After His Likeness

Today’s message comes to us from Psalms 31. It gives us a picture of just how important those standards and boundaries are; and why growing up in the admonition of the LORD/Lord is best. He is, after all, our salvation-every day. (Psalm 31:1) (NIV) “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” 1. Know that that trap was set for your child in the garden of Eden. Our children lives are in our hands. What you teach your child today, might just save his/her life tomorrow. We let them down when we do not have standards and boundaries in place, and when we don’t enforce them. These empower us with self-control, peace, boldness, love, knowledge that pertains to daily living (rules, etc.), as well as knowledge that pertains to their needs and wants, fostering their personalities. This would include sports, hobbies, arts, social life, etc. Verse four also gives us a heads-up regarding their friends, teachers, leaders, etc. We need to screen them carefully. When we do this, they can walk powerfully in life. Verses seven and eight tell us this. “I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” Verse ten lets us know that our attitude toward sin will either empower us, or destroy us. The choice is ours. You iniquity will cause you afflicted by temptation, weakness, and sorrow and grief. As the former wife of a drug addict, I still mourn all the losses this man experienced. And, we all know that water trickles, runs, and rushes downhill, right? Verses 11 & 12 show us, again, how Satan works to twist your thinking, to bend your will, to gain that foothold. This makes me think of a broken vessel, a city suffering for famine of the Word of God. Verse 14-18 give us a prayer to pray in times of weakness and/or stumbling. Verse 19-24 is how every prayer should end. We stir ourselves up in spirit by remembering God’s goodness toward us, and reciting His promises to us. We speak to the mountain!

Proverbs 31 is a picture of the kind of wife – and husband (there is no male of female in Christ Jesus) one should strive to be. I remember tales of my grandmother going out with grandfather to help him with his work; and vice versa. My grandmother would laugh when she talked of my grandfather and how he coddled the children; especially when they were in trouble with Mama. LOL

I did a study on Proverbs 31 last year, and posted it on smashwords.com Here’s the link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/896505

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

He Can Clear The Blockages

I said that to say this…

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that self kills power. When we operate in the wrong spirit, we block the Holy Spirit. Operating in the wrong spirit includes things like anger, fear, frustration, greed –this includes those attention grabbers, etc. This is all the flesh trying to be in control.

I anagrammed the word “SELFISH” once. It comes to this: FLESH IS – SELFISH, or SELFISH – IS FLESH. I recall many holidays spent sort of like Sadie’s Granny…family gatherings are the perfect setup for the flesh to get in the way of the spirit. In terms of generational curses, they’re also the perfect excuse for the addict, the alcoholic, the people pleaser, the person who just can’t be pleased, the fixer, and the martyr; just to name a few. The stage is set as soon as the invitations go out, and the “play” begins as soon as the first guest walks through the door.

When we let God work in us, and through us, we can begin to see how all the players are connected. We can begin to see the connections we, as individuals have to the alcohol, the drugs, the fear, the frustration, etc. God’s love empowers us to overcome the fear of seeing the truth(s) within. When we can do that, we overcome the fear of seeing the truths in our little world(s). The connections can be clearly seen.

I used to drink to excess out of anger, frustration, and pain. Of course, I never saw the connections between my excessive use of alcohol and the consequences of losing control. I saw those things as separate events-before I was able to look at the truth. When we become able to see the truth(s) and make the connections between our emotions, our behaviors, and the consequences, changes can begin to happen. We become empowered to recognize triggers (emotions), make better choices (behaviors), and have better consequences (peace, progress, power). Don’t forget the joy, joy, joy! That’s what life should be; joyous, even in the midst of the storms.

When we can come to the point where the Holy Spirit can flow through us, we can truly become powerful forces to help others rise up out of those pits of generational curses. I’ve been able, for some time now, to laugh at the spirit of those old “drunken sweet potato” holidays. But before I was able to make the connections, there were a lot of tears, and some horrendous encounters with my flesh.

Happy Birthday, Katrina! I hope your day was blessed with all things beautiful. I know it’s coming a day late for you, but I’m going to try to get back on track with this stuff.

Love you from Café du Mondieu

Preparing The Soil

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to spend more time preparing the soil. Jeremiah 4:3 tells us to break up our fallow ground and don’t sow among thorns.

There are two things that come to mind when I read this scripture. First, fallow ground is unplowed. That means the seed won’t get into the soil because the ground is unpenetrable. If the seed doesn’t get into the soil, it doesn’t get the nourishment required for it to take root and grow. It will just lie on the surface of the ground and be blown away by the wind, or scorched by the sun. It’s important to create the right environment; one that will promote growth and success. This works in every aspect of life; breaking generational curses included. Secondly, we’re told not to sow among thorns. Those thorns represent nay-sayers, or unbelievers, those that keep pulling us back into destructive ways and things, etc. This, also, is very important when we’re breaking generational curses off, and/or breaking bonds of addictions and dysfunctions.

When we spend time preparing the soil, we’re sure to reap the blessings we were ordained to reap.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Simplicity Helps In The Striving

eden08122015

Happy Birthday, America! God bless the USA! May we have a beautiful and peaceful day, and may the spirit of unity as men and women of the human race prevail.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is our friend, as well as our Heavenly Father, our provider, savior, healer, and judge. Getting to know Him in all those capacities really deepens and solidifies one’s relationship with Him. In knowing Him and walking with Him, we become like Him.

The end of the message tells us to seek simplicity in all things. As I thought about this in terms of relationships and generational curses, I was brought to the ten commandments. I thought about the precepts and statutes of God. He makes them perfectly clear to us, doesn’t He? This makes, and keeps, the doing and being simple; don’t you think? This is because we know what is expected of us, and what to expect from Him. (Psalm 93:5) “Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.”

When we apply this principle to overcoming generational curses, to parenting -remember that new-born child within you -keeping it simple by knowing (1) what to expect. For example, when you’re living in an alcoholic or drug addict’s house, you never know if that person is going to be sober or drunk or high, or how incapacitated he, or she might be. (2) What is expected of you as far as rules and requirements. This is the standard(s) and boundaries thing. (3) What do you expect in and from this situation, environment, relationship, etc. And, last but not least, what do you expect from you. Lining ourselves up with God’s Word, and His will for us, helps to keep the expectations realistic and simple.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu