He Doesn’t Need To Hear It…

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that your heart’s cry is heard over everything in Heaven. Is that an awesome revelation about God’s love? I have to say thank you for that! Thank you, Jesus!

When I think about this in terms of generational curses, I think of Jesus’ words, “But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21-22) What does that have to do with a voiceless cry? Well, when you see that child that just spilled the milk, or just set the toaster on fire, or just filled the tub with the entire box of detergent, and every piece of clothing he could get his beautiful little hands on, does your heart go out to him/her? How could you not be hurting for that frightened child, and want to rush in to save him/her? How could you not fall absolutely head over heels in love with that little helper, and praise him for his little heart?

God responds to us in exactly that way. He looks at our hearts, and He knows our hearts. He also knows that the enemy’s greatest weapon, and his favorite one, is fear. It is never God’s intention to inspire fear in us; never! When God speaks to us about punishment; it is because we are about to reap what we have sown. When God admonishes us, it is always with the intention of getting us to repent and correct our behavior. And, God is always right there, ready, and so very willing to help us get up and back into right standing; to overcome whatever it might be. The admonishment of the Lord, (Eph. 6:4) saves us from our fear and frustration, and empowers us with instruction and training, to overcome the obstacle between us and growth, or progress.

This works when you’re retraining that wounded child within you, as well. That ties in with those powers I talked about a couple of days ago -the power of laughter, patience, protectiveness, etc. God never sees us as failures. He always sees us as victorious; because, in Christ Jesus, we are-in everything!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

In Meekness Lies Victory

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is the meek who inherit the earth. Meekness is willingness to be taught, or guided/led. It is the stopping all thought, all action, and laying down our will and our understanding. It is giving ourselves over to God’s Will.

Do you know that we cannot fail when we do that? In that meekness, we gain strength, we gain knowledge, we gain courage…whatever it is you need in those moments, God’s got it for you. He can’t give it to you, though, if your hands are tightly clutching everything you know, everything you think, everything you feel. I wrote a psalm once, and one of the lines comes to mind as I read this message. “You could have left me there, in my own understanding, but you took my place for me…” When we yield our will, God can step in and do exactly that. His mind (the mind of Christ) takes the place of ours. His courage comes to your heart. His peace and faith wash over you. It is in that meekness, that our victory lies. “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” (2Cor. 12:9) Whenever self decreases and allows God to increase, strength comes…perfectly.

This is one of my favorite songs; especially when I’m in need of laying down my will and letting God work in, and through me. Thank you, Gaither family.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Learning Restraint

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there’s a time, a place, and a way. God, knows all; especially all hearts. We are told that His power to save increases as our understanding of His Salvation increases. He never forces Himself on anyone; never rushes in too soon to save us. That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want to help us. It simply means that we will be helped more by learning and doing ourselves. It’s the “hands on” learning experience that strengthens us; building up the confidence, or faith, we need in Him and in ourselves. Part of being a child of God, a parent, a friend, is exercising that same restraint.

We are reminded that God’s power is limited only by our lack of vision. This makes me think of Jesus and the man at the pool at Bethesda. When Jesus saw how long he’d been lying there like that, He asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6) There’s a powerful revelation in that; especially when we’re dealing with generational curses. We have to ask ourselves that same question.

There’s another statement Jesus made that comes to mind here. He said to a lame man that He had healed, “See, you are well.” (John 5:14 ESV) If you take the comma out of that sentence, you get this: See you are well. This has to do with vision. It has to do with a new horizon for you. Look forward to where you want to be (your horizon), and see yourself well, successful, etc. This is the transformation part of being saved. (Romans 12:12) We change our thinking and walk in the new ways. We don’t have to wait to walk in the new ways. God sees us as righteous, victorious, and glorious the instant we accept Jesus as our Lord, and become God’s children. However, restraint is also necessary here. We need to learn to wait on the Lord, and let Him lead us at times. We also need to keep in mind that He may withhold things until we are ready for them.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Dropping Them Frees Your Hands

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to drop our burdens at Jesus’ feet. This causes me to think of the woman who wept at His feet. Think she had some burdens? Yeah, and let me tell you, I’ve been there. I don’t know about her, but I wept and wept; and couldn’t stop weeping that day. She walked away free from the weight of those burdens. My life has never been the same since that day. And, it gets sweeter as the years go by. Thank you, Lord, for loving me. And, thank you, Lord, for the beautiful gift you gave me on this day 33 years ago…Happy Birthday, Son! I love you.

It is when we drop those burdens at Jesus’ feet, that our hands are freed to pray and praise Him. It is then that our hands are freed to reach for Him. I don’t know about you, but I have thrown myself into Jesus’ arms so many times I lost count! He’s never failed me yet. It is when I drop those burdens at the Lord’s feet, that I realize perhaps I’ve wandered off track a bit…and gotten just a little lost in the wilderness.

This song is one of my very favorites. It expresses exactly what the message speaks to us today. If you’ve got a burden pressing down on you today, sing along. Just drop it all at the Master’s feet, and reach up…He’ll lift you in His arms. Thank you Gaither Family.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

What Praise Unlocks

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there is an order to all things; even approaching God. The message bids us to seek first something we can be thankful for-even in distresses, and then praise God for it…then approach boldly with your cry for help.

I learned some time ago to just live in a state of thankfulness. Even in the darkest moment, the most outrageous distress, the most dire circumstance, you still have at least one thing to be thankful for. That one thing is God. If that’s all you can see that you have to be thankful for, so be it. Thank Him for being Who He Is. The instant you do that, the floodgates open, and the blessing flows. Worry, doubt, fear, anger, bitterness, resentment all dam up that flow. Praise breaks up the “log jam.” Praise unlocks the door of the storehouse where your treasures are kept. The next thing you know, the darkness is dispelled, the fear is gone, the shame and distress are both disarmed, and you know where, exactly you’re going. “First right with Me, then righted in the eyes of men, too.”

Psalm 26:6-7 is referenced by the message: “I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.” There is a powerful revelation in this scripture. Washing your hands in innocence suggests that you aren’t going to allow a spirit of shame or fear to stop you from going to God’s. When we proclaim aloud God’s praise and tell of His wonderful deeds, we are putting the forces of darkness on notice that we’re standing on God’s promises and His Word – “It is written!” We are also stirring our own spirits up by recounting our victories in Christ, and our state of blessedness through Him. “I am a child of God Most High; and an heir with Christ Jesus!” Hallelujah!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Ever Upward…Always Higher

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the law of the Kingdom of Heaven is progress. We are to strive to be better today than we were yesterday, to step up to the next level, to always reach a little higher.

As I read the message, I think back to school days. Clerical training, then on to Office Management training, on to Accounting, and so on, and so on. David, in Psalm 31:8, says, “You have not given me into the hands of the enemy, but you have set my feet in a spacious place.” I also think of Psalm 107:35 – “He turns a desert into pools of water, and a dry land into flowing springs.” When we don’t look forward, reach higher, strive for progress, for the next level, things can begin to get dry. They can become like a well that’s dried up. We can become like a dried up well. That’s not what God wants for us. “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly,” said Jesus.

Progress isn’t as much about material wealth, as it is spiritual, intellectual, and emotional health. That is true wealth. When we have those things within us, we can manifest them outwardly in the form of effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and yes, material wealth as well. We are always to look to the horizon. After all, we are just passing through. As we reach higher, we elevate, not only our own lives, but the lives of others.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu