Yes YOUR Heart Too

Yes YOUR Heart Too

by David Brenneman 

“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:2-3.

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.” Proverbs 21:21.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23.

“A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.” Proverbs 19:5.

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.” Proverbs 19:21.

“Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”?”

Proverbs 20:9.

“Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” Proverbs 20:24.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.” Proverbs 20:27.

“There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30.

We don't often consider the truth of the Scriptures whereas we read what we just did...that the Lord knows your heart. 

Every single microsecond, nanosecond, if there's a smaller measurement than that...the Lord is there. 

We can often be callous towards the knowledge that every single thought and intention of our hearts will be known to Jesus AS IT HAPPENS. 

You're never alone in your thoughts. 

You're never alone by yourself at home, on a drive, on a walk. 

A Believer in Christ or not, the Lord Jesus Christ is everywhere at all times.  

We read a sample of the Scriptures this morning and every blessed one of those statements are as true today as when written and even before they were written.

Those dark thoughts you have had about other people? Yes He saw you think them. 

My Dear Reader the knowledge of such from our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ isn't to bring about fear in our lives...on the contrary it's to urge us to live holy lives until either He calls us home or the Rapture of the Church.

We aren't here, still, after coming to Christ to just live it up.

We aren't here because of any conceivable idea we might have towards our benefit in worldly living. 

We are not here for the job nor the retirement program. We aren't here to be absorbed in things or ideas outside of growing in Christ.  

We are still here by His plan and purpose to grow in Christ, continue in the Father’s business, and glorify our Father in Heaven just as Jesus did. To be a disciple making disciples. To be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

He weighs your heart. 

He has been everywhere in it.

In all the long forgotten locked rooms of it He's been there and knows everything about it. 

In everything about you He knows. 

It is He who weighs your heart. 

We are often fooling ourselves when we think otherwise in the small stuff or even the big stuff impacting our daily lives. 

We sometimes don't give our all or still cling to this or that out of fear that He wouldn't understand. What a absurd idea!  

Would not He who created your heart not understand everything about it?

Take this thought with you today...

He knows your heart and yet still wants a deeper relationship with you. 

He knows and regardless of what deep thoughts or intentions you have had He's there ready to forgive. He can and does because He already knows and understands all about what you've been trying to hide from yourself let alone Him.

Remember this post today and then move forward to this with it:

“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. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:4-9 NASB1995

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 

Where Do We Think We're Going?

Where Do We Think We're Going?

by David Brenneman 

“Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” Proverbs 20:24.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.” Proverbs 20:27.

“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3.

“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9.

Putting these verses together you gain a greater understanding of the truth of the life of a child of God. 

We really complicate life by trying to change the plans that Jesus has for us.  

We complicate things by comparing ourselves to others in Christ.  

We complicate things because we decided we don't see anything wrong with what we have included in our lives even when faced with what God's Word says shouldn't be in our lives. 

We complicate things by telling ourselves that God must be ok with it because whatever it is is still in our lives. Only we never will ask Him if it should stay or go. 

We are the forgiven in Christ...but we still have a sin nature that yet still wants even small victories in our lives to keep us from our full potential in living for Jesus. 

My Dear Reader...do you at all question? Have you ever placed everything you value before Jesus to ask Him should it stay or should it go?

Not everything we think we perceive is good for us. Likewise not everything we perceive as bad is actually bad either. 

There's a plan for the lives of all who are saved in Christ designed by Him to bring out our best for God. 

Our opening passages point us into the thoughts of God concerning us.

We should seek Him in the morning and always look to be walking in His ways. Look up the words to "Step by Step" by Rich Mullins. 

We have a divinely inspired path of life set before us that will bring honor and glory to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It's quite possibly not what you think it will look like. 

The Apostle John is but one example. Walking with Jesus in his ministry, life radically changed at the cross. Now responsible to watch after and take care of Mary, Jesus's earthly Mother. Gets eventually boiled in oil and comes out unharmed, then gets exiled to Patmos and ends up writing one of the most powerful books of the Bible. Nothing that had ever crossed his mind when Jesus asked him to follow Him. Yet John would trade nothing for what the Spirit took him through.

You too have a great, special, life that Jesus wants for you. Submitting to whatever He wants gets you on that path. 

Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness must come first. 

Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength must be your daily go to. 

But also as eluded to earlier...we also need to be willing to ask what needs to go.

Take what you need for this path you walk with Jesus. We don't need a trailer to go where He takes us.

Ask with a sincere heart David's prayer. See if there be any hurtful way in me. Lead me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?  

You follow Me!

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 

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

by David Brenneman 

"We will worship God or the gods we have created."

Was reminded of this statement, or one very similar to it, yesterday during a service that I was listening to. 

We live in a world today that has way more things in it that have grabbed a piece of our hearts than we realize.  

In more ways than we will willingly admit, God doesn't necessarily have our whole heart.  

Look at the standards set forth in the Scriptures. 

We 'love' things and people more than we love what God loves.  

We aren't praying as we ought to be. 

We aren't prioritizing our lives after what pleases Jesus. 

I continue to say we because I am pointing this at myself as well.

We are guilty of silently closing an imaginary door to have our idea of "fun" apart from the Spirit of God.  

You do it, I have, we all are doing it. 

We have way more passion about all sorts of this, that and the other, than we have about what Jesus gets excited about. 

Get brutally honest...you likely get way more offended by the words people say about what it is you're passionate about, what you 'love' than you are when they say something against Jesus, the Father, the Spirit or the Word of God. 

It was a driving point of revelation in my life to get me to stop being passionate about sports. Not to mention that that same passion that I had for it brought out the worst behavior from within me. I hate to break it to EVERYONE but those nasty, cruel, things said in jest during a game are will be entirely considered when we give an account of our lives before Jesus. 

Don't take my word for it my Dear Reader, read what Jesus said: "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36-37.

When we speak in such derision, such anger, such unjustifyable disgust, those careless words will be brought up when we stand before Jesus. 

We do rage for no Godly reason at all the wrong things...because of who we're worshipping. 

We either are going to worship God or those we have created.

We will because we already have in the past. 

We read the Bible and have countless examples of other's doing it. 

Human beings do this. 

Ours is to daily submit our entire life to the obedience of Christ.

Ours is to remove that which is becoming or has been an idol in our hearts.

Ours is to be bold enough to ask in prayer the same as King David "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalms 139:23-24.

Words. A some reading this will just blow it off n say "they're just words".  

Really. An no it's not a cultural thing, it's a lesson to be learned from the Word of God. 

Words spoken quite often lead to being stoned. Words could cause a person to run for their lives to find some place to live out their days. 

Words were what the Pharisees and the Sadducies wanted to use to condemn Jesus. Just words.

Throughout the centuries after the crucifixion words would cost people their lives for saying they either were Christians or that they were found to be devil worshippers. 

Words too can be used against us in the court of law. 

"For by your words you will be justified by your words you will be condemned". 

Jesus takes what we say that seriously. 

There's no "unless you were just kidding, that you weren't serious" part of that verse. 

There's no exceptions. 

I cannot bring myself to be kidding or joking or excusing my words about others. 

My speaking in any of those ways may push someone away from wanting to hear about Jesus. 

Seriously. 

Your behavior before men and women as a Believer can be trashing your testimony because of what you 'love' that's blinding you to the effect it's having on your life. 

By your words you will be justified by your words you will be condemned. 

Scripture says many times in many ways...to consider our ways. 

My Dear Reader are you considering your ways? Are you actually, honestly, worshippers of things or people other than God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? 

More importantly would Jesus say that you are?

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 We Show the World

What We Show the World 

by David Brenneman 

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Philippians 2:12-16.

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.” Philippians 4:11-14.

My Dear Reader...what are you showing the world in how you live your life?

Are you showing a life in Christ or a life conformed to the world so well that it pretty much leaves you alone?  

One where the light of Jesus Christ shines all the time or one where you pick and choose as to when you let it out?  

One where you put living for Jesus on the sidelines because of what you want to "enjoy" or one where no matter what people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven?

Many countless people are living the lukewarm, if they're lucky, lifestyle in Christ rather than the all in life in Christ that the saved in Christ are supposed to be living. 

They have availed themselves to choosing opportunities to lay aside their life in Christ for the entertainment purposes they want to enjoy.  

Because of music, television, movies, streaming, gaming, sports especially, they essentially tell the Spirit that He's not needed for a while and to come back after they're done. 

That's what message we tell God when we are choosing the life we want to keep ahold of instead of the righteous life that God desires for us.

Read between the lines of what Jesus has said about following Him.

There's no acceptable exceptions. 

There's nothing to be more important than whatever it is that the has for us to be learning and practicing in Christ. 

We become the spreaders of distrust, dissension, strife, anger, malice and everything else of our sin nature rather than the fruit of the Spirit.  

Again reread the Gospels specifically...no where will anyone find Jesus saying He was joking about what living for Him is all about.

Fools say they only do this or do that, in order to "reach people for Christ" by participating in the deeds of darkness that the world offers. 

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 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 5:13-16.

Why doesn't this next passage not cause EVERY SINGLE Believer to stop and consider their ways?!?

“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.

Especially that last part.  

Your deeds, my deeds, are going to be open and laid bare before Him with whom we have to do.

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Hebrews 4:13.

Before you make choices, stop and consider your choice. 

Is this going to be me telling the Spirit to step aside for a while?

Would I be doing something, engaging in something, that will be having me not inviting the Spirit to be fully involved in? Would you be saying what you would be saying, behaving as you will be behaving like, speaking as you will be speaking if Jesus stood there with you? 

Would Jesus say that you are laying down your life for Him? 

Would Jesus describe you as saying that you took up your own cross and were indeed following Him?

Would He be calling you out as being lukewarm as He did churches in the book of Revelation?

Be bold and pray a prayer to ask Jesus: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”

Psalms 139:23-24.

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 

No Not Anything

No Not Anything 

by David Brenneman 

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:28-39.

Oh the things that seem to be "bad timing" that stuff of "why did that have to happen now?" is not outside of God's plans or His grace and mercy. 

My Dear Reader read on again what the Apostle Paul wrote. 

"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, ” 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.

We who are in Christ are GOING to face both the big and small things in life that will be beyond our understanding as to why or why now. We won't understand until we get to the other side of this life and only when Jesus explains it to us.

That bad cold you had? Yes you missed work. Yes you used up some PTO time. Yes you felt miserable going through it.

But you don't see or know why God allowed it. I can't see why he's allowed me to go through this. I have a doctors appointment on Monday about something else and going into it will be cutting it close because of this.

But my Dear Reader...God allowed it.

He will still cause even this to work together for good for me because He loves me. 

When the car breaks down, when we're facing something that delays us, whatever it is He has His reasons because He is in control and He is the all-wise, all-powerful, all-knowing One. Not you or I.

We shouldn't gripe at Him for allowing us facing adversity. All adversity is unpleasant in the moment but it always intended to bear the fruit of righteousness that God desires for us. Our adversity is there to cause us to learn to grow in Christ. Our adversity is NOT there because God is punishing us for something.  

Scripture says that there is, therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

So get THAT thought out of your mind. 

Continue in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

Even in your adversity. 

As Dr. Stanley said, adversity will last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish what He's doing in our lives. Not one second more. 

Ask yourself if God's teaching you something in this to show you what it is so that you can glorify Him in it.

So nothing is separating you from His love because you're possibly miserable in your circumstances. 

Just as yourself what He wants you to get out of it and then write it down to remember it for the next time. 

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 

Fighting Within the Body of Christ

Fighting Within the Body of Christ 

by David Brenneman 

Many do not realize how much it affects the body of Christ when professed Believer's attack other Believer's. In fact the Scriptures warn us against such frivolous acts.

While no Believer in Jesus Christ is going to get everything about his or her life right, we are repeatedly forewarned to not go there. 

For beginners, for starters, this brings shame to the Name of Jesus.

We are told how to treat others within the Church. Of how Husbands are supposed to love their Wives as Christ loved the Church. We are told what to do if you're thinking of going up against another in Christ.

We are taught to prefer one another above ourselves. 

What I can tell you with all certainty is that the one whom you attack will be defended by Christ Himself. 

We do not know where others are in their walk with Jesus. 

We don't know what's been happening in their lives.  

We don't have all the details. 

We display arrogant presumption by choosing to attack rather than to back up and seek understanding. 

I also can provide a litany of evidence to support what happens when someone attacks another child of God. It never ends well. 

Instead of attacking try understanding. 

Instead of berating try empathy. 

Instead of whatever it is you're doing try taking the road that Christ wants you to take.

I know of several people who are wrongfully attacking other Believer's. They are presumed guilty before they ever have the facts. To be honest they would actually find more compassion in a court of law. 

What happens when Believer's attack other Believer's? Satan wins.

The body of Christ suffers.

Nobody knows the hearts of all involved except the Lord Jesus Christ.

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”

Matthew 18:15.

“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24.

“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4.

“Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.” 1 Corinthians 6:7-8.

“Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22.

To the extent that grace, the unmerited undeserved favor of God rests upon us...so extend to others, especially to those of the household of God. 

I too know what it's like to be completely misunderstood in a leadership position. My demeanor had to change with the demands of my position. It cost me several friends. To this day they won't forgive me. Yet I did nothing wrong but to follow the Word of God in the workplace. Let all that you do be done as unto the Lord.

Lastly how do you think it will fare for any who are Believer's who have caused dissension within the body of Christ when they stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives before Him?

How will any defend themselves while facing the Truth?

Be careful of the battles you choose to fight. You're either on God's side or you're on Satan's side. You are either furthering the Kingdom of God or you are hurting it.

When we pray Jesus said in no uncertain terms that we MUST forgive or we won't be forgiven.

My prayer concerning this subject is that those who read it would be sure they aren't attacking the body of Christ...the very thing that Satan is eager to do. 

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 

Don't Know Why

Don't Know Why

by David Brenneman 

When you don't know why...press on anyway towards the upward call of God in Christ Jesus for you.   

Right now, medically, I have no explanation for what I am going through. Swelling of my right leg, a little to my left. A nasty cold or whatever this is on top of that.  

Yet in this, God's timing is always perfect.  

There may indeed be some spiritual battle that I am not aware of or it just may be for me to go through for no other reason than because God says so. 

We will go through things with no understanding as to why. Look at the prophets in the Old Testament. 

Many went through things that defy explanations other than it was the will of God for them.

You too may be going through a rough patch or two. The important thing is to still bring everything to God in prayer.  

When looking at our individual faith history we will see these rough periods and will remember how the Lord saw us through them.

At no point are we going through anything alone. Always remember that. 

There's times when we go through things at what appears to be bad timing yet there's no such thing in the Lord. 

Pray on, Pray Over, Pray Through. 

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