IT SEEMS like yesterday that we celebrated our 50th anniversary, but here it is again. 51 years today and I guess we are still counting. When you are just beginning you don’t think that far into the future. Your mind is not set upon the possibilities of being old and especially old at the same time. I knew we would still be married but never, in my wildest dreams, did I realize I would be married to an old man. But then, Jim is married to an old woman!
WE PRAISE the Lord everyday for each other and we praise the Lord for these many years we have had as a couple. We truly can say; “we’ve come a long way baby!” We have seen many changes in the world, our country, our family and in our walk with the Lord. We praise the Lord every day that He has always been faithful, just as He has promised.
I REMEMBER one day in the late 70's, Jim sat down with his mother, pencil and pad in hand. He was going to talk to her about her life. At the time she was pushing 90 and her mind was still pretty sharp. She had been born in 1891 and had seen a lot of things take place, that we just took for granted. The automobile, war machines, the airplane, telephone, telegraph, the space program and french fries. Oh, and not to mention the talkies, street cars, indoor plumbing along with an icebox and flush potties. She loved life and she loved Jim and she loved pizza!
IT IS TRUE some of those things she saw for the first time, we also experienced. The space program for one. Jim had a part, along with thousands of other personnel, and after many years it was completed and finalized when Neil Armstrong and his crew, landed “the Eagle” upon the moon. What a time to be alive! What a time to experience all the possibilities from the residual perplexities left over, in and about from God’s creation, and because of the creative ingenuity of man, space became a reality instead of just story book material. The heavens proclaim the glory of God’s creation!
NOT A ONE of us know the hour or the day when we will be called home. “But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30 God knows your days are numbered as well as mine. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look forward to tomorrow. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t get all excited about what is going on at the school our grandson’s attend. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be excited about the promotions that is offered when a job is being well done. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be at our church meeting place when the doors are open.
FOR THE CHRISTIAN, home is where the Father is and the Father dwells in the heavens. Not a one of us can predict when Jesus will come again. “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.” Mark 13:32-33
EVEN THOUGH we have seen many amazing things in our life time, there will be many things we will still not know. “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.” Acts 1:7 However, there is one thing that we do know and that is Christ will return to earth in the same manner as He ascended into heaven. We need to just keep looking up!
I CAN”T HELP but look forward to the possibility of many more years with Jim. We have such a good time together. This year we began reading the Bible, again; beginning with Matthew. I get so excited and look forward to the morning when we can start again. We read a chapter and then we talk about what we just read. The Holy Spirit reveals new stuff to us every morning, and then Jim explains it all to me.
WE BOTH have creative juices flowing when it is time to prepare another lesson. His Sunday School class and for me, Soul Sisters Bible Study. Even though we no longer can do some of the things that we use to do, God has seen fit for us to continue with teaching His Word. Praising God is one of our favorite things to do. Being together is also one of our favorite things to do. Thank you for listening to my thoughts on this “happy day!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/26/13
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
LOOK UP! 1/20/13
WHEN WE look around us we can’t help but know that God is! Those who say ‘there is no God’ live in a fantasy world. They refuse to look around them and especially to look up. When I look up and see the white fluffy clouds with their blue background, my eyes are filled with glory. When I look up and see the storm clouds gathering and the darkened sky surrounding my view, I am being warned that a storm is on it’s way. When the skies are one color of off white, with gray, the day is gloomy, and all the signs point to possible snow. Looking up is always an adventure!
MANY years ago I received an email on a subject that always warms my soul. A portion of God’s amazing creation; “The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumblebee.” When I began to think about my Morning Glory blog, I was at a loss. Then I came across this email. I know you will enjoy the following, because I did.
IF YOU put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 x 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as it is habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top!
THE ORDINARY bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
A BUMBLEBEE, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE, in many ways, are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up! “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2
LIVE SIMPLY, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our God who loves us. God will never let us down. “To thee I lift up my eyes, O thou who art enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till His mercy is upon us.” Psalms 123:1-2
WE READ many scriptures that tells us to ‘wait upon the Lord’. Some are saying that we should wait upon the Lord as a servant. Some say that we are to stand firm as we wait for the Lord’s return. In Chapter 49 of Isaiah we read about God’s redeemer coming to restore Israel and to bring light to the Gentiles. It is the Messiah’s call and mission to all the world. Towards the end of verse 23 it says; “Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me, shall not be put to shame.”
WE ARE often impatient and in haste. God is never in a hurry. A long time passed between the promise of the Savior and His initial coming. A long time has passed between the first coming of Jesus, and His coming again is still to take place. We are to be assured that His promise is for those who wait for Him, and they will not be put to shame. God will justify their confidence for having waited.
DO YOU think we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee? Do you think we land into circumstances and feel we have no way out? We do have a way out, even though we struggle; it is through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Grab hold of His promise and stand firm. Lift up your head church; our Salvation draws near. So keep looking up, for our refuge is in Jesus Christ and nothing else. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/12/13
MANY years ago I received an email on a subject that always warms my soul. A portion of God’s amazing creation; “The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumblebee.” When I began to think about my Morning Glory blog, I was at a loss. Then I came across this email. I know you will enjoy the following, because I did.
IF YOU put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 x 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as it is habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top!
THE ORDINARY bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
A BUMBLEBEE, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE, in many ways, are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up! “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2
LIVE SIMPLY, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our God who loves us. God will never let us down. “To thee I lift up my eyes, O thou who art enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till His mercy is upon us.” Psalms 123:1-2
WE READ many scriptures that tells us to ‘wait upon the Lord’. Some are saying that we should wait upon the Lord as a servant. Some say that we are to stand firm as we wait for the Lord’s return. In Chapter 49 of Isaiah we read about God’s redeemer coming to restore Israel and to bring light to the Gentiles. It is the Messiah’s call and mission to all the world. Towards the end of verse 23 it says; “Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me, shall not be put to shame.”
WE ARE often impatient and in haste. God is never in a hurry. A long time passed between the promise of the Savior and His initial coming. A long time has passed between the first coming of Jesus, and His coming again is still to take place. We are to be assured that His promise is for those who wait for Him, and they will not be put to shame. God will justify their confidence for having waited.
DO YOU think we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee? Do you think we land into circumstances and feel we have no way out? We do have a way out, even though we struggle; it is through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Grab hold of His promise and stand firm. Lift up your head church; our Salvation draws near. So keep looking up, for our refuge is in Jesus Christ and nothing else. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/12/13
Saturday, January 5, 2013
REACH FOR THE STARS! 1/6/13
LIFE IS a series of steps. First we are born, learn right from wrong; go to school and learn reading, writing, and arithmetic; enter into highschool for higher learning and for some, further learning to achieve degree’s in academic education. All of these steps took desire, perseverance and hard work.
SOME TAKE longer than others to achieve their potentials. But somewhere along the way we say; “we have arrived!” After achieving some of these steps to our full potential, we then move onto the next ladder. We have worked hard to be where we are, so now we are ready to take on the world in our chosen field, or perhaps a field we didn’t actually choose, but took, to survive.
COME ON NOW, you have been there and done this. I know, because I have also! It is true that many after highschool, married and began a family and so reaching for the stars seemed almost impossible. Didn’t have time to fulfill the dreams, but worked hard to maintain a standard of living.
GETTING married for me was stepping onto the third and longest ladder. I would have to admit that this was the most colorful, action packed, kind of roller coaster that I had ever encountered in all my (almost) 24 years. Wasn’t easy getting adjusted to becoming a twosome, as it was being just me! Wasn’t easy having to be accountable to this stranger, that was now always there. It took desire, perseverance and the most hard work I had ever experienced. Worth it? Absolutely!
THEN CAME the children! I had never learned how to discipline myself, let alone become a disciplinarian. You know what I mean! No one has ever written a book on how to raise children that really fits the bill because, no two children are alike! God does not give us a book of instructions that comes with each baby. But what God gave me, was a love that overwhelmed me. This love was not just for my children, but the twosome that was now a foursome. Wasn’t easy becoming a mother! Wasn’t easy establishing rules and keeping promises and at the same time, developing a right atmosphere so that our children would grow to enjoy life.
GOD PLACED the stars in the heavens so that the night would have light. God placed the Holy Spirit within His people so that they would have access to light all the days of their earthly life. I have heard that “reaching for the stars” is a metaphor for “following your dream” or “grabbing the brass ring.” On television there are programs with this idea of letting your talent give you all that the world can give. Some are successful as the world deems success!
BECOMING a Christian at the age of 10, I didn’t have the foggiest idea what I had committed myself too. What I did know was that this was the right thing to do! As the years passed and I began to learn more and more of what was required of me as a Christian, I knew it was going to take desire, perseverance and lots of hard work. I remember once thinking I could never be a Catholic, because they had to memorize so much. When I realized that being obedient to God’s will was stretching my total self, did I know that memorization, was nothing compared to the path I had chosen.
“THEREFORE, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 We must be diligent in all ways to be careful not only to work at our salvation, but we must work out our salvation, by doing all that is to be done, as a follower and doer of God’s will by persevering to the end. Salvation is not a means to an end. Salvation is something we should set our minds and hearts upon because we cannot totally attain it without taking care of it. Paul says with fear and trembling, because this is something we need to be highly concerned about with circumspection. Trembling for fear you come up short. Be careful to do everything that is required, as you walk! “Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear just in case we fail to reach it.” Hebrews 4:1 By Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/4/13
SOME TAKE longer than others to achieve their potentials. But somewhere along the way we say; “we have arrived!” After achieving some of these steps to our full potential, we then move onto the next ladder. We have worked hard to be where we are, so now we are ready to take on the world in our chosen field, or perhaps a field we didn’t actually choose, but took, to survive.
COME ON NOW, you have been there and done this. I know, because I have also! It is true that many after highschool, married and began a family and so reaching for the stars seemed almost impossible. Didn’t have time to fulfill the dreams, but worked hard to maintain a standard of living.
GETTING married for me was stepping onto the third and longest ladder. I would have to admit that this was the most colorful, action packed, kind of roller coaster that I had ever encountered in all my (almost) 24 years. Wasn’t easy getting adjusted to becoming a twosome, as it was being just me! Wasn’t easy having to be accountable to this stranger, that was now always there. It took desire, perseverance and the most hard work I had ever experienced. Worth it? Absolutely!
THEN CAME the children! I had never learned how to discipline myself, let alone become a disciplinarian. You know what I mean! No one has ever written a book on how to raise children that really fits the bill because, no two children are alike! God does not give us a book of instructions that comes with each baby. But what God gave me, was a love that overwhelmed me. This love was not just for my children, but the twosome that was now a foursome. Wasn’t easy becoming a mother! Wasn’t easy establishing rules and keeping promises and at the same time, developing a right atmosphere so that our children would grow to enjoy life.
GOD PLACED the stars in the heavens so that the night would have light. God placed the Holy Spirit within His people so that they would have access to light all the days of their earthly life. I have heard that “reaching for the stars” is a metaphor for “following your dream” or “grabbing the brass ring.” On television there are programs with this idea of letting your talent give you all that the world can give. Some are successful as the world deems success!
BECOMING a Christian at the age of 10, I didn’t have the foggiest idea what I had committed myself too. What I did know was that this was the right thing to do! As the years passed and I began to learn more and more of what was required of me as a Christian, I knew it was going to take desire, perseverance and lots of hard work. I remember once thinking I could never be a Catholic, because they had to memorize so much. When I realized that being obedient to God’s will was stretching my total self, did I know that memorization, was nothing compared to the path I had chosen.
“THEREFORE, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 We must be diligent in all ways to be careful not only to work at our salvation, but we must work out our salvation, by doing all that is to be done, as a follower and doer of God’s will by persevering to the end. Salvation is not a means to an end. Salvation is something we should set our minds and hearts upon because we cannot totally attain it without taking care of it. Paul says with fear and trembling, because this is something we need to be highly concerned about with circumspection. Trembling for fear you come up short. Be careful to do everything that is required, as you walk! “Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear just in case we fail to reach it.” Hebrews 4:1 By Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/4/13
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