Category: Poetry

Cultivating The Treasures Within

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are a work in progress.  We are not to be stagnant.  We are bid to cultivate ourselves.

“Remember your great field of labor is yourself. That is your first task, the weeding, the planting, digging, pruning, bearing fruit. When that is done I lead you out into other fields.”  This is a direct quote from the message on the twolisteners website.  I recently posted a list of books that I’d read over the summer.  They were all inspiring to me as a poet and a story writer.  One, in particular, was quite inspirational to me as a Christian, and as a woman.  I’ve also spent some time researching articles on how cancer cells fool our immune system, how they communicate with each other, and how they shut down communication between healthy cells, even blocking communication from healthy cells.  This all has to do with DNA glitches.  Lastly, I’ve been designing homes, clothes, and great food offerings.  I do the designing in theory, as I am still homeless at the moment.  I shop online, sketch things in my notebook, and combine some different things when I’m putting my lunches from the supermarket together.  This is how we cultivate ourselves. I love to do all these things.

So many of us don’t really take the time to spend time doing things we love, at home, or away.  We attend events, we volunteer time, we give of our resources.  But we don’t give back to ourselves in the way of time and discovery.  Of course, the best canvas you have to paint you on, is yourself.  God doesn’t need cookie cutter Christians.  God needs each and every one with all your uniqueness, your talents, your strengths, your joys, and even your weaknesses.  Yes, He does.  Once again, one of my favorite inspirational books is Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach.  It got the juices flowing for me, and I will cherish it forever.  She also has one for men.  There is also God Calling, by A.J. Russell.  And, there are so many things out there to inspire us.  Look at some of the beautiful floral creations out there.  Check out some menus online.  Go windowshopping, or even browse some online shops.  Whether you’re into home design, or clothing design, they’re a great way to get some ideas and inspiration.  You’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have.  You’ll also be surprised at the beautiful, wonderful treasures within.  You know, God puts them there because He knows each one of us.  He loves to see us excited and loving ourselves.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 8, 2019, 12:17 p.m.

 

The Holy Of Holies Wrapped In Flesh

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Today’s message from God Calling – A. J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus took on our humanity, so that we can take on His divinity.  That means we can live in divine power, peace, love, joy, unity, etc.  All the Fruits of the Spirit are ours in Christ Jesus.  In essence, when the veil was torn, the gates of Heaven opened wide to us.

I wrote this psalm some time ago, 2009, in fact.  It came to mind as I read the message this morning.

How Beautiful is the Love of my Savior:  How beautiful on the mountain are those nail pierced feet…and the hands, scarred and calloused, that reach for me.  How beautiful is the voice that says, “Come unto me.”  Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior.  How beautiful, the precious blood shed on Calvary.  How beautiful the prayer He prayed for you, and for me.  How beautiful is the life He gave to set us free.  Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior.  How beautiful is the heart that’s filled with mercy and grace.  How beautiful the day when we shall see His face.  How beautiful is this King that opens wide Heaven’s gate.  Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior…

I used to walk and collect cans and plastic bottles on Sunday mornings back then.  I would walk and praise the Lord as I went along.  the more I praise Him, the more praise He gives me.  I got this one started one Sunday morning, and finished it under a little shade tree at the shelter I was living in, later that afternoon.  God never fails us.  Thanks to Jesus, we can live in divine power, in every sense of the word.  We just get so distracted, overwrought, and overwhelmed, that we forget that-and all too often.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, August 18, 2019, 2:08 p.m.

The Greatest Gift You Have…

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Bittersweet…Life…Love…A gift from God, to know the truth…The bitter makes the sweet sublime…Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, August 13, 2019, about 8 a.m.   I was thinking of the bittersweet moments of life…kids’ firsts, some triumphs, some truths, etc.  Haven’t they all been made so much sweeter by the efforts we had to put in?  Yes, and they taught me so much!  Thank you, Lord.

Today’s message from God Calling  reminds us that the greatest gift we have is the power to bring life to living.  Jesus said, “I’ve come that they might have life; and have it abundantly.”  He gave us everything that He has; so we have that power too.  And, we are bid to hasten, or hurry, to take it and to use it.

We are to live a joyous and powerful life, physically, mentally, spiritually.  When you pair these things with creativity-because we are creators, you’ll begin to search for ways to bring joy, peace, power, progress, love, into your own life, and into the lives of others.  When we do this, little miracles happen.  That’s when we make moments and memories.  These are the things that will be here long after we’re gone.  These are the very things that will encourage, strengthen, and empower the ones we leave behind.

I’m choosing Third Day, again, for today’s post.  I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do…We should feel like this every day!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, August 13, 2019, 12:01 p.m.

Happy April First!

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Happy April, One and All!  I’m going to try to have a ball.  We’re observing several things today; like Atheism, Poetry, and April fool’s day-by the way.                                                        That being said, I have some news…DO you Queens out there know about free shoes?   Oh, yes, my friends, oh, yes indeed.  Thank Payless Shoes for this great deed.  Come in decked out in your best suit.  Leave with a free pair-and, yes that includes boots.  I hope you like this little ditty.  I think it’s rather clever and witty.  Don’t run to Payless-no, stay away.  Because this is my  joke for April Fool’s Day.  LOL  Have a beautiful day, week, and while you’re at it, have a beautiful month!

p.s. It’s also National Sourdough Bread Day, and there’s a brand, Goldminer, that’s absolutely awesome!  I love my Tuna Salad on this bread!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu                                                                                                Copyright by Marina Morriosn (aka) Eden Stillwater, April 1, 2019, 10:31 a.m.

Women’s History Month

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You didn’t really think I’d forget, did you?  March is women’s history month, so I want to introduce you to a woman who made an impact on me.  Her name is Helen Keller.

Helen had the odds stacked against her from early childhood; age 19 months, to be exact.  She became ill, and lost both her hearing and sight as a result.  She beat the odds with the help of  Anne Sullivan, who became Helen’s teacher and friend, when Helen was seven years old.

There’s a wonderful film about Helen Keller that tells her story, and Anne’s.  It is titled The Miracle Worker.  The film stars Patty Duke Astin as Helen, and Anne Bancroft as her teacher, Anne Sullivan.  For those of you who don’t know Helen Keller or Anne Sullivan, I recommend the film to you.  Both women’s stories inspired so much courage, hope, and strength in me.  Patty Duke Astin won an Academy Award for her superb portrayal of Helen Keller.  Patty Duke Astin’s own biograpy is quite interesting, also.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu                                                                                                  Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, March 22, 2019, 10:40 a.m.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day One And All

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I was inspired to write this little update on the Menesses this morning, after reminiscing about my Leprechauns on St. Paddy’s Day poem.  I hope you all enjoy it.  Don’t forget to watch Darby O’Gill and the Little People-you’ll love it-again and again!

St. Patrick’s Day at Church – The Menesses Stike Again

I knew that funny feeling in my gut was right on, as I was getting dressed this morning.  St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Sunday couldn’t be a good thing with those Meness kids around.  I was right…

Nobody’s Choir robe fit this morning.  It seems all the tags were mixed up.  The church bulletins were all printed backwards, so you had to hold them up to a mirror to read what they said.  “Ah,” said the Pastor when the deacon called him.  “It’s just someone’s idea of a prank on St. Patrick’s Day.  We must have some ornery little leprechauns about.  Don’t worry yourself; just tell everyone to read them when they get home.”  He laughed as he hung up the phone and headed out the door.

The Pastor wanted to keep the sermon short this morning, so the choir only needed a lead in song and a closing song.  The first song they were to sing was Word of God Speak.  Thankfully, that one went off without a hitch.   Everyone sat down and the Pastor went up to the pulpit.  He opened the service with the usual prayer, blessing everyone.  The congregation said, “Amen,” and everyone sat down.   That’s when the trouble started.  Came a voice from the big Bible on the pulpit, saying, “That’s not how I taught you to pray, Son.”  The Pastor jumped back a couple of feet at first.  “Oh, I see,” he said.  The little leprechauns have been at my Bible too.  Very funny!”  He picked up the Bible and turned it over a couple of times.  Then he turned it this way and that, and rand his hands over the front and back covers.  He found nothing out of the ordinary.  “Would you stop that, please; you’re making me dizzy,” the voice said.  “Alright,” said the Pastor.  “That’s about enough.  Who’s in the sound room this morning?”  The front cover of the Bible opened and closed as the voice came again.  “I’ll let you know when it’s enough.  And there’s nobody up in the sound room right now.  Where’s your faith, Son?  You sang, “Word of God Speak, and I’m speaking.”  “Be still,” he said to the Bible.  There was some muffled laughter from somewhere in the sanctuary.  “That’s “Peace, be still,” replied the voice.  “Shut up!” – The pastor was now just a little rattled.   “My son, is that nice,” asked the voice.  “I mean, have you read 1st Corinthians 13?  You know, the Love Chapter?”  The pastor, feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, decided to call the choir up to sing the closing song.  He thought that would give him time to get to the bottom of the talking Bible and put a stop to these shenanigans.  Then they all could get on with the service.  The choir members all took their places on the platform and the music began.  They finished the first verse and went smoothly into the chorus…” Bring me joy, bring me peace.  Bring the chance to be free.  Bring me anything that brings You glory.  And I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain.  But if that’s what it takes to praise you, Jesus bring the rain…”  That’s when the sprinklers went off in the sanctuary.

Some were screaming, some were laughing, and those little Menesses were all but doubled over on their pew.  “Oh, my God!” The pastor was shouting now.  “What on Earth is going on in here today?  Jesus have mercy on us,” he shouted.  Came that voice from the Bible again…”There you go again.  Did you forget that I answer prayer?”

Well, somebody got the sprinklers turned off, and somebody else handed out some towels.  Things got calmed down, and the service resumed…right after those little Menesses “unrigged” that talking Bible, and turned their little recorder over to Mom and Dad.  They’ll get to wear little leprechaun costumes when they’re cleaning the sanctuary for the next six weeks.  Leprechaun moms don’t mess around.  The pastor?  He’s still laughing.

