His Abundant Goodness Toward Us

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us of Psalm 31:19 -“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” (NIV) The KJV says it this way: “Oh, how great is your goodness which you have laid up for those that fear you; which you have wrought for those who trust in you before the sons of men.”

I want to illustrate the difference between an abundance of good things, and the great goodness of God. Goodness is the quality of being morally or virtuous, righteous, ethical, upright, upstanding. Having integrity, principle, dignity, rectitude; and the list goes on. These are qualities that God bestows on us, working them in us, and through us. The good things are the blessings and rewards that manifest as a result of that goodness. They’re the bonuses we get for trusting God and obeying Him. The last part of that verse (Psalm 31:19) can be read two different ways. I believe both are true. First of all, God bestows all of it, the goodness, and the good things, in the sight of the sons of men, or the sight of all. Secondly, though, I think about Jesus’ words: “whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father in Heaven.”

Sometimes, the hardest thing in the world you’ll ever have to do, is to trust God in the sight of men. They’ll laugh at you, just like they laughed at Noah. They’ll jeer and mock you, like the did Jesus. But, we know who’s behind all that, don’t we? And we have this promise from the Psalms also: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5) That tells me I am anointed to overcome, and I am more than able! My cup overflows with God’s goodness and power, and God’s blessing on me, on mine, on my life. Praise God!

My song choice for today is Let it Rain. I’m still praying for an end to all cancers, but most especially, childhood cancers. Please pray with me. Thank you, Michael W. Smith for your faithfulness to the Lord, and for sharing that beautiful voice.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Preparing to Enter In

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need to regularly set aside time to enter into the sanctuary and spend time alone with the LORD.

I spent an hour this morning listening to Native American drum and flute music, and even listened to some native songs and chants. It was my preparation time. Music is a good way to quiet one’s spirit and prepare to enter in to the sacred space. There are many different kinds of music that can reach the spirit; it’s not always only praise and worship music. That sacred space is the place where our spirit meets the Holy Spirit. It is in these quiet times that we commune with and rest in the divine love, grace, peace, and joy of God. You’ve all read plenty about spending time alone with God. I thought I’d share a short list of some of my favorite music. This is the stuff I listen to at the end of a long day, or even before I really begin my day-before a project, etc. It’s a pretty good mix, so there’s something for everyone; and they’re all instrumental, words won’t distract you. I hope you enjoy at least one of my picks.

Carlos Nakai – Earth Spirit -He also has a greatest hits album out-Native American flute music
The Elegance of Palchelbel -Serenade -Piano music
Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody -Classical music, and very beautiful
Trail of the Angels – One of my very favorites – Chinese Bamboo flute music
Leo Rojas -Pan flute music

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Their Need;Your Call-That Call, Your Need

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the need is the call. Jesus has promised always to be with us, so we can be sure that He’s going to be there to answer the call. Our need is also His call.

I want to explore the need and the call a little more today. First of all, obviously, when we see a need, we are called to meet the need somehow. God is a provider. Jesus has promised that when we ask anything in His Name, it shall be done for us. Even without material provision, we can answer the call. That call creates our need for the Lord’s presence, guidance, power. God hears prayer, and we have the church community to go to for assistance. That’s part of what the church is here for; we are, after all, the body of Christ in the earth.

Now, I want to address a need you might have, that is your personal call. It may be a call to turn back to God. It might be a call to further your education. It can be anything that you may need to do, or need to stop doing, in order to better your life. We’re usually pretty good at hearing the need that tells us we need to do something to further advance ourselves, right? I heard it when I was going through my first separation from my husband, and realized I couldn’t feed three children on minimum wages. But, oh, those little calls…the one that comes when you need to call in sick because you’re too hungover to work. Then there’s that one that comes when boyfriend/girlfriend blows you off and you see him/her later with someone else. OMG! I sure loved my blinders and earplugs in that one. I had another call when my belly was trying to roll off my knees. Ignoring those calls is called denial. That is usually based in fear. We’re afraid of change, of failure, of vulnerability, etc. Those calls are wake-up calls that tell us we need to take better care of ourselves. We need to respect ourselves more, we need to love ourselves more, etc. Jesus said, “I’ve come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” It’s crucial for us to answer those calls, because through them, we are spared a lot of heartache, and we are empowering that abundant life. I know-it sure doesn’t feel that way when we’re going through that stuff. But, it is all worth it in the end…and the new beginning. Thank God for new beginnings.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Absorbing the Eternal

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of absorbing the eternal life, more and more, in our daily lives.

This message ties in with Saturday’s message about giving God the moments, even the very seconds of our lives. It’s much more than giving our moments to God, though. To truly absorb the eternal, one must give oneself to the moments of life.

We so often get so busy, so overloaded, so thinly stretched by life, that we almost can’t find a moment to live-really live. We go through the day kind of disconnected from emotion, and from soul experience. Then we try to refuel, all at once, on Sunday morning. Oh, the things we miss! There’s that precious look on your best friends face when he/she aced the test. The joy of celebrating that triumph with him/her in spirit.

Those are the moments that are eternal. They are the ones that will be remembered about your job, your school years, your training camps, etc. It won’t be the stuff you learned or accomplished here on Earth. You will remember the moments that touched your soul; the ones that brought tears of joy or sorrow, those that filled you to bursting with joy and excitement. These are the eternal things. Even the quiet little moments spent with loved ones, or alone with your little world, are those that are eternal. They shape our souls. They build us up, slow us down a little-to enjoy the moment, they strengthen and inspire us. Those moments wrap themselves around our souls and insulate us from the world we live in. That’s why Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of Heaven…and, that is within us…

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – August 3, 2019

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A friend and I were discussing the technology boom recently. The speed at which everything changes is just mind boggling. I mean, you have to upgrade almost everything you own, every other month, it seems. Am I the only one who feels this way? Yeah, and everything you own, now comes with a remote control.

I’m getting to that time in my life where I really should be looking into one of those life alert or medical alert devices. It’s just good judgment, I think. Better safe than sorry. I was checking into some recently and pricing them. Do you know, they have some that look just like those little garage door opener remotes. Seriously; you almost cannot tell the difference. I thought, “boy that’d be me…fall on my butt somewhere in the house, push the help button, and the garage door would be going up and down all day long…or at least until I could get up and figure out why nobody came to help me.”

Ooh, that could be really bad too. Can you imagine visiting the neighbor’s across the street? You take the medical alert thingy off for just a minute…and accidentally pick up their garage door opener remote? He’s out there on a ladder the next morning, trying to fix the sensor, right about the time you trip over the dog’s toy at home…and push the help button…OMG! What if I accidentally picked up the remote to his RV awning? And it’s parked in the garage…Hmmm, maybe I’ll just move in with the kids…LOL…watch ’em all move overseas!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Preparing the Soil

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the ground must be readied before God can drop seed blessings into it. I’m reminded of the parable Jesus told about the sower and the seed, and the different kinds of soil.

Prayer and praise does much to prepare the soil, or one’s heart. That’s true whether it’s our own heart or someone else’s we’re trying to open to the Lord. Then, I think about Abraham, too. And before him, Noah. These two men believed, and walked in obedience to their calling. How many know that whenever God tells you to do something, that’s a calling? Steadfastness, diligence, and discipline in faith and obedience to whatever God calls us to do, even in our daily living, also prepare the soil for blessing. That soil can be a heart, a place, an upcoming event, etc.

It all happens in the Spirit/spirit. When I think about that, I think about Jericho. How many times did God have them march around that city…before the final time, and that shout? Soil preparation is kind of a wind up or warm up for the actual game, in some ways. The blessings come in the form of readiness, growth, maturity, confidence, fitness, or ability, peace, and joy, or excitement. If you can’t get excited over what God’s called you to do, you better make sure it was Him who called you. God not only gives us the desires of our hearts, He gives us the heart to desire good things. Anytime God calls you to do something, you know it’s got to be a good thing. You can’t help but get excited about it.

Finally, I think about tilling and weeding, and plowing a garden. That readies the soil for the seeds. I remember finding all kinds of things as we worked the ground. People have found arrowheads, awesomely shaped rocks, old coins, wonderful little treasures. One of the greatest treasures you can find in preparing the soil, or your heart, for God’s blessing, is yourself. You might discover some wonderful things you never knew were in you.

Here’s a great song for today’s post: Again, Third Day is the group to thank for this awesome song.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Blessed By That Bond

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Happy August, everyone! Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the bond between one’s soul and our Lord, is truly a wondrous one. There is no glory on Earth that compares; nothing comes close.

That bond is a blessed one. We are blessed by, and through, that bond. When we cultivate our awareness of the Lord’s Presence in our lives, we begin to see more and more of His Presence in everything around us. Suddenly, you might feel His gentle touch in a breeze. You might hear His happy laughter in a gurgling brook. That awareness grows into a constant consciousness of the Lord, Himself, in our lives. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.

I think we often miss the mark on this because we’re afraid to let ourselves go. We hang on to reason and what we consider to be normal, or acceptable, etc. You won’t regret letting go of yourself and cultivating that awareness of His Presence in everything around you. I haven’t yet; and I doubt I ever will. I believe He’s quick to remind me that He’s there, whenever a couple of days go by that I kind of forget it. Yes, people called Jesus crazy; His own mother and brothers did. Most will call us crazy too. Don’t let that stop you.

I’ve chosen this song by Third Day to go with today’s message:

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Thank Him Until It Becomes You

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us to be thankful. Just face each day gratefully, and, quoting directly from the message: “Seek diligently for the something to be glad and thankful about in every happening, and soon no search will be required.” I hope you’ll go to the twolisteners website and read the entire message.

I’m adding this song to the post, as it fits perfectly…even the scars are treasures to be grateful for, when we allow God to touch them. This song is done by I AM THEY…

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Reward of Faith

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that faith is, indeed, rewarded. Abraham, by faith, believed God, and did become a father. Moses’ faith is also cited. Their faith was the reward, or at least, part of it, because it is what kept them going. It is what strengthened them and their resolve. And, in turn, those (strength and resolve, determination) strengthened their faith. I want to go with Abraham’s faith.

Abraham’s faith was counted unto him, by God, as righteousness. Quoting from Dictionary, here are some of the definitions I found: goodness, virtue, uprightness, decency, integrity, worthiness, high-mindedness, nobility, noble mindedness. Yes, there are also those like: sinless, innocence, piety, and morality.

The ones I want to focus on are the ones in Italics. They are the ones that strengthen and empower faith. They make faith it’s own reward. They have to do with so much more than piety, being sinless, with innocence and morality. Piety, innocence, and morality are seeds sown to Heaven and to our own spirits.

The list in italics are seeds that empower faith, not only in our own lives, but the lives of those with whom we have contact. They can influence and change lives. They are sown to Heaven through our doing and giving involving other lives. They are also sown to our own spirits, as well; empowering our own faith and spiritual growth and maturity. It’s a little like the feeding of the thousands by Jesus. You put it in His hands, believing Him, and thousands are fed…with plenty left over. Faith multiplied and magnified is the reward of faith. We have then, not only more seed to sow, but much stronger crop, and better fruit…greater harvests.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Ways Are Not All Dark & Stony

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that walking in the Presence of the Lord, brings us to beauty-within and round about us. Not all the paths we must tread are dark and stony.

I was watching the little mocking birds chasing butterflies this morning. They’re just delightful to watch and listen to. There was one that got mad and he was squawking at another one. He got closer and closer to him, squawking ever louder. The other bird simply reached out with his beak and just closed it over the squawking bird’s beak. I almost laughed out loud. That squawking little bird got quiet, and I think he was taken aback for a minute or two. It was so funny to watch him trying to recover from the shock of it.

We’re like that little bird sometimes. We go squawking and squalling about stuff until Jesus just has to close our beaks. And it usually turns out that we’ve been missing a whole field full of butterflies and beautiful flowers, and all that other good stuff…because we’ve been too busy squawking about the one little thing that didn’t work out. I think sometimes we take ourselves far too seriously. Keeping that in mind, I have to be grateful for those birds who have closed my beak over the years. And I have to laugh at myself. My whole life got so much better when I learned to just trust the Lord. There are no dark and stony ways, really, when you’re walking with Him…because He is our light, and our light-heartedness is empowered by Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu