What The World Needs Now…

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to love all, bringing joy wherever we can. Romans 12:9 puts it this way: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

We’re told that we can’t fail to love someone, once we understand them. We’re also told to look for Jesus in everyone. When we do this, we are more apt to be reminded that everyone is created in His image and after His likeness. This makes me think of the word, “Namaste.” Literally, it means, “bowing to you.”

Something I learned some time ago, is that God loves because He is love. That means it makes no difference whether or not I like you, or even whether or not I understand you. It means I love you because I am called to love you. We are called to be like our Master, Jesus, and our Heavenly Father. “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Perfect love casts out fear; which all too often is the wedge driven between us as humans. Here, again, the key is understanding all of God’s ways with us, and growing in them. God is love perfected. We learn what we live, and we live what we learn. So, let’s learn from the Master!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Until The Aroma Permeates Your Life

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we can sing, even in the darkness, just like Paul and Barnabas did. We are bid to stay strong, be of good cheer, and be courageous. We’re bid to turn to the Lord, always, even in the darkness. I would say, especially in the darkness.

Mark 14:3 is referenced by the message: “While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” I hope you’ll read the message @ twolisteners.org, because it’s awesome. When I read the message, I thought about “monster spray.” Monster spray was my perfume. I sprayed it in the kids’ closets to keep the monsters away at night.

When that woman poured that Spikenard perfume on Jesus’ head, I bet the whole room was filled with the aroma. That stuff was the very best gift the woman had to give. Our trust and love for Him, is the very best gift we can give Jesus, and our Heavenly Father. When we turn to the Lord, praise the Lord, pray to the Lord, and walk with the Lord, we are getting that perfume, that aroma, all over us. Remember when Mom hugged you and you could smell her perfume on you? That’s what faith does for us. That living with the Lord infuses our lives with that same aroma. That aroma brings joy, peace, comfort, power, and love, doesn’t it? Yes, it does; just like Mom’s did. Just like the monster spray did.

When that aroma fills your life, it permeates even the darkness. It’s our favorite scent; but it is to the forces of evil, like the scent of a snake to a rodent. The aroma of the Lord’s love and presence is an awesome thing. You can’t smell it with your nose, really. But you sure can pick up that scent, ever so faintly, in your spirit. And, it really does dispel the power of the darkness to disarm fear and doubt.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Know That You Know, That You Know

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we, not only have the right to live in peace and joy, but also, the responsibility to.

There’s a very powerful statement in the message: “Success is the result of work done in peace.” That tells me a couple of things. First, it tells me that I have to be at peace within, if I want to make real progress outwardly. By that, I mean manifesting positive change outwardly. If I am not happy with myself, if I am hurting or confused, or angry within, etc., I’m not in a state conducive to positive change. Secondly, it tells me that I must work to bring peace to another, if I want to truly help them. First peace, then process, then, progress. Finally, it tells me that I shouldn’t measure success by the wrong things. There was a time in my life when just making the bed daily was a victory, a success.

Anything that brings peace, as long as it isn’t compromise with evil, is a success; it’s progress. Of course, peace with evil, isn’t really peace, is it? We have to be careful what we’re making peace with, also. Sometimes, what we mistake for peace, can actually be compromise in the wrong direction, or even surrender. Never surrender your peace, and the joy arising from true peace, to anything or anyone except the Lord, and the Word of God.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Put Yourself Into The Hands of the Potter

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I chose this song by Casting Crowns for today’s music post. It goes perfectly with today’s message. I hope it inspires and blesses you, strengthens you, as much as it does me. I’m blinking back tears as I write this. Sometimes it’s so very hard to let go and let God…but oh, how He does love us, and oh, how awesomely He takes what’s meant for evil against us, and brings it, and us to a beautiful glory in Him. God bless you!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Greater Works

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us of Jesus” words: “Greater works than these shall you do, because I go to my Father.”

As I read the message, I thought about Jesus’ words to the woman at the well. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” The issues of life flow from the heart. The good man, out of the good stored up in his heart, brings forth good things; and the evil man, out of the evil stored up in his heart, brings forth evil. When you add this truth from Romans 12:21 to the mix, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” you can see where the greater works need to be done. Your body is just your vehicle. Actually, it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God breathed His life into every single soul that ever has, does now, and ever will, walk this earth. That tells me something about what I need to put into the hungry, the hurting, all I minister to.

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This is from Luke 7:28. It ties in with the truth part. I see so many Christians trying to “look” perfect, or perfected. You see them in every church. But let me tell you something about humility. It takes a courageous person to tell the truth on himself, or herself. And, you have to humble yourself to do that when, really, what the world expects, is that your life is perfect because your’e a Christian. It must be, right? I mean, God’s supposed to be good, isn’t He? What about all that blessing stuff, Lady? Oh, yes, dear, God just happens to be the One who got me through all that ugly stuff, all that hurt, fear, anger, etc., etc., etc., But I am a work in progress; and will be till the day I arrive at those pearly gates. Do you know why John the Baptist didn’t have any problem with sin? He didn’t live with anybody; he was alone in the wilderness. It was just him and God. See, when he came to town, he started shouting and telling people the truth about themselves, didn’t he? LOL

Seriously, though, John preached repentance from sin, and baptism. Jesus came to show us how to walk after God. He gave us back our authority over sin-or, the author of sin. But, we are still in the world. He said we would have tribulation here in the world. He also said, “be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, though. That’s why we’re told to put on the full armor of God. We need to lift one another’s spirits, bear one another’s burdens, share one another’s concerns. As I’m writing this paragraph, I’m thinking about the disciples in the boat during the storm. You know what? There was only one boat. That tells me we’re all in the same boat. When one team member gets tired or discouraged, the whole rest of the team encourages and cheers that one on. They minister to that one’s spirit. That’s where the greater works are done.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Here’s to That Hush Within

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need to just determine to get peace and be still within. That’s where the storms are, really, aren’t they?

When I think back on some of the worst times of my life, I find they were times that I didn’t walk away and get quiet within. I didn’t take time to stop and regain my inner peace. It doesn’t matter what it is, loss of a job, argument with hubby/wife, argument with your child, whatever crisis-and yes, those arguments are crises in your relationship because they can strain and even break the bond that’s crucial there, whatever it is, you need to just stop and regain your inner peace. Just a quickly as you realize it’s going downhill, you need to step away and let God take the wheel.

He’ll remind you who and whose you are. He’ll remind you how much strength and power you do have. But, strength and power are not ours to rule over one another with. Rather, the strength and power are ours to use to overcome the evil, the fear, the anger, the doubt, the loudness of the friction and strain on spirit-yours and theirs. The Bible tells us that our strength lies in quietness and trust. It’s hard to trust God when you’ve lost sight of Him within you. When the “whatever” is screaming in your spirit, His Word in your Heart is pretty much inaudible; and your brain just freezes. I know, I’m living proof. And I’ve been on both sides of that fence.

Sometimes, you can’t walk away physically right then. That’s one of the reasons the kingdom of Heaven is within us. It’s one of the reasons His Word is to be written on our hearts. It’s also one of the reasons we need to know our limits. We need to know when we’re heading for the cliff, long before we get there. I’ve found it’s a lot easier to just pray and kind of “refuel” with that Word, right when I suspect things are not as they should be. In relationships, especially, it involves integrity and truthfulness. It all really goes back to your standards and boundaries. Peace is important to everyone’s well being, and also essential to promote progress and success. Chaos makes it impossible to get things done, to learn, to teach, etc. That’s why it’s one of Satan’s favorite games to play.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu