That Kingdom Is Yours Here Too

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“Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven/God is within you…”

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we will have trials and tribulations…but we are still kings and queens in the Earth, even then. The message bids us to accept the trials and tribulations, and to step into the kingdom that’s been prepared for us-even in the midst of them.

I don’t know how many times I’d read that same message before I finally caught that. That Kingdom has been prepared for us, right here on Earth too. Jesus, although He came in human form, was still God. He was King of kings when He was making His way through the birth canal. He was Lord of Lords hanging on that cross, and dying on that cross. If He wasn’t, He wouldn’t have risen from the grave.

Just as Jesus defeated, even death, we can defeat every dead thing in our lives. We can defeat death; break it off of our families, our marriages, our own souls. “Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven/God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) Nobody can take it away from you! No trial, no tribulation, no sickness, no death can take if from you! That’s what Jesus did for us, even long before He died on the cross. Just think, you were a king or queen in the making, from the very beginning!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Only Wide Enough For Two

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us, as Jesus did, to enter by the narrow gate. Actually, the message speaks of walking a narrow way, or path.

When you put this together with the rest of the message, which is about physical weariness, frustration, and mind and soul weariness, the narrow gate and path make sense. The narrow gate is one that only opens wide enough for one to pass through. That one is you. The narrow path is also only wide enough for you to walk down. But, in terms of your spiritual well-being, and the growth of your faith, you need to seek the Lord alone. That’s true especially when one’s soul is troubled. Jesus deals with everyone, one on one. You need to leave the crowd on the boulevard, and travel that narrow path to the narrow gate alone. It’s there that you’ll find the Lord waiting. It’s there that you can enter in to the healing presence.

Even in the midst of the largest congregations and meetings, you must enter in to the presence of the Holy Spirit alone. God want those who worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth. So, while the entire congregation is there in the meeting, each one must seek Him and enter in, alone. Finally, the path to healing, for anyone, must be walked alone-with the Lord. Even the path the leads to the narrow gate is not too narrow that He won’t walk it with you. He’s the one who will give you the courage and determination to walk it. He’s also the one who will give you the courage and determination to walk the path to victory. You are the one who needs to walk it out, so naturally, it’s only wide enough for you and Jesus.

All those well-meaning family members and friends can be a hindrance on that path to healing. They can trip you up because they don’t want to hurt you; or, sometimes because they do. They’re famous for allowing you to keep those rose colored glasses on-when you really should take them off. Sometimes, that’s because they’ve got their own pair of rose colored glasses on. That’s why you need to walk it yourself. When you get honest with yourself, that wide way you’ve been going and living, begins to narrow down pretty quickly. Sometimes it’s painful, but Jesus is right there with you. And, as your healing progresses, you’ll find the new path ahead of you will widen as you’re ready to handle it.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – August 24, 2019

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I was having a little talk with the Lord yesterday, about some things that were on my mind. I mean, sometimes I really have to wonder, you know?

God is supposed to be omniscient; all-knowing. Well, then I really have to wonder, God, what were you thinking when you gave whoever that person was, the idea for sports bras?! Good Heavens! I just know my girls are plotting murder! After having them in that thing all day, I’ll have to be afraid to go to sleep tonight. God! You had to see that coming, right?! What were you thinking????

I was telling a friend of mine this stuff. Boy, I thought I was a little flaky sometimes. When I told her about my sports bra ordeal…getting into that thing, then getting back out of it…I thought we were going to the Olympics when I saw my breasts looked like two Shot Put discuses. I thought to myself, “you know, God, if I could throw that far…guess what I’d be aiming at!” Yeah, that person that invented these things! Anyway, she said to me, “You know, that makes me wonder about something, too! I mean, what was God thinking when He put hair on women’s legs?! You know He knew we’re just going to shave it all off! I mean, what woman wants to be a Clydesdale?!” “Yep,” I thought, “dear God, what were you thinking?!”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Connecting The Steps To The Summit

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need to take our eyes off the problems, long enough to see how they’re leading us to the goals.

Each day brings with it little irritations, little chances to give up, little difficulties to excuse doubt. The list goes on and on. We’re not to pay too much attention to those little things. We’re not to allow them to throw us off track, that is. We are to connect them to the goal we’re trying to reach. The ultimate goal is to maintain our authority over our circumstances, and to remember we are kings and queens in the earth. We rule; the circumstances don’t. They shouldn’t, anyway.

The way we connect those little things to the goals, is by building a stairway leading upward to the goals. We do this when we see those little irritations, difficulties, etc., as opportunities to practice our authority wisely. Remember Solomon? He asked God for wisdom. He wanted to rule over his world wisely. That attitude, or mindset, changes us immediately from being victims of the circumstances, to being masters over them. *We practice this best when we slow down long enough to remain in the driver’s seat. All that rushing, rushing, rushing, can throw you right into the rumble seat, if you don’t watch out.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Suffering That Saves

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that sorrow and suffering don’t have to dictate who we are.

We’re bid to offer up our suffering and/or sorrow to the Lord. Use that suffering to help another, and it becomes a pleasing sacrifice unto the LORD. Help another, bless another, love another, in spite of your sorrow and/or suffering, and it becomes a gleam of joy and pride in His eyes. It becomes a seed sown into eternity; a treasure laid up in Heaven. “Behold, my son/daughter, in whom I am well pleased,” He says.

That’s the suffering that saves, not only others, but our own soul; our own spirit. Jesus never stopped blessing, never stopped praying, never stopped teaching, never stopped being Jesus…no matter the rejection, the doubt, the scorn, the sorrow. He prayed, even on the cross, “Father, forgive them.” The whole world, every human being ever born, was, is, and will be saved from eternal damnation-if they choose to be.

What that does for our own soul or spirit, is immeasurable. It brings peace, strength, joy, love, freedom, and life. That’s just part of the list. We don’t really think about those little things we do for others, even when we’re hurting ourselves, in terms of the ways in which they might come back to us. As Jesus said, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred fold. Now He said this about grasping and living out God’s Word. But it is that very Word, that very love, that empowers us to give in such ways, and at such times. “He sent His Word and healed them,” applies to every sinner that gets saved. Finally, there are the words of our Lord, Jesus. “Give, and it will be given unto you; pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will men give into your bosom.

This is an oldie, but goodie! Steven Curtis Chapman, thank you for this old favorite of mine.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Every Day Is A New One

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God does, indeed, make all things new.

That might not fully hit you until you take a minute to think about those days you finally got there, it finally all came together, it went right this time! “Behold, I make all things new,” said the Lord. When I thought about that, and all those times, I realized I’m a new me every day, too.

What I mean is that, even though I’m the same person, I’m growing and gaining strength, patience, wisdom, all kinds of stuff. So, really, I’m not the same as I was yesterday. Today, I’m even better than I was yesterday. You might not notice it at first, but it’s true.

The message speaks of becoming free of poverty and worry/fear. That makes me think of Jesus’ words about worshiping God in spirit and in truth. I also think about His question: “If the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?” We are rich or poor in power, according to our poverty or wealth of spirit. “As a man thinks, so is he,” is a very powerful truth. If I’m new every day, even better than I was yesterday, perhaps I can do today, what I could not do yesterday. Don’t give up! Get a little newer, better-with your attitude, your patience, your perseverance, your love and joy of, and in life.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Press Onward…It’s Really A Key

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we’re running an endurance race, and not a sprint. We’re bid to hold onto our courage, and press on to the next level.

The message speaks to us of being protected, shielded from self-loathing, from bitter remorse, and from self-defeat. When I read it, I think of Peter, of Judas Iscariot, who committed suicide over what he’d done. Peter wept bitterly over betraying Jesus. I bet he had some serious struggles within himself during the following days and weeks. We go through the same struggles with ourselves; especially when we feel like we’ve failed the Lord. It’s so easy, when we fall down, to just lay there and wallow in self-pity, bitter remorse, self-loathing…yeah, that’s the very stuff that leads us right over that cliff called self-defeat.

The way to overcome that stuff is to open our eyes to the truth about that short-fall, that failure, that weakness. What it really is, is a KEY that opens the door to learning, gaining strength, improving, and stepping up to the next level. Jesus said, “I’ll give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. That truth is a key to freedom from all that self-defeating stuff. It will open the door to courage, to boldness, to confidence, self-assurance, and most importantly, PEACE within.

This song by the Gaither Vocal Band is so precious to me! I can’t even begin to tell you what it does for me. I’m always so moved by it. I think it fits perfectly.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Holy Of Holies Wrapped In Flesh

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Today’s message from God Calling – A. J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus took on our humanity, so that we can take on His divinity. That means we can live in divine power, peace, love, joy, unity, etc. All the Fruits of the Spirit are ours in Christ Jesus. In essence, when the veil was torn, the gates of Heaven opened wide to us.

I wrote this psalm some time ago, 2009, in fact. It came to mind as I read the message this morning.

How Beautiful is the Love of my Savior: How beautiful on the mountain are those nail pierced feet…and the hands, scarred and calloused, that reach for me. How beautiful is the voice that says, “Come unto me.” Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior. How beautiful, the precious blood shed on Calvary. How beautiful the prayer He prayed for you, and for me. How beautiful is the life He gave to set us free. Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior. How beautiful is the heart that’s filled with mercy and grace. How beautiful the day when we shall see His face. How beautiful is this King that opens wide Heaven’s gate. Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior…

I used to walk and collect cans and plastic bottles on Sunday mornings back then. I would walk and praise the Lord as I went along. the more I praise Him, the more praise He gives me. I got this one started one Sunday morning, and finished it under a little shade tree at the shelter I was living in, later that afternoon. God never fails us. Thanks to Jesus, we can live in divine power, in every sense of the word. We just get so distracted, overwrought, and overwhelmed, that we forget that-and all too often.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Greatest Distance

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of the distances between souls and hearts.

We’re bid to abide in God’s love, in His presence, to remain close to Him. We’re told that false words, fears, doubts, etc. are the things that keep us distant from Him. What we don’t often think about is that the very same things hold true in our human relationships. Angry words spoken in haste, fear instilled in someone-and that includes insecurity about being loved, these things create distance between two hearts. They tear souls, and tear souls apart.

The message in the book is really powerful, so I hope you’ll visit their website, and read it for yourselves. twolisteners.org

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – August 16, 2019

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I was doing some reminiscing about Montana the other day. I had been checking out the Wolf and Bear Center up by Yellowstone Park. I love the wildlife and wide open spaces in Montana. One of my loves as a teenager there was a Native American boy. I loved his sense of humor most. Most Montanans have a pretty good sense of humor…and they love to tell those “Big as the Big Sky” stories.

One beautiful Saturday morning, He and I headed out to a little butte just outside of the reservation. His grandma and grandpa lived on the reservation. We were going to spend the morning exploring, and then have a nice picnic lunch. After lunch, he said he’d promised to send a smoke signal message to his grandpa, at home. He built a fire, took a blanket out of the back of the truck, and sent some smoke signals up. Then he asked me if I would like to learn some smoke signals! “Won’t that be fun,” he asked. I thought that was awesome. I thought anything he did was awesome. He gave me the blanket, and said, “Okay, you’re going to signal the word, “butte.” Then Grandpa will know where we’re at.” Then he said, “Just kind of swoop it down, and sweep it slowly over the fire. That’s “butte.” I did as he told me to. He said, “Hmm, I don’t think you got it quite right, honey. You swept too fast. Try again.” Again, I swooped and swept-slowly, of course. “No,” said he. “This time, swoop just a little bit slower. But the sweep was good there.” Again, I swooped-slowly, and swept. Right about that time, we heard sirens. Up the hill came this little fire engine. I thought, “Oh no, we’re in trouble for having a fire up here.” The fire truck stopped and a couple of Native American firemen got out. “What’s the trouble,” one asked? “there’s no trouble”, I said. “I was just learning smoke signals. I signaled “butte” to tell my boyfriend’s grandpa where we’re at.” “No,” said the fireman. “You signaled, “My butt’s on fire!” Some of those Native American boys are real pranksters! Those firemen were his cousins. I used to be soooo gullible! That was my “Big as the Big Sky” story.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu