"Be Ready, I am Coming"

"Be Ready, I am Coming"
by David Brenneman

Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming." Luke 12:40

Mike Yardley had just left his network's studios when his city
began to shake. As the ground convulsed, a cloud of dust
rose all around. Pieces of the city center of Christchurch, New
Zealand, were raining down on the sidewalks. Looking back at
his news building, Yardley saw nothing but dust. The building had
collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake, killing seventeen of
his colleagues. "My heart has been torn by the unwieldy weight of grief," he said, "as I reflect on 17 much-loved workmates who
I will never share a TV studio with again."
     Jesus warned of an increasing number of earthquakes, along with famines and pestilences, as we grow closer to His return. We may see all these disasters today and marvel at the state of the world. But we shouldn't fear. We should take these things as reminders to be watching, waiting, and praying. We
should be ready!

The world is in trouble, but Jesus came to rescue us from its final consequences." ERWIN LUTZER
- Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah.

My Dear Reader...From the days of old God made the promise that the Messiah would come.  Not just a single prophecy regarding this but hundreds.  All of which culminated in the night of His Earthly birth in a little town in Bethlehem.  Further, these whom wrote the Old Testament at the leading of the Spirit, told of what kind of life this Savior, this Messiah, would lead.  The prophecies also spoke to His sufferings and crucifixion.

All of these came true in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus died a horrific death in the place of sinful man and not only that, but arose 3 days later conquering sin, death and the grave.  More promises kept.

Now, He sits at the right hand of the  Father in Heaven.  Awaiting that moment when His Father says its time. 

There's many millions of people who have died in Christ who are there right now awaiting that moment as well, who have been worshipping Jesus since they've left this world. 

The same Scriptures that were and are completely accurate about Jesus being the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the risen Messiah, are also telling us all who remain in this present age that He will return to reclaim His Church.

In the letters to the Thessalonians in practically every chapter there's references made to remind them of the promised return of Jesus Christ.

These promises will be kept.  God isn't willing that any should perish but that all might be saved.

This message is for all who are still at that place where they've not decided, not chosen, the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins.

This is a limited time opportunity. 

You see, the return of Jesus Christ is directly tied to the completion of the Church of Jesus Christ. 

When that last person who comes to Christ is saved, then that's it.

That day could be today, could be tomorrow, could be days, weeks, months in the future. 

Jesus spoke of what the days would be like when He is going to come back.  Civilization hadn't developed to the point of seeing those things happen...but we live in those days now.

My Dear Reader if you have not yet received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins...the offer is still on the table.

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

You have enough faith to come to Christ if you so choose. 

Look at perhaps the most famous of verses in the Bible in a more personal way.

For God so loved YOU that He gave His only begotten Son so that if YOU believe in Him YOU will not perish but have everlasting life.

You were on His mind when He was on the cross.  Yes YOU.

Jesus needs to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life or you will never see Heaven. 

Hell is the only other destination.  Jesus Himself spoke of what awaits those who reject His free gift of salvation.

My hope and prayer for all who are lead by God to find this blog is for people either to come to Christ for salvation or if they have been saved that they might return to Him and be restored.

In and of myself I am nobody special.  In Christ, because of what He did, I am among the saved in Christ Jesus.  I am among the beloved of the Father in Heaven.  I have been forgiven, washed clean from my sins and I do await that day when there's a shout that will call me out of this world to forever be with Jesus my Savior and my Lord.

Before you today is both eternal death and eternal life.  Forever with Jesus or forever separated from Jesus.  Forever with Jesus is beyond our imagination for the level of joy that awaits.  Forever separated from Jesus will be the complete opposite, an eternity in painful torment, paying for sin. A place repeatedly mentioned in the Scriptures as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Another way to look at gnashing of teeth is to consider people you may see who are raging against something or someone.  In this Biblical sense it's to do with them raging against the judgment of God that they're in that horrific place.

You, while you yet live in this world, have the opportunity to receive the free gift of salvation, you read of what to do earlier. 

No one knows the day nor the hour of Jesus coming back but the reality is He is GOING to come back.

You choose your destination by your choice of accepting or rejecting Jesus.  Once you leave this world that choice is sealed.  Never to be changed again.  No do overs. 

If you have more questions, please feel free to call (330) 264-9459 and ask for help to know more about Jesus or text JESUS to that number.  There's people who will gladly explain things and show you how to be saved.

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

Was Your Appointment Optional?

Was Your Appointment Optional?

by David Brenneman 

"My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend;" Proverbs 7:1-4.

For those who claim the Name of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...do you consider your meetings with Him as optional? If you can fit Him in? If this will happen you'll talk to Him? Do you consider the Word of God as suggestions rather than commands and promises? Is prayer something you only think about when food is put before you? Is prayer only for you that which you engage in when disaster strikes? When something fearful is on the horizon?

Do you understand the definition of diligence? It's first defined as steady, earnest, and energetic effort : persistent and careful hard work. Legally it is the attention, effort, and care legally expected or required of a person.

How are you, as a Believer in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, claiming He is the Leader of your life, in your diligence to obey His Word? How are you in making whatever is His priority your priority? The workmanship He is doing in your life is NOT Him giving you your hearts desires to go do whatever you want to be doing. His workmanship is that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

We cannot live a transformed life if we aren't being diligent in prayer and the Word of God. 

We cannot take up our own cross and follow Him if we are not obeying in denying ourselves first. Jesus said "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?" Matthew 16:24-26.

The passage where Jesus also said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit." does NOT say as well "when you aren't busy and can fit Him in".

Consider this path of growing in Christ: "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8.

Peter, through the Spirit’s direction, is not making suggestions here. Here He is giving words by way of command.  

Yes it's going to mean changes in my life and your life.  

Yes it's going to mean possibly losing sleep to keep your commitment to your time with Jesus.

Yes it's going to mean making appointments to talk with Jesus and doing all you can to make it to those appointed times because of who Jesus is and what He's supposed to mean to us.

Yes it's going to mean saying no to others and other things.  

A possible newsflash for some: your life is not supposed to be what it was PLUS Jesus.  

Your new life in Christ is you putting off the old and putting on Christ. 

Your walk with Jesus is to be above all else. Your times of talking with Jesus are supposed to be persistent and personal. 

With all diligence.

From Dr. David Jeremiah's notes: Diligence • 2 Peter 1:5 

In the Greek, diligence describes strenuously giving yourself to something, fully committing to an activity without concern for the cost, going to extravagant lengths to complete a goal. It was used in Greek literature to describe the extraordinary commitment of a citizen to his or her civic duties. In our day, diligence might call to mind an athlete's sweat-producing efforts to strain toward a goal and become a champion. Diligence is what motivates sprinters to come around the bend toward the finish tape, exerting every muscle when

it seems their bodies have nothing left to give.

     When Peter urges us to give "all diligence," he does not teach salvation by works; he means

we should make Christ and His kingdom our focus, putting all our efforts into running the race He has set before us (1 Cor. 9:24). Bishop

J. C. Ryle wrote: "l would just as soon expect a farmer to prosper in his business who contented

himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them until the harvest as to expect a believer

to gain much holiness who has not been diligent about his Bible reading,...his prayers, and...the use of his Sundays."

How much are you really valuing the salvation you have in Christ?

Are you spiritually lethargic or spiritually growing? Not as seen from your perspective but what we read in 2 Peter.

Why is it most people are more concerned about upsetting or offending other people by missing appointments than they are about missing time talking to Jesus?

Are you one of them? Will you find time for this or that special event but not for talking with Jesus? Will you carve out a few hours for a movie but not for learning from your Bible?  

Your Bible isn't just a troubleshooting manual after things go wrong, it's a manual for daily living that will help you before there is trouble. 

Your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ isn't a butler or guy upstairs to meet your every wish.  

His goal is to make us more like Himself.  

To take someone off the street and turn them into a world class runner requires that person to make significant changes in their life to accomplish that goal. It means meeting with trainers and coaches when those trainers and coaches say it's time to meet.  

We are to run the race set before us. We're in the race that the Spirit has us entered in. We are to give of our best as unto the Lord.  

This is going to require our making sacrifices to achieve what He says we are to achieve. 

Make your appointments with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and keep them. 

Make your training in righteousness your ambition not your option. 

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. 

An then you will be applying all diligence.  

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's Opinion Matters?

Who's Opinion Matters?

by David Brenneman 

"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

     A deep inner cause of anxiety that many people wrestle with comes from a desire to prove themselves- especially to others.

The things they do for acceptance seem unending-the ways they

dress, change their appearance, buy houses they can't afford, act

out, engage in illicit activities, strive for power, and seek out social

status. And they do it all because they are concerned about what

others think. They are constantly worrying about how they stack

up, so they work harder with longer hours and overschedule their

lives in an effort to impress others with their productivity and performance-or at least to satisfy their own internal need for success.

     Is this you? Understand that Jesus tells you that all that truly

matters is your heavenly Father's opinion about who you are. If

He approves of you, that's all the endorsement you need. He gives

you your identity and an inner beauty that far surpasses anything

related to what you might wear, own, drive, or live in. As for per-

formance, what more does your heavenly Father expect than that

you do your best? You are responsible to work wholeheartedly in obedience to Him, honoring Him with whatever you do.

Jesus, thank You for always accepting me. Help me to

embrace my identity in You. Amen

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

Worldly opinion, whether it's in the grand scheme or our own tiny bit of the world, seems to matter way too much to too many people. 

Getting that plaque from YouTube. 

Getting that next promotion.

Getting to be the one caught on video doing that next heroic deed.

For some already somewhat elevated theirs is how do they keep what they've achieved?

It's taken too much of my own life to get to a place where the opinions of people are nowhere near where they used to be.  

As Dr. Stanley wrote all too often we're striving for approval from others. 

We who are in Christ should be living in the truth that we are His approved. 

We don't need the praise and approval of others when our Father in Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit already do.

There really is a peace that passes all understanding when we let go of that particular type of stress. 

It's much easier to live life without that false sense of pressure upon the mind and heart. 

All that I need to be sure of is that my walk with my Savior is where it's supposed to be. That I give of my best as unto the Lord. That I love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul and spirit. That I love my neighbor as myself.  

Statistics are nice and all but they don't define us. We should never apply the world's standards of success to success in the eyes of God. 

My continual thought concerning even this blog is to praise God for what He's done and is doing with it. Those statistics aren't mine they're His. It's entirely what He's doing with it. 

Our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. What we do in the body is to be as unto the Lord. So the results should be of that caliber. Our obedience should speak volumes without saying a word. 

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:5-6.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly." Proverbs 15:1-2.

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32.

We live with these things in mind...we shouldn't be concerned with what others think about us. 

Any plaques, awards, certificates, crowds, none of these things will matter when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. 

How we lived, what we did for Jesus, these are the things that will matter. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

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