Different for Good Reason

Different for Good Reason 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1.

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27.

"For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;" Hebrews 7:26.

The lives of Believers are supposed to be different from the world for good reason. We're not to blend in. We're not to go native as the saying goes. As Ambassadors for Christ we are to behave as such. Our actions and words, thoughts and intentions, should be causing others in this present darkness to see Christ. 

This time of year millions and millions of dollars and whatever other currencies are out there are spent on gifts for others. At the same time thefts are at an all-time high.  

In many churches months if not years of planning have gone into productions for this very holiday. 

Some out of pure motives to just showcase the true meaning of Christmas, others thinking that they have to be creative to attract people to Christ. 

The Spirit draws people. We're to be obeying God in our daily life. As Dr. Charles Stanley had said...obey God and leave the consequences to Him. 

Be the Ambassadors we are to be for Christ and leave the consequences to Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is Truth. Exemplify truth in living your life before men so that they may see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

Many a testimony of many Believer's are ruined by their not remaining unstained by the world. 

What's really sad is that all too many professing Christians do not see their lives as stained by the world. 

Sure who wouldn't like to make themselves or others happy this time of year? Question is by what means are you achieving this? Going into an inordinate amount of debt to do so? Behaving rashly in the decisions you make? Displaying rude and un-Christ-like behavior while shopping or driving?

Would an Ambassador of Christ be the way that you have been?

To be clear we are to be lights in this world...pointing people to Jesus for salvation. We celebrate His love for us that in while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. He left Heaven and came to Earth to live a sinless life, to be condemned and crucified. To raise up 3 days later defeating sin, death and the grave...now sitting at the right hand of the Father. Awaiting that moment to stand once again to come get all who have believed in Him for salvation. 

Take stock of your emotions, your behavior and maybe even your beliefs.  

In Christ all Christians represent Jesus. No exceptions or excuses. 

Celebrate this Christmas with a renewed heart that lives to obey God and represent Jesus well.

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

Living For...

Living For...

by David Brenneman 

"and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:15-17.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2 Corinthians 5:20-21.

"Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember," Mark 8:18.

Having a life in Christ...gives one the opportunity and the ability to see the world with new eyes for the first time. While in the darkness of our world we couldn't see anything. Coming to Jesus opens our eyes and our heart to begin to understand truth...then to strive to remember. 

Seeing the world perpetually with spiritual eyes is a necessity for survival. We are in a world of deceit and deceptive practices.  

From entertainment to religions our sin cursed world is literally Hell bent on keeping people from the truth of God in Christ Jesus.  

It matters not our opinions on the subject you and I are smack dab in the middle of the Spiritual war of the ages. We cannot afford to look at the world in the ways we used to. 

"Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh;" is what Paul said to the Corinthians as well as to all of us.

The rules of engagement require prayer before entering into the war zone. The probable surprise to all is the war zone is anywhere we are.

When we open our physical eyes for the beginning of a new day...we're in the thick of it already. 

Consider our current train of thought along with "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus" that Paul also made mention of. 

It's impossible to use a vessel for righteousness and unrighteousness at the same time. 

If our hearts are striving to live for Jesus we aren't going to be able to willfully be sinning against God. 

Having eyes that see the spiritual nature of those around us will help us to know how to pray, how to engage such people, and how to interact in their world. 

Recognize that the temptation is extremely great to compromise. 

To be wise in our own estimation is the road to many a grief.  

If you look at a situation and don't consult your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and decide in that moment in your heart that you got this...you're in trouble. 

Learning to pray for the small things as well as the big is important to all who walk in this world. Assuming something isn't a trap to ensnare means you already tripped the trap.

Redefining words and situations that indeed are sin and sinful so as to appease your conscience...means you're too comfortable with compromise.  

Open your eyes to see the world around you as the Spirit sees it and says that it is.

Whatever the governments of this world are saying is happening to this world...take it with less than a grain of salt.  

The truth is this world is on a guided path towards the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus says to be on the alert for we know not when He will return. 

Would you let your guard down if someone of earthly importance was for sure going to visit you and you just didn't know when? If for that, why not for your Savior and Lord! Open your eyes to the spiritual truths around you.

See people as Jesus sees people. Color or race isn't an issue in Heaven. Only those saved in Christ are in Heaven.  

Look at life the way you're supposed to be in Christ.  

People are going to hurt us. People are going to deceive us. People are going to wrong us. 

We can still stand strong in Christ. 

We're living through a season right now of being hurt by those who used to be close to us. It's hard. It's difficult. But we don't have a Savior who is far off. He's well acquainted with grief. He knows our pain. We must keep moving with our eyes on Him.  

The spiritual state of those who wronged us is that they are among the lost of this world. It matters not what they did or said. The truth is that without Jesus Christ as their Savior too their path in history leads to Hell. On the cross Jesus asked the Father to forgive. If in that place and time Jesus could forgive...we have no excuse not to.

Ask for your eyes to be opened and that you would be obedient to the word of God and His calling for you.  

People probably won't understand.

Pray before proceeding. 

Pray before jumping to conclusions. 

Thank God for the good, the bad and the ugly of your day. After all He was with you through it and went through it with you.  

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

Craftiness and Deceitful Scheming

Craftiness and Deceitful Scheming 

by David Brenneman 

"the fact of being clever at getting what you want, especially by indirect or dishonest means." Definition of "craftiness".

"render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one." 

Definition of "adulterating".

"the action of showing something to be right or reasonable."

Definition of "justification".

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

"Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

"As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;" Ephesians 4:14.

It, more often than not, takes more work to keep from working than it does to do the actual work required. 

Ever think about the words used in a verse rather than just reading over them? I was prompted to include some definitions today so they came first.  

That word craftiness stood out and brought to mind the passage in Ephesians. Made me think of the negative connotation of justification and how these words can creep their way into the lives of people. It doesn't matter if you're a Believer or not. 

People find their way into countless videos of dishonest gain. Justifying their taking what doesn't belong to them...and being proud of their craftiness!

"Craftiness and deceitful scheming." 

"but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God"

Do you do any of this, even in the smallest of ways?" I know in retrospect I have.  

We are often the most guilty only when we've been caught. We don't consider guilt as part of the situation until we're caught. More often than not we pride ourselves on our craftiness.  

See it now? Those who are saved in Christ Jesus are supposed to be different, supposed to stand out, in this present darkness in which we find ourselves.  

We're not supposed to waste time trying to figure out how to create spiritual camouflage to make it through life unscathed and unharmed.  

We aren't to be putting on anything more than the whole armor of God. We are to be in the Word of God daily.  

We are to be in prayer constantly. 

We aren't to try to find ways to get out of participating in the body of Christ because of the temptations of the world in which we live. 

Many Believer's by way of craftiness and deceitful scheming embrace idolatry and are so deep into it that they don't see it.

Many Believer's also justified their treatment of others the same way. 

Many play God in their lives in deciding who is or isn't worthy of the same gift of salvation that we had received.  

What about you?

Are you among those who have added idolatry to your life yet claim to be a Christian? Is the justification so deep that you can't see it? Go ahead...ask in prayer if you have...then don't be surprised by the response. 

In big or small ways things of this world have been crafted by Satan to interfere or flat out get in the way of the Christian's life in Christ. 

Even Thanksgiving and Christmas can be so twisted as to truly lose their original meaning by way of everything from personal experience to commercialization of the times. 

We can get swept up in so much and actually truly enjoy it...and don't take stock of the ramifications...don't see that it's not feeding our spirit in the Biblical sense and actually is feeding our sin nature. 

Someone once said that the one you feed in you is the one who dominates you.  

You feed your sin nature your sin nature controls you. You feed your new nature in Christ then its Christ who controls you. 

Have you been adding things into your life that are there by way of craftiness?  

You probably don't think much of them because you enjoy them too much.   

Take some time to step back and objectively look at your life.  

Are you feeding the new self in Christ or are you feeding your sin nature?  

"in the sight of God."

We're doing everything in the sight of God. If it's not at all going to be God honoring...do not do it. Do not participate in it. Scripture says to remove it and cast such things away from us. Even if we aren't going to be popular because we are doing it the Spirit's way.   

We who are in Christ are supposed to be growing in Christ. Feeding on the Word of God and prayer. Living in obedience to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by way of the Spirit of God in us. 

Are your words cutting people down? It doesn't matter why. Then stop doing it.  

Are your actions not showing people that Christ is in you? Reconsider your why's of doing what you do. 

Have you idols in your life? Cast them away. Destroy them influencing yourself or others.  

Ask Jesus to show you the truth about you. Then don't disregard the answers. Don't dismiss what you are shown. Don't say that the cost is too high if you give those things up.  

The cost to you will be higher if you don't. Willful entrapment will ensue. Willful disregard of other commands of God for you will happen. Once you give the devil a foothold he will exploit it to the uttermost.  

Lastly you will be diminishing that crown of righteousness that you will be giving back to Jesus for all He's done for you in your life. 

Consider your ways acknowledge Him in your life and clean house of what all the Spirit says to get rid of from you.

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

What You Write, What You Wrote

What You Write, What You Wrote 

by David Brenneman 

"Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:1-6.

You probably don't think of yourself as a writer, but as we read here, everyone is. Either by way of paper, walls, memorials, verbally or other means, memories are made and all are recorded. 

For those who are saved Jesus has forgiven their sins and remembers them no more. For us it's a different matter with our sin cursed bodies. We remember most things we have done in our lives. We mostly remember our daily life.

But have you considered the phrase "You never get a second chance to make a first impression". Even the suggested words in this app that I am using knew of it.

You write on the hearts of those you interact with. You do even if you don't realize it. We are either planting seeds, discovering seeds, cultivating or harvesting. We are doing this in our everyday life with ourselves and others. 

In Christ we are to be in the Word of God to feed on it and to grow in it. We should record what we learned to both remember and to share with others. We write when we do this. 

We interact with people and be it in small ways or big we write something upon their hearts and minds. 

There's nobody who's inconsequential in this world. All life begins with Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of all that lives and breathes. There are no accidents in life coming into this world. If God permitted it there's a valid reason for it. Regardless of the circumstances behind it.   

Look at the people of the Old Testament. Abraham for one. Samuel's mother is another. 

We write all the time. Think of this...ever have words you wish you could take back? It's because you wrote something that you wish you hadn't.  

King Solomon wrote of many things in Proverbs as well as a few other books. We read those and try to write them on our own hearts.

It's not easy but measuring your words is what you are to be doing. 

Atypically we get embarrassed or we say even more than should be said.  

Then we try to figure out what to say to fix what had happened.  

I often am struggling with not thinking before talking. There's times when I am asked something "spiritual" and what comes out of me is certainly only from God. The Spirit takes over and even I am in awe.  

The Bible says that Pastors are held to a higher level of accountability that these men of God should consider well what they preach because of this. It's partly because they are writing on the hearts and minds of their listeners. 

At the end of things, we all will give an account of our lives before Jesus. That is everything we have done and said and thought.  

What will your story say of you?

Are you thinking about the things that are going to grow you in Christ or do you spend more time with things that don't?

Even in this moment of reading you are writing. 

What we do with what God's given us is on us.  

The Spirit teaches us. That teaching isn't for us to hold onto. But to share with others.  

Think about the impressions you make today. As someone said you either are listening or talking, you're not doing both.  

You will probably have the opportunity today to write in yourself and others...choose wisely what you are writing. 

We're on the right track when we are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.  

Write with "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself" in mind. 

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

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

Before the Christmas Tree There's the Story

Before the Christmas Tree There's the Story 

by David Brenneman 

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2.

"When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15.

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way." Matthew 2:1-12

While there's perhaps countless religions that have engulfed this world, there's but one way to Heaven. That by no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved, the name of Jesus Christ.

Bethlehem was the foretold city where Jesus the Messiah would be born. 

God the Spirit had it written by the hand of man and it assuredly came to pass.  

What you also read today is that those who knew...weren't believing it themselves. They weren't looking. To them it must have been a myth. Something written long ago and had been now dismissed as a fable.  

Yet...here we have these strange visitors asking...which makes me wonder...did this visit stir up anything with these people?  

After hundreds of years someone caused them to take a second look at that passage. 

Before there was the tree, there's the story my friend. There's THE Story. 

Have you tried, in your Bible reading, to look for all the places written that predicted Jesus coming? Try it. What's better is that absolutely every single one was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Nothing was left out. Nothing was missed.  

We pick up the story in Bethlehem where we are told the circumstances were such that there was no room for them in the inn. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords had no palace to be born in. No middle income housing available. Not even a chariot to be born in.  

Our Pastor has often said of Jesus and His resurrection that here we have a man who predicted His own death, burial and resurrection and pulled it off. He completely called His shot and made it happen. 

Consider it now that Jesus, through the Spirit and written by the hands of men, hundreds of years earlier did it. Called it to the last detail of His arriving on Earth. Yet nobody was looking. It still needed to be announced to the shepherds to get the ball rolling.   

The Angels couldn't keep it to themselves. Things that they long to look into were happening before their eyes. Their Lord and King, God Most High, Creator of them and everything else, was becoming man to save mankind. 

Before purchasing things as gifts for yourself or others this year...take time to really understand the story. 

Jesus so loved the world that He gave His life up in Heaven to come to Earth to save all who would call upon His Name. Starting out as we all have and living through what we have lived through. So as to find those whom are wanting His free gift of salvation. Every single person will be without excuse because He really will tell every person that from the cradle to the grave He has lived it. Experienced it. Been there done that and has the scars to prove it. 

Christmas isn't presents. 

Christmas isn't brightly lit trees.

Christmas isn't elaborate or even simple lawn decorations. 

Christmas isn't parades.

Christmas isn't cookies or dinners. 

Christmas is God saying that He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. 

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we've projected

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl

Just a child

Is this who we've waited for?

'Cause how many kings step down from their thrones

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior

All that we have, whether costly or meek

Because we believe

Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross He will suffer

Do you believe?

Is this who we've waited for?

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

Oh, all for me, oh

All for me, all for you

All for me, all for you

All for me, all for you

All for me, all for you

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least?

How many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

All for me, all for you

-Downhere "How Many Kings" (c) 2008

Jesus called His shot twice. 

Jesus pulled it off twice. 

Jesus called His shot a third time and we should be considering that He is going to pull it off again. We shouldn't be like those who weren't looking for His first coming when they even knew what city. 

Jesus will be coming back to take His Bride, the Church, home to be with Him forever.  

If you haven't come to Christ for salvation you won't be leaving with Jesus.  

Read Romans 10, verses 8 and following.  

Before there was the tree, there's the story. 

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

Past, Past, Now and Forever

Past, Past, Now and Forever 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

"Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; What I did not steal, I then have to restore." Psalms 69:4.

"I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me." Psalms 69:8-9.

"But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth." Psalms 69:13.

It's easy to get into the reason for the season right now. If you have television or are at all on social media or have a junk email account that gets all your spam emails...you know it's Christmas time. 

Right now is a time where many are uplifted at the prospect and go out of their way to go the extra mile to be kind to others, sometimes anonymously. For others the grip of reality is quite different. The bulk of their losses in their lives of friends and family has happened in the month of December. To them after Thanksgiving comes a time to grieve. 

Here in Isaiah we see that there's a promise of a coming Messiah. Sadly, the Pharisees and Sadducees, knew to be looking for His arrival and weren't actively seeking Him. 

Next, we have a few examples of Christ in the Old Testament. Things that He spoke of concerning Himself. Jesus said that the Scriptures bear testimony of Him.  

Yet then and now people are oblivious. The sheer volume of predictions concerning the coming Messiah are incredible! All fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.  

In today's world most are not looking for His promised return. 

They aren't even looking for His promised help in their here and now.  

Why celebrate Jesus as the reason for the season superficially? Why bother if all you're really interested in is getting a gift that's literally given because of Jesus? You can always do that at any time. 

Jesus, no one ever born among men was and will ever be like Him. 

We try our hardest to create a semblance of our own peace on Earth. We want a peaceful life. People rage in order to take things thinking that if only they did this or had that, peace would be theirs. 

Stuff doesn't bring the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

Entertainment doesn't bring the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

Sports doesn't bring the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

Hobbies do not bring the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

It's the love of Christ Jesus that brings the peace of God that passes all understanding. 

It's the true gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone that brings us that kind of peace. 

We are always going to be dealing with stress and strife in this world because of sin not because of anything else. 

Jesus, at the right time, came to Earth. Born of a virgin, to two teenagers. At a time when the Romans held control over Israel.  

I have been working on something for years because of Mark Lowry's "Mary, Did You Know?". Questions for a song about Joseph. Joseph doesn't garner much attention in things.  

Do you wonder how Joseph managed? How do you raise the Son of God? How do you teach God anything? How do you care for Him? How did it make him feel to have such a responsibility?  

Have you ever thought of the fact that Joseph taught the Son of God how to walk, when Joseph knew from the book of Genesis that once long ago He walked the Earth before mankind was?

He helped teach Jesus to eat. 

Things like these have been on my mind since that song came out. 

Jesus, through the writing of the Spirit of God, said clearly that He was coming and did so. 

In the New Testament and the Old Testament we see that Jesus is indeed going to be returning.  

While we go through this time of year...my Dear Reader...please remember to celebrate the real reason for it.

A Christmas song says something about the real importance. 

"I live in a three-room shack it's not much to see

No special lights on my Christmas tree not this Christmas for me

I may not get a Christmas card or shoes for my weary feet

But when Jesus was born on Christmas morn

That was my gift to me

Son of God sent down from above

To cheer the whole wide world

Peace on earth goodwill toward all

And fill their Christmas with love"

- Christmas and Love 

Charley Pride (C) 1970

If in fact Jesus is your Lord and Savior...it is because of His promises made His promises kept. 

If you're reading this and Jesus isn't...He made that promise because of you and people like you. 

Jesus made promises in the distant past, then again in the recent past of 2,000 years ago that are about the now and the forever. 

Jesus is returning soon. Biblically fulfilled prophecies have been coming true in my lifetime and yours. There's really nothing left but His stepping into our world one more time to call His Church home to Heaven to be with Him forever.  

Scripture shows over and over again that Jesus is the promise keeper. Are you really ready for this season or has your mind run off to other things?

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, this world will know that Jesus returned for His Church as promised.   

My heart celebrates His promise kept 2,000 years ago today.  

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

Anxious Hearts Happened

Anxious Hearts Happened 

by David Brenneman 

"For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.

Read this passage several times my Dear Reader. Then read it again. 

We aren't all that different in spite of over 2,000 years separating us from the Apostles.

Gee this really does let us know with all confidence and certainty that the Bible is completely relevant to today's world.  

You stress, I stress, we live in a world of stressed people who spend money they don't have to go on vacations to escape stress.

A comical picture says that in the 80's people went to the internet to escape the world. Now we're trying to find out how to stay out of the internet to get back to the world. 

We are in good company with those who are saved in Christ Jesus. Look closer to the well known faith chapter in Hebrews 11. Go find each person mentioned to see their story.  

I was describing my, as I referred to it - flavor - of social anxiety to a group of people yesterday. My anxiety level depends on my uncertainty level of how things might turn out. Even if I know those people in attendance at the time. 

The unknown strikes at the heart of most anxiety. Compress the passages we read this morning and it becomes "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.

Read what is in the introduction to where we find ourselves in this letter to the Corinthians. 

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

It may take some time but comfort comes from God in various ways. Sometimes we see it coming sometimes we don't. Sometimes, as it was in Daniel's case, help has been dispatched but will take some time to arrive due to the Spiritual war we are in.

I also have a confidence problem at times that adds to my anxiety. If I am not confident enough then I struggle greatly at processing my thoughts at the moment.  

In my heart of hearts I know what the Bible says concerning never being alone. Look closely at what we have read so far. The Apostles knew and believed that too. That Jesus and the Spirit would be with us wherever we go. 

Our finite minds are not perfected yet. We're going to muddle through this life at times. Clarity of thought can and will be fleeting at times. Only in Heaven and Hell do people have no trouble having clarity of thought. Their sin nature is no longer in the way. 

These same Apostles are the ones trying to reassure themselves and others of their need to remember what Paul told Timothy about the truth of Scripture that it is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. To keep our minds on things above and God's purpose for our lives even if we don't understand it.

Paul's anxiety had much to do with his concerns about all the churches he planted. Anxiety over them was his thorn in the side he referred to. A messenger of Satan is a demon. To be in a constant state of concern that he couldn't escape because Jesus said His grace was sufficient for power is perfected in weakness. So Paul didn't hide his weaknesses about his concerns for others in Christ. 

This time of year anxiety rises to greater levels than other times of the year. People stressing over people pleasing. People stressing over what foods to eat.  

In reality millions would like those things to be their problem. They are among those trying to make ends meet. Trying to find a place to stay. Trying to find their way. 

Our society is lost and is in need of a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 

Jesus said to cast our burdens at His feet. No matter what they are or how we arrived at them.  

Suffice to say my anxieties aren't well founded. Faith history shows that always the precisely right time Jesus has always showed up. 

It's this battle with our sin nature that caused the chaos.  

Pray on, pray over, pray through whatever you are facing. That's what worked for them that's what works for us. 

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

No Room for Compromise

No Room to Compromise 

by David Brenneman 

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

"But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil." Matthew 5:37.

"But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment." James 5:12.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Ephesians 6:10-18.

Some say the biggest, most dangerous word in the English language is "if".  

Upon looking at these passages this morning...I would probably lean towards a phrase "that should be okay" or "I think that's good enough".

We set ourselves up for compromising without really realizing that we are!  

To keep thinking of what the whole armor of God means...put that with what is written of our battles we are in are not against flesh and blood. But rather are against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places and here on Earth. That to stand firm is to form a battle line and to advance only for the cause of Christ. 

Part of my thinking on this comes from Dr. David Jeremiah in the devotional that I am reading through. We cannot afford to live a life not in prayer daily, if not dozens or possibly hundreds of times a day with our Helper, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. 

I look back over even the last 24 hours. How many decisions did I make that would have been better had they been with me consulting God in prayer?

The truth of the Scriptures is this war we are in takes no vacations. 

We are told to be on guard for our hearts...all the time. 

We are to set our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

We are to pray without ceasing. Gee see the connections?

We think this isn't so bad or that isn't so bad but what does the Bible really say about them?  

No you probably won't be popular among men and women. Quite frankly you do not answer to anyone on this Earth if you are saved in Christ Jesus. You answer to God in Christ Jesus first and foremost. You won't be standing in front of a jury of your peers after you die.  

Justifiable hatred is rampant in our world. Christians run right along with the world in this. Thinking it's a way to win people for Christ.  

Laws are written and Christians roll over and just go along with it rather than to fight the good fight. Was reminded of various Christians in the news of the past several years who went through the fires and God stood by them. All because of their faith. 

Jesus is absolutely not going to compromise with anyone during the 7 year Great Tribulation. Jesus is absolutely not going to compromise during His thousand year reign on Earth.  

Do you even get concerned that your choices and decisions are tarnishing the Great Name of Jesus Christ? That your choices are delaying someone coming to Christ because they see you as no different than the sinners in need of a Savior as you are also proclaiming?

It's taken me years to become more self aware of how I might be tarnishing the name of Jesus in how I live my life. I stopped associating with sports because quite frankly it made me a seriously bad example of a Christ-follower.

I had to take a really hard look at the music that I am listening to. Was it helping or hindering my walk with Jesus? Was it telling others that I am a Christian or telling them that it doesn't matter?

Take some time to evaluate your life in Christ...are you pointing people to Jesus or are you looking no different than the fallen world you live in?  

Does it really matter to you what Jesus, your personal Lord and Savior, is going to say to you some day about how you lived for Him?

No you won't be popular with the world...and that's all good. Drowning people don't want their potential rescuers drowning with them. Jesus reached into our lives to pull us out of the water we were drowning in. Go and do likewise.

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

Not by What We Can Do

Not by What We Can Do 

by David Brenneman 

"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.

There's absolutely nothing any single person or group of people can do to get into Heaven on their own. It's impossible. Regardless of what many human agencies have tried to convince the masses over the centuries Jesus is and always will be the only Way, the Truth and the Life.  

How decent you live doesn't matter. 

How good you think you have been doesn't matter. 

If Christ isn't your personal Lord and Savior...if He isn't the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...Heaven will not be where you go when you die.  

Jesus Christ became sin on our behalf so that we might inherit His righteousness. He sacrificed Himself to be the only acceptable way to Heaven. 

In a week or so we celebrate His coming to Earth to do just that.  

To celebrate Christmas is to celebrate Christ. To celebrate His coming to seek and save the lost. To fulfill a multitude of prophecies concerning Himself.   

He was and is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The King of Heaven. 

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we've projected

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl

Just a child

Is this who we've waited for?

'Cause how many kings step down from their thrones

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior

All that we have, whether costly or meek

Because we believe

Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross He will suffer

Do you believe?

Is this who we've waited for?

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

Oh, all for me, oh

All for me, all for you

All for me, all for you

All for me, all for you

All for me, all for you

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least?

How many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

All for me, all for you

"How Many Kings" © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing

How grateful would you be to someone who jumped in the path of impending disaster to shove you out of the way? How would you show your gratitude?

That's what Jesus did.  

Disaster is declared against all unrighteousness. Against all sin.

We were born with both. Our views on what's right and good don't compare with the perfection of Jesus Christ. It's not even a close race.

Just as it's written in our opening passage...Nothing can inherit the kingdom of God on their own. 

If you could hypothetically live a perfect sinless life it wouldn't matter because you're still born in sin. That still keeps everyone disqualified. That stain of sin can only be washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ.  

The greatest present you could ever receive has nothing to do with boxes, fancy paper or bows.

The greatest thing to ever receive is the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Nothing else is as important.  

The greatest gifts you could potentially make or give to anyone pales in comparison. 

But...

But the choice is yours to make.

Jesus describes Hell and its eternally painful. By the world's standards of good and evil...there's countless millions of good and evil people in Hell.   

People who have been nothing but hospitable and kind, caring and maybe even loving towards others. People of whom had never even hurt a fly. Are in torment in Hell. All because they rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. People whom the world has at times even declared as great models of humanity are in torment in Hell. 

Everything is all because of Christ. 

Our living, our dying, our every day life has everything to do with Jesus Christ. We either push Him away or receive Him with open arms.  

There is no other way to Heaven but through Him.  

No one comes to the Father but through Me, He said. 

So my Dear Reader...stop and think about that today. Your world can end in a single heartbeat. Read the headlines...it's happening to millions of people per second. Lives irrevocably altered with no way of going back to the life they had. 

Your Aunts, your Uncles, Grandparents, Moms and Dads in the blink of an eye either wake up in Heaven or Hell...all decided by whether or not Jesus Christ was the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives.  

Jesus is the only reason for the season coming upon us.

He reaches down into the abysmal darkness of our lives to lift us up and out of it to a new life in Christ if we but ask. It's that simple. 

"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.

This Christmas be sure you are saved in Christ Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins. Be sure He is your Savior. Then give that gift to someone else. THAT is the gift that keeps on giving.

There's absolutely nothing anyone can do to get into Heaven on their own. Only through salvation in Christ is it possible. 

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

The Roll is Called, I'll be There, Will You?

The Roll is Called, I'll be There, Will You?

by David Brenneman 

"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Refrain:

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

2 On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,

And the glory of his resurrection share;

When his chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. 

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

3 Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun;

Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care.

Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. 

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

by James M. Black 1893

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder 

"I think I am a good person. God should consider that shouldn't He?"

"I haven't been the worst of people but I know that I tried."

"What? I haven't hurt anyone! I always try to help others. That's what God wants right?"

"I don't deserve to go to Hell. I haven't hurt anyone!"

These are probably some things that in some way, shape, or form that people over the last 2,000 years have uttered when the subject of should they be allowed into Heaven or not, whether they deserve to go to Hell or not comes up.

The truth is simple but is seen by millions over the years as harsh and so un-God like. How can a God of love send people to a place so bad as Hell?  

For one...God didn't send people there...they did by rejecting His well described only path to Heaven. There is but only one who took your place and mine who was perfect in all He did in life and became the necessary sacrifice for your sins and mine. The man Christ Jesus. 

Biblically put no one has or ever will live a perfect sinless life. We are born in sin. Our good deeds and works can never amount to that level of perfection as Christ. 

So no, my Dear Reader, all excuses, reasons, thoughts on the matter don't qualify anyone for being able to enter into Heaven on their own merits. 

Jesus Himself addressed this.

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul...

"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.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Romans 10:8-18.

Doing things, thinking good vibes, helping people, positive thoughts, actually keep people from the truth. 

We are all sinners in need of a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 

Christmas is upon us. It's got nothing to do with the presents or the food or traveling to see family and friends. 

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:8-14.

Jesus came from Heaven to live the sinless life you and I couldn't. He wrongly convicted, nailed to a cross. Died a most painful death. 

Arose 3 days later as Christ and King. Making a way where the was no way to Heaven to be with Him and God the Father and the Holy Spirit. There is no other way than believing in Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior for the forgiveness of sins in order to be saved. 

Jesus must be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.

When Jesus returns, and He will, will you be among those who leave with Him or will you be here as literally this world goes to Hell in a hand basket through the judgments of God upon the Earth and all mankind who have rejected Jesus Christ?

Jesus loved everyone enough to die for them. But you must choose to recognize and receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. There's no other way. 

At the end of the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ there indeed will be a separation of all mankind. Those who are saved from those who are not. If you've never come to that place of choosing Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you're not going to escape the judgment to come which is eternal separation from God in a place called the Lake of Fire. 

My Dear Reader...time is running out. The real choice is yours. Only the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore. Only they will be counted when the roll is called up yonder. Will that include you?

Romans Road to Salvation

Romans 3:23 We are all sinners by nature and chioice

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of god

Romans 6:23 We receive eternal life as a free gift

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His love for us, a sinner, unconditionally

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-10 We must trust and surrender to Jesus our Lord

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:13

Our assurance of salvation is through JESUS!

For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

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

Serve

Serve 

by David Brenneman 

Was reading the newsletter that my Spiritual Dad sends out and saw his closing remarks as well as his statement about the future of the ministry God called him to. A life of service to Jesus is what you see. Countless lives changed. He may be staying closer to home but he's still intent on serving through his God given ministry.  

Another person who I likewise looked up to, whom I had also known and worked for as well, was serving in his ministry even to his dying day. Again countless lives changed.

What will your life show of your time here on Earth? No this men weren't just singled out by God for their respective ministries...they knew and know that a life of service awaits those who turn to Christ for salvation. A decent look at the Gospel accounts shows that is a core essential to being a Christ-follower. Jesus's final words before ascending included telling His Disciples to go and make more disciples teaching them all that He commanded them.  

A life in Christ has a distinctive purpose in this moment of time for all who claim the name of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

We don't come to Christ's lifeboat to sit on the deck drinking refreshments while He and others reach out to the lost.  

Pray about your calling in Christ Jesus. Find out what it is you specifically are to be doing. The only retirement plan of God is when we breathe our last. 

Look at the lives of the Disciples. 

How are you doing with regards to seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness? How are you at living out loud the Spirit within you?

Anyone can be a busy body.  

Anyone can look like they did something at least once a week for God. The point is living for Jesus isn't a one and done for the week. It isn't a Sunday service and off we go back to the world doing life like they do it apart from Jesus. 

You, if indeed you are saved, have something special and significant to contribute to the body of Christ His Church. Age doesn't matter.  

Physical ability doesn't matter. Mental acuity doesn't matter. All who sincerely come to Christ for salvation have a loving spiritual service in mind by God for them to be doing. There's no bench warmers. There's no vacations from service either. Jesus served wherever the Father took Him. 

Or do you not think that when Paul told Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work was only for some mythical spiritual elite?

Many many people get some wild notion that serving Jesus is for others more spiritual than themselves. That's a lie of Satan. 

Pray about your contribution to the work of Jesus in your world. People want to know what the will of God is for them? It's right in front of you. Ask God and do what He's telling you and leave the consequences to Him.  

We don't need to overthink or be anxious about what we might be called to do in Christ. God will fit our personality, our uniqueness, into His body as the Spirit directs. That's His promise. We don't need to listen to the lies about how we are going to miss out on so much. Give up so much. Really? God who holds everything in His hands as well as our ability to breathe and live isn't going to know what's truly best for us?

Jesus said He didn't come to be served but to serve. To give His life as a ransom for many.  

Do you really want to hear Jesus ask you why you didn't do what He called you to be doing?  

Pray and pray until you get your answer. Age is meaningless to Jesus just ask Moses. He and a quite a few others tried that excuse. Such as Abraham and Sarah. 

The church needs to step up and be the Church. You are the church wherever Jesus takes you. Thousands and thousands of locations. 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. 

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

Not Absent, Always Ready

Not Absent, Always Ready 

by David Brenneman 

"Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me." Psalms 66:16-20.

There's those who have given up on prayer because they say that God never answered them. 

There is a frame of mind that is to be remembered when we pray.  

God isn't a genie. He isn't there to just give us what we ask for.  

God isn't our personal butler. He isn't an Alfred to our Batman.  

God isn't off somewhere too busy with others that He's got no time for the rest of us. 

God does come close to the broken-hearted. Psalms 34:18 "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.".

God's will will be done throughout history. Psalms 33:11 "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.".

Think on these things...notice He preached this to everyone, not just to the Disciples nor specifically to the Jewish leaders. 

"When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:1-12.

Look at how things are for those who are close to God even. Not even they at times hear immediately from God. Read in the latter chapters of Daniel. He was told he was highly esteemed by God and yet a reply was delayed by spiritual forces. 

We are to pray without ceasing. There's good reason to do this in that in time our requests are refined. We lose some aspects of what we are asking and enrich those aspects that are worth talking to God about.  

Consider this my Dear Reader. 

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." 1 John 5:13-15.

Asking in prayer according to His will.  

There's still yet going to be prayers that won't be answered not because of anything we have done or not done. Not because of obedience or disobedience. For whatever His reasons, which we should accept for He is God and we are not, we just may never know this side of Heaven. For all we know, as the Scriptures are written, Job didn't know of why he lived through such a tormented period in his life until after he died.  

I can tell you from experience that simply because our desires do not fit into His plans and His purpose for us that some answers will be no for only those reasons.  

Lest we forget...the Bible must be completely fulfilled throughout human history until time is no more. There are things that are needing to happen in our corner of the world that He is directing to happen. Our prayers will not change that. My Dear Reader this is absolutely not saying that our hearts are not in the right place. Our reasoning might see absolutely nothing wrong with our requests. But He is seeing the whole picture that we cannot. Our hearts may very well be in the right place. We could indeed be very much living life in complete obedience to God's Word...and still be told or shown that the answer is no. This is where trusting 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 comes in.  

Read about it for yourselves...there got to be a few times where even the Apostles couldn't heal people. That even they couldn't perform miracles. We don't consider ourselves as remotely close to being on their level.  

In the opening portion of the model prayer Jesus points out our priorities to keep in mind while praying. 

“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." Matthew 6:9-10.

What did we read earlier? If we ask according to His will... 

Our intentions might indeed be holy right and true. Doesn't mean that we're going to receive an automatic yes.  

Some people have been angry at God because of not having received what they prayed for in a loved one dying rather than them being healed and living. My Dear Friend...in as much as your heart is aching...Jesus's is going through that with you. You are far from alone in that.  

In a movie from years ago there's a scene where the main character was supposedly given all the powers of God. Things got to the point where even when he gave everyone what they prayed for...it wasn't enough. This character gets to a point of wanting to give those powers and abilities back...that he cannot understand how God is able to do all that He does to handle humanity.  

My Dear Reader...there's much wisdom in that statement. 

We as finite humans cannot fully understand the things of God. Saved people begin to learn the things of God through growing in Christ and relying on His will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Begin to learn. We will still spend eternity being taught by God when eternity begins for us.  

Those who aren't saved are not going to understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. You have to be spiritually alive first.

While the pain and hurt is real to us...so it is for Jesus. Jesus, we read, was a man of sorrows well acquainted with grief.  

Lastly...and this is important...Jesus prayed a prayer that His own Father said no to. In the garden before He was betrayed. The Father’s plan had to be the way it was in order to save you and I. The Father had to say no to His only begotten Son. The thing is no part of the trinity wanted that separation, that heaping of all the sins of humanity upon Jesus to save humanity. But it was absolutely necessary.  

Some of the things that I have prayed about...sometimes God tells me why the answer is no. Sometimes He doesn't. Regardless I must trust that He knows what's in mankind's best interests for His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

Let go of whatever is between you and Jesus if there be anything you are mad about.  

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.  

This isn't always easy to do but it is the most necessary for our relationship with Jesus.  

Any root of bitterness regardless of why...destroys relationships.

Jesus is never absent from our lives for any reason. It's on us to trust Him and live for His will to be done. 

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

Huddle Gone Wrong

Huddle Gone Wrong

by David Brenneman 

"But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him,“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40.

Before any start of the game clock a huddle happens on the field of play in football. Get your players together to know how the plan of attack is wanting to be like. This is what we see happening here after Jesus silenced the Sadducees. 

Not only did Jesus respond with their answer, He went further to show that they're missing the rest of the story and have missed it for a very long time. 

His next response after this answer shut down both the Pharisees and Sadducees...they wouldn't dare ask Him anything more. 

Do you see the depths of sadness in that? The Creator of all that is was right there and their pride kept them from talking with Jesus about anything more. They certainly did love the approval of man over God.  

There's times where our prayers might be considered a huddle and in it we do bring up various valid valuable things. But then our own shortsightedness gets in the way and God's answers are more than we are considering.

It's an illustration that I have used in the past, but, before we limit God remember that He's working all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose...on a chessboard with over 8 billion people. 

We pray, getting into the huddle, and sometimes miss the calls that are ours to be doing.  

Ok that's close to everything that I know about football.  

We are not bench warmers in the spiritual battles that we are in the midst of. We are going to have something to be doing for Jesus. 

The Great Commission is not just for those with Biblically given titles. It's for everyone who comes to Christ for salvation. You've come from death to life. You're given a new self to put on after you discard the old. You have been given the whole armor of God to be wearing. You are in the field of battle.  

The next key thing is that the only one calling the shots is Jesus...through the Spirit. 

Our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our relationship is also our responsibility to live a life pleasing to God.  

Read what Paul says to Timothy. This charge is not just for him.  

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5. 

I see a lot in that passage. Do you?

It's really for all who are in Christ. That one, remember who's you are. 

Two, remember that you have a job that is for you to be doing. Three, be careful because there's going to be opposition. Four, stand your ground. The temptation is going to be there to compromise.  

What we see in the world today is a whole lot of compromise that's gone on for centuries. People groups that display the same fears of the Pharisees and Sadducees. People groups who love the approval of mankind more than of God. 

You my Dear Reader are going to face the choice to follow Jesus today or to do your own thing. Yes you probably do have a physical job to be doing. Are you doing it as unto the Lord or as unto your career or your employer's wishes?

Those at home...are you keeping house as unto the Lord or for some other reason?  

Scripture says that we are to do what we do, wherever we go, as unto the Lord. We represent Jesus everyday, everywhere. The Disciples represented Jesus every day, everywhere. They weren't allowed to sit on the sidelines while following Jesus.  

Is there something you're missing? 

Something that you have kept a part of your life for so long that really doesn't belong?  

Notice that in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and in the military...nobody carries around what isn't needed for what they are there to be doing. 

Jesus didn't have their version of U-Haul following them around wherever they were going.  

"Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." Mark 10:28-30.

Did you notice that Jesus covered everything that people think is important?

Huddle up properly. Suit up appropriately. Find out what it is that God has prepared for you to be doing...even if it seems unreasonable...and do it. We aren't to be busy bodies looking spiritual while not growing in Christ. We are in the body of Christ with a Godly purpose. Cells in a body with no purpose are intruders. They are bacterial or viral intruders. Not there for the building up or edification of the body of Christ but are in fact cancerous.  

Claiming to be a Christian yet doing nothing in the body of Christ should make people really concerned about their salvation.  

Don't follow in the footsteps of those Jewish leaders.  

Be sure of your salvation and go after whatever God has given you to be doing.  

It used to really bother me that I had pursued and mostly accomplished my dreams and aspirations...until I understood that those weren't as important as whatever I am directed to be doing by the Spirit.  

The approval of man only goes so far...sooner or later that is lost. 

The Early Church had their priorities right. The Church today wants to see their kind of growth in our time. The key is getting back to Jesus. Get rid of what we call important and replace it with what Jesus said is important.  

Get in the right huddle. 

What you're given to be doing by God may make no sense...trust Him and do it anyway. He's calling the shots. Run your play as He sees fit for you. Do your part as unto the Lord. Let go of whatever is keeping you from doing your best as unto the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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

ONE Body...One Purpose Under Heaven

ONE Body...One Purpose Under Heaven 

by David Brenneman

"On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:22-27.

It must have been an amazing experience, a sight to see, in the days of the early Church when over 3,000 were saved. What days they experienced of just helping one another as any who had need of.

Of eating and celebrating together their salvation in Christ Jesus. 

I know of many preachers who have preached on this very subject. At least so far as the part of the 3,000 souls. But read into it. There's more going on. 

These people, in the face of opposition, still came to Christ for salvation. They would become enemies of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jobs would be in peril. Social status in jeopardy. Yet helping one another in whatever means was necessary meant more to them.

All this we have today of denominations wasn't on their minds. Think about that one. 

But as to the real Church, the real body of Christ, nobody ought to be forgetting the character of this early Church. 

A significant character trait was a serious lack of selfishness. Nobody considered it an inconvenience to stop and help. Nobody had a scheduled event that was more important than helping a brother or sister in Christ. If any had money they used it to help.

The fruits of the Spirit a abounded. 

What were they?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25. 

This season that is upon us again isn't to be all about what we get but of what we give...which first and foremost should be ourselves. 

Do you pray for whatever is important to Jesus? Do you ask for the fruits of the Spirit to be seen in your life?

It matters not what you look like but where your heart is at before Jesus. 

Possessions, hobbies, sports, social media content, anything of the sort are not at all as important as helping one another in Christ. 

Who cares if you're going to miss some event if someone in need gets the help they have been needing?

Getting through life isn't always about you or I.  

When someone comes to Christ priorities change. What we see in the Early Church is a heart following after Christ being displayed. 

Are you financially able to free someone in Christ who's struggling to get through life and yet has been obedient to Christ in their lives? Why have you not prayed to see if you should be their help?

Are you physically able to be an answer to someone else's prayers and have put other things higher on your priority list?

These two specific things are what we see happening in the Early Church. 

God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Not just around Christmas time. All the time. 

We who are in the body of Christ aren't to self-isolate. We aren't to look away from others in need. 

These are not character traits of one who claims to be a Christian. 

What opportunities have you been presented with that you've been pushing aside? 

What could you do that you are intentionally not doing for others?

Do you not believe that the very same Lord Jesus Christ who blessed you so abundantly once could do so again?  

Dr. Charles Stanley has a great personal story of his camera equipment.  

There was a drive to raise money for something and God was telling him to sell his equipment. He wrestled with God over it. He had no peace until he obeyed. He put all of it together and took it to a local shop and sold it. At first it was incredibly painful. But the obedience brought peace that passed all understanding. Many months passed and there was a knock at his door. All he saw was his camera bag and the back of someone walking away. Inside was everything he had given up. I believe this was a part of his Life Principle of obeying God and leave the consequences to Him. Possibly of another where we are to obey God even when it seems like God's being unreasonable. 

Another Life Principle of Dr. Charles Stanley says that anything you hold too tightly to you will lose.

Society as a whole has a problem with both trying to keep up with their friends, neighbors and society but also with defending their own right to create a corner of Heaven here on Earth at all costs.

These are not character traits of Christ.  

Do you pray for the local Church you go to? Do you pray for how you could help others? Do you pray for your Pastor and his Wife and family (sorry to all but there are no women Pastors, not Biblical). Do you pray for the rest of the body of Christ of which you are a part of?

Do you believe that He who has blessed you with abilities and gifts once, can and will do so again once you obey?

The Early Church did but didn't give up or lose everything. They gave it all back to Jesus and Jesus blessed their obedience.  

Jesus gave up Heaven to come to Earth to be the sacrifice necessary to save humanity. Heaven is everything that is right and perfect. Our eternity was more important than that to Jesus.  

You who are saved...in the body of Christ...are you living it today or has the world convinced you to handcuff yourself to your wants, wishes, desires, ambitions that aren't character traits of Christ?  

Jesus is returning and already posted the question two thousand years ago: Will I find the faith when I return?

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

Eyes Opened for Understanding

Eyes Opened for Understanding 

by David Brenneman 

In the silence of this morning, and having read my Bible reading, my mind considers those things that have happened in the last few months. I think on the importance of keeping pace with Jesus.  

There's times during a race where talking is a waste of resources. You and your running mate just know the path, the pace, the requirements to keep moving forward. There's the rest stops where speaking occurs.  

In Daniel we read of the proof that our prayers are heard immediately and yet there's going to be delays at times for the responses. 

This silence sometimes leaves us with a mild to severe case of panic. 

Yet it's always been par for the course. God does speak to people who are His. Those who are saved. 

Sometimes it's while we are at rest. 

Sometimes it's during a crisis that has stopped us in our tracks. 

Yet always, Jesus hears.

It's just that our impatience at His response that causes panic. It takes time to understand we need our faith history to keep our peace. 

Daniel had a rich faith history unlike most people who had ever lived.  

After Jesus was born silence was probably very loud. There was just Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Then things began happening to start the world knowing that He indeed was Emmanuel. God with us.

He still is Emmanuel. Still is God with us. I am deeply saddened to see the blind despair in the lives of people who don't know Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior. 

They could be enjoying a life in Christ that can't be explained fully, only shown, as the way to live in this world. 

Jesus isn't off somewhere as some distant God too busy for people. 

He is the Way...the only path to Heaven is through salvation in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. 

He is the Truth...every single thing said or done or will be said or done by Him has always and will always be right and true. Every single promise made by Him is holy and complete. 

He is the Life...you cannot understand what life is until you see it through the eyes of being born again. Without the light of Jesus Christ all your days are in a darkness of evil. 

Jesus awaits each and every single person born to call upon Him to be saved. Extremely saddening are those who intentionally choose death over life in Christ.  

Hell is a very full place yet still has room for the rest of humanity that turns away from the free gift of salvation through Jesus. 

There's no peace or rest in Hell. Constant screaming and yelling. 

Endless painful torment. People paying the price for their own sins. 

In Heaven there is peace. People who are with their Savior and Lord. People who are filled with gratitude for all that Jesus did for them. Any who might yet have tears to cry, Jesus Christ Himself will attend to. 

Even in Heaven He is a personal Savior.  

You cannot understand what salvation is going to do to transform your life without taking the step of faith to receive it. 

It's like my brother has said to many people who want a detailed diagnosis about a vehicle over the phone. "What color shirt am I wearing?". You cannot understand without taking the steps necessary.

The Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die then comes the judgment. Those who have died in Christ and those who are still alive when He returns have no judgment. They have already passed from death to life. All the judgment that they deserved Jesus took upon Himself. 

Until a person comes to Christ...the judgment of God rests upon them.

Eternal separation from God is a spiritually painful torment that cannot be explained. This is probably on par with the painful torment of paying for their own sins in Hell that those who rejected Jesus are experiencing right now. 

Right now millions of people slide headlong into that abyss known as Hell. Yet also people step into eternity with Jesus as well. Welcomed with open arms by Jesus Christ Himself. 

There's no excuse that's acceptable by God to say no to the free gift of salvation. The Bible says this too.

There's no line of reasoning that will be good enough. No exceptions. 

The free gift of salvation has never once been regretted by a single person ever. 100 percent of those saved in Christ Jesus are fully satisfied with their choice. 

My Dear Reader...be sure of your salvation in Christ if indeed you are claiming to be saved. If you haven't chosen to come to Christ for salvation yet...what's keeping you?

There's absolutely nothing to fear in doing so. There's absolutely nothing you could be holding onto that's more valuable than knowing that you will spend eternity safe and sound with Jesus. 

Don't take the world's explanation of what coming to Christ says that it is. Perverted and warped, they cannot explain what they have never experienced themselves. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. 

For God so loved You that He gave His only begotten Son that You who believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. 

You have to come to Christ to have your eyes opened and to understand the things of God.  

The choice you make determines your eternal destination. 

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