Then It’s Not A Hill Of Sacrifice

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we must be ready to go to the very top of our Hill of Sacrifice, and to the very last moment before we see God’s deliverance. Abraham’s story is referenced here. “God, Himself, will provide the sacrifice,” he told his son. (Genesis 22:8) We’re told that this test of faith must come to all who believe in Jesus; to all who walk by faith.

Something I learned some time ago, is that the sacrifice was already provided, and made, on Calvary. Yes, I know, you all know that. But do you know that when you get that, you truly will be delivered – not just from your sin, but from anxiety about all the things this world can have us caught up in? Your days will start with prayers of thankfulness. Your requests to God will be mostly about remaining in His Will for your life. And, your energy and excitement levels will both rise. When you’re able to just get up and go about the business of being who your are, and who you are in Christ Jesus, that hill of sacrifice turns into the slope of surrender. It’s not a hill of sacrifice anymore. And, though we still have the tribulation that comes with being in the world, it really is all downhill from there. Because it is now the vantage point from which you see your new horizon(s).

I hope you’re all getting in some praise time with your own choice of music, by the way.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

See That It Is Finished

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to lay our sins, failures, shortcomings, all we need to let go of, on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. It is in Him that we find the forgiveness we need, as well as the perfect healing and resurrection we need.

As I read this message once, when I was really struggling through some things, I saw Jesus on the cross. I heard Him say, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) At first, I thought, how strange that you would bring that to mind, Lord…because, NO IT ISN’T! I’m going through hell here! Then, I got it. As soon as your version dies, as soon as your fear dies, and as soon as your feeling of entitlement dies, it will be finished…because then I CAN HELP YOU WITH IT! I said to the Lord, “I’ll just shut up now, if you don’t mind.” (Job 40:3-4) Yeah, I’m pretty sure He laughed as He shook His head.

When we realize and accept that when we take it to the Lord, it’s finished right there, and then act on that accordingly (obediently), we find that healing. (Mark 11:24) Then we can begin to rise from that pit of despair to the path(s) that will lead us to the victory. That’s our resurrection from that pit.

PS – Happy Birthday, Hanna Banana! Love you! I forgot to add this yesterday-sorry.

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

Go, And Sin No More

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, gives us a powerful revelation about Jesus’ words in John 8:11 – “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” The message bids us to “feel that between us and all scorn and indignity is a strong shield.”

We are also reminded that we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Being human, we are bound to do things imperfectly at times. We are limited in patience, and even in perseverance at times. Of course, it’s always easier to give up, isn’t it? That’s because we have a tendency to be self-condemning. Sometimes, we’re even harder on ourselves than others are.

Jesus spoke those words to a woman caught in the act of adultery. The whole scene changed from one of self-righteousness and condemnation to one of self examination, repentance, and opportunity. The men who were ready to stone the woman to death had to admit their own sinfulness, and repent of their condemnation of her. The woman was saved from them, and forgiven by Jesus, and given the opportunity to correct herself. Jesus didn’t require anything from her, but to get up and go forward; onward.

We can do that very same thing when we miss it. We can do it each and every time, if we just determine to step up and forward into the opportunity, learning from the mistake, without judging or condemning ourselves. Psalm 119:1 says it like this: “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.” (NIV) Now, if you give it little thought, you’ll realize that can also be applied to being non-judgmental, non-condemning…to learning what caused the failure, and correcting it, rather than focusing on who caused it. Remember, God does not impute wickedness to us. We ought not to either, then. I, for one, do not attempt something with the intent of failing at it; do you? Yeah, I didn’t think so either. *Something I learned from my son when he dropped the bag of cookies at the store is that that’s the way the cookie crumbles. LOL PS – they’re just as good crumbly as they are whole.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Forgiving Is The Easy Part

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need to forgive and forget, if we want to move on. I’ve said it before; forgiveness is for us, the “wounded.” It is for our benefit, so much more than for the benefit of the one(s) who hurt us.

Forgiving is the easy part. Forgetting is what’s hard. It’s also the obstacle that gets in the way. This is especially true when we’re dealing with generational curses. It’s often not even the old wounds that cause the problem, but the old ways of dealing with them, that keep us on that vicious merry-go-round-and round, and round. They call that PTSD in the secular world. A similar situation, or one that triggers those same feelings of fear, helplessness, etc., can cause us to lose so much ground. One minute can undo six months or more of progress, if we’re not alert to the dangers.

Here’s where God comes in, though. Isaiah 40:10 tells us – “Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule.” God will take all those old things, show you the truth in, and about them, and then destroy their power over you completely. I’ve been there. We develop ways of coping, adapting, surviving. Unfortunately, they’re not always the right ways. God’s way is. He not only will destroy those old strongholds, but He will teach you the right ways to think. Our attitudes toward the sin in our lives-whether the sin is ours or belongs to others-are what affect our living. God will give you some great attitudes!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Foretaste of Divinity

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s standard is the only standard we are to strive to live by, and up to.

Isaiah 53 comes to mind when I read the message. It speaks of Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is the firstborn of many. That many includes you and I…because, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12-13) (ESV)

Isaiah 53:2 is a powerful revelation about how God can take you, from the dry ground of living under a generational curse, or under sin, and cause you to be the root of a new generation. A new generation under the love and admonition, and walking in the power and authority of Jesus Christ. Isn’t that awesome?! You can have a better life; your children, and their children…generations after them, can have better lives. Isaiah 53:11 is a confirmation of that: “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” (ESV) That means God can take all that turmoil and pain within you, and give you His knowledge. That will give you the power to help others to stand and walk uprightly (in power and authority). That’s what it means to “bear the iniquities” of others. We help them to overcome the adversities and barriers that keep them from living successfully.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Amen!

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is sin for us who know Him as Father, to doubt Him. The longer I’ walk with our Heavenly Father, the more reasons I find to trust Him, and to rest assured in His steadfast love for us. That being said, I want to share one of my favorite oldies with you. Thank you, Gaithers for all the joy you bring me through your music!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Think On These Things

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to look on the brighter side of things. We are admonished not to weigh our spirits down by dwelling on the sins and sordidness in our world. Philippians 4:8 bids us: “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.” (NIV)

In terms of overcoming generational curses, or even just recovering from a painful past event, this is very important. Dwelling on all the stuff that was wrong and went wrong, will only pull you down. It’s like trying to walk on quicksand. What we need to to is to collect up all the things that were right and went right. We need to meditate on those things; to explore them fully in terms of emotional impact, strength, and progress for us. The key is to recount our victories rather than rehearse our next failure; because you will go wherever you let your mind lead you.

God Calling has been my favorite inspirational read for years now. The only book I love more is the Bible. I’m grateful to the folks that put it online for us all to enjoy at twolisteners.org If you haven’t already, check it out for yourself. It completely changed my relationship with the Lord, Jesus. And yes, there really is wonder upon wonder of revelation in a life with Christ Jesus.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

When You’re The Burden

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is the great burden bearer. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:8)

Whenever I read this message, I think about the woman who wept at Jesus’ feet. ”A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 37&38) I’m doing a Bible study on “Your Glory,” and this is one of the scriptures that illustrates perfectly the dropping of our sins and burdens at the feet of Jesus. When I read about her wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair, I think about my “glory.” The Bible tells us that a woman’s hair is her glory. In effect, the woman was saying, my glory is as a rag with which to wipe the dirt off of your feet, Lord. Whenever I read that scripture, I think about that song, “Glory Days.” Whenever I hear that song, I have to laugh, especially at myself. Years have a way of clearing the fog off the mirror, don’t they? I said all that to say this. Sometimes, it’s you who are the burden. What do you do then? Drop yourself right at His feet, just like Martha’s sister Mary did. “She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to His message…” (Luke 10:39-42)

Jesus’ message, pretty much, is summed up in Psalm 23. Whenever I check-and recheck (sometimes it’s still hard for me to believe I could be my own trouble), I go to Psalm 23. I’ve learned over the years that I need to follow the guideline there, about the green pastures (fertile, rich, life-filled), the still waters/quiet waters (peace and not chaos or confusion), etc. When I get to that part about the table prepared for me, in the presence of my enemies, I’m usually ready to tackle the mess-even when it’s so “precious” to me. You see, I’ve learned that what’s on that table is exactly what I need to get me through the mess I’m in. We are all works in progress, subject to human limitations, etc., and sometimes, you are your own worst enemy. Imagine my surprise the first time I sat down at that table and saw me sitting across from myself. Nowadays, I just laugh and say Grace.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Reward of Faith

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that faith is, indeed, rewarded. Abraham, by faith, believed God, and did become a father. Moses’ faith is also cited. Their faith was the reward, or at least, part of it, because it is what kept them going. It is what strengthened them and their resolve. And, in turn, those (strength and resolve, determination) strengthened their faith. I want to go with Abraham’s faith.

Abraham’s faith was counted unto him, by God, as righteousness. Quoting from Dictionary, here are some of the definitions I found: goodness, virtue, uprightness, decency, integrity, worthiness, high-mindedness, nobility, noble mindedness. Yes, there are also those like: sinless, innocence, piety, and morality.

The ones I want to focus on are the ones in Italics. They are the ones that strengthen and empower faith. They make faith it’s own reward. They have to do with so much more than piety, being sinless, with innocence and morality. Piety, innocence, and morality are seeds sown to Heaven and to our own spirits.

The list in italics are seeds that empower faith, not only in our own lives, but the lives of those with whom we have contact. They can influence and change lives. They are sown to Heaven through our doing and giving involving other lives. They are also sown to our own spirits, as well; empowering our own faith and spiritual growth and maturity. It’s a little like the feeding of the thousands by Jesus. You put it in His hands, believing Him, and thousands are fed…with plenty left over. Faith multiplied and magnified is the reward of faith. We have then, not only more seed to sow, but much stronger crop, and better fruit…greater harvests.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu