What We Really Do...What We Are Really Like

What We Really Do...What We Are Really Like 

by David Brenneman 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we." 2 Corinthians 10:3-7.

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3.

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:1-4.

Oh my Dear Reader, what we do when we don't think first. 

We often miss, if not have altogether missed, that connection between letting no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth along with the immediately following verse of what it does to the Spirit when we do.

There it is. Now you can see it.

But will it make any difference in your life?  

Jesus said specifically that we will give an account of EVERY careless word we speak. All our thoughts and intentions are laid bare before whom we have to do. 

How often do we at least try to resist? How often does the prospect of a battle to control our thoughts and actions come to mind?

We are more easily prone to going with the flow of the world with regards to its lusts than to stand firm in the Lord. 

We get on a bandwagon with others and enjoy the feelings of being included and don't see what it's done and is doing to our testimony before mankind. 

This particular devotional is somewhat personal to me. Mark Wills had a song out a long time ago that, when I first heard it in my car, I almond wrecked because of being overcome with my emotions. 

"Don't Laugh at Me" - Mark Wills, 1998

I'm a little boy with glasses

The one they call the geek

A little girl who never smiles

'Cause I've got braces on my teeth

And I know how it feels

To cry myself to sleep

I'm that kid on every playground

Who's always chosen last

A single teenage mother

Tryin' to overcome my past

You don't have to be my friend

Is it too much to ask?

Don't laugh at me, don't call me names

Don't get your pleasure from my pain

'Cause in God's eyes we're all the same

Someday we'll all have perfect wings

Don't laugh at me

I'm the cripple on the corner

You pass me on the street

And I wouldn't be out here beggin'

If I had enough to eat

And don't think I don't notice

That our eyes never meet

I lost my wife and little boy

When someone crossed that yellow line

The day we laid 'em in the ground

Is the day I lost my mind

Right now I'm down to holdin'

This little cardboard sign

So don't laugh at me, don't call me names

Don't get your pleasure from my pain

'Cause in God's eyes we're all the same

Someday we'll all have perfect wings

Don't laugh at me

'Cause I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall

I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey, aren't we all?

Don't laugh at me, don't call me names

Don't get your pleasure from my pain

'Cause in God's eyes we're all the same

Someday we'll all have perfect wings

Don't laugh at me

Here was a song that hit on much of my childhood school experiences. It epitomizes that passage of letting no unwholesome word come out of your mouth...and gives examples as to why it matters.  

In my elementary school days I learned how cruel words could be from the other side of the fence as well. I thought it would make me one of the cool kids to join them in what was known as cut down sessions. Using words as weapons to be wielded in however you can with the object being to get your opponent to break. It had to have been the Spirit convicting me not long afterwards and it resonates with me even today to absolutely stop that...I was hurting people in a place where the damages can go on for decades. 

We still have bandwagons today, couched in the form of entertainment of every shape and kind. We laugh it off with excuses that appease our conscience. We give no second thoughts to what should have never happened in the first place.  

We can look at our digital world and should realize today's people have the hardest time escaping the words spoken by them in the past. 

Promising political figures crushed out of running all because a tweet or video was found of them carelessly speaking a long time ago. Artists of music and video decimated by the same. Careers of sports figures ruined by careless words. 

Taking every thought captive is part of the spiritual warfare we are all in. Yesterday alone for me was extremely hard in keeping my thoughts from going straight to discouragement and residing there. I already was exhausted from lack of sleep. I thank God that He saw my weariness and weakness and stepped in to hold the line. 

My Dear Reader think before you speak. Look hard at what you allow to come out of your mouth. We are to lift people up not tear them down. There's no Godly 'fun' in weaponizing our words...no matter the personal validation for it. Remember every careless word that people speak they will give an account of before Jesus. 

Is what you are going to say going to harm or help? It's something that I try to keep at the forefront of my life.  

You can't change what you have said or done but starting today you can change going forward.

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.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Investing in Watching, Living Like It's Today

Investing in Watching, Living Like It's Today 

by David Brenneman 

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. [6] But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:1-30.

How well do you live life concerning the return of Jesus Christ? How often does it cross your mind that maybe your behavior or your words should have been different? How many of your thoughts have been taken captive to the obedience of Christ?  

Paul lived life thinking that maybe Jesus would return. He tried to pass that along to others. 

Jesus taught through His parables over and over again to be mindful, be watchful, be on the alert...have you been?

Millions of people a day pass on to eternity thinking they yet still had days to live.

Millions more enter into the world never having a clue what's in store for them. 

Of those millions who pass out of this world into eternity...many fall into Hell while others enter into Heaven.  

Where would you find yourself?  

We must decide in this here this now about where we will spend eternity. We either believe in Jesus Christ and trust in His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins or we don't. That choice determines our destination.

Yesterday in my evening reading I was in John. The chapter about the resurrection of Lazarus. There actually is a tie-in to the story, I don't consider it a parable, of the rich man and Lazarus. In the second story Abraham says plainly that if people wouldn't believe Moses and the Prophets neither would they believe should someone arise from the dead. Lazarus arose from the dead and the Pharisees and Sadducees were even more adamant that Jesus had to die. Likewise they sought to put Lazarus to death a second time to end Jesus's credibility. They didn't believe even when someone arose from the dead. 

You have possibly a profound choice to make. Either Jesus was who He said He was or He was a liar, a possible lunatic. Over 500 people witnessed His life after the crucifixion. The Apostles saw Him taken up into Heaven. They said plainly that as they saw Him go, so shall He return. 

If indeed Christ is your personal Lord and Savior, are you living like He is returning or are you living life like His return is way off in the distance?

Are you fitting Jesus into your schedule or do you meet with Him whenever He wants to hear from you?

All of us are a heartbeat away from eternity. A heartbeat away from no more second chances. A heartbeat away from Heaven or Hell. That's a rock solid truth from the Word of God. 

We who are in Christ are supposed to be living like it. We are supposed to be pursuing righteousness not the darkness that's in the world. 

We are supposed to guard our hearts in Christ, not give the world free reign to reshape it.

What came out of your mouth today that wasn't honoring to God? What excuses do you hold onto that keep sinful thoughts and actions in your life?

Before you go any further today...settle the question about your eternity. Once death makes its claims there's no second chance. 

Jesus died a death He didn't deserve to give you life.  

Don't be satisfied with what you may think about the afterlife. 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:16-21.

I am watchful...are you?

I strive to live for Him as best as I know how...do you?

I found peace with God through what Jesus did on the cross for me.

Have you?

What will you say when you stand before Jesus? There is no right answer that starts with "Because I...". The only right answer starts with "Because He...".

Don't take another breath until you get serious about this. 

Possibly billions will cry out for Jesus to come back once He does come back for His Church. A cry that will not be answered. 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ then live like it.

If you haven't decided...what's keeping you? There's no fears to be entertained by not coming to Christ for salvation. The gift of salvation is free and Jesus said that any who call on Him will be saved, none will be cast out.

"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.

I am listening every day for that shout from Jesus to come home. There has been so much overwhelming evidence in my life that the life in Christ He gave to me after asking Him to save me that there's no other explanation. 

Live life like today's the day. Don't schedule your time with Jesus. Just do it wherever and whenever. 

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.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

No Exemptions to His Rule in Our Hearts

No Exemptions to His Rule in Our Hearts

by David Brenneman

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such as a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32 NASB.

Do you think at all before you speak? Do you create excuses and personal exemptions for your behavior and language in order to 'enjoy' your life's activities?

 

This indeed is something the world does in great measure and abundance.  

We too, in order to not let go of what makes our enjoyment of pleasures not go away, create exemptions to the Word of God. 

We can be just as cruel to others in the world as the world is. We can and we do.

Try going to a city or town with a college or university and wear clothing that's not aligned with that places teams. Doesn't matter if it's a Christian or not, certainly unwholesome words come out of the mouths of the masses. 

We lived that example for years. I have the personal testimony of a friend that where they grew up it was the same for them...and they happen to be a Pastor of a church. 

In and of themselves, in most cases, these things in our lives are not bad for us. It's what becoming a 'die-hard' fan can do to us that matters entirely. Christians behaving in a certainly un-Christ-like manner. My Dear Reader, check your mouth and motivation at the door.

If the Scriptures explicitly state that we will give an account of EVERY careless word...what manner of Christian ought you to be?  

My personal experience is this. I grew up with the family liking of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I got on the bandwagon and was being as those were around me and to be honest it bothered me. But not enough at that point to stop. My high school was the West Wolverines. Try having that and being in Columbus, Ohio where most have a deep seated--honestly hatred--of anything mentioning Wolverine or more specifically Michigan. Out West Wolverines were indeed named after the Michigan Wolverines. Our helmets were similar, just a different paint scheme. Living among people, again Christian and non-Christian alike spewing such hatred wears on a person.  

My Pastor friend's experience was the opposite. He lived on the boarder of Michigan and Ohio and was a Ohio State fan and had to live with the hatred and disdain from the opposite direction.  

Christians are to guard their hearts.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23.

"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." Philippians 4:7-8.

Circling back around. I do still like some aspects of football. I am extremely ignorant of the rules and barely know what it takes to get a touchdown let alone a field goal.

I hate what God hates in this that I won't be around people who are going to use a form of entertainment to tear down those whom Jesus died for. There's simply no excuse.

There will be no exemptions for any Believer when they stand before Jesus. If we are going to give an account of our lives before Jesus...that if every careless word spoken we will have to explain...why add to our atrocities in this?

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.

I already have enough to have to give an account of before my Savior and Lord. I would prefer not to be intentionally adding to that list...my hope is that you my Dear Reader wouldn't want to intentionally add to your own list.

There are just no exemptions with regards to sinful practices permitted in the Word of God for Believer's. 

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Every single Believer is to represent Christ to the world and other Believers. Jesus allowed no exemptions to anyone who asked Him on anything in living for Him. 

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we." 2 Corinthians 10:5-7.

Think before you speak. 

Think before you say something that might be you excusing your behavior to follow peer pressure. 

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.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

He Cares, We Need to Let Him

He Cares, We Need to Let Him

by David Brenneman 

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you."

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 NASB. 

     It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when We can feel that "He cares for me." Christian! Do not dishonor your faith by always wearing wearing a a look of

concern. Come, cast your burden upon your Lord.

     You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden would be to Him but specks of dust on a scale. Nothing is so sweet as to

Lie passive in Goď's hands,

And know no will but His.

Letter XIX, HARVEY NEWCOMB (1833)

     Suffering child, be patient God has not overlooked you in His provi-

dence. He who feeds the sparrows will also furnish you with what you need. Don't sit down in despair, keep hoping, and hope forever. Take up the weapons of faith against a sea of trouble, and you will overcome your distress.

     There is One who cares for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your grief, and his all-powerful hand will bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud will scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom will give place to the morning. If you are one of His family, God will bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart.

     Don't doubt his grace because of your trouble, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life you might lead if you would leave the providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the jug and a handful of flour in the barrel,

Elijah outlived the famine (1 Kings 17:7-16)-and you will do the same.

     If God cares for you, why do you need to care? Can you trust Him for

your soul, but not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens; He has never fainted under their weight. Come, then! Be done with fretful care. Leave all your concerns in the hand of a gracious God. - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening 

It's very easy to have a burden drop upon us and leave it there. We just buckle down and try to carry it ourselves and adjust to life with it. Either not thinking to ask for help or thinking that asking for help is a sign of weakness. At first we know not that as a child of God that we can unload such things at the feet of Jesus.  

We are to learn to be like Christ and at the same time remain dependent upon Him.  

Our lives are not our own. When we came to Christ we were purchased by His blood. An unbreakable covenant written in His blood.  

Something that I think works with what Spurgeon said here is what Dr. Charles Stanley said in a devotional as well. "When we’re unwilling to submit ourselves to the authority of God, sin binds us. Instead of being under God’s rule, we’re being ruled by the very things that keep us bound in the darkness. We could list many things here that we allow to occupy the place only God should hold within our hearts. Thankfully, God freely offers us His grace, which covers all of our sins and releases us from their bondage.".

Our perception of life shapes our lives. We know not when we began adding things that occupy the place that only God should have in our hearts but my Dear Reader it HAS happened.  

Don't believe me? Take just a week and upend your time outside of your work. Don't do or pursue anything that you normally do that consumes your 'me' time. Replace it with time with Jesus. Watch where your mind wanders off to while you do this. It's going to happen.  

Take a look at what you have pride in. I am one who's reluctant to hear of being proud of something. My first inclination is to the passage about pride coming before a fall. 

We are the first to need the eyes of someone else to tell us what we don't see in ourselves.  

I sorely wish the professing Church would do more in the teaching of accountability among its members. I haven't been a part of a group in over 26 years and several churches and denominations where I have found one on one accountability being taught and practiced. 

We are vulnerable when we aren't held to a higher standard in Christ. 

We start making choices on our own that are questionable at best. 

We don't consider asking because there's no clear path towards someone to ask.

We then are more vulnerable to being the prey of the enemy of God. 

We start listening to the world on how to find success. We start to incorporate their ideas rather than the teachings of the Bible.  

My Dear Reader really look at your life and what really has a place in your heart. There should only be one throne in your heart with only Jesus as the occupant of it.

"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.

When we look at nature and more specifically at sheep. When they're not keeping with the main group they become vulnerable to being prey to anyone or anything.  

When we're living the life that we're to be living we are going to see adversity. We should be very concerned when it's pretty much always smooth sailing. We grow closer to Jesus through our adversities not necessarily through all the peaceful times. A sheep learns dependence upon the shepherd through their experiences with the shepherd.

A tree cannot grow to be old tall and healthy without the storms of life to cause deeper roots.   

While the things we experience appear to be heavy...when we leave them with Jesus we learn to deal with them properly. 

When we remove things from our lives that are taking His place we learn what a truly right relationship with Jesus is all about.

Look at what "Love not the world nor the things in the world" another time. Don't trust your judgment in what's harmful and what you think isn't. Honestly, that's not your call.

You can't say you are trusting God with all your heart when you're deciding what decisions are yours to make and what are His to make concerning what's right for you. 

We add a load of things to our lives that don't need to be there.

God cares for you. 

God loves you unconditionally. 

God has a better plan for you than you can imagine. 

It may not look like what you think it should but when you know that you know that you know it's from Him you can trust it completely. 

Jeremiah 29:11

“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.”

Romans 8:28

“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.”

Psalm 27:13, 14

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

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.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

More than Enough

More than Enough 

by David Brenneman 

We often think we know what enough looks like. If we just had this or that, it would be enough. But then we see another this or that and say those things or think those thoughts again.  

We know not what satisfaction in what we have been given looks like because we keep listening to the taunts of the desires for more.  

We listen to the world rather than listening to God in this. We accumulate more than we could ever use in a lifetime or accumulate in order to relive the past. In the moment we don't think of the path that the Spirit would have us on instead. 

In the United States alone there's over 23 million individual storage units. 2.9 million sheds are built annually. Either for first time homes or to replace degrading old ones or to add to current sheds on properties. 

We quite often refuse to accept that our economic culture thrives on the backs of people who cannot afford what they have bought.  

The mental chains we bind ourselves up with! The bondage we put ourselves under!  

Then when we think we've arrived, we don't consider how to a simpler life for a time. We entertain thoughts of wondering how did it get to be like this?

Temptations are all around us. Perseverance is not. Standing firm in the Lord has to be a choice, the first choice, of the day.

We cannot be so focused on these kinds of things that we neglect being the help we are to be towards others. God blessed us not for us to spend it on ourselves but for His work in the lives of people.  

This world is still under the influences of Satan's schemes. While the Lord has put limits on many of his activities he is still permitted to do quite a bit.

I was thinking of things that people put before their walk with Jesus on Sunday. Many people complain about not having the time to set aside for time in God's Word.  

Yet millions of people, Believer's and the unbelieving alike just spent over 8 uninterrupted hours glued to one or more television screens to watch over 10 football games.  

All the while fully holding onto that lie that they don't have the time to spend with Jesus.

Jesus is more than enough if we would just get out head out of the world.  

Is having an extra vehicle worth it when the Spirit has shown you people in need?

Is having anything special, even extra or elaborate vacations, more important than the work of God through you to others He’s put in your life?

Is your hobby, the 'loves' of your life the love of this, the love of that, robbing you of quality time with He who gave His life for you?

We also live in a disposable society. Everything we but has a plan for obsolescence built into it so that you WILL have to buy another before you know it. It's grown to include people. We toss relationships aside because of any excuse that sticks.

But for the Believer...mind telling me how you will grow in Christ as you're supposed to with a complete disregard for what matters to your Father in Heaven? An yes a life spent pursuing things or ideas rather than what the Spirit teaches is to disregard whatever is right, true and holy.

What did Jesus tell the rich official who wanted to know what he lacked in order to have eternal life? Sell and give, and come follow Me. 

By no means do I believe that I am making enough progress in these areas myself. But progress is being made. The more time I spend with Jesus, the more time I spend in the Word of God, the more my desires are changing.  

Coming to Christ is to begin a transformed life, not a conformed life. 

Satan's going to entice people to conform in order to get out of the storms of life. That's a lie because Jesus said that all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus are going to suffer persecutions. We need what we are to go through in order to become more like Jesus.  

Turning from the world's solutions to THE solution is the only answer.  

Maybe your next steps are to downsize. To indeed sell and give to the poor, those whom you know are in need. Maybe your next steps are to either shut off or get rid of your television. Dump the subscription to Netflix, Hulu, or sports channels. Maybe yours is to take and give what you're accumulating to those in need or even give it to the Church.

Is Jesus first place in your heart?

Or is He a number? What you prioritize in life says which He is.

Jesus is to be our everything.

Fulfilling our purpose in Christ is to be our highest priority. Not fulfilling what our eyes and appetite want. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. 

All NASB 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.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Choosing the Path

Choosing the Path
by David Brenneman

     It's been a journey of a kind that I have never considered traveling in the last 8 months.  Twists and turns that I had never a thought to think about.  While yes I was considering an employment change, having it thrust upon me unexpectedly and without any recompense, has taken quite a bit to adjust to.  When the truth was shared at the time I thought maybe that would have cleared things up.  But the rage towards me wasn't listening to the truth. 
     To this day I can tell you what kind of day it was.  The shock at being escorted out of the building and the astonishment that nobody seemed to care about the truth.  The decision was made before the day I was called as to what it was.
But what they don't know is what I know...nothing touches my life unless it's been permitted by my Savior.  While it's been something of an experience that I hope to never go through again, it's evident that God has me in the right place and the right time to go through it.
     Paul was a very organized man who planned pretty well the trips he was taking.  Yet on one such trip the way to go got abruptly blocked.  He tried a few times it seemed but Jesus wasn't permitting his travels to Asia.  Rather a message came a short time later to go to Macedonia. 
Undoubtedly this was probably confusing to Paul at the time until the message to go to Macedonia came from God.  I'm right there in being somewhat confused in the direction of my life as well.  Yet I have no doubts whatsoever of looking at the last 8 months at the hands of God crafting the ways for us to go.  "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.  Our ways and days are always before Him, and as the Scriptures say as well, before there was even one of them. 
     I can either look ahead and freak out about the unknowns or look instead at my Savior in anticipation of what He's going to do about it. The situation that we're in is not ours.  God promises to take care of everyone who belongs to Him. It's on us to trust in Him and not to try to figure out ourselves on how to fix things.  We may have a role in resolving it or we may not.  My role was to fulfill my obligations to search for a job.  Was required both by my conscience as well as the State of Ohio's unemployment services. 
     We may never know why our experiences were what they were.  For me it's drawn me closer to Jesus.  Which is what life ought to be doing as we go through it.  I refused to compromise in the time I set aside to study God's Word.  I had asked the Spirit to teach me how to study and that's what He began at the beginning of January of last year.  It's meant learning more of saying no to some things in life because we needed to be more frugal to get through this.  Situations arose that yet still required our trusting in His provision.  We as yet have needs but we know that God will provide.

     What else is there to say?  Well there is more but perhaps saying it fully isn't appropriate for this post.  Safe to say, I have learned a long time ago, don't mess with God's kids. God is dealing with those who wrongfully discharged me.  Just as He's dealt with others in my past.

     Jesus is always mindful of us and where we are in light of His plans for us and where we fit into His plans for humanity.  We aren't saved to just be saved and go on living life our way.  He saves us, gives us a new spirit within us and has work for us to be doing.  His highest priority is our sanctification...becoming more like Jesus Christ.  His extended work is reaching a lost world of which every single Believer is an Ambassador of God.  There are no exceptions.  We are to identify who is and isn't saved and always stay in communication with Jesus over it all.  Even when it makes absolutely no sense.  The root cause of my termination wasn't anything against any policy or procedure.  I befriended a brother in Christ after a company get together.  That was the true root cause and not what I had been accused of.  

     You too may face things that make no sense either at the time or for the rest of your life.  That was what happened with Job.  We read of all kinds of situations in the Scriptures with ever kind of response by people.  Either in their rock solid stand on the Word of God or all the way to the other end of the spectrum to their staunch beliefs that were counter to everything that the Lord was saying to them.

     Everyone will be without excuse when they stand before Jesus.  The truth will be shown and there's nothing anyone will be able to say about it.  Those seeking justice while they yet lived will find it on that day. 

     You can choose to either drop to your knees in fear and self-pity or drop to your knees in prayer to the One who's got our best in mind regardless of how things look.

     Slowly read this, then read it several more times.

"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.

Lastly...

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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 3:12-17.

     Choose His path for you.  Regret has no place there.  You won't find it.

"Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." Romans 15:33.

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.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Forgiveness and Helping Others

Forgiveness and Helping Others 

by David Brenneman 

"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:14-15

"Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22.

"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Luke 17:3-5.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

If indeed we are to forgive as we have been forgiven...and without measure...and without hesitation...should not this apply to those in Christ in need?

Think about that for a moment. 

"Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”" Luke 11:5-13.

We often don't put the two of these thoughts together but in essence they teach the same thing.

While yes we should be careful of being taken advantage of we ought to always listen to the Spirit with regards to helping others. It's not our money, our possessions, our anything that's at stake. It's all the Lord’s.  

Our forgiveness also should know no bounds. The Word of God is clear, straight from Jesus, to forgive as often as it takes. Forgiveness is only possible because we too know what it means to be forgiven. 

While yes, in both cases, it may appear that we have been taken advantaged of...that's not our concern. We are taught what we must do. The Disciples were so taken aback that they thought they needed more faith to be able to do this.

We don't know what God is doing in the lives of those in our world. We don't know what lies in the hearts of men and women. We are to trust and obey...and leave the consequences to God. Even if we think someone is trying to take advantage of us. Even if we think we have clarity of thought to 'know' what's going on...my Dear Reader...that's being presumptuous. That's us declaring that we know as much as God knows of the hearts of whom we have to do. 

These two and our interpretation of them can be as mistakenly used as the often abused, used as an excuse not to, "you shouldn't judge!".

We are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We are to judge with righteous judgment. We are to ask, seek, knock when we don't know. We are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding. When we lack wisdom we aren't to just go with our gut but to ask of God who gives freely to all who ask.

These are all intertwined. All meant to reveal the character of Christ in us. God's grace and mercy was spelled out in great abundance at the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000. Jesus didn't differentiate between those worthy from those who weren't. He didn't stop being who He was even to Judas Iscariot.  

Jesus is to be our example of how a life is to be lived.  

Quite often people are gravely mistaken in what it means to be a good steward. Putting limits on helping others, when the Spirit says the needs are genuine, is in Biblical terms being a Pharisee. It's our rules before God's rules. It's our ways before His ways.  

If indeed we are praying without ceasing, if indeed we regard what we have as belonging to Christ, if indeed we're living in obedience to God's Word...then my Dear Reader trust God and leave the consequences to Him.

So what if we think we've been wronged. My Dear Friend...it's not us who's been wronged when we obey the Lord...it's the Lord. He will repay.  

Our own understanding often hurts our life in Christ because we didn't think to ask Him what to do...we just assume our understanding is enough and go on from there. It seemed right so why question it, right? That's not what I read in the Bible.  

We can think we're doing what's right in the eyes of God and still be wrong. Another that goes with obeying God and leaving all the consequences to Him is that anything we hold onto too tightly we will lose.  

We indeed may have been blessed but blessings are to flow from those to others...not be kept to ourselves. As we know of people in need we are to pray and share the blessings.  

Take a good look at these areas of your life. Forgiveness, of helping others, of what you've done with the blessings bestowed upon you.  

Forgive without measure. 

Give as you have been given. 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Evaluate others in light of their fruits, not in judgment, but rather in truth. 

We don't decide who is worthy of salvation and who is not.

We don't decide who's worthy of forgiveness and who is not.

We don't decide who's worthy of being blessed and who is not.

We cannot show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives if we're not forgiving as we've been forgiven. 

We cannot show the fruit of the Spirit if we don't give as we've been given.

We will hinder our growth in Christ if we aren't looking to Jesus first and are not obeying regardless of what we see in others.

Some of what you read today is from Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principles.

Others are: 

God blesses us so that we might bless others.

Trusting God means looking beyond what we see to what God sees. 

We are never going to fully understand what we go through in this life and what God's allowed to happen in our lives. 

It's on each of us to trust, to obey, and leave the consequences to Him. Help others as He's enabled others to help us.  

Love God with our everything and love others.

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.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org