Looking for and Eager for His Return

Looking for and Eager for His Return
by David Brenneman

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.  Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:10-18.

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." Jude 1:20-21.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." Titus 2:11-14.

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

"For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:19.

How do you feel about the impending return of Jesus Christ for you?

As the few examples that I share this morning point to, the early Church was taught to and perpetuated to others to look for, and to live as though, Jesus was to return.

Do you live your life as if it were today? 

Hypothetical situation: a famous dignitary is visiting your city or town.  It's been well broadcast to all that he is going to visit random people during his stay.  You're notified that you are one of those whom he will spend time with.  How prepared are you going to try to be?   Part of the reason you're selected was because of the evidences of what you have done or are doing that align with what this dignitary stands for.  What are you going to show as proof of these things?  Is your house ready?  Are you ready for the inevitable conversations?

We too, like those then, are supposed to always be ready to go when Jesus calls us.  Either in our home-going or in our daily activities.  We are placed in the body of Christ exactly where we are by the direction of the Spirit of God for God's glory and not our own.  Are you sitting by idle with what you've been given or are you engaging in what you're to be involved with in Christ?

We live in a world of both insane surplus as well as insane poverty. 

Storage units are built almost as frequently as housing developments.  What's worse is the new housing markets are designed to not be affordable by a single income yet that isn't stopping people from decades of debt to a mortgage company.  And to add insult to injury these same people haven't the room for their stuff.  People obsessed with keeping stuff n keeping up with appearances...but not looking for His return.

The world is pushed more and more towards doing more for all that and more but they aren't looking at all for that particular promise to be kept. 

Jesus is coming.  My concerns with that are both for the lost of this generation as well as trying to understand the will of God for me in this moment of my life.  Keeping about the Father’s business as well as looking, as a few have described it as "an eye on the eastern sky".
I want to be found engaging in what God has me here for when Jesus comes back for me and all who have believed on His Name for salvation.  

The Word of God says that we are not our own, that we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  What we have left of our lives either in our years remaining until death or His return is to live for Jesus for all He's done for us.  It's not about stuff or about status or about isolation or about removing one's self from a work life for what the world calls retirement.  It's not about traveling for the sake of traveling for personal satisfaction and enjoyment. 

We don't at all get it from the Scriptures that these sorts of things were a part of their lives who had written to us on how to live a life of taking up our own cross and following Jesus.

Satan's best schemes involve us inviting and our investing in the things of this world so that we aren't at all effective for Christ...and to get us to look forward to it without realizing just what it is we got ourselves talking into.

To get us so wrapped up in this world that we're not in the Word as we should be or praying as we ought to be.  To get our talents and abilities we were given by the Spirit upon coming to Christ for salvation to sit and not be used for the kingdom of God.  To misuse them to get us to enjoy their misuse by redefining them. 

This last Sunday service we had we were taught of the truth that our words have weight.  Meaning there's a degree of value to us when these words we hear, say, think, come to our minds and hearts. 

What value do you place on knowing Jesus is coming and knowing that He's coming for you?

Soon after He comes we will give an account of our lives before Him for every single thought, intention, action taken action avoided that we've ever said, thought or done in our body.   Tried by the fire of His Truth, what might remain is to be a crown to give back to Jesus for all He's done for you. 

Will you have anything that will remain?

Are you so obsessed or absorbed in what you're doing or saying in life that your Godly priorities aren't on your radar?  That you will sadly be taken by surprise by His return rather than be expecting His return? That the instant you realize He did keep His promise of returning that instantly shame would overtake you?

We have our lives hidden in Christ.
We have our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ promising to return and He's specifically returning only for those who received His free gift of eternal life in Him. 

He said He is bringing with Him His reward in His hands.  Will He be bringing you anything?

We should be ever mindful of His return as well as be continually submitting to our training in righteousness, to grow in Christ, to be about the Father’s business.  Pointing people to Jesus for salvation.  We don't save anyone, only Jesus saves.

Related, we aren't to think more highly of ourselves as well.  Know what the will of God for you is in Christ Jesus.  Obey and do.  Pursue your relationship with Jesus above all else.  Seeking to please Him in all that we do. 

Are you ready?  Or are you among those whom the Scriptures say mock His appearing asking just where is it?  He will return just when the Father says so...when that last person who's to come to Christ for salvation comes and the Church of Jesus Christ is complete. 

I pray practically daily "Even so come quickly Lord Jesus".

I long for His return.  Not just because of my failing body but because I long for His embrace, telling me "Welcome home!  Come with me to the place that I have prepared for you!  You're going to love it!".

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

We're to Go Through a Lot and It WILL be Worth It

We're to Go Through a Lot and It WILL be Worth It
by David Brenneman

"strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”"
Acts 14:22

God's people have their trials.  When God chose His people, He never planned that they should be untried.  They were chosen in the hot furnace of hardship; they were never chosen to have worldly peace and earthly joy.
     Freedom from sickness never and pain of death was never promised to God's people, but when the Lord drew up the contract of our  privileges, He included discipline among the things to which we would be heirs. Trials are a part of our experience; they were predestined for us in Christ's legacy. As surely as the stars are fashioned by His hands, as surely as their orbits are fixed by Him, so are trials assigned to us. God has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they will have on us.
      Good people must never expect to escape trouble; if they do, they will be disappointed, for no one before them has been without trials. Note the patience of Job; remember Abraham, his trials, and his faith under them- he became the "father of the faithful.' Read the biographies of the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you will discover that none of these people, who God made vessels of mercy, escaped the fire of affliction
      It was ordained long ago that the cross of trouble would be engraved on every vessel of mercy-it is the royal mark that distinguishes the King's honored subjects. But even though hardship is the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traveled it before them. They have His sympathetic presence to cheer them, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure.
      When we reach the kingdom, it will more than make up for the many tribulations through which we passed to get there.
- Morning and Evening by C. H. Spurgeon

Last night's devotional readings were just one after the other of things that looked like my God had prepared them just for me.  Readings from Spurgeon, Allistair Begg, Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. David Jeremiah.  All just seemed to target something that's to do with what I'm going through these days.

This one sort of topped them in what Spurgeon was talking about. 

We REALLY ought to be concerned if we've not been going through things.  Things that challenge us, things that cause us to strive harder in the faith to pursue what it is that God's called us to be doing. 

It's said in the Scriptures that nature itself testifies of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ if we but look.

If we but look.

Do we look at what it is He's doing in our lives?

What I do think harms us more than helps us in this walk we have with Jesus while we yet breathe the air He provides is what they teach us in schools.  Both competition and comparisions betwee us and others tends to bleed over into our perceptions of living a life in Christ.

We are in to competition with others in Christ.

We are not to compare ourselves to others in Christ.

In our world in which we live these things are pushed and pushed to the point that lives get derailed or tarnished.  Reputations are ruined over it.  Most condemning of all is that truth that testimony's for what Jesus has done in and through us are ruined by careless thoughts and actions attributed to those two concepts of comparison and competition.

Yesterday's sermon had to do with the weight of our words. 

As one who was the recipient of many many harsh words at the hands of bullies while I was in public schools, I know this truth very well:  our words have weight.

Something else that ties into the truth of the weight of words is our perceptions on how we're talked to.

All these things add up into the trials and tribulations of our lives.

We either build up people or we don't.  We either come along side them or we don't.  We either see people as a threat or we don't.

For the longest time we had the "What Would Jesus Do?" thing going on.  Honestly what a concept!  Truthfully, it's something that's something that is the most easily dismissed. 

The Bible says that Jesus was a man of sorrows, well aquainted with grief.  He who knew no sin became sin so that we might have the righteousness of God.

Jesus's life was hallmarked with trials and tribulations that He was to go through to get to the cross and not only the cross but through it to sit at the right hand of the Father in Heaven awaiting that day when His Bride, the Church would be ready for the place He'd prepared for them.

To get to the character of Christ in us, we have to go through trials and tribulations to obtain it.

I don't like trials or tribulations anymore than anyone else...but if you're praying for the Jesus to be seen in your life so that people see your good works so as to glorify our Father in Heaven...you're GOING to go through them.

An irony for me is that I don't remember what I've written but I can tell in the moment that it's not me doing the writing of these things you read each day coming from me.

I will go through different things today that you or perhaps the same as you. 

What Satan will do with these things is to try to make you think you're going through them alone.

What I mean by what I just said about not remembering what i've written is that which is described in the Bible of the wind as compared to the Spirit.  We don't know where it's coming from or where it's going but we know the effects of it being there.

Satan's going to try to get us to believe we're alone in what we go through.  Going to try to get us to believe that God's punishing us for something we've as yet not known we were doing wrong.  Going to say that the only reason we're going through what we go through is because it's us and not God. 

When considering training in righteousness that the Scriptures are good for, beneficial for, it's going to mean exercises to bring out characteristics that align with what the training is for.

Those who enlist in the military are taken to a place where they're taught the culture of the military.  Very quickly they learn it's NOT like civilian life.  Very quickly they learn what's necessary to succeed in the military.  Physically, mentally, they're put through vast amounts of trials and tribulations in order to become what they enlisted to be. 

When we came to Christ we said that we wanted His free gift of eternal life.  What we also will get is this new right spirit within us.  It's incompatible with our old nature.  So we need what Jesus is going to do...that perfect work in us to train us in righteousness.  We need to realize we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

We're going to go through some things in order to produce some things that glorify our Lord and Savior.

While these last 8 going on 9 months have been heavy and some day seem like more is being piled on...I know that my Savior is with me through them.  I know that for the last 50 plus years He's been preparing me for these days.  Had this kind of stuff happened to me decades ago I would have crumbled.  It was BECAUSE of the various trials and tribulations of life that I have already been through that I can testify today about God's faithfulness and His promises kept.

You should expect things that you're not going to understand that you'll go through.  Whether in this life or after you get to Heaven you'll find out the why's behind it.  But the over arching reason always is: to bring about the character of Christ in us.  What people get trained to do in the military makes little sense to them at first but as they are trained they begin to see the why's behind their new found abilities and actions.

If we want to sing and pray that we would know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more...be prepared to go through things in order to know Him more.  If we want our eyes opened to the wonders of God in our lives...be prepared to go through things to gain the understanding necessary.  If we want what Jesus wants for us...be prepared to go through things to get to that point.  If we're after the righteous life that God desires for us...be prepared...we're going to go through things to get that.

I've shared here and in person to a few groups that I don't know if I'm living out what I read in the Scriptures or not.  A passage that now comes to mind is that one that says that your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.  I take in the Word of God daily.  I look to the Godly men He's put in my life to teach who've been trained by the Spirit.  I might not see it but what He's hiding in my heart is what wil have to come out of me to the world around me.  Jesus said that what's in a man's heart is what comes out of the mouth.  What you put into your heart will eventually come out. 

So pray for your trials and tribulations...those situations where things seem bigger than you that you need your faith to get through. 

That's exactly what they're there for.

To grow your faith in the One whom you call your Lord and Savior. 

In the moment I don't think anyone likes or looks forward to what they're going through that's difficult...but we can if we have the perspective that we're not alone in it.  If we're striving to please Jesus in all that we do, say or think...we're on the right track.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Foolishness Equals Godly Success

Foolishness Equals Godly Success 

by David Brenneman 

From "God Sized Dreams" devotional on the Bible app. 

"The coffee shop is quiet except for the sound of voices at the table across from me, and I can’t help but overhear.

An older man says, “Most people think failure is here.” He taps one edge of the table. “And that success is here.” He taps the opposite edge. Then he places both of his hands in the center of the table. “But failure and success are really here. Side by side.”

The young man he’s talking to nods, and the mentor continues, “Don’t try to avoid failure completely. Or you’ll never be successful.”

His words ring in my ears and my heart as I take another sip of coffee.

Every time I get ready to try something new, I hear the question, “What if it doesn’t work?” And the answer is, of course, “I’ll look like a fool.” Over time, I’ve come to believe this—that’s not a good enough reason not to do it.

Sometimes looking like a fool comes with the territory of God-sized dreams.

Noah built an ark.

Moses wandered in the desert.

Jesus hung on the cross.

And those who watched shook their heads and muttered words like “failure” and “fool.”

Little did they know."

This is a good lead in, I believe, to something that I am trying to understand about the book of Job. I recently bought the MacArthur Study book on the book of Job to try to understand where Job's friends went wrong.  

In life it's often thought to avoid failure at all costs...and I also now wonder where that is right or wrong.

Thomas Edison, while being interviewed about the light bulb, said "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work".

Others looked at things differently and if they hadn't there's many things we have today that wouldn't exist. I, likewise, have no Engineering Degree. But this by no means stops me from being an Engineer. I don't have the restrictions taught at Engineering schools.  

While the saying made famous in "Apollo 13" the movie makes its rounds still yet today of "Failure is not an option!", failure oftentimes is where we begin to meet what it is that God's wanting for us in His plans for us. 

Expecting to be misunderstood is often rather helpful. Realizing you're comparing yourself to other's in the faith after never having considered it helps as well.

Sitting in a situation where everything points to having done nothing wrong and everything right yet by all worldly appearances failing tends to make you think about things. 

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" 1 Corinthians 1:20.

"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:25.

We are therefore in really good company to follow what we know God wants of us and yet look like fools to the world.  

As the devotional goes on to say...expecting to look foolish tends to take the sting out of the comments when apparent failure occurs.

I invent things that don't necessarily work the first time. I sometimes reinvent things that others have made because I seek the understanding behind it or because if I can build something for less than buying it and I have the materials...why not?

From the time I was as yet still in diapers my Mom tells me that I was fascinated with the prospect of figuring things out. My childhood wasn't spent among other children as many grew up doing. I wasn't one to reach out to make friends because of various reasons. So I had my own 'corner' of the basement to work on my experiments and through books and and Radio Shack taught myself things. Failure was just a part of the learning process but it was on my own terms.

A friend who was the man behind the audio ministry at the church I grew up in saw my curiosity and took me under his wing to learn it. That was the beginning of 20 years of working with audio equipment, oftentimes building setups that worked or sometimes didn't.  

Failing in front of others in public isn't something that I relish. The inevitable embarrassment that usually accompanied those things wasn't pleasant. 

Failure most certainly is an option while we're being trained in righteousness. We're not going to just get it and never not get it. Everyone in Christ likely has repeated lessons being taught by the Spirit. Read the Gospels, in the years of Jesus teaching the Disciples, how often did they ever get it right the first time?  

Look at what's not written in the book of Job: what their failure to understand about God took them afterwards. Those friends who weren't giving good advice to Job were there when the Lord Jesus responded to Job. Class was in session.  

"It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job." Job 42:7-9. 

The youngest of his friends wasn't rebuked. Something to consider in this as well. 

Expecting to see some degree of failing at something that we're being directed to do by the Spirit is healthy. We read of being "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48.

This is our goal. Our goal in this life isn't worldly success or great financial gain or an abundance of possessions. It's not currying favor with everyone to stay in good standing among men. 

Expect people not to get it when some things are being done in your life through the Spirit of God. The so-called failures you experience might someday be the key to spiritual success in the lives of people the Spirit brings to you who are ready to come to Christ for salvation. 

Failure isn't necessary failing in the eyes of God. Failure could be the beginning of understanding for us and preparation for things to come that will inevitably glorify God. 

I do indeed have God sized dreams. Lord willing they will be accomplished. Some know of what it is and perhaps I look foolish for having spoken much of what it is and have not shown much fruit in accomplishing it. Noah spent over 100 years building the Ark. There's time. Should the Rapture of the Church occur first, all is still well.

Noah's God sized dreams were left where his faith put them: in the Lord’s hands and became something greater than he ever expected. 

Right now my life has, shall we say, complications. Medical on top of employment complications. By these things I am not measured in Christ.  

Am I still doing what it is that He wants of me regardless of the situations?  

Are you obeying God in Christ Jesus regardless of how it makes you appear before others? Indeed it may mean looking foolish, but when you consider Paul's letters, being foolish for the sake of the Lord in the eyes of the world is ok.

While I can't see if I am failing or succeeding in my walk with my Savior, I am to continue on with whatever He has for me to be doing no matter how I look doing it. 

Forgiving others may make us look foolish to the world, however, it's a requirement of Godly living. 

Obedience in Christ may make us look foolish, however, it's a requirement of a life in Christ.

The world and even possibly friends and family might get the wrong perspective of my being terminated from my last employer. The spiritual truth is I obeyed the Spirit of God in befriending a brother in Christ and that is what I was truly terminated from there for. Whatever is on paper doesn't matter when the Spirit tells you to do something, you do it...even if you look foolish afterwards.

Our identity is that of Christ follower. We are to take up our own cross and follow Him. The Scriptures say that the cross "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Comfort With These Words

Comfort With These Words 

by David Brenneman 

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

"Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

There is a plan and purpose that's sealed in a promise from God that Jesus will indeed one day return for His Bride the Church.  

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3.

Throughout church history, for two thousand plus years, people have been taught to anticipate Jesus returning. Many have taken to just not talk about it but the faithful preach it. When we come to Christ for salvation we are added to the list of those who are the Bride of Jesus Christ. Jesus, through His Spirit, is changing lives and bringing about the fruition of His promises. 

We cannot live a life in Christ without a solid realization that in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we could be standing in the presence of Jesus.

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

When anyone I know, who's time on this Earth is done, goes on to their Heavenly home...I do feel something concerning it. Part of me longs for the same, part of me knows that one day it will either be my journey to Heaven or the Rapture of the Church. My mind sort of goes to that song "I Can Only Imagine". What are they seeing right now. Oh the reunions they are experiencing! The embrace they have with Jesus! He whom they knew from a distance but now face-to-face.  

My Dear Reader if you haven't come to Christ for salvation you will not experiencing anything of this. Your address will not change to that Heavenly place. Your only destination upon death is Hell. We are born in sin as the Bible clearly says. The wages of sin is death, eternal separation from God. We must agree with God that we need a Savior who is Christ the Lord. We have all been given a measure of faith in coming to Christ for salvation. We either reject it or embrace it.  

But it's upon us to choose it.  

Nobody will be able to stand before Jesus and say that they didn't even get the chance. He will show them every single chance they had. The Bible says that everyone will be without excuse in that day. There will be no acceptable reason for rejecting the free gift of salvation. 

Add to this that there's no second chances after death.  

My Dear Reader please be sure of whether or not you are saved in Christ.  

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

Whether or not you are comforted by these words today tells whether or not you are saved. Either you will be looking forward to meeting Jesus or you are afraid because you know you won't.  

Jesus is ready to wipe the slate clean, to give you a new life in Christ, to give you a future and a hope if you come to Him and ask Him to save you. 

If you are saved...keep an ear out for our call to come home and your hands working on whatever God's wanting you to do...be comforted by these words.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

What? Why? How?

What? Why? How?

by David Brenneman  

You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...to preserve many people alive."

Genesis 50:20

      There is an essential principle that can help us endure in our faith, and that is understanding that God Himself ultimately allows everything that happens to us. This is a difficult notion to accept, particularly in setbacks and painful trials, but it provides us with a perspective that always leads to triumph.

      Consider Joseph who was sold into slavery as a teenager by his jealous brothers. He spent years in servitude in Potiphar's house and was then wrongly accused and imprisoned in an Egyptian jail. However, Joseph remained faithful all those years because He saw God at work, positioning him for greater service through all the betrayal and injustice. Sure enough, after more than a decade of suffering, the Lord miraculously delivered Joseph and made him second in command in the most powerful nation on earth.

       Such is the awesome ability of our Savior- He works through the fallenness of this world to accomplish His purposes for us. So regardless of what happens--no matter how unfair or painful- remember God has allowed it for a good and holy purpose. Then, like Joseph, wait in expectant hope for Him to reveal His excellent plan to you.

Jesus, I am so grateful You have a good and holy purpose in all I endure, Amen.

But WHY? Why me? Why now? Why couldn't it...

My Dear Reader...those words or something like them...were on my mind in June of last year. I was flabbergasted. Literally beside myself. Of all things that I remember of that morning...I remember most every moment from being asked off the floor, to bring my company laptop, the meeting. Then the being escorted to my desk to get my personal things, my locker then the walk out the door after surrendering my badge. I almost felt like a zombie walking to my truck. None of what just happened made any sense. Those whom I trusted or thought I trusted were completely silent.  

I knew in my heart, mind and soul that I had done nothing wrong but my gut told me this was the end regardless.

You too might have been through or are going through something similar. The truth might come out and it might still not make a difference.  

For many months the verse in Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 5 and 6 were on my mind to write around in posts. Now I was needing to take it to heart more than ever. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.".

We aren't always going to know or be allowed to know what's going on in our lives in Christ. Joseph, Daniel, Job, others...they didn't get any idea in their lifetime for some and only a partial explanation for others.  

It's not important or at least not as important as we think it should be. It's on us to trust and obey.  

The truth will come out either in our lifetime or before Jesus in Heaven but the truth will be known when Jesus sees fit for it to be known.

I know that I obeyed the Spirit and that's what lead to my termination. It had nothing to do with breaking company policy or directions or instructions...it was deemed that I was wrongfully discharged. But it didn't change anything.  

It's been something that is very scriptural that I adhere to in my work life. I will be working wherever God wants me only for as long as He wants and when it's time to go He will make it impossible for me to stay. Jobs, much like people, are often in your life only for a season.  

If I wasn't saved, if Jesus wasn't my personal Lord and Savior, fear would have and should have gripped me. What a potentially terrifying thing to have happen to a person! Yet fear and terror wasn't there. God wasn't surprised. Whether or not the company agreed concerning my innocence or not God knew that I did nothing wrong. My God was right there in every step of the way. He brought to mind people to immediately call. He got them and others to immediately begin praying. He began providing immediately for our needs. Things like this give a person a new sense of understanding of Psalm 23.

So what about right now? I am as yet still unemployed. Likewise as promised Jesus is still bringing comfort to our hearts through this. Jesus is still providing in this the 3rd month after unemployment ran out. He still gives me things to do around the house and provides the means when an odd thing comes up that we weren't expecting. He's opened the hearts of many to help us through this. That's my God, my Savior and my Friend.

Some start down a dark and foreboding path of revenge scenarios. My Dear Reader never ever go there. Scripture says that vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will repay. Throughout my life I can bring to mind many many times when I was wronged and my Savior took care of those people in ways that I never thought possible. For me, I pray for those who persecuted me. I pray for salvation first of all and God's justice second of all. Then I get out of the way.  

We shouldn't give in to fear when life takes a turn. The first temptation is to do that. Jesus said to be anxious for nothing. Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. He says that the very hairs of your head are all numbered. He says that we are more valuable than many sparrows. He says He loves us with an eternal love. He promised to meet our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Maybe not our wants but certainly our needs.

There's days of highs and lows. Emotionally anyway. But there's a peace that passes all understanding in the midst of all of this. Day upon day there's evidence upon evidence of the love of God which He's poured out upon us. Indeed His grace and mercy are new everyday.  

There will be an end to this unemployment thing because God never lets a storm rage forever. As Mark Lowry said in one of his videos his favorite verse, his life verse, is "It came to pass" it didn't come here to stay. This too shall pass.  

There will be a day when I wake up to no more rejection letters, no more daily searches. There will be a day when all will know the truth. Some will rejoice, others will be put to shame. But in everything I know that God will be glorified.  

God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Regardless of our viewpoint or vantage point God always wins. 

Trees do not grow for decades without storms to cause the roots to go deep.

Adversity only lasts as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose for each of us. 

Commit your plans to the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 

He may make you lie down in green pastures. He may lead you through the valley of the shadow of death. Do not fear for His rod and His staff they are a comfort to you.

Joseph did nothing wrong and went to the school of hard knox to become the second highest ruler in Egypt. Daniel got to write of many of the wondrous things to come. Job went through much to bring about understanding in others of God's work and love.

You may not know the why's behind your adversity. That's ok. Keep on keeping on with setting your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Keep on trusting God. Keep on with leaving any vengeance to the Lord to deal with. Pray for those who persecute you. Don't give up. 

God always has the ability to make a way where no way seems possible. Remember your faith history. Read the faith history of others in your Bible.  

God's not done with any of us.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Ready to Go Home But Am Working

Ready to Go Home But Am Working

by David Brenneman 

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

We go through this life a day at a time. Month upon month, year upon year. Every single moment a gift from God. 

We look forward to His return...or at least we certainly should be. Paul and the other Apostles taught the early Church to live in anticipation of that day's possibility in their lifetime.

We too should be living in such a way that the Lord’s return could be in our lifetime. 

As my body gets older and most assuredly my 'warranty' says my body is past it's expiration date I long even more that my Lord’s return would be soon.  

My thoughts for many years now have centered around making every effort to accomplish what the Spirit has directed me to be doing. Even at the expense of things that I might want to accomplish or desire to see and do. 

What good would it do for the Lord if I got what I wanted and finished nothing that He wanted done for His Kingdom?

As I told another Brother in Christ...I am trying to keep my hands on whatever it is He's wanting me to be doing and an ear open for that shout to call me home to forever be with Jesus. 

We don't need to fret about today or tomorrow as long as we keep in mind that Jesus is already there.  

Setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world takes care of a great many things. 

I really don't care if I become a published writer of many books or even of one if it means that Jesus is using me for His work in this here this now. I have several great ideas for both 2 Godly, Biblically based books as well as 2 certainly not covered Star Trek based books.

I have thoughts of visiting places that are meaningful to me, but again these do not mean as much as my responsibility to use what I have been gifted with to point people to Jesus either by way of leading them to Him or to show someone how to come back to Him.

You too my Dear Reader, if indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus have a calling, a responsibility, in the body of Christ as the Spirit saw fit to place you and its upon you to pursue that.  

Probably a decade ago...maybe longer...I felt the conviction in the deepest part of my heart that should the Rapture of the Church happen in that moment...I couldn't see anything worthy having happened in my life recently that showed obedience to God. Sure I was heavily involved in ministry early in my life but what was I doing now?

Christians have only one kind of retirement plan. It's when Jesus calls us home. Other than that we're always supposed to be about the Father’s business just as Jesus was. Jesus didn't worry about tomorrow and taught us to follow Him in that. Jesus was always in communication with His Father in order to obey Him in all things.

What have you been doing lately for Jesus? Have you honestly sat down and decided that you did everything that you could and aren't asking God for what else you could be doing for Him? Have you given up or are you giving Him your everything?  

Jesus promised to come back. We read several parables in the Gospels of the King assigning tasks and going on a journey, promising to return, and settling accounts with His servants. Rest assured we WILL give an account of our lives before Jesus...the Bible tells us so. 

Will you have given you everything?

Are you giving your all or are you not trying to be who you were meant to be in Christ?

As long as you are breathing you need to about the Father’s business. Need to be pursuing growing in Christ to become more like Jesus. Everything we deal with these days is designed to wear out but never our life in Christ. It's to grow stronger every day. 

Are you really ready to stand before Jesus to give an account of your life? Is there going to be any evidence shown that your life was lived in obedience to God's Word at all? Are the fruits of the Spirit seen in you?  

"Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalms 37:5.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. [

 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.

Don't know what it is you're to be doing? Ask God and He will show you. Even this morning I knew not what I would write but here we are at the end of this particular post. When we are saying "Here am I!" Jesus shows up. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Letting Go and Letting God Handle It All

Letting Go and Letting God Handle It All 

by David Brenneman 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him." PSALM 28:7

       When people wrong us, we can be in danger of dwelling incessantly on what they've done, which can lead to bitterness. Angry thoughts can bombard us because of the injustice, vulnerability, and pain we feel. But rather than giving in to resentment, we must refocus our thoughts on God and His purpose for allowing the conflict.

       Focusing on the Lord will help you rely on His ability to deal wisely and justly with your antagonists. You don't have to be afraid of being a victim of someone else's power plays or deception. Instead, you can be confident that your reputation, success, and security rest firmly in the hands of your sovereign God. Yes, people may hurt you and even set you back. But you don't have to fear or retaliate. You can forgive as Christ commands, and the Father will

protect you, vindicate you in due time, and give you insight into why people respond as they do.

      The Lord is greater than all your enemies combined, and the power of the risen Christ can sustain and guide you through whatever rough encounters you face. So honor Him because He will certainly help you.

Jesus, You are my Defender. I trust You to help me and redeem this situation. Amen.

- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

We live in a world where generation after generation is increasingly teaching the next that you have rights that are yours to demand others respect no matter what. 

We live in times when revenge is often a matter of opportunity and time than a mere thought that can at some point be safely dismissed. 

Consequences for revenge aren't even a consideration for those who engage in revenge because they cannot fathom how their thoughts and actions are in any way wrong. 

Hatred and anger towards others is still a poison pill we take hoping the other person will either suffer for it or die from it.

Throughout my book that I am writing there's example after example of when revenge is what I wanted but wasn't for me to pursue. God said He would deal with these people and He most certainly did without my intervention. Just as this devotional and Bible passage refers to. 

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20.

We shouldn't start taking on people whom were also people for whom Jesus died for. That's the root of things.  

While my mind really wants some degree of satisfaction my heart ought to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We can and often do blind ourselves to the mission of the Spirit of God...Jesus came to save sinners. We are here, regardless of what we go through...to represent Jesus to a lost world so that they may see their own need for a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 

We're never going to show Jesus to this world if all this world sees in us is our angry countenance. 

Let go of it and let God go where you cannot to do His work in them as He once did in you who were also once hostile toward God yourself. 

God's grace and mercy are new everyday else we would have seen the end of mankind right after Adam and Eve sinned. 

We don't get what we deserve because of the grace and mercy of God. We have no right to sit in judgment, that is to take God's place in being the Judge, over others. 

We are told how we must be when dealing with those whom have wronged us. First and foremost is we're to pray for them. If we're still engaged with them we're to return kindness where they are expecting retaliation.  

God can and does go where we cannot. In my book there's a true story of how God made a bridge in my dreams between myself and my friend who at the time was estranged from me. The dreams had their effect and a day came when restoration happened and the dreams stopped. 

Letting go and letting God isn't a sign of weakness it's the ultimate sign of strength. Scripture says that where it be possible to be at peace with all men. This implies that there's going to be times when there's going to be some that it won't be possible with. 

God's resources are unlimited and unending. God's wisdom in seeing beyond what we do or ever considered is infinite.  

Moreover there's some people who've crossed our path in an apparently wrong way- from our point of view- that were intentionally put there by God to redirect our path towards His plans for us. 

We aren't here to merely survive. 

We aren't here to get all we can get. 

We aren't here to be all we can be for ourselves. 

We aren't here to seek out everything to make our own paradise here on earth. 

We are here, after coming to Christ for salvation, to grow in Christ. Become more like Jesus through our time with Jesus in prayer and the Word of God. To show the world the character of Christ Jesus. To point people to Jesus. To show the fruits of the Spirit to a dying world.  

We gave up our rights when we came to Christ for salvation. We took up Jesus's words as our own "your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven".

Pray for those who persecute you.

Pray for those who tick you off. 

Pray for those who have wronged you.

Take these people to Jesus in prayer. Let go of them at the feet of Jesus.  

These people whom we might be so blindly enraged at just might be the last person who is going to be saved before Jesus returns.  

Think about that. 

You could be prolonging the wait for Jesus returning by not seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness by your blind desire for revenge. 

Pray for these people and get out of God's way. 

That's how you let go and let God do what needs done in His eyes. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org