Praise Is Due To Him, Indeed

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 65, and I think this is one of my favorite psalms. I just love it every time I read it. Verse 1 tells us that Praise is due to Him; and our vows to Him shall be performed…in Zion. That tells me I can go up and praise Him on His Holy mountain! And that’s in verse 2: “O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.” Remember where John went in the Spirit?

Here’s what we have when we do come before Him; thanks to Jesus! This is verse 3: “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.” Jesus did that for once and for all time on Calvary! Now, we can overcome the darkness in this world, and be in Heaven *both eternally and here on Earth, in our living. That’s where verse 4 comes in: “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” We can dwell in His courts, and his house can be our house.

There are a couple of things to take away from the holiness of His temple. First, It takes me to the Commandment: “Worship the LORD your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8) (Deut. 6:13) I also think about being the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In light of that, we must respect ourselves, and others when we can. A wise person once told me that if you can’t respect someone, you can still be respectful toward them. It also tells me that we should do nothing to debase, defile, degrade, demean, and destroy another’s dignity and self respect. *Notice, those words all begin with the first letter of the word “devil.”

Verse 5 tell us that God answers us by awesome deeds and with righteousness. That makes me think of when I’ve heard kids talking about how awesome someone’s parents are. God’s love is awesomely empowering, calming; inspiring love, courage, . In and through it, we are empowered to realize, accept, and respect our own authority over our lives. That reminds me of what Jesus said. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The rest of the psalm outlines God’s working in the world we live in; in His creation. It gives us a picture of the effects and results of His steadfast loving-kindness toward His creation.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Sing For Joy

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 63. It is King David’s, written while he was in the wilderness in Judah. He stirred himself up recounting the goodness of God. Sometimes all you need is a little real and deep worship to clear the mud out of your eyes…The whole psalm is awesome! I hope you’ll read it for yourselves.

In the meantime, this song never fails to make me feel as if I’m right in God’s embrace! Thank you, Kari Jobe.

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Every Day Bless Him!

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 34; written by King David. David sure knows how to stir himself up int he LORD, doesn’t he? That’s one of the reasons Psalms is my favorite book in the Old Testament. The very first verse of the psalm ties right in with Friday’s message: Every day, bless the LORD! Every day, Praise the LORD! Every day rejoice in the LORD! (Remember how David danced before the LORD when He was bringing home the Ark of the Covenant?) When we fix our heart, or affix our heart to the LORD and His heart, life becomes a dance. “Maybe God doesn’t want me to have it.” NOT TRUE! “whatever you ask in my Name will be done for you.” (John 16:23) *I know that Lamborghini is on its way! LOL When doubt tries to creep in, we need to oust it by speaking The Word, which is the Truth. David recites a long list of blessings (God’s goodness toward us)

Verse 21 of the psalm not only empowers my faith, but it also sobers me a little bit. “Affliction will slay the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.” (ESV) Do you suppose this is the very reason we’re to pray for our enemies and bless them? It’s not God’s will that any should perish. That causes Jesus’ words to echo so loudly in my heart. “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

I think this song is appropriate here. Thank you Carrie Underwood! Such a beautiful rendition.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – January 16, 2021

My goodness, what a week it’s been! I had my cardiology appointment; hit the floor running to make it on time. I don’t know why, but it seems as if the buses are crawling along at fifteen miles an hour whenever you need them to hurry. Then, some of them go at breakneck speed, only to jump on the brakes with both feet and all their body weight behind them. Passengers and baggage come up out of the seats. LOL I think they need to serve cocktails on some of those buses, just like they do on airplanes. Speaking of airplanes, I was on a bus the other day, and there was a car wash just short of the stoplight. This guy was out front waving a white rag like crazy. I couldn’t figure out if he was trying to flag us down, or land a plane…we are right by the Air Base.

There are some characters on the buses, too. We passed a construction site, and someone asked what they were building there. A lady on the bus said, “Its an Amazon Warehouse.” “Oh,” replied the guy, “what’s if for?” “It’s where they’re going to lock up all the strong and angry women,” replied the lady. LOL

I got my ID renewed recently. I couldn’t believe it when I got the new card. My goodness; I need to get some good facial serum and face cream. My grandbabies will be calling me Grandma Sharpei. Sure enough, I sent a friend a selfie – of myself, and he texted me back: “Can she sit up and beg?” Hmm, maybe I could get one of the kids to take me to the dog shows; I could use the money. Ah, never mind…I can’t wag my tail like that anymore. Besides that, I’m not going to sit up and beg for anybody!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Feeling That Feeling

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to feel the plenty in God’s Kingdom. We are assured that the storehouses of God are filled to overflowing with all of God’s goodness. – For us!

We’re told to walk by faith, not by sight. So, that feeling of plenty is really not a feeling, but a knowing. It is a matter of changing one’s thinking from supplication to thanksgiving. I believe that when we do that, we begin to grow, not only in faith, but in relationship with God. We begin to see that there is much more to God’s supply than material blessing. There is wisdom, courage, creativity, delight, humility, inspiration, joy, knowledge, laughter, love, passion, patience, peace, power, rest, security, steadfastness, strength, talents, understanding, zeal, or excitement. This is all WEALTH! And, see how wealthy you really are?! Yeah! God’s really, really good! My whole being was changed, merely as a result of giving thanks to God each morning, instead of a to-do list. Not that we shouldn’t make our requests known to God, but we should also-and this ties in with yesterday’s post-settle it in our hearts that it’s a done deal. God answered in the beginning! When we can accept that it’s already been done for us, we can start each day with a grateful heart, and the assurance that God’s got us covered.

This is an old one, but such a good one! Thank you, Michael English and the Gatiher Family.

Seek It Within Yourself

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to trust in the goodness of God. When we become children of God, we have that goodness put into our hearts. We are created in His image, and after His likeness; so we now can begin to grow into that image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26) “Be perfect therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” said Jesus. (Matt. 5:48)

“I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:14) This is what God longs for us to have every day of our lives; souls that are feasted on the Word of God, and wholly satisfied by and with His goodness. The way we obtain that is to seek the goodness of God within us. As we discover them, we lose things like that sense of condemnation (by self or others). We lose things like fear; especially, of things like rejection, failure, loss of control and freedom, and even loss of time. We also begin to actually lose lack (within and in our lives); and begin to experience more and more fullness of spirit, life, peace, joy, all the awesome things God has for us.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) The first thing to do when things go wrong, is to look for that kingdom within; for that goodness of God in you. Perhaps you need patience, or courage, or comfort, or just an idea. It’s there within you. Getting quiet and just waiting for the Lord, for a minute, brings the peace we need to see those treasures; the goodness, and good things of God. I hope you’ll take time to read the message at twolisteners.org – it’s one that can revolutionize the way you see yourself.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Practicing The Presence Of It

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is a good God. He is also eager to share His Goodness, and all good things, with us. We are bid to taste and trust that goodness, and to hold fast to it, even in times of trouble.

When I read about God sharing His Goodness with us, I think about things like the fruits of the Spirit-because God is Spirit. I also think about His love for us. He gave His only begotten Son to save us. That’s a pretty extravagant gift; don’t you think?

So, in order for me to experience and grow in trust, or faith, and intimacy with God, I must practice the presence of His Goodness. I must receive it within myself; cultivate it in my life, my home, my relationships, etc.

That means, first, I recognize that I am worth dying for. I am worthy of the best. That means I will make good choices for myself, I’ll go the extra mile-(put that vase of flowers on the dinner table, or light that candle, etc.). I will also be deliberate about creating my spaces, my surroundings, when possible. Look at the way God created the planet, the Garden of Eden, etc. The Bible says God devises ways to restore us to Himself. That’s a clue on how we ought to view our relationships with one another. We’re also told that God blesses us richly, and adds no sorrow to it. (Proverbs 10:22) -“The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” I like the Berean Study Bible version; it says the blessing of the LORD “enriches…”

When we seek to enrich our daily living experiences, even something like just a meal, we can turn it into a feast for the soul. God seeks those who worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth. It stands to reason then, that God would love to enrich our soul, our spirit. When we seek to do the same to others, life takes on a much more beautiful hue. As we practice the goodness of God within, and bring it out around us, trust that God’s Goodness is always present becomes solidified. Before you know it, nothing can shake it.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

His Abundant Goodness Toward Us

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us of Psalm 31:19 -“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” (NIV) The KJV says it this way: “Oh, how great is your goodness which you have laid up for those that fear you; which you have wrought for those who trust in you before the sons of men.”

I want to illustrate the difference between an abundance of good things, and the great goodness of God. Goodness is the quality of being morally or virtuous, righteous, ethical, upright, upstanding. Having integrity, principle, dignity, rectitude; and the list goes on. These are qualities that God bestows on us, working them in us, and through us. The good things are the blessings and rewards that manifest as a result of that goodness. They’re the bonuses we get for trusting God and obeying Him. The last part of that verse (Psalm 31:19) can be read two different ways. I believe both are true. First of all, God bestows all of it, the goodness, and the good things, in the sight of the sons of men, or the sight of all. Secondly, though, I think about Jesus’ words: “whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father in Heaven.”

Sometimes, the hardest thing in the world you’ll ever have to do, is to trust God in the sight of men. They’ll laugh at you, just like they laughed at Noah. They’ll jeer and mock you, like the did Jesus. But, we know who’s behind all that, don’t we? And we have this promise from the Psalms also: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5) That tells me I am anointed to overcome, and I am more than able! My cup overflows with God’s goodness and power, and God’s blessing on me, on mine, on my life. Praise God!

My song choice for today is Let it Rain. I’m still praying for an end to all cancers, but most especially, childhood cancers. Please pray with me. Thank you, Michael W. Smith for your faithfulness to the Lord, and for sharing that beautiful voice.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu