A Beautiful Way to Start the Day

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Okay, child of God…time to step into that second childhood…Can you remember marching and singing with your friends back then…off to build that tree fort, or play that ball game in the vacant lot at the end of the housing complex?…Yes! Do the same thing today…every day…

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Your Second Childhood Awaits You

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of Heaven. We are bid to become as little children. Quoting directly from the message: “Seek in every way to become child-like. Seek, seek, seek until you find, until the years have added to your nature that of the trusting child. Not only for its simple trust must you copy the child-spirit, but for its joy in life, it’s ready laughter, its lack of criticism, its desire to share all with all men. Ask much that you may become as little children, friendly and loving towards all — not critical, not fearful.”

Remember when you were invincible? I have a few scars to prove I was. LOL We’re told that faith is a child-like attitude. What gets my attention in this message, is that statement that tells us to seek until the years had added to our nature, that of a trusting child. Remember when you were afraid to raise your hand and give the answer? Yeah, how embarrassing if you were to be wrong, right? That’s an especially tough one in junior high school. Doubt and distrust are very insidious. They’re very sneaky, and have many faces.

I remember the day I said, “no more of this!” I can’t tell you how many opportunities I had to slip back into doubt and distrust. I lost count some time ago, how often the opportunity to get depressed over everything that’s gone, or is going wrong. And, I’m proud to tell you that I started winning those little battles awhile back. I had to remind myself daily that I was choosing peace, joy, and positive thought and attitude. I have to laugh, because there were some times when I was positively dragging my feet or clenching my jaw and talking through gritted teeth…But, I’m doing it God’s way, even when I’m positive it’s going to kill me; just kill me. Nope, it hasn’t yet. Actually, that’s not entirely true. You see, it does kill me. Then, I’m reborn, and can enjoy the childlike trust, joy, peace, and power of a child of God. Yes, I did say power. “Created in His image, after His likeness…” Go ahead; step into your second childhood. It’ll be awesome!

If you’re not already, I want to encourage you to read the actual messages from God Calling, at twolisteners.org for yourself. You’ll get so much more out of these posts, and vice versa.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Can’t Get Too Close To Jesus

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I think this song goes perfectly with today’s message. I really love this golden oldie; it never fails to draw me right into the Lord’s embrace in spirit. This song is one of those ways to restore peace within, and in the space around you. I hope you’ll feel His arms go ’round you too, as you listen to it.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Attacking Fear With Peace & Joy

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Happy July 1st! It’s hard to believe we’re already on the back half of the year. Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that fear is a spirit that must be attacked. That tells me a couple of things about fear that we probably don’t often think about.

First, it tells me that fear lurks, or prowls, just like the devil does, seeking to devour us. Secondly, it tells me that I have weapons with which to fight fear; and I must be proactive in regard to it. I need to say something here about some of the ways fear manifests itself. One example is obesity. There are people who insulate themselves or protect themselves from what they fear by surrounding themselves with layers of fat. Some other ones are addictions, depression, bitterness or chronic negativity, just to name a few. Fear can actually be at the root of all of these conditions.

Two of the most powerful weapons we have to fight fear with are peace and joy-especially in the midst of a storm. Now, think about how powerful a shield peace and joy are when we cultivate them as an attitude and standard in our daily lives. I won’t allow anyone to disrupt the peace in my home. I make it a point to diligently seek and implement ways to empower peace and joy in my home. That’s where the “little things” come in. That’s where order, diligence, and standards and boundaries come in. This creates a powerful spiritual shield around us, as well as a source of strength and power for all within our home, or our inner circle.

The absolute most powerful weapon, the pulverizer, when it comes to any of the wiles of the devil-be it fear, depression, regression, etc., is the Word of God. That’s why it is so important that we know it forwards and backwards. Jesus dealt with the devil in the wilderness exactly that way: “It is written!” If you have to write them down, and then rehearse them every single morning until they take, do it. Every promise of God’s protection, provision, and His passion for us are weapons against fear and despondency. They’re also food; spiritual fuel. And, don’t forget to add praise and worship to the mix. Just look at what happened to the walls of Jericho when the people of God let up that shout.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

It Is His Love That Saves Us…Daily

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This is my choice of praise music for the day. It does go with today’s message. Thank you, Aaron Shust, for a powerful reminder of God’s love toward us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

For, Which is Easier to Say – and Do

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that what we do and say are seeds sown. Not only are they seeds sown into the hearts and lives of others, but also into our own hearts. I hope you will all visit twolisteners.org and read the whole message; it’s powerful. I want to concentrate on this one statement from the message that really impacted me. “Always seek to understand others and you cannot fail to love them.”

As I read this message today, I thought of 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” When I think about making God’s Word personal, in regards to this scripture, it means that sin is covered to my eyes as well. The twofold message is that God’s love covers our sins, –daily. However, He doesn’t impute wickedness to us; meaning He looks for the best in us. He looks at, and weighs the heart. That’s what seeking to understand is about. So, when we apply that scripture to any situation, we are empowered by love to look past the sin and see the heart of the person. Love also seeks truth, because love tells the truth-always. Therefore, we look at the truth of the circumstances, the situation.

I’m using women in shorts as an example because that seems to be a big problem, and a serious error in perception to some men. In fact, I heard a comment last evening about me “showing out.” All I was doing was sitting in the shade, reading my book. My shorts were entirely appropriate-not “booty shorts,” or the like. First of all, the truth is that it’s very hot, sometimes dangerously so, outside. Secondly, not every woman wearing shorts is looking to sell herself sexually; not all of us are advertising services. Thirdly, why is your mind in the devil’s playground? If you were really walking in the Spirit, your mind wouldn’t even be in the devil’s playground and thinking about sexual services or the like. Sex belongs between a man and his wife. I’m not your wife; why are you thinking about me sexually? Take some responsibility for yourself, and stop trying to pass the buck, Sir. Get your mind where it belongs. You don’t have to stand in the judgment for anybody but yourself. You can’t stand there for me because you’re a sinner too. And, for the record, Jesus already did stand; for both of us.

Here’s how the second part of that love cover works for us: Love also covers your own eyes in the face of sin, so that you can see -and admit- the truth, apply this truth, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” and not sin, yourself. When we practice this principle, we are empowering love, and love conquers all sin. I’ve had to check myself more than once, I’m ashamed to say, in regard to this principle. But, thank God, He is a loving and merciful Father, and His mercies are new every morning.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Bonus: Making Your Will an Offering

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This was a pretty awesome revelation, so I’m posting a bonus today.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we can’t get away from God’s love and caring. Actually, quoting directly, “you can never go beyond my love and care,” God says. We are also reminded that He blesses only the things that are right for us-individually. We’re bid to lay our will down before Him as an offering. That’s the first step, isn’t it? Yeah, I’ve been reminded of that so many times…after trying to do it according to my will, and finding out it didn’t work out so well.

I discovered that diligence in obedience and perseverance are great helps. Nowadays, I’m diligent regarding my prayer life. I’m diligent to seek, to ask, and to knock, as Jesus told us to. When we do this in every circumstance, life changes for the better. The things you need to seek, to ask, and to enter into change, depending on the circumstances, but the principal of receiving and progress remain. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves too, don’t we? Like, when we’re seeking relief from something, but haven’t sought the cause of the problem yet. I have memories of some of those instances that still make me laugh at myself. Thank God that He knows what I’m doing, because, Oh, my God! -Sometimes I don’t know how but by the grace of God that I’m still here.

Laying your will before the Lord isn’t some horrible painful thing when we get the hang of the diligence, perseverance, and obedience thing. That’s when it is received by Him, and perceived in your spirit as an offering. You’ll realize that it is actually linking up and coming into one accord with the Lord; becoming one with the Holy Spirit.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – June 29, 2019

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Wow! Only 5 days until the Fourth of July. I always wanted to get married on the Fourth of July. That way, my husband could always say there were fireworks on our wedding night. My mother wasn’t so keen on a Fourth of July wedding; she didn’t really like my husband. She thought a June wedding would be much better-because it’s Turkey Lovers Month. She even picked the day; June 29th. I looked that day up on one of those Holidays and Observances pages. June 29th is Waffle Iron Day. Needless to say, that day was scrapped right then! I am not ironing any waffles, no Sir! Not even for my hubby.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Are You Ready For Brunch?

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I can’t think of a better song to go with today’s message than this one by Mercy Me. It always reminds me how delightful it is to get into God’s Word.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Let His Mercy Engulf You

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Today’s song is one of my very favorites! It goes perfectly with today’s message, and I hope it blesses you as much as it does me-time and time again. Thank you, David Crowder; thank you, thank you, thank you! Tears in my eyes when I hear this.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu