IN OUR faithful walk with Jesus we forget just how weak we are. Remember the last time you sinned? Can you see just how weak you were? I know we all experience the weakness of our flesh. We want so badly to stay faithful and strong and yet our weakness seems to win out. We are sinful people! God knew that, and that is why His forgiveness was the first promise He gives us upon our acceptance and obedience, thru baptism. Without His forgiveness we would have no hope!
IN MY study this morning I was reading Matthew and Luke regarding Peter and his denial of Christ. My heart always aches for him; when he did that! That was the farthest thing from his mind, even though Jesus warned him it would happen! “Satan has received permission to test all of you, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
IN MY school days my biggest obstacle were tests. If we were doing verbal questions and answers I did fine! If we were to do a practical experience like ‘show and tell’, I was okay. But if I was given a paper and we were to answer the questions; yes or no; thought problems; etc, I always received the lowest grade in the class. I always felt confident but when the time came, I failed! Peter was so confident in following Jesus! So sure of who He was in his new faith! But when the time came, he didn’t pass the test. He had faith but was standing on shaky ground!
DO YOU think we are tested by Satan like Peter and the other disciples? If so, how many times have you been tested and have failed? I can only speak for myself; many times over! Man’s hope can only be found in Jesus Christ! When Jesus came into the lives of the three fishermen, and the other men He called to follow Him, that was the beginning of hope for them. When I walked into the doors of a little church, at the age of 9, it was the beginning of hope for me! Where were you when you received the beginning of hope?
WE HOPE for things that we cannot see. Hope is something we long for! It is not a person, place or thing. I hoped I would graduate from high school. I hoped to be married one day. I hoped to have children. I now hope for great grandchildren before I die. We are simple people with little imagination. The beginning of hope in Jesus Christ is to know the Savior. It is to realize that eternity is forever and when you die, your soul needs a home.
“LET US hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep His promise. Let us be concerned with one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another.” Hebrews 11:23-25b When we went down in the clean, refreshing water of baptism, we professed our faith in Christ as our Savior. Christians are under a new standard. We are not to quarrel and fight with each other. We are to lift each other up in love! This new life gives up old habits for new ones. We meet together to worship! We are called to feel each others pain and joys within the kingdom. When one hurts we all hurt! When one celebrates we celebrate with them!
“YOU need to be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what He promises. For, as the scripture says; Just a little while longer, and He who is coming, will come; He will not delay. My righteous people, however, will believe and live; but if any of them turns back, I will not be pleased with him. We are not people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith and are saved.” Hebrews 11: 36-39 Paul is talking to the Jewish Christian here. But it also applies to each of us. We live by faith and are saved! Yes, we are tested when we are tempted. Christ is our hope; He is our champion! Jesus saves! Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/26/16
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Saturday, July 23, 2016
THE UNEXPECTED! 7/24/16
I HAD A DOCTOR’S appointment and as always, my husband went with me. Before we left the house, Jim was experiencing some rapid heart beats. This is not unusual for him since he has A-Fib! Those who are familiar with that know what he was going thru. As the nurse checked me in, I ask that she also take his blood pressure. When the Doctor came into see me, he also looked at Jim. His final words for Jim; “you need to go to the ER!”
THAT in itself wasn’t a surprise as this Doctor told him that once before, and he had a stint put in. Just the words “going to the ER” is not one of our favorite phrases in conversation. Most times it is a testing of patience and anxiety control. However, we went to the ER! Medicines are also not one of our favorites topics. However, they gave him a new pill to go along with the others he was already taking. Could cause dizziness!
EARLY the next morning Jim was hit with the unexpected! It began with dizziness but continued with other discomforts! Was it caused from the new pill? Is this an allergy attack?
What are we suppose to do now? I made a few, very early morning, phone calls. The main consensus was to go to the ER again!
IT TURNS out it was not the new medicine and his heart was good. His digestive track was not! Aren’t Doctor’s and Nurses amazing! When the unexpected happens they are always ready to give us their best. Sometimes it doesn’t work out but when we have trust in our Lord, and because we know the conditions of living in this world, we can get thru these catastrophic interruptions by following the rules of those who are trained to see what we cannot.
PEOPLE are always saying; “God is in charge!” It is true God created; God knows how everything works; He has a plan; and He never changes! Our bodies get sick; we hurt; the malfunctions are numerous as we age. God never gives us sickness, broken limbs nor anguish. They are all part of our physical make up. But God is always there to see us thru when we give Him our will!
AFTER our first visit to the ER with the A-fib, we thank the Lord for seeing Jim thru and giving both of us courage. The next visit we also gave God the Glory and Jim took the medicine prescribed once again. Our prayer was, that the medical professionals were right, that it was not the Meds that caused the second visit. Trial and error is always one way to find out for sure!
ONE OF MY favorite Chapters in the old testament is Psalms 136. It goes thru a series of exhortations to give thanks; to praise our creator; to praise our deliverer; and to praise God for His steadfast love. Each verse ends with “for His steadfast love endures for ever!” How amazing is that?
NO MATTER how many unexpected events come, God has always promised to be with us and to never forsake us! How amazing is that? Mary experienced the unexpected when the Angel Gabriel came to her. She wasn’t ready, but she was willing! When our bodies fail us we are never ready, but when you belong to Jesus, you find yourself willing. “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures for ever!” Psalm 136:1
AS WE HAVE grown older we find we are willing to continue to be His servant, knowing that we will continue to suffer in our present state. We will continue to confess His name and to share His story as long as we can! “O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures for ever.” Psalm 136:29
WE HAVE known many who have continued to walk in feeble flesh, but their power in faith overshadowed all their infirmities. “I give thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before all others, I sing your praises!” Psalm 138:1 Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/23/16
THAT in itself wasn’t a surprise as this Doctor told him that once before, and he had a stint put in. Just the words “going to the ER” is not one of our favorite phrases in conversation. Most times it is a testing of patience and anxiety control. However, we went to the ER! Medicines are also not one of our favorites topics. However, they gave him a new pill to go along with the others he was already taking. Could cause dizziness!
EARLY the next morning Jim was hit with the unexpected! It began with dizziness but continued with other discomforts! Was it caused from the new pill? Is this an allergy attack?
What are we suppose to do now? I made a few, very early morning, phone calls. The main consensus was to go to the ER again!
IT TURNS out it was not the new medicine and his heart was good. His digestive track was not! Aren’t Doctor’s and Nurses amazing! When the unexpected happens they are always ready to give us their best. Sometimes it doesn’t work out but when we have trust in our Lord, and because we know the conditions of living in this world, we can get thru these catastrophic interruptions by following the rules of those who are trained to see what we cannot.
PEOPLE are always saying; “God is in charge!” It is true God created; God knows how everything works; He has a plan; and He never changes! Our bodies get sick; we hurt; the malfunctions are numerous as we age. God never gives us sickness, broken limbs nor anguish. They are all part of our physical make up. But God is always there to see us thru when we give Him our will!
AFTER our first visit to the ER with the A-fib, we thank the Lord for seeing Jim thru and giving both of us courage. The next visit we also gave God the Glory and Jim took the medicine prescribed once again. Our prayer was, that the medical professionals were right, that it was not the Meds that caused the second visit. Trial and error is always one way to find out for sure!
ONE OF MY favorite Chapters in the old testament is Psalms 136. It goes thru a series of exhortations to give thanks; to praise our creator; to praise our deliverer; and to praise God for His steadfast love. Each verse ends with “for His steadfast love endures for ever!” How amazing is that?
NO MATTER how many unexpected events come, God has always promised to be with us and to never forsake us! How amazing is that? Mary experienced the unexpected when the Angel Gabriel came to her. She wasn’t ready, but she was willing! When our bodies fail us we are never ready, but when you belong to Jesus, you find yourself willing. “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures for ever!” Psalm 136:1
AS WE HAVE grown older we find we are willing to continue to be His servant, knowing that we will continue to suffer in our present state. We will continue to confess His name and to share His story as long as we can! “O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures for ever.” Psalm 136:29
WE HAVE known many who have continued to walk in feeble flesh, but their power in faith overshadowed all their infirmities. “I give thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before all others, I sing your praises!” Psalm 138:1 Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/23/16
Saturday, July 9, 2016
WHAT WAS YOUR WILDERNESS LIKE? 7/10/16
ADAM AND EVE were born in a garden. It was full of greens, yellows, orange, vibrant reds, brown and all the colors imaginable! The smells were fragrant and eatables, there for the taking. God was there! One tree was not to be touched! Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from that tree, and they were not even to touch it. But, they did! And their trek thru the wilderness, began. They were to tend the earth, plant their own foods, and eat what was planted. Their desert life was void of the beautiful surroundings that God had given in the beginning. God did not walk with them there! God saw what was happening but He didn’t interfere.
I SUPPOSE you could say all of us were born in the wilderness! My life in the wilderness began meagerly. I remember my brother Lloyd, who took care of us little ones. He would make stuff out of tomatoes; mustard sandwiches, potatoes this and potatoes that! I never slept alone until I moved into an apartment with my older sister Jean, at the age of 19 or 20. Most of the time there were three of us in a bed. I didn’t mind, they kept me warm! Did you wear hand me downs? I still like thrift stores and hand me downs!
WHAT WAS your wilderness like? Did you have a Mom and Dad? Did you have siblings to share everything with? Or did your wilderness come with many advantages. Did you get new shoes several times a year? Were your clothes always store bought? Did you always have a dime to go the movies? Even if you did, you were still in the wilderness!
IN GRADE SCHOOL, a friend of mine was taking Catechism. When she was 12 she completed her schooling, and the Catholic Church had a Confirmation. She asked me to come! I sat in the very back and watched! I understood nothing! Everything was so different from what my church did! After it was all over I had lots of questions. She answered the best she could and I said; “I don’t think I could ever become a Catholic, because I could never learn all that stuff you had to learn to become one. I told her, “at my church, I just confessed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God, and was baptized. “ For years I thought my religion was easier than being a Catholic. I was still living in the wilderness!
TO MY AMAZEMENT, when I began to know Jesus thru His Word, I discovered that following God’s Word was not easy. As a matter of fact, while living in the world, it was hard! At one point, I thought perhaps being a Catholic would have been easier. However, at my baptism I received the greatest gift. I received the Holy Spirit. As I grew closer to Jesus I discovered that life was easier, happier, more peaceful. That was when I had left the wilderness for the Kingdom! That was when I decided to put Christ first in my life!
“SEEK YE first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you!” Matthew 6:33 The things that were to be added, are all the necessary things we need. Things like; what we would eat, drink, wear, and how to live. Everything we needed to serve the Lord with. If we allow God, he will even give us a mate for a life time. He did me!
TO BE A Christian (a Christ one), His kingdom should be our first concern. He requires faith, love and holy living from us. We leave the wilderness when we put Him first in our lives.
Everything else must be second. When we love Him first, we have plenty of room for loving, our family, friends and His church. Jesus said; “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 This is the greatest and most important of the commandments. This sums up our obligation to God. One who loves God will not rebel against Him. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of their rebellious nature. They loved God, but they refused to follow. It was too hard for them! With Jesus and the Holy Spirit, all things are possible! Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/7/16
I SUPPOSE you could say all of us were born in the wilderness! My life in the wilderness began meagerly. I remember my brother Lloyd, who took care of us little ones. He would make stuff out of tomatoes; mustard sandwiches, potatoes this and potatoes that! I never slept alone until I moved into an apartment with my older sister Jean, at the age of 19 or 20. Most of the time there were three of us in a bed. I didn’t mind, they kept me warm! Did you wear hand me downs? I still like thrift stores and hand me downs!
WHAT WAS your wilderness like? Did you have a Mom and Dad? Did you have siblings to share everything with? Or did your wilderness come with many advantages. Did you get new shoes several times a year? Were your clothes always store bought? Did you always have a dime to go the movies? Even if you did, you were still in the wilderness!
IN GRADE SCHOOL, a friend of mine was taking Catechism. When she was 12 she completed her schooling, and the Catholic Church had a Confirmation. She asked me to come! I sat in the very back and watched! I understood nothing! Everything was so different from what my church did! After it was all over I had lots of questions. She answered the best she could and I said; “I don’t think I could ever become a Catholic, because I could never learn all that stuff you had to learn to become one. I told her, “at my church, I just confessed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God, and was baptized. “ For years I thought my religion was easier than being a Catholic. I was still living in the wilderness!
TO MY AMAZEMENT, when I began to know Jesus thru His Word, I discovered that following God’s Word was not easy. As a matter of fact, while living in the world, it was hard! At one point, I thought perhaps being a Catholic would have been easier. However, at my baptism I received the greatest gift. I received the Holy Spirit. As I grew closer to Jesus I discovered that life was easier, happier, more peaceful. That was when I had left the wilderness for the Kingdom! That was when I decided to put Christ first in my life!
“SEEK YE first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you!” Matthew 6:33 The things that were to be added, are all the necessary things we need. Things like; what we would eat, drink, wear, and how to live. Everything we needed to serve the Lord with. If we allow God, he will even give us a mate for a life time. He did me!
TO BE A Christian (a Christ one), His kingdom should be our first concern. He requires faith, love and holy living from us. We leave the wilderness when we put Him first in our lives.
Everything else must be second. When we love Him first, we have plenty of room for loving, our family, friends and His church. Jesus said; “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 This is the greatest and most important of the commandments. This sums up our obligation to God. One who loves God will not rebel against Him. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of their rebellious nature. They loved God, but they refused to follow. It was too hard for them! With Jesus and the Holy Spirit, all things are possible! Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/7/16
Sunday, July 3, 2016
BECAUSE I SAID SO! July 3, 2016
THIS WEEKEND America celebrates it’s 240th year of independence. In 1776 the Declaration of Independents was signed, sealed and delivered to the King of England. It did not declare, because we said so”, in so many words. But the theme was clear that the people declared they were free from tyranny.
