Keep The Peace At All Costs

Jesus’ life is the light of all men. First the children of God, and then the unbelievers. Yes, even they know the truth; they know good and evil, and the difference between the two. Those who go to their graves in unbelief just refuse to acknowledge that truth. (Romans 1:20-25) Jesus glorified God. He loves all of God’s creation; He helped make it. But, He worships only God. (Luke 4:8) The devil, himself, was quoted the law when he tried to get Jesus to worship him.

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt. 28:18) Do you know that this statement goes with (Matt. 16:19) “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” -This is crucial to us, because we must exercise our authority over the spirits. If we don’t, we will run into serious problems. Jesus talked about unclean spirits, telling us that they don’t stay away. They return with reinforcements. (Luke 11:24-26)

This is where we need to remember that there is no darkness in God. (1John 1:5) Jesus, in (Matt. 6:22-23) said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “ This means that those dark feelings, moods, attitudes, etc., are coming from somewhere else. Unclean spirits are not just evil, foaming at the mouth, creatures. If you’re depressed, unless you have clinical depression, you are being victimized by an unclean spirit. Bitterness is a spirit; as well as fear, sloth, envy, and the like. The Bible tells us that where there’s envy there’s all manner of evil. We have the power to cast these spirits out and overcome them.

(Ephesians 6:11-16) Outlines the full armor of God, which is how we overcome whatever comes against us. But verse 15 addresses the gospel of peace. Peace is the key word. We have peace with God because of Jesus Christ. When we come under tribulation, the first thing that often flies out the window is that peace. Am I right? We start to wonder what did I do? Why is God letting this happen to me? All kinds of stuff goes through our minds. Then we lose peace with ourselves, and pretty soon, nobody in the house has peace. Satan loves a divided house; it can’t stand through the trial, the storm, the onslaught.

Jesus had peace always! When you read the Gospels, you become filled with His peace. My favorite stories are those of Jesus’ peace in the midst of everything. When the boat was being swamped, Jesus was in the back sleeping. When Peter lost it and fell into the water, Jesus didn’t freak out. No, Jesus had peace when He reached out and pulled Peter out of the water. One of the things Jesus said often was, “you of little faith…” That faith has to do with who and whose you are. You are God’s beloved son, or daughter; just like Jesus is. When we walk in the same peace and power that Jesus walked, we not only have peace in every situation. We create peace; we shed peace. That’s what it’s about. It’s about maintaining and sustaining the peace of God in every circumstance. As always, I’m reading from the ESV.

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Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 19, 2022, 11:25 a.m

Our Spiritual Workout

Today’s post expands on yesterday’s a little bit. In studying this all out, I found it ties in with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in (Matt.5) When we put them all together, we get a very clear picture of God’s expectations of His children. We also get some great affirmation and strengthening of spirit and faith. I hope you all are as inspired by them as I am. As always, I’m reading from the ESV.

(Philippians 4:8-9) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, (Romans 13:13) whatever is honorable,(Psalm 15) whatever is just,(Psalm 89:14) whatever is pure,(Titus 2:4-5) whatever is lovely,(Psalm 84:1) whatever is commendable,(1Peter 2:19-20) if there is any excellence,(Proverbs 17:7) if there is anything worthy of praise,(Psalm 78:4) think about these things. What you have learned* (these things which you have also learned) and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (James 3:17-18) I’ve posted some additional references below.

(James 3:13-16), (2Peter 1:5-8), (Deuteronomy 16:20), (Isaiah 1:17), (Proverbs 21:15), (Eph.5:26-27), (Psalm 43:3), (Psalm 27:4), (Psalm 36:8), (Matt. 5:47), (Matt. 5:10-12), (Eph. 5:8-10), (Galatians 5:22-23), (Philippians 1:11), (Psalm 19:14), (Proverbs 21:3), (Deuteronomy 6:7), (Deuteronomy 11:19), (Psalm 145:4-6)

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They Called Me The Wanderer…

(Genesis 4:10-16) And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.^*(My guilt is too great to bear) Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,^*(wandering) east of Eden. –1) This gives us a clue about just how aware God is of everything that goes on here on Earth. (Leviticus 17:11) tell us the life of every creature is in the blood. Every living thing is connected to God, Himself, because it’s His life that’s in everything. (Col. 3:11) –2) When you think about the ground being cursed, think about whatever ground you’re working on or in. Doesn’t it seem as if nothing wants to work for you, as you get further and further into disobedience? That comes back to the natural law of sowing and reaping. We’ve seen the stories of some criminals unfold. The further they get into disobedience, the darker their minds, hearts, and lives get. They escalate. Sometimes fear begins to undo them. They make mistakes, etc. –3) This is a two-fold thing to look at. First, punishment and guilt are two different things. Punishment and correction are also two different things. (2Cor. 7:9-10) speaks about Godly grief. We’re told that Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation. As parents, that’s what we want to do. We want to save our children from woe and destruction. When we correct harshly and over punish, or punish cruelly, we drive them away instead of drawing them near. Jesus said, in (John 12:32), “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” When we admonish our children according to God’s Word, with the admonition of the Lord, we are lifting Jesus up; we’re bringing Him into the situation. –4) Just like Cain, we become fugitives and wanderers in life when we are without parents or come out of dysfunctional parenting experiences. Fortunately, there is God. Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins to Him. When we do that, the first thing that loses its power over us is fear. Then, we are free to learn from the LORD/Lord. –5) Again, we’re warned that God knows everything. And, again, we’re warned that we will reap what we sow. Sevenfold is a huge thing to consider; especially when it comes to really grievous things. This is why we’re told to do unto others whatever we wish for them to do unto us. When we live our lives in such a manner, we can expect much less in the way of bad “Karma”, or fruit.

One of the things that is very helpful to having the right attitude(s) and outlook is found in (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. This is to set our minds on things above the sordidness of the world. It is to set our minds on the kingdom of Heaven.

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Why Are You…?

Don’t the holidays just always seem to bring out the best (tongue in cheek) in us? Genesis four is where we’re picking up. This is a good lesson to post on the mirror; and especially at this time of year. There is so much insecurity, envy, bitterness, old grudges, etc. When we ask ourselves, and answer truthfully, we can often resolve those things so easily. Isn’t it worth it to restore the peace and joy you once knew? Absolutely! Resolution starts with that question: WHY? Some of the answers might surprise you. They did me.

(Genesis 4:6-7) The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?* (Will there not be a lifting up of your face?) And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to^*(toward you) you, but you must rule over it.” (Job 5:2) Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.

(Romans 2:6-11) He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking* (contentious) and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Jeremiah 17:10), (Luke 8:15),

(1Cor. 15:53-54) For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O’ death, where is your victory? O’ death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. –There’s a revelation here; actually 2 of them. First, we learn that sin is the sting of death. Satan deceived Eve, and caused her to sin. There was no sin in man, or woman, until Satan deceived the woman. Secondly, the law gives sin its power. (Romans 7:8-12) But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Jesus overcame the power of sin, putting it beneath our feet for all time. However, God is not a bully; you must choose to sin, or not to sin. The law of Heaven is one of sowing and reaping. Jesus said, in (Matt. 7:12) “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” And, it all starts within your heart, mind, and soul. Going back to Cain in the garden, we can see that. We can choose to hold on to anger, bitterness, envy, etc. Or, we can choose to hold on to the divine nature within us, by holding on to the Word of God, and continuing on our course. This is where the perishable, or mortal, puts on the imperishable and immortal. Cain could have gone before God and asked why He didn’t regard his offering like he did Abel’s. God would have told him the truth, and helped him to do better. We can see God’s willingness to help us when we read that He made skins for Adam and Eve to wear, even after they disobeyed Him. He could have left them in the leaves they made for themselves.

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Saturday Silly-November 26, 2022

This is a short and sweet one. Here goes: When, on Thanksgiving Day, you discover that you’ve forgotten a couple of items. You run to the store, leaving hubby at home with the kids. “Please make sure you spoon off some of the drippings from the turkey pan, honey, ” you say; and off you go. You get to the store, run from the parking lot to the entrance, grab yourself a cart, and the race is on. You race up one aisle and down the other tossing the items you need into your cart. Now, you’re at the cash register, and praying. “Please, Lord, don’t let the register run out of tape.” “Please, Lord, don’t let the price scan incorrectly on that lady’s stuff.” Finally, it’s your turn. You check out, pay for the groceries, grab the bag, and run. You manage to fish your keys out of your pocket on the way to the car. You unlock the door, put the groceries in, and get in yourself. “Please, Lord, let the car start!” (It always gets flooded for some reason). You glance at your watch, and smile triumphantly. Dinner’s going to be on time after-all. You arrive home, take the groceries and your purse, and head for the door. You open the front door and hear your husband say, “Oh, @#$*&#@! (Pooh!) You race up the stairs to the kitchen, toss the groceries on the counter, open the oven door, grab the pan with the turkey in it, put it on the counter, turn back to shut off the oven…just in time to see the flames in the oven. You shut off the oven, grab the flour canister, put out the fire…as your husband is rushing around opening the windows. You sigh as you watch the smoke roll out the windows. Hubby is now setting up the box fans and turning them on to clear the smoke. Oh, oh, is that a siren that you hear? Hubby runs downstairs, throws open the door, to find nothing. You are right on his heels. The two of you turn around as you hear another siren sound coming from the four year old who’s standing in front of his bedroom playing fire engine. True story! And, I will laugh my behind off over this thanksgiving memory long after I’ve gone to Heaven. PS-Happy Birthday, Oma! Love you and miss you till I get there!

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Another Family Day, Folks

I looked high and low, but for the life of me, I couldn’t find another family. And, I really don’t want any other family; so that worked out read well, didn’t it? LOL I’ve been watching some funny stuff on youtube, and thought I’d share one of my new faves with you.

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Happy Thanksgiving, Y’all!

Thanksgiving in the 1Corinthians 13 House…

Love is patient and kind; so I won’t lock the door before Uncle Jim and Aunt Ida get from the car to the door. Love does not envy or boast. Envy? Who’s envious? Okay, I won’t brag about my fifteen pound weight loss, or my new boyfriend, or his Lamborghini, or –Why are we having this get-together again? It is not arrogant or rude. Speak for yourself, Uncle Adolph! And, no, I’m not clicking my heels together when I salute you! It does not insist on its own way. Okay, fine with me; but that turkey isn’t going to cook in three days at 125 degrees! It is not irritable or resentful. Yeah, you’d be a little irritable and resentful too, if you had to wait three days for a raw turkey! –Especially with these folks! It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Whoo-hoo! Uncle John finally told Aunt Rhonda about that silver hair. Why’s he taking his suitcase out to the garage? Why do I have to give him my sleeping bag? Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Ummm, okay. Love might do that. But, I’m not hauling Auntie Pearl’s six suitcases up those stairs this year! (She always stays through Christmas.) And, I’m sure hoping you don’t expect me to give my room up to her again this year! Furthermore, I’ve endured about all I’m going to endure from this clan of chaos and confusion! And, oh, my God! I just found out Love never ends Help, somebody! Jesus, are you blind, deaf, and dumb?! HELP ME! LOL

Didn’t we just cover this stuff in the last couple of studies? LOL No, really, I’m so thankful for all I have been given; and for all that God, in His infinite mercy and grace, has withheld. Thank you, LORD, for everything; for every day, every heartbeat, and every breath. Thank you for beautiful children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Thank you, Lord, for beautiful moments, and beautiful memoires.

Hmm, You Did It, Didn’t You?

We’re wrapping up the Garden scene in today’s post. I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and Family Day. I’ll continue with this study on Sunday.

(Genesis 3:14-19) This is the account of God’s reaction to Satan’s trickery, and Adam and Eve’s disobedience. My favorite statement in this is the one where God tells Satan that he’s not going to win. You’ll find it in verse 15. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. This is not only addressing our physical being. It also speaks of the church, and all born again believers. When you read about the darkened minds of those who deliberately and willfully turned against God, you can understand how their heads would be bruised by the knowledge of God. (Psalm 106:20-21), (Romans 1:22-23), (Acts 7:29), (Isaiah 40:25), (Eph. 4:18), (Romans 1:28) (2Cor. 3:13) There are also numerous accounts of God people disobeying His Word and forsaking Him all throughout the Chronicles of the Kings, and the Prophets. You have to get a Catholic Bible to read the accounts of Satan’s onslaughts against God’s people in Maccabees.

But, does Satan bruise our heels? Does he make things difficult for us? Does he make if seem next to impossible for you to get anywhere in this world? I’ll answer with a resounding yes! Spiritually speaking, the church has had opposition from the very beginning. (John 16:33) (Matt. 27:23), (Mark 15:13-14), (Cor. 2:8), (Maccabees)

Next, God dealt with Eve. In verse 16, God says to her: ““I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary* to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” The footnote regarding the word “contrary,” says “toward.” -How hard is it for a woman to accomplish things in this world? Those goals, projects, dreams, are our children, aren’t they? Of course, things are a lot easier for women today than they were then. But, even back then, there were those “Proverbs 31 women.” And how often do we give in to our husband’s desires, giving up our plans or putting our desires on hold temporarily. Don’t get me wrong; I learned to dove-tail and multi-task in Home-Ec, so it really isn’t that big a deal to me most of the time. But, can you see where God was going with that? Husband and family first, says the LORD/Lord. And, that is as it should be, I believe. They need more care than we do, and more often, don’t you think? Besides, things are so much easier when we’re managing the household-like that Proverbs 31 woman. That’s what they teach us in Home Ec, don’t they? Spiritually, this also tells us that we’re not getting one over on God. We didn’t back then, and it’s not going to happen ever.

Verses 17-19 give us God’s dealing with Adam. The ground is cursed because of his disobedience, and will cause him to have to work doubly hard reap a harvest. He also will die physically, because in his disobedience, his flesh became sinful. There is no sin in God, so Adam’s flesh was not sinful when he was created. Neither was Eve’s. That lets us know that we are not born sinful; (Gen. 1:26) we are made sinful, or become sinful through our ignorance of God’s Word and Will, and through our disobedience to it when we know it. (Rev. 2:7), (Rev. 22:14), (Gen. 3:23), (John 6:47-48), (John 6:35), (John 6:51), (John 62-33), (Ezekiel 3:19), (Ezekiel 33:6)

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Don’t Get Fooled Again

(Genesis 3:8-13) Satan arrives on the scene and causes Eve to doubt God’s love and intentions for her. She eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, gives some of the fruit to Adam, and causes him to disobey the LORD too. Now, God comes looking for them, and finds them hiding from Him. Verse 13 picks up with this: Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” -When we read about her conversation with Satan, though, we can clearly see that she was not deceived about whether or not she was allowed to eat from the tree. Nor, was she deceived about the consequences of eating from it. She was deceived about God’s love and intentions for her. The Bible tells us that Adam was not deceived, so clearly, he knew God loved him, and that His intentions for the two of them were for them to have the very best life. (1Tim. 2:14)

(2Cor. 11:3) makes an important statement here, I believe. “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” –This is Paul writing to the Corinthian church. The King James Bible says it this way: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” That’s a key phrase to me, because it speaks of God’s clarity when He speaks to us. It also lets us know to keep it simple. Don’t add anything to it, and don’t take anything away from it. (Deuteronomy 4:2), (Deuteronomy 12:32), (Proverbs 30:6), (Joshua 1:7)

When I look at the conversation between Satan and Eve, it’s easy, and a little bit scary to see how cunning he really is. But it’s also enlightening to us, and helpful in discerning truth from deception. We do need to be on our guard (Proverbs 4:23) against false teaching. We also need to be careful and diligent to catch and correct ourselves when we need to. I remember actually trying to find stuff in the Word of God that would “get me off the hook.” Yeah, can you imagine?! I couldn’t believe God would be that stringent; or that I could actually be that bad. Thank you, LORD/Lord, for your mercy, grace, and patience. By the way, I can still hear them (our Heavenly Father and Jesus) laughing when I finally figured that one out. I was just like Job, saying, “I think I’ll just shut-up now.”

The first thing that always happens is that doubt is created. Then, we try to fit our plan into God’s Word by reasoning with our mind. Finally, we try to get reinforcements, so we’re not sinning alone. See, and I was going right for the Big Kahuna. “Nope, God’s going to tell me it’s okay.” But, we have the mind of Christ! (Philippians 4:7) tells us that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The important word in that phrase is “the peace of God.” -1. We have peace with God. (Romans 5) -2. We have peace within/ with ourselves. (Psalm 43:8) (Isaiah 9:7), (Numbers 6:26) -3. In Christ Jesus, we can have peace, even in this world, in any circumstance, because we reign with Him. (John 14:27), (2Cor. 13:14), (John 16:33), (Colossians 3:15)

Okay, enough sinning for today. We’ll pick up tomorrow with what God did have to say about that.

Love you from Café du Mondieu

Connecting God and Jesus

(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. –This is the very beginning of both books in the Bible. When we look at the scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we can connect God and Jesus. This becomes very helpful, especially when it comes to Jesus’ teachings. I’ve listed some more references below. I hope they encourage, inspire, and strengthen you. Yes, I’m reading from the ESV.

(Genesis 1:3), (Matt. 7:7), (Matt. 11:24), (Matt. 18:19) -The reason we don’t see anything about God “believing”, or “having faith,” is that God doesn’t doubt Himself. He’s omniscient, omnipresent, and all powerful, so He already knows it’s going to work.

(Genesis 1:26) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (John 1:13, 3:3, 3:6-8), (Eph. 4:24), (Col. 3:10), (1Cor. 15:50)

(Genesis 2:2-3), (Mark 3:4), (Luke 14:3), (Mark 2:27-28) -God is the healer; and, He is Love, so compassion, mercy, and healing are holy-especially on the Sabbath.

(Genesis 2:17), (Proverbs 4:23) (Psalm 119:113), (Matt. 15:19), (Matt. 5:28), (Matt. 9:4), (Mark 7:21)

(Genesis 2:18), (Proverbs 18:22), (Matt. 19:4), (Matt. 19:9), (Mark 10:11), (Matt. 5:27-28) (1Cor. 11:8-12), (Galatians 3:28), (Eph. 5:28-29)

(Genesis 3:1-5), (Job 1:6) (Isaiah 14:14), (Ezekiel 28:2), (Ezekiel 28:12), (Matt. 6:23), (Matt. 4:1-10), (John 8:44), (1Chron. 21:1), (1Peter 5:8), (Matt. 13:39), (James 4:7)

I’ve posted references from the beginning of creation up to when Satan came on the scene in the Garden of Eden. If you all find this helpful, let me know, and we can continue connecting them.

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