The Power Of Life & Death

Today’s message is part two of Psalm 12. As I was studying this, I found a connection between (Psalm 12:6) “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times“, and (Proverbs 6:16-19) “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.”

When we look at this in terms of the power of life and death being in the tongue, and in terms of what is in the heart determining what comes out, or manifests itself in our lives, we get a powerful revelation. This gives us a checklist to help guide and direct us in our dealings with others. This is especially important when we’re parenting children, and dealing with loved ones. But, Jesus also said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matt. 5:9) This checklist helps us to bring peace and life to a situation, rather than death and destruction. I’ve outlined them below.

Haughty eyes -When we think that we’re better than others, lording over them in arrogance. We’re not better than anyone else; we’re all better off than others at various times, in various situations, and ways because we are children of God and have His love, wisdom, and power and protection. See, that’s not anything that we did, or do, on our own.
A lying tongue -Lying weaves a web that everyone can be destroyed in. I believe this is something based in and brought on by fear. Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life; so we can see by this, that truth is the way to bring life, and to empower it.
Shedding innocent blood can also be done by a vengeful spirit, cruel words, and malicious intent. These are all destructive of spirit. “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22) This is why we’re told to guard our hearts; the issues of life flow from the heart. (Proverbs 4:23) “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Jesus told us that the good man out of the good stored up in his heart brings forth good, and the man out of the evil stored up in his heart brings forth evil. Words are seeds; and they take root in the heart.
A heart for wickedness is vengeful, malicious, against God and His law, likes to destroy, make trouble, and instill fear, doubt, dejection/manipulate your emotions.
A false witness is a slanderer, and instigator, troublemaker, and a gossip.
A sower of discord does the same thing through manipulation. Numbers 4-6 are all connected.
Feet that hastily run to evil belong to a scoffer or mocker, to one who has a heart for evil. This person joins in with evil-doers, has a mob mentality (many against one), and vengeance is this person’s first choice in response to an offense. Proverbs 12 gives us the promise that the root of the righteous will never be removed. This means that every generation of a child of God will have a remnant; from the very first-which was Adam and Eve, to the very last generation of this age. Praise God! This proverb is filled with teachings about justice, truth, mercy, and grace, as well as teachings about right attitudes, speech and counsel, and actions. Verse 11 admonishes us that working that field we find the pearls in (the Word of God) and implementing the things we learn from it, will bring us victorious life.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

This Present Darkness…

Has been with us for such a long time already. Today’s message comes to us from Psalms 12. Psalm 12 gives us a picture of what happens when, as is told us in verse 8, what is vile is honored among the children of man. When I read about the lies and flattering lips, I think about some of the ways we’re lured into sin. In terms of generational curses, and dysfunction, I think about having learned all the wrong ways. I think about denial, living behind facades, etc. We live this way when we fear, doubt, or feel dejected. Those things are meant to put us beneath the devil’s feet. He is to be beneath our feet. I spoke about poverty of spirit in a previous message. Generational curses and dysfunction and denial plunder our spirit. We are robbed of dignity, sense of worth, or value, our confidence, self-respect, the power to choose, and power to BE ourselves. The word power here, denotes strength and capability. Pure words are true, they show the way, and they infuse us and empower us with life.

The powers, principalities, and hosts of spiritual wickedness , if you can picture it, kind of circle humankind, like a shark circles its prey. They’re always ready to snatch their next victim. When what is vile is exalted among the children of man, we open doors to bondage and destruction of life/lives. Some of these things are demon worship, witchcraft, adultery, illicit sex, hedonism, pornography, hatred and violence, racism, sexism, etc. These things make everyone involved vulnerable to the bondage and destruction, or the fallout from them.

Check back tomorrow for the second part of the message on this Psalm. I found an interesting connection between verse 6 and proverbs 6, that brings an awesome revelation and lesson.

In this present darkness, and in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. who fought to bring light into it, I offer this song. Thank you, Jason Upton. This is so beautiful; and remember, we’re not alone either.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Each Reveals The Other More

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that seeing Jesus, we see the Father. When we see the two, we truly do have all we need. There truly is nothing that we cannot accomplish, then.

As I’ve been studying about generational curses, I’ve been back and forth between the Old and the New testaments. Of course, we see a clear picture of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus said, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7) But, do we make the connection between our Heavenly Father and Jesus when we read the Psalms and the Prophets? I discovered, much to my delight, so much more about Jesus, in them! In both Old and New Testaments, we get some awesome revelation of both the Father, and our Lord, Jesus. How wonderful that is, and how powerful, as we strive to grow in intimate knowledge of them both; and in faith!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

You’re The Pearl

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are works in progress. We are bid to cultivate ourselves. This message really came home to me when I began to journal, and discover all the little joys I treasured, and all the ways in which I could incorporate them into my daily living. They were the gifts and talents God had hidden within me. I really advocate journaling to stimulate creativity; and to establish self dialog and connection with your spirit/soul. So many ideas begin to flow, so much inner conflict can be resolved, and a much better understanding and relationship with the real you can come about.

When I read the message, I think about Jesus’ words about the pearls of great value. (Matt. 13:45-46) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” We are the one fine pearl of great value that Jesus found. Actually, He’s had us since the beginning. But He had to sell all that he had, or give up all of His heavenly splendor, to buy us back from the powers of darkness. That is, to buy our birthright back, and restore us to the family of God. (1 Cor. 6:20) (Isa. 44:22) (1 Cor. 7:23) (1 Peter 1:18-19)

When we begin to look within (which journaling helps us to do) and see ourselves as God sees us, we can begin to find all kinds of precious pearls (talents, gifts, knacks, etc.). The more of these we find, the greater the field becomes. We are both pearl, and field.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Sit, Rest, Let Him Refresh You

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell reminds us that the best cure for exhaustion, physical and spiritual, is rest. We’re told that sometimes that exhaustion is actually the guiding of the Spirit.

My Bible study this morning included Psalm 147. The whole psalm is awesome; but verse 13 comes to mind when I read the message. “For He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses the children within you.” Here’s why; quoting directly from the message at twolisteners.org: “Many wonderful things would not have happened but for the physical weariness, the mind-weariness of My servants, which made the resting apart, the giving up of work, a necessity…” You see, often, it is during those times that the Holy Spirit steps in to refresh our spirit, that creativity is replenished. We are creative beings, and those ideas and plans are like children. When the mind is purged of all that clutter, creative and logic processes are restored to tip top working condition. The logic is where the step by step stuff comes in…you know…”connect the piece marked A to the bottom of the piece marked C“…and so on. Some of my most delicious dishes, and most beautiful crafts were created after a half hour of praise music or a “Lord, I’m just too tired…”-and a short nap.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Feeling His Healing Touch

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to wait quietly before the Lord, until we feel that healing power of His touch flowing into, and through us. The only way I can describe that feeling is that it’s as if your entire being is vibrating and glowing with a wholeness and joy that’s unimaginable. It’s almost unbelievable; this feeling.

I learned, some years ago, not to wait until things are overwhelming, or I am at the very end of my rope, with the knot coming undone. Rather, first thing daily, I seek the Lord’s face. I sometimes don’t get to my daily prayer until later, because I’m wrapped up in that time with the Lord. I also learned to turn into that place and wait there the very minute I feel as if the boat’s swamped.

When I read the message, I thought about the woman with the issue of blood. She only touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, and was healed. She touched the Lord. I believe that His Presence there strengthened, not only her resolve, but her efforts to be healed. Have you ever needed peace in the midst of a tumult? And the minute you turn toward the Lord, seeking His Presence, you feel strength come to you. Now, you’re determination to get through is strengthened. Now, you can almost see the sharpness of the Word, as you open your Bible. Now, your voice is strong and clear as you speak to your mountain. John 17:26 – “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” No wonder that strength is there almost immediately…actually, it’s there all the time. We just forget, or lose our connection to it.

I chose this wonderful old song by Tata Vega to go with today’s post. It still fills me with such joy!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Start Where You Dwell

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to dwell in the secret place of God’s Shadow, or Spirit. I’ve written before, about entering into that place through praise and worship. I’ve written about making time to spend time alone with God. The message bids us to make that dwelling place our home; and not to merely visit there fitfully, when it all gets to be too much for us. “Dwell there,” we’re told.

Some years ago, I made the connection between the dwelling place of God’s Presence, and my own dwelling place. There’s a place in the book (God Calling), that talks about homemaking in the spirit. Jesus said, “the kingdom of Heaven is upon, or within you.” That means God’s there. So, how do we translate that into daily living? We do that by homemaking for our spirit, and our soul…This message ties in well with the one about cultivating ourselves.

Part of cultivating ourselves, is tapping into our creativity, embracing our loves, likes, passions, and joys. It involves managing our dislikes, and eliminating all sources of discord. This works at home, at work, at church, in personal schedules,etc. However, we’re talking about home. When I think about that, I remember when I had to settle for freebies, bargain basement, mismatched, eclectic stuff. Not that I wasn’t grateful; but, oh, the difference in emotional ease and joyousness of spirit, mind, and soul, when you get to purposefully pick and choose. You get to choose; you’re the designer. You are the creator of your sacred space. This is the place where your body, mind, heart, spirit, and soul dwell. Do you know there’s a difference between a dwelling and a residence?

To dwell suggests being connected, being a life-force in that place. It suggests a warmth, and a joyful habitation. It’s where we stop, stay, rest, linger, live, abide. To reside suggests a mere being there, without a real connection, or warmth. There’s really no life-force or joyful habitation. No engagement with or in the place. It is what we occupy, are placed, are found, and, are situated. Can you see, and feel, the difference? The bottom line, is that your surroundings affect your spirit, mind, and soul; and your heart, as well. After you design, or create, your sacred space, the chores, the schedules, all the daily living issues, etc., need to be addressed, so all discord is eliminated or brought to a bare minimum. What a wonderful difference, to walk into a welcoming home that wraps you in everything you love. How wonderful to feel the peace settle over you as you enter. Your home is sacred space. Be purposeful, be deliberate when you create it. You’ll soon find that God’s Presence dwells there with you. What you surround yourself with will be absorbed by your heart, mind, and soul. Let it be God’s Presence.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu