The woman said to Him, ’Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep’ —John 4:11

. . though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved —2 Corinthians 12:15


Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself— he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.

The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.

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February 25, 2014-JDV

Lord, once again Oswald Chambers lays big blocks of guilt and responsibility on us about our commitment and service. And while I agree with the outcomes, it seems like something is missing; namely that in my own strength and motivation, I simply lack the ability to “do something”.  Not only will I do nothing; left to my own devices, I will be consumed by own needs and concerns.  Thank You for showing me that I can only “do something” or properly serve others when I am connected to You and You are serving others through me.

And God says…”Left to your own strength and motivations, you may reach out and help others occasionally. You might occasionally “do something” for those in need, but the effort will wear you out. If you are not first connected and being led and directed by Jesus, the results will not be substantial, or lasting. (Apart from Me you can do nothing) I do not want your guilt or obligation as the motivating factors for service, any more than I want your worship, study and prayer out of obligation. I want our relationship and your service to rise up from love.  You will find this capacity for love, service, worship and our relationship in the person of Jesus.   Be connected to Jesus and be transformed into a man that loves to serve and worship.  Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight…..and you will be amazed at your capacity to (as the song says) “do something ”

I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls . . . —2 Corinthians 12:15

Arise, let us go from here —John 14:31

Daydreaming about something in order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. In this passage, after having said these wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected our Lord to tell them to go away and meditate over them all. But Jesus never allowed idle daydreaming. When our purpose is to seek God and to discover His will for us, daydreaming is right and acceptable. But when our inclination is to spend time daydreaming over what we have already been told to do, it is unacceptable and God’s blessing is never on it. God will take the initiative against this kind of daydreaming by prodding us to action. His instructions to us will be along the lines of this: “Don’t sit or stand there, just go!”

If we are quietly waiting before God after He has said to us, “Come aside by yourselves . . .” then that is meditation before Him to seek His will (Mark 6:31). Beware, however, of giving in to mere daydreaming once God has spoken. Allow Him to be the source of all your dreams, joys, and delights, and be careful to go and obey what He has said. If you are in love with someone, you don’t sit and daydream about that person all the time— you go and do something for him. That is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Daydreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Today again we see that there is never a cookbook answer and sometimes daydreaming is exactly what you are calling for and the place where we will connect and where you’ll deliver our answers. And sometimes it is not. Then it is wasting time and perhaps dangerous.

Yes, After I have spoken, and you have heard, to daydream more about it is to invite other voices. When that starts, confusion comes. You cannot serve two masters. After you have heard, it’s time for what I said in this verse: “Arise, let us go from here” —John 14:31

Also remember that “Opportunities Pass” In the past you have pondered on who to vote for … until the polls closed.

That’s true … but I still wasn’t clear. I was waiting to get clear. Obviously I waited too long. What went wrong?

I said, “All things work together for good … for those that love me. That day, you loved your idea of getting clear and being right. There are many things that can damage our communication. Not necessarily bad things. Like Martha preparing the meal and stressing out about Mary not helping her. Remember it is a process of learning to hear and stay in the flow of our communication. There will be mistakes. Dont give up. They are part of learning. don’t make a monument of your mistakes. I have forgotten them. It’s a new day. You have a new chance to get it right and stay in flow. That may mean, “Come away and be still” or it may mean, “Arise and get going.”

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Journal for Today-JDV

February 20, 2014

Lord, thank you for the lesson about answered prayer.  Thank you for reminding me that You always do what is the best for me. You do not answer my prayers three ways: yes, no, and or not yet.  You always do what is best for me; regardless.  Please help me to learn and understand that regardless of the change or lack of change in my situation or circumstances, You are always doing what is in my very best interest; even though I may not get what I want, thought I needed and or believed was right and proper. I am not God, and I cannot see the circumstance or life the way You can and do. I must simply trust you. 

And God says…”You are starting to truly understand the scripture …”that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding and He will make your paths straight.” You would not allow your three or four year old child to tell you how to raise and care for them.  And your human awareness, intellect and perception is like that of a very small child compared to My all-consuming love, grace, power, knowledge and intellect.  Remember I am omnipotent.”

“If I truly love you I would not answer your every prayer and request, I would instead give you what is the very best, from my Godly perspective, knowledge and awareness. Simply delight yourself in Me, get and stay connected to Me and I will give you the peace the passes all understanding, as I meet all your needs according to My riches in heaven.”

Arise, shine . . . —Isaiah 60:1

When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God. There is no point in waiting for God to help us— He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue— a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.

Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine. Read John 13. In this chapter, we see the Incarnate God performing the greatest example of drudgery— washing fishermen’s feet. He then says to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it. Our Lord takes our human flesh and transforms it, and now every believer’s body has become “the temple of the Holy Spirit”

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February 19, 2014-JDV

Lord, once again you take me to a lesson about being connected to You.  The previous three lessons were similar; lessons about despair, depression, and drudgery.  And while we know that being in these states of mind and emotions are “natural human conditions”, You make it clear that the way out (or away) from these circumstances is to be connected to You. You are teaching us that obedience is a path to connection and one we should pursue for our own well-being, not because you simply want us obedient and conforming. Thank you for the ongoing lessons about connection and how being connected to You allows us to live apart from despair, drudgery and depression.  

And God says…”I came to give you life and life more abundantly. I have provided My Son, the Word and the Holy Spirit to help you live this life of abundance. Simply be connected to Jesus, allow Him to live through you, and observe what an abundant life you can live…in the very same circumstances. Change is “an inside job”.  When you are connected to Me through Jesus, you can see the world and your circumstance differently. Where you saw roadblocks you now see opportunities.  Where you saw “no way” you now see clear paths to desired outcomes. When you love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself, the world and your circumstances take on a different perspective. When you are connected to Jesus, you are energized and transformed beyond depression, despair, and drudgery.”

Rise, let us be going —Matthew 26:46