The Poverty Of The Poor

Today’s message comes from Psalms and Proverbs 10. Psalm 10 is another list of the devices of wickedness and evil. We are warned about how evil lurks and slinks into our paths.

Proverbs 10 is a list of the blessings of wisdom; with some wise admonitions thrown in. Verse 15 of this proverb catches my eye. “The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.” What?! Didn’t Jesus say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Yes, He did. But, (3John 1:2) tells us: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” You cannot give what you do not have. That’s why everything begins with receiving, and within. ” (Matthew 3:4-23) – Verse 19 “When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the poverty of the poor. Being poor in spirit actually describes humility meekness; or willingness to learn and take guidance. Some things included in the list of poverty of spirit, or lack of and in spirit, include: courage, truth, instruction, discipline, knowledge, wisdom, diligence, perseverance, patience. Yes, lack of the desire to learn, to grow also fits in here. The wealth of that rich man, by the way, is a fortified city that evil cannot prevail against. He gets the knowledge, instruction, and guidance he needs regarding whatever he has his heart set on, so he achieves his goals, etc. He knows his God, and seeks God early; in other words, before the boat’s sinking.

Thank you, Hillsong, for this beautiful song!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Perfecting It All

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are works in progress. We are told to strive for perfection, by taking inventory at least weekly. We are to check our attitudes, character, shortfalls, weaknesses, etc. We’re also to look at that in regard to everything about our lives; from housework, or homemaking, to even self care. Now, here’s a surprise. You already are perfect in God’s eyes. (John 17:22) You’re precious and honored in His sight.

When Jesus says, “Be ye perfect, therefore, as your Father in Heaven is perfect,” we all skip over that word, “Be,” and we start frantically doing. Did you forget that God sees Jesus when He looks at us? Yes, He sees Jesus’ righteousness, Jesus’ love, Jesus’ compassion, mercy, etc. He attributes perfection to us the instant we come to Him. (Hebrews 12:1-24) is a wonderful piece that speaks to us regarding this. Verse thirteen tells us to make level paths for our feet. This is what that inventory is about. You check for any place, anything, that can be improved upon-even, and especially within. The outward often manifests where the inward (spirit) is…be it depressed, anger, sloth, confusion, etc. When we deal with those things, and include discipline and perseverance to correct them and the outward situations created by them, things change. This is called progress, which is the rule of the Kingdom of Heaven. 2 Cor. 3:18, in the New Living Translation Bible says it this way: “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” Also, Psalm 84:7 tells us we go from strength to strength until we appear before God in glory.

Sadly, I must tell you that we are all “only human.” This is to say we are subject to fatigue, depression, laziness, confusion; all those things that clog up the spirit within, and weigh us down. God knows that, though. He’s given us the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer. We can go boldly to the throne to confess and to get help. He doesn’t love us any less at any given point in time-not one second of our lives! You are already perfect in His eyes. His love, grace, and mercy are going to help us manifest that-in this life. As we manifest that glory to glory progression, it becomes the testimony that draws others to Him; and to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Preparing the Soil

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the ground must be readied before God can drop seed blessings into it. I’m reminded of the parable Jesus told about the sower and the seed, and the different kinds of soil.

Prayer and praise does much to prepare the soil, or one’s heart. That’s true whether it’s our own heart or someone else’s we’re trying to open to the Lord. Then, I think about Abraham, too. And before him, Noah. These two men believed, and walked in obedience to their calling. How many know that whenever God tells you to do something, that’s a calling? Steadfastness, diligence, and discipline in faith and obedience to whatever God calls us to do, even in our daily living, also prepare the soil for blessing. That soil can be a heart, a place, an upcoming event, etc.

It all happens in the Spirit/spirit. When I think about that, I think about Jericho. How many times did God have them march around that city…before the final time, and that shout? Soil preparation is kind of a wind up or warm up for the actual game, in some ways. The blessings come in the form of readiness, growth, maturity, confidence, fitness, or ability, peace, and joy, or excitement. If you can’t get excited over what God’s called you to do, you better make sure it was Him who called you. God not only gives us the desires of our hearts, He gives us the heart to desire good things. Anytime God calls you to do something, you know it’s got to be a good thing. You can’t help but get excited about it.

Finally, I think about tilling and weeding, and plowing a garden. That readies the soil for the seeds. I remember finding all kinds of things as we worked the ground. People have found arrowheads, awesomely shaped rocks, old coins, wonderful little treasures. One of the greatest treasures you can find in preparing the soil, or your heart, for God’s blessing, is yourself. You might discover some wonderful things you never knew were in you.

Here’s a great song for today’s post: Again, Third Day is the group to thank for this awesome song.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu