life

The Word  – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)  “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

“If Christ has died for me, ungodly asylum I am, without strength as I am, then I cannot live in sin any longer, but must arouse myself to love and serve Him who has redeemed me.”  Charles Spurgeon

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A history of these Daily Devotions along with other valuable Resources can be found at: lylebrennan.com. 

This daily devotion contains, sequentially: Memory Verse (#1 above),  Daily Quote (#2 above): and, below: Daily Devotion from “Thoughts From The Diary of A Desperate Man” by Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt”), Scripture Reading  (read the entire Bible in 1 year), and Prayer Requests. 

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Brevity of Life

Day Two Hundred Fifty-five

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.  Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, ‘Turn back, O children of men!”‘  Psalm 90:2-3

Moses likens your life span to a dream and to grass.  The end of life is like the morning when you awake only to realize you were dreaming.  Like grass, not a cedar or oak, you grow for a short season and die.  Moses contrasts the frailty and brevity of human life with the timelessness of God.  His prayer is a reminder of the way things are.

By divine decree God returns you to dust.  “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.”336    God spoke and the worlds came into existence, and by His word “turn back” we become dust.  “All our days pass away under thy wrath.”337   Sin guarantees the wrath of God; it is contrary to His nature to respond otherwise.  Redemption requires death.   How terrible if we were locked into a body prone to fatigue, sickness, and pain without any escape.  “All our days pass away; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”338  Moses, the author of Genesis, may have been thinking of the Patriarchs, many of whom lived almost a thousand years.  The brevity of life is an expression of grace for those who hope in Jesus Christ.

In this we see His wrath and grace meeting perfectly.  His wrath demands the justice of the cross, and His grace uses His wrath to shorten our days as He prepares us for heaven.

336  Psalm 33:6

337  Psalm 90:9

338  Psalm 90:9-10

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Proverbs 13-15 2 Corinthians 5 (New King James Version)

Proverbs 13-15

Wisdom Loves Righteousness

13 

A wise son heedshis father’s instruction,

But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2 

A man shall eat well by the fruit of hismouth,

But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

3 

He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

Buthe who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 

The soul of a lazy mandesires, and hasnothing;

But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

5 

A righteous manhates lying,

But a wicked manis loathsome and comes to shame.

6 

Righteousness guards him whoseway is blameless,

But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 

There is one who makes himself rich, yet hasnothing;

Andone who makes himself poor, yet hasgreat riches.

8 

The ransom of a man’s life ishis riches,

But the poor does not hear rebuke.

9 

The light of the righteous rejoices,

But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 

By pride comes nothing but strife,

But with the well-advised iswisdom.

11 

Wealth gained bydishonesty will be diminished,

But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But whenthe desire comes, it isa tree of life.

13 

He who despises the word will be destroyed,

But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 

The law of the wise isa fountain of life,

To turn oneaway from the snares of death.

15 

Good understanding [a]gains favor,

But the way of the unfaithful ishard.

16 

Every prudent manacts with knowledge,

But a fool lays open hisfolly.

17 

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

But a faithful ambassador bringshealth.

18 

Poverty and shame will cometo him who [b]disdains correction,

But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,

But it isan abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 

He who walks with wise menwill be wise,

But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 

Evil pursues sinners,

But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 

A good manleaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 

Much food is inthe [c]fallow groundof the poor,

And for lack of justice there is [d]waste.

24 

He who spares his rod hates his son,

But he who loves him disciplines him [e]promptly.

25 

The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,

But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

The Ways of Life and Death

14 

The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

2 

He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,

But he who isperverse in his ways despises Him.

3 

In the mouth of a fool isa rod of pride,

But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 

Where no oxen are,the [f]trough isclean;

But much increase comesby the strength of an ox.

5 

A faithful witness does not lie,

But a false witness will utter lies.

6 

A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,

But knowledge iseasy to him who understands.

7 

Go from the presence of a foolish man,

When you do not perceive in himthe lips of knowledge.

8 

The wisdom of the prudent isto understand his way,

But the folly of fools isdeceit.

9 

Fools mock at [g]sin,

But among the upright there isfavor.

10 

The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 

The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 

There is a way that seemsright to a man,

But its end isthe way of death.

13 

Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,

And the end of mirth may begrief.

14 

The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,

But a good man will be satisfied[h]from above.

15 

The simple believes every word,

But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 

A wise manfears and departs from evil,

But a fool rages and is self-confident.

17 

A quick-tempered manacts foolishly,

And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

18 

The simple inherit folly,

But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 

The evil will bow before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 

The poor manis hated even by his own neighbor,

But [i]the rich hasmany friends.

21 

He who despises his neighbor sins;

But he who has mercy on the poor, happy ishe.

22 

Do they not go astray who devise evil?

But mercy and truth belongto those who devise good.

23 

In all labor there is profit,

But [j]idle chatter leadsonly to poverty.

24 

The crown of the wise is their riches,

Butthe foolishness of fools isfolly.

25 

A true witness [k]delivers souls,

But a deceitful witnessspeaks lies.

26 

In the fear of the Lord there isstrong confidence,

And His children will have a place of refuge.

27 

The fear of the Lord isa fountain of life,

To turn oneaway from the snares of death.

28 

In a multitude of people isa king’s honor,

But in the lack of people isthe downfall of a prince.

29 

He who isslow to wrath has great understanding,

But he who is[l]impulsive exalts folly.

30 

A sound heart islife to the body,

But envy isrottenness to the bones.

31 

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,

But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

32 

The wicked is banished in his wickedness,

But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 

Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,

But what isin the heart of fools is made known.

34 

Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin isa [m]reproach to anypeople.

35 

The king’s favor istoward a wise servant,

But his wrath is againsthim who causes shame.

A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath

15 

A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

3 

The eyes of the Lord arein every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 

A [n]wholesome tongue isa tree of life,

But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 

A fool despises his father’s instruction,

But he who [o]receives correction is prudent.

6 

Inthe house of the righteous there ismuch treasure,

But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

7 

The lips of the wise [p]disperse knowledge,

But the heart of the fool doesnot doso.

8 

The sacrifice of the wicked isan abomination to the Lord,

But the prayer of the upright isHis delight.

9 

The way of the wicked isan abomination to the Lord,

But He loves him who follows righteousness.

10 

Harsh discipline isfor him who forsakes the way,

Andhe who hates correction will die.

11 

Hell[q] and [r]Destruction arebefore the Lord;

So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

12 

A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,

Nor will he go to the wise.

13 

A merry heart makes a cheerful [s]countenance,

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 

All the days of the afflicted areevil,

But he who is of a merry heart hasa continual feast.

16 

Better isa little with the fear of the Lord,

Than great treasure with trouble.

17 

Better isa dinner of [t]herbs where love is,

Than a fatted calf with hatred.

18 

A wrathful man stirs up strife,

But he who isslow to anger allays contention.

19 

The way of the lazy man islike a hedge of thorns,

But the way of the upright isa highway.

20 

A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 

Folly isjoy to him who isdestitute of [u]discernment,

But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 

Without counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,

And a word spoken[v]in due season, how good it is!

24 

The way of life windsupward for the wise,

That he may turn away from [w]hell below.

25 

The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,

But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 

The thoughts of the wicked arean abomination to the Lord,

But the words of the pure arepleasant.

27 

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

28 

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 

The Lord isfar from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

Anda good report makes the bones [x]healthy.

31 

The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise.

32 

He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,

But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

33 

The fear of the Lord isthe instruction of wisdom,

And before honor ishumility.

Footnotes:

• Proverbs 13:15 gives
• Proverbs 13:18 Lit. ignores
• Proverbs 13:23 uncultivated
• Proverbs 13:23 Lit. what is swept away
• Proverbs 13:24 early
• Proverbs 14:4 mangeror feed trough
• Proverbs 14:9 Lit. guilt
• Proverbs 14:14 Lit. from above himself
• Proverbs 14:20 Lit. many are the lovers of the rich
• Proverbs 14:23 Lit. talk of the lips
• Proverbs 14:25 saves lives
• Proverbs 14:29 Lit. short of spirit
• Proverbs 14:34 shameor disgrace
• Proverbs 15:4 Lit. healing
• Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps
• Proverbs 15:7 spread
• Proverbs 15:11 Or Sheol
• Proverbs 15:11 Heb. Abaddon
• Proverbs 15:13 face
• Proverbs 15:17 Or vegetables
• Proverbs 15:21 Lit. heart
• Proverbs 15:23 Lit. in its time
• Proverbs 15:24 Or Sheol
• Proverbs 15:30 Lit. fat

2 Corinthians 5

Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if our earthly [a]house, thistent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in thistent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing isGod, who also has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee.

6 So we arealways confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things donein the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Reconciled to God

12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answerfor those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it isfor God; or if we are of sound mind, it isfor you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thusno longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone isin Christ, he isa new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things areof God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [d]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore youon Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to besin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Footnotes:

• 2 Corinthians 5:1 Physical body
• 2 Corinthians 5:2 dwelling
• 2 Corinthians 5:5 down payment, earnest
• 2 Corinthians 5:19 reckoning

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PRAYER REQUESTS 

Please Pray for Lisa Long and her family …  Her brother Randy said this morning that she is totally blind now and has another “hail mary” corneal transplant on the 18th. 

In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul understood that God can work when we acknowledge our weakness and hardship and need for His help. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

Please pray for Lisa Greene who is having both her hips replaced… Pray for her surgeon and her quickly for coverage and that God will be seen in her.  

Praise Report: Jerome Hugo’s mother, Vicki, who collapsed recently has fully recovered.

Please Pray for Brother Lance going through perilous times. Pray he would let God’s strength and peace show through his weakness and his testimony be a Blessing to many. 

Please Pray for our unSaved family members and those around us that we have relationships with.  Or, is that you? … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098. 

Please Pray for family members and those relationships around you who say they are Saved, but their lives don’t show it. And, if that’s happens to be you, the Holy Spirit can change you into a New Creation, Christ in you… but, you must totally surrender everything to Him. (As long as you think you can do it on your own, He’ll let you; and, you will fail.) … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098. 

Please continue to Pray for our nation that God would open all our eyes to the sins that are drowning us. Lukewarmness, abortion, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, hatred & divisiveness, greed, pride, rebellion, covetousness, etc.  Please Pray and Fast for our nation to turn from this evil that is enveloping us.   

II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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

… AND YET, God is Sovereign and has called us to live in such a time as this and to be His Light in the darkness… to give Hope to some. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Please Pray for Brother Robert. Robert says He has a Calling to establish a Church. His Prayer request is “… that God puts together a really amazing ministry team. I see it in the Scriptures. There were ministers, elders, deacons. Those seem to be three different categories of the people serving the body. It seems like that was the simple order they had set up. But it was a spiritual thing that would function through the power of the Holy Spirit. My prayer request would be that the Lord puts together the ministry team in what I feel Him asking me to be a part of.”

Please Pray for Mark H. Update: He had a blood clot in his leg removed.  Pray for God’s Healing and undeniable Touch on Mark’s life.  

Please continue to keep Sister Fabiola and her children in Mexico in our Prayers. This Sister and her family, in a short time period, have been hit with a more tragedies (persecutions) than most of us have in our entire life time…  the murder of her husband, x-husband and one of her children. And, recently, her modest home (a shack by any American standard) was burnt to the ground. …Her neighbor’s house caught fire and due to the closeness of her home, it caught fire, too.  Brothers & Sisters, please Pray for God’s Holy touch on Fabiola and her family. 

Please continue to Pray for Geo, a banker, who was deployed by the military to the Mideast. Pray God would keep him safe and that God would bring Geo closer to Him; and, that Geo would share God with all his company and those who come in contact with him. 

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I’ve been told by one Geo’s co-workers, Lorraine Flores, who says she considers Geo a son, that the day Geo was deployed to the Mideast, his girlfriend delivered his new baby. Please Pray Geo would Walk in God’s Light and be a Godly husband and father. And, please Pray for Geo’s family. (Also, please Pray for both Lorraine Flores and her biological son that was deployed the same day as Geo, but to Africa.)

Please continue to Pray for Brother David Porter’s friend’s son, Giovanni (18yrs old). Pray for God’s Salvation, Strength, Healing, and Peace in Giovanni.

Please continue to Pray for Brother Mark Pedder, a missionary in the Philippines. Please Pray for Mark, Mark’s wife for strength in their trials, tribulations and persecution. 

Please continue to Pray for Gemma that she be delivered from evil and receive Jesus as her Savior. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother Walt to be reconciled with his son and his son’s family. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother John LaPorte’s roommate, Brother Freddy, whose commitment to Christ caused his wife to separate from him for 6 years. The couple have 2 daughters. Both parents has stayed single all this time of separation… Within the recent past, it appears his wife, Arlene, has been Saved and the couple are beginning their reconciliation process. They are planning to reunite the family again under one roof in the next few months.  Please Pray for their total reconciliation with God at their helm. 

Please continue to Pray for a group of well-known Southern Nevada commercial real estate brokers and associates recently in a one-car accident. The occupants had all been drinking alcohol.  One passenger died leaving 3 young daughters, one suffered serious head trauma, two had mild trauma, and the driver has been charged.  Please Pray for the driver and all those effected by this tragedy …that God would direct their eyes to Him, The King of Mercy, Grace and Salvation. 

Please continue Pray for our President and ALL our government leaders of both parties. Pray they would submit their authority to His Authority and ask for His Wisdom in directing the affairs of our nation.  Please Pray that God would open their eyes and they would be obedient to His Will. 

Please  continue to Pray for Brother Frank Sun, a Taiwanese, that owns several businesses in China and Taiwan.  Please Pray Frank will be bold in his sharing Christ in his companies and that he will be faithful to disciple the new Believers.  

AND, let each of us use Frank’s example and share the Love and Salvation of Jesus to our coworkers, employees, family, friends and acquaintances  … Invest in the Eternal!

Please continue to Pray for Brother Walt and His Friday Bible Study.

Please continue to Pray for the Women’s Pro-Life ministries in Las Vegas that they would lead women to the Lord and continue to assist in saving babies’ lives. 

Please continue to Pray for Jim Nelson and family ministering in China. 

Please continue to Pray for Dave Ubank and his family. They are ministering and rescuing children and families in Syria directly affected by ISIS – Pray for their protection and their ministry.  For a short 2 minute video about Ubanks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_htIgIvgDM[/embedyt

Please continue to Pray for our Brothers’ and Sisters’ struggling with various addictions. Pray that God would reveal Himself to them that all things are possible through Him… He can Cure any addiction … He is our Great Creator, He is our Savior, He is our Healer …He is our All and All!  

Please continue to Pray for Alejandro Corral, his son Alejandro Jr.

Please continue to Pray for Brother Steve Venable dealing with ALS. 

Please continue to Pray for our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters and their families that are suffering and giving their lives for our Faith. 

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Please stand with your Brothers and Sisters in Prayer and Support. (See: The Voice of the Martyrs: https://www.persecution.com)

Please continue to pray for Biblical “headship” in families.

Please continue to Pray for all our children. 

Please continue to Pray that there would be a resurgence of Biblical “Fear of the Lord” in the church and in each of us… “to fear the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.”

Please continue to Pray for Brother Ron Brink’s son who had 3+ military tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and who is now suffering brain damage and PTSD.  Pray for God’s Healing Power to fall upon Johnathon. (Ron is a 20 plus year missionary in Mexico with Touch Baja… for info on Touch Baja and how to touch the Mexican people for Christ, see http://www.touchbaja.com.)

Please continue to Pray for the Sharon India Foundation (“SIF”) to assisting the poor of India.  Through SIF: Widows have received medical treatment and been given quality sewing machines and training on how to use them to make a living. Orphans have been given free education in their neighborhood slum areas.  After natural disasters relief has been provided in the nature of medical, food items, blankets, clothing and building materials.  Bore wells have been successfully dug to provide fresh water to affected areas.  Water purification systems have also been given out on a limited basis. Special shoes have been purchased for lepers with ulcerated feet.  Thousands of books have been translated to assist in the ever growing discipleship outreach of E-Squared (Evangelism and Edification/Disciples).  Sharon India Foundation has no administrative costs and 100% of all donations go directly to the Indian pastors and their ministries. (Let’s reach India and beyond for Christ…see how you can help: https://sharonindia.org.)