Category: Books

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Who Told You You Were Naked?

a simple faith in a complicated world by jeannie Bruenning

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Genesis 3:11

In the beginning was a God, a man, and a woman. The two humans were secluded, protected, and cared for by their God. They had only to enjoy their lives. These three were in-sync. Best of all, Adam and Eve knew God’s voice, a voice of love, protection, and provision. And God knew theirs.

Enter a new voice. Up until this moment, there were no other voices. No outside influence – just these three. As the story goes, a serpent spoke to Eve. That in itself is weird and yet Eve doesn’t seem bothered by it. It’s a new voice, one that doesn’t to speak of love, protection, and acceptance. Instead, it speaks of achievement, lies, doubt, and fear. 

And now, there are two voices…

When the voice of Love calls once again for His two friends, they do not respond. When they finally answer, they use new words – afraid, blame, fear, nakedness. Then the voice of Love asks, “Who told you that you were naked?”

God didn’t care about the act, He didn’t care who did what first. His concern was simply – who are you choosing to listen to?

The same applies to us, “Who told YOU that you are naked?” 

Who told you that you are incapable? unacceptable? unwanted? stupid?

Who told you that you are ugly, fat, untalented, boring, unloveable?

Who told you that you are naked?

Is it possible that the real issue for Adam and Eve was who they chose to listen to? Who are you choosing to listen to? Who is telling you – you are naked?

There are many Faiths that speak with both voices. They tell of a God who loves and damns. They teach we can be forgiven but that we are also wretched sinners. They say God welcomes all but require certain ‘sins’ to be fixed to sit at their table. Love is always the filter in discerning a voice. 

As we know, where there is love there is no fear, judgement, or condemnation.

This is an excerpt from, A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, expected to release in Summer of 2022.

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Big Plans

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

God has plans

Somewhere along this journey called life, we learn to anticipate the bad. The phone rings un-expectantly and we answer, Everything OK? And when excluded from a meeting at work we think it’s because we are the agenda. We are always anticipating the other shoe falling. Why? Because when two bad things happen consecutively, there will be a third because, bad always comes in threes. 

We carry over this belief to God when we assume that bad things happen to us to teach us lessons. Jeremiah 29:11 says just the opposite. It says God is proclaiming that His plans for us are good and they offer us hope. 

Hope changes the trajectory of our lives. 

Hope carries us through even the darkest of times. In God’s world, the other shoe doesn’t fall and bad things don’t come in threes. Even better, those bad things in our lives aren’t coming to us from God. 

How do we know?

Because God promises His plans are filled with hope. Hope shines light in the darkness of our negativity. 

Faith has turned the idea of seeking God’s Will into a life long treasure hunt. But God isn’t a creepy old pirate. He is however, a loving God who has plans – big plans, little plans, audacious plans. Therefore, we can be certain they are hope-filled plans. Best of all, we don’t have to go looking – He brings them to us!

A conversation among friends

 She looked at me with eyes so filled with fear I thought someone had died. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“What am I supposed to do!” She closed her eyes, and shook her head ever so slowly.

“Do about what?” I inquired in my most concerned tone.

“I just don’t know what God wants for me.” Her eyes now filling with emotion and escaping down her cheek.

“Oh hon,” I reached over and took her hand. “It’s not this difficult.”

“But what am I supposed to be doing with my life?”

“Well – that you don’t have to go looking for – that’s simple.” Counting on my fingers like we were preschoolers, “One, love God. Two, love yourself. Three, love others.”

“It’s not that simple.” She said offendedly.

“Oh, but it is. And unless God sends you a certified letter that says differently, that is your job, and when you take that seriously, He’ll open so many doors your’ll never be without opportunities. Stop wasting time trying to figure it out. Do what He has already told you to do – cause He’s got a ton of plans for you just waiting to be delivered.”

This is an excerpt from, A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, expected to release in Summer of 2022.

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Check out Caffeinated by Jeannie on Amazon.

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Planting Life

a simple faith in a complicated world by jeannie Bruenning 
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7

Science refers to it as Cause and Effect; for every action there is a reaction. The entire universe operates on the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Agriculture is the best example. Even the financial world invests with hopes of reaping great dividends. 

This law is an absolute, it is also the road map for our lives. We love to think that when we do good, good is going to return to us. But not as excited to think that we often also plant seeds of unpleasantness. 

Sowing the negative is not always intentional. It comes naturally to most of us. Why is it so easy to pass judgment on other’s when we are on the outside looking in? It is in those moments of quick judgement and criticism that we set a future course for our own lives. 

How often in the midst of our own unpleasant circumstances, are we reminded of a time where we lacked compassion for someone else walking a similar path. It’s like watching a rerun  except now we have been cast to play the role.

Is it even impossible to live a life completely void of judgement and criticism? Control such thoughts on our own is exhausting! When we apply it to our own lives, the Law of Sowing and Reaping becomes overwhelming.

But God always provides a safety net.  

It is called forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tool available to us. We complicate it with excuses; Why we shouldn’t offer it? Is it really deserved? Do you know what they did? 

Forgiveness comes with no expectations, no requirements. In fact, no one needs to hear us say it. Once spoken, these two little words change our circumstances and ourselves. 

“I forgive.”  

Forgiveness of others frees us to love, forgiveness of us ourselves frees us to live. 

A conversation among friends

“What did I do to deserve this?” he asked jokingly.

“If you think hard enough, I’m sure you can remember,” I said and we both laughed – and then a weird quiet took over.

“Did you remember?” I asked leaning into him. He nodded. 

“SAY THE WORDS!” I shouted much louder than intended. “Say the words and stop the crazies!” Closing his eyes, I read his lips, “I forgive.” 

“Who?”, I asked. “Who needs the forgiveness?”

“Me.” He said, “Forgive me for being so judgmental.” 

Like magic, the weird quiet exited and we both felt the world change. 

This is an excerpt from, A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, expected to release in Summer of 2022.

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Check-out Living Unstuck

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Ease and Rest

A-Simple-Faith-sow-and-reap

A Simple Faith in a Complicated World

“Faith is hard,” my friend said – and my heart broke. I don’t believe God intended for it to be difficult. I do believe we have made it so. 

Can faith really be simplified? Yes. The world is complicated and we’ve allowed our lives to be overly complicated, but our faith doesn’t have to be. 

These are simple beliefs for a profound faith. They fill me with wonder and amazement.

#TWO

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Ease and Rest

How often we find ourselves weary and burdened, needing rest. Jesus offers us relief. He invites us to not only lean on Him but also learn from Him. He offers us rest for our being and the deepest part of us, our soul.

As a yoke connects two oxen, Jesus’s yoke connects us to Him and allows us to work in partnership with Him. In that bond of two, we learn to be gentle and humble. Best of all, it is where we find ease and rest. 

In times when we feel the weight of the world beginning to crush us, we must pause to see where along the way we became disconnected from this magical yoke. When did striving, anxiety, and fear replaced our gentle and humble heart, and we began to grow weary. 

Jesus’ yoke is always available to us.

Accept His invitation and again get reconnected. It is because of our partnership with Him that we find comfort and our burdens are lightened.

Jesus’s offering of words such as rest, comfort, gentle, and humble are not only words for living life, they should define our faith. How quickly faith can become a religion, creating rules and expectations, causing us to feel burdened and weary – rarely feeling easy. Jesus’s yoke is easy. It is comfortable. It is humble and gentle. Those are the words that defines His religion. 

Do they define ours?  

His yoke is easy.

A conversation among friends

“You look tired,” I said. “Everything ok?”

“I’m feel like I’m working so hard at life…I wish it was easy?”

I smiled. “There’s a big difference between ease and easy. We’ll never have it easy, but we can always be at ease.”

This is an excerpt from, A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, expected to release in Summer of 2022.

Subscribe to Jeannie’s blog to be notified of more beliefs to build a profound faith upon.

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God is Love

A-Simple-Faith-sow-and-reap

A Simple Faith in a Complicated World

“Faith is hard,” my friend said – and my heart broke. I don’t believe God intended for it to be difficult. I do believe we have made it so. 

Can faith really be simplified? Yes. Our world is complicated. We’ve allowed our lives to be overly complicated but our faith doesn’t have to be. 

These are simple beliefs for a profound faith. They fill me with wonder and amazement.

#ONE

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 1 John 4:16

God is love

There is a world of difference between believing that God is love opposed to God loves. 

A God who loves also has the ability to not-love. Believing that God’s love is an action, makes us question, Who does He love? Why does He love? And how do I make sure He choses to love me? 

If God choses to love, then He must also have the ability to choose not to love. What a sad and scary thought. This belief keeps its believers in a place of neediness, uncertainty, and unworthiness.

Insert a two letter word and love no longer is an action – it is a constant. When we believe that God IS love, our entire perspective of Him changes. 

If 1 John 4:16 is true and God IS love, then He cannot not-love. It is who He is. Believing that God chooses to love, is the same as saying He chooses to be God, and that makes no sense at all. How could God not be God? Believing in a God who is love, removes our doubts.

As for thinking we can somehow earn God’s love, that would mean we must be able to earn God. Is that even possible?

Unfortunately, this is how so many live their lives, searching for the way to find God, thinking they have to somehow align themselves with a spiritual equation, hoping that God will see their efforts and shine His love on them. Sadder yet, they reflect those beliefs on others, insisting that they too must strive for, align with, and search for the key that will unlock God’s love.

A faith that defines God as LOVE – has no lock.

It is the door to which opens us to God and He to us. It comes with only one requirement – accepting that God and Love are one and the same. 

God is Love

A conversation among friends

“I don’t believe in God,” he said. “How could a God allow bad things to happen.”

“I don’t believe in that god either,” I replied. “That god needs a mommy.”

We both laughed.

“Do you believe in love?” I asked. He nodded.

“That is the God I believe in. So, I guess we believe the same.”

This is an excerpt from, A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, expected to release in Summer of 2022.

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The Plan

The Plan was the first book I can truly say I felt inspired to write. It started with a simple thought, What if our world was created for a bigger purpose than anything I had ever been told? That thought turned into a driving force that put me in front of my computer until I had written 35 pages of a very rough story. That was almost 10 years ago.

Today, this is a story I still love. The characters have become more real to me than I ever thought possible. It’s also a story I love to share. Since we find ourselves with lots of time on our hands, I thought I’d break The Plan down into daily readings and share it with my friends.

So here it is. The Plan in chapter by chapter blog posts. I hope you enjoy it!

THE PLAN

A Story of Redemption

To the Fallen Souls who have not realized the need for forgiveness, May your journey lead you back to the King.

PROLOGUE

Chaos had overtaken the entire Kingdom. The sounds of people yelling and shouting blended together with the pleading and wailing of the loved ones they were leaving behind. It was so loud that Konnory couldn’t make out his own footsteps on the stone floor as he sprinted up the stairs and down the hall towards the Dining Room. The fear and confusion had given birth to a darkness that was quickly enveloping the Kingdom.

The King and Queen looked up as Konnory rushed through the door into the Dining Room. Without a word he walked over to the Queen, leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Mother,” he said softly. She did not reply other than simply nodding her head in acknowledgement. Konnory walked behind the King and took the empty chair that sat next to Him. “Magnor has reported,” Konnory said.

“He is still with the troops?” the King asked.

“Yes, he is. He has ordered that no one is to make any attempt to prevent anyone from leaving. A few have already challenged that command. Now, they stand together and watch as family and friends walk through the gates.” Konnory’s head dropped. 

“They must. It is agonizing. This will be the most difficult experience of their lives. But they must let them go. It is their choice. Holding anyone back will not be tolerated,” the King said as He reached out and took the Queen’s hand. 

With each moment the crowd heading towards the gates grew. The gate was opened and a flood of figures began pouring out into the darkness. Above the roar there were shouts of triumph and screams of anguish. 

The Dining Room door opened once again. Carasi stood holding a ledger. “Father, Magnor has reported that there are those within the ranks of the Captains that have left. It also seems that Waldemar has left.” The King closed His eyes and the Queen gripped His hand tighter. “Do you want to put an end to this?” Carasi asked.

“We must not,” the King replied. “They are each making the choice for themselves. We will honor their free will to do so.”

“But Father, we are losing so many!”  Carasi protested. “They don’t understand that once they are outside of those gates…”

“No,” interrupted the Queen. She spoke gently but with great authority. “We must honor their choice.”  Carasi bowed his head and took his leave. As he opened the door, a wave of shouts from outside flooded the room.

The castle itself had almost entirely emptied of people. Trays of food and bottles of wine had been left on shelves by attendants who had rushed outside to see what was happening. Servants had abandoned their brooms and mops as they sprinted home to check on loved ones. Scattered piles of papers and documents lay strewn across the Throne Room bearing witness to where the King’s advisors and scribes had been standing when the shouting began.

“He has done great damage,” the King said. His words brought a weight of certainty and heaviness into the room. “Konnory, go find your brothers, no one should be alone on this day.” 

Konnory hesitated, not wanting to leave them. Not wanting to leave the security that the Dining Room embodied. Eventually he found the strength to stand and walk out into the storm.

“He has done as he threatened,” said the Queen.

“Yes My dear. Patho has waged his war and taken his prisoners. When the last one has left and the gates close, that is when the real battle begins,” said the King.

“Are you sure it is a battle we want to fight?” the Queen asked ever so gently.

“This is not about what I want to do. But we must,” the King said as He raised the Queen’s hand to His lips and kissed it.  Another wave of shouting was heard just outside the window. The cries of mourning and screams of anguish continued well into the night.

Excerpt from The Plan, ©2011 Jeannie G Bruenning