They Don’t See It; We Can

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to look more and more toward the Kingdom of Heaven. We’re bid to look up from Earth’s sorrows, sadness, and sordidness; up and into Heaven.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:27) Jesus was talking about the beginning of the end time, here. It applies to us today. What you see is not as important as what you perceive is. That means how you are affected by something is more important than the something. How one is affected by things is largely a choice.

The choice is ours. Do I let the news dictate whether or not I’ll have a good day? Do I let my job loss cause me to feel inferior, unable, fearful, etc.? All the promises of God are yes and amen, in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 1:20) That tells me that Heaven is a beautiful place, a positive place, a possible place! It also tells me that I can be happy in spite of all that’s going on in the world. I can create and sustain beauty, peace, joy, life, even in the sordidness. I can bring life, peace, beauty, and joy to those who sorrow, and into the sadness of the lives of others. I have but to determine, or to choose, to do so. Once again, “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,” applies to us. (Philippians 4:8) When we do this, we can manifest it, and the unseen becomes more visible to all down here.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Oh, Yes He Is…And, Yes He Does!

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is our source for everything! He is all sufficient; all powerful, all knowing, and present everywhere. That, alone, should bring great peace to your soul.

True to His Word, the Lord provided me with the scriptures I needed for this message. I’m still studying the prophets, in regard to generational curses. But the Lord led me to the gospel of Mark first this morning. (Mark 6:30-44) The feeding of the five thousand: The disciples had been out ministering and teaching, and had returned to report to Jesus. They all left together to find somewhere to be alone and get some rest. Some people saw them leaving, however, and beat them to the place. When they arrived, there the crowds were, waiting for them. Jesus, having compassion on them, began to teach them. When He finished, it was late, and the disciples told Him to send the crowds into the nearby villages and towns to get food for themselves. But, Jesus said to them, “You give them something to eat.” Do you know that when God tells you to do it, it is already ordained to be a blessing to you? Yes! You’ll find that in (Deut. 28:8 & 12); the blessings of obedience are yours. It’s also ordained that the blessing will be such a one that you cannot contain it; meaning it will overflow and be more than enough. (Malachi 3:10)

Here comes our part. (Mark 8:1-10) Again, they’re feeding a crowd; this time four thousand plus people. “Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.” The key words here are “gave thanks and broke them.” 1. Thanksgiving opens the doors of the treasuries (storehouses) of Heaven. When God opens the doors of Heaven to you, revelation happens 2. Breaking up, or down, what you have, multiplies or divides it (makes it greater, or decreases its size, and/or power. The example is the roast that, when sliced, becomes steaks, stir-fry, and stew meat. That’s exactly like the loaves that became slices, or pieces of bread.

When we’re trying to decrease power, breaking whatever it is down, brings it to a size that we can manage. “I come to you in the Name of the LORD,” David said. God is bigger than anything-even a Philistine! That’s why Goliath had to lieth down. LOL (1Sam. 17:45)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Richest Girl In The World

…Is Daddy’s girl! Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to “lay up treasure in Heaven,” and to set our affections on those things. They are higher than anything we’ll ever find here. And, they are the ones that will endure forever.

My first treasure is my Jesus and my Heavenly Father! Then, there’s the privilege of communicating with them; the privilege of prayer. My children, grandchildren, family and friends are great treasures. I have some beautiful people in my life! There is the sun to warm me, the wind to cool me, the stars to count -because sheep can’t jump that high, the moon to dream over, the water to hydrate, wash, and entertain me. (I love to swim and fish) I know, I know-those are temporal things; but God sends them at exactly the right time, every time.

There are those few moments in the morning, as I’m saying my prayer…this warm hush comes over my spirit, and I can almost feel the Lord wrapping His arms around me. What a way to start the day! I could go on with this list, but it would never end. When I think about having to fight for every breath I took, and being able to breathe deeply now, I’m overcome with tears of gratitude. Healing and health are two great treasures. And, I’m not getting old; just older. See, already I’m winning that battle! LOL

I have the peace and joy of the Lord, within, and once everything gets down to a dull roar, round about me too. That’s the second most awesome thing to possess in this crazy world; the peace and joy of the Lord. Peace and joy in the Lord, all the time, is the most awesome! We walk by faith; and when you have that, you’ve got all you need.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Blessed Assurance Is That Peace

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are to seek peace; to pursue it. We are told that blessed assurance, that calm, knowing that God is God, is what brings about true success. Only when we attain this calm, can true work be done, and body, mind, and soul be strengthened to achieve the victory.

Isaiah 32:17 tells us that “The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (NKJV) This tells me that my work, as a child of God, is to seek peace in everything. It is to bring peace to all situations; inner peace and peace round about. This peace-making, bringing, and keeping, is righteousness. (Matt. 5:9) -“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” This assurance is the result of a deep trust and certainty in God’s love, His promises, and His Word. This is that calm, the peace, that we need to fight for. This is the peace we must protect, at all costs. By that, I mean, sometimes you need to walk away from things, or even people, if they are destroying peace in your home, your life, your heart. I don’t mean just one or two events. I’m talking about someone who chooses this havoc wreaking as a way of life. That’s a coat you need to take off so you don’t drown in the pool kind of thing.

When we strive to bring about peace within, we are better equipped to establish and maintain peace in our surroundings, our relationships, our daily living. That’s why the commandment says, love your neighbor as yourself. It’s you first, then your neighbor and all else follows…often without struggle.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

What You Need For It Is There

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God gives us everything we need for every task He assigns to us. We are bid to “face each difficulty sure that the wisdom and strength will be given you for it. Claim it.”

Wisdom is found all through the scriptures. Two of my favorite books are the Psalms and Proverbs. But, if you read carefully, you can learn tremendously awesome things from every book in the Bible. And, it is like that field the man found a pearl in; filled with all kinds of treasure. It’s truly worth every minute you set aside, so you can spend time digging up all the good things in that field.

Psalm 90:12 is referenced by the message: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Numbering our days is good stewardship. It has to do with scheduling; budgeting our time so that we have time to spend with the Lord.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Feeling His Healing Touch

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to wait quietly before the Lord, until we feel that healing power of His touch flowing into, and through us. The only way I can describe that feeling is that it’s as if your entire being is vibrating and glowing with a wholeness and joy that’s unimaginable. It’s almost unbelievable; this feeling.

I learned, some years ago, not to wait until things are overwhelming, or I am at the very end of my rope, with the knot coming undone. Rather, first thing daily, I seek the Lord’s face. I sometimes don’t get to my daily prayer until later, because I’m wrapped up in that time with the Lord. I also learned to turn into that place and wait there the very minute I feel as if the boat’s swamped.

When I read the message, I thought about the woman with the issue of blood. She only touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, and was healed. She touched the Lord. I believe that His Presence there strengthened, not only her resolve, but her efforts to be healed. Have you ever needed peace in the midst of a tumult? And the minute you turn toward the Lord, seeking His Presence, you feel strength come to you. Now, you’re determination to get through is strengthened. Now, you can almost see the sharpness of the Word, as you open your Bible. Now, your voice is strong and clear as you speak to your mountain. John 17:26 – “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” No wonder that strength is there almost immediately…actually, it’s there all the time. We just forget, or lose our connection to it.

I chose this wonderful old song by Tata Vega to go with today’s post. It still fills me with such joy!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – September 28, 2019

eden08122015

Aunt Irma helped me with some writing I had to do today. I was actually working on two projects at the same time. One was a Bible Study, and the other was a little fill-in Trivia Quiz worksheet for the Red Hat Ladies from Aunt Irma’s Senior Center. Aunt Irma offered to edit them for me, as I had a last minute errand that came up. I didn’t realize she was entertaining RuthAnne’s grandchildren this afternoon. Ruthanne is Aunt Irma’s BFF, and her grandchildren are little monkeys. That’s putting it mildly; and nicely. Those little Mennesses! That’s their last name. Fitting, I think. I left the key under the doormat and went off to do my errand. This is how the two projects came out:

The twelve disciples were: Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo, and Curly, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Puff the Magic Dragon. What folk-song did Peter, Paul, and Mary sing in the days of Noah? “If I Had A Hammer.” How did Jesus know the two coins would be found in that fish: He was the Son of God. Only the Son of God would have known they fell out of Jonah’s pocket when that whale swallowed him. The fish must have been in there too, and ate them. Where did Puff the Magic Dragon live: By the Sea of Galilee. He was the reason Jesus liked to walk on water. Puff kept it nice and warm, so it was like a foot bath… Who did Peter heal from being lame? Meenie; he’d been lame ever since he broke his leg when he went to kick Balaam’s donkey and accidentally kicked the cartwheel. (Not the gymnastic kind-the one that’s round and rolls)

I arrived home to find the two kids and Aunt Irma working, like busy little beavers, on my two projects…Oh, Aunt Irma! Thank God I don’t need these until Saturday…and it’s only Wednesday evening. Hmm…Does anybody have any spiked Holy Water? Help!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

For The Universal GM In You

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God exercises great restraint when it comes to interfering in our lives. God’s not a bully; He’s a gentleman. He’d rather be loved than feared.

“Think how tenderly I respect the right of each individual soul. Never forcing upon it My Help, My Salvation. Perhaps in all My suffering for humanity that is the hardest, the restraining of the Divine Impatience and longing to help, until the call of the soul gives Me My right to act. Think of Love shown in this. ”

I’ve been reading this little book for a number of years, now. God never fails to show me something new, or reminds me of something important, just when I need it most. As I read this message today, I think about my sons and daughters, and their mates. I don’t want to be a “smother”, or a “smother in law.” I also remembered a few “General Managers of the Universe,” from times past in my own life. “Thank you, Jesus, for divine restraint, I prayed.” **Emotional blackmail and manipulation are two huge pitfalls in this area. Some people fall victim to them time and time again, until they overcome the need to be in control.

It’s easy to rush in with the answer; easy to take over without really meaning to. This is where that restraint comes in. “Please God, help me stay shut up.” This message ties in well with the one about being humble and serving all. A servant does what he/she is asked to do; he/she doesn’t run the show.

It is pretty hard to bite one’s tongue at times, isn’t it? I remember watching my kids go off on their first days of school. Each time, I cried. Each time I knew I had to let them go out there without me. And one prays they’ll come running for help when they need it, right? No matter how old they are, this is true.

Whenever I think of this, I thank God for the privilege of prayer. I think I’d lose my mind if I couldn’t pray. And I can see God up there smiling, because He’s got it all under control. And, when we exercise divine restraint with our kids, our friends, our mates, etc., relationships tend to be stronger in trust, open communication, and real teamwork and unity. When we always rush right in to the rescue, we reinforce helplessness and undermine self confidence and accountability.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Serving All Isn’t As Hard As May Seem

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are here to serve…just as Jesus came to serve us, and not to be served.

The message bids us to be a servant of all. The first time I read that, I scratched my head a couple of dozen times, and was still confused after I thought about it. Oh, my God, how can I possibly serve everyone? I don’t even know what some people need or want? What?! One day, I was reading about the woman at the well. I read the part where Jesus told her that God seeks those who worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth. That’s when it hit me. I am to have an attitude of humility, friendship, helpfulness, and kindness toward others in my world. I am to reject any notions that anybody owes me anything, that I am entitled to any honors, or preferential treatment, etc. The best King is the one who will fight right alongside his soldiers. Jesus never asks us to do anything He, Himself wouldn’t do. When He does ask us to do something, He equips us for the task.

That last statement gets me every time I want to put my hands in my ears and act like I don’t hear God. It makes me laugh at myself when I want to just fall to the ground and say, “I can’t,” or “I don’t want to.” “Do it anyway,” God says. When I change that attitude, and get the right one going, life is good. Things get done, friends are found, or new ones made, and I’m not disappointed. If you don’t expect anything, you won’t be disappointed.

Some might say that’s a negative viewpoint. It isn’t. It’s pure truth. We are not entitled to anything more than anyone else is, nobody owes us anything in the way of lauds and praises, or preferential treatment. We are all one in Christ Jesus. That’s why we’re told to honor one another above ourselves. When we do this, both you and the other person are honored. God has said that whomever humbles himself will be exalted, but whomever exalts himself will be humbled.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Staying In That Rest

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to come unto the Lord and rest…and to remain in that rest. Quoting directly from the message: “Rest knows no fear. Rest knows no want. Rest is strong, sure.”

That tells me that when fear assails me, I must fight it. When I feel lack of any kind, I must fight it. I’m talking about lack within. Lack of energy, lack of desire, lack of gratitude, etc. Fear and lack go hand in hand. “Rest is strong, sure.” That means that I keep on keeping on, regardless of what it looks like, what someone says about it, what the general consensus may be, etc. I stand on the Word of God.

No, we’re not to just go along lackidaisically. But we don’t need to be immobilized by fear of anything. We can be sure that God will provide, protect, lead, and guide us, etc. We are to walk in that faith, not changing banners, but holding fast to the promises of God. We are not moved, or motivated by fear. We are held up, made strong, equipped by in the Word of God, and our faith in it. The more readily we attack and fight fear and inner lack, the stronger faith becomes, and the more powerful the soul rest is.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu