Write Them Down

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 103.. King David wrote it, and it is so awesome! The first five verses, alone, just get your spirit stirred up. Beginning with verse 2-5: “Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Forget not His benefits. Make a list, just like the one in this psalm. There’s more all throughout the psalm. Those verses just kind of sum it all up for us.

The rest of the psalm lists more of those benefits, and tells us how much God loves us, and how compassionate and tender He is toward us. (V8-14) “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

I had an incredible experience in the spirit, over this very psalm. My father-in-law was in a nursing home, and dying. He was afraid to die, because He didn’t believe that God could really forgive Him for the things he’d done. My sister also happened to be his daughter-in-law, and she visited him regularly. I never went to the nursing home, myself. I referred her to the 103rd psalm, when she expressed concern about his being afraid to die. She visited him twice more, but each time, he was asleep, and didn’t wake up. I copied the psalm down on a piece of paper, and put it under a prayer candle. I would light the candle and pray that psalm for him. One night, approximately 1: 30 a.m., my baby girl woke up for her bottle, and since I was awake, I decided to pray for him again. Laying beside her, I began to pray. I almost always say the Lord’s prayer before I pray other prayers; so I began to pray the Lord’s prayer. Suddenly, I was standing in my father-in-law’s room at the nursing home. I called out His name, and He said, “Who’s there?” I called out His name again, and then I said, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, your sins are forgiven; accept your peace.” Right then I woke up, and it was about 7 a.m. My father-in-law passed away at approximately 1:30 a.m. the next morning. Verse 19 of the psalm says, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.” That includes time and space.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

How Great Thou Art

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 104; another one extolling God’s great love and power.

I hope you’ll read the psalm, and check each and every thing listed in it out. This psalm reminds me of a day when I stood in the ocean’s tide. Let me tell you how to get a clear picture of how immense God is: Stand in the ocean for a few minutes. I was absolutely overwhelmed with awe; awestruck, I was! I can also recall more than a few nights spent looking up at the moon and stars in the sky. In Montana, you can see them quite clearly. They blew me away every time I looked at them.

As you begin to think about all the things God does, and how much He loves His creation, you can suddenly find yourself snuggled up really close to Him. LOL Oh, my goodness, what an awesome God, and what an awesome love. And, oh, LORD/Lord, thank you so much for everything you are, and everything you do! If this psalm doesn’t stir your spirit up to absolute awe and sheer joy in being God’s child, I don’t know what will. Read it from the ESV; that’s the most up to date translation.

I can only think of one song to go with this message. Thank you, Lauren Daigle, for this beautiful rendition.

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Love Like That…Cont’d

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 99. It’s another praise, extolling God’s might, His works, and His heart for us. I hope you’ve gotten a little stronger assurance of God’s love over the last few posts. I posted this song some time ago, with one of my messages. The Holy Spirit moved me to post it again, for you to start your week out with. This is God’s heart for us, Let Him wrap His arms around you, and just bask in His love for you. Thank you, Joe Cocker, for your beautiful voice and style.

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Love Like That

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 98, and is a party in itself! Oh, what a wonderful example of joyous praise; and of a deep, deep love for the LORD/Lord! I’m reading from the ESV.

“Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

Sometimes it’s hard to understand just how deeply God does love us. We have a hard time allowing ourselves to be as intimate with Him as we are with our spouse, our children, all our loved ones. But, that’s exactly what God wants from us; that intimacy, that boldness when we approach Him, that confidence when we need Him, that trust. Of course, that intimacy isn’t possible unless and until we allow God into that deepest part of our hearts.

One thing I love about this psalm is that it beckons even to the rivers to clap their hands, the hills to sing for joy. The sea is bid to roar and make a joyful noise to the King, the LORD. It makes me think about waking up in the mountains, just before sunrise. You can hear everything waking up, and it all comes together in a symphony of praise to God. The water begins to gurgle and run a little faster, the wind begins to whisper through the branches of the trees, and sometimes you even hear a bird whistle out there. It’s one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. Each time we get a glimpse of God’s working in the world around us, we can see a little more of His deep, deep love for His creation. Even the colors of the sunrise and sunset are rich with His love for us; His desire to share His own beauty with us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Path Of Faith

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 97. It is a psalm of praise, extolling the LORD’s power and goodness toward us. There are a couple of revelations in this psalm that will inspire us to turn quickly to the LORD; and they also empower our peace in the midst of the storms. I’m reading from the ESV.

Verse 5 is where we’ll begin: “The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.” This is a revelation of how powerless all those trials and tribulations are before God. I cannot recall one instance in which I, even casually, said, “God, help me…”, or “Lord, I need your help with this,” etc., that God didn’t come through. -Not a single one. Things didn’t always work out immediately, and sometimes they didn’t work out the way I thought I wanted them to, but God never failed me. “Ask and you shall receive,” Jesus said; and you always will. Where we miss it, is in those few minutes that we should be breathing deeply and quieting our spirit. It is in the stillness that God speaks. This is where the inspirations, the ideas, the strength, and the courage come. The mountains do melt like wax, and that wax polishes the path of faith.

Verse 11 is the next little revelation to us: “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” This is that gentle wave of inspiration, ideas, strength, and courage that comes to us as we look to the LORD/Lord. That’s the light that is sown for us. Being upright in heart is not just about being obedient, being righteous. It is about standing in expectation before the LORD. It was sown. It will produce; because the Word of God is alive and active, and accomplishes that for which He sends it. There is a boldness implied here, of one who knows who, and whose he/she is, and steps into his/her right/rightful place. We don’t have to whine, plead, or beg. We simply have to ask and believe that it’s ours; because it is. We have the right, as children of God to approach the throne of grace boldly; just like Jesus.

I hope you ‘ll read the entire psalm, because it’s another good one for stirring up your faith.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Reason To Stay Close

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 94, and it’s really something to think about. Often, when we’re going through stuff, we don’t see God working in the storm. When I read this psalm, I think about Jesus sleeping in the back of the boat, while the storm was raging. The disciples thought for sure they were going to die. But, where God is, there is always perfect peace. We don’t often grasp that, but God is a god of order, and not chaos; of perfect peace. “Be ye therefore perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” It comes down to deliberately choosing not to allow your faith to be shaken.

“Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge—the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.” *(They are futile) (Psalm 94:8-11) (ESV) This lets us know that God doe see, hear, discipline, and rebuke those who need it. By this, we can see that God is working in the midst of it all.

Verses 12-14 assure us that God loves us, and will not let us go. “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” The Holy Spirit will always convict us of our wrongdoing, and guide us back to the truth, life, and way; to the Word of God.

Verses 16-19 give us a clear picture of just how helpless we are against the wiles of the devil, without God by our side, and on our side. “Who rises up for me against the wicked?
“Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” God is not only there to correct us. He’s there to encourage us when we’re unsure, and to comfort us when we’re struggling within. When we, as parents and partners, husbands and wives, teammates, friends, are there for those in our lives, like God is for us, life truly is better. Our relationships are empowered to be so much stronger and more joyful.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Good To Praise, Indeed

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 92. It is a song for the Sabbath. That Sabbath rest is available to me every day as a child of God. So, this song is for every day.

Verses 1-4 confirm it. “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” Does that give you the impression that we are to remain at rest in the spirit? It does me; and the day I realized that, my life changed. My faith was strengthened so much, and a peace just filled me from head to toe. I know that I know that I know, that no matter what comes along, God’s got me.

Verse 6 reveals something to us, about God. “How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!” This is the very reason you can go back to the same exact scripture time and time again, and come away with something more. (Luke 24:44-45)

The psalm goes on to talk about how the enemies of God will all perish, and the wicked will fall. But, verses 10-15 tell us about the blessings of being a child of God. “But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” God anoints us daily with fresh oil, or power. If you haven’t seen the downfall of your enemies or evil assailants, you just haven’t heart it yet. Hang in there; God’s got perfect timing! When we are planted in the house of the LORD (firmly in His Word, and Way), we will always flourish and bear fruit, even in our old age. I read just today, in “Daily Bread,” about a woman who was still doing surgery at the age of 92. Is that awesome?! That’s God working in us. I absolutely love the last few words: “The LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” That tells me He will never steer me wrong, never let me down, never fail me. Oh, yes, it is good to praise Him, indeed!

Love you from Cafe du Mondiue

And, Here’s Some Of His Love

Psalm 91, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the most powerful revelations of God’s love toward us, and of our stature in this world.

I say, “stature,” because of those nine foot long beds I saw in the castles in Germany. To see the size of some of those men is awe-inspiring. I think about that scripture about the sons of Anak-the Nephilim. The Israelites saw them and they were, “like grasshoppers” in their own sight. We often see ourselves that way, in light of the tribulation or trouble we’re facing. No, no, no! In Christ Jesus, we’re as taller and mightier than anyone or anything! (Numbers 14:21), (Hab. 2:14), (Hab. 3:3), (Isa. 6:3)

I hope this is a psalm that you will post on a wall and read aloud. You will be so filled with peace, strength, and joy!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Then You’ll Be Established There

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 87. It speaks of a city standing, established, on God’s holy mountains. As I read the psalm, I think of growing in the knowledge of the LORD/Lord, and in my relationship with Him. It fills me with such peace and a tremendous joy inside.

“On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush — “This one was born there,” they say. And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. The LORD records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.” When you look at yourself in the spirit, you can see how like Zion you are. Spiritually, it’s where you and God meet; where the divine in you becomes evident, and you are secure in it. It’s you at your best, your most beautiful, most victorious…it’s you when you get it right. The glorious things spoken of you happen in Heaven, where your name is known. All that happens when you realize, accept, and embrace that all your springs are in Him. (John 4:14) “But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” I hope this blesses you as much as it does me-every time I read it.

PS Gautama Buddha said it this way: “When you know for yourselves that this is unskillful, and that skillful, this blameworthy and that blameless, this deprecated by the wise because it conduces to suffering and ill, and that praised because it conduces to well-being and happiness, when you know this, you will reject the one, and make a practice of the other.” Then, you’ll be established there.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Through His Eyes

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 86. It’s a prayer of King David. When I read it, I think of my own childhood, and of my children. We all too often forget just how much we mean to them, and how they see us. Whenever I read this psalm, I have to thank God for my grandmother. And, when I think of my busy little self…oh, my gosh, Oma, I love you so much; and I’m so sorry I made you work so hard -and so thankful for your endless patience and love!

Verses 1-4 begin the prayer: “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” Poor and needy is a humble soul/spirit; a hungry spirit. Godly, yes! God doesn’t impute wickedness to His children. He sees the best in us! He assumes the best intentions on our part. I think of hearing that “Mama, Mama, Mama,” and later that “Mom” from the time they woke up to the time they fell asleep. LOL Their hearts are in our hands.

Verse 11 is the simple truth. “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” When I think of a united heart, I think of one that is sure of the truth, and sure of the teacher. That means there is no conflict, everything lines up. The actions prove the words.

Verses 14-16 give us a picture of doubt trying to sneak in and destroy truth and faith. Verse 17 gives us the remedy. “Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” That sign of favor is the hug when they come in the door, that “you can do it, baby,” when they’re unsure, and even that mama racing across the parking lot with fire shooting out of her eyes because Baby was just threatened. Yes, that was this mama. LOL It ended peacefully, I’m happy to say.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu