Generosity of Spirit

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In loving memory of all who died on 9-11-2001

Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, bids us to be generous givers. There is a difference between having a spirit of generosity and being generous of spirit.

I think Jesus taught and demonstrated the importance of being generous of spirit all throughout the Gospels. The message confirms what the Bible tells us about God; He is love. “I am love and joy and peace and strength and power and healing, and all you see in Me, your Lord,” to quote directly from God Calling. All these things and so much more are found in close relationship with Jesus, and with our Heavenly Father. Each one of these traits springs from the others. Each one of them supports and empowers the others to thrive. Generosity of spirit is what empowers a spirit of generosity because it wipes away fear, and empowers faith-in oneself, and in others.

As I read the message, along with the teachings of our Lord Jesus, I am reminded of all those who sacrificed their lives seventeen years ago. I am deeply grateful for all whose generosity of spirit got us through that day and the days following the tragedy. I am also prayerful that every man, all of humanity will one day come to understand that that same generosity of spirit is all we need. And it’s what we all need.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

God’s Reward Is Always Greater

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Make sure the God you serve can save you when you’re in trouble. Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that we cannot serve God and riches (according to the world’s definition), because we will love one and hate the other. One or the other will become tiresome.

Every time I read this message, I am led to stories from the Bible like Abraham going up to the mountain to sacrifice his son. There’s also the rich man and Lazarus. Then there’s the parable about the rich man who stored up his wealth, only to die and never be able to enjoy it. Jesus tells us to set our hearts on things above.

As I think about that, I recall the covenant between God and Abraham. When God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), He said, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” That speaks to me of being mindful about my motives and intentions in regard to wealth, riches, power, promotion, etc. Am I doing what I’m doing to receive accolades according to worldly standards? Am I doing what I’m doing because God has gifted me with a talent or skill, and I am earning my living with it. And am I honoring God with what I achieve and receive?

It’s very easy to become quite comfortable with “luxury”, and affluence with people of certain “classes” or “castes.” It’s also very easy to become enslaved to keeping up with the Joneses, or putting on airs. When we do this, we’re neither honoring God, nor ourselves. We are worth so very much to God, that we don’t need to compete with anyone down here. That’s called envy and covetousness, by the way-and where there is envy, there is strife and all manner of evil. We are to be a blessing to others. We do that by honoring God and His will and intentions for us with our talents, skills, wealth, achievements, and increases. We also do that by sharing what we have within -experience and such-with others, in order to build them up as well.

There is no room for envy or covetousness in the family of God. God is no respecter of persons-He loves and blesses each and every one of us the same-just not in the same ways always. Envy comes in when we find ourselves serving the world’s standards of wealth or affluence and influence. Covetousness comes in when we forget to look back at God’s intentions and will for mankind. “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you,” He said. We are to bless and not to lord things over one another. Jesus said the greatest among us must be the servant of all. That’s a powerful revelation about the differences in God’s valuations and the world’s.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Cultivating Oneself

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that our real field of labor, and our greatest field of labor is ourselves. We are bid to walk very closely and stay in close relationship-intimate relationship with the Lord. When and as we do this, we discover our authentic, or true selves. The image of God within us is revealed to us. The likeness of God within us is revealed to us.

God has put so very much goodness, talent, skill, and absolute wonders within each of us! We can see evidence of God gifting people in Genesis. Speaking from personal experience, you will amaze yourself! I’ve pulled things off that left me muddle-headed and mouth agape. -Because I couldn’t believe that I actually did that, or learned that, or accomplished that. As the field within us begins to bear fruit, our ability to reach farther and farther outside of ourselves grows. The desire to reach outside of ourselves grows-because that is God’s great plan. “Love one another as I have loved you.” We are to build one another up in love; not tear one another down in envy, as happened between Cain and Abel. When we accept and embrace God’s love for and in us, we can fearlessly seek out the treasures He’s put within us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Oh, Those Arms!

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is our refuge, and His arms are never too tired, nor too weak to catch us, to hold us up, or just to hold us. I am living proof! Whether it be a situation in which I just call out, “Jesus,” or one in which I’m sobbing my heart out and at my wit’s end, and have not words, God is always there.

Those arms are sure and swift to catch us when we’re falling. All we need do is call on the Lord. They are strong to hold us back, too. I have been known to say, “you’re lucky I am a Christian-because my God just saved your life!” -to some folks. I do have patience, but I am not God, so consider yourself warned.

More precious than anything I’ve known is that fact that God will hold me and hold me back from myself. There are so many opportunities to fail, to get discouraged, to find reasons to doubt oneself, or even for self -loathing. But when we call on God, He’s faithful. He is the compassionate One who sits on Heaven’s mercy seat-and He says, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” In those wonderful arms, one finds all that’s needed to wipe away the world, to refresh, restore, renew; and to infuse us with love everlasting. In those wonderful arms, we are reminded who and whose we are, and how precious we are to Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Daily Moving Forward

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that the law of Heaven is progress. There is no stagnation -“I will give you streams in the desert, and make the dry places wellsprings of living water…” (Isa. 35:8) That means when you think you’re at the end of your rope, God’s got a surprise in the knot. When you’re out of ideas, God’s got fresh ones that He’s already put into you from day one. You have only to trust and believe, to slow down and breathe, and go forward. Just keep going forward.

There’s always something more than you think there is. Nothing can stop you. You might just be slowed down a little. God is the way maker, and He always comes through. As I read the message, I think of the story of the man who found a pearl of great price, and then went and sold that so he could buy the whole field. That’s God saying, I have something more for you. But that field needs to be worked in order for you to find all the treasures in it. Don’t forget that you are God’s great field…and yours, if you only trust and believe…and put a little effort forth. I’ve learned from personal experience, that you get back according to the effort you put forth-so give it your best shot-always!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Burdens Are of Our Own Making

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Happy Birthday, Shea Michael! Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful son and all that he embodies. Bless his day with everything wonderful from your hands, and may he be surrounded by love and laughter, joy and peace today and every day. Amen!

Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, bids us to drop our burdens at Jesus’ feet, and let Him deal with them. He does know best; I can attest to that from personal experience. When I thought about burdens, I discovered that they are the fear, the frustration, the self-doubt, the selfishness, etc., that come from within us during the trials and difficulties we encounter. You see, whatever it is, is going to be, whether you’re upset about it or not.

It’s the getting upset, the anger and indignation, and all that stuff, that burdens us. We are told in the Bible, that we can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us. Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide, to counsel, to comfort, and to encourage and enlighten us with God’s wisdom in every situation. We can refuse to be rattled or shaken-thereby in essence, dropping the burdens of the situation at Jesus’ feet. He will, and does handle them immediately. As a matter of fact, they were worked out long ago. But it is our determination to drop them and go on our way in the peace and power of the Lord, that straightway puts us back in authority over it all. -Under Jesus, of course.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Unseen is Manifest in the Seen

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Happy Labor Day, one and all! Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, bids us to live in the unseen. That’s another word for the Spirit. As Jesus said, “Set your heart on the things above,” or the things of the Spirit.

Our living in the Spirit, manifests then, in the seen; the world around us. The results of our living in the Spirit, of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, become visible to us and those around us. It is the power to say no to the alcohol, or the drugs, or the illicit sex that is seen. What is unseen, is the time spent in prayer and communion with God; the studying of His Word, and the struggle within to overcome the grip that the alcohol, drugs, illicit sex, anger, or any and all of those things that would bind us here. The time spent in the unseen is what frees us. The Spirit, or the “Unseen,” is the power and the protector at work in us, and through us, to make visible our victory, our faith, our love, our freedom from bondage.

Some workers are a good example of what this message teaches us. There are jobs that are very difficult to do every day, day in and day out; especially those that have very much to do with dealing with the public, or caring for others, etc. But when we set our hearts and determine to work or labor in the “unseen” spirit of love, patience, good humor, and a spirit of hope, the fruits of those things flow through us and into the lives of the people we are serving. Jesus bids us to serve one another in love. Whether it be clientele or co-workers, the same principle applies. Reach for the “unseen,” the Spirit, and the fruits of the Spirit will manifest through you.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Steadfast Faith Reveals Our Wealth

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J.Russell, reminds us that God has promised us provision for every need, in every circumstance. The Bible tells us that even when we’re tempted with sin, God provides us with an escape. He also has drawn a line that allows sin to go only so far, before He acts on our behalf. In other words, if you absolutely can’t resist and overcome it, He will step in and make sure it does not overcome you. That’s why Jesus said, “be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” It’s also why every knee must bow at the mention of His Name. He is our power. That’s not an excuse or invitation to sin. It is an assurance that no matter how strong of a grip sin may have in your life at any given moment, You have a savior ready, so very willing, and more than able to rescue you. All you need do is call upon Him. He has promised not to turn you away when you do.

He is also our wealth, and in Him all our wealth is available to us. We’retold -in yesterday’s message, to look up, to set our eyes on the things above-the spiritual things, and not on the things below-temporal and fleeting. That tells me two things. True wealth is wealth of spirit. We prosper as our souls prosper. That means I need to look for the one way that will prosper me, or another in spirit.

When we steadfastly act in obedience to Jesus’ command to love one another like He loves us, we begin to see the wealth in His love toward us. Love is the most excellent way. Love never fails. Love always wins. That’s when creativity -the basis of our wealth, because God is a creator, and we are created in His image, after His likeness, springs up within to empower us to find the way to elevate life, to sustain life, to bring life into whatever situation we may find ourselves in. Peace and life go hand in hand in God’s kingdom. There are no broken lives there. There is nothing missing there. And there is no failure there.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Living Prayer and Fasting

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, bids us to live a life of constant prayer, and to deny ourselves. So, pray, and fast. Living prayerfully is to live gratefully, savoring every breath, every step, each meal-each bite of each meal. It is, to me, a matter of being continuously aware of God’s love for us and His goodness toward us. So, live with joy; it will make you grateful. The fasting part, or denying oneself, I believe is more important -in this sense, than physical fasting. This fast is fasting from negative emotions, from anger, from bitterness, from strife -external and internal. It is a matter of entering into a mindset that refuses to give itself to negative and/or destructive attitudes and emotions. Yesterday, I spoke of infusing our homes with the fruits of the Spirit. We do the same with our minds and hearts. Then, we put, and keep those boundaries in place, keeping all that stuff from gaining a foothold. It is a struggle in this world; especially when all hell is breaking loose in your corner of it-but it is worth the effort. As I thought about my own struggles with this, I recalled how Jesus simply walked away from those who wanted to stone him. Had the chance to practice it this morning. Love it!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Giving It Up

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, bids us to be great givers, like our Lord. Giving of all we have is what we’re expected to do. This includes things like time, comfort, or rest, -peace, and things of spiritual necessity. We don’t often think about how much a cup of coffee and a bit of conversation might mean to someone. That person could be in the midst of some despairing event, totally stressed out and clueless as to what they’re going to do about it. And your cup of coffee and TLC might be exactly what the doctor (the great physician) orders. You’ve just brought some peace to that one. You’ve just been a rock for him or her to cling to in the crashing waves.

I think we don’t give enough thought to actually infusing the atmosphere in our homes with the fruits of the spirit. This is the first place we should give, though; because home is your haven in this world. The Bible tells us that God is our strong tower, and bids us to run in to that tower. So should our homes be to all who live there, and all who come there; especially those who are in need. We build strong spiritual towers, or refuges, when we infuse our living spaces, our work spaces, and our personal spaces with the gifts of God, and with the fruits of the spirit. Here’s a bonus: The more you give to spiritual needs of others, the more you get back from God!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu