He’s Been There So He’ll Be There

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of the loneliness we will deal with at various times in our lives. There are times we’ll feel deserted, times we’ll feel betrayed, times we’ll feel like failures…the list goes on and on. The truth, however, is that we are never deserted, never betrayed, and never failures; not in Christ Jesus. This is the truth we must hold fast to during those times. Jesus promised we will never be left or forsaken by Him. He, Himself suffered betrayal, desertion, looking to the world like He failed. He’s been there so He could be there for us. He’s been there-so He’ll be there! I hope you’ll read the message at twolisteners.org for yourselves. It’s so encouraging; especially in this time of trouble and distress for us all.

I love this song by J.D. Souther! It’s an oldie, but such a goodie; and it says it all exactly.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Break Through The Bars

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of the imprisoned God. Praise, we’re told again, brings God on the scene. Praise opens the doors to the throne room of God, giving us a glimpse of who He is, who we are in Him, and all that He has put inside of us. I hope you’ll read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org -this is one we all need from time to time.

When I read the message, this scripture comes to mind: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10:12) We often don’t reach our full potential in things because we’ve imprisoned the son of God within us. I’m not talking about Jesus; I’m talking about you and me. Although, we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. We’re created in God’s image and after His likeness. That means we can be awesome when we’re working with God, instead of against Him. (Psalm 139: 13) tells us: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God knows each and every one of us, our strengths, weaknesses, gifts, favorite things, things we don’t like, etc. He knows us intimately; even better than we know ourselves.

Here’s where that fallow ground comes in. Quite often we are, from birth, guided and led, coaxed and cajoled, and yes, often coerced into becoming people we really don’t want to be. We end up becoming people pleasers, suffering from anxieties, harboring resentments , and living bitter and unfulfilled lives. We spend most of our lives trying to become someone else’s version of awesome. When we sow righteousness for ourselves, we’re sowing God’s thoughts about us, and His Word to us into our hearts. We reap His steadfast love within us. We grow in His love for us, and we learn to love ourselves like He does. The Word of God, and His love will even break up all that fallow ground (hard, unplowed), if and when you can’t do it yourself. Breaking it up involves tearing down the strongholds and wrong attitudes and thoughts that we’ve been fed. Then, God can come in and rain righeousness on us.

Here’s a short list of some bars that surround us and keep us locked away from our full potential: “You’re never going to amount to anything.” “You can’t do anything right.” “Your brother’s/sister’s the smart one.” “I don’t know why I bother; nobody cares anyway.” “It’s too late in my life.” “I’m too old, young, shy, stupid, fill in the blank.” Are you getting the picture? These all come back to that fallow ground; to the lies we’ve allowed to be covered over, and allowed our potential to be packed down under.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Oh, How He Loves Us, Indeed!

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, admonishes us to trust God wholly; to know that there is nothing He cannot do. Upon reading the message, I thought I’d share a few scriptures with you. They all show us God’s heart for us. They are all God speaking to us.

“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.” (Hosea 11:8 ESV)

“So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest. Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses; I have put an end to the cheering. Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.” (Isaiah 16:9-11 BSB)

The Bible is filled with scriptures that show us God’s heart for us. He is such a loving and wonderful Father! I hope you’ll read through the Psalms and the Prophets and find as many as you can! Meantime, David Crowder said it so well with this wonderful song. This song always just grabs me!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

No Such Thing As Accidental

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there’s no such thing as accidental, or coincidental, in the Kingdom of Heaven. Every meeting is orchestrated, and ordained, by God. He knows every heart, knows every human being, and knows exactly who He needs to send, on what path, and to whom. And, there’s no such thing as suffering for nothing. Everything you suffer is redemptive; if not for you, for someone else. We choose, though, whether it will count for something, or not. I hope you’ll read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org – it’s brings me such strength whenever I read it. I found this song during my praise time, and it speaks exactly to what this message is about. Thank you, GWMA Women of Worship, for sharing this with us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Be Assured; You Are Blessed

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are, indeed, blessed by our Heavenly Father. Quoting directly from the message at twolisteners.org: “Assurance is the calm born of a deep certainty in Me, in my Promise, in my power to save and keep.” We are bid to gain this calm, and to hold fast to it always. Psalm 46:10 is referenced: “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” When I read that, I see that nothing can separate me from the love of God; and nothing can stand against Him. And, God will be exalted in my body, or in me, when I allow Him to be. God cannot do anything in you, or for you, until you trust Him to. When we turn to God to strengthen our faith in Him, and that calm returns, the work can begin and be done. I am reminded of the boy with the unclean spirit, whose father cried to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

I broke that verse (Psalm 46:10 down word by word, once. It changed my whole perspective of who I am in Christ Jesus, and the power I do have in His Name, His Word, in Him. “Be perfect therefore, as you Father in Heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Still -“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37) And – “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah (32:27) Know – “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That – That God! -The One who is truth, life, and the way. The One who does have your best interests at heart! I Am – He’s not I Was, He is everyday, all day long! God -There are numerous scriptures that attest to this. But, the one that empowers us the most is this one: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)

I hope you’ll be encouraged to look up every scripture about God’s love, His promises, His power, His fierce protectiveness over us. I hope you’ll write them down and speak them out loud, if you have to, every time you have to. The Word of God is alive, and every time you speak it, it will accomplish what God would have it to accomplish – IN YOU…IN YOUR LIFE.

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

Dropping Them Frees Your Hands

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to drop our burdens at Jesus’ feet. This causes me to think of the woman who wept at His feet. Think she had some burdens? Yeah, and let me tell you, I’ve been there. I don’t know about her, but I wept and wept; and couldn’t stop weeping that day. She walked away free from the weight of those burdens. My life has never been the same since that day. And, it gets sweeter as the years go by. Thank you, Lord, for loving me. And, thank you, Lord, for the beautiful gift you gave me on this day 33 years ago…Happy Birthday, Son! I love you.

It is when we drop those burdens at Jesus’ feet, that our hands are freed to pray and praise Him. It is then that our hands are freed to reach for Him. I don’t know about you, but I have thrown myself into Jesus’ arms so many times I lost count! He’s never failed me yet. It is when I drop those burdens at the Lord’s feet, that I realize perhaps I’ve wandered off track a bit…and gotten just a little lost in the wilderness.

This song is one of my very favorites. It expresses exactly what the message speaks to us today. If you’ve got a burden pressing down on you today, sing along. Just drop it all at the Master’s feet, and reach up…He’ll lift you in His arms. Thank you Gaither Family.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Giving Comes From Him

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to give all we can, in every way we can. We are to imitate the greatest giver(s) of all time; Jesus, and our heavenly Father, who gave His own son for us.

Jeremiah is the prophet I’m currently reading for my study on generational curses. Chapter 30:18-22 speaks to me of what a great giver God is. It shows how mindful He is of us, our needs, our trials and tribulations. This is how we should think when we are presented with opportunities to give. After all, we are blessed in order that we might bless others as well. Jesus said, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

As you read these verses, we can see God’s heart is to lift up, to rebuild/restore dignity, joy, and peace, to prosper a soul, and to honor humanity, as it was designed by God. That leader spoken of is Jesus Christ, our Lord. “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) When I think about that in light of everything we face in the world, and how much of a difference one kind word, even a smile, or a helping hand can make for someone…I am inclined to bow before the Lord first, at every opportunity, and ask Him just to do it through me.

I’m also so grateful for all those beautiful people who give in almost every step they take. You are an inspiration to me when I want to just give up and throw in the towel. Thank you, all!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Way, The Truth, And The Life

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, is entitled: “My Richest Gift.” The message speaks to us about abundant life; and bids us to take it, and to use it. That abundant life spoken of here is the life flow of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

John 4:13-14 is referenced: “…but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” In my Bible study, this morning, I was reminded of Jesus’ words in John 14:6- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

Applying this scripture to overcoming generational curses, addictions, and any other adversity, really works. You see, Jesus also said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Putting this all together, we have this revelation. The truth will lead you to the way to empower life…in any situation, in everyday living. Example: (Truth) The oven is hot when it’s on (Way) We do not touch it (Life) We don’t get burned and hurt. This teaches, or empowers, the child to steer clear of the oven; especially when it is in use. That’s a simple one. If you use those three gifts (truth, way, life) your life becomes more powerful and joyful. That spills over into other’s lives as well. *The reason truth comes first, is because Jesus is the true bread from Heaven; and truth has to do with God’s Word- (Romans 3:4)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu