Brrr!  Somebody turned Winter back on!  Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need to drop our crutches if we want Jesus to help us.  The first thing God will do is take them away, in fact.  He wants us to walk unhindered, and boldly; not hobble with a crutch and fear.

When I read this message, I think about crutches that we use, that actually do hobble us, and keep us from getting healed, from breaking free, and from succeeding.  I came up with a list of about five that are the most common.  They’re also the most convenient, and the sneakiest.  Some of them can be there for years before you recognize them.  Here they are: 1. Negative emotions (unresolved anger, unresolved grief, confusion,doubt, fear, etc.).  These things will gnaw at you, and keep you immobilized.  2. Positive emotions that are attached to negative things – Codependency is a prime example here; we love our partner, spouse, child, etc.  Love is a positive emotion, but it can cause us to become co-dependent if we’re not careful.  And, how many lives have been ruined because somebody loved somebody?   That song “Walkaway Joe” comes to mind.  3. Ignorance (being/remaining unskilled, unprepared, uneducated, etc.) and Denial (choosing to refuse to see the truth).  4. Immaturity and/or Sloth – You have to be a grown up if you want to run your own life, and run it successfully.  Living successfully requires perseverance and diligence; laziness won’t cut it.  5. Indecision and Procrastination keep us immobile and cause us to fall back rather than progress.  They can rob us of some great stuff.

I’ve had issues in all five areas…keeping it real, here.  There are still times I catch myself slipping.  Missing it one day or once in awhile is not slipping.  But, when it becomes a habit, somebody’s got a hold on you-and he’s not your friend.  (1 Peter 5:8)  That’s when I start making my little list(s), and use them as checklists to go by.  When things are really in upheaval, and you’re just trying to get through “this,” those lists gone over daily, are sanity savers.  Obviously, not all those crutches can be just dropped and bring instant resolution.  But the ones that can, like doubt, and procrastination, laziness, and immaturity can, and need to be dealt with immediately.  Those things become strongholds (attitudes).  They can become chains that are very hard to break off if they’re allowed to stay.

My scriptural reference for this post is (John 5:2-9).  The man had been there for 38 years.  He came up with all kinds of excuses, which actually had become his crutches.  When Jesus found out how long he’d been there, He asked the man, “Do you want to get well?”  That’s a good question for us to ask ourselves whenever we find  ourselves fitting “on the list.”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, February 3, 2020, 4:16 p.m.

I’m posting this song by Hillsong to start the week for us.  Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, adds to the weekend’s messages.  Twolisteners.org  to read the message for yourself.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 30, 2020, 3:55 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to practice love.  ‘Want of Love will block the way. You must love all. Those that fret you and those who do not.” -quoting directly from the message.

This is part two of that revelation I discussed in yesterday’s post.  The reason I’m connecting these is that this is part of the two greatest commandments. “Love the LORD, your God with all your might…and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-40)

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14)  This tells us that when we hold on to those worries and frets, we’re on the dead side of whatever issue we’re trying to deal with.  One of the definitions of the word, ‘fret,” is: to gradually wear away something by rubbing or gnawing.  So, when we’re faced with adversity, be it something small, or something seemingly larger than life, the first thing to do is to love God and know that He loves you.  When I think of this (loving God) in regard to trouble, I see myself running to my Daddy for help.  I know He’s not going to let that bully beat me up.  Then, because I love me too, I don’t want to stew in those juices and be gnawed at in my spirit, my heart, my mind.  I’m going to make a better choice for myself.  I am going to choose life and be blessed in the thing! (Deut. 30:19)  I grabbed up my treasure and held it so close to me that day.  “I am a non-smoker!”  That transported me right out of that death zone and back into the life zone. (John 5:24-25)

We have so many opportunities to practice love toward ourselves, our body, mind, and soul.  We have many opportunities to practice love toward our neighbors, as well.  What we need to remember is that love conquers all; it never fails.(1 Cor. 13:6-8) We need to remember that when we are in the midst of the tumult, and practice then, just as much as we do at other times, in other ways.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 30, 2020, 3:50 p.m.

Today’ s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to start fresh every day.  There’s a statement that gives us a powerful revelation about the impact of attitude and thought.  Quoting directly from the message: “Why do you fret and worry so? I wait to give you all that is lovely, but your lives are soiled with worry and fret. You would crush My treasures.”

