Don't Be Afraid or Surprised

Don't Be Afraid or Surprised 

by David Brenneman 

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe." John 14:27-29.

John 14:6, 16-17, 25-26 NASB1995

[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6.

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17.

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:25.

This morning the world awaits results of a national vote. God has said in His Word that it is He who sets up rulers and it is He who removes them. Satan's tried since time began to establish his own kingdom...yet he never will be able to thwart the Will of God. Jesus is the rightful King and Lord of all Creation. It has been and always will be His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

He made a promise to one day return again and it will be kept. He told His Disciples in this passage that which was about to happen and it did happen exactly so. In a short while they did behold Him again and this time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Triumphant over sin, death and the grave. Forever defeating Satan's schemes. Opening the door for all who would come in to be saved. 

My Dear Reader...Jesus IS. 

All other religions are based in people who WERE.  

Every single person who has ever set themselves up as any kind of religious leader in opposition to Jesus Christ is in torment in Hell.  

Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Him. Comes to the Father means to get to where the Father is...which is Heaven. 

Jesus comforted His followers and He comforts us even today. He has not returned as of yet not because of battles with Satan's forces. Nor has it been because of anyone or anything else other than one key reason: waiting for the Father’s time to come back. He and the Father are one...as He said to the Pharisees and Sadducees. He will return when the last person who is to be harvested before the Great Tribulation finds salvation in Jesus Christ. Not a person beforehand. It's not about time.  

The plan and purpose of God in Christ Jesus always was and always will be about the Harvest of people. Jesus implored His Disciples to beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Jesus said to lay up treasure in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy. The only immeasurably valuable item to enter into Heaven are people. Gold is the material of the sidewalks there. It's pavement. People are the only reason Jesus stayed on the cross when those people crucified Him. Jesus endured the emotional, spiritual and physical horrors of the cross to save people. To satisfy the full wrath of God. 

I am among those who expectantly await the return of Jesus Christ in my lifetime. It's absolutely going to happen. In spite of all the fantasies of Hollywood there's no man derived utopia possible for the future of mankind.  

Oh what I would love to have had been there in those moments where Jesus showed the Disciples from Moses until His resurrection everything that the Bible said about Him. 

I am not afraid of the return of Jesus Christ. I know He is a promise keeper. What He has said He always does.  

Soon there will be a moment where millions if not billions of people will vanish. Men, women and a whole lot of children gone in an instant because Jesus will have returned and take us all to be with Him. Jesus promised that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We have passed from death into life. We won't be punished along with the world for the proceeding 7 years of judgment upon the world.  

While the world goes through that, all who are saved in Christ Jesus will be having the celebration of all celebrations. At the end of the 7 years Jesus will physically set foot on the Earth to be the Ruler of all for a thousand years. Satan having been locked up and locked out of meddling with mankind for that time. At the end of the thousand years he will be released and as incredulous as it will be, mankind will try to side with him against Jesus. Jesus will speak a word and the battle will be over.  

See? There's the rest of the story.  

I have nothing to fear because I know who wins and I have salvation in Jesus Christ. I have His promises. In am an introvert yet am never alone because of His promise that I never would be.  

Of course you could try to say that I made this up. Go read it in the Bible, the book of John then go right straight to the last book, Revelation.  

If you don't know Jesus, and you aren't saved yet...you have plenty of reasons to be afraid. If Jesus isn't the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life, you absolutely will not be going to Heaven.  

The Father made salvation in His Son Jesus Christ so simple that a child could understand what it means and receive the free gift that it is.  

My prayer for all is that people would finally come to Christ for salvation who haven't yet and for those who have wandered away to come back to Jesus. 

Jesus is awaiting both with open arms. Nothing to fear or be ashamed of...He did all the work for everyone. He already took all your sins upon Himself and dealt with all the punishment you deserved. 

Hey...you might just be that last person who will be saved before Jesus returns. 

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

Forgiveness is Essential

Forgiveness is Essential 

by David Brenneman 

"Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar." Psalms 51:1-19.

Peace of mind doesn't come to the guilty. Oh many try to drown out that still small voice that's reminding them of what needs to be addressed.  

Yesterday was something of that with me. I was so sure of where something was damaged at work that I became proud of finding it. Told several people of what my conclusion was. Turns out the real culprit probably had been me when others looked into it. I can't be absolutely sure but they have a case for being right and I do not. 

I admitted to them that as it looks then it probably is on me. That somehow my actions caused the issue. I can't understand how but the only other person possible is me.  

But that wasn't enough for God. Because He wanted to talk about it before I went to bed last night. My heart n mind wasn't finding peace at all.  

Then this passage comes up this morning in my daily reading. A reminder that regardless of my ways of justification God knows everything.  

I probably need to mention it to a few other people this morning that I am no longer sure of what happened because it does look like somehow I had a hand in the damaged parts. It's owning up to things as they really are. 

It's something that I need to do. Forgiveness isn't just between two or more people. Reading what David wrote we all see just how much more it really is between us and God. 

"Nobody's perfect" has been used way too many times to justify dismissing the guilt of sin. Not that that was on my mind but you can easily see the sentiment was there.

Sin is why Jesus came, lead a sinless life, was horrifically beaten and crucified. Was separated from the Father for a time with all the sins of humanity blotting out Jesus from His Father. Then coming back from the dead 3 days later overcoming sin, death and the grave.  

Sin, as we read in David's confession, is what we are born in. It's why we need a perfect sacrifice, acceptable to God, to remove it.

I had no peace last night before talking to Jesus. I knew that sleep was going to elude me until we talked. Until we settled it. 

Read that one verse over and over. "it is against you and you alone have I sinned".  

Do we sin against others in our lives? Yes. But first and foremost our sin is found out before our Holy God. 

People wonder why they think God's not listening to their prayers. Read again this passage. Read in the Bible of the truth that our unconfessed sins put a barrier between us and God.  

We may be desperately praying about something really important but the first thing that comes to mind is what He wants to address first is our unconfessed sins.

He didn't let King David off the hook nor anyone else...why should we expect any special considerations?

Sin is sin is sin in the eyes of God. There appears to be grades of sin based on the Gospel accounts regarding Judas and others in their hand in turning Jesus over to be crucified.  

But it is a part of us until we die.  

For those saved in Christ Jesus, after we die sin is forever separated from us. For those who don't their sins are forever condemning them and their punishment endures forever. 

While a few seem to believe that I write about them in some of these posts not a single person has been named...the circumstances surrounding my interactions with people has been a part of posts only when I know that God wants it written. Life happens and life that happens is hardly unique to anyone. God uses all kinds of things and ways to reach people. Including people like me. Paul considered himself foremost of all sinners because he once persecuted the Church of God.  

Forgiveness lifts an indescribable weight off of the human heart. 

We can in countless ways offend people by our actions and words...but it's our sinning against God that hurts us the most...does the most damage to our lives. 

We lose sleep, lose focus, impact our health. Precious time is wasted. King David tried to cover up murdering someone and from a worldly standpoint he completely succeeded. Think about that and take it to heart. King David got away with murder in the eyes of the world. It was his relationship with Jesus that was broken and he was called out by Nathan the prophet.  

Then what he already knew was true had to be dealt with. The consequences were severe in David's case. When he died he met that son of his that God took from him. He probably first asked him to forgive him.  

Sin is a burden to great for anyone to bear. Sin is what separates people as well as people from God. 

For those who are saved, when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That's His promise to all who are Believer's. The sins of all who reject Jesus Christ remain forever. 

So if indeed you are breathing, maybe it's time for you to do a self-check and ask Him if there is any unconfessed sins that you need to address. 

I know that had I not admitted and confessed last night, you wouldn't be reading anything this morning. 

David's sin concerning Bathsheba stopped the Kingdom of David in its tracks. A nation was hurt by his actions. The ramifications were extensive. People died because of what David had done in secret.  

There's an old hymn that says "I'm gonna have a little talk with Jesus. Gonna tell Him all about my troubles. He will hear my faintest cry, He will answer by and by". He will...but first confess what needs confessed.  

A way to think about prayer is ACTS.

Adoration - Worship God for who He is. He is holy, we are not.

Confession - This comes before asking for anything. Remove the barriers. 

Thanksgiving - Be thankful! In everything we are to give thanks. Including dealing with our sin.

Supplication - now ask what's on your heart. 

Jesus, and our Father in Heaven, wants a right relationship between us and them through the Spirit of God within us. When we ask for forgiveness, Jesus casts our sins as far away as the east is from the west, remembering them no more. 

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

What Manner of People Ought We to Be?

What Manner of People Ought We to Be?

by David Brenneman 

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:12-13.

"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 4:8-9.

I was barely awake this morning when that passage from Revelation popped into my head.  

Life's been exceedingly different and difficult since we moved here in ways that we really didn't forsee.  

In many good ways and many complex ways. Peaceful times and times where we found ourselves crying out to God because we really were lost in those moments.

Yesterday I found myself praying simply for Jesus to help me keep the helmet of salvation on my head. To keep that on and the breastplate of righteousness in place. Which brought me to praying for the whole armor of God.  

It's likely to do with writing these posts but my mind comes under assault a lot. Distractions I have no end to distractions. 

Setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world can be very difficult and challenging.  

When you go out into the world keep in mind that our time can always be opportune. We are here for His purpose in this moment of time and then that's it. Those in Christ have a definitive purpose in the plans of God for mankind. It's never about getting salvation then to go do your own thing.  

We read "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 and "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.

We are among the most tempted of people in any generation since the days that lead up to the Great Flood as recorded in the book of Genesis. 

We have this infection called AI that now is everywhere enough to rip whatever is real and make it a lie that's so realistic that you cannot tell truth from fiction. We have it de-aging video's of people and it's as real as something recorded right now.  

This isn't some slam on all artificial intelligence programs. Some actually have been around for years and were beneficial. Cutting through mounds of data in research because of diseases. Saving people in the battlefield. There are good uses for it. We put up with the interruptions caused by it in all social media apps. AI is why you're forced to waste time that could have been better spent trying to read up on who or what interests you. 

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:10-13.

Do you pray for the hastening of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? I certainly do. The passage from Revelation isn't hard to remember to pray. "Even so come quickly Lord Jesus".

We all who are alive at His coming will be in the middle of doing something. Would you be ashamed of whatever that might be that you'll be in the middle of?

Think about that really long and hard.   

Many people die in the midst of some really awkward or stupid circumstances. Believers awaken again to be in the presence of Jesus. The unbelieving wake up in immediate pain in Hell. All probably remember their last moments on Earth.  

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 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 3:3-11.

Things to really think about in your today my Dear Reader.  

A battlefield is only complicated to those who don't understand what is going on. Jesus knows every single detail of every single person on that battlefield. 

With all this I have to wrap it up by way of reminder.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Ephesians 6:12-18.

What manner of person are you in the eyes of Him with whom you have to do? 

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

Obeying, In Order, Yet Not Before Obeying God

Obeying, In Order, Yet Not Before Obeying God 

by David Brenneman 

"Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth." Ephesians 6:2-3.

"So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." Exodus 20:12.

Sometime in the middle of the night all I kept having repeated in my mind was the Scripture reference from Ephesians 6. Then after waking up it was still there. After reading it I was drawn to wondering what Old Testament passage part of it was referring to. While some point to the book of Exodus, I take it as a God thing that the portion of Deuteronomy showed up.

Taking a look at the headlines today a very unhealthy disrespect for parents exists. Further, a very unhealthy so-called respect for parents even over worldly authority and the Word of God exists in our world today. 

There is a Biblically established order to marriage. One man with one woman. In this marriage, it's not simply between a man and woman but rather it's between a man, woman and God. What He has joined together let no one separate is how it's most often said. There is here a Biblically established order of children to parents and parents to children in the book of Ephesians chapter 6.

This passage does point us all to the writings of the Old Testament. 

In many teaching circles "fearing the Lord" means to respect the Lord.

In such a town as we live, I read up on the happenings around town. Reading on the respectfulness of some and the utter disrespect shown towards others. 

These too point to what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy of how people will be. Lovers of self. Disrespectful.  

I know of people who do put their parents above God in their lives. I know of still others who put their children in that position with regards to them.  

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

People with regards to lives being cut short often try to put a positive spin on the lives of some who, in God's eyes, were not the how people are painting the picture of how they were.

I have experienced people who do indeed put the wants of their parents ahead of God. They aren't even aware of how mislead they are. 

In the reality of the God of the Bible...and what's to come...a healthy Biblical standing must be kept. Parents and children will be disappointed at times to know that it's not their way that's most important. It's what the Word of God says that is what's right in the sight of God.  

As the passage says in Romans 3:4 "May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”.

There's going to be countless times when both parents and children are going to be disappointed in each other.  

The point of living out Christ is to be obedient in God's eyes in what we do, say, and think.  

Check yourself at the door of life. 

Who's in charge of your life? Who do you hold most high? If your parents are telling you to disregard God's Word then you really shouldn't listen. Respectfully but with firmness. God doesn't want us disobeying Him to be the acceptable path to living life. 

Ephesians 6:1 says this too. For children to obey their parents IN THE LORD. 

God's never wanting us to disrespect our parents but rather still to keep God as the focus, the centerpiece, of our lives and theirs. 

The Biblical order comes from Jesus. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. THEN love your neighbor as yourself.  

This may severe some relationships. Perhaps for a season or perhaps longer. Upholding the Word of God in our lives as Believers is to be the light in this present darkness in which we live. 

Our relationships are probably the most prayed about item next to health and needs. 

Jesus said to store up your treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy. The treasure, in God's economy, are people not things. 

Working on right relationships is a full-time task in life. Do so with regards to the way that God says it should be and it will do well for us while on the Earth. 

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

His Plans vs Our Own

His Plans vs Our Own 

by David Brenneman 

Our plans are quite often not God's plan. It's taken much of my life with Jesus to see and know that while there's times that He reveals what's happening in my life other times He's handing me pieces of a puzzle that I am not able to figure out. 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9.

"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." Psalms 139:1-18.

A friend had encouraged myself and others to keep pace with Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  

Don't get ahead nor lag behind. Don't try to guess too much on what's coming, what's happening or what has happened.  

Just as in the life of Job, of Ruth as well. We may get to know or may not in the life that's meant for us to live. 

It's on us to trust and obey. Even when it doesn't make sense.  

Sometimes, I have learned, we're given things or circumstances, because we are simply deemed strong enough by God to handle them when others cannot. 

Sometimes we are shown things that others will not be able to see because it's not for them to know nor understand at this time. 

God's plans are never rushed. He's never late. Never early. He's an always on-time God.   

We see things from our finite understanding and jump to conclusions...usually the very wrong conclusion.  

I do like to figure out puzzles. Figure out mysteries. I like to try things that interest me. I may succeed or I may not.  

But we don't know until we try.  

The key is to not get ahead of Jesus in what we think we can put our minds to be doing.  

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.

Know who you are. Know who's you are. Lean in on His plans for you and take it a step at a time. 

Pray without ceasing is to stay in communication with Jesus the Author and the Perfector of our faith. 

Keep the pace, Keep the faith. 

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

Aren't All Who are in Christ?

Aren't All Who are in Christ?

by David Brenneman 

"Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” Ruth 2:8-12.

Was reading in the book of Ruth this morning and as has constantly happened for decades...something new popped out to me. 

That last verse really does apply to all who have come to Christ for salvation. 

We all who have received this free gift of salvation have indeed come under the wings of the Lord to seek refuge.  

We have come to know and understand that all we are and have belongs to the Lord. Of what we are given we offer back a portion to Him through tithes and offerings. 

We do indeed, quite often, live out Psalms 23. 

"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.

We are never alone. 

"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6.

In my days of sojourning, all of them, to this very day...every single day my Lord and Savior has been with me. The difficult days and the days filled with joy.  

In Christ we have passed from death into life. We have indeed come under the wings of the Almighty God, the Creator of all that is. We come to Christ for salvation and are adopted into the family of God. We come under His protection, His promises are for all who would call upon Him as their own Personal Savior and Lord. 

I cannot imagine how lonely, stressful, dispairingly difficult a life would be that keeps trying to live apart from Jesus.  

While life can be difficult at times for me, at no point have I ever found myself truly alone. At no point have I felt abandoned. At no point have I come to realize that He had ever cut me off.  

To come to Christ is so simple a child understands it. Adults screw it up by overthinking things. 

A life as an adopted child of God brings us under the wings of Almighty God for all eternity.  

For decades I was browbeat by Satan's minions to try to keep me brought low and ineffective for Christ. Jesus still stayed at my side until that purpose was completed and brought me out from under it. We are still traveling this world side-by-side.  

If ever you're feeling the crunch of the world...make sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. Make sure that you are and are striving to live a life of obedience to God's Word...to stay under His wings.

For various times joy seemed to be fleeting or non-existent in my life but His promises remained true and mine to have. 

My Dear Reader be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. Come under His wings and receive all that has been promised to all who do in the Name of Jesus Christ. 

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

Having Ears to Hear

Having Ears to Hear 

by David Brenneman 

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’" Revelation 2:7.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’" Revelation 2:11.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’" Revelation 2:17.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" Revelation 2:29.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" Revelation 3:6.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" Revelation 3:13.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” Revelation 3:22.

"For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’" Matthew 13:15.

It's either easy or difficult to pray TO Jesus...but my Dear Reader, how much effort do you put into listening to Jesus in prayer?

When the Bible repeats something it's a really good idea to stop and find out what is going on.

Someone else I know was reading in the book of Revelation towards the other end of it and these words stuck with me: "has ears to hear".

Do you have ears to really hear? Do you really want to know what it is that Jesus really does want to say to you?  

You DO realize that no matter how great or small a person you are in Christ that He DOES have things to talk to you about? In the ecosystem of the body of Christ, unlike our often disconnected human bodies, His body -the Church- stays connected.  

Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches. He said that apart from Himself we could do nothing.

Are you actively listening for Jesus to talk to you? If not, why not?

Jesus didn't go through all that He did for us to run off and do our own thing.  

We come to Christ we are given a mission, a new purpose in life, that's uniquely for each of us to be doing. 

There's something special and specific for each part of the body of Christ to be doing...if we're listening that is.

Are you? Are you listening for what it is that the Spirit has been training you to be doing?  

He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. That's what my Bible says. 

We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. My Bible says that too.

Certain things are already told for all who are in Christ to follow. 

Pray without ceasing. Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Love God with our everything and love others as ourselves. Pointing people to Jesus.  

Then there's the next level. Asking Jesus what does He want me to be doing for Him. Get out of your comfort zone and ask. After all He is the one who died for you. Don't you WANT to show appreciation for all He's done for you?  

It starts with listening...it's how it began...the Spirit spoke life to us and we received the free gift of salvation...through listening. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. My Bible says that too.

So what's next? Are you now wondering what you have missed?

Many are missing out on what God is telling them daily because the worries of this life are doing a number on them.  

"All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23.

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything." 1 Corinthians 6:12.

Just because you CAN do something, think something, say something, doesn't mean you should. 

Where are your priorities? Where are your desires? Do you WANT to hear "Well done!" from Jesus?

It begins with listening...he or she who has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches...

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