HOW MANY times have you heard that? How many times have you said this yourself? I remember hearing my Mom say; "If I told you once, I've told you a thousand times!" Of course, what would follow, would be; “No!” Or; “I said; No!” “Pick up your clothes!” “Empty the trask in the bathroom!” Etc! Etc! Etc!
JIM remembers the phrase; “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times; don't exaggerate!” How about; “I have told you more than once, now get it done!” How frustrating we must have been to our parents as they tried to teach us to be obedient. I know how frustrated I was with my own children, so I can imagine how it was, especially for my mother. She was the disciplinarian!
WHY IS IT so hard for us to obey? Why can’t we just do as we are told and then forget about it. Why is it that we have a better way; or why does it have to be, right now. Why not later or at least, do it tomorrow. Remember that old favorite saying; “Manana!” Tomorrow!
SINCE I have retired, I put things off until tomorrow. My bathroom floor, sweeping the kitchen floor and so on. If I can put it off, I will. However, if I want something done by someone else I want it done now. If they don’t hop to it, then I go ahead and start doing it. Why do I do that? Is that to make them feel guilty or am I getting angry?
WHEN I put things off, I always remember my sister Janice saying, “I’m not going anywhere and no one is coming over.” I suppose we all have a little of that in us. Don’t want to get dressed until around 10:30am; comb my hair just before I leave the house. Stash everything in the dishwasher to clean the kitchen counter when I hear that someone is dropping in.
BECAUSE Jesus knew mankind so well, especially after he walked and talked with them, He was heard to say; “If you keep my commandments!” Why do you suppose He repeatedly said; “Keep my commandments!” Was it because He didn’t want us to forget or was it because He knew we would forget! How about the little “if?! Do these requests come with conditions?
“AND BEING found in human form He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11 Jesus, the Son of God; God in the flesh; our Heavenly Father, humbled himself so that He could show us how to be obedient. Jesus was rewarded by being exalted with a name that just hearing it, we are inclined to bow before Him and confess it before all.
“ALTHOUGH He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered; and being made perfect He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9 You and I were not born with the desire to be obedient. We had to learn to become obedient. Jesus had to learn obedience also. His obedience came about because He wanted to please the Father. We must learn to be obedient to Him in order to receive His eternal salvation.
“FINALLY all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. For He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12 “ Trust and obey” for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus; but to “Trust and Obey!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/26/11
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
FOR THE LOW PRICE OF $19.95 2/20/11
IF YOU call within the next two hours you will receive two for the price of one. Not only that, shipping will be free! You can’t buy these in any store so you must act now; they are only available “as seen on TV”. Call now and get this amazing offer for not one; but two for the price of one!
I KNOW you have seen these TV commercials. The only way you miss them is if you never watch TV. I have bought a few of these items; “As seen on TV”, but in the stores. The price is still $19.95 for one and of course no extra shipping charge. For the most part the product is good but a come on is a come on, no matter how you look at it.
ON THE internet you will see advertisements that say; “risk free for 30 days”. Order today at no cost to you except for the shipping charge. So you apply for the 30 day order and pay the shipping charge. The following month you have a charge on your credit card for the total amount plus the shipping and low and behold the product comes in the mail. In small print you were to let them know, you didn’t want the product. Returning this item is like pulling teeth. Legally they do not have to refund you! But morally, they should!
I AM NOT advertising for Wal-Mart but their return policy is one of the easiest I have come across. We don’t return very many things but on occasion a return is necessary. You go to their customer service and give them the product being returned along with your sales receipt. Most times they give you what you paid in cash. Then you can go get the product you want and you have the money to pay for it; or not. Their policy is up front and personal, don’t you think?
MY SISTER Jewel, used to shop at Meyers and Franks before they became Macy’s. She would purchase something off their cosmetic line because they would give her a large bag with free products. Many times I was the recipient of her purchase, or the free gifts. The word ‘FREE’ has a way of catching us and we give in without a struggle.
THE WORDS; free, on sale, 50% off, marked down etc are the bait that has been used for years in selling and buying of merchandise. We buy things that we have a tendency of storing up, letting decay, wear out, give away or throw away; when we know they will not last forever! Eventually all things are biodegradable regardless of what people say.
“SINCE ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Romans 3:23-25a If God had put his gift of salvation in a bag along with a new shade of lipstick or a power tool marked 50% off would it be easier for you to accept?
“WHEN YOU were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:20-23
WHEN YOU were living your life of sinfulness what kinds of fruits did you end up with? I can assure you that when you accept God’s free gift you get it without paying a price because God’s gift is priceless. You couldn’t pay it, but God’s Son could! When you become a slave to Him, you will no longer be a slave to yourself. Oh what a relief it is when you don’t have to keep thinking; what’s in it for me and how can I keep up with the Jones! Oh what pleasure you will receive when you forget about yourself and can put Joy first in your life. Jesus first, others second and yourself last. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/18/11
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I KNOW you have seen these TV commercials. The only way you miss them is if you never watch TV. I have bought a few of these items; “As seen on TV”, but in the stores. The price is still $19.95 for one and of course no extra shipping charge. For the most part the product is good but a come on is a come on, no matter how you look at it.
ON THE internet you will see advertisements that say; “risk free for 30 days”. Order today at no cost to you except for the shipping charge. So you apply for the 30 day order and pay the shipping charge. The following month you have a charge on your credit card for the total amount plus the shipping and low and behold the product comes in the mail. In small print you were to let them know, you didn’t want the product. Returning this item is like pulling teeth. Legally they do not have to refund you! But morally, they should!
I AM NOT advertising for Wal-Mart but their return policy is one of the easiest I have come across. We don’t return very many things but on occasion a return is necessary. You go to their customer service and give them the product being returned along with your sales receipt. Most times they give you what you paid in cash. Then you can go get the product you want and you have the money to pay for it; or not. Their policy is up front and personal, don’t you think?
MY SISTER Jewel, used to shop at Meyers and Franks before they became Macy’s. She would purchase something off their cosmetic line because they would give her a large bag with free products. Many times I was the recipient of her purchase, or the free gifts. The word ‘FREE’ has a way of catching us and we give in without a struggle.
THE WORDS; free, on sale, 50% off, marked down etc are the bait that has been used for years in selling and buying of merchandise. We buy things that we have a tendency of storing up, letting decay, wear out, give away or throw away; when we know they will not last forever! Eventually all things are biodegradable regardless of what people say.
“SINCE ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Romans 3:23-25a If God had put his gift of salvation in a bag along with a new shade of lipstick or a power tool marked 50% off would it be easier for you to accept?
“WHEN YOU were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:20-23
WHEN YOU were living your life of sinfulness what kinds of fruits did you end up with? I can assure you that when you accept God’s free gift you get it without paying a price because God’s gift is priceless. You couldn’t pay it, but God’s Son could! When you become a slave to Him, you will no longer be a slave to yourself. Oh what a relief it is when you don’t have to keep thinking; what’s in it for me and how can I keep up with the Jones! Oh what pleasure you will receive when you forget about yourself and can put Joy first in your life. Jesus first, others second and yourself last. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/18/11
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Sunday, February 13, 2011
RED! 2/13/11
RED was my mother-in-laws favorite color! I don’t remember her
wearing much red but we have some drinking glasses with red roses on them that her husband had given her, early on in their marriage. Obviously these glasses are very old and sit on a shelf! I remember the preacher of my youth preaching that it was better to be a Christian facing life, than “better red than dead!” This motto meant, becoming a communist was better than dying for the cause of freedom. This was one of the famous lines of the 50's!
JIM AND I wear red on Fridays to pay homage to all the America soldiers; dead, alive, or actively serving our country at home and abroad. It’s a little thing we do but we do it to pay honor! Tomorrow is Valentines day! We give out hearts to our sweethearts and kids and whomever we want and usually they are red. Oh, I have seen various other colored hearts but for the most part they are red!
I HAVE NEVER visited a ‘red light’ district but I have read and heard about them! A very old profession indeed! We have red lights along our streets to grab our attention and they say; stop! On occasion they say; stop then go! I have heard it said that Insurance on a red car is much higher than on any other color. Now why should that be? Even a bull in the ring charges after the red cape, or so we are told.
WHEN your finances are in the red it is as though a red light is flashing. You are in financial trouble! When I was a young adult, I had a sort of red dress and a man where I worked said; "Ah red! That’s enough to make a man forget the Ten Commandments!" Red apparently is a signal not only for anger; financial situations or to bring you to a stop; it is also a signal for indiscretions, or it should be!
WHEN WE BLEED, our blood runs red! When we have an open wound or an inflamed sore it usually is red. We are God’s creation and all humans have red blood. Not blue as you read in books; that merely indicates your royalty. Let’s face it, we all have red blood no matter what your ethnic background may be. According to Genesis we all came from Adam and Eve who were the first and therefore we have a physical body just like theirs.
“FOR THIS is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 As Christ hung on the cross with his hands and feet nailed to the posts and when the sword pierced His side, His blood flowed freely for you and me. His blood was red, the color of sin; if you are an artist. His heart carried the red blood through it, just like yours and mine. And He suffered shame, humiliation and degradation because of His love for the Father and the Father’s love for us.
“WHOM God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:25 In other words; Jesus took our place on the cross and through our belief and faith in His shed blood we can be forgiven. WOW! What a Savior; What a God!
REPENTANCE and baptism are not a choice, they are commandments. When we think we can substitute it for a prayer only of belief, let me remind you that Satan believes also and He was condemned to the eternal lake of fire. Don’t allow yourself to be short changed through mans short cuts. Read the scriptures for yourself and forget man’s interpretations. “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
RED is a beautiful color! However, I love Christ more! Fear should not blind us and cause us to see red. Instead, turn your eyes upon Jesus and see only Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/11/11
wearing much red but we have some drinking glasses with red roses on them that her husband had given her, early on in their marriage. Obviously these glasses are very old and sit on a shelf! I remember the preacher of my youth preaching that it was better to be a Christian facing life, than “better red than dead!” This motto meant, becoming a communist was better than dying for the cause of freedom. This was one of the famous lines of the 50's!
JIM AND I wear red on Fridays to pay homage to all the America soldiers; dead, alive, or actively serving our country at home and abroad. It’s a little thing we do but we do it to pay honor! Tomorrow is Valentines day! We give out hearts to our sweethearts and kids and whomever we want and usually they are red. Oh, I have seen various other colored hearts but for the most part they are red!
I HAVE NEVER visited a ‘red light’ district but I have read and heard about them! A very old profession indeed! We have red lights along our streets to grab our attention and they say; stop! On occasion they say; stop then go! I have heard it said that Insurance on a red car is much higher than on any other color. Now why should that be? Even a bull in the ring charges after the red cape, or so we are told.
WHEN your finances are in the red it is as though a red light is flashing. You are in financial trouble! When I was a young adult, I had a sort of red dress and a man where I worked said; "Ah red! That’s enough to make a man forget the Ten Commandments!" Red apparently is a signal not only for anger; financial situations or to bring you to a stop; it is also a signal for indiscretions, or it should be!
WHEN WE BLEED, our blood runs red! When we have an open wound or an inflamed sore it usually is red. We are God’s creation and all humans have red blood. Not blue as you read in books; that merely indicates your royalty. Let’s face it, we all have red blood no matter what your ethnic background may be. According to Genesis we all came from Adam and Eve who were the first and therefore we have a physical body just like theirs.
“FOR THIS is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 As Christ hung on the cross with his hands and feet nailed to the posts and when the sword pierced His side, His blood flowed freely for you and me. His blood was red, the color of sin; if you are an artist. His heart carried the red blood through it, just like yours and mine. And He suffered shame, humiliation and degradation because of His love for the Father and the Father’s love for us.
“WHOM God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:25 In other words; Jesus took our place on the cross and through our belief and faith in His shed blood we can be forgiven. WOW! What a Savior; What a God!
REPENTANCE and baptism are not a choice, they are commandments. When we think we can substitute it for a prayer only of belief, let me remind you that Satan believes also and He was condemned to the eternal lake of fire. Don’t allow yourself to be short changed through mans short cuts. Read the scriptures for yourself and forget man’s interpretations. “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
RED is a beautiful color! However, I love Christ more! Fear should not blind us and cause us to see red. Instead, turn your eyes upon Jesus and see only Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/11/11
Sunday, February 6, 2011
WARM UP! 2/6/11
THROUGH THE YEARS I have attended many games where the team players would appear and throw around the balls whether it was basketball or baseball. Sometimes a little bit of batting practice, and the pitchers are always at the side throwing their fast balls; getting their arms warmed up. Very few major league players do this except for the pitchers. Even when doing exercises, a little bit of warming up, is a good thing for your body, don’t you think?
SOMEWHERE in the 70's Pat Boone, along with Mrs. Boone and their four girls came to Medford. They were scheduled to appear at one at the Middle schools that had the large auditorium. We had attended the US Army Core Band performance there and once even Dr. Dobson came to speak. Tickets were sold out for the Boone’s performance and the Gospel Hymns were invited to be the WARM UP group. What an honor for our home grown Gospel Quartet and pianist! Lee, Lynn, Lance, Jim along with Kathleen were thrilled, and very good!
THE AUDIENCE was excited to hear the Gospel Hymns again; and the Hymns were thrilled they were a part of the evening. As soon as the Hymns came on the stage, the audience began to quiet down. Whispers were heard less and less and paper crackling stopped. The people clapped along with the music and applauded, wanting more. The Hymns did a good job, because when the Boone’s came on stage, the audience was more than ready.
WHEN I thought about the Gospel Hymns warming up for Pat Boone, as always, I begin to think of how we are warming up, for the second coming of our Lord and Savior. Oh, I know what you are saying; “what would that have to do with Jesus’ second coming?” It has become my thought pattern, through the years when remembering something, by bringing our Christian walk into focus. By doing this, I feel I am still on the path that Christ set for me and for you!
“IN THOSE DAYS came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea; “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said; “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3 Do you imagine that John was “warming up the people” before Jesus came on stage? Do you suppose?
THE OLD TESTAMENT was God’s way of preparing the people for the coming of His Son, Jesus! The New Testament is the story of God’s Son and His promise to all those who follow Him! Those who belong to Jesus can be found here, there and everywhere preaching God’s word just as John the Baptist did in the beginning, when the word became flesh and dwelt among men.
LITTLE is mentioned about John the Baptist except for his birth; He was about six months older than Jesus, his cousin; He came from the hill country of Judah; The hand of the Lord was with Him; He grew and became strong in spirit; He was in the wilderness till his manifestation; He will be great before the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was imprisoned by Herod prior to his execution; he was the forerunner of Jesus and his ministry was prophetic. His chief preaching burden was the announcement of the coming kingdom, emphasizing the necessity for repentance and confession of sins.
JESUS SAID; “No one born of woman was greater than John!” Matthew 11:11 I am not a bench warmer, are you? I am not exercising, nor practicing to become more flexible in my kingdom work! I am warming up the people that I meet to prepare them for when they walk into heaven, or if they are so lucky to be here when Jesus appears again, in all His glory! Oh what a day that will be! The Gospel Hymns use to sing: “Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is king! Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is king! That Jesus Christ is still the king of kings; king of kings!” Starting today, be a warmup for Jesus! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/4/11
SOMEWHERE in the 70's Pat Boone, along with Mrs. Boone and their four girls came to Medford. They were scheduled to appear at one at the Middle schools that had the large auditorium. We had attended the US Army Core Band performance there and once even Dr. Dobson came to speak. Tickets were sold out for the Boone’s performance and the Gospel Hymns were invited to be the WARM UP group. What an honor for our home grown Gospel Quartet and pianist! Lee, Lynn, Lance, Jim along with Kathleen were thrilled, and very good!
THE AUDIENCE was excited to hear the Gospel Hymns again; and the Hymns were thrilled they were a part of the evening. As soon as the Hymns came on the stage, the audience began to quiet down. Whispers were heard less and less and paper crackling stopped. The people clapped along with the music and applauded, wanting more. The Hymns did a good job, because when the Boone’s came on stage, the audience was more than ready.
WHEN I thought about the Gospel Hymns warming up for Pat Boone, as always, I begin to think of how we are warming up, for the second coming of our Lord and Savior. Oh, I know what you are saying; “what would that have to do with Jesus’ second coming?” It has become my thought pattern, through the years when remembering something, by bringing our Christian walk into focus. By doing this, I feel I am still on the path that Christ set for me and for you!
“IN THOSE DAYS came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea; “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said; “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3 Do you imagine that John was “warming up the people” before Jesus came on stage? Do you suppose?
THE OLD TESTAMENT was God’s way of preparing the people for the coming of His Son, Jesus! The New Testament is the story of God’s Son and His promise to all those who follow Him! Those who belong to Jesus can be found here, there and everywhere preaching God’s word just as John the Baptist did in the beginning, when the word became flesh and dwelt among men.
LITTLE is mentioned about John the Baptist except for his birth; He was about six months older than Jesus, his cousin; He came from the hill country of Judah; The hand of the Lord was with Him; He grew and became strong in spirit; He was in the wilderness till his manifestation; He will be great before the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was imprisoned by Herod prior to his execution; he was the forerunner of Jesus and his ministry was prophetic. His chief preaching burden was the announcement of the coming kingdom, emphasizing the necessity for repentance and confession of sins.
JESUS SAID; “No one born of woman was greater than John!” Matthew 11:11 I am not a bench warmer, are you? I am not exercising, nor practicing to become more flexible in my kingdom work! I am warming up the people that I meet to prepare them for when they walk into heaven, or if they are so lucky to be here when Jesus appears again, in all His glory! Oh what a day that will be! The Gospel Hymns use to sing: “Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is king! Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is king! That Jesus Christ is still the king of kings; king of kings!” Starting today, be a warmup for Jesus! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/4/11
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