When Troubles Assail

When Troubles Assail

by David Brenneman 

It doesn't take much sometimes for troubles to find us.  We often can be at peace, minding our own business, and out of the blue the storm attacks. 

I imagine Daniel was just minding his own business.  The people he had to work with were out to get him but he refused to live differently.  Refused to give in to the pressure. 

I imagine he might be remembering this passage or others like that one in his time praying.  "Don't be afraid, For I am with you. Do not be discouraged for I am your God".

He might have had thoughts that were troubling but wasn't going to show them. 

For me right now John 14:1 is one God reminded me of this morning.  "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in Me."

Daniel prayed for the sins of his people and for his own.  He prayed and gave thanks for the truths of God.  

God kept His promises to Daniel.  

Throughout my life, regardless of how agonizing life has gotten, God's kept His promises to me, to my Wife, to us.

I can see the things that are needs in our life that appear to be greater than my ability.  Truth says its not beyond His ability. 

I can decide to worry or choose to pray. 

I can wallow in all that is wrong or press on in what God gives me to do in spite of life's troubles. Paul preached to press on.

It matters not how things look. Jesus permitted those things and I will yet praise my Savior regardless of what my eyes see. 

When the storms came while Jesus was in the boat, He was sleeping. His Disciples woke Him and were in a panic. Jesus didn't join them in their panic. He didn't cry out to His Father asking why did you allow this!  He didn't cry out to His Father asking where was He when He needed Him. 

Jesus spoke "Peace, be still!" to the storm and it was so. He told the storm that He was God. 

My life might be in a storm but my blessings in Christ Jesus my Savior are far greater.  

Life hurts at times but it doesn't mean that Jesus stopped loving me or caring for me. 

Life might make no sense at all, but that's only my finite understanding of it. I don't know what all God is doing to me, through me, for me, near me, etc. Truth is were still to trust Him in the storm. 

"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 NASB. 

My understanding will deceive me because my understanding is flawed.

My understanding has limited knowledge and limited wisdom. 

My understanding will lead to rash decisions because my thoughts and feelings will get in the way of what the Spirit is trying to teach or to do. 

My understanding will never yet be to where it should be until I stop trusting in my own understanding. Sounds circular because it is. It's like worrying. Worrying bounces around your mind and comes right back to where it started.  It goes nowhere. Prayer gives worry a direction...straight up to the Throne of God.  

My understanding needs to be derived from my life in Christ.  Of those things that the Spirit has been teaching and is teaching me about a life in Christ Jesus.  Lessons are often painful.  That's just par for the course.  Surgeries are often painful regardless of what anesthesia is used.  The Disciples went through hundreds of painful lessons when learning from Jesus. It was certainly not all sunshine and rainbows. 

You, my Dear Reader, if you are in Christ, and are desiring to live Godly in Christ Jesus, are going to go through rough times, or as God sees them, rough situations.  Dr. Charles Stanley preached on Proverbs 3:5-6 as something of a compass for life.  Providing direction when you don't know nor understand. 

We are going to go through things that seem impossible, but as Scripture says with God all things are possible.  

We are going to face things we won't understand in this life that Jesus is just going to be the one to explain later when we can more easily understand it.  Our level of understanding is enough in this life. 

I think also this morning on a pair of songs.  "It is Well" and "My Anchor Holds".

Backed up with "What He's Done" and "The God on the Mountain", "Peace Be Still", "My Hope is in You", "Just Say Jesus", "He Knows My Name".

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:16-17 NASB. 

"So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ." Ephesians 5:15-21 NASB. 

The storm hasn't let up but in the midst, Jesus is still there.  Daniel tumbled down into a dark, sparsely lit room with hungry lions. Jesus showed up and spoke peace to those lions. He didn't remove the lions that night.  He didn't provide a rope that night to escape.  He didn't kill those lions.

He didn't cause the King to violate his own commands and rescue him anyway.  The Prince of Peace brought peace to all in that lion's den.  I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Daniel slept soundly that night and was awakened by the shouts of the King the next morning.  The storm was allowed to rage but it would have no negative impact on Daniel.  

If we trust our own understanding we will falter.  We will make the wrong choice.

I make it my point to do whatever God puts in front of me to be doing, whether I understand it or not.  My understanding isn't a requirement for my obedience.  

Take a good hard look at your life.  It may be going well right now.  What I would do is just do a quick self analysis and see if I am for sure living in obedience and not selfishness.  Satan also won't bother people who are already on a path of his choosing. He just sits back and watches.

Pray that your understanding doesn't get in the way of the will of God for you.  Your way may seem right and true but it doesn't mean that it is.  It may lead to accolades and the praises of others for your achievements and activities from men and women.  Doesn't immediately follow that you will receive the same from your Savior. 

Your Time is Always Ready

Your Time is Always Ready 

by David Brenneman 

"So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that its deeds are evil." John 7:6-7 NASB 

"In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it." John 1:4-5 NASB 

"And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil." John 3:19 NASB 

Even in this world today we find those who rage at those who dare to believe that Jesus is the Christ.

We find them in their angry stare's at us, find them in the words they choose to use around us.

The same kind of animosity that was shown towards Jesus we will find shown towards us at times.

People will be that way towards us for one of two reasons and it's best that it only be for one reason: doing the will of God in your life.  The other is them being upset with us for doing something we actually did that we shouldn't have done.

It was Jesus's words in that first passage from John that stood out to me this morning.  Many times people will hide behind some other argument when in fact their anger is based on the truth that the Truth said something they didn't like...so instead of taking it out on Jesus they take it out on His representatives.

I found it very funny, at least in my mind, I didn't react publicly, that a self-proclaimed atheist made a statement about people getting irritated by a Church goer talking about God knows what.  If indeed someone were an atheist they wouldn't admit that God knew anything.

This is to not just be a poke at the situation I found myself in, but it is to make a point of what the Scriptures already say.   Besides the passage that says "the fool says in his heart that there is no God".  The passages that say that creation itself testifies to the truth of God.  People know. People choose to turn away from the Light.  People get mad at those who choose to step towards the Light.

People in this world in which we live LOVE to marvel at their wonder of their own brilliance. 

People in this world in which we live LOVE to celebrate the greatness of their own achievements.

People in this world hate it when those who stand on the Word of God do so and it means showing them that their way of living, the choices that they've made...are sin in the eyes of God.

Right now the world is certainly embracing and celebrating AI.  Artificial Intelligence. It's been around for quite a few decades in the background.  Simple machinations that do simple tasks.  But now...now...you can have it at your fingertips in your computer, on your phone to do YOUR bidding.  Or so you think. It's tendrils of Satan's masterpiece.  That's what it is.  It's Satan's orchestrations of mankind to create his idea of life.  Life that has no morals.  I've been convinced for many decades that the Abomination that is setup in the Temple is an Artificial Intelligence of a kind that is greater than we've seen yet.  And we've indeed seen some amazing things that ChatGPT and it's variants have done in recent months.

To keep from the technical ChatGPT is software that you supposedly control and get to do your bidding.  The groundwork for the 'thrill' was played out in science fiction movies.   Now you can do it yourself!  Oh joy.  NOT.  

Where there are no morals there is extreme danger.  Control without mercy or grace.  The current writer's strike has something connected to AI.  Writers thinking they are going to be out of a job because that AI can write whatever television sitcoms that executives want without all the hassle of paying someone.  Which isn't far from the truth.  The right kind of AI CAN be told what is wanted and it CAN write something for a specific target audience.  

Backing up a bit...this AI thing IS slowly gaining control of so much of our civilization, it's honestly a matter of time before it 'wakes up' entirely.  Some see what I'm saying as being a conspiracy but it's not. It's of this world so therefore it's of Satan and not of God.  It's main push is control.  There is no secret that that's why AI was supposedly created.  To take control of processes and activities in a way that the creator needed in order to save time, energy and effort.  To remove the human equation from those things.  To be more 'efficient' and to remove human error.

The world is fulfilling Biblical prophecy.  John couldn't understand all that he was writing about in the book of Revelation.  He wrote and described as best he could with what he understood at the time.

