You’re Not Forsaken

Today’s message comes to us from Psalms and Proverbs 27. The verses in Psalm 27 that stick with me-still today- are verses 10-12: They address generational curses, abandonment, dysfunction, and despondency that comes with those things. “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors. Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.” Jesus said, “Come to me all ye who labor and are heavy laden.” (Matt. 11:28) God will not turn you away when you come to Him! And, He will be that father and mother you needed back then. The oppressors in generational curses are all the negative things we’ve been told, all the wrong beliefs we’ve held (I’m stupid, worthless, unlovable, etc.), and all the habits we need to change. You know, the procrastination, the sloth, the denial-especially of our feelings. Your foes are the powers and principalities, and the hosts of spiritual wickedness who whisper all those negative things into your ears to remind you of them, and who whisper things that cause fear and self-doubt, which cause you to doubt God. Those are the false witnesses who rise up against you breathing violence.* Destructive of your progress, power, and freedom.

Proverbs 27:5-6 are enlightening in regard to generational curses: “Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.” Love does not let you do wrong and allow you to think it’s right. Love needs to be expressed often, as well. “The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. When you’re trying to overcome negative habits, negativity expressed, and all the false things, you have to consider them your enemy-or at least that your enemy, the devil, is waiting to jump on them and use them against you. So, you must be on your guard, and weigh those things carefully. Verse 17 is a good thing to keep in mind: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” If it isn’t empowering you to be better, take a closer look at it. You may need to toss it out. If it’s a person, you may need to spend less time there. Verses 23-27, I think, are important, really, for everyone; but especially in recovery. “Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants. This is an admonition to be wise in living. You are a king/queen in the Earth, but it is the meek who will inherit the earth;, and as the proverb tells us, any generation can fall right back under that curse. We need to remain humble and teachable, and strive to walk with integrity according to God’s Word. That needs to be our priority. This passage lets us know that nothing just comes to us; we have to work for it.

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

Their Need;Your Call-That Call, Your Need

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the need is the call. Jesus has promised always to be with us, so we can be sure that He’s going to be there to answer the call. Our need is also His call.

I want to explore the need and the call a little more today. First of all, obviously, when we see a need, we are called to meet the need somehow. God is a provider. Jesus has promised that when we ask anything in His Name, it shall be done for us. Even without material provision, we can answer the call. That call creates our need for the Lord’s presence, guidance, power. God hears prayer, and we have the church community to go to for assistance. That’s part of what the church is here for; we are, after all, the body of Christ in the earth.

Now, I want to address a need you might have, that is your personal call. It may be a call to turn back to God. It might be a call to further your education. It can be anything that you may need to do, or need to stop doing, in order to better your life. We’re usually pretty good at hearing the need that tells us we need to do something to further advance ourselves, right? I heard it when I was going through my first separation from my husband, and realized I couldn’t feed three children on minimum wages. But, oh, those little calls…the one that comes when you need to call in sick because you’re too hungover to work. Then there’s that one that comes when boyfriend/girlfriend blows you off and you see him/her later with someone else. OMG! I sure loved my blinders and earplugs in that one. I had another call when my belly was trying to roll off my knees. Ignoring those calls is called denial. That is usually based in fear. We’re afraid of change, of failure, of vulnerability, etc. Those calls are wake-up calls that tell us we need to take better care of ourselves. We need to respect ourselves more, we need to love ourselves more, etc. Jesus said, “I’ve come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” It’s crucial for us to answer those calls, because through them, we are spared a lot of heartache, and we are empowering that abundant life. I know-it sure doesn’t feel that way when we’re going through that stuff. But, it is all worth it in the end…and the new beginning. Thank God for new beginnings.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu