bells, as it was written. I thought I was good! Joetta could play pretty good. Jewel, even could play but I still struggled because I never had the natural talent that the others had. I use to pray that one day I would play good enough to be the church pianist. Fat chance of that, but I prayed anyway!
As some churches do, ours had a split. The split was big enough that all the pianists left. We had an organist and bless Leta’s heart she allowed me to play along with her. That was a good thing because she understood timing. Halfway into my 15 years as a church pianist, I remembered my prayers. WOW! It is true, that we should be careful what we pray for. I was not very good but the congregation thought I was good enough. I was a church pianist! I played at Leta’s memorial service some of the songs she would play for communion. Faithful and caring Leta! Her skills were evident but her willing to lead me was a God send!
Many times we read the scriptures on prayer and skip right over the conditions. The following are just a few of my favorite scriptures on prayer. "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith". Matthew 21:22; "Having enough faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you could move mountains, with prayer and fasting you could say ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you"! Matthew 17:20-2; "Whatever we ask in prayer and believe that you have received it, it will be yours". Mark 11:24; "If we have anything against anyone, we are to forgive them". Mark 11:25; "Continue in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" Colossians 4:2b; "We are to pray with thanksgiving when we make our requests known" Philippians 4:6b; "We are to have clean hands and a pure heart! Psalm 24:1-6. The last one on my list is Hebrews 4:14-16 where Paul tells us to approach the throne with confidence. Jesus is our confidence!. He is the son!. He is our bridge to the Father!. Through Jesus Christ we can say to the Father; Your will, no more and no less. Not mine Father, but always your will be done! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/6/08
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
LET ME STAY, I CAN DO IT!
When my #1 grandson, Adam was beginning in Little League, the procedure was to try each player in all positions. This particular afternoon, Adam was one of the pitchers. Of course as grandparents we thought he was the best. The game was in the bottom of the sixth, which is all the innings they play. Bases were loaded.! I can’t remember the score but they were ahead and if the other team could score it would be all over. Adam wanted to see it through!
His coach, who mothered all the players, came out of the dugout and offered to relieve him. Adam shook his head no! She put her arm around him and tried to encourage him with; "you’ve done a great job. We can put someone else in who is fresh. This is to stressful for you". Adam shook his head no! After much shuffling of dirt and pleading on both sides, Adam says; "Let me stay! Let me stay! I can do it"! The coach returned to her dugout and Adam promptly threw three strikes! Three up and three down. He won the game! What a button popping game!
Many times we find ourselves under stress when we are trying to achieve success. For many, working under stress makes it better! For many, working under stress causes disasters and the beginning of many failures because we think we just can’t do anything. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail. Success doesn’t mean that we will always succeed. Failure doesn’t mean that we will always fail. What it means in both cases, is that we tried.
My mother and father had 14 children together and yet because he was an alcoholic and couldn’t hold a job, he felt he was a failure. One Monday morning in November of 1954, Daddy was on his way to a rehabilitation facility but wanted to see the pastor first. When the pastor knew he was coming he refilled the baptistry as it had been emptied the night before. I wasn’t there but knowing our pastor he was not going to leave the bases loaded without a home run. When Dad told the pastor that he always felt he was a failure, the pastor was astonished. He exclaimed; "You are not a failure! You have 14 children and all of them know the Lord! You are not a failure!" That morning my father was baptized! Because he turned his life over to the Lord he felt he could lick his addiction and decided he was going home and not to Rahab. Is that just a home run, or is that a home run with bases loaded!
The next day, Daddy went to the Café that Lonnie had bought several years before. In the afternoon he suffered a stroke and died. He had sclerosis of the liver! Too many years of drinking. Too many years of not taking care of himself. I find God’s timing amazing, don’t you? Daddy was on his way to rehab, stopped long enough to repent and come to the Lord. The Lord, having already known my Dad for 53 yrs, knew that he couldn’t do it on his own. God knew his body had already had enough. God knew that Satan would put forth his last ditch effort to get Daddy back where he was.
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it"; 1 Corinthians 10:12-14. I believe that God made a way for Daddy to escape the evitable temptation that was before him. He took him home as a brand new baby in His son Jesus Christ. It is only in God’s love and protection that we even know that an escape route exists. God has made all the provisions to give success to those who love Him. When we say we can’t, we know that God can! When we say I can do it, we know that through Christ we can do all things. When we put our trust in the one that says "Trust Me!" We know, we have won the game and we are home! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/5/08
When my #1 grandson, Adam was beginning in Little League, the procedure was to try each player in all positions. This particular afternoon, Adam was one of the pitchers. Of course as grandparents we thought he was the best. The game was in the bottom of the sixth, which is all the innings they play. Bases were loaded.! I can’t remember the score but they were ahead and if the other team could score it would be all over. Adam wanted to see it through!
His coach, who mothered all the players, came out of the dugout and offered to relieve him. Adam shook his head no! She put her arm around him and tried to encourage him with; "you’ve done a great job. We can put someone else in who is fresh. This is to stressful for you". Adam shook his head no! After much shuffling of dirt and pleading on both sides, Adam says; "Let me stay! Let me stay! I can do it"! The coach returned to her dugout and Adam promptly threw three strikes! Three up and three down. He won the game! What a button popping game!
Many times we find ourselves under stress when we are trying to achieve success. For many, working under stress makes it better! For many, working under stress causes disasters and the beginning of many failures because we think we just can’t do anything. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail. Success doesn’t mean that we will always succeed. Failure doesn’t mean that we will always fail. What it means in both cases, is that we tried.
My mother and father had 14 children together and yet because he was an alcoholic and couldn’t hold a job, he felt he was a failure. One Monday morning in November of 1954, Daddy was on his way to a rehabilitation facility but wanted to see the pastor first. When the pastor knew he was coming he refilled the baptistry as it had been emptied the night before. I wasn’t there but knowing our pastor he was not going to leave the bases loaded without a home run. When Dad told the pastor that he always felt he was a failure, the pastor was astonished. He exclaimed; "You are not a failure! You have 14 children and all of them know the Lord! You are not a failure!" That morning my father was baptized! Because he turned his life over to the Lord he felt he could lick his addiction and decided he was going home and not to Rahab. Is that just a home run, or is that a home run with bases loaded!
The next day, Daddy went to the Café that Lonnie had bought several years before. In the afternoon he suffered a stroke and died. He had sclerosis of the liver! Too many years of drinking. Too many years of not taking care of himself. I find God’s timing amazing, don’t you? Daddy was on his way to rehab, stopped long enough to repent and come to the Lord. The Lord, having already known my Dad for 53 yrs, knew that he couldn’t do it on his own. God knew his body had already had enough. God knew that Satan would put forth his last ditch effort to get Daddy back where he was.
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it"; 1 Corinthians 10:12-14. I believe that God made a way for Daddy to escape the evitable temptation that was before him. He took him home as a brand new baby in His son Jesus Christ. It is only in God’s love and protection that we even know that an escape route exists. God has made all the provisions to give success to those who love Him. When we say we can’t, we know that God can! When we say I can do it, we know that through Christ we can do all things. When we put our trust in the one that says "Trust Me!" We know, we have won the game and we are home! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/5/08
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
We are fixed and ready to go again. We began last week with a series of devotions that look at situations that were successes but could have been failures. Think on these things!
I NEVER MET A PIZZA I DIDN’T LIKE!
When my children were preschool age and while living in California it was so easy to have Jim stop on his way home and pickup dinner. Even though I had been cooking for years, it was not my expertise or perhaps, just laziness. We could have chicken, Chinese food, BBQ, Hamburgers, Strawberry pie and of course "pizza". One Saturday night Jim went to our local Pizzeria to get a pizza just for the two of us to eat at home. Sort of a "date night"! The pizzeria was crowded with no elbow room. Jim accidently bumped a guy who obviously had already been partying and was quick to apologize. When Jim finally got his pizza, he paid for it and walked out the door. The same man and a few of his buddies were waiting for him!