WHEN MY children were growing up, and questioned my authority, I would respond with “because I said so!” I didn’t send them a declaration, but I made it clear I was in charge of our home, under the authority of their Father. Most of the time, that worked!
AS A BIBLE scholar, and teacher, I have become more and more aware of the license many have taken in explaining the meanings of God’s Word. I have been raised in the Christian Church. I have visited many other denominations, and question their decisions to reject or permit things that Jesus, himself, declared we should do, or not do, for our Spiritual well being.
SOME SAY that baptism is merely an act of expression and not necessary! Some have declared acceptance of alternate life styles, instead of helping them to give up the ways of the world. Many have declared that only belief in Christ is all that is needed to receive His gift of eternal life. God’s Word has been reduced to “once saved, always saved!” My heart aches for those who have been led down the slippery slope of life.
“AND JESUS said unto them; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, even to the end of world!” Matthew 28:19-20
THIS SCRIPTURE is the warrant for water baptism. It is not optional with a believer; it is rather the expressed command of Christ. To dismiss it, as a merely psychological transaction, is to dishonor His Word! Baptism is an invitation from Christ Himself. It is not yours or mine to decide whether it is necessary or not! Just do it, because Jesus said so!
GOD”S word, in Leviticus, says that a man should not lay with a man, a woman with a woman, and a man is not to lay with an animal. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NASB) Man doesn’t have to be politically correct. God said it, not man!
“NOT EVERYONE who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 Not everyone, implies, that even those who have come to the Lord will not be able to enter if they are not obedient. No one can please the Lord who does not obey Him and love Him.
WHEN I read Revelation I know it is symbolic for the most part. A lot of it I can take literally, just as I do when I am reading the Gospels, and the letters. God doesn’t pull punches. He is not just giving us Words to fill a book. His heart desire is for us to become His children.
He wants us to be perfect just as He is perfect. Because we cannot be perfect on our own, He sent His only Son, Jesus. He came and lived in the world that was created for us. He showed us how to become like Him. He made a way for us to come to the Father.
THE KEYS to the kingdom is to Love, Honor and Obey the Father! Jesus’ death on the cross gave us a way. His resurrection is the declaration, we can be free! Another key is love! We love the sinner, after all we are all sinners! Hear the Word; believe what God’s Word says; Confess before others that you believe Jesus is the Christ; repent of your sins and be baptized! The first four you do again and again, but baptism you do only once! Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/2/16
WHEN MY children were growing up, and questioned my authority, I would respond with “because I said so!” I didn’t send them a declaration, but I made it clear I was in charge of our home, under the authority of their Father. Most of the time, that worked!
AS A BIBLE scholar, and teacher, I have become more and more aware of the license many have taken in explaining the meanings of God’s Word. I have been raised in the Christian Church. I have visited many other denominations, and question their decisions to reject or permit things that Jesus, himself, declared we should do, or not do, for our Spiritual well being.
SOME SAY that baptism is merely an act of expression and not necessary! Some have declared acceptance of alternate life styles, instead of helping them to give up the ways of the world. Many have declared that only belief in Christ is all that is needed to receive His gift of eternal life. God’s Word has been reduced to “once saved, always saved!” My heart aches for those who have been led down the slippery slope of life.
“AND JESUS said unto them; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, even to the end of world!” Matthew 28:19-20
THIS SCRIPTURE is the warrant for water baptism. It is not optional with a believer; it is rather the expressed command of Christ. To dismiss it, as a merely psychological transaction, is to dishonor His Word! Baptism is an invitation from Christ Himself. It is not yours or mine to decide whether it is necessary or not! Just do it, because Jesus said so!
GOD”S word, in Leviticus, says that a man should not lay with a man, a woman with a woman, and a man is not to lay with an animal. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NASB) Man doesn’t have to be politically correct. God said it, not man!
“NOT EVERYONE who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 Not everyone, implies, that even those who have come to the Lord will not be able to enter if they are not obedient. No one can please the Lord who does not obey Him and love Him.
WHEN I read Revelation I know it is symbolic for the most part. A lot of it I can take literally, just as I do when I am reading the Gospels, and the letters. God doesn’t pull punches. He is not just giving us Words to fill a book. His heart desire is for us to become His children.
He wants us to be perfect just as He is perfect. Because we cannot be perfect on our own, He sent His only Son, Jesus. He came and lived in the world that was created for us. He showed us how to become like Him. He made a way for us to come to the Father.
THE KEYS to the kingdom is to Love, Honor and Obey the Father! Jesus’ death on the cross gave us a way. His resurrection is the declaration, we can be free! Another key is love! We love the sinner, after all we are all sinners! Hear the Word; believe what God’s Word says; Confess before others that you believe Jesus is the Christ; repent of your sins and be baptized! The first four you do again and again, but baptism you do only once! Jane Ann Crenshaw 7/2/16
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