Saturday, April 20, 2013

NO, NOT ONE! 4/21/13

THIS WEEK has been another tumultuous time in America! The evil that lurks in the hearts of man, is at work once again! Make shift bombs, placed at the finish line of a world renown marathon in Boston Massachusetts, killing and injuring many, will be added to the long list of terrorists acts, to kill Americans! When will it stop? Why do they hate us?

FRIDAY morning one of the perpetrators was killed and the other, on the run! This morning the second one is in custody. Sounds like a story in a book or portrayed upon the big screen; but this is real! We keep asking ourselves; “Why!” Obvious to me, the why is laid out in God’s Word! God very plainly explains the reasons for the bad things that happen in this world, but we turn our heads and pretend it doesn’t include me!

THE WORLD is guilty before God! Paul clearly states that all men, are under the power of sin! We were once under that same power; but through the grace of Jesus Christ we have been made free! But those who are of the world, are still flexing their ugly muscles for their 15 minutes of fame.

“AS IT IS WRITTEN: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10-12   The world is out there blatantly calling the shots which kill the body. They think this gives them the edge to scare and devour those who do good. The world looks at and places blame everywhere, except at their own condition. Instead of trying to make it better they want everyone to be like them. They want everyone to suffer! They want everyone to die for their condition!

“AND DO NOT fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28     Sometimes we panic when we see these things happening around us but God is still reaching out to us with His Word, by saying don’t fear the body destroyers, but look to me and stand firm! God loves His people! He says for us to remember that we are more valuable than the sparrows, because He even remembers, each one of them.

“THE GOOD man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” Matthew 12:35   “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.” Matthew 15:19    We know that on the day of judgement men will have to give account for every careless word and we know that the evil heart can defile a man. We are to keep, keeping on by doing God’s Word and seeking God’s face!

“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 12:2   Keeping our minds set on the things above gives us the strength and the courage to face each day knowing that God is with us. We continue to put our trust in the Lord and know that in the end, His Church will over come the world.

“YOU SHALL love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.” Matthew 22:37   Through the years I have discovered that even with all the perplexities of the times, God is still the same yesterday, today and forever. I am saddened by all the destruction that surrounds us, that comes from the hearts of man. But at the same time I can rejoice in the promises of our Lord and Savior!

“LET US draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22-23

OH LORD, our prayer today is for your comfort and strength as your body, the church, stands as a witness to your name. We know that you love us even when we so often fail you, even when we become overwhelmed by the fury which consumes our adversaries. We ask for your guidance so that we do not shrink back! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Amen! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 4/19/13

Saturday, April 6, 2013

THANK YOU LORD! 4/7/13

I LOVE the song that the Gaither’s wrote some years ago! I don’t hear it much now days but it is still a great song. “Happiness is to know the Savior; Living a life within His favor; Having a change in my behavior, Happiness is the Lord!” I don’t think I ever really was able to grasp what that verse was saying until my family began to grow. When I think about my children following along behind me, it causes me in my hindsight, to shudder. Thank you Lord I learned to walk early with you, so the problems that have come, we were able to handle them together!


“HAPPINESS IS a new creation, Jesus and me, in close relation, Having a part in His salvation, Happiness is the Lord!” Oh the joy of knowing that I belong to Jesus and that He belongs to me! If I was able to impart this thought to my children, then I have done a good work in Christ.  Knowing that through troublesome times and happy times my children can continue to grow in the Lord. Thank you Lord for causing me to be aware of the little lambs who followed behind me!

“HAPPINESS IS to be forgiven; Living a life that’s worth the living; Taking a trip that leads to heaven, Happiness is the Lord!” On the day that I came up out of the water of baptism, I did not fully understand the promise that had been given to me. But through the years of repentance and God’s forgiveness I learned to face each day with one thought in mind; God loves me! Because God is that way with me, I can be that way with my children and they can be that way, with their children. Thank you Lord for taking care of all us! Thank you Lord for your undying love!

“REAL JOY IS MINE, no matter if tear-drops start; I’ve found the secret, it’s Jesus in my heart!” This song was probably, published about 45 years ago and the message still rings true today. God has done a great work in Bill and Gloria Gaither. Their songs have not only touched my heart, but hearts of millions, who needed to be lifted up and encouraged. Thank you Lord for music!

SEEKING the truth in God’s Word gives us a place to begin, and a place to continue our walk. We cannot imagine our eternity, we just know we have it! We cannot imagine a life without an end, we just know we have it!. We cannot even think beyond what man has seen from outer space, but when man sent pictures for us to see the earth sitting upon nothing, then it finally dawns on us that God’s Word is true! “He stretches out the north over the void, and hangs the earth upon nothing!” Job 26:7    Praise God we can read about the earth sitting upon nothing in His Word, and we can look at pictures of the earth sitting upon nothing! Thank you God for the visual evidence of your truth!

“REJOICE with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep; live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.” Romans 12:15-16 Those words alone are a tall order, aren’t they? But if we want real happiness in our everyday life, that is what we are to strive for. To be a man or woman after God’s own heart, we must seek His face daily, with clean hands and a pure heart. Thank you Lord for your promise, that when we seek you, we will find you!

“THIS IS THE DAY that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalms 118:24    Do you remember that every day is the day that the Lord has made? Do you remember that His blessings come every morning? Do you look for the blessings at the time of calamity? Sometimes it is hard to look for a blessing when your heart is aching or is filled with remorse or sadness. But the blessings are there! Thank you Lord that even on the days our minds and hearts are filled with grief and worry, you have promised to never leave us or forsake us!

BLESSED assurance, Jesus is mine! “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9     Our God is so faithful to us, even when we are unfaithful to Him. As Christians we are still capable of sin despite the radical change, which took place in our lives. When we repent and confess our sins, He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness once again! Thank you Lord for saving our souls! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 4/4/13