No Camouflage Here

No Camouflage Here

by David Brenneman 

"The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them." Isaiah 9:2

While this great light is a prophecy about Jesus, we're called to be lights in this world. Emmanuel means God with us. When people come to Christ for salvation, He comes to live in us.  

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

So many people in this world try to keep their mannerisms of life that they had back before they were saved in Christ.   

We're not to be doing that. Paul taught on that very subject.

"that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:22-24.

"Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all." Colossians 3:9-11.

We are to shine in this present darkness. We ought to be striving for to win the prize as the Apostle Paul wrote as well. Running with the aim of winning.  

"knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." Romans 6:6-7.

Do you not want your Father in Heaven to be glorified?  

Do you not want to stand before Jesus rather than to shrink away from Him when you are before Him some day?

These desires that people attach themselves to are often traps. Minefields at best. Satan's schemes aren't hidden! His schemes are certainly not camouflaged in the least!

We are often embracing whatever he tries to do in our lives and then we have the audacity to cry out to Jesus because we say that we don't know where everything went wrong!

Was listening to Steven Curtis Chapman yesterday. "Be Still and Know". Along with "Great Expectations".

How often do you try to sit at the feet of Jesus?

How often do you actually stop n wonder if what's put before you is a temptation or something good from God? We are approaching a season of giving. Thanksgiving is upon us and soon afterwards is Christmas. Satan's schemes are often wrapped up to look like something from God.  

Would you recognize the difference?

In combat training people learn the art of camouflage and its required to successfully complete that part of training in order to advance. 

In Christ we aren't to do this in order to advance in growing in Christ Jesus. 

We are to be lights in this world...not hidden under a basket...away from the world. 

So what if people look down on you for truly living the Christian life as the Spirit directs each of you.  

Is anyone you run across more important than serving your risen Lord and Savior with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit? And meeting His approval concerning the life you lived?

I sort of jokingly posted a picture of football fans in a snowy stadium and said that if Christians today had that kind of drive and commitment, Satan would be running scared at the onslaught of the Church.  

Jesus doesn't have kind words to say towards those who are ashamed of His association with them.  

Live your life in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Period. 

Let your light shine! Think back to that children's song of this little light of mine.  

Remove those things that are causing your light to be hidden from the world. 

What are you doing hiding anyway?

My aim is to hear "Well done!" from Jesus...what about you?

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

Who Accomplishes According to His Purpose

Who Accomplishes According to His Purpose 

by David Brenneman 

"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth." Psalms 57:1-3.

"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.

Was part of my morning reading the passage in Psalms was and immediately I thought of the other in the book of Romans. 

These two made me reflect on my current set of predicaments. My prayers go up not just daily but often hundreds of times a day when I don't know what words to say and indeed the Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words for me. 

I know quite a bit about quite a few things. I like instructionals. Videos on how to do things. Figuring things out is something that I enjoy doing. 

But there's times where I know God's telling me to wait. The answers aren't ready for me to know yet or the answer isn't for me to know.  

Even Daniel was told that he wasn't going to understand everything he was shown. John in his writing of the book of Revelation was dumbfounded by most of what his eyes saw. 

Understanding often takes time. God's timing isn't our timing. As the Scriptures also say that His ways are not our ways His thoughts are not our thoughts.  

Job too wasn't shown the why's behind his story either, that we know of. 

But we're far from alone. Far from stranded. Far from abandoned.  

It's ok to not understand. It's ok to patiently wait upon the Lord's timing. It's only us that thinks it's not ideal. God still causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

With catching that part of my Bible reading "that I am the Lord"...I look for that now when I read. The sentiment is here in Psalms that we read. King David was living out the truth that he trusted in the truth that the Lord was the Lord. Paul's trust was in the Lord. Peter's trust was in the Lord. The Spirit teaches us that Jesus is the Lord. 

Someone once said that if you only pray when you are in trouble then you're already in trouble. 

Part of our teaching from the Spirit is to know that Jesus is the Lord. That He's got our back. That we can trust in Him. 

We're entering the season of fall and winter here in North America. For some it's a hyper season surrounded sports. For others it's a time to slow down and reflect on the year.

I'm not that much of an outdoor person as it is...and I look forward to the solitude of time in front of the fireplace during this time of year.  

Take time to reflect more on your year with Jesus than whatever has gone right or wrong in the year.  

Look for how and when He's caused things to work together for your good. Look for these and write them down. You'll need these for those future times of stress and heavy concerns when life isn't making a whole lot of sense.

Our faith history shows us that He is the Lord. He's there 24/7 365 for all our worries and concerns. 

Paul struggled with anxiety so we're in good company.  

Look for opportunities to pray and not just to pray when problems arise.

Jesus is a promise keeper.  

"Be still and know that I am God".

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

The World is a Different Place

The World is a Different Place 

by David Brenneman 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."

Matthew 5:11-12, 14-16, 18

When someone comes to Christ they get a new address. A new name in Christ. Adoption into the family of God.  

A famous quote from Billy Graham to do with himself goes that we may hear of him dying. The truth is only his address has changed and he is more alive now than he's ever been. 

We who die in Christ are ushered into the very presence of Jesus.  

We cease to be here and open our eyes there in Heaven.  

When people die who do not know Christ Jesus as Savior...the truth isn't that you go to some kind of pergotory you go right into the torment of Hell. Painfully real Hell.

The light from within the life of a Believer should show a life changed by the work of the Spirit of God within them. 

We're those who have passed from death to life. We are those who are the salt of the Earth. Showing people that there is hope in a world seriously lacking hope.  

We long for that moment of time when Jesus is embracing us. We long for our eternal home. 

If you haven't placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. If He isn't the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life then Heaven is not your home. Heaven will not be your destination when you die. The Bible says that all the good works we can do are as rubbish without the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Worthless. 

There's nothing apart from Jesus that saves.  

We cannot leave this world we know and go to Heaven without Jesus.  

The message for over 2,000 years has been that we need salvation through no other. Coupled with that message is the urgency of the hour. That we know not when Jesus will return. We just absolutely are certain He is going to once the pre-Tribulation prophecies are complete and the last person who will come to Christ before it is to begin comes to Christ for salvation. 

Time isn't eternal. At a point in time not far from now, compared to eternity, time will be no more. Literally 1,007 years after the Rapture of the Church time is over. The Final Judgment of God is completed and eternity is sealed. 

My Dear Reader at the end of the day...you must know where you will be spending eternity. 

You must choose to believe the God of the Bible or the god of this world. Nobody gets anyone out of Hell. Everyone there chose to reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. From fallen Angels to people Hell is a vast place of painfully tormented inhabitants. Every single one there knows exactly why they are there and they do not want anyone joining them. 

Jesus showed us all that when He spoke about it. 

The free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is a limited time offer. While yes people will be saved in the Great Tribulation, their lives will be at stake all the time. 

You choose.  

You choose a life in Christ now while you can or you don't.  

The consequences of your choice are entirely on you.  

As for me and my house...we choose Jesus. As for most of my family, that I am aware of, they too choose Jesus. Many of my friends have chosen Jesus.  

What say you?

A life in Christ is different in ways that nobody can really fully understand without first coming to Christ for salvation. That's no cop-out that's what the Bible says. 

The world is a different place for those who are saved. We know we're just visiting. 

Where you go from here is entirely up to you. 

Take Romans 10 seriously. "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.”

Come to Christ and see the world as it really is. 

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

He IS Coming!

He IS Coming 

by David Brenneman 

My Dear Reader when I wake up many times throughout the night and the same thing I hear gets said to me, I begin to write. 

This blog's description makes reference to the Watchman on the wall as it was in ancient times of the people of God.  

That the blood of the people would be charged to that Watchman with regards to whether or not he warned people of a pending doom. Should he not and yet knew their blood would be on his hands for not telling them. Should he warn them and they ignore him then their blood be on their own hands. Should he warn them and they listen to him they and would have saved themselves. 

In my heart of hearts I know that worldly events are picking up speed again. If it's not been noticed, start noticing my Dear Reader, because these events were foretold in the Bible. To read about the Third Temple in the Bible is one thing, to hear of government officials openly declaring that they will fully support the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount says to all: the curtain is about to go up on the book of Revelation, of Ezekiel, of Daniel and all other places in the Scriptures. The King is coming. 

Yes this isn't written like other posts but then again I am the writer, the person dictating what is written isn't me. I have not chosen what's written unless directed to use current events or experiences of my life.  

The King is coming. World events are re-centering around Israel. Tiny little Israel who is smaller than the state of Rhode Island in the United States. Tiny little Israel is being defended by God as He has said He would do. He chose them, they didn't choose him.

My take on current events is this: be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. Be sure that you are saved. What day, hour, minute or second that Jesus will return for His Church we do not know. Many have tried to rush it and claim knowledge of it. Only to be proven to be false prophets and false teachers. Romans 10 is a great place to dwell on confirming that you indeed are saved.  

"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.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, By a nation without understanding will I anger you.” And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Romans 10:8-21.

What will happen, exactly, when Jesus returns? For those saved in Christ Jesus, instantly they will be ushered into the presence of Jesus. Joining Him in the clouds to leave this world and forever be with Him.  

What happens to the world is global chaos. Global instances of catastrophic events. Plane crashes, innumerable vehicle crashes. Innumerable construction accidents. Billions of children missing who weren't old enough to understand good from evil. Billions across the world dying because of the lives of Believers leaving the world.  

A world leader will arise to claim that he is the answer to all that's going wrong and that everyone must trust in him. The masses will indeed follow him. Out of desperation, out of necessity, people will do whatever he says. He will reform the global economic climate to fit his vision for it. Those who are alive and still seek the God of the Bible will become enemies of the state. People will turn in friends, acquaintances, family, in order to obey this world leader. 

Then there's all the judgments of God that will come. The building of the Third Temple is only a part of the things that are coming. Various judgments of God will still kill billions of people.  

Oh you think this is nothing but fairy tales? Consider that dozens of Biblical prophecies have been fulfilled in the last 100 years. It was extremely significant when the world was made to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. To see the hand of God in Israel's battles is a sight to behold. None of those were coincidences, they certainly were Godinstances.

For all of you...again...be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. What you own, owe, have or hope to have doesn't matter. 

Who you know, have met or hope to meet or see doesn't matter. 

Knowing that you are ready to meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when He returns is all that should matter. 

Jesus is coming soon. My Savior in whom my hope lies, is coming soon. I've seen His hands in my life and I have to ask that only pertinent question: Do you know Him? 

Jesus came to this world to seek and save the lost. He wasn't lost, we were. He searched until He found me decades ago. My Dear Reader settle that question right now. You may not get a today to finish thinking about it.  

The Church of Jesus Christ is not under condemnation but has passed from death into life. God's word says that there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We do not stand with the world in being condemned to experience the wrath of God that is to come. The Church will see from the side of Heaven the fulfillment of the Word of God. The Church will see those martyrs under the Throne of Jesus awaiting their own justice from Jesus for them.  

The King is coming...do you know Him as Savior and Lord? Is He the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life?  

This blog is God’s doing in my life every single day for many years now. I write and He handles global distribution. He draws people to find it and to read it. If you are reading it then He's found you too.

As my Spiritual Dad says at the end of his Biblical Prophecy newsletters: Get ready for the shout that will call us out!

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

Always by My Side

Always by My Side

by David Brenneman 

"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.

"You hear me when I call

You are my morning song

Though darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear

You crush the enemy

Underneath my feet

You are my sword and shield

Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

My strength is in your name

For you alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear

Whom shall I fear

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

And nothing formed against me shall stand

You hold the whole world in your hands

I'm holding on to your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful

Nothing formed against me shall stand

You hold the whole world in your hands

I'm holding on to your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful

You are faithful

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side"

Chris Tomlin - Whom Shall I Fear 

Although there are times when I have stumbled and fell, when sin has reared its ugly head, it matters not because my Savior is still standing by my side. 

It's taken a great many years to comprehend the complexity of life in the battles between my new nature in Christ and my sin nature. Been years and I'm probably only beginning to maybe understand how fierce the battles can be. 

Having been that generation that grew up watching M*A*S*H, it possibly provides some perspective on what the horrors of battle do to the mind and body of a person. 

Some of the, in my mind, more powerful episodes were those with Dr. Sydney Freedman. Those battles that he ran into were in the mind. But also to see the struggles of those in post-op. How difficult it was to just lay there awaiting healing. Sometimes the follow-up surgeries.  

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Of the Samaritan finding the guy in his wounded state and picking him up and providing a means to get him both to safety and a place to heal. First off Jews and Samaritans did not interact this way. Add to it he was different from others in his compassion. 

It is one thing to look back on your life and relish or shudder at the highlights that you remember. But how often do you ponder the times when the Savior made you lie down to await healing? 

Going back to the show, many times the nurses were the central character because they were there not only to administer medicine but compassion. An episode that stands out is one where a nurse went along with what a soldier was seeing only in his minds eye.  

Our Savior and Lord knows our battles way better than we do. He knows our hearts better than we do. His Spirit knows every single dastardly secret we fool ourselves into either choosing to forget or that we hope gets overlooked.

He knows every single wound we have and what brought it about.

His work in us isn't going to end until we are finally in His presence, an acceptable glorified person, who was adopted into the family of God. 

He will stay at our side no matter what comes our way. No matter what happens in our lives. No matter if we choose to sin or choose to obey He remains at our side.   

Of course the recommended path is to willingly be at His side in obedience to His Word and purpose for our lives.  

But maybe today you're hurting, you're not feeling well, you're struggling, you're stressed. 

"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.

Whatever He allows in your life...turn to Him with a whole heart and do not let go. He made a promise and He always keeps His promises. 

Always by My Side.

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

What People Don't See Matters

What People Don't See Matters 

by David Brenneman 

"The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them." Proverbs 11:3.

Some have said that integrity is what defines a person when nobody is looking. 

This morning I was reading that chapter in Proverbs and read that passage with that definition inserted. "What a person does when nobody is looking will guide them, but those who think they are getting away with things will be destroyed by their actions."

Is your life really by way of your own interpretation, understanding, estimation?  

What is it that God has said that He's looking for? People after God's own heart. His Disciples were had the seeds planted while Jesus yet walked among them to grow into the very foundation of the Church in Christ Jesus. The very seeds that become the people after God's own heart. 

What you think you do in secret is anything but done in secret. 

What you choose to do is not by chance, nor is it fully out of a person's control. At least not for the masses. There are those with physical issues that cause behaviors to be seen that aren't spiritual in nature. But for the rest of us...what we do Spiritually has a direct relationship with our physical world. 

What does the Spirit say through Paul in the book of Colossians?

"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." Colossians 3:23-24.

Your work is not truly separated by leisure and actual work. It's whatever you put your hands to doing. That verse in its opening part defines that.

What are you indulging in that you know in your heart of hearts God wouldn't approve of?

In the book of 1 Samuel, on several occasions, the soon to be King David was being pursued by King Saul. On all of those occasions temptation was beating on the door of his heart to kill King Saul when the opportunity was ripe. His integrity wouldn't let him. He knew that it wouldn't be right to be placing himself in God's sandals. King David had to wait years for the fulfillment of the Word of God concerning him being King.

We have passed what it used to be described of a past generation as being a microwave society. Instantaneous is what this present culture wants of themselves and others. We don't wait like we used to in order to find out something we jump on a phone and try to look it up. 

Integrity is indeed what you are doing when nobody is looking. Our impatience is fertile ground for a loss of integrity. In a moment its destroyed. For many it takes a lifetime to recover from one instance of stupidity. 

I have no need for anyone to point out my various times of my being stupid. In thinking that since nobody of significance saw that I am safe. By no means do I believe that a supposed secret is safe in a person's life unless they are taken from this world by God and even then what a person does follows after them. 

King David's response to his companion's was that he could not reach out against the Lord's Anointed without serious repercussions. That God would indeed know even if nobody saw.

You, my Dear Reader, are always in a position of having the right thing to do before you. God isn't going to turn away at any moment just because you want Him to. Indeed the Scriptures say that He who knows the right thing to do and does not do it sins.  

What we do when people aren't looking matters.

You have to decide how you are going to be. There's the integrity of your heart at stake. We who are in Christ Jesus will see just what impact that thought had on us when all our deeds done in life are tried by fire.  

Will all that we did in the life we were given go up in smoke or will there be a crown of righteousness to give back to Jesus. 

That should weigh heavily on your decision making you do in secret or in the open. 

"Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalms 121:4.

"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a.

"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." Psalms 139:7-16.

You see, there is always one who sees all that you and I do. Everywhere we go from our bed to the farthest reaches of the Heavens.  

Pray for your integrity. We all need to pray for that because it is a foundation stone for what we do in our lives for Christ.

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

A Conduit not a Container

A Conduit not a Container 

by David Brenneman 

"The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him." Proverbs 11:25-27.

When we are blessed then we should look to bless someone else.  

While indeed there are times when God does provide a blessing specific to our circumstances, we should still look at how we can pass a blessing along to someone else. 

When we read of the rich man and Lazarus, this rich man was blessed in ways that most people dream about. He had want of nothing. His only concerns were on how to maintain what he had and had projected to be coming to him.

We can slip into this when an unexpected blessing arrives. To forget from whom it really has come and to forget to be grateful, thankful even. 

A hymn sung in many churches goes like this:

"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen."

Credited to Thomas Ken 1674.

I get it that many churches are attempting to appeal to people from a more modern take, but, this simple hymn does so much to bring people to a point of gratitude. 

A heart that is after God's own heart has to be practicing gratitude. 

A heart that is after God's own heart has to be thankful, forgiving.

The work of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus is to take what we were and make us into people after God's own heart. Not to leave us as He found us. 

The soft temptation is to withhold what we've been given. No one will know. Nobody will miss it. Nothing is going to really change if I don't.

My Dear Reader...the Spirit within you knows. Therefore God knows.

When we are amply blessed and are more worried about being burned by people who appear to be ungrateful than we are in the truth that it's God's blessings and we are to do as He sees fit...we really have a problem. 

So we are seeing things squandered by those whom we have blessed. Do you not think that God hasn't seen this? That in time He might use this to win a soul?  

It's not a thought of concept but in using measuring instruments for such withholding what is supposed to flow causes resistance. Friction results in a constrained flow of water. We see it as a building up of pressure. In an electrical circuit we use things called resistors to intentionally slow voltage and current. In many cases we see or feel the result of this restraining power in heat from the device. 

We too can feel the heat of withholding what God intended for us to let go of. 

Think about how you really are when the still small voice in you is prompting you to give what you have been given.  

We are approaching a time of year called Thanksgiving. What is it you are doing or not doing that's hampering you from being not just thankful but grateful?

I have often donated to others rather than trying to sell for money. I get it that some believe that is a better way to do with what God's given me is to sell and use that money for His good. But what about it? It all belongs to God! Whether sold or unsold its God's. If He, the owner, says to give, you give.  

We are a bloated society on possessions. The storage unit business is flourishing. Sounds like a beginning of a parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. 

Who could you be blessing right now and haven't been? What are you wasting money on that could have been meant to bless others in helping them? 

Think about how you can be a conduit not a container for God's sake and not your own.   

So what if it makes you look foolish. Read the beginning of the Church in the book of Acts. People liquidated and did whatever was necessary to bring financial freedom to thousands. Pouring out God's blessings.  

What is the Spirit prompting you to do to be a blessing to others today?

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