Jesus's Message to You

Jesus's Message to You 

by David Brenneman 

Was watching a clip on Facebook Reels of part of a sermon of Dr. Charles Stanley's.  

In it he was talking about how often something comes upon us that is really heavy, really difficult to live with, to deal with, and our response oftentimes is to cry out to God to get us out of it. Rather than to seek God in the midst of it. We oftentimes don't care to be going through it and aren't looking to God for anything but deliverance.

The heavy things we go through, things we need to get our train of thought aclimimated to, are oftentimes brought about on purpose by God. We need that training in rethinking who's behind what happens to us.  

We who are saved are children of God who need much training in righteousness to become more like Jesus Christ. Training isn't going to be all easy-peasy lessons. Training is going to have obstacles to overcome or work around.  

The points of all are a message from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Trust Me.

When you understand or don't understand: Trust Me. 

When it feels good or doesn't: Trust Me.

When it hits you hard and it feels like you lost the ground beneath your feet: Trust Me.

What we are met with daily are things to build our trust in Jesus in order to grow us spiritually. We oftentimes miss what's going on because we keep taking off our spiritual glasses and lose sight of the Godly perspective that the Spirit is teaching us to have. 

No doubt the pains, physical and or mental, truly hurt beyond words. Take those to the Lord in prayer. That's what He wants you to do. 

Big things needing done in your life. This or that with the car, the home, the job. Take it to the Lord in prayer.  

Truth is saying: Trust Me. 

"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.

When Peter stepped out of the boat his eyes were on Jesus with trust. When he took his eyes off Jesus we know what happened. 

We struggle so much at times because we don't think that God really has time for us with everything else He's doing.  

We serve and belong to the Creator of the Universe. The Lord of all creation. The One who conquered sin, death and the grave. The One who said that He would supply all our needs in Christ Jesus. 

We downplay stress, downplay our anxiety by calling these things something else. We participate in self depreciation, self-abasement, that we aren't worthy of God's time or attention.  

We listen to our sin nature in these things rather than the Spirit of God within us.

An with this we come back around to: trust Me.

I know of someone who's got a lot on their mind of things that they want to get done around the house. Acknowledging that they're not making great progress. My observation to them was its because they were trying to get their needs fulfilled themselves that weren't for them to fulfill. Take these needs to Jesus in prayer.  

As Dr. Stanley said God doesn't have problems only situations. As a child of God your needs are His responsibility.  

Take your situations to Him in prayer no matter what they are. We keep trying to figure out how to handle or do what He's already prepared to for.

Jesus is saying: Trust Me. 

My truck situation isn't mine to worry or be concerned about. The day that it occurred while I was yet describing it, He was showing me He's got it covered. So I am not worried or concerned. Indeed His blessings continue with other needs that I have had on my mind. Sometimes even this week it was a fulfillment of a desire or two. 

Go back to the lesson of Peter and keep your eyes on Jesus. Take everything to Him in prayer and don't take it back because you're not comfortable with His timing or don't see Him doing anything. 

"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. 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 4:6-9.

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 

Following Jesus is More Than That

Following Jesus is More Than That 

by David Brenneman 

"The Holy Spirit . . will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

JOHN 14:26

     Many of us have heard the expression Follow Jesus" all of our

lives. But what does it really mean? There are people who think they`re pursuing Him when they agree to a morally Christian lifestyle. But if your idea of seeking after the Savior is merely going to church, listening the Bible when the pastor reads it, giving money, and saying some prayers, you are missing the mark.

     When Jesus was about to be crucified, He explained to the

disciples that they would be able to follow Him just as closely after He was resurrected as they did when He walked the earth with them. How? Through the presence of His Spirit. The Holy Spirit would give them direction so that they wouldn't be left to do their own thing. The same applies to us. In following Jesus, we don't have to figure out what to do or how to carry out His will-He shows us.

     Because Christ no longer physically walks the earth, we must

develop a keen sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Once we learn how to listen to Him and obey faithfully, we need never doubt how Jesus wants us to follow Him.

Jesus, make me sensitive to Your Holy Spirit so I may always

follow You. Amen. 

- Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley. 

There's more for your life than you can possibly imagine. More than you honestly could ask or think as well because it's beyond your comprehension. Certainly is beyond mine.  

The many many times and ways my life has taken different direction from what I was both wanting or expecting is beyond measure. Even yesterday there was an incident with my truck. I wasn't letting it both me during my work day. I got out and verified a few things and plans began forming that weren't there before. My God knew this was going to happen on that particular July 29th of 2026, even though I did not. A short conversation with my brother later and a ballpark idea of cost was in my head. A while later on the phone with my Mother telling her all this and a second call was coming in. A side job opportunity that God sent to help pay for what was coming.  

For sure God doesn't have problems only situations. For sure trusting in Him and walking in His ways to the best of our abilities enables us to see the fingerprints of God in our lives. 

But you have to be doing your best to follow Jesus daily. Keeping your heart right before Him. This isn't some part-time job this is a lifestyle that's meant to change you into the kind of servant of God that brings honor and glory to Him.  

Your life in Christ isn't at all about you gaining wealth and happiness or even prosperity. Might not even be health. He meets you where you are at and works from there for your good and His glory. 

But know this...in reading those letters to the Churches in the book of Revelation...being lukewarm about your dedication and your commitment will not go well for you at all. 

Make the time, give up what you have to, in order to be living life that shows yourself and others that you really are a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  

There's so much more that He's willing to do through those who are fully devoted, fully committed, to the life that He's planned for them. 

Obeying God and leaving all the consequences to Him. Another Life Principle of Charles Stanley.  

This a big one. We may think we're being good stewards of what He's given us but sometimes we get in the way of God by doing so. We may think of how little we will have left or be thinking of how it was a waste from our vantage point in the past...but honestly the risk is with the Lord. Not with us.

Following Jesus isn't like following various influential people in the world. None of them have the power of the resurrection behind them. None of them has omniscience or omnipresence. None of them has perfect wisdom and knowledge of all potential possibilities and their outcomes. 

I had noted all the times various kings took from the treasuries of the Lord and gave to this king or that king in order to turn them away from Jerusalem. They never prayed they just took what was valuable that wasn't theirs to give. Doing life their way rather than to ask the Lord.  

We often try to follow Jesus the same way. We often don't come to Him with our situations and dive in trying to do it ourselves. This isn't being a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  

We need to rethink our priorities. 

First is obedience to God's Word. 

Second is in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  

Third is to trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 

This may or may not include you picking up a shovel and doing some work yourself.  

Take a few steps back and observe the lessons that Jesus was teaching His Disciples about following Him. Look at their conclusions, look at their confusion. Look at yourself when you look at them. Read all 4 Gospels when you do. 

Oh there is so much more for us to experience in Christ when we follow Him as He leads the way. 

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

It Isn't For 'Other' Christians, It's For You

It Isn't For 'Other' Christians, It's For You 

by David Brenneman 

"We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

     Whether you realize it or not, once you accept Jesus as your Savior, you become His ambassador. God immediately empowers you through His indwelling Spirit to be an influential bridge builder to those around you who need to know Christ. You're surrounded by people who don't know about His amazing provision and are headed to hell because of it. His desire is for you to reach out to them. They may think they don't need Christ and want to be left alone. But realize that everyone wants to be loved accepted, and freed from their sins. You can be the one to share all Christ has done for them and how much He cares.

     Unfortunately, we often get distracted from this mission. We

spend our lives as Christians pursuing our own happiness, prosperity, comfort, and authority. But that's just the overflow. Our true

purpose is to represent Jesus to the lost and introduce them to Him

Just as Christ built the costly and everlasting bridge between us

and the Father, we do the same between others and His awesome

provision.

     God has made you to be an extension of Jesus' life, love, power,

and wisdom to those around you. See yourself as He does and be

the best ambassador you can be.

Jesus, help me to reach others in Your name, Amen.

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

What we're to be doing in Christ isn't living for self. Studying God's Word isn't for others in Christ with the passion or motivation, it's for everyone in Christ. Praying isn't to be just a repeating of the same words, it's to be our thoughts and feelings being conveyed to our Living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even when we don't know what to say, we're to join Him where He is in prayer with reverence. 

"Not my job" has been an exceedingly overused phrase for more than a few generations now. 

People not willing to put forth the effort to actually work at something to achieve something good. They just want what they want when they want it.  

A life in Christ isn't supposed to be like the lives of everyone else in the world. 

It's not about pursuing things that the world says we ought to pursue.

As Dr. Stanley said it, so does the Scriptures: we are Ambassadors of God in Christ Jesus.

Ambassadors, much like dedicated soldiers, deny personal self-interests daily in order to please those whom they're there to represent. 

To not be following through with growing in Christ to the best of our ability is to be shirking our duties and responsibilities as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ.  

To be putting self before our God is never going to end well. 

How much time do you invest in the study of God's Word? How consist are you? How dedicated are you in your commitment to this endeavor? 

How personal are your prayers? Are they more or less akin to a standard form letter that indeed most people in the physical world hate to receive?  

Hearts and lives that are moved by the truth of God's Word are what Jesus loves to see. Read 2 Chronicles 34 about King Josiah. Of what is said of him by the Lord Jesus.  

Him and several other Kings who's hearts were turned to serving the Lord had reforms to remove the evil the wicked things from Jerusalem and Israel. The Lord was well pleased to see their hearts rended and become tender to the things of God.

Casting out those things that harmed their relationship with the Lord was a common theme for those who did choose to follow the Lord and obey Him only.

What do you need to cast out in order to return to being the Ambassador that you are in the name of the Lord?

What has taken the Lord's place in your heart when you spend your time, energy and effort living life?

It's the responsibility of every single Believer in Jesus Christ to be pursuing their life in Christ to the utmost. With fervor. With their everything.  

Our prayers ought to be exceedingly personal. We, after all, have a personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Share your feelings, not just your lists of wants and desires or even wishes.  

Scripture says that in everything give thanks to God. Do you? For the good and bad?  

Scripture says we should pray for those who are in authority over us. Do you?

How committed are you really being in your life towards fulfilling your calling in Christ? You absolutely have a calling in Christ since coming to Christ for salvation. Scripture says that you are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that you would walk in them.

Scripture says that it itself is everything that you need to live a life in godliness. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Nobody who is truly saved will have any acceptable excuse for not having done their best as unto the Lord. It's why we must do as Paul wrote...run the race set before us. Running as though we're intent on winning a prize. 

So, Ambassador, what are you going to start changing in your life today to start fulfilling your role?

Renewing your commitment perhaps?  

Ask the Spirit to show you what you should be studying. I did many years ago and it's really been life altering. My only regret is that I didn't ask decades ago with the same desire to please my Savior. 

We removed things from our lives to make room for our commitments to serving and learning our Lord Jesus Christ. You may need to do this too. Just as King Josiah did.  

Start today with pursuing a right relationship with Jesus again. Turning away from the things that don't help you to grow in Christ.

And honestly, if you're truly committed to this, pray that God would show you what needs to change if you're not seeing it. Be prepared for what comes next...even if it's painful...do it.

Open up your heart the way you always should have been in your prayers.

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

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

Dying to Self

Dying to Self 

by David Brenneman 

The wonder of self. We either lift up self or we have self step aside because we are wanting the Lord to be the one who's truly seen. 

Self is a very unstable, potentially volatile part of us.  

Self has its roots in our sin nature. 

Self is a very cunning, often deceitful part of us. Never takes the blame for anything. Yet is there throughout most everything in our lives. Either as witness or as the guilty party. 

When we read throughout the Old Testament we see all the good, the bad and the ugly of self in the lives of everyone from slaves to harlots to shepherds to kings and rulers.

We are subject to the same dangerous situations concerning self. We aren't immune for our coming to Christ for salvation. Our struggle with self will continue until either we are called home or Christ Jesus returns.  

Self runs from the consequences to actions taken. Self does not want others to be in a better position or place than us.

Self often places the blame for many situations at the feet of Satan rather than to accept responsibility.

Self is dangerous. Jesus spoke concerning self many times.

"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.

"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “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 and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38.

"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26.

Paul points to this as well with: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21.

We who are in Christ are to die to self daily. To put on Christ daily.  

We aren't to fool ourselves just because life is going great or even when it seems that what we're going through is the worst we've ever experienced. Self will take advantage if we're not careful to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  

We who are in Christ do not have the luxury of taking a vacation or a break from guarding our hearts and minds. Both our self, the inner person of each of us, and the forces of wickedness in this world, are wanting to stop what the Spirit is doing in our lives. And as if stopping what the Spirit is doing wasn't enough, they want to get us to help them by way of craftiness and deceitful schemes.  

Dying to self daily isn't something that's optional for the Believer in Jesus Christ, the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives. 

The battle begins each day we wake up until they close again at the end of the day. 

Prayer keeps us in Christ as well as dedicated time in the Word of God daily. 

You can't fight a spiritual war with feelings of positivity and good vibes. You likewise cannot feed on the Word of God sparingly either. A worldly soldier gets lots of nourishment to be whom he or she is to be with whom they're serving as a soldier. Likewise to be a well armed well trained soldier of Christ we need fed and need to understand what our responsibilities are and what needs to happen for us to be successful in Christ.  

Being successful in Christ requires dying to self and living to Christ. 

Each day there ought to be among our prayers that God would help us to die more to self and to be more alive in Christ. 

Consider these things as you go about your days this week.

Who receives the glory in your life? 

Who's the one most seen by others?

How much of your days gets spent with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you serving you or are you serving Jesus? Have you deceived yourself as to what's motivating you?  

"Take up your own cross and follow Me".

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 

The Anger of Man

The Anger of Man...

by David Brenneman 

"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.

It's a really difficult thing this issue of anger and the human body. Anger, stress, several other emotions tend to warp reality and twist what is really real.

As followers of Jesus Christ we are not to react in the flesh as we would like but rather to see how Jesus did and do likewise. 

Being mad at people and them not either knowing or realizing it is you drinking the poison you mean for them as well. It has never nor will it ever end well. 

Add to this, regardless of how we rationalize it, when we stay angry we aren't forgiving and if we aren't forgiving then our sins aren't being forgiven.  

We can see, and if we stop to understand, there's few times it's recorded that Jesus got angry.  

Now consider this too that probably more than a few of those times and more He was being tempted to step into His powers and abilities that He set aside and judge people right then and there.

But He didn't.

His focus was on the cross. 

We too should consider the cross before we launch into words or actions seeded in anger. 

We very well could be unraveling days, months, or even years of work by the Spirit of God in someone's life towards salvation. 

Even by proxy. Even if it's someone else our reactions could be impacting others meant for the Kingdom of God. 

Not just in anger either. Our wants and desires could just as easily trip us up and ruin the work of God in the lives of people who are to be added to the Kingdom of God. 

Our hobbies and recreational activities can get in the way of the work of God. Anything can if it's taking the place of a deeper relationship with Jesus. Even putting our children up on a pedestal can do the same. 

Our sin nature isn't going away when we come to Christ for salvation...it's just now not calling the shots anymore. It's not in sole control of our hearts and minds anymore. It's now at war with both.  

It's no surprise that there's much to be learned from guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We cannot live a solo life in Christ. 

We cannot live as though we're saved in Christ Jesus and also live life with festering anger or other negative emotions towards others. 

We cannot hold grudges. We cannot create our own rules for our dealings with people. It's to only be how the Word of God says it's to be in order for the will of God for us, that is our sanctification through Godly transformation, takes place in us.

Are you wholly seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness or only when it suits you? Only when you're done being angry at others?

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." Matthew 5:22.

"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 6:14-15.

There's no other way to go through life and to be approved of by God than to live it the way the Word of God intends us to. 

Note that in Matthew 18 it also says that if WE know that our brother has something against US it's on US to go to them. 

Not let it fester. Not ignore it n hope it goes away or that they 'get theirs'.

We are also to pray for those who persecute us. Not any other response but prayer to start with. 

Consider these things today as you go about your day. 

Lastly know that no matter what it is...let go of it and let God deal with it. You'll lead a life that is going to glorify God in that which you do. 

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 He Said...

What He Said...

By David Brenneman

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬.

In Matthew 17 at the Transfiguration, the Father spoke. The words spoken, if taken properly, were the 3 Disciples hearing the Will of God the Father. To ‘listen to Him’. Then Jesus speaks to them about what is about to happen. He speaks to them about Elijah, and that the people had done to him as they wished. They realized He was speaking about John the Baptist. 

People wonder what the will of God is for them, well it starts here: “Listen to Him!”.

We tend to over think things, from the big to the mundane. We ‘Google’ our symptoms. We ‘Google’ instead of taking the time to learn. We ‘trust our gut’ because that’s what we get told to do. We don’t use libraries that are at our disposal because we’d rather not put forth the effort to go beyond our fingertips.

Do you want to know and to do the will of God the Father? Here’s where it begins. “Listen to Him!”.

We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:3a “This is the will of God for us, our sanctification”.  

Listening to God, listening to the Spirit when we read the Word of God, is God’s will for us.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30.

"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18.

"And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” Mark 4:24-25.

Throughout the Bible, over 100 times, there's references to listening to the Lord. You think that it's being conveyed that it's important?

We live in a global economy that's sole bent is to get us to listen to what all it has to say in order to sway us towards its desires.

We have movies, music and all other forms of entertainment designed to sway our thoughts in subtle ways.

We have those in political positions attempting to use words to sway our minds. 

We have those in sports circles attempting to sway us in either politics or towards the over glorification of themselves. Wanting us to be consumed with all aspects of them...not any different than some in the music industry as well. 

Who are you listening to? 

Who have you given access to your heart and mind?

So you think it foolishness to guard your heart and mind?  

It's a war zone out there and here in your own home. The battlefield is of our minds. The endgame is either to spend eternity in Hell or in Heaven, depending on who you listened to.  

You can't fully escape the pressures to sway your mind and heart. Your sin nature is ready at all times to sway your thoughts. 

God the Father said, at His baptism "Listen to Him". He said it again at the Transfiguration, "Listen to Him". 

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

Now comes the next harder part. We need to be in that particular position of being quiet in order to listen. Martha's sitting at the feet of Jesus was to listen and Jesus said she chose the better thing and it would not be taken from her. 

Choose the better thing. 

Choose to be intentional about listening and seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. 

Choose to obey God the Father and "listen to Him!".

Cut out as much of the noise of the world as you can. Get away from those things of the world that are going to try to change the way you think and away from the will of God the Father.  

CERTAINLY do not think "I can handle it. It's ok. It's not as bad as you say it is". My Dear Reader...it's not me saying it's that bad...read the Scriptures...God the Son...says it's that bad...therefore it's that bad.

Satan's minions can't take the life of a Believer, a child of God, but they can get permission to sway your thinking in order to make you not follow Christ as you ought to be doing. They can't kill you but they can get you to be totally useless to God the Father and God the Son and God the Spirit.

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. That's listening to God the Father. 

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 

The Importance of What is Important

The Importance of What is Important 

by David Brenneman 

It's incredibly important to know what is indeed important if we're going to live an approved life in Christ. 

For those who spurned the voice of the Spirit of God and left this world without coming to Christ for salvation...they immediately find themselves in great pain and torment, full of sorrows if they get past their rage.

Nobody in Hell or in Heaven has concerns about what they had while here. Possessions mean nothing to either.  

Those in Hell are now paying for their own sins and have a complete understanding of what they rejected that the Creator of the Universe offered them.

Those in Heaven are now no longer impeded by their sin nature and are now far more informed about their salvation in Christ than they ever came to know while they lived.

Looking at what Jesus taught the Disciples to know is important. 

Looking at what Jesus's last instructions were to them is important.  

Realizing that we are those whom, through the ages, are commanded -not suggested- to continue to teach all that Jesus commanded to others. 

We are to look forward to His return as if it were to be today.  

We are to set our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

We are to have the mind of Christ in that relationships are of utmost importance. Create relationships, cultivate relationships, building relationships to that end that Christ is shared and He wins them unto salvation. We are workers in His harvest. He planted the seeds. He watered. He caused the growth. He ripened the fruit. We are oftentimes there to pick the fruit at the right time and are there when someone comes to Christ for salvation. But it's all Jesus Christ and the Spirit in everything. 

These things are what's important. 

Guarding your heart. Guarding your mind. Praying as often as possible. Remembering others in prayer. Praying for the salvation of others even above praying for their health. Praying for those who persecute us. Praying for our leaders and those in authority over us.  

The more we live lives that reflect what is important to our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the more people escape the path to Hell. 

As workers in His harvest that is our ultimate purpose...to do our very best as unto the Lord.  

In every way possible the enemy of God will try every overt or seductive way to get our minds off of these important things.  

Even to get us to consider a person's health or well-being as more important than their salvation in Jesus Christ.  

For a Believer who has Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...death is regarded as an answer to prayer. It's not to be considered as a failure or as defeat.  

Just because it's not what we want emotionally, it doesn't mean it's not what Jesus wants eternally. This too is important. 

Raging with the world against this leader or that leader isn't in accordance with what is important in Christ. Praying at all times for those in authority over us is what changes nations on every level. 

Wasting time on things that have no eternal benefit is something important to be watchful for. Jesus said its important to note to be careful of how you listen. To take care of what comes out of your mouth...because it reflects what comes from your heart. 

Is what's important to Christ important to you? The most successful Kings of the Old Testament were those who were commended for their passionate desire to obey God rather than man. To cause the people to turn away from false gods to the Living God. 

Are you wasting your life that the Spirit desires to bring to you that would glorify your Father in Heaven?

Do you waste it in pursuit of things and experiences that are doing nothing to teach you more about Jesus and how to reflect Him to those He specifically ordained to come in contact with you?

Is what's important to Jesus important to you?  

What Comes From the Heart

What Comes From the Heart 

by David Brenneman 

Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” Matthew 15:15-20.

"Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer." Proverbs 24:1-8.

"If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?" Proverbs 24:12.

What comes from your heart can't be contained...ever think about that?

"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37.

What's coming forth from yours?  

What shines in your life? Is it you or is it Jesus?

Jesus not only taught about what comes out of the heart but He also taught to be careful of how you listen. What you listen to instigated, or rather more aptly agitates, your heart.

When your heart is stirring, what comes out of it?

Something happens, something gets said, to agitate it...what comes from it?

Look at the Gospels from a different perspective. Look at what comes out of the hearts of the people Jesus interacts with when He stirs their hearts. 

You, my Dear Reader, are no different than the Disciples. You are being taught by the Spirit, hopefully, and your heart will bring forth whatever is in it.  

Someone once put it that it's much easier for a good person to portray a bad person than it is for a bad person to portray a good person. 

Truthfully good can be faked or imagined but genuine good from the heart that mirrors Christ is impossible. Many will talk about what all they did in Jesus's Name but the frauds they are will be revealed by Jesus by the words of His revealing of truth. 

What comes from your heart? 

What goes into your heart?

Do you feed it daily with the Word of God, Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs? 

Do you feed it secular music, games, movies, facts and figures, fiction even, that do nothing to fill your heart with the things of God that make for a life well pleasing to Him?  

It's much to my own shame that I do have a ton of information in my head that is useless towards the Kingdom of God. The wasted times from my youth that weren't invested better in studying God's Word. 

Guard your hearts is taught over and over again in the New Testament. 

Take time today and see what's going in and out of your heart.  

Perhaps today is the day you need to have a heart-to-heart with yourself and Jesus about it.

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 

Get Your Shields Up!

Get Your Shields Up!

by David Brenneman 

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;" Colossians 2:8-10.

Anything that clashes with what is true is not of the Spirit. Therefore, to walk in the Spirit, we must get serious about

guarding our minds. - Dr. Charles Stanley. 

We don't take this seriously enough in our days. Certainly, ever since the idea of parchments and the written language we have been derelict in our steadfastness of guarding our hearts and minds. 

We don't realize how easy it is to sway our minds from one position to another. Oftentimes we do so so subtly that it easily escapes our notice. 

What are you feeding your mind and heart? What do you absent-mindedly allow access to you?

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.

"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18.

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

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." Psalms 119:11.

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2.

Then there is: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," 2 Corinthians 10:5.

The battlefield is our minds and hearts. It is here where the enemy of God and our sin nature try to hamper our life in Christ.  

We so easily dismiss the ads the commercials. We so easily dismiss what we listen to as 'entertainment'. We easily dismiss the seeds being planted within us by what we listen to and what we watch. 

The worst thing we do in this context is to not use the standard of the Word of God but rather our own standard of what constitutes good and evil. What's right and acceptable and what is bad and should be avoided.  

My Dear Reader it won't be by our standard that we give an account of our lives before Jesus. It will only be His standard of measurement.  

Our thoughts and intentions of the heart will be hit with the fire of His Truth.

Take care how you listen and guard your mouth.  

The Berean Church were those who certainly went over everything being taught to be sure it measured up to God's standards.

We do ourselves much harm in saying "It's not that bad" or "I am ok. I've got this".

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.

The best Kings of the Old Testament were those who didn't rely on themselves but sought the Lord first. The best didn't throw gold n silver at a problem but went to the Lord about what to do. 

We have so much trying to vie for our attention. We have so much temptation that it's honestly overwhelming at times. 

We need to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Pray for His protection.  

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 

Who Do You Seek?

Who Do You Seek?

by David Brenneman 

"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?" Proverbs 22:17-21.

Every Christian ought to be of the mind to seek the Lord while He may be found each day.  

Our lives, contrary to popular belief, are actually beyond us in our comprehension to live in the way that is fully approved of by Christ our Savior.  

We need to spend time in prayer.  

We need to spend time in God's Word.  

We need to pray for understanding. 

We need to pray for those whom He's put in our lives.

A full life in Christ isn't running around doing whatever suits our fancy. It's not about collecting money towards retirement. It's not about awards or accolades to put on walls. 

A full life that the Spirit brings to us is a transformed life where we live out a life reflecting Christ to the world around us.

It's forgiving as He forgave. 

It's loving as He loved. 

It's showing grace as we have been shown grace. Mercy as we've been shown mercy.

It's praying for those who persecute us. It's praying for their salvation. 

Our lives are to reflect the light of Jesus Christ. We're to have ears that hear and eyes that see and a heart that responds to the calling by which we have been called in Christ. 

Read the Gospels again. Look for the times when Jesus said that phrase "he who has ears to hear..." and be mindful of the same words in the letters to the Churches in the book of Revelation. 

Are you seeking Him every morning? Are you so busy you forget your living Lord and Savior?

Jesus said to be careful how you hear. Are you? Do you feed your ears accordingly? Do your ears get junk food or that which enriches the soul?

When the Disciples were first called one of the responses from Jesus to them was "Who do you seek?".

Are you seeking the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Are you seeking the Messiah?  

Eventually Jesus did ask Peter point blank who he thought Jesus was. 

If we believe...then we should seek.

If we believe...then we should live as He wishes us to live. 

If we believe then we should seek to be taught by God. 

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 

Words and Consequences

Words and Consequences 

by David Brenneman 

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32.

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

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly." Proverbs 15:1-2.

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles." Proverbs 21:23.

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:5-6.

"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." James 1:19-26.

What shall we say? There's probably much more than these passages that are to point out the necessity of guarding our mouths. 

Careless words spoken without thought are all being recorded and will be known again.

There's probably never been a generation of children attending school that didn't have a few if not many who showed the utter truth to much of these passages. How harsh and cruel children can be towards one another. I can personally testify to this. I was the subject of many who thought I made a better target than a friend. 

Mark Wills had a solid song out long ago called "Don't Laugh at Me". Mark is one of my favorite country music artists. I can remember vividly the day I first heard that song on my car radio. I can remember that the tears hit me so hard I almost ran off the road. Finally a song that I fully related to. 

Words...the power of the unbridled tongue. Oh how mankind has completely proven the Word of God with respect to how mankind has taken what's come from a tongue and caused destruction beyond whatever was thought possible. 

"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh." James 3:8-12.

Right here we see God's view on the tongue.  

I have known and probably will known even more that take the Lord's Name in vain. None really consider it at all how every single instance will be brought back with utter clarity at the Final Judgment.  

Even those whom are Believers will find their words, thoughts, intentions and actions tested as though by fire.  

The more I know of what the Bible says about the tongue the more I do realize the importance of setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. The more that my my mind aims to love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul and spirit. The more I love my neighbor as myself. The more that I live out forgiveness as Jesus forgave. The more that Christ lives in me the more my tongue is less of a problem.  

My Dear Reader you can't go back and take back words you've spoken in error but going forward you can remember these passages and look up the others that get to the heart of it all. 

Deeds of the tongue are absolutely linked to why we should never allow the sun to go down on our anger. Of the truth that this gives the devil an opportunity. We play right into giving way to sin. It's not temptation at all when we rush headlong into it without thought. 

"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6. Grace...that unmerited, undeserved, treatment of others.  

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

Set Your Mind, Don't Believe Your Eyes

Set Your Mind, Don't Believe Your Eyes
by David Brenneman

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

"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 12:14-21.

"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." Colossians 3:1-3.

"The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?" Psalms 118:6.

"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.

Of the things that have been among the amazing and perhaps even the miraculous in my life, I think the times that my Savior stepped in and saved me from unscrupulous people is the most memorable. 

It's not always easy to face extremely difficult people and keep my thoughts where they should be and to remember that paybacks don't profit me any unless it's through what my Savior does.

I've had my share of honesty dirty lowdown rotten scoundrels in my life.  A few brought me to the brink of a nervous breakdown.  Yet in spite of their tauntings, their outright evil behavior, my Savior stood before me. 

I grew up being taught to defend myself if necessary.  An if the necessary presented itself then I was to be the one to walk away from the confrontation as the winner thereof.  Fighting wasn't to be the first thing for me to do.  Probably learned that before I ever knew of the passage in Romans that we read earlier.

Our lives in Christ are not our own. We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We're going to face difficult and sometimes impossible people.  Jesus said that if they hated Him they would hate us too.

The stories I could tell of what my Savior has done to those who've wronged me probably would make a best seller list.  What He did certainly was beyond whatever plans my sin nature could have come up with.  Because, face it, our minds can get incredibly creative when it comes to thoughts on revenge.

Many years ago Kenny Roger's song "Coward of the County" was extremely popular and I could relate to parts of it. Arron Tippin's "You've Got to Stand for Something" also was and still is a sort of anthem song to a few generations.

The truth is...revenge is a sword that, unless it's wielded by the Lord Jesus Christ is going to cut the person holding it as well as the one receiving it.

It does us no good to dwell on what we'd like to do to people.  Scripture is clear on how we're to be towards those whom are of these unsavory types who come after us.  Scripture doesn't say it will be easy, Scripture just says what we're to do. 

Praying for those who persecute you.  Praying for your enemies.  Behaving with them as Christ would be doing.  Keeping our eyes on Christ the Author and perfecter of our faith.  Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness in the face of such people.  Remembering that our lives are hidden in Christ.  Remembering that we are in His hands at all times.  Remembering that He died even for these kinds of people too.  His words towards those ones who were crucifying Him were to His Father to forgive them for they knew not what they were doing.

Sometimes walking away isn't possible.  I get that and so does Jesus.  Way more than I do.  We don't know what Jesus knows about these people we face each day.  We don't know who's close to salvation in Christ and who isn't. 

We do know that God's Word says that the world watches those who are in Christ.  Those in Satan's grip would love to see Believer's falter and collapse in their faith.

Don't let the things of this world take your mind off of your relationship with Jesus.  Don't be afraid to cry out to Him.  Don't be afraid to tell Him exactly how you feel. 

Consider:

"Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalms 27:14.

:Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.  For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb.  Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.   Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.  For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.  Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.  But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.  The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.  The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming.  The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slay those who are upright in conduct.  Their sword will enter their own heart, And their bows will be broken.  Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked.  For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the Lord sustains the righteous." Psalms 37:1-17.

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,  and do not give the devil an opportunity." Ephesians 4:26-27.

It may not be in this life, it may be at the Final Judgment, but nobody gets away with anything in their lives.  All things are open and laid bare before whom we have to do. 

It can and probably will hurt for a time, but don't let such people rob you of your faith in Christ.  That's their aim.  Get away from whatever you can, when you can.  Pray for deliverance and delivered you will be in His timing...which is always perfect.

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

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

You are in His hands.

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

Getting Life Done Right

Getting Life Done Right
by David Brenneman

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39.

"Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand." Proverbs 19:21.

There's a specific, special, personal,  plan for for the life of a child of God after they come to Christ for salvation. 

Until a person realizes their spiritual state and does come to Christ for salvation, whereby Jesus becomes the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives...the only path before such a person is the path that leads to destruction or better known as Hell.

Not only here in Matthew do we read what Jesus said of what the love of a follower of Jesus Christ ought to be like, but we can read it in Mark 8:34-38 "And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “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 and the gospel’s will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”". As well as in the gospel of Luke "And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.  For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26.

Think on these passages and then add this "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1.

To know what path to take towards fulfilling what we're here to be doing, while growing in Christ, has to begin with where our love is to first be...and who is receiving it...the Lord Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior. 

What are you doing to discover your God-given path for your life in Christ, if indeed you're claiming the Name above all names, Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?

What is occupying your thoughts, your intentions, your actions?

Are you SHOWING your commitment to a life given to Christ for His purposes by prayer and time in His Word?

My Dear Reader, as the Scriptures say, first be sure of your salvation, then live like it's true. 

Do you commit to daily time in the Word of God? 

Do you pray from your heart and not just empty repetition?

How deep is your love for Jesus who saved you? 

Of these plans you have for your today, where all does Jesus fit into them?  How will you show your love towards Him in it? 

This post is as much for all who read it as it is for me. 

I made a commitment to be in the Word almost a decade ago, both morning and evening, and unless I was direly ill I never have missed a day.  The amazing thing to me is what began to happen which is how  things of this world became less and less important to me.  We don't have televisions in our house.  Have no need for them.  It's incredibly rare that I look for a movie to watch on a laptop.  They no longer hold my interest.  Science fiction used to be one solid thing in my life.  While I do occasionally look up this or that in science fiction I don't buy books or have any collections anymore.  My biggest book collection these days is books that have been helping me to grow in Christ.  Study Bibles.  Seeking out the teaching from the Spirit of God who set me in the body of Christ as He saw fit.

The same Spirit sets all Believers within the body of Christ as He sees fit, that's what the Word of God says.  We become His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  AKA that we might discover our purpose that within His plan for us and live towards that end.

If you're claiming the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and aren't living a committed life honoring Him for all He did to save you...I implore you to change your ways.  We also read in the same Bible that we get all other Scriptures from that we give an account of our lives before Him. Our lives lived for Him will produce a crown of righteousness that we will offer back to Jesus in appreciation for all He's done. 

Will you even have enough to form a crown?  Will your life's work show that living for Jesus was your ultimate aim in your life?

Use multiple methods to discover the spiritual gifts given to you.  Then get in the Word of God daily, both morning and evening.  Radically improve your prayer time by being fully honest with yourself and listen for whatever it is that the Spirit has in mind for you to be doing then do it, leaving all the consequences to Him.  It's going to mean giving up things in our lives to make room for God's will for us.

I don't miss what I have been lead to remove from my life.  I do feel pained when I neglect being on time with meeting with Jesus.  While I no longer have close friends that I share life with as I used to have, I most certainly have a friend who sticks closer than a brother, my friend Jesus.

Are you developing your relationship with Jesus or have you let it become stagnant and not as important as it used to be?  Will your life's work burn up completely when He tests it with fire?

You have the opportunity to do better starting today.  Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

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

Here to be Taught, Here to Do

Here to be Taught, Here to Do

by David Brenneman 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

Psalms 32:8

     Today, here are three things you need to know as you wait on the Lord's direction. First, God will show you His will. He desires that you walk according to His plan and assumes responsibility for teaching you how to do so. It is, however, your responsibility to obey what He

leads you to do.

     Second, the Father is committed to your success. From the time you were born, God has been working through the circumstances of your life to train you for His purposes. So commit yourself to following wherever the Lord leads you with confidence that He will equip and empower you to accomplish whatever He's planned for you to do.

     Third, God will redirect you when you make a wrong turn. So do not fear going forward when He calls. No matter how badly you mess up, the Father will take the broken pieces of your life and with the glue of His unconditional love, put it back together. He will take you where you are and help you get back on the right track with His wisdom and strength.

Jesus, thank You for teaching, leading, equipping, and redirecting me because of Your great love. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today. 

There is a divine purpose under Heaven for each and every single Believer in Jesus Christ...yes...even for you...yes you...if you do have Jesus Christ as the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. 

You're not still here just to use up your years of physical life that you have left. You were given spiritual gifts from the Spirit as He saw fit. You were given a divine purpose under Heaven to both grow in Christ and to be a light in this present dark world. 

You weren't given an empty toolbox. You were given the abilities necessary to search out the things of God that make for the righteous life that God desires for you.  

You were given His Word to search diligently. You were granted full access to the Throne Room of God.  

You became His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that you might walk in them.  

So what are you doing with what you've been given? Is it gathering dust? Wrapped up and buried in a hole in the ground? Are you afraid to pursue what the Spirit is leading you to? Are you putting self ahead of what you're to be doing in Christ?

Even Christians break their commitments to others for worldly reasons. Sometimes even selfish or self-centered reasons.  

Even Christians are tempted to put aside the will of God. Essentially that's one of the biggest schemes of the devil. He can't do anything about your being saved but he can make things of this world and selfish desires, selfish choices, more appealing than obeying the voice of God. 

How frequently are you in God's Word? If you're not in it daily, let alone more than once a day, why aren't you? There's no worldly excuse that is acceptable for neglecting being in the Word of God. None. 

How frequently are you talking to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ? How frequently are you talking to your Father in Heaven?

These things are among those that are the will of God for us in Christ.

Give up whatever you need to in order to obey God. It's rather simple.

You might not be facing heavy spiritual battles for a very good reason: You're already where the enemy of God wants you. You're already lukewarm where he wants you and Jesus does not (read Revelation's letters to the Churches). When there's no reason to attack you, Satan's minions go somewhere else. You could be right where they want you. 

Look to what King David said "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. 

King David prayed that prayer. We can too. 

Do we really want to stand before Jesus ashamed of the truth of our lives we lived?  

You who are in Christ have are to be transformed, trained in righteousness, to be adequate, equipped for every good work of God. That's sort of paraphrasing several passages but it's the truth in their meaning for the will of God for us in Christ...our sanctification. 

Give up whatever you must to be living the righteous life that God desires for you. Be it movies, games, sports, reading, television, streaming videos, traveling, whatever isn't allowing you to grow in Christ as the Spirit is charged with doing in your life.  

It's been a difficult, complicated, road at times to truly understand the depth of what Paul was saying when he said "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7. And again with "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:8-12.

Repeatedly in the Scriptures we read "Consider your ways".

My Dear Reader it's infinitely more beneficial to do so now when we can do something about it than when we stand before Jesus. 

Seek the Lord while He may be found. Obey in whatever you're being directed to do. Learn all you can about living the righteous life that God desires for you. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Don't Panic, Pray!

Don't Panic, Pray!

by David Brenneman 

As we place our dependence

upon God, an incredible

freedom and peace will begin

to rest in our hearts. And

reaching that point in our lives

makes every setback worth it.

To You they cried out and

were delivered; in You they

trusted and were not

disappointed.

-PSALM 22:5

God created everything with

a plan, and He has principles

that govern all He does. The

Lord always operates with a

sense of direction and purpose

in mind-not only for us as

individuals, but also to achieve

His universal, eternal goals.

O LORD, You are my God,

I will exalt You, I will give

thanks to Your name;

for You have worked

wonders, plans formed

long ago, with

perfect faithfulness.

-ISAIAH 25:1

"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.

"Why is this happening to me!?!?"

"I can't take it anymore!?!"

"I have no idea WHAT to do!"

You're in the right place. 

Rejoice and be glad in it. 

"Huh?!?" you might respond with. "My world is falling apart! You want me to be happy about it!?!".

Not me...God's Word says that in everything give thanks. Even the things that aren't going well as far as our perceptions go.

Go deeper with "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.

You, hopefully, did come to Christ for salvation at some point in your life. If you did, all the hope that's available in the power of the resurrection of Christ is within your grasp. If you have not, you're pretty much on your own. 

Someone was there to pray me towards salvation in Christ. My prayer for all who read these posts who haven't come to Christ for salvation yet is that they would. 

For those here who have come to Christ but are struggling with their 'world' falling apart...why are you trying to go it alone?  

In Christ means just that...you're following Him, obeying in what He says, following His direction. Sometimes we get ahead of Him and end up in some unique circumstances. He's still there to pull us through. Jesus said, in His model prayer, "your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven". 

If you're still trying to get your will to be done instead of His, you're creating a problem for you.  

You may think your situation is dire, insurmountable, impossible even.  

Fantastic! Jesus also said "And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”" Matthew 19:26.

And think on this: "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.

My Dear Reader...if indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus...you are held safely in His hands. 

Several times Jesus rebuked His Disciples for their lack of faith. They should have known and understood that the Father wouldn't allow anything or anyone to thwart the plans of God for Jesus while Jesus was living for the will of His Father to be completed. 

We, for ten months, could have panicked because of the circumstances of my unemployment. Wondering where was God in all this...truth was He was all over it. He provided every dollar we needed every single month. On top of this He provided food for us and our cats. He kept the lights on and gas in the vehicle's. Kept me busy with odd jobs, learning, restoring my confidence. My mind kept wondering if I was facing age discrimination in the application process. No, it was that I was back in school learning. The new job for me wasn't ready yet. 

You, my Dear Reader, need to re-read Luke 10:38-42 about Mary and Martha.  

As a great hymn says "Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer; Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.".

Turn your eyes from your circumstances and towards your Savior. Take whatever is on your heart to the Lord in prayer. Quit trying to figure out what He's already figured out. 

"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 6:31-34.

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 

Looking to God for Your Why

Looking to God for Your Why

by David Brenneman 

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

"Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27.

Every Christian eventually has an experience that seems totally inconsistent in the life of a child of a loving God. It may involve health, finances, relationships, career, property, or family. Whatever the experience, you will come through it with one nagging question: "Why, Lord?"

     That question is acceptable to God; He is not angered by our desire for answers.- Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah. 

When you encounter a difficult situation in life that looks impossible, what is the first thing you think? For most people, it is, "Oh Lord, what am I going to do?" But that's the wrong question. Instead, the right thing to ask is, "Lord, what are You going to do?" Because, as we are well aware, He is all-powerful, and nothing is too challenging for Him.

     Of course, all of us know that in our minds. But often, when our back is against the wall and we don't know where to turn, we become gripped by the immensity of our predicaments and the disconcerting details that accompany them. It's natural

for us to immediately envision the worst-case scenarios and how helpless we are with our limited resources We become trapped by what we see and hear rather than recall who comes to our aid.

     This is why We must train ourselves to look to the Lord rather than our circumstances. Because when we invite the supernatural, powerful presence of the living God to take hold of our situation, He deals with our difficulties in ways far beyond our imagination. He can get us to the right solution regardless of what we face.- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

A year ago I had been a month into what would be a 10 month hiatus from gainful employment. It certainly would be a time of learning and a time for questioning things in my life.  

Only in some respects was it rough. What it did was to draw me closer to my Savior.

I was hit with some certainly unexpected financial news in recent weeks. Was already having a difficult time with one place, and another comes along that's much bigger than the first. It's medical bills. Evidently the person owing is to pay up as soon as possible yet those doing the billing have 6 years to bill you.  

It's an easy situation where you want to cry out "Why?!?". It's been these same two devotionals that I continue to read through and it's always amazing that God brings the right things to read at the right time. 

We are going to face why moments. 

We are not always going to understand the why's behind the things that the Lord chooses to allow in our lives...no more than Job.  

Yet we are allowed to ask the question and to seek out His wisdom and guidance to deal with what we face. 

Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice is one of Dr. Stanley's Life Principles. 

We can choose to mope and have a pity party, do the old woe is me, or we can pray with all honesty to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and expect God to help.

It's really sad to me when people show their entire lack of hope in their lives. They lay claim to believing in God, even in Jesus, yet there's no fruit to show they ever came to Christ for salvation. 

Trillions of people are in Hell who believed that Jesus was real, and some even believed everything the Bible said about Him.  

Without actually coming to Christ for salvation, without asking Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...you will die in your sins.  

This is at the core of living a life that's dependent upon Christ for dealing with these difficult times and situations. Without a right relationship with Jesus, without knowing Him as your Lord and Savior, you're fooling yourself. 

I know these things are going to be resolved. I know that nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He was already in today before I got here. 

Scripture says He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is not just my Savior, He's the Creator. He's the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. He is over everything that is and what will be. 

He got us through many incredibly big and difficult times and these situations are no different. Satan's minion's aim was to draw us away from God to wallow in self pity, but the reality is God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He allows things because these things draw us to Him. 

These medical bills are just another unknown on top of others but slowly things are getting worked out. Sometimes God answers through others, some of the times He has us pick up a shovel to start the digging to move the mountain before He steps in. 

We do ourselves much harm by constantly whining, griping and endlessly complaining because we are showing we aren't relying on Christ. 

Daily we pray, daily we await His response. Daily we do whatever it is for us to do and daily we thank Him for all He's done and is still doing. Thankful that we do have a Savior who cares intimately about everything to do with us.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

We will be tempted to go it alone and to try in our own strength and understanding. The wise thing to do is take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Look for God in your situation and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 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. 

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

In Your Heart

In Your Heart
by David Brenneman

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

"Trust and Obey"
Author: John H. Sammis (1887)

We walk into an unknown-to-us world every morning we are granted a new day to breathe.

For those who are among the saved in Christ Jesus...things are supposed to be different for us.

The world is going to be nipping at our heels to get our hearts to indeed lean on our own understanding.  Satan's going to push...in whatever his minions and he are allowed...to cause us troubles in our lives. 

The Scriptures point us to the truths  about being persecuted.  About the troubles that the world will try to cause those in Christ. 

Then we have that passage where it says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Praying and prayer cannot be stressed enough for the Believer.  In no way should prayer ever be a second or third thought when travails come upon us.  Before they do, while they're present, and afterwards prayer should be our first priority.

The world that Satan's running is the opposite of what it means to trust and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am usually more fond of these older hymns than the modern music being created because these songs of what modern man calls the early Church were far more rooted in Scripture.

Songs that made the person singing stop and consider the message within.  The words sticking with them after they've been sung.

There's always good reasons why these older songs of the faith go so deep.  Many were born of personal tragedy or great losses suffered. 

If ever you want a true spiritual musical history lesson go look up the stories behind some famous hymns.

Sometimes when spiritual battles come my way, hymns are what the Spirit brings to sooth me.  It's funny how it's mostly never the new songs that I have heard in Church. 

When pain and sorrow are what's on my heart...leaning on such wonderful hymns is like a balm.

When uncertainty is knocking on the door, a good hymn helps right the ship n gets me in a better place.

When loneliness grips me, which is more often than most everyone knows about, hymns bring my mind back to my relationship with my Savior. 

It's rather appropriate that my mind went to Trust and Obey this morning because of our current financial situation.  Satan's minions would love it if we fell to pieces because of something we weren't expecting hits us.  As another good song goes "count your blessings name them one by one, see what all the Lord has done".

These times in which we live aren't going to get better.  Biblical truths about these last days before Jesus returns point to things proceeding from bad to worse.  Hymns of the faith are among the things we're directed to focus on during times like this.

"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.

Which, by what this passage explicitly points to, means we're not to be going it alone in Christ.  You can't speak to one another if you're by yourself.

An apt song this morning as well is "This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!".

Today is a day that the Lord created...rejoice and be glad in it...that He's already here before you got here.  He's already working things for your good.  Give up worrying about what's in front of you.  Jesus isn't.  He promised to never leave you or forsake you.  Rejoice in that too.

Pray on, pray over, pray through.
Singing, making melody in your heart towards God.

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