A Tour of Your Heart

A Tour of Your Heart 

by David Brenneman 

King David was known as a man after God's own heart.  

There have been several movies and probably more than enough television shows that present a world other than what you see.  Illusionists make a living out of making people see something other than what they think they see.

Was reading in Psalms and Romans today.  I, for the first time, caught a verse that in light of the picture I used today, stood out.  Psalms 72:20 NASB "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended."

It was the end of a chapter, as we parsed them out to be, on the Righteous King.

We have the Righteous King in King Jesus.  Scripture says it is He who searches the hearts. He doesn't have to imagine what's going on in you.  Let that thought sink in. He does not have to imagine what is going on in your heart. 

He already knows.  He knows your very intentions that are right, real and true about you that you haven't even shared with yourself.  In Him is no shifting shadow. There is no deception. He doesn't deceive nor can you deceive Him. 

We often don't take stock of our hearts. We are quick to point out memories of hurts by others or successes in our lives.  We do not look to what it is Jesus is doing in our hearts and minds.

He has our sanctification in mind, always, not part of the time.  

We aren't here, honestly, to do our best for ourselves, our families, our employers, those we run into on the streets.  Colossians 3 says as unto the Lord.  I try to have that mindset.  I have had several Godly men counsel me in the wisdom that I am not identified by my failures or my successes. I am defined by who I am in Christ Jesus. 

In one such movie that was technically claiming that purgatory exists...there were good and bad versions of it.  We know that purgatory no longer exists after Jesus arose from the dead. We know that this movies premise isn't true. Another lie of Satan to distract.  So why bring it up? Because we all have wrong ideas about this life and many have a wrong idea of what's coming.

We who are in Christ, have Christ within us, working to make us more like Christ. Unfortunately painful experiences are part of that process.  We, by our very nature, prefer the darkness.  Darkness is sin. Jesus exposes sin. Sin is what put Jesus on the cross.  Those who die without salvation in Christ must pay for their own sins.  Without salvation in Christ Jesus there was no other way to cancel the debt that sin created. 

Coming to Christ for salvation is but the beginning. Jesus told the Disciples that they would be fisher's of men.  Lives would forever be changed because of them and the work they would do in Jesus name. 

We often don't look at our hearts as something needing an extreme home makeover.  We are quite fond of how our hearts are. We really think we can give really good suggestions on improvements to our hearts to God. That we know JUST what would make this or that better. We point to those happy times in our lives as evidence.  Jesus smiles and says you haven't seen anything yet. 

We then go through some very rough times. Rough waters as I have been having in recent months.  In deciding to move to where we are it had everything to do with our sanctification.  It certainly wasn't happening where we used to live. Unhappiness with brief moments of happiness somewhat describes 21 years. Going church to church in search of a place to grow in Christ Jesus. 

No company had my sanctification in mind.  No group of people outside of the churches we tried had our sanctification in Christ Jesus in mind.  A few people that God caused to cross paths with us encourage us to give it to God. To trust in what God was leading us to. 

We don't really realize that part of Psalms 23. Leading us through the valley of the shadow of death...means quite often us kicking and screaming all the way.  We often don't realize it's not by the hand that Jesus leads us through, but by the scruff of the neck. We either lament the place we are or would get too comfortable there.  Jesus has no intention of leaving anyone in that valley.  It's as abrasive as it needs to be to bring about our sanctification. That's its only use. To help us become more like Christ and maybe a few others along the way. 

We really need to take off the rose colored glasses.  To quit with the wishful thinking. Jesus has more in mind for us in Him than we can possibly imagine..

Our hurts and our good times do not define us.  We are identified as children of God. We are joint heirs with Jesus to the kingdom of God.  We aren't who Satan tries to convince us that we are. 

In Christ I am a new creation. 

In Christ I am loved by my Father in Heaven. 

In Christ I am loved by my Savior.

In Christ I have salvation that's secured by the Spirit of God.

In Christ I am not criticized.

In Christ I am being changed into the likeness of Christ by His work in me. 

In Christ Jesus I have more love than I can ever know what to do with. 

In Christ Jesus. 

Examining your life, your heart, you see what you have been making important in your life. If it isn't what Jesus thinks of you, is it worth your time? If what you find in your heart isn't glorifying God, is it worth your time?  The definition of repentance is to turn away and go the opposite direction. To stop what you are doing and replace it with something beneficial to your growth in Christ Jesus.  Jesus will give you the opportunity to willingly let go of what isn't for your sanctification. To a point.  If you're resisting, it will get really uncomfortable.  Jesus loves you and I too much to leave our filthiness on us. Be it our clothing or our lifestyle.

Go through your heart. Even look at what you ask for in prayer. Do you honestly treat the Spirit as your personal Butler?  Do you at all have a grateful or thankful heart?  Do you lift up the name of Jesus or ?  

Take a tour of your heart.  Ask Jesus what else needs to go if you're daring enough.  We are His workmanship. Workmanship has the understanding that it's continual thing as long as we have these imperfect bodies.  Read it for yourself in other parts of the Bible, but Jesus said essentially that what God starts, God finishes. Nothing that He begins does He ever not complete.  Scripture says He that began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6.

We may indeed face rough days. Rough seasons. But we will never remain in those rough times or seasons.  We will be scrubbed for sure. Removing what isn't going to help us grow in Christ.  

As you look around your heart, take a serious inventory of what you find. 

Don't get caught up in pointing to a painful past. Your painful past isn't who you are. 

Don't get caught up in pointing to those things you think you did right.  Those only might have helped you become more like Christ.

Keep your eyes on your Savior and your Lord.  Not on what you understand because our understanding and His aren't the same.  Jesus knows every conceivable outcome of every thought and intention we and every breathing human being can have.  He is working out our sanctification and working out what it's taking to fulfill the Scriptures.  That's it. It's honestly not peace on Earth, goodwill towards men.  

As a friend pointed to yesterday, are you seeing the fruits of the Spirit in your life in the last week?  If not, why not?  If we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, those things ought to be growing in us.

What do you find in your tour?  Ask Jesus for His help in letting go of those things that aren't causing growth in Christ Jesus. 

Worship Isn't Just For Sunday

Worship Isn't Just For Sunday 

by David Brenneman 

A grand blessing to having most of an acre to mow is that with my noice canceling headphones worship comes with me as I mow.  I can belt out any song and quite literally Jesus is the only One who can hear the cry of my heart. 

Jim Reeves was always a fantastic artist to me. I can sing along with a great many of his songs mainly because we share the same vocal range.

My Cathedral - Jim Reeves 

"My cathedral has a ceiling of blue

My cathedral 'neath the sky
Where I may lift up my eyes unto the hills
And hear music from a stream rippling by

My cathedral has an alter of flowers
Their fragrant incense fills the air
In my cathedral I am closer to him
Than I could be anywhere

For here I pray
In a place so grand
The carpet I kneel on
Was made by his own hand

My cathedral has candles lighted by the stars
And mighty pillars of trees
No other cathedral is so beautiful
For God made my cathedral for me

We don't need to be in Church to lift up praise to God. We don't need to be anywhere specific. We just need to mean it.

That's the difference between singing and worship. The intent of the heart. 

Our everyday can be worship and realistically ought to be worship. Colossians 3:23-24 tells us that whatever we do is to be done as unto the Lord. 

Our thoughts should not be focused on the world or immersed in thinking that isn't really God honoring. Yes we have a job to do, be it at home or a business, but what and how we do it is critical. 

Colossians 3:17 NASB "Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Our world wants people to glory in the world. Our world's corporate leaders want people to glory in their products and services.  God says He will not share His glory with anyone. Satan wants the glory that belongs to God. 

You and I can hand deliver glory back to God in our praise and worship. We can in our prayers and daily living.  

1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God."

Proverbs 11:14 NASB "Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory."

Setting our minds on the things that are above...

"The mind of a person plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9 NASB. 

Where Does Your Mind Go?  When It's idle, when it's not, are you intentional in your worship time?  When feel it least is when you need to worship the Lord Jesus Christ the most.

Life isn't about us getting our way. 

Life is about His Will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

Life isn't about us changing the world for the world's sake.

Life is about being in the harvest of God looking for those hearts that are open and ready for the Gospel message. 

Life is full of ups and downs. We need to recharge as much if not moreso than even the Disciples. They didn't live in information overload. 

We need to step out of our world and into a time of worship where our minds are off our troubles and the troubles of others. 

Saw something yesterday in that this world is preparing for war, Heaven is preparing for a Wedding.  For those who are in Christ Jesus, who have been saved, it's our Wedding.  Much rejoicing goes into a wedding.

Our lives, when we focus on worship of God, are enriched when we do.  We give praise and receive God's blessings. We give of our hearts and get more peace than we almost know what to do with. 

You don't focus on those being critical or condescending or negative when you are praising Jesus.  

You don't think of all that's wrong when everything to do with Jesus is right.

Find a place to be your place to worship Jesus.  Turn off the radio, television, even the internet, and turn on, turn up, the music that helps you to set your mind on things above.  

Satan's wanting us to forget who we are and who's we are. 

Satan's wanting us to blend in with the world rather than to be those set apart from the world in Christ Jesus that we are. 

Satan's best chains are those we help invent to create our own peace and not use the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

We need to lift up Jesus alone, the Author and the Perfector of our faith.  We need to remember we are the Bride of Christ. We need to remember and we can in our times of praising God. 

Where Does Your Mind Go?

Where Does Your Mind Go?

Been an interesting week.  Really was a mental week.  Had much in it both at work and at home.  But the true test is where did my mind go in these things that came up?  

In our world today we will be tempted to look anywhere else and in anything else rather than setting our minds on the things that are above.  We can and will convince ourselves that man-made plans and tools are the way towards building happiness, contentment and personal peace.  That we can hold off confrontation and criticism if we just do this or that. 

We won't be reviewed by Jesus for our physical welfare. It's the deeds done in the body for Jesus that will matter.  

We can set up things in our lives and not realize that they are idols.  Anything we set our minds to, apart from a life lived for Jesus that's focused on growing in Him, can be an idol. 

We will always be tempted to go an easier route that takes us away from suffering in Christ Jesus. The thing is...remembering Paul's final words to Timothy. He FOUGHT the good fight.  It was a daily battle for him to live for Jesus. He finished the race. He was focused on the race. He set his mind on the prize at the end. 

The things offered in this world will always try to get us off that road to Heaven.  Everything imaginable because Satan does not want people focused on a right relationship with Jesus above all else.  He wants us convinced, at the bare minimum, of Jesus AND this or that.  A divided heart. 

Where does your mind go in your day?  Do you at least try to set your mind on things above?  Do you get consumed with anything in this life and are not focused on the prize as Paul was?  Are you fighting the good fight or have you given in to worldly ideas?  

In your daily life are you at a minimum pointing people to Jesus?  

In your daily thinking is it on your walk with Jesus?

In your daily routine is it where it ought to be in Christ?  

Jesus seeks worshippers who worship in Spirit and in truth. 

Is Jesus all you really need? Or are you dillusional in thinking you need Jesus AND this or that.  That anything in this life is necessary plus Jesus in order to succeed. 

Mary was commended because she chose the greater thing of just being at the feet of Jesus rather than anything else. 

In looking at what you know about your life, of what you seem to think as important, be it health, wealth or prosperity or perceived personal happiness, would you really be commended by Jesus in any of it?  

Ephesians 4:15-16 NASB " but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

Growing in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.   

