A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. So what I hear I type and share with others.

Friday, May 23, 2025

Doesn't Make Sense? Not a Problem for You, Obey God

by David Brenneman

Perhaps you’ve hesitated to obey God in your life because you fear the consequences of your decision. But the Lord commands you to fear Him above all else. The same sovereign, omnipotent God who keeps your heart beating and the planets orbiting is more than able to handle the results of your obedience. When you choose to obey Him, He will bless you. Obedience always leads to blessing. Therefore, make it your goal to obey the Lord and watch Him work in your life. - Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles #21 Obedience always brings blessings.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” Luke 5:4-5.

Not everything we do for the Lord is going to make sense. We're just to do it and leave the consequences to Him. Peter's very first lesson was in this. The Life Principle that I quoted from wasn't the one on obeying God and leaving the consequences to Him but it's related to this one.

The world would have people fear what God might want of them should they choose to fully follow Christ. "If I do this, then He might..." starts the train of thought. Some believe this and it stunts their spiritual growth and they wander about the pastures of life like lost sheep.

Fearing mankind and what people might do above fearing God and what disobedience brings...why weigh that at all? Obey God and leave whatever consequences to Him. Look at the wandering people of Israel. They actually had to be reminded to look back over those 40 years at the hidden blessings that were right in front of them. The impossible small things of life that they didn't consider. Sandles not wearing out. The wear and fatigue missing from walking where they were lead.

A life in Christ to the full isn't going to be known until you choose to live Christ to the full. It's interesting that scene from an Indiana Jones movie the had to figure out what a step of faith was. He scoups up dirt and tosses it to see that a bridge was right in front of him all along but he couldn't see it.

Our steps of faith are much the same as that hidden bridge. Until we move a foot in faith in the direction that the Spirit says to go we're not going to know the solid ground undereath our feet.

Next comes the so-called threats of mankind upon us for obeying Christ vs Man. No man holds anyone's life in their hands. Especially those of the household of God. Jesus said that all who are His are in His hands and no one is able to take them from there. He is in the Father's hand and absolutely nobody is able to remove Him from there as well.

We may be called to defend ourselves. So be it. We may be called to stand by and watch. Again so be it. Whatever the will of God for us is in Christ Jesus in given situations...obey it. You'll either watch the hand of God through you or the absense of your involvement. In either case we're to watch for the hand of God.

Satan's schemes involve the full blown manipulation of fear in the minds of mankind. Fears of doing fears of not doing whatever he thinks he's able to do to someone or through someone.

Those who do evil only perceive that they are successful in what they say or do. Proverbs says that there's a way that seems right to a man but it's path leads to death. That's Proverbs 14 verse 12.

Satan's schemes involve rash thinking. To not think about what God might be doing in a person's life.

"The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps." Verse 15 of Proverbs 14.

"A wise man is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless." Verse 16.

"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.

There will be times when we're called to engage the enemy. Times when we won't. There's times when God will tell us to stand back and watch because our salvation is at hand. There's times when we will be called to pick up something to defend. We are not at all going to be unscathed by the battles we come up against in our lives.

David was a skilled shepherd who could take on the lion and the bear and yet lovingly care for his sheep.

David weilded a weapon against Goliath. He had plans on taking out Goliath's family of 4 brothers as well as him and he did just that. All of Goliath's brothers fell at the feet of David and his mighty men.

Job learned of the realities of the universe from the Lord and he submitted to the authority of God.

Habakkuk was told things he couldn't believe even when he was told by the Lord Himself, but he submitted to those.

Hezekiah saw what the people saw as a mighty army coming against them. He turned to the Lord for deliverance. The Lord turned the army around and not a foot was set inside of Jerusalem.

When Israel set foot, finally, into the Promised Land and they made sure to ask the Lord what to do with whomever they crossed paths with...they succeeded. When they failed to do so these offending people became a thorn in their side.

Life's not going to make sense apart from listening and obeying what we're told to be doing in the Lord.

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

People, just like the grass that withers, and the fading flower, will come and go but the word of the Lord stand forever. Isaiah 40:8.

You are to obey God and leave the consequences to Him.

Ask Him what you should do, which way to go. He gave us all common sense yet in this He also will take us through things that make no sense at all. We aren't saved just to get into Heaven. We are saved AND we start a journey to become more like Christ.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

It Happens

by David Brenneman

The Lord has a unique plan for your life—one that does not change according to unexpected circumstances. When you confront a situation that does not line up with your understanding of how God wants your life to proceed, you must stop and look to Him for direction. Sometimes He allows disappointments to occur so you will learn to rely on Him more fully—to walk by faith and not by sight. But never forget this: While disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. You should never allow the challenges that arise to steal your enthusiasm or confidence in Him. - From a Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley on Life Principle #20 "Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice".

I have to admit this one is a struggle for me to understand.

I have several books by Dr. Stanley on the Life Principles as a whole and am struggling to really make sense of it.

My reasons for my struggles are probably tied to how easy it has been to go straight from disappointment to discouragement. I don't even have a speed bump in-between at times.

I overlay these thoughts and feelings with my reading the book "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23".

Then, thankfully, yet still hear "I trust in God, my Savior The one who will never fail He will never fail He will never fail" in my mind these days as disappointments mount in heaps to try to navigate in my life.

Why write all this out in this way? It goes with the territory of being up this early and writing whatever He puts on my mind to write about.

I get overwhelmed at work and catching a break, more often than not, doesn't happen. I can get home from work and there's things broke needing attention. There's drama that unfolded during the day that I wasn't a part of. There's incidents. Wondering when I will get to breathe easy again.

Then there's days where none of those things happened. Then it returns.

Remembering Scripture hasn't been my strong suit. It's never been my ability to see a situation and know a verse to go to for it. I have never been able to see situations from the perspective of a writer in the Bible.

But...no matter what...He is faithful.

No matter what...He hasn't let go of me.

No matter what...I can choose to focus on that verse from that song as a lifeline. A rope to safety.

Then there's Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

In my mind yesterday this was rewritten. "I am your God and I will cause all things to work together for your good because you love Me and because you are called according to My purpose.”.

Regardless of the ups and downs of life, in Christ, I have a purpose because I am a child of God and He loves me and I love Him.

It's sometimes a struggle to leave the house for work. It just is. I do pray daily concerning a job change. Yet in these times nothing has come up for that change. It's a disappointment that's not quite yet a discouragement. It threatens to be but isn't there yet.

It's a struggle dealing with my physical limitations. These have a greater impact on my mind because no matter where I am there these situations and issues are. I am awake, they're back.

Yet my hope isn't in me. If I truly accept that I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that I might walk in them...then it follows that changes must happen to accomplish those things in me. Therein lies a little hope.

If I cling to Romans 8:28, especially when I personalize it, then there's more hope.

When I read about the deep prayer relationship between Jesus and the Father and how He wants that for us...that helps too.

When I read of the great care for us as His sheep that He expressed in Psalms 23...there's some more hope.

In yet another Life Principle...God doesn't require us to understand God's Will but we are to obey it.

I don't get to choose everything that I am going through. I do get to choose how I respond to it.

It's not always easy to respond in the right way...but it's worth it.

Not every choice of obedience to God's Will is going to be met with understanding by those around us.

When we know that we know that we know what it is that God's wanting of us, and we obey in it, don't expect those around you to understand. What you are doing with God isn't what they're doing with God. You are in your relationship with Jesus, they are in their relationship with Jesus. Peter, Paul, Mark, Silas, Timothy, James, Luke, all these people all had a rich life in Christ that was their own personal relationship with Jesus. Similar but different. The Spirit worked mightily in their lives but did different things to grow them in Christ. What I need isn't what you need. What you need isn't what I need.

Life does happen and choosing to turn my eyes to be upon Jesus is going to always be the right thing to do. Remembering that indeed He’s been the fourth man in the fire time after time. I trust in God, my Savior, the One who will never fail. Trust in the Lord with all my heart and do not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him and He will make my paths straight.

Pour out my heart to Him at all times. Life's going to happen. Whether it's full blown persecutions or mere disappointments life's going to hurt some. Paul said "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18.

When a shepherd has to difficult things to the sheep for the sheep’s own good the sheep don't always understand why. Most of the time they don't have any understanding of why. They only know that they trust their Shepherd.

Read it that way.

Trust in your Great Shepherd 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.

They've been days where I feel like I am trying to get out of a pit of gravel and every move upward is excruciating because I keep slipping and sliding. But He leads me so I keep trying.

Because I am loved by God and am called according to His purpose.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Way...

by David Brenneman

"But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him." Psalms 37:39-40.

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." Psalms 37:23-24.

"Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. 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." Psalms 37:3-8.

"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.

"There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12.

"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.

"Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts." Proverbs 21:2.

Jesus said of Himself that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Him.

Each of us it either tempted to make our own way or to strive for our own way to happen in our lives.

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel." Proverbs 12:15.

We also live among oh so many people who don't believe nor do they consider that their way isn't the right way to live life.

From both Believers and the unbelieving this occurs all over the world. We want a truth that makes sense to us that we can live with with the least amount of confusion with the maximum amount of confidence.

The way we seek to go, especially if we are Believers, is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. To seek is to either mentally or physically move forward. Going from a specific position either physically or mentally towards another position. It's an intentional act or achievement that we pursue.

Going with the flow isn't for Believers. It doesn't take much to look at the world around us to see that approach doesn't work in the least.

The ways of this world are fraught with problems and dangers. We can easily find out that the road we are on isn't going to benefit us in the ways we hoped.

Yet further in this thread of thought is that many people will find that they wasted the life that they were given. The desires of their hearts weren't what would have honored Jesus for all He did for them.

We aren't here to come to Christ for salvation then establish a little slice of Heaven here on Earth.

We aren't going to come to Christ for salvation then all these things will be added unto us that we've ever wanted or dreamed about.

We become part of the body of Christ with a Spiritual purpose. To follow Christ as His disciples and be a light in the world for people to see and find their way to Jesus for salvation themselves.

Worldly desires and success is worthless if it means we aren't being who Christ, through the Spirit, was trying to make us to be.

In no part of any of the Gospels nor in the writings of all the rest of the New Testament do we find anything that says to go do your own thing it will eventually be ok.

Nowhere are we to only walk with Jesus when it's convenient or uncombersome or unburdensome.

It's going to be a different way of living because it's supposed to be a different way of life.

If those not yet saved don't see something different enough to ask or consider salvation in Christ for themselves then the way we're on isn't the right way.

We can have dreams of what we want in life but we're to take those to the Lord in prayer asking Him if those things are right for us to pursue. We are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. So what goals, ambitions, we have should be vetted through prayer to find out if they're right for us after all.

God might just have something in mind that we've never considered nor has the thought thereof ever crossed our minds.

To come to Christ for salvation isn't just to save us from the wrath to come but to also embark on the life of a disciple of Christ Jesus.

We have countless opportunities before us but only a heart set on God's will for us will find that which is right for us.

There's oh so many paths that my mind want to pursue in my life. Where I am I never thought or expected myself to be. Truth be known I never saw myself as still being in this world after an extremely low point in my life in May of 1999. My pursuit of things in this world that certainly wasn't God honoring wasn't getting me into anything but trouble. My desires weren't His desires for me. My wants weren't what He wanted them to be. Through His grace and mercy I am still here today.

We aren't truly going to be going the right way in life if we aren't seeking that which Jesus wants us to be seeking.

Jesus always weighs your heart every moment of every day. He is intimately aware of all your thoughts and intentions. He knows everything behind everything that's crossed your mind and your heart.

He knows. He's waiting for our unhindered submission to His ways and His purpose for our lives. The Disciples did this when He called them to be His Disciples. The Disciples, in the Great Commission, were told to go make more disciples. Teaching them all that He commanded them.

My Dear Reader it's on you to hand over all of you to all of Him in order to find the way that is right for you in Christ.

Yes it's going to mean you aren't in control nor are you in charge. We normally are afraid when we aren't calling the shots.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6.

"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." 1 Peter 5:6-8.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

"Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad." Proverbs 12:25.

Ask Jesus in prayer what He wants for you and pursue it. Fear not what the future holds because you will then know your future is in His hands.

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

You will one day stand before Jesus to give an account of your life. Will it show a life that lived in submission to His will for you or will it show you in charge of it?

Will it show your way or you follow His Way?

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Eyes Wide Open

by David Brenneman

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning." John 15:18-27.

Life is not simple. We face many bumps and turns along the way. The race is real, the battle continuous, and the painful experiences may pierce our hearts. However, our circumstances should not define who we are or how we react. Rather, as believers our behavior in every situation should honor the Lord Jesus, and our identity should always be based on the salvation He’s provided for us.

God knows the Christian life isn’t easy. When you received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, He set you on your course. As your sovereign Lord, He mapped out all the bumps, turns, detours, hills, and valleys. He knew all the difficulties you’d face. He understood that you would continually clash with the world, the flesh, and the devil until you were home with Him. Yet He didn’t merely set you on the path, hoping you would find your way. He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell you, guide you, and encourage you. Endurance requires something that doesn’t come easily—trust in your unseen, sovereign God. However, with the Holy Spirit to remind you of His faithfulness and power (John 14:26), you can remain committed to Him.

When the going gets rough—and it will—you can’t run away. You can’t quit. The longer you faithfully obey the Lord, regardless of the circumstances, the stronger your faith becomes. You’re prepared for greater service and expanded ministry. You become strong, stalwart, and steadfast.

The One who endured the cross lives in you, so you’re fully equipped for anything He calls you to do. Therefore, ask Him to infuse you with His power and wisdom, then obey anything He commands of you. Remember, you are never a victim of your circumstances, for your sovereign God can use everything that happens to you for your blessing and His glory.

The above devotional is from Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principles #18 As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.

We all know of people, and perhaps can include ourselves, in believing that we're dealing with or have had 'bad luck' or some other such nonsense.

There's no such thing as bad luck or anything like that. There's a battle we are born into that grips us as early as it can. Sometimes well meaning or ignorant parents contribute to it being worse than it could or should have been in a child's early years but the reality is the same. We are sinful people born into a sin-cursed world all in need of a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

We can and often do sulk in our circumstances. We can and do wallow in misery rather than getting up once more and move on.

We often choose to let our circumstances define who we think we are. It's been the story of human beings throughout history. Yet Jesus says it's not that way.

We either listen and come to Christ for salvation or we ignore it, reject it, and suffer for it. Some, to be clear, don't look at all like their rejection of Jesus Christ as being suffering. Jesus still says such people are without excuse. He still causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

He has a purpose for you and a purpose for me. That purpose isn't to have you or I remain in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Psalms 23 makes mention of walking THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. Not taking up residence there. Not sinking to the ground and being in endless misery.

There is a purpose for what we each go through. Our end from our beginning has always been known by our Father in Heaven.

Our coming to Christ was but the first step. The steps that follow for all who have believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation are solely for our growing in Christ. To become more like Christ. To glorify our Father in Heaven. To point people to Jesus. Jesus saves, we do not. We aren't soul winners. We aren't the ones doing the saving of people. Jesus saves. We aren't formulating arguments to win people over, we are to speak what the Spirit has prepared for hearts of mankind to hear in order for them to accept the invitation.

This produces conflicts with the god of this world. This produces conflicts with our sin nature. This is part of why we go through the things we do. The Spirit is also doing surgeries in our souls. Many times it's a painful process to have parts of what made us what we were when we came to Christ removed. Sometimes the Spirit has to work with us in stages because a single surgery wouldn't work well for us. Sometimes the painful times we find ourselves in are merely a time to recover.

We're going to go through a lot but we're going to make it to Heavens gates. We won't be lost along the way. We won't ever be forgotten by Jesus or our Father in Heaven. His Spirit resides in all who believe and that can never be undone.

The world isn't going to understand. They have always accused Christians of being closed minded. Of salvation through Jesus Christ alone as being exclusive. That there has to be some other way to Heaven. Read your Bible. Mankind has tried to get to Heaven by all other means and God in His righteousness has proven the only means, the only method, that would work would have to be Him coming down from Heaven Himself. We in Christ already, already know this. The world fights it in every single way in every single nation of the world. The generations that have passed have all lost that battle if the still rejected Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior before they died.

We aren't defined by our circumstances either. If I fall on muddy ground it doesn't follow that I am now doomed to be a slob. If I break a bone it doesn't mean that I am ruined for life.

We have the Holy Spirit with us if indeed we are followers of Jesus Christ. Satan's schemes include redefining whatever sins we have in our lives. They include injection of doubts into our thoughts. He can't possess a Believer but he can try to induce doubts to forestall any growth in Christ. He can get us to believe that the storms of our lives are permanent. He can get us to not try to keep our eyes on Jesus.

We are in Christ's hands and He is in the Father’s hands. We will go through things in life that are permitted in order to grow us in Christ to become more like Christ. Some of the things we do are damaging that but we are not powerful enough to prevent the will of God for us.

Rest during battles is a good thing but a residence in a battle is not.

Keeping our eyes on the Author and perfecter of our faith is critical. Keeping our eyes on our Shepherd is essential.

Remembering from where we have been to where we are because of Jesus sustains us in Christ.

Life's going to hurt but it's not the end of the world. All of those who are saved in Christ Jesus are just visiting planet Earth. Jesus will always keep His promise to be with us always even to the end of the age.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Be Sober...Take the Life in Christ Seriously

by David Brenneman

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27.

"But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5.

"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13.

How seriously do you take living the Christian life? Anxiety a part of it that's unnecessary there? Are you at all listening to what the Bible says that your life in Christ is to be about? That you are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that you might walk in them?

Go where He leads, stay where He says to stay. Learn what the Spirit says to be learning, removing from your heart and mind whatever He says must go. Leaning not on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledging Him so that He would make your paths straight?

How seriously are you taking it that you who are claiming to be saved Christian people whom will stand before Jesus to give an account of your life before Him with whom we have to do?

We become part of the body of Christ we learn to behave as part of that body whose sole purpose is obedience to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God.

We have Paul's comparison to the physical body and what attributes pertain to that. We have those in various medical fields who can describe in extreme detail what rogue cells in a body do, which is cause abnormalities and death to the healthy parts.

Are you a healthy, connected, part of the body of Christ or are you honestly trying to get away with the minimum for your time on the Earth? Don't you realize you WILL give an account of your life before Jesus? You're GOING to explain to Him why you thought it better to not obey in your endeavors?

My Dear Reader there's much that occurred when you came to Christ in order to save you and to make you part of the body of Christ. If you truly meant that then living life with the purpose of pleasing the One who saved you should very much be your first priority.

Much of our anxiety comes from taking out eyes off Jesus, the Author and perfecter of our faith.

Peter only began to walk on water when his eyes were steadfast on Jesus. When he let the environment become more important he began to sink. Worry set in right there before Jesus. Worry that finally gave way to vocalized prayer.

We were given a mind with the expectation that we would use it properly in our lives for Jesus. Salvation is but the first correct step along that path. A newborns belief in whom is identified as their mother and father sets the stage in life for everything that follows.

We come to Christ as newborn babes who start off with milk and should be gradually moving up to solid foods.

"Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." 1 Peter 2:1-3.

There is this too for those who've let too much of the world dictate their lives: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food." Hebrews 5:12.

"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.

We are absolutely called to take our lives in Christ seriously. It's not for us to store up our treasures here on Earth where moth and rust destroy. We're not on vacation after coming to Christ for salvation. Not here to do our own thing until we die. We are guaranteed to have stresses and striving in life when we live life in Christ in such a way that He's not part of it.

We will never show ourselves as being part of the body of Christ where people are seeing our good works and glorifying our Father in Heaven if all we are doing is living for self.

Yesterday's sermon at our church was on anxiety, worrying, and a proper Biblical response to it. The story of Jehosophat in the Old Testament. 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.

We must not forget what's to become of Believers who are walking in Christ with a whole heart.

Read this again:

Clear out the clutter from your heart and mind that are getting in the way of your wholehearted obedience to God!

Take your life in Christ seriously and obey in what you are called to be doing. As a part of the body of Christ there are none who have nothing to do!

Are you dedicating time in prayer for you and Jesus to be talking?

Are you dedicating time in the Word of God to be learning?

Are you dedicating time in your life to be actively engaged in the world with the full armor of God on?

It's ONLY these things that will mean something substantial when a life is revealed before Him with whom we have to do. Everything else will be burned up as meaningless.

We used to sing a hymn with this line in it:

Give of your best to the Master;

Give of the strength of your youth;

Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor

Into the battle for truth.

Jesus has set the example,

Dauntless was He, young and brave;

Give Him your loyal devotion;

Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;

Give of the strength of your youth;

Clad in salvation’s full armor,

Join in the battle for truth.

Are you giving the best you can do for Jesus or only what might be called the barest of minimum?

It will indeed be revealed when you stand before Jesus.

It's time to be about the Father’s business the same as Jesus was when He walked this Earth Himself. He let nothing stand in His way.

Neither should we.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Home Coming Soon

Home Coming Soon
by David Brenneman

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” John 14:1-4.

There's a day that we are to be excited about, to be ready for, to look forward to.

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:3-9.

There's many who do keep thinking that the return of Jesus Christ is a far off day. We have no shortage of those who have tried and are trying to set a date. Unbeknownst to these people is that they aren't being used by God to do this but rather are being used by Satan.

"So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God." Romans 14:12.

"Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!" 2 Peter 3:11-12.

My Dear Reader let no one fool you into being lazy about living out your purpose in life in Christ. That you're going to have time to get done what you might have been called to be doing. That there's no hurry.

We do not know the day nor the hour.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:36-39.

Really consider your ways the Bible says. Consider your motivations for what you strive after in this life.

Do not forget the further words of Jesus.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46.

Consider it well that not one of the promises that Jesus made has He ever failed to accomplish. In many respects after enduring the cross every promise thereafter wasn't nearly as difficult for Him to fulfill.

Jesus IS coming back. We are commanded to be looking and ready and praying for the hastening of it.

Are you? Or are you so self-absorbed in life that you aren't leaving room for both growing in Christ or aren't seeking that day to arrive?

Satan's going to cause busyness to rob you of your eternal perspective.

Satan's going to try to inject slivers of doubt about the return of Jesus.

Satan's going to try anything he is permitted in the lives of Believers to get them to not take the absolute certainty of Jesus returning seriously.

I am about to start my 6th month of dedicating at least an hour an evening to Bible study and reading. The more I read the more I know that we really don't have much time left until Jesus does return. My Spiritual Dad, Mike Wingfield, at www.ptnews.org always says "Get ready for the shout that will take us out!".

The Bible says that in every single generation since the ascension of Jesus Christ back to Heaven, Satan's always had a man ready to be the Antichrist. We have one right now living somewhere in Europe.

You see, Satan's schemes include smoke screens about the return of Jesus Christ because even he doesn't know when it will be. So he's always having to prepare someone to step in at a moments notice.

The world at large is being conditioned to believe whatever he would say to them. Computers, economics, and manufacturing are being adapted now to handle the loss of millions of people because of the Rapture of the Church. People the world over are being propagandized to believe what they are told to believe...and it's working.

Do you really want to be ashamed at His coming or do you want instead to be found living in obedience to God's Word in Christ Jesus?

We don't know when, we do know He promised.

We know that He gave us commands to follow and it's on us to follow them and follow through with them.

Jesus will open the Heavens and call His Church to come home. First will be those who have died in Christ receiving their glorified bodies then those of us who are alive and remain will get theirs.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

Saturday, May 17, 2025

My Purpose, Your Purpose, We All have a Purpose

by David Brenneman

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

There's much more to life than our own wants and desires. There's much more than also simply wanting our pains and anguish to depart far from us. There's much more than even wanting those that irritate and bother us to the point of considering it torment to leave us in peace.

We who are in Christ have a divinely appointed purpose under Heaven. When we come to Christ we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to Jesus and what He wants for us. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. Good works that He prepared for us to be doing. Scripture says that we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, to walk worthy of our calling in Christ.

We either obey in seeking what it is for us to be doing or we honestly disobey and do not do what we were supposed to be doing.

To this end we must fully understand that we will stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him. The deeds done in our bodies whether considered good or bad in the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Not our considered opinion of what was good or bad.

That's a very very important thing in your consideration of living the Christian life.

Your opinion of what's ok or good needs to be what Jesus said it should be. He, our Great Shepherd, leads and we do what He leads us to do. We go where He says, we do what He directs.

The world is going to try to seduce you away from everything great or small that's for you to be doing in your obedience to God's will for you.

Satan's well versed in seducing people. How to gift wrap a temptation in such a way that until its quite often too late we get ensnared by it.

Our adversary is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. This is the reality of life.

The enemy of sheep seeks a weakness in the Shepherd's protection of his or her sheep. They prowl around seeking one of them to devour.

What steps are you taking to be sure you're living in step with God's calling for you?

What are you doing that HE says you should be doing?

Are you living out a life acceptable and approved by you or by Jesus through obedience to God's Word and His calling for you?

Satan's methods of devouring aren't always destroying the victim. If they are quite content in their disobedient life from what God desires for them he leaves them alone. They did all the work for him.

First be sure of your salvation. Secondly be sure you are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. Be in the Word of God daily. Ask the Spirit to teach you in a way that you understand it. Live out your life in Christ in such a way that people see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

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

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.

Always look to your Shepherd before moving on or doing something.

Find your purpose, fulfill your purpose in Christ.

Friday, May 16, 2025

What does this Mean?

by David Brenneman

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

"Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6.

Weeks ago I remembered this passage in 1 Samuel 30 where David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. So this time around I asked the Spirit to explain it to me and set out to understand it. I asked several Pastors that I know for their interpretation of it. Then it still wasn't quite understandable. Then the Teacher decided to make this known to me and I share it with you.

For a very very long time "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 has been a mainstay in my mind and my heart.

That song by Elevation Worship called "I Trust in God" playing over and over again in my mind set the way my mind should go.

Next came acknowledging that setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world was where we were going.

Praying without ceasing fills in the gaps nicely.

Keeping my mind off what isn't going to grow me in Christ is where much of my time is spent.

These study Bibles and books and devotionals keep my off hours from work held steady on the path that God has for me.

See it yet?

Strengthening ourselves in the Lord is all that and more. It's not looking at what the world sees or hearing what the world says about life about what it is or isn't to each of us or one another.

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. They come to Him and make their abode with Him. He cares for them. He provides for their protection and meets their needs.

The sheep of God live their best lives when their lives are wholly under His supervision and care.

When we realize that when left to ourselves are those sheep that have gone astray each of us doing whatever is right in our own eyes than we see our need to get back under His loving care and protection.

Scripture says that if anyone lacks wisdom let him or her ask of God who will give freely to all who would ask.

So, I asked. You can too.

Jesus wants our interactions to be fruitful, not obligatory. He wants it to be heartfelt not monotonous. He wants to both impart His unconditional love for us to us while we position our hearts to unconditionally love Him in return.

Can you say that you strengthen yourself in the Lord your God?

Can you say you strive for this daily? Hourly? Minute by minute?

Can you look back to His deeds in your life where indeed He has never failed you and take solace in those moments to ease your present state of mind?

God put gutters on our house without our direct intervention after a storm.

God had an exact drug already available to address my Wife's breast cancer.

God totally covered all of her medical bills for that cure, well over $70k worth.

God stopped a semi truck from killing me on an early morning drive to work.

God did it. My Shepherd kept His promise then and He will keep His promises now.

In the coming days my employer is forcing a week shutdown where we wouldn't get paid in any way. No PTO could be used.

God covered those lost wages yesterday before that day is to come.

Yesterday our microwave died.

God provided a replacement free of charge.

We strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God and He answered our prayers before we could utter them. We rely on our Great Shepherd's care for us and He keeps His promises to us.

Ask and receive when you ask with right motives.

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

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Social Status vs God

by David Brenneman

"Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12:42-50.

Fitting in. Not fitting in. The dilemma of mankind for centuries. Fear of being ostracized. Even the parents of someone personally healed by Jesus feared being kicked out of the Synagogue if they didn't speak just so with the Pharisees.

Even in modern day churches there's those creating positions in the church in order to garner public acclaim and all the attention.

There's those who seek greater social networking in churches but to their own ends not for edification or growing in Christ.

Jesus tried again and again to show these obstinate people what a real relationship with God the Father was like.

Oh how shocked and surprised these same Pharisees and Sadducees were when having died to not find themselves where they thought they would be. Had they not come to Christ for salvation that is.

That passage about the man born blind is a personal favorite of mine. Fear of these leaders was very apparent. Yet their fear of God was less than that. I have noted before that after this healed man was kicked out of the Synagogue Jesus found him and formally introduced Himself. Then the man bows down to worship Him and these same Pharisees didn't rebuke him for doing that.

I believe that there is in Hell at this very moment Pharisees who can't stop thinking about what they said and did towards the true worshippers of God. There's nothing they can do. They chose the wrong view of life and it cost them a place in Heaven.

Choice is what the cross of Jesus Christ brought. You and I have the choice to believe and come to Christ for salvation or to reject it. The truth of Christ is that rejection that isn't dealt with in this life is met with eternal separation from God after one dies.

People today live and die by their social networks. How accepted they are by their followers on social media.

In Heaven there's only those who look to Jesus. They think not of themselves but of their risen King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Here on Earth we are to live life in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Regardless of what people think about that. We are promised persecutions because of this.

This here this now is all that you have. 12 to 14 inches separates you head from your heart. Acknowledging Jesus vs a relationship with Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees acknowledged Jesus they just rejected Him as being the Son of God and therefore lost out on the free gift of salvation. They admitted He spoke the way of God in truth. Their fears were of losing their followers and that the Romans would take away their place and their nation. Their social status.

Same as today.

People fear that more than they fear standing before Jesus having had rejected salvation in Christ Jesus alone.

Check your heart and mind. Be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus if indeed you have come to know your need before God for it.

You, not your reputation before the multitudes, will stand before Jesus and be asked why should you be let into His Heaven.

You will give an account of your life before Jesus.

At the end of that review the book of life will be opened and a careful search of it will be made to find your name.

If you weren't saved in Christ Jesus by His shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins then the judgment is against you and eternity in torment in the lake of fire is your destination.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to save. Not to condemn. We condemn ourselves if we reject Jesus before we die.

Your social status vs what God sees concerning you. Which is more important?

Your answer makes a Heaven or Hell difference.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Come and See

by David Brenneman

"One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter)." John 1:40-42.

The very purpose of this blog is two-fold. To point people to Jesus or to encourage them to come back to Jesus. As Moses described of himself, I am no one special save that of what I testify to Jesus who saved me.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Ephesians 5:1-2.

While statistics may show certain aspects of this blog and its reach throughout the world, the only truth about it will be on that day that we all stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives.

The only greatness of my life is that which Jesus, through His Spirit, accomplished in me.

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24.

Whatever accolades this world might offer for deeds done among men and women, these pale in comparison to seeking to hear "Well done!" from my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the One worth knowing in this life. Jesus is the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life. I cannot help but want this for others. Paul considered himself chief of all sinners because he persecuted the Church. I might be as honest about myself that there's much in my own life's past that was never God honoring.

Jesus is the reason I am still here breathing today. It's hard to believe that it's been over 25 years, in reality it's almost exactly 26. It was around this time of year when, 26 years ago I was at such a low place in my life that I felt that I was of no use to anyone. I was sitting in my living room with a pistol ready to end my life. Jesus seemed so far away from me. My life felt so foul and dirty. As the songwriter said in that great hymn "a wretch like me".

But God intervened. Stopped by a phone call. It was the tipping point that brought me to my knees before Him with whom I had to do. Clarity of the situation was for certain. Either go ahead with that and face Jesus that way, go on living life in the same dreaded misery or option three...finally and wholly give up trying to live life my way and in my strength. Option three is what I obviously took.

God wants our whole heart and mind. Someone said recently that all that separates us from Heaven or Hell is 12 to 14 inches. 12 to 14 inches is the space between your mind and your heart. Knowing of Jesus in your mind isn't knowing Him in your heart.

Do I think that I wasn't saved in 1974? No, not at all. I just hadn't been fully devoted to following Jesus. I got ahead of Jesus. I had yet still been living my life my way.

An interesting read is that "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23". Sometimes sheep do try to run off and do their own thing and all inevitably get into some sort of trouble.

Until I was really devoted to whatever life that Jesus had in mind for me my life wasn't going to go right. I believe there's such a thing as inactive and active rebellion. Intentional and unintentional. We easily prove out the passage "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." Isaiah 53:6.

The lengths to which Jesus goes to in order to run to His sheep, when we really really consider it ought to make us stop and weep. Philips, Craig and Dean had a song out a while ago called "When God Ran". I can remember one of the first times I heard it it made me cry. That moment in 1999 Jesus ran to me that very instant that I finally, fully, called out to Him.

Jesus is ready to forgive all who call upon His Name for salvation.

Jesus is only one heartbeat away from those who think they are too far from God to be reached.

Jesus is more real than the chair you are sitting on or the ground you stand on right now, whatever the case may be.

Jesus wants a real relationship with all who live and breathe. With open arms He’s ready to receive both new Believer's and those who have strayed in life.

I can testify to having been in both those situations in my life. I am a Prodigal Son. I once was lost but now am found. I was blind but now I see. I was that wayward sheep that the Great Shepherd left the 99 on a hill to go find. If there's any good to the perspective of saying of myself "I" this or "I" that is to say that there's been no room for "I" in my life. Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness is what's important to me. Setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world are what's important to me.

Jesus is still in the business of saving people and rescuing wayward sheep. It's what He does.

To live for Jesus is what little we can do to show such appreciation for all He did for us.

So for one, for all: You are but one decision away from either coming to Christ for salvation or turning back to Jesus's waiting, open, arms.

He is ready for you.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Where your Heart is

by David Brenneman

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned." Psalms 34:1-22

Trust in God - Elevation Worship 2023

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine

He's been my fourth man in the fire, time after time

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps

So this is my story and this is my song

I'm praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

He didn't fail you then

He won't fail you now

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him.

What we do when things go sideways, what we think first, what plans we attempt to make, speaks volumes as to where our hearts are. Are we trusting ourselves or our Shepherd?

"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.

Seeing isn't believing. Jesus said of the children of Israel that the Jews seek for a sign but no sign will be given them but the sign of Jonah. That just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale so the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth. They saw the Lord of all Creation performing sign after sign. They still rejected Him. They were more worried about their status in life. The people would stop revering them, the secular world government would take away their place and their nation. That happened anyway around 70 AD.

We indeed should use the brains we were given by God to live out life, however not to the detriment of our relationship with Jesus. We shouldn't be so self-reliant that we don't come to Christ in prayer for our daily life.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Psalms 90:12.

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.' For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:9-15.

Given an option between paying attention to a storm or being in the Word of God during that storm, I personally choose to stay in the Word of God. Preparing is one thing but obsessing over the preparation isn't healthy.

"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.

Do you see how that passage that Solomon wrote ties in perfectly and personally to Psalms 23?

Where is your heart? Who has access to your heart? Are you intentionally making time in your life for your discipleship training with the Spirit of God? School is always in session until the day that you die or the Rapture of the Church. You are either paying attention in class or you're daydreaming or some other such thing. Sheep are fully interdependent upon their Shepherd. Sheep that don't face terrors and dangers that they cannot get out of on their own.

We must look in the mirror and be real with ourselves about trusting God. Is the Lord your Shepherd? If you claim the Name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord He certainly should be considered to be your Shepherd. He's that and more. He's the Father scanning the horizon for His long lost son or daughter to come home. He's the Shepherd of our souls. He's the Good Samaritan who saw us in our sorry state, picked us up, took us in to care for us and to save us. He's our comfort in times of disappointment and distress. He's our protector. He's...well you fill in the blank.

You really won't miss what you leave behind of this world while you are alive and instead turn your attention to growing in Christ. I would easily say that hundreds of television shows, streaming shows, movies, books, have come out in these days of my life where I have mostly turned my back on and I don't miss any of it. Spending an hour or so with the Spirit of God, with Jesus, by far outweighs anything that this world has to offer.

Life will go up and down for everyone. For you, for me, for everyone. What cannot go up and down, what is impossible to go up and down, is the presence of God in Christ Jesus in anyone's life. He isn't there some days and not others. He's not paying attention only when He's got time. He's not more obligated to someone else than us. He's not sleeping. He's not anything that the world says that He is that's contrary to what the Bible says that He is.

It wasn't just obedience that sent Jesus to the cross. It was, but it was His love for us that held Him there. I cannot fathom the strength of will, the sheer focus, the absolute determination that Jesus still had after being whipped, beaten, scourged, nailed to the cross. Do you really really contemplate that all it would take the Creator of all things to do in a split second of a loss of all that to wipe out all of His enemies?

The heart of Jesus Christ has always been about loving His children. It's His children who chose themselves. It took His perfect sacrifice to make a way where there was no way to restore our relationship with Jesus.

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Where your mind and heart give their attention to shows just what's more important when push comes to shove.

Stop and think about what you have made a priority of over your relationship with Jesus. It's not too late to turn back to Him. His arms are open wide to welcome you home.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Is He Yours?

by David Brenneman

"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:26-30.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10.

I do highly recommend the book "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23". That author used to shepherd sheep and takes the reader down the path to understanding each verse that David wrote to all of us.

There's so much more involved in a sheep than what we've been lead to believe.

His sheep hear His voice.

As strange as this may sound, this is one of the easily top 10 deceptions that Satan will use with you: that you're not important enough with Jesus to be heard by Him. Akin to this deception is another: you're far too dirty in your sins to ever be completely clean before Jesus. The stains you have from sin just go too deep. You're never going to amount to much in the Kingdom of God.

Sheep can believe many things if they don't stay close to their Shepherd. Shepherd's are to take great care in whatever circumstances the sheep may find themselves in. A shepherd's responsibility is to not just see to their welfare that is far off, but to examine them individually to make sure no parasites are causing them harm.

These sheep know their own masters voice and come when called. Sheep may look alike to the outsider but to whom they belong the shepherd knows by name.

It's a Heaven or Hell difference in being one of His sheep. It's way more than mere religious thinking. It's coming to Christ in faith to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins. Without this there is no becoming one of His sheep.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’" Matthew 7:21-23.

Without fully understanding that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life, there is no salvation for anyone. There are no other ways to Heaven. There are no other names under Heaven by which we must be saved.

When you look back over your life, do you see evidences of the hand of God in it? Do you see a history of Jesus being your Shepherd? Salvation isn't a ticket to get to Heaven and then you run off to live as you please. Salvation is Jesus saving us so that we might live for Jesus.

Just as it is with new sheep to the fold, so it is with new people saved by Jesus Christ, all priorities change. New sheep are educated by their shepherd to trust him or her in all things. The Shepherd lays down His life for his sheep. This should sound familiar. Jesus said that of Himself.

Some say that God doesn't speak to them. Can't state it enough that you believe a lie when you believe that.

Jesus Christ always has His attention on every single Believer as if they were His only sheep to care for.

A life in Christ is going to be different and at times difficult. But our Shepherd is always already ahead of us to know what is best for us.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12.

I encourage you to take the time to be still and know that He is God.

I encourage you to stop and listen for your Shepherd's voice.

If indeed you are saved in Christ there will indeed be His voice to listen for.

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Not Seeing Yet Believing

by David Brenneman

Life Principle 9: Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.

At some point, each of us will face what seem to be mammoth trials and difficulties. This is why we must know how to respond to every threat by laying hold of the kind of victorious faith that looks beyond what we can see to what God sees.

In times of extreme pressure, God stretches our faith and deepens our dependence on Him. Without a strong, abiding faith, we can quickly yield to temptation and fear, especially when the trial or difficulty is intense or prolonged. - Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles.

I have often used my life as material for posts as well as in talking to people in this world.

The whole of it all is that while people may argue or dismiss the Bible or Jesus they don't have much ground to stand on to argue what you know you went through.

Right now we are on the cusp of something coming to our lives here in our home that will indeed impact us. What it is, we know. What God will do about it, we wait and see. We will continue to do whatever God puts in front of us to be doing, no matter how it appears to us.

"Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:17.

Am reminded by the Spirit of God to review my life in order to bolster my stand in the coming days.

We had many instances in our 25 years of marriage to point to of when life was throwing a meteor at us and God's response was to call His shot and knock it out of the park.

The Lord always calls His shot.

The Old Testament is replete with example after example of the Lord calling His shot.

Israel wasn't paying attention nor were they believing. Look at the testimony of Stephen before he was stoned. Israel has always been stiff-necked and stubborn. We can be the same so don't go there in thinking you're not that way.

One good example was our living in my hometown in a rental when my Wife's house in a different city had a storm come through that damaged the gutters. We were over 2 hours away from dealing with it and I really didn't have the vacation time to take to go there. So we had to rely on friends of my Wife to help. In a short week we noticed we hadn't heard anything. We struck out looking for help on our end. She calls her friend and asks about it. They said they thought we changed our minds and had it taken care of ourselves. She told her we hadn't and asked what happened. Said a company had stopped by and put new gutters on the house. She asked if she got the name of the company. She hadn't but did remember the slogan on the van. "Doing awesome jobs for an Awesome God". Try as we may we couldn't find that company anywhere. A few days later we were told that the company got the wrong house. Was supposed to be up the road across the street. God put gutters on the house.

This is but one. There's others to tell if there were but time to tell them. These things are an essential part of a Christian's faith history. Remembering the distinct moments of our lives when we know with all the certainty that we can wrap our minds around that Jesus showed up to call His shot.

Scripture says that everything that the Lord purposes will stand.

There's been no place or time in history where Jesus called a shot and didn't get a home run.

People's perspective on what constitutes a home run and what Jesus says one is are often not the same thing.

What we are facing is a week without pay. We still have bills to pay. My employer says that this must happen for the best interests of the business.

It's a mountain of a problem.

As I was reading in "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23" last night was a chapter on the verse about the valley of the shadow of death. Fearing no evil is coming in tonight's reading. To get to the top of a mountain or to get around it or over it requires going through shady valley's. Questionable conditions. At risk of attack by people or by wild animals. The key being what was said is literal. Through the valley not there to take up residence. Not to get used to it. Not to worry about it.

I don't know how my Savior and Lord is going to fully care for us in that week that is approaching. I just know from my faith history that He's got a plan and we're covered. It doesn't matter what my eyes see. Already at least 1 opportunity has presented itself to make money that week. Someone else is sending money. I have a thing that's based on Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.".

We aren't to be sulkers.

We aren't to be worriers.

We aren't to be sitting on the sidelines.

We are to be people who pray.

We are to be people who trust in the Lord with all our hearts.

We are to be those who believe that the same God who saved us then will save us now.

We are to remember who's we are.

We are to remember all the great things that He has done.

The world wants to see before it will believe.

God says to believe before you see.

Jesus never fails.

Jesus is the promise keeper.

Jesus said that I am in His hands and nobody and nothing is able to take me out of it. Not even me.

Jesus said that He is in the Father’s hands and certainly nothing and nobody can be removed from there.

I don't know how Jesus will provide. I know that He will. He will do what He does and always has done. He will also give me some portion of His providing for me to be doing so that I remember it for the next time.

Adversity only lasts as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

As that book "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23" has said so far...His purpose is to grow us in Christ and to rely on Him in an intimate relationship.

You may be facing something bigger than you. Embrace it in Christ Jesus. Be ready because the shots been called.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Into Adversity We Go

by David Brenneman

Life Principle 7: The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.

If you want God’s best for your life and desire to be used by Him, at some point you’ll have to travel the road of adversity. This means that God can and will use adversity in your life for a good purpose—and yet, sadly, many people view adversity as only negative and defeating. But you don’t have to be among them.

God has designed adversity, regardless of its source, to become a turning point from which you take your greatest leaps forward in spiritual growth. He allows adversity to remain in your life only until He accomplishes His purpose in you. He will not keep it in your life one second longer than is necessary.

- Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles

It's rather interesting and a Godinstance (I don't believe in coincidences) that the day after some sideways news that this is the next Life Principle in my online devotional that covers the 30 that there are.

Yesterday, long before things did go sideways, a song by Elevation Worship called "I Trust in God" was playing on that record player in my mind.

It's also no coincidence that a different particular Life Principle has been repeating in my mind as well: Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice.

What do we do when most of your experience is equating discouragement with Disappointment?

"Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:1-6.

Don't miss that last line.

I have reached out to several people to ask the question: Just what did David do to strengthen himself?

Then this week has happened.

Moreover I think Jesus is saying "here, let me show you".

In my position as a trainer for all incoming new employees for the Foil Pressure Department at Sensotec, later to become part of Honeywell, I learned that people really do not learn in the same way.

Some learn by seeing and hearing only and can easily repeat.

Some learn by doing after hearing.

Some require both.

So it's with a profound sadness that our manufacturing world believes that anyone can be taught in a single way to learn any position.

But that's not the point of where this is leading.

My Great Shepherd knows how I learn. Just as He knows how you learn. Being brutally honest, sheep are dumb animals. They never ever consider their environment or their need to think ahead or even about what consequences come from their choices.

I am a sheep in His pastures. If you are saved in Christ Jesus so are you.

I believe that this strengthening ourselves in the Lord has everything to do with some of the very same topics that the Spirit has lead me to write about in recent months.

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2-3.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9.

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13.

"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.

It does take a firm decision to stand firm in the Lord.

As of yesterday we're facing some unknowns and we're facing some knowns that CAN be quite frightening. Family that's injured as of yesterday. Getting news yesterday of an unpaid week from my employer. Further news from weeks ago of business decisions that will impact everyone where I work. Appliances possibly breaking down. Vehicles needing repairs.

Adversity for sure. Yet. In this God will be glorified.

As my Wife and I spoke yesterday Jesus has never failed us yet.

This is the beginning of seeing through adversity and strengthening in the Lord: Remembering who's we are.

Remembering His past provision.

Remembering His past protection.

Remembering that we are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Remembering that our strength isn't of this world.

Remembering that His plans don't need to make sense.

Remembering that He's not obligated to explain the why behind what we're going through.

Remembering that...the list can go on.

What is required of me and you?

"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 can stay close to our Shepherd or go it alone and wallow in all kinds of negative things.

David was known as a man after God's own heart. Jesus displayed the same thing as David. Strengthened by His Father in Heaven. Jesus strengthened Himself in God.

I don't know how we will navigate these rough waters. I just know who's directing the boat through those waters.

He will do what He's always done.

Set things before me to be doing and it's on me to do them.

He will set things before you to be doing and it's on you to be doing them.

Even in adversity.

Even when life gives every appearance of falling apart.

Even when understanding is far away.

Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus is still my Personal Lord and Savior.

Jesus is still my provider and my protection.

Jesus is still the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.

Jesus is still my Great Shepherd.

Jesus.

Not me, myself and I.

Regardless of what is going on in our lives we are still to be a light shining in this present darkness.

We are still representing Christ to a lost world.

We are still in His hands and no one or nothing, not even ourselves, can take us from that place.

I think all these things answer that question: What did David do to strengthen himself in the Lord?