A Scribe on the Wall

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

Friday, May 16, 2025

What does this Mean?

by David Brenneman

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

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

"Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6.

Weeks ago I remembered this passage in 1 Samuel 30 where David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. So this time around I asked the Spirit to explain it to me and set out to understand it. I asked several Pastors that I know for their interpretation of it. Then it still wasn't quite understandable. Then the Teacher decided to make this known to me and I share it with you.

For a very very long time "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 has been a mainstay in my mind and my heart.

That song by Elevation Worship called "I Trust in God" playing over and over again in my mind set the way my mind should go.

Next came acknowledging that setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world was where we were going.

Praying without ceasing fills in the gaps nicely.

Keeping my mind off what isn't going to grow me in Christ is where much of my time is spent.

These study Bibles and books and devotionals keep my off hours from work held steady on the path that God has for me.

See it yet?

Strengthening ourselves in the Lord is all that and more. It's not looking at what the world sees or hearing what the world says about life about what it is or isn't to each of us or one another.

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. They come to Him and make their abode with Him. He cares for them. He provides for their protection and meets their needs.

The sheep of God live their best lives when their lives are wholly under His supervision and care.

When we realize that when left to ourselves are those sheep that have gone astray each of us doing whatever is right in our own eyes than we see our need to get back under His loving care and protection.

Scripture says that if anyone lacks wisdom let him or her ask of God who will give freely to all who would ask.

So, I asked. You can too.

Jesus wants our interactions to be fruitful, not obligatory. He wants it to be heartfelt not monotonous. He wants to both impart His unconditional love for us to us while we position our hearts to unconditionally love Him in return.

Can you say that you strengthen yourself in the Lord your God?

Can you say you strive for this daily? Hourly? Minute by minute?

Can you look back to His deeds in your life where indeed He has never failed you and take solace in those moments to ease your present state of mind?

God put gutters on our house without our direct intervention after a storm.

God had an exact drug already available to address my Wife's breast cancer.

God totally covered all of her medical bills for that cure, well over $70k worth.

God stopped a semi truck from killing me on an early morning drive to work.

God did it. My Shepherd kept His promise then and He will keep His promises now.

In the coming days my employer is forcing a week shutdown where we wouldn't get paid in any way. No PTO could be used.

God covered those lost wages yesterday before that day is to come.

Yesterday our microwave died.

God provided a replacement free of charge.

We strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God and He answered our prayers before we could utter them. We rely on our Great Shepherd's care for us and He keeps His promises to us.

Ask and receive when you ask with right motives.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Social Status vs God

by David Brenneman

"Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12:42-50.

Fitting in. Not fitting in. The dilemma of mankind for centuries. Fear of being ostracized. Even the parents of someone personally healed by Jesus feared being kicked out of the Synagogue if they didn't speak just so with the Pharisees.

Even in modern day churches there's those creating positions in the church in order to garner public acclaim and all the attention.

There's those who seek greater social networking in churches but to their own ends not for edification or growing in Christ.

Jesus tried again and again to show these obstinate people what a real relationship with God the Father was like.

Oh how shocked and surprised these same Pharisees and Sadducees were when having died to not find themselves where they thought they would be. Had they not come to Christ for salvation that is.

That passage about the man born blind is a personal favorite of mine. Fear of these leaders was very apparent. Yet their fear of God was less than that. I have noted before that after this healed man was kicked out of the Synagogue Jesus found him and formally introduced Himself. Then the man bows down to worship Him and these same Pharisees didn't rebuke him for doing that.

I believe that there is in Hell at this very moment Pharisees who can't stop thinking about what they said and did towards the true worshippers of God. There's nothing they can do. They chose the wrong view of life and it cost them a place in Heaven.

Choice is what the cross of Jesus Christ brought. You and I have the choice to believe and come to Christ for salvation or to reject it. The truth of Christ is that rejection that isn't dealt with in this life is met with eternal separation from God after one dies.

People today live and die by their social networks. How accepted they are by their followers on social media.

In Heaven there's only those who look to Jesus. They think not of themselves but of their risen King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Here on Earth we are to live life in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Regardless of what people think about that. We are promised persecutions because of this.

This here this now is all that you have. 12 to 14 inches separates you head from your heart. Acknowledging Jesus vs a relationship with Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees acknowledged Jesus they just rejected Him as being the Son of God and therefore lost out on the free gift of salvation. They admitted He spoke the way of God in truth. Their fears were of losing their followers and that the Romans would take away their place and their nation. Their social status.

Same as today.

People fear that more than they fear standing before Jesus having had rejected salvation in Christ Jesus alone.

Check your heart and mind. Be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus if indeed you have come to know your need before God for it.

You, not your reputation before the multitudes, will stand before Jesus and be asked why should you be let into His Heaven.

You will give an account of your life before Jesus.

At the end of that review the book of life will be opened and a careful search of it will be made to find your name.

If you weren't saved in Christ Jesus by His shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins then the judgment is against you and eternity in torment in the lake of fire is your destination.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to save. Not to condemn. We condemn ourselves if we reject Jesus before we die.

Your social status vs what God sees concerning you. Which is more important?

Your answer makes a Heaven or Hell difference.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Come and See

by David Brenneman

"One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter)." John 1:40-42.

The very purpose of this blog is two-fold. To point people to Jesus or to encourage them to come back to Jesus. As Moses described of himself, I am no one special save that of what I testify to Jesus who saved me.

"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." Ephesians 5:1-2.

While statistics may show certain aspects of this blog and its reach throughout the world, the only truth about it will be on that day that we all stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives.

The only greatness of my life is that which Jesus, through His Spirit, accomplished in me.

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24.

Whatever accolades this world might offer for deeds done among men and women, these pale in comparison to seeking to hear "Well done!" from my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the One worth knowing in this life. Jesus is the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life. I cannot help but want this for others. Paul considered himself chief of all sinners because he persecuted the Church. I might be as honest about myself that there's much in my own life's past that was never God honoring.

Jesus is the reason I am still here breathing today. It's hard to believe that it's been over 25 years, in reality it's almost exactly 26. It was around this time of year when, 26 years ago I was at such a low place in my life that I felt that I was of no use to anyone. I was sitting in my living room with a pistol ready to end my life. Jesus seemed so far away from me. My life felt so foul and dirty. As the songwriter said in that great hymn "a wretch like me".

But God intervened. Stopped by a phone call. It was the tipping point that brought me to my knees before Him with whom I had to do. Clarity of the situation was for certain. Either go ahead with that and face Jesus that way, go on living life in the same dreaded misery or option three...finally and wholly give up trying to live life my way and in my strength. Option three is what I obviously took.

God wants our whole heart and mind. Someone said recently that all that separates us from Heaven or Hell is 12 to 14 inches. 12 to 14 inches is the space between your mind and your heart. Knowing of Jesus in your mind isn't knowing Him in your heart.

Do I think that I wasn't saved in 1974? No, not at all. I just hadn't been fully devoted to following Jesus. I got ahead of Jesus. I had yet still been living my life my way.

An interesting read is that "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23". Sometimes sheep do try to run off and do their own thing and all inevitably get into some sort of trouble.

Until I was really devoted to whatever life that Jesus had in mind for me my life wasn't going to go right. I believe there's such a thing as inactive and active rebellion. Intentional and unintentional. We easily prove out the passage "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." Isaiah 53:6.

The lengths to which Jesus goes to in order to run to His sheep, when we really really consider it ought to make us stop and weep. Philips, Craig and Dean had a song out a while ago called "When God Ran". I can remember one of the first times I heard it it made me cry. That moment in 1999 Jesus ran to me that very instant that I finally, fully, called out to Him.

Jesus is ready to forgive all who call upon His Name for salvation.

Jesus is only one heartbeat away from those who think they are too far from God to be reached.

Jesus is more real than the chair you are sitting on or the ground you stand on right now, whatever the case may be.

Jesus wants a real relationship with all who live and breathe. With open arms He’s ready to receive both new Believer's and those who have strayed in life.

I can testify to having been in both those situations in my life. I am a Prodigal Son. I once was lost but now am found. I was blind but now I see. I was that wayward sheep that the Great Shepherd left the 99 on a hill to go find. If there's any good to the perspective of saying of myself "I" this or "I" that is to say that there's been no room for "I" in my life. Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness is what's important to me. Setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world are what's important to me.

Jesus is still in the business of saving people and rescuing wayward sheep. It's what He does.

To live for Jesus is what little we can do to show such appreciation for all He did for us.

So for one, for all: You are but one decision away from either coming to Christ for salvation or turning back to Jesus's waiting, open, arms.

He is ready for you.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Where your Heart is

by David Brenneman

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned." Psalms 34:1-22

Trust in God - Elevation Worship 2023

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine

He's been my fourth man in the fire, time after time

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps

So this is my story and this is my song

I'm praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

I trust in God, my Savior

The one who will never fail

He will never fail

He didn't fail you then

He won't fail you now

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him.

What we do when things go sideways, what we think first, what plans we attempt to make, speaks volumes as to where our hearts are. Are we trusting ourselves or our Shepherd?

"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.

Seeing isn't believing. Jesus said of the children of Israel that the Jews seek for a sign but no sign will be given them but the sign of Jonah. That just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale so the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth. They saw the Lord of all Creation performing sign after sign. They still rejected Him. They were more worried about their status in life. The people would stop revering them, the secular world government would take away their place and their nation. That happened anyway around 70 AD.

We indeed should use the brains we were given by God to live out life, however not to the detriment of our relationship with Jesus. We shouldn't be so self-reliant that we don't come to Christ in prayer for our daily life.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Psalms 90:12.

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.' 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 6:9-15.

Given an option between paying attention to a storm or being in the Word of God during that storm, I personally choose to stay in the Word of God. Preparing is one thing but obsessing over the preparation isn't healthy.

"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.

Do you see how that passage that Solomon wrote ties in perfectly and personally to Psalms 23?

Where is your heart? Who has access to your heart? Are you intentionally making time in your life for your discipleship training with the Spirit of God? School is always in session until the day that you die or the Rapture of the Church. You are either paying attention in class or you're daydreaming or some other such thing. Sheep are fully interdependent upon their Shepherd. Sheep that don't face terrors and dangers that they cannot get out of on their own.

We must look in the mirror and be real with ourselves about trusting God. Is the Lord your Shepherd? If you claim the Name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord He certainly should be considered to be your Shepherd. He's that and more. He's the Father scanning the horizon for His long lost son or daughter to come home. He's the Shepherd of our souls. He's the Good Samaritan who saw us in our sorry state, picked us up, took us in to care for us and to save us. He's our comfort in times of disappointment and distress. He's our protector. He's...well you fill in the blank.

You really won't miss what you leave behind of this world while you are alive and instead turn your attention to growing in Christ. I would easily say that hundreds of television shows, streaming shows, movies, books, have come out in these days of my life where I have mostly turned my back on and I don't miss any of it. Spending an hour or so with the Spirit of God, with Jesus, by far outweighs anything that this world has to offer.

Life will go up and down for everyone. For you, for me, for everyone. What cannot go up and down, what is impossible to go up and down, is the presence of God in Christ Jesus in anyone's life. He isn't there some days and not others. He's not paying attention only when He's got time. He's not more obligated to someone else than us. He's not sleeping. He's not anything that the world says that He is that's contrary to what the Bible says that He is.

It wasn't just obedience that sent Jesus to the cross. It was, but it was His love for us that held Him there. I cannot fathom the strength of will, the sheer focus, the absolute determination that Jesus still had after being whipped, beaten, scourged, nailed to the cross. Do you really really contemplate that all it would take the Creator of all things to do in a split second of a loss of all that to wipe out all of His enemies?

The heart of Jesus Christ has always been about loving His children. It's His children who chose themselves. It took His perfect sacrifice to make a way where there was no way to restore our relationship with Jesus.

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Where your mind and heart give their attention to shows just what's more important when push comes to shove.

Stop and think about what you have made a priority of over your relationship with Jesus. It's not too late to turn back to Him. His arms are open wide to welcome you home.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Is He Yours?

by David Brenneman

"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:26-30.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10.

I do highly recommend the book "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23". That author used to shepherd sheep and takes the reader down the path to understanding each verse that David wrote to all of us.

There's so much more involved in a sheep than what we've been lead to believe.

His sheep hear His voice.

As strange as this may sound, this is one of the easily top 10 deceptions that Satan will use with you: that you're not important enough with Jesus to be heard by Him. Akin to this deception is another: you're far too dirty in your sins to ever be completely clean before Jesus. The stains you have from sin just go too deep. You're never going to amount to much in the Kingdom of God.

Sheep can believe many things if they don't stay close to their Shepherd. Shepherd's are to take great care in whatever circumstances the sheep may find themselves in. A shepherd's responsibility is to not just see to their welfare that is far off, but to examine them individually to make sure no parasites are causing them harm.

These sheep know their own masters voice and come when called. Sheep may look alike to the outsider but to whom they belong the shepherd knows by name.

It's a Heaven or Hell difference in being one of His sheep. It's way more than mere religious thinking. It's coming to Christ in faith to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins. Without this there is no becoming one of His sheep.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’" Matthew 7:21-23.

Without fully understanding that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life, there is no salvation for anyone. There are no other ways to Heaven. There are no other names under Heaven by which we must be saved.

When you look back over your life, do you see evidences of the hand of God in it? Do you see a history of Jesus being your Shepherd? Salvation isn't a ticket to get to Heaven and then you run off to live as you please. Salvation is Jesus saving us so that we might live for Jesus.

Just as it is with new sheep to the fold, so it is with new people saved by Jesus Christ, all priorities change. New sheep are educated by their shepherd to trust him or her in all things. The Shepherd lays down His life for his sheep. This should sound familiar. Jesus said that of Himself.

Some say that God doesn't speak to them. Can't state it enough that you believe a lie when you believe that.

Jesus Christ always has His attention on every single Believer as if they were His only sheep to care for.

A life in Christ is going to be different and at times difficult. But our Shepherd is always already ahead of us to know what is best for us.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12.

I encourage you to take the time to be still and know that He is God.

I encourage you to stop and listen for your Shepherd's voice.

If indeed you are saved in Christ there will indeed be His voice to listen for.

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Not Seeing Yet Believing

by David Brenneman

Life Principle 9: Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.

At some point, each of us will face what seem to be mammoth trials and difficulties. This is why we must know how to respond to every threat by laying hold of the kind of victorious faith that looks beyond what we can see to what God sees.

In times of extreme pressure, God stretches our faith and deepens our dependence on Him. Without a strong, abiding faith, we can quickly yield to temptation and fear, especially when the trial or difficulty is intense or prolonged. - Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles.

I have often used my life as material for posts as well as in talking to people in this world.

The whole of it all is that while people may argue or dismiss the Bible or Jesus they don't have much ground to stand on to argue what you know you went through.

Right now we are on the cusp of something coming to our lives here in our home that will indeed impact us. What it is, we know. What God will do about it, we wait and see. We will continue to do whatever God puts in front of us to be doing, no matter how it appears to us.

"Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:17.

Am reminded by the Spirit of God to review my life in order to bolster my stand in the coming days.

We had many instances in our 25 years of marriage to point to of when life was throwing a meteor at us and God's response was to call His shot and knock it out of the park.

The Lord always calls His shot.

The Old Testament is replete with example after example of the Lord calling His shot.

Israel wasn't paying attention nor were they believing. Look at the testimony of Stephen before he was stoned. Israel has always been stiff-necked and stubborn. We can be the same so don't go there in thinking you're not that way.

One good example was our living in my hometown in a rental when my Wife's house in a different city had a storm come through that damaged the gutters. We were over 2 hours away from dealing with it and I really didn't have the vacation time to take to go there. So we had to rely on friends of my Wife to help. In a short week we noticed we hadn't heard anything. We struck out looking for help on our end. She calls her friend and asks about it. They said they thought we changed our minds and had it taken care of ourselves. She told her we hadn't and asked what happened. Said a company had stopped by and put new gutters on the house. She asked if she got the name of the company. She hadn't but did remember the slogan on the van. "Doing awesome jobs for an Awesome God". Try as we may we couldn't find that company anywhere. A few days later we were told that the company got the wrong house. Was supposed to be up the road across the street. God put gutters on the house.

This is but one. There's others to tell if there were but time to tell them. These things are an essential part of a Christian's faith history. Remembering the distinct moments of our lives when we know with all the certainty that we can wrap our minds around that Jesus showed up to call His shot.

Scripture says that everything that the Lord purposes will stand.

There's been no place or time in history where Jesus called a shot and didn't get a home run.

People's perspective on what constitutes a home run and what Jesus says one is are often not the same thing.

What we are facing is a week without pay. We still have bills to pay. My employer says that this must happen for the best interests of the business.

It's a mountain of a problem.

As I was reading in "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23" last night was a chapter on the verse about the valley of the shadow of death. Fearing no evil is coming in tonight's reading. To get to the top of a mountain or to get around it or over it requires going through shady valley's. Questionable conditions. At risk of attack by people or by wild animals. The key being what was said is literal. Through the valley not there to take up residence. Not to get used to it. Not to worry about it.

I don't know how my Savior and Lord is going to fully care for us in that week that is approaching. I just know from my faith history that He's got a plan and we're covered. It doesn't matter what my eyes see. Already at least 1 opportunity has presented itself to make money that week. Someone else is sending money. I have a thing that's based on Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.".

We aren't to be sulkers.

We aren't to be worriers.

We aren't to be sitting on the sidelines.

We are to be people who pray.

We are to be people who trust in the Lord with all our hearts.

We are to be those who believe that the same God who saved us then will save us now.

We are to remember who's we are.

We are to remember all the great things that He has done.

The world wants to see before it will believe.

God says to believe before you see.

Jesus never fails.

Jesus is the promise keeper.

Jesus said that I am in His hands and nobody and nothing is able to take me out of it. Not even me.

Jesus said that He is in the Father’s hands and certainly nothing and nobody can be removed from there.

I don't know how Jesus will provide. I know that He will. He will do what He does and always has done. He will also give me some portion of His providing for me to be doing so that I remember it for the next time.

Adversity only lasts as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

As that book "A Shepherd's Perspective on Psalm 23" has said so far...His purpose is to grow us in Christ and to rely on Him in an intimate relationship.

You may be facing something bigger than you. Embrace it in Christ Jesus. Be ready because the shots been called.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Into Adversity We Go

by David Brenneman

Life Principle 7: The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.

If you want God’s best for your life and desire to be used by Him, at some point you’ll have to travel the road of adversity. This means that God can and will use adversity in your life for a good purpose—and yet, sadly, many people view adversity as only negative and defeating. But you don’t have to be among them.

God has designed adversity, regardless of its source, to become a turning point from which you take your greatest leaps forward in spiritual growth. He allows adversity to remain in your life only until He accomplishes His purpose in you. He will not keep it in your life one second longer than is necessary.

- Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles

It's rather interesting and a Godinstance (I don't believe in coincidences) that the day after some sideways news that this is the next Life Principle in my online devotional that covers the 30 that there are.

Yesterday, long before things did go sideways, a song by Elevation Worship called "I Trust in God" was playing on that record player in my mind.

It's also no coincidence that a different particular Life Principle has been repeating in my mind as well: Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice.

What do we do when most of your experience is equating discouragement with Disappointment?

"Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:1-6.

Don't miss that last line.

I have reached out to several people to ask the question: Just what did David do to strengthen himself?

Then this week has happened.

Moreover I think Jesus is saying "here, let me show you".

In my position as a trainer for all incoming new employees for the Foil Pressure Department at Sensotec, later to become part of Honeywell, I learned that people really do not learn in the same way.

Some learn by seeing and hearing only and can easily repeat.

Some learn by doing after hearing.

Some require both.

So it's with a profound sadness that our manufacturing world believes that anyone can be taught in a single way to learn any position.

But that's not the point of where this is leading.

My Great Shepherd knows how I learn. Just as He knows how you learn. Being brutally honest, sheep are dumb animals. They never ever consider their environment or their need to think ahead or even about what consequences come from their choices.

I am a sheep in His pastures. If you are saved in Christ Jesus so are you.

I believe that this strengthening ourselves in the Lord has everything to do with some of the very same topics that the Spirit has lead me to write about in recent months.

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2-3.

"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.

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13.

"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.

It does take a firm decision to stand firm in the Lord.

As of yesterday we're facing some unknowns and we're facing some knowns that CAN be quite frightening. Family that's injured as of yesterday. Getting news yesterday of an unpaid week from my employer. Further news from weeks ago of business decisions that will impact everyone where I work. Appliances possibly breaking down. Vehicles needing repairs.

Adversity for sure. Yet. In this God will be glorified.

As my Wife and I spoke yesterday Jesus has never failed us yet.

This is the beginning of seeing through adversity and strengthening in the Lord: Remembering who's we are.

Remembering His past provision.

Remembering His past protection.

Remembering that we are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Remembering that our strength isn't of this world.

Remembering that His plans don't need to make sense.

Remembering that He's not obligated to explain the why behind what we're going through.

Remembering that...the list can go on.

What is required of me and you?

"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8.

We can stay close to our Shepherd or go it alone and wallow in all kinds of negative things.

David was known as a man after God's own heart. Jesus displayed the same thing as David. Strengthened by His Father in Heaven. Jesus strengthened Himself in God.

I don't know how we will navigate these rough waters. I just know who's directing the boat through those waters.

He will do what He's always done.

Set things before me to be doing and it's on me to do them.

He will set things before you to be doing and it's on you to be doing them.

Even in adversity.

Even when life gives every appearance of falling apart.

Even when understanding is far away.

Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus is still my Personal Lord and Savior.

Jesus is still my provider and my protection.

Jesus is still the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.

Jesus is still my Great Shepherd.

Jesus.

Not me, myself and I.

Regardless of what is going on in our lives we are still to be a light shining in this present darkness.

We are still representing Christ to a lost world.

We are still in His hands and no one or nothing, not even ourselves, can take us from that place.

I think all these things answer that question: What did David do to strengthen himself in the Lord?