Love you from Café du Mondieu                                                                                           Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, March 17, 2019, 1:05 p.m.

Oh, the Presence of That Loved One!

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is in God’s Presence that we see more and more of His heart, and we grow more and more like Him.  Not the words, or the miracles, the blessings; these display His love, grace, mercy, and power.  But in His Presence, we are able to communicate spiritually with Him; heart to heart.  And, oh, how wonderful it is to be in the presence of one loved so dearly, isn’t it?  Yes, old married couples are a lot like one another,aren’t they?  See, it works the same way here and in Heaven.

Today’s Valentine’s Day.  Happy Valentine’s Day, one and all…and what is the greatest gift one could receive on this day?  Oh, the roses and chocolates are wonderful…but the greatest gift is being able to look deeply into those loving eyes, to feel those arms around you, to know, to know this person and to be known by him or her.  That’s the greatest gift of all!  I wrote this poem back in the summer of 2016.  I was waiting for the bus, and the sunset had me reminiscing…

Enchantment

I said, “This lilac sky has me in a playful mood.”  “That’s good,” he said, “that’s good.”  And then he scoops me up in his arms and straightway takes me to bed.  And we laugh…and we love…I’m so blessed; oh, yes!  Cuz, we got it like that…Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, June 13, 2016, 8 p.m.

Thank God today if you’ve ever loved-because you’re very blessed to have loved.  May your Valentine’s Day be one filled with wonderful moments with your loved ones-especially that “One,” and may joyful memories make you smile all day long!  God bless!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, February 13. 2019, 4:31 p.m.

How Beautiful Is The Voice That Says, “Come Unto Me”

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Oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior!  One of the lines from a psalm I wrote some years ago-2009-2010, to be exact.  I was staying in a shelter for battered women, here in Las Vegas, at the time.  I would go out Sunday mornings to collect cans and bottles for recycling, and sing praises to the LORD.  That was my time with Him.  Sunday after Sunday, He not only gave me reason to praise Him, but words to praise Him with as well.

Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, speaks to us about that statement, “come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy burdened.”  Jesus gives us rest from the turmoil and trials we feel within as we try to make our way through this world.  That’s what the message tells us.  That “come unto me” is not a demand or a command; it is an invitation.  Jesus doesn’t stand with finger pointed at you.  He stands with arms wide open, ready to embrace you, to comfort you, to shield you, and to strengthen you.  He loves us.  His burden is light and His yoke is easy.  It doesn’t always seem that way.  But as you’re going through in faith and obedience, you will feel that yoke and that burden come off and the load lighten.  God never leaves us hanging.  He will never leave nor forsake us.  So, even when you don’t feel He’s there, keep going; He is.

When the world would overwhelm us we can be of good cheer because we can go to Jesus, and He has overcome the world.  That means, He knows the way through all that stuff we come up against.  He also knows our weaknesses, our fears, and our deepest needs and desires.  There have been so many times I’ve looked back from the end result of something and found that He was there all along.  I could then see what each twist and turn was for, each delay had its purpose, and every closed door led to one that opened up to better things.  For every need, come unto Jesus.  For every desire, come unto Jesus.  Come unto Jesus because there is no greater lover of your soul; no one who loves you more than Him.  That’s a fact you can count on.  “How beautiful on the mountain are those nail pierced feet…and the hands, scarred and calloused, that reach for me…how beautiful is the voice that says, “come unto me”…oh, how beautiful is the love of my Savior!”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu                                                                                                      Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 13, 2018, 10:20 a.m.

Shallow

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They toss them at you just like pennies into a fountain; all those pretty words, mm hmm…They don’t even realize that you can see behind the lies. Oh, oh, they’re only interested in feeling gratified, by having their “needs” satisfied by you…my dear, it’s sad but true; so sad, but true.

And when you’re looking deep into his eyes, you choke back tears because you’re actually surprised. And you wonder has the whole damn lot of them gone crazy? Or have we just done one fine job of making lovers lazy…I must ask myself, oh, yes. Have I raised men or have I just made a big mess?

Where are you, lover of my soul? Where are you speaker of the truth? Have I lost the battle to the scars that you won in your youth? Where is that sincere heart? Where is the depth of that igniting spark between two souls who value what’s sincere? Where are you, dear? Where are you, dear?

I find myself appalled by his unmitigated gall. Does he really think he’s talking to a fool? I think he does. Oh, but, sir, you see I graduated from that school; it was some time ago, in fact. And I won’t settle, oh, for anything but love. I mean real love; not just a flight of fancy. He gets all antsy now and looks down at the floor. He knows I’ve heard that stuff before….mmm, hmm…

And I feel my strength flare within and know that my resolve is really not that thin, after all. I’m grateful. Then I blink again as tears try to escape my eyes. Why do we live those lies? Why do they taste so sweet? They are the door to one’s defeat…

Where are you, lover of my soul? Where are you speaker of the truth? Have I lost the battle to the scars that you won in your youth? Where is that sincere heart? Where is the depth of that igniting spark between two souls who value what’s sincere? Where are you, dear? Where are you, dear? Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 8, 2018, 3:19 p.m.