Turn Your Eyes

Turn Your Eyes 

by David Brenneman 

"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.” Psalms 139:4-5.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalms 86:11.

“Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Proverbs 23:26.

“Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23.

“Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.”

Proverbs 23:19.

“Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.”

Proverbs 23:12.

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.” Proverbs 23:17.

     At times, the lessons of life will appear too much for us to handle. The Lord calls us to an impossible task, permits our dreams to be shattered, pinpoints something important in our lives that we need to relinquish, or allows such profound loss that it leaves us reeling.

     At that point, perhaps our instinct is to run away from God-

resisting His claim on our lives and escaping what He requires of us. We just cannot face it all. Our hearts are too weak, our fears too real, our suffering too profound. We don't want to yield to Him-to release our will to His. We say, "Lord, I know what You want me to do, but I can't. There has to be a better way." But how do we run from the presence of the infinite God, who is everywhere at all times constantly beckoning US to return to His arms?

     You cannot-and that's on purpose. Friend, Jesus does not

leave you alone, because He loves you. He knows this situation is

difficult for you, and He wants to help you. So don't be scared of

facing Him. There is strength, healing, and hope with Him. So

stop running. Go to Him and live.

Jesus, I'll stop running, Thank You for helping me. Amen.

-"Trusting God with Today" by Dr. Charles Stanley. 

You and I, my Dear Reader, are beyond any form or kind of special in the eyes of God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. There's oh so much more to this life you're to be living than you can possibly imagine if only you put your whole trust in Jesus. 

We're not like the world whom wander aimlessly trying to make something of themselves in their spiritual darkness. We have the light of Jesus Christ within us to show us His still better way.

When we're trying to live lives apart from His will for us it's not going to work out so well. Perhaps you have already experienced the struggles and setbacks associated with that. I know that I have. Unfortunately I have all too many stories to tell of my attempts at living a lukewarm lifestyle in Christ.  

Jesus wrote of His profound love for us throughout the Scriptures. He wrote of things yet to come that He tells us to be excited about. 

He wrote of what this world doesn't have to offer that is found only through obedience to God's Word. 

He wrote about why the world won't understand.  

All too often, in our feeble attempts at seeking understanding, we go to the world rather than our Father in Heaven about the things we are facing in life. Only God knows what we are experiencing is of Him or not. Contrary to popular belief or thinking, quite often what befalls us is our own sin nature. It's not God nor is it the devil, just our poor choices and bad decisions. 

We get it in our heads some failing notion of what's important enough to pray about and what we think is ridiculous to bring to Jesus in prayer.  

Jesus made it incredibly clear to bring everything to God in prayer.

Nothing is petty to the One who loves us so unconditionally!

Your life, your relationships, your situations...all of it...bring it to the Lord in prayer. 

Doesn't say to seek first your own way then when that doesn't work then come to Me.

Doesn't say to ginormous amounts of time, energy and effort in your own understanding and estimation then after you're at your end then go to Him.

My Dear Reader these ways only lead to failure after failure.  

Scripture says that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  

We quite often get it in our heads that we have a right to tell Jesus what that should look like. 

We attribute sadness, despair, disappointment, resentment, bitterness, anger even, at His rejection of His plans 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. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord,”

Jeremiah 29:11-14a NASB1995

Really really sink your teeth into that last portion of this passage.  

We came to Christ for salvation. We owe Him our everything. 

We should be trusting God with our everything. 

We should be loving Him with our everything. 

This absolutely must include the direction of our lives. 

My Dear Reader we have this:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ”

2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

So when we're in pain, life not making much sense, we're a work in His progress. 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.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. ” Colossians 3:23-24.

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 

Refocus, Regroup in the Lord

Refocus, Regroup in the Lord 

by David Brenneman 

“How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah. How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”

Psalms 84:1-5, 10-12 NASB1995

How often do your thoughts go to those of your new home in Heaven?

How often do you long to finally get embraced by your living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

King David was obviously meditating on this thought.  

We are often, and increasingly so each day it seems, to be more and more consumed by the things of this world. Be it this situation or that one, this breaking, that needs attention etc. 

Yet the lesson of Mary and Martha is often overlooked.

Jesus said what about Martha's question concerning her sister helping her with preparations?  

She has chose the better part and it will not be taken from her.

Do we choose the better part each day? Did not the Lord Jesus often make the Disciples stop, get away, and rest? Wasn't He making them to see: “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 in an ever increasingly busy world. Paper calendars can't keep up. We are being forced into a mode of living that has but one purpose: be too busy for Jesus. 

We are also being made to be too busy to think. For decades, between intentional over medicating and psychological thoughts, every attempt is being made to get people to push people to let others do their thinking for them. This spills into even the Church. People come in to church to listen then go their own way...not at all trying to apply what they've learned because of various things like not stopping to rest in the Lord. 

My Dear Reader we will become like Elijah's last days if we aren't careful.

We will live days where things overlap and collide. Where we don't have time to catch a breath let alone a break.  

We have to break that mold that society has us trying to conform to. 

There's something you need to remember and recognize. This is ENTIRELY a scheme of the devil. 

It's not just the pressures of keeping up. It's intentional busyness even in the pleasures of this world. Keeping up with other's who have more than we do. Spending time and money on worthless things rather than to be as intentional as we can be in growing in Christ as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

We don't see nor attempt to comprehend what Jesus was meaning by storing up treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy. 

We are drowning in the thoughts of status. How well we look before others and not how we look before our Savior Jesus Christ. How well we keep up our home, what kind of vehicle we drive and how much bling it has. What clothes we wear. Is it the latest style. What stuff fills our house. What worldly interests are we keeping up on to honestly make us look appealing to others and increase our status before others. 

Stop.

Stop and rest with Jesus. 

Stop and get your intentionality on the right thing.  

Your world is supposed to be as much about the Father’s business as Jesus's was when He was here in person.  

Jesus said that the world would hate us because it first hated Him.

The world won't if we're unwittingly conforming to the world. 

So what if you have money to relax and be at ease or if you're living paycheck to paycheck.  

You, like what Jesus told Peter, need to recognize and understand that YOU need to follow Jesus. Not the world. Not so-and-so. Not this image or that image of success. 

Are you investing in your life in Christ or are you investing in your status in this world? One is the selfless action the other is the selfish action. 

The schemes of the devil are wanting you to convince yourself that you don't need to give Jesus all of your time, energy and effort. That it's ok since God's not stopping you from what you're doing, saying or thinking. 

Jesus said if anyone wishes to come after Him that they must deny themselves, take up their own cross, and follow Him. 

Is this a reflection of your life and life's choices?

Look at your calendar or at your week or even just today.  

It's up to you to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 

It's up to you to choose the better thing. 

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 

HALT and Find Peace in the Lord

HALT and Find Peace in the Lord 

by David Brenneman 

"HALT! Halt I say!" Halt is one of those words in German that was brought over into English.  

H.A.L.T. is also a very apt acronym for Hungry Angry Lonely Tired. 

Elijah is a very good example of when someone doesn't HALT. In both respects he didn't HALT. Perhaps you too are in need of HALTing.

“Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel. Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.” Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.””

1 Kings 18:46-19:1-14.

Elijah is one of the more powerful, in the Lord, people of the Old Testament. He is the one who was prophesied to come before the Lord. As Jesus told the Sadducies so we all must remember that God is the God of the living. Elijah is still indeed alive in the Lord.

But take a slower look at this portion of his life. Exhaustion was at his doorstep. He hadn't eaten in a long time. Anger, righteous anger, swelled up within him to slay the prophets of Baal. These began adding up and in comes loneliness whereas he leaves his servant behind for the wilderness a day separated from him.

Then we see him collapse before the Lord. Certainly not sounding very rational or composed.  

Indeed he wasn't looking beyond himself anymore at the time he began asking the Lord to take his life. 

How often is what we read, Dear Reader, a description of our life's experience?

We too need to recognize when we're cutting it close with not paying attention to when we are approaching being hungry, angry, lonely or tired. 

A tired body means a tired mind, a tired mind makes mistakes. Read that once in a book and never forgot it. 

So here we have the example and the warning. We really do add to our woes in life when we neglect to recognize our limitations.  

We take it out on others. 

We remove ourselves from others. 

We say things, do things, that we later need to apologize for.

We...really become more and more self-centered.

Then in a very real way give the enemy of God a reason to rejoice. Because we've become ineffective in our service to the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Heavenly Father. 

Now you know a bit more as to why you need a regular night's sleep.

Now you know why you need to pay attention to regular eating habits. 

Now you know why you shouldn't let anger get the best of you. 

Now you know you know why you shouldn't self-isolate. 

Now you know, with certainty, what happens when you don't HALT. 

Anxieties grip you. Words are said you can't take back. Relationships are bruised or broken. Decisions made might not be reversible. 

You might even believe that the Lord has indeed forgotten you or forsaken you. Both of which are impossible. 

Pray without ceasing. Conversational praying is possible throughout your day.

Priorities must be set. Letting go of things that rob you of your sleep. 

Eating appropriately. 

Not letting anger or any other emotions get a grip on you. 

HALT as often as these things get compromised and run to the Father, fall into grace, as the song says. 

God's mercies are new every morning the Scriptures say to us.

God's grace is ours in the fullest measure every day all day. 

We are ambassadors for Christ with a job to be doing. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. 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. My sheep hear My voice. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Rest at the feet of 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 

Is He?

Is He?

by David Brenneman 

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.”

Proverbs 20:27.

“Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?”

Proverbs 20:24.

“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9.

“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3.

Ever have the thoughts of "It's not supposed to happen this way!" or "I know what I am going to do!". We all have. One is along a path of despair the other jubilation. But both are wrong in the eyes of our Creator.  

We are not the one who should be setting the path for the life we live if indeed we claim the Name of Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. This is what were we all get it wrong.  

We walk with Jesus. 

We sometimes run with Jesus. 

We oftentimes stand still with Jesus. 

But the leader of our lives is to be Jesus. 

Ours is to follow. 

Ours isn't to tell Jesus what we're doing or where we are going to go or do.

If Jesus sends someone into our lives then we're to accommodate them.  

If He so chooses to redirect our lives then hang on because it's Him who leads. 

If our lives take turns that we cannot comprehend...hang on because He is still the same Lord yesterday, today and forever. 

“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.

What more is there to say?  

We are to lay it all down before Jesus. 

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.”

Matthew 16:24-27.

“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.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Making a bit more sense now? 

If even the Disciples made mention of everything they gave up to follow Jesus, should not we expect to do the same?

We don't dare take the lead in living the Christian life. 

Jesus is to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. 

Yes it might mean giving up your plans and dreams. Isn't it also said by our Lord Jesus Christ that we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness?

Do you believe at all that your choices, your path, will be better than He whom knows you better than you do?

The workmanship He is doing in your life is there to bring about your sanctification...your becoming more like Jesus Christ. It isn't to get you your dream job your dream car your dream home. It isn't to give you a slice of paradise here on Earth. It's to put you in a position to grow in Christ and lead people to Jesus to be saved.  

So if you're not interested in His leadership of your life you need to stop and consider your foolishness. 

If you're making the decisions for the direction of your life without consulting Jesus stop and consider your ways. 

My Dear Reader He IS to be the Leader of your life...the question is...is He?

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

Instruction of the Lord

Instruction of the Lord 

by David Brenneman 

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.” Proverbs 19:2.

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”

Matthew 5:33-37.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.”

Proverbs 3:1-35.

Will we be encouraged when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives or will we find shame instead? Will we have a life to be seen that sought His wisdom and guidance or one where we did not?

Will we be among those who invested the talents we were entrusted with or will we be as the one who buried it and showed nothing?

This chapter in Proverbs is becoming one of my favorites. In it is a lot concerning the instructions of the Lord. 

We, while we yet breathe, in any given moment of time, have a choice to obey or go our own way. 

We have the choice to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness or seek our own. 

Do you not see that there's no other option? We either are going His way or our way. 

We either are obedient students, disciples even, or we're not. We're either proving the truths of God in Christ Jesus or we're not. 

We either are making Him proud or we're making ourselves proud. 

While things, such as even this blog's viewership, are astounding in my sight, this is the work of God in my life. I take no credit that isn't mine to take. What is on me is to obey and do and leave the consequences to God. When it comes to doing anything we do we should always do it as unto the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24. When we are out in the public eye, in any social media platform, we represent Christ to the world. When we're cutting people down we're not being the light of Jesus Christ. It matters not if it's 'just a game' or not. Matters not if it's 'all in fun' or not.  

Wherever we go, whatever we do, do it all in the name of Jesus Christ.  

We, at all times, represent Jesus.  

Do you really stop to think what your statements and behavior is seen like to Jesus when you're casting aside your responsibility to Him as a child of God all because of your feelings?

Do you realize you're not showing Jesus in a positive light when you rant about inconsequential things?

Do you not see that you show yourself and others that when you're being that way that you've learned nothing about being a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ?

Jesus said if anyone wishes to come after Him that they must deny themselves, take up their own cross, and follow Him.

It means you give up wanting your way in favor of His way. You give up speaking as you would and begin speaking as He would.

It's not going to happen overnight.  

This is called the process of sanctification. This is to be our highest priority.  

Regardless of any worldview we are to represent Jesus Christ to the world. We are to be diligent in learning how to be more like Jesus. We are to be showing the world Jesus...not us. We are to take being a Disciple of Jesus Christ with all seriousness.  

When we make commitments be sure they are the right thing to be committing to. 

When we do these things, when we are putting learning and practicing righteousness first in our lives we've turned the corner towards growing in Christ. We're now glorifying God rather than ourselves. We're being the light to the world in which we live. 

Do not forsake the Lord's instruction. Don't give excuses for your departure from the righteousness life that God desires for you. 

Don't create exclusions for your behavior either.

One day you WILL either be giving an account of your life before Jesus. Do your best, while you are able, to live a life that Jesus says "Well done" to.

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

Goodbye Yesterday

Goodbye Yesterday 

by David Brenneman 

"Goodbye yesterday! I'm living in the light of a new day! I've got resurrection in my veins. Praise the Lord! I've been born again! He's rescued me out of the mess I was in. Praise the Lord I've been born again." A variation of the opening part of "Goodbye Yesterday!" by Elevation Rhythm and Gracie Binion, (c) 2025. The original being "Goodbye, yesterday. I'm livin' in the light of a new day. I won't waste another minute in my old ways

Praise the Lord, I've been born again. Goodbye, yesterday

I'm livin' in the light of a new day

I won't waste another minute in my old ways. Praise the Lord, I've been born again (yeah)".

Last night before going to bed I had been praying about some festering anxiety that was trying to keep its grip on me going into the night.  

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:22-26. 

Do you leave whatever is bothering you with the Lord before you head off to sleep? If not, why not? You who are in Christ are every bit as important to Him as that single sheep who was lost that He left the 99 to go find.  

You are important enough that you always get His undivided attention at all times. He can't be distracted nor can He ever be overwhelmed by too many requests by even the whole population of Earth if by some miracle all would turn to Jesus in faith. 

We're used to those in our lives being potentially overwhelmed but never our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

My burden yesterday after was mainly intellectual. Some rocks upon whom I have been relying on for information at work have moved. One is on vacation the other retired. To be truthful it is a bit intimidating. The last thing that I want to have happen is to mess up something that I am working on there.

The truth is...my God has never failed me. Not once, not ever.  

While anxiety attempts to dig in, His peace, provision and protection are always there. 

We don't need to think for a moment that we are in the grip of loneliness. 

We should also not fear the unknown as those who have no hope.  

My Dear Reader we have this hope if indeed we have Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. 

“From my distress I called upon the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” Psalms 118:5-6.

“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.

The perhaps most difficult part for all is the leaving of those things that so preoccupy our minds and hearts at His feet and walking away from them. 

We have generations who have been taught to do what needs done for yourself. To not rely on others if you want or need something done. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. That if you aren't going through life this way then you're failing at life.

Ar the other end of writing this...I can attest that I got His message loud and clear...it's going to be ok.

I go back to that great passage that's been going deeper and stronger in my life. "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.

Where people sometimes get off the tracks is when we read "in everything give thanks" we stop at only the good things that we perceive that have happened in our lives.  

My Dear Reader give thanks for all the rest. The good, the bad and the ugly. For whatever goes on in your life whether you understand it or not. Whether you feel like it or not. Whatever we do do as unto the Lord. Giving thanks in everything. Whether it goes as we like or would like or not. Give thanks. 

So look at today differently. 

Start taking everything to the Lord in prayer.  

Start thanking God for everything He's doing in your life. Even when it isn't so pleasant. 

Start realizing that great truth that He's already in your today before you got here. 

Goodbye yesterday...today is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

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

Open Your Eyes, Jesus is at Your Door

Open Your Eyes, Jesus is at Your Door
by David Brenneman

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:6-8.

What more could this mean than in and of ourselves it is impossible for us to please God, to be able to do enough 'good' to satisfy Him and allow us to spend eternity with Him?

Indeed it is entirely impossible.  It doesn't matter what feelings we have.  Does not matter how 'perfect' we believe we have lived our lives.  There's nothing anyone can do, can conjure up, to complete, that equals what the Son of God displayed was necessary and is necessary to please God.

My Dear Reader it is sin that must be acknowledged with each of us.  An not just to be acknowledged but to concede that there's no way we can deal with it in any acceptable way that would please God.  That we need Jesus to be the propitiation for us.  Our substitute in the eyes of God by faith in the Son of God who saves us by His shed blood on the cross, arising 3 days later conquering sin, death and the grave.

My most wonderful reminder is Charlie Pride's "He Took My Place".

We need someone to step in to be the hero who is the ultimate hero.  We need a perfect sacrifice that can only be Jesus Christ.

Ours isn't to spend our lives seeking some other way that will always lead to futility.  A lifetime of wasted effort.

Add to this...apart from listening to the call of the Spirit of God calling us unto salvation in Christ Jesus alone...there's absolutely no way for any human to understand the things of God because they are foreign to us.  That's directly from the Scriptures.  We cannot begin to understand God's holiness without the Spirit of God to teach us.  We cannot learn from the Spirit of God within coming to Christ for salvation first. 

Oh countless so-called scholars and philosophers and others throughout the ages have laid claim to having read and understand the Bible but without the Spirit of God all their so-called understanding is is rubbish. 

We just can't 'get it' without first acknowledging we need a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

No one's good will ever be good enough.  No amount of sweet talk will ever convince Jesus to allow anyone into Heaven's door who hasn't placed their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation.

Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. 

It's a horrible thing to one day stand before Jesus to then be told no, you can't come in, I don't know who you are.

There are no if's and's or but's about it.

My Dear Reader you must first acknowledge you can't do it and that you need Jesus to save you.
That you want Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.  This is the only way to the right relationship with Jesus that you need.

"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.

The path to salvation isn't complicated. It's us that make it complicated. We start with the what if's.  We start with fear of what a life in Christ will look like. 

My Dear Reader you can't know what it will look like until you actually come to Christ for salvation first. 

He opens up all His promises to you when you come to Him for salvation that you cannot fathom in a life without Him.

You must choose to accept the truth that you need a Savior.  You must choose to ask Jesus Christ to save you.  All the love of God awaits all who come to Christ to be saved.

There is this.  This is a limited time opportunity.  There IS a day fixed by the Father’s own authority when Jesus will come back for those who are saved in Him.  He will gather all of these people to Himself and take them to Heaven.  Then there will be 7 years of judgments upon both mankind and the Earth unlike anything humanity has ever seen.  Billions of people will die.  Billions more will rage against God for His judgments.  Among these will be people who have cried out for Jesus to come back to get them. 

These days are now one day closer.

You must choose to come to Christ to ask Him to save you.  You and you alone.  Nobody else can do it for you.

Jesus is at the door of your heart. He is knocking, asking you to let Him in.

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