This is actually part one of that revelation.  Part two comes with tomorrow’s message.  In April of this year, I will be smoke free for 18 years.  The day I prayed and asked God to make the cigarettes smell and taste so nasty that I couldn’t smoke them, was the last day I smoked.  One day, a few years after I quit smoking, things were pretty hectic around the house, there was an argument with, and over family members, and I was frustrated and angry.  As I was sitting there, stewing in my juices (anger, frustration, mental/emotional fatigue, etc.), this thought came to me: “I should just light up a cigarette and start smoking again!  That’ll teach them!”  Now, I’d been walking with the Lord for some time, by this time.  And, I’d learned a few things, too.  So the next thought I had was this: “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!  I am a non-smoker!” 

 Okay, let’s separate this thing.  First, see how quickly that darkness surrounded me in that emotional cloud I was stewing in?  When we hold on to those things, it’s like kicking up dust all around you.  That gets in your eyes, your nose, your lungs…spiritually, now it’s harder to see the truth, you can’t smell the rat, and the destroyer is ready to choke the life out of you.  Secondly, thank God for the Holy Spirit!  He is the comforter and counselor.  I’m pretty sure He’s the one who whispered that into my ear. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”  And I went: “yeah, I’m a non-smoker.”  See how the dust was blown out of there, and the truth shone through.  “I’m a non-smoker.” That thought was turned right out of there. (2 Cor. 10:5)

The treasure in that was my freedom from that nicotine addiction.  And guess who was trying to steal that…Hmmm.    No, the end result of that immediate situation was not really lovely, but I’m still free of those cigarettes.  And my life today is much lovelier than it was.  (Philippians 3:13)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 30, 2020, 3:26 p.m.

Continuing the Saga of the Drop Biscuits…That cook at Catholic Charities offered me $20 to make him some of my Drop Biscuits…and 12 people in his family will be getting paperweights for Christmas this year.  LOL

I was on my way across town recently, and stopped to visit for a minute with another little homeless lady.  I happened to look up, and noticed a police helicopter that looked like it was in pursuit of a plane.  I said, “Oh, look!  That must be a rookie trying to pull over that airplane for speeding.  He probably doesn’t know that plane has to go that fast to get to his altitude.”  The other little homeless lady said, “He probably doesn’t know they have Sky Martials on all planes now either.  If the pilot is speeding, they’ll just give him a ticket when he lands the plane.”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 29, 2020, 3:53 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we do not suffer in vain.  We needn’t suffer in vain, anyway.  The choice is ours.  Quoting directly from the message at twolisteners.org -“All sacrifice and all suffering is redemptive: to teach the individual or to be used to raise and help others.”

As I’ve said before, it begins with your recognition of the victory-which is, that if you have survived whatever has befallen you, you’ve already won!  Now, it’s your choice and your task to seek out the treasure in the darkness you’ve just come through.  You find that by putting your wounds into God’s Hands.  That’s a powerful revelation; “your wounds into God’s Hands.”  I believe the crown of thorns symbolizes how our minds can be hedged in by circumstances and events, and beliefs, attitudes, and our thinking.  When your mind is hedged in, your hands are not effective, and your feet really don’t get you anywhere.  Get the picture?

Isaiah 53:4&5 tell us how Jesus’ suffering saved us, and empowered us to rise above our own sins and suffering.  1Peter 2:24 tells us the same thing.  In John 12:24, Jesus says: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  That tells me when I nail that thing to my cross, and let God deal with it, not only can I overcome it, but I can help someone else overcome their suffering through my experience.  (Luke 9:23) That is what we are called to do.  “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)  

Here’s where you make your list, and begin to look for ways in which to redeem the treasure from that darkness.    Overcoming requires that you be proactive, persevering, and diligent in your endeavor(s).  I’m posting the link to a previous post that will help you work, and walk, this out.  Not Just Ordered, But Ordained

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) January 29, 2020, 3:43 p.m.

 

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that need to spend time alone with God regularly.  The message goes with yesterday’s message, and yesterday’s post from my blog.  Two Listeners

My favorite retreats are times spent out in God’s creation, beside a lake, or up in the mountains, etc.  Meditation is a great way to retreat when you can’t get out there.  Another way to retreat is to get into some good praise music, or some music that speaks to your spirit in calm and soothing tones.  One of my favorites is Carlos Nakai’s Earth Spirit album.  It is Native American flute music.  I’ve posted the link for those of you who haven’t heard it.  Carlos Nakai Earth Spirit

I don’t think I need to tell you how important it is to be diligent about getting your retreat and regroup time in.  Sometimes I do this three to four times a week.  It became something that I automatically do when I feel that noise within and my spirit feels out of balance.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 28, 2020, 11:50 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God sees around the corners, has already heard the news that will reach you tomorrow, knows the heartache you’ll be experiencing ten years from now…and has it all covered.

We are bid to have faith; to know that all is well.  There’s a key to being able to walk in that kind of faith.  It is this, quoting directly from the message: “and having belief in My Divinity as your Corner Stone, it is yours to build, knowing all is well.”  If we believe in His Divinity, we must believe in ours, because we are created in His image and after His likeness.  Jesus is “the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”  If and when we build our lives around God’s Word, and step into our authority and power in Christ Jesus, we can operate out of your divinity.  The word, divinity means holy, blessed; sacred, or set apart.  

Holiness is another word for righteousness, or right-standing.  Righteousness and right-standing comes from right -being, and right-doing (thinking, attitude, actions, etc.).  We are blessed, because we are set apart, or sacred.  Deuteronomy 28 tells us that.  Also, Exodus 19:5, and Malachi 3:17-18.  Sound complicated?  It isn’t, really.  We make it harder than it was meant to be.  You see, the divine in man is love, because God is love. (1John 4:16)  Love is...(1Cor 13:4-13).  There are some other scriptural references concerning love; and I hope you’ll look them all up.  Keeping in mind that we live from the inside out, we have to be proactive in regard to what we allow in, and how we manage our inner life.  What goes in comes out. (Matt. 13:33-35)

The world rushes at a frantic pace, people step on one another trying to get ahead, selfishness, envy, and strife are common, and often honored.  We are to seek peace, to promote peace, and to bring peace wherever we can.  That means we must have peace within first.  I was dumbfounded the first time I did my peace inventory.  Does this bring me peace, are my surroundings peaceful and/or peace-inducing, what can I do to create and maintain peace within and in my sacred spaces? -*Every space you’re in is sacred, because you are.  And, OMG, how I celebrated that first morning, basking in the peace.  God is a god of order; not confusion and chaos.  Order brings peace, chaos brings confusion.  Again, this really is a matter of standards (peace, in this case) and boundaries.  “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the issues of life.”  I check my peace inventory every so often; especially when I start hearing that silent “Aaaagggghhh” within.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 28, 2020, 11:38 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are to be servants of all.  We are bid to seek daily how best we can serve.  “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:42-44)

He also said that whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:11)  This is a key to growing and rising; to success in life.  Selfish ambition actually can destroy your life.  While taking the position of a servant can elevate you, both temporally and spiritually.  (Philippians 2:3) -“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  This is why we are told to do all things as if unto the Lord.   

It doesn’t mean you have to change careers; ministry is a way of life.  We are called to minister to one another, in fact; to help and to care for one another.   As we do this, we are sowing seeds, both here and in Heaven.  To serve this way is as simple as going the extra mile, stepping aside and allowing someone to go ahead of you, being mindful of the other’s need, etc.  I had a perpetual calendar with inspirational quotes by Ann Rice once.  One of my favorite ones was this: “We are not called to do extraordinary things; we are called to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.”  That pretty much sums it up.   You will be amazed at how much more beautiful your inner life will be when you practice this.  And love cannot be hidden…so if follows that all those seeds you sow in service will take root and bring you some beautiful fruit.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 27, 2020, 12:40 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is with us all the way through the storm.  This message is about trusting God, and pressing onward, but there’s a statement made in it that I want to address.  Quoting directly from the message: “In the spiritual (as in the material) world there is no empty space, and as self and fears and worries depart out of your lives, it follows that the things of the Spirit, that you crave so, rush in to take their places. ”

It doesn’t always follow that the things of the Spirit rush in to take the place of fear.  Neither do we always intensely crave the things of the Spirit, do we?  I’m keeping it real.  Sometimes that last thing I want is something of the Spirit…What?!  In the middle of my hissy?!  Say that again…Spirit?  In the middle of my pity party?!  Have you lost your mind?!  Yes, yes I have!  That’s how I overcame myself in the middle of my hissy.  And, that’s how my pity party turned into a victory celebration!  (1 Cor. 2:15) “The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  We are not at the mercy of our own understanding.  We can take the anger, the fear, the ego, and we can replace those things with the Word of God.  We can exchange the tumult within with the peace of God, which passes all understanding, and will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. (Philippians 4:7)

This ties in with yesterday’s message to give us a better way.  The key is to actively seek out (make your lists) and then replace those feelings with the truths from God’s Word. Again, make your lists!   And, it does have to do with standards and boundaries.  I am a child of God and this is the way I choose to live, and I will not accept discord, hostility, etc., in my space(s)-and especially within.  (2 Cor. 10:5) “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 23, 2020, 3:18 p.m.