. . . do you love Me? . . . Tend My sheep  —John 21:16

 Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not really want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is deeply offensive to the educated minds of today, to those who only want Him to be their Friend, and who are unwilling to accept Him in any other way. Our Lord’s primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people— the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble. But if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity, even though people may treat me like a “doormat.” The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that “falls into the ground and dies”— it will spring up and change the entire landscape (John 12:24).

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June 19, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I don’t want to just “go through the motions”.  I want my heart to break with what breaks yours.  I want to be less cynical and protective and more engaging and open. I want to be naive and open; helping instead of judging.  Lord, please make me a man after Your own heart. Please remake me in Your image and teach me how to leave my self-interests for you as I am transformed and captivated by the needs of others.

And God says…”Jesus gave you two commandments: love the Lord with all your heart and mind and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself. You find peace and joy, becoming more whole and completed, when you pursue these two commandments.  Just “going through the motions” is simply one more way of saying that you do not trust Me to guide you and meet all your needs. When you are simply “going through the motions”, you are pursuing your own agenda, following your will, not My will, because you do not trust Me to meet all your needs. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight.”

. . . Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid . . . —Matthew 14:29-30

The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.

We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.

If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.

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June 18, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I get the message about keeping my eyes on you during  storms and trials, I really do. In fact, I believe I hear you most clearly when  I am in the middle of a storm. C S Lewis thought that was the case when he described  our pain as God’s megaphone. Whenever I see or even suspect a storm, I run to  You. In fact, I often feel like I may let You down because I cling to You most  tightly and seek You most desperately on the occasion of storms.

And God says…”All  things work together for good, for those that love the Lord and are called  according to His purpose. Storms, tough times, difficult circumstances; they  are all used to help shape and refine you. When you begin to see heaven as your  home, you begin to understand that this life on earth is simply a preparation for  life everlasting. All that occurs in this life shapes and helps prepare you for  the next. And the most amazing lesson is your realization that you are complete  only when you are connected to Jesus. If storms and tough times are what drive  you  closer to Jesus, then they are good for your life.”

They said to Him, ’Rabbi . . . where are You staying?’ He said to them, ’Come and see’ —John 1:38-39

Where our self-interest sleeps and the real interest is awakened.

“You are Simon . . . . You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42). God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

Pride is the sin of making “self” our god. And some of us today do this, not like the Pharisee, but like the tax collector (see Luke 18:9-14). For you to say, “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable by human standards of pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. You defy God to make you a saint, as if to say, “I am too weak and hopeless and outside the reach of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.” Why aren’t you a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe that God can make you into one. You say it would be all right if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is exactly what He will do! And not only do we make our home with Him, but Jesus said of His Father and Himself, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Put no conditions on your life— let Jesus be everything to you, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for eternity.

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June 12, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this lesson and song remind me that You are here with me through and in everything. It reminds me that I cannot and should not feel distance between us, even when I know I have consciously made a wrong choice. That is what the enemy wants from me; to pull away from you, believing I am not worthy of Your grace, mercy, love and blessings. And standing by myself I am not worthy. But you remind me that You are here with me through everything and I am covered by the worthiness of Jesus from which to receive all you promise.

And God says…”The sacrifice of Jesus was and is sufficient. It requires nothing more. You cannot add your value to His worthiness. You cannot add value by good works, or “Christian service”. And you do not and cannot “qualify” for His grace, mercy, love and blessings by following a “right path”. You “qualify” by believing in Jesus and allowing Him to live through you…through everything, at all times in your life. If you want life and life more abundantly, simply stay connected to Jesus;  through everything. Even in the times when you make the wrong choices. Trust in  the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own understanding or ideas  and He will make your paths straight.”

Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28

Where sin and sorrow stops, and the song of the saint starts.

Have you ever come to Jesus? Look at the stubbornness of your heart. You would rather do anything than this one simple childlike thing— “Come to Me.” If you really want to experience ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.

Jesus Christ makes Himself the test to determine your genuineness. Look how He used the word come. At the most unexpected moments in your life there is this whisper of the Lord— “Come to Me,” and you are immediately drawn to Him. Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.

“. . . and I will give you rest”— that is, “I will sustain you, causing you to stand firm.” He is not saying, “I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.” But, in essence, He is saying, “I will get you out of bed— out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive. I will penetrate you with the spirit of life, and you will be sustained by the perfection of vital activity.” Yet we become so weak and pitiful and talk about “suffering” the will of the Lord! Where is the majestic vitality and the power of the Son of God in that?

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June 11, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord the lesson You give me over and over and over is simply, for me to embrace and focus on my relationship with Jesus. No rules about what to do or not to do or how to become a better person; the lesson is the same and while on the one hand it makes no sense at all, at my very core I know that it makes all the sense in the world. I am to focus and engage Jesus in the morning, when I rise and all the day and all my life long. Everything else will follow our relationship.

And God says…”Jesus is the way, the truth and the light. No one can come to the Father, except through Jesus. It is a very simple message; come to Jesus, and trust Him to lead you into all that you need; spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially….in every way trust Him and know a peace that passes all understanding. You come to mornings knowing that Jesus has you in His hands, and all you can do is praise Him. Come to the place where you review your day, your tasks, and your demands and responsibilities and simply say, give me Jesus.”

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them —John 13:17

When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. Examine where you have become sluggish, where you began losing interest spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do. You did not do it because there seemed to be no immediate call to do it. But now you have no insight or discernment, and at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more.

The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice . . .” (1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . .” (John 7:17).

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June 8, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I have learned, and am still learning all I can about trusting You to deal with the uncertainty in my life. I am learning to let go of the idea that IF I can control, see or touch my own solutions and answers only then will be at peace. But it is hard Lord. Just when I have the idea that you have it all under Your control for my good; I am reminded by the enemy that I am not worthy of Your blessings. I remind myself of how I have failed You and then conclude that You certainly would not bless someone like me.

And God says…”You must remember that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. And recall that nothing can separate you from my love, not even your shortcomings or failures. I will not allow you to be hurt or damaged, although I will allow you to endure pain and circumstances that will make you stronger. You can never be worthy of My blessings, but you are covered by the sacrifice of Jesus, and He will always be sufficient to cover you and make you acceptable and pleasing to Me. I will bless and keep you because you are more than acceptable to Me, in Christ Jesus.  My grace is sufficient, My mercy unending and My love for you everlasting.”

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . —John 14:13

However, I must take the time to realize what this central point of power is. Am I willing to give one minute out of every hour to concentrate on it? “If you abide in Me . . . “— that is, if you continue to act, and think, and work from that central point— “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Am I abiding? Am I taking the time to abide? What is the greatest source of power in my life? Is it my work, service, and sacrifice for others, or is it my striving to work for God? It should be none of these— what ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the atonement of the Lord. It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us. We must make a determination to limit and concentrate our desires and interests on the atonement by the Cross of Christ.

“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . .” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God.

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June 7, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I thank you for reminding me that You are the love, power, grace and mercy that I need to live an abundant life. Thank you for reminding me once again that evidence of Your love and power is not in the outcomes and crisis of my life, but in the strength and faith You give me in spite of…(or could it be because of) the circumstances of this life.

And God says…”Trust in Jesus to meet all your needs, all the time. One day you will step off into the unknown when you pass from this life to the next. You will live to a time and place and circumstance you absolutely cannot control and you will realize that you must trust Jesus. This opportunity happens for everyone when they move from earth to heaven. But can you consider living an abundant life of trust; trusting Jesus just like that while living day to day? That is the way to live an abundant life, not dependent on any circumstance or outcome.  Why not live life abundantly by trusting Jesus today? Trust Him for the outcomes you do not know and cannot fathom. Trust Him because He is the Son of God and gave Himself for you. Surrender your day, hopes, dreams, worries, and yes even the outcomes of your prayers to Him. ”

. . . work out your own salvation . . . for it is God who works in you . . . —Philippians 2:12-13

Your will agrees with God, but in your flesh there is a nature that renders you powerless to do what you know you ought to do. When the Lord initially comes in contact with our conscience, the first thing our conscience does is awaken our will, and our will always agrees with God. Yet you say, “But I don’t know if my will is in agreement with God.” Look to Jesus and you will find that your will and your conscience are in agreement with Him every time. What causes you to say “I will not obey” is something less deep and penetrating than your will. It is perversity or stubbornness, and they are never in agreement with God. The most profound thing in a person is his will, not sin.

The will is the essential element in God’s creation of human beings— sin is a perverse nature which entered into people. In someone who has been born again, the source of the will is Almighty God. “. . . for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” With focused attention and great care, you have to “work out” what God “works in” you— not work to accomplish or earn “your own salvation,” but work it out so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord. As you do this, you do not bring an opposing will up against God’s will— God’s will is your will. Your natural choices will be in accordance with God’s will, and living this life will be as natural as breathing. Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier of stubbornness is to blow it up with “dynamite,” and the “dynamite” is obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Do I believe that Almighty God is the Source of my will? God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.

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June 6, 2012

Lord, this lesson reminds me that on this earth as a believer, I will always be in conflict with my own nature, even when I surrender my will to You. I thought this was a “one-time” thing; that once I gave my heart and life to You that I could and would easily live in your will. But that has not been the case. Even when I purposefully and completely surrender my will to Yours, I find that I must be diligent and focused on Jesus as I can quickly and easily revert to fear, uncertainty and selfishness. I can quickly revert to the “old man”.

And God says…”It is a daily, minute by minute activity, to take up your cross and follow Me. While you are on this earth, you will need to work out your salvation, by staying in connection with Jesus. You cannot work harder or become more disciplined because you choose; you become more focused and more disciplined, when you are close to Jesus. Surrender early and often every day and realize that “working out your salvation” simply means to learn how to let Jesus live through you. Jesus lives through you when you surrender to Him. He provides all the focus and discipline you will ever need.

Romans 7: 14-25
(MSG) I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?”  Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What  I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act  another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure  out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s  command is necessary.

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real
question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.

He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’ —Hebrews 13:5

“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.

“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.

Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . .for He knew what was in man —John 2:24-25

Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God.

Put God’s Will First. “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:9).

A person’s obedience is to what he sees to be a need— our Lord’s obedience was to the will of His Father. The rallying cry today is, “We must get to work! The heathen are dying without God. We must go and tell them about Him.” But we must first make sure that God’s “needs” and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, “. . . tarry . . . until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Once God’s “needs” in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His “needs” elsewhere.

Put God’s Son First. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:5).

God came as a baby, giving and entrusting Himself to me. He expects my personal life to be a “Bethlehem.” Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Come, Lord, Let my life be a Bethlehem for you to grow bigger and bigger in. Oswald says “slowly transformed.” I’m glad he said slowly. And I’m glad you have patience … more patience than me or most of my fellow humans have. Thanks for being God to us and not treating us as we “deserve” but rather with your Grace and Love which is non-understandably infinite.

If you have the same priorities that I did (I have come to do your will) and that Paul did:
Romans 12:2 (NLT)… Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

John 5:19 NLT 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.

This is obviously the best way to live. And it’s clear when I come away and lock out the world and just spend time with you … but it’s so easy to get off track when the cares and affairs of the world jump up and scream for attention. What to do?

There are many aspects of living a life in my footsteps. Build them into habits, and work on one at a time. Start at the beginning each day with quality time with me. We’ll go over and over these basics and I’ll show you the next steps.

Thank you, Lord.

In that day you will ask in My name . . . for the Father Himself loves you . . . —John 16:26-27

“. . . whatever you ask the Father in My name . . .” (John 16:23). “That day” is a day of peace and an untroubled relationship between God and His saint. Just as Jesus stood unblemished and pure in the presence of His Father, we too by the mighty power and effectiveness of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be lifted into that relationship—”. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22).

“. . . He will give you” (John 16:23). Jesus said that because of His name God will recognize and respond to our prayers. What a great challenge and invitation—to pray in His name! Through the resurrection and ascension power of Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit He has sent, we can be lifted into such a relationship. Once in that wonderful position, having been placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in Jesus’ name—in His nature. This is a gift granted to us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus said, “. . . whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested and proved by His own statements.

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May 29, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I have had so many unanswered prayers I often wonder  if your promise was meant for everyone else but me. You know the promise that…” My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”  I did not see any qualifiers in the scripture, qualifiers like, “Whatever you ask must be in God’s will”, or “you must be in  God’s will”, or “God is going to give you something better; later”. And the one  that seems to make the most sense to my limited awareness; God will only answer  your prayers for your ultimate good.  OK,  I understand and appreciate those qualifiers”, but the scripture is very  clear, “My Father will give you whatever you  ask in my name”. Lord, what are the issues and conditions or caveats that condition  what at first seemed like a very simple promise that I could have whatever I asked?

And  God says…”Just like a little child that wants to run headlong out into the  street, I need to “parent you” until you are the very image of Jesus, or until you understand and will avoid the dangers of trying to fulfill your desires. The  ultimate and desired outcome for all of My children is to become the very  likeness of Jesus. You are not shaped and purified by getting your own way; you  are shaped and purified by living in My will. Why do you think Jesus said (Matthew 19:23-30) “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven? Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the  eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” This  scripture, “My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” will come alive  for you and you will understand the scope of this promise when you live in intimate relationship with me. (Matthew 6:33) Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is  Jesus, and all these things will be added unto you. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in God with all your heart and do not rely on your own  understanding, and He will make your paths straight.”