Heaven Sent Sentiments

Hi! I realized this week that September is flying by, we are heading into the fourth week already! How crazy is that?! While looking at the calendar I came to another realization. It’s September and I am at the six-month mark since I began this journey of blogging. March 16, 2018, was my official debut. 🙂

God planted the “seed” of writing into my life several years ago. Slowly he was watering His will in my life through His word, my journaling, writing classes, and the people and circumstances He brought into my life. What I have realized over the last six months is that His greatest work was just beginning in me.

Dying to self. I never realized how much I cared about what people thought about me until now. I need validation to justify who I am in this world, to feel needed. The world tells me:

1) I need to be paid to have a “real” contribution to my family.

2) My worth, in blogging, is equated to likes, views, and numbers of followers.

3) My writing career is considered to be successful by the number of books sold or the amount of money made.

Lies, lies, lies!

They are lies because my eyes are set on Jesus and His characteristics. Slowly and daily, I am being made into the image of God. For that to happen, these insecurities and doubts had to come to the surface. It’s painful, but I am being rooted in Christ.

All of the work He is doing is “under the surface” in my heart, mind, and soul. It’s deep. God gave me the realization that I need not look to the world for my success and validation, only Him. For that reason:

1) I will work only for Him and the provisions and blessings He has for me. I will not worry of the successes of the world. He knows what I need. My treasures are in heaven, not on earth.

2) I will never list the number of followers on my blog. This is my own personal decision between God and me. Besides, He is the only one that matters and He already knows, right?!

3) My writing career is His. Where he leads me, what I write, and who reads it is all: His will, His time, and all guided by the Holy Spirit.

I want to be deeply rooted in Him so that none of my self remains. So this week, I want to share my first blog with you: the day my roots began growing deeper in Christ. Thank you, so much, Heavenly Father for reminding me that You are the ONLY One I need.

Blessings,

Shanon

***

                                                                               Diving in…
Posted at 5:46 PM by Shanon Crenshaw, on March 16, 2018

Today I start on a journey of obedience. Trust me, if the step I was about to take was only about me, I would stay safely on the shore. My feet solidly planted in the sand, several feet away from the unknown waters I am CALLED to jump in.
However, my heart belongs to Jesus. No, Jesus IS my heart and that is why this journey is no longer about me. It is about faith and an unmistakable vision He planted in me years ago.

***

“Greeting cards?! Are you serious, God?” My thoughts, while my husband and I drove towards the freeway, were all over the place. How could God have placed writing on my heart when I have never kept a journal OR ever aspired to write, well, anything that I wasn’t told I had to write? Like in school or college. Not ONLY did God place it in my heart to write, but He told me what to call it–Heaven Sent Sentiments. Wow. The seed for Heaven Sent Sentiments was planted that day in 2010, and God has been ever gently watering the vision He gave me into existence.

My “watering” began with a deep thirst to be in His word, prayer, and presence, unlike anything I had ever known. If I am being completely transparent with you, I believe this was my first test of obedience. Some days were harder than others initially, but the closeness I began to have with my Heavenly Father was far greater than the time I was giving “up” to experience my life with Him. My proximity to Jesus resulted in a deeper awareness of Him around me and the promptings on where He was leading me next.

There was no denying my next step…higher education to get a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing! Yup, I was back in college around the same time my oldest daughter would be applying for college herself. God sometimes has an amazing sense of humor in His timing, but it is always on time. Several “God moments” and levels of obedience occurred during this stage and I will definitely highlight those moments on a future blog. Let’s just say I was brought down on my knees when I thought I could not go any further…on my own. Can you relate? This is where the power of the Holy Spirit steps in….when we allow him to.

 Obedience to the call God gave me now focused on writing, writing, and more….reading. Sorry. Had to throw that in to make sure you were paying attention. So… journaling, screenwriting, non-fiction stories, and memoirs became the focus of my days….greeting cards did not. Remember, that is what God initially laid on my heart to write. I believe he will lead me there when He is ready. Right now, He gave me a very clear indication of what He wants me to do: write a blog.

Friends, this is where you and I come together in an amazing way: to share this journey that God placed in my heart. This blog is a place to share the hope of Jesus through my experiences, your experiences, and the daily way God speaks in us, through us, and around us. Is there a moment like mine when you stepped out in complete obedience or faith? I would love to hear your thoughts, encouragements, and stories!

 Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to step out in faith and pure obedience, knowing that you are with me every step of the way. Whether five people read this or five hundred–this is for You! Let your words be my words and may those words be set on fire by the Holy Spirit. Amen!!

ALL the glory to God,
Shanon
Image of “Rooted in Jesus” by Valley Creek Church.
Image of “Colossians 2:6-7 by Year-end 2015- Growing Roots