No Punishment For Past Sins

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there is no punishment for our past sins. When we accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, all of that is removed-as far as the East is from the West-from us. They’re gone!

However, their impact and effects on us, our character, attitudes, choices, lives, have not been removed. They will be gradually wiped clean, and/or smoothed and polished into a beautiful soul. One that manifests it’s true being -created in the image and likeness of God, Himself-more and more.

Remembering that we go from strength to strength and glory to glory, we can begin to understand the admonition of the Lord. God brings us up in the admonition of the Lord, just as we are to bring our children up the same way. When a child errs, we help him/her to correct that error. We teach our children how to clean up messes, and how to do things correctly. This isn’t punishment; it’s training. God does the same with us. We can only act/react according to what we believe to be true. When we come to the Lord, we’re operating out of old truths-usually untruths, about ourselves and the world around us. God patiently works with us, allowing us to come face to face with the consequences of our actions, and face the truth that we need help to change things, or to do them correctly. When we turn to Him for that help, He’s always ready, willing, and more than able to teach and train us in the correct ways. King David wrote often about being taught the Lord’s ways, and His paths. And, remember, King David erred-and even sinned knowingly. But, King David also repented, went boldly the throne of God, asking forgiveness. God called King David a man after His own heart. We can learn and be inspired and encouraged by that.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Lo, I am With You Always…

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I chose this song to go with today’s post about Jesus being our Savior everyday. We can laugh at some of our foibles. But the truth remains, Jesus is there to save us every day, every time, every cry…be they big or small. I love Josh Groban’s version of this.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

He’s Only Just Begun

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus doesn’t stop saving us when we get saved. I hope you’ll all check the twolisteners.org website out and read the entire message, to help you understand what I’m talking about.

Salvation is an ongoing thing. We get saved from death when we come to the Lord, accepting Him as Lord and Savior. (John 5:24) But we also get saved as we’re going along and trying to walk out this new life with Him. I can’t begin to tell you how many times Jesus has saved members of my family…from me. He’s always saving me from myself; you know, the salty fries I’m not supposed to eat, the cookies that I really only need two of…Yeah, and then there are the two sizes too small pants…worked when I was 25. But, if I tried that now, I’d have to call 911 just to get me back out of them. Then again, maybe not. Denim is so thin nowadays, I might be able to just bust out myself. Jesus knows this. So, He sends a little angel to whisper in my ear and remind me I have better sense than that. He’s my Savior every day, all day long, He is.

The point I want to make is this: Guess what, Mr./Mrs/Ms. Christian-you’re not perfect yet. You still need Jesus just as much after 20, 30, 40 years, as you did when you first came running to Him. And guess what else-He loves it! He loves it when you are bold enough to come running and say, “Lord, I need you, cuz I really messed up…” We shame and guilt ourselves out of that quite often, because we get under the mistaken impression that Salvation makes us perfect. It does in God’s eyes, because He sees Jesus when He looks at us. He sees Jesus’ righteousness; we don’t have any outside of Him. (Romans 3:10) But God also remembers that we’re just babies spiritually. That’s why Jesus is our Savior until that great day. (Philippians 1:6) He’s always ready, always willing, and always able, more than able!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Doubt Fades in the Light of Intimacy

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God longs for us to know Him as intimately as He knows us. While that degree of perfection in intimacy is seemingly impossible for us to achieve, I believe with all my heart that we can come pretty darn close to it. I’ve had days that were near perfect in regard to feeling and experiencing that oneness with the Lord. I wish I could say that I get it right every day, but I am not perfected yet. There’s a statement in the message that reads like this: “It is not sin for one who knows Me only as God, as Creator, to doubt Me, to question my Love and purposes. But for one who knows Me as you do, as Friend and Savior, and who knows the world’s God as Father — for that one to doubt My purpose and saving Power and tender Love is wrong indeed.” I learned two things from this. The first is that God does not hold us at arm’s length. Neither, therefore, should we hold Him at arm’s length. Nope, we need to snuggle right up under those loving arms of His. We can wrap our arms around Him and just rest there, in His embrace, whenever we want to. He loves it! Secondly, when things aren’t going as smoothly-especially within-as they should be, I need to examine how I’m relating to God. Am I out there at arm’s length, or even further, from Him in my heart? And if so, why? What am I trying to hide, avoid, or what am I afraid of, etc.?

Do you know that God makes you so bold, that you can even laugh out loud at your own self?! Yessir, He does! And He loves us so, He’d a whole lot rather see us laugh it off, get back up, dust ourselves off, and keep on going toward home full tilt, rather than watch us taking timid little steps as if we’re walking on egg shells. That stuff will cripple you altogether if you’re not careful. You get into sorry mind sets and pathetic attitudes, all based on fears, because you’ve gotten too far away from your strong tower. Remember who prowls out there, waiting to use that fear against you. There’s only one solution to that problem, and that is to get right back into God’s presence and spend some time with Him. One of the reasons I love my daily visits with the Lord so much, is that every moment in His presence infuses my spirit with His life, His love, His grace, mercy, peace, and joy. Isn’t it awesome that God can pack a day’s worth of “go gettem” into a few minutes of your time?! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your awesome love and mercy!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

He’s Not A Fair-Weather Friend

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is that friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

The message speaks to us of perfection, referencing what Jesus said about being perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Quoting directly from the message: “Perfection, that perfection I enjoined on all, the being perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect, is the being like the Great Friend and in turn becoming to others a Great Friend too.” When I think about that, I think about how many times Jesus has let me down…which is NEVER! I think about every time that I’ve needed something, didn’t know how I was going to get it, or how I’d be able to do it, or take care of it, etc. I’d pray, especially in the early days, frantically, earnestly, and sometimes tearfully. Jesus ALWAYS came through! Heartbreaks, heartaches, bone-weary body, mind, and soul, Jesus was my comforter. I lost count of how many nights He “tucked me into bed.” I’ve felt those arms around me when I didn’t think my legs would hold me. I heard that soft and gentle voice speaking words of encouragement and love when the world seemed overwhelming. And I have heard that laughter and almost seen with my own eyes, a Savior, doubled over at some of my “moments.” Yes, I have; in the Spirit, I sure have. And, oh, how beautiful to be so loved and cared for. What a great friend, indeed, is Jesus!

The other part of Proverbs 18:24 says, “a man with many friends may come to ruin…” That’s a warning to us to choose carefully, whom we call friend; and about the people we allow in our inner circle. That warning expands into what/whom we choose to listen to, learn from, etc. The whole message is a powerful one, and I hope you’ll read it for yourselves at twolisteners.org. Jesus’ words to us were pretty simple and straight forward. We fail them when we over-think and complicate them.

Love you from Cafe Du Mondieu