Taking Possession of Our Own Soul

May 20th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

By your patience possess your souls —Luke 21:19


When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.______________________________________________________________________
May 20, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV 

Lord, once again I read Chambers’ devotional and it reads like one of the many devotionals and sermons of the early  20th Century or one of the conservative sermons I have heard over and over and over; just grit your teeth pull yourself up from your bootstraps and become a better Christian. Great advice, it was great advice the first time I heard it 300 sermons ago.  But how do we live it out? How do we really pull ourselves up, and add the spiritual courage and determination that Chambers talks about?

I used this song because it seems to me the gritting of teeth and acts of will and determination have never really worked and you have been teaching us that the only way to live it out is to be intimately connected to You and Your love.

 

And God said…”The song says it well; all I ever wanted was your love.  I did not want a productive Adam in the garden; I simply wanted a relationship with him. I did not want to give you 10 rules for living, which was their idea, I wanted a relationship. I do not want your self will regardless of its morality.  I want you. I want you connected to Me in a way that allows your weakness and surrender to be converted into my strength….daily. It is good to think about your Christian courage and determination, but that can only truly arise out of your daily surrender and our intimate relationship. Trust in Me in all your ways and do not rely on your own understanding or actions, and I will make your paths straight.”

 

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Out of the Wreck I Rise

May 19th, 2014 by Dave No comments »

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? —Romans 8:35

God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victors” in the midst of them, not because of our own ingenuity, nor because of our courage, but because none of them affects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.

“Shall tribulation . . . ?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).

“Shall . . . distress . . . ?” Can God’s love continue to hold fast, even when everyone and everything around us seems to be saying that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?

“Shall . . . famine . . . ?” Can we not only believe in the love of God but also be “more than conquerors,” even while we are being starved?

Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver, having deceived even Paul, or else some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him. Only one thing can account for it— the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Out of the wreck I rise” every time.

____________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
These words focus today’s lesson for me.

some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him.

That “extraordinary thing” which happens seems to be when we begin to see with your eyes, Like you did in John 5:19 … “only did what you saw the Father doing…. And think with your thoughts, which are higher and different … in a whole different category with different rules of logic.

Isaiah 55:8-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Lord, I want to peek into your world and see over your shoulder and walk in these ways more regularly. And can I get there “sooner” … sooner than after having exhausted all my human rationality and will power options.

It’s a good goal. There will always be some things reserved for when you get completely here. But I want to share much more of my life and power and love with you than you have been receiving. My Love is the connection that transforms your stressed out thinking to living on that higher plane where you really do “count it all joy” You have the tools. They will work if you pick them up and use them Acceptance, (without complaint) Curiosity, Expectation, and a firm Connection as we walk together.

Yes, Lord. I believe all that …. Now help me in my unbelief.

OK I will. You just keep coming and I’ll keep delivering my part.

Thanks, I love you.

« Previous Day

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

The Habit of Rising to the Occasion

May 15th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18

Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.

You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.

God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.

May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.

___________________________________________________________________

 

May 15, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for the lesson about roadblocks and trials again. It seems that You bring this lesson to me over and over and over again. Perhaps I do not need everything to go smoothly and without difficulty in order to find peace and happiness. Today we learned that staying curious inside the trial, curious about how and what You will do to allow us to live the abundant life can be a good place to reside….even if the trial remains.

And God says…”Trust in Me in all your ways and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight.  Do not interpret your circumstances and occasional difficulties as indicators of being abandoned by Me. Your difficulties in this life can be life lessons, processes that strengthen your heart, mind and soul. Trust in Me, seek first the kingdom of God, and allow Me to provide everything else you need. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. When you see difficulties, roadblocks, and challenges do not think first about how to avoid them and or have them removed; rather think ….”I wonder how God will use this circumstance for His glory and my growth as He provides all that I will ever need. Remember that I love you so much, I gave you my Son.  With this example you must realize I will not withhold any other good thing from you”.

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

The Habit of Enjoying Adversity

May 14th, 2014 by Dave No comments »


. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body —2 Corinthians 4:10

We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of “myself” that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.

You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19).

Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.

_______________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good morning Lord. I’m glad Mr Chambers put in the part about not choosing adversity but rather being in a state ready to go thru anything by keeping our connection clear and your life flowing and empowering us.

And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19).

Chambers said no debating. It seems like David did some debating and complaining in the Psalms and a lot of your guys did some complaining……..

True. They were human and I allowed the whole thing to be recorded. So you can learn from their experiences without having to make all the mistakes yourself. You will notice that the complaining didn’t help them. It usually made things worse. The debating can be a part of a good relationship. We get to know each other that way. Just remember that I’m God and you’re not. And that I love you and want the best for you. This will lead to some good skills. Like surrendering quickly. Go ahead and make your case. I’ll make mine and you’ll see my wisdom and love …… Then we can go on to the next subject.

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience

May 13th, 2014 by Dave No comments »

. . . strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men —Acts 24:16

God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.

Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).

God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . .” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.

 

_____________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
If we, as Mr Chambers suggests, “attach to the highest standard I know, and then continually strive toward what that standard demands that I do”…. It seems there is plenty of room to run amuck. Witness Christians fighting other Christians, Crusades, Manifest Destiny and a host of other things that the people thought were your standards, and the highest standards….. but they were mistaken. What are we to do?

It’s time to “keep it simple” Remember my two primary commandments. Require that all your other options grow out of and support those two … Love God, Love Neighbor. Obviously the examples you mentioned didn’t fit in either one or both of those two.

That makes it clear (er) Now just to implement it. Help me this day to run all the options and all my thinking thru that filter of Love God, Love Neighbor

Would it be fair to say that those people did the best they could with what they had? Or that they did what they thought was right and Godly? Even as they were sometimes missing your two Great Commandments?

Yes, in most cases people felt they were doing the right and highest thing. Either that or they didn’t think about it at all in those terms. So a regular review of your position relative to those two is a good idea. So is a willingness to be wrong and change direction. Cultivate your hearing and also your quick obedience … and your hearing will get better and better.

« Previous Day

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

The Habit of Having No Habits

May 12th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful . . . —2 Peter 1:8


When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, “I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God.” No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.

__________________________________________________________

 

May 12, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I did not quite “get this devotional”. I thought that whatever we do that helps us get and stay connected to You would be a good thing. Should I take a look at my own habits? Should I reconsider a daily devotional at the same time with David Mondays through Thursdays? Is Chambers saying that this habit is misplaced?

And God says…”There are those that allow the habit to become so established that they forget the original reason for the habit was to get and stay connected to Jesus. That is the litmus test. Does the habit establish or strengthen your connection with Jesus? If so, continue. If not, well….you know the answer to that. Beware of spiritual conventions and patterns that do not help establish or maintain connection with Jesus. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need will be provided. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.”

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

The Faith to Persevere

May 8th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

Because you have kept My command to persevere . . . —Revelation 3:10


Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.

______________________________________________________________

Prayer for Today-JDV

May 8, 2014

Lord, if I am to be a man after Your own heart, You will have to write the story on my heart. If I am to “stay the course” or return to the course when I stray, You will have to lead me. If I am to find the strength and courage to persevere, You will need to provide the strength and courage.  Lord when circumstances and trials become too difficult for me, I am prone to run and hide, or seek my own power and distractions. Lord, please write Your love, power and grace on my heart and mind today. Please keep me connected to You and make me a man after Your own heart.

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Building For Eternity

May 7th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it . . . —Luke 14:28


Our Lord was not referring here to a cost which we have to count, but to a cost which He has already counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal, and hatred, the unfathomable agony He experienced in Gethsemane, and the assault upon Him at Calvary— the central point upon which all of time and eternity turn. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. In the final analysis, people are not going to laugh at Him and say, “This man began to build and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:30).The conditions of discipleship given to us by our Lord in verses 26, 27, and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple ” (Luke 14:26). This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion— those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.All that we build is going to be inspected by God. When God inspects us with His searching and refining fire, will He detect that we have built enterprises of our own on the foundation of Jesus? (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). We are living in a time of tremendous enterprises, a time when we are trying to work for God, and that is where the trap is. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus, as the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.

 

_____________________________________________________________

May 7, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for the reminder that I cannot build any lasting thing from my own ideas and effort.  Thank you for reminding me that I am to simply surrender and allow You to live in me and through me.

And God says…”This is not a partnership. God is not your co-pilot. Let Jesus be your pilot, co-pilot, even airplane itself.  I am not your helper in this life; I must be your life. Simply surrender yourself to Jesus trust in Him and He will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. I cannot let you down. It is not in My nature. However, I cannot reach out and lift you up as long as you are “grounded and mired” in your own effort.  You must let go and let Me be your God. Simply surrender to Jesus, and let my love lift you up and into whatever you require. Trust in Me and do not rely on your own devices and I will make your paths straight. Trust Me to make your life complete and provide all you need in this life; including the ways and means of the work you do in My name.”

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Liberty and the Standards of Jesus

May 6th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free . . . —Galatians 5:1


A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand—”Believe this and that”; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go . . . and make disciples. . .” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

May 6, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I am so thankful that Your great grace finds me wherever I am, whatever I am doing.  Thank you for reminding me that this very same grace you provide me is provided everyone. Thank you for lifting me up this morning with this song and the reminder that Your grace finds me wherever I am.

And God says…”Only a sacrifice the magnitude of which can only be imagined could have provided and demonstrated the love, grace and care I hold for you. Because of My grace, the grace demonstrated by Jesus, you do not have to focus on your life and your inability to “live the life.” You can focus on Jesus and your connection with Him, and My grace and love, and transformation will find you.”

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Judgment and the Love of God

May 5th, 2014 by JDVaughn No comments »

The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God . . . —1 Peter 4:17


The Christian servant must never forget that salvation is God’s idea, not man’s; therefore, it has an unfathomable depth. Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience. Experience is simply the door through which salvation comes into the conscious level of our life so that we are aware of what has taken place on a much deeper level. Never preach the experience— preach the great thought of God behind the experience. When we preach, we are not simply proclaiming how people can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying good news about God.In the teachings of Jesus Christ the element of judgment is always brought out— it is the sign of the love of God. Never sympathize with someone who finds it difficult to get to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to figure out the reason for the difficulty, but only to present the truth of God so that the Spirit of God will reveal what is wrong. The greatest test of the quality of our preaching is whether or not it brings everyone to judgment. When the truth is preached, the Spirit of God brings each person face to face with God Himself.If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account. Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.
____________________________________________________
Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this feels so much like condemnation or rationalization for why bad things happen to believers. Should our concern with judgment be a part of our thinking? Should we be concerned about judgment at all? Lord, I have memory of many of my daily failures. Should I be concerned about my failures and the judgment that starts within Your house?

And God says…”There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. I can find no fault in you. I can see no imperfection in you at all. When I look at you all I can see is Christ Jesus. The processes of redemption and sanctification do not come from you, your knowledge, behavior or lifestyle; they come from Jesus. The judgment that starts with the house of God, is simply the decision, or decree that this is where we can begin our knowledge and understanding of our need for Jesus. That even in the church, or especially in the church, we find our need to be connected to Jesus so that we can be whole and complete. Trust in the Me with all your heart, do not rely on your own understanding, or your institutions, and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Give your heart to Me and watch a wonderful life and story unfold.”

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized