Little Things Can Cause Big Falls

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us not to sweat the little things. However, we also need to deal with some of them immediately.

I learned this lesson from a little Lego piece. It was on the living room floor; one of the boys must have dropped it or forgotten it. I saw it, didn’t really sweat it though. I kept right on going, on my way to the kitchen to get my cup of coffee. Everyone was off to school and the morning rush was over. While I was in the kitchen, the phone rang. I had a ten minute conversation with a neighbor, refilled my coffee cup, and headed back into the living room to enjoy the peace and quiet. Sure enough, that Lego found its way right under my left foot. After I cleaned up the puddle of coffee on the floor, and changed my coffee soaked shirt, I laughed at myself. If I had just picked up that Lego right away when I saw it…LOL

The message tells us that it isn’t the little things that get to us. It is when we allow them to grow, to accumulate-(every day it’s like this!), and to build in intensity until we blow, that they cause problems. Sometimes the damages are pretty severe. People have divorced after 20 years of marriage because somebody let all the little things build up. Had they dealt with them immediately and worked out solutions, they might have made it to 75 years of married bliss. No, things aren’t always blissful. But knowing that mate loves you and you love him/her enough to work things out, to see things through, etc., is bliss. For better or worse means even when things are as bad as they can be, or seem to be, we still love one another and fight for each other rather than against each other. Work relationships work the same way. The team is what counts. The whole unit is affected by the little things that are allowed to build until the blow up causes a collapse.

Personal meltdowns happen the same way. When we don’t deal with the little things that irritate us, or are stumbling blocks or barriers to us, we end up collapsing under the weight of them when they’ve built up to unmanageable size. Things that irritate us do so sometimes because of our perception or expectation. These can become stumbling blocks and/or barriers to us. Sometimes, a fall over one of these can cause quite a bit of damage. Just that one little cheeseburger because I’m angry and frustrated, is a good example. It’s just one little cheeseburger…but how often am I angry and frustrated? And pretty soon, you’re on a merry-go-round with the cheeseburger, the anger, and the frustration. And, of course, now I’m angry because I’ve eaten that cheeseburger, and frustrated about my weight and my lack of will power…You’re shackled to all three because each one supports the others. Now, it’s a big thing, and it’s overwhelming you. That’s a good incentive to be very honest with oneself. I absolutely hated having to be that honest with myself back in the day. My toughest little big things were in some of my relationships, and the alcohol. But, and thank you, Jesus, I’ve learned to pick that Lego up right when I see it on the floor. I’m much happier because I have much more peace within, and confidence about my ability to cope with life.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Laying Claim To It

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are joint heirs with Christ Jesus. “Heirs of God – you are joint heirs with Me in the inheritance. We share the Father’s property. You have the same right to use and claim I have. Use your right. A beggar supplicates. A son, a daughter, appropriates.” That’s a quote directly from the message.

When we pair this with, “seek ye first the Kingdom, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33), we have a wonderful key. As I think about seeking first the Kingdom, I think about what spiritual need is linked to my physical, or material need. “May you prosper as your soul prospers…”(3 John 1:2) When we put those two truths together with “where your treasure is, your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:20-21), we can see a little more clearly, how the material is linked to the Spirit.

In the Spiritual storehouses, we find peace, creativity, freedom, joy, etc.-fruits of the Spirit that come from our training and lessons learned. There’s also the Word, the Wisdom of God. It is alive and doesn’t return to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11) -And, yes, we do have that same power. That’s why we’re to be judged for every idle word we’ve spoken. (Matt 12:36) And, in reality, there is no such thing as an idle word, for the power of life and death are in the tongue. (proverbs 18:21)

What we don’t see in the spirit , but God does, is what we’ve given in the ways of obedience to Him, compassion and caring to our fellow man, little sacrifices we’ve made for love’s sake, etc. Those are deposits we’ve made into the Spirit that ensure our prosperity, both spiritually and materially, down here.

In any adversity, it is essential that we tap into the spiritual storehouses. “Guard well your heart for from it flow the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) This means I’m not going to speak idle words such as, “I’m worried sick about how I’m going to do this or that,” or “I just don’t know what I’ll do,” etc. It means I’ll speak words of faith like, “My god shall supply all my needs…”, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me,” etc. Let me tell you, I wore my Bible out practicing this one. Finally, there was no more fear, doubt, and fretting; but, an assurance within that all will be well because God’s got it. He will lead, guide, direct, supply, equip, and yes, comfort and encourage you. The one thing that is essential to unlocking that kind of trust and peace is the solid knowledge and acknowledgment that you are His child. You’re not a servant; you are His child. You’re a son or daughter, a prince or princess in Heaven, a king or queen here on Earth. You own it all because He owns it all.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Your Salvation Is Your Greatest Work

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is the veil that was torn to give us access to the inner sanctuary; the Holy of Holies.

Colossians 3:3 -“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” This is a two-fold thing. First, your past is gone. The accuser can no longer use it against you. Secondly, all the treasures in and of the Word of God are kept safe for you, the believer. No one can take them from you. No one can thwart God’s will, and God’s plan(s) for your life. No one can hinder His power in your life; nor His passion for your life. By passion, I mean His greatest passion is to bless you, to prosper you; in the Spirit and here in this world materially. He is a loving and generous Father; nobody can out-give God.

The message tells us that it is only when we fling those burdens at Jesus’ feet, do we become aware of what’s going on in the Spirit regarding our situation. When I read this, I see Jesus on the cross at Calvary. I also hear the centurion saying, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39) Now, I can see myself laying my burdens at Jesus’ feet, and then passing on “through” the cross of Calvary to the other side. It’s on that other side that your fresh start begins, for your past-even the immediate past-is covered by the blood that ran down that cross. “I’ve paid his/her way through this,” is what that says. There’s a good illustration of this in the story of the woman who wept at Jesus’ feet. Her tears were tears of guilt and shame, falling at His feet. Her past was dying right there at His feet.

However, our salvation is an ongoing thing. Our own salvation is our greatest work, too, I believe. We are still in the world, but we need not be of it; nor do we need to be like it in adversity. We have a hope. When we apply the Word of God to whatever situation we find ourselves in, and obey God’s voice in it, we will overcome. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) I have to use my own life as an example here, again. My life was a living hell health-wise for eight solid months, before I finally was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I was even told that I was hysterical and needed anti-depressants by one doctor. The night before my appointment with my gynecologist, I prayed and asked Jesus to give me the breakthrough I needed to find out what was going on. The following morning, my babysitter mentioned seeing a talk show regarding some of the symptoms I was having. I asked my doctor about it. He listened. I was diagnosed within two weeks, and put on Thyroid hormone replacement therapy. I also did some research and learned as much as I could about my condition, which is actually Systemic Inflammatory Disorder-things like Hashimoto’s, Lupus, Vasculitis, etc. can come through that. But, with education, vigilance, and dietary and lifestyle management, I’ve been able to get it into remission and keep it there for the most part. That’s the working out our own salvation part. It is the greatest work we have, because it teaches us humility, discipline, compassion, and perseverance. -Everything that love is. Amen.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Get Him & You’ve Got It All

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that where God is, the victory is won. As a matter of fact, it’s already been won; on Calvary.

We’re bid to “face every adversity in the spirit of conquest; to rise to greater heights than we’ve known before.” That’s a direct quote from the message. I’m a Proverbs 31 woman, and verse 15 tells us that “she rises while it is still night.” The Word of God is Spirit, so it speaks also of Spirit. That tells me that no darkness can defeat me, for He has promised that sorrow may last for a night, but JOY comes in the morning! Praise God! Jesus is always with us, and we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Whom shall we fear?! When you have God, you’ve got it all, because He is in all, and He is all!

So, here’s a good way to start the work week…one of my very favorites:

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

His Hand Is Not Shortened At Any Time

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are always rescued and guided. We must cease the struggling, as it were, and let the Rescuer do His work.

“My hand is not shortened that it cannot save,” says the LORD. That truth is the rope we need to take hold of in the midst of the storm. That’s the rope we need to keep hold of all throughout the storm. Interestingly, the message tells us that not all storms and tempests are of life. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:2)

Those slimy pits represent some of the situations we get ourselves into. They send us slipping and sliding into disaster. The mud and miry clay represent the things that stick to our souls and, as clay does, harden around us. When I read that, I think of the facades, the airs we put on. One day you look in the mirror and don’t even recognize yourself anymore. You’ve spent so much time trying to be what everyone else will accept; their version of you. Am I right?

But God doesn’t just pull us out of the fire to let us burn. He sets our feet on solid ground and guides us from step to step; all the way. Let me tell you, I found out some time ago that truth is not one dimensional. First, there’s the truth of what the situation or circumstance is. Then there’s the truth of how you are in the situation; what’s going on inside. Finally, the truth that is the rope to take hold of; God will save you wherever you are. His hand is not shortened; He can reach you. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us that, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Those three truths are all at play in any situation-good or bad. But it is the truth of God’s Word that will dispel anything negative in the other two truths. That truth will also empower anything positive, and magnify it to give you the victory.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – May 18,2019

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I don’t know if anybody else does this, but, sometimes when it’s been a very long day, my mind just kind of does its own thing. The other night I was walking along to my spot. It was late, and I was tired; very tired. Anyway, I glanced up and happened to see this sign on a building: United Movement.

Immediately, Communal Outhouse comes to my mind. I thought, “Now, can’t you just see that one? Four or five people on “the bench” in the outhouse; all at the same time…Oh, man! You throw a good pot of chilli or some bad burritos into the mix…well, that sure would put a new spin on that thing they call “The Wave.”

Love you from Cafe du Mondeiu

Bringing Joy Into Your Sorrow

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that joy can be found, or brought, into the midst of sorrow. What’s required in the midst of sorrow is the determination to believe and trust God, and a refusal to give in to anything negative, doubt, fear, etc. “Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)

The Psalms are my most favorite book in the Old Testament. I call them the Balms because they will stir up faith, soothe frazzled nerves, bind up a broken heart, and infuse a body and soul with courage for the battle. The fourth verse of that 30th Psalm says, “Sing to the LORD, you His faithful people; Praise His Holy Name.” When I read this verse, I think about our Lord singing Psalms on the night of the Last Supper. I think about how often I’ve turned up the praise music and sung my heart out, while the darkness seemed to be pressing in on me. And, the joy always does come in the morning. The sun will rise as long as God’s in charge. That’s one of His promises, so I can be sure that I’m coming through the night. That we come through is a sealed deal already. How we come through is up to us. Praise and thanksgiving are like war paint in the spirit. When you can’t find your own words, use those in the Psalms-they’re King David’s. Stir yourself up whenever you need to, and before you know it, that adversity, difficulty, whammy, whatever, won’t even cause a tremor of fear to rise up. You’ll be able to take it in stride and keep moving. Our God really is an awesome God; He left us with a great weapon called His WORD.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu