“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 KJV)

Anxiety seems to infiltrate our daily lives like mold after a flood; make no mistake! Anxiety, if left unchecked, can be as insidious as black mold.

How can I not be anxious? In Scripture, we read: ^“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

(1)           Pray in EVERY situation.

(2)           Yes, in E V E R Y situation, pray

(3)           Yes, in every situation, place your petitions before God

(4)           Pray with thanksgiving, As you present your requests to God.

If it sounds simple and easy, that’s because it is! You need not approach God as though He were unapproachable: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV)

You’re His child, made in His image and set free by His only begotten Son: “So God created an in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)

As a Christ Follower, you have every right to ask God for your needs. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)

Let us pray.

Father, thank you for the life you’ve given me, for my home, my children, my grandchildren, great grandchild and all of their families. Thank You, Lord that you love me and care for me; that you love them all even more than I do. Please watch over all of my children. You know their needs, their hurts and their desires. Bless them with your wisdom. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

All Scriptures is quoted from the King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

© 2015 Cat Brennan

I lost a friend in May.  I’ve never actually met Donna; at least not in “person”. We became friends on Face Book only four years ago.

From the pictures I saw posted on that social outlet, she was a beautiful woman with eyes that sparkled and golden hair that was pure glory.

I’ve learned that Donna was a missionary evangelist with her husband and ministered in nearly 60 countries and nations. Further she was a Doctor of Naturopathy.

She prayed in person for people and she prayed on Face Book.  She ministered the Word in such a beautiful way.  I grew to love this woman, all that she was and all that she believed. How is this possible?  I believe it’s because we are born of the same Spirit.  We are both part of the Body of Christ.

People have said of Donna that she had “Godly insights” and that “she shared her love so very freely”.

I glanced at her Face Book page again a little while ago. There are hundreds of notes from people she impacted all over the world; many of whom she knew personally, but like I, so many notes from people who knew her only on Face Book  All of us miss her and we join in praying for her husband, sons and their families.

For those of us left behind, in the book of Revelation, John said exactly what we need to hear: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21: 2-4)

I don’t know what was printed on her tomb stone, but I am betting that in the Spirit, it is imprinted, “Well done dear and faithful Servant”. (Matt 25:21.23)

© 2015 Cat Brennan

Have you ever received a promise that wasn’t kept?

Did you ever make a promise that you couldn’t keep?

Often, the one leads to disappointment; perhaps even distrust. The other can drive us to shame and guilt.

But God!!!  This is a complete thought – a complete sentence. Perhaps, “But God” is not grammatically a complete sentence or thought, but it’s all I need in times of despair, in fits of fear or in situations of sadness and in days of depression.

But God!!!

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus about the blessings of redemption in Ephesian 2:4 – 10,

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Now, read these verses in The Message:

   “It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.  Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing” (vv 1 – 10).

Think about it! Before you were born or were thought about; before your parents, even your great grandparent were born, you were “made right” with Christ.

Before you cheated on your wife.

Before you stole that ream of paper from the office.

Before you lied to your boyfriend.

Even then… you were made right in Christ. You were made clean to stand before a Holy God.

There are no strings attached to God’s promises and there is ONLY ONE thing you must do to receive – only ONE thing you can do:

You must accept this gift; this gift that is freely offered and freely given.

It cannot be bought and it cannot be sold.

The world says you must work for your salvation. God says the work has already been done.

The world says “you get what you pay for”. God says what you get has already been paid for.

All of God’s promises are Yes!!! and Amen!!!  Paul was very clear when he wrote to the church at Corinth in his second letter, Chapter 1, verse 20, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”  The Amplified Bible reads, “For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.” And The Message simply states, “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete” (vv 20 – 22).

Does God love you? YES!!! Did Jesus freely die that you may spend eternity with Him? Yes!!!

Please, stop whatever you’re doing and ask God to forgive you of all your sins. Simply tell God you want to accept what Jesus did for you.

Yes, your eternal place with God in heaven is as simple as that.

Now, ask God what He wants you to do; then sit quietly and listen. If you can trust God for your eternal life, you can trust Him to lead you today.

All His promises are yes and amen – if you have any questions, remember this simple and complete statement:

But God!!!

All scriptures are taken from the King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise noted.

© 2014 Cat Brennan

I have been among the missing for the past 2 weeks in the writing world.  Life, that is L I F E , happened.  There aren’t enough esses in B U S Y  to describe the last 2 weeks.  However, lest you think otherwise, I am NOT complaining.  As a matter of fact, just the opposite.

My family celebrated the first birthday of my first great granddaughter, along with birthdays for 3 granddaughters, a niece and some friends. My first born will celebrate his 50^th birthday the end of this month.

Additionally, my dad’s side of the family gathered in West Virginia at my cousin’s farm for our first reunion in 9 years. We are scattered from *New Mexico to New York* and many parts in between.  Our presence was four generations deep.

Still, my writing, my country blog and this web site, Collateral Grace, have suffered. Do I go to Plan B? or Do I go back to … ? Good question.

I believe that God has a single plan for my life and yours as well. Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Or, how about this translation from The Message, Jeremiah 29:10-11, “This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

I don’t think that God has a Plan B.

I don’t think God is ever surprised when we do something that is out of His plan.

But, He is faithful and just to forgive …“ Jeremiah 31:34b reads: “…saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Come. Now. Come back to your calling. Just as the prodigal son came running back to his father, it is just and good and right for you to come running back to your Father.  Get on with The Plan.

Father, forgive me, for I have sinned.  Help me to stay on the path and the plan that You have for me. I am praying, in Your son’s precious Name, Amen.

*I just realized a mistake here – we are scattered from Washington State to New York*.  So sorry for this error, Kay.

Smart Phones are among the latest and greatest technology.  There’s almost no end to what they can do (sans wash the dishes).  Some of the new phones are just totally amazing. Need directions to your boss’s home? There’s an app for that!  Need to know how to prepare Saltimbocca? There’s an app for that.  Insert slash pockets in a pair of slacks, throw some pottery or make adobe bricks? There’s an app for that. 

Head to the doctor for migraines or pneumonia or a sore throat? There’s a pill for that!  Coughing, sneezing and allergies? There’s a drug or a pill or a spray for that!

But, what about those other aches and pains?  The one you can’t see? Are you wounded beyond belief? Does your heart hurt? Are you lonely even in a crowded room? Are you so depressed that all you do is hide behind closed doors and hope no one comes by? Are you frustrated, annoyed, irritated or wounded? There’s an app for that!

That app is Jesus Christ, the Rock, the Son, Redeemer and Friend

The late Dotty Rambo wrote and recorded “I Go To The Rock” (you may remember the version that Whitney Houston covered in “The Preacher’s Wife).  The song celebrates who YOU can run to no matter what kind of junk this life throws at you.  In Matthew 11:28 – 30, Jesus beckons, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Or, read it in The Message translation, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Back in the Old Testament, David was being chased, hounded and running for his life, so he cried out, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.” (Psalms 18:2-4). He knew whom to call on – He knew who the app was.

If you’ve been backed into a corner and you’re holding your heart in your hands, go to the only One who really knows exactly how you feel.  Isaiah wrote the prophecy 700 years before Christ walked out his own broken heart, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3).

I pray that you run, don’t walk, to Jesus. You can do it right now! You don’t need to use fancy language or someone to “go between” – Jesus did that on the cross. If you don’t know where to begin or what to say, a simple, “Help me, Jesus” is a great Conversation starter.  That’s your app!

“Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.”

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge).

     Summertime is for looking toward swimming pools and ice cream, water slides and camping, water skiing and road trip vacations, water sprinklers and picnics.

Water! Just the thought of this simple word conjures up thoughts of fun and refreshment. A gentle cool shower lifts the spirits after a hard day’s work. A nice hot shower works out the kinks after arduous exercise and a long soak in the tub just makes everything okay.

It’s a known fact that man can survive without food for a time, but he must have water. Water “rights” have long been a source of celebration or contention in the great Southwest.

In the grand scheme of things, Living Water will soothe the soul, provide for your peace on earth and is the transportation for eternal life. Have you tasted this Living Water? See John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus came to the well, and a Samaritan woman there. Jesus asked her for a drink; this was unheard of because in those days a “self respecting Jew” had nothing to do with the Samaritans. When the woman asked Jesus about this, He kindly replied, “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

Or, read it this way from The Message, “The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans). Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”

Water is absolutely necessary for all of life. Are you drinking for the well of Living Water or are you drinking the cool-ade?

All scripture taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

© 2014 Cat Brennan

How many times have you heard that God is never late?  Often the theory continues that He is never early, either.  Of course this begs the question about to whose time we’re referring.  In the Old Testament, we read in the book of Psalms, chapter 90 and verse 4: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” And in the New Testament, II Peter Chapter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Yesterday at writer’s club one of my fellow author’s brought up the scripture from Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..”

When the fullness of time was come. . . Think about that for a minute.

Are you still waiting for that special man?  Are you still trying to go to college?  Are you still hoping to buy a newer, more reliable car?  Are you still waiting on that good job? Are you wondering what you’re going to do once you have your degree?

Have you talked to the Father? Have you trusted the Father? Have you put your faith up front or have you placed your wants, wishes and desires in first place?

Many times, in passing, I ask my Father what to write about, and He is often silent. This afternoon I sat down at my keyboard with what I thought were two good ideas for devotions. I wrote one, then the other, but they didn’t seem quite right.

Then, I remembered what my friend Ron had quoted to me yesterday from Galatians 4:4 – “…in the fullness of time.”  I took that to mean that while these were acceptable writings, it was not yet time for either one.

I stopped immediately and asked God what to write. He has such a sense of humor and replied in my spirit, “Write on the fullness of time.”

So I ask you, is it time-o’clock or is it Heaven o’clock?

All scriptures taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

© 2014 Cat Brennan