While the world hates Christian's God's plan still marches on.  While the Believer is the workmanship of Christ...it's Satan's work to try to slow or stop that from happening.  To entice, to sway, to attack by whatever means to prevent the eyes of the Believer being on the Savior.

Our time is always opportune.  We know not when either Jesus is returning or if the next breath we take is our last in this life.  We make very very arrogant assumptions by saying we will do this or will do that.  We allow ourselves a cracked door for the devil to put his foot into at times because we believe we've got this when situations arise.  When people are excessively critical of us we turn and run rather than take a stand on the Word of God.  It's what happens to many.  In the interests of things...quite often when someone DOES turn and run because of those who were excessively critical...Satan offers up something that those people REALLY want and helps to make it happen.  Making them believe that they've achieved success.

Jesus said "Woe to you when all the people speak well of you; for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way."  Luke 6:26 NASB.  

Our time is always opportune especially when we choose to stand firm in the faith.  When we are stubbornly holding onto the truths of God's Word.  When we press on towards that upward call in Christ Jesus when life keeps throwing things at us.  When this isn't going the way we thought or that isn't.  When the temptation is to talk ourselves into using 'tools' of this world to further our careers and it's not God's Will for us to do so. 

To be clear, as far as my stance on it, and for those of you who do not know, I have an extensive computer background and an extensive electronics background.  I've been a fan of many things science fiction...and even I won't touch anything intentionally for these ChatGPT things that are offered.  

I mentioned earlier that they are tendrils of Satan.  That's all that this world is moving towards...Satan's control of mankind to get mankind to worship him.  Those that don't or won't, Satan wants out of the picture...permanently.  He cannot outright go after Believers in any way he sees fit, he must seek permission.  Read the book of Job.  He cannot do anything outside the will of God either. But make no mistake we ARE heading towards the final culmination of human history. We ARE at the doorstep of the events of the book of Revelation.  The time IS very VERY opportune for the return of Christ Jesus to take home His Church.  

People will read this and call it all impossible. Impossible!  Really? You thought a modern day pandemic was impossible too and yet here we are.  You thought many things that weren't possible a decade ago are happening now.   Why would you be so adamant that these things can't happen when you thought all that HAS happened in your life time couldn't happen either...yet did.

Jesus said that our time is always opportune.  There DOES come a time in the life of a Believer...prior to the Rapture of the Church happening...when that time arrives.  

I was listening to Alistair Begg yesterday and it was about the arrival of the thief on the cross whom Jesus said would be with Him in paradise.  The most important thing was: he was there only because Jesus said he could come.  It had nothing to do with doctrines of the Church or worldly ideas and notions.  

Jesus is at the door of the hearts of millions in this world gently knocking and asking if He can come in.

Jesus is ready to stand up and come for His Church.   He's even now still obeying the will of His Father by sitting until His Father says it's time.  

Do not marvel at the world's achievements nor marvel at what ideas they think they can come up with to 'save humanity'.   Look very very closely...ALL and I do mean ALL of their ideas mean YOU giving up control of your way of thinking and your way of life in order to further THEIR ideas and my Dear Reader THAT path leads to ONLY what Satan wants in this world: for YOU to worship Him.  

Jesus is coming soon...are you ready now to stand before Him? 

Are you looking forward to meeting Jesus or are you terrified of that idea?

Are you angry at all that anyone who's a Believer stands for or is your heart open to listen?

Our time is always opportune.  As for me and my house...we're ready to step into eternity and be with Jesus.  What about you?

Our Understanding is Flawed

Our Understanding is Flawed

by David Brenneman 

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.  As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him.  So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:63-69 NASB 

We go about our days within our own minds and hearts and it's us who are the one's lacking understanding.  Our world has been seared by sin since Adam and Eve.  We've inherited a sin nature that has corrupted the ways of man.  We are always tempted to go it alone.  Do it for yourself.

"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 NASB

Our understanding needs help.

Our understanding is so finite.

Our understanding always gets us into trouble when we go about life without consulting the One who does not have any trouble understanding anything.

Jeremiah was known, quite simply, as the 'weeping prophet'...yet look at what he says in his book in chapter 17 verse 7!  "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and who's hope is the Lord."  He speaks of the blessings of God.

Even in the midst of a storm we don't know what's next.  If we're honest about life, we realize that storms are the norm.  For many it's one to the next. 

It's why it's all the more important in the life of a Believer to have a record of faith history. Of those things that they've been through with God.  So that when the next storm comes and it seems so out of sorts, we know that God already saw it and was prepared for it.

This last week, we've hit some pretty significant storms here in life.  Praying "God help!" brought help.

A neighbor saw me push mowing my back half of an acre rather than with my riding mower and came over to offer one of his that he's selling to use to finish it up.  Laughingly saying we're getting too old for this.  I made it clear that I didn't think I even had gas for his mower let alone a means to repay.  He said it was no problem and still brought me one of the best I've ever used.  Even when it had fits he was there to make sure things went they way they should.  I was simply trying to do the best I could do in the situation that presented itself and God still had a better understanding of what could be done and provided it.  This neighbor also said he could come find out what's wrong with my riding mower as well.  

God has situations to deal with not problems.  There are no problems to the God of the Universe.

What goes on in our Spiritual life is far more important than what goes on in our physical life.  The One who has the words of eternal life is speaking...but are we listening?

We can get set in our ways, set in our decisions and come to find out they weren't at all the best path to go.  Some just go 'oh well' and don't try to change and others see it as a chance to get back where they ought to be.  Some just give up all together and go deeper down the wrong path.

The world will tempt you with 'good things' happening.  The world will try to sway your thinking towards what looks all good and joyous...and as soon as you do...the bottom falls out...because it was a hollow pursuit.  

In all likelihood we could have moved half a decade ago if I had only understood that principles in my life.  Things would be bad, the storm would be raging, and all the sudden instead of going the path we finally took in the fall of 2021...the storm would break and I would understand the wrong thing and the opportunity to move would fall through.  I was suckered into a false idea of a solution that was on retrospect of the world not of God.

Our growth in Christ is dependent upon our growing in the knowledge and love of God...not of physics, of eating of health of any other thing.  Regardless of how good we take care of this body, it's our spirit that endures.  Jesus, often, when doing the Will of His Father, did not eat and was perfectly fine.  What's often missed is that mini-miracle of good health that happened every time He did.  Look back at the 80 years the Israelites were in the wilderness.  It was even mentioned...did you catch it when reading in their concluding that journey?  Shoes didn't wear out, clothes didn't wear out...other things never wore out.  Mini-miracles where God intervened.  Elisha and the widow.  All she had was an abundance of jars and one of oil.  He told her to keep filling them all from what appeared to be so little in it.  Every jar was full then the flow stopped.  Another mini-miracle of how we seem limited and God says not a chance when it's His will to be done.

Growing in Christ is more important than the other things this world wants our minds consumed with.

I was watching a secular comedian speaking his mind...nothing dirty for sure..but his words had a ring of truth to them.  The world aka Satan does not want critical thinking people.  Does not want people who will push to learn what's important.  In essence Satan wants dumb sheep to control. Another reason for the storms...to keep even the smart sheep off balance. 

Jesus slept through storms easily because His trust was in His Father.

We're going to face days when we don't understand what's going on...and that's ok. Because those of us walking with Jesus know that it's ok if only He knows what's going on.   We may be in a world of hurt emotionally, we may be in a world of hurt physically.  Matters not...remember the words of Jeremiah.

Lean not on your own understanding...our view of the world isn't going to be what's really happening.

We face an enemy who does not want us growing in Christ...yet that is the workmanship of Christ in us.

They are in opposition to each other.  God's Will will prevail when we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Are You His?

Are You His?

by David Brenneman 

We often miss this in life.  But according to the Bible, you either are one of His or you are not.

We often can slip into thinking that God's there to meet our needs as of that were all He's there to do. 

Was reading in John this morning chapter 6, verses 22-44.  The people wanted more food out of Him because He fed them once.  Jesus tries to teach them and it's sort of apparent that teaching isn't what they are after but rather trying to get Him to do it again.  

What the Father seeks are true worshippers.  Sheep that desire a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Those that hear His voice and do the will of the Father.  

It's a truth about you that determines your eternal destiny.  If you are not one of His sheep...your eternity will be spent forever separated from God.  Not only separated but spent paying the entire price for all your own sins.  All the sinners that are not found to be in Christ Jesus will not be living it up.  They will not be in their own paradise.  Once the final judgment of mankind is complete the Lake of Fire will be a very full, very painful, place. Pain on an order never seen by any human being. 

Those cast there will indeed have a glorified body. A body that cannot undergo decay.  A body that will still feel pain and suffering that cannot erode.  Pain in that lake will touch even the soul.  

Nobody has to go through this!  Jesus paid that great price!  His enemy, Satan, Jesus says is a liar and the father of lies. His aim is to destroy all that the Father holds dear.  Which is every human life.

In every way that he's permitted to do. 

Jesus said that He knows His sheep and they know Him.  "My sheep hear My voice".

While we yet breathe a breath of life in this world in this here, this now, we have the opportunity to know the real truth about life and living.  

Those people Jesus spoke with were indignant about being revealed as users.

They were found out and exposed. Their hearts were shown to not be His.

God doesn't bargain. Some have tried this and all have failed at it. 

Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Him.  No man enters Heaven except those who placed their faith and trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation. 

We prove we are His sheep by being intentional on listening for His voice and living lives of obedience to His Word.  

His seal is set upon every Believer.  

His Spirit resides in every Believer. 

The life of a Believer begins with coming to Jesus Christ for salvation, it then turns towards transformation into the kind of person that a person was meant to really be.  We become His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. 

We don't come to Christ just to get a ticket to do whatever we want, whenever we want.  We don't get to live as we please. We want to please the One who did so much to save us.  

Being sure of your salvation is oh so important. 

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 NASB.

Some of the most amazing stories in this world are of those young children who grew up ever grateful to their rescuers from various tragic events.  Those that seek out those and personally thank them, showing them that they didn't waste life.

This is oh so similar to what Believers are to be like in Christ.  To live life in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.  That people see how grateful we are to Jesus Christ for saving us that we show our gratitude in living in such that way as to honor His sacrifice. 

Satan loves to cause dissension and confusion.  To cause doubts to hinder people.  To cause them to believe a lie rather than to know the truth.  He has many voices in the realm of public opinion.  He has people all throughout talk shows, political figures, news networks, school systems, doctors.  Doing whatever he's permitted under the sun to deceive.  

His aim with Believers is to either attempt to destroy or to nullify their meaning in life.  He cannot take their life because it's hidden in Christ Jesus.  But he can coerce them into selfish ways and to abandon the righteous life that God desires for them.  Getting them to leave the ministry, much as we read about Demas in the New Testament. 

So consider it well that being His Sheep isn't to be taken lightly. We represent the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to the world that isn't saved.  

We aren't here to obtain success as the World sees it. 

We are here to fulfill the Great Commission. Go therefore and make Disciples. Teaching them to do all that He commanded.  Sheep showing people how to be sheep themselves and then doing it again.

The choice is simple and yet life altering. 

We cannot know love without first being loved by Jesus.  We cannot accept what the world offers but to rely on what Jesus already did.  

Coming to Christ is the first step. 

The first step that leads to an eternity with Jesus.

It isn't promised to be an easy life, but it's promised to be a life that brings us closer to who we were meant to be.  

Situations Not Problems

Situations Not Problems 

by David Brenneman 

It's the emotional backing that drives our thoughts towards listing things that happen to us and to others as problems.

In God's eyes these are not problems but rather situations.  They are essentially incidents.  

The harder part for all is to see what it is that God's either doing or trying to say to us within these things.  Sometimes incidents are just that, an incident.  Nothing was meant by it, and it's our reaction that displays either growth in Christ or it displays a need for more. 

Yesterday was a day for me.  Work was starting off with new tests to learn.  My Wife was getting ready to go somewhere and her car was about to leave the driveway and the check engine light was on, other alerts were going off.  So I needed to come to her assistance. 

In the midst I call my brother, relaying the story thus far.  Get home and begin his over the phone instructions.  Replacing parts, no sign of fixing it. Progressing through other tests, get to where I am taking parts off and inside to bench test. 

Was on my back at one point and my problem with doing that asserted itself and I was overcome with nausea.  But kept trying to press on.  Get this part, not fixing it.  Get down to a possible part in the driver's rear that a video pointed to and had to be on my back again looking up. Wave number two of nausea.  Took a lot of time to get past that to go get the part. God provided because it was in stock.  Get it put on and after some fussing got the codes to clear.  Round 1.  Got inside and had to sit for a long time until my nausea let up the rest of the way.  At some point I fell asleep.  Came out of that n had to try to move on to other things. One situation down others to go. 

The riding mower has been problematic this year.  Yesterday was no different. Kept blowing belts. So it got parked.  We kept our push mower and I dug it out.  Topped off the oil n filled it. It fired right up. Regardless of my desire to do so, it was apparently God's solution at the time.  I still put on my noise canceling headphones and still listened to my praise music.  Got half mowed.  Another situation being resolved. 

What's all this to say?  An older version of me would not have been so calm about them happening.  Would have very much reacted differently.   Would not have looked for God's solutions to things nor seen what needed to be seen to get a desired result. 

Saw a reminder this morning of the dangers of being a child in a Pastors house.  Anything said or done could turn into a sermon illustration.  It's been a practice of God's since I began writing each day that He often uses my life as an example to others by the situations that He allows or brings me. 

"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." Romans 8:28 NASB. 

Was also reading in John this morning too.  A situation happened and Jesus provided the solution, the result was people were seeing the hand of God in it. They missed the main point but did see the power of Christ in what Jesus did. 

Yesterday was a series of situations. A series of opportunities that were allowed to happen by Jesus.  I can only speculate as to whether or not all that came to mind about them was everything He was wanting to cross my mind concerning them.  I likewise can only speculate as to whether or not Satan got upset as to my not reacting like I used to...but I suspect he didn't like it. 

It was far more of a struggle to get through with the nausea yesterday than writing about it can convey.  I know that it's on me to trust God when He has these things for me to do and trust Him for the results.  If God's behind it, don't fret the details. Just do and trust Him for the rest.

I still have about 2/3rds of a lawn to push mow but it will happen in time.  Still have to figure out the riding mower but it will happen.  God's timing is always on time. 

Keeping our emotions out of situations isn't always easy. Our emotions tend to corrupt our rational thought.  When God's wanting to bless we often get in the way of Him by our response. It's been a lesson to learn to not stop someone trying to bless us.  It's something to consider that we would be blessed and the person offering is as well.  If indeed that is God's avenue of providing, go with it.  Pray about it, see what God says.  If it's of Him, you'll know.

Keep the emotions aside.  Being over eager about something will get us to talk ourselves into something we will later find out was really a no from God.  We read in the Bible of a few times people convinced themselves that something was of God when it wasn't.  A solution they went with wasn't from God.  We do the same today. 

When you go about your day look at what happens to you from a Godly perspective. If something happens don't make rash decisions. God's never early nor is He ever late.  He's interested on growing us in Christ Jesus.  

Daniel, as Godly as he was, still was growing in Christ through his circumstances.  God still caused all things to work together for good for Daniel.  

Daniel still proved that He was indeed Christ's workmanship.  If indeed you are in Christ, that very same Jesus is doing that very same thing in you. 

Knows Me

Knows Me

by David Brenneman 

To think "I got this!" is often a prelude to something going wrong.  We realize not all the details wrapped up in the moments in which we live.  Our moments in human history were known before history was...do you realize that?  Our "time" wasn't ours at all.  By the foreknowledge of God we were born in this here, this now, for a purpose and for His reasons. 

Many, over the centuries, have believed that they wou have fared better living in another time.  Some we know even today believe that another place would be enough to spur on a better life. 

John 5:42a NASB "but I know you..."

Have you that much knowledge of yourself to live life as God intended for you without His help?  I think not.  Looking at my own successes and my own failures, I am more than certain that the answer is no. 

We, oh so often, get an overview and think those Cliff notes will get us to the finish line.  

Speaking of which, did you know that many teachers and professors were very intentional on utilizing questions that Cliff notes did NOT cover in order to cause students to have to truly buckle down and study the material?

We read also in John 5 of how Jesus called those Jewish Leaders out because they were trying to figure out how to use His Word, the Old Testament, for personal profit and gain.  That they totally missed it that those Scriptures wrote about Him.

He knows me. He knows you. 

We are easily as excited as the rest of the world at new things. What I often am taken to in Scripture is Ecclesiastes. There's nothing new under the sun.  Nothing new. Might be new to this generation but not new on this Earth.  Archeologists keep finding items that survived the Great Genesis Flood that are proof of higher technology than we have even today. 

Speaking of that time in history...we read in Genesis that the Lord Jesus looked down upon the Earth and saw that the thoughts of mankind were evil continually. 

He knows.  We read in other places in the Bible that it is He who searches the hearts. 

Probably only I would put the two together, but it was in the news yesterday that Microsoft had developed a means of even looking into compressed files to scan for malicious data.  Not too surprising except that now even if it's password protected it still can. Which is causing quite a stir.  People with their secrets from each other on a computer can be found out. How much more so when we hide things in our hearts, laughingly thinking we can hide them from God?  

He knows. 

We often also get dejected and depressed because we think certain things that we think we understand are actually true. 

People criticize us and berate us and we begin to believe them.  

People praise us and speak well of us and we like to believe them.

We seek approval from people rather than from our Savior.  

In more than a few places in Scripture the people of Israel confessed that they sinned against God for wanting for themselves the same as what the other nations had concerning a king.  

Jesus told Samuel that they didn't reject Samuel, they had rejected Him as their King.  He knows.

We are warning to be on the alert because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  His modus operandi is deception.  Our sin nature is akin to that in that it deceives us as well. 

We need the Spirit of Truth to show us truth from a lie.  To show us that which we do not fully understand.  We need the absolute truth from God about God to learn how to live life in Christ. To learn what we need and not want we want out of life to grow in Christ. To tell us right from wrong.  To keep us on the road...keep us in the race.  

He knows.  He knows every single part of your heart and mind.  Let that sink in. 

He knows every detail that we try to hide from ourselves.  He knows every detail of everything we hide from others. 

He knows what would happen if we are obedient and what would happen if we aren't. 

Fast forward to that day we give an account of our lives before Jesus.  There's no questions He needs to ask.  Your life goes straight into a test by fire.  The fire of truth.  

Jesus knows your every hurt that you hide.

Jesus knows every failure that you have felt has defined you.

Jesus was a man of sorrows, well acquainted with grief.  He knew the pain of loss.  The loss of a parent. The loss of family.  The loss of friends. The betrayal of friends.  Well acquainted can mean well versed as well.  He lived with people constantly criticizing Him.  

He knows what emotional pain is all about.  He knows what it means. 

He knows your heart and knows that what you need is found only in a right relationship with Jesus Himself.   

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.  Set your mind on things 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.  

These will guide you on how to have the mind of Christ. They will guide you in living a life that doesn't dwell on you but dwells on our Savior.  They will help you to render your sin nature toothless.

He knows you. He knows what you need and rather than what you think you do. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB. 

Listen, Do You Hear?

Listen, Do You Hear?

by David Brenneman 

"My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, 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 NASB 

John 5:24 NASB 

Sheep need to be quiet to hear the voice of the Shepherd.  As a very common saying goes, that's why you have two ears and one mouth.  Listen twice as much as you speak. 

If indeed you are of the household of God isn't a key indicator of that particular relationship that you listen and are careful to do what the Head of that household says?  How can you do if you're not listening?

So much in this world today is on a headlong run towards crashing the car.  So many are driving recklessly in their pursuits in their lives, not caring about the consequences.   Not caring if it costs them everything. Heard yet again the other day that per-capita the United States has the most incarcerated people.  Add to it those who SHOULD be in prison but are not because of everything from crooked judges to lack of space to put them.  

What's worse is those in power keep attempting to write stricter laws that those who are already breaking them still won't obey and these inevitably hurt law abiding people, often creating more "criminals".

Lawmakers not listening that those who've done nothing wrong shouldn't be punished with those who have. 

Listening doesn't happen in our world much because this world IS rushing headlong towards something alright...the return of Jesus Christ, which will not be thwarted nor will it be delayed, or even rushed to happen by Satan. All the same tactics he tried to use with Jesus during His earthly ministry. 

Jesus spoke of His sheep hearing His voice.  We read in a few parables about this.  We read of Jesus being very specific about who's are His and who are not.  Of many many people who will be told to depart from Him for He never knew them. 

People who think that, or if they've already died, thought that they spoke for God or for Jesus.  People who weren't saved at all.  These who have died without Christ wake up in bewilderment in Hell, not understanding at first why they are there. Then they realize the truth because Truth will explain it to them.

My personal conviction is that not only does Jesus come for those who are saved in Him when it's their time to go, He also escorts those who rejected Him to Hell. All will know the truth of their eternal state. 

Are you sure of your salvation?  Are you?  

Is listening to His voice important to you?

Does your life reflect a sheep who hears His voice?

Jesus takes it a step further in saying that not only do His sheep hear His voice they do. Are you a doer of the Word and not just hearers only?  The Bible says "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 1:22-27 NASB 

A doer of the Word begins to display the character of Christ to the rest of the world.  After all isn't that the workmanship of Christ in us?  We read in Romans 12 of transformation.  Is transformation happening in your life?

Are you wrapped up in things in this world or are you at all in the classroom of Christ Jesus, being taught by the Spirit, to become the children of God that you are meant to be?  Are you listening?

The road to Heaven has all kinds of exits.

All kinds.  From the subtle to the overt. From the small to the large.  Every distraction possible that would personally affect YOU will be on that road you are on. 

Where's your focus? Is it on what things those exits offer or is your mind on listening to what is truly beneficial to your growth in Christ Jesus?

In our world of contradictions...we write laws on distracted driving yet legalize distractions while you drive. Electronic billboards.  We permit even single occupant patrol cars to use laptops while they drive.  

In life we will have the noise of the world trying to drown out the voice of our Shepherd.  This too is on this road of life. 

We will be personally attacked to take our minds off the road set before us. Jesus said that those who seek to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer.  A stated fact. 

Are you a listener?  Or are you deluding yourself?  Are you "giving" God some of your time and are being selfish with the rest?  

Are you going to be told "Well done!" or asked "What were you thinking?".

Knowing for sure that you are saved is absolutely critical to your eternity.  Once you're sure, listening to your Shepherd is what comes next.  Becoming more like Christ is what's important. Go, make Disciples. Teaching them to do all that He commanded.  A life of obedience follows.  A life of taking up our own cross and following Jesus follows.  A life that should be one of listening to the Shepherd. 

Unless your heads been in the sand, it's becoming increasingly evident that to have free speech is becoming harder and harder to do.   Especially to take a stand in Christ Jesus and to share with others.  Satan will not stop trying to silence Believers.  Satan will certainly try to provoke the return of Jesus Christ to get Believers out of "his" kingdom.  

Jesus won at the cross.  Satan still is trying to find a way to do something about it.  Even down to the other end of 1,007 years future, he will gather mankind to try to battle with Jesus after being released from his prison.  Jesus speaks a word and its over. 

Jesus came to bring us life, but not just life, but life more abundant.  That kind of life comes from effectively listening. 

My hope for me is that I would listen to Him more and maybe speak less.  

"All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His faithful mercies?

Who through life has been my guide

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort

Ere by faith in Him to dwell

For I know whate'er fall me

Jesus doeth all things well" - Fanny Crosby 1875 'All the Way My Savior Leads Me".