I Got the Power

I wasn't planning on updating so soon but I experienced something last night that was amazing. The Holy Spirit manifested himself in me. This may sound weird and I don't expect you to understand fully but I will try to communicate it. We went to go feed the homeless last night (the family that I have been staying with since Monday) and what we did was go to an empty parking lot and let people come to us and we would talk with them and pray for them. Well, it got to a point were there we hardly any people coming so we started praying. I started asking God to let me love Him more and let me feel the love I have for Him. As I was doing that I felt a wave of heat on my face like I passed by a vent or something except I was staying in one place and there wasn't anything like that nearby. By the way it was in the 40s last night. So once I feel it I think it's the Spirit but it was just one little wave of heat so I prayed harder and for the Spirit to consume me. I felt more wave of heat on my face and then pretty soon my whole body was consumed in a warmth and I felt like a grip on my chest. And then I started laughing. Let me explain one thing. The whole time this stuff was happening I was in control. I wasn't making myself feel that way or make myself laugh but I could stop if I want. It reminds me of how Paul talks about how the Spirit is subject to the prophets. It's true. I could stop it but I wasn't causing it at the same time. So after I started laughing I lost the warmth and then started shaking. I'm not sure if it was the Spirit or getting cold right after the warmth of the Spirit but I kept shaking for a while and I believe it was the Spirit. After this I was super happy and was smiling the whole time and felt this complete peace in me. I know it sounds weird but I know it was the Spirit and ask God that you will be able to experience it. The Spirit works in different ways and people feel him differently, but this is how he worked in me.

-Brennen

Love, Sweet Love

God has shown me so much in the past few days it's been awesome. God has really been getting rid of the doctrine and theology in my life because it's been holding me back and limiting the Spirit. Just a little thing that God has showed me on the Spirit. I have the Spirit but I have not let it manifest itself in me. It has not consumed with its fire. That happens in different ways but it is something that is very noticeable and one knows it is the Spirit. Anyway God has shown me it is all about love. I've heard plenty of sermons talking about love but it has really rang home now. If we just become totally in love with Christ everything falls into place.

The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18

Once we learn to love and allow God loves to be perfected in us everything comes together. We are able to have that perfect faith and perfect obedience once we are totally captivated by Him. The love that He gives us for Him and others will allow us to know truth and have the abilities to do his work because he knows our heart and our intentions and he will freely give it to us to know and use.

God is "the Truth." The Bible is the "truth about the Truth." Theology is the "truth about the truth about the Truth." Christian people live in these many truths about the Truth, and, because of them, have not "the Truth." Hungry, beaten, and drugged, we had forgotten theology and the Bible. We had forgotten the "truths abouth the Truth," therefore we lived in "the Truth." It is written, "The Son of man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matthew 24:44). We could not think anymore. In our darkest hours of torture, the Son of man came to us, making the prison walls shine like diamonds and filling the cells with light. Somewhere, far away, were the torturers below us in the sphere of the body. But the spirit rejoiced in the Lord. We would not have given up this joy for that of kingly palaces.

-Richard Wurmbrand (Spent 14 years in a Communist prison in Romania)

I have actually started a fast from the Bible and doctrine because I want to know "the Truth." "The Truth" is Jesus and the Spirit reveals Jesus to us so I want to totally rely on the Spirit to show me "the Truth." Last night a guy said he felt the Spirit talk to him about how when we meet it should be orderly and not conversations here and conversations there while we are all meeting together. He said that one should wait while one talks and if the Spirit reveals to another it should transition and not interrupt. This guy has hardly read the Bible and hasn't attended church for most his life yet the Spirit revealed to him 1 Corinthians 14:26-40. I want the Spirit to reveal "the Truth" to me instead of reading the truth about "the Truth."

Just pray that I would have more love for God and for others. And that God would continue molding me because I feel He wants to get me to a certain point before He manifests the Spirit inside of me.

-Brennen

Sorry guys that I haven't updated in forever and left ya'll hanging. It's been amazing so far. God has provided so much for me. He'll leave food for me at a park, someone will put it next to my bed in the middle of the night, someone will give me money, or someone will take me out and get me food. I don't eat as much as I used to but I always get food when I need it. He is faithful.

God's been teaching me a lot since I have all day to read and pray I am able to get some sweet time with him. I haven't experienced the Spirit like I was expecting to but I believe it will be a short time before I do. I think He has wanted to teach me things before He really let the Spirit work through me in God ways.

Please pray for my eyesight that it will be healed. I threw out my contacts the other night on faith that God will heal my eyes so it just a matter of time before He does but if you want to pray for them and be part of the healing. Pray that the Spirit is really manifested in my and that I may have the more important spiritual gifts so I may edify the body and reach the lost for God's glory. Please tell me prayer requests that ya'll have since I have tons of time to pray and I am still apart of the body back home.

Right now I'm chillin with a family that really let's the Spirit guide them and it's been awesome to hear the testimonies that they have of what the Lord is doing around them and through them. I feel that I will learn a lot more so I'm excited and I know you are too. Ha. Love you guys.

-Brennen

Update: Sleeping at Church, Again

Brennen called Thursday, October 22
He is fine. Going to The Promise Church in downtown Houston.

It truly amazing how things come around. Up until Brennnen was in the 4th grade he slept each Sunday morning and evening during worship service. Now he is now sleeping each night on the church's property. The Promise Church allows homeless people to sleep on their property and the police will not bother them. About 10 homeless people sleep there. They do have to leave about 5:30 in the morning. When it rains a lot, he and other homeless go under the overpass.

The church feeds people on Sundays. Last week someone gave Brennen some bagels that he ate for about 2 days. Someone else gave him 2 chocolate chip cookies and Brennen asked God for some more food. That night, someone gave him a box of food. Then someone gave him $20.00 and he bought food at Quiznos. Demarco (med school friend) brought him some food Thursday night.

He spends his days in parks reading his Bible. The church gave him a new Bible.
After he lost his backpack, Demarco and Teresa took him to get some more clothes. Someone else, who has lived homeless before, gave him some trash bags to keep his things in and gave him some "tips" on living homeless.

Brennen was discouraged last week - missing physical comforts, missing his family. At some point while he was under the overpass, a man came by and offered him work. Brennen did not believe that God wanted him to do this and he explained to the man what he was doing. The man was a Christian and told him he should not be doing this. That he should live in a big house, be wealthy and prosperous for others to see Christians. He asked Brennen what church he was going to. When he told him, The Promise Church, he said he had never heard of that. He should go to his church, Lakewood. Brennen did not know this is Joel Osteen's church, but after the man told him, Brennen said he did not like that man. Brennen realizes he should not have said that now. He just knows that Osteen preaches a "feel good" message. Brennen did not get the chance, but knows he should have told this man that he believes others would be more impacted by what he is doing rather than the wealthy lifestyle. A lesson learned. However, God did use this experience to allow Brennen to see that he needs to show joy in his circumstances for others to see the love of God and not be discouraged. So this week, he is joyful!

New Place to Sleep

Terry spoke with Brennen Thursday evening and he is doing fine. He has moved from the alley to sleeping outside of the church he has been attending. He said last week was a harder week. He was missing family and comfort. He has a great story of how God helped him through the lack of comfort. I will have a detailed update later today.

I'm In Houston

Brennen has been unable to update his blog since he left Dallas. His blog will be updated by his parents via phone calls.

Friday, October 2 - Brennen called this evening. He was in The Woodlands. He had been riding about 50 miles a day on his bike before his bike broke down. A man picked him up and had taken him home. He was doing fine but sunburnt.

Saturday, October 10 - Brennen made it to Houston. He did not stay in The Woodlands but the man who picked him up drove him to the YMCA in downtown Houston. He slept in a park Friday night. Saturday morning he was approached by three guys who gave Brennen some water, shoes and a jacket.

Sunday morning he was asked by a girl (Teresa) to go to church. Of course Brennen went to church with her. Brennen has befriended Teresa and her boyfriend DeMarco. They are in dental and medical school.

Brennen has been sleeping in an alley when police don't run him off. He spends part of his time near the Pierce elevated with other homeless. His bike has been stolen. He also has found some Pentecostal friends.

He has been fasting some but food has been plentiful.

Wednesday, October 14 - We had a quick call from Brennen. Tuesday night Brennen was ran off from the alley. He slept by another vacant building. Unfortunately his backpack was stolen which had his Bible, his Journal and his camera. He does have some extra clothes.

Prayer Needs:
Sufficient food, shelter, people he meets, for a new Bible, for a new journal, understanding Biblical truths as he encounter new ideas.