Learning Shouldn't Be Shunned

Learning Shouldn't Be Shunned
by David Brenneman

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

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

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

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

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

Read again Psalm 23...slowly.

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

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

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

And do not forget these evidences:  "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We DO don't we?

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

Are We Showing Jesus to the World?

Are We Showing Jesus to the World?

by David Brenneman 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Your Call, Your Loss is Your Gain

Your Call, Your Loss is Your Gain 

by David Brenneman 

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:7-14.

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

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

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

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

Jesus Himself said "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:24-27.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Never Alone, Ready to Listen

Never Alone, Ready to Listen 

by David Brenneman 

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

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

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

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

A Priest passing through his church

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

Just then the back door opened,

And a man came down the aisle,

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

His shirt was torn and shabby,

And his coat was worn and frayed,

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

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

Well, the Priest’s suspicions grew,

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

'What are you doing here?'

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

Lunchtime was his prayer time,

for finding strength and power.

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

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

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

The Priest was feeling foolish,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

At the factory, he asked about him,

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

The week that Ben was with them,

brought changes in the ward.

His smiles and joy contagious.

Changed people were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand

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

The Priest stayed by his bed,

he voiced the nurse's concern:

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

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

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

Everyday at noon He comes here,

A dear friend of mine, you see,

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

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

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

JUST CHECKING IN TODAY .'

-Unsure of who to give credit to for this. 

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

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

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

We don't need flowery speeches. 

We don't need long orations.

We just need simplicity. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just be you. Pray from your heart. 

If you are hurting, talk about that. 

If you are happy, talk about that. 

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

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

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Weaknesses and Strengths

Weaknesses and Strengths 

by David Brenneman 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sustaining power.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.

- Trusting God with Today 

Dr. Charles Stanley. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Deeper Roots Lend to Greater Growth

Deeper Roots Lend to Greater Growth 

by David Brenneman 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trust in Christ who saved you. 

Trust in Christ who sustains you. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Rejoicing in Song or Crying Out?

Rejoicing in Song or Crying Out?

by David Brenneman 

When the stars burn down and the earth wears out

And we stand before the throne

With the witnesses who have gone before

We will rise and all applaud

Singing blessing and honor, glory and power

Forever to our God

Singing blessing and honor, glory and power

Forever to our God

When the hands of time wind fully down

And the earth is rolled up like a scroll

The trumpets will call and the world will fall

To its knees as we all go home

Star of the morning, Light of salvation

Majesty

God of all mysteries, Lord of the universe

Righteous King

There will come a day standing face to face

In a moment, we will be like Him

He will wipe our eyes dry, take us up to His side

And forever we will be His.

- When the Stars Burn Down 

--Philips, Craig and Dean 

Worthy is the lamb who was slain

Holy, holy is He

Sing a new song to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Worthy is the lamb who was slain

Holy, holy is He

Sing a new song to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is in days to come

With all creation, I sing grace to the king of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

Adore You

Golden rainbows of living color

Flashes of lightning, roars of thunder

Breathing here on earth strength and glory and power be

To You, the only wise King, yeah

Holy, holy, holy is Lord God Almighty

Who was and is in days to come

With all creation, I sing grace to the king of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

I will adore You

Filled with wonder, oh, struck wonder

At the mention of Your name

Jesus, Your name is power, breath and living water

Such a marvelous mystery, yeah

Holy, holy, holy is Lord God Almighty

Who was and is in days to come

With all creation, I sing grace to the king of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

Holy, holy, holy is Lord God Almighty

Who was and is in days to come, yeah

With all creation, I sing grace to the king of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

You are my everything and I will adore You

Filled with wonder, oh, struck wonder

At the mention of Your name

-Philips, Craig and Dean 

--Revelation Song

These songs were in my mind this morning...partly due to my morning readings are in Revelation as I'm wrapping up a year of reading through the Bible.

Are you ready to step into eternity to worship Jesus forever? These songs are a taste of what's to come in the Heaven that's been prepared for those who believe on the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Those who have never placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation will never see it.

This, by far, is the most important thing that anyone has to know for certain in their lives. Nobody can count on a 'later' in life to 'get right with God'. I personally know of true stories of people standing up to get something then falling dead on the floor who thought they had a today in front of them to live.

You and I are not promised a today. For those who are saved in Christ we are promised that He will be with us in the today we've been given and that He has our tomorrow's in His hand just the same.  

Sorrow, pain, lonliness, griefs and troubles come to the saved and the unsaved alike but only those who truly have Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord - who have made Him the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives - have hope in each day to live it to the full.

Nobody was meant to handle the weight of even their own corner of the world on their own.  

Jesus IS going to return. It's taught throughout the New Testamet that the early churches were taugth to be expectant. To not be lazy about life as to whether or not give their all to Jesus all the time.  

Nobody knows when either their hour is upon them or if they have days, months or years ahead yet.

Lives are altered in a split second these days. Would you be ready to step into eternity and find yourself in the presence of God the Son or would you wake up in painful torment in Hell? The Word of God says that those are the only two choices. Being 'good' enough will never get a single person into Heaven.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. " Galatians 2:20.

This what Believer's can say of themselves. If you've never placed your faith and trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins...if He is not the Forgiver of your sins and the Leader of your life...then no you have never been crucified with Christ. He does not live within you.

"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.

Salvation is for everyone but it's on everyone to ask Him for it.

There's literally trillions of 'good' people in painful torment in Hell who thought they would be in Heaven who only now see why they aren't...that they never came to Jesus to be saved.

You, my Dear Reader, you must choose this day to receive His free gift of Salvation or face the same.

You have come this far in reading this and now know the truth and as harsh as this sounds...are now without excuse before Jesus.  

You can text the word "Jesus" to 330-264-9459 and someone there WILL help you know for sure how to be saved.  

You too then, my Dear Reader, WILL be able to sing such songs to He who will become YOUR Living Lord and Savior...Jesus Christ.

Time is not on anyone's side concerning this. While Scripture sayd that He's not willing for any to die but for all to come to the truth of salvation in Him...there IS a day set by His Father for His return.  

It's GOING to happen as assuredly as the sun came up this morning.

God always keeps His promises and He certainly promised to return.

Will you be waiting for Him or will you be left behind crying out for Him to come back?

"Come up here!" is going to be said soon to all who are saved in Christ.

Will you hear that or hear the cries of the billions left behind?

Most know "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

Don't neglect to read the very next thing said by Jesus.

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him."

The first time He came was not to judge. The next time He comes He WILL be here to judge.

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 

Help My Unbelief

Help My Unbelief 

by David Brenneman 

When We Don't Understand

"This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." Hebrews 12:27.

  We may live in experience a fallen that world, so there are circumstances we may experience that will be God's are perfect will for us. Indeed, there are tragedies we will witness that are beyond human explanation and that shake us to the core. However, the Lord may allow us to face them through His permissive will for some significant purpose. In His omniscience, the Father knows what is ultimately best, including the long-term consequences of calamities that seem completely devoid of any good. We should not doubt God or abandon our beliefs when we lack understanding. Instead, we should latch on to what we know is true and not let go-and that is the goodness of God.

     We must trust Jesus. That can be difficult, but understand that your life matters to God to a degree beyond which you can fathom. He cares for you, and He wants to teach you through what He is doing. So when you face inexplicable circumstances, remind yourself that God always has your best interest in mind. No matter what befalls you, your all-loving, all-wise, all-powerful heavenly Father has you in the cradle of His hand.

Jesus, I want to believe You. Help my unbelief, teach me and heal my heart. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley 

"It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 9:22-24.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears." 2 Samuel 22:7.

"Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary." Psalms 28:2.

My Dear Reader, if we're honest as we ought to be with one another, we have prayed that prayer in one way or another. 

We might even be aware of this passage too: "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27.

What we go through in life might seem like we're all alone, but the reality is we never could be alone when it's the u deserved grace and mercy of God that even provides our heartbeat and each breath we take in. 

I have had many opportunities to experience being alone or at least my perception of what alone feels like. The truth is extremely similar to a story I once heard. 

---------

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's right of passage? It goes like this...

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a man.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

--------

We are quick to mistake silence for abandonment. Quick to think we're the only ones going through our hardship and pain. Quick to rush to judgment about what our situation is and what it appears to be headed for. 

The truth is God only knows. 

We go through what we do in order to be refined in the fires of tribulations to become more like Jesus Christ. That's what the work of God in Christ Jesus is always only going to be doing in our lives. That's what being "His workmanship" is all about. We won't always be blessed with understanding the why's behind the pain or sorrows but we will be able to know that He is there through the day and night by our side through it all. 

I have been in serious school since last January in how I have been directed to learn from the Spirit of God. 6 devotional books and 4 Study Bibles. Every single evening even if it means losing sleep to complete it. My lessons went into the physical world in June of last year when, through no fault of my own, I was fired from my employer. All I had done was befriend a brother in Christ, no more, no less. God has made my innocence in the matter very clear to me. So my attention was then on what is in this season of life that I am to learn? It might indeed have everything to do with helping my unbelief. 

We can withdraw from God, maybe even blame God, for what He allowed to happen to us at the hands of men and women. That, my Dear Reader is always the wrong perspective.  

Job was educated on his wrong perspectives on what he was going through. He never connected the dots until after his exchange with the Lord Jesus Christ in the latter parts of the book of Job. The reality was his affliction was sanctioned by the Lord but carried out by Satan. But with limits in place that Satan had to abide by. 

We can go through many things that are possibly Satan's fondest desires for us but are in the same manner as Job. Limits set by Jesus that cannot be overruled. We are to look to Christ for our life breath and all things...even within what we go through that we don't understand. 

One sure lesson in the last 8 months is that it's ok if I can't figure out why. Another is to listen and do whatever He puts before me to be doing even if it isn't making sense at the moment. An applicable Life Principle is to obey God and leave the consequences to Him.  

We are brought to things, go through things, in order to trust Him more. The appropriate response also should be to love Him more. To praise Him in the storm just as well as when there is none. 

We need help with our unbelief because no matter who you are you have some that needs dealt with. 

It's a simple enough prayer. Right there with Nehemiah's bullet prayers that have no time for words that are lengthy. We who are in Christ know what the Spirit will do when words fail us. 

As our belief in Jesus Christ and His work in us proceeds we will grow in Christ. We will become more like Jesus. Isn't that what we really want more than anything?

Praying for ourselves to have our belief strengthened isn't a sin or even something that Jesus has a problem with. He visited with His Disciples for 40 days after His resurrection to grow them in Himself before leaving to take His place at the Father’s side in Heaven. 

More than anything don't you want what God wants for you? It's going to mean going through some things to get there. As someone who had a conversation with a silversmith learned...silver stays in an appropriately heated fire only long enough for him to see his face in the silver then it's pure enough to be removed.  

What we go through is there only long enough for Jesus to see something of Himself in us.

Lord I believe, help my unbelief!

Make me as you want me to be. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Always In Training in Righteousness

Always In Training in Righteousness 

by David Brenneman 

"and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts;" Revelation 2:23b.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12. 

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.

"and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:27.

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

Our perceptions on our lives are tainted by our views concerning what is sin and what isn't. On what should be and shouldn't be in our lives. On what's right before God and what isn't.  

Satan's a defeated foe according to the Scriptures but he's a lousy loser. Bent on kicking and clawing at whomever has become a child of God.  

But our individual lives are always before our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  

His promise to never leave us or forsake us is ever before us. We know by His own words that He's searching our hearts. You just read that yourself taken from the book of Revelation. Paul talks of this truth as well. 

Growing in Christ, becoming more like Jesus in everyday life IS our life. Regardless of what our day entails that's what we are engaged in first and foremost. Jesus takes no breaks from our being His workmanship. He doesn't offer vacations from learning how to become more like Himself. 

If you aren't intentional about learning more from your Teacher and Lord Jesus, then you're heading the wrong way. 

We seem to live in a world where everything to stimulate the imagination is now at our fingertips. Everything to satiate the desires of our hearts, or so we think. 

We are talked into this or that to make our lives easier or better. We are talked into what is ok and shouldn't be consistent as sin but in fact if we were in the Scriptures we would see that it is.

Jesus isn't going to stop our transformation into being like Him. 

If you objectively looked at your life would you see someone obedient or someone who's been self-deceived? We can get so busy with life that we push Jesus out of the room we are in.  

We will lie to ourselves as to what's going on but the truth is we are to seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness. Yet we can and do knuckle under to the pressures of life rather than do that. 

Do you set aside time, intentionally, purposefully, to be with Jesus because you want to? 

Do you have things that you 'love' that have taken up your time so that you don't spend time with Jesus?  

These things might even have the appearance of being good but the truth is the truth...you are neglecting your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to pursue those things.

Jesus is never going to cease working in your life until that moment where you either breathe your last or the Rapture of the Church takes place. 

Jesus is always going to know when and where you lied to yourself and He was excluded. 

We cannot put people, places or things before our lives in Christ. 

So what if you miss a live stream or video or movie or television show or sporting event or anything else.

If what you engage in is proving to cost you in growing in Christ then the price is too high.

Nothing should be worth more to you than doing, living, what is right in the eyes of God.

Whatever is important to God should be important to you. 

So what if this means you miss out on things...isn't making your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ happy of greater importance?

As Peter was told...so are we...we are to follow Christ. We are to take up our own cross and follow Him. 

Get truthful with you. Look at where you've lied to yourself about things and turn back towards the righteous life that God desires for you.  

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

If your light ISN'T shining in such a way that people ARE NOT seeing your works and glorifying your Father in Heaven then stop n learn what it is, turn from it and get your life right before Jesus.

Jesus is GOING to keep on working on your life, it’s a matter of how hard you are going to resist Him while He does. 

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 

Getting Untangled by Jesus

Getting Untangled by Jesus 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2.

Getting out Christmas lights and getting them ready to hang once again can be a challenge! Some would say it's on par with arguing with a toddler over a toy.

Yet we don't see how far and by how much we are entangled in sins that have been such a part of our lives.  

The thing that we also so quickly forget when adversity comes upon us is the passages that tell us to EXPECT such things...because we don't we get anxious for nothing. 

The sin that so easily entangles is anything that we're putting on either equal terms with Jesus or above Jesus whether or not we agree with the Scriptures about it. If God says that it is, then it is, and it's entangled us. 

Probably it's heard thousands of times a day at many many Emergency Rooms by medical personnel from patients saying they're fine, give them something for the pain and they'll just go home. Never at all considering the risks associated with such a rash decision. They don't perceive what they are entangled in. 

We cannot rely on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 commands, not suggests, that we not lean on our own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  

We are going to lie to ourselves about what all has already entangled us in our lives.  

Thanks be to God above, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He promised to never leave us or forsake us. That we ARE His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. That what He began in us is GOING to be completed.  

Things that we have convinced ourselves that aren't bad...have we ever even asked the Spirit if they should stay or go?

Things that we say we enjoy so much that from our perspective are fun and joyful...are they crouching at the door of what's unacceptable to growing in Christ? Have we in fact crossed the line and don't realize it?  

Do we justify our words when by all scriptural accounts those words never should have, under any circumstances, been said or even thought?

Consider this...has what you thought about a person...what you said about a person...would those thoughts or words ever come out of the mouth of Jesus?  

Sin that easily entangles.  

When we read Proverbs we can see a great deal of wisdom in how to live life. On guarding our hearts and minds. We read Paul's letters exhorting all of us to stand firm in the Lord.  

We have probably faced various kinds of adversity and not understood why. The why's go back to the truth about the work of God in Christ Jesus, through the Spirit, that's GOING to happen in all of us.

Adversity indeed will only last as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.  

Do you realize that? Do you acknowledge that? 

God HAS a specific and special purpose for you in Christ Jesus while you yet breathe and go about your life. Not unlike Ananias before going to meet Saul for the first time...we are to trust and obey. 

We are to look at these adversities from a spiritual perspective and ask what is it that God's wanting to do in and through us or to remove from us or move us past in order to further His workmanship in us.

We all have sin that has entangled us. We are just so used to it that we don't recognize it.  

Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see what He's doing in your life about your entangled sins. Ask Him to reveal what you are entangled in and again ask for His help in dealing with them. We do want His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven don't we? His will for us is our sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3a "This is the will of God for you, your sanctification". 

Not your personal happiness. 

Not that you get everything you ever wanted.

Not that this or that would happen in order to make you feel better about life. 

Your sanctification. Your becoming more like Jesus Christ. Everything else is EXPENDABLE. Honestly everything. Even people in our lives and everything counted as a possession. 

We are entangled and thank God we won't be left that way. We have His promises that He's going to finish what He's started in us.

Pray for yourself that you obey in what He's telling you to do. What to let go of. What to begin doing. Pray and be prepared because you will have things that He's identified that need to go or need to change.

Run the race with endurance...after your arms and legs aren't tangled up anymore you will be able to give of your best to the Master and Lord Jesus Christ. 

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 

When We Don't See

When We Don't See 

by David Brenneman 

The Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting

PSALM 100:5

     What comes to mind when you think of God's nature? Whenever I ask, people usually respond wich words like holy, all-powerful, or eternal, but very rarely do they say good. Indeed, many people think of the Lord as demanding, distant, and

unfeeling. This may be for many reasons, of course. But ultimately.

when they hear or read that God is faithful, merciful, forgiving, or

loving, they think, To others, but not to me.

     Is this the case for you? Do you have an easier time imagining

other people being kind to you than the Father? Then it is time to confront what you believe about His character. Scripture is clear that what God has planned for you is for your welfare (Jeremiah 29:11) and that He works everything for your benefie (Romans 8:28), What He provides for you is not only ample but is of the finest quality. You may doubt this because of your circumstances. But the Lord sees your whole life from beginning to end, and into eternity, and He always leads in the manner best for you. God is good--to you, Stop doubting and believe in His love

for you.

Jesus, help me to trust in Your goodness and loving-kindness

in every area of my life-even when I don't understand what You are doing, Amen

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley 

To be honest, there's a whole lot of my life that I don't see the why's behind. I don't understand and I believe that God's been teaching me that it's ok if I don't. To trust Him and keep going where He leads me. What I think are spectacular ideas on a direction for my life right now doesn't appear to be what Jesus says is a spectacular idea for my life. 

Easily put: I can't see what He's doing. Yet I am still to keep trusting Him and keep moving no matter what it is that life looks like right now.  

Daniel, Job, many others, pretty much all the Disciples, at one time or another were walking by faith and not by sight. Look at the list of people in Hebrews 11.  

Something else is that Satan's going to try to incite jealousy between us and other Believers because of what we see Him doing in their lives while we wrongly perceive ours as being stagnant, going nowhere. 

We don't see what Jesus sees as our potential in living for Him. Note that isn't a description of worldly success but success in the life in Christ that's been for you to live for Jesus. 

We are going to go through the process of sanctification, to become more like Jesus Christ, it's in God's will for us. 

This is going to put us in situations we don't understand. We don't have God's 'big picture' in mind because He's God and we are not.  

I would be lying if I was to say that the last 8 months hasn't been very confusing for me. I have had application after application submitted, sometimes with a form letter response, sometimes with a decent response, an extreme few that turned into an interview, all the rest were met with utter silence. 

At times I feel like a bobbin in the water, sometimes going under, sometimes not between discouragement and disappointment. The silence at times from those in my life here is enough to hurt. It's a perception thing I know.  

"for we walk by faith, not by sight—" 2 Corinthians 5:7.

We're learning...we haven't learned...what that fully means yet. We're still going to be among all who are saved, who will enter Heavens gates who will get their theology corrected.  

It's an ongoing process for all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus.

"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.

We may not understand but we are to still obey and to keep on striving to please Him in all that we do...and to do everything as unto the Lord. 

It's ok not to see what's coming because we know that He knows. 

Make this prayer your own:

Jesus, help me to trust in Your goodness and loving-kindness

in every area of my life-even when I don't understand what You are doing, Amen

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 

Obedience and Faith

Obedience and Faith 

by David Brenneman 

"One of the most basic yet important principles a Christian can ever learn is that of obedience. When we obey God, we’ll experience His blessings (Ps. 25:10). When we don’t, we’ll miss out on the blessings He had in store for us.

The more familiar we become with God’s Word, the more we’ll begin to understand the importance of obedience. God’s laws are not designed to deprive us of pleasure or prosperity. Rather, they’re intended to protect us from hurting ourselves and others and to guide us toward the fulfillment in life He wants us to enjoy.

When we’re faced with daily pressures, we may be tempted to compromise Scripture’s teaching in favor of self-reliance or worldly solutions. Every person has God-given desires and appetites, which can be satisfied as He intended or in selfish and harmful ways. Throughout our lives, we’ll encounter opposition to biblical living. Obedience to God involves a commitment to Him, regardless of the consequences. 

Obeying God often involves choices that we fear could result in rejection, loss, or hardship. Sometimes the decision to follow Christ brings about unwanted confrontation. Obedience always require courage. However difficult our circumstances may be, we can respond to them with confidence in the One who empowers us to do His will. Has God ever made a mistake, been too late, or proven inadequate? No! Our heavenly Father is all-powerful and consistently faithful.

The laws of Scripture are profound yet simple: The Bible teaches that we will reap what we sow and, oftentimes, more than we sow (Gal. 6:7-9). When we obey God, we always get His best. When we don’t, life will turn out to be much less than it could be and much harder than it needs to be. We don’t always do what we should, and there is grace for those situations; but for Christians, making a commitment to obey God is essential to our faith. Obedience and faith are inseparable. We demonstrate our trust in God by complying with His will. When we do, we will reap the rewards He has designed for us—and we’ll hit our mark … every time."

- Devotional "9 Truths for Living God’s Way" - Dr. Charles Stanley on the Bible app. 

"But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”" Daniel 1:8-13.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”" Daniel 3:13-18.

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." Galatians 6:7-9.

Dr. Stanley didn't include the 2 sections from Daniel that you just read but they absolutely do apply to what it is he's trying to say to us. The last portion from Galatians is included in that devotional.

It's a lesson that rises to the top as the Lord directs the Spirit to turn up the heat in our lives...that of obedience.  

In Job at the very beginning of that book we see the fruits of obedience that Satan's got a beef with. Due to Job's obedience the Lord made him prosperous. Seems to me as well that his obedience was lost on even his own wife since she urged him at one point to curse God and die.

Obedience can and often does cost us something. For me, listening to the Spirit to befriend a brother in Christ cost me my job. But even in that...God's blessed us in ways we could never have come up with on our own. The results have been a peace that does pass all understanding.

As he also points out...you cannot have obedience without faith. Faith and obedience go hand-in-hand. There should never be one who attempts one without the other.

What he says about what we fear...this is certainly true of those who go down this road.

We are called to obey the Word of God...and we are not to use ignorance as an excuse. We're to be in the Word daily. We're to be in prayer as often as we can. What God wants of us and for us should be more important than our own wants and desires. 

Job loved his family enough to intercede for them. Daniel and his friends loved God enough to trust Him with their everything...and even if it didn't work out as they wanted...they would still praise Him.

Another of Dr. Stanley's Life Principles is "The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us." Look at Job and you see that one for sure.

"Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees." is another principle.

"God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him." is another.

One that I'm learning to go and more importantly grow through is "Disappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice.".

"Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God."

"Listening to God is essential to walking with God."

Much, if not all of these "Life Principles" that Dr. Stanley developed over the years all point to both obedience and faith being together...side by side...no matter what.

We cannot go through life by getting ahead of God is one that I've known myself...that one's mine.

Obedience and faith must be inseperable. Even when obedience makes no sense to us. Why? All obedience and faith together point us to is this: our sanctification.

The Disciples saw and learned to do as they were taught from Jesus in His obedience to the Father and His unbreakable faith in the Father's plans for Him.

These 30 Life Principles aren't 'gospel' but they are found within the Gospels. You will find them within the life of Christ that we read about within those pages.

Another that I read in a different devotional is that by way of our obedience and faith we will and should expect to be hit by the enemy of God for doing so.

I can readily testify that 24 hours after publicly professing Jesus as my Lord and Savior...that broadside attack happened. It happened to me, and you shouldn't be surprised if it happens to you.

Don't expect others, even if they are Christian's, to understand your level of obedience and faith. We are all at different places in our walk with Jesus and in our growing into His likeness. Simply stated: expect to be misunderstood because it's likely to happen.

Stay the course, finish the race, as Paul wrote. Stand firm in the Lord. Be careful of how you listen as Jesus said. Keep the full armor of God on at all times. Be ready to obey when called upon.  

Our infinitesimal mark on the history of mankind is still ours to make in the Lord...and will only be achieved by our obedience and faith...as He sees fit to be done.

We cannot "Trust in the Lord with all our Heart and do not lean on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight" as it says in Proverbes 3:5-6 unless we keep obedience and faith together.

We cannot do what we do as unto the Lord unless obedience and faith stay together.

We have a debt we can never repay to indeed work to repay for all that the Lord did for us in dying on a cross for our sins.  

Think about these things today as you go out into your day.  

Look up the 30 Life Principles that Dr. Stanley wrote about. Those reminders might be what you've been needing to keep at your fingertips.

Obedience and faith might mean not doing or giving up something that we 'love'...but the eternal rewards are out of this world.

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 We Need, He Promises

What We Need, He Promises 

by David Brenneman 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:6-9, 11.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34.

"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. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.

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

There's more than we think is going on that is going on.  

We don't see so we dismiss. We don't look so we miss. We don't listen and we wonder why. We, unfortunately, aren't much different than the Jews whom the Lord said always seek for a sign, some proof before they will act.

Yet throughout the New Testament we see the opposite in the lives of Believers.  

We need reminders of the facts about a life in Christ. The world is relentless, the enemy is relentless, our sin nature is relentless...and guess what? The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are more relentless than they combined. 

There's more to living life than getting all you wanted out of life. 

There's always the chance that what God needs you to do looks nothing like you getting what you want out of life. 

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

Now there's those who say that the Lord doesn't speak to people in this way anymore. I am living proof that that is a lie. Satan's schemes involve people believing such lies. I know that I know that I know of many times that within me I have been spoken to by the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Worry. This is another one of Satan's schemes. Getting us to worry about what's coming. What's around the corner, over the next hill, down in the next valley. Where the next this or that is going to come from. 

Did not our personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ make promises to us who believe?

What did Satan's first temptation to Jesus look like? "Did God really say..."?

Seeking the Lord while He may be found is the beginning. Knowing that He's already seen tomorrow. Already knows what's coming. Already knows what you will think about or choose. Knows every sin we will stumble into. Yet He keeps His promises. He promised to forgive us and never to forsake us. He promised His Spirit to indwell us. Promised to guide us through His Spirit into the righteous life that God desires for us.  

We who are saved in Christ Jesus...we ought to be thankful every morning noon and night for Jesus being with us throughout it all.  

We are walking through a difficult valley in life right now. Our local Church helped us through January. Some whom we know, God laid it upon their hearts to help us in getting through February. Various food pantry locations have been a tremendous blessing to us. We are still moving on towards wherever He's leading us to. There's too much evidence to see, feel and know that Jesus is keeping His promises of keeping His eyes on us.  

We serve a living Savior. I do my best to do whatever He puts before me to be doing. Doesn't matter what it is. Or who it's for. Just like our brother Ananias did.  

We can worry as the world does...but we need not. We have the promises of God. If Jesus Christ was more than up to the task of making a way to save mankind...He's more than capable to keep His promises for everything else that applies to us. 

We must trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. That great hymn says it oh so well. 

While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. 

Not a burden we bear,

not a sorrow we share,

but our toil he doth richly repay;

not a grief or a loss,

not a frown or a cross,

but is blest if we trust and obey. 

But we never can prove

the delights of his love

until all on the altar we lay;

for the favor he shows,

for the joy he bestows,

are for them who will trust and obey. 

Then in fellowship sweet

we will sit at his feet,

or we'll walk by his side in the way;

what he says we will do,

where he sends we will go;

never fear, only trust and obey.

Add to this one another we don't sing often enough.  

Standing on the promises of Christ, my King! Through eternal ages let His praises ring. "Glory in the highest!" I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my Savior; standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail! When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God. 

Standing on the promises, I now can see perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me; standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, standing on the promises of God. 

Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord, bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit’s Sword, standing on the promises of God. 

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, list'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit’s call, resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God.

My Dear Reader...consider all that you've been richly given!

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:16-17.

We need reminders of what Jesus has done already in our lives. We need reminders that He IS doing things in our lives today. We need to be reminded that He will continue into tomorrow and the day after that and after that until He either calls us home or He returns. 

It's on us to trust and obey, to stand on His promises, to pray without ceasing. Pray for those who persecute us. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. Know that He has plans for you that are more than you can understand right now. Learning that I don't need to know all the things my mind says that I do has been a challenge for me. But I know that I need to trust and obey what God has in mind for me to be doing. 

Same goes for you my Dear Reader. Same goes for you. 

It's ok not to understand or to know where something is going. A year ago I wouldn't have conceived in my mind the turn of events that happened in June simply from befriending someone my employer introduced me to. I wouldn't have considered all that God's enabled me to do during my employment hiatus. He's provided in ways that I never could have considered in order to help others. He's helped me get organized here at home much as I used to do at the places that I have worked. Provided free materials to build or fix things.  

Psalm 23 is likely the most well-known Psalm. For the Believer...it's loaded with both promises of God and the knowledge of that path of righteousness we need to walk in order to please God.  

"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.

He makes, He leads, He restores, He guides. 

We trust we obey. He does the rest. We need promises...He has them. 

We need assurance...He provides it in abundance. 

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