A LITTLE TRIVIA ON "THE YEAR OF THE RAT"!
The Chinese, Year of the Rat, began last February 7th. It is the first sign in the
Chinese zodiac. Unlike the Western Hemisphere where the zodiac is monthly, each animal of the Chinese zodiac represents a full year. The Chinese zodiac is based upon the moon opposed to the western version, which is based on the sun’s revolutions. What does any of that have to do with the Rat?
Since we all know that our God is the creator of all things, including us, we have to assume that the Jade Emperor of the Heavens, according to the Chinese legend, is purely folk lore. The Emperor was undecided which animal should be first so he devised a plan that the first animal to cross the mighty river and reach the other side would be awarded the honor of representing the first year of the zodiac. The others would receive their year in the order of their arrival.
The story goes that as the animals stood on the bank of the river, the rat came up along side the ox. He jumped upon the ox’s back. The ox unaware of his passenger began his trek across the mighty river which was wide and treacherous. The ox was about to walk ashore when the rat leaped off his back and landed on shore seconds ahead of him. The Emperor declared the rat the winner. And now you know page two!
My husband Jim was born in 1936 which happens to have been ‘the year of the rat’. If you know my husband, you will agree that in China where the rat is respected and considered courageous and enterprising, he surely deserved the honor to be born that year.
I like a little trivia now and then, but if you think I believe that the sun, the moon and even the stars determine our character, you’ve got another think coming. As newborn babes in Christ 1 Peter 2:1-2 says; "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, we long for the pure milk of the word, that by it, you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord". In other words, putting aside all of the desires of the flesh and seeking the desires of your heart, which is God, you will grow in substance and because you will have tasted the Lord, salvation is yours. Character counts but without Jesus Christ it is nothing! The year of the rat may mean something to the Chinese, but living every year for Jesus brings more credence to the life of the Christian than anything you could ever imagined. Jane Ann
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
YEAR OF THE RAT 12/8/08
This week, we are going to side track from the Christmas season and look at a yearly event in Chinese culture. The next two weeks we will ltalk about the day we celebrate as Christ's birth and then we will focus on Christ himself. But today let's talk about the 'year of the rat'.
How does China come up with the names of their New Year? Even though I have heard a story, I don’t really care, but I have often pondered the question, why!. Usually I pay no attention but I thought that this years 2008, the name was appropriate for our times. There are many things going on in our world that I could easily designate as ‘Rat infested’.
When my children were teenagers and while doing our regular Saturday morning chores, I swiped the broom under a little bookcase that stood on the wall by the front door. Along with dust I swept out an apparently dead mouse. It was so still, I knew it was dead! I called the kids out of their rooms and we three stood around and glared at the dead mouse. We lived in the country and Jim was outdoors. We called him in to take the dead mouse out. Then there were four of us glaring at the dead mouse! Jim said; "it’s not dead"! The three of us stepped back and declared it was dead! "Look at it, just laying there, dead"; I said! Jim took the broom out of my hand and touched the dead mouse and then the three of us scattered as fast as we could. It was alive! It was only pretending to be dead! Jim was quick! He cornered the mouse and then he was dead! The moral of this story is; "Never, trust a dead mouse, or a Rat for that matter"!
Many times we are drawn into believing what is being said or being accepted is okay, because the world around us says it is okay or as the saying goes; "everybody is doing it". Not so! To believe that is like believing the mouse is dead but is actually very much alive. These are some of the things I believe are led by the misguided ‘Rat Pack’ of the world. Abortion rights! The Homosexual movement! The exploitation of the First Amendment, that gives you the right to walk all over others, or "it offends me" syndrome! Our laws were designed to protect the innocent but instead the innocent ends up paying to protect the guilty because of their rights. Our world has always had perpetrators who would act out their desires, but today it is more prevalent because of explicit pictures that are formulated in the minds of the perpetrators. This is through the media’s of movies, TV, magazines and now computers. These have become like ‘dead Rats’ that are truly alive and well in our society.
A rat can be classified as an informant; It is like a mouse but larger and more voracious; It is also a term that is used to cause violence and intimidation by labor unions pitting one against another who refuses to strike. Nobody likes the proverbial ‘rat’ nor do we want to be one! Unless the Christian world becomes alive instead of dead to these realities we will find ourselves falling into the ‘Rat Trap’ that the world lives in.
In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul tells us about the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexual offenders, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers, who will not inherit the kingdom of God!
Paul continues in Galatians 5 with some of the same but a little more explicit. Sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies etc. Paul says that we should not be deceived because these things can totally destroy us. Notice he mentions sexual immorality twice! Our world is held captive by sexual immorality! Paul never pulls any punches!
He asks that we follow his example in Philippians 3:17-20. With tears he reminds us that many live as enemies of the cross. They will find destruction, because their god is their stomach. Their glory will be shame, because their minds are on earthly things. However, those who follow Christ have a heavenly citizenship. Eagerly we await a Savior, who has the power to bring everything under His control. He can take us from pretending to be alive and make us truly alive. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/26/08
How does China come up with the names of their New Year? Even though I have heard a story, I don’t really care, but I have often pondered the question, why!. Usually I pay no attention but I thought that this years 2008, the name was appropriate for our times. There are many things going on in our world that I could easily designate as ‘Rat infested’.
When my children were teenagers and while doing our regular Saturday morning chores, I swiped the broom under a little bookcase that stood on the wall by the front door. Along with dust I swept out an apparently dead mouse. It was so still, I knew it was dead! I called the kids out of their rooms and we three stood around and glared at the dead mouse. We lived in the country and Jim was outdoors. We called him in to take the dead mouse out. Then there were four of us glaring at the dead mouse! Jim said; "it’s not dead"! The three of us stepped back and declared it was dead! "Look at it, just laying there, dead"; I said! Jim took the broom out of my hand and touched the dead mouse and then the three of us scattered as fast as we could. It was alive! It was only pretending to be dead! Jim was quick! He cornered the mouse and then he was dead! The moral of this story is; "Never, trust a dead mouse, or a Rat for that matter"!
Many times we are drawn into believing what is being said or being accepted is okay, because the world around us says it is okay or as the saying goes; "everybody is doing it". Not so! To believe that is like believing the mouse is dead but is actually very much alive. These are some of the things I believe are led by the misguided ‘Rat Pack’ of the world. Abortion rights! The Homosexual movement! The exploitation of the First Amendment, that gives you the right to walk all over others, or "it offends me" syndrome! Our laws were designed to protect the innocent but instead the innocent ends up paying to protect the guilty because of their rights. Our world has always had perpetrators who would act out their desires, but today it is more prevalent because of explicit pictures that are formulated in the minds of the perpetrators. This is through the media’s of movies, TV, magazines and now computers. These have become like ‘dead Rats’ that are truly alive and well in our society.
A rat can be classified as an informant; It is like a mouse but larger and more voracious; It is also a term that is used to cause violence and intimidation by labor unions pitting one against another who refuses to strike. Nobody likes the proverbial ‘rat’ nor do we want to be one! Unless the Christian world becomes alive instead of dead to these realities we will find ourselves falling into the ‘Rat Trap’ that the world lives in.
In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul tells us about the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexual offenders, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers, who will not inherit the kingdom of God!
Paul continues in Galatians 5 with some of the same but a little more explicit. Sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies etc. Paul says that we should not be deceived because these things can totally destroy us. Notice he mentions sexual immorality twice! Our world is held captive by sexual immorality! Paul never pulls any punches!
He asks that we follow his example in Philippians 3:17-20. With tears he reminds us that many live as enemies of the cross. They will find destruction, because their god is their stomach. Their glory will be shame, because their minds are on earthly things. However, those who follow Christ have a heavenly citizenship. Eagerly we await a Savior, who has the power to bring everything under His control. He can take us from pretending to be alive and make us truly alive. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/26/08
Friday, December 5, 2008
JUST HOW AMAZED ARE YOU? 12/5/08
JUST HOW AMAZED ARE YOU?
Today's discussion will complete our week on being amused and amazed by our Lord and Savior. We have pictured ourselves finding safety under His wings; We have seen God in His creation; We’ve taken a glimpse into God’s humor and this morning we are going to be amazed how God loves us.
Through my years I have heard many discuss the reasons why God created the heaven’s and the earth and why He created man. I am sure you all have your own opinions because I have mine. The number one opinion, I have heard is that God was lonely and wanted someone to love Him. I personally think because "God is Love", he was neither lonely nor needed someone to love Him but He wanted to give love. But the love He wanted in return was to be freely given by choice and not because you were given to love Him by design.
Using the NIV let’s look at some scriptures that tells us why God created in the beginning. First of all we were created for His glory! Isaiah 43:7 says; "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." We were created for good works as found in Ephesians 2:10; "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". In Ephesians 4:22-23 Paul is reminding us that we were taught to change from our former way of life, putting off our old attitudes of self. Then is verse 24 it says; "And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness". We were created to become righteous and holy!
Did you know that we were created for God’s pleasure? I think Ephesians 1:4-5 says it well. Although somewhat controversial because of the word predestined, I would like to try and clarify what Paul is saying. From the beginning God made a plan for the ‘church’. The church was destined to be holy and blameless! In love, God made it possible for us to be adopted through Jesus Christ and to become His very own. WOW! All of this was in God’s will and for His pleasure. In verse 6-7 it says; "To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace". The word grace is bantered about giving us license to continue in sin but I believe God’s grace was the cross. It is through the grace of God that Jesus went to the cross which gave us the one and only way to the Father. Jesus Christ, The One He loves!
Finally, let’s look at John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life"! Our God is so amazing! He thought of everything! I am amazed that the whole world isn’t clamoring to get in line to enter inside the narrow gate, like they do on ‘black Fridays’!. Instead, to satisfy self, they are fighting to get inside the door that leads to the broad way of life where death and destruction awaits. In my simpleness, I am so thankful that God’s pleasure is not only in the little children but in an old woman like me. How about you?
Jane Ann
Today's discussion will complete our week on being amused and amazed by our Lord and Savior. We have pictured ourselves finding safety under His wings; We have seen God in His creation; We’ve taken a glimpse into God’s humor and this morning we are going to be amazed how God loves us.
Through my years I have heard many discuss the reasons why God created the heaven’s and the earth and why He created man. I am sure you all have your own opinions because I have mine. The number one opinion, I have heard is that God was lonely and wanted someone to love Him. I personally think because "God is Love", he was neither lonely nor needed someone to love Him but He wanted to give love. But the love He wanted in return was to be freely given by choice and not because you were given to love Him by design.
Using the NIV let’s look at some scriptures that tells us why God created in the beginning. First of all we were created for His glory! Isaiah 43:7 says; "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." We were created for good works as found in Ephesians 2:10; "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". In Ephesians 4:22-23 Paul is reminding us that we were taught to change from our former way of life, putting off our old attitudes of self. Then is verse 24 it says; "And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness". We were created to become righteous and holy!
Did you know that we were created for God’s pleasure? I think Ephesians 1:4-5 says it well. Although somewhat controversial because of the word predestined, I would like to try and clarify what Paul is saying. From the beginning God made a plan for the ‘church’. The church was destined to be holy and blameless! In love, God made it possible for us to be adopted through Jesus Christ and to become His very own. WOW! All of this was in God’s will and for His pleasure. In verse 6-7 it says; "To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace". The word grace is bantered about giving us license to continue in sin but I believe God’s grace was the cross. It is through the grace of God that Jesus went to the cross which gave us the one and only way to the Father. Jesus Christ, The One He loves!
Finally, let’s look at John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life"! Our God is so amazing! He thought of everything! I am amazed that the whole world isn’t clamoring to get in line to enter inside the narrow gate, like they do on ‘black Fridays’!. Instead, to satisfy self, they are fighting to get inside the door that leads to the broad way of life where death and destruction awaits. In my simpleness, I am so thankful that God’s pleasure is not only in the little children but in an old woman like me. How about you?
Jane Ann
Thursday, December 4, 2008
GOD'S AMUSEMENT! 12/4/08
Often I pray that God will use Morning Glory to encourage and lift up my family and friends. It has been slow going but the ones that I know are walking down memory lane with me is also encouraging and lifting me up. Memories are a part of who we are, good or bad! It is a gift from God! When we are able to laugh and cry together, it shows that we care for one another.
Have you ever wondered about God’s sense of humor? Perhaps you have always felt God to be so above the frailties of life that He surely is unapproachable. I believe there are many things we do not know about our God but I do believe He spends a lot of time being amused at our antics. Think about the time when man was preparing and finally walked on the moon! How about the struggles we go through to succeed! We can be just as funny as the animal world!
When God asked Adam to name all the newly created creatures, I am sure He sat back and enjoyed the process. Would you have done differently than Adam? I think the skunk is apply named! However, how did Adam come to name it skunk? Perhaps in the beginning the word skunk wasn’t associated with the odor that the skunk is associated with today. Even so, you have to admit that it had to be pretty funny watching Adam going about naming all the animals, the fish in the seas and the birds in the air.
If you had been there when Jesus fed the 5000 wouldn’t you have been amused, when he did it again with the 4000? Wouldn’t you have been one of the Apostles with a basket in hand running back to Jesus with it empty and saying; "Do it again, Master; Do it again"! How about when Nathanael met Jesus for the first time and Jesus told him that he had seen him sitting under the tree! I bet Nathanael was taken off guard with; "How can you know that"? Can you imagine a little bit of laughter in his voice? I would have been amazed with; "WOW"!
Haven’t you found some of the stories in God’s word amusing? For instance Noah and the Ark; Abraham and Sarah; Balaam and the donkey; Rahab the Harlot; David and Goliath and on it goes. God taking the unimaginable and bringing His work to fruition with such unlikely characters. A boy, a shady woman, a large boat on dry land, an elderly couple giving birth and especially a talking donkey. I am not talking about the content or the message these stories bring but how God uses unlikely people and their lives to teach us His word.
Today I wanted to look at the aspect of God’s amusement in creation. His watching over us and how serious we always seem to be when we think about God. I know that my coming face to face with God, brings me to my knees, saying; "Abba Father"! Yet, when I look around me I am amused at God’s sense of humor and know that He is approachable.
With God all things are possible! Because Jesus could heal the sick, caused the lame to walk, the blind to see and even raise the dead back into a living, breathing being, I find my self being amused at my own importance. Who am I? Why are we so involved with our own self-importance that we can’t see the beauty of our existence is only by the grace of God.
1 Peter 3:10 says; "For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil". Psalm 37:13 says that last line a little differently; "But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming"!
Jane Ann
Have you ever wondered about God’s sense of humor? Perhaps you have always felt God to be so above the frailties of life that He surely is unapproachable. I believe there are many things we do not know about our God but I do believe He spends a lot of time being amused at our antics. Think about the time when man was preparing and finally walked on the moon! How about the struggles we go through to succeed! We can be just as funny as the animal world!
When God asked Adam to name all the newly created creatures, I am sure He sat back and enjoyed the process. Would you have done differently than Adam? I think the skunk is apply named! However, how did Adam come to name it skunk? Perhaps in the beginning the word skunk wasn’t associated with the odor that the skunk is associated with today. Even so, you have to admit that it had to be pretty funny watching Adam going about naming all the animals, the fish in the seas and the birds in the air.
If you had been there when Jesus fed the 5000 wouldn’t you have been amused, when he did it again with the 4000? Wouldn’t you have been one of the Apostles with a basket in hand running back to Jesus with it empty and saying; "Do it again, Master; Do it again"! How about when Nathanael met Jesus for the first time and Jesus told him that he had seen him sitting under the tree! I bet Nathanael was taken off guard with; "How can you know that"? Can you imagine a little bit of laughter in his voice? I would have been amazed with; "WOW"!
Haven’t you found some of the stories in God’s word amusing? For instance Noah and the Ark; Abraham and Sarah; Balaam and the donkey; Rahab the Harlot; David and Goliath and on it goes. God taking the unimaginable and bringing His work to fruition with such unlikely characters. A boy, a shady woman, a large boat on dry land, an elderly couple giving birth and especially a talking donkey. I am not talking about the content or the message these stories bring but how God uses unlikely people and their lives to teach us His word.
Today I wanted to look at the aspect of God’s amusement in creation. His watching over us and how serious we always seem to be when we think about God. I know that my coming face to face with God, brings me to my knees, saying; "Abba Father"! Yet, when I look around me I am amused at God’s sense of humor and know that He is approachable.
With God all things are possible! Because Jesus could heal the sick, caused the lame to walk, the blind to see and even raise the dead back into a living, breathing being, I find my self being amused at my own importance. Who am I? Why are we so involved with our own self-importance that we can’t see the beauty of our existence is only by the grace of God.
1 Peter 3:10 says; "For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil". Psalm 37:13 says that last line a little differently; "But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming"!
Jane Ann
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
IN CREATION WE FIND GOD! 12/3/08
One of our readers has walked through some difficult days. His response to the question 'can you picture finding shelter under His wings'? Is yes! "He could picture it all and says; "What a gift"! Make no mistake, God is watching over us!
I remember seeing a documentary years ago about a tumble weed. As Jim ate his pop
corn I became so engrossed in the story that I even began to squirm in my seat as the wind blew this little tumble weed into the oncoming traffic and into possible danger. You can tell how I was affected just by the way I described a scene. I understand why children become so caught up in animated stories and why adults love the computerized games that they play with their fingers. We become involved in the story so much that it almost becomes real. The cartoon, or the thing becomes so life like that we feel their joy, their pain and even their excitement.
However, we do live in the real world! Playing with paper dolls as we did years ago or even playing with GI Joe and Barbie are games. It is make believe! It is not real! Sometimes as we watch the birds around the bird feeder on our patio, it is almost like watching a make believe, animated video. But these birds are real! They are just like us as we watch them but conversely it’s their world and they are watching us. Their world is different in that they migrate from one part of the country to another depending upon the seasons. We usually stay put! I think perhaps it is safer staying put than flitting from here and there because trouble can lurk in some of the most unusual places.
Early one Saturday morning I was sitting in my recliner and Scotty, the cat, was laying on the floor beside me. All of a sudden we heard a semi loud thud inside the fireplace chimney wall. Scotty ran to the fireplace to see better and I was in a panic because I could hear the flapping of wings and knew that a bird had fallen down the chimney. Thankfully it was not the season for a fire but then we seldom ever have a fire. I hollered for Jim and we ponder our next move. Obviously it was our move because the bird couldn’t seem to find it’s way out even after Jim opened the damper. I called the chimney sweep! They couldn’t come out until Monday at noon! What were we to do? We waited and intermittently we could hear the flapping of wings! We told our story to our church family the next day and everyone had a solution. Only one became a consideration! But I didn’t try it until Monday morning. I placed a lamp just inside the fireplace and turned it on. It didn’t take long! As soon as our visitor saw the light he went towards it and fell through the damper! We quickly rigged a path towards the sliding doors onto the patio. Jim helped him along and he was outside! Jim followed so he could give him some water. As I stood there watching in awe, the water coming on frightened him and he took off into the air as though he had just stopped for a chat and was now on his way. Full power! I cried!
I had prayed every since it happen that God would free this little bird. I knew God was concerned because in Luke 12:6 it says that He knows even when the sparrow falls.
Our God is the God of creation! In Genesis 1:21-23 God filled the waters with living creatures and the air with every winged bird. Genesis 1:24-27 God let the earth bring forth living creatures. Those that creep and the beasts after their own kind. On that same day he created man and said that they would rule over all that moved on the earth. In Genesis 7:13-16 Noah and his family entered the Ark of salvation along with every kind of living breathing flesh after its kind as God had commanded him, male and female. Yes, God even tells Job in 38:39-41 how He sees that the Lion is fed, along with the raven as their young cry to Him and wander about without food. I believe for our amusement and amazement God said in Luke 19:40; "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out". Even the inanimate is under God’s control as well as the animate. Why shouldn’t God be able to breath life into the stones? He did it with dust! We cannot impede the Creator! Jane Ann
I remember seeing a documentary years ago about a tumble weed. As Jim ate his pop
corn I became so engrossed in the story that I even began to squirm in my seat as the wind blew this little tumble weed into the oncoming traffic and into possible danger. You can tell how I was affected just by the way I described a scene. I understand why children become so caught up in animated stories and why adults love the computerized games that they play with their fingers. We become involved in the story so much that it almost becomes real. The cartoon, or the thing becomes so life like that we feel their joy, their pain and even their excitement.
However, we do live in the real world! Playing with paper dolls as we did years ago or even playing with GI Joe and Barbie are games. It is make believe! It is not real! Sometimes as we watch the birds around the bird feeder on our patio, it is almost like watching a make believe, animated video. But these birds are real! They are just like us as we watch them but conversely it’s their world and they are watching us. Their world is different in that they migrate from one part of the country to another depending upon the seasons. We usually stay put! I think perhaps it is safer staying put than flitting from here and there because trouble can lurk in some of the most unusual places.
Early one Saturday morning I was sitting in my recliner and Scotty, the cat, was laying on the floor beside me. All of a sudden we heard a semi loud thud inside the fireplace chimney wall. Scotty ran to the fireplace to see better and I was in a panic because I could hear the flapping of wings and knew that a bird had fallen down the chimney. Thankfully it was not the season for a fire but then we seldom ever have a fire. I hollered for Jim and we ponder our next move. Obviously it was our move because the bird couldn’t seem to find it’s way out even after Jim opened the damper. I called the chimney sweep! They couldn’t come out until Monday at noon! What were we to do? We waited and intermittently we could hear the flapping of wings! We told our story to our church family the next day and everyone had a solution. Only one became a consideration! But I didn’t try it until Monday morning. I placed a lamp just inside the fireplace and turned it on. It didn’t take long! As soon as our visitor saw the light he went towards it and fell through the damper! We quickly rigged a path towards the sliding doors onto the patio. Jim helped him along and he was outside! Jim followed so he could give him some water. As I stood there watching in awe, the water coming on frightened him and he took off into the air as though he had just stopped for a chat and was now on his way. Full power! I cried!
I had prayed every since it happen that God would free this little bird. I knew God was concerned because in Luke 12:6 it says that He knows even when the sparrow falls.
Our God is the God of creation! In Genesis 1:21-23 God filled the waters with living creatures and the air with every winged bird. Genesis 1:24-27 God let the earth bring forth living creatures. Those that creep and the beasts after their own kind. On that same day he created man and said that they would rule over all that moved on the earth. In Genesis 7:13-16 Noah and his family entered the Ark of salvation along with every kind of living breathing flesh after its kind as God had commanded him, male and female. Yes, God even tells Job in 38:39-41 how He sees that the Lion is fed, along with the raven as their young cry to Him and wander about without food. I believe for our amusement and amazement God said in Luke 19:40; "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out". Even the inanimate is under God’s control as well as the animate. Why shouldn’t God be able to breath life into the stones? He did it with dust! We cannot impede the Creator! Jane Ann
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Picturing being under God's wings 12/2/08
Since computers and email I have received many stories, and warnings of bad things will happen if I don’t forward, or if I do forward, to at least 10 people, good fortune will come my way. I love to receive some of these tid bits and short stories but I don’t like to be forced by guilt to forward. I decide whether I want to forward or not! One of the stories I received was about a charred chicken found at the base of a fir tree during an inspection of a contained forest fire. The fireman saw it and saw how grotesque it looked. He kicked it with his foot and several baby chicks ran out from underneath the wings of a charred mother hen.
Another little story I saw in a newspaper many years ago. It was about an abandoned warehouse which had burned down. The story goes that as the firemen were beginning to spray down the building they saw a baby kitten hidden in some trash just outside the large door that was opened just a smidgen at the bottom. As he reached down to pick up the kitten a smoke laden mother cat was scurrying over to the trash and deposited another kitten. Before he could stop her she turned and ran back inside the burning building. In just moments she returned with another and before he could get her she ran back inside. All in all she brought out 5 baby kittens and then collapsed. The fireman immediately began to attend to the mother cat. Although she was singed, blackened from the smoke and with hardly a breath in her because of smoke inhalation, she was still alive!. She was taken to the vet along with her babies and was eventually nursed back to health.
It is always amazing how the animal kingdom acts upon instinct not love. Survival is important in the animal kingdom. We have watched momma and pappa birds building nests, being very protective of the eggs. Even after the babies are hatched , they hover around the nest and take turns feeding the young. Years ago I walked into my backyard and was attacked by a couple of birds. Even our dog was not safe! I finally called Jim at work and he came home. We discovered that several of the babies had fallen out of a nest and into our backyard. Jim turned the hose on and tried to pick up the babies and place them on the other side of the retaining wall because we didn’t know where their nest was. At the same time, he tried to protect himself by turning the spray of water upon the parent birds. It was scary and a little exciting. Finally it was safe again in our yard! For a time we thought we were in a remake of the movie called ‘The Birds’!
Many times animals are known for abandoning their young! Abandonment by human parents is also a well known factor. I have never understood that! I guess it is because my Mother and Father never gave up their children even though hardships were greater because of having so many children.
In Matthew 23:37 Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem. He said they would kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to her. Jesus says; "I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling". What a safe place for those little chicks in the forest fire Even though the mother hen suffered and died, her little ones were safe under her wings. In Psalm 17 David is asking God for protection from his enemies. David says; Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shadow of Thy wings". Even in the shadow of God’s wing David could find safety. In Psalm 91 David is seeking security for one who puts his trust in the Lord. Verse 4 reads; "He will cover you with His pinions and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.".
When we are lost and can’t find our way, our heavenly Father will lift us up out of the miry clay and protect us under His wings. Can you picture it? Can you picture the storm clashing all around us? Can you picture finding shelter under His wings? Jane Ann
Another little story I saw in a newspaper many years ago. It was about an abandoned warehouse which had burned down. The story goes that as the firemen were beginning to spray down the building they saw a baby kitten hidden in some trash just outside the large door that was opened just a smidgen at the bottom. As he reached down to pick up the kitten a smoke laden mother cat was scurrying over to the trash and deposited another kitten. Before he could stop her she turned and ran back inside the burning building. In just moments she returned with another and before he could get her she ran back inside. All in all she brought out 5 baby kittens and then collapsed. The fireman immediately began to attend to the mother cat. Although she was singed, blackened from the smoke and with hardly a breath in her because of smoke inhalation, she was still alive!. She was taken to the vet along with her babies and was eventually nursed back to health.
It is always amazing how the animal kingdom acts upon instinct not love. Survival is important in the animal kingdom. We have watched momma and pappa birds building nests, being very protective of the eggs. Even after the babies are hatched , they hover around the nest and take turns feeding the young. Years ago I walked into my backyard and was attacked by a couple of birds. Even our dog was not safe! I finally called Jim at work and he came home. We discovered that several of the babies had fallen out of a nest and into our backyard. Jim turned the hose on and tried to pick up the babies and place them on the other side of the retaining wall because we didn’t know where their nest was. At the same time, he tried to protect himself by turning the spray of water upon the parent birds. It was scary and a little exciting. Finally it was safe again in our yard! For a time we thought we were in a remake of the movie called ‘The Birds’!
Many times animals are known for abandoning their young! Abandonment by human parents is also a well known factor. I have never understood that! I guess it is because my Mother and Father never gave up their children even though hardships were greater because of having so many children.
In Matthew 23:37 Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem. He said they would kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to her. Jesus says; "I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling". What a safe place for those little chicks in the forest fire Even though the mother hen suffered and died, her little ones were safe under her wings. In Psalm 17 David is asking God for protection from his enemies. David says; Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shadow of Thy wings". Even in the shadow of God’s wing David could find safety. In Psalm 91 David is seeking security for one who puts his trust in the Lord. Verse 4 reads; "He will cover you with His pinions and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.".
When we are lost and can’t find our way, our heavenly Father will lift us up out of the miry clay and protect us under His wings. Can you picture it? Can you picture the storm clashing all around us? Can you picture finding shelter under His wings? Jane Ann
Monday, December 1, 2008
For Our Amusement and Amazement! 12/1/08
FOR OUR AMUSEMENT AND AMAZEMENT!
The winter of 07-08 we discovered we had actually moved into the snow belt of Southern Oregon. It was not just the snow belt, but the land of snow. Snow started in November and never had a chance to melt, until long into the end of spring and early summer. We were fully dressed in beautiful white stuff that gradually turned into slush with tones of ugly brown stuff with intermittent streaks of gray and white. Even though many were on their roofs removing a disaster waiting to happen the birds were out looking for their regular restaurant haunts. Some were still open as the owners would refill their feeders every morning and evening. Others, were apparently closed due to bad weather. This winter we had an untapped food supply and we were amazed! When the berries were gone the food supply was at Wal-Mart.
We noticed the Robins before the snow, were a little more plump than usual but only to the point that we noticed. Nothing more! Did they know something we didn’t? We have a small tree in the front that has red non-eatable berries. We also have a medium size red berry tree of a different kind on the back patio. Usually in the spring, we have to clean up these berries because the birds never eat them. Not so this winter! A good size flock of Robins found our back yard their winter resort and their size doubled throughout those winter months. Their red/orange chests protruding almost to the ground, were amazing! One Robin took possession of the ground under the wheelbarrow planter. When other Robins wanted to join him, he became aggressive and chased them away.
It appears to me that while eating the worms we grow in our front yard, the Robins stay slim and trim. But because the worm café was closed, they were eating only dessert and believe me it was beginning to show. Along with the Robins we have noticed much smaller birds eating right along with them. There is no segregation within the fine feathered friends at the dinner table, unless you are trying to eat off each others plate.
Whenever I ask Jim; "Why did God create that"? Usually it is regarding a plant, an animal or anything that appears unusual, funny or strange. He always says; "For our amusement and amazement"! Well, we certainly have been amused and amazed at the nature displayed in our yard. I have worried so much about the snow and the problems and the danger that it brings, but the snow has brought to these birds joy, delight and of course berry’s.
I remember my older brothers and sisters talking about the depression. They summed it all up with; "We never really knew we were in a ‘depression’ because we always lived like that". Today the news media tell us that we are in a recession which of course leads to a ‘depression’. Gas has been high, prices in the super markets are increasing and many homes are being foreclosed upon. I wonder if that means we are living within our means and the means are just not enough or if it means we have been living beyond our means and our supply is getting pinched because of wanting more than what we need.
In Matthew 6:25 God tells us; "Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink. Further on He says; "Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?"
My favorite is 34; "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day". Let us enjoy today! Let God fill us with amusement and amazement and not be filled with anxiety. Let’s feast on the berries of life with joy and anticipation. Praise God for today! By: Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/25/08
The winter of 07-08 we discovered we had actually moved into the snow belt of Southern Oregon. It was not just the snow belt, but the land of snow. Snow started in November and never had a chance to melt, until long into the end of spring and early summer. We were fully dressed in beautiful white stuff that gradually turned into slush with tones of ugly brown stuff with intermittent streaks of gray and white. Even though many were on their roofs removing a disaster waiting to happen the birds were out looking for their regular restaurant haunts. Some were still open as the owners would refill their feeders every morning and evening. Others, were apparently closed due to bad weather. This winter we had an untapped food supply and we were amazed! When the berries were gone the food supply was at Wal-Mart.
We noticed the Robins before the snow, were a little more plump than usual but only to the point that we noticed. Nothing more! Did they know something we didn’t? We have a small tree in the front that has red non-eatable berries. We also have a medium size red berry tree of a different kind on the back patio. Usually in the spring, we have to clean up these berries because the birds never eat them. Not so this winter! A good size flock of Robins found our back yard their winter resort and their size doubled throughout those winter months. Their red/orange chests protruding almost to the ground, were amazing! One Robin took possession of the ground under the wheelbarrow planter. When other Robins wanted to join him, he became aggressive and chased them away.
It appears to me that while eating the worms we grow in our front yard, the Robins stay slim and trim. But because the worm café was closed, they were eating only dessert and believe me it was beginning to show. Along with the Robins we have noticed much smaller birds eating right along with them. There is no segregation within the fine feathered friends at the dinner table, unless you are trying to eat off each others plate.
Whenever I ask Jim; "Why did God create that"? Usually it is regarding a plant, an animal or anything that appears unusual, funny or strange. He always says; "For our amusement and amazement"! Well, we certainly have been amused and amazed at the nature displayed in our yard. I have worried so much about the snow and the problems and the danger that it brings, but the snow has brought to these birds joy, delight and of course berry’s.
I remember my older brothers and sisters talking about the depression. They summed it all up with; "We never really knew we were in a ‘depression’ because we always lived like that". Today the news media tell us that we are in a recession which of course leads to a ‘depression’. Gas has been high, prices in the super markets are increasing and many homes are being foreclosed upon. I wonder if that means we are living within our means and the means are just not enough or if it means we have been living beyond our means and our supply is getting pinched because of wanting more than what we need.
In Matthew 6:25 God tells us; "Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink. Further on He says; "Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?"
My favorite is 34; "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day". Let us enjoy today! Let God fill us with amusement and amazement and not be filled with anxiety. Let’s feast on the berries of life with joy and anticipation. Praise God for today! By: Jane Ann Crenshaw 1/25/08
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