RECENTLY on the news a little four year old girl was dancing upon the outside window air conditioner which was about 3 floors up. People had gathered below watching, but one man saw her, and ran to catch her just as she fell to the ground! The girl survived the incident while the man who stood in the gap was hospitalized for several injuries to his own body. It was the right thing to do!
I AM POSITIVE that this man did not know when he got up that morning, that he would save this little girl from permanent injuries or even death. Something in him gave him the presence of mind to sacrifice his own comfort for the sake of another. Something that said; “this is the right thing to do!”
IN 1997 at the mall in Washington DC, a group of men called “The Promise Keepers” held a million man march. What an exciting time for all the men and boys that attended, not to mention the wives and sisters who went along for the ride. I personally was blessed by a group of men that sat in the shade of one of the ramps leading up to a Smithsonian Museum. They allowed me to join them in their prayer time and during their discussions. WOW! What a day! Men who were willing to learn how to “stand in the gap” for God. Willing to take a stand in a world that has rejected Him.
MOST PEOPLE do not want to stand out in a crowd. Most would rather be a wall flower and not be noticed. When we become a Christian we must stand out from the crowd. We must let the world know who we are. With the Holy Spirit within us and allowing God to change us we become a beacon in the world. If we are not a beacon, then we have decided to hide the light in us.
IN JEREMIAH chapter 5, the people had turned away from God and so God was turning away from them. They complained with; “Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?” God loved His people and He wanted to save the house of Israel and the house of Judah. They had forsaken the Lord to serve gods in their land and so God said; “you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.”
MEANWHILE in verse one we read; “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth; that I may pardon my people.” It seems that God was having trouble finding a man to stand in the gap. We read the same thing in Ezekiel 22:30; “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.” If God had trouble finding a perfect man, then no wonder we have trouble choosing a perfect President!
THIS STORY reminds me of today. We are in the middle of the national debate as to who should be President of our country. We have sought high and low for a man who is just, and truthful. But we are still looking! The perfect man has not come forward! The two men we have competing for this prized position have qualities that appeal to both sides of the ticket. Both are so very different from each other. We ask ourselves; “what are we to do?” God was looking for a man who was just, and truthful! Perhaps that is what we should be looking for; a man who is just, and truthful!
PERFECTION is not available. But seeking someone who is closest to the standard can help us in our dilemma. In all things we should be seeking God’s will! When we stand in the gap; when we are in the business of sharing our Christian lives with others, then we seek God’s will in all situations. Our health; our way of life; our government; our community; our church; our schools and in every path we take, we should be seeking God’s will.
“I DELIGHT to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart.” Psalms 40:8 God’s Word gives us instructions and we are to follow them. My prayer is that I will live within God’s will; I will follow in the footsteps of His Son. Am I perfect; no! Am I close to being perfect; no! I live within God’s grace and I know this is the right thing to do! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/29/12
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
PLEASE PASS THE MASHED POTATOES! 7/22/12
ONCE IN A WHILE I get a brain storm. I then wonder, “why didn’t I think of that sooner?” I am always reminding myself that; “life is short,” so now I am excited! A few years after our retirement we decided that the three of us should share in the evening meal preparations. So I cook one week and Jim cleans up my mess. The next week Jim cooks and Jennifer cleans up. The week Jennifer cooks, I clean up. It works so well that one week out of the three we all get a week off. What an idea! But that’s not the brain storm!
BECAUSE my stomach has not been well, when I cook, I fix mashed potatoes; mainly because it is a comfort food and easy on my stomach. I have been cooking this week which was working well because Jennifer is recovering from knee surgery. One night I fix pork chops and mashed potatoes; spaghetti; hamburgers with just meat, cheese, condiments but no lettuce, onions or tomatoes. Tonight I decided I would fix meat loaf with mashed potatoes. I realized that these are some of my favorite things! Especially the mashed potatoes because it is the most comforting of all!
THIS is the brain storm! When Jim cooks he always prepares his favorite things. Chili, Jambalaya and Clam Chowder. He serves each of these for two nights. Jennifer fixes some of her favorites, but I always ask what should I fix? From now on, I am cooking the things I like! Why not? Life is short; “please pass me the mashed potatoes!” Eating is one of God’s gifts to our flesh. We love the smells; the tastes; the textures; and mostly, how satisfying it is to our souls.
WHEN our #2 grandson Ryan, was about 10 years old I told him the story about the man who was very well to do. He picked up a quarter that he found on a sidewalk; looked at it and then put it into his pocket. When asked why he looked it over and then kept it; and why did he pick it up at all, He said; "it was a reminder to him that In God we Trust!” When I saw Ryan pick up a penny I asked him, what it had written on it. He said; “God loves me!” Good enough! It was a reminder to Ryan that God loves him! When Jim and I pick up a coin, we are reminded that “God loves us!”
WE TALK about the milk in God’s Word! We say that milk is good for children because of Vitamin D, but as they mature, meat is needed to give strength and endurance. However, we should never tire of the milk of God’s Word. It is what brought us into God’s love. Because of the milk, we have learned that we love Him because He first loved us. He loved the world unconditionally through the cross. His love for us, is what has given us a desire to mature and to become all that we can be in Him.
TO BRANCH off and taste of the solid food is what all Christians yearn for. God has given us a desire within us, to seek Him and to grow in Him. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their minds trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12 When we begin to eat the meat, it is when we love Him in return. We search His words and learn to obey His instructions. We become His messengers and we serve one another. Our hope is realized in His gospel, the good news.
“AND HE said to His disciples; “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.” Luke 12:22-23 Our life in the flesh, is but a span of time. It is not forever! Our spiritual life spans eternity! When I say “life is short”, I am referring to our life in the flesh.
GOD tells us that we should enjoy the things He has given us and not be anxious about them. “Instead, seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Luke 12:31 This is a key scripture. I use to have it on my refrigerator, but now it is in my heart. So why not consider that this life is short? Why not consider the meat of God’s word and in the mean time; “please pass the mashed potatoes!” “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/20/12
BECAUSE my stomach has not been well, when I cook, I fix mashed potatoes; mainly because it is a comfort food and easy on my stomach. I have been cooking this week which was working well because Jennifer is recovering from knee surgery. One night I fix pork chops and mashed potatoes; spaghetti; hamburgers with just meat, cheese, condiments but no lettuce, onions or tomatoes. Tonight I decided I would fix meat loaf with mashed potatoes. I realized that these are some of my favorite things! Especially the mashed potatoes because it is the most comforting of all!
THIS is the brain storm! When Jim cooks he always prepares his favorite things. Chili, Jambalaya and Clam Chowder. He serves each of these for two nights. Jennifer fixes some of her favorites, but I always ask what should I fix? From now on, I am cooking the things I like! Why not? Life is short; “please pass me the mashed potatoes!” Eating is one of God’s gifts to our flesh. We love the smells; the tastes; the textures; and mostly, how satisfying it is to our souls.
WHEN our #2 grandson Ryan, was about 10 years old I told him the story about the man who was very well to do. He picked up a quarter that he found on a sidewalk; looked at it and then put it into his pocket. When asked why he looked it over and then kept it; and why did he pick it up at all, He said; "it was a reminder to him that In God we Trust!” When I saw Ryan pick up a penny I asked him, what it had written on it. He said; “God loves me!” Good enough! It was a reminder to Ryan that God loves him! When Jim and I pick up a coin, we are reminded that “God loves us!”
WE TALK about the milk in God’s Word! We say that milk is good for children because of Vitamin D, but as they mature, meat is needed to give strength and endurance. However, we should never tire of the milk of God’s Word. It is what brought us into God’s love. Because of the milk, we have learned that we love Him because He first loved us. He loved the world unconditionally through the cross. His love for us, is what has given us a desire to mature and to become all that we can be in Him.
TO BRANCH off and taste of the solid food is what all Christians yearn for. God has given us a desire within us, to seek Him and to grow in Him. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their minds trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12 When we begin to eat the meat, it is when we love Him in return. We search His words and learn to obey His instructions. We become His messengers and we serve one another. Our hope is realized in His gospel, the good news.
“AND HE said to His disciples; “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.” Luke 12:22-23 Our life in the flesh, is but a span of time. It is not forever! Our spiritual life spans eternity! When I say “life is short”, I am referring to our life in the flesh.
GOD tells us that we should enjoy the things He has given us and not be anxious about them. “Instead, seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Luke 12:31 This is a key scripture. I use to have it on my refrigerator, but now it is in my heart. So why not consider that this life is short? Why not consider the meat of God’s word and in the mean time; “please pass the mashed potatoes!” “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/20/12
Saturday, July 14, 2012
PROVIDENTIAL? 7/15/12
LAST WEEKS Morning Glory was about Destiny or Chance! What about God’s providence? “God’s care for mankind.” His preparation and foresight in thoughtful arrangements to bring about His plans and hopes for His people! In Genesis chapter 9 God establishes a covenant with Noah. It was to bring orderliness and regularity of the seasons and of nature. Noah’s children were to be fruitful and to replenish the earth. A system of law and government was to be set up, along with penalties for crime. All foods and meat, except for the blood, was given. And the seal of this covenant was the rainbow! And of course the promise was that the earth should never again be destroyed by a universal flood such as this was. Do God’s providential acts, occur even today?
WE READ about the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. We know a covenant had been established between God and Abraham, and again with Isaac and then Jacob! This covenant was to establish a nation; a people for God. Jacob, who was later called Israel, had a son named Joseph. Is this God’s providential way to bring His people together in one place? “He sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave!” Psalms 105:17
WE READ in Genesis chapter 12 about the exodus of God’s people. God, through Moses freed the Israelites from their bondage and the slavery that had become their lot during their stay in Egypt. Once out of Egypt, where were they to go and how were they to get there? “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. That they might travel by day and by night; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Genesis 13:21-22 Is this one more act of God’s providential care? Did God make plans on how to navigate these people?
WE READ in 1 Samuel chapter 16 where God sends Samuel to see a man called Jesse. Samuel hadn’t even finished his grieving over King Saul and now God wants him to anoint the new King. But Samuel did as the Lord said and after meeting all of the sons of Jesse and feeling a little out of sorts, and after asking Jesse if he had seen all of his sons; Jesse calls his youngest. When he arrives God says; “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” God knows His plans and He works through His people. That is why it is called God’s providential care! When we pay attention to God’s plans we too are used by Him!
TO BE used of God is one of the greatest gifts we will ever experience in our fleshly life. We often wonder, when did we ever experience being used of God. I know I have wondered! I have always felt God’s protection when I look back over my youth and when I was a young adult. I escaped so many different kinds of situations because of my innocence and because of my being totally unaware that I could be hurt or drawn into a place I didn’t want to be. Could that be God’s providential care?
WHEN Jim came into my life I wasn’t looking for a husband. When my brother Layton suggested I look at Jim for myself, I did, and was surprised to discover he was worth looking at. Was that providential care? Danny had been attending a local University for a year, and then we were made aware that his plan was to leave the area to attend a Bible College in another state with his friend, who had just graduated from high school. It was at this College that Danny met Faye and began their Christian walk together as man & wife! Providential? Or “all good things come from God!”
WE READ books about our early America, and how God’s providential care lead President Washington through the battles that set us apart from other countries and caused our forefathers to establish a union under God! We saw how God led, through battles, men who called upon His name. He, who sits on the throne with power and glory! “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you!” Psalms 128:1-2 Learning to lean is when we begin to understand God’s providential care. We learn that success, depends upon the blessings of God! By Jane Ann .Crenshaw 7/7/12
WE READ about the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. We know a covenant had been established between God and Abraham, and again with Isaac and then Jacob! This covenant was to establish a nation; a people for God. Jacob, who was later called Israel, had a son named Joseph. Is this God’s providential way to bring His people together in one place? “He sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave!” Psalms 105:17
WE READ in Genesis chapter 12 about the exodus of God’s people. God, through Moses freed the Israelites from their bondage and the slavery that had become their lot during their stay in Egypt. Once out of Egypt, where were they to go and how were they to get there? “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. That they might travel by day and by night; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Genesis 13:21-22 Is this one more act of God’s providential care? Did God make plans on how to navigate these people?
WE READ in 1 Samuel chapter 16 where God sends Samuel to see a man called Jesse. Samuel hadn’t even finished his grieving over King Saul and now God wants him to anoint the new King. But Samuel did as the Lord said and after meeting all of the sons of Jesse and feeling a little out of sorts, and after asking Jesse if he had seen all of his sons; Jesse calls his youngest. When he arrives God says; “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” God knows His plans and He works through His people. That is why it is called God’s providential care! When we pay attention to God’s plans we too are used by Him!
TO BE used of God is one of the greatest gifts we will ever experience in our fleshly life. We often wonder, when did we ever experience being used of God. I know I have wondered! I have always felt God’s protection when I look back over my youth and when I was a young adult. I escaped so many different kinds of situations because of my innocence and because of my being totally unaware that I could be hurt or drawn into a place I didn’t want to be. Could that be God’s providential care?
WHEN Jim came into my life I wasn’t looking for a husband. When my brother Layton suggested I look at Jim for myself, I did, and was surprised to discover he was worth looking at. Was that providential care? Danny had been attending a local University for a year, and then we were made aware that his plan was to leave the area to attend a Bible College in another state with his friend, who had just graduated from high school. It was at this College that Danny met Faye and began their Christian walk together as man & wife! Providential? Or “all good things come from God!”
WE READ books about our early America, and how God’s providential care lead President Washington through the battles that set us apart from other countries and caused our forefathers to establish a union under God! We saw how God led, through battles, men who called upon His name. He, who sits on the throne with power and glory! “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you!” Psalms 128:1-2 Learning to lean is when we begin to understand God’s providential care. We learn that success, depends upon the blessings of God! By Jane Ann .Crenshaw 7/7/12
Saturday, July 7, 2012
DESTINY OR CHANCE? 7/8/12
JIM AND I took a train ride for our 50th anniversary. The train we took began for us in Klamath Falls and was destined for Van Nuys California. Because of a derailment, our train never left Klamath Falls and we were bused to Sacramento and then we were put on a train, that was destined for Van Nuys. Our arrival in Van Nuys was not according to the schedule but we were still headed in the right direction!
ISN”T that how life is? We set out to do one thing and before we know it we are doing something else altogether. Many believe that our lives are predestined for us and how we get there is problematic. We have a destiny and therefore we are destined to fulfill that destiny. I see our destiny; is to become like Christ and we also die! We cannot escape death! If we look at our lives with doom and gloom then I suppose our lives are destined to be grim. Doom seems to be final and mostly irrevocable, but Jesus Christ brings light into the darkness and we can see forever!
“AGAIN I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish which are taken in an evil net, and like birds which are caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.” Eccl 9:11-12 The salvation of man is totally in accordance with God’s will! We have to admit that this is one of those divine mysteries in which God began to work out His sovereign will through those stories in the Old Testament, in such a way, as to preserve the divine image of Jesus Christ, in which man was created, and man, with his own free will.
LET’S TAKE a look at chance! By chance we took the bus because it was made available otherwise we would have had to wait 24 hours before we could leave on the next train. It all sounds ominous and complicated, but in fact, many think in these terms. Before the beginning, God’s plan was predestined for His people, because the Church, did not come about by chance! The Church was designed and predestined to begin after Christ established His kingdom, upon the cross.
“AND THOSE whom He predestined He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified!” Romans 8:30 The Church was predestined for all, but not all have chosen the Church. The Church was set up in accordance to God’s will and God gave us our will. The two wills are not compatible! We must submit to God’s will in order to become part of His kingdom; the Church! Christ has made a way and it is the only way!
“EVEN US whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles; As indeed He says in Hosea, Those who were not my people, I will call my people.” Romans 9:24-15a As you can see here, Paul tells us that all are called. In 15b Paul continues with; “And her, who was not beloved, I will call my beloved.” He is talking about the Church; Isn’t that beautiful? Aren’t you glad that you have responded to His call? Do you remember who you were?
“DO YOU not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
IT AMAZES me when I picture putting off the old and putting on the new. It all comes down to justification and sanctification, or as some call it ‘grace!' In justification God did something for us. In sanctification, God does something in us. Justification has to do with our standing before God; sanctification concerns our character and conduct. The goal for each of us is to conform to the person of Jesus Christ, and be kept sound and blameless. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/22/12
ISN”T that how life is? We set out to do one thing and before we know it we are doing something else altogether. Many believe that our lives are predestined for us and how we get there is problematic. We have a destiny and therefore we are destined to fulfill that destiny. I see our destiny; is to become like Christ and we also die! We cannot escape death! If we look at our lives with doom and gloom then I suppose our lives are destined to be grim. Doom seems to be final and mostly irrevocable, but Jesus Christ brings light into the darkness and we can see forever!
“AGAIN I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish which are taken in an evil net, and like birds which are caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.” Eccl 9:11-12 The salvation of man is totally in accordance with God’s will! We have to admit that this is one of those divine mysteries in which God began to work out His sovereign will through those stories in the Old Testament, in such a way, as to preserve the divine image of Jesus Christ, in which man was created, and man, with his own free will.
LET’S TAKE a look at chance! By chance we took the bus because it was made available otherwise we would have had to wait 24 hours before we could leave on the next train. It all sounds ominous and complicated, but in fact, many think in these terms. Before the beginning, God’s plan was predestined for His people, because the Church, did not come about by chance! The Church was designed and predestined to begin after Christ established His kingdom, upon the cross.
“AND THOSE whom He predestined He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified!” Romans 8:30 The Church was predestined for all, but not all have chosen the Church. The Church was set up in accordance to God’s will and God gave us our will. The two wills are not compatible! We must submit to God’s will in order to become part of His kingdom; the Church! Christ has made a way and it is the only way!
“EVEN US whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles; As indeed He says in Hosea, Those who were not my people, I will call my people.” Romans 9:24-15a As you can see here, Paul tells us that all are called. In 15b Paul continues with; “And her, who was not beloved, I will call my beloved.” He is talking about the Church; Isn’t that beautiful? Aren’t you glad that you have responded to His call? Do you remember who you were?
“DO YOU not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
IT AMAZES me when I picture putting off the old and putting on the new. It all comes down to justification and sanctification, or as some call it ‘grace!' In justification God did something for us. In sanctification, God does something in us. Justification has to do with our standing before God; sanctification concerns our character and conduct. The goal for each of us is to conform to the person of Jesus Christ, and be kept sound and blameless. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/22/12
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