Write Them Down

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 103.. King David wrote it, and it is so awesome! The first five verses, alone, just get your spirit stirred up. Beginning with verse 2-5: “Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Forget not His benefits. Make a list, just like the one in this psalm. There’s more all throughout the psalm. Those verses just kind of sum it all up for us.

The rest of the psalm lists more of those benefits, and tells us how much God loves us, and how compassionate and tender He is toward us. (V8-14) “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

I had an incredible experience in the spirit, over this very psalm. My father-in-law was in a nursing home, and dying. He was afraid to die, because He didn’t believe that God could really forgive Him for the things he’d done. My sister also happened to be his daughter-in-law, and she visited him regularly. I never went to the nursing home, myself. I referred her to the 103rd psalm, when she expressed concern about his being afraid to die. She visited him twice more, but each time, he was asleep, and didn’t wake up. I copied the psalm down on a piece of paper, and put it under a prayer candle. I would light the candle and pray that psalm for him. One night, approximately 1: 30 a.m., my baby girl woke up for her bottle, and since I was awake, I decided to pray for him again. Laying beside her, I began to pray. I almost always say the Lord’s prayer before I pray other prayers; so I began to pray the Lord’s prayer. Suddenly, I was standing in my father-in-law’s room at the nursing home. I called out His name, and He said, “Who’s there?” I called out His name again, and then I said, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, your sins are forgiven; accept your peace.” Right then I woke up, and it was about 7 a.m. My father-in-law passed away at approximately 1:30 a.m. the next morning. Verse 19 of the psalm says, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.” That includes time and space.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Get Up And Keep Going

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 60. It causes me to think about back-sliding, and then running in the wrong direction. “Oh, God…you’ve made my sinfulness so HARD for me to enjoy!” LOL That’s the theme of the first few verses. Then, there’s the realization that God is in charge, God has decreed, and God will accomplish His purpose(s) for you! He’s not about to let the enemy prevail against you after everything you and He have been through together.

In verse 11, we realize that we cannot save ourselves. And verse 12 brings the truth: “With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.” I’m reading from the Berean Study Bible, by the way. God will literally trample your enemies (fear, doubt, weakness, anger, everything that would hinder you.) You just have to pick up where you left off and get right back to it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself in this position. I can’t tell you how many times I went back to the Word of God, and back to the Word of God, and back some more, trying to find the way to get through something (back on track, etc.), and stay through with it! Sometimes I would write it down, and put it where I could see it daily-first thing in the morning. The enemy will always try to dissuade you by convincing you that you can’t go back. Satan is a liar! Get right back up, and go right back to the LORD/Lord and His way! Keep going; this isn’t a spring, it’s a marathon. I don’t know why, but I just thought of Forrest Gump. Remember when he started running and running…and then one day, Forrest was done. That’s kind of a picture of what this life is, isn’t it?

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Say It To Yourself Say It To All Fear

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, is a powerful one! It addresses freeing ourselves from fear. I hope you’ll read it for yourselves; it’s so awesome!

There is one statement in this message that is a powerful, powerful weapon against fear, or any other evil that the forces of evil might come at you with! Quoting directly from the message: “But I am Love because God is Love, and I and the Father are one.” Perfect love casts out fear. That’s why Jesus told us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Be perfected in God’s love; meaning, let God’s love fill you, overflow your being, and surround you completely, until nothing can shake your assurance that you are His child, and He is your Father…and that He loves you more than life itself! Today’s a great day to look up every scripture you can find about God’s love for you. Write them down and post them where you can see them daily. Speak them out loud, because faith comes by hearing. Speak them out loud and remind the forces of darkness who, and whose, you are!

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

Believe, And You Will See

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is always with us. We are encouraged to seek Him daily. But, we’re reminded that the joy of His Presence is not realized through our efforts. Rather, it is like Jesus said, “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.”

In a recent Bible study discussion, I said that a lot of people don’t realize that when we pick up the Bible, we are taking Jesus by the hand; literally. He is the Word of God, made flesh. Jesus is a real person. We’re encouraged by the message to speak His Name often. We’re also reminded that He really doesn’t need any summoning. Rather, we need to become and remain aware of His Presence with us. Jesus said, “Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. Ask, and you will receive.” By this, we can be sure that when we open our hearts to Him, and set our hearts on Him, we will see Him. Of course, that seeing is actually realizing His Presence with us, and in most everything around us. As I wrote this post, I thought of the song, “Something about that Name.” I hope it helps you to realize His Presence there with you, as it does me every time I hear it or sing it. Thank you, Gaither Family.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Be Assured; You Are Blessed

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are, indeed, blessed by our Heavenly Father. Quoting directly from the message at twolisteners.org: “Assurance is the calm born of a deep certainty in Me, in my Promise, in my power to save and keep.” We are bid to gain this calm, and to hold fast to it always. Psalm 46:10 is referenced: “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” When I read that, I see that nothing can separate me from the love of God; and nothing can stand against Him. And, God will be exalted in my body, or in me, when I allow Him to be. God cannot do anything in you, or for you, until you trust Him to. When we turn to God to strengthen our faith in Him, and that calm returns, the work can begin and be done. I am reminded of the boy with the unclean spirit, whose father cried to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

I broke that verse (Psalm 46:10 down word by word, once. It changed my whole perspective of who I am in Christ Jesus, and the power I do have in His Name, His Word, in Him. “Be perfect therefore, as you Father in Heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Still -“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37) And – “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah (32:27) Know – “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That – That God! -The One who is truth, life, and the way. The One who does have your best interests at heart! I Am – He’s not I Was, He is everyday, all day long! God -There are numerous scriptures that attest to this. But, the one that empowers us the most is this one: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)

I hope you’ll be encouraged to look up every scripture about God’s love, His promises, His power, His fierce protectiveness over us. I hope you’ll write them down and speak them out loud, if you have to, every time you have to. The Word of God is alive, and every time you speak it, it will accomplish what God would have it to accomplish – IN YOU…IN YOUR LIFE.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Set If Before Your Face

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is the truth in God’s Word, received into our hearts and firmly stood on, that brings us out and up to victory. Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed comes to mind. (Matt. 13:3-9)

This principle needs to be applied to every situation we’re dealing with. Dig into the Word of God, both new and old testaments, and write down those that apply to what you’re feeling. Put them on the bathroom mirror, tuck them into your bag, keep them in your desk drawer at work. God told the Israelites this in regard to the Law in Deuteronomy 6:8-9. Read them aloud until you feel your feet back on solid ground in your faith, instead of feeling like you’re being buffeted by the wind and waves under you. I assure you, this is the way to overcome that difficulty. It not only stirs you up and strengthens your spirit; it also puts the forces of evil on notice and reminds them who the real authority is!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Make Them Empowering Ones

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is negativity, fear inspiring things and words, and harshness that create distance between us and God, and us and others.

Spirit knows no distance in terms of miles, because Spirit can transcend any number of miles instantly. An example of this is those greeting cards we send and receive. Don’t you almost feel the hugs and kisses from those loved ones when you receive them? And isn’t your heart aglow with love and joy when you send them? See? You’re transcending the miles.

The way we change negative thoughts, words, attitudes, is to replace them with love inspired ones. God always seeks to empower us to overcome adversity, fear, impossibility. We need to do the same. We’re told to lift one another up and encourage each other. When we do this, we truly can overcome the world, just as Jesus did. The trick is to stop and think first. I’m so weak in this area sometimes! But, thank the Lord, He’s patient, and empowering. He always leads me to the right scriptures and gets me back on track. When it isn’t an “in the heat of the moment thing,” I’ve been making lists. I write down what I’m feeling, thinking, what my attitude is. Then I write down the opposites, or the empowering attitude, feeling, or thoughts. How do I bring love and life into this? I ask myself that question, and go from there. God always shows me the way. I’m reminded of the little boy with the few fishes and loaves. He put them in Jesus’ hands, and thousands were fed. That’s a powerful revelation about how much of an impact we can make, too.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Look Not To The Left Or The Right

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to walk by faith in Jesus’ keeping power.

God’s power will never fail us; but we fail to keep our minds fixed on Him. Again, Peter walking on the water comes to mind: “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matt.14:30 -NIV) Looking neither to the left nor right, but keeping our minds and hearts fixed securely on our Lord and our Heavenly Father, is the way to get through every day with so much less stress! What a burden is lifted off one’s shoulders when we get this right.

The next thing that comes to mind is putting on the whole armor of God. (Eph. 6:13) I think the helmet of salvation and the breastplate of righteousness are the most important. You see, this is where our head and heart is at. The shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit-which is the Word of God, do us no good whatsoever, if we do not believe and receive that Word; that truth. This is where building our spiritual strength comes in. We have to feed our spirit with the truth; which is, that we are children of God, the head and not the tail, nothing can separate us from the love of God, and nothing can stop God’s purpose for you! If you have to write this down somewhere and read it aloud every morning, do it until it’s the first thought you think when you wake up. It works. Keep it with you and remind yourself that whenever you’re feeling anxious or stressed. Before you know it, you’ll be sailing through most of your days joyfully. Read about God’s love in the Psalms and the Prophets, about His keeping power, and about His fierceness in dealing with our adversaries. (powers, principalities, hosts of spiritual wickedness) (Eph. 6:12)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

I Am Thankful For…

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that praise is the way to move mountains. Praise can make a molehill out of a mountain.

I used to write down ten things that I was grateful for, every evening, before bed. I learned this from a book titled “Simple Abundance,” by Sara Ban Breathnach. From this practice, I began to discover some beautiful simple pleasures, like that first sip of my morning coffee-especially Amaretto Coffee. LOL

What does this all have to do with praise moving mountains? Well, I got into the habit using that same technique, only, saying “thank you, Lord,” when faced with a difficulty-great or small. If you make the same list, citing the little difficulties that were smoothed out for you, the things God does that we take for granted…like waking up and having one more day here with loved ones, etc., you’ll see just how much God is there for us, and does do for us. This helps to get you into the habit of, not only blessing consciousness and thankfulness, but also of God consciousness and gratitude. You begin to become more and more conscious of His Presence in your day.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu