Keeping The Glory

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 106. The Psalm is a long one, recounting the struggles and backsliding of Israel. I’m not going to post the whole psalm, but I do want to focus on one verse.

Psalm 106: “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.” (ESV) This verse leads us right to the story of Nebuchadnezzar. He went from being one of the most powerful rulers on Earth, to wandering aimlessly through fields and eating grass, like an animal. That very thing can happen to us when we stray from God’s side. We come out from under that glory, and are then ruled by instinct; basically, animal instinct. Instead of the Holy Spirit controlling us, our flesh controls us. It’s not just losing it for a few minutes. It’s not just giving in to the craving for the cookies on occasion. It’s so much more than giving in to temptations. We slip out from under God’s glory when we cultivate and insist on maintaining an attitude that it’s alright to let sin rule over us. “It’s just sex. So what if they’re not married. So, what; everybody cheats on their spouse.” That type of attitude shift pulls us farther and farther away from God’s side, and closer and closer to that dangerous edge of the cliff. “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down; for the scripture says “He’ll give His angels charge of you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” -(Matt. 4:5-6)

Jesus replied to the devil that we are not to tempt the LORD our God. That’s a powerful statement regarding sin. Don’t ever take your salvation for granted. You might not lose your salvation, but I guarantee you God will call you to account. God will never bully you; He is a gentleman. But, He will let you have your way…until your way sends you running back His way. And, it will. He’ll be right there waiting with open arms; but God is not mocked. We reap what we sow. (Gal. 6:7)

The thing some people don’t realize is that you’re really, really playing with fire, when you let the devil get a foothold in your life. that’s why vigilance, diligence, and perseverance are so important. Turning immediately and getting back on the right course is what God wants from us. If we do wrong, correcting it, making it right, is expected of us. God is faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins to Him. (1 John 1:9) It is when we don’t do those things immediately, that we find ourselves headed for trouble.

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Just Walk It Out With Him

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that building up stone by stone means taking it step by step, that requires discipline and perseverance. We are bid to never lose sight of the glorious work to which we’ve been called. Therein, we can find joy in each step. As I read this message, I think of my life since I met Jesus. I have to say it: I got the joy, joy, joy…every day!. This song says it for this little country girl. Thank you Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson; two of my favorite country singers.

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Step By Step, Stone By Stone

Happy Veteran’s Day, one and all. Thank you, Veterans, for your dedication to preserving and protecting our freedom. God bless you all! And, God bless America!

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are not ready to see the whole picture. We cannot, as we are now, bear the beauty…and I know that the tragedy of all that may be lost on that day is already pretty hard for me to bear. It brings me to tears as I’m posting this.

I hope you’ll read the message at twolisteners.org It’s both encouraging, and sobering. I’ve chosen this song by Don McLean . It’s titled, Crossroads, and it speaks to me so powerfully, in regard to this message. If you don’t know Jesus, I pray that you’ll let Him into your heart now-because that day in Heaven, beyond the veil, will be so wonderful. If you do know Him, be encouraged that He is with us every step of the way; and He’ll be jumping just as high as you and I will be when we finally get there.

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.

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They’re Everywhere!

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God gives His angels charge of us, lest we dash our foot against a stone. The moment we become His, we are under His divine protection, and, surrounded by tens of thousands of angels who protect, guide, guard, and minister to us.

I was on my way to a boyfriend’s house one night. He worked late shift, and it was just past midnight. I was stopped at an intersection awaiting the green light. When the light changed to green, something told me to just wait a second. I did, and as I looked to the left, there came two vehicles at breakneck speed, one in pursuit of the other. A pickup truck was chasing a car. They came through that intersection, running the red light. I still get chills thinking about it to this day. I never even saw them until they were right there at the intersection. If I had hit the accelerator and gone ahead right when my light turned green, I would have been hit and maybe killed. Had I been killed, the baby I was pregnant with would have died with me. Thank God for that still small voice that whispered in my ear at just the right time. I don’t know why I didn’t see the vehicles coming before Maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention, because I was tired. Maybe I was blindfolded by some spiritual force. I never saw them until they were going through their light. And all of it happened in what seemed like one split second; that fast.

God’s angels guide us, guard us, and even protect us in the storms, the natural disasters, etc. They also minister to us. Have you ever been completely overwhelmed and at the end of your rope. A song comes on the radio, and it’s exactly what you need to hear right then. That song speaks to you, giving you a second wind, and lifting you out of the slump. Yes, God does work in mysterious ways…and so do the angels He assigns to serve us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Rock It!

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we’re not to just be hearers of the Word, but also doers.

Quoting directly from the message: “The secure, steadfast, immovable life of My disciples, the Rock Home, is not built at a wish, in a moment, but is laid, stone by stone, foundations, walls, roof, by the acts of obedience, the daily following out of My wishes, the loving doing of My will.”

When I first read that, I thought about how with the LORD one day is as a thousand years…I thought, “Oh, my God! That means I’ll be working at this all my life!” Now I have to laugh, but back then, let me tell you about anxiety and depression. Yeah, God said, “That’s the point, honey. It’s a lifelong thing.” But, that’s because once you get it, you realize how much more you need to learn, and how little, really, you know. I had one of those epiphanies this morning as I watched some of the folks that serve the homeless tirelessly, and with so much love.

If the daily following of His wishes and doing His will with love makes up the bricks, the stone, then keeping the peace in those storms that come is definitely the mortar. And, as I think of that, I have to wonder how I could stand smiling, and even laughing, in the midst of the wildest winds and waves…and be completely undone by something like a little mouse. Right?! I can just see Jesus up there laughing and shaking His head. Anyway, we don’t often see the beautiful handiwork on the walls of that rock fortress until some time after the stones have been laid. But, oh, how beautiful when you can step back and see what God has done with your life…and with your heart.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu