View of the World

View of the World 

by David Brenneman 

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:1-8.

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Philippians 2:12-16.

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

What does the world see when it sees you?

There's a question that begs for an answer.  

My Dear Reader...the 3rd quote is from Jesus Christ Himself...what say you for your answer, what is your reply?

Do they see temporary insanity due to road rage? Do they see words coming from your mouth that ought not be heard? Do they see the love of God? Do they hear you tearing people down? Your justification is inconsequential as to why you're tearing someone else down. If Christ would say it, if the behavior of your life wouldn't be what Christ would be doing, then why My Dear Reader are you doing it?

Are you practicing what the other quotes of Scripture are saying to be done by the disciples of Jesus?

Are you using your words as a double edged sword?  

Are you going about actually bringing shame to the Name of Jesus because of your words?

Are you doing the same with your actions?

The news to all is this: we will give an account of our lives before Him with whom we have to do. 

There's no acceptable exceptions to what we read in today's passages or the many others on this subject.

None.

There's no clause for speaking or behaving in non-Christian ways that's acceptable to Jesus Christ our Lord. 

No Not one. 

So no, your language and your behavior about even some like a sports game isn't allowed according to the Scriptures.

No your language and behavior in any public or private setting, on Instagram, Facebook, X, or any other form of social media is acceptable if it's said or done without considering one another above ourselves.  

Consider this, My Dear Reader, during the thousand year reign of Christ...such things certainly won't be acceptable...for the entire world. 

The words and actions of supposed Believers do more damage to the cause of Christ than what the unbelieving do or say because they're representing Jesus Christ. 

We give the enemy of God reason to rejoice when we behavior in an ungodly way before men and women. 

When we aren't renewing our minds by daily being in the Word, we quickly forget what His Word has to say on how we should be before Him as well as men and women. 

When we are renewing our minds with what only the world is saying, teaching, then the result is a mind and mouth speaking in such a way that Christ is not honored. 

There's no acceptable exceptions to the Word of God in the eyes of God. 

So nothing done in 'fun' that violates God's Word is acceptable.

Nothing. Not in jest, not in hypothetical, not in any and all things. If it's not acceptable in Heaven then it shouldn't be here.

Remember "on Earth as it is in Heaven" is our standard. 

My Dear Reader...it's going to be painful for you I know because it was and is for me as well...remove whatever you're finding enjoyment in that isn't acceptable before Jesus. 

We represent Christ in our daily lives. What and who does the world see when they look at us or hear us?

Scripture says to consider our ways.

Do that today. Be as those in the book of Acts who immediately turned from what they were doing wrong in the Lord and act now, not later.

Who does this world see when it looks at you?

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

Wanting What Jesus Wants

Wanting What Jesus Wants 

by David Brenneman 

“Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.”

Proverbs 30:7-9 NASB1995

We want want want in life. I know that there's wants that I have. There's also needs that I have.  

The greater question is do I want what Jesus wants of me?

Many these days, with online shopping, online ordering of food, get their wants very quickly. 

40 years ago those things were unheard-of. 30 years ago you needed to be someone special to have access to these things.  

The ways of the world are always towards whatever is right in the eyes of the individual. 

Then, these same said people, look for other's of the same depravity in order to try to establish a safe place for their thoughts and actions. 

In most all such endeavors the sin nature is exposed yet not seen for what it is.

As Christians we are tempted daily towards things that either we don't really need or don't need right now. We are tempted to go with the world and it's solutions rather than to ask of the Lord and patiently wait. We are sometimes tempted to go it alone. Not at all recognizing that waiting on the Lord will bring His best for us.  

We are self-inflicting damage to our walk with Jesus when we get ahead of God. Likewise when we stubbornly hold to something or a way of life or of thinking that's contrary to the Word of God or the teaching of the Spirit of God. 

An then we do not see His best for us.

We are often not asking Jesus what is there that needs to change in our lives to make us more like Christ. 

We are still the tempted just like the rest of the world. 

This thought is nothing new...but how often are you really sabotaging your walk with Jesus with your own selfish choices, thoughts and desires?

How often are you really dedicated to living the Christian life the way that He desires for you?

There's an excellent saying that says: "God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him".

Likewise we need to understand that our obedience must come before the full blessings of God.

If we want to what He wants for us then we must set aside what our thoughts are concerning it.

We are supposed to be fully devoted fully involved followers of Jesus Christ.

Fully. 

As in completely. 

If we really are trusting Him and aren't leaning on our own understanding then we shouldn't be trying to mess with what He's trying to do in our lives. We shouldn't get ahead of Him. Shouldn't be lagging behind Him.  

Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 

My Dear Reader absolutely everything Jesus thought, said or did was to honor and obey His Father in Heaven. 

What ought our lives reflect?

Jesus wanted what His Father wanted. Jesus taught us to want what He wants for us. 

Pray and ask David's prayer.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalms 139:23-24.

Start today with wanting what Jesus wants for you. 

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

Seek

Seek

by David Brenneman 

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.

“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11.

“For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.” Amos 5:4.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33.

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:25.

“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

We seek many kinds and forms of joy and happiness...for you my Dear Reader...is a life in Godliness something you seek?

It took seconds to search "seek the Lord" to gain that list above. What's bothersome to me is just how most people aren't truly seeking the Lord in their daily lives. They think they are seeking Him on the days and times they go to Church but rarely in-between those times. 

Are you a truly committed fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ or aren't you? 

Are you seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness or aren't you?

Is your life best described as you idea of a balance between what you think you want and what you think God wants of you? May this never be! As Paul would most likely say. 

The description of a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ comes from the mouths of the Disciples themselves. "Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”” Matthew 19:27.

I highly doubt that Peter was referring to whatever time they had leftover in their day. 

Many of the Disciples were married and still were fully devoted followers of Jesus. 

We seek out what makes us happy or at least stuff we think will make us happy. We just often aren't equating happiness with being a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  

Yet there indeed is happiness in following Jesus.  

Some fear the accountability that comes from knowing more about Jesus and the Word of God.

What would you rather look forward to, an open rebuke for failure to do and be who you were meant to be in Christ or to hear "Well done! Enter into the joy of your Master".

It's extremely saddening to watch more fire, more zeal, more excitement, come from a Believer's mouth about worldly desires and things than they have about something that the Spirit is teaching them. 

We aren't still here after coming to Christ for salvation in order to create our own personalized Heaven on Earth. We are not yet still here aftet coming to Christ for salvation in order to survive until we die. We aren't still here to seek happiness in this world in whatever we put our minds to.

We were created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. So that people can see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

These are the things that a person who seeks first His kingdom and His righteousness reveal about the work of the Spirit in them. 

It's easy to go with the flow of the world in seeking out personal happiness. The Scriptures direct us to stand firm in the Lord.  

Do you intentionally start your day in the Scriptures and prayer?

Do you find yourself praying during your day when the moment comes?

Do you take time in your evenings to be again in the Word of God and in prayer?  

These are some of the traits of a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

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

Who Do You Live For?

Who Do You Live For?

by David Brenneman 

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.

“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:7-8.

“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.

A common first thought for people in deep despair is to ask "What do I have to live for?" The real question is not what but who.

We who are in Christ were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

1 Peter 1:18-19.

How do you then live a life that honors such an act as what Jesus did for you? By living each day honorably in His sight. Striving for a life lived with His approval. 

I have been blessed with knowing quite a few really Godly men in my life. I often look to these as role models of what a life in Christ is to look like. What characteristics did they share that stood out as followers of Jesus Christ?

A very big thought that they all had in common was that there's no Biblical path of retirement on this Earth. They all lived or are living all their days in service to their personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

There was and is no mistaking who they lived for. 

Many in the faith struggle because their commitment to what the Spirit is teaching them is no where near as solid as it should be. 

Look at the examples in the New Testament. Look at what was indeed written for our instruction as the Scriptures says of itself. 

We have what we need to live a life in Christ Jesus that will honor His blood sacrifice to save us. What's required of us is the follow-through to stay the course. To run the race set before us in Christ. To pursue a life in Christ that will earn us a "Well done!" from our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

We don't truly have the option of retirement from serving and dedicated learning from the Lord in any capacity. 

We should never consider time in the Word of God as optional. 

We should never have an acquaintance relationship with Jesus. 

Our relationship with Jesus ought to be personal. Personal in that we continue on no matter what in this race set before us until we cross that line leading into Heaven's door or the Rapture of the Church. 

Jesus endured the cross for us. 

Jesus took on the beatings meant for us.

Jesus received the nails in His feet and His hands in our place. 

Jesus was scourged in our place. 

These are the reasons for who we live for.  

We live for Him for the great love with which He's loved us.

Think about this today and every day.  

As the old hymn says "Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do, yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

this is the pathway of blessing for me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,

I give myself to Thee;

for Thou, in Thine attonement,

didst give Thyself for me.

I own no other master;

my heart shall be Thy throne.

My life I give, henceforth to live,

O Christ, for Thee alone.

-Thomas Chisholm 1917 "Living for 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

Yes YOUR Heart Too

Yes YOUR Heart Too

by David Brenneman 

“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:2-3.

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.” Proverbs 21:21.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23.

“A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.” Proverbs 19:5.

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.” Proverbs 19:21.

“Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”?”

Proverbs 20:9.

“Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” Proverbs 20:24.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.” Proverbs 20:27.

“There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30.

We don't often consider the truth of the Scriptures whereas we read what we just did...that the Lord knows your heart. 

Every single microsecond, nanosecond, if there's a smaller measurement than that...the Lord is there. 

We can often be callous towards the knowledge that every single thought and intention of our hearts will be known to Jesus AS IT HAPPENS. 

You're never alone in your thoughts. 

You're never alone by yourself at home, on a drive, on a walk. 

A Believer in Christ or not, the Lord Jesus Christ is everywhere at all times.  

We read a sample of the Scriptures this morning and every blessed one of those statements are as true today as when written and even before they were written.

Those dark thoughts you have had about other people? Yes He saw you think them. 

My Dear Reader the knowledge of such from our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ isn't to bring about fear in our lives...on the contrary it's to urge us to live holy lives until either He calls us home or the Rapture of the Church.

We aren't here, still, after coming to Christ to just live it up.

We aren't here because of any conceivable idea we might have towards our benefit in worldly living. 

We are not here for the job nor the retirement program. We aren't here to be absorbed in things or ideas outside of growing in Christ.  

We are still here by His plan and purpose to grow in Christ, continue in the Father’s business, and glorify our Father in Heaven just as Jesus did. To be a disciple making disciples. To be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

He weighs your heart. 

He has been everywhere in it.

In all the long forgotten locked rooms of it He's been there and knows everything about it. 

In everything about you He knows. 

It is He who weighs your heart. 

We are often fooling ourselves when we think otherwise in the small stuff or even the big stuff impacting our daily lives. 

We sometimes don't give our all or still cling to this or that out of fear that He wouldn't understand. What a absurd idea!  

Would not He who created your heart not understand everything about it?

Take this thought with you today...

He knows your heart and yet still wants a deeper relationship with you. 

He knows and regardless of what deep thoughts or intentions you have had He's there ready to forgive. He can and does because He already knows and understands all about what you've been trying to hide from yourself let alone Him.

Remember this post today and then move forward to this with it:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 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 4:4-9 NASB1995

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 

Where Do We Think We're Going?

Where Do We Think We're Going?

by David Brenneman 

“Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” Proverbs 20:24.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.” Proverbs 20:27.

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

Proverbs 16:3.

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

Proverbs 16:9.

Putting these verses together you gain a greater understanding of the truth of the life of a child of God. 

We really complicate life by trying to change the plans that Jesus has for us.  

We complicate things by comparing ourselves to others in Christ.  

We complicate things because we decided we don't see anything wrong with what we have included in our lives even when faced with what God's Word says shouldn't be in our lives. 

We complicate things by telling ourselves that God must be ok with it because whatever it is is still in our lives. Only we never will ask Him if it should stay or go. 

We are the forgiven in Christ...but we still have a sin nature that yet still wants even small victories in our lives to keep us from our full potential in living for Jesus. 

My Dear Reader...do you at all question? Have you ever placed everything you value before Jesus to ask Him should it stay or should it go?

Not everything we think we perceive is good for us. Likewise not everything we perceive as bad is actually bad either. 

There's a plan for the lives of all who are saved in Christ designed by Him to bring out our best for God. 

Our opening passages point us into the thoughts of God concerning us.

We should seek Him in the morning and always look to be walking in His ways. Look up the words to "Step by Step" by Rich Mullins. 

We have a divinely inspired path of life set before us that will bring honor and glory to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It's quite possibly not what you think it will look like. 

The Apostle John is but one example. Walking with Jesus in his ministry, life radically changed at the cross. Now responsible to watch after and take care of Mary, Jesus's earthly Mother. Gets eventually boiled in oil and comes out unharmed, then gets exiled to Patmos and ends up writing one of the most powerful books of the Bible. Nothing that had ever crossed his mind when Jesus asked him to follow Him. Yet John would trade nothing for what the Spirit took him through.

You too have a great, special, life that Jesus wants for you. Submitting to whatever He wants gets you on that path. 

Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness must come first. 

Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength must be your daily go to. 

But also as eluded to earlier...we also need to be willing to ask what needs to go.

Take what you need for this path you walk with Jesus. We don't need a trailer to go where He takes us.

Ask with a sincere heart David's prayer. See if there be any hurtful way in me. Lead me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?  

You follow Me!

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 

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

by David Brenneman 

"We will worship God or the gods we have created."

Was reminded of this statement, or one very similar to it, yesterday during a service that I was listening to. 

We live in a world today that has way more things in it that have grabbed a piece of our hearts than we realize.  

In more ways than we will willingly admit, God doesn't necessarily have our whole heart.  

Look at the standards set forth in the Scriptures. 

We 'love' things and people more than we love what God loves.  

We aren't praying as we ought to be. 

We aren't prioritizing our lives after what pleases Jesus. 

I continue to say we because I am pointing this at myself as well.

We are guilty of silently closing an imaginary door to have our idea of "fun" apart from the Spirit of God.  

You do it, I have, we all are doing it. 

We have way more passion about all sorts of this, that and the other, than we have about what Jesus gets excited about. 

Get brutally honest...you likely get way more offended by the words people say about what it is you're passionate about, what you 'love' than you are when they say something against Jesus, the Father, the Spirit or the Word of God. 

It was a driving point of revelation in my life to get me to stop being passionate about sports. Not to mention that that same passion that I had for it brought out the worst behavior from within me. I hate to break it to EVERYONE but those nasty, cruel, things said in jest during a game are will be entirely considered when we give an account of our lives before Jesus. 

Don't take my word for it my Dear Reader, read what Jesus said: "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36-37.

When we speak in such derision, such anger, such unjustifyable disgust, those careless words will be brought up when we stand before Jesus. 

We do rage for no Godly reason at all the wrong things...because of who we're worshipping. 

We either are going to worship God or those we have created.

We will because we already have in the past. 

We read the Bible and have countless examples of other's doing it. 

Human beings do this. 

Ours is to daily submit our entire life to the obedience of Christ.

Ours is to remove that which is becoming or has been an idol in our hearts.

Ours is to be bold enough to ask in prayer the same as King David "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalms 139:23-24.

Words. A some reading this will just blow it off n say "they're just words".  

Really. An no it's not a cultural thing, it's a lesson to be learned from the Word of God. 

Words spoken quite often lead to being stoned. Words could cause a person to run for their lives to find some place to live out their days. 

Words were what the Pharisees and the Sadducies wanted to use to condemn Jesus. Just words.

Throughout the centuries after the crucifixion words would cost people their lives for saying they either were Christians or that they were found to be devil worshippers. 

Words too can be used against us in the court of law. 

"For by your words you will be justified by your words you will be condemned". 

Jesus takes what we say that seriously. 

There's no "unless you were just kidding, that you weren't serious" part of that verse. 

There's no exceptions. 

I cannot bring myself to be kidding or joking or excusing my words about others. 

My speaking in any of those ways may push someone away from wanting to hear about Jesus. 

Seriously. 

Your behavior before men and women as a Believer can be trashing your testimony because of what you 'love' that's blinding you to the effect it's having on your life. 

By your words you will be justified by your words you will be condemned. 

Scripture says many times in many ways...to consider our ways. 

My Dear Reader are you considering your ways? Are you actually, honestly, worshippers of things or people other than God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? 

More importantly would Jesus say that you are?

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