Seeing Your Perfection

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we have but to look to Jesus to see our perfection. He is strength when we are weak, peace when all is chaos within, compassion in the face of adversity, or hatred, love in the midst of indifference, etc.

“My strength is made perfect in your weakness…” Take this to mean that His Presence, His Promise, and His Power will all be strong in your weakness. They will shine through it to bring you the victory, the peace, the love, the power to forgive. Whatever your need is, Jesus’ teachings, God’s Word, and the Presence of the Holy Spirit can meet it, and exceed the need. The weakness will be weakened and/or eradicated, and you will rise to the occasion, and to the next level.

We have but to trust, and to step out in faith. We are bid, even to look away from sordid surroundings, from poverty, etc., and to focus on Jesus. Focus on His beauty, His love, and His love for, and in, you. That infuses us with the right spirit; the Holy Spirit, the “yes, I can,” attitude, or spirit. As we remain focused on our Lord, we can begin to see possibility in our surroundings, circumstances, etc. The rest is history if we step out in faith.

I chose “Remind me who I am,” by Jason Grey, to go with today’s post. I hope it blesses you as it does me.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Until The Aroma Permeates Your Life

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we can sing, even in the darkness, just like Paul and Barnabas did. We are bid to stay strong, be of good cheer, and be courageous. We’re bid to turn to the Lord, always, even in the darkness. I would say, especially in the darkness.

Mark 14:3 is referenced by the message: “While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” I hope you’ll read the message @ twolisteners.org, because it’s awesome. When I read the message, I thought about “monster spray.” Monster spray was my perfume. I sprayed it in the kids’ closets to keep the monsters away at night.

When that woman poured that Spikenard perfume on Jesus’ head, I bet the whole room was filled with the aroma. That stuff was the very best gift the woman had to give. Our trust and love for Him, is the very best gift we can give Jesus, and our Heavenly Father. When we turn to the Lord, praise the Lord, pray to the Lord, and walk with the Lord, we are getting that perfume, that aroma, all over us. Remember when Mom hugged you and you could smell her perfume on you? That’s what faith does for us. That living with the Lord infuses our lives with that same aroma. That aroma brings joy, peace, comfort, power, and love, doesn’t it? Yes, it does; just like Mom’s did. Just like the monster spray did.

When that aroma fills your life, it permeates even the darkness. It’s our favorite scent; but it is to the forces of evil, like the scent of a snake to a rodent. The aroma of the Lord’s love and presence is an awesome thing. You can’t smell it with your nose, really. But you sure can pick up that scent, ever so faintly, in your spirit. And, it really does dispel the power of the darkness to disarm fear and doubt.

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

For The Universal GM In You

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God exercises great restraint when it comes to interfering in our lives. God’s not a bully; He’s a gentleman. He’d rather be loved than feared.

“Think how tenderly I respect the right of each individual soul. Never forcing upon it My Help, My Salvation. Perhaps in all My suffering for humanity that is the hardest, the restraining of the Divine Impatience and longing to help, until the call of the soul gives Me My right to act. Think of Love shown in this. ”

I’ve been reading this little book for a number of years, now. God never fails to show me something new, or reminds me of something important, just when I need it most. As I read this message today, I think about my sons and daughters, and their mates. I don’t want to be a “smother”, or a “smother in law.” I also remembered a few “General Managers of the Universe,” from times past in my own life. “Thank you, Jesus, for divine restraint, I prayed.” **Emotional blackmail and manipulation are two huge pitfalls in this area. Some people fall victim to them time and time again, until they overcome the need to be in control.

It’s easy to rush in with the answer; easy to take over without really meaning to. This is where that restraint comes in. “Please God, help me stay shut up.” This message ties in well with the one about being humble and serving all. A servant does what he/she is asked to do; he/she doesn’t run the show.

It is pretty hard to bite one’s tongue at times, isn’t it? I remember watching my kids go off on their first days of school. Each time, I cried. Each time I knew I had to let them go out there without me. And one prays they’ll come running for help when they need it, right? No matter how old they are, this is true.

Whenever I think of this, I thank God for the privilege of prayer. I think I’d lose my mind if I couldn’t pray. And I can see God up there smiling, because He’s got it all under control. And, when we exercise divine restraint with our kids, our friends, our mates, etc., relationships tend to be stronger in trust, open communication, and real teamwork and unity. When we always rush right in to the rescue, we reinforce helplessness and undermine self confidence and accountability.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Practicing The Presence Of It

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is a good God. He is also eager to share His Goodness, and all good things, with us. We are bid to taste and trust that goodness, and to hold fast to it, even in times of trouble.

