Don’t Fear Him; Fear Him

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 111. It’s in praise of the LORD, His love, and His works. When I read it, I recall being just filled to overflowing with a sense of wonder at some of the things I’ve found in God’s Word, or at some of the things He’s allowed me to experience or be part of. I never would have gotten that much out of my relationship with Him, did I not respect (fear) Him and trust Him; because I never would have been looking for Him. I want to focus on verses 7, 8, and 10.

“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

When I read these verses, that making the bed thing comes to mind. The , “do it even if and whenever you don’t want to,” thing comes to mind too. That’s what that performing it with faithfulness and uprightness means. And the victory over the chaos, confusion, struggle, etc., is why we do it faithfully and uprightly. It is when we lay aside the fear (terror) of the LORD and fear Him, that we can begin to really have relationship with Him. That’s when we begin to grow in spiritual knowledge and power.

When I think of these verses in terms of generational curses, I can see how important it is that the works of our hands (deeds) and our precepts (rules/standards/boundaries) be faithful, just, and trustworthy. This is what makes us respectable, and makes our kids able to trust and respect us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

If He Doesn’t, We Don’t Either

Today’s message comes from Psalm 5, and from Proverbs 5. Psalm 5 begins with a prayer, actually. “In the morning, you hear my voice; I prepare a sacrifice for you, and watch,” the psalmist says. Beginning your day with God is absolutely revolutionizing to your life! I can tell you that from personal experience. Try it for one month, and make sure you note the changes you begin to experience, in your attitudes, your strength, patience, etc.

Psalm 5:4 -6 tells us: “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” If God doesn’t delight in it, we shouldn’t either. And, if you think about it, and are honest with yourself, none of us does delight in wickedness when we’re on the receiving end; do we? Sin, as I’ve said before, comes in three ways: 1. Sin others commit against us. 2. Sin we commit. 3. Sin fallout-which is the way the sin in the world affects us and our lives. But, we have a hope in Christ Jesus. Psalm 5:7-8 say to us, “I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house…” This is a powerful revelation about the power of love and faithfulness. When we exercise love faithfully in our dealings, and are faithful to the Word of God; to His ways, we surround ourselves, and those we deal with, with protection against the sin and wickedness. The last two verses of the psalm are awesome! “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” There is jubilation and rejoicing over being loved. When we walk out our new life with the LORD/Lord, as we walk it out, there is, truly, less and less struggle, and more and more joy and peace.

Proverbs 5 is, again, a father’s admonition to his sons. This warns about “the forbidden woman.” if you think in terms of standards and boundaries, this woman represents false teaching, cults, and ways and practices that are contrary to God’s Word and His Ways. This includes some of those peers who consider themselves “cool,” and those friends who really aren’t your friends in the end. Proverbs 5:5-6 tell us what’s actually going on with them: “Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.” The rest of the proverb tells us there are consequences to sin and iniquity. Iniquity is your attitude toward sin-be it your own, or someone else’s. Verse 22 tells us: “The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.” Lack of discipline is actually a destroyer. It causes us to struggle needlessly, and sometimes even destroys dreams and goals. That’s a powerful revelation to parents about letting our children just run amok. Lack of discipline makes your child ignorant, foolish, powerless, and easy prey for evil. It makes us easy prey for the devil.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Glory In Everything & Every Way

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the glory of the Lord is the beauty of His Character. It is this, reflected to our surroundings, that gives everything a dazzling beauty. It brings glory to everything, in every way.

Some time ago, the Lord put into my heart to share my experiences and thoughts from this little devotional (God Calling) in a blog. With that, He led me to a scripture. (Matthew 10:8) “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” That’s why I have this blog; that’s why I post to it daily-and will, until He says it’s a wrap. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this blog has helped my growth as a Child of God! I can’t believe the difference between where I used to be in my faith, and where I am now. I still have some struggles, but all in all, I’m more and more into the Lord, and striving to be more and more like the Lord, than I am like the world.

There was another time, as I found myself in that spiritual desert, that He led me to this scripture: “I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.” The closer I got to Him, the more flowed in, and through me. I began to write poetry, songs, stories…I got my creative spirit back, and began to design and to create recipes…I gloried more and more in everything I found to do, and in every way imaginable. My little conversations with some of the birds around town bring me such joy! They are just one way in which the beauty, love, and joy of the Lord are revealed to me. It’s a joy to wake up each day-even now, on the sidewalk. I hope this song will lift you and keep you soaring all day long. Thank you, Steven Curtis Chapman.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

They Become Simply Marvelous

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that stepping into, and walking in our authority and power, our divine nature, happens neither instantaneously, nor is it a one shot deal. It’s a daily thing; a one-step-at-a-time thing. I hope you’ll read the entire message yourselves at twolistners.org – it’s a goodie!

When I think back on all the things I used to really struggle with, and things that would just almost shatter my heart, I think about the way God brought me through them. I thought about how God teaches me out of His Word. And, yes, He does have a sense of humor-as you saw in yesterday’s post.

As we learn to walk fully in God’s love, His admonition, according to His will, and His Word, those things that seem like miraculous happenings – (you know, when you finally get it right, and it works easy as pie, and blows you away?) – become more and more natural, and naturally, expected. ..and marvelous; simply marvelous!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Blessed Assurance Is That Peace

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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