Where's Your Heart?

Where's Your Heart?

by David Brenneman 

The fall of Saul and the Rise of David is something to look closer at. 

Saul allowed fears to take hold of him when he should have been living a life full in the Lord. He was anointed, had even known the Spirit of the Lord upon him, even known the joy and wonder of prophesying with the prophets. Yet ran in fear when the time was approaching to be publicly ushered in as King at the Lord's command. He knew he was the chosen of God yet when you really look, he rejected Jesus's purpose for him.  

David, on the other hand, the man we later read to be "a man after God's own heart" fear was not something he remotely dealt with. You can tell from his demeanor, his bearing, his countenance as it were, that he spent a lot of time with the Lord in prayer and in practice.

When push came to shove, the man who stood head and shoulders above the people of Israel shrank back in fear when the new Lord’s anointed, much smaller in appearance stood up and had no regard for their common enemy and knew that his Lord would win the day. That Goliath would fall. That nobody was going to get away with taunting the armies of the living God while David was around.

I imagine that Saul's problems just kept compounding because jealousy took over, envy took over. Probably had countless times of "that should have been me" thoughts. 

While he was yet king, David never once considered a path of thinking to supplant Saul as King. Even knowing that the Lord had made him King instead. He wouldn't be so presumptuous to judge and execute in the Lord's place.

Saul's downfall actually isn't so dissimilar to Judas Iscariot. There was no real root of a true relationship with Jesus. While Saul knew the words, knew much, he had no relationship with the Lord as David did. He never saw all that the Lord did in Saul's life as being wrought in God. You can see that he attributes it to fortune or luck or coincidence. You can see that he knew not what a man in his day should have known about the Word of God. He let fears of losing his status among the people mean more to him than his obedience to God. 

How often are we one or the other? 

How often are we more interested in the value that the world puts on status than we are in valuing a right real relationship with Jesus?

How often is fear, envy, jealousy, really what's driving us rather than being at peace with the Lord Jesus in where He's chosen our lives to be and what our lives are in Christ?

Likes, follow's, subscribe's mean nothing in God's economy. Being the most popular means nothing in God's economy.  

A beautiful thing to me is that the success of this blog isn't in my hands...and I am immensely grateful that it isn't. My daily thought at looking at the statistics on it is my looking at what Jesus is doing with it, where He's taking it, how He's drawing people to it.

Our lives in Christ are just that. His life lived through us. He should be the popular one. He should be who is seen in our lives. He should be, not us.

My friend's statement while praying still rings solidly true in my mind "Lord, let there be less of me and more of you in my life".

David knew the power of God because he recognized God in his life and he was thankful, grateful, loved the Lord his God because of recognizing the Lord's love for him.

Saul missed it all. Just as Judas missed it all.  

Is your relationship with Jesus worth your everything as it was with David?

Are you or have you convinced yourself that what you're pursuing in life is really what you think God wants of you? Bigger question is did you ask Jesus first before embark on what you have pursued in life?  

Envy, jealousy, bitterness, anger, should never be among our battles if our hearts are where they should be with Jesus. 

We shouldn't be caught up in the status game of the world. Being popular shouldn't be a concern for the Believer in Christ.  

We should seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Then see what it is He has in mind for us to be doing with regards to how He has blessed us with our particular spiritual gifts or gifts. These things are what's right and true for us. Never what the world values as important or necessary.  

It's ONLY what we're appropriately doing for the Lord that will matter on that day we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him. Not what we did for ourselves that had no bearing on what we were called to be doing in Christ for Christ. 

Where's your heart? Is what are you looking to in order to find happiness and love? Are you even aware of yourself enough to see if you're pursuing what the Spirit desires for you? Are you spiritually aware of your surroundings and what spiritual battles really are? Jesus was and it showed in His teaching His Disciples...and He commanded them to teach others all that He commanded them. 

Beware of being popular among men and women when you've sacrificed your position before the Lord. 

Your desires should first be rooted in living for Jesus in all that you do. Your desires should include craving more about Jesus. Your wants should be in learning more about Jesus not more about worthless things and popular people.  

I am actually grieved and disappointed in myself in that there's much, way too much, worthless knowledge in my head that will never help me in my walk with Jesus. Things about science fiction things from television and movies.  

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 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. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself. 

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

Has Jesus Changed? No. Has Man?

Has Jesus Changed? No. Has Man?

by David Brenneman 

"Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22.

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13.

"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:7-8.

What we do and why we do are probably among the more important things we consider in our daily lives.  

What should be ever more to the top of the list of considerations is that Jesus is indeed the same, yesterday, today and forever. When considering the span of time between Saul's almost immediate fall after becoming Israel's first King up to what Jesus told the Pharisees...it shows that God hasn't changed.  

People in our world love to try to show how mankind has grown, has improved.  

Yet in a moment, not even as quickly as the twinkling of an eye that's coming, lives are changed. 

A simple storm that doesn't have a lot of punch being just strong enough to topple a tree onto a car or house. A day of high winds causes a drought. 2 minutes from a home and a life-threatening accident occurs. 

Yet in all that and more Jesus hasn't changed. People don't realize the enormity of what's really coming with the Rapture of the Church. Jesus made His promise to return for His Bride the Church and He will keep His promise just like all the others written in the Scriptures. All the promises that generations of Believers have seen coming true all because Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. 

With this in mind, my Dear Reader, do not be lulled into a false sense of security about life. As the Scriptures also state (paraphrasing) while the world is getting all hung up on peace and safety disaster is going to come.  

If what I understand of the Old Testament prophesies is true...all of the electronic things we are holding so dear to life and living could be shut down in an instant at or after the Rapture of the Church.

Jesus was serious about all He said to both the Disciples and all whom He taught. Proving in His life that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  

Jesus foretold of the Temple destruction and it happened. Told Paul what all he would endure for Jesus and it happened. Told Peter what he should both expect and do with the Gentiles and it happened. Scriptures foretold of the rebirth of the nation of Israel and it happened. Hundreds of prophesies concerning the life of Jesus were written and came true. 

If we accept and believe these things, what manner of Christians ought we to be?  

Are we interested in the things of God that are for our benefit and growth in Christ only on a Sunday morning or are we laying aside every encumbrance and running the race set before us?

Are we finding satisfaction and joy in these offerings of the world through television, internet, streaming, games, movies, AI, books, world travel, sports, but aren't giving our hearts wholly to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Are we doing our best as unto the Lord in all that we do or are we seeking first our kingdom rather than His? Convinced that the two can be one in the same?  

We either follow Jesus first and foremost or we follow ourselves. 

We either truly believe that the Word of God is fit for every day of our lives or we don't. 

We either really do believe the promises of God or we treat them like advice and don't take them seriously. 

We either do believe all the Scriptures say about Jesus or we pick n choose. 

"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

We live in a world immersed in temptations to sway the minds of humanity in pretty much every conceivable way. We are to "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16.

We are His Ambassadors in this fallen world...are we believing and acting like it?

Or are we pursuing our own agenda hoping it aligns with His?

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Not a suggestion. 

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. Not a suggestion. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself. Not suggestions. 

We don't live a life in Christ that's based on suggestions but on the promises of God because we have this assurance that He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

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

To Be From You Not Just For You

To Be From You Not Just For You 

by David Brenneman 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly.

EPHESIANS 6:18-19

     In Ephesians 6:18-19, we have one of history's first missionary prayer requests. The apostle Paul, having written about the armor of the believer and the urgency of prayer, asks the Ephesians to pray that God will give him the ability to share the gospel boldly at every opportunity.

     Notice the alls in this passage. We're to pray always-at all times. We're to offer all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. We're

to pray with all perseverance. And we're to remember all the saints

     In his book on prayer, Samuel D. Gordon wrote that this world is God's prodigal son and that God has devised a plan for winning His prodigal back. He wants to use us in the process, and our greatest agency is prayer, which, Gordon says, is communication between God and His allies in the enemy's country. We're behind enemy lines, but prayer is our connection with the Commander.

     Let's take prayer seriously and always offer all prayer in the Spirit with all perseverance for all the saints. - Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah. 

Communion is the basis of all prayer. It is the essential breath of the true Christian life.

S. D.GORDON

Last night I was really compelled to pray for many people. New people in my life as well as those who have been in my life and those who used to be.  

Everyone appreciates being prayed for but if we all aren't praying as well then in all truthfulness not a whole lot of prayer happens. 

Prayer isn't to be just our bringing requests to God. Prayer is to be us showing our thankfulness to our Father in Heaven for all He's done. 

Prayer is our conversations with our Father in Heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ. David was known as a man after God's own heart because of his prayer life. Samuel was heard because of his prayer life. Solomon started out strong in the Lord because of his prayer life. The Disciples asked perhaps the most important question on learning how to pray.  

How many movies or television shows on war have you ever seen it go well for anyone on the battlefield when they were out of communication and all alone? Probably not very often. 

We are never going to fare well in this foreign land in which we live, since this world is not our home, without prayer, and not just words but prayer from the heart.

What's on us is to obey and do and to leave the consequences to God. 

When we neglect to pray, to talk to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, our Father in Heaven, it SHOULD bother us. We aren't giving a liturgy when we pray but our very hearts poured out to God. Not lists but our heartfelt concerns. Not demands but desires.  

Listening to the Spirit in prayer as well as speaking is important. My Dear Reader it's never a coincidence when someone you just ran into is now on your mind. Never a coincidence when people you know are now on your mind. Never a coincidence when something crosses your mind that needs done now or soon.

The Spirit is our Helper not just our Teacher. He is ever present within us. Awaiting the return of Jesus Christ even more than we.  

How DID the one or the few in your life become your favorite or best friend? Through various forms of communication. Then those communications that started out in superficial ways later got deeper and stronger. Intimacy grew until your level of trust and perhaps love for the person got to be where it is today. 

So should it be between you and your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  

So should it be between you and your Father in Heaven. 

It's what we were created for...our relationship with our God.  

We cannot accomplish our God-given purpose here without prayer and being given His spiritual understanding. 

So really look at your relationship with Jesus, with your Father in Heaven today and if it isn't...let's get it right this time. If it is...then go deeper with 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 

It's Getting Hot in Here an That's Okay

It's Getting Hot in Here an That's Okay 

By David Brenneman 

"For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

Proverbs 3:12.

     Love is the motivation behind everything God does in us and

everything He allows into our lives. The Father is never acting in anger or wrath when He allows trials to assail us. Rather, He cares about us too much to see us continue in sin, remain in a lukewarm spiritual state, or go unfulfilled in His purposes for our lives. He moves to help us change, grow, and become both spiritually mature and whole in spirit, mind, and body. This also means He disciplines us for our good when necessary.

     God's purpose is not to break our spirits but, rather, to breach the stubbornness of our wills in order to carry out His will through us. A good parent knows that any streak of obstinacy in children must be lovingly prevailed over so that they can grow up to be productive, law-abiding, generous, and loving spouses, friends, parents, citizens, and members of the body of Christ. In the same manner, God seeks to eliminate the pride, self-focus, and disobedience that keep us from being the loving, generous, fruitful, Christlike people He created us to be.

Jesus, I know You love me. Help me to endure this trial in a manner that honors You. Amen

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

Most of the things that we go through we have no idea why. Oh we can, like for centuries mankind has, point fingers. 

But for those who truly believe...there's a greater purpose to what we go through. Juat as the purpose of parenting is the bringing up of children in the Lord so it is with us in Christ. Our parents taught us, for the most part, how to talk, walk, dress, eat, behave as we needed to in order to function well in society and in the home.  

The Spirit, after we come to Christ, because of our new birth in Christ, is doing all that and more. We don't know how to live a life approved by God. We don't know how to dress for spiritual growth and spiritual battles. We don't know nor understand the true dangers of sin and the nature of God's enemy or his minions. We don't know how to use our spiritual lives for God's glory. We need to be taught. We need to go through that crucible, those fires of purpose and purification to come out as those approved by Jesus. 

It can and will seem painful at times, but never at any time are we alone in them.  

Much more than a parent staying with a child on a bike without training wheels for the first time our Lord Jesus Christ stays with us always and in everything. 

Purification of precious metals is a difficult process. An often time sensitive process. It's a formula of time, temperature and sometimes additional materials to purify precious metals.  

In Scripture we are the precious that is being the purified to become like Jesus Christ. 

For those who are saved we are the precious Bride of Christ. We are part of the body of Christ. We are to obey in what we're told, instructed, to be doing in the Lord. 

We may or may not understand the details but we must trust the Spirit to knows what He's doing in and through us.

When we look back at the early Church in the days leading up to the Romans who burned down the Temple, the fires of persecution were everywhere. Satan thought he was going to crush, snuff out, Christianity, but through these events the Church grew. 

While he tried to turn up the heat, he was only permitted to go so far. 

He wasn't permitted to run amuck. 

He was and is to this day still answerable to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  

So while you, my Dear Reader, may be going through some heavy things you are never alone in them. Seek out what His purpose is for them in you. Look for possible unconfessed sin. Look for things that He knows and is showing you that need to be removed from your life in order to become more like Jesus. Look for the possibility that He's needing to change your priorities, your dreams, your ambitions.

We are still here and not immediately taken to Heaven because of both our sanctification, that is our becoming more like Jesus Christ, and to still seek the lost and direct them to Jesus for salvation. Some of us are indeed on the front lines of the heaviest of spiritual warfare. The thing to remember is it is never things that are at stake in spiritual warfare it always only people at stake. 

We may be hurting but we can rejoice in knowing that Jesus sees, Jesus knows, and most importantly Jesus loves. 

Trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding isn't just a saying it is how to live life in Christ.  

Your physical body will try to convince you of everything but the spiritual realities of whatever is happening in your life. It will try to distract you. Even those around you whom you think you can trust may not see what Jesus wants to accomplish in your life.  

Don't be afraid to cry out to Jesus. We do the most damage to our lives when we try to handle spiritual matters on our own. 

All of the whole armor of God is provided by God. Ever think of this?

Even the instructions for putting it on are only in the Word of God...let alone how to properly use it. 

An lastly the whole armor of God fits you. The flaming arrows of the evil one might hurt for a time but they cannot prevail against what God provides to protect you. 

Trust in His wisdom for what you are facing. Obey in the big things and the small things. In what seems important and what doesn’t. Ours is to obey and leave the consequences to Him. 

Jesus loves you more than you can imagine or think. He will see you safely to His Heaven in due time.  

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:6-11.

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 

Ued, You're in It: Now Run It

Yes, You're in It: Now Run It

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

     Are you spiritually lethargic? Is your soul sapped of energy?

Perhaps you would love to know God better and grow in godliness, but your progress is slow at best. You don't understand it because you're not slacking-you read the Bible and pray every day. The spiritual momentum just isn't there. What's going on?

     Today's verse provides a clue. Many believers are weighed down

with excess baggage burdens like anger, pride, bitterness, lust, greed, jealousy, and unforgiveness, to name a few. Any sin we entertain will drain us of our spiritual energy and kill our progress in the Christian life.

     God stands ready to supply His power and wisdom once you

realize you must rid your heart of these entanglements to receive

His strength. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of some area of sin

in your life, do not ignore Him. You won't be able to run the race the Lord has for you until you obey Him. Throw off the encumbrances through confession and repentance. Then enjoy the race as

He energizes your spiritual life and teaches you to soar.

Jesus, reveal every sin in me so I may repent and walk in Your will, Amen

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley 

Ever stop to realize that after you came to Christ for salvation, that you were automatically entered into a race?  

You weren't eligible for the race set before you until Jesus became the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life but after He had you were then in the race.

You probably didn't figure on running in one but here we are.  

There's things about running a race that aren't going to be found on golf courses or baseball fields. While Paul's writings often suggested other sports that existed even in his day...both he and the writer of Hebrews point to the race set before us.  

There's the conditioning. The needed nutrition. The required rest. The focus on the kind and type of path the race is on. The preparation for the various challenges of the race. The weather during the race. Preparing for endurance. I actually learned a lot about racing from the movie "Overcomer" when Hannah's Dad, through a recording, coached her through the championship race. What she should expect. What struggles she would need to surmount. When to burst ahead and when to hold back. 

Another great source is a book by my friend Steve Crisafulli called "My Godly Marathon" available on Amazon and Barnes & Knoble.

We aren't given a choice about running this race set before us. Consider what that passage we opened up with said. 

God set that race before you and I. 

God's using this race to tune our lives towards His purposes for us.

In keeping with the movies...the original Karate Kid. Daniel had no clue, until he was shown, what his chores were really accomplishing.

Most of us just don't see or understand what we are going through is or means. We need to be in the Word of God and in prayer to get our instructions much as Hannah did from her Dad.

Most of us miss the whole point of thinking like we're in this race in order to become more like Jesus Christ. 

Nobody who goes and enlists is the same person after basic training as they were before starting it.

We are in this race set before us and as it is God given we should honor it as such.  

We should use what He's saying in His Word to shape our part of this race.  

This race, however, isn't a competition between us and other Believers. We are running this race with Jesus.  

A very old Jewish saying is "May you be covered in the dust of your Master" in terms of becoming a Disciple. We run along side and often right behind Jesus. Going where He goes, following in His footsteps. At His pace.  

We are never to be trying to be in competition with other Believers. We are all part of the same body of Christ. We all have a part in that body as given by the Spirit of God to be doing.  

Are you spiritually lethargic or are you at least moving? Have you lost sight of Jesus and need to get back in the race? 

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

You have to get back to God's plan for you. This race is part of God's plan for you. 

It's not nor has it ever been for you to get all you can get out of this world for you.

It's not about us but all about Him. 

We do ourselves a great disservice by getting our life's priorities wrong in Christ. 

So while you're now realizing you are in this Godly race...realize that the core ingredients are there for your benefit not your detriment. It's never a good thing or good idea to focus on what you might have lost or are going to lose. Focus on what is good, right and pure in Christ. The Author and perfecter of your faith.  

Core ingredients are prayer and the Word of God. You cannot mentally prepare for to have the right mental state without the right mindset. 

Realize as well the rules are different in this spiritual race.  

Another movie analogy is Neo and Morpheous in the training dojo..."hmm you think that is air that you're breathing?". We learn in prayer and in God's Word of the reality of the spiritual world that our race is set in.  

Then know this: As you are in this with the Lord...keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your priorities straight. Keep the right attitude in prayer. Let go of sins that easily entangle us. Get rid of the weights that the world wants to put on your back. 

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.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24

Keep your focus on the Lord and the finish line that He's established. 

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 Excuses, Lessons to Grow Us

No Excuses, Lessons to Grow Us 

by David Brenneman 

The things that people fail to notice about Jesus keeping His word.  

We can easily look over stories in the Old Testament and miss the little morsels that change the story to something that spans the centuries. Am reading in 1 Samuel and the interactions between Eli and Hannah are actually rather profound. With regards to Eli I am rather dumbfounded because he chose to be weak towards his disobedient sons whom the Lord told him were going to die because of the evil they refused to depart from. When Hannah reveals Samuel it was Eli who worshiped God first...then we have Hannah's worship song. 

As this day dawns on you, my Dear Reader, there are choices before you. By the grace of God these choices are yours to consider.  

Choices that are the very same as those faced by even these of the Old Testament.  

They all begin the same: Will you obey and honor God, His Son Jesus Christ, above all names?  

Will you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness today?

Will you be in His Word today with all seriousness...as in with all your heart? 

Will you indeed pray for His will to be done rather than your own?

Will you look to the horizon for the return of Jesus Christ with all expectation because the Word of God says that day is quickly approaching?

Will you be bold enough to not assume what you are doing in your life today is for you to be doing but rather will stop and ask Jesus, through His Spirit, what needs to change in you for you to become more like Him?

Will you begin today to reflect on what is taught in your Bible as more than mere suggestions?

Questions questions questions. 

These and more. Matters of the heart they all are. Matters that are everything to the King of kings and Lord of Lords. Your heart.

Your heart is only fully understood by Jesus, not you. Think hard on that one. He, according to the Scriptures, weighs the hearts. He knows all the intricacies of thoughts and intentions you have in every moment of your life. He knows every dream you ever had and why they were that way. 

Shortly after confirming Samuel there was a situation where indeed the Word of the Lord was confirmed in reality: both of Eli's sons died in the same day.  

"May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.” Romans 3:4.

Are you aware that in this very moment it is by His grace that you are even considering what He is saying here?  

As in Eli's case so it is with yours and mine: Will we put obeying Jesus before ourselves. Will we put trusting Jesus before relying on ourselves. 

For all his wisdom Solomon failed to keep obeying God and trusting in God.  

You and I are tempted every single day to not think that whatever is on our hearts and minds is important enough to bring to Jesus in prayer.  

We will be tempted to just handle it ourselves.  

We will be tempted to consider that we need 'me time' and in turn neglect the Word of God that awaits our consumption. 

We will because throughout the centuries that's been the temptations that mankind has faced. Jesus was tempted in every way as we are even today and He chose the will of His Father in Heaven.  

Some think this means giving up on dreams and desires. Sometimes yes. Sometimes it's not because they are inherently bad but rather they aren't going to fit in with the plan of God for you and your part in His plans for mankind.  

I have many various aspirations and dreams. Yet in seeking them God's let me know that while they would work or that I would likely accomplish them...they don't fit His plans. So I stopped pursuing them and just trust Him in those things. It's enough for me to know that I was onto something that would have worked.  

Do you make it a point to check yourself in whether you are trying to trust the Lord with all your heart And to not lean on your own understanding? Are you looking to see if in all your ways that you are acknowledging Him? 

When you are being truthful with yourself are you embittered against anyone? Are you wishing for their downfall rather than them finding Jesus? Are you rejoicing in their sufferings rather than praying they open their hearts to receive the free gift of salvation that you did?  

When we hold onto such things we hinder our prayers. When we don’t forgive we aren't forgiven. When we are not honoring our relationship with Jesus above our relationship with those in the world or the world itself we are being just like Eli and others in the Old Testament who were called out by the Lord. 

This is how the Old Testament applies to your life today. 

Truth be known...every single professed Believer in Jesus Christ who is saved by His blood...has absolutely no excuse for not pursuing a life that fully honors His work in their lives.  

There's no excuse for not developing a prayer life that grows in its depth with Jesus.  

There's no excuse for not being in the Word of God daily with all seriousness to be fed by the Spirit, taught by the Spirit. 

There's no excuse for not developing the spiritual gifts we were given upon being saved.

There's no excuse for putting people or things ahead of what the Spirit wants to do in our lives to show the world their need for a right relationship with Jesus and His free gift of salvation. 

There's no excuse for unforgiveness for all we were forgiven of.

There's no excuse for not praying for those who have or are persecuting us. Likewise no excuse for rejoicing when the Lord Jesus Christ deals with them...when Scripture explicitly states we should never do that.

We read of all kinds of lives in the Old Testament who tried making excuses. Even Abraham did, so did Moses. From the greatest to the least.  

So, my Dear Reader, consider your ways. Consider these truths that take away our excuses.  

What will you now do differently?  

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 

Suppertime is Soon

Suppertime is Soon 

By David Brenneman

Most would have to search for it on Google or YouTube, for a Jim Reeves song "Suppertime", and as the song's message goes...there awaits for all who are a part of Christ's Church a Heavenly supper time for all who've placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

It's something that we get to look forward to and its scope blows my mind. Besides probably sitting with family and friends who also received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...I imagine at the same time Jesus will sit with everyone too.

The millions of people who will be there already and Jesus will meet with each and every single one. 

I suppose I could describe it as the family reunion of the ages but it is going to be outside of time itself. 

Are you looking for that day, as much of the New Testament mentions that we should be, of Jesus giving that shout that it's suppertime? Paul wrote much to the Churches to live an approved life in preparation for that day. 

Are you living life with excited expectation? The Early Church sure did.  

The Lord Himself said that we always should be at the ready to stand before Him to give an account of our lives. Of what we did in our physical bodies for Christ after receiving His free gift of salvation.  

Good vibes don't count. Wishing people well yet doing nothing won't count. Warm feelings don't count. Scripture says we should be doers of the Word and not just hearers only...why? Because we would be deluding ourselves.  

Many people will be confronted with their failures to obey the Spirit of God. Many will see how their success in life, which from a worldly standpoint was great, turn to ashes. Success in the eyes of God is a life that's all-in in living life for Jesus and a life transformation into becoming like Jesus. 

Our lives are supposed to be lived in such a way that people see our good works and then glorify our Father in Heaven. 

Our driving force should be to obey God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God. While our hands are doing that, we should be diligent to put whatever the Spirit directs as first in our life. All the while listening for that shout that will call us out. 

We have nothing to be fearful of or ashamed of concerning obeying the Spirit of God. We probably will if we aren't obeying.  

As Ambassadors of Christ we have a mission to represent Jesus well wherever we are. 

Cast aside your fears my Dear Reader. Obey with your whole heart. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Listen for that call n be about the Father's business. 

Be in the Word of God, learning whatever you can, to give of your best as unto God. 

Truth also says that this Supper Time is only for Believer's. 

Jesus must be the One who is the forgiver of their sins and is the Leader of their life. 

Truth also says those not here by Christ's invitation will be cast out into that horrific place where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth. Where nothing is known but painful suffering and the complete understanding of how they missed the mark by rejecting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.  

Good deeds, clean living, won't get you an invitation.  

I am more than ready for that shout that will call us out!

"Ahhhh, but I'd loved to hear that once more

But you know for me time has woven the realization of

The truth that's even more thrilling and that's when

The call come up from the portals of glory

To come home for it's suppertime

When all Gods children shall gather around the table

Of the Lord, Himself and the greatest suppertime of them all

(Sang)

Come home, come home it's suppertime

The shadows lengthen fast

Come home, come home it's suppertime

We're going home at last..."

- From "Suppertime" by Jim Reeves. 

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