Getting Personal

There is such sin as personal sin, which includes things like gluttony, smoking, drugs, etc., They’re things you’re doing to your body, and that’s between you and God. But, when you take another look at them, are you really the only person those things are affecting? Have you seen the “600 Pound Life” show? Everyone is sucked into that whirlpool of gluttony and co-addiction. There’s such a thing as second-hand smoke, which we now know is harmful. And the havoc that drug abuse wreaks in a family’s life is absolute hell. So, those sins really aren’t that personal in nature after all, are they? When we look closely, we’ll find that most sin isn’t just a personal affair; someone is always at risk of being affected in one way or another. That’s why God is so adamant about our living sinless and righteous lives.

(1Cor. 6:18-20) Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Sexual immorality is defined as, “Interpersonal activity involving sex organs that does not conform to God’s revealed laws governing sexuality,” according to biblestudytools.com and Christianity.com.

(1Cor. 6:9-12) Read all three verses, please, but the one I want to concentrate onverses 9 &10first:: Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. In verses 12 & 13, Paul says, “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Sexual immoral behavior is that one-night-stand thing that becomes habitual, any type of illicit sex, which includes adultery, and prostitution. If we give it a closer look, and the sex is consensual, you are sinning against your own body, even in adultery because you are one with your spouse/mate. But really, when you think in terms of putting stumbling blocks in front of others, or causing others to sin, you’re also sinning against them in that way. (Matt. 18:7) When it comes to these sins, they are personal sins and, unless the person(s) involved choose to reveal them to another, are between the person(s) involved and God. They are nobody else’s business. If they are revealed to us by the person(s) involved, we are obligated to tell them the truth and try to get them back on the right track. And, of course, pray for them. When it comes to the homosexuality thing, this is also true. That’s between the person(s) involved and God. We don’t have the right to judge and condemn anyone, for any sin; so, that’s best left to the Lord, who is The Judge. (Matt. 10:15)

What Paul says in verses 12 & 13 is that we can do anything we want to do, but not everything we do is going to be helpful to us, and some will be really harmful. We can do anything we want to do, but do we want to be enslaved to (dominated) by what we do? Example: I start out by eating a bacon cheeseburger once a month. Suddenly, I’m craving them once a week. Now, because I choose not to say no to the craving, I’m eating one every day, and I’m in tears as I eat it because I know it’s making me fat and harming my health. And I can’t stand it! This is how I felt by the time I finally got serious about quitting cigarettes. This is another way in which we sin against our own bodies. We miss the mark by destroying our health, and sometimes even our sanity.

Love you from Café du Mondieu

It’s Enough To Get You Through

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 46. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month; and, as a survivor of sexual abuse and sexual assault, I have to tell you this psalm comes at just the right time. Sexual assault and abuse leaves your feeling as if your whole world has given way, or is giving way beneath you. But, God is a very present help in times of trouble. He is with us and for us. Verse 16 is my anchor when the storms are raging, when my soul feels ravaged, savaged, and torn. “Be still, and know that I am God.” I remember whispering that and hearing the words echoing within themselves. But, I kept whispering it until the storm in my heart was calmed. It’s never failed; every storm was calmed. And, yes, God will be exalted in the earth. I’m a little piece of earth He created; and I’m living proof. His glory reigns no matter what shakes your world! He will bring you through; and knowing Him is enough to get you through.

This song by Brooks and Dunn came to mind as I was writing this. I hope it blesses you.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Child Within

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we must become as little children to enter the kingdom of Heaven. “And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

As I said before, I’ve been studying about generational curses and how to overcome them. Humankind has lived under a generational curse since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. In studying this out, I discovered just how much God really is in control. You see, in putting enmity between Eve’s seed (man) and Satan’s seed (unclean spirits and demons), God insured that we would be able to see the truth behind the lie. We can see the devil and the lie for exactly what they are; evil, and meant to destroy us.

Generational curses happen as a result of disobedience to God, or removal or displacement of a standard and/or boundary. “Thou shall…and Thou shall not…” When this happens, we end up with sin that rules over us. We have addictions, abuse, co-dependency, and dysfunction. We are not getting the truth that empowers us to live successfully. Thankfully, God has made it possible for us to become His children, and to re-raise, or be resurrected by Him. This is what it means to bring up a child under the admonition of the LORD/Lord. That child is the child within; your spirit. You see, it isn’t your flesh that suffers the damage of faulty and flawed parenting -not usually, anyway. It is your spirit. I read a passage just today: The LORD reigns; He is robed in majesty. The LORD is robed; He has put on strength as His belt.” (ESV) When I read this, I thought of that voice saying, “Go get me that belt!” That stuff was meant to break the bad spirit(s) off of us. But, most of the time, it breaks our spirit, doesn’t it? Remember Jesus said that the Father has given Him everything; and He, Jesus, has given it to us, in turn. That means you can read that passage of scripture this way: “I reign, I am robed in majesty. I have put on strength as my belt.” The admonition of the Lord strengthens us in our spirit, so that we can reign as kings and queens in life. The first step is to be born again.

You can do that by asking Jesus to come into your heart and be Lord of your life. If you don’t know the LORD/Lord, now’s the time – today’s the day of salvation. And Jesus will save you everyday; from all the old stuff that would hold you back or trip you up.

Pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, please come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me for my sins; I renounce them all right now. I want to become a child of God, and learn to walk according to His Word and in His Way. Please make me yours from this moment on.

I encourage you to find a believer to pray with you, and I’ll be praying for you. Today can be the best day of your life; the turning point to a better life -everyday.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Fear Not! Rather, Take My Heart!

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that fear is a real temptation; an unclean spirit, actually. We are bid to attack it with the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.

As I’m studying about generational curses, this particular thing comes to the forefront time and time again. As children, we fear the reproach of our parents, the rejection of our friends and peers, we fear things we don’t understand. Then, depending on the parenting we had, the environment(s) we grew up in (addiction, co-dependency, abuse, etc.), that spirit of fear drives us. We fear failure, fear emotional attachment, fear loss of control, and so many other things. Sometimes, fear can actually cripple us. There are people who actually cannot leave their homes and go outside, because they are so overwhelmed by fear.

As we learn to change the words we’ve heard and the ways we’ve handled things, and replace them with God’s Words and His ways, we can overcome those fears. When we’re dealing with our children, doing this changes the entire scenario for that child. Now, instead of creating a fearful and hesitant person, we are empowering a person with self-esteem and a sense of personal power over his/her world.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu