Whyzat?  Because it’s easiest for me to be sovereignty-aware when I’m all alone.  When I’m online, on the phone, or with others, I’m not alone, don’t FEEL alone.  Being alone gives me the opportunity to FEEL alone, FEEL the pressures on me, the disappointments, frustrations, the sense of my life being UP TO ME, the…

Just like judging is a curse, and getting-or-wanting-my-way is a curse.  A bargain seems so noble, so frugal, so worthy.  Problem is, bargains are ADDICTIVE.  Like other addictions, you become obsessive, and they become all-consuming, where you spend inordinate amounts of time researching to find the very-best purchase: price, condition, quality, whatever.  A purchasing regret…

not a blessing.  WHAT?  Yup.  Pathway to miserable addiction.  Getting-my-way THWARTED by Jesus, is an enormous blessing, because it opens the door to my being retrained in a much-better way of living — disillusioned in my flesh’s confidence-it-knows-what’ll-make-me-happy.  But getting-my-way thwarted by Jesus is ONLY an enormous blessing when I’m convinced that getting-or-wanting-my-way is a…

easier circumstances, better circumstances — I need a different Dave — a Dave content with Jesus and the circumstances He’s carefully crafted for Dave, needing nothing more, nothing different. So, why hasn’t Jesus given me easier circumstances?  Because He’s using the harrrd, the suffering, to retrain me in a better way of living — from…

it’s so helpful when I remember that I’m not ALONE, that it’s not up to ME to figgeritallout perfectly, and that my interpretation/understanding is not up to ME — that Jesus is totally sovereign over every detail of my life, including my biblical understanding.  Ahhh, s’wunnerful to rest in the sovereign reign of my ShepherdJesus.…

is what Jesus has for me, right now, in these present circumstances.  NOOOO.  My flesh thinks the BEST-case scenario is…easy…things going MY way, as judged by my flesh.  Dave’sFlesh is confident-it-knows-what’s-best, but in reality, it dunno nuttin about what’s best for me, or others.  Dave’sFlesh LOVES feeling great physiologically, free of pain with gobbsa energy,…

I’m not a contented follower of Jesus.  I feel ENTITLED to better than what I have, physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, relationally, vocationally, and for SURE, automotively.  I’m like Oliver Twist in the orphanage — I want MORE.  Jesus is not ENOUGH for me.  I want MORE.  I want BETTER.  I DESERVE better.  I feel ENTITLED…

when my reality is informed by my eyes and ears.  But when my reality is informed by Scripture, my life is up to my SovereignShepherdJesus.  I’m not MY problem, but His problem.  It’s not MY reign, but His reign.  Ahhh.  So thankful for His growing me more-and-more aware of my INdependency, because Jesus-dependency is the pearl of…

I need a different DAVE.  My flesh imagines I would be happier with a different car.  But I already HAVE a great car, and it hasn’t made me content.  I need a different DAVE.  A Dave who is CONTENT with the car he HAS, with the body he has, with the maturity he has, with…

Thank You, Jesus, for regular supporters plus several unusual gifts in 2017, so income exceeded expenses by $3000!  Impressive.  Twelve months ago we ran a $5k + deficit.  We really need this cushion going into 2018, because cash was low all year, and so low in November that my paycheck was only $400.  But made…