The Turning Will Be Joyful

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the Lord’s reward for our service, suffering, living for Him, is that joy divine that nobody can take from us. “My peace I leave with you…”, said Jesus. (John 14:27) It is this very thing, peace, that vanquishes fear and empowers us to run to Him joyfully.

I can think of so many times in my life after I got saved, when things were going wrong, and I actually laughed as I went to the Lord with it. The peace I had in those situations is almost indescribable. There’s this total confidence, without even the slightest twinge of doubt or fear. That’s peace. That’s a joyful thing.

It did take me some time to get to that point. Sometimes, even now, I have to catch myself and just stop and get that peace back. Sometimes the Lord has to kind of scoop me up in His arms and waylay me until I quit storming. He has to save me from myself. Mostly, though, I truly can just enjoy the journey; and joyfully take the twists and turns along the way.

I hope you’ll read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org It will encourage you to deepen your relationship with the Lord, and it will empower you in your walk with Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Union In Everything

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is present when there are two or three gathered in His Name. This presence is different from when we gather together to praise and to hear from Him. This is a sweet, sweet spirit filled to overflowing with His love, peace, joy, and with our Lord, Himself-His very nature. That’s one reason we need to get to know Him as intimately as we can. We do that by reading the Gospels, the Psalms, the Prophets, and Revelations. All these books speak of Jesus Christ, our Lord. In them, you catch sight of His heart, His compassion, His joy, simplicity, courage, and ferocity when it comes to us, his followers. He truly is the Lion of the tribe of Judah; in every sense of the word!

I discovered some time ago, that union has to come at all levels, in order to truly bring unity, and power. The best example I can think of to illustrate this, is your home. It is especially important that you feel unity and cohesiveness in your sanctuary; which is what your home is. When there’s a mess in the front hall, it’s not very welcoming, is it? You want to turn around and go right back out, don’t you? Yeah. The same is true of cluttered spaces within the home. God is a God of order; not chaos and confusion. Chaos and confusion bring division; they break up the unified space that makes up your sanctuary. They distract your mind and heart, and deplete positive energy. When that happens, we end up with negative emotions and energy. The same is true of family dynamics and relationships.

This is where standards and boundaries come in. When we set them, enforce them, and follow them, stick with them, we can bring about union in thought, attitude, and deed. We can truly bring about unity among family members, co-workers, team members, etc., and thereby, increase power and effectiveness; not to mention joy. It’s all about being of one accord; which is what unity and union are. And, Jesus truly does delight in these; you can feel it when it’s happening.

PS – I didn’t forget you, Will, I just forgot that I was posting a day ahead. Happy Birthday! I hope your day was awesome, and filled with all things wonderful!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Not By Might, By His Power

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus’ miracle working power is very much present with us today. We are encouraged to remember that when we trust Him completely, and leave the timing to Him, whatever the need may be, will be met.

When I read this message, I think about working so hard to make things happen. I didn’t realize back then that I was taking the reigns out of Jesus’ hands in doing that. The Bible tells us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. That’s a good reminder to me that I need to let up and just let go; especially when things don’t look like they’re going anywhere.

Looks can be deceiving, and trust me, I learned this some time ago: Jesus is always working. As a matter of fact, He already worked whatever that need is out-a long time ago. What He’s working on now, in regard to that need, is you. He’s working on your heart, your perseverance, your faith, and your determination to keep your joy.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Quicker To Turn To Him

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, assures us that God does not intend for trials and difficulties to arrest our progress. Rather, God uses them to increase our speed.

When I first read this message, I was a little confused; to be honest. Reason being, is that God does not do things in a hurry! He has perfect timing. He also knows how discombobulated I get when I’m rushed. I discovered, through trial and error -(keeping it real), that the increase in speed is meant for our turning to Him in those times of difficulties. God is talking about the little difficulties in daily living, in this message. We’re admonished that we must never let any difficulty conquer us. Rather, we must conquer it.

We’re bid to call on new forces and use new powers in those times. What are those forces? Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ the Lord, and the Holy Spirit. They’re all we need. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign and in control of it all. Jesus gave us His Name, and made known to us everything the Father has given Him. The Holy Spirit is our counselor, sent especially to teach, lead, guide, convict, and comfort us. What more could a girl ask for, eh? What more could a man ask for, for that matter.

There’s always a new power to be discovered within. In the message, we’re told to call them into action; and speedily. You might not think of these as powers, but they really are powerful weapons and/or tools in the spirit. There is the power of prayer, praise &worship, sacrifice – you know, when you give up that Prime Rib dinner so the kids can enjoy Pizza out, during their sleepover party. There’s the power of laughter; which keeps your little sis alive after she spits a wad of bubblegum into your hair-in the middle of the Tokyo airport, in front of about a half troop of soldiers who will be on the same plane as your flying on. LOL

(Luke 21:28) “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” When we lift our heads, we can see a little higher up, and a little farther out. (Philippians 4:8) “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” When we speedily turn to the Lord, and do things His way, calling those powers into action, we can see the pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy…and the most excellent way to handle things. (1 Cor 12:31) “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” -And that would be love.

Jodi, I will get this thing back on track. Happy Belated Birthday! I hope your day was blessed with everything wonderful!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

It Helps Us To See Their Hearts

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J Russell, reminds us that we must not dwell on our failures, or those of others who have failed us. Philippians3:13-14 is referenced by the message. That scripture tells us that we are to forget those things which are behind us, and press on to the the goal that lies ahead. That’s the Kingdom of Heaven; it’s the freedom we have in, and through, Christ Jesus.

This message builds a little on yesterday’s post. When we become able to see ourselves the way God sees us, and love ourselves the way He loves us, we will be able to better see the hearts of those who have failed us. My mother was a vicious drunk. When she started drinking, people found places to go, or tip-toed as if walking on eggshells. She had her favorite “sparring partners,” (aka) also known as victims) too. There were words that stuck with me for years, pain that brought blinding tears to my eyes with each remembrance of past hurts, and a whole lot of confusion, as well.

Let me tell you what Jesus did for me, in regard to all that. He helped me to see myself, my connections, my failures and falls through His Eyes. That’s the Holy Spirit empowering us by shedding God’s love abroad in our hearts, to help us see ourselves the way He does. Then, as I began to heal from my own failures, I was able to get past my mother’s failures. I was able to put both behind me. Recently, I had occasion to think about my mother. There was not a night I worked late, that Mom didn’t leave dinner warming in the oven for me. There were times she sneaked into my room when I was sick, to check on me-during my teens, and when I was an adult. And, when she talked about me to others, I was a jewel in her crown of motherhood. She was always proud of me; those people have told me.

Whenever I read the story of the woman at the well, I think about my Mom, and myself. That woman asked Jesus is He was greater than Jacob, whose well He was sitting at. Jacob, who drank from that well, as did his sons, and their sons, and so on, and so on…Jesus told her, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never thirst. The water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Generational curses come through the Jacob’s wells in our lives. The wellspring of God’s Word, of His love, and His peace, breaks the generational curses off of us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

God In Action = Powerful You

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that when we let God work through us, we can be truly powerful, and/or effectual. This message expands a little on yesterday’s message. I hope you’ll read them both for yourselves at twolisteners.org

We’re bid to remember that there is no such thing as a lost day in the Kingdom of Heaven. That’s because growth is counted in terms of little victories won, little truths realized, little confidences in Him, and in ourselves attained. We may not see it right away, and we may not see some things God has accomplished through us until we get to Heaven. God sees it all. That’s what matters. And, I assure you, He sees to it that the one, or ones, who do need to see it, do. All we need to do is allow Him to lead us.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Casey! I hope your day was blessed with everything wonderful! Thanks for being one of my “babies,” Baby! -And I’m sorry I didn’t remember to put this on yesterday’s post; It’s that working a day ahead thing.

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

Saturday Silly – October 31, 2020

Ah, my buddy Sadie Snide and I were on the bus together recently. As we passed an auto shop, Sadie spotted a big sign that read, “Air Check.” There was also a long line of cars in their parking lot. “Ha, ha,” Sadie laughed. “I bet all the blondes in line are cleaning their ears,” she said. I had to laugh with her. Then she looked at me and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, honey, I forgot you’re a blonde yourself.” I looked her dead in the eye and said, “No, I’m not either; I am a Platinum Brunette!” She stopped by this morning with a box of Q-tips for me.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Look For The Candy Bar

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to look for the glad surprises as we walk with Him. This, we’re told, is the way a child bows to the one who loves him/her.

When I read the message, I’m reminded of my daughter at age three. She spied a candy bar in Grandpa’s shirt pocket one day, and asked him for it. Grandpa was not above spoiling little ones a bit. He took to hiding one in his pocket every few days. He’d make sure it was peeking out when he came in. Her little face got so bright it could have lit up the whole house. Those little glad surprises brought Grandpa just as much joy as they did my daughter.

We need to have that attitude with God. He says, “I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you, and not to harm you.” It takes a little practice, but if you stick with it, you can do it. Look for the candy bar whenever you say, “Not my will, but yours, Lord.” There’s always a treat in the end, isn’t there? Yeah. And, I’m so glad Jesus doesn’t say, “You of little faith; why did you doubt me?” I’m pretty sure He knows we do enough of that ourselves…I do, anyway.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

You Are Not Unemployed

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there are no idle hours in the Kingdom of Heaven. There is no such thing as unemployment with God. If there is no work to be had, there is still work to do, the message tells us. First, then, we can work within ourselves, to conquer any evil, and to realign ourselves with God’s Will and Word. We can then become conquering forces in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, our world.

When I read this message, I thought about this Spring and Summer. The COVID-19 thing hit, everything shut down, and then the weather got much too hot for me to be very mobile in. I pretty much was stuck, spending much too much time just sitting on the sidewalk and trying to survive. I decided I would do a Bible study each morning. God began leading my Bible study, taking me through the Psalms and the Prophets. Oh, my! What wonderful revelations I got about the depth of God’s love; the intensity of His love for us, and His desire to see us overcome this world. As soon as the libraries opened up again, I resumed my daily blog posts. Recently, all those study notes began coming together into a book about generational curses. You see, there is no sitting still in the Spirit. LOL Don’t ever allow yourself to feel like you’re idling in your walk with the Lord. He can always work something good in you!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu