Yes, Indeed.

Yes, Indeed. 

by David Brenneman 

“Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A battered reed He will not break off, And a smoldering wick He will not put out, Until He leads justice to victory. And in His name the Gentiles will hope.” Matthew‬ ‭12:18‭-‬21‬.

‬"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” ‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:2‬.

Indeed it is true that in the name of Jesus is whom people have placed their hope for centuries.  Indeed again He has become our salvation. 

What do you think of when you consider your days on this Earth?  Do you relate your going out and coming in with regards to the great things that He has done for you and with you?  

Jesus made a promise to you and I that He would never leave us or forsake us.  The proof is there if you but look.  Take a good look at all the Kings of Israel, with whom many Jesus put up with regardless of their evil intent.  Jesus would not forsake His word to King David to keep someone on the Throne.  I can imagine that with each successive King, Satan was wanting to turn the screws a little tighter in asking permission to do more evil through these men to see if he could get Jesus to end that commitment to King David.  Echoes of the interaction in Heaven concerning Job.

Jesus always keeps His word even when we have a great many difficulties understanding the past, the present and the future. 

We don't understand adversity. We honestly don't understand blessings either for that matter. We get blessings and don't realize what the intent was from God, only what it did for our momentary situation. We don't understand why our travels in this world take us through that valley of the shadow of death.  We equally don't understand fully what the mountains are for either.   We can't wrap our minds around the fullness of Jesus in our lives. 

Indeed there's much to look into with regards to this relationship with Jesus. Much more than we've tried looking for. 

Much more than meets the eye. 

"but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”" 

1 Corinthians 2:9.  

Is it sinking in yet?  Has the thought crossed your mind as it did for Moses?

"The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.  So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”" Exodus 3:2-3.

How curious are you about this righteousness life that God desires for you?  

Indeed all of this is because it's in the name of Jesus Christ that all of those not Jewish in decent are born.  There are indeed Jews who come to Christ for salvation as well.  No matter what Satan attempts, they too are subject to another promise of God...they remain His chosen people.  

Take time to think about your relationship with Jesus. Is it personal?  Is it more than casual?  It must be more than casual if it's going to develop into something significant and rewarding.  

Indeed Jesus went through the most horrific time imaginable in all of history...to save the likes of you and I.  Indeed, again, if it weren't for what Jesus did, most people in human history wouldn't be able to approach Him.  

Jesus loves you and I in ways that only time is going to reveal.  

Set aside more time with Jesus to find out more.  Get real in your relationship with Him.  For the love of God is why we remain...to learn, to grow, to tell and show others where to find this love that surpasses all comprehension and understanding. 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus...look full in His wonderful face...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace...

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Born for this? Yes, Yes You Were

Born for this? Yes, Yes You Were 

by David Brenneman 

When you look at your life, do you ever look for the fingerprints of your Savior?

Do you look for the hand of God in your life?  It's there if you but look. 

Jesus said that you are in His hands. 

Do you believe this?

Jesus said that no one is strong enough to take you from there. Again, do you believe that?

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Our world wants us so consumed with self that there's no room for us to live for Jesus.   Take a step back and look at it all. Look at the emphasis on success, degrees, certifications, education, possessions!  Look at the content of the music of the world. The content of all forms of media for that matter.  It's all about how to get the most out of our sin nature, not about how to get to know your Savior more.  

We were not born in some obscure time or place.  You were born in such a time as this for His express purpose.  Not only that!  You were born for a real relationship with Jesus. 

Struggling with life is quite often our bucking the trend.  It's our standing our ground. We choose when and where to dig in our heels.  We choose what we dig our heels in about.

We choose and we are warned repeatedly in the Scriptures to take great care in what we choose to set our minds upon.  It's not some easy ride.  If it were, why would we be told to take every single thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus?

What are you embracing, wrapping your arms and head around that you won't let go of, that's gotten in between your relationship with Jesus and you?   Our world teaches us to do so from before kindergarten.  We continue it through adolescence and into adulthood.  

We are taught how to craft idols. How to name them so that they won't bother our conscience.  In the order of how the 10 Commandments are written, we find various truths about idolatry that the world loves.

We were born for a reason. Not because a male and female got together in a moment in time.  We are not the product of a petri dish or test tube or natural conception.  Our life is no accident!  Only only only is it the Creator God of the Universe who is behind the birth of anyone!  Satan cannot create life.  He is the Destroyer.  Irony is profound in the definition of artificial intelligence.  An intelligence of a kind that has no morals.  

You are uniquely you in the eyes of God!

You are singularly beloved by your Creator!

He doesn't want you to live a life doing nothing but completing tasks without any context of a life spent doing them for no reason.   We have a purpose in life with a foundation in Jesus Christ.  The building that results from His work in us is to be a magnificent creation to the glory of God. 

When we give an account of our lives before Jesus someday, it's literally His building inspection!  It's His looking at His masterpiece creation that is you. The goal of which is to be like Him. 

So really take care to be walking in Christ as He leads you to be doing.  Take care to let go of things that are only going to create problems for you that the Spirit teaches you that will be a problem for you...trust and obey.  Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  

You weren't born to be something grand and magnanimous before the eyes of the world.  You were born to live a life that gives glory to God both now and in the future.   A life that causes people to want to hear of this Jesus to whom you speak so much about.  

When was the last time you had a serious one-on-one with Jesus?  When was the last time you asked Him about how you're doing?  Asked Him to forgive you of the things you're aware of in your life and the things done that you aren't aware of?  

You are a precious man or woman before Jesus because you were why He went to the cross.  Nothing else in all creation was what kept Jesus on the cross but you. 

If you haven't been...it's time to live for Him.  

Your purpose in this here this now is two fold.   Grow in Christ, being who He’s wanting you to be.  Secondly it's to fulfill your ministry in the body of Christ in this world.  

You were born to have a right relationship with Jesus...what are you doing to feed that? 

It's said that time and tide wait for no man.   We can't relive the past.  We can only strive to do our best in our lives today.  

Have a heart-to-heart with Jesus.  

To a follower of Jesus Christ, following in His footsteps is where it begins. In Christ you can do what you were born to do. 

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

"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.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Might there be Difficulties?

Might there be Difficulties?

by David Brenneman 

‬‬"“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.  It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.  Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 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 ‭10:24‭-‬39‬.

Many times in my life, and likely there will be more, difficulties have arisen that were of my own making.  However, reading what Jesus said here, we get a greater understanding of difficulties of life. 

I read this passage this morning as part of my Bible reading plan and immediately my thoughts went to a song that we sang in church a long time ago. 

"In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified!

In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.

In Your church Lord, be glorified, be glorified!

In Your church Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.

In my home Lord, be glorified, be glorified!

In my home Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.

In my words Lord, be glorified, be glorified!

In my words Lord, be glorified, be glorified today"

- 'Be Glorified'  Don Moen. 

The purposes we go through much of what we do go through are to point our hearts and minds as well as the hearts and minds of others to Jesus.  That's it.  

Jesus also said that in this life we would have tribulations...but to be of good cheer, of good courage, that He has overcome the world.   

In order to bring people to the point of their need, which is salvation in Christ Jesus for the remission of sin, life must go a certain way that only Jesus knows must be in order to cause each person to face His truth.

For those of you reading this who are saved...think about that.  There was a specific time in your life where you were so positioned that you had no choice but to acknowledge the truth of God's love for you.  That you had to acknowledge His truth about your sin and His free gift of salvation.  A time and place that you know that you know He had brought you to your knees before Him to ask Him to be your Savior.  

Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost.  As the Great Physician, He knew exactly what was required to show you the proof YOU needed to know and understand for you to say yes to that free gift of salvation.  A physician must sometimes take a patient through some intense things in order to bring about true healing.  Specific things that are for that specific person.

You might be experiencing difficulties in life.  Some indeed are of your own life choices. Others are indeed the result of other people's life choices.  Still others are because of the work of the Spirit of God.  In everything...there's a plan for God for you.  We aren't powerful enough to thwart the plan of God for us.  We indeed may see family turn on us.  Throughout the world families have disowned family because they came to Christ for salvation.  It is more proof of what Jesus said here.  The closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ to take home His Church, the more this is going to happen. 

At the beginning of the book of John we read that people loved the darkness rather than the light.  That's still true today. 

We experience people still groping around in the darkness claiming to have the answers for themselves and the world. 

You indeed might be, and probably are, going through rough waters.  Be not surprised by this because Jesus said it would be coming. 

Our lives are hidden in Christ with God.  Whatever makes its way to us in the form of difficulties has been permitted.  We are in Jesus's hands.

Be sure of your obedience to Jesus first before you start complaining to God about how hard your life is.  Paul wrote of people living practiced sin.  It's what we choose to intentionally do that isn't right by God's word.  The Believer does this as well as the unbelieving. 

Difficulties are going to happen.  The Spirit wants us to grow in Christ more than He’s after our comfort and security.  He’s wanting God to be glorified in our lives.  When we get to Heaven we will be continuing to glorify Jesus.  It starts in this here this now with each of us. 

My life indeed has difficulties. Things that I have absolutely no idea how they are going to turn out for His good in my life. But that's what His word says.  They will eventually.  It's likely not for me to understand.  I am to trust in the Lord with all my heart and not to lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I am to acknowledge Him and He will make my paths straight.  

Any tree can look healthy in warm sunny weather.  It's when the storms arrive that you can see if it's been through enough difficulties of other storms to weather this one.

You weather storms, difficulties, to be able to get through the next one.  Nobody entering basic training attempts what they will do at the end of basic training.  They haven't faced the right challenges to do so. 

Your difficulties are to grow you in Christ. 

My difficulties are to grow me in Christ. 

There are going to be difficulties.  How you feel about them is whether you will stay in them or will leave them.  If your feelings don't take you to Jesus then they are the wrong feelings.  Let your difficulties drive you to Jesus.  Don't trust your feelings.  They will deceive you. 

Pray on, Pray over, Pray through. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Don't Look at Me, Look at Him

Don't Look at Me, Look at Him

by David Brenneman 

"One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ)." John 1:40-41.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16.

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.

Do you see with eyes that see?  Do you?

Our lives do have a purpose and it's not what the world wants, says, or pushes it's agenda to be for you. 

We who are in Christ have a definitive purpose to introduce people to Jesus.

We are to work towards the introduction and to let God do the rest.  

The world's measuring sticks will always leave you wondering if you are enough. 

Will get you to measure your self worth in ways that God never intended for you to consider.  

"Come and see."

When little children are being taught, we first vie for their attention. Doing something, saying something, that grabs their interest.  Andrew said something to his brother that certainly got his interest. It was irresistible. 

Someone had to have said something to you about Jesus that made Him irresistible to you.  That you had to know more.  Just like Peter. 

My life's achievements are rubbish. 

Rubbish if they aren't in line with the will of God for me.  When I get to Heaven...it's what I did for Jesus that He wanted of me to have been doing that will matter. 

First, He wanted me to listen.  Listen then obey.  Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."

Are you an active listener?  It seems that of late this is something that's been a real challenge for me.  There's listening then there's LISTENING.  I pray, hopefully, not just to be heard but to hear as well. 

We can easily prattle on with God without regard to whom we're really talking to. 

For quite a while now I have struggled with my purpose in this new hometown...and it only hit me the other morning on my way to work.   Just point people to Jesus regardless of where I am.  A light has but one purpose...to illuminate a dark place. 

Profound but simple.  

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

You aren't responsible for how the darkness accepts the truth revealed by the light.  You're just supposed to be shining the light of Jesus Christ to the world in which you live.  

We're not to hide it out of fear of what might be, of what might happen.  Certainly we shouldn't come up with excuses as to why we're not shining.  Trust, obey, leave the consequences to Him. 

We live in a world that considers the opinions of those they see paying them attention as being more valuable than the opinion of God. 

Being in the word of God is oh so important to understanding the mind of Christ.   

As someone put it "Having the mind of Christ means that we understand God's plan in the world to bring glory to himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation for sinful mankind. Having the mind of Christ means that we agree with:  Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”"  

1 Corinthians "For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ."

We're to do our best at whatever God provides for us to be doing. Colossians 3:23-24.  Do you?

Think about things during your day.

Are you shining for Jesus or for you?

Are you wanting the adoration of mankind or are you revealing Christ to a lost world so that He is who they see?

My hope, on that day that I stand before Jesus, is to hear "Well done".  His well done means more to me than anything that anyone will ever say to me.  Working the works He’s given me to be doing to the best of my ability is on me.  Even if I don't know or understand why.  

What's your hope to hear when you stand before Jesus?  How you think about it now will determine how your present and future will be played out.  Your past might not have been stellar as far as trusting, obeying, but your present and your future can shine the way it ought to be shining in Christ Jesus. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

What do You feel?

What do You feel?

by David Brenneman 

"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:36‭-‬37‬.

Where does your heart go when you consider other people?  Jesus showed that people are indeed the treasure of Heaven.  

Either on your own, things permitted by Jesus or through Satan's schemes...the nature of sin is to put yourself first in your life.  Many times we're reminded of how selfish we are and it hits home. Other times it bounces off of us.  

We read in the book of Genesis of how people were before the Great Flood.  We read the words of Jesus saying that in the days of His return it will be like the days of Noah.  The thoughts and intentions of mankind would be evil continually.  In the letters to Timothy, Paul wrote of people who would be lovers of self.  Self-centered people.  Know of any?  You probably do. 

Jesus's ministry is, was, and always will be about people.  Not about possessions or possibilities of personal advancement.  Not about things that are of this world in most cases. The Spirit protects the Word of God from being usurped by both sinful mankind and Satan's schemes.  The Spirit causes growth in the lives of Believers in Jesus Christ. The Spirit's about the Father’s business just as Jesus was when living on this Earth.  The Spirit's ministry is about people.  

In the life of the Believer, our hearts ought to be growing into that same place. That same concern for others. 

It's really difficult at times to keep praying and not losing heart.  Some people we run up against are certainly, with all clarity from our vantage point, living in darkness.  They want something or someone but keep looking within the darkness rather than to the light of Jesus Christ.  Obstinate people who insist on shoving everything else into that cross shaped hole in their hearts. Yet the Spirit doesn't give up. So why are we?  

Yes, we will know people by their fruits...that doesn't and should not cause us to give up praying for them.  The Spirit can and absolutely does go wherever we cannot in the lives of those alive in this world. 

I have seen it and know this to be true. 

Satan's is wanting you to lose heart.  

Satan's wants you to be so self-oriented that you are willingly blinding your own eyes to the work of God in yourself and others around you.

Are your spiritual eyes open?  Are you using them when you look at others?

Read the Gospels of just what moved the heart of Christ Jesus. Do those things move you?  

Yes, you may indeed have some of the most difficult, perhaps evil, people in your life. Take them to the Throne of God in Christ Jesus.  Read the books of the Old Testament.  Evil kings happened yet none could stop the plans of God.  When Daniel prayed in earnestness he indeed was heard, not just for his words but for his sincerity of heart.

People are all that will leave this world. The unbelieving to an eventual eternity in the Lake of Fire and the Believer's to an eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ. 

Take another look at that passage.  Jesus describes the people.  That description is just as valid for people today. 

We have the most knowledge possible at our fingertips and yet wisdom is perishing daily.  Knowledge without Godly wisdom is dead.  

The truth is Jesus IS returning some day and the first to know will be the dead in Christ.  Receiving glorified physical bodies.  Those that are alive and remain who are saved get their own glorified bodies and we all leave this Earth until the judgments of God are completed.  

We're all still here because of what God has said that was true long ago is true today. He isn't willing that any should perish but that all would come to Him for salvation.  

We are to be witnesses.  Living witnesses to show a selfish world that there IS a still better way.  That there is still hope to be had.  

Jesus's love letters to you are your Bible.  Have you read it lately? 

His concerns are for your good always, are you at all considering that?

He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

Don't look at your circumstances.  Look instead to the One who's always looking out for you.

If Daniel looked only at the lion’s as the rest of the world would, the story would have ended there as him being their dinner.  His trust was in His God.  Whether or not his life would end there he did not know.  He did know that he would not give up on believing that God had a plan. 

God has a plan for you.  But are you going to listen?  Are you going to let go of you long enough to begin to understand as it's revealed to you by the Spirit?  Are you going to indeed store up treasure in Heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy?  All your worldly possessions and desires are doomed to perish with time.  They will stay here should God call you home.

What do you feel about the things of God?

What do you feel towards others?

Seriously, I pray for those who persecute me. I pray for those whom I know have a lifetime of rejection of Jesus Christ.  I pray for those who might possibly have their lives turned to Jesus by this blog.  I am firmly convinced that as long as anyone has the God-given breath of life, there IS hope that they might be saved.  People are who Jesus was here for.  People. 

What do you feel?  Does what concerns Jesus matter to you?  

You have no idea what God will do with your prayers.  But if left unsaid, He can do nothing.  Think long and hard about that statement.  God does nothing but by the prayers of His people.  

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.  Pray without ceasing. 

Standing on the promises that cannot fail.

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

Check your heart...is it feeling anything that Jesus showed us He felt?

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus...look full at His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

By No Means is ANYTHING Over

By No Means is ANYTHING Over

by David Brenneman 

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." Galatians 6:7-10.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

It matters not what you see or hear in the news.  Doesn't matter what the Chinese government has allowed to be slanted in their filtering of Tic-Tok.  Doesn't matter what stories that the US Government has twisted or created to influence people in the USA.  Doesn't matter what is permitted or not on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X or any other social media platform. 

There is but One who reigns and His name is Jesus Christ the Triumphant.  King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

This same King, this same Jesus has said that He has come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance. 

Have you ever inserted your own name in this passage?

"As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.  Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”  But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”" ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:9‭-‬13‬.

Replace Matthew with your own name. Insert your occupation.  Jesus called you to come follow Him...and in doing so said and followed through with saving you.  

Once salvation has come to the Believer it cannot be revoked.  It's written in the Covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus says that you are signed, sealed, and one day soon you will be delivered to Him personally.  

Don't look to the wisdom of this world.  

Don't be shaken by world events.

That same Jesus promised to never leave you nor forsake you.  You may not understand what you are going through or maybe even why you are doing what He's called you to be doing.  Do it anyway.  

Proverbs 3:5-6 "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."  

‬‬"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James‬ ‭4:17‬.

In 1922, Helen Howarth Lemmel's song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" was brought to the world. 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Thro' death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion--
For more than conqu’rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you--He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Jesus said to all who are called according to His purpose "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Many years ago I purposed to give up watching the news.  For one, it was a constant source of irritation, for another I could see through the lies.  Why should I immerse my mind in lies?  It's God's own truth that matters. 

It's very easy to be discouraged in the world we live today.  People in the very gall of iniquity are parading around touting to have more rights than Believer's.  People living in such sin that they wouldn't know the truth if it came up and introduced itself to them.  They believe what they see, and hear the world telling them.  They do not seek the truth of God. The literal blind leading the blind...and I refer mostly to the so-called churches of today.  The rest of this world...wants all who claim the name of Jesus Christ to in any small or great way to compromise.  To let sin slide.  To not call it sin but rather individual choice. Individual truth.  

By no means should we who are in Christ think for a moment that Jesus has ever changed His mind about the potency or bitterness of sin.  This world wants lukewarm Christians.  Wants Christians who shut up rather than speak up. 

Satan's schemes sometimes involve him just being loud.  Trying to get someone to believe their circumstances are more powerful than their God in Heaven.  

Jesus said of Himself that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. That same Jesus we read of in the Bible is the same for you today.  THAT is truth. 

By no means let all the skewed, slanted, distorted, twisted, views that the darkness of this world tries to preach as truth blind you from the real truth of God's word.

Another great perspective is to know that Satan wouldn't fight so hard, try so hard, to still come after today's Believers unless the truth of God's word wasn't still true today.  He seriously DOES know that Jesus is returning someday soon.  I do believe that another key reason that the date of His return not being known is to keep Satan from being fully prepared for it.  So we read that he always has an Antichrist ready. We're students of history...we can see that truth.  

Don't give up or give in to your circumstances.  Learn to filter out the world.  Be in prayer, be in your Bible.  The Author of it is waiting to talk to you about it.  His peace He leaves with you and I.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.  Take that view in...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in light of His glory and grace.  

Know that whatever comes into your life has had to be allowed by Jesus. Obey Him in whatever comes your way and leave the consequences to Him. 

The world and all its laws, policies, regulations etc. would have you believe that Christians should be silent. They can never keep me from my Savior's throne room.  They can never separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  No matter what...I am His and He is mine.  He said so.  He chose me from before the foundation of the world...and the same thing goes for you. 

Read the book, you'll find that no matter what...Jesus wins.  Remind Satan and his minions of that when life gets into rough waters.  Remind yourself as well.  Jesus wins. He wins we win. 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus...

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Excuses? Food for Thought

Excuses? Food for Thought 

by David Brenneman 

"Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.  Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”  Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”" ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:18‭-‬22‬.

Was interesting that something similar of nature was in the exchange between Elisha and Elijah when Elisha was commissioned. 

"So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.  He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him." ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:19‭-‬21‬.

Do we make up excuses, reasons even, for insisting on doing things we want to do in life rather than following where the Lord Jesus wants us to be and to be doing?

Are we instead living out what we want before we are living out a devoted life to Christ?

It's food for thought.  It's for you to decide whether it's true or not.  Whether your career is more important. Whether your business is more important. Whether your hobbies or entertainment is more important.  Whether even your family or friends are more important. 

Jesus said "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." Matthew 10:37.

In many many places in the Old Testament we read of the children of Israel turning away to do what was essentially what was right in their own eyes.  

Could you pray a prayer like King David wrote of to Jesus that if indeed there was something between him and his God that he should take his life?  

David was a man after God's own heart.  David indeed messed up his life with Bathsheba.  However, we still read of the very high regard that the Lord had for David.  

Me, personally, I had struggled way more in my past than I do today with putting more time, energy and effort into my walk with Jesus Christ.  I, unfortunately, can recall way too much worthless information about fictional things than I can God's Word.  However, in the right place and right time, the Spirit indeed does bring to remembrance what I have read of God's word when it's needed and necessary.

Jesus also asked us all to consider the question of what would it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul?  What can a man give in exchange for his soul?  

What are you and I ever going to gain out of growing in Christ by giving Christ, the Savior of our souls the forgiver of our sins, the leftovers of our lives?

On that day that I know my Bible says and I'm fairly certain yours does too...on that day we are to give an account of our lives before Jesus...will we suffer loss because we put our wants and desires before what the Spirit showed us that Jesus wanted of us?

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

My Dear Reader...be sure of your salvation. Be sure of your priorities in living life for the One who loved you enough to take your place on that cruel cross.  

If the only treasure that ever is stored up in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy are people...what are you doing to add to that treasure?

Our deeds done in the body that count towards that crown of righteousness we give back to Jesus are only what we did for Jesus to reach people for Jesus. 

It's not going to see be about our successes in life towards anything else. 

Are you making any excuses for not giving Jesus your all?  Are you making up this reason or that reason for giving your Savior your leftovers?  Does your free gift of salvation mean so little to you?  

Food for thought for sure.  

You ought indeed to take stock of how 2024 will be for you and your Savior.  

Nothing else could be greater towards making the most of every single opportunity.   

Surely you should realize that Satan is very comfortable with you pursuing anything else that does nothing to grow you in Christ Jesus.  The more work you do in that area, the less effort he needs to give of himself towards that end.  You're essentially doing his work for him.   

What excuses need to go?  What are you holding onto that is so precious to you that it's truthfully keeping you from the righteous life that God desires for you?

Are you willing to ask Jesus to show you what you are holding onto that needs to go?  

Are you willing to ask that question?

Are you afraid of that answer?

The Disciples dropped everything to follow Jesus.  Were Jesus gathering Disciples today and tapped you on the shoulder and said "Come, follow Me!" would you be willing enough to do the same?  

News flash...coming to Christ for salvation is doing exactly that.  Becoming a disciple that makes disciples. 

January is usually the most popular time of year to reevaluate life.   Make sure you ask the only One who matters for all eternity for your answers.  Don't trust you. Don't trust anyone who will tell you what you want to hear.  

Food for thought.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.  Sounds exactly like setting your mind on things above and not on the things that are of this world.  Sounds like seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.