Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember…the love of your betrothal…” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance…” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

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January 21 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, one more time it seems like Chambers is laying out guilt, obligation and leveraging emotional manipulation to try and motivate his students and keep them in line. This is the kind of teaching that chased me from the church years ago.

And God says…”It is true that Chambers and many others in the church and the church itself have used various kinds of emotional leverage to try and move people to repentance and sanctification. However, I have reminded you over the years that I only want relationships of love.  I do not want your guilt, obligation or your sense that you need to measure up.  Leave those feelings of unworthiness at the cross along with the feelings of guilt and obligation. Of course you are unworthy, but when I look at you, I see Jesus. My unlimited grace and mercy provide the path for you to be connected to Me out of love. I would not have you trade one set of chains for another.”