A Scribe on the Wall

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

Friday, July 3, 2026

You Do Not Know When But Should Believe It's Coming

by David Brenneman

"(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)" Revelation 16:15.

*Life Principles Bible Study Notes for 16:15-We must be ready for Christ's return, whenever He comes back. We are to remain faithful, completing whatever tasks He gives us, so that "we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming"

(1John 2:28).*

“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 24:42-51.

"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 3:8-9.

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

Would you be ready right here right now to go to be with Jesus?

Would you be among those screaming at the top of your lungs for Him to come back? Because that indeed is what's going to happen 1 second after the Rapture of the Church takes place.

People so bent on living life like that day won't happen in their lifetime or think that they'll have enough time before they die to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ...are the foolish of this world.

Read a bit earlier in 2 Peter from where we just read and you'll find this "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." 2 Peter 3:3-7.

What preparations could you possibly make to get ahead of the twinkling of an eye?

The human eye blinks from between 100 to 400 milliseconds. The time it takes light to hit the eye and reflect back is measured in picoseconds. A trillionth of a second.

There's no humanly way possible to have that kind of accuracy to know when Jesus will come back.

The best way is to give up putting off coming to Christ for salvation and receive His free gift.

My Dear Reader you must choose to receive it. You must ask Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. Your Aunt, your Grandmother, your Father, your siblings, your Grandfather even...your best friend or Pastor cannot save a single person. Only through faith and trust in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross of calvary through His sinless death, and resurrection from the dead, saves.

Why this delay in His coming? Because there's yet still people who are still coming to their senses and are coming to Christ for salvation.

"For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14.

You have but to admit He's right, that you are a sinner in need of salvation. To ask Him to forgive you and to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.

Why be foolish and keep putting off what you cannot possibly get ahead of? Why keep ahold of a life that isn't going to save you? Why resist the perfect love of Christ who is waiting for you?

My Dear Reader my purpose in writing all of this is to help you understand that Jesus loves you and wants to be saved. He wants to share the love of His Father with you. Wants to show you and give you a life that your wildest dreams could never prepare you for.

Jesus loves you, but you too must come to Him to be saved in order to receive that to the full as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

As we've been reading...so it is in reality...what's causing His return to be delayed? Possibly you. Until the last person who is to be saved is saved He will delay His coming. After this last person comes to Christ for salvation...the wrath of God will be descending upon the world as written in Revelation, Ezekiel and other places in the Scriptures. This truth is as rock solid as His crucifixion and resurrection.

Only you can ask for you to be saved.

Only you can choose life in Christ.

For you do not know the day or the hour...so...take it from Jesus Himself:

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

Matthew 24:36-39.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

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Thursday, July 2, 2026

That Which Will Matter Before Jesus

by David Brenneman

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:4-27.

There's going to be no acceptable excuse before Jesus when we give an account of our lives before Jesus for not following through with utilizing the gifts we were given by the Spirit. There's going to be no acceptable excuse for not taking the time to grow in Christ as well.

Many times it's going to take time to draw out these we were gifted with in order to use them properly. We can expect great opposition to their proper use. The last thing the enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ want is our living in the truth.

Some do not like the tools of finding out what your spiritual gift or gifts are but they can make your ability to obey in them all the more applicable.

Being extremely careful in our world today to not use the potential tools of our world with reckless abandon should be of great concern to each of us in Christ.

We should always keep in mind that it's not our standard of measurement that will be used when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives...but it will be Christ who is truth who will only use God's own truth to see things properly.

Many in this generation and the few generations before are running after short-cuts to obeying God.

Anything worth doing is worth going through at the pace and intensity the Spirit is directing.

When we know what we've been gifted with in the Lord we most certainly should be believing we should not be wise in our own eyes as to how to use it.

Prayer is required before jumping in. In this I speak from experience. While it is possibly expected to have a level of excitement about knowing, my Dear Reader, don't get ahead of God. I did and for over 10 years I was going through a life that I wished wouldn't go on anymore.

Praying to know and being wise enough to ask how Jesus wants it to be used is paramount.

Again because we will one day stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives, of what we did in our lives for Jesus. Of how we used what we were blessed with.

Remember the parable of the talents. Remember what Jesus said of those who obeyed in His instructions and those who didn't.

My encouragement is for you to pray to understand and once you have understanding to do whatever you've been given as unto the Lord.

Being careful to walk in your integrity in Christ. Remembering that which is coming for all who believe.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

The Way...of Life in the Lord

by David Brenneman

"For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 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 12:4-21.

Some like or even love "Bible" to mean "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth".

There's more to it than just the basics. It contains everything pertaining to life in Christ Jesus in all godliness. A life approved in Christ.

Temptations the world over exist to take shortcuts to living a life in Christ. Countless books written on how to "just do this and you won't have to do that" kind of thinking.

What's of great concern is being on the lookout for our walk with Jesus being what it should be, not what we think it should look like. Of being ever watchful of the apostasy that the Bible says is GOING to infiltrate the Church.

We have to be living life in Christ in the way that the Scriptures say, not necessarily what people say, it should look like.

If our endeavors aren't glorifying God why are we pursuing them? If what we do is potentially sacrilege why are we risking it?

Am reminded of something I read the other day of how much and how often people's prayers are wrapped around God getting them out of situations rather than seeing them through them. Of how what God brings into our lives is meant to change us for the better in Christ.

We are part of His body if indeed we are in Christ. Yet people do try to create divisions within it where the Spirit says there are none to be had.

We aren't looking deeper into the things of God that make for growing in Christ because they will mean we need to change.

We would rather see those around us happy, at times, than our Savior who wouldn't be pleased with what we've embraced in life.

Scripture says to examine ourselves to see if we're really in Christ. Looking for the fingerprints of God on us.

The Way is supposed to be different.

The Way is going to be the less traveled road because the world isn't traveling it. The world is on the fast-track to Hell.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14.

Would a Godly review of our life reveal how well its interwoven with Jesus or would there really be a severe absence of Him?

Are you looking forward in your days to your walking with Jesus or to what you will accomplish for you?

The narrow road is ours to walk.

A life in Christ is meant to and is supposed to be different.

When Jesus reviews your life it will be what you did from your heart for Him that was in accordance with the instructions you were given through the Spirit that you obeyed in that will matter.

Which road are you on?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Be Different

by David Brenneman

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." Luke 6:27-29.

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-36.

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." 1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Our online world has been putting kerosene, gasoline and every other kind of combustible material on people's ability to rage against people.

Even professing Believers are sucked into the fray and malign the reputation of Jesus Christ by doing so.

Jesus spoke these words and through the Spirit, Paul wrote what he did...as both warning and instruction.

Never will you find any instance in the life of Jesus Christ where He ever uttered the words "I hate you" or any such thing towards anyone.

Never would you find Him stirring the pot, so to speak, concerning those whom His Father placed in authority over Him during His time here on Earth. Nor do we ever find it in the Scriptures as a teaching to behave in such an ill mannered way.

We just read what we're to do and be like. To behave in any other such way is to grieve the Holy Spirit since we're soiling the reputation of Jesus Christ by words and deeds.

This is one particular reason why I do not participate in political discussions. Because people become inflamed over this person or that person.

To behave in such a way is to throw out the Word of God! You and I just read what we're to be doing: Praying for those who are in authority over us.

Take it down a different path and this covers road rage, and bitterness towards another human being of any kind. Regardless of what circumstances, Christ died for those whom cross our paths just as He did for us. To place ourselves above others is exactly what He meant by not judging others. We are all sinners before a Holy God. Those who are saved are only righteous by the imputed righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We tarnish that righteousness when we join the world in our treatment of others.

In this our 250th anniversary as a nation we need indeed to remember that this nation was founded on prayer. Prayer forged the Declaration of Independence. Prayer framed the Constitution.

This deviciveness, this dividing and not building up of others, this raging towards those whom Christ died for...is the work of Satan. Satan's schemes involve separation of people by whatever means he is allowed. To spread lies. To deceive. To keep people from the knowledge of the truth of God in Christ Jesus. He is the destroyer of families and relationships.

We are aiding and abetting the enemy of God by participating in such behavior!

You cannot profess to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit or your neighbor as yourself if you are raging or are choosing to be embittered against, looking down upon, people.

Consider your ways is what the Scriptures say, which by direct reasoning, means the Spirit is telling us to consider our ways.

The Spirit is trying to work the works of God in Christ Jesus in us and can only do so through our obedience to God's Word.

We are all tempted to rage, to get upset, to deal with others in anger. We laugh at what 'content' people are creating to laugh at people raging against people.

Consider your ways...would Jesus appreciate or approve?

We're called to be different.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, June 29, 2026

Growth Through Relationships

by David Brenneman

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend." Proverbs 27:6a.

One of two things is true about the person who has never received guidance from another person: either that person is perfect and has never needed guiding or correcting, or that person doesn't have anyone in his or her life willing to risk the possibility of a negative response from the "correctee." Since we know there are no perfect people, guess which one is true?

The book of Proverbs says, in more than one way, that we are

fortunate if we have a friend who loves us enough to guide and correct us. No one would allow another person to unknowingly make a serious mistake, like taking the wrong turn on a long car trip.

Yet how often do we fail to give guidance to others when they are

threatening to derail their own spiritual journeys? When we need

guidance, we should ask someone who has been where we are or

has a deeper knowledge of God and His Word. We should receive it gently, humbly, and with love. Guidance especially unsolicited

guidance should be given with the same characteristics

Do you need guidance or know someone who does? God gives "parts" to the body of Christ so the whole may be healthy. Don't fail to do your part when it comes to guidance-whether giving or receiving.

- Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah.

We often are in need of help...but can be too stubborn to ask or honestly too stupid to listen. Dr. Jeremiah is spot on with this devotional.

In my life there's been several whom actually tried to get to know me who were this close as friends. Of late that isn't as deep a pool as it once was. The irony is those whom still do know me well live a great distance away. Some who did, it appears, that God's moved on from my life either for my good or for theirs.

But my Dear Reader we do need to hear from Godly people. Be it Godly men teaching, mentoring, men or Godly women teaching, mentoring, only women for Scripture is clear that women aren't to be teaching men.

We need our circles. Jesus's pattern was Peter, James and John, then the next was the whole 12, then those outside of these.

We are here, after all to grow in Christ until our time on Earth is through. We are here, the midst of this, to help others grow in Christ as well. As some have taken to saying it: disciples making disciples.

We are to put what the Spirit is teaching us as our highest priority.

These of whom I speak are both knowledgeable enough about me to be completely honest and truthful but they also do it in love.

Many whom I know are somewhat close but not near as close as those whom I refer to who are far away.

One of the worst examples that had happened in my life decades ago was people willing to literally judge my life's journey and start on me about how this and that needs to change without ever truly knowing me.

To be truthful with you, I sorely miss the close company of several men who used to be involved in my life. Without going into details the separation just is honestly painful. Time passed can be as bad or worse than distance without communicating. A few have an excellent excuse...the Lord took them home to be with Him.

My Dear Reader find the Godly men for men, women for women, that He has placed in your life to help you to grow in Christ.

Scripture says "For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." 3 John 1:3-4.

We provide great joy to Jesus when we are walking in His truth.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.

Love one another enough to help one another grow in Christ.

Be in each other's lives as Christ would be. My long distance brothers in Christ are often communicating more than those nearby but that's ok.

My Savior says that He will never leave me nor forsake me, and the same goes for you if you're among the saved in Christ Jesus.

Longing for what used to be takes your eyes off of what the Spirit is doing right now in our lives.

Paul refers to this as a correct attitude in Christ: "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 3:13-14.

Spend your time with Jesus if there's no one close enough to share your life with. I miss nothing by taking more time in my evenings studying God's Word. I miss nothing by getting up early to read His Word and to write these posts.

While I still miss the kind of companionship I used to have, I will rejoice in the Lord that I have Jesus...as should you.

We are still here to grow in Christ and to point people to Jesus for salvation. "Come and see!" should be interwoven into our lives in Christ.

"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.

"A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, June 28, 2026

What God Has Planned Vs Your Plans

by David Brenneman

"The same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

1 Corinthians 12:11.

Do you realize that there's a ministry that God has planned in advance for you to accomplish? That may sound like it's true for people called to be pastors, ministers, and missionaries, but perhaps you are doubtful about yourself. Yet the Father has opportunities to serve designed especially for you-where your unique mix of talents, personality, and spiritual giftedness would be perfect for the task. He has placed you in this specific time and among specific people to be His representative. That's why He grows you spiritually-so that you'll be able to minister to others with supernatural wisdom, compassion, and generosity.

Do not miss the important word used in that last sentence: supernatural. That's because God Himself inspires and empowers you for the job by His Spirit. Stay connected to Him and He will

show you what to do. And when you serve others under the Lord's guidance and by the power of His Holy Spirit, their lives will be transformed eternally.

So how has the Lord directed you to represent Him to others? Do not fear what He's calling you to do. Depend on the Holy Spirit to work through you and trust Him to bring Himself the glory.

Jesus, I will serve as You desire. Work through me, Lord.

-Trusting God with Today.

We like to think we're in charge of our destiny. That we can direct our lives towards whatever dreams may come to us.

Yet, in the Lord, this isn't to be so. We come to Christ, we bow before His Throne to have His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

We come to Christ for salvation and then begin the real journey of life in what He's prepared beforehand so that we may walk in the path of life He now reveals to us.

As we go through school we get encouraged to dream and to eventually choose a career path. Then we graduate and maybe go onto further education or right into the job market.

The real deal is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

We need to firmly understand what it is He's given us to be doing and then to do it as unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

In my life I have had many jobs and have learned many things that are unique. In my current job I am using elements of those past experiences to yes perform the job and for the pay they give me. However, my real God-given reason for being there are the people more than the job. The mission of the Spirit of God is to continue what Jesus began that He first received from the Father. Point people to Jesus. Show them a still better way. Build relationships that may indeed be eventually eternal.

Your God-given purpose will include reaching people for Christ. It will include you living out loud for Christ your Savior.

I certainly went through a bit of heavy training while unemployed. Just not what most think of. Spiritual training. Learning more of what it is that I am here for and what my purpose under Heaven is to be and how to embrace my calling in the Lord.

Building relationships begins the process of showing them Jesus and why He's so important to our lives.

To be doing what I do is amazing in and of itself but who I get to build relationships with is more important.

You are given people to build relationships with. Be they Believers or the as yet undecided you do have a God-given purpose of building relationships. Read the Gospels...all throughout these we read of that being one of the highest priorities of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We aren't to compromise or decide who is or isn't worthy of a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are to have the character of Christ, to follow in His footsteps. While there will be people who reject Christ its never for us to decide for them.

Prayer is where you put the divinely given key to unlock the door of your purpose in Christ. You have to seek what yours is and then once you have it, do it to the best of your ability, as unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture says "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.".

No one who is among the saved in Christ Jesus has nothing to do in Christ. Not a single person.

No one is to go it alone in Christ either. No one is to avoid following Christ in building relationships.

You want to bring joy to Jesus? Do what you're here to be doing in the Lord to the best of your ability in order to please Him.

If what you're doing in life isn't honoring these truths, you really need to reconsider your ways and see if you've been denying or rejecting your spiritual calling that you HAVE been called to be doing.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Obey Rather Than Avoid

by David Brenneman

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:7-8.

"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4.

Conflict and confrontation are probably the two biggest things that people try the hardest to avoid. They try to steer conversations and situations towards a peaceful resolution.

But what if that kind of resolution isn't what will glorify God?

Quite often we look for a peaceful option rather than to fully obey what the Spirit is telling us to do.

There's times when confrontation is necessary and needed in order to bring about the righteous life that God desires for us and others.

There's also what we read here: "Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22.

There will be times when you are to stand your ground in the Lord and not give way to popular thinking. Just because going with the flow can appear appealing doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do.

To do as our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...we must be prepared to take the hard road to reach people for Christ. Our taking a firm stand in the Lord might be what some on-the-edge unbelieving person needs to see in order to become a believer.

We who are in Christ are being watched and not just by God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are being watched by a world destined for the wrath of God.

Over and over again in the Old Testament we find king after king failing to obey the word of God because they thought that they knew better than God. Essentially that is what they did. They didn't think to ask the Lord so went their own way.

We read of these apparently harsh words in the book of James but as harsh as they may be they're there to evoke a godly response.

We are to work at building relationships but not at the expense of our relationship with Jesus.

We are to, as much as it is possible, to live at peace with those in our lives, but in standing firm in the Lord that may not be possible.

We are to work at growing in Christ by the Word of God and prayer. Making these our highest priority.

We are to let our light shine in this condemned world to attract people to Jesus.

Doing our best at what we're lead to be doing as unto the Lord first and foremost. Regardless of what we think of the worthwhileness of what we're doing is. The value is found in the obedience not in the work itself.

If it's doing something other than what we were hired to do and it's breaking no policies or laws, do your best at it as unto the Lord.

There's to be a definitive separation between our lives and the world.

Our conviction in what we believe and our adherence to the Word of God should be what the unbelieving world should see.

If the unbelieving world around you cannot see a difference between you and them then my Dear Reader you're not representing Christ.

Resisting the devil is what we're called to be doing. The verse doesn't say "if it sounds good or feels alright in the moment steer clear of the devil if you can do that it would be great". Expect to have a confrontation with the forces of darkness around you.

You're to be representing Christ in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven...they're there to make it more difficult to do that. They're there to ruin your testimony before men and women. They are there to shut you up. More than that they're there to ruin any future good you might be doing in the Lord.

Dear Reader, we are soldiers in a spiritual war. We are going to run up against those who are against our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are victorious only in the Lord.

We take such matters to the Lord in prayer.

We aren't to compromise and do what feels good in the moment in order to get away.

We're to do as the Spirit directs us to be doing in our lives in all things in all our ways...as it says elsewhere...it is the Lord God whom we serve.

This world needs to see Jesus in us. This world is perishing. This world's days are numbered. This world isn't getting any better its progressively getting worse. The Rapture of the Church is coming soon and the Church needs to stand firm in the Lord in the face of such battles that are here now and are coming.

Lastly, avoiding what it is that the Spirit is directing you to go through, will mean that you will keep repeating the same thing until you obey.

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

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Friday, June 26, 2026

Worry is from a Spiritual Battle

by David Brenneman

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:2-4.

“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.

Seeing things from God's perspective is part of growing in Christ. To set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world sets you on the path of understanding the real world in which you live. There's way more going on than meets the eye.

We can read "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." in Ephesians 6:12, but do we live life like we truly believe it?

Spiritual warfare isn't just for a select few in the world. Read of who's involved in the Rapture of the Church...the whole Church throughout all Church history. Read of the judgments of God in the book of Revelation...it's upon all of humanity, the exceptions being the 144,000 and those who came to Christ during the 7 year Great Tribulation. In our day today the battle is ongoing. We are going to face temptations when we least expect to.

Being tempted isn't sinning unless we give into it.

This world's uncertainty levels keep rising. The stability factor is on extremely shakey ground. Corruption at all levels of government keep finding their way into the news. We have compounded this with AI generated falsehoods that hide whatever may have been the truth.

Worry is a very heavy temptation these days and it's extremely tempting to make plans without consulting in or trusting in the God of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's very easy to find videos and get onto a train of thought that's one thing in our minds yet the reality is us being selfish with regards to trusting in ourselves to protect ourselves.

Trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on our own understanding points us to a 100% trust in Him as Proverbs 3:5 teaches us.

We can very easily think we're being good stewards of our possessions and wealth and a possible reality is we're hoarding and not passing along God's blessings to others.

We can easily start down a path of worrying and not see it yet because it's all too familiar ground. We did so in out past and are still able to fall into past habits.

We need to really look at the rest of Ephesians 6 as more than something for others in Christ that we see heavily involved in spiritual things. It's for all who are in Christ Jesus. The whole armor of God is for everyone who claims the Name of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

The Bible isn't a collection of suggestions. It's not. Jesus gave commands not suggestions. The Spirit, through the writer's of the books therein, commands not suggests.

We do ourselves way more harm than good by treating the Bible as a last resort rather than the owners manual to life.

While worrying is a temptation there is an answer to it: set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Remember the promises of God that are yours in Christ Jesus. Pray directly about your worries. Give them wings to fly to the throne of grace.

I would also encourage you to read the words to a great hymn "Standing on the Promises".

We have no reason to fear in praying about our situations we face because Jesus was in our today before it ever came to be.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

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Thursday, June 25, 2026

He Knows Your Ways, Knows Your Thoughts and Intentions

by David Brenneman

"The mind of man plans his way,

but the Lord directs his steps."

Proverbs 16:9.

Some believers live in bondage to the idea that they should not plan ahead or look forward to the future because they don't know what God has in store for them. The good news is that God didn't design faith to operate that way. He instilled within you the desire to work and be forward-thinking; He wants you to anticipate His good plans for tomorrow.

This doesn't mean you inflexibly set your agenda and expect God to bless it. Instead, goals are really a natural outgrowth of godly priorities, the things on which you place the most value. The first step in setting up a list of Christ-centered objectives is

to ensure that your focus lines up with His--you "seek first His

kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). God promises to fill your life with abundance as you learn to love Him first. Then, when your value system is shaped by His, you're on the positive road to godly understanding of what it means to set personal goals that fit His purposes. You're well prepared to make a plan based on His principles and to reach it through the strength, wisdom, and direction He provides.

Jesus, I want to carry out Your plans. Lead me, Lord, I seek

You first and foremost. Amen.

- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" 1 Samuel 16:7.

"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 17:10.

"‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance," Revelation 2:2a.

"I know..." Revelation 2:9a.

"I know..." Revelation 2:13a.

"I know..." Revelation 2:19a.

"...I know..." Revelation 3:1a.

"...I know..." Revelation 3:8a.

"I know..." Revelation 3:13a.

"And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." Revelation 2:23.

My Dear Reader...do you really consider your ways before striking out into the day set before you?

Do you really consider what all the Lord Jesus Christ has in mind for you to be doing, all that His Father and ours in Christ as for you to be doing?

Did you ever realize all those passages that you just read say about how much and how deeply the Lord really knows you?

You probably do have ambitions and desires to fulfill today. Did you think to pray about them? It matters not how little or how great those may be, a chief lesson from the Old Testament is those who didn't talk to God about them didn't fare so well.

King David, for most all his life sought the Lord as to go to his right or his left in decisions he had to make.

Are you willing to really put your desires, dreams and plans on the altar to let the Lord decide what you should or shouldn't do?

Are you seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness? Are you desiring to abide by His will being done in your life rather than your own?

For these are paramount considerations for the Believer in Jesus Christ, for those whom call Him Savior and Lord.

I do have a job to go to shortly. I did have a day to prepare for. But I know that I can't step outside my home without Jesus being with me.

You can't trust you. You really can't and never should. Your trust should be in the Lord with all your heart. He has none of your impediments. None of your blind spots. No sin to tempt. No selfishness to get in the way.

You may plan your way, but the Lord directs your steps because it is always to be His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven for those who believe. Your path may make no sense to you but in the Lord it makes sense to Him.

Can you pray this prayer of David?

Can you truthfully and honestly pray "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.

We can and will fall prey to trusting ourselves because we don't see anything wrong with it.

Before you begin your day...go to the One who knows...knows you knows what's in your day.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Press On, Even When You Can't

by David Brenneman

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:18-19.

We can be lead to go through much in this life in Christ that we live.

Perspective is everything in the life of a Believer in Jesus Christ.

Remembering Psalms 23 and it's impact and importance upon your life in Christ is paramount.

We often turn inward when various trials come upon us. We lose focus on the Lord Jesus and instead focus on the problems and the associated pains and circumstances.

If we do truly believe that which we've covered repeatedly "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, then we should be believing the rest of the Scriptures. Not just the Scriptures that we want to accept.

As a meme said that I found a long time ago "God is not going to rewrite the Bible for your generation. Stop trying to change Scripture when it's written to change you."

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4.

We do get put in some unique, often unexpected, unexplained, circumstances in life. Many, many of these we never would choose to go through. Constant, ongoing, physical pains and problems. Situations that seem to have no end and provide constant grief.

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5.

Whether it's momentary or not...ours is to persevere and to press on towards the upward call in Christ Jesus for us.

We must trust that the same God who parted the Red Sea, who saved Noah, his Wife, his sons and their Wives. We must trust, continually, He who went through all He did leading up to and including the crucifixion and resurrection. We must not give in to despair and fears.

"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.

The reasons for joy, for exultation, in these things is the realization that in all of these we have Christ with us, in us, and we're never going through these alone.

"Disappointments are inevitable. Discouragement is a choice." is one of Dr. Stanley's Life Principles.

We have to choose to stay in an unfounded state of discouragement when the Scriptures tell us we don't have to.

While physical, maybe even mental as well, situations exist...we can still approach the throne of grace. We can still press on even when doing so is a severe challenge. We can because He did. Jesus prayed "yet not My will but Yours be done" when He was talking to His Father.

Pray through your circumstances.

Satan's schemes include inducing self-isolation. Self-pity. Self this and self that. Self self self.

Getting us to listen to anything other than the truths of God's Word. Getting us to listen to people other than His Spirit at times.

Getting us to believe that these pains and circumstances are our world when Jesus is our world.

"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 3:12-14.

Rejoice always in the Lord. Again I say Rejoice.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Oh the Wisdom of the Lord

by David Brenneman

"Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge." Proverbs 23:12

"My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad; And my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always. Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way." Proverbs 23:15-19.

Prepared.

God does prepare us for our next steps in life. He doesn't just dump a situation on us to see how badly we'll crumble. The work of the Spirit of God is to mold us into the character of Christ. Jesus went through every temptation and was victorious over them. Jesus faced great situations but never knuckled under them. John wrote that which he was lead to write about Jesus and said he easily could have written a whole lot more.

Desires can be either good or bad, depending on who is going to be honored as a result.

Desires are often what drives us to do good or not. To achieve or to not achieve.

Setting your desires on whatever we learn that God desires we will never go wrong.

Solomon started out really well in his commitment to the Lord and over time completely lost his way.

He let worldly desires push aside the life that the Lord wanted for him. In carefully reading the story of Solomon in 1 Kings you can see many many violations of God's Word. Things he acquired that the Lord said not to. From things to wives.

We too can allow worldly desires push out God's desire for us. We're not immune to it and we had better understand that Satan's schemes include this particular battle for all who believe.

Do you want what God wants for you? Even if you don't fully see it now?

Do you read the letters to the Churches and consider how elements of those warnings and admonitions could be directed at you?

Interestingly enough...Solomon had this to say, even though he didn't live it out, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established." Proverbs 4:23-26

The worst we do is to not pray before jumping into what we think isn't beyond our ability to handle.

"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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:12-13.

This isn't directed just at evangelists, Pastor or teachers.

This is directed to all Believers.

The desires of Christ are towards those who are perishing. The desire of the Father is the same.

When the Church is complete...all these desires we see in this world...will be shattered from the ground up.

So what good is it to crave what the world craves?

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. These things are those things that will grow us in Christ. To make us better Ambassadors for Christ. To be lights in our dark world.

In James we read "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8.

It still is being asked: Do you desire what Jesus desires? Do you put that before your own desires?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

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Monday, June 22, 2026

That Cross, Our Cross

by David Brenneman

"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.

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

There is but there isn't a lot to unwrap in these three sets of the Scriptures.

The point that's common is that this life we live...well read it here: "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.

We probably aren't ever considering just how much we're still trying to see our will being done, even in the smallest of ways, rather than that which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wills to be done.

While having dreams is nice, might even be a good thing, they're not entirely necessary for a successful life in Christ.

The core truth about OUR dreams is that they must fit in with GOD'S plans.

What we dreams might indeed be great, wonderful, extremely plausible, beneficial to mankind let alone ourselves. Yet the truth is they're not going to fit in with the Father’s plans for humanity.

There's still yet to come a 7 year great tribulation. There's still yet after this period a thousand year reign of Jesus Christ here on Earth. These are absolutely immovable points in human history that are going to be coming.

So what's best? What's best is to check your dreams with God's plans for you. Check your desires with God's plans for you. Don't waste time, energy, resources, on what does not have His blessing. Don't fill your mind, heart, with the useless, fill it with what honors His plans for you.

I have, if it were measured as such, gigabytes and gigabytes of useless data in my head. Wasted time, wasted learning, because those things had nothing to do with taking up my own cross and follow Jesus. Of wasted ventures on both the selfish and perhaps the unselfish things of this world.

The Disciples were taught to take up their own cross and to follow Jesus. Their lives were spent learning how to live in the character of Christ. They weren't taught to fit in doing their own thing. They were taught to fulfill their purpose in Christ...and to teach others to do the same.

I am now a year and a half into a morning and evening commitment to spend time in God's Word and a few devotionals. It does mean saying no to many of the more common things the world indulges in. Sometimes it means losing sleep.

When you read "Your kingdom come, your will be done. On earth as it is in Heaven." do you take that personally or are you just thinking good thoughts about it and perhaps trying to fit that in after you get what you want in life out of the way?

Daniel kept his commitment to pray 3 times a day. His was a heartfelt time of prayer.

Jesus often got away to talk to His Father, our Father.

We read in Hebrews 11 of those in the faith who did great things. These are the cloud of witnesses that have shown us all what a more excellent way looks like in the Lord.

My own cross may or may not look like your own cross but there is a cross to bear to follow Jesus. Jesus wasn't making a suggestion when He said it. He wasn't making suggestions when He taught what prayer should include from the heart. Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior never taught suggestions to live the righteous life that God desires for us all.

It may indeed mean watching your dreams never coming to fruition. Many of mine will only exist in the land of what might have been only because God said no. Which is perfectly fine with me because His will being done is beyond far more important to me.

Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness is what should be driving us. Prayer with a sincere heart. Keeping our commitment to meet with Him daily. This is the beginning of taking up that cross.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

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Sunday, June 21, 2026

Where's Your Grace?

by David Brenneman

"Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35.

“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.

What do people see when they see you? Who do people see when they consider your life?

Do they see the character of Christ or do they see something darker?

It's either going to be the light of Jesus Christ or its not.

We certainly aren't a people who follow this: "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:19-27.

We sure can forget who it is we represent can't we? We sure can miss opportunities to show the light of Jesus Christ can't we?

I too miss opportunities. I too neglect to remember in the heat of the moment.

This grace we have been given is for us to bestow upon others.

We, like the one Jesus spoke of in our opening passage, have been forgiven much and should by all means remember this and forgive in the same manner, the same way.

We are not to keep the grace and mercy of God in our hands. We're to give it to those whom the Lord causes to cross our paths.

A year now and it doesn't escape me that the temptation was there and at times is there to retract the forgiveness that I knew that I had to bestow on those who did me wrong. Weekly I still pray for salvation for these people. A reputable source reassured me that I did nothing to contribute to what transpired. Additionally, I believe the Spirit when He too said it wasn't of me, that that situation a year ago was from God. The more important outcome of that particular situation is the continued prayer for the salvation of those involved.

You may face deeper situations or not so deep. But in everything we face these are just situations in the eyes of Jesus Christ.

You can either bestow grace and thereby glorify God in your situation or you can withhold it and deal with the consequences of a heart that isn't aligned with the character of Christ.

My personal example is but one. We face situations every single day of every type of thing. If we're walking with Jesus we should be acting in the character of Christ.

There shouldn't be grumbling or complaining. Shouldn't be outbursts of anger. Shouldn't be us shaking an visible or invisible fist at people we encounter. We should have the mind of Christ. Should be setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. This extensive passage we opened with ties in directly with what Jesus used in His model prayer to teach the Disciples how to pray. If we do not forgive we won't be forgiven.

Add this to your thoughts today: "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12.

