AT THE BEGINNING of a new year we find ourselves making promises that include; lose weight; watch what we eat; change our hair style; get a new look; clean drawers; clean closets; reline the cupboards with new shelf paper; rearrange the furniture; replace the bedroom carpet; clean out the garage by spring; and the new favorite is to “downsize!” Have you made your new list? Have your checked it twice? Are you dressed for the occasion of ‘starting all over again?’
WE HAVE been in the downsizing mode for several months now, so this is not a new idea for the new year. However, it is the hardest of all! Downsize means you are not rearranging, nor cleaning out. It means getting rid of things that you cherish; that has a story; that you would rather keep and let someone else get rid of it, after you are gone. Downsizing means going through stuff and deciding whether to put it in a yard sale, give it away, or call Goodwill! It has ugly connotations!
IT IS BEST to let someone else downsize for you, because if you are like me, you have to set it a side, and think about it, one more time. I have a bow foot bed frame that I bought as an antique in the 70's. Had it refinished and used it. I loved the bow foot bed! We move and the head got cracked. Had it repaired and refinished again, and we used it! It had another accident and we checked into having it repaired and Jim was given instructions on how to repair it, and meanwhile a box from the rafters fell and broke it some more. It has been in the garage for at least two years now! A decision has to be made! I wanted it repaired! Then I wanted to repair it and give it away. Now I just want to give it away and let someone else have it repaired. I suppose now it is time to just throw it away! It had history; it had style; all that memory and now; no more bow foot bed! That’s the way of stuff!
I WONDER if the beginning of every new year; God reissues His promises and waits for His people to respond again with love, joy and peace? I wonder if He makes a list and if He checks it twice? I wonder if He then sits back and waits for us to remember our history with Him; our style of clothing when we are obedient to Him, and the memory of when we first became one of his children? I wonder if He whispers in our ears every night; “my promises are true and they are for you!”
REMEMBER the Bible stories about God downsizing His armies? Gideon was 32000 strong but God said; I don’t think so! So Gideon tested them and 22000 went home leaving 10000 strong. Again God said that was far to many. So Gideon tested them again, with only 300 passing the test! God downsizes big because He wants His people to put their trust in Him. (Judges 6-8)
SAULS ARMY was also downsized when Goliath came on the scene. God brought a boy named David to fight the giant, while Saul's army and the Philistine's army took sides and watched. (1 Samuel 17) God’s promises are not only true, but they are true, because they never change! When we downsize we get rid of the things that we think are no longer useful to us. God downsizes to show that He wants us to be used by Him! We have to be willing!
WE ARE BEGINNING a through the year Bible Reading and in preparation I am gearing myself up to finish! I have read through the Bible, and I have studied God’s Word but I have yet to finish a year of reading. I’ve got time! I have several different translations! Others have done this and I know that because of God’s promises, I can do this!
LET”S LOOK as two of God’s promises. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8 Because Jesus is always the same, we know that His promises are true! “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8 His word is true! It’s going to be there whenever we are ready to begin reading!
EVERYTHING we have will come to the end of it’s life, and will need to be thrown out! It may hurt to clean up our lives yet once again, but God is on our side. Take a chance and read through God’s Word in 2014 and learn to fly as a bird on a wing! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/28/13
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
"I BELIEVE!" 12/22/13
DID YOU KNOW that Christ came to be born and to die for everyone? No matter how bad you were or how bad you are, God sent His only Son because He decided to love the world! I believe this because He changed my life; He has changed Jim’s life and He gave our children a life with Him because they grew up from birth knowing who He is and they believe also! God’s Word is the avenue we have walked ever since and I believe His promises are true.
GOD’S WORD is so valuable to the world because it tells us how to belong to Him. Some passages say “and you shall be saved!” Not just one but many, which says to belong to Him, is a process! I believe that the steps to salvation is not just one of those verses. However, it ends with Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!” The first four that say “and you shall be saved” you always must do. The fifth, you do once!
I KNOW what I believe! God has revealed it all through His Word! I believe what God says not by feelings and by sight, but through faith! Faith gives me hope, peace and through His Love, I can love everyone! Do you know what you believe? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13 Can you? Although none of us are perfect in our walk, God has promised us forgiveness! However, that comes with a condition and you find those in God’s Word!
TRUST gives me a sincere place of confidence in Christ. “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28 The church has been called and when we respond to that call, we become a part of the church. This scripture is for you! Without our trust in God, we flounder and rely upon ourselves to get us through.
IT ALL COMES down to believing that when we “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you!” Matthew 6:33 God knows what we need to live and to succeed in His Kingdom. We are to just be satisfied and keep, keeping on! Easy? Our flesh is weak but God’s strength allows us to keep, keeping on!
OBEDIENCE comes from hearing and believing His Word! We waste a lot of years because we still want it our way. But seeking God’s way, makes all the difference in the world! No pun intended, but we are declared peculiar people and to the world that is indeed a problem. We can’t be a Christian and live as the world. However, we can live as a Christian in the world because God’s Word says we can!
WE MAKE mistakes but don’t let our mistakes cause us to fall. God says when we forgive others, He will forgive us! “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
LEARN to believe what you read in God’s Word and not rely on only what you have been taught to believe. A learned man speaks and we take it to be so; but a disciple who reads the scriptures to verify what has been said, with honesty and in earnest; God reveals so much more! I learned more about prayer when I taught a series in the late 90's. However, I was asking Jim what to say and how to say it when preparing to teach. After I learned how to go in prayer with clean hands and a pure heart; obedience to His Word; and forgiving others, along with practicing the presence of God, I began to write! Now I go to Jim to proof my work before I blog, or teach a lesson so that I am on the right track. I give God the praise and the glory!
PERFECTION will not be ours until we walk into heaven; but until that day, as a Christian we must strive to become the person that God has created us to be! We strive to keep Christ in Christmas, so let us also strive to keep Christ in our name of Christian, and become more than we ever thought we could be. Merry Christmas one and all for God so loved the World! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/20/13
GOD’S WORD is so valuable to the world because it tells us how to belong to Him. Some passages say “and you shall be saved!” Not just one but many, which says to belong to Him, is a process! I believe that the steps to salvation is not just one of those verses. However, it ends with Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!” The first four that say “and you shall be saved” you always must do. The fifth, you do once!
I KNOW what I believe! God has revealed it all through His Word! I believe what God says not by feelings and by sight, but through faith! Faith gives me hope, peace and through His Love, I can love everyone! Do you know what you believe? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13 Can you? Although none of us are perfect in our walk, God has promised us forgiveness! However, that comes with a condition and you find those in God’s Word!
TRUST gives me a sincere place of confidence in Christ. “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28 The church has been called and when we respond to that call, we become a part of the church. This scripture is for you! Without our trust in God, we flounder and rely upon ourselves to get us through.
IT ALL COMES down to believing that when we “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you!” Matthew 6:33 God knows what we need to live and to succeed in His Kingdom. We are to just be satisfied and keep, keeping on! Easy? Our flesh is weak but God’s strength allows us to keep, keeping on!
OBEDIENCE comes from hearing and believing His Word! We waste a lot of years because we still want it our way. But seeking God’s way, makes all the difference in the world! No pun intended, but we are declared peculiar people and to the world that is indeed a problem. We can’t be a Christian and live as the world. However, we can live as a Christian in the world because God’s Word says we can!
WE MAKE mistakes but don’t let our mistakes cause us to fall. God says when we forgive others, He will forgive us! “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
LEARN to believe what you read in God’s Word and not rely on only what you have been taught to believe. A learned man speaks and we take it to be so; but a disciple who reads the scriptures to verify what has been said, with honesty and in earnest; God reveals so much more! I learned more about prayer when I taught a series in the late 90's. However, I was asking Jim what to say and how to say it when preparing to teach. After I learned how to go in prayer with clean hands and a pure heart; obedience to His Word; and forgiving others, along with practicing the presence of God, I began to write! Now I go to Jim to proof my work before I blog, or teach a lesson so that I am on the right track. I give God the praise and the glory!
PERFECTION will not be ours until we walk into heaven; but until that day, as a Christian we must strive to become the person that God has created us to be! We strive to keep Christ in Christmas, so let us also strive to keep Christ in our name of Christian, and become more than we ever thought we could be. Merry Christmas one and all for God so loved the World! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/20/13
Saturday, December 7, 2013
MORE OR LESS! 12/8/13
EVER SINCE retirement became more than an idea, I have experienced many sleepless nights. The amazing thing is that I start out tired and even prepare to settle in around 8:00 pm, but by 10:00 I am wide awake! I have tried mentally reciting all the scriptures that I can bring to mind; even go from my bed to my chair, and finally after eating a few crackers and drinking some water, I try the sleep mode again. However, I always seen to end up at the computer!
I HAVEN’T figured out why this happens but I do know that I don’t like it! I don’t like it because I have always loved sleeping! When I was a young woman, I could sleep until 10:00 am or longer and discovered when I married that Jim also like to sleep late. Children came along and that stopped, but the idea of sleeping never did.
I SOLVE problems when I am sleeping; I remember things when I am sleeping. Once, while doing some bank reconciliations for the company I had retired from, and felt like the TV mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, I was able to solved the mystery that had plagued me for weeks; while sleeping!
GOD DESIGNED our bodies for rest and because he created the 24 hour body clock, our bodies automatically go into the sleep mode with very little encouragement. As we get older the clock doesn't quite work as efficient as it did, but then many things don’t work as well as it use too! But lack of sleep is not a good thing! Some can get by with 4 to 6 hours but I want more!
WANTING MORE is a fleshly trait! Recently I used the term “less is more!” But for some reason I think more is always a good thing! I don’t want more house, or more car; I don’t even want more of what the rich and famous have. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 God provides all our needs and He even includes more than we ever could dream of. He includes the things that I consider my favorites!
LET”S CONSIDER some favorite things! I could say ice cream, or chocolate; perhaps even more turkey and dressing; but I mean, really favorite things. One of my most favorite thing is to walk and talk with Jesus! When the weather is good, I walk around my house talking (out loud) to Jesus and am refreshed and that is whether or not I get enough sleep.
“AND LET US consider how to stir up one another to love and good works!” Hebrews 10:24 Isn’t that one of your favorites things to do? I love the church and the family that God has designed for His children. Within the Church I can love everyone and know that they love me! In the world, I can love them, but they have trouble understanding me, let alone loving me!
IN HEBREWS chapter 3, verse 1, it says to consider Jesus! Jesus is my most favorite subject! To consider Jesus would take sheets and sheets, because He is all the world to me! Jesus is my haven of rest! I may not be able to sleep well tonight, but I have a resting place that is always calling me. He is my encouragement; my comfort; my peace and joy that is constantly bubbling up in my soul! Jesus is my refuge in times of trouble and He calms my anxious heart.
JESUS came so that we may have life and have life in abundance! What more could we want after we have met Jesus! He is our all in all! He is the way, the truth and the life! No one can come to the Father except through Jesus! Why would anyone not receive Him and not want to know more and more about Him? Our old ways have nothing to offer! With Jesus it is like living in the warmth of the sun; smelling the fresh rain as it hits against the warm sidewalk; watching the snow as it glistens and melts to our touch.
“DO NOT lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!” Matthew 6:16-18 Less may be more in some cases, but Jesus comes with a life time guarantee, which is more of His blessed assurance! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/3/13
I HAVEN’T figured out why this happens but I do know that I don’t like it! I don’t like it because I have always loved sleeping! When I was a young woman, I could sleep until 10:00 am or longer and discovered when I married that Jim also like to sleep late. Children came along and that stopped, but the idea of sleeping never did.
I SOLVE problems when I am sleeping; I remember things when I am sleeping. Once, while doing some bank reconciliations for the company I had retired from, and felt like the TV mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, I was able to solved the mystery that had plagued me for weeks; while sleeping!
GOD DESIGNED our bodies for rest and because he created the 24 hour body clock, our bodies automatically go into the sleep mode with very little encouragement. As we get older the clock doesn't quite work as efficient as it did, but then many things don’t work as well as it use too! But lack of sleep is not a good thing! Some can get by with 4 to 6 hours but I want more!
WANTING MORE is a fleshly trait! Recently I used the term “less is more!” But for some reason I think more is always a good thing! I don’t want more house, or more car; I don’t even want more of what the rich and famous have. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 God provides all our needs and He even includes more than we ever could dream of. He includes the things that I consider my favorites!
LET”S CONSIDER some favorite things! I could say ice cream, or chocolate; perhaps even more turkey and dressing; but I mean, really favorite things. One of my most favorite thing is to walk and talk with Jesus! When the weather is good, I walk around my house talking (out loud) to Jesus and am refreshed and that is whether or not I get enough sleep.
“AND LET US consider how to stir up one another to love and good works!” Hebrews 10:24 Isn’t that one of your favorites things to do? I love the church and the family that God has designed for His children. Within the Church I can love everyone and know that they love me! In the world, I can love them, but they have trouble understanding me, let alone loving me!
IN HEBREWS chapter 3, verse 1, it says to consider Jesus! Jesus is my most favorite subject! To consider Jesus would take sheets and sheets, because He is all the world to me! Jesus is my haven of rest! I may not be able to sleep well tonight, but I have a resting place that is always calling me. He is my encouragement; my comfort; my peace and joy that is constantly bubbling up in my soul! Jesus is my refuge in times of trouble and He calms my anxious heart.
JESUS came so that we may have life and have life in abundance! What more could we want after we have met Jesus! He is our all in all! He is the way, the truth and the life! No one can come to the Father except through Jesus! Why would anyone not receive Him and not want to know more and more about Him? Our old ways have nothing to offer! With Jesus it is like living in the warmth of the sun; smelling the fresh rain as it hits against the warm sidewalk; watching the snow as it glistens and melts to our touch.
“DO NOT lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!” Matthew 6:16-18 Less may be more in some cases, but Jesus comes with a life time guarantee, which is more of His blessed assurance! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/3/13
Saturday, November 30, 2013
CHESTER SHOW'S IT ALL! 12/1/13
MY SON Dan and his family brought home a little black miniature pincher mix, some years ago! He was and is so cute! On his first visit to our house he had gone to the front door but nobody was aware of it. He didn’t bark or make any signs of wanting out! But soon I noticed he was not where the gang was, so I called his name; “Chester!” Very slowly he made his way from the direction of the front door with his head down. Soon he stopped! I motioned to him to come to me and of course in a voice designed just for babies and puppies, I said; “come here Chester, come on, come to me!”
CHESTER moved slowly towards me although his head was still down. He stopped about 18 inches from me and put his little nose into the carpet, and at the same time lifted his eyes up to look at me with the most sorrowful look I had ever seen on a puppy! Broke my heart, but it was so funny; what was up with Chester?
RIGHT AWAY, Dan and Faye knew what happened! They had seen this before! We went to check out the front door and sure enough a little puddle was there! We turned to look at Chester and he was so unhappy! He knew he had done wrong, but he didn’t know what to do when no one was there to let him out! So he just let go and did what comes naturally to little puppies in training.
WHEN I remember this moment in the life of Chester, I am reminded of us Christians when we allow a temptation to take hold of us and we sin! We are angry with ourselves, we feel the remorse and our countenance falls and it is difficult to face family and friends, because we just know, they know and are going to want an accounting as to why we allowed Satan to tempt us and to fall into his trap. I can write about this because I have been there and done that, and so have you!
“JESUS SAID to His disciples; ‘Things that make people fall into sin are bound to happen; but how terrible for the one who makes them happen!’” Luke 17:1 The scriptures are clear that temptations will come, and the hand that tempts us will wish he had never been born! The scriptures talk about causing a child of God to sin; the culprit will find themselves in a large amount of WOE!
“WOE TO THE world for temptations, to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but WOE to the man by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than with two hands or two feet, and to be thrown into the eternal fire!” Matthew 18:7-8 There are many temptations in the world designed to make people turn away from Christ. However, this does not alleviate the punishment for the one who causes such things. As Christians we are always in training!
TO CUT OFF your hands or feet is merely symbolic to the one who allows themselves to be dragged into sin. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is not an excuse with merit. You shouldn’t be there at all! This illustration is merely showing how detrimental sin is to our salvation. If you continue in sin by choice or habit, you are heading for the eternal fire. Eliminating the sin factor is the Holy Spirit giving you a way of escape, so that you can avoid the price of continuing to sin!
LIVING MOMENT by moment for Jesus Christ, comes a little bit easier, the older one gets! You understand the importance of coming to the Father with clean hands and a pure heart. Living lives within Satan’s entrapments, keeps us from enjoying the fulness of life that comes through Jesus Christ.
“AND THAT repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations!” Luke 24:47a When Christ arose from the dead, all things came into place for those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! His resurrection, has made it possible for our repentance and forgiveness of sin. Chester, didn’t want to be bad, but couldn’t help himself. We don’t want to do bad things, and we have help; use it! Don’t let a thrill for the moment, overshadow a life time of great moments in Jesus Christ as we walk daily with Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/29/13
CHESTER moved slowly towards me although his head was still down. He stopped about 18 inches from me and put his little nose into the carpet, and at the same time lifted his eyes up to look at me with the most sorrowful look I had ever seen on a puppy! Broke my heart, but it was so funny; what was up with Chester?
RIGHT AWAY, Dan and Faye knew what happened! They had seen this before! We went to check out the front door and sure enough a little puddle was there! We turned to look at Chester and he was so unhappy! He knew he had done wrong, but he didn’t know what to do when no one was there to let him out! So he just let go and did what comes naturally to little puppies in training.
WHEN I remember this moment in the life of Chester, I am reminded of us Christians when we allow a temptation to take hold of us and we sin! We are angry with ourselves, we feel the remorse and our countenance falls and it is difficult to face family and friends, because we just know, they know and are going to want an accounting as to why we allowed Satan to tempt us and to fall into his trap. I can write about this because I have been there and done that, and so have you!
“JESUS SAID to His disciples; ‘Things that make people fall into sin are bound to happen; but how terrible for the one who makes them happen!’” Luke 17:1 The scriptures are clear that temptations will come, and the hand that tempts us will wish he had never been born! The scriptures talk about causing a child of God to sin; the culprit will find themselves in a large amount of WOE!
“WOE TO THE world for temptations, to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but WOE to the man by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than with two hands or two feet, and to be thrown into the eternal fire!” Matthew 18:7-8 There are many temptations in the world designed to make people turn away from Christ. However, this does not alleviate the punishment for the one who causes such things. As Christians we are always in training!
TO CUT OFF your hands or feet is merely symbolic to the one who allows themselves to be dragged into sin. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is not an excuse with merit. You shouldn’t be there at all! This illustration is merely showing how detrimental sin is to our salvation. If you continue in sin by choice or habit, you are heading for the eternal fire. Eliminating the sin factor is the Holy Spirit giving you a way of escape, so that you can avoid the price of continuing to sin!
LIVING MOMENT by moment for Jesus Christ, comes a little bit easier, the older one gets! You understand the importance of coming to the Father with clean hands and a pure heart. Living lives within Satan’s entrapments, keeps us from enjoying the fulness of life that comes through Jesus Christ.
“AND THAT repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations!” Luke 24:47a When Christ arose from the dead, all things came into place for those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! His resurrection, has made it possible for our repentance and forgiveness of sin. Chester, didn’t want to be bad, but couldn’t help himself. We don’t want to do bad things, and we have help; use it! Don’t let a thrill for the moment, overshadow a life time of great moments in Jesus Christ as we walk daily with Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/29/13
Saturday, November 23, 2013
OH TO BE THANKFUL! 11/24/13
EVERY YEAR we go around wishing everyone "Happy Thanksgiving!" I have said this all my life, when it comes close to the third Thursday in November. Even when it is so common place and so very familiar, and we love this time of year; saying thanksgiving is a measure of faith, in a faithless world!
I LOVE to remember 'Thanksgiving pasts'! I come from such a large family, that around thanksgiving it was an exciting time. We came together under one roof, sitting at tables all lined up, like a banquet table. Hunting for enough chairs so we could all sit around this long L shaped table! And, oh yes, the small table for all the little kids. And believe me, there were lots of kids!
WHEN I was a little girl still living in Iowa, I had a little friend who was having turkey for thanksgiving dinner. I wanted to eat turkey! But it was too expensive, I think, because we never had turkey in Iowa. But we did have a large goose! Years later after we had moved to California and I was in my teens, we had a turkey, a goose and a duck! I can still see that table and thought WOW; "What a happy thanksgiving we are having!"
BUT IT is good to give thanks to the Lord for all of His blessings! We take so much for granted! We want to prosper and to succeed in big things so that we can declare God's blessings in helping us to achieve. But God's blessings can come in small measures with big successes, and big measures in small things!
"IT IS GOOD to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to His name, O Most High; to declare the steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands; yes, I sing for joy!" Psalms 92:1-4
THANKING GOD for big things is easy because we are so proud of some of the big things in our lives. They are easy to see and they are easy to touch! But the small things are the things that have meant the most to each of us. The love of my mother and my father, who even through difficulties were still my mother and my father when they passed away! It seems so small, but it is HUGE to me!
"I WILL PRAISE the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs!" Psalms 69:30-31 It sounds simple, that a song would please the Lord! I haven't been able to sing for many years because of medicines I was taking. Today I am not taking those medicines and I can sing. To most that is a small thing but to me that is HUGE! It is true I can't sing as I did ten years ago, and I probably will never sing like that again; but just being able to sing and hold a note during worship is HUGE! I praise God and thank Him that I can sing praises to his name!
BABIES are a legacy to those who love the Lord! It s so sad that others find babies an inconvenience and even from a circumstances of chance, can make a decision to discard them! These are the small things that God blesses us with and they grow into big things that cause us to cry as they walk all over our feet, and hurt our hearts when they grow up, but they are a blessing that is HUGE!
I AM so thankful for my husband Jim, because he also has had a steadfast love for me that has endured over 50 years. Jim's walk with the Lord, has made it easy for me to have a steadfast love for him! I am so thankful for my children, who's lives have been a blessing to all! None of this is because of what we have done, but all because of what Christ has become to us and that is HUGE!
"MAKE A JOYFUL noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord is God! It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him, bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures for ever, and His faithfulness is to all generation. Psalms 100:1-5 By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/22/13
Saturday, November 16, 2013
CHRISTMAS "CRACKERS!" 11/17/13
JIM and I were browsing through Wal Mart the other day, when I spied some “crackers!” I got excited! Many years ago I learned about “crackers” and went from store to store looking for them, because it was Christmas Eve, and those in the know had already bought them up. Finally located a store, out of town, and bought the last two packages.
WHAT are crackers. You ask? An English tradition! A Christmas “cracker” is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends. There is a ‘banger’ inside and when pulled by two people, will create a loud snapping ‘crack’ or ‘bang!’ Thomas Smith, a London Pastry cook during 1846, discovered a sugar almond wrapped in tissue paper, twisted on both sides of the treat. He like the idea so much he created his own treat by adding a romantic message inside, and called them “Kiss Mottos!”
SMITH’S product didn’t sell well until he added a ‘cracker - pop’ when pulled apart. Today you will find within each “cracker,” a paper crown made from tissue paper, a riddle or joke and a small gift. Our first “crackers” seem relatively small, compared to the ones I saw this week. I didn’t know until now that it was to have two people pulling the two sides. That surely would make it easier and fun. One way to do that is by crossing your arms at the table and with your right hand you pull your neighbors cracker and with your left hand you hold your cracker while your neighbor on the right pulls!
WHAT would be even more fun is if you all pulled at the same time, and all the snaps and pops sounded with a bang. Sort of reminds me of a Bible Study when everyone gets excited and involved and when you leave that place you are filled with the Holy Spirit saying; “God’s Word is amazing; go and share it with everyone you meet!”
READING through the Bible can be an adventure, especially if you are sharing your reading adventure with someone else. There is talk about the church I am attending, having a reading program this next year. Not just asking you to read; not just leaving everyone at the starting gate; not hoping that everyone will do this, and then forget. I hear it will be a moving together in the scriptures with questions, answers, discussions, and a little of that fire being ignited with a snap, crackle and pop!
HOLIDAYS are upon us, and for some it is slow starting because of all the money that is required to do them up big. As I get older, I have found that bigger is not always better. Dollar’s are not always as wisely spent as pennies are. Taking a look back is not always the answer, but looking ahead can reveal promises kept.
WHY is it we are always frustrated, when this time of the year rolls by. We act as though it is a surprise it’s that time again! We knew it was coming! As the weather changes we knew time was drawing near! Yet, here we are with Thanksgiving around the corner and we are bogged down with all the things we have to do to be ready because company is coming; there are turkeys to be bought and whether or not to have cranberry sauce or whole berries!
“FOR EVERY matter has its time and way, although man’s trouble lies heavy upon him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be! Ecclesiastes 8:6-7 Solomon has a way with words doesn’t he? We sit around muddled in our own thoughts, when we have our very own “cracker” given to us by God. God’s word brings us joy, and peace! We can open it by ourselves or together and receive a real crown, read the nugget’s He has left for us, and receive the prize of eternal life. Just learning about Jesus is not enough, the Word clearly spells out what we are to do to be His!
“FOR EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven!” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King! Purchase some “crackers”, you will find them on the shelves in the stores. Take them home and place them at each setting of your table; have fun together as a family. Open God’s Word, hopefully you will find it on the shelf in your home, and read about God and His promises for you! What a Holiday season this can be, when we forget about the things of the world, and seek Jesus! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/15/13
WHAT are crackers. You ask? An English tradition! A Christmas “cracker” is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends. There is a ‘banger’ inside and when pulled by two people, will create a loud snapping ‘crack’ or ‘bang!’ Thomas Smith, a London Pastry cook during 1846, discovered a sugar almond wrapped in tissue paper, twisted on both sides of the treat. He like the idea so much he created his own treat by adding a romantic message inside, and called them “Kiss Mottos!”
SMITH’S product didn’t sell well until he added a ‘cracker - pop’ when pulled apart. Today you will find within each “cracker,” a paper crown made from tissue paper, a riddle or joke and a small gift. Our first “crackers” seem relatively small, compared to the ones I saw this week. I didn’t know until now that it was to have two people pulling the two sides. That surely would make it easier and fun. One way to do that is by crossing your arms at the table and with your right hand you pull your neighbors cracker and with your left hand you hold your cracker while your neighbor on the right pulls!
WHAT would be even more fun is if you all pulled at the same time, and all the snaps and pops sounded with a bang. Sort of reminds me of a Bible Study when everyone gets excited and involved and when you leave that place you are filled with the Holy Spirit saying; “God’s Word is amazing; go and share it with everyone you meet!”
READING through the Bible can be an adventure, especially if you are sharing your reading adventure with someone else. There is talk about the church I am attending, having a reading program this next year. Not just asking you to read; not just leaving everyone at the starting gate; not hoping that everyone will do this, and then forget. I hear it will be a moving together in the scriptures with questions, answers, discussions, and a little of that fire being ignited with a snap, crackle and pop!
HOLIDAYS are upon us, and for some it is slow starting because of all the money that is required to do them up big. As I get older, I have found that bigger is not always better. Dollar’s are not always as wisely spent as pennies are. Taking a look back is not always the answer, but looking ahead can reveal promises kept.
WHY is it we are always frustrated, when this time of the year rolls by. We act as though it is a surprise it’s that time again! We knew it was coming! As the weather changes we knew time was drawing near! Yet, here we are with Thanksgiving around the corner and we are bogged down with all the things we have to do to be ready because company is coming; there are turkeys to be bought and whether or not to have cranberry sauce or whole berries!
“FOR EVERY matter has its time and way, although man’s trouble lies heavy upon him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be! Ecclesiastes 8:6-7 Solomon has a way with words doesn’t he? We sit around muddled in our own thoughts, when we have our very own “cracker” given to us by God. God’s word brings us joy, and peace! We can open it by ourselves or together and receive a real crown, read the nugget’s He has left for us, and receive the prize of eternal life. Just learning about Jesus is not enough, the Word clearly spells out what we are to do to be His!
“FOR EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven!” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King! Purchase some “crackers”, you will find them on the shelves in the stores. Take them home and place them at each setting of your table; have fun together as a family. Open God’s Word, hopefully you will find it on the shelf in your home, and read about God and His promises for you! What a Holiday season this can be, when we forget about the things of the world, and seek Jesus! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/15/13
Saturday, November 9, 2013
TIME AND AGAIN! 11/10/13
IF SOMEONE were to ask you how many times do you get a knock on your door from nicely dressed young men, sometimes a young family with a bible in hand, and a paper to give you, and says; “This is for you, this is your personal copy;” what would your number be? Time and again, we get these visitors and I often wonder why they knock on our door, when we let them know before they even get there, where we stand!
WE HAVE a plague above our front door that says; “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” We also have a plaque on the side of our house, next to the front door, which is a cross that says; “We walk by faith and not by sight!” 2 Corinthians 5:7
TIME AFTER TIME we take the copy that has been handed to us and look at it and immediately know it is either, Jehovah Witness or Mormon’s. The paper has familiar phrases on them like; “Can the dead really live again?” Some say; “If you should die today, will you go to heaven?” And my favorite is “Do you know Jesus?”
MANY years ago, I was handed a “Watch Tower” and when I asked what it was, part of the explanation was, it was written by the Holy Spirit, who was locked in a tower in New York. My quick response was, they had better let Him out! I wonder why they didn’t know that the Holy Spirit belongs to the followers of Jesus Christ and not locked in a tower. Of course that was many years ago and I have sense learned that confrontation is not the way to treat people who have been mislead to believe that the Jesus they follow, is the Christ the Son of God!
I RECEIVED an email from a Pastor friend that was about confrontation! It said, in one paragraph; “Jesus calls us to a different paradigm: “I Win, You Win.” Confrontation was never meant by Him to estrange and separate us from a brother or sister. We are to restore relationships and we are to walk in love! When we receive these visitors, I don’t turn them away with a negative attitude. Instead, I have on occasion, prayed for them in their presence! I never let them feel they have changed my mind, or that I agree with them. Often, when I see them I will pray for them to know Jesus; the Jesus, I know!
TIME AND AGAIN Jesus says; we are to forgive our brothers when they sin and even when they do and say things about Jesus, without understanding. Jesus says; “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Both of these things, that we are to do as followers of Jesus Christ, are not without a struggle! We know what God’s Word says, and we want to press the issues and make the other person change their minds and believe as we do. We cannot do the Holy Spirits job; it is not our job! Far better for us to show our Faith by doing, than by telling someone they are totally off base!
“TAKE HEED to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says; “I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4 Is this a struggle for you? We are not to enable those who are sinning, nor those without understanding as they teach. Instead we are to become equippers of the saints. We are to love, forgive and love some more!
“AND JESUS said to them; “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Mark 1:17 Many of us who have chosen the Way, find ourselves in positions of either contradicting those who misunderstand God’s Word, or teaching God’s Word to those of like mind, and to those who have been taught a different way. God calls us to love one another, and these moments of teaching, are to be done in LOVE.
MY PRAYER is that “I will set my mind on the things above and not on the things of this earth.” Colossians 3:2 I will not set myself above anyone, nor will I keep God’s Word hidden within me! His Word is for teaching, reproof, and must be shared! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/9/13
WE HAVE a plague above our front door that says; “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” We also have a plaque on the side of our house, next to the front door, which is a cross that says; “We walk by faith and not by sight!” 2 Corinthians 5:7
TIME AFTER TIME we take the copy that has been handed to us and look at it and immediately know it is either, Jehovah Witness or Mormon’s. The paper has familiar phrases on them like; “Can the dead really live again?” Some say; “If you should die today, will you go to heaven?” And my favorite is “Do you know Jesus?”
MANY years ago, I was handed a “Watch Tower” and when I asked what it was, part of the explanation was, it was written by the Holy Spirit, who was locked in a tower in New York. My quick response was, they had better let Him out! I wonder why they didn’t know that the Holy Spirit belongs to the followers of Jesus Christ and not locked in a tower. Of course that was many years ago and I have sense learned that confrontation is not the way to treat people who have been mislead to believe that the Jesus they follow, is the Christ the Son of God!
I RECEIVED an email from a Pastor friend that was about confrontation! It said, in one paragraph; “Jesus calls us to a different paradigm: “I Win, You Win.” Confrontation was never meant by Him to estrange and separate us from a brother or sister. We are to restore relationships and we are to walk in love! When we receive these visitors, I don’t turn them away with a negative attitude. Instead, I have on occasion, prayed for them in their presence! I never let them feel they have changed my mind, or that I agree with them. Often, when I see them I will pray for them to know Jesus; the Jesus, I know!
TIME AND AGAIN Jesus says; we are to forgive our brothers when they sin and even when they do and say things about Jesus, without understanding. Jesus says; “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Both of these things, that we are to do as followers of Jesus Christ, are not without a struggle! We know what God’s Word says, and we want to press the issues and make the other person change their minds and believe as we do. We cannot do the Holy Spirits job; it is not our job! Far better for us to show our Faith by doing, than by telling someone they are totally off base!
“TAKE HEED to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says; “I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4 Is this a struggle for you? We are not to enable those who are sinning, nor those without understanding as they teach. Instead we are to become equippers of the saints. We are to love, forgive and love some more!
“AND JESUS said to them; “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Mark 1:17 Many of us who have chosen the Way, find ourselves in positions of either contradicting those who misunderstand God’s Word, or teaching God’s Word to those of like mind, and to those who have been taught a different way. God calls us to love one another, and these moments of teaching, are to be done in LOVE.
MY PRAYER is that “I will set my mind on the things above and not on the things of this earth.” Colossians 3:2 I will not set myself above anyone, nor will I keep God’s Word hidden within me! His Word is for teaching, reproof, and must be shared! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/9/13
Saturday, November 2, 2013
OCTOBERT 31ST ISN'T JUST FOR HALLOWEEN! 11/3/13
I DON”T know if most are interested in what happened in the 1500's but I am always fascinated in the history of the church. I have read Halley’s Handbook many times and He brings the early church from its beginning thru the dispensations of its struggles; successes and deviations of the Christian way. Martin Luther, born November 10, 1483, changed its direction.
‘INDULGENCES’ began as a fund raiser. The Pope had control over Purgatory which was like hell, but you didn’t stay there as long. The Pope could shorten your stay for a fee. It was so profitable within the hierarchy, that it became open for general use. ‘Selling the privilege to sin’ became one of the main sources of the Papal Revenue. A salesman came through Germany selling certificates, signed by the Pope, offering pardon of all sins to buyers and their friends.
MARTIN LUTHER, a Monk, began to study the Word and discovered that “the just shall live by faith.” He discovered that salvation came by “Trust in God,” through Christ and not by rituals, sacraments and penances of the Church. This changed his life! He went to Rome and saw first hand the retail service of the salesman for the Pope. He witnessed; “As soon as your coin clinks in the chest the souls of your friends will rise out of Purgatory into heaven.” Luther was appalled! Luther began diligently to bring this shame into the light.
HE BEGAN a religious revolt in Germany. He began by writing and posting his 95 theses declaring his contempt of the Catholic Church’s corruption, on the Wittenberg Church door, October 31, 1517. Others had gone before Luther and put their lives on the line for this same cause but it was Luther who actually started the Protestant Reformation Movement. He labored until Protestantism was born. He and his followers wanted to return Christianity to its roots but instead they changed the Christian world into a reformation and broke away from the present corruption. Later on in the 1800's, the restoration movement put the church back into motion with John Knox, followed by the Campbell’s and others, who are still being followed by the Christian and Church of Christ theologians today.
THERE was a time when the Catholic Church called the shots under the guise of Christianity. But they didn’t know that God would raise up Martin Luther who became known as the Father of the Reformation. He became one of history’s most important reformers. Luther was first to translate and print the whole Bible in German. He was a simple but strong man who was motivated by what he learned by reading God’s Word for himself. Luther could have quietly communicated his thoughts and he wanted to discuss these things in the University he taught at, but instead, he had copies printed and posted all over Germany. He was the spark that set Europe on fire and became a very popular man in Germany.
LUTHER was ordered before the Holy Roman Empire which included; Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Austria. They demanded he retract. He requested some time, to think about this. After 24 hours, he returned to the ‘Diet of Worms’ and they asked him again to retract his declarations! He replied; “Here I stand; I can do no other! God help me, Amen!” He was condemned to be burned at the stake and was taken away to wait 20 more days or so, until his execution. As the carriage carried him away he could hear many horses behind him and felt desolate. However, as the horsemen closed in on him and his guards, Martin Luther was snatched bodily from the carriage, and was carried away by the men of Prince Frederick the Wise. They took him deep into the forest where he was hidden for about a year and then he returned to Wittenberg to continue his work of speaking and writing. Excommunicated and exiled by Rome, Martin Luther married an ex-nun and lived happily ever after and died of natural causes February 18, 1546, but not before the protestant beliefs took hold throughout Europe. Reads like a fairy tale, doesn’t it; but it’s part of church history! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/27/09
‘INDULGENCES’ began as a fund raiser. The Pope had control over Purgatory which was like hell, but you didn’t stay there as long. The Pope could shorten your stay for a fee. It was so profitable within the hierarchy, that it became open for general use. ‘Selling the privilege to sin’ became one of the main sources of the Papal Revenue. A salesman came through Germany selling certificates, signed by the Pope, offering pardon of all sins to buyers and their friends.
MARTIN LUTHER, a Monk, began to study the Word and discovered that “the just shall live by faith.” He discovered that salvation came by “Trust in God,” through Christ and not by rituals, sacraments and penances of the Church. This changed his life! He went to Rome and saw first hand the retail service of the salesman for the Pope. He witnessed; “As soon as your coin clinks in the chest the souls of your friends will rise out of Purgatory into heaven.” Luther was appalled! Luther began diligently to bring this shame into the light.
HE BEGAN a religious revolt in Germany. He began by writing and posting his 95 theses declaring his contempt of the Catholic Church’s corruption, on the Wittenberg Church door, October 31, 1517. Others had gone before Luther and put their lives on the line for this same cause but it was Luther who actually started the Protestant Reformation Movement. He labored until Protestantism was born. He and his followers wanted to return Christianity to its roots but instead they changed the Christian world into a reformation and broke away from the present corruption. Later on in the 1800's, the restoration movement put the church back into motion with John Knox, followed by the Campbell’s and others, who are still being followed by the Christian and Church of Christ theologians today.
THERE was a time when the Catholic Church called the shots under the guise of Christianity. But they didn’t know that God would raise up Martin Luther who became known as the Father of the Reformation. He became one of history’s most important reformers. Luther was first to translate and print the whole Bible in German. He was a simple but strong man who was motivated by what he learned by reading God’s Word for himself. Luther could have quietly communicated his thoughts and he wanted to discuss these things in the University he taught at, but instead, he had copies printed and posted all over Germany. He was the spark that set Europe on fire and became a very popular man in Germany.
LUTHER was ordered before the Holy Roman Empire which included; Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Austria. They demanded he retract. He requested some time, to think about this. After 24 hours, he returned to the ‘Diet of Worms’ and they asked him again to retract his declarations! He replied; “Here I stand; I can do no other! God help me, Amen!” He was condemned to be burned at the stake and was taken away to wait 20 more days or so, until his execution. As the carriage carried him away he could hear many horses behind him and felt desolate. However, as the horsemen closed in on him and his guards, Martin Luther was snatched bodily from the carriage, and was carried away by the men of Prince Frederick the Wise. They took him deep into the forest where he was hidden for about a year and then he returned to Wittenberg to continue his work of speaking and writing. Excommunicated and exiled by Rome, Martin Luther married an ex-nun and lived happily ever after and died of natural causes February 18, 1546, but not before the protestant beliefs took hold throughout Europe. Reads like a fairy tale, doesn’t it; but it’s part of church history! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/27/09
Saturday, October 26, 2013
DON'T SPIT INTO THE WIND! 10/27/13
SOME YEARS ago Jim had a little book called “Cowboy sayings!” The kind of things that made you laugh or say ouch! I only remember a couple of them, one being the title of this Morning Glory and the other is; “Don’t squat with your spur’s on!” Spitting into the wind can cause your saliva to slap you in the face and squatting with spur’s can hurt. Remember as a kid trying not to step on a sidewalk crack? Oh yes! To step on a crack would mean you would break your mother’s back.
THE INTELLIGENCE of man confounds the animals and sometimes, each other, but the perplexities of man comes from our being set apart from the animals, because we are created in God’s image. That should astound you, but it rolls off our backs like water on a duck! Man is good at giving pictures and that picture of the duck says it all, doesn’t it!
MAN has the tendency of listening to stupid things and considering them to be worthy of our thoughtful compliance. When I was a little girl, my older sister by a few years, said to cover my mouth when I saw a creepy crawly thing because if it counts my teeth, I would die! To this day, in my old age, I still cover my mouth! I know you can attest to that, because we all do stupid things and consider them to be cause and effect.
GUIDELINES were given to our universe by God and they’re still in effect. We like to think that global warming, along with our keeping the habitat’s in place is man’s doing and our job to fix. When in fact our job is to be good stewards of what God gave us. Now, I agree that we should not be damaging to our surroundings, but what about our minds? Garbage in, garbage out!
“THEREFORE gird up your minds, be sober, set your hopes fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves, in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1: 13-15) Christian, consider yourselves holy; keeping in mind we are God’s children. Take your place among God’s stewards and live as those who belong to God!
“I APPEAL TO YOU therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2) Life is so much easier in this place, when we listen to God’s guidelines. Our world say’s one thing and God says another; what are we to do? When our law makers say “no praying to God in the schools; pray anyway! God asks us to pray to Him; what can the law do to you? Okay, you pay a fine; go to jail, even kill you?
“IF THEN YOU have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” ( Colossians 3 :1-4) Let the world know who you are! Don’t be afraid to speak up when you are being compromised. I know I talk far to much, but I find it difficult to stay quiet when I feel God’s Word is being mis-used and mis-understood.
RECENTLY, I saw a book with a title I thought was worth reading. I read a little bit and was disappointed, so I left it for Jim who also was intrigued by it’s title. He read a little bit and came and told me it was trash and threw it away. $13.00 down the drain and far quicker than when we throw money away on a meal we don’t need. I mentioned that to Jim, his reply was “this loss didn’t add to our hips!” Those who live as enemies to the cross of Christ, make laws for sin to be acceptable in all of mans sight. “Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Philippians 3:19 A Christian’s home is heaven, and not here on earth, so take heart Christian; a better day is coming! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/26/13
THE INTELLIGENCE of man confounds the animals and sometimes, each other, but the perplexities of man comes from our being set apart from the animals, because we are created in God’s image. That should astound you, but it rolls off our backs like water on a duck! Man is good at giving pictures and that picture of the duck says it all, doesn’t it!
MAN has the tendency of listening to stupid things and considering them to be worthy of our thoughtful compliance. When I was a little girl, my older sister by a few years, said to cover my mouth when I saw a creepy crawly thing because if it counts my teeth, I would die! To this day, in my old age, I still cover my mouth! I know you can attest to that, because we all do stupid things and consider them to be cause and effect.
GUIDELINES were given to our universe by God and they’re still in effect. We like to think that global warming, along with our keeping the habitat’s in place is man’s doing and our job to fix. When in fact our job is to be good stewards of what God gave us. Now, I agree that we should not be damaging to our surroundings, but what about our minds? Garbage in, garbage out!
“THEREFORE gird up your minds, be sober, set your hopes fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves, in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1: 13-15) Christian, consider yourselves holy; keeping in mind we are God’s children. Take your place among God’s stewards and live as those who belong to God!
“I APPEAL TO YOU therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2) Life is so much easier in this place, when we listen to God’s guidelines. Our world say’s one thing and God says another; what are we to do? When our law makers say “no praying to God in the schools; pray anyway! God asks us to pray to Him; what can the law do to you? Okay, you pay a fine; go to jail, even kill you?
“IF THEN YOU have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” ( Colossians 3 :1-4) Let the world know who you are! Don’t be afraid to speak up when you are being compromised. I know I talk far to much, but I find it difficult to stay quiet when I feel God’s Word is being mis-used and mis-understood.
RECENTLY, I saw a book with a title I thought was worth reading. I read a little bit and was disappointed, so I left it for Jim who also was intrigued by it’s title. He read a little bit and came and told me it was trash and threw it away. $13.00 down the drain and far quicker than when we throw money away on a meal we don’t need. I mentioned that to Jim, his reply was “this loss didn’t add to our hips!” Those who live as enemies to the cross of Christ, make laws for sin to be acceptable in all of mans sight. “Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Philippians 3:19 A Christian’s home is heaven, and not here on earth, so take heart Christian; a better day is coming! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/26/13
Saturday, October 19, 2013
"HOW TO" BOOKS! 10/20/13
MY FAVORITE “how to” book is filled with recipes and pictures. I love learning how to bake something or to cook something as long as I have a picture to show what it is to look like! Since I have retired I have read, downloaded and watched all the cooking shows imaginable. I love it! Especially if what I am reading, downloading and watching, have pictures or the finish product for me to see.
THEN THERE are ‘how to’ books on furniture refinishing; creating stuff out of nothing; crocheting; bridge playing; short hand; computer made easy; play the piano, guitar; quilt making; calligraphy and on occasion, you can do it all in five days or less. There are many books out there that indicate we are dummies and because the name is offensive to me, I discovered that I rebel in allowing them to teach me anything. Maybe that is why I can’t make heads or tails of them!
MANY TIME’s when we see a title that has “how to” in it, we are incline to set it aside, because just the phrase “how to” means we have to do something. Which means we have to learn something, and many times the indication is that we have to think in order to do it. I have to have a real desire in order to peruse a “how to” book!
WHEN I was a young girl, I learned the variables in how to study the Bible. These were valuable instructions and they have stayed with me throughout my life. Recently I have seen little booklet’s on “How to study the Bible!” I really mean, little books! I have attended studies that go through steps on how to study the Bible. These methods all have good ways to read and study God’s Word. In all fairness to the way I learned, and how helpful booklets and studies are, the very first thing that has to happen is you need a Bible. Secondly, you need to open it and begin to read.
“STUDY to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth!” 2 Timothy 2:15 My desire for God’s Word began many years ago but it has not been until recently that I discovered my hunger for the Word! It never fails anymore, that after a study, or reading and discussing, that I want to set down and write a Morning Glory!
IN ANCIENT English, study meant to do your best! Whenever we are doing our best we are seeking to win full approval, aren’t we! It is God whom we must please, and not our teacher or our neighbor. In regards to God’s Word we are to seek diligently for the truth so that we can teach correctly; presenting the truth clearly and accurately.
THOSE WHO are still on the milk may have trouble digesting a lot of God’s Truth. Being patient with their understanding is our task, but the Holy Spirit is the one that will bring them to understanding. The following are two more translations of the verse in 2 Timothy. These will give us a better understanding as to how we can use this passage to prepare ourselves as God’s workman.
“D0 YOUR BEST to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth.” Here is another; “Do your best to win
full approval in God’s sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God’s truth!”
GOD’S “HOW TO” book leads the way in many categories. It has over 40 different author’s, and many had never met each other, and yet each one received their directions from the same person; the Holy Spirit. This book does not contradict itself; nor does it cause confusion. God begins with His creation, His people, His son, His Church and His return. God made His plans before He created and He will bring it to it’s full fruition, when His Son returns. Open the book and begin reading it again! You will be surprised what God will reveal to you. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and yet His mercies are new every morning and His Word will continue to refresh us! Oh how glorious it is to be in the service of the King! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/17/13
THEN THERE are ‘how to’ books on furniture refinishing; creating stuff out of nothing; crocheting; bridge playing; short hand; computer made easy; play the piano, guitar; quilt making; calligraphy and on occasion, you can do it all in five days or less. There are many books out there that indicate we are dummies and because the name is offensive to me, I discovered that I rebel in allowing them to teach me anything. Maybe that is why I can’t make heads or tails of them!
MANY TIME’s when we see a title that has “how to” in it, we are incline to set it aside, because just the phrase “how to” means we have to do something. Which means we have to learn something, and many times the indication is that we have to think in order to do it. I have to have a real desire in order to peruse a “how to” book!
WHEN I was a young girl, I learned the variables in how to study the Bible. These were valuable instructions and they have stayed with me throughout my life. Recently I have seen little booklet’s on “How to study the Bible!” I really mean, little books! I have attended studies that go through steps on how to study the Bible. These methods all have good ways to read and study God’s Word. In all fairness to the way I learned, and how helpful booklets and studies are, the very first thing that has to happen is you need a Bible. Secondly, you need to open it and begin to read.
“STUDY to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth!” 2 Timothy 2:15 My desire for God’s Word began many years ago but it has not been until recently that I discovered my hunger for the Word! It never fails anymore, that after a study, or reading and discussing, that I want to set down and write a Morning Glory!
IN ANCIENT English, study meant to do your best! Whenever we are doing our best we are seeking to win full approval, aren’t we! It is God whom we must please, and not our teacher or our neighbor. In regards to God’s Word we are to seek diligently for the truth so that we can teach correctly; presenting the truth clearly and accurately.
THOSE WHO are still on the milk may have trouble digesting a lot of God’s Truth. Being patient with their understanding is our task, but the Holy Spirit is the one that will bring them to understanding. The following are two more translations of the verse in 2 Timothy. These will give us a better understanding as to how we can use this passage to prepare ourselves as God’s workman.
“D0 YOUR BEST to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth.” Here is another; “Do your best to win
full approval in God’s sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God’s truth!”
GOD’S “HOW TO” book leads the way in many categories. It has over 40 different author’s, and many had never met each other, and yet each one received their directions from the same person; the Holy Spirit. This book does not contradict itself; nor does it cause confusion. God begins with His creation, His people, His son, His Church and His return. God made His plans before He created and He will bring it to it’s full fruition, when His Son returns. Open the book and begin reading it again! You will be surprised what God will reveal to you. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and yet His mercies are new every morning and His Word will continue to refresh us! Oh how glorious it is to be in the service of the King! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/17/13
Saturday, October 12, 2013
SITTING AT THE TABLE! 10/13/13
IF YOU are like me when watching TV, you spend most of your time cruising the menu looking for something that would not compromise your walk with Jesus. A lot of the old favorites come without disgraceful language, innuendo’s and the like. But for the most part, I know all the words and don’t feel compromised! I wanted something new and exciting, something I would not be so familiar with, knowing all the stories, although I like knowing how they end! I tried to change by watching Castle, and you can imagine how far I got with that. I tried it even though I was warned by those who know me, and of course they were proven right!
THIS MORNING, I discovered a thoughtful food show on television called “The Food Nanny!” The first show talked about an organization that helped in rehabilitation. I noticed that a lot of her conversation was about when they ate. I thought that the show was not really about food but about helping others. Hummmmm......perhaps the shows got crossed. I began to watch the next show and discovered her main objective were families, sitting around the dinner table.
ACCORDING to the Nanny, the most important part of any day is at the dinner table. You know what, I agree! I remember sitting around the dinner table! I don’t remember if every member of our family was there. I know that my brother Lonnie didn’t sit at the table and on Sunday’s, when everyone and their families were there, very few sat at the table! In my last two years of highschool, I was the cook, and I always set the table for dinner! Lots of discussions were held around that table! Sometimes we had left overs, but if we stayed too long at the table, nothing was left!
YOU HAVE heard “the family that prays together, stays together!” Perhaps we should add another; “the family that sits at the table together, grows together!” No pun intended! The Scripture only speaks about one time when Jesus sat at the table with all of His Apostles. I know we like to refer to the twelve as His disciples; His close friends and sometimes His followers. But at this particular time He had set the table for the twelve whom He had called into service; and Himself!
REMEMBER the things that took place around the table that night? Jesus washing their feet? Jesus bringing them up to speed regarding what was to happen? Jesus pointing out that one would betray him? Were you aware that Satan asked that Peter be proven a failure? And were you aware that Jesus allowed it to happen and even let Peter know that when all was said and done, he would become an inspiration to all!
AS THE TWELVE sat around the table engrossed in the Passover and themselves, Jesus brought them up short when He gave them the bread to eat and the wine to drink He was giving them a picture of remembrance for them to take out and look at in the future. He wanted them to remember what He was about to do and what He did, not just for them, but for you and me!
“AND HE took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them saying; “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after supper, saying, this cup which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in my blood.”
Luke 22:19-20 When we sit around His table during our communion service what is it you are remembering? Do you put away the cares of the world and your own desires? Do you think about what Jesus suffered as He went before the courts of that day? Do you consider His body, that was abused beyond recognition, and with nails in His hands and feet so He could be placed upon a wooden, ugly, cross? What do you think about as you sit in your place at the Lord’s table?
WE ARE TO come to this meal, having already examined ourselves. Our daily walk should prepare us and make us ready, to set at His table. To be unworthy at the table, is to grieve the Holy Spirit; repentance is required. “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement upon himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:29 Let us judge ourselves, so that we are not condemned along with the world. Only good things come from God! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/13/13
THIS MORNING, I discovered a thoughtful food show on television called “The Food Nanny!” The first show talked about an organization that helped in rehabilitation. I noticed that a lot of her conversation was about when they ate. I thought that the show was not really about food but about helping others. Hummmmm......perhaps the shows got crossed. I began to watch the next show and discovered her main objective were families, sitting around the dinner table.
ACCORDING to the Nanny, the most important part of any day is at the dinner table. You know what, I agree! I remember sitting around the dinner table! I don’t remember if every member of our family was there. I know that my brother Lonnie didn’t sit at the table and on Sunday’s, when everyone and their families were there, very few sat at the table! In my last two years of highschool, I was the cook, and I always set the table for dinner! Lots of discussions were held around that table! Sometimes we had left overs, but if we stayed too long at the table, nothing was left!
YOU HAVE heard “the family that prays together, stays together!” Perhaps we should add another; “the family that sits at the table together, grows together!” No pun intended! The Scripture only speaks about one time when Jesus sat at the table with all of His Apostles. I know we like to refer to the twelve as His disciples; His close friends and sometimes His followers. But at this particular time He had set the table for the twelve whom He had called into service; and Himself!
REMEMBER the things that took place around the table that night? Jesus washing their feet? Jesus bringing them up to speed regarding what was to happen? Jesus pointing out that one would betray him? Were you aware that Satan asked that Peter be proven a failure? And were you aware that Jesus allowed it to happen and even let Peter know that when all was said and done, he would become an inspiration to all!
AS THE TWELVE sat around the table engrossed in the Passover and themselves, Jesus brought them up short when He gave them the bread to eat and the wine to drink He was giving them a picture of remembrance for them to take out and look at in the future. He wanted them to remember what He was about to do and what He did, not just for them, but for you and me!
“AND HE took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them saying; “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after supper, saying, this cup which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in my blood.”
Luke 22:19-20 When we sit around His table during our communion service what is it you are remembering? Do you put away the cares of the world and your own desires? Do you think about what Jesus suffered as He went before the courts of that day? Do you consider His body, that was abused beyond recognition, and with nails in His hands and feet so He could be placed upon a wooden, ugly, cross? What do you think about as you sit in your place at the Lord’s table?
WE ARE TO come to this meal, having already examined ourselves. Our daily walk should prepare us and make us ready, to set at His table. To be unworthy at the table, is to grieve the Holy Spirit; repentance is required. “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement upon himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:29 Let us judge ourselves, so that we are not condemned along with the world. Only good things come from God! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/13/13
Saturday, October 5, 2013
I NEED TO REST! 10/6/13
EARLY in the summer I received an email from a pastor friend of mine; I printed it! The other day I received another email from Pastor Roland, and it caused me to remember the first one. Both were about 10 things! Things that God can’t do and things that will disappear in our life time! I’m going to address the first item on the list of things God can’t do.
“HAVE YOU not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40:28 This truth is a sermon unto itself! We could talk about God the Creator because in Him was nothing made except what He has made! Because He is the Creator He understands everything! But is it true He doesn’t get tired or weary?
WHEN WE study about His creation we see that after six days, He rested! Did God rest because He was tired? Did He rest because He didn’t want to create anymore? Did He rest to teach us a lesson? Rested is a translation of the Hebrew word for shabath; “to cease, rest.” So we understand that the seventh day was designated a Shabbath, the holy day of rest, which later through the influence of the Septuagint, came to be spelled Sabbath. Some say Sabbath means seven! Some say it indicates Sunday for Christians and for the Jew, Saturday!
IF GOD rested after creating, He rested because He stopped creating! So what was Isaiah talking about? In heaven there is no night, so to sleep doesn’t seem a requirement for our heavenly beings. However, God is everlasting! His love for us is everlasting; His patience with us is everlasting! He does not faint or grow weary of waiting for all to come to repentance! Isaiah calls the majesty of the Lord, the comforter. He never ceases to comfort and care for His children!
“HE WILL feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs in His arms, He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11 Here portrayed by Isaiah, Christ is the divine shepherd. In other scriptures, He is called the ‘good shepherd; the chief Shepherd; the great shepherd’! As shepherd, He was to lay down His life for His sheep. He gives His sheep eternal life. His knows His sheep and His sheep know Him! He calls them, guides them and keeps them so He can cherish and feed them. He never faints or becomes weary; because He loves them!
OUR GOD is forever faithful and through His empowering grace we are drawn to Him through our faithfulness! God never faints or grows weary but God does turn the wicked over to their own devices and waits no more! “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31
SATAN seeks to destroy and God seeks to Save! I often ask myself, WHY can’t the world see the difference between he who destroys and HE who gives life? God is a living God and gives light, and the world only gives allegiance to dead idols, that includes self, which brings darkness. I would say that God never faints or grows weary, but God did send a flood and God still sent His Son! God did destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and God still sent His son! The world is evil; God gave His son!
THRU GOD’S Son, the Church began and the world has been shaken! God does not grow faint or weary, because when His son returns, those who are faithful get to go home! We should be happy that this is one of the things that God chooses not to do! Because, those who remain, God merely, and calmly, says; “Sorry, I never knew you!” God has all power, and can destroy; but through His love, He chooses to wait for you! Hear the call and quickly respond by giving your all, because in the long run, He is all that matters! Trust and obey! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/4/13
“HAVE YOU not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40:28 This truth is a sermon unto itself! We could talk about God the Creator because in Him was nothing made except what He has made! Because He is the Creator He understands everything! But is it true He doesn’t get tired or weary?
WHEN WE study about His creation we see that after six days, He rested! Did God rest because He was tired? Did He rest because He didn’t want to create anymore? Did He rest to teach us a lesson? Rested is a translation of the Hebrew word for shabath; “to cease, rest.” So we understand that the seventh day was designated a Shabbath, the holy day of rest, which later through the influence of the Septuagint, came to be spelled Sabbath. Some say Sabbath means seven! Some say it indicates Sunday for Christians and for the Jew, Saturday!
IF GOD rested after creating, He rested because He stopped creating! So what was Isaiah talking about? In heaven there is no night, so to sleep doesn’t seem a requirement for our heavenly beings. However, God is everlasting! His love for us is everlasting; His patience with us is everlasting! He does not faint or grow weary of waiting for all to come to repentance! Isaiah calls the majesty of the Lord, the comforter. He never ceases to comfort and care for His children!
“HE WILL feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs in His arms, He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11 Here portrayed by Isaiah, Christ is the divine shepherd. In other scriptures, He is called the ‘good shepherd; the chief Shepherd; the great shepherd’! As shepherd, He was to lay down His life for His sheep. He gives His sheep eternal life. His knows His sheep and His sheep know Him! He calls them, guides them and keeps them so He can cherish and feed them. He never faints or becomes weary; because He loves them!
OUR GOD is forever faithful and through His empowering grace we are drawn to Him through our faithfulness! God never faints or grows weary but God does turn the wicked over to their own devices and waits no more! “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31
SATAN seeks to destroy and God seeks to Save! I often ask myself, WHY can’t the world see the difference between he who destroys and HE who gives life? God is a living God and gives light, and the world only gives allegiance to dead idols, that includes self, which brings darkness. I would say that God never faints or grows weary, but God did send a flood and God still sent His Son! God did destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and God still sent His son! The world is evil; God gave His son!
THRU GOD’S Son, the Church began and the world has been shaken! God does not grow faint or weary, because when His son returns, those who are faithful get to go home! We should be happy that this is one of the things that God chooses not to do! Because, those who remain, God merely, and calmly, says; “Sorry, I never knew you!” God has all power, and can destroy; but through His love, He chooses to wait for you! Hear the call and quickly respond by giving your all, because in the long run, He is all that matters! Trust and obey! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/4/13
Saturday, September 28, 2013
GOD'S PROMISE OF COMFORT AND PEACE! 9/29/13
THE PASTOR of my youth still teaches me today! Lots of years have passed but no matter what lesson I am preparing or when I am teaching, his name comes to mind; what he said; what he believed and just how kind and patient he was with me. The following story is not mine! This was written by my dearest of friends, about her father and unknown to him, what he accomplished through the loving care of our heavenly Father!
MR. ELLETT left behind his lovely wife, Kathryn and two daughters, Iona Kay and her sister Leilani. In 2001 the girls were concerned about the care their mother so desperately needed, and through a chain of events found Beth, a Filipino woman. She was a God send because she became far more to all of them, than what they ever dreamed. In around 2005 Iona Kay wrote a biography of her mom and dad and gave it to her mother for her birthday. The next day, after an outing with her mom, and upon returning to her mom’s home, Beth came running out of the house, beaming with joy. She could hardly wait to tell her the most wonderful story.
“BETH’S STORY!” “In the summer of 1945, Beth’s grandparents were among a group of Filipinos on the island of Leyte who had been brutally murdered by Japanese forces. When the U.S. Army heard of this, they sent a young chaplain to the survivors. He comforted them and conducted services for them; they called him “Father!” He became very special to them and was remembered as a kind and humble man. The surname on his pocket was “Ellett” but he told them to call him “Lertis.” From then on they referred to him as “Father Lertis.” Beth’s father, a young man at the time, passed down this story to Beth and her siblings. Beth said, whenever she and her brothers and sisters would ask about the events of the war, they would always hear about “Father Lertis” and the wonderful things he did for their family. Though Beth would not be born for four more years, she had heard about Father Lertis practically her whole life.” When Beth started working for my mother, she noticed a picture of my father in his military uniform, with the name “Ellett” on his pocket. She thought to herself then, “Could this be the Father Lertis I had heard about from my father? Could this be the man who ministered to my family in their deepest hour of need?” She considered the possibility, but didn’t realize how unusual his name was. When she read the biography of my father and realized he was stationed in the South Pacific during the war, including a stint in the Philippines in 1945 on the Island of Leyte, she finally connected the dots. This was the “Father Lertis” whom she had heard about all her life!
IONA KAY thought, without a doubt, this “Father Lertis”, was in fact her father, Lt. Col. Lertis Ross Ellett. Beth’s story touched the Ellett family in a way that nothing else could, when it came to knowing and understanding that their father was indeed a man of God, for all people! This wonderful story taught Iona Kay about the circle of God’s love. How her father brought comfort and hope to Beth’s family and how Beth was now bringing comfort and peace to “father Lertis’ family. Seed’s planted by Mr. Ellett in the summer of 1945 were bearing fruit for eternal life!
NOT LONG after this story was brought to light, Beth requested to be baptized. David, Mr. Ellett’s grandson, a minister and college professor at Hope International University, was able to perform the baptism. As Beth stood next to Iona Kay’s son in the watery grave, she couldn’t help but think that her father was there in the midst of them, just as he had been with her family!
GOD’S WORD says that we shouldn’t be anxious about the things we need, like the world does. God encourages his faithful followers to put their trust in Him for everything! “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 God’s plan for us is to have a hope and a future. What we hope for may not happen in our life time, but the future is there until Christ returns. Mr. Ellett’s future was in his wife and his family. What they saw and heard strengthens their circle of love, until Christ returns. Used by permission - Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/25/13
MR. ELLETT left behind his lovely wife, Kathryn and two daughters, Iona Kay and her sister Leilani. In 2001 the girls were concerned about the care their mother so desperately needed, and through a chain of events found Beth, a Filipino woman. She was a God send because she became far more to all of them, than what they ever dreamed. In around 2005 Iona Kay wrote a biography of her mom and dad and gave it to her mother for her birthday. The next day, after an outing with her mom, and upon returning to her mom’s home, Beth came running out of the house, beaming with joy. She could hardly wait to tell her the most wonderful story.
“BETH’S STORY!” “In the summer of 1945, Beth’s grandparents were among a group of Filipinos on the island of Leyte who had been brutally murdered by Japanese forces. When the U.S. Army heard of this, they sent a young chaplain to the survivors. He comforted them and conducted services for them; they called him “Father!” He became very special to them and was remembered as a kind and humble man. The surname on his pocket was “Ellett” but he told them to call him “Lertis.” From then on they referred to him as “Father Lertis.” Beth’s father, a young man at the time, passed down this story to Beth and her siblings. Beth said, whenever she and her brothers and sisters would ask about the events of the war, they would always hear about “Father Lertis” and the wonderful things he did for their family. Though Beth would not be born for four more years, she had heard about Father Lertis practically her whole life.” When Beth started working for my mother, she noticed a picture of my father in his military uniform, with the name “Ellett” on his pocket. She thought to herself then, “Could this be the Father Lertis I had heard about from my father? Could this be the man who ministered to my family in their deepest hour of need?” She considered the possibility, but didn’t realize how unusual his name was. When she read the biography of my father and realized he was stationed in the South Pacific during the war, including a stint in the Philippines in 1945 on the Island of Leyte, she finally connected the dots. This was the “Father Lertis” whom she had heard about all her life!
IONA KAY thought, without a doubt, this “Father Lertis”, was in fact her father, Lt. Col. Lertis Ross Ellett. Beth’s story touched the Ellett family in a way that nothing else could, when it came to knowing and understanding that their father was indeed a man of God, for all people! This wonderful story taught Iona Kay about the circle of God’s love. How her father brought comfort and hope to Beth’s family and how Beth was now bringing comfort and peace to “father Lertis’ family. Seed’s planted by Mr. Ellett in the summer of 1945 were bearing fruit for eternal life!
NOT LONG after this story was brought to light, Beth requested to be baptized. David, Mr. Ellett’s grandson, a minister and college professor at Hope International University, was able to perform the baptism. As Beth stood next to Iona Kay’s son in the watery grave, she couldn’t help but think that her father was there in the midst of them, just as he had been with her family!
GOD’S WORD says that we shouldn’t be anxious about the things we need, like the world does. God encourages his faithful followers to put their trust in Him for everything! “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 God’s plan for us is to have a hope and a future. What we hope for may not happen in our life time, but the future is there until Christ returns. Mr. Ellett’s future was in his wife and his family. What they saw and heard strengthens their circle of love, until Christ returns. Used by permission - Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/25/13
Saturday, September 21, 2013
WHAT DOES SAVING OUR SOULS MEAN? 9/22/13
WHEN I began to first learn about Jesus, and later on to realize what it meant to live in fellowship with Him, the idea that He came to save my soul always set my mind into confusion. I have always had questions and still do when it comes to my soul, the spirit and my flesh. I understand the flesh; it is what gets me into trouble. But Jesus came to save my soul and not my flesh!
THE scriptures say that we must “love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength!” Breaking this down means we are to love God with our whole being; our complete self. Our soul is who we are! It is what continues to live long after our bodies (the flesh) has died and rotted away.
IRONICALLY, the soul that sins, shall die! That is why Jesus came to save our souls! “As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sins shall die!” Ezekiel 18:3-4 We know we are dead when we practice sin. We know that to die to our sins is to be raised to a new life in Jesus Christ. We know that when we receive our new life in Christ our souls have been saved from hell to live eternally with God and His Son in heaven!
“FOR the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 6:23 We always need to be reminded that sin brings death. However, God’s promise of forgiveness of sin through His Son Jesus gives us life eternally with Him. How amazing is that? Yet, we still wonder and ask why when a tragedy happens to those who are forgiven and belong to God, as well as those outside of Christ.
JESUS teaches about calamities which happen to God’s people. In Luke chapter 13 some came to Jesus and told him about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. We have often asked ourselves why were they slain in the act of serving God. We hear stories about missionaries and kids on school buses returning from church camp. Many, many stories about untimely deaths and we still want to say “why!”
JESUS teaches us that these things do not happen as special acts of judgment for hidden sins. In Roman days fights at the temple and severe reprisals by the soldiers were common. But when this was reported to Jesus, they thought it was because of judgment. Another incident was mentioned in Luke and Jesus responds . “What about those eighteen in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? No! I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.” Luke 13:4-5
JESUS does not deny that these people were sinners, but He does say with emphasis, that they were no worse than other people. You will all die as they did! He says this to teach them with strong words that only turning from sin in repentance, will save them, not from calamity, but to live with Him! They were not killed because they were worse sinners! All must turn from sin, or perish! When we die our souls live on and it is our choice where our souls will live.
WHEN THE church first began, we read in acts that when the people realized what they had taken part in, they were cut to the heart! They were in utter distress! They asked Peter; “What can we do!” “Peter answered and said; “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 Take heart Church and even those who are seeking Christ. The church did not begin with a sinners prayer but a command to repent. To be baptized so you would have forgiveness and receive the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit which is the seal that saves your soul! I don’t find any other place that God offers this to you. Calamities come & heart aches, but Jesus saves! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/18/13
THE scriptures say that we must “love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength!” Breaking this down means we are to love God with our whole being; our complete self. Our soul is who we are! It is what continues to live long after our bodies (the flesh) has died and rotted away.
IRONICALLY, the soul that sins, shall die! That is why Jesus came to save our souls! “As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sins shall die!” Ezekiel 18:3-4 We know we are dead when we practice sin. We know that to die to our sins is to be raised to a new life in Jesus Christ. We know that when we receive our new life in Christ our souls have been saved from hell to live eternally with God and His Son in heaven!
“FOR the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 6:23 We always need to be reminded that sin brings death. However, God’s promise of forgiveness of sin through His Son Jesus gives us life eternally with Him. How amazing is that? Yet, we still wonder and ask why when a tragedy happens to those who are forgiven and belong to God, as well as those outside of Christ.
JESUS teaches about calamities which happen to God’s people. In Luke chapter 13 some came to Jesus and told him about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. We have often asked ourselves why were they slain in the act of serving God. We hear stories about missionaries and kids on school buses returning from church camp. Many, many stories about untimely deaths and we still want to say “why!”
JESUS teaches us that these things do not happen as special acts of judgment for hidden sins. In Roman days fights at the temple and severe reprisals by the soldiers were common. But when this was reported to Jesus, they thought it was because of judgment. Another incident was mentioned in Luke and Jesus responds . “What about those eighteen in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? No! I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.” Luke 13:4-5
JESUS does not deny that these people were sinners, but He does say with emphasis, that they were no worse than other people. You will all die as they did! He says this to teach them with strong words that only turning from sin in repentance, will save them, not from calamity, but to live with Him! They were not killed because they were worse sinners! All must turn from sin, or perish! When we die our souls live on and it is our choice where our souls will live.
WHEN THE church first began, we read in acts that when the people realized what they had taken part in, they were cut to the heart! They were in utter distress! They asked Peter; “What can we do!” “Peter answered and said; “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 Take heart Church and even those who are seeking Christ. The church did not begin with a sinners prayer but a command to repent. To be baptized so you would have forgiveness and receive the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit which is the seal that saves your soul! I don’t find any other place that God offers this to you. Calamities come & heart aches, but Jesus saves! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/18/13
Saturday, September 7, 2013
I LOVE OLD PEOPLE! 9/8/13
EVEN BEFORE I would consider myself old, I loved old people. A lovely ‘old’ friend of mine passed away in January of 2009. I was saddened about her passing! We attended the same church for a lot of years, but became real good friends, after we had moved away. Through some quirk of fate, we both discovered e-mail. Betty would read Morning Glory and sometimes send me her thoughts. In October of 2008 she sent me the following.
“I JUST finished reading about your ugly brown shoes with the crepe soles. I was thinking about my shoes in depression times. Yes, I always got a new pair of shoes when school began. But, as the year wore on, the soles would wear out. So Daddy would glue on rubber soles to strengthen the shoes again. Ok, that wasn’t so bad! However, my feet continued to grow, and the shoes really began to pinch my feet. I have very bent and crooked toes now. So Daddy would then cut the toes out of my shoes, creating more space for my growing feet. That really embarrassed me.
I WAS one of the ‘smart’ kids in grade school. I started when I was only 4 years old, and then they skipped me from third to fifth grade. That meant that I was only 11 years old when I graduated the from grade school and entered High School. I was still a little kid in a lot of ways. I was shy, but wanted to make friends with my new classmates. They couldn’t be bothered with a skinny 11 year old. I was too young for makeup, in spite of the fact that ALL the other girls seemed to wear it. I was too young to date! My folks said I had to be 16 before I could. Finally the boys just stopped asking!
HOW I remember going to my senior prom in my first long dress - ALONE, and on the street car. Girls just didn’t look right or feel right alone on a street car. I went to the banquet room and sat at a table with everyone else and their dates. And then there was music and dancing; not one boy at the table offered to dance with me! So I left very early, on the streetcar, totally depressed! Funny how things like that remain in your memory. I felt so unwanted at that impressionable stage of my life. I was just so sure no boy would EVER want me. Happily, I outgrew that feeling by the time I went to work. I guess I finally grew up when I joined the Navy. Yes, I fought off, the Sailor’s in San Diego! That was a decision I made for myself, without consulting my parents ahead of time. To me, it meant I had finally stepped forward and became me.
WELL, not one Bible reference in that long “sorry for myself” note. But I just thought I needed to share those feelings. Oh yes, I had been Christened as a baby, since my mother was a Lutheran. And I had Catechism, and then my first Communion, wearing a donated old dress from the Church closet. I was embarrassed again! But, praise the Lord, I found a church in my neighborhood! I had attended almost all of the different denominations, just because they were close to home. But this church was My kind of place, and I enjoyed Sunday School, Church and even sang in the choir; although I was usually off key. I finally surrendered to our Lord totally at that church, and was baptized. I have never looked back! I always knew about Jesus, always loved Him, but it was that little church that finally made me feel Jesus was MY Savior.” By Betty Roberts
BETTY was one of those ladies that seemed to love me because of me. It was not what I could do for her, nor was it because of what she could do for me. But for some reason God placed us in each others life during a time we needed each other. I needed her wisdom and she need my love! Both of them were freely given!
“NOW TO HIM who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21 The Church was established by Christ to give us a home. A place where we, as a body, could grow together and to become strong in faith. Betty found a home in a church home that loved her! Love always begins at home! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/4/13
“I JUST finished reading about your ugly brown shoes with the crepe soles. I was thinking about my shoes in depression times. Yes, I always got a new pair of shoes when school began. But, as the year wore on, the soles would wear out. So Daddy would glue on rubber soles to strengthen the shoes again. Ok, that wasn’t so bad! However, my feet continued to grow, and the shoes really began to pinch my feet. I have very bent and crooked toes now. So Daddy would then cut the toes out of my shoes, creating more space for my growing feet. That really embarrassed me.
I WAS one of the ‘smart’ kids in grade school. I started when I was only 4 years old, and then they skipped me from third to fifth grade. That meant that I was only 11 years old when I graduated the from grade school and entered High School. I was still a little kid in a lot of ways. I was shy, but wanted to make friends with my new classmates. They couldn’t be bothered with a skinny 11 year old. I was too young for makeup, in spite of the fact that ALL the other girls seemed to wear it. I was too young to date! My folks said I had to be 16 before I could. Finally the boys just stopped asking!
HOW I remember going to my senior prom in my first long dress - ALONE, and on the street car. Girls just didn’t look right or feel right alone on a street car. I went to the banquet room and sat at a table with everyone else and their dates. And then there was music and dancing; not one boy at the table offered to dance with me! So I left very early, on the streetcar, totally depressed! Funny how things like that remain in your memory. I felt so unwanted at that impressionable stage of my life. I was just so sure no boy would EVER want me. Happily, I outgrew that feeling by the time I went to work. I guess I finally grew up when I joined the Navy. Yes, I fought off, the Sailor’s in San Diego! That was a decision I made for myself, without consulting my parents ahead of time. To me, it meant I had finally stepped forward and became me.
WELL, not one Bible reference in that long “sorry for myself” note. But I just thought I needed to share those feelings. Oh yes, I had been Christened as a baby, since my mother was a Lutheran. And I had Catechism, and then my first Communion, wearing a donated old dress from the Church closet. I was embarrassed again! But, praise the Lord, I found a church in my neighborhood! I had attended almost all of the different denominations, just because they were close to home. But this church was My kind of place, and I enjoyed Sunday School, Church and even sang in the choir; although I was usually off key. I finally surrendered to our Lord totally at that church, and was baptized. I have never looked back! I always knew about Jesus, always loved Him, but it was that little church that finally made me feel Jesus was MY Savior.” By Betty Roberts
BETTY was one of those ladies that seemed to love me because of me. It was not what I could do for her, nor was it because of what she could do for me. But for some reason God placed us in each others life during a time we needed each other. I needed her wisdom and she need my love! Both of them were freely given!
“NOW TO HIM who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21 The Church was established by Christ to give us a home. A place where we, as a body, could grow together and to become strong in faith. Betty found a home in a church home that loved her! Love always begins at home! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/4/13
Saturday, August 31, 2013
TURNING A CORNER! 9/1/13
THIS WEEK I think I grew up. Did you know I graduated from the twelveth grade 57 years ago? Well, I did! Maybe, not almost every year, but often during that space of time, I was in my senior notebook retrieving something or other, so I could remember something. Jim and I are in the process of switching a small bedroom with our office. It will make a tiny bedroom bigger. As always I have to look through things and low and behold, there was my senior notebook. I couldn’t resist going back in time and flipping through each coveted page.
BACK in the day we carried a notebook and took it to all our classes and would keep in it our notes, graded homework papers, and stuff. In my senior year I only had two classes that required very much from me and they were lovingly kept, and reviewed, one more time. But this time, boy were my eyes opened. That girl many years ago, didn’t have a clue, nor did she know how to write, spell, understand how to punctuate and to follow a train of thought.
THERE WERE a couple of good papers that I had already turned into proper form and had filed elsewhere. I read and reread some of the book reports and short stories and thought; “did my teacher even read these things before giving me a grade. That’s another issue; the grades on these papers were not even consistent. How could he give me a final grade and I graduated. Believe me when I say; “I never noticed just how inept I was and how dumb, at the age of 18!
WELL, I took out the term paper (which was a copy) because my Teacher asked if he could keep the one I turned in. He gave me an A+ smiled at me and said; “good job!” Then I threw away my dirty, written all over the front and back covers with pencil and ink, notebook! All the names of my friends, quotations and etc etc etc are now just a faded memory! Important? Of course! Relevant today? Not really!
AS I THOUGHT about throwing this memory book away, I thought about Paul talking about us babes in Christ being nurtured with milk. Through the years I needed to look back and think of my self as having accomplished much even at a young age, but since I have become mature in stature and mind, I realized I have outgrown the milk. Especially the milk of my youth!
IN HEBREWS Paul talks about being nurtured upon the milk and then the meat. “For every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. ” Hebrews 5:13-14 I have been living on the meat for quite a few years now, and have lost my desire to be called simply Christian. I have become mature in the word enough, that I know, what I know is what keeps me on this road that will ultimately lead me home. I belong to Jesus!
PAUL concludes by saying; “But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid foods; for you were not ready for it; and even yet you are not ready. For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
FUNNY the things that go through your mind! As I looked through my old notebook for the last time I really didn’t want anyone to peruse it and I knew I never wanted to see again, just how foolish, silly, and immature I was at 18 and besides that, I knew I couldn’t write a lick.
MY SUCCESSES all come through Jesus Christ. I write today only because the Holy Spirit has a hold of me. When I met Jim, we discovered that together we were nothing until Christ laid a firm foundation under our feet. Building upon Him has established within us pleasures beyond our imagination. Don’t think me of being puffed up or that I exaggerate my condition. God has humbled me enough times for me to know the difference. Turn a corner and see if there are any hang ups in your life and ask the Lord to renew a right spirit within you. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/31/13
BACK in the day we carried a notebook and took it to all our classes and would keep in it our notes, graded homework papers, and stuff. In my senior year I only had two classes that required very much from me and they were lovingly kept, and reviewed, one more time. But this time, boy were my eyes opened. That girl many years ago, didn’t have a clue, nor did she know how to write, spell, understand how to punctuate and to follow a train of thought.
THERE WERE a couple of good papers that I had already turned into proper form and had filed elsewhere. I read and reread some of the book reports and short stories and thought; “did my teacher even read these things before giving me a grade. That’s another issue; the grades on these papers were not even consistent. How could he give me a final grade and I graduated. Believe me when I say; “I never noticed just how inept I was and how dumb, at the age of 18!
WELL, I took out the term paper (which was a copy) because my Teacher asked if he could keep the one I turned in. He gave me an A+ smiled at me and said; “good job!” Then I threw away my dirty, written all over the front and back covers with pencil and ink, notebook! All the names of my friends, quotations and etc etc etc are now just a faded memory! Important? Of course! Relevant today? Not really!
AS I THOUGHT about throwing this memory book away, I thought about Paul talking about us babes in Christ being nurtured with milk. Through the years I needed to look back and think of my self as having accomplished much even at a young age, but since I have become mature in stature and mind, I realized I have outgrown the milk. Especially the milk of my youth!
IN HEBREWS Paul talks about being nurtured upon the milk and then the meat. “For every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. ” Hebrews 5:13-14 I have been living on the meat for quite a few years now, and have lost my desire to be called simply Christian. I have become mature in the word enough, that I know, what I know is what keeps me on this road that will ultimately lead me home. I belong to Jesus!
PAUL concludes by saying; “But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid foods; for you were not ready for it; and even yet you are not ready. For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
FUNNY the things that go through your mind! As I looked through my old notebook for the last time I really didn’t want anyone to peruse it and I knew I never wanted to see again, just how foolish, silly, and immature I was at 18 and besides that, I knew I couldn’t write a lick.
MY SUCCESSES all come through Jesus Christ. I write today only because the Holy Spirit has a hold of me. When I met Jim, we discovered that together we were nothing until Christ laid a firm foundation under our feet. Building upon Him has established within us pleasures beyond our imagination. Don’t think me of being puffed up or that I exaggerate my condition. God has humbled me enough times for me to know the difference. Turn a corner and see if there are any hang ups in your life and ask the Lord to renew a right spirit within you. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/31/13
Saturday, August 24, 2013
ARE YOU A MIMIC? 8/25/13
RECENTLY I saw something on TV regarding why yawn’s are infectious. They are, you know! We have all heard that yawning for the most is because of a lack of oxygen (air). But it has also been said that yawning could be from boredom and even from illness; but breathing is something we all do and when we fall below what we need, we yawn as an attempt to make it up. We human’s think we are the only ones who fall into the power of suggestion but some animals do to. Have you seen a dog yawn when a person near by yawns. It happens!
A WOMAN sees someone eating a piece of chocolate and right away, she has a desire for a piece of chocolate. How do I know that? I fall into that trap every time! Fear is also infectious. If everyone around us is laughing and happy, we begin to laugh and to feel happy also. If they are sad, we are sad too. So then, when we see someone yawning, we automatically yawn! We usually think it is because we are sleepy; maybe so, but for the most part we are lacking either oxygen or the power of suggestion is upon that yawn we just witnessed
I HAVE HEARD that within a few minutes after a baby is newly born, if you hold that baby within inches of your own face, that baby will mimic everything you do. If you smile, it will smile; if you frown, it will frown; if you stick your tongue out, it will stick out it’s tongue. This window is for only a few seconds. If you are not paying close attention you will miss it!
SCIENTIFICALLY speaking; the power of suggestion is more powerful, when the suggested thing is to the needs of our life. Fear is so powerful, as we see a herd of animals become afraid and stampede. People do that also! Yawning is more powerfully conveyed by suggestion, than almost anything else we know of, because it happens to deal with the most urgent and constant need of all life, breathing!
“THEN THE LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 We take life for granted, don’t we! Breathing is the most important eliminate of our being alive. My Mother told me that my youngest brother, Larry was a "blue baby"; not breathing. The Doctor gave him a swat on the back side and then there was a cough and then he was breathing! Do you think we turn blue when we stop breathing?
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalms 150:6 God gave us breath so that we could live and breath for Him! At least that is how I see it! All six verses in Chapter 150 suggests how we should praise the Lord. God’s faithful can praise Him in the church and in the streets. We must use every instrument from the trumpet and saxophone to the harp and all the stringed instruments, even the piano and the drums that thunder along with the clang of the cymbals. “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” How simple is that!
DISCOVERING great principles about how our bodies function is amazing to us, but learning about how God brought it altogether so that we might be brought into unison with Him, is the revealing evidence that God is. “In the beginning God”......Genesis 1:1a For us to know Him and to love Him we must first accept the first four words in the Bible. When we admit to ourselves and to the world that God is, we are saying; “I believe God is.....” That sets us apart and places us in the realm of Godliness even while we are here in the flesh! Mind boggling huh!
THIS IS THE KEY to the scriptures. We must first believe and have faith that God is! If we do not have faith that God is, then there is no way that we can believe the scriptures. “The fool says in his heart, “there is no God!” Psalms 14:1 The truth is that you decide, “there is no God.” You are not born that way regardless of what the Atheist says. Don’t mimic the world; let us live and breath Jesus Christ and become just as He is! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/24/13
A WOMAN sees someone eating a piece of chocolate and right away, she has a desire for a piece of chocolate. How do I know that? I fall into that trap every time! Fear is also infectious. If everyone around us is laughing and happy, we begin to laugh and to feel happy also. If they are sad, we are sad too. So then, when we see someone yawning, we automatically yawn! We usually think it is because we are sleepy; maybe so, but for the most part we are lacking either oxygen or the power of suggestion is upon that yawn we just witnessed
I HAVE HEARD that within a few minutes after a baby is newly born, if you hold that baby within inches of your own face, that baby will mimic everything you do. If you smile, it will smile; if you frown, it will frown; if you stick your tongue out, it will stick out it’s tongue. This window is for only a few seconds. If you are not paying close attention you will miss it!
SCIENTIFICALLY speaking; the power of suggestion is more powerful, when the suggested thing is to the needs of our life. Fear is so powerful, as we see a herd of animals become afraid and stampede. People do that also! Yawning is more powerfully conveyed by suggestion, than almost anything else we know of, because it happens to deal with the most urgent and constant need of all life, breathing!
“THEN THE LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 We take life for granted, don’t we! Breathing is the most important eliminate of our being alive. My Mother told me that my youngest brother, Larry was a "blue baby"; not breathing. The Doctor gave him a swat on the back side and then there was a cough and then he was breathing! Do you think we turn blue when we stop breathing?
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalms 150:6 God gave us breath so that we could live and breath for Him! At least that is how I see it! All six verses in Chapter 150 suggests how we should praise the Lord. God’s faithful can praise Him in the church and in the streets. We must use every instrument from the trumpet and saxophone to the harp and all the stringed instruments, even the piano and the drums that thunder along with the clang of the cymbals. “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” How simple is that!
DISCOVERING great principles about how our bodies function is amazing to us, but learning about how God brought it altogether so that we might be brought into unison with Him, is the revealing evidence that God is. “In the beginning God”......Genesis 1:1a For us to know Him and to love Him we must first accept the first four words in the Bible. When we admit to ourselves and to the world that God is, we are saying; “I believe God is.....” That sets us apart and places us in the realm of Godliness even while we are here in the flesh! Mind boggling huh!
THIS IS THE KEY to the scriptures. We must first believe and have faith that God is! If we do not have faith that God is, then there is no way that we can believe the scriptures. “The fool says in his heart, “there is no God!” Psalms 14:1 The truth is that you decide, “there is no God.” You are not born that way regardless of what the Atheist says. Don’t mimic the world; let us live and breath Jesus Christ and become just as He is! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/24/13
Saturday, August 17, 2013
LOOK MOM, NO HANDLES! 8/18/13
WHEN I was a girl and first learned to ride a bicycle I was pretty pleased with myself. Even though I learned on a boys bike, which meant I had to start running along side the bike, putting my left foot on the peddle and swinging my right leg over the back to the other side and put my right foot on that peddle, it was an achievement! No easy task for a little short girl! Most boys took to riding the bicycle with ease and it wasn’t long before they were yelling out; “look Mom, no hands!”
WHEN I think about ‘no hands’ I become more than thankful to God for my two hands, because some have lost their hands and some have even been born without their hands. To learn to ride a bike and to set back on the seat, with your arms folded across your chest only proves that you have balance and can guide your bike with your mind and body. Albeit, an achievement!
WHEN we placed our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have learned that our hands, our mind and body plays a big part in our new way of life. Satan jumps up and down with anger when a soul is saved. He doesn’t care who the soul belongs too, he just wants to own it! With Jesus He cares about the individual and their soul. Such a big difference! Especially when we decide to give our lives to one or the other.
WITH Satan we carry handles. Remember the story of Rahab? Even though she is in the lineage of Jesus, she has a handle! She has gone down in history being called Rahab, the Harlot! “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.” Hebrew 11:31 As I looked in my concordance for Rahab, she wasn’t there, but when I look under harlot; there she was! “And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” James 2:25 In the Old Testament sins were not forgiven as we understand forgiveness in the New Testament. Jesus has made the difference!
HANDLES are our sins that others can get a hold of, and bring us down further than our sin. As Christians we know that God has forgiven our sins from our past, and that He will continue to forgive our sin as we confess them and will remember them no more! But our family and friends never forget and have attached handles to our names. Perhaps you were caught in a lie; they will always remember that you were a liar! Maybe you stole something and so you become Johnny the thief in the minds of many.
STORIES are handed down of things that we have done before we became a Christian, but most Christians know that we are now forgiven. We learn to look beyond each others faults because God does! However, the world is not as circumspect! When a congregation is looking for elders they search the scriptures and read; “ For an elder, as God’s steward, must be blameless, he must not be arrogant, or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy and self-controlled, he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.” Titus 1:7-9
I AM INCLINED to look at the requirements for an Elder and say that they should apply to all Christians. A teacher should fall under the same scrutiny, as should deacon’s! God gave us the Holy Spirit who gave us the Fruit of His Spirit. “Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
WHEN we continue to develop the fruit within us, we should be able to look around ourselves and proclaim for all to hear; “look Mom, no handles!” Better still, we should be anxious to hear our Father say; “My child, you have no handles!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/17/13
WHEN I think about ‘no hands’ I become more than thankful to God for my two hands, because some have lost their hands and some have even been born without their hands. To learn to ride a bike and to set back on the seat, with your arms folded across your chest only proves that you have balance and can guide your bike with your mind and body. Albeit, an achievement!
WHEN we placed our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have learned that our hands, our mind and body plays a big part in our new way of life. Satan jumps up and down with anger when a soul is saved. He doesn’t care who the soul belongs too, he just wants to own it! With Jesus He cares about the individual and their soul. Such a big difference! Especially when we decide to give our lives to one or the other.
WITH Satan we carry handles. Remember the story of Rahab? Even though she is in the lineage of Jesus, she has a handle! She has gone down in history being called Rahab, the Harlot! “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.” Hebrew 11:31 As I looked in my concordance for Rahab, she wasn’t there, but when I look under harlot; there she was! “And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” James 2:25 In the Old Testament sins were not forgiven as we understand forgiveness in the New Testament. Jesus has made the difference!
HANDLES are our sins that others can get a hold of, and bring us down further than our sin. As Christians we know that God has forgiven our sins from our past, and that He will continue to forgive our sin as we confess them and will remember them no more! But our family and friends never forget and have attached handles to our names. Perhaps you were caught in a lie; they will always remember that you were a liar! Maybe you stole something and so you become Johnny the thief in the minds of many.
STORIES are handed down of things that we have done before we became a Christian, but most Christians know that we are now forgiven. We learn to look beyond each others faults because God does! However, the world is not as circumspect! When a congregation is looking for elders they search the scriptures and read; “ For an elder, as God’s steward, must be blameless, he must not be arrogant, or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy and self-controlled, he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.” Titus 1:7-9
I AM INCLINED to look at the requirements for an Elder and say that they should apply to all Christians. A teacher should fall under the same scrutiny, as should deacon’s! God gave us the Holy Spirit who gave us the Fruit of His Spirit. “Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
WHEN we continue to develop the fruit within us, we should be able to look around ourselves and proclaim for all to hear; “look Mom, no handles!” Better still, we should be anxious to hear our Father say; “My child, you have no handles!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/17/13
Saturday, August 10, 2013
CAN YOU DARE TO BE BOLD? 8/11/13
WHEN I was a little girl I was shy but wanted attention. That kind of combination can only lead to trouble. Needless to say, I have always butted in where I wasn’t needed or wanted, and always had questions. I always wanted to know more and needed clear explanations so that I could understand. Today, I have answers and because I know what I know, I want others to know also.
YOU CAN laugh if you want to, but I am really an introvert. If I am not in a safe place or with those who I feel comfortable with, and I am not in charge, I want to be the wall flower and stand alone. Jim says; that is not true; because I do things that only an extrovert would do. I try to explain that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but for me, I am still that shy little girl!
IN THE 60's there was a radio program called BOLD LIVING
(I think). Living bold means to let your light shine and let the world around you, know what you know, because Christ is in you! I have always felt that the little song I learned as a child should be taken seriously and personally. “This little light of mine; I’m going to let it shine!” This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine; let it shine, let it shine, Let it shine!” One verse said; “Hide it under a bushel, NO!”
"JESUS SPOKE boldly (openly)”! John 7:26 We know that Jesus was filled with confidence, courage; He was fearless and daring. We wouldn’t have expected it, in any other way, because Jesus knew who He was! He knew where He came from and He knew where He was going! He was fearless when facing His adversaries and He dared to make known who He really was; His true identity. Jesus was not afraid to shock the Jewish people when He declared “Before Abraham was, I am!” John 8:58
AGAIN and again, Jesus declared Himself to be the Great I AM! “I am the messiah!” John 4:26 “I am the bread of life!” John 6:35 “I am from above” John 8:23 “I am the light of the world!” John 9:5 “I am the door!” John 10:7 “I am the Son of God!” John 10:36 “I am the resurrection and the life!” John 11:35 “I am the Lord and Master!” John 13:13 “I am the way, the truth and the life!” John 14:6 “I am the true vine!” John 15:1 He emphasizes this glorious truth with; “I am the Alpha and Omega!” Rev 1:8 and, “I am the First and the Last!”
Rev 1:17
SHOULDN’T Jesus’ followers be as bold? When we know who we are in Christ, shouldn’t we speak words of confidence as He did. Shouldn’t we become fearless when we understand we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength? When we know and understand what we have in Christ, we ought to speak it boldly! “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son!” 1 John 5:11. “He that has the Son has life!” 1 John 5:12 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty! 2 Corinthians 3:17 WOW! The Spirit of the Lord dwells not in temples made with man’s hands, but in our bodies! We never again need to speak of bondage, when you know that God has not called us to bondage, but into liberty!
IN JESUS CHRIST we have Joy, Peace, Power, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. However, we will never realize the full reality of our riches in Christ until we speak boldly about them. Jesus did it and so should we! Remember David didn’t look like a conqueror, but He talked like one in 1 Samuel 17! The boldness that flows throughout the vine, flows into the branches and gives all that we need to stand and shout it!
“THEREFORE, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 We are more than conquerors through Christ; we are the righteousness of God in Christ and we are the redeemed of the Lord. To be a real Christian is far more than simply being forgiven! Be sure you know who you are in Jesus Christ, then when you take your stand, the Holy Spirit will give you all the boldness you need. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/9/13
YOU CAN laugh if you want to, but I am really an introvert. If I am not in a safe place or with those who I feel comfortable with, and I am not in charge, I want to be the wall flower and stand alone. Jim says; that is not true; because I do things that only an extrovert would do. I try to explain that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but for me, I am still that shy little girl!
IN THE 60's there was a radio program called BOLD LIVING
(I think). Living bold means to let your light shine and let the world around you, know what you know, because Christ is in you! I have always felt that the little song I learned as a child should be taken seriously and personally. “This little light of mine; I’m going to let it shine!” This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine; let it shine, let it shine, Let it shine!” One verse said; “Hide it under a bushel, NO!”
"JESUS SPOKE boldly (openly)”! John 7:26 We know that Jesus was filled with confidence, courage; He was fearless and daring. We wouldn’t have expected it, in any other way, because Jesus knew who He was! He knew where He came from and He knew where He was going! He was fearless when facing His adversaries and He dared to make known who He really was; His true identity. Jesus was not afraid to shock the Jewish people when He declared “Before Abraham was, I am!” John 8:58
AGAIN and again, Jesus declared Himself to be the Great I AM! “I am the messiah!” John 4:26 “I am the bread of life!” John 6:35 “I am from above” John 8:23 “I am the light of the world!” John 9:5 “I am the door!” John 10:7 “I am the Son of God!” John 10:36 “I am the resurrection and the life!” John 11:35 “I am the Lord and Master!” John 13:13 “I am the way, the truth and the life!” John 14:6 “I am the true vine!” John 15:1 He emphasizes this glorious truth with; “I am the Alpha and Omega!” Rev 1:8 and, “I am the First and the Last!”
Rev 1:17
SHOULDN’T Jesus’ followers be as bold? When we know who we are in Christ, shouldn’t we speak words of confidence as He did. Shouldn’t we become fearless when we understand we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength? When we know and understand what we have in Christ, we ought to speak it boldly! “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son!” 1 John 5:11. “He that has the Son has life!” 1 John 5:12 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty! 2 Corinthians 3:17 WOW! The Spirit of the Lord dwells not in temples made with man’s hands, but in our bodies! We never again need to speak of bondage, when you know that God has not called us to bondage, but into liberty!
IN JESUS CHRIST we have Joy, Peace, Power, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. However, we will never realize the full reality of our riches in Christ until we speak boldly about them. Jesus did it and so should we! Remember David didn’t look like a conqueror, but He talked like one in 1 Samuel 17! The boldness that flows throughout the vine, flows into the branches and gives all that we need to stand and shout it!
“THEREFORE, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 We are more than conquerors through Christ; we are the righteousness of God in Christ and we are the redeemed of the Lord. To be a real Christian is far more than simply being forgiven! Be sure you know who you are in Jesus Christ, then when you take your stand, the Holy Spirit will give you all the boldness you need. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/9/13
Saturday, August 3, 2013
HAPPY JUBILEE! 8/4/13
IN OCTOBER 1962 Jim and I had moved into our first house. A small 3 bedroom with 1 ½ baths. Good size walled back yard, plus a double garage. Shortly thereafter I became pregnant! It was our plan to get pregnant again as soon as we could. I had a mis-carriage in early September! I was excited about being pregnant but the excitement was short lived! Throughout this experience, I never had morning sickness nor any discomfort at all, except I didn’t want to gain very much weight. My weight had always fluctuated and I thought I could control it during pregnancy. I was wrong! I craved bread and peanut butter so much, that I had Jim take the bread and peanut butter to work with him every morning. I also craved ice! However, God’s blessings come in all kinds of packages!
50 YEARS AGO, our amazing son was born! Yesterday was his happy Jubilee! The 25th or 50th anniversary of any event is a joyousness occasion and God called it the year of the jubilee. Today silver or gold appears to differentiate between the 25th and 50th. Last year Danny celebrated his silver wedding anniversary and this year his arrival into the golden years. Who ever said; “My how time flies when you are having a good time,” said a mouth full!
LOTS of times we want to reflect on our lives passed, and count all the failures. Granted, we all have had failures galore but successes are what makes our lives amazing! Did you know that a newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas?” I am sure that newspaper editor was eating his words the first time he saw “Snow White!” Animation may have been in progress but what Disney did to it was mind boggling!
DID YOU KNOW that when Thomas Edison was a youngster, his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything. He was counseled to go into a field where he might succeed by virtue of his pleasant personality. Come on now; where would we be without all of Edison’s creative juices and how could we watch TV and play on the computer, as much as we do, without all that electricity.
ONE MORE did you know; okay? Interestingly enough Sir Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school and was considered “unpromising.” WOW! Perhaps someone else could have come along and discovered all that stuff about gravity, but they didn’t have to because, Mr. Newton did it first.
DO SUCCESSES happen because we are in the right place at the right time? Perhaps, but then that would be leaving your life in the hands of chance! I believe that true success comes when you put your hands in the hands of the man who stills the waters. Giving your life to Jesus Christ does not mean that you will become rich in material things, but it does mean you will have peace, joy and satisfaction, that only comes from knowing the Lord!
“YOU ARE THE salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its 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.” Matthew 5:13
If we find ourselves living in the pit of remorse or embarrassment because of our failures we are causing our sweat and tears to water down the effectiveness of being the salt of the earth.
“YOU ARE THE light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 Considering who we are in Christ, our age doesn’t matter one bit. We can be the old person who gave their lives to the Lord somewhere along the way or a new born; we are all his children!
WHO ARE YOU in Christ? Are you so tasty that those you meet want to have what you have? Are they willing to seek you out and ask why you are the way you are? Aren’t you more apt to eat a dish that has flavor than something that has no taste at all? You are the light that is to lead others to Christ. Don’t pretend you are someone you are not; if you truly belong to Christ you won’t be able to keep your light from shining. You will be seen, and that’s the way God likes it! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/3/13
50 YEARS AGO, our amazing son was born! Yesterday was his happy Jubilee! The 25th or 50th anniversary of any event is a joyousness occasion and God called it the year of the jubilee. Today silver or gold appears to differentiate between the 25th and 50th. Last year Danny celebrated his silver wedding anniversary and this year his arrival into the golden years. Who ever said; “My how time flies when you are having a good time,” said a mouth full!
LOTS of times we want to reflect on our lives passed, and count all the failures. Granted, we all have had failures galore but successes are what makes our lives amazing! Did you know that a newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas?” I am sure that newspaper editor was eating his words the first time he saw “Snow White!” Animation may have been in progress but what Disney did to it was mind boggling!
DID YOU KNOW that when Thomas Edison was a youngster, his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything. He was counseled to go into a field where he might succeed by virtue of his pleasant personality. Come on now; where would we be without all of Edison’s creative juices and how could we watch TV and play on the computer, as much as we do, without all that electricity.
ONE MORE did you know; okay? Interestingly enough Sir Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school and was considered “unpromising.” WOW! Perhaps someone else could have come along and discovered all that stuff about gravity, but they didn’t have to because, Mr. Newton did it first.
DO SUCCESSES happen because we are in the right place at the right time? Perhaps, but then that would be leaving your life in the hands of chance! I believe that true success comes when you put your hands in the hands of the man who stills the waters. Giving your life to Jesus Christ does not mean that you will become rich in material things, but it does mean you will have peace, joy and satisfaction, that only comes from knowing the Lord!
“YOU ARE THE salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its 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.” Matthew 5:13
If we find ourselves living in the pit of remorse or embarrassment because of our failures we are causing our sweat and tears to water down the effectiveness of being the salt of the earth.
“YOU ARE THE light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 Considering who we are in Christ, our age doesn’t matter one bit. We can be the old person who gave their lives to the Lord somewhere along the way or a new born; we are all his children!
WHO ARE YOU in Christ? Are you so tasty that those you meet want to have what you have? Are they willing to seek you out and ask why you are the way you are? Aren’t you more apt to eat a dish that has flavor than something that has no taste at all? You are the light that is to lead others to Christ. Don’t pretend you are someone you are not; if you truly belong to Christ you won’t be able to keep your light from shining. You will be seen, and that’s the way God likes it! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/3/13
Saturday, July 27, 2013
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? 7/28/13
WHAT IF SOMEONE asked you what your favorite ice cream was! What would your answer be? Some know right off the bat but for me my favorite can change everyday. On the food network there is a show called Unwrapped! The other night it was all about ice cream and when this show was filmed the consensus was that Strawberry was third, chocolate second and you guessed it; vanilla was number l! I have to admit that at one time my favorite was vanilla. Then it was strawberry and for a good period of time, chocolate. But my all time favorite is ‘Tin Roof Sunday!’ Oh my! I ordered a hot fudge Sunday and the restaurant was out of Vanilla and all they had was ‘Tin Roof Sunday!’ My ice cream life changed forever! When someone mentions ‘Tin Roof Sunday’, I not only want it, but I need it!
