A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Unbreakable Covenant and Conviction

by David Brenneman and Daniel

"Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction. Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God." Daniel 6:6-11.

Maybe you noticed the slight alteration to who's writing this post today.

Daniel is certainly writing to all who would read about his life with the Lord. He makes no mention of it when they were first taken to Babylon but the evidence is clear that from a young age he had the unshakable, unbreakable, covenant conviction to pray every single day. He met with the Lord 3 times a day and nothing nor anyone would ever change that.

Read between the lines concerning how and why Daniel succeeded in all he did. Where did it start? Where did it come from?

We cannot show others a life in Christ if we aren't living it our in an unashamed manner. We shouldn't make excuses for missing our own appointments with Jesus.

Yet we do. We allow this or that to get in the way. We desire things that would make us potentially happy at the expense of a moment or two with Jesus who died in our place.

We allow excuse after excuse and wiggle out of the responsibility that we have been taught to obey in.

Daniel certainly shows the example for all of us. I know that personally catching the message of this post has brought conviction to my heart.

We easily find the time for many things but never really get consistent in prayer.

Daniel's life exuded prayer as being of the utmost importance. As did Joseph. Those visions he had whereby his brothers and father were upset with him? Those came from a life obedient to the Lord. His own family didn't recognize the hand of the Lord in them although Israel aka Jacob kept what these words were in his heart and mind.

Throughout the life of Joseph we read of how the Lord was with him.

This leads us to his prayer life. Joseph was a man of prayer.

Daniel was a man of prayer. When he prayed Heaven certainly heard.

What is holding you back from a greater prayer life? What is it that convinced you that it was optional or wasn't really worth your undivided attention? Consider the silence that's there where there should be conversations between you and Jesus.

Daniel's life exemplifies commitment. Even if facing earthly judgment he didn't care and wouldn't stop. Just as his friends answered King Nebuchadnezzar so in his actions he said the same to Darius and those who accused him.

His life is our example just as much as Joseph's. Keep this in mind as you reread Psalms 139:1-24. If we believe that He the Lord Jesus Christ knows us this well and believe His promises concerning us, shouldn't we desire to get to know the One who loves us to that extent?

Yes this going to mean letting go of things we claim to like or love. But we cannot know the benefits until we break that cycle and start this one with the right heart attitude.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Oh the Depths

by David Brenneman

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:1-24.

"How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom"

I have had the older music in my collection come to mind of late. Partially I think because of the "Trusting God with Today" devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley exerpts that I have scanned and printed to put on the board at my study desk. To remind me of how much the Father loves me. How my God loves me.

God is so in love with His children.

You are God in Heaven

And here am I on earth

So I'll let my words be few

Jesus, I am so in love with you

And I'll stand in awe of you [Jesus]

Yes, I'll stand in awe of you

And I'll let my words be few

Jesus, I am so in love with You

The simplest of all love songs

I want to bring to you

So I'll let my words be few

Jesus, I am so in love with You

And I'll stand in awe of you [Jesus]

Yes, I'll stand in awe of you

And I'll let my words be few

Jesus, I am so in love with You

We were looking at the blessings of God towards us during our season of my unemployment. We have been oh so blessed. We in turn don't hesitate to bless others if it's within our means to do so.

As a lesson I read about with a father and his son goes...he gave his son two coins and had one in each hand. He was to clench his fists tight n no matter what examples he gave he wasn't to give those coins to him. So his first example was someone in need who could really use them. His child didn't budge. Then he offered him something of even more value than the coins. He thought about it but still didn't budge. Then his father pointed out to his child that so long as their hands stayed closed around what they were given, they could neither bless someone else nor receive anything more.

We can often get into that situation. We get blessed then neglect to be ready to bless. We can set limits on blessing others when the Spirit is clear on what He's wanting us to do. We can neglect to see something greater on the horizon when we focus only on what's in our possession.

Jesus knows our hearts. Has known us from afar. From before we were even born. Knows our going out and our coming in. He saw us being formed in our mother's womb. Knew all our days before as yet one of them occurred.

Oh how deep the Father's love for us, how vast and beyond all measure. Yet we can miss it all by just a bit of selfishness. A bit of this or that.

How can you be a blessing if you're not in that mindset to bless?

How can you say you're living for Jesus when you refuse to go where He says, do what He wants or even have your hands open to receive what He's wanting you to have?

We cannot hide the truth behind our motives with He who IS Truth.

We can and will lie to ourselves to appease our conscience. We will convince ourselves that the choices we made are even having been wrought in God that we did what we did for Him.

But the truth is still there.

Are you really trying to please God in all that you do or are you jockeying to get what you want out of life instead? Are you striving to please Him in all that you do? Are you really committed to the requirements of "Whatever" that comes with salvation in Christ Jesus? As Peter was told so are we "As for you, you follow Me!".

"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" Luke 9:23-25.

Self-examination in terms of wanting what God wants for you is always a healthy thing. Then begin praying for yourself in the changes that the Spirit will, not might, tell you needs to happen.

His job is to make us fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. To make us more like Christ. Only Satan's schemes and our sin nature are fully opposed to that. We need to recognize these things and hand them to Jesus to deal with.

Oh the depths of His love for me and for you. Our lives were never meant to be the same after coming to Christ for salvation. We were given spiritual gifts to be both discovered and to be used.

Pray for yourself this day to be who Jesus wants you to be, to let go of what you should and to be ready both to bless and receive the blessings of others.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, January 30, 2026

Seeking Spiritual Understanding

by David Brenneman

"We walk by faith, not by sight."

2 Corinthians 5:7.

Imagine you've gone through a difficult experience in your life and you're fearful of what the future might hold. To encourage you, a friend says, "You can do it, one day at a time. Remember: just walk by religion, not by sight." Walk by religion? To a biblically literate Christian, the very sound of that phrase is off-putting, to say the least.

You probably know what Paul really said in 2 Corinthians 5:7:

"We walk by faith, not by sight." But even the idea of walking by faith seems contrary to common sense. If we walked by religion, we would at least have a tangible structure- things that are seen--to pin our hopes on: buildings, traditions, schedules, liturgies, ministers, and the like. If we walk by faith, we have only the promises of God. But we also have "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). We not only have God's promises but we

also have the evidence from thousands of years of history that He has kept His promises to those who trust Him. And He will keep

His promises for you.

If you are facing an uncertain future (and who isn't?), remember to walk by faith-faith in the God who promises He "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.

JOHN BLANCHARD

-Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah.

In many ways we neglect to see the world from the spiritual point of view that we see Jesus teaching the Disciples for 3 and a half years...and of which they taught the early Church for 20+ years before they had Paul's letters, Peter's letters, James and the rest.

We don't even look at the world in which we live as they did. We don't look for how spiritual matters impact the physical life. We listen to the world in it's feable understanding and chalk it up to chemical imbalances and the like.

Why is it those 2026 years ago understood and could tell the difference between the medical and the spiritual when it came to what someone was suffering from? Why? Because the master of deception has had 2026 years to perfect his deceit.

We don't get involved because of a few reasons. One is that we're not as trained up as those first Disciples were. I speak not of those who became Apostles...but those whom were the first that the Apostle's trained.

We live in a world immersed in deceit. Lies that are so sugar coated that unless you're really a student of the Scriptures, as my Spiritual Dad, Mike Wingfield teaches...you will indeed be deceived.

We have been taught not to challenge wrong thinking. We have been taught to accept those who break the laws of the land as if they had a right to. We have been taught that it's acceptable to not challenge doctor's diagnosis. That we should believe them no matter what.

We don't look at people as Jesus looked at people. He saw beyond their physical issues...to the root cause of their issues. Today's world is 'treat it with a pill or an IV and you'll be ok...leave God out of it.".

Most in the professing Church today I would dare-say that in his recent newsletter "PT News" at www.ptnews.org is spot on...they don't know how to recognize what is and is not spiritual warfare. They do not know what to do and are not aware at all of their spiritual surroundings.

They've accepted so many compromises that they don't think they have a right to stand up in the faith.

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey with Christ...you CAN and SHOULD stand firm in the faith. You have to start somewhere or start again somewhere in your life in Christ.

When we accept and do not challenge Satan's lies...his deceit...then we can and usually do enable people to stay trapped in whatever hell on earth they are in.

Look at what happened even with the Disciples...who were given authority to cast out demons. There were some that even that authority wasn't enough. Prayer and fasting were needed to bolster that request.

You, my Dear Reader, need to sit down and have your own serious, dedicated, intentional, training in righteousness with the Spirit of God if you are going to ever have your thinking about people and about yourself ever straightened out.

Within this...realize that which the Scriptures say WILL take place. "Everyone will be without excuse" when they stand before Jesus. "Chemical imbalance" will not be an acceptable excuse. "I couldn't help myself" will not be an acceptable excuse. "I didn't think it would be a bad thing" will not be an acceptable excuse.

In fact...let's make it simple...as simple as the coming to Christ for salvation. There are no acceptable excuses for not coming to Christ for salvation. There's no acceptable excuses for not doing, saying or being as Christ, through His Spirit, teaches us to do, say or be.

We will indeed see hard times when we come to Christ. Jesus said so.

Long ago there was a song "One Day at a Time" and the message is right that it speaks to. Even in the hard times, as well as the good times, take every day with Jesus one at a time. Don't get ahead of Him. Always be learning about how to be who God in Christ Jesus wants you to be. Always be aware of your surroundings in the spiritual sense. Listen to the Spirit, not the world. Don't let anything get in the way, be it family, friends, or even your own self-interests in being all who God in Christ Jesus wants you to be.

We need to take the lessons that Jesus taught to heart. It's still an amazing thing to me to look at the book of Acts from that perspective. All they had for 20 plus years was ONLY the teachings of Jesus...and it was THOSE plus the Old Testament that transformed the global landscape as the Church of Christ spread out into the world. The letters, epistles, etc. that came later only served to bolster what they already had in their firm foundation of the teachings of Jesus from the Apostles.

Look at your life. Get real with you about where you have compromised. Where you have accepted the world's doctrines on how to live life and what you should or should not accept as truth.

While yes this life is likely going to be rough...and it likely WILL get rough when you stand firm in the Lord and the light of His Word.

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own undestanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

We cannot know or understand the true life that awaits us in Christ if we are not choosing at a minimum those two promises.

We are to be living for Jesus in all that we do. Whether or not we understand or not. Whether it makes sense or not. A light shining is totally indiscriminate on what it reveals. OUR light is supposed to shine in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Our FIRST priority to live a life acceptable to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Not the world.

"may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him" Romans 15:13.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, January 29, 2026

His Open Arms Are For You

by David Brenneman

"Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:34-43

Long long ago for me, these facts about my Savior were explained to me. I was around 7 at the time. I knew and understood that I was a sinner in need of a Savior, who was Christ the Lord. I knew that there was nothing that I could do on my own to be right before God. It wasn't me who did anything to save me. I heard His call and He reached out and did everything that I couldn't do.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;" Ephesians 2:8.

Grace. The truest definition is "unmerited favor". Getting something we don't deserve. We have nothing to offer in exchange for our soul. There's nothing we could possibly give to cover our own sins.

This comes hand-in-hand with mercy...our not getting what we do deserve for breaking God's laws. We are born in sin and we need His God-given perfect sacrifice to deal with this.

What we receive in exchange is a life we never could or would see otherwise. We are adopted into the family of God. We have all our sins, past, present and future dealt with. He promises to be faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Removing them as far as the east is from the west.

So no, I have not a remembrance of a life before Jesus. But for sure my life has never been the same as it would have been.

Throughout my life there's been countless examples of His loving hands turning my life into something worth living. He's brought me through dangers that by any other means would have been impossible. He's provided in ways that I never could have considered. When it comes to battles with those whom have wronged me, He's fought them on my behalf. He is a promise keeper.

Jesus is very real and is very much open to saving more people. He said that whomever comes to Him in faith by no means would He ever cast out.

What does it take? Read it here:

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

First you have to acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior...just as I had to do.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.

Next is to acknowledge His truth about sin. That the Bible is clear that what we deserve for sin is death.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love for us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

And in conclusion you already just read what Romans 10 says.

My Dear Reader the gift of eternal life is free. Jesus paid it all. He wants to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. But you have to ask Him to do that.

I really like this portion of a story about a man who believed...his daily prayer that was the beginning of his life in Christ.

"I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS BEN, JUST CHECKING IN TODAY."

You too can pray such a prayer after you receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

Until you do, there's a great divide between you and God that cannot be crossed without going through the cross of Jesus Christ. Only through the finished work of Jesus on the cross can we come into the presence of God.

Jesus loves you. When He looked forward to the cross He thought of you. When He was cruelly beaten and scourged, He thought of you. When He was being nailed to that cross, He thought of you. When He arose from the dead, He was ready to welcome you into His family, having done it all to make it possible to join Him where He is.

Scripture further says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Without the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone we cannot please God.

What's holding you back? Questions yet you may still have?

Jesus said you must come as a child does. Look upon Him who died and arose again and simply believe that that is and was for you. Believe that He said it about you and claim it for yourself.

You can text the word "Jesus" to (330) 264-9459 and you will be connected with someone who will talk to you about this salvation in Christ that you have read about today.

Jesus is waiting with open arms for all who would come to Him to be saved. No matter what the baggage is we bring, He will deal with it. No matter how sinful we feel He will heal it. No matter what...He's ready to save.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Where to Put Anxiousness

Where to Put Anxiousness
by David Brenneman

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:6-9.

"For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within." 2 Corinthians 7:5.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you." 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Paul's anxiousness, his weakness, was his overwhelming concern for the Churches of God. When not there with them it's evident that the enemy of God was trying to cloud his mind with attempts at worrying about them.

I had thought long ago, as many have tried to preach on the subject, that his thorn in the flesh was his eyesight. However, when you really consider the dynamic person Paul was, that's actually utterly rubbish. Paul's list of things he went through physically he didn't complain about so why would he about his eyes? But in the context of the dynamics of Paul's life you see his extremely strong desire that his efforts to prove obedient to the command given to him by Jesus towards the Gentiles...it makes perfect sense.

In that light you see the proper use of that same zeal he originally was showing in his youth in his attacks on Christianity as lived out in assuring the Churches he planted weren't in vain. So he visited...and visited...and visited these churches.

Anxiousness is part of the human experience but it doesn't need to define it. Our identity, as was with Paul, isn't wrapped up in our feelings and emotions.

Our identity is who we are in Christ, who the Father says we are. When imputed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ upon us all the Father sees is Jesus when He looks at one of us.

If I were asked about these last, now going on 8 months, of unemployment if anxious thoughts were there...in all honesty...for the most part no. Certainly the peace of God which passes all understanding has guarded our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Regardless of anyone's social or employment status...remain faithful in the Lord.

"Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3.

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

:For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalms 55:22.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21.

Considering what passages we read today...and the many others that are available to us...Paul had to trust what investments in people that he had in those churches, equip them, and leave them with Jesus to take from there.

Our lives are such chaos at times we get pushed this way and that and through it all...Jesus is the constant that never changes.

I was reminded of the fall of 2021 in 2 and 3/4ths months my Wife and I were literally pushed through the wringer after I accepted an offer for a job 2 hours from where we were living. I had to give a 1 week notice at my current employer. Had to find a realtor in our new hometown, find one in our current hometown. Figure out where to put stuff we were keeping, and the excruciating part of what to do with what we were not keeping. Add to this points of the home inspection where we were that had to be addressed. All the while I was staying in a camper heading into winter, working through the week and handling the rest on weekends.

Yet God saw us safely through it. Upon move-in day our new church sent many people to unload. God had provided for their meals. God had provided warm weather and no snow which was right before Christmas.

This is but one example of a stressful time where prayer was our answer to what was anxious to us but never to our Savior in whom we trust.

The temptation to be anxious is part of our fallen nature. If even the Apostles dealt with it we will too.

Remembering these passages when anxiousness creeps in is the proper response to it

We are several months removed from unemployment benefits yet God keeps faithful in His promises to provide for us.

The end is near, both my Wife and I agree on that. Soon enough I will be working at a job again. In the meantime my job is to both look and to accomplish whatever it is He puts before me to be doing. Whether its around the house or helping others. Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.".

So before going down the path of anxiousness...ask yourself what it is that you're not trusting God with.

Our very life is in His hands. He's surprised by nothing. He always provides exactly on time. Hecsays never to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. He's already there dealing with your tomorrow before you see it or experience it.

Think on these things.

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

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

So Do You Ask?

So Do You Ask?
by David Brenneman

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant." Psalms 143:8-12.

Most, while we are in school, long for the days when we are not. Some with aspirations go on to college or technical schools or maybe even the military or full time Christian ministry. All of which require more training and years of commitment.

For those who are in Christ...you and I...our schooling never ends and we should both be glad and expectant of what's to come from the Spirit of God who's job is to teach us all things.

Do you incorporate your spiritual training in righteousness into your life? Do you pick up your textbook to find today's lesson? Do you talk to your Teacher?

When we came to Christ for salvation we begin something that will go on throughout our lives and only reach a graduation day when we step into eternity in Heaven with Jesus.

We became His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

Do you know what that means or what those things are for you?

Do you know what kinds of thoughts you should be thinking with regards to spiritual matters that the Spirit lays out before you?

Do you look to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus? It's right there in our textbook, the Bible.

Do you examine what you are told to see if it is so in your textbook, the Bible?

Do you have conversations with your Teacher about what you have read?

What we do in a physical school environment isn't much different than with the Spirit of God.

We may take notes, find similar topics, take even days to go over a subject.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

Do you even understand what seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness means?

Do you know what setting your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world looks like?

Idolatry is everywhere in the world...have you given thought to this passage? "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21.

Jesus spoke of how the Father listened to Him because He always did what was pleasing to the Father.

Do you strive to do what's pleasing to God?

Do you look to get rid of the things in your life so that you can be the best you can be as unto the Lord?

Is there anything within you that's looking to hear "Well done My good and faithful servant"?

Set aside time in the morning, time in the evening. Daniel's life was so personified with his dedication to prayer that everyone knew where to find him 3 times a day.

Set aside time to spend in prayer outside of meals.

Give of your best to the Master,
give of the strength of your youth;
throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example-
dauntless was He, young and brave;
give Him your loyal devotion,
give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master,
give of the strength of your youth;
clad in salvation's full armor,
join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master,
give HIm first place in your heart;
give Him first place in your service,
consecrate every part.
Give and to you shall be given-
God His beloved Son gave;
give Him your heart's adoration,
give HIm the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master,
give of the strength of your youth;
clad in salvation's full armor,
join in the battle for truth.
- Give of Your Best to the Master, Howard B Grose.

If we want to stand before Jesus with our lives having been lived pleasing to God we need to put in the efforts to do so. If we want to run the race, finish the course, as though to win, we need to train.

Take the time to evaluate you as a Student of the Master and see what you need to change in order to strive to only live a life pleasing to God.

For only what we have done in the body for Jesus Christ is what will survive the fires of Truth.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25

Monday, January 26, 2026

Where I Am He Is Also

by David Brenneman

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:1-24.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.

Never alone. I have had a few people in my life attempt to tell me that should I go down some path they don't agree with that I would be alone. What's more surprising is those were Believer's telling me this. However the truth is here in the Scriptures. We're never alone.

Why Psalms 23 with Psalms 139? Why not? I see overtones of each chapter within the other.

When getting ready to take on Goliath, David told Saul that this uncircumcised Philistine would be no different than the lion and the bear that the Lord was with David to defeat.

You see, David learned early on in life that he and his God were an unbeatable combination. He was never alone no matter who he faced.

We too are never alone. Once the Spirit has set His seal upon us for having come to Christ for salvation...we're inseparable. Not by our hand or anyone else's.

Satan's schemes involve getting people who are indeed in Christ to believe that the silence they experience is a sign that the Father left them, that the Lord Jesus abandoned them, that the Spirit walked out on them.

Let's cut to the chase.

"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39.

Anyone who tells you that in the path you are taking, that you know has been shown to you is the direction the Lord wants you to go, is going to lead to you being alone....don't believe them.

Add to our Scriptures this morning the one where Jesus Himself says that He will never leave us or forsake us. Therefore anyone saying such things to you or I are not speaking for God.

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3.

In our desires, an maybe in theirs, is to see a resolution to a situation that in truthfulness might not be what God wants or where He wants us to be. We read the other day of how Jesus knowingly sent His Disciples into a storm knowing there was no other way for truth to be realized by the Disciples but in that way. They would NEED to go through it to grow in Christ in the way that the Father knew they needed.

Quite literally we are either growing in Christ to be more like Jesus or we're conforming to the world. A person leaves civilian life to become a soldier. He or she will never achieve becoming the best soldier he or she can or will be if they're not focused on becoming the best.

Jesus, through the Spirit, teaches us all things and will bring to remembrance all that He commanded only if we're intent on and focused on learning to be whom He wants us to be...even if those around us don't understand.

We are going to individually stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. Not as a group. Not speaking for someone else.

People in our lives may or may not see what God is doing in our lives because quite frankly they do not have all the facts. They do not know where you are in your sanctification. They see a sliver and think they have the whole portrait.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "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.". While people in your life might have insight in some similar areas...we are still to trust in the Lord with all our heart. Remember 3 of 4 of Job's friends weren't giving right advice to Job. Job's own Wife didn't.

We read this morning that in every intimate detail our Savior and Lord knows us. From before we were born and every single second since. He chose us. He will return one day for us.

Be encouraged to know that you and Jesus are a majority in any situation. While it's grand to have other Believers in Christ alongside of you...Scriptures say that sometimes that might not be the case.

Stay in the Word of God. Stay in prayer. Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit.

Alone? For those in Christ? Never.

"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. Doesn't say that others will understand it.

For those who are in Christ are in a personal relationship with Jesus. Sometimes what's shared or learned between you and Jesus is just for between you and Jesus.

Your relationship with Jesus is beyond even what we understand of what 'personal' means.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore we are never alone.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

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