Never Put This Out of Your Mind

Never Put This Out of Your Mind 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." Hebrews 10:35-39.

It's actually rather an easy thought to join the world in wondering "where's the promise of His coming?".

We, in the Church, can be just as doubtful if we're not looking as Jesus said that we should be doing.  

My Dear Reader, read the whole of Matthew 24 but until you do, read this portion "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 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. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:32-51.

We cannot afford to join the world in being dull of hearing! We are to be on guard at all times. We will see tests in our lives to see how devoted to our Savior and Lord that we are. We will see events unfold that are indeed relevant and related to the return of Jesus Christ if we are truly alert and are looking for them.  

Jesus said to be alert...are you? 

How will you heed His command to not let the world deceive you if you aren't keeping your guard up against false teachings and false ideas regarding His return? How will you know a lie from the truth if you aren't walking in obedience to God's Word and are not truly in a right relationship with Jesus?

Jesus said many people will lay claim to having done much in His Name but He will still command them to depart for He never knew them. 

Never should you doubt the reality that Jesus could return at any time. 

Throughout the New Testament it was preached to millions then and through the centuries until today...be on the alert! Satan's seeking someone to devour. If that hasn't changed at all you can bet that the promises of God for Jesus's return are just as valid. You can bet that we ought to be expectant of His return. Ready to leave when He calls us to come up.

Live your life for Jesus in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.   

Stand firm in the Lord. How will you discern truth from lies if you're not in the Word of God? How will you see through lies if you aren't in prayer daily? How will you know to flee if you don't know what the dangers are?

Jesus is coming soon. Soon is what should be encouraging to us at all times. Soon should prompt us to live lives worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus. Fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Not half-baked, not half-hearted, wholly and fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Taking up our own cross daily and following Jesus. He leads we follow.

Are you alert? Watchful while going about your day? Listening for your Great Shepherd to call you home? Don't fall prey to the doubts of the world in their denial that He will keep that particular promise.

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 

What's Taken Your Attention?

What's Taken Your Attention?

by David Brenneman 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25.

"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews 10:35-38.

"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.

"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 12:2.

We're to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Fully. Not part time. Not when a holiday comes around that we feel more warmly about than other times of the year. Not when people haven't irritated us as much today compared to other days. Not when we're giving away so much of our time to wasted ventures in our days that do nothing to grow us in Christ Jesus, nothing that shows anyone that we have salvation and want to tell them about it.

We're quite excited about various things in this world, but where's our excitement about the things of God that make for our becoming more like Jesus? Why do we spend money hand over fist on hobbies or sports yet won't give as much to the work of God that it was given to us to be doing?

We show our hearts whether we are thinking about how it's perceived than we know.

Consider: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37.

What will your life show to you where your heart really was compared to how you think it is?

Satan's schemes involve you being convinced that what is in your life belongs there that has nothing to do with you becoming more like Jesus Christ. They include whatever we allow that keeps us from realizing the truth concerning the things of which we have been convinced that do not and will never bring us into a better relationship with Jesus.  

Regardless of what people think...everything we see is doomed to perish. We live in a world that does nothing from a sustainability standpoint. Planned obsolescence is and has been the norm for many many decades. Yet we persist in trying to restore and reclaim the past things that were fond to our hearts. These pursuits are as Solomon wrote...all vanity of vanities.  

What does your life show that's truly going on in your heart?

Does it show you loving things other than Jesus? Look at your wardrobe. What does it reflect on who you love? Look at your taste in music. Look around your home. What do these things say that you love? Do these things show you as a fully devoted follower of Christ?

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17.

What is your heart saying about where your priorities are?

What is your heart showing who's getting your love that belongs only to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?

Jesus's statement to Peter is as much to Peter as it is to each of us. "you follow Me!".  

You're not going to be fully truthful to you. Ask with a sincere heart for the Spirit to show you what needs to go from your life and heart and mind. Your sin nature will be very convincing to you that there's nothing amiss in your life.   

“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds." Jeremiah 17:9-10.

Ask yourself what is getting my attention that belongs to Jesus?

Yes you will stand out as being different. Ambassadors for Christ are supposed to be different. We are representing ourselves.

We fool ourselves when we are convincing ourselves that we're plying our supposed interests in ways to attract people to Jesus. But what does our heart say is true? We shouldn't frequent bars in order to reach the potentially drunk by drinking there. We shouldn't frequent places that are houses of sin in order to supposedly reach people for Christ when we will inevitably get worn down to the point of participating in their debauchery and sins as they are.

We aren't to be practicing sinful lives in order to supposedly reach people for Christ. 

We are to put on Christ and show ourselves to be fully devoted followers of Jesus.  

Find what's been taking your mind and heart off of being fully devoted to your Savior and get rid of it. No matter the cost because it will cost you in the coinage of the deepest sorrow when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life before Him. 

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 

Listening for Our Call

Listening for Our Call

by David Brenneman 

"And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them." Revelation 11:12.

In his notes on this verse, Pastor Alistair Begg begins by saying "When the time comes, fixed by irreversable decree, every believer in Christ will hear "a loud voice from Heaven," saying "Come up here." If we are in Christ this should be the subject of joyful anticipation. Instead of dreading the time when we will leave this world to go to the Father, we should be thirsting and panting for the hour. With what joy will the voice from Heaven sound in the ear of those wearied with labor. Our work will be ended, and our reward will come. Our Savior will say "Come up here," and we will see the glory we have believed in. Our lot in this life may never be that of protracted sickness, abject poverty, excessive labor, or the death of martyrdom. Yet let us still believe that, if we are true followers of Christ, whenever death comes--or rather whenver life and immortality come--it will be a joyous and blessed time for us. May we not seek the Most High to delay the time when He summons us, but may we listen every morning for the royal message that says, "Come up here." - Alistair Begg - Spurgeon Study Bible notes on 11:12.

My Dear Reader...are you dreading that day or are you in joyful anticipation as he mentions?

It's important to note that even since the writing of the New Testament they were looking to see Jesus return. Maybe they were looking to hear those words or something like them but the writers, as directed by the Spirit of God, were teaching all new followers of Christ to be ready to hear the Great Shepherd's voice and be ready.

Being ready. Standing firm. Fleeing from youthful lusts. Fleeing from sexual immorality. Setting our minds on things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Always being ready to make a defense for the hope we have within us. Shining our light in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. See the pattern here of the priorities of the true Church of God?

I will admit that in the last 25-30 years of my life many many things are no longer important to me. Many many things that I originally took great joy in no longer hold my interest. Many many things that took my mind from walking with Jesus are no longer in the picture.

Oh I still have battles to face every day. My life may not look like there's a war going on but there is. I've never read the book but it's on my to do list of reads. "Mind Siege" by Tim LaHaye. 

We are always under assault every moment after we wake up if we would but only acknowledge God's own truth in this. Our adversary prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. While God protects us in our sleep, the battle begins anew at light of dawn or earlier depending on when you get up. Satan's both wanting and yet not wanting the Church of God to be complete and to see the events of the book of Revelation and other places come about. He's still about the business of distrupting the Father's business which is to seek and save the lost.

"Come up here." Wow...while going about life, while looking at what has taken our attention away from listening for that...what are we doing about it?

While it's ok to be interested in some things in this world, we should not allow anything, or anyone, take our eyes off our walk with Jesus. Nothing should be so important that we rush through our time with Jesus. Nothing should be so important that we put Jesus on a shelf and rush in excitement for that rather than to be with Him. Nothing should rush our prayer time or our time in the Word of God. Nothing.

When we DO hear "Come up here" will we have an instantaneous moment of panic because we were caught in the middle of something we shouldn't have been? Thinking something we shouldn't have been entertaining? In the middle of something the deep down we KNOW that the Spirit told us not to engage in?

Think about that this morning when you're about your day...are you keeping an ear out to hear those words? Are you in eager expectation of hearing your Savior and Lord telling you it's time to go? Or have you lost sight of that because of what all is in your life?

Remember your mind and heart will always see battles every day both small and great. Satan's relentless in that and so are his minions. So is our sin nature. We can think life is going well with our walk with Jesus and a stiff breeze of our sin nature trips us up like nobody's business and there we are flat on our backs.

Keep alert. Stand firm. Be listening. Purge from your life whatever isthy keeping you from being a fully devoted follower of Christ and absolutely do NOT join in with those who have allowed such things to trip up their lives. 

Test what you are keeping in your life with what the Bible says. If you're having to fight to justify it then it probably isn't supposed to be in your life.

Pray on, Pray over, Pray through life.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Not Alone, Not Now, Not Ever

Not Alone, Not Now, Not Ever

by David Brenneman 

The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion

ISAIAH 30:18

    The greenest grass is found wherever the most rain falls. So

I suppose it is the fog and mist of Ireland that makes it "the Emerald Isle." And wherever you find the widespread fog of trouble and the mist of sorrow, you always find emerald green hearts that are full of the most beautiful foliage of comfort and love of God. 

    Dear Christian, do not say, "Where are all the swallows? They are all gone--they are dead." No. they are not dead. They have simply skimmed across the deep, blue sea, flying to a faraway land; but they will be back again soon. 

    Child of God, do not say, "All the flowers are dead-the winter has

killed them, so they are gone.' No! Although the winter has covered them with a white coat of snow, they will push up their heads again and will be alive very soon.

    O believer, do not say that the sun has burned out, just because a cloud has hidden it. No, it is still there, planning a summer for you; for when it shines again, it will have caused those clouds to have dropped their April showers, each of them a mother to a sweet May flower.

    Above all, remember-when God hides His face from you, do not say

that He has forgotten you. He is simply waiting for a little while to make you love Him more. And once He comes, you will rejoice with the inexpressible "joy of the LORD"  

(Nehemiah 8:10). Waiting on Him exercises your gift of grace and tests your faith. Therefore continue to wait in hope, for although the promise may linger, it will never come too late. CHARLES

H. SPURGEON

Waiting. Oh as the generations come each successive one that's come has even less patience than the one before it. 

Daily we see people spending gobs of money due to impatience in obtaining a simple cup of coffee. Rather than the 3 to 5 minutes to get a pot made at home, they spend gas money or electricity money to drive somewhere for an overpriced cup of coffee...and yes all coffee establishments are seriously overpriced with their so-called gourmet coffees.  

Waiting has never been the forte of anyone really. Impatience marks or heralds a probable bad choice or decision. We both do and or live with those who get maybe 50 percent of the facts and see no reason to be careful...they learn the hard way that maybe they still should have waited. Just because sometimes things sound really good doesn't mean that it's the right thing.  

We're told to wait on the Lord.  

Daniel didn't panic when the answer to His prayers wasn't coming right away. Daniel continued as he had been praying...as we read...as was his custom. 

What's your custom when it comes to honoring Jesus in your own prayers? You do realize that your views on how you look at praying to God is a reflection on how you are honoring the work of God through the Spirit of God in your life?

But back to patience...it's not easy to being made to wait. We keep thinking that there's SOMETHING we must be doing or something that must be done.   

But what if that which must be done is just to do as Martha was encouraged to do as being the right thing? Pray and wait on the Lord, at the feet of Jesus.

Even after what Jesus told her it probably took some doing to settle down and join Mary, which my guess is that's what she did.

It's been a very long stretch since I was let go from my last employer and my prayers have been simple concerning our needs and what I'd prefer in a new job.  

I know that God will provide me a new job. He always has and has always provided. It's the waiting that can gnaw at your patience. It can wear on you because we are people of perceptions. We perceive that nothing is happening therefore we conclude nothing is and that we must do something more. Our impatience can get the best of us.  

As in the case of Job even those whom we believe to be good people whom look like they have their lives right before God...can give errant advice as his did.  

It's always important to keep ourselves where Jesus wants us to be until He moves in a new direction and bids us to join Him.

He may say nothing, He may explain Himself. The responsibility is on us to follow where He leads.

It's on us to honor Him with what we do have. It's on us to weed out the things in our lives that are not growing us in Christ. Oh my Dear Reader do NOT believe for a moment that you don't have weeds in your Spiritual garden that is your life. When we take any time that could be spent learning how to be more like Jesus and give it to other things...then we have a weed that needs pulled.  

We can also not see that our impatience is bccause we DID keep something in our lives in a different area that shouldn't be there because we were shown by the Spirit to get rid of it.

A situation could be brewing to our right and we focus on that but the Spirit is tapping us on the shoulder and pointing to our left at a thing that He's saying is more important to deal with first.

Why do you think there's so many warnings about idolatry in the New Testament? Idolatry wasn't just an Old Testament problem. It was very much alive and well in the early days of the church and certainly is far more a problem today with the limitless temptations offered in today's world.

Our impatience often leads us to a place of feeling very alone. We don't understand why we're alone but we perceive it. The Scriptures tell us that we're not alone in Christ. The Spirit is with us 24/7 365. We're a prayer away from whatever help we need. Daniel did what was required of his job but he never neglected his prayer relationship with his Lord.  

We have jobs to do but both while doing them and afterwards we DO have the time to be growing in Christ. We DO have the time to spend time in meaningful prayer. We DO have it if we would just let go of what doesn't matter. Our growing in Christ fortifies our relationship with Jesus more today than it was yesterday. 

Being alone is only good for the short term but never the long haul.

Jesus got away but never to be alone He was always meeting with His Father.

Jesus taught His Disciples to do the same. They were to teach the world to do the same.  

Re-read Daniel. Daniel was technically alone in his position but he never viewed himself as being alone in the city of Babylon.   

We may not hear from the Lord with regards to our prayers due to the spiritual battles that ARE being waged even today. But they will come. Have both patience and persistance in praying as Daniel did.

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 

Before Our Eyes

Before Our Eyes 

by David Brenneman 

"For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the Lord, and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a waste place’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright. Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save. Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance." Isaiah 45:18-23.

"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. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 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! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:9-13.

Before our eyes...ever think about that in your lifetime? Jesus is doing things right now, right before your eyes, that angels have longed to see. Things that the Apostles and Prophets of old prayed for to happen in their lifetime...and it's our generation that's seeing them. We have seen Israel become a nation again. We have seen the rebirth of much within Israel with regards to Temple worship. We have seen God's own hands involved with preparing Israel and the world for the events that John, Ezekiel and others wrote about. 

While the world scoffs at this and calls these things a coincidence, the Word of God proves yet again that it does not return void.  

My Dear Reader are you really ready for the return of Jesus Christ? Would you hear His shout to call out His Church or would you be left behind?  

Jesus is keeping His promised return one day at a time, one fulfillment of the Scriptures at a time.  

"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.

Did you catch that? Do those words sound familiar? I see them in our media outlets, social media and the like. A world that mocks God. 

"Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 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. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

Time is short. Much much shorter than it was a week ago. Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of His promised return. But indeed a day was set by His Father and our Father if we are indeed saved. A day when Christ's Church is complete. On that day we will hear the call on high to come home. 

I don't know who that individual will be whom hasn't yet said yes to Jesus for salvation but I know they are either out there right now or are soon to be born. The Day of Christ's return is that soon. Too much has happened and is happening at an exponential rate to say otherwise. 

My prayer for you is that if you're saved that you're living the righteous life that God desires for you. My prayer as well is for whomever reads this who is still looking for to fill that Jesus shaped hole in your heart.  

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

Time is running out. Look up, because there's a trumpet to be heard for those who are saved to hear. A shout to call us home is coming.

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 

How Much Effort Have You Spent?

How Much Effort Have You Spent?

by David Brenneman 

"Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 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. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." Hebrews 5:11-14.

"Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27.

"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment." Hebrews 6:1-2.

Much has been said by many of the weakness in many who attend various churches. Churches, to be clear, that are not teaching the way of salvation. Not teaching the whole counsel of God. These types of places ought to be avoided at all costs.  

We are supposed to be engaged with the Spirit to learn and grow in Christ. We cannot do this alone. Both common sense and the Scriptures teach us that it cannot be done.  

Those who aren't growing in Christ likely aren't mainly because they're not pursuing what God's pursuing in their lives....which is their sanctification.  

We cannot say we're part of the family of God if we're not associating with the family of God.

We cannot say we're growing in Christ if we're not daily in His Word to know what it is He's wanting to teach us...and we NEED to be taught!

We cannot know the things of God without being taught. We cannot know how to fully please God without spending a dedicated amount of time with God.

Do we really think it will go well to stand before Jesus some day, likely very soon, and have nothing to show for our time on Earth as one of His disciples, one of His fellow heirs?

There's those who claim to be doing all kinds of things in the name of Jesus apart from a life with Jesus in a Bible believing, Bible preaching church. A great deal of that relationship that Jesus refers to after He separates those who are His sheep from those who are not is just that. They had a viable, tangible, real relationship with Jesus while those who did all sorts of things without Christ...did not.

Are you feeling the conviction?  

It always hurts to be called out but my Dear Reader it's much much better to have it done now while you can do something about it rather than learn later that you wish someone had.

We can easily claim that we didn't have time to spend time in our Bibles but we always find time for videos, for movies, for football games, baseball games, reading books, listening to music, parties, television, game systems, there's no end to the things we can and do put ahead of our growing in Christ.  

We can even make an excuse of being heavily involved with family and friends ahead of that quality time with Jesus.

Jesus, read it for yourself, often got away with His Disciples from the people. Jesus often got up early to just be with His Dad, our Father in Heaven. Jesus made the time. Jesus made the sacrifice. We're supposed to be following in His steps with this.

Would you really want to try excuses with Jesus when you stand before Him knowing that He already knows every atom of every detail of what really happened?

Take the time to form a dedicated time to be with Jesus. If that time slot comes and goes, sacrifice what you must to still be in the Word of God. We cannot let our guard down or that saying of the world will apply to Satan's minions and would be as you read at the beginning of this post. Give them an inch and they will take a mile. 

Addtionally you live out your growth in Christ by your giving. Been blessed? Don't spend it on yourself before looking to see who it is you're to bless in return. Been abundantly blessed? Don't hang on to it, but seek out whom you may bless. If God so blessed you in this way don't you think He can do it again?

Your faith will grow as it's excercised not as it sits dormant.

Be in Prayer, Be in the Word of God. Get away from the world to be doing both. Personally I often lose some sleep because things happen in my day that sometimes push my training/study time with the Spirit farther into the night. I haven't missed a day since beginning this line of study/learning since I started January 1st, 2025.  

We're to be committed to our Savior's plans not just for humanity but His plans for each of us.  

Grow in Christ, stand firm, keep the whole armor of God on at all times.

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 

Persist Even in the Silence

Persist Even in the Silence 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16.

Wait on Him

Our soul waits for the Lord; He

is our help and our shield.

PSALM 33:20

    There are times when you'll go to the Lord in prayer, ask Him about some concern, and feel assurance that He will answer your request. But then you'll experience a long period of silence. To make matters worse, during that time, God may give you little indication of what He's doing, and it may appear as if nothing is going on. You may wonder, Did I hear Him right?

    What are you to do when the Lord creates those gaps in your life? One of the most basic lessons you must learn is to let God be God. He will work in the unseen and in ways you cannot imagine. You must leave the "how" and the "when" in His hands and acknowledge they are His responsibility. Do not try to interfere or manipulate your circumstances-you'll only make a mess. He will show you when and the if He always wants you to act. 

    Remember, the Lord always reserves His best for those who are willing to wait on Him in faith--even when they can see nothing 

happening. So consider: do you want God's best? If so, have confi-

dence in Him, stay close to Him, and wait. Because those who trust

in Him are never disappointed

Jesus, I will wait on You. Strengthen my faith so I can always honor You. Amen. 

-Trusting God with Today 

Dr. Charles Stanley. 

----------------------------------------

It's difficult at times when we're troubled, anxious even, to get up n go when our thoughts are wanting actions to go with our words...to not do that. 

There's times where silence...is loud. When peace seems to be at a distance. 

We pray and pray and pray and then, as Dr. Stanley pointed out...we don't see nor hear anything in response. 

What we take as silence should be encouragement not discouragement.  

If we truly subscribe to the passage that says:

"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." Romans 8:28-30. 

Then our point of view ought to be different than those who have no hope. Their hope lies with luck, karma, whatever goes around comes around or even a fatalistic viewpoint where it's all going to just fade to nothingness with no consequences. 

We know is what Paul said. 

We know.

Quite often as kids we said something to our parents and we didn't think they heard us so we say it again and almost immediately we get the idea to not say it a 3rd time.  

My sabbatical from gainful employment since mid June has been a learning experience in still being busy with the requirements of the state for job searching and yet still looking towards the Lord Jesus for my next job. I sort of put that in the same manner as something Jesus said of rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's. 

My time with Jesus has never faltered. I have stayed the course in my mornings with Jesus and my nightly study times with the Spirit. 

I remember asking my Pastor about studying and what it looks like because I have so rarely needed to do that. That's not arrogance or pride that's mostly because I understood much of what I was being taught wasn't complicated to me. 

Not the case when being with the Spirit in training. It requires focus and attention as well as commitment. It requires the study material He chooses for me to use too. Currently that's 6 devotional books and 4 Study Bibles by those whom I consider pillars of the faith. 

Nobody should consider that prayers will be unhindered if they aren't living in obedience to God's Word. We don't get trophies for participating. We will only get a "Well done" from Jesus by doing...not watching others do.

We must also believe that He will do what He's promised. Regardless of our seeing evidence of it right away or not. Regardless of if what's in front of us to do makes sense or not.  

Our enemy wants us to cultivate doubts and fears. He will try to goad us into disbelief by mocking our salvation's truth by the silence we get from our prayers. He will try to push us into self preservation rather than waiting on the Lord. He will try to get us to even ignore our problems with the hope that they'll just go away. He will entice us into procrastination. Will get us to try our own solutions rather that asking Jesus if it's what He wants. Satan nailed Joshua with that one right after getting into the Promised Land. 

Be aware of Satan's schemes. He lost at the cross but will continue to accuse the brethren before the Father every single day. Jesus intercedes on the behalf of those who are His. 

Yes, Satan's brought you, my Dear Reader, before God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to accuse you of this sin or that sin.  

We have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous, as the Scriptures teach us, speaking on our behalf. 

So while we will have seasons or moments where our prayers might appear as though unheard by Jesus, my Dear Reader, the truth says every single prayer is always received and recorded in Heaven. 

The answers are: yes, no, not right now or wait I have something better in mind. Sometimes there's delays in responses because of the Spiritual battles we cannot see. Daniel's prayers were shown to be that way. 

Keep on persevering in prayer. 

Keep on with your requests even if you see nothing.

Keep on keeping on. Unless you get a definite no, persist. 

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

Prayer im Hard Times Part of the Process

Prayer in Hard Times Part of the Process
by David Brenneman

"And he said, "Go again," seven times."  1 KINGS 18:43 ESV

    Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Even if you've prayed month after month without evidence of an answer, it is not possible that the Lord would be deaf when His people are earnest in a matter concerning His glory. The prophet atop Mount Carmel continued to wrestle with God, never for a moment giving way to a fear that Jehovah's court would rule against him. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion nothing was said except, "Go again.
    We must not dream of unbelief, but hold on to our faith even to "seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22 kjv). Faith sends an expectant hope to look out from Carmel's peak, and if nothing is seen, she sends out hope again and again. Far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with God. She is humbled, but not upset: her
groans are deeper and her sighing more passionate, but she never lets go with her hand. Flesh and blood prefer a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, finding it good to wait for, as well as upon, the Lord.
    Delayed answers often cause the heart to search itself, leading to contrition and spiritual reformation - deadly blows are struck at our own corruption and minds are cleansed. The great danger is that people should faint, and miss the blessing.
    Reader, do not fall into that sin --continue in prayer and watching.  At last, in 1 Kings 18, a little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain. And it will be so with you--the hint of the coming good will surely be seen, and you will rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours" (James 5:17 esv) his with God did not lie in his own merit.   If his believing prayer was so effective, why shouldn't yours be?  Plead the precious blood with unceasing prayer, and it will be as you desire

Morning and Evening by C.H. Spurgeon for the evening of September 28th.

Waiting...waiting is never been my forte.  Probably has never been yours either. 

Patience...having this in abundance also hasn't been my stong suit either.

There's a movie quote that was a conversation that goes along the lines of if we pray for patience that God's not going to just give us patience but rather opportunities to be patient.

We are a people who learn by doing.  Not too good on learning by receiving.  Those who just get rarely have the wisdom to incorporate it into their lives.

We don't look to the repercussions of our requests only that we make them because of this or that.

Delayed answers are often necessary to get us to be sure of what it is we're really requesting.

Success in the world and success in the eyes of God are not even the same thing.

The world sees death as a finality of things.  That all things are done with.  To the Believer in Christ as their personal Lord and Savior its the pinnacle of victory and the beginning of eternity for them.

The world seeks to further itself.
Those in the Lord seek to further His plans for the world.

It may take time but it's time we must not waste.  We should be about the Father’s business regardless of what the situation looks like.  We must keep our priorities as His priorities.  Whatever He puts before us to be doing we ought to give our all to accomplish. 

There's been many times when times of what appears to be unanswered prayers has been things in my life needing to be pruned or my attitude needing to be adjusted.  My focus needing to be where it ought to be and not on the situation.

We are professionals at this thing of having situations figured out.  Yet in God's economy we haven't even figured out what font was used in writing the instructions for the situation let alone what encompasses the whole situation.

We make life much easier to navigate when it's His will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

We make life much easier when we agree with the Lord in the Spirit.

We make more of life when we admit what we have been denying before Jesus so that He can address it.

Success will come in due time but we must trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to not lean on our understanding. 

There's a great many things that I am convinced that I know.

There's a great many things that I have figured out.

But I know nothing in the grand scheme of things in light of eternity.

I am months into a job search but know that I am also being taught, refined, in God's school of life to prepare me for what's in His plans for me.  Jesus wastes nothing in what He does or how He does it.

Life is only lived when we live as God's Word directs. 

To be blatantly truthful...we are easily deceived.  Satan's minions have been studying us since we were born.  Learning what buttons to push to get us to self sabotage the efforts of the Spirit of God in our lives.  We often are days, months, years, decades into wrong thinking or living until we finally realize the error of our ways. 

Responding in obedience to when the Spirit brings up such things is what we're called to do.

Acknowledging as true what the Spirit says is true is on us.

If we're told to keep praying we keep praying.

We are to be fully devoted followers of Jesus.  We aren't part time followers of Jesus. 

If we truly believe that God does nothing but by the prayers of His people...what manner of people ought we to be?

Idolatry will be a part of everyone's life.  What we do about it is what is important before Jesus.  We know this to be true because of the words of Jesus in the Scriptures.  We have warnings to beware of it therefore its either here in our lives or at the door knocking.  If it's here already and we don't see it we need to ask the Spirit to open our eyes and to help us get rid of it.  Paul wrote of this.

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Pray fervently without ceasing.

Don't trust your point of view if it's not aligned with Jesus's point of view.

We are likely within years of Jesus returning...are your affairs in order?
Are your priorities right?

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

Hmm? Are You Paying Attention?

Hmm? Are You Paying Attention?

by David Brenneman 

"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will." Hebrews 2:1-4.

The author of Hebrews says plainly that we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. It says here: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." in Romans 10:17.

A remarkable time in my life many years ago was while I was working as an inspector. We had rather large orders at times and headphones to listen to music etc. were permitted. I bought the NASB Bible on audio to listen through the Bible. As a side note it's possible to listen to the whole Bible in about 2 weeks listening Monday through Friday at about 9 hours a day. 

When you listen to podcasts or online services...are you taking what's said at face value or have you really researched the speaker? Have you on good authority that the man preaching is really a man of God? Scripturally there are no women preachers. Women are permitted to teach other women and children but that's the extent of what God permits in His Word. 

Those who proclaim otherwise never consulted the Word of God. 

The very introduction of that errant notion as well as others into the church is why so many churches die or in actuality grow because Satan's schemes include mass deceptions.  

Include in this are churches that never have you refer to the Bible in its entirety or they pick and choose whatever they deem as God inspired for our time and toss the rest. 

God says of Himself that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

God says of His Word that it is complete. Add nothing to it, remove nothing from it. 

God says that His Word will not ever return void. It will accomplish all His Will.  

God says that there's a curse upon those who add to or take away from His Word. 

We heard directly from Jesus in saying that we are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. To love your neighbor as yourself. 

We read that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Jesus says to take up our own cross and follow Him. This means all our focus should be on what we are doing in carrying that cross. 

To get moving along the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake...you have to 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. 

Are you really paying attention or were you already stopping to look at the notifications on your phone?

Are you really paying attention to what the Spirit has already shown you must do but you dismissed it as being too much? My Dear Reader did Jesus jump down off the cross because it was too much? Did He jump down smack His hands together an declare "I'm out! This is too much for me! This isn't what I bargained for!"?

Yet we do that at times when the Spirit prompts us to make adjustments in our lives to further our sanctification in Christ. We act like we didn't hear Him. Or we honestly pull an well known thing and only go partway with obedience hoping it's enough so that we don't need to go the rest of the way.

Do you not realize what Jesus said of Himself? It is He who searches the hearts. He knows our thoughts, our intentions, our actions hidden from ourselves and others.  

My Dear Reader you lie to yourself all the time. You are indeed having your buttons pushed by Satan's minions but you lie to yourself too without their help.  

Your talking yourself into another desert that you absolutely didn't need is no different than you excusing yourself for rolling through stop signs or looking the other way from people whom the Spirit wanted you to take time to notice.

Be intentional in going through a checkout line to talk to a cashier. Ask them how they're doing. Be intentional about interacting with people you otherwise wouldn't. Thank a veteran when you run across one and be open for a conversation should they begin one. You, my Dear Reader, then prove to be a hearer of the word and a doer of the word rather than those who hear and dismiss and don't do or run away from.

Throughout the New Testament we read of how we should be eagerly waiting for Jesus to come back for His Bride the Church. You wouldn't know that if you weren't reading it.

Throughout the New Testament you would read of the daily pressures on everyday Believers and how you're not alone. 

You wouldn't know what God's will for you is if you weren't reading to find out. 

AI scanning the Bible will never help you. Cheating will never help you. He who searches your heart will find you out. 

Are you listening? Do you have ears that hear? Jesus ended every letter to the churches in Revelation with that admonition.  

So what it may mean giving up some things in our lives. Jesus gave up everything in His life to die on the cross for our sins. Are we really going to say that whatever is in our lives is more important than what Jesus did for us?

Are you listening?

Are you really listening?

Or do you do all the talking?

The Spirit of God prompts us along our way in life if we're listening.  

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

How Much? Be Honest!

How Much? Be Honest!
by David Brenneman

A Living Sacrifice
"Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God: this is your spiritual service of worship" Romans 12:1.

    God takes great pleasure in worthy sacrifices. In the Old Testament God gave detailed instructions for how His people were to give their offerings. He declared that these brought a "pleasing aroma" to Him (Leviticus 1:13, 17). When the Israelites gave an offering to God, it was no longer their own; it belonged entirely to God. God would accept only the best that people could give. It was an affront to Almighty God to offer Him animals that were damaged or imperfect in any way. God Himself met the standard for sacrifices when He offered His own Son as the spotIess Lamb. Only the death of His perfect Son worthy enough offering to atone for the sins of mankind.
    Now, God asks us to lay down our lives on His altar as a living sacrifice. Just as it was in the Old Testament, our sacrifice once offered, cannot be reclaimed. We belong entirely to Him. We cannot make a partial sacrifice of our lives; our offering must be wholehearted.
    Therefore if you are a Christian, your life is not your own. Rather than dying, however, God asks you to live for Him as a living sacrifice.  Every day, you are to offer your life to Him for His service.  You do not serve Him in your spare time or with your leftover resources.  The way you live your life for God is your offering to Him.  Relentlessly pursue holiness so that your offering to God is unblemished and acceptable to Him (Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:12). Experiencing God Day-by-Day

We are the deceived.  If Satan's the Deceiver then it stands to figure that there must be a person whom he deceives.

We can watch a magician perform a trick of deception right in front of us and completely be baffled by how it was done. 

So it often is when we look back at our lives and wonder how it was that the things we only now concede weren't good for us came to be in our lives. 

Perhaps it's arrogant presumption.
Perhaps it's a sliver of pride.
Perhaps it was a huge amount of both.

We honestly cannot trust our own heart and need to rely on the word of the Spirit of God with regards to what needs to leave our lives.

We can think we're oh so happy with this or that in our lives.  Ok.  But do those things honor God or you?  Do these things we love take our time and resources away from growing in Christ?  Do they take us away from potential conversations with people whom the Spirit wishes for us to have?

We may not get what we want out of life.  What matters is we get out of life what is important in the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.  That we grow in our sanctification for that is the will of God for us.

These things we consume ourselves with.  Oh and I am right up there with everyone else.   I have a multi-track mind and there's some thoughts that have been churning for years going on to solve problems. 

Our lives are to be a living sacrifice unto God in Christ Jesus.  If we are praying His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven do we mean that or is it truly lip service as the Pharisees and Sadducees were giving God?

Our recreational activities that we love so much...would we be willing to put them on the altar?

Our desires in life...would those go on the altar?

Our dreams...how about those?

Our family and friends?

The stranger that the Spirit introduced us to...did we realize what came about to have that introduction happen and do we pursue it?  Do we continue to pray for these people?

We read that Jesus said to pray...beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.  Hmmm...you do realize that's you?  You're to be that new worker in His fields?

I have many dreams that Jesus, through His Spirit, has told me that they aren't a part of His plans for me.  While disappointing I must trust Him and continue on with what is His plans for me.

Our lives are to be a whole sacrifice.

We can easily try to bargain for what's enough of a sacrifice.  We can because that's human nature.  We can because that's what Cain did.  That's what the children of Israel did.  Sacrifices that weren't without blemish.  Sacrifices that weren't whole and appropriate to offer unto a Holy God.

We read of the really difficult early years of the Church.  Ananias and Saphira.  We can also lie to ourselves well enough to say we're giving God our all too. 

Pray about what you're giving to Jesus.  Pray about what you've been giving Him. 

Do you give your true devotion to something or someone in this world rather than to your training in righteousness in the Lord?  In the day we stand before Jesus the truth will come out as our lives will be tried as though by fire.  The wood, hay and stubble of our lives, the worthless things we put our value in that had nothing to do with growing in Christ, will be burned up.

A sacrifice is something that costs us something.  King David would not allow the owner of the threshing floor to give him the place for free. He said that it should cost him because of what it meant before his God.

It does cost us to let go of things in our lives in order to obey Jesus. 

It does cost us more to provide a proper sacrifice unto God.

We also can miss the point if we're not sacrificing unto the Lord with wrong motives.  Our hearts must be in it.  We should be trusting God that these sacrifices are worth it with respect to our salvation in Christ.  I have eternity to learn what would have happened with my dreams.  I am sure Jesus can show me. 

In this here this now we are to be about the Father’s business of seeking the lost of this world.  We prolong the day of the Lord coming to get us by our not doing our best in His harvest. We hasten the Lord’s return by our obedience to His calling for us in Christ Jesus.  Our disobedience delays it.

There could be someone we're to be the one to pray for or speak to who is that last person who will be saved before Jesus returns.  Ever think of that?  We could be the one who's supposed to be the one who says the right thing, does the right thing, that is what someone needs in order to be saved.

Isn't that more important than our own dreams and desires?

Is your all on the altar of your life?
Better to be honest now with you than to watch in your embarrassment before Jesus that which was your life turning to ashes because you weren't living the best life He had in mind for 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

Oh We Are

Oh We Are
by David Brenneman

"O Daniel, man greatly loved..." ESV
"O Daniel, man of high esteem..." NASB
"Daniel, you who are highly esteemed...." NIV
"Daniel, you are very precious to God..." NLT
DANIEL 10:11

    Child of God, do you hesitate to claim this title? Ah, has your unbelief made you forget that you are "greatly loved" too? You must have been "greatly loved" to have been bought with "the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God" (1 Peter 1:19 NLT). When God punished His only begotten Son for you, what was that but being "greatly loved?" You lived in sin, and reveled in it--you must have been "greatly loved" for God to have been so
patient with you.
    You were called by grace, led to a Saviot, and made a child of God and an heir of heaven. Doesn't all of this prove a very great and abundant love?  Since that time, whether your path has been rough with trouble or smooth. with mercy, it has been full of proofs that you are "greatly loved."  If the Lord has disciplined you, it was not in anger;  if He has made you poor, you have become rich in grace. The more unworthy you feel yourself to be, the more
evidence you have that nothing but unspeakable love could have led the Lord Jesus to save a soul such as yours. The more defective you are, the clearer the display of the abounding love of God-for choosing you, and calling you, and making you an heir of happiness.
    Now, if there is such love between God and us, let us live under the influence and sweetness of it-let us use the privilege of our position. May we never approach our Lord as though we were strangers, or as though He were unwilling to hear us--for we are "greatly loved" by our loving Father. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
    Believer, come boldly--for in spite of the whispering of Satan and the
doubting of your own heart, you are "greatly loved". This evening, meditate on the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of divine love--and go to bed in peace.
-C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening

Read this last night and it stayed with me this morning.   Spurgeon is right about the whispering of Satan trying to degrade my views of me.  Perhaps he's been doing this to you too? 

It's perhaps worse on those who aren't saved.  Without the restraining power of the Spirit of God in our world I imagine life would be far worse than it is for most with regards to how we view ourselves.

Jesus is very clear, and in the simplest of terms, that we need to cultivate our personal relationship with Him. 

Yes people in our present and our past might have hurt us but these things do not define who we are before Jesus.

The original devotional only had the ESV version of that part of the verse.  I was prompted to go and get other translations.

Satan's a destroyer of families and relationships.  He deceives.  He has had centuries to practice his evil craft.  He teaches his demons to do the same. 

We need to recognize his schemes.
We need to recognize and have a plan for counteracting it.  Remembering who we are in Christ.
Remembering the promises of God.
Remembering that we aren't defined by who tho world says we are but rather who God in Christ Jesus says we are.

We are His beloved.  We are and should be cultivating this.

We enable Satan's schemes by self-isolation.  By staying away from other Believers.  By drowning in things that have nothing to do with growing in Christ.  By believing these things provide happiness on their terms...even in the smallest of ways.

“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.

“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.

What separates us is our relationship with Jesus. 

Satan knows this.  Divide and conquer.  Separate people who can uplift and encourage from those who really need it.  Separate people who are hurting from those who can come up along side of them and hold them up.

Jesus went to the cross because of the love of God for mankind.

Jesus stayed on the cross because of the love of God for mankind.

Jesus arose from the dead because of the love of God for mankind.

Jesus is coming back because of His love for His Bride the Church.

A very old children's song still rings true today. 

It ties into today's verses.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong
Yes Jesus loves me!
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

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

What's Necessary if We Wish to See God's Desired Results

What's Necessary if We Wish to See God's Desired Results 

by David Brenneman 

He takes no pleasure in causing us grief or pain.

LAMENTATIONS 3:33 GNT

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Hebrews 12:11

"But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:7-8.

    It is never God's goal to break your spirit or to cause you pain. Rather, your heavenly Father, the sovereign King of creation, always has a positive, crucial, eternal purpose when He allows bad to happen, and it extends not only to your life but to the lives of the many people you influence and help. 

    It is true that the Lord works all details together for the good of those who love Him. So whatever you may experience and however broken you may feel because of the trials that assail you, always

remember that the Father has a blessing in store for you. Never give in to the thought that this is the end or that there's a limit to God's ability to redeem even the worst, most pain-filled experiences in your life and turn them into something worthwhile. Instead, accept that He knows your pain, He is powerful, He loves you unconditionally, and He is at work in the unseen for you.

    You may not be at fault for what has happened to you, but you are accountable for your response to it. So always ask yourself, How can I honor God in this adversity? How can I grow closer to Him from this?

Jesus, this is difficult, but I know You work for my good and Your glory. Amen.

Dr. Charles Stanley Trusting God with Today 

‐-‐----------------------------------------

Life can seem hard and life can seem easy. Life can seem full of confusion or life can seem full of pain.  

It's a radical departure from what the world thinks about life to rejoice always in the Lord. 

Reading the letters to the churches in Revelation with study notes from four Godly men is enlightening. The church I grew up in Revelation was preached all the way through from first verse to last and today I am still learning something new. 

No soldier becomes one simply by signing a few documents. By no means is he or she ready for the field of combat just because they said a pledge to the United States of America to defend it from all enemies both foreign and domestic.  

No athlete makes a team and then is left to his or her own devices to perform in such a way to reach a championship level. 

No person is going to go miss going through discipline to achieve a goal that hitherto was out of reach. 

Sometimes the changes that befall our lives aren't of our doing. Back in June my employer chose to sever our relationship. Fully unexpected and in mere minutes I was trying to wrap my head around what just happened. As Dr. Stanley pointed out in this borrowed devotional, and I believe it's one of his Life Principles, I wasn't responsible for what happened to me but I am responsible before Jesus as to how I respond to it.  

This abrupt employment status change didn't negatively impact my time studying God's Word at night nor did it stop these posts in the mornings. God didn't stop being God because of this happening. Jesus was never caught off guard by this happening in my life. He knows the truth because He was behind it. You see I have always held to the truth that I always work where I do until God makes it impossible to stay. 

We read also of the very words of Jesus when He says we who are saved are in His hands and nothing will touch us that hasn't been allowed by Him.  

Pain, grief, sorrows, joys, laughter, are reactions to what's been allowed to happen in life. 

Scripture says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  

Also that eye has not seen nor has ear ever heard all that God has prepared for those who love Him. 

We are those bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

Our lives are to be what the Spirit's discipline for us needs it to be in order to bring about the righteous life that God desires for us. 

Our lives are likely going to see persecutions in one form or another. We are going to see loneliness. We read of the things that the Apostles went through so we shouldn't be surprised by the fiery ordeals we go through.  

Giving thanks in all things is certainly counterculture. That's what the Bible says we're to be doing.  

Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness is what the Bible says that we're to be doing. 

These steps and others are forms of necessary discipline in order to achieve God's will for each of us in Christ Jesus. 

We may relate to Job n never understand the why's behind what we are going through until we see Jesus. We may be granted knowing the why's or only some of them. 

The onus is on each Believer to take up their own cross and follow Jesus. Whatever that looks like, wherever it takes each one.  

We are to trust and obey. We are to pray without ceasing. Pouring out our hearts before our personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to love God with our everything and love others as ourselves. We aren't to go after the things of this world that divide our time between it and our training in righteousness.  

I don't miss television or endless movie watching. I was never into sports so I can't miss what never interested me. I do find myself looking forward to each nights studying of God's word. I am grateful that keeping up with other's achievements and lives was never a driving force in my life.  

I do want to do what's pleasing to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I also strive to not do that which a child of God ought not to be doing. 

I want to respond to life as He would approve of even if it makes no sense.  

What is going on in your life that isn't glorifying God?

What are you going through that you're not responding to in a manner that God would approve?

What have you put above your training in righteousness that shouldn't be there?

Do you have a love for the things of this world that are actually traps to keep you from growing in Christ?

We're exhorted to stand firm in the Lord. We are to be intentional in our building our relationship with Jesus. We are to endure the discipline brought to us in a way that honors our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Without grumbling or complaining.  

Makes you look at "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 differently doesn't it?

We as the one in training are responsible to show up each day ready for that training. We are to put forth our best efforts to satisfy our trainer. 

We may not understand until later but we are to obey. Much as the lesson of Daniel in the first Karate Kid movie.  

What needs to change in your life?

What idols have found their way into your life that need to go? The Bible wouldn't be telling us to beware of them if they weren't going to present themselves to 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 

What will Your Day Before Jesus Look Like?

What will Your Day Before Jesus Look Like?

by David Brenneman 

"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 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.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one." 1 Corinthians 2:6-15.

Unless one is saved by the confession of the mouth and the belief in the heart...a life never conceived of is never going to be seen.

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

Eye indeed has not seen nor has ear ever heard all that God has prepared for those who love Him.

Think on that one. A life prepared for you and I from before we were ever born. Before we were ever known about is what God has prepared for us if we but come to Him for salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

"For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20.

It's not just that there's a life we won't know if we aren't living a life of obedience to God's Word, with our faith and trust in Christ, but we're supposed to glorify God with our bodies.

Being blunt...how glorified is God in your body when you're participating in things of this world that you ought not to even be entertaining?

How glorified is God in your body when you're going after things of this world and are leaving behind the things that the Spirit is trying to teach you?

How glorified is God in your body when disobeying God is what you normally are doing rather than obeying?

How glorified is God in your body when people do not see any good works that cause them to glorify your Father in Heaven?

I was having a conversation last night with my Wife about the Final Judgement time. When all of mankind will stand before Jesus. Those who are saved will only have the account of their lives that they did for Jesus revealed as crowns of righteousness to give back to him. Those who are not saved will see their lives amount to nothing because as the Scriptures say, our own righteousness is as filthy rags.

By now we all know the name of the song "I Can Only Imagine". I imagine at this judgement these who turned down the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ will be shown what their lives could have been like had they said yes rather than refused. I also imagine that for Believer's that they will be shown what their's could have been like had they been fully committed.

In their book series of "Left Behind" I do think they probably got it right with the fact that all people will go through their one-on-one with Jesus at the same time. I imagine a sizeable chunk of even eternity would be taken up if every human being since Adam and Eve were dealt with one at a time.

How's your level of obedience to Christ and God's Word going these days? What is it about this world that you 'love' that you should not be? What is it about those around you that you 'love' that isn't appropriate? Who or what is taking first place in your heart that belongs to Jesus?

Throughout the early years of the church and decades that followed idolatry was warned about. John wrote of it, Paul wrote of it, Peter wrote of it. Idolatry is alive and well today in ways never before dreamed of by post-Genesis flood mankind. 

Idolatry is wrapped up in all kinds of forms of sensuality and feelings. Cars, trucks, houses, properites, friends and even family are idolized above their relationship with Jesus.

People within the church and outside of it are more fearful of offending people than they are of offending the Holy God of the Universe and His Son Jesus Christ.

As the shirt says it and I've said in truth.

I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than to stand with the world and be judged by God.

People these days lay claim to not having enough time to pray or be in God's Word to learn. Yet they carve out time for a game, for a movie, for this family function or that. They carve out time for expensive vacations yet don't give to their local church. They spend what money they do get from God (everything a Believer has comes from God and belongs to Him) on the most expensive things rather than on what's needed. We're several generations into the concept of keeping up with the Jones's. Right now a sermon series at www.graceforohio.org.  

Are we going to be ashamed at what our life, our thoughts, our intentions are going to reveal on that day we stand before Jesus?

If you aren't saved...are you going to stand before Jesus in your own righteousness only to find out then that you're going to spend eternity paying for your own sins when you had the chance, the opportunity in this here this now, to have Jesus be your Savior?

Will Jesus be your Savior or your Judge when you see Him at that Judgement Day?

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