Seeing Your Perfection

eden08122015

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

Rejoicing In Your Weaknesses

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2Cor. 12:9)

There was a time when I believed that was some mystical event that happened; that by some miracle, God would infuse me with supernatural strength. Over the years, I’ve learned just how much of a naturally occurring result of my accepting, or acknowledging that weakness-(truth), seeking the way to overcome it-(way), and rising up to walk in that way (life). Are you getting a picture of how simple it really is? Jesus said, “I am the truth, the life, and the way.” He is that in every situation.

Acceptance is the key to the whole thing. We all too often try to deny the weakness, or to fake our way through it. Notice the two words, “our way.” That’s what it is that gets us into trouble. If it’s your weakness, it’s obviously not the way to go, is it? Accepting the weakness empowers you to seek the way(s) to overcome it. This opens the door for God to work, and opens your mind and heart to receive insight, inspiration, and instruction. What went wrong, why, what’s your part in it, what can you do to fix it, or improve it, etc. These insights inspire ideas and creative energies. Then, the instruction(s) bring us up to the next level; to overcoming power, and to progress.

God is a creator, we are created in His image, after His likeness. Therefore, we are creators, and creative beings. We can resurrect, rebuild, restore, etc. That’s the power of God being perfected in us, in our weaknesses. This is why we are told to rejoice in our weakness; to see it as an incentive and an opportunity to rise to an even higher level. We aren’t to walk in denial, deception, depression, and all the other stuff that comes on you when you’re trying to fake your way through. Just be you; be the best you you can be. Accept yourself just as you are, and work from there. You can only work with what you’ve got; and, as they say, “God don’t make no junk!” Celebrate every step forward, every step upward, every step taken. God does; because He loves you!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Yea, Tho I Walk Through The Valley…

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are human, fallible, and that our steps will falter at times. When I read the message, I thought of Peter walking on the water.

If Peter had never taken another step, his life would never have turned out the way it did. Before his life was over, Peter’s mere shadow falling on someone was powerful enough to heal them. Then, there was Peter, denying Jesus. He betrayed the Lord just as much as Judas had. Judas killed himself…never too another step. Peter wept; his heart wrenched with the pain of his cowardice and shame. Then, Peter jumped out of the boat to swim to Jesus on the shore. He was filled with joy at the Lord’s presence. What a beautiful moment! Breakfast with Jesus; I can’t even begin to imagine what that joy bursting within Peter might have felt like…after all that stuff…Wow! Peter might never have known that joy, had he not taken another step after those faltering steps on the water.

The message is that the 23rd Psalm is so very true. The Lord does lead us beside still, or peaceful waters. He does restore our souls. He does lead us in paths of righteousness. His rod and his staff do comfort us when our steps falter. Faltering steps are found in the Valley of the Shadow of Death-especially in the spirit. The shadow is the temptation to quit, to give up, to curl up, and to end up right back where we started from, or someplace even worse. Judas is the prime example. But Jesus is faithful to forgive us when we confess our sins. His strength is made perfect in, and through our weaknesses – when we allow Him to save us and bring us through. Remember Peter’s words? “Lord, save me!” We can do the same thing, and boldly; because there is now no condemnation in Christ. We need to take a hint from that. There should be no self-condemnation in us then, either. Remember Jesus’ words to all he healed, and to the woman he save from being killed? “Go in peace.” Go means take steps; keep heading for your horizon, your goal. You are on your way to somewhere, because this is not your home.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Make Sure It Serves You

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that a life with God is one of continuous service. We are to serve God, are to serve others as if serving Him, and we are to strive to serve the cause of Christ Jesus in everything we do.

What we don’t often think about is whether or not certain things serve us. We often get ourselves into situations that end up having us serving them. When I speak of this, I’m talking about bad situations, things that aren’t really good for us, people who really don’t have our best interests at heart. These situations serve to enslave us; distract us from our life with God. Those things that aren’t good for us serve to put us into bondage to them if we’re not careful. Those people are usually using us for their own interests and ends. Paul said, “all things are lawful, but not all are helpful.” (1 Cor. 10:23) We are to be mastered by none but The Master, Himself.

That scripture goes on to say that not all things edify, or build up. We are to build one another up, and we are to build ourselves up, as well. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” That’s in the 10 Commandments. Therefore, I need to survey the situations, the things presented and offered to me, and the people I involve myself with. Then, I can best measure the distance I want to keep between myself and them. When we do this, we’re also serving God by setting an example and bringing encouragement to others who see us. We are building up the weak, the fearful, the shy, etc., and shining a light for the lost to see. “Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Keepin’ It Peaceful Inside

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that peace within is worth every effort it takes to get it, and to keep it. We are bid to stop everything until we’ve regained it.

Nothing of this world is worth losing yourself to. Imagine your heart, mind, and soul to be made of glass. Every time we let someone, or something destroy that inner peace, it’s as if they’ve thrown a rock through the glass and left a hole in it. Pretty soon, the holes run into one another, and one day the whole thing just crumbles.

Inner peace is that peace with does pass all understanding. It is, not only the peace between us and God, and the peace we have because of God. It is also the peace we have with ourselves. That one is really important because that’s where the weakness is. That peace can be very, very fragile. We guilt and shame and blame ourselves…sometimes over the silliest things, really. We let others’ opinions disturb our peace, even to the point of it being destroyed completely. There are a lot of people who have to check themselves into a mental hospital because someone has destroyed their inner peace.

This is where standards and boundaries come in. This is where diligence comes in. This is where steadfastness, or stubbornness comes in. You not only have the right to define and protect your inner peace, you have a responsibility to. One of the greatest things I learned from Jesus, is that very thing. He drew the line, He walked the line, and He didn’t let anyone cross that line. No, inner peace doesn’t mean you’ll never get mad or upset at, or over anyone or anything. It means that no matter what’s going on, no matter how angry, upset, or overwhelmed you are, you know who and whose you are. And you do the same thing Jesus did. You draw the line, you walk the line, and you don’t let anyone cross that line. You are a child of God Almighty, the Creator. You are master over everything in the world that man must deal with. It is not master over you, so, don’t allow it to master you. When we learn this, it’s much easier to get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. It’s also easier to stay on your feet in the first place.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu