Last week, you “met” my wife as she shared her heart for what God is calling us to do. If you didn’t, feel free to click HERE to read it now and then come back. This week, I get to introduce myself, which leads to the question, “Who is Rob Crenshaw?”
If you haven’t met me, then, Hello! You get to see who I am today as your first impression. For others, you may have known me as the quiet, nice preacher’s son who loved soccer and got along with everyone in high school. Or maybe you knew me as the long hair “twin” of Bill in college, who loved soccer and many would have described as nice as well. There are those of you who knew me as the personal trainer who was always working out or helping someone in the gym. But with my shaved head and serious look, I was rarely referred to as the nice trainer, at least, until you got to know me.
Later on, there are those of you who knew me as I came back to the Lord. This just so “happened” at the same time that I was reunited with my son as I moved halfway across the country. My goal was just to be back in his life. Then entered the two very important words that have shaped many things in our life, “But God!”
Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
I have had many plans in my life, and for the most of it, I was the one who tried to control those plans. These plans, of course, were short lived and would change often. And, looking back, I have been able to see how God was still there even when I wasn’t acknowledging Him.
As I started laying down my plans and seeking out the Lord, new desires started to take root. These desires were different than before, even though I tried to put my “stamp” on them, they were being established for me. Although I was feeling them deep inside, I wasn’t seeing the fruit of them. Just like a plant, the root started first to make sure it would gain nourishment and have stability. My self-made plans had started with the leaves and then I tried to get them rooted by myself.
Bit by bit, step by step, this one desire started to blossom. It is a desire that is becoming a driving force in my life. And although I find myself wanting to resist the desire, it doesn’t go away or fade. This desire is being fanned into flames with each step I take in the direction God is leading.
Paul said, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This is where I desire to get to. That this is my one thing I do. In everything, I push towards Christ and the call that He has put on my life. I have been called to live purely for Christ and to share that desire with others.
I have been down the other paths: The path that lead to hopelessness; The path that I tried to create; The path that society thought I should take and many others. But it is this one path that God has me on that has given me hope, been laid out for me and it is the one that the One who created me has chosen for me. It has led to knowing and understanding what love is and how to love even though I had very loving parents growing up. Because of being on this path, I am enjoying a solid marriage experiencing growth and fullness. I am able to love my wife more and accept more of her love. This path may lead me in ways that at first glance I may be scared, but once through the turn, I see so much more.
It is this path that I want to share with you as we move forward in this journey together. I am still walking this path and learning how to let go of things in this world and grasp what God has for me. And as we walk this path together, we may be at the same point, or you might just be beginning. Either way, I want us to share with each other the tools we learn and the struggles we face.
I have been through loss, I have been lost, and I have experienced awesome restoration. No matter where you find yourself today, this is the path that will guide you in love, in freedom and strengthen you for times to come.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
What areas would you like to see strengthened in your life? Have you felt lost or directionless and desire to know where to go? Have you turned to things that seem pleasing in the moment, but later on they become a burden? Let’s answer theses questions together and be strengthened along the way. Let us battle together as brothers!
I am Rob Crenshaw and I fight for purity.
Rob and Jenna Crenshaw 