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

Loving Him More Builds Faith

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is in every experience we have in life. His love is always there for us. Each experience, be it a good one, or one that makes you feel like the world’s coming apart at the seams, brings forth another particular aspect of God’s character. It also illuminates that character in us. Sadly, I must admit that it sometimes does not shine nearly as bright in me. Thankfully, God is loving, merciful, and patient. He always picks me up and dusts me off…and sets me on my feet again. “Keep going,” I can hear Him whisper.

As we love Him more, we seek Him more, and our faith in Him grows. As our faith in Him grows, we can’t help but love and seek Him more and more. What a wonderful Savior! I said this year’s blog would be more about walking it out. If there is one thing that draws me nearer to God every time and any time, it is praise and worship. Even one little line of a praise song can bring Him on the scene. LOL I’ve found this one from Elevation Worship. I hope it will bless you.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

He’s In The Darkness

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to hold fast to our love for, and faith in, Jesus, our Lord. He’s in all the dark places we’ll ever encounter. If you think about it, He’s even in the darkness in our world. If He wasn’t, this really would be Hell on Earth, and we’d never survive it spiritually!

When I read this message, I’m reminded of Peter in prison, when the angel came and woke him up. He must have been a little groggy from sleep, because it seems the angel even had to tell him to dress and put his shoes and cloak on. See, Jesus makes sure every tiny detail is taken care of. The chains even fell off of Peter, and the prison gate opened for them all by itself. When Peter came to himself, he realized this was all really happening-and not just a vision. He said, Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me. (Acts 12:6-11) We are bid, by our Lord, to have that same knowledge; that same trust. We are bid to have full confidence in Him. That will bring us, not only faith, but great joy. Whenever I read that story about Peter, I can just see Peter stum-bumbling around that cell, trying to get dressed and out of there…and trying to figure out what was happening, I have to laugh. See, when I’m groggy from sleep, I’m a stum-bumbler too.

In another account, this one about Paul and Silas, we can see the Lord at work again. (Acts 16:19-30) By the time Jesus was finished here, the jailer got saved. Yay! See how our faith seed brings the fruit of the joy of, and in, the Lord? Paul and Silas just praised the Lord in their dark cell. Suddenly, things began to happen. God’s love is also His light for us. When we hold fast to that love, we will always find the light in the darkness; in any darkness.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Lord, Help Me To Be Weak

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2Cor. 12:8-10) I posted not too long ago, about asking the Lord to strengthen our faith. “Help my unbelief, Lord,” cried the man whose son was demon possessed. (Mark 9:24) Over the years, I’ve found that He also answers when we ask Him to help us to be weak…in order for His strength to come to, and through us. I know how hard it is at times, in those times, to be the weak me, the real me-even before Him. But, thankfully, He does see our hearts; and rushes right in the instant we cry out to Him. I found this song as I was submerging myself in praise and worship recently. Once again, Thank you, Hillsong, for your faithfulness in helping us to praise and worship the LORD/Lord. I hope you are as blessed by this song as I am!

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.

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Truly, All I Need

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to draw as near as we can, very near, to our Lord, Jesus. Isaiah 53:2 is referenced by the message: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Every time I read the verses in that chapter, I feel just as if He’s drawn me into His embrace. It’s like a group hug; me and Jesus, and our Heavenly Father. Thank you, Lord for loving me! I love you so!

I hope this one, done by Hillsong will help you step into that group hug today!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Every Day It’s There For Us

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that for every task given us, God supplies all that we need to get the job done. We are admonished not to fear, and to claim the wisdom and strength we need; sure that it is there for us.

There’s a statement in the message: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” That’s a powerful revelation about choosing to have a good day, or a bad one. One thing that helped me so much to have the day, instead of the day having me, is my morning time with the LORD/Lord. Whether it’s in prayer or praise, make time for God first thing. That sets the tone for the rest of the day. It’s like giving, and receiving that all important hug! I hope you’ll be as blessed by this song as I am. There truly is nobody like our Lord, Jesus! Thank you, Paul Wilbur.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Oh, That Touch

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that our Lord is ever present with us. We are reminded that His touch brings, not only healing, but guidance, and comfort. It isn’t just healing, guidance, and comfort that that touch brings us. Sometimes, I feel that touch as I’m doing my Bible study. I always come away with a wonderful little nugget of truth that empowers my walk with Him. I hope you’ll read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org

That little nugget of truth came through that touch recently. I was doing my study on generational curses, and was led to Genesis 2:15-17. I believe, since we are created in God’s image, after His likeness, we already have the knowledge of both good and evil within us. (Genesis 1:26-27) We just didn’t have the wisdom we needed in regard to good and evil. Remember God walked and talked with them in the cool of the day. So, it is possible that Satan thought he’d get a head-start on destruction.

One of the keys to overcoming generational curses is mastering the knowledge of good and evil. It is not the knowledge of good and evil that will kill you. It is eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil that will either kill you, or bring you life. Eating the fruit of the knowledge of good will destroy your fleshly, worldly, and evil tendencies. It will also destroy the fallout, or spiritual damage to you caused by the evil in the world around you. Likewise, eating the fruit of the knowledge of evil will destroy good in your life, and even the desire in you, to do good.

Example: You see someone homeless on the street. You’ve just purchased breakfast, and got a two for one deal. The fruit of the knowledge of good is your desire to offer this person the other breakfast. (compassion) You do (partaking of the fruit), and a little faith and hope comes alive in that person. (There’s somebody who does care) The other example: The scenario is the same. Only this time, you think about being able to sleep in, and having this extra breakfast tomorrow morning. You won’t have to stop for it on the way to work. (Self, Selfish) You do not offer it to that person, but go on your way (partaking of the fruit of evil) Not that thinking about yourself is evil, but when you see a person who’s homeless and obviously hungry, and you do have enough…isn’t ignoring that and walking away what Satan would do?

That little “touch” made me realize how much easier choosing is when we see exactly what it is being offered us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Learning Restraint

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that there’s a time, a place, and a way. God, knows all; especially all hearts. We are told that His power to save increases as our understanding of His Salvation increases. He never forces Himself on anyone; never rushes in too soon to save us. That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want to help us. It simply means that we will be helped more by learning and doing ourselves. It’s the “hands on” learning experience that strengthens us; building up the confidence, or faith, we need in Him and in ourselves. Part of being a child of God, a parent, a friend, is exercising that same restraint.

We are reminded that God’s power is limited only by our lack of vision. This makes me think of Jesus and the man at the pool at Bethesda. When Jesus saw how long he’d been lying there like that, He asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6) There’s a powerful revelation in that; especially when we’re dealing with generational curses. We have to ask ourselves that same question.

There’s another statement Jesus made that comes to mind here. He said to a lame man that He had healed, “See, you are well.” (John 5:14 ESV) If you take the comma out of that sentence, you get this: See you are well. This has to do with vision. It has to do with a new horizon for you. Look forward to where you want to be (your horizon), and see yourself well, successful, etc. This is the transformation part of being saved. (Romans 12:12) We change our thinking and walk in the new ways. We don’t have to wait to walk in the new ways. God sees us as righteous, victorious, and glorious the instant we accept Jesus as our Lord, and become God’s children. However, restraint is also necessary here. We need to learn to wait on the Lord, and let Him lead us at times. We also need to keep in mind that He may withhold things until we are ready for them.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Seek It Within Yourself

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to trust in the goodness of God. When we become children of God, we have that goodness put into our hearts. We are created in His image, and after His likeness; so we now can begin to grow into that image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26) “Be perfect therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” said Jesus. (Matt. 5:48)

“I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:14) This is what God longs for us to have every day of our lives; souls that are feasted on the Word of God, and wholly satisfied by and with His goodness. The way we obtain that is to seek the goodness of God within us. As we discover them, we lose things like that sense of condemnation (by self or others). We lose things like fear; especially, of things like rejection, failure, loss of control and freedom, and even loss of time. We also begin to actually lose lack (within and in our lives); and begin to experience more and more fullness of spirit, life, peace, joy, all the awesome things God has for us.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) The first thing to do when things go wrong, is to look for that kingdom within; for that goodness of God in you. Perhaps you need patience, or courage, or comfort, or just an idea. It’s there within you. Getting quiet and just waiting for the Lord, for a minute, brings the peace we need to see those treasures; the goodness, and good things of God. I hope you’ll take time to read the message at twolisteners.org – it’s one that can revolutionize the way you see yourself.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu