Learning To Wait

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the waiting is the hardest part. I just had that little talk with Jesus this morning. I was praying and surveying some situations, and I said, “Lord, I need an acre of land. Jesus, please!” I could almost hear His laughter. That’s when He reminded me that He’s the boss; and that he knows better and has better timing than I do. Now, He’s hearing my laughter as I’m loving Him for confirming that little reminder of this lesson this morning.

Getting into the habit of just reminding myself of God’s sovereignty, wisdom, will, and power, helped me so much in this waiting area. It’s something I used to have to do quite often. After awhile, it gets you to the point where you can just say, “Never the less, Lord, not my will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42)

This message ties in with yesterday’s message about true success, and with my post from Oct. 28th, about looking for, or at, the glad surprises (the candy bar) in God’s pocket. Together, all three give us a clearer picture of God’s love for us, and empower us to learn the value of waiting on Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

It’s A Tool & Pavement

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that money is merely a tool, and pavement. (Ecclesiastes 10:19) “Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.” The streets of Heaven are pure gold. (Rev. 21:21) “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

We are bid not to count monetary gain as success. True success, we’re told, is the measure of God’s will and God’s mind that we are able to convey to others. It is the measure of God’s will working in our lives, that others are able to see, that makes us successful for, and in, the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20) That’s a clue to you…add up all the praying you did for someone today, all the praise and thanksgiving you did, all the little niceties, patience exercised when the little old lady shuffled into the store so slowly in front of you with that shopping cart-and you smiled and said, “God bless you,” etc. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how much treasure you’re laying up in Heaven.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Look For The Candy Bar

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to look for the glad surprises as we walk with Him. This, we’re told, is the way a child bows to the one who loves him/her.

When I read the message, I’m reminded of my daughter at age three. She spied a candy bar in Grandpa’s shirt pocket one day, and asked him for it. Grandpa was not above spoiling little ones a bit. He took to hiding one in his pocket every few days. He’d make sure it was peeking out when he came in. Her little face got so bright it could have lit up the whole house. Those little glad surprises brought Grandpa just as much joy as they did my daughter.

We need to have that attitude with God. He says, “I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you, and not to harm you.” It takes a little practice, but if you stick with it, you can do it. Look for the candy bar whenever you say, “Not my will, but yours, Lord.” There’s always a treat in the end, isn’t there? Yeah. And, I’m so glad Jesus doesn’t say, “You of little faith; why did you doubt me?” I’m pretty sure He knows we do enough of that ourselves…I do, anyway.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

It Counts As Victory To Him

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that each and every little victory is still counted as victory. Each one is just as important, and celebrated as all the others. Our Lord does not compare us to anyone; so, we shouldn’t either.

Jesus sees the loving and striving; not the imperfections. Every effort you make toward progress is a victory in itself. Did you know that? Yes! You might be trying to win a battle, and only get half of the stuff right, or only go a few steps before you’re stumped, or tired. You still made progress, didn’t you? Yes, you did! Never, ever discount any step forward-never!

There was a time, when I was fighting depression, that I celebrated the victory of having the bed made and the breakfast mess cleaned up in the morning. Boy, you should have heard the whoops and seen the war dance when we had three or four mornings in a row under our belt. Do you know what? The more celebrating I did, the easier it got to keep going. I also was somehow infused with a new energy, for some reason. LOL Was that you, Jesus? Yes, it was!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Stay With Him; He’s With You

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is not the scorn and mocking of the enemy that hurts…it is the scorn, mocking, the rejection and desertion of our friends that tears our hearts. Our Lord, Jesus, is wounded by our desertion. We don’t think about it as being desertion when we give up and go our own way in the storm. That’s exactly what it is, though; desertion. When I realized how much I was, not only hurting Jesus, but myself as well, I began to pray and ask Him , “please don’t let me let go of your hand, Lord.” I’m so happy to say there is no more letting go…now it’s just, “Okay, Lord, let’s go.” Praise God!

I hope this blesses you as much as it does me. It’s a great way to start the week out…worshiping our Savior, our Lord, our Joy! Thank you, Gaither Family

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

You Are Not Unemployed

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there are no idle hours in the Kingdom of Heaven. There is no such thing as unemployment with God. If there is no work to be had, there is still work to do, the message tells us. First, then, we can work within ourselves, to conquer any evil, and to realign ourselves with God’s Will and Word. We can then become conquering forces in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, our world.

When I read this message, I thought about this Spring and Summer. The COVID-19 thing hit, everything shut down, and then the weather got much too hot for me to be very mobile in. I pretty much was stuck, spending much too much time just sitting on the sidewalk and trying to survive. I decided I would do a Bible study each morning. God began leading my Bible study, taking me through the Psalms and the Prophets. Oh, my! What wonderful revelations I got about the depth of God’s love; the intensity of His love for us, and His desire to see us overcome this world. As soon as the libraries opened up again, I resumed my daily blog posts. Recently, all those study notes began coming together into a book about generational curses. You see, there is no sitting still in the Spirit. LOL Don’t ever allow yourself to feel like you’re idling in your walk with the Lord. He can always work something good in you!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – October 24, 2020

I had the funniest “homeless moment” last night. This guy was walking along, and it looked as if a little ghost was right on his heels. He was pulling a suitcase, and had draped a shirt over the handle. Someone not too far from me was playing a radio, and just as I saw the guy with the suitcase, from the radio came, “Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.” Ha ha ha!

Sadie Snide and I both love the holidays and observances. “Today is United Nations Day, Make a Difference Day, and National Bologna Day” I told Sadie. Sadie laughed and said, “Yeah, I already called my brother in law for National Bologna Day.” I said, “Oh, does he like bologna?” “No,” she replied, “but he sure is full of it.” LOL! Still praying too…

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Then It’s Not A Hill Of Sacrifice

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we must be ready to go to the very top of our Hill of Sacrifice, and to the very last moment before we see God’s deliverance. Abraham’s story is referenced here. “God, Himself, will provide the sacrifice,” he told his son. (Genesis 22:8) We’re told that this test of faith must come to all who believe in Jesus; to all who walk by faith.

Something I learned some time ago, is that the sacrifice was already provided, and made, on Calvary. Yes, I know, you all know that. But do you know that when you get that, you truly will be delivered – not just from your sin, but from anxiety about all the things this world can have us caught up in? Your days will start with prayers of thankfulness. Your requests to God will be mostly about remaining in His Will for your life. And, your energy and excitement levels will both rise. When you’re able to just get up and go about the business of being who your are, and who you are in Christ Jesus, that hill of sacrifice turns into the slope of surrender. It’s not a hill of sacrifice anymore. And, though we still have the tribulation that comes with being in the world, it really is all downhill from there. Because it is now the vantage point from which you see your new horizon(s).

I hope you’re all getting in some praise time with your own choice of music, by the way.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Furnish & Refurnish Them

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to furnish the quiet places in our souls; thereby, building our spiritual homes. Of course, spending time with God in prayer and praise is the most important part of that. But there’s more to this than meets the eye. We need to nourish the gifted parts of our beings, as well. God doesn’t give us gifts and talents for no reason.

At first glance, you’ll say, “What?!” Look at that again, though. God really did form your inward parts (heart and soul) “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13) Furnishing the quiet places in your soul, then, is furnishing that creative part of you, that craft-loving part, the author/storyteller, the artist, the list goes on and on, doesn’t it? It should. These are gifts/talents that bring us peace, joy, purpose, little pleasures. I’m not telling you not to seek God and spend time with Him. I am telling you not to get so caught up on the one road that you miss the whole country-side surrounding you. Whenever we traveled, my Dad would try to take the scenic route whenever possible-and he would actually pull off the road and take a break when the highway traffic got heavy. Sometimes, we need a little change of scenery. You may be surprised at how much peace and joy you can find in a cook-book, and an afternoon spent in the kitchen. It stirs up creativity within, it brings comfort and joy to you and those for whom you’re cooking, and gives you a little glimpse of a gift God has given you…and maybe inspiration will take you to new heights.

I’ve said this before, I know; but one of my favorite little daily inspirational reads is from a book titled: Simple Abundance. It really does reach the creative part of you. Not only that, but you will be surprised at how much more you will appreciate all you have, and all you already are. I refer back to it from time to time, when I’m feeling out of sorts and frustrated along that same road.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Feast Like There’s No Tomorrow

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to keep a listening ear bent toward the LORD/Lord. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20) Those are Jesus’ words.

It is when Jesus is on the scene, that the feasting begins. This message reminds me of the hours I spent in Bible study after I first came back to the Lord. During my baby girl’s nap time I would just feast on God’s Word. I always tell people it was just as if I were sitting at Jesus’ feet, like Mary did when He visited the home of Lazarus.

This is the reason that we are to seek out time alone to study God’s Word. It’s the reason we have the privilege of prayer, and the joy of praise. It’s through these that we are able to gain more and more intimate knowledge of our LORD/Lord. It’s through that intimate knowledge that our relationship with Him grows.

This is one of my favorites by Mr. Ray Boltz. When I first heard this, what an absolute FEAST my torn and tattered soul did partake of. Thank you, Mr. Boltz. And, thank you, Jesus, for loving me so.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu