THE SONG writer said; “Because He lives, I can live tomorrow!” Have you thought about that, literally? Because of Jesus and the cross, we always have tomorrow! I have, and the conclusion I have reached is that even without Jesus, we can live tomorrow. The question is, where will you live? Our amazing God has given us a choice!
THE DAY Jesus went to the cross, destiny stepped in and gave us that choice as to where we could live after we die. Sin brought us death and Christ brought us a choice of where we could spend eternity after our death! What a subject for a bright, sunshiny Easter morning. For those of us who have come to know God, and have met His glory Jesus Christ, Easter is a day of rejoicing. Hallelujah; Jesus is alive! I have chosen to live in God’s home for eternity!
NO ONE likes to talk about the alternative. Hell, Hades, place of the damned, or perhaps you know it as the ‘lake of fire.’ When I consider this gift from God, it makes me wonder why everyone isn’t clamoring to get on the path that leads to heaven. Why is it so hard to see the truths that God has given you in His Son; Jesus! Is it because you have seen so many theater movies telling the story of Jesus, that you have allowed your heart to harden, because of the theatrical hype and therefore is it just becomes another Hollywood make-believe movie?
REMEMBERING my first Easter’s are great memories. Even though we came from a very large family, my mother saw to it that on Easter, we were dressed appropriately She would give us girls a perm the night before Sunday. She would take the rollers out and give it a comb and call it good. The next morning the three girls would put on their new panties, dresses, new socks and shoes, and went off to Sunday School looking and smelling like they had had a perm. I know my Mom had to sacrifice to do all that! No matter; Easter was worth remembering!
WHAT I WAS taught in Sunday School, Junior Church, Youth Groups and later the Church Services was priceless! All of the Christian activities that I became involved in helped me to learn how to practice what I had been taught. Many sacrifices were given by God’s people, to give me a background of an enormous Christian education, and it was free to me, and it showed me God’s love! Perhaps it has been easier for me to believe because I received much love from those around me.
THE APOSTLE PAUL says; “I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance, that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures; “that He was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, as written in the Scriptures.” Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul didn’t make up what he had to say. Christianity looks to the Cross in history and stands on this point; “Christ on the cross!” It stands on the fact that Christ died for our sins and that He was buried. Most importantly, He was raised to life on the third day. This is very important, because if Jesus did not raise from the dead, there is no message of salvation.
I JANE ANN, pass this on to you! I thoroughly believe that all must believe;“In the beginning God!” Genesis 1:1 I know there is more to that verse, but the first four words are very important. You must first believe that God is, before you can believe anything else. All you have to do is look around you and everywhere you look, God is revealed. His creation surrounds you! You have no real excuse to not believe in God, His works are evident!
“EVER SINCE the creation of the world His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made; So they are without excuse!” Romans 1:20 God declares, that because of the evidence that is visible to man, you have no excuse in denying His person. Easter is a celebration of Christ on the cross and the salvation it can bring to all man kind. What a gift; What a Savior! Jesus Saves! What choice have you made? I pray it is to live eternally with God our Savior! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/25/16
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
JUDGEMENT WILL COME! 3/20/16
PALM SUNDAY was a day filled with sadness, excitement, glory, and judgement. Jesus was filled with sadness as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey. People filled the road with palm branches and stood along side the road , singing,with shouts of “Hosanna, Hosanna,” which meant; “save us now!” Jesus wanted to save the people but not in the way that the people understood. They wanted to be saved from worldly oppression and Jesus came to save them from their sins!
THE JEWS knew they were sinners. The law taught them that. Each had their own issues and after hearing of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead they thought that Jesus might be the one to make Jerusalem great again. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Today in our country we are looking for a savior to come and make America great again! People spend their lives seeking for someone else to fix things for them. The people become the judge of who can do that. We cast our vote for this one or that one, and the only one that can make America great again, is the one who blessed us from the beginning.
SOME PEOPLE were saying; "look, the whole world is following Him! Perhaps He is the one; we need to talk to Him!" Jesus said to His Apostles; “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to be given great glory. John 12:23 Jesus was filled with the glory that could radiate into a single life, and change the world. The hour had come for Him to be lifted up and to draw all men to Him. Hope and change is desirable but hope and change can only come when you submit to Jesus! People did not understand then and they do not understand today!
THE LAW was in place to act as judge. Jesus came to save man from judgement!
There are all kinds of judges and judgements! Jesus went before the courts and was found innocent, but was sentenced to die anyway. Jesus says; ‘”Whoever hears my message and does not obey it, I will not judge him. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it.” Whoever rejects me and does not accept my message, has one who will judge him.” John 13:47-48 The Father sent the Son and the Son does His will. When we go before this Judge, Jesus steps in and give us His favor, the judge finds us innocent even though we are guilty. I understand this, do you?
I REMEMBER the first time I went to camp. It was called Happy Hollow, and it was somewhere in Southern California. It was a great place for a Christian Camp. Towards the end of the week I was chosen to be a judge for the ‘best camper!” Mind you, there were a lot of boys and girls at this camp, and I was chosen to be a judge; I barely knew how to tie my shoes. I met with the other judges and we were given instructions. And all I could think of was; I was a judge! One of the girls showed signs of coming from a wealthy family. I remember she was cute, vivacious and everyone seemed to like her. So when her name came up, I voted for her!
GOD’S judgement is full of truth, compassion and all knowing. We must pay attention to His Word if we want the kind of consideration that Jesus has prepared for us. I love the life Jesus has given me! It didn’t just happen, but all the same it is a miracle! He took a little, self centered, freckled faced girl, and set her on a road to perfection. I haven’t completed my journey and I have no clue as to when my journey will end, but I feel God’s presence as I stay in His Word and take to heart all that is said to me. One of my early memorization’s was “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth!” 2 Timothy 2:15. He says we are to do our best!
“FOR GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God send not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
Palm Sunday, a day to remember, that Jesus came to save us! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/17/16
THE JEWS knew they were sinners. The law taught them that. Each had their own issues and after hearing of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead they thought that Jesus might be the one to make Jerusalem great again. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Today in our country we are looking for a savior to come and make America great again! People spend their lives seeking for someone else to fix things for them. The people become the judge of who can do that. We cast our vote for this one or that one, and the only one that can make America great again, is the one who blessed us from the beginning.
SOME PEOPLE were saying; "look, the whole world is following Him! Perhaps He is the one; we need to talk to Him!" Jesus said to His Apostles; “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to be given great glory. John 12:23 Jesus was filled with the glory that could radiate into a single life, and change the world. The hour had come for Him to be lifted up and to draw all men to Him. Hope and change is desirable but hope and change can only come when you submit to Jesus! People did not understand then and they do not understand today!
THE LAW was in place to act as judge. Jesus came to save man from judgement!
There are all kinds of judges and judgements! Jesus went before the courts and was found innocent, but was sentenced to die anyway. Jesus says; ‘”Whoever hears my message and does not obey it, I will not judge him. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it.” Whoever rejects me and does not accept my message, has one who will judge him.” John 13:47-48 The Father sent the Son and the Son does His will. When we go before this Judge, Jesus steps in and give us His favor, the judge finds us innocent even though we are guilty. I understand this, do you?
I REMEMBER the first time I went to camp. It was called Happy Hollow, and it was somewhere in Southern California. It was a great place for a Christian Camp. Towards the end of the week I was chosen to be a judge for the ‘best camper!” Mind you, there were a lot of boys and girls at this camp, and I was chosen to be a judge; I barely knew how to tie my shoes. I met with the other judges and we were given instructions. And all I could think of was; I was a judge! One of the girls showed signs of coming from a wealthy family. I remember she was cute, vivacious and everyone seemed to like her. So when her name came up, I voted for her!
GOD’S judgement is full of truth, compassion and all knowing. We must pay attention to His Word if we want the kind of consideration that Jesus has prepared for us. I love the life Jesus has given me! It didn’t just happen, but all the same it is a miracle! He took a little, self centered, freckled faced girl, and set her on a road to perfection. I haven’t completed my journey and I have no clue as to when my journey will end, but I feel God’s presence as I stay in His Word and take to heart all that is said to me. One of my early memorization’s was “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth!” 2 Timothy 2:15. He says we are to do our best!
“FOR GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God send not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
Palm Sunday, a day to remember, that Jesus came to save us! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/17/16
Saturday, March 12, 2016
HELP ME, HELP ME! 3/13/16
HAVE YOU ever, out of desperation, asked for help? I mean totally despondent, bursting at the seams, over the top or buried very deep in a pit? Maybe it was of your own making? Perhaps it was thru a bad financial investment, maybe an accident that had left you or a loved one totally dependent; unable to cope on your own. Circumstances of life could have left you in a place that you felt there was absolutely no way out or nothing you could do, All of us have been in the wrong place at the wrong time!
I HAVE had dreams where I was lost and knew I could be accosted, and one time in a place underground, below where I lived above ground; and I couldn’t find my way out. Dreams can take you into mysterious places and you feel trapped. I have learned since childhood that when I no longer want to be in the dream I can make myself wake up! Do you know what I mean? Have you ever done that? I could set myself free. But if I went back to sleep, sometimes the story could just continue where it left off. Why is that? I can remember most of my dreams, or nightmares! Time erases them, but I remember and hate not having control.
WHEN I was a young woman I took a night class in psychology. What I learned about dreams was nothing but I did learn that when you lay down to sleep, and you involuntary jump, it means that you were falling asleep. I guess we all need to know that! But the good thing to know is that God spoke to many thru dreams and visions. The scriptures tell us that, and I believe that he still can do that, and perhaps does. I have heard that many are being saved thru visions and dreams around the world even today! How exciting is that!
PAUL experienced visions and dreams, and he was a mighty man of God! I remember while in a dream I have found things that I had misplaced or lost. I have even solved many a problem in a dream. I also know that a quick prayer out of desperation I have been able to quickly find things that were lost. In all things give God the praise and the glory due Him!
JESUS encourages us to not be anxious about our lives; things like food, clothing and even shelter. He knows our needs! He say to not worry about how long you will live because there is nothing you can do about that. He says for us to not worry about tomorrow because today is the day He has made for us, and there is plenty to do today. Tomorrow has it’s own problems, tomorrow is time enough to think about them.
“ASK, AND IT will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 The conditions for effectual prayer include; a right relationship of repentance and faith. God listens to the unbeliever and may even answer them, but when we, His children, come earnestly and spiritually filled with desire , He listens with bated breath. We can pray with confidence which leads us to ask in simple trust, and a faith which believes that God is both able and willing to answer. No matter what we ask, we are to ask “in God’s will!
WHILE there are many hindrances to prayer, all of them may be comprehended under two general classifications; sin and unbelief. I always stress going before the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart. I make an effort to do this! “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 How is your prayer walk today, is it paved in faith? We are on the glory road, walk like it! Remember, God is with us; He is listening!
MANY scriptures were directed to the Apostles and the other Disciples. We use these to encourage us in our own prayer life. Jesus said; “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 Jesus said this as He faced the Cross; He found joy in doing the Father’s will! The Apostles also found great joy in God’s will for the Church. We too can find joy when we walk in God’s will! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/8/16
I HAVE had dreams where I was lost and knew I could be accosted, and one time in a place underground, below where I lived above ground; and I couldn’t find my way out. Dreams can take you into mysterious places and you feel trapped. I have learned since childhood that when I no longer want to be in the dream I can make myself wake up! Do you know what I mean? Have you ever done that? I could set myself free. But if I went back to sleep, sometimes the story could just continue where it left off. Why is that? I can remember most of my dreams, or nightmares! Time erases them, but I remember and hate not having control.
WHEN I was a young woman I took a night class in psychology. What I learned about dreams was nothing but I did learn that when you lay down to sleep, and you involuntary jump, it means that you were falling asleep. I guess we all need to know that! But the good thing to know is that God spoke to many thru dreams and visions. The scriptures tell us that, and I believe that he still can do that, and perhaps does. I have heard that many are being saved thru visions and dreams around the world even today! How exciting is that!
PAUL experienced visions and dreams, and he was a mighty man of God! I remember while in a dream I have found things that I had misplaced or lost. I have even solved many a problem in a dream. I also know that a quick prayer out of desperation I have been able to quickly find things that were lost. In all things give God the praise and the glory due Him!
JESUS encourages us to not be anxious about our lives; things like food, clothing and even shelter. He knows our needs! He say to not worry about how long you will live because there is nothing you can do about that. He says for us to not worry about tomorrow because today is the day He has made for us, and there is plenty to do today. Tomorrow has it’s own problems, tomorrow is time enough to think about them.
“ASK, AND IT will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 The conditions for effectual prayer include; a right relationship of repentance and faith. God listens to the unbeliever and may even answer them, but when we, His children, come earnestly and spiritually filled with desire , He listens with bated breath. We can pray with confidence which leads us to ask in simple trust, and a faith which believes that God is both able and willing to answer. No matter what we ask, we are to ask “in God’s will!
WHILE there are many hindrances to prayer, all of them may be comprehended under two general classifications; sin and unbelief. I always stress going before the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart. I make an effort to do this! “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 How is your prayer walk today, is it paved in faith? We are on the glory road, walk like it! Remember, God is with us; He is listening!
MANY scriptures were directed to the Apostles and the other Disciples. We use these to encourage us in our own prayer life. Jesus said; “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 Jesus said this as He faced the Cross; He found joy in doing the Father’s will! The Apostles also found great joy in God’s will for the Church. We too can find joy when we walk in God’s will! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/8/16
Saturday, March 5, 2016
CAST YOUR CARES! 3/6/16
WE ALL pray for peace. Peace without wars, conflicts of any kind and especially the peace that only comes from God. We pray for His kind of peace for each other and yet, we never seem to feel peaceful. I ask myself what is peace? We all have our own understanding. In one word it could be calm, quiet, tranquil. To broaden the meaning it could be freedom from disturbances, the absence of war and even freedom from fears or worries. We set ourselves up when we hang by our nails, from the precipice!
GOD DOES NOT give us freedom from disturbances, war, fears or worries. “Cast your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (RSV) In other translations it says cares or burdens, and He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Our hearts will be calm, quiet and reserved. Oh to feel the peace that passes all understanding! I have, you know! But I always go thru the cares of the world before I settle into the arms of my Lord!
STILL we can learn to be peaceful because there is power in the Word. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 God calls us to Himself. He promises us peace (or rest), and that we can learn from Him. He is not condescending but gentle with each of us. Jesus says He can teach us to live without stress. That comes by us learning to accept His plan for peace. Let Him help us with our burdens, or anxiety. God promises we will not understand how His peace works, but it does!
GOD will teach us to know how to manage, to handle and to live amid the circumstances of life. God wants to change us, not necessarily our circumstances! Look at what you have been doing. How is it working for you? “Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt and in whose spirit, there is no deceit. Psalms 32:1-2 Clean hands and a pure heart brings us into the Father’s realm without hesitation. When we feel guilt and condemnation we are held back.
THERE IS nothing more stressful then when we go around carrying our own quilt or burdens. When I am filled with this kind of stress Jim says; “deal with it!” I know immediately he is saying I must go to the Lord and confess and then and only then, will I be freed from it, and find God’s peace. Many of us operate like a pressure cooker. We fill the pot, seal the lid and place the regulator on top. As the pot fills with hot steam the regulator begins to rock. The rocking becomes intense as the pot becomes hotter and hotter. You are warned never to touch the regulator while it is in motion because it could explode. So we turn the heat down under the pot, and until the regulator slows down to a stop. All is well, and what is inside is good!
SOMETIMES we are like the pressure cooker. We are filled with the anxiety and cares of our workplace, families, or the world; which brings us to the boiling point,,and our insides are ready to explode.. We can learn from God on how to keep the steam inside calm, while still living amid the turmoil. It is like understanding the directions on using the pressure cooker. When we follow God’s directions we can live peacefully in the world, and have His peace!
JESUS was under stress when He went to the cross. He asked His Father to take this cup from Him. The pressure was great, but His love was even greater! We must offer ourselves to receive His forgiveness, and no longer live under condemnation! Then the things we cannot do anything about, we can give up and live in peace! The scriptures tell us Jesus opened not his mouth during His most stressful days. Jesus gave no defense and He quickly forgave. Don’t be easily offended and live free from stress, and not worry about what’s going on around you. “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men.” Acts 24:16 All of this is an act of your will to become more like Christ! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/3/16
GOD DOES NOT give us freedom from disturbances, war, fears or worries. “Cast your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (RSV) In other translations it says cares or burdens, and He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Our hearts will be calm, quiet and reserved. Oh to feel the peace that passes all understanding! I have, you know! But I always go thru the cares of the world before I settle into the arms of my Lord!
STILL we can learn to be peaceful because there is power in the Word. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 God calls us to Himself. He promises us peace (or rest), and that we can learn from Him. He is not condescending but gentle with each of us. Jesus says He can teach us to live without stress. That comes by us learning to accept His plan for peace. Let Him help us with our burdens, or anxiety. God promises we will not understand how His peace works, but it does!
GOD will teach us to know how to manage, to handle and to live amid the circumstances of life. God wants to change us, not necessarily our circumstances! Look at what you have been doing. How is it working for you? “Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt and in whose spirit, there is no deceit. Psalms 32:1-2 Clean hands and a pure heart brings us into the Father’s realm without hesitation. When we feel guilt and condemnation we are held back.
THERE IS nothing more stressful then when we go around carrying our own quilt or burdens. When I am filled with this kind of stress Jim says; “deal with it!” I know immediately he is saying I must go to the Lord and confess and then and only then, will I be freed from it, and find God’s peace. Many of us operate like a pressure cooker. We fill the pot, seal the lid and place the regulator on top. As the pot fills with hot steam the regulator begins to rock. The rocking becomes intense as the pot becomes hotter and hotter. You are warned never to touch the regulator while it is in motion because it could explode. So we turn the heat down under the pot, and until the regulator slows down to a stop. All is well, and what is inside is good!
SOMETIMES we are like the pressure cooker. We are filled with the anxiety and cares of our workplace, families, or the world; which brings us to the boiling point,,and our insides are ready to explode.. We can learn from God on how to keep the steam inside calm, while still living amid the turmoil. It is like understanding the directions on using the pressure cooker. When we follow God’s directions we can live peacefully in the world, and have His peace!
JESUS was under stress when He went to the cross. He asked His Father to take this cup from Him. The pressure was great, but His love was even greater! We must offer ourselves to receive His forgiveness, and no longer live under condemnation! Then the things we cannot do anything about, we can give up and live in peace! The scriptures tell us Jesus opened not his mouth during His most stressful days. Jesus gave no defense and He quickly forgave. Don’t be easily offended and live free from stress, and not worry about what’s going on around you. “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men.” Acts 24:16 All of this is an act of your will to become more like Christ! Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/3/16
Saturday, February 27, 2016
SITTING ON THE SIDE LINES! 2/28/16
A LITTLE BIT of news drew my attention this morning. Disputers for the second year protested at the Academy Awards because no blacks were included in the prize. When I was a girl I looked forward to the awards. But thru the years it has become more of a celebration of foul mouth, dysentery and indecent behaviors and exposures. Those who attend the movies tell the tales, but the stars want the accolades of their comrades. They want to be included in the ‘who’s who’ for any given year!
WHEN the super bowl rolls around plans are made and the guest list grows long. Granted, many want to watch the game, but mostly it is about the food and of course who’s on the ‘who’s who’ list. The football fans who attend choose their team because, more than likely, neither team is their favorite! I guess the winners, are the ones who chose the winning team!
COMPETITION is a long running game. Some thrive on competition and others just sit on the side lines becoming engrossed in the success or failures of those who are actually playing the game. It takes more than what I have, to sit that long any more, to watch the game. But I do remember being in the stands watching “Crazy Legs Hersh” running the length of the field in pouring down rain. Was I rooting for the winner? No! I just went because my brother wanted to go and no one else would go with him.
JESUS tells the story of the workers standing on the corner hoping someone would come along and hire them for the day. A landowner drove up and promised them all a days wage and they jumped on board. The job required more workers so mid morning the landowner went back to the corner of hopefuls and hired an additional crew for the same wage. The job was still in progress but not completed at noon, so the landowner became hopeful, and find more applicants standing on the corner and hired the rest of them for a days wage. The landowner went two more times that day and hired more workers for the same wage. When the job was completed the landowner ordered that all workers be paid, beginning the with those hired last. Each were paid a fair wage as promised. Which was the same wage!
WHAT A DAY! Those who worked only one hour were paid the same as those who worked all day. When the men who worked all day received their fair wage, they began to grumble. The landowner responded with “Listen, Friend, I have not cheated you. After all, you agreed to do a days’s work. Now, take your pay and go home. I want to give this man who was hired last as much as I have given you. Don’t I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous!” Matthew 20:13-15
THE CENTRAL theme in this parable is that the workers in the Kingdom of heaven will all receive the same reward, which is eternal life, even though they work different periods of time. Some come to Christ early in life and worked all day. Others do not learn of Christ until late in life, and only work “one hour!” There are differing levels of responsibility. There are different talents brought to the table. God’s reward is the same for all!
“AND JESUS CONCLUDED; So those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 First last and the last first; Interesting phraseology! This was saying that the Jews, who were first to be called by God, would not receive more than the Gentiles (which is us), who were last to be called. The first to be called to the Kingdom of heaven was the Jews. But God grafted in the Gentiles (adopted us) as well.
WE ARE NOT in competition for who’s who! God’s favor is for those who are on His team. We belong to Him! We are not our own, we have been bought with a price. Let us consider the price paid as we love one another. Let us choose to activate our tired bones and leave our place on the side lines. All for one and one for all! Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/27/16
WHEN the super bowl rolls around plans are made and the guest list grows long. Granted, many want to watch the game, but mostly it is about the food and of course who’s on the ‘who’s who’ list. The football fans who attend choose their team because, more than likely, neither team is their favorite! I guess the winners, are the ones who chose the winning team!
COMPETITION is a long running game. Some thrive on competition and others just sit on the side lines becoming engrossed in the success or failures of those who are actually playing the game. It takes more than what I have, to sit that long any more, to watch the game. But I do remember being in the stands watching “Crazy Legs Hersh” running the length of the field in pouring down rain. Was I rooting for the winner? No! I just went because my brother wanted to go and no one else would go with him.
JESUS tells the story of the workers standing on the corner hoping someone would come along and hire them for the day. A landowner drove up and promised them all a days wage and they jumped on board. The job required more workers so mid morning the landowner went back to the corner of hopefuls and hired an additional crew for the same wage. The job was still in progress but not completed at noon, so the landowner became hopeful, and find more applicants standing on the corner and hired the rest of them for a days wage. The landowner went two more times that day and hired more workers for the same wage. When the job was completed the landowner ordered that all workers be paid, beginning the with those hired last. Each were paid a fair wage as promised. Which was the same wage!
WHAT A DAY! Those who worked only one hour were paid the same as those who worked all day. When the men who worked all day received their fair wage, they began to grumble. The landowner responded with “Listen, Friend, I have not cheated you. After all, you agreed to do a days’s work. Now, take your pay and go home. I want to give this man who was hired last as much as I have given you. Don’t I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous!” Matthew 20:13-15
THE CENTRAL theme in this parable is that the workers in the Kingdom of heaven will all receive the same reward, which is eternal life, even though they work different periods of time. Some come to Christ early in life and worked all day. Others do not learn of Christ until late in life, and only work “one hour!” There are differing levels of responsibility. There are different talents brought to the table. God’s reward is the same for all!
“AND JESUS CONCLUDED; So those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 First last and the last first; Interesting phraseology! This was saying that the Jews, who were first to be called by God, would not receive more than the Gentiles (which is us), who were last to be called. The first to be called to the Kingdom of heaven was the Jews. But God grafted in the Gentiles (adopted us) as well.
WE ARE NOT in competition for who’s who! God’s favor is for those who are on His team. We belong to Him! We are not our own, we have been bought with a price. Let us consider the price paid as we love one another. Let us choose to activate our tired bones and leave our place on the side lines. All for one and one for all! Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/27/16
Saturday, February 20, 2016
WE ARE MORE..... 2/21/16
A FEW YEARS ago I was diagnosed with ‘High Fructose Corn Syrup Malabsorption.’ This is a fairly new condition caused by the digestive system to not process certain foods. The side affects can vary but mine was muscle cramping in my stomach along with diarrhea, besides other factors. It took many years to find out the problem but what a relief when they told me what I had. It was another thing, when they told me there was no cure and there were no medicines to treat it. A change in my eating habits was needed!
SINCE this condition was new there were few resources for me to read and to understand and know what foods I could eat, and what foods I needed to stay away from. My Doctor said it would be ‘trial and error!’ There was a book written by a married couple. They both had this condition and in reading their discoveries, no two people were alike. The husband could eat green beans but the wife couldn’t. Trial and error was not a pleasant thought. If I chose wisely my life would be good; but if I chose badly life would be miserable.
I HAVE LEARNED that to experiment, was not for me! I didn’t want to know that I was possibly going to hurt and go thru much discomfort by choice. Many times error’s occurred because I didn’t foresee any problems. Because the foods I can’t eat, aren’t generally caused just by high fructose corn syrup; I have to be on my toes all the time. I ask questions at restaurants; I am not afraid to hurt someone feelings, because I won’t even taste their food they have made. I no longer eat the kinds of foods that I have always loved, and that brought me momentary happiness. I discovered when eating only the foods that I could eat, I could be happy all the time.
