He’s Been There So He’ll Be There

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of the loneliness we will deal with at various times in our lives. There are times we’ll feel deserted, times we’ll feel betrayed, times we’ll feel like failures…the list goes on and on. The truth, however, is that we are never deserted, never betrayed, and never failures; not in Christ Jesus. This is the truth we must hold fast to during those times. Jesus promised we will never be left or forsaken by Him. He, Himself suffered betrayal, desertion, looking to the world like He failed. He’s been there so He could be there for us. He’s been there-so He’ll be there! I hope you’ll read the message at twolisteners.org for yourselves. It’s so encouraging; especially in this time of trouble and distress for us all.

I love this song by J.D. Souther! It’s an oldie, but such a goodie; and it says it all exactly.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Hear Him Say It To You

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that our Heavenly Father loves us! He is head over heels in love with each and every one of us. Let me tell you what it means to someone to hear, “You are my joy,” when they’ve not heard it often, or maybe at all, in their lives. And that’s exactly what God says to us, every good day, every bad day, every, every day! Hear Him say it to you! It will change your life! I hope you’ll read the message at twolisteners.org for yourselves – it’s awesome.

I hope this blesses you as much as it does me; it’s one of my favorites. Thank you, Chris Tomlin.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

He Loves You More

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God loves us, and longs for our love and companionship, as much as we do (or should) His.

I began to see God’s way of reaching out to me in the little birds I love so much. I’ve shared some of the funny things that have happened-and I just know He was behind them. Then, there are those quiet interludes of peace. He makes His presence known in so many ways, if we just pay attention-look, listen, and live with our hearts. I believe the best way to cultivate that intimacy with our LORD/Lord is to make time to seek Him; time to be alone with Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Foretaste of Divinity

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s standard is the only standard we are to strive to live by, and up to.

Isaiah 53 comes to mind when I read the message. It speaks of Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is the firstborn of many. That many includes you and I…because, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12-13) (ESV)

Isaiah 53:2 is a powerful revelation about how God can take you, from the dry ground of living under a generational curse, or under sin, and cause you to be the root of a new generation. A new generation under the love and admonition, and walking in the power and authority of Jesus Christ. Isn’t that awesome?! You can have a better life; your children, and their children…generations after them, can have better lives. Isaiah 53:11 is a confirmation of that: “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” (ESV) That means God can take all that turmoil and pain within you, and give you His knowledge. That will give you the power to help others to stand and walk uprightly (in power and authority). That’s what it means to “bear the iniquities” of others. We help them to overcome the adversities and barriers that keep them from living successfully.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

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

For The Universal GM In You

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God exercises great restraint when it comes to interfering in our lives. God’s not a bully; He’s a gentleman. He’d rather be loved than feared.

“Think how tenderly I respect the right of each individual soul. Never forcing upon it My Help, My Salvation. Perhaps in all My suffering for humanity that is the hardest, the restraining of the Divine Impatience and longing to help, until the call of the soul gives Me My right to act. Think of Love shown in this. ”

I’ve been reading this little book for a number of years, now. God never fails to show me something new, or reminds me of something important, just when I need it most. As I read this message today, I think about my sons and daughters, and their mates. I don’t want to be a “smother”, or a “smother in law.” I also remembered a few “General Managers of the Universe,” from times past in my own life. “Thank you, Jesus, for divine restraint, I prayed.” **Emotional blackmail and manipulation are two huge pitfalls in this area. Some people fall victim to them time and time again, until they overcome the need to be in control.

It’s easy to rush in with the answer; easy to take over without really meaning to. This is where that restraint comes in. “Please God, help me stay shut up.” This message ties in well with the one about being humble and serving all. A servant does what he/she is asked to do; he/she doesn’t run the show.

It is pretty hard to bite one’s tongue at times, isn’t it? I remember watching my kids go off on their first days of school. Each time, I cried. Each time I knew I had to let them go out there without me. And one prays they’ll come running for help when they need it, right? No matter how old they are, this is true.

Whenever I think of this, I thank God for the privilege of prayer. I think I’d lose my mind if I couldn’t pray. And I can see God up there smiling, because He’s got it all under control. And, when we exercise divine restraint with our kids, our friends, our mates, etc., relationships tend to be stronger in trust, open communication, and real teamwork and unity. When we always rush right in to the rescue, we reinforce helplessness and undermine self confidence and accountability.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Rest in Work, Work to Rest

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that forced, or tired work never shows the best within us. We’re told that it is wrong to force work.

As I think about the message, I think about all the times Jesus withdrew to be alone. I’m sure He needed rest from all the activity, the stress of dealing with the haters, and of the upcoming events that He knew He would have center stage in.

Our lives are no different. We have all kinds of acitivity going on around us all the time. We’re involved in all kinds of activities. We deal with haters, nay-sayers, doubt, and fatigue at any given point in time, too. It’s stressful. We have upcoming events like deadlines, finals, presentations, etc. The spot-lights will be on us then, won’t they? That’s stressful too. It can be, anyway. It can make the projects, the problems, and the prospects seem overwhelming.

That’s when we need to step back and recharge. We need to work, then, at resting in quietness and confidence; strengths we’ve already gained. We need to draw on our knowledge of who and whose we are, and all the gifts and talents He’s given us. He never calls us to do anything without empowering us to do it. When we work to rest in those truths, and in the peace of confidence in Him, and in ourselves, the tables turn in our favor. We are rewarded then, with restful work. No flurry, hurry, worry, etc. Just a peaceful and restful soul at work. I’m smiling now, because of Jesus’ words: “Come to me all ye, who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.” Also, “Greater things than these shall you do because I go to my Father in Heaven.” I know, that’s taken a little out of context; but, it’s true. He does go to the Father and intercedes for us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

No Punishment For Past Sins

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there is no punishment for our past sins. When we accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, all of that is removed-as far as the East is from the West-from us. They’re gone!

However, their impact and effects on us, our character, attitudes, choices, lives, have not been removed. They will be gradually wiped clean, and/or smoothed and polished into a beautiful soul. One that manifests it’s true being -created in the image and likeness of God, Himself-more and more.

Remembering that we go from strength to strength and glory to glory, we can begin to understand the admonition of the Lord. God brings us up in the admonition of the Lord, just as we are to bring our children up the same way. When a child errs, we help him/her to correct that error. We teach our children how to clean up messes, and how to do things correctly. This isn’t punishment; it’s training. God does the same with us. We can only act/react according to what we believe to be true. When we come to the Lord, we’re operating out of old truths-usually untruths, about ourselves and the world around us. God patiently works with us, allowing us to come face to face with the consequences of our actions, and face the truth that we need help to change things, or to do them correctly. When we turn to Him for that help, He’s always ready, willing, and more than able to teach and train us in the correct ways. King David wrote often about being taught the Lord’s ways, and His paths. And, remember, King David erred-and even sinned knowingly. But, King David also repented, went boldly the throne of God, asking forgiveness. God called King David a man after His own heart. We can learn and be inspired and encouraged by that.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

His Hand is Ever Over Our Lives

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s hand is ever working in, and over, our lives. The message ties in perfectly with Saturday’s message about straying.

In Saturday’s message, we’re bid to learn the overcoming power of Jesus. He wasn’t daunted by anything or anyone. He knew who and whose He was, what His standards and boundaries were, and what His destiny was. He also knew His purpose(s). We all serve many different purposes in life. They come according to needs-of others, and ourselves.

The way this message ties in with that one, is that it reminds us that there is a seal on our lives. We are sealed to God Almighty, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. We are reminded that He leads us-out of darkness to light, out of despair to hope and victory, out of temptation to overcoming power. It is when we remember that seal is on us and our lives, that those standards and boundaries become clear and strong. That’s how I can drink one bottle of beer or one glass of wine and be done. I know who and whose I am, what my standard is, what my boundaries are, what my strengths and weaknesses are. I know who is right there with me when I am drinking that bottle of beer or glass of wine.

There is so very much strength in being mindful of that seal on our lives. If you walk out your front door with it in mind, you can walk away from anything! It isn’t that Jesus needs to be called to our sides. It is that we need to remain mindful that He is there. And, He’s not there to judge you or condemn you. He’s there to help you, to encourage you. He’s there to give you the strength to get up and walk away. It works in reverse too. He can give you the strength to go somewhere you need to go, or do something you need to do. Remember, His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we stay mindful of Him and His seal on our lives, His strength can, and will be perfected in us, to overcome the weakness.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Blessed By That Bond

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Happy August, everyone! Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the bond between one’s soul and our Lord, is truly a wondrous one. There is no glory on Earth that compares; nothing comes close.

That bond is a blessed one. We are blessed by, and through, that bond. When we cultivate our awareness of the Lord’s Presence in our lives, we begin to see more and more of His Presence in everything around us. Suddenly, you might feel His gentle touch in a breeze. You might hear His happy laughter in a gurgling brook. That awareness grows into a constant consciousness of the Lord, Himself, in our lives. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.

I think we often miss the mark on this because we’re afraid to let ourselves go. We hang on to reason and what we consider to be normal, or acceptable, etc. You won’t regret letting go of yourself and cultivating that awareness of His Presence in everything around you. I haven’t yet; and I doubt I ever will. I believe He’s quick to remind me that He’s there, whenever a couple of days go by that I kind of forget it. Yes, people called Jesus crazy; His own mother and brothers did. Most will call us crazy too. Don’t let that stop you.

I’ve chosen this song by Third Day to go with today’s message:

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu