What Would Dave Say

JOURNAL ENTRIES

“My hope in the Christian life is not in trying hard but in depending more on what Jesus can do through me. I want to nestle more and wrestle less!” - March 14, 1987

“Jesus knows that the strength of the flesh will at times make us do what both He and we know is not in our hearts to do.  For that, there is forgiveness and a chance to start fresh every day.  I’m done beating myself up and  I’m done letting the enemy beat me up.” - April 5, 1990

“Could it truly be, Father, that by your sovereign grace and mercy you’ve gifted me more than many by giving me thorns and difficulties?  I’m blessed to experience your intimate, manifested presence and power.  David said it best: ‘…a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere…’ Good math tells me one month in your active, intimate presence is more than ninety years.  Then I’ve lived many lifetimes and you’ve blessed me abundantly.” - January 1, 1991

“I want to gaze at God and glance at my problems.” - November 22, 1989

“Your grace is all I cling to.  As David said, ‘Have mercy on me, deliver me, heal me, restore me.’  I know the flesh, world, and the devil will not quit fighting until I leave this planet.  But please strengthen my hands for war.  With your righteousness, your truth, your peace, given by your performance, I can stand.  I want in my heart of hearts to be YOURS and YOURS alone.” - April 4, 1990
   
"Difficult days…a nation at war, a recession in the economy, flu in the house and in the body, cold weather outside, busy schedules…the list goes on.  These are the times that are most conducive for your sweet, refreshing presence.  A joy, a peace, a contentment regardless of circumstances.  I turn to You, oh God, my rock.  You are my hope in  despair, my security in instability, my spring in winter, my peace in war, my joy in sickness.  Energize me to endure with joy!" - January 30, 1991

QUOTES

"Pay more attention to the lights on the dashboard of your life than the dashboard of your car.  Changing the oil in your car is far less important than changing the attitude in your heart. A compromised life is just the light on the dashboard that indicates a problem in the engine room."

 "Drawing life from another human being instead of God is like having two ticks and no dog.  Sooner or later, that well will run dry."

"If I have discovered anything about Christianity, it"s that Christianity is about what is happening on the inside.  If you allow God to take care of what"s inside, the outside will take care of itself."

"In spite of the bad rap this little word receives, "repentance" is a wonderful word.  It simply means to say "goodbye" to false gods and "hello" to Jesus.  It"s the way life is restored and our hearts are recovered again.  Repentance changes our hearts about who is going to be the source of our lives." 

"Here"s a welcome word for you.  Jesus is not hiding in the shadows to shame or berate you.  Get a picture of a compassionate God, waving you towards him by saying, “Are you tired, yet?  Your plan can"t work.  I know it looked as if it could for a while, but come!  Come to me.  Bring your fatigue, frustration, all your wounds, all your guilt to me.”"

"Learning the principle of receiving is the most important part of giving."

"It is imperative that we come to Jesus every day and receive.  Salvation is wonderful but we must receive more than that.  We must be receiving His presence in every day situations:  “Hello, Jesus.  It"s me again and I need to receive a touch from your presence to make it through today!”  That is drinking from the real Fountain."

"One of the biggest lies I ever believed in my life was this:  the key to the Christian life is to try harder.  It"s an oxymoron to join self-effort with faith walking.  There is no such thing.  That"s like trying to mix oil and water." 

"You may be surprised at what a good candidate you are to impact the lives of others.  If you"re normal, you"re just right!"

"The more we go to Jesus as a lifestyle, the more we discover that He will fill us up with His presence to the point of overflowing.  The more we receive and depend, the more we will spill over."