You have the choice to let Jesus shine through you or to hide His light from others by withholding the grace, the unmerited favor, Jesus gave you.

You.

Jesus forgave you of all your sins so you ought to wholly forgive others who sin against you.

Give away the grace that was given to you...the Scriptures easily state that there's a lot more where that came from.

Forgive as you've been forgiven.

Give away as freely as you have received.

Walk in the character of Christ.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

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Saturday, June 20, 2026

The Anger of Man...

by David Brenneman

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you."Ephesians 4:31.

Are you struggling with memories of people who've treated you badly? Whether or not you deserved what they did to you, it may still hurt terribly and have continuing repercussions. And it may be difficult to stop thinking about it. Yet God instructs

you to cast off your anger and forgive. But how can you do so-especially if you've been disrespected, treated cruelly, or even outright betrayed? It's not easy, but it is necessary.

The best way to keep your heart from succumbing to bitterness is to see the Lord's hand in every circumstance that touches your life. Believe that He can work through whatever has been done to

you for your good and His glory- and praise Him. Because when you say to God, "My times are in Your hand" (Psalm 31:15), you acknowledge His ultimate sovereignty over your life and His good plan. You take the power away from your destructive thoughts and give Him room to heal your wounds, deliver you from bitterness, and set you free from whatever bondage is in your life. So regardless of what others have done, forgive them, trust God to vìndicate you in His time, and be grateful that He always has the last word.

Jesus, I will obey You and forgive- -help me to do so completely., Amen.

-Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:19-27.

"The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made both of them." Proverbs 20:12.

"Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you." Proverbs 20:22.

It doesn't take much to find people bent on payback, bent on revenge, for even the most trivial of things. Look at how synonymous "Karen" has become concerning portraying women and now even men as dolts who's anger and self-righteous stances has become.

Lest we forget: "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. And: "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 17:10.

So so many Christians as well neglect these truths. Read how the story ends. Read the letters to the Churches in the book of Revelation.

My Dear Reader what good is it to maybe gain personal satisfaction for a mere moment but lose out on what the Lord will have accomplished on your behalf that would be more than anything you could possibly have ever considered?

If we set aside whatever is going through our minds and do as commanded...praying for those who persecute you...we would do well. We would be going down the road towards the righteous life that God desires for us.

We likewise would do well to remember that what we read here as well as what else we received through God's Word on the subject aren't suggestions. They're not hints. They're not hacks to get what our sinful hearts are looking for.

We have what Jesus said.

We have to take up our own cross and follow Him. The character of Christ is to be our goal.

When anger rises...and by far nobody including myself are immune to it...we need to keep firm hold of the word of God in our hearts.

When we are letting unbridled anger rule we will always fail.

There is a thing as righteous anger. This isn't what we are talking about today. We need to really evaluate our situation before we are going to react or act in anger.

People the world over put Christians under a microscope.

People are ready to pounce on professing Christians for their behavior.

Then we also, as we read earlier, have the Lord Jesus Christ who examines our hearts.

For those who are saved...His Spirit resides within our hearts. He knows our thoughts and intentions.

Practice your Spirit empowered ability to be "quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger".

Broken things from the physical to the relational are strewn about our lives because of anger not held in check.

Consider before you take a step.

Consider before you speak a word.

Take up your own cross and follow Jesus.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, June 19, 2026

What if You were the Recipient?

by David Brenneman

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:" Revelation 2:1.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:" Revelation 2:8.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:" Revelation 2:12.

All in all 7 churches were written to and all 7 eventually vanished from the pages of history.

But what they were written to about wasn't just for them...what they were written to about was words of encouragement and warning to the future church of Jesus Christ...and us.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." is repeated at the end of every letter that John was to write and to take to each church after his time on Patmos was completed.

The early Church was getting both commendations and condemnation from Jesus. These churches all existed at the same time and yet in retrospect they mirror the various seasons that have come and gone with the universal church.

You were written to in this final book of the Bible as well as I and everyone who's been a part of it and will be until the Rapture of the Church.

You could, if you looked, find aspects of the condition of your heart in these letters if you're being honest with yourself.

The whole of the Bible is a love letter to mankind. Of the rise n fall of mankind because of sin and the redemption plan of God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Have you ever read through your entire love letter from Jesus?

If you have not, why not? The Bible wasn't just written, it was inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

Your guesses at living the righteous life that God desires for you aren't going to cut it.

Your reading in your Bible what constitutes the righteous life that God desires for you will.

Jesus loved you enough to die a horrific death to conquer sin, death and the grave and He wrote you all of that and more for you to enjoy and learn from.

You see, if you have ears to hear, eyes to see, then you have what you need to begin to hear and see what the Spirit has to say to you.

All Believers can hear and learn from the Spirit of God...if they but open up themselves to be taught.

Who should care about what they think they'll miss out on should they put their life in Christ first?

Do you really ever consider the Word of God as 'optional' in living life for Christ? Do you ever commit to sitting down to read and then brush it aside because something came on tv or the computer or your phone instead? "I'll catch up tomorrow". Really, my Dear Reader, are you so fully certain that you have a tomorrow? What if God calls you home tonight? Are you really willing to stand before the Author of your life, of the Word of God, and ply an excuse for not taking the time to get to know Jesus better, to walk in His footsteps?

Your letter awaits.

You were written to.

You are the recipient just as I have been.

You who have ears to hear, hear what is written to the Churches.