RECENTLY it occurred to me that if I can learn to eat only to live, and be successful (for the most part), then I should be able to not sin, successfully. I know that thru baptism my sins are not only forgiven but the Holy Spirit came to live in me. I have help to keep my body under control! Because “All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God!” Romans 3:23 I know I am sinful! I also believe that Christ died for all sins and therefore when I confess and repent of my sins God has promised to forgive me! But I still sin!
WITH THE Holy Spirit within me, what if, even though I am forgiven for all my past sins when I was baptized, what about being able to control my present and future sins? The Word says; “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13 What would that look like? Could I actually do that? Has anyone ever lived or is living now, able to be sinless, other than our Savior? If we can do all things, is being sinless one of the things we can do? Paul said; “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1st Corinthians 9:24-27
I BELIEVE Paul was closer to becoming sinless than anyone I know about! And yet, he was a sinful man. Paul talks about things that cannot separate us from God especially death, when we belong to Jesus. I believe that continuing in sin can grieve the Holy Spirit and keep us from receiving eternal life. Because although God doesn’t choose to leave us, we can choose to leave Him. How sad for our souls!
“NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 Paul says nothing can separate us from God’s love. If I can control what I eat so I will not physically hurt; like Paul, I can buffet my body so my soul will be pleasing to the Father. I can try and “set my mind upon the things above and not on the things of this earth.” Colossians 3:2
Satan get behind me; I belong to Jesus! Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/20/16
SINCE this condition was new there were few resources for me to read and to understand and know what foods I could eat, and what foods I needed to stay away from. My Doctor said it would be ‘trial and error!’ There was a book written by a married couple. They both had this condition and in reading their discoveries, no two people were alike. The husband could eat green beans but the wife couldn’t. Trial and error was not a pleasant thought. If I chose wisely my life would be good; but if I chose badly life would be miserable.
I HAVE LEARNED that to experiment, was not for me! I didn’t want to know that I was possibly going to hurt and go thru much discomfort by choice. Many times error’s occurred because I didn’t foresee any problems. Because the foods I can’t eat, aren’t generally caused just by high fructose corn syrup; I have to be on my toes all the time. I ask questions at restaurants; I am not afraid to hurt someone feelings, because I won’t even taste their food they have made. I no longer eat the kinds of foods that I have always loved, and that brought me momentary happiness. I discovered when eating only the foods that I could eat, I could be happy all the time.
RECENTLY it occurred to me that if I can learn to eat only to live, and be successful (for the most part), then I should be able to not sin, successfully. I know that thru baptism my sins are not only forgiven but the Holy Spirit came to live in me. I have help to keep my body under control! Because “All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God!” Romans 3:23 I know I am sinful! I also believe that Christ died for all sins and therefore when I confess and repent of my sins God has promised to forgive me! But I still sin!
WITH THE Holy Spirit within me, what if, even though I am forgiven for all my past sins when I was baptized, what about being able to control my present and future sins? The Word says; “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13 What would that look like? Could I actually do that? Has anyone ever lived or is living now, able to be sinless, other than our Savior? If we can do all things, is being sinless one of the things we can do? Paul said; “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1st Corinthians 9:24-27
I BELIEVE Paul was closer to becoming sinless than anyone I know about! And yet, he was a sinful man. Paul talks about things that cannot separate us from God especially death, when we belong to Jesus. I believe that continuing in sin can grieve the Holy Spirit and keep us from receiving eternal life. Because although God doesn’t choose to leave us, we can choose to leave Him. How sad for our souls!
“NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 Paul says nothing can separate us from God’s love. If I can control what I eat so I will not physically hurt; like Paul, I can buffet my body so my soul will be pleasing to the Father. I can try and “set my mind upon the things above and not on the things of this earth.” Colossians 3:2
Satan get behind me; I belong to Jesus! Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/20/16
Saturday, February 13, 2016
GIFT OF LOVE! 2/14/16
ONE OF the most favorite passages in the scriptures is 1st Corinthians 13! It talks about the way of love and how love can be the most superior of gifts, of all the gifts, mentioned in the Bible. Many of the gifts mentioned in chapter 12 are no longer available to us because we have the WORD; the Bible! God doesn’t have to prove to us in those ways because we are without excuse. Jesus has come, and is waiting for us to join Him in His home in heaven! At my age, that is getting closer every day!
“EARNESTLY desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 LOVE! Where are we in loving one another? Where are we in loving our spouse? How do our children respond to our loving them always? What about other family and friends? And then there is loving your church family, and those in the world!
GOD’S WORD instructs us that love is the one gift that never loses its power or effect, and we are all called to have this gift. As a matter of fact the scriptures says; “Love never ends!” With love we become closer to being what God has created us to be. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.!” 1st Corinthians 13:4-7
PAUL defines love in a beautiful way, doesn’t he! I love it when Jim is buying me a card. It can be an anniversary, birthday or a Valentine. I love it because I know he chooses the one I get. It is not just buying a card to him. It has to say what he wants to say! One time he wrote on the bottom of the Valentine; “And it’s true; It really does please me to be with you!” WOW! And we have been married longer than we were alive on our wedding day!
THE INTERESTING thing about love is that we must decide to love. We can’t trust our feelings because they fluctuate. Our brain decides and our heart becomes involved because they both give us notable desires to please God. Because loving is on purpose, we know it doesn’t just happen or come upon us. Although many say they love at first sight and that could be a desire of the heart alone. But when our head gets involved with the heart, we can stop and consider what is best. When you consider that love is the highest form of war-fare; a battle of the mind and emotion, many would not have experienced the complexities of becoming unevenly yoked or not being compatible or becoming involved in a relationship that ends in disaster.
WALKING IN LOVE costs you something. It is the sacrifice of self! That is when your love becomes real. Not light or fat free but the real thing! “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36-39
SINCE GOD says that love is the most important thing we can do, we should give it a try! We are to put on love! Revelations says “stay awake and put your clothes on!” Perhaps that is because in Galatian’s it says; “Clothe yourself in love!” If we clothe ourselves in love it can be the answer to all our problems. When we can’t help ourselves, we can help someone else. Perhaps that is why Paul said; “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose " Romans 8:28
“BUT I SAY to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the good and the bad and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45 Forget about yourself and love when there is nothing in it for you! Rewards are nice but they perish. God’s love is everlasting! Praise God for His loving us so that we can love! Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/12/16
“EARNESTLY desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 LOVE! Where are we in loving one another? Where are we in loving our spouse? How do our children respond to our loving them always? What about other family and friends? And then there is loving your church family, and those in the world!
GOD’S WORD instructs us that love is the one gift that never loses its power or effect, and we are all called to have this gift. As a matter of fact the scriptures says; “Love never ends!” With love we become closer to being what God has created us to be. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.!” 1st Corinthians 13:4-7
PAUL defines love in a beautiful way, doesn’t he! I love it when Jim is buying me a card. It can be an anniversary, birthday or a Valentine. I love it because I know he chooses the one I get. It is not just buying a card to him. It has to say what he wants to say! One time he wrote on the bottom of the Valentine; “And it’s true; It really does please me to be with you!” WOW! And we have been married longer than we were alive on our wedding day!
THE INTERESTING thing about love is that we must decide to love. We can’t trust our feelings because they fluctuate. Our brain decides and our heart becomes involved because they both give us notable desires to please God. Because loving is on purpose, we know it doesn’t just happen or come upon us. Although many say they love at first sight and that could be a desire of the heart alone. But when our head gets involved with the heart, we can stop and consider what is best. When you consider that love is the highest form of war-fare; a battle of the mind and emotion, many would not have experienced the complexities of becoming unevenly yoked or not being compatible or becoming involved in a relationship that ends in disaster.
WALKING IN LOVE costs you something. It is the sacrifice of self! That is when your love becomes real. Not light or fat free but the real thing! “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36-39
SINCE GOD says that love is the most important thing we can do, we should give it a try! We are to put on love! Revelations says “stay awake and put your clothes on!” Perhaps that is because in Galatian’s it says; “Clothe yourself in love!” If we clothe ourselves in love it can be the answer to all our problems. When we can’t help ourselves, we can help someone else. Perhaps that is why Paul said; “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose " Romans 8:28
“BUT I SAY to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the good and the bad and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45 Forget about yourself and love when there is nothing in it for you! Rewards are nice but they perish. God’s love is everlasting! Praise God for His loving us so that we can love! Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/12/16
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