Thursday, November 5, 2026

Your Life, His Plan for You

Your Life, His Plan for You 
by David Brenneman 

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,” Ephesians 6:10-19.

“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.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”” Isaiah 6:8.

““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30.

“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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs 3:5-7.

There's a partial pattern in all the Scriptures that we just read...a pattern that is to be the life of the Believer in Christ Jesus. 

The Christian life. 

Let us not neglect as well this part: 

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

The point of view we have about living in the world should be that of a transformed life. A life that, regardless of the situation, reflects Christ and shows the world to whom we belong. 

We don't have time for side tracks when we're running the race set before us.  

We don't have all the learning in the Lord that we need for each day because the days keep changing. 
Thank God He stays the same. 

As a Disciple of Christ we are to take up our own cross and follow Him. The point heavily implied that we aren't putting it down again. 

We do have a day set before us...are we going to show ourselves and others the light of Jesus Christ or show them our version of life?

Are they going to see Jesus or our temper?

Are they going to hear Jesus or hear our outburst of anger over things that don't matter in God's economy?

Are they going to see Jesus or see us obviously not at our best since anything less than Jesus being seen isn't going to be good?

My Dear Reader...the opening passages reflect just part of the life of a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. A life that's changed. A life that's different.

What does your life really show the world in what you believe?

Jesus wasn't being mean to Peter when He said "What is that to you? You follow Me!".

Regardless of persons or circumstances that's our calling in Christ: You follow Me!

Many Christians don't have a vibrant study life in the Scriptures.

Ignorance will not be an excuse when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him. We will see we had every opportunity to be in His Word. 

Claiming to not have had the time will not be an excuse when He will show us just how much time He gave us that we wasted.

You, if you claim the Name of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior...have a life in Christ set before you that will honor and glorify God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ if we live it His way. 

Getting rid of every encumbrance and sin that weighs us down. 

We get so used to these encumbrances that we don't realize we have them.  

Just how seriously, how personal, is your walk with Jesus? Is He getting your first fruits of your time, energy and effort or the leftovers? 

Are you honoring Him in words, thoughts and actions or?

Pray that He renew a steadfast spirit in you. Pray that He shows you what needs to go, what needs to change and then do it. Pray for those in authority over you. Pray without ceasing...that is bring everything to God in prayer that concerns you. 

As a Believer in Jesus Christ, you DO have a race set before you. 
Are you standing around or are you focused on 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 

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

The Present The Future

The Present The Future 
by David Brenneman 

“My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.”
Proverbs 3:1-35.

From a Facebook post:
Me: "God this makes no sense!"
God: "It's not supposed to. It's supposed to grow your faith."

The days, months, weeks and even years after any election day are fraught with many questions and doubts about why this person or that person won out or why this issue passed but that one didn't. 

It is all in God's hands no matter our thoughts on the matter. What happens in the affairs of man are to abide by the Word of God and His plans for mankind.  

We may not now nor maybe never understand this side of Heaven but whatever happens the Scriptures say that it is He who establishes kingdoms and He removes them. He is the one whom puts people in power and He removes them. 

What's next for all who claim the Name of Jesus Christ is the same before such elections as afterwards. 

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” 1 Timothy 2:1-8.

Whatever in the Lord is what it is for each of us.

Whatever He desires. 
Whatever He deserves. 
Whatever He puts before us to do. 
Whatever it is...is for us to accomplish in His Name...to do with all our hearts as unto the Lord. 

We aren't representing political parties in this world. 

We, regardless of worldly activities, always represent Christ.

We may not understand and for these moments in our lives it's probably best we don't. Not that we can't or shouldn't pray for understanding it may not be given to us.

Life for the Believer is to trust and obey. Pray without ceasing. Leaning on the everlasting arms. Be who we are meant to be: representatives of Jesus Christ here on Earth. 

Before you allow joy or sadness grip you and take you down a path that might be before you...stop and pray. Ask, seek, knock. Ask for Jesus's point of view on what you see. Rest in the knowledge that He's in control. Go about your life reflecting Christ's light to this still lost world. 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.  

Fulfill your ministry.
Run the race set before you. 
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 

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Oh, Look at the Time

Oh, Look at the Time 
by David Brenneman 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34.

“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul is crushed with longing After Your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, Who wander from Your commandments.” Psalms 119:11-21.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.

Does what interests your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ interest you?

Does knowing His Word have special meaning to you?

Do you set a time to be in God's Word daily? Over time, has that time grown? Better still, have you asked the Spirit what all He's thinking you should be studying?

We treasure, that is put immense value on, memories. We treasure what potential good memories that a subject stirs up within us.

But, My Dear Reader, are you valuing, treasuring, that which is most valuable to your Savior?

Read through the Gospels and an immense portion of these points to the Disciples learning to treasure what Jesus treasured. Learning to value what He valued. 

While saddened, grieved even, Jesus only ever wrote off one individual and that was because it did fulfill the Scriptures. Jesus warned all who opposed Him and the message from the Father.  

This aligns perfectly with the notion that as long as people are living there's hope towards salvation in Christ Jesus for them. 

Two treasures are mentioned. Treasuring the Word of God in our hearts and minds, and treasure in Heaven which is people.

The Word of God turns hearts and minds towards the will of God for us in Christ Jesus, then after salvation it turns our hearts and minds towards building up treasure in Heaven. 

We do ourselves a great disservice by neglecting the Word of God daily. 

You wouldn't go daily without eating or drinking water, but oh so many starve spiritually for lack of seek sustenance in prayer and the Word of God. 

People go through so much adversity looking for reasons why and the greatest is always to draw us nearer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

We cannot know or understand the hard times of life if we don't know the promises of God written for our benefit. 

We value so many things, ideas, concepts, even people, above learning more about how we're to run the race set before us as outlined in the Word of God. 

We essentially aren't reading the instructions before putting life together.

My Dear Reader...look at what you won't budge on in your life. Is time spent with Jesus one of them?  

Is time spent in the Word of God one of them?  

Do you spend hours on all kinds of things yet neglect the Lord your God?  

Does what you do get involved with actually bring out the worst part of you? You act, think, speak as one of the worst offenders of the gospel and call it 'fun' and 'entertaining'?

Yet you won't spend time in the Word of God to treasure it as that pearl of great price?  

We are supposed to be learning how to think, act, live like Jesus Christ in our part of the world by His grace and mercy. We cannot learn if we're not intentional about time with Jesus or time in His Word. We cannot learn what true treasure is unless we put value to what Jesus valued...which was humanity. 

We cannot become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ unless we take up our own cross and follow Him. We cannot learn what is truly valuable unless we learn from God's Word what is truly valuable in God's eyes.

Reset your priorities. Boldly ask Jesus to reprioritize your life. 

Seek to live the "Well Done!" life, not the "Whew...I barely made it!" life.

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 

Monday, November 2, 2026

The Days That Are Upon Us And Those That Are Coming

The Days That Are Upon Us And Those That Are Coming 
by David Brenneman 

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 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 4:12-13.

“My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.” Proverbs 2:1-22.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!” Isaiah 5:20-23.

“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”
Romans 14:12-14.

Would this ever be you? "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!””Isaiah 6:8.

Has there been a time, a moment, in your life where you found your calling in Christ and would let nothing and no one get in your way? 

If not, what all have you done to seek out what it is that you're called to be doing? For every single part of the body of Christ has their own divine purpose in Christ. 

Don't let worldly desires, pursuits, successes and failures, get you off of or away from the righteousness life that God desires for you. 

There's a lot in the opening passages but all is beneficial for you and I in Christ. As are all the Scriptures. 

We should never allow personal ambitions to be more important than whatever it is that we've been called to be doing in Christ. 

We should learn, through prayer and Godly counseling, what it is that the Spirit has placed you in the body of Christ to be doing and then to have the zeal of Isaiah to run with it, allowing nothing and no one, to keep you from your appointed task. 

Satan's schemes include influences to get Believer's to devalue their calling in Christ. 

His schemes include whatever manipulation he's permitted to use to get us to slow down or stop whatever we're doing in Christ. 

To get us to justify why we aren't running the race set before us so that when it's convinced us so that we won't look to blame him. 

Truthfully the worldly influences concerning employment have done great damage to the thoughts and intentions of Believer's in that it gets Believer's to truly think that there's an earthly end to ministry because of time spent doing it. 

The Scriptures do not support a Believer in Jesus Christ setting a end date of service out of anything other than an inability to continue. 

Running the race set before us means that race is on and continues until we either are called to come home or the Rapture of the Church. 

We have to give our all for that which we are here to be doing. Give of our best to our Master, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

We give the enemy an opportunity, a foothold if you will, in our lives when we entertain stopping the race He set before us, especially in light of worldly desires.

My Dear Reader, you, yes you, have a very pertinent, extremely valuable, position in the body of Christ to be fulfilled by you through His strength and His wisdom. 

We're going to be tempted to lay it down.  

We're going to be enticed to move on to less important things. 

Lest anyone consider the idea...the race set before us was established by God, the Spirit of God. 

No one, not even ourselves, especially ourselves, has the authority to put a stop to whatever the Spirit has called us to be doing in Christ. No one.

We should always have that zeal as Isaiah showed to pursue whatever Jesus wants of us. Knowing that we will give an account of our lives before Him. Knowing just what all He did on calvary to save us.  

We should indeed be looking for and removing every single encumbrance that is slowing us down in this race. 

We should be checking our hearts to be sure we are still fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 

We should be checking to be sure our all is on the altar. 

We should be checking to be sure that any forms of idolatry are not found within us. 

We should be giving our best in this race He set before us. 

Yes it's going to mean saying no to lots of things.  

Relate today's post to this passage: "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11.

The days in which you live are the race set before you. The days that are coming are yet still going to be that race and the thoughts and intentions of your heart regarding what you are called to be doing are going to be fully known when you stand before Jesus. 

Run the race set before you. 

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 

Sunday, November 1, 2026

You Will, So Will He For You

You Will, So Will He For You 
by David Brenneman 

“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.” Micah 7:8.

“When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” Psalms 37:24.

“The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down.”
Psalms 145:14.

“If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.” Psalms 94:18.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

You're going to stumble. You're going to fall. You're going to think for a split second that what you see in others won't happen in you or to you. Oh the folly of the sin nature. 

You're going to trip, you're going to go down. The promise of Jesus is that you don't need to stay there. A cry to Him and He will help you back up onto your feet. Confess, ask forgiveness, move on, as He does when we do. Get back on the path He's set before you. 

My Dear Reader, we're not perfect, although we strive for perfection. We're not going to get it right every time because of the sin-cursed world we live in. We're not going to get it right because of the sin nature we were born with. We need daily cleansing from the sins of the day.  

The promise from Jesus is to help us get back on our feet again, cleansing us from all unrighteousness.  

The thing for us to do is not to ignore, not to dismiss, not call what we've done 'mistakes'. Not to treat what we say we 'love' which isn't helping us to grow spiritually as acceptable.

Satan cannot cancel us from Heaven's gates. He cannot prevent us from going to Jesus by his 'power'. He can, however, get us to believe we're in such a state that Jesus would not want to hear from us because of the dirt we have on ourselves. To not believe that He would ever cleanse such filth from us as is His promise to do when we confess---that is to agree with Him--and ask for forgiveness.

“For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” James 3:2.

Take a step back and look at just yesterday in your life. What thoughts did you entertain that weren't God honoring? What words did you speak that were not God honoring? What behaviors did you display that were not God honoring? What were you doing that you, if you truly believed Jesus was standing there, would not have been engaged in?

So you see...you do stumble. You do fall down. But unless you ask for forgiveness, unless you agree with Jesus that what those things were were indeed sins, the dirt remains.

By no means have I arrived at being able to bridle my tongue. Nor have I gotten to the point of my life where I've let go of sins that easily entangle. Satan's been around me my entire life and knows exactly how to push my buttons...when he's been permitted to do so.  

Scripture calls him the accuser of the brethren. 

What you also need to remember is he is nothing more than a fallen angel. He is not omnipotent, nor omnipresent. He cannot be everywhere at once nor can he know all things. My belief is that not only do we have Guardian Angels...we likely have a demon who's there trying to make life as rough as is permitted for us. Too many cliche's out there try to blame Satan for this that or the other when it's either just our sin nature, or something that was allowed to occur in our lives.

My Dear reader...Isaiah 41:10...we have this promise, we have an Advocate, as the Scriptures have promised.  

What's really on us to be doing is more agreeing with the Scriptures, more accepting of what they have to say about living the Christian life, more accountability to righteous living, than we have or do in this moment.  

There's no joking, quite truthfully, about things that we 'love'. There's nothing in the Scriptures about exceptions concerning sinful thoughts, actions or any such thing.  

What are thoughts you've entertained about things of this world that conflict with your love for Jesus and your obedience to what you're here for?

What actions do you willingly participate in that you shouldn't be that are really, Bibilically, idol worship?  

Christian's shouldn't be joining the 'rage craze' of others about 'things'.  
Christian's shouldn't be accepting of any form of sins in their lives that the Bible says ARE sins.
Christian's shouldn't be calling sins 'mistakes'. Jesus didn't die for the mistakes of people, He died for their sins.

Scripture says to 'consider your ways'. Are you?  
Are you removing the things that drive thoughts away from God's word in your life?

Someone once said, and appropriately so, that all it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.  

All it takes for sin to succeed in your life is for you to do nothing about it.  
All it takes for sin to have it's way with you is for you to make an excuse to embrace it.  
All it takes is for you to dismiss the consequences of sin in your life because you won't call it what God calls it.

So, my Dear Reader...recogize your position. Are you still down from stumbling? Get back up.
Are you still allowing thoughts that a Believer in Jesus Christ ought not to be entertaining? Call on His Name to get rid of them. Have you set up idols in your life...remove them...destroy them. 

You and I have an appointed day to stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives.
"I didn't know" won't be an acceptable excuse.
"I didn't think..." won't be an acceptable excuse.
"I wasn't serious about..." won't be an acceptable excuse.
"It wasn't like that..." won't work with the One who is the Truth.

We shouldn't accept stumbling and falling down as our new posture in Christ.

Pray what David did...to renew a right spirit within you. To see if there be any wicked, hurtful, way in you and to help you to remove it...destroy it even. To seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.  

Get back up again...and let's get moving and get back in the race set before us.

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

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Reading His Letter to You

Reading His Letter to You
by David Brenneman 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

How often do you stop to think about just what kind of profound, unique, unreserved, gift that you have in possessing the very word of God in your hands---at will--at that.

How often do you take it for granted that you'll have it at your fingertips? Not many decades ago it was a crime punishable by death to be found with one. In quite a few countries today to have it is a death sentence.  

To take this for granted...wow. I personally have several physical copies of my Bibles. A chief reason is I can still read them if there's no power. Another is that it cannot be subtley altered by anyone because they're the physical print. 

Days will come when on a global scale it's highly likely that the possession of a Bible will be against the New World Order. The AntiChrist will probably be against any who talk about or preach about the real living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How seriously do you take your discipleship with Jesus? If you come to Christ for salvation, it's also to become a disiciple of Jesus. To learn to walk in His ways and now our own. To learn what it means to be a child of God, and not promote ourselves. To point others to the salvation that we have in Christ...we need to learn, to grow, in Christ.

Long before wikipedia, the Bible has been here.  
Long before Google, the Bible has been here.  
Long before artificial intelligence, the Bible has been here. 

How will you learn what it is that you are here to be doing in the Name of the Lord if you aren't partaking, daily, of the Word of God?  

How will you ever stand before Jesus when you do give your account of your life...and not stand there ashamed because you never once took it seriously the divine privilege you were given to be able to read it?

Scripture says that our lives are not our own that we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore what's to become of our lives in honoring Him for His sacrifice in our place should not be our desires, our wishes, our will being done. To truly honor Jesus for His taking our place on calvary, we should be living our lives, however He, through His Spirit, sees fit for us to be living.

A test of how much this means to you is not that complicated. How often are you opening up your Bible? Either physically in book form or through an app? Next, how honestly selfish are your prayers about your present and your future? How often are you praying about the opportunities that you were given to interact with people that Jesus, through His Spirit, sent your way to interact with you?

My Dear Reader...our still being here after coming to Christ is to fulfill His plans for us to shine our light before men in such a way that they see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. It's to fulfill His plans for people who are yet among the chosen to be found and likewise come to Christ for salvation. It's not at all for us to come to Christ for salvation so that we can coast until either He returns to take the Church home to be with Him or calls us home. It's certainly not at all about us getting to make our own slice of Heaven here on Earth.

How much you know about the Scriptures would also reflect on how you live your life. How often do you pray for those you know who aren't saved? It is not for you to save them but it is for you to intercede on their behalf for the Spirit to work in their lives so that they might come to the knowledge of salvation as we have.

Your priorities of self vs service reflect what values you have gained from being in the Word of God. If you're running the race that the Spirit has set before you then you don't let up until either you're called home to be with Jesus or He returns. You don't slack off, you don't stop, you don't call it quits. You don't choose the direction of your life. Honestly put even retirement isn't an option. The only hint at retirement in the Scriptures is death. That's when rest comes to those who are in Christ.

Renew your walk with Jesus today...this very moment.  
Renew your calling in Christ and get back to running the race He set before you.
Renew your life in Christ as it was intended to be, according to the Scriptures.

We're on a Wedding Anniversary get away...and I have been committed to studying God's Word daily each evening from 4 study Bibles and 2 devotionals that I cherish. I only struggled for a moment with what to do, but it was only for a moment. I had a box, I put those materials in it and took it with us. My Wife easily understood and even had a plan to not disturb me while I studied.

The race set before you is for you to run with your everything if indeed you are wanting to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. What you need for that race is found within the pages of God's Word. Honestly how embarrassed will you be if you never read...all of...the love letter that Jesus wrote to you?

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 

Friday, October 30, 2026

Ask...Seek...

Ask...Seek...
by David Brenneman 

“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.

How seriously are you taking your walk with Jesus? Unlike a popular meme theme, I'm not asking for a friend.  

Are you as set as flint as Jesus was in heading for the cross?

“For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 50:7.

“When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; ”
Luke 9:51.

“Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ” John 12:20-23.

Are we really as determined as Jesus was to fulfill the Father’s will as Jesus was in His life here on Earth?

It's more than an hour or so on a Sunday. It's more than a prayer before the food we are about to partake. It's more.

Where is the desire to ask, to seek, to know more about, learn about Jesus? 

The Disciples learned a daily life that included Christ in it, from dawn til dusk.

Are you as determined? Are you as willing to lay down your wants and desires to learn what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ? 

This life in Christ means leaving behind, means letting go, of the things of this world in favor of such learning. 

This life in Christ means throwing away worldly conventional wisdom of when to follow Jesus and when is 'me' time. It likewise means throwing out what is expected even by family and friends.  

If we're on the altar and not in control from the throne of our hearts then everything is to be on that altar. 

We should be waking up to ask seek knock as to what, when and where Jesus wants us next. 

By these things people will see that you are followers of Jesus Christ. 

By this people will see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

For me, so far, it's meaning to remove many things from my life that weren't going to glorify my Savior and my Lord Jesus Christ. 
It's meant changing my activities from what I desire to what the Spirit desires within me. It meant letting go of certain dreams and expectations in order to shine the light of Jesus Christ in my life the way that He wants it to.

As Jesus said to Peter, so Jesus says to you..."You follow Me!".

Be bold, stand firm, suit up in the whole armor of God. Ask, seek, knock. 

You have a plan and purpose for yet being alive right now in Christ...you and I don't get to choose to follow through with this or not. It's non-negotiable.  

Whether young, middle-aged, or old. There's no one who is in Christ who's plans supercede the will of God for them in Christ Jesus.  

No daily plans, no weekly plans, no yearly plans, not even a retirement plan. Scripture doesn't support retirement from God's plan and purpose for any who are in Christ. We are to run, with our everything, the race set before us. 

As you go on about your life...ask...seek...trust...obey. 

Be the fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ that you're supposed to be. 

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