Right In Deed, Indeed

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 58, and it’s a powerful one in terms of dealing with generational curses, and parenting.

“Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? *(Mighty Lords) Do you judge the children of man uprightly? No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.” (V-1&2)(ESV)

(Proverbs 31:9) tells us we are to judge rightly and defend the cause of the poor and needy. Our children see us as all powerful. Jesus looks at the heart, and condemns no one. He said, “I’m not come to condemn the world, but to save it.” So our first order is always to save. We save dignity, self-respect, courage, and conviction. Yes, conviction. You’ve heard that expression, “living right down to their expectation, of him/her.” That’s what happens to our conviction about right and wrong when we’re constantly accused, belittled, and punished. The opposite of these is saved/helped, encouraged and instructed, and rewarded with the self-respect, courage and dignity we all deserve.

When we suffer under parents who live out generational curses, our hearts store up all that stuff. The next thing you know, that stuff comes out when we’re parents. We need to fix our hearts on God’s love for us, nurturing our own spirits on it. What goes in comes out; so when we do that, we can be better parents to our children. The reward for us (righteous) is strong children who know who and whose they are, what love is, and what it isn’t, and that they are covered in and through everything. Finally, that the authority over things in their world is theirs, not the enemy’s. That’s where that thing about “the choice is yours,” comes from. The choice is ours; and when we make good choices, we are loving ourselves the way God wants us to.

PS – When I read the part about the recompense of the wicked, I think, not of celebrating. I think about praying for them. Verse 19 speaks of the righteous bathing their feet in the blood of the wicked. I think about all the things that used to trip me up, hinder me, slam me with fear, self-doubt, etc., and even cripple me with depression. Those are all things that come on us when we live generational curses. I thank God every day that those things are beneath my feet now. But believe me when I tell you, it’s a lifelong battle. There are still days when I have to fight my way through. But, if God is for us, who can stand against us?

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Satan Found Your Suitcase

Psalm 56 brings us today’s message. King David wrote it when the Philistines captured him at Gath. As I read the psalm, I couldn’t help thinking it sounds like the devil found your suitcase. You know…all that old baggage from back in the day…hmm. When you’re going through recovery-be it from alcoholism, drug addiction, and other manifestations of generational curses, you can bet Satan’s got a bloodhound tracking you. And, every opportunity he see, he’ll open that suitcase you left by the way, and start hurling that old stuff at you!

Rest assured. God sees, hears, knows, and answers! Verse 12 gives us they key again, to activating that power of God. It’s is praise and thanksgiving. And, Verse 13 is your promise: “For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.“(ESV) You don’t have to hide, don’t have to hang your head, etc. Just keep walking, head held up, in the light of life; real life!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Divine Giver

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to be kingly givers. I encourage you to read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org, because it is an awesome one.

Jesus, in the message, says to us, “I am Love and Joy and Peace and Strength and Power and Healing and Humility and Patience.” -quoting directly from God Calling. We’re told that our nature must be the same as His. Then, also, our Lord says to us, “You live with Me, and then My Life accomplishes the miracle-change.” -again, quoting from God Calling.

I re-potted and nursed a plant for a co-worker once. I grew up with a grandmother who loved to put little gnomes in her garden, and I had found a couple of miniature gnomes in a store. I put one in with one of my potted plants. The other, I put in with my co-worker’s plant. I thought it might bring her a little joy. We so often miss the opportunity to elevate our giving to touching someone’s soul. And, we so often forget how great a difference giving a little bit of our own heart in our giving, can make in someone’s life. We must be as generous with our spirit as we are with everything else.

I had such an awesome Sunday worship last Sunday. I want to share this song with you. It is so beautiful, and touched me so deeply. This is exactly what this message is about. Paul Wilbur, thank you so much!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Giving Comes From Him

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to give all we can, in every way we can. We are to imitate the greatest giver(s) of all time; Jesus, and our heavenly Father, who gave His own son for us.

Jeremiah is the prophet I’m currently reading for my study on generational curses. Chapter 30:18-22 speaks to me of what a great giver God is. It shows how mindful He is of us, our needs, our trials and tribulations. This is how we should think when we are presented with opportunities to give. After all, we are blessed in order that we might bless others as well. Jesus said, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

As you read these verses, we can see God’s heart is to lift up, to rebuild/restore dignity, joy, and peace, to prosper a soul, and to honor humanity, as it was designed by God. That leader spoken of is Jesus Christ, our Lord. “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) When I think about that in light of everything we face in the world, and how much of a difference one kind word, even a smile, or a helping hand can make for someone…I am inclined to bow before the Lord first, at every opportunity, and ask Him just to do it through me.

I’m also so grateful for all those beautiful people who give in almost every step they take. You are an inspiration to me when I want to just give up and throw in the towel. Thank you, all!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Go, And Sin No More

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, gives us a powerful revelation about Jesus’ words in John 8:11 – “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” The message bids us to “feel that between us and all scorn and indignity is a strong shield.”

We are also reminded that we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Being human, we are bound to do things imperfectly at times. We are limited in patience, and even in perseverance at times. Of course, it’s always easier to give up, isn’t it? That’s because we have a tendency to be self-condemning. Sometimes, we’re even harder on ourselves than others are.

Jesus spoke those words to a woman caught in the act of adultery. The whole scene changed from one of self-righteousness and condemnation to one of self examination, repentance, and opportunity. The men who were ready to stone the woman to death had to admit their own sinfulness, and repent of their condemnation of her. The woman was saved from them, and forgiven by Jesus, and given the opportunity to correct herself. Jesus didn’t require anything from her, but to get up and go forward; onward.

We can do that very same thing when we miss it. We can do it each and every time, if we just determine to step up and forward into the opportunity, learning from the mistake, without judging or condemning ourselves. Psalm 119:1 says it like this: “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.” (NIV) Now, if you give it little thought, you’ll realize that can also be applied to being non-judgmental, non-condemning…to learning what caused the failure, and correcting it, rather than focusing on who caused it. Remember, God does not impute wickedness to us. We ought not to either, then. I, for one, do not attempt something with the intent of failing at it; do you? Yeah, I didn’t think so either. *Something I learned from my son when he dropped the bag of cookies at the store is that that’s the way the cookie crumbles. LOL PS – they’re just as good crumbly as they are whole.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Who Are You?

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to trust Him; to know His divine power. We are to seek safety in the secret place, where His glory dwells.

I was studying Isaiah 51 this morning. Verses 12 and 13 come to mind. “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day
because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy?” That’s such a powerful revelation; not only about God’s power, but about who you became when you became a child of God. Did you notice how he’a asking us about being afraid of man-as if there is a differentiation between man and us (the children of God)?

When that hit my spirit, it almost knocked me over. I thought about Jesus’ words: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24-ESV) There is no evil that can defeat us. Jesus has given us power over all the enemy; even death. Our God is an awesome God! By the way, that whole chapter in Isaiah is awesome too.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu