Archive for July, 2011

My Life’s Spiritual Honor and Duty

July 15th, 2011

July15, 2011
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians . . . —Romans 1:14

Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtedness to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life’s spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.

I am not a superior person among other people— I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, “. . . you are not your own . . . you were bought at a price . . .” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.” That is the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.

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July 15, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, sometimes I wonder about my ability to stay the course when I am tired and just plain worn out. I am concerned about staying positive and pressing on. I keep looking for you and trusting you to meet all my needs, but sometimes Lord the “pressing on” doesn’t “press on” like it should. As my mom used to say, “My get up and go, got up and went.” How can I get energized and excited for this day Lord? How can I get energized and excited for the future?

And God says…”One of the reasons you get tired and worn down is because you are trying to operate in your own strength. Remember, your strength comes from the Lord. I told you I would meet all your needs and that includes providing the strength you need. Here are some scriptures to keep close whenever you begin to doubt your strength. And remember you will never have enough strength to accomplish all that I have in store for you. When you are on the amazing and powerful course I have for you, you must rely on My strength to accomplish the things and grasp the future I have for you.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint,   and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;   they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;   they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 18:32-34 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile

July 14th, 2011
July 14, 2011
I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also —Matthew 5:39

This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back.When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus— it is either in you or it is not.

A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “Do your duty,” but is, in effect, “Do what is not your duty.” It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, “Oh well, I just can’t do any more, and I’ve been so misrepresented and misunderstood.” Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling “up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord’s honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.

Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is— Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.

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July 14, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, have You have been training me up regarding how I see and evaluate people and institutions? Suddenly I seem to be ultra-sensitive about criticizing and or comparing people and institutions, like churches. It seems like You are teaching me that I am to concentrate on what I am and what I should be and do instead of looking at what our churches, government, and other people, including friends, colleagues, neighbors, relatives (and even politicians and government officials) are not doing.

And God says…”I want you to be full of love, mercy and grace. There is good in everyone, find it. Spend your time looking for good and you will find it. There is an abundance of wrong to be found all around you. But I call you to be light, salt and goodness. You can lose these characteristics when you search and find the wrong being played out by other people and institutions, including the church. I will fill you up with the love, grace and mercy you will need to see the good in others. When you are filled with anything apart from love, grace and mercy regarding others, you can be certain it did not come from Me.”

The Price of the Vision

July 13th, 2011

July 13, 2011

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord . . . —Isaiah 6:1

Our soul’s personal history with God is often an account of the death of our heroes. Over and over again God has to remove our friends to put Himself in their place, and that is when we falter, fail, and become discouraged. Let me think about this personally— when the person died who represented for me all that God was, did I give up on everything in life? Did I become ill or disheartened? Or did I do as Isaiah did and see the Lord?

My vision of God is dependent upon the condition of my character. My character determines whether or not truth can even be revealed to me. Before I can say, “I saw the Lord,” there must be something in my character that conforms to the likeness of God. Until I am born again and really begin to see the kingdom of God, I only see from the perspective of my own biases. What I need is God’s surgical procedure— His use of external circumstances to bring about internal purification.

Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God and no one else is taken into account whatsoever. Your prayer will then be, “In all the world there is no one but You, dear God; there is no one but You.”

Keep paying the price. Let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision.

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July 13, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

The vision is, that no matter what… is occurring in my life, I am focused and connected to You. Over and over again Lord this is the lesson You show us over… and over.. and over. You continue to reinforce the idea that my one and only course of action, in living out my salvation, is to seek you with all that I am.

And God says…”You know the two commandments Jesus gave you. The first is to love Me with all our heart, mind and soul. You know that seeking My kingdom, or the person of Jesus Christ, is the first and foremost step in living out your life. And Jesus said He is the way the truth and the light. Start here, stay here, rest here.”

The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church

July 12th, 2011

July 12, 2011

till we all come . . . to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . —Ephesians 4:13

Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose— that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ— “. . . that I may know Him. . .” (Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender— complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?

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July 12, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Thank you Lord that You have been steadfast in this teaching, in this lesson above and beyond all other lessons; that You are the One. Over the years I struggled to do the right things, be the right kind of person, as I struggled with the conflicts between what is spiritual and what is not; as I struggled with the what, why and how of living out my salvation. And then You began teaching us that the only lesson is You, and being connected to You in all that we are and do. Everything else then falls into place, regardless of our circumstances.

And God says…”Seek first the kingdom of heaven…love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul; acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make all your paths straight. I came that you might have life and life more abundantly. You have this life, with the accompanying  joy and peace within when you are connected to Me.”

July 12, Journal, DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Today Oswald summarized it well at the end, “My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.” You have given us the “peace meter” to indicate that we are getting off track … but its just a meter … not the goal. Another thing I noticed yesterday is that I was “noticing” not wanting to do a particular thing … but realizing that it was your will and deciding to do it …  not even that cheerfully … then having it turn into a blessing at the end.
Yes, that is the way it works. You are beginning to understand the way Heaven works, The way Love works. It can happen on Earth but, since the Fall, humans are so wired to self preservation and pursuit of pleasure that many times you miss my Voice and my Plan … which as you are seeing, will work out better in the end.

So using the Peace Meter, and suspecting that if I dont want to do a particular thing, that I’d better take a second look … is that what you are saying is the way to maximize “getting it” and minimize missing it?
There’s more. But those are good starters.
Thanks, Thanks for CO2 & my brother, Thanks for my family, Thanks for all the blessings, Thanks for your Love, Thanks for your plans and thanks for talking to me. Thanks for everything. I love you. It’s hard, initially, but even thanks for that Laura Story song … what if your blessings come as raindrops…

The Spiritually Vigorous Saint

July 11th, 2011

July 11, 2011
that I may know Him . . . —Philippians 3:10

A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing . . . that He had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” (John 13:3-5).

The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him . . .” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.

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July 11, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord thank you for reminding me that you are all that I need, that you have provided for me in every way imaginable, in all areas of my life. All I must do is accept your complete provision. The only reason there might be secular and or spiritual separation in my life is because I put it there by limiting your access and or control of my life in an area.

And God says…”Your faith will make you whole, and you do not need very much faith. Simply let Me into that area of your life. You limit my access and your wonder and joy when you restrict Me from areas of your life. And often you do this because you think I would not want to be a part of a particular area of Your life…Yet you need to remember…. I want and you need Me to be a part of your entire life, all aspects, every area, every nook and cranny. Stay connected in every area and use your connection tools to be reminded to give me every area of your life this day and every day. Acknowledge Me in ALL your ways, do not rely on your own devices and I will make all your paths straight.

Will To Be Faithful

July 8th, 2011


. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . —Joshua 24:15

A person’s will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give up my will— I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God’s Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.

“. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . .” Your choice must be a deliberate determination— it is not something into which you will automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God— do not “confer with flesh and blood” about it (Galatians 1:16). With every new proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated, and that is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where God is leading— the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.

Openly declare to Him, “I will be faithful.” But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, “You are witnesses against yourselves . . .” (Joshua 24:22). Don’t consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, “I will serve You.” Will to be faithful— and give other people credit for being faithful too.

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July 8, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, sometimes it seems as if all I can recall are my failures and disappointments. And just when I grit my teeth and will myself to do the right thing…I do the wrong thing. Just when I think I have it all under control….I don’t. Just when I know that I have overcome that character flaw or trait, it pops back up again. I want to serve you, but all too frequently, it seems I fail.

And God says…”Paul says it well in Romans 7 (go back and read it in The Message translation). He acknowledged that even when he would strive to do My will he could not. He would do the opposite. And he acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the bridge over that troubled water. Do not judge yourself harshly when you fail, I do not judge you at all. My grace is larger than all your wrong choices. Simply acknowledge your failures and  Jesus as your redeemer. Acknowledge the law is good and let Jesus, My Holy Spirit and the Word continue to mold you into the man you will become. Do not focus on your human nature and inclinations, focus on Jesus and your new nature that is being refined. Trust in the Lord in all your ways and do not rely on your own devices……and He will make your paths straight “

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July 8 2011 Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord
This message today from Oswald, Joshua, & Dylan seems so right on. It seems so clear when I hear it … but living it out minute by minute is another matter. What’s up? What am I doing wrong?

You are on the right track … keep on coming. None of my men got to the peak of their character in a day or a week. And none of them ever really got totally perfected either. They are perfect now, and you will be too. The question for people on earth is “what are you going to do with the time you have left on your side of heaven?” The focus that I’m interested in is, “what are you going to do with your character?” … not so much “how big an organization or how much wealth will you build?” All that will fade away anyway. Character lasts forever.
I agree with all that, but it’s frustrating to fall so short …

Relax … and stay pressing in on it at the same time. You wont be perfect. And I wont kick you out. Just keep on the track. I like your recent commitment to daily reminders … it will help.

OK I’m just looking for a little something, a signpost, a confirmation, something. I’ll be looking for it today. I love you.

… For Those who remember the original…

All Efforts of Worth and Excellence Are Difficult

July 7th, 2011

Enter by the narrow gate . . . . Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life . . . —
Matthew 7:13-14

If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult.  The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome.  Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory?

God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). But we have to “work out” that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us.

Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10 , and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.

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July 7, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord you know I don’t like the devotionals about how I must be well disciplined, and work hard to become the man you want me to become.  The whole notion that I need to work hard at the Christian life smacks me right there in the “legalism and works” area and makes me remember my diversion from the Christian life because for years I thought I was not able to be a “good Christian”. Given a choice, I always responded to grace and mercy. However, it now occurs to me that the disciplined life is also a part of the development and we come to this training through our trials and circumstances. Given a choice, of course I would often run and hide from my circumstances, and the discipline required to overcome them. However, your grace, strength and courage are provision You make available in the right measure at all the right times. Thank you Lord.

I know you struggle with “legalism and works” and when you are confronted with these notions you push hard on the idea that you must “do the work”. Your reaction to this is not unusual as many of My children chafe under the heavy yoke of legalism and works. However, the work is essential and comes in the form of trials, and circumstances that I use to build your faith, strength and courage. My grace is always there because of course you will fail. It is not necessary that you always succeed; it is only necessary that you stay the course, and you now know you can only do this through Me; constantly accessing My oceans of grace and mercy.

July 7 Journal DJR

Good Morning Lord,

This lesson today from Oswald contains the “Book Naming” central phrase of his teaching.   My Utmost for Your  Highest.   Affirming that goal mentally is no problem,  Any Christian would do so.  But finding the balance grace and striving is the area that we keep focusing on.    Left to our own devices we can strive and get all stressed out … not the Christlike way.   Or we can incorrectly appropriate grace and totally disregard our journey toward Christlikeness.   It seems like what Solomon did in his later days.   But at the end of all the wives, all the projects and all the wealth, he came back to where we are discussing right now.

Here it is in the Message:

Eccl 12: 12-13 But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this:
Fear God.
Do what he tells you.

14 And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.

Visions Become Reality

July 6th, 2011

July 06, 2011
The parched ground shall become a pool . . . —Isaiah 35:7

We always have a vision of something before it actually becomes real to us. When we realize that the vision is real, but is not yet real in us, Satan comes to us with his temptations, and we are inclined to say that there is no point in even trying to continue. Instead of the vision becoming real to us, we have entered into a valley of humiliation.

Life is not as idle ore,
But iron dug from central gloom,
And battered by the shocks of doom
To shape and use.

God gives us a vision, and then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us give up and faint. Every God-given vision will become real if we will only have patience. Just think of the enormous amount of free time God has! He is never in a hurry. Yet we are always in such a frantic hurry. While still in the light of the glory of the vision, we go right out to do things, but the vision is not yet real in us. God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the point where He can trust us with the reality of the vision. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work. He is getting us into the shape of the goal He has for us, and yet over and over again we try to escape from the Sculptor’s hand in an effort to batter ourselves into the shape of our own goal.

The vision that God gives is not some unattainable castle in the sky, but a vision of what God wants you to be down here. Allow the Potter to put you on His wheel and whirl you around as He desires. Then as surely as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out as an exact likeness of the vision. But don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had a vision from God, you may try as you will to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never allow it.

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July 6, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I wonder about the vision when it seems so far away. Lord, it seems like the shaping and molding is taking so long. Day after day the circumstances are still difficult and it seems as if the vision will never become a reality. I know I am being shaped and molded into the man you want me to become…but Lord isn’t there a timeout or a reprieve or respite and or retreat? Is there a place where I can enjoy more of life and life abundantly? Sometimes it seems like just as the vision gets closer; it is snatched away and put back up on the mountain top ledge. And once again I must start another journey up the mountain.

And God says…”It is essential that you be broken. It is even more essential that you stay broken. Your shaping and molding is a work more important than the vision and or your accomplishments and support of My kingdom. I can create all the help I need for My kingdom and My people; however, I cannot force you into the character and integrity essential for your life and eternity. You must choose to take those “right…  and difficult steps”.  Your right choices evolve from the character that is shaped by your circumstances. When you move your vision from your circumstances, and onto Me and the vision I provide, you are living life and life more abundantly. Just stop and look around and you will notice that you are well, rested and at peace in your journey and vision as long as you are connected with and focused on Me.”

July 6 2011 DJR  Journal

Good Morning, Lord

Today we both felt a renaissance of our need for connection,  continually reconnecting as the connection gets broken by stressors and enticements to get out of connection and go chase something beside You.   Even the Vision, even if its from you … if we chase it without connection, our path will be dry and dusty.   So we are holding up in prayer :    The 3 R’s of Real Time Re-Connection  (after ‘Rastling)   REALIZE,  REPENT,  REDEPLOY.   So we are setting a new determination to stay connected all day long.   You have shown us over the last two years that this is the central thing in the Christian Life.  Everything else is peripheral.  Everything else will work itself out.  If we just stay connected.  Like you did.

John 5:19  (NLT)

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

Wow!   Can we really live like that?  I mean really.    I know the theory.  I have the knowledge .. But there seems a big gap between the knowledge and really walking it out.   And I also know that of course we dont get perfection this side of heaven … but you know what I mean.  A lot more perfect than we have walked … and you said, “Be ye perfect…”   and I know the Greek word means complete etc…… but I just want to do John 5:19 more.

We are now at one of the reasons for our discussion about Training vs Learning.   You dont need any more learning about connection.  You are now going into “Training”.   Think of these things:

Training a horse,  Boot camp training,  Training for a marathon, Training a child in the way they should go.   It isn’t so much about learning.  It’s more about doing the thing you have learned to do.  Obeying the Learning, the system, the vision and ultimately the Father.

OK We’re going to need your help to stay on track, but we are indeed convinced that this is the track we need to get on and stay on.

We’re here to help.  I provided the example of listening to the Father and staying on track toward the Vision I was sent For.   The Holy Spirit will remind you and whisper in your ear … if you are listening.  And of course Father is the origin of everything.  He stands waiting for all prodigals to come home and children to tire of their other games.

OK.  We’ll stay curious.   I love you.

Don’t Plan Without God

July 5th, 2011

July 5, 2011

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass —Psalm 37:5

Don’t plan without God. God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the plans we have made, when we have not taken Him into account. We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him— that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives. And yet the only thing that will keep us from even the possibility of worrying is to bring God in as the greatest factor in all of our planning.

In spiritual issues it is customary for us to put God first, but we tend to think that it is inappropriate and unnecessary to put Him first in the practical, everyday issues of our lives. If we have the idea that we have to put on our “spiritual face” before we can come near to God, then we will never come near to Him. We must come as we are.

Don’t plan with a concern for evil in mind. Does God really mean for us to plan without taking the evil around us into account? “Love . . . thinks no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Love is not ignorant of the existence of evil, but it does not take it into account as a factor in planning. When we were apart from God, we did take evil into account, doing all of our planning with it in mind, and we tried to reason out all of our work from its standpoint.

Don’t plan with a rainy day in mind. You cannot hoard things for a rainy day if you are truly trusting Christ. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled . . .” (John 14:1). God will not keep your heart from being troubled. It is a command— “Let not. . . .” To do it, continually pick yourself up, even if you fall a hundred and one times a day, until you get into the habit of putting God first and planning with Him in mind.

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July 5, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Last week you taught us to follow the “yes” in our salvation. So here I am in front of another Oswald Chambers’ lesson about “don’t” instead of “yes”. However, You led me right to the music and supplied the “yes”. The lesson then becomes less about what we should not do and more about what we can do inside our salvation…We can follow You.

And God says…”If your walk is about loving Me and or loving others you know you are planning well. When you look to Me and then to others you are right in the center of My commandments. Acknowledge Me in all tour ways and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, namely the person of Jesus Christ, and all these other things shall be added unto you.”

July 5 DJR

Good Morning, Lord,

Today’s central message is the same as always. (I think you only have one central message….)  Stay connected in relationship with me and relax … All will be well … at least in the end.   Today I’m hearing to hold the business things in an open palm and let you be God and direct them.   This is hard for me because either my aggressiveness or my laziness or obsessions or repulsions tend to push my planning and activity one way or another that may not be your best,  which is also my best.   Help.

OK, that’s what I wanted to hear.   And that’s what I’m here for.  I will help you.  And all students who want to be trained.   Note, I did not say “learn”     You can learn all you want.  Theologians and Pharisees do a lot of that and many dont know much of me and my ways.   But if you want to be trained in the ways of prayer and righteousness … then I’m here for you.

Was that prayer answer on Saturday an invitation to come deeper?

Yes.   The invite is always there, but because my kids get off track and so hard of hearing,  I sometimes need to send a wake up call, like that.

OK,  I’m awake but dont know what to do next.  I dont want to be a wacko … you know what I mean.

Dont worry about that.  With who you are and who I’ve made you … you wont be a wacko.   But you must be willing to be wrong some.   It is part of training.   Getting it wrong is a foundation of getting it right.    Connection will hasten your training curve.    Stay connected.  Be willing to miss it.   Dont condemn yourself.  I dont.  I wont.    Hold it in an open palm with curiosity.   You’ll be fine.    Remember it’s training, not just learning.

OK I’ll be expecting more revelation on the differences and relationship between those…

Stay plugged in and you will learn as we train.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The Inevitable Penalty

July 1st, 2011

July 1, 2011
You will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny —Matthew 5:26

There is no heaven that has a little corner of hell in it. God is determined to make you pure, holy, and right, and He will not allow you to escape from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit for even one moment. He urged you to come to judgment immediately when He convicted you, but you did not obey. Then the inevitable process began to work, bringing its inevitable penalty. Now you have been “thrown into prison, [and] . . . you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny” (5:25-26). Yet you ask, “Is this a God of mercy and love?” When seen from God’s perspective, it is a glorious ministry of love. God is going to bring you out pure, spotless, and undefiled, but He wants you to recognize the nature you were exhibiting— the nature of demanding your right to yourself. The moment you are willing for God to change your nature, His recreating forces will begin to work. And the moment you realize that God’s purpose is to get you into the right relationship with Himself and then with others, He will reach to the very limits of the universe to help you take the right road. Decide to do it right now, saying, “Yes, Lord, I willwrite that letter,” or, “I will be reconciled to that person now.”

These sermons of Jesus Christ are meant for your will and your conscience, not for your head. If you dispute these verses from the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will dull the appeal to your heart.

If you find yourself asking, “I wonder why I’m not growing spiritually with God?”— then ask yourself if you are paying your debts from God’s standpoint. Do now what you will have to do someday. Every moral question or call comes with an “ought” behind it— the knowledge of knowing what we ought to do.

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July 1, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Once again Lord when I feel like I cannot do one thing right, when I feel like I have walked outside your direction and left a trail of unrighteousness, you show me that You are still working on and in me. Right when I thought I was incapable of living the life you called me to live, You show me that it is You that works in me regardless of my condition.

And God says…”All things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Give it to me…whatever it is…, I will make it holy and righteous. Just as the song says… I do make beautiful things out of dust. Stay in my presence and grace and know that I love you beyond anything you can imagine. You are much more to me than your right or wrong choices. And regardless of your choices, I can and will make you  beautiful.”