Heaven Sent Sentiments

Sharing the hope of Jesus, one heaven sent story at a time.
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  • Monthly Archives: September 2019

    • Progress, not Perfection

      Posted at 12:23 PM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 30, 2019

      fall foliage cross

      Good morning! I woke up to a beautiful, sunny, crisp fall day here in the PNW! The trees are absolutely gorgeous exhibiting leaves of gold, orange, and my personal favorite, crimson red. God’s Glory is on display!

      ***

      Have you ever had a time when you knew you were on the path God wanted you to be? But because it’s unmarked, unlike anything you’ve done before, and different in so many ways, you begin questioning everything about it? And even worse, the more you try to research, learn, and grow into the work God called you to; the more you realize you don’t really know much about anything?!

      Well, that is how I spent my Sunday afternoon yesterday. I was working in my writing room, trying to get ahead on a few projects–doing research– and the more I tried to accomplish, the more feelings of inadequacy and inability bubbled up.

      What’s worse is that once those feelings came to the surface, self-pity began to set in. I started to believe the lies that were bombarding my mind and bringing me down.

      Not long after this, the LORD began speaking to my heart and encouraging me to pray. Did I heed His direction? No, not at that moment.

      I decided to step away from my desk and watch one of my favorite television shows, House Hunters International. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s a show that helps families relocate and find places to live in locations all around the world. It gives a glimpse into the diversity and cultures of the people and places God created. Anyway, my mind had no peace while watching my show.

      Go pray.

      More time went by.

      Go pray.

      Finally, at about 8 p.m., I listened. I went to my prayer closet and played one of my favorite worship songs “The Throne Room” by Kim Walker-Smith. In that moment, I just let all of those feelings of inadequacy go: through my prayer language, tears, and just being still and resting in the presence of my LORD and Savior.

      He already knows my heart and His plans for me, and He hears every time I cry out to Him. “The righteous cry out and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all of their troubles.” (Psalm 34:7)

      I spent about half an hour just being with the LORD. The time was so cleansing, uplifting, and peaceful. This scripture came to my mind while I was in prayer:

      “But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

      Then the LORD asked Moses,”Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decided whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” (Exodus 4:10-12)

      Wow, did I need that reminder! I can definitely relate to the anxiety Moses was feeling. So many of my weak areas are being exposed and it’s uncomfortable, to say the least.

      This is where I need to go all in, completely trust what God has called me to do,  and that He will give me all I need to fulfill His plan–in His time.

      “God does not ask us to go where He has not provided the means to help. Go where He leads, trusting Him to supply the courage, confidence, and resources at the right moment.” (NLV Commentary, Exodus 4:1)

      ***

       God continued to give me even more encouragement this morning. While I was driving my daughter to school and admiring all of the fall foliage, guess what the first song to come on the radio was?

      The Throne Room By Kim Walker-Smith (Click here to listen!)

      The one and only worship song I played during my prayer time last night. My heart and soul were so incredibly blessed to sing those words of praise again.

      I encourage you, no matter where you are in your walk with the LORD, to continue Seeking Him, praying, and trusting that God will supply all you need according to His will and His timing.

      proverbs- 3 5 through 6 hills

      All the Glory to God,

      Shanon

      Bibliography

      Exodus 4:1 Commentary. Life Application Study Bible. NLT, second edition. Tyndale House Publishers, INC. Print. 2007.

      Image of the cross with fall foliage by Cross Autumn Fall Foliage–Free photo on Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-autumn-fall-foliage-1796505/

      Image of Proverbs 3: 5-6 by Bible verse of the day–daily verses.net. https://dailyverses.net/proverbs/3/5-6

      Walker-Smith, Kim. “The Throne Room.” From the album On My Side. Released March 10, 2017. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Ljl32SqRc&feature=share_email

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      Posted in Answered Prayers | 3 Comments | Tagged Answered Prayers, perseverance, Proverbs 3: 5-6, Trusting In God's Plan
    • Worshipping While Grieving

      Posted at 11:29 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 27, 2019

      pray without ceasing

      Love. Death. Faith. Those three words have been the basis of many poems, songs, and hymns throughout the years. One young Irish immigrant by the name of Joseph M. Scriven had a profound and life-altering time with each one of those subjects. In fact, it was the combination of all three of those circumstances that ultimately created the poem that was turned into one of the most beloved hymns of all time.

      Joseph M. Scriven was born in 1819 in County Down, Northern Ireland, to Captain John Scriven and Jane Medlicott, whose wealth afforded him the luxury of a college education. He began Trinity College in Dublin at the age of sixteen and several years later earned a Bachelor’s degree.

      During his early twenties, many changes were on the horizon for Joseph. Among them, he had new prospects for a career with his degree–teaching and tutoring. Also, he had discovered and developed a relationship with God through the beliefs and teachings of Plymouth Brethren, a church and congregation that focused, “on the individual’s direct relationship with God and the emphasis this placed on personal responsibility. They met in simple meeting rooms for the Lord’s Supper and to join in prayer and preach the Gospel” (Plymouth Brethren Christian Church). Finally, he was in love and engaged to be married.

      Then severe tragedy struck.

      “At age twenty-five, Joseph Scriven decided to leave his native country so he could migrate to Canada. He left due to a twofold reasoning; the religious influence of the Plymouth Brethren and the accidental drowning of his fiancée the night before the scheduled wedding.” (Glenewinkel, Darren).

      During the mid-1840’s Joseph Scriven settled in the Woodstock/Clinton area in Canada and began working as a teacher and private tutor to earn a living. Also, he once again began meeting the Plymouth Brethren group that was near where he lived in town.

      Over the course of several years, he was asked to privately tutor Theodore Robert Pengelley, the ten year old son of Robert Lamport Pengelley and Lydia Eliza Emily Roche. While working for this family, he lived with them for the next five years.

      It was during this time that he had the pleasure to meet and get to know Mrs. Pengelley’s niece, Eliza Catherine Roche. Over time, their affection for each other grew and they became engaged in 1859.

      Before their coming nuptials, Miss Roche wanted to be baptized with full water immersion. Port Hope History provides more details surrounding that time:

      “It was conducted in Rice Lake in April 1860, with the ice barely gone. Eliza, who was already seriously ill with consumption, was thoroughly chilled by the experience, developed pneumonia, weakened over a four-month period and died on the 6th of August 1860. She was buried in the little cemetery beside the Pengelley chapel.”

      Her death changes Joseph Scriven’s life forever. He has now suffered the loss of two fiancée’s and at the age of thirty-nine, dedicates the rest of his life to not only being a bachelor but to servanthood in the name of Jesus Christ.

      He takes up residence with a widow in the town of Port Hope, Canada, providing for her the rest of her life. Also, he lives barely above the poverty level, giving everything he has to all those in need. And, every chance he can, he preaches the Gospel not only in a little church but in the streets of town.

      And finally, he writes poems and hymns. He began one such poem with these words: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear!”

      Once he finished this poem he titled, ‘Pray Without Ceasing,‘ he made two copies. He gave one copy to the widow, Margaret, he lived with. He sent the second copy to his mother in Dublin, Ireland, because she was in ill health and he thought those words would comfort her.

      And indeed they did!! It is believed that probably through his mother the poem was made public because Mr. Scriven worked so hard to be humble and not bring any attention upon himself. All that was needed now was a musical accompaniment.

      Composer Charles Crozat Converse,” wrote the music inspired by the poem,’ Pray Without Ceasing’ for what became the hymn ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus.’

      During the remainder of his years, he suffered from ill health and poverty, and yet he still always put the needs of others before his own. At the age of 66, he passed from this earthly life into the waiting arms of his Friend and Savior, Jesus!! Amen!

       What a friend we have in Jesus,
      all our sins and griefs to bear!
      What a privilege to carry
      everything to God in prayer!
      O what peace we often forfeit,
      O what needless pain we bear,
      all because we do not carry
      everything to God in prayer! (Hymnary.org)

      All the glory to God,

      Shanon

      Author’s note: If you would like to know more about this amazing man, I highly encourage you to check out http://porthopehistory.com/jmscriven/ where a lot of the information was provided for me in regard to writing this blog.  I could not include all of it, and there are even a few pictures, too!! I promise you won’t be disappointed! 🙂

      Bibliography:

      Glenewinkel, Darren. “What a Friend.” Preparing for Eternity.org. Web. 26 September 2019. http://preparingforeternity.org/hymn_stories/what_a_friend.shtml

      Image of “Pray without Ceasing” by my bible. https://mybible.com/covers/715om

      “Joseph Scriven.” http://www.cyberhymnal.org.

      Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Factual history and origins of the church fellowship and community. Web. 26 September 2019. http://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/about/

      Port Hope History. org. “Joseph Scriven, 1819-1886.” Web. 26 September 2019. http://porthopehistory.com/jmscriven/

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      Posted in Testimonies of Hope | 0 Comments | Tagged bible, Christian blogger, Christian Testimony, Joseph Scriven, Pray without Ceasing, What a friend we have in Jesus, Worship God after loss
    • Community of Shared Hope

      Posted at 8:00 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 25, 2019

      be still my soul

      This week, while I was reflecting, being still in the presence of God, and praying I was thinking a lot of Billy Graham and some of the amazing words of wisdom he had given while he was here on earth. I reacquainted myself with some of my favorites and wanted to share them with you. Lord bless!!

      “Christ not only died for all: he died for each.”

      “Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”

      On How to Live with Eyes Fixed on Eternity:

      “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”

      “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”

      On Suffering:

      All the glory to God,

      Shanon

      Image of: “Be Still, my Soul” by God Tube.com.  https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/be-still-my-soul/

      McDaniel, Debbie. “40 Courageous Quotes from Billy Graham.” Crosswalk.com. Web. 24 September 2019. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/40-courageous-quotes-from-evangelist-billy-graham.html.

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      Posted in Community of Shared Hope | 0 Comments | Tagged Be Still, Billy Graham quotes, Christ died for YOU, Fruit is grown in the valleys, Hope in Jesus
    • Fall Mourning

      Posted at 11:34 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 23, 2019
      suzanne
      jared

      Today as I was preparing to write and praying, God kept bringing this to my mind: Be Still and rest in My presence.

      My heart is a bit heavy today. I can’t think of the first day of fall without remembering my daughter’s first best friend: Jared Wells.

      They met in kindergarten and quickly became inseparable. Two peas in a pod. (By the way, the pictures up above came from my daughter’s scrapbook ). His mother, Paula, and I also became good friends bonding over our love of the Lord, our daily walks after we took the kids to school, and life in general. Many afternoons of sun, fun, and laughter were spent together. We even had the pleasure of taking him to Disneyland for the first time! 🙂

      Their friendship lasted until around third grade when they moved away to Arizona. This was before Facebook and all other social media platforms so keeping in touch wasn’t as simple. Life got busy: we moved, they moved, I had another daughter, etc.

      I’d like to say I kept in touch on Facebook once it became available, but it’s a chore for me to post because I don’t like posting about myself in general. And, my daughter Suzanne, was not allowed to have her own Facebook profile until she was 18–I know, mean mom!! So, Facebook became more of a visual way of keeping in touch rather than a communication tool.

      Years went by, middle school, and finally, we got to senior year–2014/2015.  Ironically, I started reading the book of Job on the first day of Fall 2014. The reason I can say this is because several times the Lord has placed it very strongly on my heart to read the Bible cover to cover and date it as I go along, almost as though I am journaling through it. Here is an image of my bible dated on that particular day.first day of fall right way Job

      About two days later, I got a very strong prompting to check my friend Paula’s Facebook page. It was so incredibly strong I couldn’t ignore it.

      I remember letting out a small scream and crying as I read the beginning of her post:

      Jared Wells 1997-2014

      Apparently, on September 23rd–the first day of Fall–he was out running before school, training for a marathon, when he was hit by a van and instantly killed. He was a senior in high school and planned for a career in the military. My heart broke that day for so many reasons and I pray often for his parents and sisters.

      I sought God’s wisdom and discernment on how and when to tell my daughter. She is extremely sensitive and this was her first real experience with loss. It was several weeks before we had the conversation, but in my heart of hearts I knew she had some inclination to it and I’ll explain why.

      About a week after Jared passed away he would have celebrated his birthday. He loved pumpkin pie and would have wanted it for his birthday. Through social media, his mother asked everyone to have pumpkin pie on his birthday, in his honor, and post pictures. Tons of pictures poured onto her page.

      Before I told my daughter what had happened to Jared we celebrated her 18th birthday on December 10th. What kind of cake did she want?! Pumpkin pie!!! She never asked for that before and she hasn’t since. I can’t help but think that somehow this was connected to Jared and their strong friendship. I believe, through Christ, our hearts and souls are connected, even after death. Even though in her mind she didn’t know the loss, her heart did.

      It warmed my heart so much that night and I thought of Jared. What an amazing best friend he was to my daughter the first few years of school and what an amazing young man he was becoming.

      I shared all of that with her and she knows, like me, what a gift people are to us and we should never take any relationship or day for granted. Everything we receive are gifts from God and today, even more than usual, I cherish everything.

      So, yes, today God I am resting in your Presence. I am going to Be still. Be thankful. Love every person you have allowed me to share my life with and share the hope that your Son, Jesus, can bring to every person!!

      Be-Still-and-Know-Mountains

      All the glory to God,

      Shanon

      Image of “Be Still…” by CHEKABC–Christian Schooling @ home http://chekabc.ca/blog/be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god

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      Posted in Healing, Reflections/Stillness | 4 Comments | Tagged Be still and know that I am God, best friends, Fall Mourning, Healing after death, Jesus Saves
    • Testimonies of Hope: Icoze Mafella

      Posted at 8:00 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 20, 2019

      henry blackaby quote.jpg

      There are several ways the Holy Spirit communicates with us. One way is a deep inner knowing–you know without a shadow of a doubt that what is being shared with you is from the Holy Spirit. There is a strength and a conviction (strong persuasion or belief ) to the knowledge you are given.

      From my experience, along with what I just mentioned, the “message” seems to grow as time goes on. It may start off small, and then grow bigger until I can’t ignore it anymore. I know….sometimes God has to practically hit me over the head with something to get my attention! 🙂 I’m getting much better, though!

      Captain Icoze Mafella, a strong Christian, was gearing up on Friday, September 28, to pilot a plane for Batik Air Flight in the same manner he had many times before.

      But today was different.

      All day he had felt unsettled about something, he didn’t know why. Here are more details of that day:

      “After landing in Palu, Indonesia, he felt “a voice in his heart” telling him to make this a quick stop. Mafella told his crew to break for just 20 minutes before taking off again. He also requested permission from the control tower to depart three minutes ahead of schedule.

      Just as the plane took off, an earthquake struck the island. Mafella says he saw the asphalt “moving up and down like a curtain blowing in the wind”” (Charisma, magazine).

      Captain Mafella’s heeding and obeying of the promptings of the Holy Spirit saved the lives of over 140 people on his flight that day. What began in him as an unsettled feeling grew into the Spirit prompting him to make it a quick stop.

      He elaborated more with Assist News: “It is important that we hear the voice of God. And whatever happens we must be calm, not in a panic, so that we can clearly hear the voice of God coming to us by the Holy Spirit” (Charisma, magazine).

      isaiah 11 2

      Praise God!! I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit works on my behalf.  Amen!!

      All the Glory to God,

      Shanon

      Charisma magazine. “Pilot Saves Hundreds by Obeying the Spirit.” January 2019. Print.

      Image of “Henry Blackaby’s quote “God speaks through a variety…” by Quotefancy. https://quotefancy.com/quote/1713746/Henry-Blackaby-God-speaks-through-a-variety-of-means-In-the-present-God-primarily-speaks.

      Image of Isaiah 11:2 by Pinterest. Saved by Helpthosewho. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/428264245804481400/

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      Posted in Testimonies of Hope | 2 Comments | Tagged bible, Christian blogging, christian testimonies, Holy Spirit, Icoze Mafella, Jesus
    • Community of Shared Hope: Childlike Faith

      Posted at 10:07 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 18, 2019

      child like faith

      Childlike faith. I was reminded of it this week while I was rereading my devotional dated, August 30th.

      “It is like the little girl who said that when the devil came knocking with temptation, she sent Jesus to the door” (Graham, Dr. Billy).

      I love that!! Such simplicity and clear direction–not my worry, God’s got it–He told me so!!

      “I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:4

      The quote above, about that little girl, brought so much hope to me this week. I needed this reminder, and I’m going to add something to it. Be still.

      It is so easy to immediately try to fix, change, or go after whatever comes up in my life without first being still, not caught up in the emotions of whatever is going on, seeking God first, and letting Him “get the door” and work on my behalf according to His will in what is occurring in my life.

      Jennifer Rothschild explains it this way, “So, if you’ve got a battle, then you’ve got a choice. You can either stand still and trust that God will fight for you, or you can freak out and possibly make it worse. Sometimes we just need to get out of the way and under God’s will and watch Him bring the victory. When we choose to be still, we do begin to know, I mean really know, that He is God. And, the best part of really knowing that He is God is knowing that we are not.”

      So the next time problems/concerns/temptations come knocking at my door, I’m going to be still, let God answer, and put my trust in Him, His will, and His timing.  What about you?

      All the Glory to God,

      Shanon

      Image of “and Childlike Faith” by Tumblr.  https://www.tumblr.com/search/and%20childlike%20faith

      Graham, Dr. Billy. “Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional.” Victory in Jesus, August 30th. Word Publishing. 1996. Print. 17 September 2019.

      Rothschild, Jennifer. 3 Scriptures to Help You Stand Strong: The Battle is the Lord’s. 17 September 2019. Web. https://www.jenniferrothschild.com/3-scriptures-to-stand-strong/

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      Posted in Community of Shared Hope | 0 Comments | Tagged Be Still, Childlike Faith, Christian blogger, Faith, God's will
    • From Death to Life

      Posted at 11:12 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 16, 2019

      stone heart

      Good morning! Today is going to be a typical September day weather-wise in the Pacific Northwest–gray, cloudy, with rain storms scheduled for this afternoon. Yet, I’m comfortable here in my writing room, sitting at my desk, while enjoying another cup of coffee. I cherish the start of my day in this way: coffee and Jesus! 🙂

      After my morning devotional, I was getting caught up in an older issue of Charisma magazine, that somehow got buried in the stack, and I hadn’t had a chance to read it yet. Yikes!! It’s from January 2019, and here we are almost to the start of 2020–how did that happen?! All I can say is God’s timing is perfect– He led me down memory lane to a moment that I treasure.

      ***

      By the time my sister Danielle was a young adult, she had experienced many heart-breaking afflictions that left her feeling broken: the death of our mom at the age of seventeen, severe mental and physical abuse of her husband, suicide attempt of that same husband, severe depression, etc. All of this occurred before she was twenty-five. Alcohol was how she coped–it numbed and pushed down all the excruciating pain she felt.

      I always prayed for her and tried to give her encouraging prayers, cards, and books knowing that the Lord was the ONLY one that could change her heart. In His timing and her surrender.

      Years went by, and she hit rock bottom. I won’t go into those details–they are hers to share–but it brought me to my knees and into the deepest intercessory prayer I can remember at that time. The LORD met me right there, as I poured my heart out to Him, over her.

      One part of my prayer stands out: “God, either here on earth or in Heaven, I want to worship You, with her right next to me.” Amen.

      The Holy Spirit, right then, confirmed in my heart that, that would happen. There was no denying it and I rested in that Hope every time doubt set it. I trusted in His promises and His timing.

      Months and even a year or two went by. I received a call from her one day. She was in rehab, in a church program, not too far from my house. “Could I come for a visit and bring some Dr. Pepper?” “Yes and Amen!”

      We slowly got to know each other again and hung out a few times. She called me one day and invited me to church. We held hands and sang together that morning declaring our love for Jesus and trusting in His promises. Yay!!

      Several Sundays after that, my sister called me and said she was wanting to be water baptized, but she was afraid. I told her that I would be baptized with her if she would like. So, on August 15, 2004, my sister and I were baptized. I remember feeling the Holy Spirit so strongly and imagining my mom, looking down from Heaven and seeing two of her daughters together, committing our lives to Christ in such a profound way! Praise God!!!

      ***

      Those memories were reignited by an article I read today in Charisma magazine. Tony Suarez, vice president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, lost his young wife to cancer after a six-month battle. Through the Holy Spirit and his kids, God was able to bring so much beauty and hope out of the tragedy.

      “”My oldest [son], Cole, said, ‘Daddy says there is no cancer in heaven, so if you have to go to heaven so that you’re OK, it’s OK,'” Suarez says. “He released her to heaven and told her, ‘I’m going to make you proud. I’m going to live for God, and if Daddy gives me permission, I want to be baptized and I want you to see me get baptized.’ As crazy as that might sound to other people, at Jessica’s funeral, I baptized all three of my children in water. It was a prophetic symbolism that day. I buried her in the ground; I buried my children’s sin in the waters of baptism”” (Charisma magazine, January 2019).

      What a beautiful gift those kids received: the funeral of their mother will always be remembered in the Light of Jesus being their Savior!! I pray they will always remember the healing and hope that God will continue to provide as they trust in Him.

      Psalm 71 5 girl

      What about you? I’d love to hear your stories of hope, baptism, and surrender to Jesus!! 🙂

      All the glory to God,

      Shanon

      Charisma magazine. “Tony Suarez: How the Holy Spirit Got Me Through My Wife’s Death.”

      January 2019. Page 22. Print.

      Image of Ezekiel 36:26 by: “February 22, 2018–Bible verses of the day–Ezekiel 36:26.” Daily Verses.net. https://dailyverses.net/2018/2/22

      Image of Psalm 71:5: “Scripture of the day.” Wellspring Christian Ministries. https://wellspringchristianministries.org/2018/10/22/psalm-715/

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      Posted in God at Work, Healing | 2 Comments | Tagged Baptism, Broken hearted healing, Christian blogger, Ezekiel 36:26, Intercessory Prayer, Jesus Saves
    • Testimonies of Hope: Luis Palau

      Posted at 3:36 PM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 13, 2019

      for i know the plans.png

      The first time I heard the name Luis Palau, I was driving around town listening to the Christian radio station, K-Love. Several times a day they feature a segment called, One Minute of Encouragement, where Preachers/Teachers share scripture and words of encouragement to everyone. For some reason, I’ve always found Luis Palau’s to be the most uplifting to me, so I was intrigued when I came across a story in Charisma magazine featuring him–“Latin America’s ‘Billy Graham’ Reflects on His Legacy as He Struggles With Stage 4 Cancer” by Joshua Olson.

      In all honesty, I knew next to nothing about this amazing man of God, before I read this article. The beginning of his ministry is one of the most inspiring and hopeful that I believe I have ever read. This is what I discovered to be the most profound, here’s the excerpt from the piece:

      “He vividly recalls the first person he ever led to the Lord. Palau was 18 years old and teaching a Sunday school class in Cordoba, Argentina, for 10 young boys. The quietest boy, Marcos, lived with his grandmother and came from a broken home. Palau confesses to this day he has no idea how Marcos came to church that Sunday, since his grandmother was not a Christian. But Marcos had questions for “Senor Palau,” and the young Sunday school teacher led him to pray the sinner’s prayer and accept Jesus in his heart.

      About a week later, Palau received devastating news. Marcos had been riding his bicycle in the road and horsing around with a streetcar. His bike twisted beneath him and dragged him beneath the streetcar’s wheels. Marcos was killed.

      “When he first received the Lord, I was so excited,” Palau says. “And the Lord took the little fellow home so quickly. But to me, it got into my blood: Once you experience leading people to eternal life, everything else is puny foolishness by comparison. … If you experience leading someone to the Lord, you don’t need anyone to kick you in the pants and tell you, ‘Go and do it.’ It comes from your DNA. It’s part of your life” (Olson, Joshua).

      I had to read those words several times. So many emotions flooded my heart and mind. This is what I took away the most after reading those life-changing paragraphs:

      Reflected in this article is the truth to the fact that God can take tragic circumstances, which occur to all of us, and use them as trajectory to not only save one man’s life, but possibly generation upon generation.

      Doesn’t that give you the chills?! I cried in joy and awe as I thought of that grandmother–does she know that the death of her grandson potentially helped propel–through God first and the obedience of Palau and his ministry team–an Evangelical Ministry, that since 1960, “have shared the gospel with an estimated 1 billion people in 48 countries” (Olson, Joshua).

      God knew all the details of this encounter, and how, through obedience, many lives would be forever changed.

      I am so glad that God knows the big picture of everything going on in my life and is willing, when I surrender to Him, to guide all of my steps and use me according to the plan He has for my life.

      I am reminded that everything He brings me to, whether good or difficult, has a purpose and I may never know all the details. I do trust in God because He does know the whole story.

      Continue to use me today, God, in everything that may come my way. Give me Your wisdom, guidance, love, and provision so that I can help spread the Gospel of Jesus to all of those around me.  Amen!!

      you are to pay special attention

      All the Glory to God,

      Shanon Crenshaw

      Image of St. Augustine quote by @ahniart–Amy Kirk–“You are to pay special attention…”

      Image of Jeremiah 29:11 by–Bible verse of the day. daily verses.net. https://dailyverses.net/jeremiah/29/11

      K-Love radio station. One Minute of Encouragement. 13 September 2019. http://www.klove.com/ministry/1-minute-of-encouragement/

      Olson, Joshua. “Latin America’s ‘Billy Graham’ Reflects on His Legacy as He Struggles With Stage 4 Cancer.” 1 July 2019. Web. 13 September 2019. https://www.charismanews.com/world/77006-on-fire-but-not-consumed

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      Posted in Testimonies of Hope | 6 Comments | Tagged Christian blogger, Christian Testimony, Evangelism, God is Faithful, Jesus, Luis Palau
    • Community of Shared Hope–Quotes

      Posted at 8:00 AM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 11, 2019
      cropped-thumbnail_teheleah20photo-1.jpg

      Mt. Rainier from my neighborhood

      Hello everyone!! Happy Wednesday, one of my favorite days of the week! My daughter and I get to wake up just a little bit later in the morning because it’s a late start for school and that makes the morning even better. Yay!! Did I ever mention that in the Crenshaw household, we love our sleep and are more night owls than early birds… 🙂

      Anyway. Today when I was preparing to write, I came across some quotes on “hope” and I could not stop reading them–and before I knew it I had spent the better part of a half-hour reading them. I guess hope is contagious after all. I wanted to share a few that I discovered with you! Enjoy!!

      “Hope itself is like a star–not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.”

      –Charles Hadden Spurgeon

      “The difference between hope and despair is a different way of telling stories from the same facts.”

      –Alain de Botton

      “Hope is a renewable option. If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning.”

      –Barbara Kingsolver

      “However long the night, the dawn will break.”  –African Proverb

      “This day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

      –Ralph Waldo Emerson

      Of those, I believe my favorite quote is the one by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is so true that when life is going well and on track we don’t think too much about needing hope. Throw a crisis into the mix and despair/hope are teetering together on a balance, weighing heavily on the shoulders of the one facing adversity. But, like Spurgeon says, this is when the star of hope has the brightest chance to shine!!

      Another favorite, sorry, had to share:

      And, like Alain de Botton says, the difference lies in how you are telling (or viewing) the same facts of the story: are using the lens of hope or the lens of despair? The choice, as hard as I know it can be, is ours to make.

      ***

      What about you? What is your favorite quote on hope? I’d love for you to share it with me!! God bless you!

      All the Glory to God,

      Shanon

      All of these quotes were from 290 hope quotes that will empower you- Wisdom quotes.

      http://wisdomquotes.com/hope-quotes/ Web. 10 September 2019.

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      Posted in Community of Shared Hope | 3 Comments | Tagged bible, Christian blogger, Community of Believers, Faith, Hope in God, Hope in Jesus
    • Praise Despite Despair

      Posted at 1:06 PM by Shanon Crenshaw, on September 9, 2019

      dark cloud over girl

      Despair–have you ever experienced it? I have. It is the complete loss or absence of hope.

      There are many times I can remember letting it become a “foothold” in a situation until sadness, depression, or discouragement slowly enveloped my whole being and hung around like a black cloud just above my head. Because it followed every I went, it affected everyone around me: family, friends, and co-workers.

      I remember one situation in particular. One of the last classes I took, before I received my Bachelor’s Degree, was an Advanced Creative Writing class. I was to write a twenty to twenty-five-page fiction, non-fiction, or poetry piece.

      I chose to write a non-fiction memoir. Our only “real” grade–1,000 points for the term– would come at the end when we turned in our finished piece. However, we would twice receive full credit–of fifty points each–if we simply turned in the right page count at different milestone sections.

      Our first milestone section would be the first ten pages. I worked hard on it and received full credit for all ten pages, but my teacher was not impressed. Based on her comments/questions, it didn’t seem as though she even read my paper. Now, I know writing is subjective, but if I can’t get her to understand my point of view, how am I going to pass this class?! My whole grade is basically her opinion of my writing.

      This hit me really hard and had me questioning everything. You see, I never wanted to be a writer. God planted that seed (writing) in me a few years ago and it led me to getting my degree and, eventually, to where I am now.

      For several days, after I read her comments, I thought I must have heard God wrong. I can’t write and who would want to read it, anyway?? Must have been a mistake. I was so discouraged. At this point, I was wondering if I should just quit because if I couldn’t pass this class, how would I get my degree and move forward with the plan God had for my life?

      Over the next several nights, I decided to keep working on it and see where it went. Through lots of tears, prayer, faith, and perseverance I kept taking small steps forward. This is where I leaned on and trusted God a lot. Faith in action.

      Slowly, the dark cloud began to lift.  The more I put my faith in God, the one that planted the seed of writing in my heart, the easier my next steps became and I could sense the Holy Spirit guiding me and my writing. He never left my side and His presence was as strong as ever!

      Psalm 32:8  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

      A huge breakthrough happened as a result of this testing–I received a 100% in the class–but more importantly, my relationship with my Savior changed. When I am on the cusp of despair, I lean into Him and lay it all at His feet so much sooner than I used to. Daily.

      ***

      I can relate to the despair felt in this story about Martin Luther. He was the German theologian and religious reformer who was a catalyst of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation (Brtainica.com). It just goes to show you that all people can experience extreme despair. Check it out:

      “There is a story about Martin Luther going through a period of depression and discouragement. For days his long face graced the family table and dampened the family’s home life. One day his wife came to the breakfast table all dressed in black, as if she were going to a funeral service. When Martin asked her who had died, she replied, “Martin, the way you’ve been behaving lately, I thought God had died, so I came prepared to attend His funeral.”

      Her gentle but effective rebuke drove straight to Luther’s heart, and as a result of that lesson the great Reformer resolved never again to allow worldly care, resentment, depression, discouragement, or frustration to defeat him. By God’s grace, he vowed, he would submit his life to the Savior and reflect His grace in a spirit of rejoicing, whatever came” (Graham, Dr. Billy. Pages 316-317).

      I read this story today in my daily devotional and it reminded me that God is everywhere at the same time (omnipresent), all-powerful (omnipotent), and all-knowing (omniscient). Why should I despair?! Know one is looking out for me the way He is, so I am going to rely on Him daily for all I need one day at a time. In the same way, my brother, Martin Luther, did. What about you? 🙂

      All the glory to God,

      Shanon

      Britanica.com. “Martin Luther: Biography, Reformation, Works, and Facts.” July 28, 2019. Web. September 9, 2019.

      Graham, Dr. Billy. “Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional.” September 9th. Pages 316-317. WORD Publishing. Print.

      Image of “The Dark Cloud- The Black Wallflower in Wonderland” https://thewallflowerinwonderland.com/2017/04/14/the-dark-cloud/

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      Posted in God at Work | 3 Comments | Tagged bible, Christian blogger, Faith, Jesus, perseverance, Praise despite despair
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      Shanon Crenshaw

      God is first and foremost in my life. I LOVE: my husband Steve, daughters Suzanne and Savannah, my AMAZING family and friends, the majestic beauty of the Pacific Northwest, traveling and camping, a GREAT cup of coffee with my morning devotionals, and my Sumner Family Church family. :)

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