You have to understand that Jim is a very gentle, quiet man who is not quick to anger nor physical violence. The man approached Jim and made advances and then took a swing at him. Jim ducked ! My Jim, with fancy footwork and presence of mind, picked the man up and lifted him over his shoulder and into the wall behind him. Praise the Lord for the wall! When Jim arrived home he was so nervous and upset that he was unable to eat any pizza and felt our date night was ruined. Now me; I was so proud I told everyone about Jim protecting his pizza and himself. The first question always is; " what happened to the pizza"? I asked that same question! Jim said he sort of frizzed-be’d the pizza when he saw the confrontation coming and it landed top side up on the ground. To this day, pizza is still one of Jim’s favorite foods. He hasn’t had to fight for it since that day, but he knows it isn’t really good for him. but he still says; "he has never met a pizza he didn’t like"! The word is that Nobody, messes with Jim and his pizza’s!
We don’t always know what will happen to us! We are not always looking for problems!
As a matter of fact, most of the time, we are just not expecting physical confrontations. On occasion, we receive an invitation that will say; "come prepared" to do something or other. A school teacher will sometimes give instructions to "come prepared". If you are a member of a swim team you are always prepared with swimsuits, towels and perhaps goggles. If you snorkel you are prepared with even more. Recently there has been a home and auto insurance ad that says; "Life comes at you fast". If you live in the fast lane, life comes at you even faster.
In Revelation it says the church is to be prepared and to be ready for when the Lord returns in all His glory. Throughout the scriptures from Genesis through Revelation, God gives us instructions on how to worship and how to live a Godly life. He gives us directions on how to belong to Christ. He encourages us to stand against all of Satan’s arrows and to realize this is God’s battle and we are His warriors. He leaves nothing out! In 2 Chronicles 20:15-17, the Spirit of the Lord is speaking to all of Israel. He is preparing them for battle! One of the things that God says is; "Fear not, and be not dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but mine. He further says; "You will not need to fight in this battle; take up your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf". Later on God again says "Tomorrow you are to go out against them, and the Lord will be with you"! When we experience one of God’s miracles, He lifts us up. He shows us His care and protection! The next day we are able to be strong and courageous! We can face anything!
When we obey the commandments of God, He lifts us up out of the miry clay. So what if life comes at us fast? What if the earth quakes? But what if God is our Lord and shield? Whom should we fear or be afraid? I can take my position and stand firm because the victory is the Lords.! No one can mess with me and my Lord, especially when I have His armor on.
Being prepared is what Christianity is all about! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/4/08
I NEVER MET A PIZZA I DIDN’T LIKE!
When my children were preschool age and while living in California it was so easy to have Jim stop on his way home and pickup dinner. Even though I had been cooking for years, it was not my expertise or perhaps, just laziness. We could have chicken, Chinese food, BBQ, Hamburgers, Strawberry pie and of course "pizza". One Saturday night Jim went to our local Pizzeria to get a pizza just for the two of us to eat at home. Sort of a "date night"! The pizzeria was crowded with no elbow room. Jim accidently bumped a guy who obviously had already been partying and was quick to apologize. When Jim finally got his pizza, he paid for it and walked out the door. The same man and a few of his buddies were waiting for him!
You have to understand that Jim is a very gentle, quiet man who is not quick to anger nor physical violence. The man approached Jim and made advances and then took a swing at him. Jim ducked ! My Jim, with fancy footwork and presence of mind, picked the man up and lifted him over his shoulder and into the wall behind him. Praise the Lord for the wall! When Jim arrived home he was so nervous and upset that he was unable to eat any pizza and felt our date night was ruined. Now me; I was so proud I told everyone about Jim protecting his pizza and himself. The first question always is; " what happened to the pizza"? I asked that same question! Jim said he sort of frizzed-be’d the pizza when he saw the confrontation coming and it landed top side up on the ground. To this day, pizza is still one of Jim’s favorite foods. He hasn’t had to fight for it since that day, but he knows it isn’t really good for him. but he still says; "he has never met a pizza he didn’t like"! The word is that Nobody, messes with Jim and his pizza’s!
We don’t always know what will happen to us! We are not always looking for problems!
As a matter of fact, most of the time, we are just not expecting physical confrontations. On occasion, we receive an invitation that will say; "come prepared" to do something or other. A school teacher will sometimes give instructions to "come prepared". If you are a member of a swim team you are always prepared with swimsuits, towels and perhaps goggles. If you snorkel you are prepared with even more. Recently there has been a home and auto insurance ad that says; "Life comes at you fast". If you live in the fast lane, life comes at you even faster.
In Revelation it says the church is to be prepared and to be ready for when the Lord returns in all His glory. Throughout the scriptures from Genesis through Revelation, God gives us instructions on how to worship and how to live a Godly life. He gives us directions on how to belong to Christ. He encourages us to stand against all of Satan’s arrows and to realize this is God’s battle and we are His warriors. He leaves nothing out! In 2 Chronicles 20:15-17, the Spirit of the Lord is speaking to all of Israel. He is preparing them for battle! One of the things that God says is; "Fear not, and be not dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but mine. He further says; "You will not need to fight in this battle; take up your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf". Later on God again says "Tomorrow you are to go out against them, and the Lord will be with you"! When we experience one of God’s miracles, He lifts us up. He shows us His care and protection! The next day we are able to be strong and courageous! We can face anything!
When we obey the commandments of God, He lifts us up out of the miry clay. So what if life comes at us fast? What if the earth quakes? But what if God is our Lord and shield? Whom should we fear or be afraid? I can take my position and stand firm because the victory is the Lords.! No one can mess with me and my Lord, especially when I have His armor on.
Being prepared is what Christianity is all about! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/4/08
Monday, March 2, 2009
SUCCESS OR FAILURE that is the question! 3/2/09
This week we are going to look at different situations of life. We are going to see how God can use each of us in different ways and bring us to the place of success through our failures without our even realizing it.
IT’S A GREAT LIFE IF YOU DON’T WEAKEN!
As you have notice in my memories of my Mother, she was a no nonsense woman. She had more good qualities then bad and she ruled both with an iron fist. I have to imagine that many mothers of old were governors or mayors of their own households because those women had many, many babies. Depending on how much authority the fathers took determines which position those mothers held. Mine was the "Ruler" of the Kingdom! Throughout my young life, my mother had many sayings. I think some she had heard but some were her own! A questionnaire was handed out in a Sunday school class many years ago called "Which are found in the Bible? True or False! #1 on the list was "Pretty is as pretty does". I was surprised to see that on the list, because my mother always said that.
When I didn’t want to do something and I needed a truthful reason for not doing it I would ask my Mom. Her pat answers were always; "What do you think"? Or "Do you think you should"? Each time I got that answer whether I wanted to do it or not, I didn’t do it. Mainly because I wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know what I thought or if she really didn’t want me to do it. As she grew older she began to use the phrase; "It’s a great life if you don’t weaken". I didn’t realize until years later that a commentator on TV would use that phrase off and on. It was my mothers favorite! It became a joke among the family and we would tease each other with "It’s a great life if you don’t weaken"! I have a sign above my bedroom door that my niece gave me. I believe she has given others in the family the same sign. What a remembrance and motto!
My mothers life was not easy. She married when she was 16 and had her first baby a year later. Her 14th baby was born when she was 40, not to mention numerous miscarriages. My sister Jean said jokingly, that they never knew when Mom was pregnant because she always looked like that. My father drank, and in my teens died from Sclerosis of the liver. My mothers life was not easy until her older children became self supporting. Lisle, the eldest, bought her a house on 4th Avenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa in the 40's for $350.00. After moving to California, her #4th child, Lonnie supported her financially the rest of her life. However, through the years she was a working Mom. As a seamstress, working in garment factories, she helped support her family until Lonnie suggested it was time to retire.