Nobody in Christ should be ashamed at His appearing when He returns for His Church...but Scripture indicates many will be.

Will you be among those or will you return to your commitment to learn from the Spirit on how to live a life approved by Jesus Christ?

You are the recipient.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Confused? Unhappy? To Find, You Must Lose

by David Brenneman

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Micah 6:8

Life can be complicated, but your relationship with God doesn't have to be. Instead of relating to the Lord based on a demanding set of rules, the prophet Micah gave us some simple guidelines to help us keep our faith uncluttered. What does God require of you!

First, do justice. Do what you know is right. Don't compromise the truth or rationalize away what the Word of God instructs. Obey whatever God has shown you to do and quit worrying about the rest.

Second, love kindness. Put others first and view them with

compassion-even if they've hurt you or you disagree with them. Instead of insisting on your rights, trust the Lord to defend you. God will take care of both your reputation and rewards.

Third, walk bumbly with your God. Esteem the Lord for who He is-the living, eternal, all-knowing Sovereign of all that exists. He knows what He is talking about, So do whatever He says, acknowledge

Him in all your ways, and keep Christ at the center of your life.

Put these principles into action and be at peace with the knowledge that you're being pleasing to God.

Jesus, thank You for showing me how to please You and empowering me to do so. Amen

-Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

Good vibes, happy thoughts, good feelings, positivity, talking good about yourself to bolster your self-image...none of these will do a thing to truly help you through your life.

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

Paul, in the book of Romans, spoke of practiced sin. Here we read of him referring to practiced righteousness.

My Dear Reader you are going to be tempted to diverge from God's plan for you, and it happens, or you will walk as He's wanting you to.

The Bible maked life actually far more abundantly clear about life than the thousands of self-help books, lectures, college and university courses portray life.

When life isn't clear then stop. Stop and pray to our Father in Heaven in Jesus Name and ask your questions that you have.

Secondly is never assume you are on the right track. Check yourself often to be sure that you're walking with Jesus as His Word directs.

Thirdly, be listening to the promptings of the Spirit of God. Everyone who is saved in Christ Jesus does hear from the Spirit of God within them.

Read this slowly and take it in, take it to heart, because the message is for all who are in Christ. It gives the command and the reasoning behind it: "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." Philippians 2:1-16.

The Scriptures we're not written to be good suggestions for a happy life.

"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.

We will often mess things up in trying to still seek our own kingdom here on Earth. Then life becomes a chain of disappointments. A chain of discouragements. Nothing done really seems to work or matter.

Go back to your first love which is only found in Christ.

Let go of the things you have tried and return to what always works all the time.

Then you'll find an unexplainable joy and peace that you were trying to create for yourself.

Don't take it from me, or Dr. Stanley, or Dr. Jeremiah, or Pastor Begg or Pastor MacArthur, or anyone else...take it from Jesus: "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Time is Near...Always

by David Brenneman

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:1-3.

Throughout many of the books that we read in the New Testament are the teachings that tell us that we are to live each day as if today were the day Jesus will return.

To live life as if today could be that day would certainly change how a great many people view their lives.

As odd as life is depicted in Hollywood and the other places these types of scenes are filmed...they do quite often get this aspect right. The aspect that in potential world ending events people's priorities abruptly change. Most everything gets tossed out the window that isn't about the direct need of the moment for which they are facing.

Yet all too many professing Believers in Jesus Christ aren't at all living life as if His promise to return for them is a high priority for them.

Part of how we live our lives isn't just to live in the character of Christ, but also to live as though we fully embrace His promised return.

We are to allow the grace poured out upon us to others. We are to show mercy as we have been shown mercy from on high by God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also supposed to do what we do as unto the Lord with one hand and be ready to stand before Jesus with the other. Just as Nehemiah had those who returned to Jerusalem with him do.

We cannot, as professing Christians, live lives as if we can just go live life however we please. We are still here to further the gospel. We are still here to live transformed lives. We are still here because of His purposes for us. We aren't to live as though we have a ticket to go to Heaven so anything else doesn't matter.

We aren't here to bring glory to ourselves. Scripture explicitly states that we're to live lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. We are to be students of God's Word for our entire life. We are not promised health, wealth or prosperity. We are promised a new life in Christ that will bring honor and glory to God.

How are you doing in being prepared for Jesus to return for you?

Make sure that you read that statement again and make it intensely personal.

How honestly selfish have you been living your life for you more than you have for your calling in Christ?

We all do it in all kinds of ways and don't really see it that way.

We can often treat prayer to our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as optional and attach an self-justified excuse to it.

We can often treat meeting with Jesus daily in our Bibles as optional and attach another self-justified excuse to it.

We can often excuse our behavior towards others with a good self-justified excuse.

Notice the pattern? Self-justification is a cancerous weed in our lives. We are to be dying to ourselves daily and living for Jesus daily.

We are to take the Word of God as commands and not suggestions.

I've done it, I am certain you've done it too.

We need to be ready for Jesus.

We need to be aware of what our spiritual gifts are and to be sure we're using them to glorify God in Christ Jesus.

We need to do more self-examination to be sure we're not allowing selfish decisions, selfish desires, to be growing in our lives.

Jesus IS coming. Will you be. among the excited or among the ashamed? Among those looking forward to what He might say about how you lived your life or among those who will be ashamed at not having done what you were called to be doing for Him?

Right now, in this here this now, you can do something about it. You cannot change your past but you can change your present.

Because...the time is near.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org