When I read about God sharing His Goodness with us, I think about things like the fruits of the Spirit-because God is Spirit. I also think about His love for us. He gave His only begotten Son to save us. That’s a pretty extravagant gift; don’t you think?

So, in order for me to experience and grow in trust, or faith, and intimacy with God, I must practice the presence of His Goodness. I must receive it within myself; cultivate it in my life, my home, my relationships, etc.

That means, first, I recognize that I am worth dying for. I am worthy of the best. That means I will make good choices for myself, I’ll go the extra mile-(put that vase of flowers on the dinner table, or light that candle, etc.). I will also be deliberate about creating my spaces, my surroundings, when possible. Look at the way God created the planet, the Garden of Eden, etc. The Bible says God devises ways to restore us to Himself. That’s a clue on how we ought to view our relationships with one another. We’re also told that God blesses us richly, and adds no sorrow to it. (Proverbs 10:22) -“The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” I like the Berean Study Bible version; it says the blessing of the LORD “enriches…”

When we seek to enrich our daily living experiences, even something like just a meal, we can turn it into a feast for the soul. God seeks those who worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth. It stands to reason then, that God would love to enrich our soul, our spirit. When we seek to do the same to others, life takes on a much more beautiful hue. As we practice the goodness of God within, and bring it out around us, trust that God’s Goodness is always present becomes solidified. Before you know it, nothing can shake it.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Life Changes With This Daily Reminder

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is in quietness and trust that we find our strength. Some years ago, God gave me a daily prayer. One part of it is, “Thank you, Lord, for the peace to find strength within, and for the strength to seek your peace in my life.” God has promised us, both peace and strength. That strength is His power, which is made perfect in our weakness.

My life began to change when I began to pray that prayer, along with the Lord’s Prayer, daily. In terms of peace and strength, I can’t even begin to tell you how much anxiety left my life. I KNOW that I Know, that I Know this: Fear and anxiety are powerless in my life. Strength is just automatically there, it seems. Very rarely do I have to ask for it. What a beautiful freedom this is! Praying this daily reminds me there’s something I have within that’s powerful. It also reminds me that I have that power, or strength within, to actively seek God’s peace in any situation, at any time, for any reason. It reminds me that I am in authority over the circumstances; not vice versa. Make it a point, daily, to remind yourself that God’s peace and power are yours. Nobody can take them away from you, and nothing can overcome either one of them. I encourage you to visit the twolisteners.org website and read the message for yourself. Each message in the book, “God Calling,” reinforces scripture found in the Bible, and vice versa.

I chose this song by Chris Tomlin to remind us what an awesome God we serve; and what an awesome God serves us.

Love you from Café du Mondieu

His Name – Still Powerful Today

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus’ Name is still as powerful today as it was all those many years ago.

As I read the message, I thought about all the times I had to remind myself of that. His Name is still as powerful today, as it was the day I got saved. I thought about my grandmother, and her testimonies of Jesus and His love. It occurred to me, that every time she spoke His Name to me, the power of that Name was drawing, guarding, and guiding me to where I am today. Jesus said He would draw all men unto Himself when He is lifted up. Nowadays, trusting in that wonderful Name is as natural as breathing. It doesn’t occur to me to doubt; not for a second. I know He’s got my back, no matter what may come along.

The message tells us that the consciousness of His Name can lift the mood, change the atmosphere, and elevate thought, attitude, conversation, and, even actions. I’ve had countless experiences that went from “nothing goin’ on,” to “oh, wow, this is going to be fantastic!” -just because I heard that Name in a praise song, or because I, or someone else, spoke it. Jesus…what a beautiful Name it is, indeed. It has the power to stop you dead in your tracks, back you up just a little, and wrap you in it’s warmth, peace, and love. Sometimes, that’s exactly what one needs, isn’t it? It has the power to open doors, and to close them. It has the power to raise a dead thing to life, or to lay something that should be dead and gone to rest…and finally set you free from it.

The message bids us to be ever conscious of His Name, breathing it. It is, in the spirit, our very breath, I believe. Here’s a challenge. Find three or four songs about Jesus’ Name. Play them back to back, and just bask in the joy, peace, power, and love that it brings with it. Now, have a wonderful day!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu