One Accord, Accordingly

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that when two or more are gathered together in Jesus’ Name, nothing shall be impossible for us.

We are, however, admonished to ask wisely. Being of one accord is not just unity of our love for the Lord. Being of one accord is being united in the decision(s) regarding the wisdom of what we’re asking, united in the decision about whether or not it is according to God’s Word, and united in the desire(s), results, goals we have in regard to what we’re asking.

I can, from my own experience, recall a few times a group of people just went gung-ho for something, only to have it go completely wrong. This happens when we’re not all on the same page in regard to the things listed above. Even when we pray alone for things, we’re not really alone, because we have the Holy Spirit and the Lord both helping us. But, it’s always best to look further down the road and try to picture what results we might get then, before we pray and get going full tilt on anything.

I’ve found, over the years, that my strongest prayers and best results come when I just ask God to work His will in me and in my life. He always reveals Himself and His Will. We just need to be more attuned to His answers.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Turn It Into Love

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that only love lasts. Only those things done in love will remain. If it isn’t inspired by love, then it is not of godly quality, we’re told.

The message references (1 Cor. 13:1) “f I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” That shakes things up a little every time I read it.

When I read the message, I thought of Jesus and the crippled man He healed. (Matthew 9:1-5) “Which is easier to say, “your sins are forgiven”, or “get up and walk?” Both got the man up on his feet, but one is inspired by love (mercy and grace) – the gift. The other is impersonal and uncaring; and, in that context and tone, demanding. Said the way the Lord, Jesus said it, it inspires hope, peace and courage, and faith. The message tells us that the true test of all our works is this: Is it inspired by love? I had occasion to pray and ask God to strengthen me in this area, just this morning. “Go first and learn what this means: “I desire mercy; and not sacrifice.” (Matt. 9:13)

It’s not easy, and getting harder and harder, to walk this way without faltering, isn’t it? The message bids us to turn out everything unloving in our hearts and lives, so that we might bear much fruit. That’s a two-fold statement. First, we are to strive to always be loving; to let our words and actions be inspired and measured by love. But, what goes in comes out. Therefore, we must also turn out everything that is in our heart, thought life, encounters with others, the television, etc., that is not loving. There are people you may need to spend less time with, there are things you may need to put away, and there are things you may need to change in order to keep unloving things out of your way. This even translates to our home environments and routines. All that negative stuff, and negative energy is distracting and destructive of peace; which is essential for love to thrive. We can get all caught up in hectic and half-hearted spirals of “living” if we’re not careful.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Step By Step, Stone By Stone

Happy Veteran’s Day, one and all. Thank you, Veterans, for your dedication to preserving and protecting our freedom. God bless you all! And, God bless America!

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are not ready to see the whole picture. We cannot, as we are now, bear the beauty…and I know that the tragedy of all that may be lost on that day is already pretty hard for me to bear. It brings me to tears as I’m posting this.

I hope you’ll read the message at twolisteners.org It’s both encouraging, and sobering. I’ve chosen this song by Don McLean . It’s titled, Crossroads, and it speaks to me so powerfully, in regard to this message. If you don’t know Jesus, I pray that you’ll let Him into your heart now-because that day in Heaven, beyond the veil, will be so wonderful. If you do know Him, be encouraged that He is with us every step of the way; and He’ll be jumping just as high as you and I will be when we finally get there.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

When He Comes Through Us

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to seek and strive to express Jesus’ divine love in every instance, every encounter, and in every way. In the message at twolisteners.org, He says, “I do not delay my second coming. My followers delay it.” This speaks of the second advent, when Jesus returns to Earth to claim His own.

When I read the message, and when I see Jesus’ love, compassion, peace, and power throughout the gospels, I see that second advent happening daily. First, when I surrender my will to the Lord, He can come and work His will in me. When that’s happened, Jesus can come and work His will-and His miracles through me. I recall an encounter I had with a little lady on the street one night as I was walking home. She and I had known each other for awhile, just in the daily passing among the homeless population. She turned as I neared her, and began screaming at me. I didn’t even hear what it was she screamed, but I asked her if she was alright. She seemed to recognize me then; that I was not a threat to her. Just that quickly, peace was restored to her. The compassion I learned from the Lord rose up in me in that instant, and came through me to restore that peace to her. You see, mercy seeks the reason; the cause. “Yeah, I’m alright, ” she said. I asked her if she needed some water, and handed her a bottle of it.

That encounter was an easy one because I knew she was not herself in that instant, so I didn’t feel threatened. But it works the same way when we do feel threatened, fearful, or unsure. If we allow the Lord to work in us, He can, and will work through us-and we can gain the victory. When I say victory, I have to tell you, I’ve come to learn that Jesus doesn’t just want victory for us. He wants it for us all; so victory should always include the other person. If it means being able to do nothing more than to speak blessing on that person or walk away and pray for him/her, then so be it. The victory is still both yours and theirs, and most of all, the Lord’s; because we obeyed, we planted a seed, and we interceded spiritually for that person. See, you’ve done much more than you thought you did, didn’t you?

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Stay With Him; He’s With You

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is not the scorn and mocking of the enemy that hurts…it is the scorn, mocking, the rejection and desertion of our friends that tears our hearts. Our Lord, Jesus, is wounded by our desertion. We don’t think about it as being desertion when we give up and go our own way in the storm. That’s exactly what it is, though; desertion. When I realized how much I was, not only hurting Jesus, but myself as well, I began to pray and ask Him , “please don’t let me let go of your hand, Lord.” I’m so happy to say there is no more letting go…now it’s just, “Okay, Lord, let’s go.” Praise God!

I hope this blesses you as much as it does me. It’s a great way to start the week out…worshiping our Savior, our Lord, our Joy! Thank you, Gaither Family

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – October 10, 2020

I love visiting with my friend Sadie Snide. We were discussing my birthday…I told her I’m really looking forward to turning 39 again again. LOL Her birthday was in August. She said her family threw her a big party, and it was actually a family reunion, so many of them came to help her celebrate. I said, “Oh, Sadie, it must have been wonderful to see all those relatives again.” She said, “Yeah, it was alright. I could have done without some of those relatives; especially that one sister of mine.” I said, “Really? Don’t you get along with her, Sadie?” “Well, let me put it this way,” she replied. “NO!” I said, “Well, did you at least get an update on her life? I mean, is she healthy and doing okay? I know you want to know that, don’t you?” Sadie said, “She’s in great health, had a facelift and a boob job, and won a bunch of loot in the lottery recently.” I said, “Well, that’s great! Aren’t you happy for her?” Sadie replied, “Yeah, now she’s got enough money to pay someone to blow smoke up her behind; so she doesn’t have to delude herself anymore!” Ooh, Sadie, as soon as I stop laughing, I’m going to pray for you and sister. LOL

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

Pray, Pray, Pray! And Praise Him!

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that prayer is to be a part of our lives as the people of God. I’m posting the link to twolisteners.org so you can read the message for yourselves. I hope you will; it’s a blessing.

When I think about prayer, and how important it is, I recall some days that I just really didn’t want to pray. I wanted to see that so-n-so get his or hers. I wanted God to come down here and smack the “not be Jesus” out of ’em all! I chose to obey, and pray, instead. I have never regretted it! And those prayers always end up in praise; sometimes tearfully. That, I believe, is God letting me know He hears. Casting Crowns does this awesome song. I hope it infuses your spirit with a renewed energy and joy to pray with.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Ultimate Healer

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God never causes us more pain than is necessary. As I read the message, I am reminded of Jesus’ sermon on the mount… Matthew 5:3, to be exact. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Poor in spirit, here, is humble, I believe. Like a child, we must be trusting.

Matt. 5:4 also comes to mind. It deals with being comforted. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Have you ever seen a child who is not happy? Let me tell you, that child will be comforted, or else! Am I right? Yeah, and I’ll tell the truth-I RUN to Jesus when I’m not happy! I RUN when it’s not working right! I RUN when I don’t want to run! Your pain will cause you to seek the cure!

We are reminded that it is directly, or immediately when we pray or call out to Him, Jesus is on it. Actually, it was already worked out in the beginning. That’s a powerful boost to one’s faith, when you can grasp it. However, in this world, in the physical, it is worked out in flesh and blood, isn’t it? That’s the hard part. Getting your mind, heart, and will to line up with God’s promise, and His power. This is where Matt. 5:6 comes in – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Yes, Jesus will tell you the truth every time-whether you like it or not-because you need to know the truth, so you know the way that promotes life, protects life, and empowers life. And when we humble ourselves before the Lord, and let Him teach us, (Matt. 5:5) it’s always alright…and all right -within and round about us-as much as is in our little world, anyway. That empowers us to effect the rest of the world positively. See, Jesus is the ultimate healer!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – August 22, 2020

Today is National Tooth Fairy Day! I wonder if I knocked out the rest of my teeth, would the tooth fairy keep the dime and bring me some dentures instead. Something to pray for….since today’s message from God Calling bids us to offer up our troubles daily, for some soul in need of help, or for some special prayer.

Today in history, 1911 to be exact, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre museum. That’s really encouraging to me. I bet the tooth fairy took her to get her some dentures. That’s probably why she never smiled; she didn’t have good teeth anymore, either.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu