New Beginnings

Isaiah 43:18 ” Forget all that, do not ponder the things of the past. Behold, I am trying to do a new thing. Can you not perceive it as it springs forth. I will make a way in the wilderness. I will make a river in the desert. “

The Lord is trying to make new in your life. Why do you hold unto the past? Can you not perceive the newness of His Spirit? Today, the Lord is opening doors for you that have been shut. Can you understand? Stop dwelling on the past. Let it go. You are forgiven. The past is gone. Let not your past troubles effect your current events. Perhaps you have suffered set backs and believe your future is filled with continued failure. Do not believe the lie. If God is for you than expect, hope that your future is filled with possibilities. Begin to perceive the truth and step into a bright and joy filled future. It is a new year, new beginnings, and good things are on the horizon. Claim this as truth, own this fact and move in faith.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord release me from my negative mind set and help me to perceive your blessings. Thank you that I do not receive what I deserve, but rather am free through Thy Grace. Thank you that Thy will is done and Thy grace fulfilled. Help me to help myself, show me Thy ways and help me to be the overcomer that I am in Thee. Amen!! “

Be Imitators of Christ

Ephesians 5:1-2 ” Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, just a Christ loves you, and gave Himself up for you as an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. “

Why is it that so many believe they can not be like Christ? Aftercall, each of us are made in His image. We have born within us this and these attributes. What is needed is to first trust in this truth and then to improve our knowing of this truth. It is reality to come into a personal relationship w/ Christ and learn to imitate Jesus. In every area of our lives, even when it causes uncomfortability. And so can you do this? Be an imitator of Christ. Love is His key attribute, forgiveness and a welcoming spirit. Can you do this. May the love of God and the fellowship of man be ever with you. So walk in love, in the grocery store, when you are pumping gas, at the school board meeting. Christ is opening up opportunities for you to ” Love Thy Neighbor. ” Be prepared to serve, be on the alert and be ready. You can do this, the ability for you to serve in Love is in you.

Mid-Week Prayer, ” Many times you have opened doors, showed me the way and I have ignored you, feared the unknown and have not done what you have asked. Forgive my dis-obedient nature. Lord teach me and show me how I may be of better service to Thee and those around me. Amen.

The Lord Commanding you to be Strong & Courageous

We celebrate a season preparing our hearts and minds to receive the Lord and so we wish for you a Merry Christmas Season

Joshua 1:9 ” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!! Be not afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

My friend, it is so easy to identify your life circumstances in the natural state. And in this state we so often see with our natural eyes such difficulty and misery this side of heaven. And we identify with our feelings instead of truth. The Lord is seeking for you to put on the mind of Christ, to grow in a spiritual understanding that your life is so much more than your circumstances or the difficulties you are experiencing. In other words, the Lord is saying here, understand that you are and shall always be made in my image, my divine image. In that state you are already whole, you already have joy, love, consideration, peace and patience. All that is needed is for you to increase this knowing. For God right now cannot be any more closer to you than He is for He is Omnipresence. So learn this truth and in this stillness know I am God, Psalm 46:10. Know that my word is truth and grow in my principles. This is what the spirit is saying to us. And so He is asking you to be strong, not to fear, to stand out and be bold. For if God be for you who can be against you? No one!!! You are His divine child, made in His image. You are part of His royal family. Grow in this understanding and grow in loving others!!! Celebrate the birth of Christ within!!! Put on the Christ Consciousness. Merry Christmas!!! Get your fire back and spread the Love of Christ.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord so often I start my day too quickly and am not centered in who I am in you and I am identifying with what my life circumstances are at the moment. Yet Lord I know there is so much more to this love yet I am stuck so often in self. Lord help me to overcome my self-reliance and be reliant on the Christ within. Lord please increase my knowing. Help me to remember that I am made in Thine image and have those attributes with in me. Lord help me.!! Amen!!! “

Declare Victory

The Beauty of the Rift Valley of Kenya December 2021

Psalm 20:4 & 5 ” May He grant you your heart’s desire!! And fulfill all your counsel!! We will sing for joy over your victory!! And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord grant all your petitions. “

For some of us it is time to rise out of our ashes and declare our victory!!! It is an appointed time to rise up my people and sing Halleluiah. It is your time to declare the glory of your God, the God of your understanding. The great God that has gone before you and given you your victory. Now friend, rise up and declare your victory!!! The Lord has opened a door, He has given you a spirit of Love, of resurrection power. Now claim this victory that is now yours. The enemy has tried to steal your testimony, your joy and your victory, yet stand up and declare what a great God you serve. Declare what God has done for you and speak to others of His love, His kindnesses and His fulfillments of your hearts desire!! Friend do not miss your appointed time. Go forth and declare your victory!!! Amen!!

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Today is the day you have made Oh Lord!! Help me to rejoice in Thee, regardless of my circumstances. Lord the quiet before the storm may be upon me , but you are my savior, my redeemer and my way maker!! Lord help me to never forget how far you have brought me, the doors you have opened and the protection provided. Lord help me to be ever grateful!!! Amen!! “

Self-Reliance the way of Destruction

Jomo Otieno serving the BFC Elderly Care Program DEC 2021

Psalm 49:12 ” Such is the way of those who foolishly trust in themselves, and in the end of those who delight in their own words. “

For many of us depend on ourselves to, ” make it happen.” We have an idea of God, of Jesus and even pray for our own ends. But in many cases we know better than God. We struggle in anxiety, in fear and move forward in a deceived mind set. And yes we even experience some success, yet are plagued with struggles. And so the word tells us to Trust in the Lord with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls. That we not lean on our own understanding. That He will make our crooked paths straight!!! In self-reliance we say maybe for some, but I am in control and I know best.

So the question remains. When are you going to let go and allow God to rule ALL areas of your life? You have said my life is not my own. Yet here you are controlling, fearing with anxiety every day. Which is it, God either is or He is not? It is your choice.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord, Lord, Lord I struggle with my self more than any other problem in my life. I seek Thee yet continue on in self. In times self-destruction. Help me to be the overcomer that I am in Thee. Help me to cast aside my self for a life surrendered in Thee. Thy will be done. Lord help me to Love Thee, Love others and to Love Thee in me. Amen!

Cast all your Burdens on the Lord

Pray for the Elders Program that BFC serves in Kenya

Psalm 55:22 ” Cast Thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee. “

Isaiah 26:3 ” Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee. “

We are reminded through pastor Spurgeon’s writings to stay w/ Christ. Often we are tempted to play God and fall back into self-reliance when difficulties arise as they surely will. We are reminded that God is in control. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Our limited human perspective can not envision the greater plan for our lives and so we try to hang on for that which God is about to remove. Remember friends, our work is to glorify God not ourselves. If you are losing something that you felt you had build up through the years and its now falling apart, perhaps it is time to let go. Always remember, stay close, pray in the spirit and allow the presence of God to work through you.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord you have been with me and shown me all the way that you are in charge, and yet here I am again trying to run my life. Yet I am reminded that you and only you are truly in control. Thank you Lord for your message tonight and your care. Lord there is none like Thee. Oh Lord I thank you!! Amen “

Rely on the Lord

VBS at Asapalli October 2022 Children learning a new Praise Song

Psalm 16:1 ” Protect me Oh God for I take refuge in you. I have said to the Lord, ” You are my Lord, my good above all other.

Do you reach out to God for help, for protection, for peace? Much of the time we rely on our selves, on self-reliance. We rely on our finite selves instead of our infinite creator. And yet, he stands before us with His hands open and heart towards us saying, ” Here I am, I will take your burdens, lay them before me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ” Can you perceive Him right now before you? He loves you and yearns for you to turn back towards Him. Allow Him to open your doors. Allow Christ to make your paths straight. He is the nearest of the near and the dearest of the dear!! Come home!! Come Home and take rest!!!

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord much of my burden is manufactured in my mind. Lord what I perceive to be so real is nothing but lies. Yes Lord my mind has once again become deceived. Lord cleanse my mind and soften my heart to come to understand you and only you. Oh God, help me to overcome and be Thou my beloved. Amen!! “

Be ever Grateful

Psalm 118: 1 ” Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving Kindness is everlasting. “

The Braman Foundation and all its staff and volunteers would like to say to you, ” Thank you for all your support, your love and your prayers. Without you it is impossible for BFC to serve, for you are God’s Chosen People. And so we wish for you a blessed Thanksgiving Day!!! And be reminded no matter what your difficulty there is always a way to show gratitude to the Lord, to your family members and your colleagues. We love you and God loves you!!

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord Lord Lord you often remind me that gratitude is an attitude of the heart, not about my circumstances but rather who you are, what you have done for humankind and that through Thy Grace I have what I have and am who I am. Lord I love you!! ” Amen.

You are a Servant of the Most High

Asapalli Children prepare to learn a new song at recent VBS

Psalm 119:135 ” Let your countenance shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes. ”

Another phrase may read, ” Teach me your ways, your boundaries, the way to live in freedom. ” You are a servant of the most High God when you have confessed Christ as your personal savior. A servant is lower than his master and lower than those he or she serves. A master servant may be declared one who serves all. Servant is one who always thinks, and pus others before his or her needs. Are you growing in servanthood? Understanding this truth is but the beginning of a life time journey of growing in humility. Do not stop and always forgive others. Be in the market of allowing others to go before you. For you are serving all. Now do you understand?

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Today is the day you have made, yet I go on and take it for granted, I seek worldliness and put you on the shelf. Lord ignite a fire from the flicker of flame that is within. Help me to grow deeper and deeper in Thy ways. bring me into Thy presence so that I may better serve Thee. Not mine but Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come as in heaven as on earth. O Master may I follow Thee. “

Whose name is Yahweh

Children Singing at VBS Asapalli October 2022

Psalm 83:18 ” Let them know that you, whose name is Yahweh, you alone are the Most High over all the earth. “

He is Lord over us all regardless of what the world may seem to you. You may believe God is not in control, yet look at, read the miracles of Christ. This illusion comes to most as we take on this world as real, unending and permanent. Yet, who are and what is the one realm that is, was and shall always be unchanging? Grow in understanding truth and grow in renouncing this world and all the ever changing realm that it is.

Instead , worship the great Elohim. Worship the One, the Love of your Heart, the Christ that is, the Christ that was, the Christ that shall always be. Grow in your devotion in Christ, in the love of God and Christ. Worship the great God of your heart and your divine Image. The One, the only True source of your being. Bow down and repent of your illusional sense self and know peace. And may the God of Light ever shine upon your alter of devotion, and may you be able to awaken all hearts in Thee.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord, Christ, my Lord Jesus, open my heart to shout from the roof tops the love of Thy Spirit and Thy ways. Lord let me NOT just think of my little meaningless life, but rather expand my consciousness to think, and feel for others. Lord help me overcome my self-centered fear, my self-centered ways. Father God help me overcome my selfishness, my self centered meaningless ways. Lord renew my mind. Amen!!”