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Magnify My Motives

November 13, 2025

Here’s a poem that was inspired by a sermon at my church. It got me to thinking we need to look inward more and really consider motives for doing things. I, for one, do not always stop to think if I have done things with motives that please the Lord. Sometimes we need God to look into our hearts and tell us what HE sees. He is always happy to do so. He loves us so much and wants the best for us!

To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Proverbs 16:2

Magnify My Motives

God, please magnify the inner part of me

I need Your eyes to shine inside and tell me what they see

Is there something there that goes against Your word

Please tell me if I’ve done some wrong, a sin that I’ve obscured

While I try so hard to do my best for You

I do confess I disregard the “smaller sins” it’s true

Lord please take it all, my life, my heart, my soul

And show me where I need to change to give you full control

Even when life’s hard, I’ll glorify Your name

Because I know You never fail to always be the same

Friends, please have a great Thursday. I hope you feel the love and peace of the Lord. He deserves all glory, every morning, noon and night:)

Tina

A Smile Found Me

November 11, 2025

Good morning, friends! I have been away a bit, but God has never stopped urging me to write, so here I am. My favorite thing in the world to do is to write, but I have resisted it for a long while because…well, maybe my journal entry I actually wrote this morning is the best way to explain…I am being brave and getting personal. Here goes…

November 11, 2025

I just listened to “The King is Coming” on Spotify and it touched my heart! As i imagined hearing the trumpet sound to signal Jesus’ coming, I got excited. I could almost hear the scurrying of angels feet as they dressed in robes and assembled to sing for the biggest celebration of all. I can feel my lips curving into a smile as the words to this song pervade my heart and mind, my room, my office. (I must look silly, sitting here all alone with a big grin on my face. But I am not alone. HE is here!)

Sidenote…cars are driving by my house in a rush to work and I find myself thinking…”Are you ready for Jesus to come?” I want to ask them. I want to hope they are ready.

Then, I think…Am I totally ready?…Yes! He’s my Savior!, but…

No, I am not ready. I haven’t done enough for Him. for others. Please, Lord may I have more time to love others that need you? May I be able to write again after all the trials of the last few years?

I am not making excuses, Lord. From now on… Hold on…

***Something cool just happened this second, while typing. I heard this phrase being sung, from the song “He Touched ME”…”I will never cease to praise Him” That’s it, Lord. I get it and I will never cease to praise You!

Ok, back to the journal entry…

I am not making excuses, Lord. from now on, I’ll write during trials. Please say hi to My brother John, , Aunt Freddie, Uncle Bill, Dad Crute and now Mom Crute, Dad Glynn and Mom Glynn and David, Sarah, Aunt Carol, Elgie Wilmoth, and especially Momma Dillard and my Momma. Tell her I am writing and singing every day, because of her, because of YOU.

So that’s it. That’s my heart. God is so good. We have lost so many family members in the last few years, BUT, we will see them again in heaven. Sometimes I don’t focus enough on that. We also had a house fire, a small one, that threatened to destroy our joy, but, thanks to our gracious Lord, He has taught us and brought us through it. Friends, I hope you have a great day and week, wherever you are.

Maybe that’s a new slogan for me to cling to, maybe you too. “I have been bought, taught and brought by the lamb of God!”

All glory to God and love to all,

Tina

Exclaiming Praise

June 14, 2025

I am reading through Psalms and I am loving David’s enthusiastic declaration to God!

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you: I will sing the praises of your name, O most high!!! Psalm 9:1-2

I added the exclamation points, but how could I not? What if we exclaimed this every morning? Each day is God’s anyway, so our adoration shows that we realize and appreciate His goodness!

I’m smiling because, even in the worst of trials, God really is wonderful and good and loving. He can’t change. Aren’t you glad He can’t? Me too!

Have a great weekend. May you feel the goodness of God and rejoice each day!

