Tender Lights And Restful Shades

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we walk the same path Jesus walked while on Earth; and still does today, really. I encourage you to read the message yourself, at twolisteners.org – Let your spirit absorb all that it means to have that closeness with the Lord. It really does make living for Him sublime.

The longer we walk that path with the Lord, the more beautiful those tender lights and restful shades become. I find myself caught up in them more frequently as the years go by. I shared a beautiful praise song with you recently. “Show Me Your Face,” is the name of it. You all know that I’m homeless, right? Actually, I’m only houseless. Anyway, one morning last week, after I’d put my bedroll together, I said my morning prayer, and sang my Hallelujahs to the Lord, as usual. And then, I sang just the first line of that beautiful song…”Show me your face, Lord, show me your face. And then gird up my legs so I can stand in this Holy Place…” I’d no sooner sung that line, when a man came around the corner, drove down the street. And, turning around, he pulled up right where I was sitting, and handed me a twenty dollar bill. He said, “God bless you, Sister.” He wished me a good day, and drove away. Ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t think I was basking in those tender lights of Jesus’ love just then…

Same day, a little later, and I was waiting for the bus. I’d been waiting for quite awhile, and I do try to keep a sense of humor. “Oh, Lordy, I’m in fear of that blister, and I can’t walk very far…Oh, Lordy, please have mercy on this sister; send the bus or send a car…” I kind of rewrote a couple of lines from the Renegade song. (It’s an old rock song). Then I said, “Uncle Pete, please turn on the fan and give that bus a tail wind. Please send that bus now. In Jesus’ Name, I ask it. Please, and thank you, Lord.” I looked up, and the bus came around the corner just then. I couldn’t help but laugh…and I could almost swear I heard someone laughing far away, up above me…LOL

That secret path is the one on which all those little joys and treasures, and intimate moments with the Lord are to be found. I wouldn’t want to walk any other path on Earth…and I’m so grateful that He loves me enough share that path with me.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly, September 26, 2020

I was on the bus recently, and passed a little place that reminded me of my drinking days. It also reminded me of an old friend. She had a real funny sense of humor…and it never failed; she always got me with it! Always!

One night, she and I were out and about, in a little town not far from Billings. We were looking for a place to have a drink and maybe shoot some pool. As we pulled up to a local bar there, my friend read the sign in their big front window, and said to me, “Crafty Beer Liquor? Wow! Wouldn’t it be cheaper if they just used bar mops? I mean, they’re a dollar a dozen. They have to pay that guy or girl $7.50 an hour to lick that beer up!”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Seek It Within Yourself

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to trust in the goodness of God. When we become children of God, we have that goodness put into our hearts. We are created in His image, and after His likeness; so we now can begin to grow into that image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26) “Be perfect therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” said Jesus. (Matt. 5:48)

“I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:14) This is what God longs for us to have every day of our lives; souls that are feasted on the Word of God, and wholly satisfied by and with His goodness. The way we obtain that is to seek the goodness of God within us. As we discover them, we lose things like that sense of condemnation (by self or others). We lose things like fear; especially, of things like rejection, failure, loss of control and freedom, and even loss of time. We also begin to actually lose lack (within and in our lives); and begin to experience more and more fullness of spirit, life, peace, joy, all the awesome things God has for us.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) The first thing to do when things go wrong, is to look for that kingdom within; for that goodness of God in you. Perhaps you need patience, or courage, or comfort, or just an idea. It’s there within you. Getting quiet and just waiting for the Lord, for a minute, brings the peace we need to see those treasures; the goodness, and good things of God. I hope you’ll take time to read the message at twolisteners.org – it’s one that can revolutionize the way you see yourself.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

How To Work In Peace

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that disorder and chaos, within or round about us, does not foster effective and successful work. It also stifles and squashes creativity.

The way to work in peace is to have a peaceful work space and atmosphere. That means organization and clean work area(s). Making sure all needed materials are at hand, and organized, and work tools are at hand and ready to use is the next step. Sometimes you may even have to send calls to voicemail, so you can work uninterrupted. This is what God did for us in the Garden of Eden. He put everything needed there, and helped Adam put it in order (naming the animals is labeling everything).

Creating order and peace within is a little harder to do; especially when there are issues you’re dealing with. One of the challenges I had as a battered woman was keeping my mind on task, and not getting ahead of myself in the project I was working on. You’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop then, so your mind races over a million things all throughout your work time. Praise music, or music that soothes your soul and slows your mind down helps quite a bit. it’s also important to continue to increase your spirit in the Word of God, and in positive activities and things that give you energy and increase your self-confidence. As we grow in these, we’re filling up the empty spaces and replacing the negative thoughts and attitudes we’ve had in the past.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:12 ESV) This scripture comes to mind when I read this message. The “world” refers not only unbelievers. It’s also “your world”, and all the things that are going on in it; especially the negative and/or unsettling things. That’s why we’re told: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Truly, There Is None Other

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there is no other name by which one can be saved. And, Jesus saves us every day. As I read the message, I thought about all the times my dad said, “Jesus!” -when something wasn’t going right. And then, it would go right. I’m stifling a giggle as I write this. I know He knew there’s a God; but I never saw him go to church except for christenings, weddings, and funerals.

We’re encouraged to say His Name often; and to speak it just out of love for Him, as well. I found out some time ago that when I speak Jesus’ Name, thinking about how much He loves me, and how much I love Him, everything within does change. There’s a peace that comes over me, the storm dissipates, and truly, I find myself on a rock that’s higher than the waves are.

Chris Tomlin does this song. It’s a great way to celebrate the Lord’s day. I hope it blesses you as much as it does me.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Kingdom Within First

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, addresses money values. It goes hand in hand with my post from September 10th. If you haven’t read that, I hope you will. This message builds further on that one.

The message speaks about seeking God’s Kingdom first, and securing our will, or setting our will, on that. Lining up our will with God’s is crucial. The next thing we’re told, to desire nothing less than that; and to desire nothing less than to advance His Kingdom. Matthew 6:33 “-Seek first the kingdom…”, and Matthew 6:22 are referenced.

Matthew 6:22 is the one I want to go to: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” This is the very reason we need to seek God’s Kingdom first. It is the very reason that we need to strive to advance that Kingdom within us-first and foremost. You see, we prosper as our soul prospers. When we do this, the fear, the greed, the lack of self-respect and dignity, and the insatiable need to fill the voids, are destroyed. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5) See, the Father really does know what it is that you really need first. He loves us so! He loves us so!

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

You Cannot Serve Both

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to ask ourselves whether we are serving God, or serving money/riches. Mammon, it is called in the Bible.

As I read the message, I recalled a conversation I had recently, about someone being refused a meal because they wouldn’t give up their personal information and register. They were told the reason was that if they didn’t register, the church couldn’t get paid for the meal by the government. Jesus tells us, in Matt. 6:24, that we cannot serve both God and money. Either we will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. This is very true. We prove it. I don’t think there’s a Christian that hasn’t experienced this conflict in one way or another. And, the love of money will definitely cause conflict in your life. With it comes debt, deceit, stress, all kinds of stumbling blocks.

Some of us who have held down two, and sometimes three jobs, just to make ends meet, know what a cruel Lord money can be. Work, work, work; and there’s still nothing left over, and still no chance of getting ahead. Some of us have fallen into the prestige and power trap. We sold ourselves to the “up and coming crowd;” the “Haves.” Some of us got caught up in the money trap because we tried to replace our self respect and/or dignity with stuff, stuff, and more stuff. We have to be very careful with our attitudes about money/mammon, because mammon is a very sneaky adversary. I say that, because the spirit behind it and the world’s ideas of wealth, are at work for the powers, principalities, and hosts of spiritual wickedness in the heavens. In reality, it is only sidewalk. It’s what the streets in Heaven are paved with.

Solomon said that money answers everything. It does. It pays the rent, puts food on the table, fills the car with gas, etc. But, money is to serve us; not vice versa. Keeping our attitudes about it in line with God’s Word, and practicing good stewardship/management, are the keys to staying free of bondage to it. There’s also that checklist of things like pride, fear, greed, and the like, to reckon with. We can easily fall into the money trap by way of these.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

You’re The Pearl

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are works in progress. We are bid to cultivate ourselves. This message really came home to me when I began to journal, and discover all the little joys I treasured, and all the ways in which I could incorporate them into my daily living. They were the gifts and talents God had hidden within me. I really advocate journaling to stimulate creativity; and to establish self dialog and connection with your spirit/soul. So many ideas begin to flow, so much inner conflict can be resolved, and a much better understanding and relationship with the real you can come about.

When I read the message, I think about Jesus’ words about the pearls of great value. (Matt. 13:45-46) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” We are the one fine pearl of great value that Jesus found. Actually, He’s had us since the beginning. But He had to sell all that he had, or give up all of His heavenly splendor, to buy us back from the powers of darkness. That is, to buy our birthright back, and restore us to the family of God. (1 Cor. 6:20) (Isa. 44:22) (1 Cor. 7:23) (1 Peter 1:18-19)

When we begin to look within (which journaling helps us to do) and see ourselves as God sees us, we can begin to find all kinds of precious pearls (talents, gifts, knacks, etc.). The more of these we find, the greater the field becomes. We are both pearl, and field.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

That Reveals Their Divine Nature

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that our loved ones are not gone. They are just gone from here. We’re told that we do well to remember them. As I read the message I am reminded of the many Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and Easter too, in the kitchen with my mother, grandmother. There’s not one holiday that, when I’m in the kitchen, I don’t feel their presence with me. I hope you all will read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org – it will really lift your spirit; especially if you’ve lost a loved one recently.

I’m going to quote directly from the message, this statement: “Learning to know Me draws that Kingdom very near, and in Me, and through Knowledge of Me, the dear ones there become very near and dear.” As I read this statement in terms of generational curses, I got a revelation about how God enables us to see the best in others. It is in Christ Jesus, and through knowledge of Him, that we are able to see the divine nature in those who, in and through their humanity, have wounded us. As we come to know the Lord more and more, we begin to gain some insight into the wounds and scars of those who have wounded us; and into their hearts. God helps us to see them as He sees us all. This is how He empowers us to let go of the worst in them, to forgive, and to hold on to the divine in them-the best in them. (Isaiah 43:25) In terms of generational curses, the sin here is two-fold. First, the sin they committed against us is sin. The results (fear, dejection, addiction(s), etc.), all the ways in which their sin binds us, cripples us, etc., is the second part of this. This second part is the part we need to remember no more. This is what the love of God frees us from, lifts us out of, and gives us treasures to take out with us-so that we can pass them on. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Finally, seeing the best in them, their divine nature, softens the scars and allows God to work His miracles of restoration to our generation, and hopefully, our children’s, and theirs.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu