He Remembers to Forget

He Remembers to Forget 

by David Brenneman

"And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ” Luke 15:11-32.

Eden, he still sees the flowers there

Noah kept safely in his care

Moses walks the red sea part

David, after his own heart

Every moment in history

Still there in his mind so it amazes me

He remembers to forget what mercy forgave

The past that I regret is forever washed away

The king who knows it all could easily recall and yet

He remembers to forget what mercy forgave

Calvary, he still smells that dusty air

And years past he can hear that one thieve's prayer

That hillside where we broke His heart

The earth shook and the world with dark

It's all still fresh in his mind

But wonder of all wonders, it overwhelms me every time

He remembers to forget what mercy forgave

The past that I regret is forever washed away

The king who knows it all could easily recall and yet

He remembers to forget what mercy forgave

The king who knows it all could easily recall and yet

He remembers to forget what mercy forgave

He remembers to forget what mercy forgave

-The Hoppers (c) 2010.

It's a story taught and preached by hundreds throughout the last 2,000 plus years for sure. But to me, the connection between the song the Hoppers brought out and seeing it in the Prodigal Son story happened last night.  

The part many may not get was how harsh the son who left was being. It wasn't as simple as saying he wanted his inheritance and was going to leave. He essentially told his Dad he would rather that he was dead so that he could go do what he wanted with what was to be his.  

Rather than fight him on this he gave him what he wanted. Seeing that he wouldn't be persuaded otherwise.  

But the key part is that his father never stopped praying for and hoping for his son to return.  

Stop right there. This too is each of us in God's eyes. His invitation to come home has been spread far and wide in probably every language and in most every way on our planet. Whether or not we listen and realize all He's wanting is for us to turn around and come to Him just as we are...that's on us.

Now this part of the father's reaction is what I had missed. His father chose to forget the harsh cruel words his son, his own flesh and blood, said to him.  

Inheritance or not, his changed heart was what his father latched onto.

We often don't consider and perhaps you have never considered that when you came to Christ for salvation that part of that imputed righteousness that is Christ that the Father sees when He sees you...is God choosing to forget all our unrighteousness.   

He knows it all and chooses to forget it. Casting our sins as far as the east is from the west...remembering them no more. 

It's mind blowing to me. Last night as well in our group we remembered another song "When God Ran". A few have taken to singing it but my favorite version is by Phillips Craig and Dean.  

The song never fails to choke me up. Never fails to probably cause my heart to skip a beat.  

Almighty God the great I am

Immovable rock omnipotent powerful

Awesome lord

Victorious warrior commanding king of kings

Mighty conqueror and the only time

The only time I ever saw him run

Was when

He ran to me

He took me in his arms

Held my head to his chest

Said my son's come home again

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in his voice ge said

Son do you know I still love you

He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home

I knew I'd broken his heart

And I wondered then if things could ever be the same

Then one night

I remembered his love for me

And down that dusty road ahead I could see

It was the only time

It was the only time I ever saw him run

And then

He ran to me

He took me in his arms

Held my head to his chest

Said my son's come home again

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in his voice ge said

Son do you know I still love You

He caught me by surprise

And he brought me to my knees

When God ran I saw him run to me

I was so ashamed all alone and so far away

But now I know that he's been waiting for this day

I saw him run to me

He took me in his arms

Held my head to his chest

Said my son's come home again

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in his voice

I felt his love for me again

He ran to me

He took me in his arms

Held my head to his chest

Said my son's come home again

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in his voice

He said son

He called me son

He said son do you know I still love you

He ran to me (When God ran)

(I saw him run to me)

And then I ran to him

(When God ran)

When God ran

-Philips Craig and Dean (c)1999

Knowing my own sin depraved heart and mind as I do...knowing that in that instant that I asked Jesus to save me...that He ran to me...took me in His arms...head my head to His chest and declared that I had come home.   

That overwhelms me every time. 

I can't understand why He loves me so when I know how, throughout my life, I wasn't the righteous man I should have been. I have been that Prodigal Son. Perhaps more times than I can recall.

Everyone is a single step away from Jesus running to them. Ready to keep His promises to them. Life can and will be harsh. But those saved in Christ are never alone. We don't need to lean on our own understanding. He's ready to lead, to provide, to handle life with us and for us.  

We need to come to Him and simply ask Him to save us. To be the forgiver of our sins and the leader of our lives. Jesus said that we must come as a child. Simply believe. Believe that which the Gospels proclaim. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life. Was cruelly punished for our sins and the sins of mankind on a cruel cross. Died for our sins, arose 3 days later conquering sin, death and the grave. Now the risen Lord Jesus Christ. He died for me. He died for you. More importantly He arose to become our Savior and Lord. 

We can and likely will struggle with the knowledge of our past sins. We can and should be comforted by knowing He chooses to forget. 

There's been times when I thought I was oh so far away from God. It's something that I have learned and know to be true...it's not just some saying that I said earlier. I have never been more than 1 step away from His loving embrace. He will always be ready to run to anyone who's turned their hearts to Him.

Think about these things today.  

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 

Learning Shouldn't Be Shunned

Learning Shouldn't Be Shunned
by David Brenneman

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait
I will move ahead bold and confident
I'll be taking every step in obedience, yeah
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
And I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You Lord
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
-(c)2007 John Waller "While I'm Waiting".

Several devotional readings last night were about waiting on God, waiting on the Lord.  This song easily came to mind after reading just that word.

We don't like to wait.  Several generations now are of a kind that patience appears to be more of a superpower than a choice to make easily. 

We don't wait on food sometimes from a microwave and either discover it to either not be done or over cooked.  We see people who can't simply drive a vehicle without staying on a cell phone for fear of missing out on a conversation that in all likelihood could wait.  We see people dying or gravely wounded from vehicle accidents because of impatience due to other road hazards.  We see videos of impatience born out in children destroying things because their parents failed to enforce learning patience.  We have no shortage of examples of a lack of patience.

Yet the Bible teaches quite the opposite.  Bringing up a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it.  There's much said about patience in the Lord.  A fruit of the Spirit is patience.  We do not see that getting ahead of God as impatience at the time things didn't go well for us because we didn't exercise patience in the moment.

Read again Psalm 23...slowly.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.

There's actions and activities that the Lord Jesus Christ brings us to and puts us through that are going to bring about learning about how to be patient of how to exercise patience.  It's a fruit of the Spirit so should be a fruit of our life in Christ.

"so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:10-12.

And do not forget these evidences:  "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.

Our aim in this life as Believers isn't personal growth, isn't personal wealth, it's not in a life pursuing fantastic health 24/7.  It's not exemplified in anything but testifying of the work of God in Christ Jesus in us and living as lights in this present darkness.  It's growing in Christ Jesus to be more like Christ.  Personal goals are fine as long as they do not conflict with what God's Word says and His revealed will for us in Christ.  We are HIS workmanship.  Not His AND our own.  Not His AND a career that's not what He wanted for us to be doing. 

We learn Godly patience from being fully obedient.  We learn this and all the other fruits of the Spirit through our obedience regardless of how we feel in the moment.

We lie to ourselves when we deny what the Spirit says we're being like. 

Paul wraps all this up in this: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:16-25.

Fighting the work of God in your life will cause you to be impatient and thus not to show the fruit of the Spirit in you.  "He makes me lie down..."  Look at any parent who is making a child rest or take a nap and you'll see the difficulty that the Spirit most likely has with human beings claiming to be Christians to stop n rest...to lie down...when He is saying it's appropriate to do so.

We also disrespect the Lord when we are fighting what He's doing in our lives.  Disrespect leads to impatience as well.  Because our ways are not His ways.  When we insist on our ways impatience shows up.

We must choose to be patient as He does what we pray for.  We must accept what He's doing at the rate it's being done for His reasons, even if we don't understand or feel like it.

Our plan and purpose for each of us is wrapped up in 2 things and 2 things only.  To grow in Christ, becoming more like Jesus, and to do our part in the body as the Spirit sees fit for us to be doing.  It's not going to look like what we think it should because we're in the midst of learning to obey. 

"Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”" Acts 9:10.

This is the only response we should have in life.  Even when understanding eludes us. 

This verse isn't long or complex but does speak volumes about this particular disciple's life in Christ. 

Would we respond the same or find some excuse for not because our eyes were not on obedience?

Someone once said to never pray for patience because God would put you in a place to learn it.  Well my Dear Reader...wrong instructions but right results.  

We want the fruit of the Spirit to be displayed in our lives. 

We want our obedience to show others what a life in Christ looks like. 

We want to live our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

We DO don't we?

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

Are We Showing Jesus to the World?

Are We Showing Jesus to the World?

by David Brenneman 

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21.

"Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:11-12.

I have been lead to write in the past of the conduct of Believers and today seems to be more of the same. What are we doing in living our lives that isn't glorifying God? What behaviors do we display that are actually dishonorable to our Lord Jesus Christ? What do we 'enjoy' in our lives that shouldn't be there, that we haven't lifted a finger to deal with? We all have these areas. We all are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

The question is: are you in agreement with Jesus through His Spirit when He illuminates these things or do you dismiss or argue with Him about them? 

We are prone to various levels of pride in keeping what's possible in our sinful world that we've convinced ourselves that isn't bad.

But in doing so we dishonor God rather than obey God. 

We have the pattern in the Scriptures of what a Disciple of Jesus Christ is to be like. We have the assurance that if we bring these things that we finally acknowledge shouldn't be in our hearts and minds that He will help us deal with them. 

The hard core part of living a life that's an approved life in Christ is to want what He wants for you and from you. Even if it's something you don't particularly want in your life at the moment. 

As I have read, on and off, concerning adversity in the last 8 months...nobody wants it but it's a necessity to growing in Christ. 

That is a huge part of displaying what Paul told Timothy that we read. It's right there in what Paul wrote in Romans. 

The more we want what God wants for us the more is likely to be removed from our lives to make room for those things. As many probably heard growing up...clean your plate if you want more of something or if you want dessert.

Nobody going through the harshness of basic training really relishes all the physical pain and suffering they go through, but when they begin to see what it profits them they begin to understand the why.

Nobody who's never run a race really understands what goes into the results that the scoreboard shows unless they have been there done that for themselves. 

We cannot know what is in store for us that God has planned for us unless we let go of what we hold onto and submit to His purpose and plan for us.

We have our instructions to living a truly Godly life in Christ Jesus...but are we taking it all in? Are we going to stand before Jesus having obeyed or having disobeyed His instructions for us?

Yes it's probable that we will have to give up some things in life. But isn't what God wants for you more important?  

These things in our lives that we might be holding on too tightly to...they will indeed turn to ashes as the Scriptures say. Anything or anyone who's been put higher than Jesus in our hearts will be dealt with.  

Take time today to look at your life and see if there is any wicked way in you that you're denying is what it is. Ask Jesus to show you if there is any in your life and to lead you to the righteous life that He desires for you.

We all are immersed in the evils of our day. We all have a fight on our hands to stay right and true before our God. We are being arrogant if we say that we're ok. Nobody has overcome to the extent that they don't need prayer to stay on the path of righteousness. As a song of Charlie Pride says "you'll find all kinds of exits" on this highway that leads to glory. Temptations abound and are wrapped up in bows and fancy wrapping paper. 

My sin nature shouldn't be trusted to stay out of the way in my walk with Jesus because I would be fooling myself if I thought for a second that it would. 

Paul counted everything as loss in order to know Jesus more.  

Are you dedicated to living life with Jesus as your highest priority? Does what you do and have in your life reflect that? Does your reactions to life reflect that?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:23-24.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Your Call, Your Loss is Your Gain

Your Call, Your Loss is Your Gain 

by David Brenneman 

"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. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:7-14.

Paul valued nothing as more important than what he was called to do in Christ. Didn't matter what was presented to him, what opportunities that presented themselves, Paul clearly only wanted to hear "Well done!" from Jesus and nothing else. 

Paul might also have been driven to excel in this because of his former manner of life before coming to Christ for salvation. As Saul he certainly saw the worst in himself playing out for all to see. 

Even with some coming to him in his latter years to warn him of what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem, he wouldn't be swayed. 

Dedication, devotion, commitment, that he displayed are certainly the above ground fruits of the Spirit in his life. He urged other, including ourselves, to walk such a life in Christ as he had.

Jesus Himself 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? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:24-27.

We aren't here, and some of you will need to Google this, we aren't here to create our own "Fantasy Island".

We who are alive and remain right now are to grow in Christ, to display the love of God in Christ Jesus to those who are perishing. Not to collect the most toys, to spend our time looking for ways to enjoy ourselves for our own sakes.  

Time to think and consider what is important in life is some part of what I have been given in these last 8 months. A great many things needing fixed have been fixed by God's provision. There's others that are just going to have to wait. But the real thing is being given more time to think. More time to be in God's Word. Relearning some things that I had forgotten. Putting less on things that I really don't need and more towards the calling for which I have been called and chosen in Christ Jesus to be fulfilling. 

You too, if you are in Christ, have a personal calling in Christ Jesus to fulfill, not just what you are to be doing with fellow Believers.  

You too, are to make your personal goals to be that which honors God rather than yourself. ALL that we pursue for self, rather than what we do in life for the Lord as He-through the Spirit called us to do and be-will be burned up when exposed to the fires of the Behma seat of Jesus Christ. 

What are you pursuing that is a waste of what God called you to be and do for Him? What's getting your time, money and attention that should be spent on things that align with His calling for you in Christ?

Right now is the time to get serious as Paul was showing us all to be serious in our walk with Jesus, this race set before us. Look at his personal letters to Timothy and Titus. Look at what he says about his speech, love and conduct. 

Are we really showing ourselves to be examples of Christ or do people only see us? If they only see us, poor Ambassadors are we then.

If God's Word holds no interest to you...then you really need to question your salvation in Christ. Because being saved is way more than just escaping the fires of Hell. 

If you aren't in prayer or only pray the exact same thing all the time, then you're seriously neglecting the right relationship you were to be in after coming to Christ for salvation. 

How long would a real world relationship last if you kept only repeating the same thing every day to the person you said you wanted to get to know?

We as Christians, as Ambassadors for Christ, need to get our priorities in order. We will give an account of EVERY thing said, thought, or done in our bodies.  

Having been told by Jesus to be careful how we listen, do we? I know that I struggle with this at times. 

Having been told to abandon sinful practices, do we? Or are we convincing ourselves that it's "just who I am" rather than going to God for help in those areas?

Are we limiting God blessing us because we withhold blessing others? What? Are you afraid that God won't bless you another time?

We have a calling in Christ to fulfill and will give an account concerning whether or not we pursued it well. 

We have a need to be taught by the Spirit of God and to heed what the Bible says to us. 

We cannot please God if we aren't loving God as He's worthy to be loved by us. If we aren't obeying God then we prove ourselves to be liars not living in the truth.  

We have a choice every day we have been given to breathe the breath of life to live an obedient life to Jesus.  

We have a choice to make to deny ourselves, to take up our own cross, and to follow Christ.

We will give an account to Jesus as to whether or not we obeyed in this.

Paul counted everything as loss in order to know Jesus more...do we?

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

Never Alone, Ready to Listen

Never Alone, Ready to Listen 

by David Brenneman 

"Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:5.

"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.

"teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

A Priest passing through his church

In the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar to see who come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,

And a man came down the aisle,

The Priest frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was torn and shabby,

And his coat was worn and frayed,

The man knelt down and bowed his head, Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed at precisely noon, the Priest saw this man, each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch box in his lap.

Well, the Priest’s suspicions grew,

With robbery a main fear, he decided to stop and ask the man,

'What are you doing here?'

The old man said he was a factory worker and lunch was half an hour

Lunchtime was his prayer time,

for finding strength and power.

I stay only a moment because the factory's far away; As I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS BEN, JUST CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The Priest was feeling foolish,

Told Ben that it was fine. He told the man that he was welcome to pray there anytime. "It's time to go, and thanks," Ben said as he hurried to the door.

Then the Priest knelt there at the altar, which he'd never done before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, as he met with Jesus there.

As the tears flowed down his cheeks, he repeated old Ben's prayer:

'I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME, JUST CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the Priest noticed that old Ben hadn't come.

As more days passed and still no Ben, he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,

learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Ben was with them,

brought changes in the ward.

His smiles and joy contagious.

Changed people were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand

why Ben could be so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The Priest stayed by his bed,

he voiced the nurse's concern:

No friends had come to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up and with a winsome smile;

'The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, He's been here all the while.'

Everyday at noon He comes here,

A dear friend of mine, you see,

He sits right down and takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

'I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, BEN, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. I THINK ABOUT YOU ALWAYS AND I LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, AND SO BEN, THIS IS JESUS,

JUST CHECKING IN TODAY .'

-Unsure of who to give credit to for this. 

We often don't really think of the truth that Jesus is with us everywhere we go. We sometimes may be among those who aren't sure how to pray. We can invariably be among those who over-complicate what is supposed to be the simplicity of the Gospel message.  

A simple raw truth prayer of mine of late takes me back to a much younger version of me when was scared and Jesus was there Himself just holding me.  

I have met many people who are Christian's who struggle with praying. They don't know what to say. It's rather simple...speak from your heart. Jesus doesn't need overly long or overly complex prayers. He wants you to pray from your heart, no matter how it needs to come out. You, if indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, are in a growing relationship with Jesus. It takes time for all relationships to grow.  

We don't need flowery speeches. 

We don't need long orations.

We just need simplicity. 

Just as the gospel is presented so that even children can understand it...so can and should our prayers be. We are learning who our Savior is. We are learning how to walk this walk of faith. We are, as the poem eludes to, learning that Jesus will meet us wherever we are...is with us wherever we go.

There in the Scriptures as well is that same assurance. Joseph prospered because the Lord was with him. David spoke at length of the Lord being with him throughout all the years Saul chased him. We have the very words of the Father. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!".

Jesus said He is with us wherever we go. That He would never leave us or forsake us. He's never broken that promise even when we unintentionally or intentionally sin.

We don't need to be theologians to pray from the heart. We don't need a doctorate or having had a dissertation presentation. 

Just come as you are. No different than when you heard His call and were saved by Him.  

That poem reminds me often to just be me. Jesus sees through pretenses. He's unimpressed by status.

Pray as simply as you know how and let it grow from there.  

Consider the real simplicity of the often quoted Psalm 23. Consider how the Apostle Paul learned how to be content in all things from poverty to abundance. 

Jesus saved you and knows everything about you. We don't need to try to impress Him. We can read of how that worked out for Peter.  

Just be you. Pray from your heart. 

If you are hurting, talk about that. 

If you are happy, talk about that. 

If you're 'good' talk about that. Talk about what you're thankful for. If there's someone on your mind talk to Him about them. It's ok to keep it simple and just remember to be sincere.  

Jesus will always make time for you. He’s never too busy for any of us. Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. 

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 

Weaknesses and Strengths

Weaknesses and Strengths 

by David Brenneman 

"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong," 1 Corinthians 1:27.

If you are feeling particularly helpless today, good. God delights

in imparting His all-sufficient power to those who meet the one

paradoxical requirement -weakness. If you have reached a place of exhaustion and emptiness, then look to the heavens and let the

Lord breathe His power into your spirit. And take courage. Those

who are brokenhearted and at the very end of their own resources

are merely a heart's cry away from the renewing surge of Christ's

sustaining power.

     You may wonder why the ungodly prosper, while you've tried

to remain faithful and are suffering. Remember that the Lord has His reasons and will show His hand in due time. But also understand that the power of God is not for clout but for service, not for self-gratification but to glorify Christ. So the Father gives His

all-surpassing might to the humble, not for the advancement of personal interests and agendas but to honor His name. He strengthens

us so that we might demonstrate to others that He is sufficient and

is, indeed, the Lord. Therefore, if you're weary and troubled, keep

trusting Him--you are the very person whom the Savior stands

ready to empower and through whom He will exhibit His glory.

Jesus, You are my only hope. Strengthen me to honor You.

Amen.

- Trusting God with Today 

Dr. Charles Stanley. 

Not understanding is something that I am learning to get used to. 

I don't 'feel' particularly strong in what I go through these days. I have the strangest dreams that make no sense. I know not from where my next job will come from. I search practically daily, which is actually very time consuming. 

Which does lead me to feeling rather weak as far as accomplishments go.  

I don't get out among people due to conservation of resources. So my only scope of relationships is with my Wife, two groups that I try to attend and Sunday Morning Church services. I don't see and mostly don't hear from people otherwise. 

This too can look like I am achieving little to nothing. 

What I do...is to try to remain faithful in whatever it is that I have been given to do...and leave the results unto God. Yesterday was unclogging a drain spout and fixing a dryer hood as well as making sure that the car was good to go. 

What today holds I do not know. I am to do the best that I can with what I have been given and to do it as unto the Lord...even if it doesn't make sense to me. 

As Dr. Stanley was writing so yes I do feel rather helpless at times. Not at all understanding the why's behind this. Am pretty sure future King David wasn't entirely clear on what he went through for years until he finally had the throne. Am pretty sure Joseph kept wondering for a few decades where what he was going through was going to tie into the visions that looked to have set off his brothers against him.   

We are to trust and obey. That my Dear Reader is likely my favorite hymn. It's sort of there in between the lines of Dr. Stanley's Life Principle "Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.".

I continue with what He's began with me in my mornings with Him in reading and writing. I continue each night in my devotional reading and study Bibles. It's been amazing the times one or the other or both touch on what I am feeling in that moment. 

It's those times when I do feel as one who isn't alone. That promise that I wouldn't be forsaken being known. 

I somewhat miss my old job...but the part that's taking a lot longer to heal is the broken relationship with the owner that began before I worked for him. This too God will take care of. It's on me to continue in prayer about it. 

We aren't going to have all the answers to what's going on in this life we live. We are weak, He is strong...that children's song says it well. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus and do whatever it is He's saying to do. Even if it's not making sense.  

The work that the Spirit is doing in us and through us is to grow us in Christ and touch the lives of others in His Name for His purposes. 

We are only strong in the Lord when considering spiritual life. We must rely on the Spirit to teach and for us to be open for the lessons. 

"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

No I do not subscribe to the notion that this is a physical ailment. This begins and is described entirely as spiritual in nature.

I have weaknesses that are different from his. Yours are different from mine. Mine are not yours. Yet all of us find our strength only in the Lord Jesus Christ. What we need, when we need and where we need to accomplish His purposes in the moment.  

"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.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [21] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21.

"but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Weaknesses and strengths are a part of who we are. We must walk by faith and not by sight. We need spiritual eyes to see and spiritual teaching to learn...and a heart that wants what God wants for 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 

www.lockman.org

Deeper Roots Lend to Greater Growth

Deeper Roots Lend to Greater Growth 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5.

Quite often we may think the worst in an apparently bad situation. I certainly didn't know what to make of being put on administrative leave pending an investigation last year. What it did do was immediately make me go to my God in prayer. Only He can and will go places that I can't go, and could make an impact where I could not. 

Going deeper in the soil while He took care of things in this season of my life is what He's been doing to me. 

Another thing is that I both knew and acknowledged from the Spirit that I had need of praying for those who were persecuting me. This too is found in the Scriptures. In not just the Gospels but we can find it in the Old Testament as well.  

Another was to remember the words of Paul when he quoted the Old Testament. "Vengeance is Mine says the Lord."

Going on from there...knowing that He would supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

My Dear Reader...in all these areas and more He's provided in ways we never would have known possible. 

He has a purpose for me, for you, in Christ. Not just our sanctification but in His plan for mankind. To point people to Jesus by the word of our testimony and the life we live before our God. 

It's not about our getting everything we wanted in life but getting what He wants from our lives for His glory in Christ Jesus. 

Paul counted everything in His life as loss in order to know Jesus more. He didn't see trials and tribulations as setbacks. He did in fact deal with anxiety but within it counted on God's grace to deal with it. 

God's unmerited favor is the grace bestowed upon us. The writer in Proverbs says that "For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:12.

We think the trinkets we have in our lives that garner our attention are fantastic to us yet we will have no idea what the Father would give us if we give those things to Him. 

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalms 37:5.

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land." Psalms 37:7-9.

Jesus promises...should we fret or should we trust? 

My Dear Reader that is what's before you and I. We fret we will burn ourselves out. We don't know what God knows. We don't see the picture from His perspective. We don't know from what we have been spared. We don't know the blessings to come from our obedience in our difficult times until we are in fact obedient in those times. 

Jesus loves us with a relentless love. He isn't looking for "Ah HAH!" moments to get us with.  

He wants to give us His best but we need to let go and open our hands, arms and heart to receive it..

The deeper our roots go the more we’ll experience in storms of life. It takes experiencing the storms to result in growth in between the storms. He promised to never leave us or forsake us and we need to trust that those words are right and true. 

Jesus loves us more than we can know in this life.  

Turn to Jesus in all that is going on with 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." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Life does and will get difficult but we by no means are in it alone. 

Trust in Christ who saved you. 

Trust in Christ who sustains 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 

www.lockman.org