A Song in Your Heart

A Song in Your Heart 

by David Brenneman 

"After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Mark 14:26.

      Praise is greatly honoring to God! In the Old Testament account of King Jehoshaphat, God's people faced a seemingly  insurmountable enemy who was determined to destroy them. Yet God assured them that they would "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:17). The people of Judah

believed God. Their army was led by singers, offering praises to the Lord for their promised victory, and the victory came. When King David led the procession bringing the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he praised God with all of his strength (2 Samuel  6:12-23). David's praise was pleasing to God, and God's powerful presence remained in David's kingdom to give him victory against every enemy.

      Jesus was about to go to Gethsemane and to the Cross, where God's greatest victory would be accomplished. He led His disciples to sing a hymn. The disciples were all about to fail Him, and Jesus was about to be cruelly executed, yet Jesus insisted that they praise God. Their praise looked beyond the cross to God's ultimate victory. Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God.

      You ought to rejoice when God asks you to proceed in the work of His kingdom because you know the victory is already secured. Don't focus on the problems and failures of others. Focus on God's assurance of victory. If you have trouble praising God with a song in your heart as you serve Him, it may be that your focus is not on God, but on your circumstances.

-Experiencing God Day-by-Day Devotional Blackaby and Blackaby 

There are days where I wake up with a song, a hymn or just a chorus playing in my mind. Sometimes, but not all the time.  

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Ephesians 5:19-20.

"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." Colossians 3:16.

"Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy Before the Lord, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness." Psalms 96:1-13.

"O sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him." Psalms 98:1.

Think there's more than a few places where this is where our hearts are directed?

These are but a few examples. In Heaven we read of praising Him all the time. Revelation speaks of the praising going on around the Throne of God.

When mowing season begins this is a special time of just taking an hour or so to listen to praise and worship music. I can sing along and it won't drive anyone away over the sound of the mower.  

In sickness and in health we often hear at times of a wedding vow. Yet when we read of the acts of the Apostles whether they were chained to a wall or on their own. Whether they were not doing so well or they were feeling good, they praised God in their circumstances. 

Note the timing of Jesus after the Last Supper...He had them sing before He was betrayed. Peter was on the ropes shortly thereafter. When you consider it, he went through a much shortened version of a Job experience. Both were sifted by Satan with restrictions. 

Paul, as we read later, saw the value of praising God in song. 

What can wash away my sin...nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again...nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow! No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus!.

Hallalu, Hallalu, Hallalu, Praise Ye the Lord! Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, O earth– His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory; strength and honor give to His holy name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children; in His arms He carries them all day long.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.

Praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!

These and so many more are those that can lift up a soul when life is listing to one side, where and when things aren't going as well as we would like. 

While there's something to be said for newer songs the old hymns reach deep inside where many of those don't seem to go.

When we're setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world...we find praise happening. 

We find a peace that passes all understanding. We find ourselves in a place we cannot explain yet love to be in because it feels like Jesus has His arms wrapped around us just as He did when the children came to Him. 

The when and where often can change the ways people see us and make them want to know why we are how we are being. 

"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”" Acts 16:25-30.

Part of our testimony could be our joyful song at the right time to disarm those around us.  

While we may not see it, we often make a difference when we least expect it.  

In good times and not so good times it's often a song that can turn the tide in how we find success in our walk with Jesus. 

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 Silence is All You Have

When Silence is All You Have
by David Brenneman

"I called him but he did not answer me." Song of Solomon 5:6c.

      Prayer sometimes waits, like a beggar at the palace gate, until the King comes out to give her the blessings she seeks. The Lord, when He has given great faith, has been known to test that faith with long delays. He has allowed His servants ' voices to echo in their ears as if from a sky of brass. They have knocked at at the the golden gate, but it has been immovable, as though it were rusted on its hinges. Like Jeremiah, they have cried, "You have hidden yourself in a cloud so our prayers cannot reach you (Lamentations 3:44 NLT).
      True saints have continued in long, patient waiting without a reply-- not because their prayers were weak or because they were unaccepted, but because it pleased Him as a sovereign Lord. He gives according to His own pleasure. Shouldn't He do as He chooses with His own people?  Beggars must not
be choosers as to the time, place, or form of God's answers.
      But we must also be a careful not to assume that delay in God's answers is denial. God's bills will be paid on time; we must not allow Satan to emphasize unanswered prayers and shake our confidence in the God of truth.
      Unanswered petitions are not unheard. God keeps a file for our prayers they are not blown away by the wind, they are treasured in the King's archives. There is a registry in the court of heaven where every prayer is recorded.
      Frustrated believer, your Lord has a bottle in which the tears of your sacred grief are stored, and a book in which your holy groaning is recorded (see Psalm 56:8). In time, your appeal will prevail. Can't you be content to wait a a little while? Won't your Lord's timing be better than yours? Before long He will appear, to your soul's great joy and comfort. He will make you put away the sackcloth and ashes of long waiting, and put on the fine, scarlet linen of your prayers' realization.
-C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening.

We are absolutely going to go through seasons of life where we think that it's too quiet between us and Jesus.  That our prayers don't seem to be noticed by Him.  That maybe there's something wrong with us.  Down the rabbit hole of emotions we go.

Let's begin where we should, shall we?

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

"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.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8.

"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.

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.  A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.  A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.  A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.  A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.  A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.  A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Hebrews 10:36.

"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." Romans 12:10-13.

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope." Psalms 130:5.

These passages, plus the keeping of their respective contexts, are from a search in the Bible app on trusting His timing.

Let us also not forget “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." Isaiah 55:8-9.

Reflect on this: "Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways." Proverbs 23:26.

As I am attempting to write down the testimony of my life in Christ for my book, it's important to recognize the fingerprints of God.

My Dear Reader if indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus His fingerprints are all over your heart and life.  There's nothing that involves your growing in Christ that doesn't have His finishing touches on it concerning you.

Whether or not we perceive His working in our lives, He is.  Whether or not we understand the delays or the no's, we don't need this perception or this understanding in order to trust and obey.

A family Doctor brought his daughter to work one day.  He had her stay in his office while he saw his patients.  An elderly man was being seen and they were talking about God and how He understands our needs before we know and we should trust Him in providing.  The elderly man wasn't quite getting it. After all we were indeed supposed to work at life.  There was a gentle knock at the door that lead to his office.  The Doctor bid them come.  It was obviously his daughter but he introduced her just the same.  She made sure to get her Dad's attention by pointing to her shoes.  He simply smiled and said ok, when he was done they would go take care of it.  She just hugged him and said goodbye to the patient and went back to playing in the office with the door closed.  The Doctor saw the somewhat confused look on his patient's face.  He explained that just like our going to the Father for what we're praying for such did his daughter just now.  She had let him know that she would like new shoes and he let her know that he would take care of her at a better time.  She believed me and is going about her day until my timing is right. 

In much the same way we need to recognize Jesus's supreme authority in our lives.  Not just as our personal Lord and Savior but as our provider.  We don't know what He has in mind for you and I.  There could be something greater in mind for us or that something He's planning would be disruptioned by our answer in that moment.

Remember, my Dear Reader, our personal comfort isn't His highest priority for us. His priority is that our lives would glorify His Father.  We are promised that only through various trials and tribulations that we would enter into Heaven.  We're simply not going to get everything we wish for nor should we expect to.  We're not going to get what we want when we want it just because we want it.

Our lives in Christ may seem quiet.  But we by no means should take that to mean that He's not working.

I love watching woodworking shows and videos.  Many times a woodworker must glue and clamp a piece and patiently wait until the time is right to go further.

We also sometimes ask in prayer for probably really good things.  In another time in history likely really really beneficial things.  But in the time in which we live the answer we want would conflict with the work of God in either our lives or the present or future lives of people destined for salvation in Christ Jesus.

I have actually had many opportunities denied and have been told by the Spirit in response to some of my desires in prayer that very thing.   While my ideas would in fact work they would mess up what He's doing with mankind.

Your life in Christ is destined to be an abundant life.  As Mark Lowry said, first you have to know what life is.  It's a running series of ups and downs, highs and lows, mountains and valley's.  When you come to Christ, everything is amplified.  Higher highs and lower lows, greater mountain peaks and lower valley's.  It's life more abundant. 

Silence isn't necessarily a no.

God answers all prayers.
It's either a yes, a no, a not right now or wait, I have something better in mind.

We must trust that core truth that Jesus is the promise keeper.

When we see His hands and when we don’t. 

We must really remember that in these seasons of potential uncertainty that His love for us has never and can never change.

As it's written, be sure of your salvation, then live it out.

We must trust that He knows best.
We must not walk by sight but by faith.
We must remember He has His best in mind for each of us whether we can comprehend it or not.

Don't give up praying.  Daniel prayed a long time before his response came.  Jesus eluded to much prayer being required to cast out some kinds of demons.  We are taught that the fervent prayers of a righteous man can accomplish much.  Fervent implies persistent, consistent.

Don't give up on God your Savior.  He will never give up on you.

Don't despair of your present condition but keep the right attitude in mind of praising Him in the storm. 

Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.

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

Are You Really Ready?

Are You Really Ready?

by David Brenneman 

Many THINK they might be ready for to hear that trumpet sound to call us all home to be with Jesus...but are you?

Jesus said that the Father has fixed a day, set a day, established a day when Jesus will arise from His Throne to call all of His Bride the Church home to be with Him forever. The dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive and remain will join them in the air. 

You who are saved in Christ Jesus believed in coming to Him to be saved...are you as firm in believing that any day could be that day of His return for you?

That day. Oh that wonderful glorious day. That day when the Church of Jesus Christ is all together in glorified bodies to forever be with Jesus!

No more pain, no more anguish, no more battles with sin to occupy our days. No more fears, no more sadness, no sorrows to see as the hymn says. 

Are you really ready for today to be that day? It could happen. Those in the early Church were taught to perpetuate the thought to all generations to be ready. To live life in such a way as to honor Jesus at all times in all ways. 

Our lives aren't our own. We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our lives are supposed to be transformed lives into the character of Christ. That workmanship that He began when we came to Him to be saved and to receive the free gift of salvation will be completed on the day of the Rapture of the Church.

We are not promised health, wealth or prosperity, we are promised to go through things, in all those areas and more in order to become more like Jesus Christ. We are going to go through everything we need to go through in order to have there be less of us and more of Jesus Christ. 

I saw a correlation between the first time Moses went up to receive the Ten Commandments and way people will be, according to the Scriptures, when Jesus returns. They say pretty much the same thing. 

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

"Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Exodus 32:1.

Jesus likewise said that it would be like the days of Noah. People marrying and being given in marriage. People doing whatever was right in their own eyes.  

We live in those days. We are among those believing and saying the same things that both the children of Israel and those in 2 Peter's account are saying.  

Are you among those that live a life in Christ yet live it for yourself as well? Or are you daily looking for the return of Jesus, giving your best as unto the Lord in all that He gives you to be doing? Further, are you sure you are truly a Christian? As Dr. David Jeremiah said in a sermon, you aren't a Christian for anything you have done or grew up in. It doesn't matter if your parents or grandparents were Christians. Doesn't matter if you grew up in the Church. Doesn't matter. You must have come to the place where Jesus became the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. You must choose to ask Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior.  

If you really have not, then you are running out of time. There's no way that anyone has ever lived a good enough life to get into Heaven. Only those who have truly come to Christ for salvation have had their names written in His book of life. Countless billions of people who lived good lives are in Hell right now and that number is ever increasing every single day.  

Believers are to be praying for those yet lost souls in the world today because the day is drawing near to when the door of opportunity will be closed. 

My prayer for this blog is to help people to either come to Christ for salvation or maybe point them back to Jesus. 

You, my Dear Reader, are GOING to stand before Jesus either as a blameless child of God in Christ or as one forever guilty of your own sins. No one's names who aren't found in Jesus's book of life will ever see His Heaven.   

Are you really ready for today to be that day? Are you, who are reading this and have made that profession of faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins, living life striving to please Him in all that you do?  

"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 in Christ Jesus is the only way to not stand before Jesus guilty of sin.  

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

"Living for Jesus a life that is true,

striving to please Him in all that I do,

yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

this is the pathway of blessing for me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,

I give myself to Thee;

for Thou, in Thine attonement,

didst give Thyself for me.

I own no other master;

my heart shall be Thy throne.

My life I give, henceforth to live,

O Christ, for Thee alone." 

- from Living for Jesus, 1917, Thomas Chisholm. 

No one knows when, but be assured, it's going to happen.

Just as assuredly as the sun rises and sets, there's a day set by the Father’s own authority when the Son of God will return for His Church. They will not see the cataclysmic judgments that will come shortly thereafter upon all who are alive and have rejected the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Church of Jesus Christ will not be here when Judgement will rain down on this Earth. 

Be sure of your salvation in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins. Live each day for Jesus and in Him. 

"My life I give, henceforth to live,

O Christ, for Thee alone."

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 You Pray, When You Are Under Fire

When You Pray, When You Are Under Fire
by David Brenneman

"But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.  I was crying to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about.  Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.  Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah." Psalms 3:3-8.

The truth of life for all Believer's is that you're going to go through many types of trials and tribulations in order to enter into the rest that's available only in Heaven.  Acts 14:22.

We shouldn't be surprised as we read that it says:  "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." 1 Peter 4:12-13.

Keeping these things in mind:
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  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 3:1-4.

And then:

"Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  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 3:5-17.

We CAN, through Christ who strengthens us, combat what the world and Satan's schemes drum up against us.  We most certainly should keep in mind we will NOT be immune to trials and the tribulations that are SUPPOSED to come upon us for our need is great to become purified in Christ to become more like Christ. 

We are, likely, hardly scratching the surface of our need for sanctification in Christ.  We are all different and on differing levels of growth in Christ.  We ought to be making it our goal in life to set our goals as being what Jesus wants for us rather than anything that anyone says otherwise.

So keep in mind you SHOULD be going through various trials and tribulations.  If you aren't, most certainly ask Jesus about it since His Word says that is the path we take to Heaven and His presence.

It's also how we are in Christ before others that shows them just what a victorious life in Christ looks like.

Temptations come to everyone, both the saved and the unsaved alike.  How we deal with them as followers of Jesus Christ shows where our hearts are.

What Paul wrote of in Ephesians 6 about the whole armor of God wasn't an optional suggestion meant only for 'front line' people in serving God.  Newsflash: EVERYONE who is saved in Christ Jesus IS on the front lines in spiritual warfare.  That whole armor of God is for everyone to be in at all times. 

Many in this world who are Christians, whether new or long-time, as fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ are surprised when various things happen to them. 

While we live, we should expect them. As my Saturday Morning Men's Group leader is fond of reminding us: God has no problems, only situations.

You too WILL and SHOULD have situations in your life.  They're meant to grow you with respect to your salvation.  You face what YOU do when you do because WHAT you face the Lord’s prepared for you because in this here this now you're ready for it.  You may not think so, you may question it extensively, but you're ready for what He's allowed you to experience. 

Remember, my fellow Believers, everything we face in life has to be approved by our Savior and Lord before it gets to us.  We are in His hands. 

It's incredibly difficult at times to remember that.  In the moment we forget a lot of things. 

Just hold onto the truths of the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

There's no way that you can review your life and find a single instance of Jesus ever failing you by not keeping His promises to you.

When we pray, be thankful for what you are going through in your life.  Let it draw you closer to Jesus.  Remember He's allowing what you're experiencing to give you the opportunity to love Him even more.  Never to push you away.

And it's perfectly alright if none of what you are going through makes any sense at all. 

A very absolute truth is if God leads you to it, He will see you through it.

The Lord lead the children of Israel through all that Pharaoh did to them in His judgments.  He didn't lead them to the Red Sea to abandon them to die.  He split the sea and lead them through on dry ground.  Not even damp ground.  Not soggy ground.  Dry ground.  To the last detail they were cared for in their salvation from Pharaoh.

We will not be abandoned in whatever we go through in life by our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Be sure to thank Him when next you pray!

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 Calling, Your Story

Your Calling, Your Story 

by David Brenneman 

Ezekiel 33:7 "Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me." 

“Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life." Ezekiel 33:7-9.

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.

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

"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:11.

The anniversary of starting this blog is coming up soon. My mind is blown as to how far reaching it has gone out into the world. Never in my life had I thought myself capable of such a feat...and I am partially right. This feat wasn't by my hand nor by my ability. This was possible only through the Spirit of God.  

"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.

My Dear Reader...whether you see yourself as big or small...influential or insignificant...you matter to the body of Christ in this here this now in human history. 

The Spirit HAS placed YOU in the body of Christ just as He saw fit to place you.  

I had to learn the hard way in order to actually get TO that lesson in my life. I had a clue as to what was coming in my life and attempted to make it come about in my strength by my wisdom and through my efforts...and it cost me nearly my life. 

You too may think you know what you're to be doing in the body of Christ. Be sure of it. Pray on it. Ask God to clarify things...and above all...proceed at the pace He wants you to proceed at. Don't assume or presume to know your next steps. 

A Scribe on the Wall the name has many separate meanings that come together to explain it.

A scribe was a writer for others. 

On means to up higher. 

the wall means where.

Those as described in Ezekiel as watchman on the wall were given a specific set of responsibilities. What I was told by the Spirit was that I would be given things to write and it was on me to write them. In this I have been obedient to do. I am blown away most of the time as to what it is that God's wanting me to write. It starts when it does and it ends when He says so...when there is no more to write for that moment it ends. 

But I wasn't always ready for this. I certainly was excited at the prospect in the late 1980's. But I wasn't really ready to begin it although I attempted to anyway and thought I could go into some let us say unhealthy areas online with the thought that I could reach people for Christ. Satan's minions saw this and exploited everything they could that God permitted to happen to me. I look back on the absolutely abhorrent choices that I made in those years and it was a miracle that I survived. 

You my Dear Reader might have had something similar happen with you. You might have interpreted your calling and got out ahead of God and were just as soundly defeated. Turn back and get right with God in acknowledging your waywardness and confess the sins of your actions.  

Everyone in Christ who is indeed saved HAS a divinely appointed purpose in the body of Christ. There are NO exceptions to this.

There are none with nothing to do in the body of Christ. If you're saved in Christ Jesus then Jesus Christ has a Spirit lead plan for you to be doing.  

Mine arrived about 7 years ago. Over 2,700 posts later He still is using me for this purpose.  

If you are claiming the Name above all names as your personal Lord and Savior then there's no such thing as you having nothing to do in Christ. 

Asking, Seeking and Knocking that Jesus said about praying...do that for yourself in learning what you too SHOULD be doing for Him. 

Jesus said its the doers of the word who are being obedient to Him. 

Scripture says that you have something to be doing in Christ. 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you..

My journey is still ongoing in this ministry. Yours might be more in person in your local Church. Yours might be as a solid prayer warrior.  

Nobody wants to hear these words from Jesus when they stand before Him "Why didn't you do what I gave you to be doing?".

My Dear Reader you are never going to be alone in your doing what He has for you to be doing for Him.  

Just do not presume or assume you know. I do not know if there's more for to be doing here in my local Church or not. That much hasn't been made clear yet. Not everyone has big profound responsibilities in the body of Christ. Paul wrote about that in his letter to the Corinthian church. No matter how big or how small you perceive your part in the body of Christ...do it with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Yes that's the same as the verse where Jesus said how we're to love God. 

Don't let your fears of what He might want you to be doing hinder your own obedience to God. 

Your being afraid isn't going to be an acceptable excuse when you stand before Jesus...

especially if you consider all He did to save you. 

Jesus faced everything we would fear on His way to the cross to save us.

Whether my writing steps on toes or is an unexpected encouragement beyond my expectations...I am to write as He says, how He says, and because He says.

My proofs that this is right for me is that He's never missed a single day to give me my assignment. He is in charge of global distribution. While I pay to have a website address He brings people from all over the world to find it. I don't get discouraged by the lack of comments. When I see it's been seen over 1.7 million times in over 130 places in the world...His success rate is phenomenal.

We would do well to see success from God's perspective rather than the extremely flawed view the world has on the subject. 

Look to the Spirit...ask Him what it is for YOU to be doing and then give it your all in Christ...at the pace He wants you to go at. Pray on, pray over and pray through whatever He has for YOU to be doing. 

You were born at exactly the time in human history to achieve His purpose for you in reaching the lost in the world and to grow with respect to your salvation.  

Make sure your response to whatever He's wanting you to be doing for the Kingdom of God is always "yes Lord!".

And you're going to love what it is He will have for you to be doing. 

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 

Our Eyes Our Hearts, Our Lives

Our Eyes, Our Hearts, Our Lives 

by David Brenneman 

Where do you seek Godly motivation from? Do you seek any at all?  

We're not still here after coming to Christ just to do whatever we want that we deem 'good' to be doing. As in just not doing what the Bible says we shouldn't. We're to be the voice, the hands, the feet of Jesus to this world we find ourselves in.

Our mission that we've been given is to live a life in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.  

I've been very blessed in the last 9 plus months and then some through God's provision for our needs both with food and money for bills. None of that would have been possible if obeying the Word of God wasn't happening. If listening to the Spirit wasn't happening. Even now, as I await the next steps in the physical world, my thoughts are towards praying in advance for those whom I will be working with. Praying ahead as it were.  

Do you pray for those whom you might come across in your day? Hate to break it to everyone, everywhere, but EVERYONE you meet is in YOUR mission field. You were put where you are for God's glory. Your co-workers are not some separate group of people that you just put up with for 8 or more hours a day. Those people you see on the way to work or the way home, maybe at your lunch time, are there for a reason.  

When we consider a few things today maybe it will spur you on towards love and good deeds as Paul wrote we should do.

Consider that ALL the churches written to and that have existed since the New Testament was written anticipated the return of Jesus Christ.  

Do you? Do you live TODAY with the anticipation that TODAY could be the day that Jesus stands and calls out as the Scriptures say He will in order to usher in the Wedding Supper of the Lamb with His bride the Church?

Do you live today as though what God would have you do...no matter if it's cleaning restrooms to just driving or walking...as if you were doing it for Jesus?

Scriptures says that in whatever we do, do it as unto the Lord.  

Are your personal wants and desires secondary to the will of God in you?  

The word of God is active and sharper than any two-edged sword, able to go places in our lives and the lives of others that NO other book can do. But is it?  

When you pray, are you just saying words, or do you put your heart into your prayers?  

Are there feelings attached to your prayers that reach to the innermost part of your being?

Do you BELIEVE that God will keep His word to you?

Today's post is more or less one of reflection to be sure that we're walking with Jesus and not sitting on the sidelines. There are no bench warmers in God's economy.

There are none who will succeed in God's eyes who are not living as they ought to in Christ.

Success in God's eyes is nothing like what the world calls success. What the world calls success is what Satan calls success. Keep that in mind.  

Are you intentional in the mornings to be starting your day off with prayer and time in God's Word? If not why not? Isn't it important enough to you to begin your day with your Savior and hearing from Him?

Are you intentional about doing your best as unto the Lord as is mentioned in at least Colossians 3:23-24?

Are you intentional about time in the Word near the end of your day? Or are you more involved in anything but that as your day winds down?

We can and do so many things that stunt our growth in Christ.  

We also do not make the most of our days even knowing that which the Bible says "for the days are evil".

We do not give our best as unto the Lord because what we're doing isn't our best even for our worldly masters.

How will we stand before Jesus awaiting the reward He's prepared to give us for what we've done in the body for Him....if there's nothing for Him to give us because we did NOT live for Him?

Think about what you're doing and your why's for doing it. Think about how Jesus views your life right now.

Would He commend you on how well you are doing in living for Him or would there be an entirely different conversation?

Are you seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness?

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

Consider it well that while you probably do have great things on your mind, situations that are beyond you, going on in your life. You must still strive to please Him in all that you do. God is not a rewarder of iniquity. God will not bless while we disobey.  

Turn my eyes upon Jesus. 

Let me look full in His wonderful face. 

So that the things of Earth will grow strangely dim.

In the light of His glory and grace. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Listening and Circumstances

Listening and Circumstances 

by David Brenneman 

How well we listen when being spoken to directly impacts our circumstances.  

If we are claiming the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior, listening first before speaking, or doing, ought to become our highest priority. 

We must start with listening in order to begin trusting. The statement "actions speak louder than words" is in error to the Word of God. 

"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." James 1:19-22.

We might also be remembering that very valuable statement "you were given two ears and one mouth to listen twice as much as you speak".

To go further, those who listened to Jesus were those who's eyes were opened, even if for a little while. 

Those whom trusted in Jesus began by hearing Jesus speak. 

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.

Much is right there in the Scriptures on the high value of listening and its impact on circumstances. 

The children of Israel in the wilderness...look at the cause and effect of their listening and their circumstances. Laying claim to listening then a short while later are flagrantly disobeying the Lord. 

Look at Chapter 11 of Hebrews. Those who listened and believed also trusted with all their hearts and were richly rewarded in Christ both then and what was to come.

Listening certainly implies shutting up. Our simple brains cannot accurately input and output at the same time.  

If we truly live out "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" as Proverbs 3:5-6 say...then it begins with listening...then the circumstances are adjusted accordingly by God.  

When we start letting our words get in the way of God talking to us then we WILL miss the things He is saying to us. 

Our words have an eternal weight, did you know that?  

Part of that account we will give before Jesus is not just our actions done for Him but the words we spoke. Of how we listened and obeyed. All that we did that wasn't in obedience to Jesus and our reason for being in this world--which is to point people to Jesus--will be burned up. Laid waste...and accompanied by profound embarrassment in all likelihood. 

Would you speak as you do, even listen as you do, if Jesus were physically right there with you?  

Life Principle 18 says: as Children of a sovereign God, we are not victims of our circumstances.

We aren't victims of the situations we find ourselves in but we can be in error and contribute to ill circumstances by not listening and doing accordingly. 

You don't pay attention and a Police Officer is monitoring, you'll likely get a ticket. You stay aware of your surroundings and you obey the speed limit and you avoid such things. 

A very large part of the passage from Proverbs where it says to bring up a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it BEGINS with their listening to instruction. 

You learn from the Spirit by listening to instruction. 

You learn to have a fruitful relationship by listening. 

You, in these examples and still others, directly impact your circumstances by listening. 

So listen first and if you must then speak.  

"The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." Proverbs 13:3.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23.

Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness begins with listening. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

What Do We Worry For?

What Do We Worry For?

by David Brenneman 

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31-39.

We can and do at some point worry about the past, the present or the future. We just immediately go into the denial portion of justification on whatever level makes us feel better. 

Throughout the Bible we have a plethora of examples from Genesis onward to pretty much the other end of the Bible.  

Leaders, Prophets, Priests, Kings, average people, example after example is there.  

We're lousy with dealing with things we know not the full extent of. 

We who are in Christ are not just on a journey of learning to be like Christ, we're learning to trust wholeheartedly in what it is that God, through His Spirit, puts before us.

We hate that missing puzzle piece that we can't find. 

We hate that little bit that often makes no sense that we get wrapped around the axle trying to figure out. 

We hate when a doubt arises that clouds our judgment. 

We hate when we're at a loss as to how to proceed. 

Are you seeing "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 perhaps differently in light of this discussion this morning?

Our own understanding us finite, limited, restricted, hemmed in, filled with unknowns.  

To some it causes outright panic, to others, they metaphorically put their heads in the sand to avoid the potential coming complications. 

We need to remember the word of God in these moments.  

We are His workmanship. Stop right here for a minute. What does that mean? It means He who began a good work in you will see it to completion, whether or not we understand or not. He's responsible for His work. We're to do our best and leave the consequences to Him. 

Created in Christ Jesus for good works. He has works for you and I to do. We may not understand the why's behind them but the onus is on us to obey to the best of our ability. 

Read the rest of the verse. "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.

God already knew everything that you were going to experience in your life long before you discovered any part of it to be real. 

We need to remember that more often. That in each and every single event in our lives, God was NEVER surprised by what's transpired or is transpiring right now. 

We also must realize that the promises of God in Christ are not going to eliminate the trials and tribulations of our lives...they will get us THROUGH those things or AROUND those things.  

Worry is a prayer that goes nowhere but from ourselves to ourselves. 

A prayer, which is what ought to be our first reaction to trials and tribulations, is our conveying to God our dependence upon Him to do as He promised in our lives.  

Jesus exemplified His dependence upon His Father throughout all His years on this Earth. 

He knew that when His Father initiated something that His Father’s plans would bear themselves out and Jesus just needed to trust and obey. 

Worry was perhaps the greatest temptation of the last 9 months for me. As of yesterday I was given a verbal confirmation that I am now gainfully employed. Worry tried to creep into my thinking. I thank God that the Spirit wouldn't let it persist. 

You too my Dear Reader have a choice to either allow worry or allow prayer to be what moves you forward in persistence or anchor you to the ground in despair.  

We're not promised any semblance of understanding of the who, what, when, where or why's of our life experiences.

We ARE promised to never go through any of those things alone when we are following Jesus.

Satan's schemes involve isolation. They involve trying to get you and I to believe we're unlikely to receive anything from God because of our past or present.  

God keeps His promises not on our merits but on the truth of His character in Christ. He imparted His righteousness to us when we came to Christ for salvation.

Pray on, pray over, pray through life.

Everyone who waits upon the Lord will not be disappointed.  

Psalm 23 is rich with what everyone goes through after coming to Christ for salvation.  

You must choose to trust and obey. You are going to face that challenge every moment of your day.  

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. This too is the answer to worry.

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 

His Story is to be Our Story

His Story is to be Our Story 

by David Brenneman 

Tell me the story of Jesus,

write on my heart ev'ry word;

tell me the story most precious,

sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell how the angels in chorus

sang as they welcomed His birth,

“Glory to God in the highest!

Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Tell me the story of Jesus,

write on my heart ev'ry word;

tell me the story most precious,

sweetest that ever was heard.

Fasting alone in the desert,

tell of the days that are past,

how for our sins He was tempted,

yet was triumphant at last.

Tell of the years of His labor,

tell of the sorrow He bore,

He was despised and afflicted,

homeless, rejected, and poor.

Tell me the story of Jesus,

write on my heart ev'ry word;

tell me the story most precious,

sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,

writhing in anguish and pain;

tell of the grave where they laid Him,

tell how He liveth again.

Love in that story so tender,

clearer than ever I see.

Stay, let me weep while you whisper,

love paid the ransom for me. 

Tell me the story of Jesus,

write on my heart ev'ry word;

tell me the story most precious,

sweetest that ever was heard.

-Fanny Crosby 1880. "Tell Me the Story of Jesus".

Something that we were told in yesterday's sermon certainly was illuminating to me. It's not really as difficult and as complicated to tell others about Jesus. Just relate what He's done and is doing in your life and why you believe that it's Jesus doing these things in you and for you. It doesn't matter, such as is my case, that you don't remember what a life was like before you came to Christ for salvation. Be sure OF that day and just share how the truths of Jesus has shaped your life ever since.

We all can tell a story of Jesus that's been getting written on our hearts as we go through this life we were given to live.

We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. "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. We CAN and SHOULD see the hallmarks of His work in our lives if we're believing that we were saved by Him.  

Jesus met us at the point of our need when He came at that particular moment in time. He's never left us for a single nanosecond or less. He's started a good work in us and will continue it until either He calls us home or we see the Rapture of the Church. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.

Telling of what has and is happening in your life that you attribute to the work of the Spirit is telling the story of Jesus.

Your story will be different from mine but that by no means will make it any less significant. Your story or mine won't be the same as Dr. David Jeremiah or Billy Graham or even Dr. Charles Stanley. That's ok too.   

There's no formula or format that's the ideal when it comes to a personal testimony of the work of God in Christ Jesus in our lives. 

Paul covers this in a letter to the Corinthian church. We are all different parts of the body of Christ. Each one is to do and be as they were called in Christ to be.  

Every single story of every single life in Christ is wonderfully precious in the sight of God. 

There are no insignificant stories of Jesus or of any child of God. 

Oh Satan and his minions would LOVE to have you believe that there's no value to you sharing your life with Jesus to others. That's what he's tried to do for several thousand years. Getting Believers to shut up about their life in Christ.

Your life in Christ may or may not 'sound' like what we think is good and acceptable. In Jesus's eyes your conversion story is absolutely worthwhile and a joy to His heart.

So write about your life in Christ. My book is my at length story of Jesus in my life. It's the truth of what Jesus has been doing in me ever since that bright sunny Sunday after the church service when I was in the Pastors office meeting with the Elders and the Deacons.  

Jesus began a good work in me and He will keep at it until either I am called home or the Rapture of the Church happens. 

Our past, our now, our future is wrapped up in this truth: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:28-30.

Don't put your story down or deride it in any way. Your story is most precious in the eyes of your personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we want the story of Jesus we want to hear everything. We are part of that everything in Christ. 

Write it out, talk it out, the story of Jesus written in our hearts as we become more like 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 

Each of Us is Special in His Eyes, Loved as We Are

Each of Us is Special in His Eyes, Loved as We Are 

by David Brenneman 

"The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" Exodus 4:11.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You." Psalms 139:13-18.

"As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him." John 9:1-3.

"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.

My life might be personified in these passages by way of defining what my life has been and quite literally what it was defined to be. A life in Christ because of Christ and for Christ. Unique in its inception throughout its days and culminating in that day that I stand before Jesus to give an account of my life before Him.  

I was born with both visible and invisible birth defects. No one, not my parentage, not my genes, not anything of this world is at fault for the conditions under which I find myself living.  

The Scriptures that we shared this morning I likely will use at some of the opening portions of my book..

because they're about me.  

They might just be about you too.

How you are, why you are is wrapped up in the life you were given to live in this here this now in human history for Jesus's plan and purpose to reach the lost among you in a way that you, my Dear Reader, were uniquely made for.

You weren't made in any way, shape, or form, a mistake. 

You are beloved of God in Christ Jesus. He loved you so much, loves you so much, that He came and lived a sinless life then after being cruelly mistreated died on a cross to rise again 3 days later to grant you eternal life in His Name. 

Not a day has gone by that you have ever been forgotten by Jesus. 

The same wonderful Scriptures say that our names are written on the palms of His hands. The very thoughts of us are ever before Him. 

Perhaps, and I know that I was lead to bring this up before now and must say it again, the worst thing taught in schools is our comparison of ourselves to others.  

It should never cross our minds to compare ourselves to others in Christ. We and they are at different places in our growth in Christ. We have differing gifts as the Spirit saw fit to bestow upon us. We are at different places in our walk with Jesus. We are to support and uplift each other in Christ...but we are not all the same in Christ. 

You are not defective. 

You are not defined by the world. 

You are not the sum of your past mistakes. 

Just because you aren't like others that in no way diminishes your life in the eyes of your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

The truth is Satan's schemes include berating, belittling, harassing, and in every other way, your value in your eyes. 

Read that last sentence again. 

Your value in your eyes. As long as we allow him to get us to devalue ourselves we won't try to accomplish that which is ours to do in Christ Jesus. There's your reason as to why others and perhaps your views of you are what they are. 

Speak truth to all that is against what the Bible says you are in Christ. I went through DECADES of being immersed in Satan's negative attacks upon my heart and mind to the point that in 1999 he tried to push me to the brink of committing suicide. But in that moment, my Savior Jesus Christ, said enough was enough and reached down and pulled me out of that abyss. He showed me that my ways weren't working and that my life had to be unconditionally His...not just part of me. 

When He set me back on solid ground He healed me of the wounds that were inflicted upon me. He did it. I regret nothing of turning my whole life over to Jesus. He's been my assurance that I am loved by Him. My Dear Reader He wants to do the same in you.

We lose nothing that wasn't worth losing by coming wholeheartedly to Jesus to be His. I don't miss anything that His Spirit had lead me to give up. His grace and mercy every day are a wonderful sight to see and experience.  

Throughout these unemployed months He's kept me from the fears that grip most during such a storm. He is in full control of this storm. He takes away my fears and has replaced them with a peace that passes all understanding. Just as He said He would. 

You have nothing to condemn yourself in the way you were born. Many a vibrant Christian person have physical affirmaties that live fully vibrant lives in Christ unlike any others.  

I am half blind in one eye. Need glasses to compensate as well as to correct the vision I do have. I am not without joint pains now and again. I have unique food allergies. I have a metabolism that isn't normal. Yet I am exactly who Jesus made me to be to accomplish His work for me in this point in human history for His plan and purpose.  

My hope and prayer is that you too might see that you are loved in Christ in a way that surpasses your understanding. We will spend eternity and never fully grasp how much Jesus loves us. 

Don't look down on your condition. 

Ask Jesus to still use you as He desires and give Him the glory great things He has done and will do in your life. 

Ask Him to use you and show the fruit of His love to you in the lives that you are here to touch. 

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

Finding Your Secret Place

Finding Your Secret Place 

by David Brenneman 

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:5-6.

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You." Psalms 139:1-18.

Where do you go to be alone with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you have such a place? You should. A place where you're comfortable and free to open up your heart and mind and soul to whom you gave your life to.

Mine is an ever improving room where I can do most of my thinking. It's in pretty much the center of our home from all directions. We live on a pretty quiet street. So there's times when napping in here is easy to do. 

I write to you this morning from this very room. I have my coffee and have read my Bible and morning devotionals. Then I wait on God to know what it is that God's wanting for me to write to all of you.  

We all do need a special place to read and pray. To be able to pour out our hearts to whom can and will make our paths straight when we trust in Him with all our hearts and minds and aren't leaning on our own understanding.

To some who used to be in my life, what choices that I have made they don't understand. They have allowed other emotions and their ideas dismiss what was obviously a choice to listen to God. You can't just rush into things if you don't know who you're supposed to be listening to. In regards to our quiet place we begin to know the voice of truth. The voice whom speaks throughout our day. Our days and nights aren't our own after we come to Christ. There are those in the professing Church who aren't fully grasping that truth. We're to be listening for the teachings and the directions to follow that the Spirit is saying to us. Whether or not it makes sense in the moment.  

We need our time-out place. We need to be refreshed. We need to be undisturbed in our one-on-one time with Jesus.  

Many of the Psalms speak to David's times where it was just him and the Lord. Psalms 23 shows us much in what kind of personal interests the Lord has in each of us. 

You are in a personal relationship with Jesus. Not an isolated work relationship. Not a standoffish relationship. Not a casual relationship. A personal relationship. An intimate relationship.  

You are to treat your relationship with Jesus as your highest priority. 

More than your wants and desires, more than your dreams. More than the worldly successes you aim to achieve.

It begins with your being intentional about your relationship with Jesus.

Personally I wish I had done more at the very beginning of my walk with Jesus to cultivate a personal relationship than what happened. Perhaps much of the disasters of my life wouldn't have happened. Perhaps my reactions to temptations would have been different.  

I, like you, can't don a time machine and go back to set things right. We can, however, choose how to do better going forward.

Just realize my Dear Reader that there is going to be people who won't get your relationship with Jesus. But that's not a thing to consider as a problem. We are to share our experience with Jesus with others. Let them see that we've been with Jesus. Show them that still better way.

My choice to listen to the Spirit in the middle of last year cost me. It impacted my family. But I wouldn't change a thing about going through with it.  

We've seen our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ provide in fully unexpected ways. We've seen people be the hands and feet of Jesus.  

We've grown in our faith because of our perceived adversities. We got to this place because of our personal relationship with Jesus.  

We arrived here in this time and place in our lives because we do take time to be alone with Jesus.

Others outside of our circumstances are praising God for what they see Him doing in our lives. It begins with a right relationship with Jesus. God will never bless a disobedient child of God. We do reap what we sow, more than we sow and much later than we sow. We should always be sowing a deeper relationship with Jesus. Making the most of our time for the days indeed are evil. 

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17.

So my Dear Reader take time to be alone with Jesus. It isn't always that we're to speak when we do.

"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.

"The Helper sees the depths of your difficulties. He translates your feelings more accurately than you could articulate them yourself. And He comforts you with the knowledge that He understands what you need." - from the In Touch Ministries desktop daily calendar. 

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 Story is Important

Your Story is Important 

by David Brenneman 

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.

We are mostly either prone to over think our own importance or under think our own importance. Some of the rest are likely there in the middle. 

Yet in Christ, we have become His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. You are a work in progress in the Lord if you've indeed come to Him for salvation. 

You are among the cherished in the eyes of God. Our prayers are so quickly listened to by our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ that He often answers before we are through. 

Our story isn't to be kept to ourselves. We were born exactly where, exactly when, and exactly at the moment where our story will do the most good for the kingdom of God. 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.

"And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the Lord, And My God is My strength)," Isaiah 49:5.

"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:29-30.

"The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" Exodus 4:11.

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You." Psalms 139:13-18.

"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.

As we have read, we too must come to understand, that we are just as unique a son or daughter of God as Jesus is described as in that most famous passage John 3:16. Some translations say Only Son of God, some say unique Son of God.  

Jesus was and is unique. Different. Born at just the right time. Dying at just the right time. 

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6.

When Christ was born it was at exactly the right time and place in human history. Exactly when His story would do the most good for the Father’s plan to come to fruition. Both at the moment that it happened and all throughout the rest of history. 

You too aren't meant to be silent about God's work in your life. You both have a wonderful story to tell of the faithfulness of God in your life but also an audience that is ripe to hear it.

I do struggle at times with the magnitude of that revelation. With the goal set before me to write a book of the memorial stones part of me thinks on all the countless other books from others that exist. If I let it, it's discouraging. But I shouldn't let it. Our life experiences are ours, and the gracious answers to prayer are ours to tell. To give others a future and a hope...but if we keep silent...they will gain neither. 

Others in your world in your time in your place...need to hear the voice of God in you that's the result of a life lived trusting in Jesus.

Don't give up on your living all-in for Jesus. Don't remain silent when the opportunity presents itself by the Spirit’s direction. You indeed may lose friends and family at times but it's still for us to represent Jesus to those in our world. 

You may endure things that you don't understand. That's perfectly fine. Job, Daniel, Ezekiel, John, Joseph, Joshua, Peter, Paul...we're in great company with those who endured things that they didn't understand why they were going through them.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Run the race set before you. Lean not on your own understanding. Perseverance with all the saints in Christ Jesus. 

Pray before speaking, pray while speaking, pray after speaking. The thing is to let the Lord Jesus Christ be seen in and through you to the glory of God the Father. 

"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 3:17.

As long as you know that you know that you know what you are saying and what you are doing is exactly what Jesus has for you to be saying and doing, press on. Keep going. Don't let up. 

Your unique story is for you to tell for such a time as this. 

There are NO unimportant parts of the body of Christ. There are NO members of the body of Christ that don't have a purpose in Christ. The Spirit places you in the body of Christ as He saw fit. Glorify God in your body.  

Pray on, Pray over, Pray through. 

Let your world know of the great things that God has done for you and through 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 

What Great Things He Has Done

What Great Things He Has Done 

by David Brenneman 

"Call on Me in a day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 50:16

      Did you know that you bring glory to God by calling upon Him when you are in distress? God promised He would deliver you if you turned to Him. You deny the Lord honor that is rightfully His every time you find yourself in difficulty and you fail to call upon Him for help! There may be times when God allows you to reach a point of need so that you can call upon Him, and thus let Him demonstrate to a watching world the difference He makes in the lives of His children. If God never allowed you to experience need, people around you might never have the opportunity to witness God's provision in the life of a Christian. If you never faced a shortfall, you might be tempted to feel self-sufficient and without any need of God in your daily life.

      Pride will tempt you to think that you do not need to seek God's assistance. Self-regard will seek to convince you that you can handle your dilemma through your own wisdom, resources and hard work, Pride will also rob glory from God and seek to give it to you. Don't allow your pride to take what rightfully belongs to the Lord. Call upon your Lord and wait exclusively upon Him to rescue you. Then give Him the glory that He deserves.

      Self-sufficiency can greatly hinder your ability to experience God and bring Him honor. The next time you are in distress, turn to Him!

-Experiencing God Day-by-Day, Blackaby and Blackaby. 

"I got this" is an oftentimes used thought or phrase used by all of us at some point in our lives about something that we're going through. 

We likewise push the notion of "pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps" as the saying used to be. 

We think it's on us to do everything we can THEN go to God after those things are exhausted. 

Much of what we're going through, if not all of it, is to showcase the power of God in Christ Jesus in our lives towards ourselves and the people in our lives albeit the saved and the as yet unsaved. 

The entire world at large at the time was impacted by Moses and Aaron going to Pharaoh to get him to let the people of God go out from among the Egyptians. It wasn't just to rescue the children of Israel, it wasn't just to punish Pharaoh and his followers, it was showing the world that there is a God in Israel that they too should take serious notice of.

What we do or don't do in accordance with the life we are to live in Christ impacts not just ourselves but those in and around our life. We are to do whatever we're called to do as unto the Lord. We're to live our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.  

When we do as they wrote in the devotional, we are the ones who might get the glory, not God, certainly not Jesus. 

We were taught how to pray, and what is important to pray for and about. We were told in advance that only through various trials and tribulations that we would enter into Heaven. It is the life we're given to live that is to showcase Christ both to ourselves as well as the world. 

We are also very good liars unto ourselves. We like to convince ourselves that we're not concerned or anxious or worried by the plans we make in the moment.

Yet we are. 

I have never met anyone who, when it comes down to it, has ever been truly ok with facing the unknowns of the future without Christ leading the way.   

We want someone more knowledgeable than us leading the way let alone making the hard decisions for us. There's levels of accountability that we want no part of...if we're truly being honest. 

Yet right there before us is Jesus, just waiting for us to call on Him in our day of trouble, ready to save.

Much of the last 9 months has been wondering when this employment gap is going to end. Yet in it all my goal has been to persevere in staying committed to my times with Jesus. Both in the morning and evening. I am eternally grateful for His abundant provision of food for my Wife and I as well as our cats. He keeps providing, through various ways, the funds needed to pay our bills and mortgage. We, as well as others, continue to pray for the new job that He has for me.  

Through my continued time both in His Word, various devotional readings, prayer and counsel with others I know that I will only be able to go through the door of the place He wants me working at.

Until He hands me the keys to a particular door of opportunity I won't be going in.

How I react to this as well as everything else is supposed to be a testament of His work in our lives. Of what He has done and is doing because He is our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I know full well that I certainly am not to just do nothing until He provides my new job. Each day He has things for me to do, has places for me to check for new jobs. Regardless of how big or small, engaging or mundane, I am to do everything as unto the Lord. Truth be known I have never had an earthly employer. While there's been several companies that I have worked for, my work has always been done as if I were working for my Savior Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:22-24. 

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

How I handle life is supposed to be as though Jesus were right there with me...because He is!

How I show others how I react to life is showing them how real I take being a fully devoted follower of Jesus.  

I don't always get it right but that is my aim in life.  

I am not reacting the same way today that I would have 10 years ago. A testimony to the work of God in me. 

Jesus said through Paul "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

We are on display for all the world to see in how we live our lives in Christ. 

We do have Godly responsibilities in meeting certain needs but we also have to be sure we aren't overstepping by trying to do what we need God to be doing. We are indeed to be praying, but before we act we should be sure we're supposed to.  

As the great hymn says "To God be the glory great things He has done, so love He the world that He gave us His Son. Who yielded His life an atonement for sin. And opened the lifegate that all may come in! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the Earth hear His voice. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son and Give Him the glory great things He has done!"

Let your light shine in such a way that people see your good works, that is your life, that they glorify your Father in Heaven.

He has never failed us yet and never will. Do what's yours to be doing but be mindful of what's your Savior's to be doing in your life. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org