Tina

David’s Praise

April 4, 2025

David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. ²He said: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. 2 Samuel 22:1

In my read through the Bible I am now in 2 Samuel. At this point, David has been through so much. He’s had victories, failures, dissappointments, times of abundance and times of loss. However, in chapter 22, it seems that he takes a break from his summary of battles and struggles, to have a total praise session for God. I was jolted by the first six words- “Then, David spoke to the Lord.”

Isn’t that so precious? David sings a song to God that details what God provided for Him, which is also just what he needed. I love this! He needed…and God provided…

Verse 1…to be delivered from enemies

Verse 2…a strong place to stand, a fortress, someone to trust

Verse 3…God’s unfailing strength, a shield of protection, salvation, a stronghold, a safe place

Verse 4…rescue from enemies by the only One who is worthy

Verse 5-7…rescue from waves of death, floods of ungodliness, sorrows of sheol, freedom from distress, and to be heard by God’s own ears!

Look at all God did! It really is “music” to God’s ears when we praise Him. Do WE sometimes stop what we are doing and detail all God has done for us? Do we fully get that God is the ONLY ONE worthy to do what He does?

Self-reflection: Looking at David’s list, can you make your own list of what God has specifically provided for you? In your worst sorrows or dangers, how did God deliver you? How does it make you feel to know that God not only loves you, but your prayers and thoughts are heard by His own ears?

God loves us, hears us and will answer us. And…He is able to do anything we ask and more. That is cause for rejoicing!

With love from the Father to you, have a great day!

Tina

God’s Good Path

March 28, 2025

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6

I am just sitting here contemplating God’s goodness. I cannot get my mind to reach the totality of it, but I am so glad I cannot, for there is NO end to how good He is! We all have done some “good” things we are proud of, but you know what? Only God is truly good. And…He uses His goodness on us! No judgement, please, as this is off the top of my mind and heart, lol.

God’s Goodness

Compassion’s good gait, His natural way

Loving and leading, lest we go astray

Never a time will His eyes wand’ring go

For that’s just how much our Lord loves us so

The way of the cross He begs us to take

All on the line for eternity’s sake

Will we agree and follow Him home

Or will we say “No”, the world as our throne

The glimmering world just cannot compare

To glories of God and the grace we can share

The good news is this, no matter our past

It’s never too late to choose what will last

God’s asking today and hopes we decide

To run to His arms as they’re open wide

With love from the Father to you, have a wonderful rest of your day!

Tina

Led by the Spirit

February 21, 2025

I Sing for Jesus

January 13, 2025

This is a poem I composed solely of gospel song titles.

“I Sing Because of Jesus”

Why do I sing about Jesus
He’s everything to me
I love Him better every day
Jesus is all that I need

I love to walk with Jesus
Where he leads I’ll follow
All the way along
I know who holds tomorrow

I will sing the wondrous story
He took my sins away
I can only imagine
We shall see the King someday

Am I a soldier of the cross
Is your name written there
Cry out to Jesus
Take it to the Lord in prayer

For you I am praying
Don’t turn Him away
Run to the Father
Trust and obey

The King is Coming
When the morning gilds the sky
When the roll is called up yonder
In the sweet by and by

What if it were today?
What a day that will be
We’ll work ’til Jesus comes
How beautiful heaven must be

Because He lives
I love to tell the story
Jesus is coming soon
To God be the glory

With love from the Father to you, have a great day!

Tina

©️2025tinacrute

I Vote for God

January 5, 2025

1 John 5:20 says…And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

The following poem started in my head very early this morning. I jumped out of bed to write it down before church. This poem is based on our decision of who to vote for, to be the ruler of our hearts. There are only two candidates, God or satan. We vote for and follow whoever’s agenda we like best. Only problem with that is… the enemy does not make his agenda clear. He’s a very tricky liar, unlike God who loves us dearly and tells the whole truth. So, who do YOU choose?

We must make our selection

a personal election

our president

heart’s resident

Each voter must decide.

God is a great campaigner

to win our soul’s retainer

He’s needed there

I do declare

our sin needs a maintainer.

The enemy’s employing

sins we find enjoying

we must beware

he does not care

our souls he loves destroying.

The cure for our condition-

to give our Lord permission

to come on in

remove our sin

There’s peace in this submission.

The better choice, our Savior

to live within His favor

we’ll not regret

the friend we get

He’ll never ever waver.

Dear God, I choose You to rule over my life. I am imperfect, as You know, and often try to rule myself and end up making wrong decisions. Please forgive me for trying to do Your job. Preside in my heart and be King of my heart for all my days. I desire nothing more than to be Your servant and do Your will. I love You. Amen.

With love from the Father to you, have a great day! Vote wisely. vote often for God!

Priorities and Promises

December 16, 2024

He must become greater; I must become less.The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:30-31

Good morning. A thought has been running through my heart and mind since church yesterday. Does that ever happen to you? Maybe God presses something into your brain and you and keeps it there for hours or days? Here’s the thought that I think He wants me to share and to utilize, myself…

GOD IS OVER ALL. Yeah, that’s the thought that won’t go away. It is simple but it is everything. We face a mountain of decisions every day. Do we place absolutely everything UNDER Him, under His purposes? Before making decisions, do we make sure we are prioritizing God above all?

Things we can purposely place under His control…They just happen to start with “p’:)

Perspectives…Are we making all decisions based on God’s perspective? (or ours or the world’s?)

Promises…Do we make promises based on what others want from us or what God wants?

Positions…Do we take up positions on societal matters based on what the popular consensus is? Or what God’s Word says?

Posts…Do we post on social media solely to draw attention to US or is it helpful to others and/or does it give thanks to God?

Plans…Do we pray about our plans and submit them to God’s approval before making them?

Priorities…Do we purposefully place everything in a position under God?

This may be the most important one! Do we truly value God over everything else and so crave to use our one earthly life to use as HE sees fit? It’s not just for our entertainment, accomplishment or esteem.

As John the Baptist said in the verse above…We must become less and the Lord must become greater. The Bible tells us that God must be the priority and all things are less than Him.

Jesus, It is so easy, in this crazy world, to be influenced wrongly in our decisions. Please help us navigate this life You have given us. We want to use it for YOUR purposes. We submit everything to Your control,moment by moment by moment. We desire to become less as You become greater and greater in our lives. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have an amazing day of surrender to our awesome God!

Tina

Healing Hope

October 17, 2024

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

My husband and I took a day trip to Staunton, VA because we love old towns and their antique shops and cute restaurants. Staunton is almost 300 years old and the downtown architecture is old and gorgeous! Our most loved find that day, though, was a little shop called Magnolia Rose. It is a store that sells items made by either formerly trafficked individuals or those involved with helping them, to provide hope and healing for victims of trafficking. Their business card reads…”Healing Rooted in Hope.” I love that!

If you ever come to Virginia and want a beautiful day trip and come to Staunton, then you must stop at Magnolia Rose. We bought some handmade puppets of horses for our grandkids. They are so cute! There are beautiful handmade wallets and pens and toys and home decor…just so many wonderful things!! Oh and beautiful handmade candles! And purses, hats and jewelry!

There’s so many toys and creative kids’ items that any child would love for Christmas. Buying them there could mean freedom and hope for someone else! They even have a table set up with stationary and pens so you may write to a former or currently trafficked person to let them know they are loved and prayed for:)

Here is the store information… http://www.magnoliarose.org ( website)

@magnolirose.va (social media)

540-688-9062 phone number)

I have never ever plugged a business on here before but I didnt want anyone to miss out on an opportunity to help! Sometimes we think…”What can little ‘ol me do?” This is one thing!

Thanks for reading! Please go visit http://www.magnoliarose.com!

With love from the Father to you…Have a lovely day!

Tina