HAVE YOU EVER been asked what you believe in regard to your faith, or as some want to call it, your religion? Did you have an answer? Did you hum haw around trying to find the exact words that describes what you believe or perhaps what you think you believe? Have you found that many times your feelings seem to overpower your response and instead of an answer you give the name of the church you attend, hoping that would explain what you believe.
I HAVE discovered that people seem to go from church to church looking for what they can believe in. I find it ironic that they don’t seem to search the scriptures but look for a church that makes them feel okay. For some it says I can keep doing some of the things I do, they must not be so bad, because some of these people are doing the same things; it must be okay!
I HAVE ADOPTED the motto that came up some years ago through-out the Christian community that says; “What would Jesus do?” I love that! It takes the guess work out of my decisions, and I can not only feel good about it, but I also know that it would be in God’s will.
WHEN Jesus asked His disciples “Who do men say that the Son of man is”; they gave Him answers that they had heard from others. After a time, Jesus then asked; “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responded with; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Matthew 16:16 Did you know that is the confession we must make before men when we decide to accept Jesus as our Savior?
THE CHURCH I attend believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He died for our sins; and He rose from the dead on the third day. They also believe that He is coming again, perhaps soon! I choose to belong to a church that uses God’s Word as the foundation for not only what they believe, but in what they do. That makes me feel that I am doing what Jesus would do! This is the kind of church He asked His Disciples to start.
HERE ARE some more things we believe in. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that it is an adequate guide in faith and doctrine. We believe it is our task to take the gospel to every person in the world as Jesus commanded; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20 In the Christian community this is called “The Great Commission!”
WE CONDUCT Biblical worship services, including weekly communion. We do not practice speaking in tongues. We have no denominational affiliation of any kind and we do not believe we are the only Christians but Christian only. It is our goal to be a church patterned after those early churches. Christ prayed; “that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. That they also may be in us, so the world may believe that you have sent me!” We want to lead people to Christ so that they will have the joy and peace that only He can give! His followers were first called Christian and that is what our church is called. Come learn of Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/24/13
HAVE YOU EVER been asked what you believe in regard to your faith, or as some want to call it, your religion? Did you have an answer? Did you hum haw around trying to find the exact words that describes what you believe or perhaps what you think you believe? Have you found that many times your feelings seem to overpower your response and instead of an answer you give the name of the church you attend, hoping that would explain what you believe.
I HAVE discovered that people seem to go from church to church looking for what they can believe in. I find it ironic that they don’t seem to search the scriptures but look for a church that makes them feel okay. For some it says I can keep doing some of the things I do, they must not be so bad, because some of these people are doing the same things; it must be okay!
I HAVE ADOPTED the motto that came up some years ago through-out the Christian community that says; “What would Jesus do?” I love that! It takes the guess work out of my decisions, and I can not only feel good about it, but I also know that it would be in God’s will.
WHEN Jesus asked His disciples “Who do men say that the Son of man is”; they gave Him answers that they had heard from others. After a time, Jesus then asked; “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responded with; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Matthew 16:16 Did you know that is the confession we must make before men when we decide to accept Jesus as our Savior?
THE CHURCH I attend believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He died for our sins; and He rose from the dead on the third day. They also believe that He is coming again, perhaps soon! I choose to belong to a church that uses God’s Word as the foundation for not only what they believe, but in what they do. That makes me feel that I am doing what Jesus would do! This is the kind of church He asked His Disciples to start.
HERE ARE some more things we believe in. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that it is an adequate guide in faith and doctrine. We believe it is our task to take the gospel to every person in the world as Jesus commanded; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20 In the Christian community this is called “The Great Commission!”
WE CONDUCT Biblical worship services, including weekly communion. We do not practice speaking in tongues. We have no denominational affiliation of any kind and we do not believe we are the only Christians but Christian only. It is our goal to be a church patterned after those early churches. Christ prayed; “that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. That they also may be in us, so the world may believe that you have sent me!” We want to lead people to Christ so that they will have the joy and peace that only He can give! His followers were first called Christian and that is what our church is called. Come learn of Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/24/13
Saturday, July 20, 2013
WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW! 7/21/13
I BEGIN this Morning Glory with a salutation of surprise instead of a statement of fact or a question. When I learn something that I probably knew or should have known, I am a little surprised, aren’t you? Recently, in a lesson I gave, I referenced the scripture; “We know, that all things work together for good, to those who love the Lord and are called accordingly to His purpose!” Romans 8:28 Interestingly enough, all but two translations say “we know!” The two, refer to our being sure! My question was; “Why does Paul say; we know?”
THE FACT that “we know”, is the Christians’ certainty. We have confidence and we are sure..... Paul is saying that there is no doubt that through Jesus Christ and because He is the head of the church, all things will come together within God’s will. You know, that God can take bad things and make something good out of it? If you know the Lord, then you know, and therefore you should not be afraid to be all that you can be in Jesus Christ. Think about it!
SO WHAT DO WE KNOW? In 1 John, alone, he says “we know” 18 times. If we have read 1 John “we know” what “we know” is all about. Do you know Jesus Christ? You do if you are obedient to His commands! We are made complete in God when we obey His Word and we just know this! We know there is no fear in love, because perfect love casts out fear! We know this through our own experience, because we know that God is love!
LET ME SEE, or should I say, “let me count the ways!” We know that Jesus Christ came with the water and the blood. The water refers to His baptism and the blood, His death! We know this because His Word is true and we believe His Word! Some have said we want to see signs and symbols. Well, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs and symbols. Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, have responded to these signs and symbols. We know we are saved because we have responded to God’s invitation to become one of His children.
FAITH in action brings victory to the Christian. We can only achieve the certainty of who we are in Christ, through the certainties of our faith. Why are we so afraid to let the world know who we are? We even have trouble showing our brothers and sisters in Christ who we really are in the Son. John writes his letter to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that they will know that they have eternal life. We know, that what we know, is what we know!
“WE KNOW that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God, keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:18 What John is saying is that any one born of God does not keep on sinning. Do you get it? Do you understand? Are you in control? You know, that you have the fruit within you, for you have the Holy Spirit within you!
“WE KNOW that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 Even though we know we can choose to be obedient and not sin, sometimes, because we are so wishy washy in our walk, we sin. Thanks be to God, that He has given us forgiveness upon baptism, so that we can be made new and become acceptable again, and again, and again!
“AND WE KNOW that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding to know Him, who is true, and we are in Him, who is true; His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life! 1 John 5:20 Paul has been quoted many times from 2 Timothy 1:12, and I learned it by heart by singing it from an old hymn book; “I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known, nor why unworthy, Christ in love, redeemed me for His own. But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”
I AM STILL learning to be firmly grounded in Jesus Christ. Every day is an adventure and I write these things to instill them in my heart and my mind, and I can’t help but share them with you. I thank the Lord everyday for giving me a way to share my faith and a way to let others know, who they can become in Jesus Christ; a sinner saved by grace! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/17/13
THE FACT that “we know”, is the Christians’ certainty. We have confidence and we are sure..... Paul is saying that there is no doubt that through Jesus Christ and because He is the head of the church, all things will come together within God’s will. You know, that God can take bad things and make something good out of it? If you know the Lord, then you know, and therefore you should not be afraid to be all that you can be in Jesus Christ. Think about it!
SO WHAT DO WE KNOW? In 1 John, alone, he says “we know” 18 times. If we have read 1 John “we know” what “we know” is all about. Do you know Jesus Christ? You do if you are obedient to His commands! We are made complete in God when we obey His Word and we just know this! We know there is no fear in love, because perfect love casts out fear! We know this through our own experience, because we know that God is love!
LET ME SEE, or should I say, “let me count the ways!” We know that Jesus Christ came with the water and the blood. The water refers to His baptism and the blood, His death! We know this because His Word is true and we believe His Word! Some have said we want to see signs and symbols. Well, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs and symbols. Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, have responded to these signs and symbols. We know we are saved because we have responded to God’s invitation to become one of His children.
FAITH in action brings victory to the Christian. We can only achieve the certainty of who we are in Christ, through the certainties of our faith. Why are we so afraid to let the world know who we are? We even have trouble showing our brothers and sisters in Christ who we really are in the Son. John writes his letter to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that they will know that they have eternal life. We know, that what we know, is what we know!
“WE KNOW that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God, keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:18 What John is saying is that any one born of God does not keep on sinning. Do you get it? Do you understand? Are you in control? You know, that you have the fruit within you, for you have the Holy Spirit within you!
“WE KNOW that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 Even though we know we can choose to be obedient and not sin, sometimes, because we are so wishy washy in our walk, we sin. Thanks be to God, that He has given us forgiveness upon baptism, so that we can be made new and become acceptable again, and again, and again!
“AND WE KNOW that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding to know Him, who is true, and we are in Him, who is true; His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life! 1 John 5:20 Paul has been quoted many times from 2 Timothy 1:12, and I learned it by heart by singing it from an old hymn book; “I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known, nor why unworthy, Christ in love, redeemed me for His own. But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”
I AM STILL learning to be firmly grounded in Jesus Christ. Every day is an adventure and I write these things to instill them in my heart and my mind, and I can’t help but share them with you. I thank the Lord everyday for giving me a way to share my faith and a way to let others know, who they can become in Jesus Christ; a sinner saved by grace! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/17/13
Saturday, July 13, 2013
WORDS, WORDS, WORDS! 7/14/13
I HAVE HEARD it said that words are what we live by. In “My Fair Lady,” Liza sings a song called “Show Me!” “Words, words, words; I’m so sick of words! I get words all day through, first from him, now from you; Is that all you blighters can do?” The whole song is berating the Professor about his methods of teaching her how to speak properly, but what she wants is for him to show her, I guess that was because she didn’t want to work so hard!
I HAVE ALWAYS been aware that I had a learning disability of sorts, but it was never recognized by my teachers and therefore never diagnosed until my 70's, I met a lady, named Grace, who knew immediately what it was and gave me it’s name. Of course I don’t remember what it is now but I asked her to show me how to do something instead of telling me what to do. I never could follow written instructions, nor figure out a thought problem. Written tests were beyond me and therefore to succeed, my life was a struggle. I managed for the most part, but at my age, I have learned to ask for help, I know how to say; I can’t follow that, just show me how to do it and I can do it. Trying to tell me how to do something, is like a foreigner giving me instructions in their language. I just don’t have a clue!
I HAVE HEARD some say; “I can’t be a Christian because I just don’t know how to live like one!” I have heard some say; “I just don’t understand exactly what Jesus is saying, I don’t understand enough of the Word to follow it, let alone to do it!” I have always felt, “if I can do this; if I believe this; if I, who can’t easily understand anything, why can’t others? Even though it has been difficult for me to learn, I have learned to understand by reasoning. Logic comes by reasoning and it has gotten me by. I guess that is why I have always liked a good discussion, although some would call it arguing! Either way, I like the exchange.
INTERESTINGLY enough, God had Moses write down the law so that the Israelites could learn how to be His people. They were to remember it in their minds and to do it with their hands. It was hard for them to do, because it was hard to keep the Law! But when Jesus came to teach us God’s ways, it was by becoming a man. His coming in the flesh spoke much louder than words. Even though we read about His life as a fleshly man, what we read is how He lived in the flesh, and yet remained in His person, as God! We have a picture of His character, His attitudes and the way He showed love to others. God became flesh so that He could show Himself to us; to show us His ways!
JESUS is not only the “way, the truth and the life”, but He also is THE WORD! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the Life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 Use your imagination and watch the darkness fade as the light enters in. Amazing! I can understand this passage because Jesus showed me!
I UNDERSTAND what it means for Jesus to be the Word. In the Greek, the meaning ‘reason or word’ is a designation for Christ Himself. He is the reason for our being! He is the reason for all of the scriptures, because the old and the new Testaments point to Him! Words are important! Jesus is the Word and He is important! What we know about Jesus is important! The words we speak are important because we can either point the way to Christ by them, or we can lead others astray by them.
“LET THE WORDS of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 I just keep right on talking as though my life depended upon it. Thankfully, I can praise His name and teach about His ways and when you think about it, my life does depend upon that! Keeps me keeping on! Words, Words, Words; Jesus came to show us what His Words mean; have we learned anything yet? By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/12/13
I HAVE ALWAYS been aware that I had a learning disability of sorts, but it was never recognized by my teachers and therefore never diagnosed until my 70's, I met a lady, named Grace, who knew immediately what it was and gave me it’s name. Of course I don’t remember what it is now but I asked her to show me how to do something instead of telling me what to do. I never could follow written instructions, nor figure out a thought problem. Written tests were beyond me and therefore to succeed, my life was a struggle. I managed for the most part, but at my age, I have learned to ask for help, I know how to say; I can’t follow that, just show me how to do it and I can do it. Trying to tell me how to do something, is like a foreigner giving me instructions in their language. I just don’t have a clue!
I HAVE HEARD some say; “I can’t be a Christian because I just don’t know how to live like one!” I have heard some say; “I just don’t understand exactly what Jesus is saying, I don’t understand enough of the Word to follow it, let alone to do it!” I have always felt, “if I can do this; if I believe this; if I, who can’t easily understand anything, why can’t others? Even though it has been difficult for me to learn, I have learned to understand by reasoning. Logic comes by reasoning and it has gotten me by. I guess that is why I have always liked a good discussion, although some would call it arguing! Either way, I like the exchange.
INTERESTINGLY enough, God had Moses write down the law so that the Israelites could learn how to be His people. They were to remember it in their minds and to do it with their hands. It was hard for them to do, because it was hard to keep the Law! But when Jesus came to teach us God’s ways, it was by becoming a man. His coming in the flesh spoke much louder than words. Even though we read about His life as a fleshly man, what we read is how He lived in the flesh, and yet remained in His person, as God! We have a picture of His character, His attitudes and the way He showed love to others. God became flesh so that He could show Himself to us; to show us His ways!
JESUS is not only the “way, the truth and the life”, but He also is THE WORD! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the Life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 Use your imagination and watch the darkness fade as the light enters in. Amazing! I can understand this passage because Jesus showed me!
I UNDERSTAND what it means for Jesus to be the Word. In the Greek, the meaning ‘reason or word’ is a designation for Christ Himself. He is the reason for our being! He is the reason for all of the scriptures, because the old and the new Testaments point to Him! Words are important! Jesus is the Word and He is important! What we know about Jesus is important! The words we speak are important because we can either point the way to Christ by them, or we can lead others astray by them.
“LET THE WORDS of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 I just keep right on talking as though my life depended upon it. Thankfully, I can praise His name and teach about His ways and when you think about it, my life does depend upon that! Keeps me keeping on! Words, Words, Words; Jesus came to show us what His Words mean; have we learned anything yet? By Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/12/13
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