There is much to be said about motherhood, but oh so much more to say about my Mother. I think when she said; "It’s a great life if you don’t weaken" it was rightfully hers to say. She never did weaken! She was strong raising her children! She was strong when they moved away; she was strong when some died so prematurely in life; she was strong when she developed Alzheimer’s. When her mind was no longer able to comprehend she still was strong. The preacher was talking about how God loves us. My Mom sitting in the pew beside me, said; "And He LOVES me"! I cried!
God has asked for our love and obedience! In Genesis 1:28 it says; "God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." I think my mother took this up a notch because she was fruitful and filled the earth the best she could. As the ruler, she subdue all that she commanded. As God rests and sits back to survey the world he created, I know He is pleased with Momma! I believe He welcomed her home with a cushy chair next to a fire place and said to her; "Sit here! Put your feet up and rest! You are home"! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/26/08
IT’S A GREAT LIFE IF YOU DON’T WEAKEN!
As you have notice in my memories of my Mother, she was a no nonsense woman. She had more good qualities then bad and she ruled both with an iron fist. I have to imagine that many mothers of old were governors or mayors of their own households because those women had many, many babies. Depending on how much authority the fathers took determines which position those mothers held. Mine was the "Ruler" of the Kingdom! Throughout my young life, my mother had many sayings. I think some she had heard but some were her own! A questionnaire was handed out in a Sunday school class many years ago called "Which are found in the Bible? True or False! #1 on the list was "Pretty is as pretty does". I was surprised to see that on the list, because my mother always said that.
When I didn’t want to do something and I needed a truthful reason for not doing it I would ask my Mom. Her pat answers were always; "What do you think"? Or "Do you think you should"? Each time I got that answer whether I wanted to do it or not, I didn’t do it. Mainly because I wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know what I thought or if she really didn’t want me to do it. As she grew older she began to use the phrase; "It’s a great life if you don’t weaken". I didn’t realize until years later that a commentator on TV would use that phrase off and on. It was my mothers favorite! It became a joke among the family and we would tease each other with "It’s a great life if you don’t weaken"! I have a sign above my bedroom door that my niece gave me. I believe she has given others in the family the same sign. What a remembrance and motto!
My mothers life was not easy. She married when she was 16 and had her first baby a year later. Her 14th baby was born when she was 40, not to mention numerous miscarriages. My sister Jean said jokingly, that they never knew when Mom was pregnant because she always looked like that. My father drank, and in my teens died from Sclerosis of the liver. My mothers life was not easy until her older children became self supporting. Lisle, the eldest, bought her a house on 4th Avenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa in the 40's for $350.00. After moving to California, her #4th child, Lonnie supported her financially the rest of her life. However, through the years she was a working Mom. As a seamstress, working in garment factories, she helped support her family until Lonnie suggested it was time to retire.
There is much to be said about motherhood, but oh so much more to say about my Mother. I think when she said; "It’s a great life if you don’t weaken" it was rightfully hers to say. She never did weaken! She was strong raising her children! She was strong when they moved away; she was strong when some died so prematurely in life; she was strong when she developed Alzheimer’s. When her mind was no longer able to comprehend she still was strong. The preacher was talking about how God loves us. My Mom sitting in the pew beside me, said; "And He LOVES me"! I cried!
God has asked for our love and obedience! In Genesis 1:28 it says; "God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." I think my mother took this up a notch because she was fruitful and filled the earth the best she could. As the ruler, she subdue all that she commanded. As God rests and sits back to survey the world he created, I know He is pleased with Momma! I believe He welcomed her home with a cushy chair next to a fire place and said to her; "Sit here! Put your feet up and rest! You are home"! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/26/08
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