Get Real With You

Get Real With You 

by David Brenneman 

Was reading yesterday a post from a Christian group on Facebook that eluded to taking a serious look at your calendar to see just how much of your time is truly spent walking with Jesus.  

Go ahead all you calendar guru's. Be intentional for this moment and make entries for this last week for all the times and durations that you spent with God in your Bible, those times when you stopped to pray or just took the time to pray while on the move. 

Now be sure to put in for this week we are filling up just what else you were doing. Work, chores, etc.  

Put in those things you did instead of spending time with Jesus. Ouch that one could hurt. Fill it all in for this one week we are speaking of. 

How much time was wasted rather than invested in your walk with Jesus?  

Now, for those who are honest and even those who aren't, when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him...every single moment will be accounted for. All our time living will be known to us. It's quite possible that we might be reviewing it all as it's tried by the fire of His Truth. No doubt tears are going to flow. 

We can do something about all of this starting right now. We cannot relive the past to do it over but starting right here right now we can be intentional about living for Jesus in all that we do. 

We should be in His gym doing the workout He requires of us. Denying self whenever we are awake and living for Jesus. Taking up our own cross and following Him with our everything. Trusting God with Today and leaving all the consequences to Him.  

This has to start somewhere with you and I and the sooner the better. 

Yes it's going to mean saying no to things we have gone after in life that we, for that moment, enjoyed. 

But what Jesus brings to the table far surpasses whatever we thought we would enjoy from those things that are here today and gone tomorrow. 

Life here, once we came to Christ for salvation, isn't ours to live for us anymore. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. That's what the Bible says. 

We unknowingly desensitize ourselves to the very powerful possibilities in Christ by being flippant about meeting with Jesus, let alone with others in Christ. Jesus said that wherever two or three people are gathered together in His Name there He is in their midst. Jesus is there with us when we're there for Him!  

Think about that. Whenever you regularly meet with others in Christ because of Him He's there.

Add to it those not in Christ, should your time together regularly be observed, notice. They can tell by your behavior, your emotions, whether your life in Christ is really all that important to you. 

Your intentional absence, they notice that as well.  

If that light of Jesus Christ isn't where it's supposed to be then the world, who's watching, notices.

Yes you have plans for your life. Be sure that they don't take the place of His plan for you in your life. 

Your calendar will reflect your life, good or bad.  

Any 'good' thing that we cling to that's taking the place of our commitments to our life in Christ has to go. Take up your own cross and follow Me He says to you and I. 

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

His Plan vs Your Plans

His Plan vs Your Plans 

by David Brenneman 

Many plans are in a man's heart, but

the counsel of the Lord will stand

Proverbs 19:21.

As diligently as you plan, the future is a puzzle to all but God. Your supreme purpose, then, is to walk in harmony with the Savior by employing essential disciplines:

     First, lay aside every encumbrance and sin. Willful disobedience and unproductive habits will hinder your spiritual growth. Ask the Father to help you rid yourself of these unnecessary weights.

     Next, concentrate on endurance. Do not let disappointments or setbacks take you out of the race. Accept that they, too, are part

of the course God has divinely planned for you.

     Most of all, focus on Jesus. Turn away from all that distracts you from Him. Cast your burdens on Him and look in steadfast faith to Him. Seek His face daily through personal prayer and sustained time in His Word.

     A trusting, faithful, unwavering devotion to Christ will lighten

your load, equip you to handle the tough times, and guide you in

His will every day of your life, regardless of what happens. And He will take you further than you could ever have imagined or planned on your own.

Jesus, my life is in Your hands. Lead me me in Your perfect will. Amen. - Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

We often make plans for the day, the week, the year and in some cases years down the road. Electronic calendars on devices are quite often fully replacing paper ones because the changes are so frequent and the sheer number of things is overwhelming otherwise. 

Then, as well, there's those who aren't on a calendar at all. Retired and aren't putting a priority on most anything. 

I really connected this verse to my calendar on my phone that I now also have as an electronic wall calendar. There is both a lot going on and yet really nothing. It's not like we either go anywhere special these days or are invited anywhere. So in some ways it's easier to be ready when God changes our plans. 

It's also possible to get too introspective about all that's there in our calendars. I could easily clog it more by putting in more things that aren't the one-off's of when bills need paid.  

Many families are stressed because of all that's in their calendars. Plans for this plans for that.

When I consider it all...there are times when an old television commercial comes to mind "Calgon take me away!" the idea behind the commercial was how you could get a peaceful respite from your stress filled day with their product. 

This leads me to another passage.

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10.

Be still and know that He is God.

Read in the four Gospels and look for all the many times Jesus took the Disciples aside to stop n rest away from their ministry. Of how many times Jesus left them to go just be with His Father. We only see what's written in the Gospels but as John said at the end of his Gospel, much much more happened that wasn't written.

Cease striving and know that I am God. 

Modernized: Cease with stressing out and know that I am God, I got your back. I have a wonderful plan for your life. Trust Me. 

Breathe. I have told this to myself and countless others when trying to get them or myself to the point of remembering to be still and know that He is God. 

My Dear Reader, take another quote from the world and give it a Biblical twist. Don't sweat the small stuff when in God's eyes everything is small stuff. Dr. Stanley was very adamant about the Biblical truth that God does not have problems only situations. A problem can be emotionally charged, can be over thought, a grand surprise. A situation is something that just is and with Jesus nothing was a surprise. Jesus doesn't need to sit down to figure out what to do, how to do, or when and where to do. He always sees the end from the beginning. Every variation thereof. 

Breathe. Don't allow the world to dictate your calendar. Don't really let you dictate your calendar. You who are in Christ are to live by His calendar for you. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

Lastly, be assured that the world is watching you. If you have a habit of meeting some place in His Name and then start treating it as optional the world is going to notice. If you are not showing your commitment to God's plans for you then it will be noticed. If you're not trusting in the Lord with all your heart And are indeed leaning on your own understanding the world is going to notice. 

Don't let your plans push His plan aside in your life. We will give an account of our lives before Him one day and all our plans that were not His will be evident and turned to ashes. 

"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.

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalms 55:22.

Take these thoughts an look at what Jesus said here:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:24-27.

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 

Is Your Lamp Under a Basket?

Is Your Lamp Under a Basket?
by David Brenneman

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

"And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?  For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:21-23.

For those of us who are among the saved in Christ Jesus we have a light that begs to be displayed for all the world to see.

But the statement and the question remain...is it being seen by the world?  Are we listening when the Spirit shows us that the light of Christ is being as effective as Jesus says it will be?

We have the privilege and right to participate in the plans for humanity that we see in the Scriptures.  We have it but are we shrinking away from it?

If anyone or anything is in the driver's seat of your heart and mind then you're/it/they are driving the wrong way.

We will either rejoice in Heaven when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives because that light of Jesus Christ was shining and we got to see its impact on humanity around those points in our lives or we will shrink back in shame at the opportunities we see we missed.

We can't have life both ways.  We can't pursue our wants and desires when they run contrary to His plan and purpose for us. 

This is where denying ourselves and taking up our own cross becomes real.

The results of His light aren't our responsibility.  He takes full responsibility for the results when we obey in living that way.

Are you yet still seeking first your own understanding, your own desires, and are only trying to fit in what you think He's bringing to your mind when you can?

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 

You can't know the far reaching effects of your obedience in letting His light shine through your life.

When even a practice of something like meeting in His Name is deprioritized the unsaved world knows it, and might even miss it.  When the light of Jesus Christ is missing from those times and places even the unsaved are aware of it.  Regardless of our intentions at the time. 

The light within the Temple was never to be allowed to go out. 

The Spirit of God within us must never be allowed to be hidden under a basket or at all hidden from the world around us. 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

We're to live transformed lives that the world sees and knows. 

We're to strive to glorify our Father in Heaven.  Not here yet still for our own personal interests.

So be rid of whatever form your basket takes that's keeping the light of Jesus Christ from the world around you. Give Heaven something to celebrate now and Jesus and you to celebrate when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life. 

Always remember the world is watching only because the displayed light of Jesus Christ penitrates everything wherever its displayed.

Don't give the world an excuse not to come to Christ for salvation.

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

Because He...Not Because I

Because He...Not Because I
by David Brenneman

It was and still is a very sad realization to hear from a friend that in response to why should they be allowed into Jesus's Heaven that they don't consider themselves to be a Christian, but have read the Bible from cover to cover and only look at it as a guide to good living.
They look to the Bible as a help to live better but really don't believe it to be what it is. 

My Dear Reader as I told him...when, not if, you are asked by Jesus as to why you should be allowed into His Heaven you begin with anything that starts with "Because I..." you're already giving the wrong answer.

It is "because He..." the begins the right answer.

For those of us who are among the saved in Christ Jesus...we know it's only because of Jesus, His life He lived, the Word He taught, the death He died, the rising from the dead 3 days later this is where its all at. Because He...He came to Earth as the Holy Son of God, attested to by both the Spirit and the Father.  Because He lived a sinless life. Because He suffered and died in our place.  Because He was cruelly tortured in our place. Because He paid the price for our sins that we cannot pay. Because He arose from the dead 3 days later as both King of kings and Lord of Lords. The only begotten Son of God full of grace and truth.

Because of Him. Because He so loved the World that the Father gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

All because and only because He first loved us.

What does it take to come to 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.

Don't guess...know for sure that you are saved.  Text "Jesus" to 1-330-264-9459. Someone there will certainly show you how to know for sure that Jesus is the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.

There's a day fixed by the Father’s own authority that Jesus is going to return for His Church, for all those saved in His Name.  We don't know when other than we are told in the Scriptures to be ready for that day.

It's going to happen as assuredly as His coming, living, dying and rising from the dead had been.

What will you answer?

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

Be Still, Knowing What He Makes of Us

Being Still, Knowing What He Makes of Us

by David Brenneman 

Too often we on someone or something external to change us.  

We blame our spouses for not fulfilling us emotionally, our churches or pastors for fulfilling us spiritually, or our jobs for not fulfilling our sense of purpose. But the blame game only delays the inevitable if we're serious about overcoming our disease and having healthy, dynamic souls. It's time to take responsibility for our own growth. If you have to move one inch from where you are right now to be happy, you'll never be happy. 

Because wherever you go, there your discontented self will be. It's not about what's on the outside; it's what's on the inside. The antidote to the motion sickness of our souls is stillne, the ancient art of just being still, Does the caterpillar climb into the chrysalis and work really hard at becoming a butterfly? No, the caterpillar becomes motionless, and the transformation

takes place.

     Spiritual growth and transformation will never occur in your life until you finaly get still, until you Stop moving. Paul reminds us to "fix your attention on God" (Romans 12:2, MSG). You can't fix your attention on God while juggling. Psalm 46:10 says, Be still, and know that I am God." If we get still before God, we become transformed. Consider the well-known verses from Psalm 23: "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the

sill waters. He restores my soul" (verses 2-3, NkJv). Motion and commotion steal the soul, but stillness restores the soul.

- One Month to Live, Kerry & Chris Shook.

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10.

"Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah." Psalms 4:4.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake." Psalms 23:2-3.

There was included in that chapter where I quoted from "One Month to Live" a story of a little boy who thought he was helping a caterpillar become a butterfly by opening up the chrysalis it was in only to watch it die. 

We need to trust the process of what the Spirit is doing in our live, obey at all times and be still before Him with whom we have to do. 

Being still before God, even as this book says it, is increasingly difficult these days. Interruption is a microsecond away.  

Probably while reading this you got notifications of this or that. Someone speaks up n gets your attention. You hear a noise around you somewhere.  

They recommend in this chapter as well as many many Godly men from the foundation of the Church til now: find a place where you can be alone with God. Be alone with Jesus.  

We don't HAVE to stay busy. We don't HAVE to go here or there. 

We DO have to believe the Word of God when it teaches us something about being still before God. 

Our days are going to come one after another until either God calls us home or the Rapture of the Church occurs. 

We are transformed as Paul wrote in Romans 12 when we're remembering to obey the Word of God and it changes our way of thinking, our way of life. 

Find a place to be still before God. 

After you spend real time doing that...minutes not seconds doing that...open your heart up n pray. Talk about your life n the things in it. Share your joys and the pains of your day. Give thanks for His getting you through all of it. Be sure to tell Him that you love Him. 

"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." Proverbs 3:5-6.

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 

Your All

Your All 

by David Brenneman 

Since God is for those who are in Christ...are you for what He's got in mind for you? 

Some have this idea that their salvation in Christ is just a golden ticket to get into Heaven's door. That they'll live their lives with that in their hip pocket n go on about living 'better'.  

Some have this idea that they can choose just as well as God for what they want to do with their life.

Some have this idea that the good that happens to them is something they deserve. 

Some think that it's going to be enough to just slip into Heaven without doing anything for obedience to God's Word. 

These are certainly misconceptions and only have their roots in either the sin nature of these people or within the thoughts of Satan and his minions. 

It's rather disturbing to see flavors of these thoughts in people who actually do go to Church. They go, listen to the sermon, an leave for the week not having thought again about Jesus until the following Sunday. 

Still others treat what the Jesus commanded as optional. That He'll "understand" when they stand before Him. That they'll be ok.

How seriously should a Believer take their new life in Christ after being saved by Jesus?  

The answer is right in all 4 Gospels...Jesus refused to let anyone or anything keep Him from completing the task set before Him...the cross. He was never persuaded to go some other way, some other path. Satan's temptations, of which we have only 3 recorded, show that temptation was among the highest of his priorities with Jesus. 

Jesus took His life 100% seriously in living for His Father. He is to be our example. The model of that runner who's running the race set before him or her. He wouldn't let personal things get in the way. Would not let things of this world get in His way. Would always point people to a life of obedience to God's Word. A life of commitment to that obedience in Christ. 

So how much of a Believer's life should be lived for Him? All of it.

Without excuse or exceptions.

As a popular song asks "is your all on the altar?"

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:12-13.

By coming to Christ for salvation all who are saved have targets on them by these rulers, powers, world forces of wickedness.   

In other words this race set before you is going to need you on your game for reaching that prize at the end of your life. Going to mean exactly what Jesus said of denying yourself, taking up your own cross and following Jesus.  

For a time the "what would Jesus do" craze was popular...and it wasn't wrong to consider that question. The answer is more than living in the character of Christ, it's living in the character of Christ and taking up our own cross and following Jesus. Denying self whenever we step out into life and living for Jesus in all that we do.

Is your all on the altar?  

Are you sugar coating what you are doing in your life to make it sound like you're all in for Jesus but you really aren't?

I highly recommend getting on your knees and recommitting your whole life to Jesus again and fully seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. It's going to mean hard choices and likely giving up some things.

But those things we give up won't matter when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. 

Think hard about that. 

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 

Direction with Confusing People

Direction with Confusing People 

by David Brenneman 

There's likely going to be times we're confused about people. I know! Where would someone get such an interesting idea!

Part of that thought comes from my journal, the rest is from the book of Job where my reading the Old Testament in a year has me. 

Earlier this year I took time for a special study on the book of Job. It helped but was still left with questions. One of which is along the lines of: since these so-called friends of Job's weren't dispensers of good advice, why include this in the Scriptures? Then I look at conversations that have taken place and I realistically wonder why I was listening to whom I was. Or even those conversations in my mind that I am unsure of concerning saying them out loud. 

Had someone in my life take my head off in a text because I didn't respond to a text that was sent asking a question the night before.

More baffling is that I had known that I hadn't done anything wrong but was prodded into both apologizing and asking for forgiveness. The person should have known better. What I wrote in my journal was "Why are you mad at me for something that God's obviously convicting you of?".

We are easily confused by the behavior of other's. This has been going on since Adam and Eve.

In my life today there's much confusion concerning other Believers in my life. It's an odd perspective possibly but at least the unbelieving in my life have a reason for their behavior.  

"Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory." Proverbs 11:14.

This was often quoted to me by the one who tried to say what they did in anger in that text. 

We often try to deflect the conviction of the Spirit of God in us towards other people or situations.  

We also often put thoughts of what rewards we feel we deserve and won't budge on giving up ahead of the work of God we're here to be doing. I have both unfortunately seen this and have unfortunately done this. 

We can also be susceptible to the words of the enemy of God and not recognize it as such because of where it comes from.  

We could also allow past hurts to cause us to navigate life without seeking God but rather reacting based on that past incident instead.  

There's many reasons why people confuse us. I am confused as to why more Believers aren't striving more for committed fellowship and study of God's Word than I see. They see meeting as optional. This was never a thought that crossed the minds of those in the early Church. 

Where I try to go with my confusing thoughts on people is to Jesus. Praying for understanding. What I said here earlier concerning what was written in my journal I never said out loud to this person. That thought I wrote came to me after prayer. I was evidently hitting close to the mark of their choices in life that were in reality taking them away from the path of life that God originally intended for them. What they do now they're convinced that is their calling. Only God knows.

Confusing people are just a part of our lives. Jesus never was because of who He is. Always saw right through everyone. Still does in fact.  

We would do well to look in the mirror an realize that He sees us as we are and not as we put on a show to be for ourselves and others. 

God is not a God of confusion. 

Life with that person has never been the same. While once they were one of the closest in my life, time and distance took their toll as well as this incident from my perspective. 

Others in my life now confuse me and all that remains for me to do is pray for them because my convictions aren't going to budge of what the Spirit has taught me is right. 

In the end we all must give an account of our lives before Him with whom we have to do. The truth of our lives will either bring glory to God or outright shame because the roots of our choices weren't God honoring no matter how we convinced ourselves they were. 

I observe people n pray for people. I can't explain many people but I can do my best to point them to Jesus by my way of life, by my convictions in the Lord, by my words and actions.  

This includes praying for those who persecute you. Those who rip into you when you've done nothing wrong. Bring them to Jesus in prayer. 

Always bring people to Jesus in prayer. He always knows what to do concerning them. Trust Him with what He directs you to be doing, saying and thinking.

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