If I point people to things in this world rather than Jesus, regardless of what it is, then I am pointing them AWAY from Jesus.  

Where does your mind go when it's idle? 

Where does your thoughts go when life gets difficult?  When this or that happens, do you press on in your walk with Jesus or look for worldly solutions to Spiritual matters?  

Setting our minds on the things that are above.  Being at peace in Christ Jesus.  

He is the Author and the Perfector of our faith.  Not anything or anyone in our world.  

Romans 12:1 NASB "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."  This ties in directly with Luke 9:23 NASB "And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Is what we are thinking, what we are doing, acceptable to God?  Remember in the last days people will be lovers of self.  

Much to consider in daily living.  

Life is never living for Jesus AND anything else. Where does your mind go?

To Be Open To Be Taught from God

To Be Open To Be Taught from God

by David Brenneman 

"“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name,‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’" Jeremiah 33:2-3 NASB 

"“All your sons will be taught by the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great." Isaiah 54:13 NASB 

"Who is the person who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose." Psalm 25:12 NASB 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;

I will advise you with My eye upon you." Psalm 32:8 NASB 

We live certainly in a world where the thoughts of many threaten to overwhelm the teachings of God.  We get so much information that we often overflow it into electronic technology to keep track of it all. 

Which is by design of the prince of the power of the air.  Satan's best work is on overwhelmed, overworked, oppressed people.  Those who have been beaten down by life, for Believers it's those who have not returned often enough to the well of the Spirit of God to be refreshed. 

We always have only two roads in front of us at all times.  God's plan, His purpose, and our plans and purpose.   

We are so easily deceived by what the world offers because Satan's had centuries to perfect it.  We need to remember Paul's words at the end of his life. Stay the course, run the race, finish well. 

As one once said the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Temptation takes on every NECESSARY form in order to change the course of the river of our lives.  

We who are in Christ Jesus are to be looking for our sanctification in Christ Jesus.  

The Bible says we are set apart for the work of God while here on Earth.  We were placed where we would do the most effective good for the body of Christ by God. Not our own will to be done but rather His to be done in our lives.  

Watching what we say what we think about and what we do.  

When we speak are our words measured, seasoned, as if to lift up God and others?  

When we do what we do, are we pointing people to Jesus or something else?

When we look at what occupies our time, is it pointing to God or to what amounts to idols? 

That opening passage means a lot to me.  When reading my Bible and all the sudden other passages pop into my head, that's of God. 

When I think about others, and begin praying for them, that's of God. 

When going about my day and I can see people differently and it's because of being with God, that too is of God. 

We can so easily be taken in by the temptation to take the easy road. To go to where there little to no conflicts.  To want a life free from stress and strife.  To be honest and up front, we who are living lives in Christ Jesus will suffer. 2 Timothy 3:12 NASB "Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Satan will indeed tempt us in every way to accept a life free of conflict and strife.  But that's not what's in store for Believers. 

We should seek to be taught of God and seek out the sanctification that's His Will for us in Christ Jesus.  

I don't get on corporate bandwagons to live for the company.  I indeed like where I work but that's where it ends.  Anything more is paramount to misplaced worship. 

We can easily be doing things, say things, that unfortunately are encouraging others to worship things of this world.  

I have learned a lot about a lot of things in this life, but it's rubbish next to what the Spirit wants to teach me.  

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

Point people to Jesus not products or companies.  Everything man-made is flawed. Regardless of branding it's all imperfect. Nothing from diets to vehicles is perfect for everyone.  

We have a singular mission in this life. Point people to Jesus. Live such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.  This is going to mean pain and suffering at times.  The Spirit has surgeries to do in us to move us towards sanctification.  We will not be asked by Jesus what we did for mankind. We will be asked about what we did for Him. We won't be graded on company records or reports. But on what deeds we did in the body for Jesus. 

We can indeed be tempted to be taught of the world. As a song says "I'd Rather Have Jesus".

"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold

I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today"

You were given choice because of the cross of Jesus Christ.  Choice is a dangerous thing when not tempered by wisdom.  Knowledge is useless without wisdom.  The only wisdom that's right and true is from God.  

The truths of God’s Word shape lives. Not the words of man.  Not the work of his or her hands. 

The Bible says of itself that it's sharper than any two edged sword.  Able to go places in people that our best thoughts and intentions can go. 

We can't have two masters. God’s Word tells us that too. You live for God or live for the world. 

Becoming more like Christ Jesus is more important than even ourselves.  We moved to where we are today because of the Godly wisdom of being told to go where we would find sanctification.  

Our careers are rubbish in light of sanctification. Our hobbies, our jobs, everything from health to intellect is worthless in light of becoming more like Christ Jesus.  Take up your own cross and follow Me is the command.  You cannot hold onto anything in this life and that cross. That cross will take everything you have and that which the Spirit supplies in order to make it in this life in a God honoring way.

We have to stay true to our identity in Christ Jesus.  Indeed the Disciples were correct in that they left everything to follow Jesus.  That's the plan of God for all who believe.  

What good is anything this world offers if you aren't right with Jesus?  What good is feeling good, what good is well...health, wealth and prosperity?  We can make idols of anything that we set our minds on.  We unknowingly trade our sanctification for things of this world when those things consume our time, energy and effort. 

Jesus commended those who would sit at His feet and just be with Him.   Would you be commended by Jesus for your life in this moment?  Would you be?  Do you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness? Do you do what you do for the glory of God?  Are the words that you speak, the desire of your heart, point to growing in Christ Jesus? 

Pressing On

Pressing On

by David Brenneman 

Sometimes life certainly goes places that you never expected it to go.  Sometimes pressing on is all that you can do because that's all there is to do.  

King David was on the run a lot.  He often had time to think about how incredulous his situation was.  Named King in place of Saul yet it would be years before he actually would reign.  

Joseph was at home one day and within a day, sold off by his own family into slavery.  

Noah was told that end of all things was before the Lord and he was to build the Ark.  Little did he know it would be over a hundred years later that he would use it.

That storm that I've mentioned driving through last year was an exercise in pressing on.  

We press on in one of two ways.  Either we push ourselves to keep going or God takes us by the hand and pulls us through.  

The valley of the shadow of death isn't a vacation resort nor is it any place to stop for a brief respite. 

Life takes unexpected twists and turns all the time.  We can't anticipate everything. We can hope for one thing and God allows or initiates something else we never saw coming. 

Trusting in the Lord at times like this is paramount.  It was interesting to read the verse of the day today as 1 Samuel 16:7 NASB "But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”"

We read through the Psalms of David confessing the same thing of how the Lord looks at the heart.  

In the Gospels we read of why Jesus wouldn't trust Himself to man...He knew what was in the heart of man.  

This morning is a painful one for me, but, Jesus is still Jesus, and He’s still making a way, still encouraging me to press on.

Philippians 3:14 NASB "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB "Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

That one part "let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus", that part means pressing on.  It means regardless of understanding why things happen or are allowed to happen we keep our eyes only on Jesus.  We are not God to where we understand the hearts of mankind.  

Praying is where I must go and praying is what I will do.  That's what the Father did in the Prodigal Son's case.  Every single day because hope always exists while people are still alive. Pressing on in prayer.  

I know not what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.  

I am and always will be a big fan of Charley Pride.  One of his gospel songs "This Highway Leads to Glory" is fitting to the idea of running the race well. It's fitting to not giving into the world or the world's ideas on success.

"I remember when I was a little boy

Down on an ole country farm
We'd go to church on Sunday and I'd hear the preacher say
If you want to see my Jesus you gotta stay on the King's highway

This highway leads to glory but it's no easy ride
You'll find all kind of exits can throw you off your stride
Some will lead to fortune and others lead to fame
Some will lead you so far wrong you won't return again

Oh you just stay between the white lines
Obey all the right signs
Keep your eyes open all the time
Oh you just stay between the white lines
Never pass o're the yellow line
And you'll get to heaven right on time

Satan's on this highway he walks on every side
Tryin' to flag you down don't give him a ride
He will try to stop you at just any cost
You may stop too long and your soul maybe lost

Oh you just stay between the white lines
Obey all the right signs
Keep your eyes open all the time
Oh you just stay between the white lines
Never pass o're the yellow line
And you'll get to heaven right on time
Oh yes now you'll get to heaven right on time"

We are easily wounded and easily deceived.  Adam and Eve had perfect brains that used all of their brain capacity. They still sinned.  We at best are using 3 to 6 percent of our brain capacity.  Understanding doesn't come naturally. Wisdom is only wisdom when it's from God through prayer.  

Pressing on is often difficult but necessary.  The road before us is for us to travel.  We go where our Shepherd says. Whereas it would be always fantastic to have like-minded people with us on that journey, sometimes we won't have that. 

Pray on it , Pray in it, Pray through it....

Those Hands

Those Hands

by David Brenneman 

Living in a new place, for those who don't do the satellite radio thing, out of necessity you have to find new radio stations.  I found one here that plays the older Gaither style music.  The kind you find at the tours that my Wife and I have had the privilege to be at. 

One such time of tuning in, I heard a song that was about nothing but the hands of Jesus.  I believe it was "Those Hands" by the Down East Boys.  

It was just one of those songs that evoked a lot of thinking about Jesus. 

I cannot yet locate the typed lyrics for that song but these are the thoughts that came to me.

Those Hands knew how to craft world's. 

Those Hands knew how to form me in my mother’s womb before I was. 

Those Hands knew how to change the direction of nature. 

Those Hands knew how to move the nations. 

Those Hands rested on Abraham's shoulder. 

Those Hands held a basket with one called Moses inside. 

Those Hands created the Heavens we see at night. 

Those Hands

Those Hands hold the broken hearted  

Those Hands hold the lives of trillions on their way in His protection 

Those Hands 

Those Hands were open to welcome hugs from children to bless them

Those Hands turned tables of in a Temple 

Those Hands shook the hands of many who didn't know who He was 

Those Hands patted people on the back to encourage their pursuit of a life in Christ 

Those Hands 

Those Hands were abused, nailed to a cross 

Those Hands were there for Thomas to see

Those Hands...where the lifeblood of my Savior came out for me 

Those Hands could build things with wood as His Earthly Dad would show Him how. That, I find amazing to consider.  The Hands that hold the Heavens were taught how to work with wood. What a thought!  How troubling and humbling it must have been for Joseph to realize that he was teaching God how to make a living in his world.  

That Joseph too, had questions. 

We would be hard pressed not to have heard Mark Lowery's "Mary Did You Know?".  

I have often wondered about Joseph.  

He held Jesus in his hands.  He probably helped teach the one who walked among the stars how to walk on Earth.  He helped teach Him how to talk. How to hold things with those hands that made the world.  What thoughts Joseph must have had!  For men feeling adequate for a job is huge. How do you feel adequate about raising the Son of God?  

That song really made me stop and think about life in a different way.   Jesus's hands did so much and are a symbol to all that "It is FINISHED!" happened.  His hands and His feet.  

We often do not marvel at the complexity of the hand until its immobilized. 

In your day today look around you and look at what's passed through His hands to get to you.   Scripture says that we who are in Christ have us in His very Hands. 

What are you going through that's been allowed by Him to mould and shape your life?

We are His workmanship...crafted by His Hands in much the same way as Adam and Eve were crafted by Him at the beginning of creation. 

We are placed, each one of us, in His body as He sees fit.  It's not on us to change that. It's not for us to reject that calling by which we have been called. Those Hands placed us there for His purpose and His reasons. 

His hands hold us when life is hard. When we are being lead through the valley of the shadow of death. His Hands hold that rod and that staff.  His Hands lay ahold of that stray one of us and brings us back to His fold. 

His Hands.  We have much to be thankful for if we but choose to open our eyes to see.  

Those Hands were stretched out on a cross at Calvary for you and me.  

Those Hands are as well as His Feet, that hole in His side, are all the evidence needed to show the Father the my sins are forgiven, I have been pardoned, I am adopted into the family of God. 

It's amazing what we can see when we stop to look.  We see things but don't see them.  A storyline in a television show is about a genius explaining to a mother what is really going on with her son because he understands her son.  After he's done she finally sees her son in a new light.  Understanding has come.  He's much more than she ever thought about. 

We miss out in life when we don't recognize the Hands of Jesus shaping our lives.  We give credit to others or even ourselves when it's always only been Jesus.  We give credit where credit isn't due.  We point people to man's solutions and it was really the work of God in us.

We only grow in Christ by the Spirit of God and our obedience. Our faith grows because we trust in what isn't seen and it's impact on what we do see. 

What are the things that the Spirit has really been trying to show you that you aren't seeing?  

In the Old Testament we read of some trusting in horses some in chariots by the writer trusts in the Name of our God. 

Man made things are no substitute for a right relationship with Jesus. Man made anything.  Man's thoughts are not His thoughts nor our ways His ways as the Bible says.

We cannot understand the mind of God but we can be taught of God if we are open to doing so.  Setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

Oh the Hands of my Savior.  

Persevering When Life Hurts

Persevering When Life Hurts 

by David Brenneman 

Oh wow. What a topic to write about.  I, like you, am often hurt by life.  It's dirty, it's painful at times. I often think of a Toby Mac song when life's taken a turn unexpected and I find myself dropped to my knees.  Music often is my go to when life isn't making much sense. 

"You turned away when I looked you in the eye,

And hesitated when I asked if you were alright,
Seems like you're fighting for your life,
But why? Oh why?
Wide awake in the middle of your nightmare,
You saw it comin' but it hit you outta nowhere,
And there's always scars
When you fall that far

We lose our way,
We get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again,
One day you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,
Lose our way,
We get back up again,
So get up, get up,
You gonna shine again,
Never too late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

You're rolled out at the dawning of the day
Heart racin' as you made you little getaway,
It feels like you've been runnin' all your life
But, why? Oh why?

So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars,
When you fall that far

We lose our way,
We get back up again
Never too late to get back up again,
One day, you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down but not out forever,
Lose our way, we get back up again,
So get up, get up
You gonna shine again
It's never too late, to get back up again
You may be knocked down, but not out forever,
May be knocked down, but not out forever!

This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken,
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin',
I am so broken
This is love callin' love callin

We lose our way, (way way way ay ay ay)
We get back up, (get back up again)
It's never too late (late late late ate ate ate)
You may be knocked down but not out forever!

Lose our way,
We get back up again,
So get up get up
You gonna shine again
Never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,

This is love (lose our way) callin' love callin' (get back up again)
To the broken
This is love (never too late) callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love (lose our way) callin' love callin' (we get back up again)
To the broken
This is love (never too late) callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

This is love callin' love callin'
Out to the broken,
This is love callin'" - Toby Mac "Get Back Up"

I often do a psychological "turtle" when I am hurt by someone. I withdraw rather than lash out.   I tend to dwell on the what went wrong, on where did I go left rather than right.  Was it me or was it the other person? 

I am reminded, as usual, of something out of things to do with television and movies.  A storyline of someone used to do horrific things and they lived to tell about it only after a family member finally got them enraged enough to speak the truth out loud.  To tell the raw truth at last.  The family member who had intentionally provoked the altercation was at last able to help. Pointing out that what they went through was going to be with them a long time. The real decision would be where they would deal with it. Either tucked away where it was safely away from other dangers or out where they had always lived. 

I was asked to write this week about perseverance.  It's often a difficult path to take.  We often get to forgetting that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Jesus has absolutely no intention of allowing us to live there.  We often forget that we are a work in progress.  That we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. We often forget that we who are the called in Christ Jesus will suffer. All these are in the Bible. 

We're going to hurt. We are going to have to choose which path to go. Staying on the path, the road, set before us, or to run off that path to what's "safe".

The thing to note is workmanship is an ongoing process. We who have salvation in Christ Jesus have been placed in the body of Christ as HE SEES FIT.  We have a job to do that's for us to do. Regardless of how bruised up we get along the way.

We will indeed face temptations to walk away to whatever seems safe. I certainly can recount stories of times in my life when that's what I did.  Jesus patiently waiting for me to recognize the error of my ways. To wait for me to realize that Jesus is with me, whether in the lions den, or in the sunshine. 

Pushing through.  Toby Mac also has another song called "Move".  

This is a portion of the lyrics. 

"Another heartbreak day

Feels like you're miles away
Don't even need no shade
When your sun don't shine, shine

Too many passin' dreams
Roll by like limousines
It's hard to keep believin'
When they pass you by and by

I know your heart been broke again (oh-oh-oh)
I know your prayers ain't been answered yet (oh-oh-oh)
I know you're feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain't over yet, ain't over yet, so

Keep walkin', soldier keep movin' on
(Move) Keep walkin', until the mornin' comes
(Move) Keep walkin', soldier keep movin' on
And lift your head, it ain't over yet, ain't over yet

Echoin' inside your head
Are the words that your sweet momma said (hey)
"Shoot for the moon, my dear"
So you took aim out of this atmosphere (hey)
Between high stakes and pump fakes
You're feelin' like you can't buy a break
I can hold your hand, but I can't turn your eyes to freedom (oh-ooh)

I know your heart been broke again (oh-oh-oh)
I know your prayers ain't been answered yet (oh-oh-oh)
I know you're feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head (lift your head), it ain't over yet, ain't over yet so

Keep walkin', soldier keep movin' on
And lift your head (lift your head), it ain't over yet, ain't over yet

Hold on, hold on
Lord ain't finished yet
Hold on, hold on
He'll get you through this
Hold on, hold on
These are the promises
I never will forget
I never will forget so"

I have dreams of things that I would love to accomplish. I have neither the time nor the money for some of them.  I have several projects that I have practically everything to work on but life happens and the needs of others keep those things on a shelf.  For the moment my dreams lay on a shelf unfulfilled.  The needs of others need to come first.  

There's times when I want to indeed withdraw from life because of life's situations that hurt me deeply and I don't have the ability to tell anyone but Jesus of how strong the hurt is.  

Jesus says to take courage because He has overcome the world.  

We indeed have an Advocate who relates to everything Satan can throw at us because Satan threw everything possible he is capable of at Jesus. That's what overcoming the world means.  Satan did his level best to drive Jesus to the pavement and He simply got back up again and raised from the dead. 

Jesus faced betrayal. He faced heartbreak. He faced lousy work conditions. Faced family members who took issue with Him.  Faced everything we possibly could face. 

We who are in Christ are not alone. We cannot retreat into a work environment, an employer, to get away from what hurt us. We cannot go and hide to get away. We are called to run the race, to finish the fight, to strive to hear "Well done good and faithful". 

"I know your prayers ain't been answered yet (oh-oh-oh)

I know you're feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head (lift your head), it ain't over yet, ain't over yet so

Keep walkin', soldier keep movin' on"

The saints of the Old Testament could only persevere because they looked forward to the cross of Jesus Christ.  

You and I can run from what hurt us or we can get back up, and press on towards the upward call in Christ Jesus that we have been called to be.  

"I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me,
the world behind me, the cross before me;
no turning back, no turning back."