Aaaack!  So, sorry, y’all!  I accidentally hit publish.  I was trying to save the piece before my computer time ran out.  I’m so excited about 2020!  Anyway, what a way to end the year, right? LOL  I wouldn’t be me, if something like that didn’t happen.  Believe me.  So, I think this is the perfect song to ring out the year 2019 with.  It’s one I could listen to all day long.  Love you all!  Happy New Year!  Be safe in your celebrating.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 31, 2019, 1:05 p.m.

I want you all to read today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, directly from the twolisteners website.  It speaks to us of the power in the Name of Jesus.  He is the conqueror over all sin; over all types of sin.

As we end the year, and enter the 20th year of the new millenium, I hope that, if you don’t know the Lord, Jesus, you will get to know Him.  He really does ROCK!  I have to tell you, I’m nowhere near where I want to be yet…but I am surely, most definitely, and most happily and gratefully, nowhere near where I used to be!  Thanking God for that daily, too!

Psalm 148:13 is referenced: “Let them praise the Name of the Lord; for His Name alone is excellent.  His Glory is above the Earth and Heaven.”  That statement tells us that there is no power higher than the Lord’s.  At the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Then, to think of all He went through, just for you and me…It used to make me cry with sorrow over His agony for my sake.  Now, I cry tears of joy over His love for me…and mine for Him.  Happy New Year!  May you be blessed with every good thing from God’s Heart and Hand, in the coming year, and always.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 26, 2019, 12:39 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of the harvest for the Lord.  We’re bid, by the Lord, in John 4:35, to lift our eyes for the fields are white, already to harvest.

We don’t always know whether or not someone planted a seed into the heart of whomever we’re talking with.  We should know just how much God can do with that tiny seed…when added to the tiny seed we can plant in that one’s heart, with our testimony of God’s love in our life.  That tells me a couple of things.  First, showing God’s love with a helping hand, or a word of encouragement, a kindness, etc., is not only a seed, but also may be watering a seed someone else planted.  Secondly, every opportunity to witness to someone about God’s love and what He’s done in your life, is an opportunity that needs to be taken, and put to good use.

I’m not talking about standing on a street corner and shouting scripture, or even holding an outreach.  Don’t get me wrong, those things are important too; and thank God for the outreaches that the churches host.  But never, never ever, discount the power that one kindness done has.  Never underestimate the power of your words of testimony.  Never underestimate the impact that your life, lived for the Lord, can have on others.  There is so very much power in one single, solitary act of caring and compassion!  Believe me; I’m living proof!  Don’t be afraid to share your heart for God with someone; it might just turn out to be their lifeline.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 26, 2019, 12:28 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God not only gives us the work to do, but He also gives us the desire to do the work.  Everything regarding us is tailor made to each one of us, individually.  What suits us best, is what we’re gifted with, where we’re called to serve, where we find our greatest joys, peace, creativity.

The Bible tells us that God gives us the desires of our hearts.  God knows each one of us better than we know ourselves.  He knit us together in our mother’s womb, He foreknew us, and predestined us, according to His purpose and will.  (Philippians 2;13) That excites me!  I can’t wait to find out all the stuff I might be able to do!  I’ve already done some stuff that just blew me away-I amazed myself!

When we cultivate an attitude of trust, and an acceptance of God’s love and caring for us, we begin to seek out the treasures He’s put within us.  As we do this, we find new purposes in life.  We find new strengths, new joys to share, etc.  When we live purposefully, with this attitude, life truly does shine and bring a warmth that radiates throughout.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 26, 2019, 12:13 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we walk by faith, and not by sight…or feeling.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us as a guide and comforter; a counselor of truth.  The Holy Spirit is that “feeling,” or “knowing” that we get at times.  It saved my life one night, at a stop light.  The light turned green, but something told me to wait just a minute.  There came a car being chased by a truck, barreling through that intersection at top speed.  They hadn’t been there a second before that; or I hadn’t seen them, anyway.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, I wasn’t in their path.  Now, that’s how the Holy Spirit works in our lives; warning us, comforting us, reminding us of our blessed assurance, etc.

When we search for signs, we are opening ourselves up to be deceived.  Satan, our adversary, prowls around, seeking whom he might devour.  Go an tell a scheister that you’re waiting for a “sign” from God…he’ll arrange to have Jesus Christ call you on the phone with instructions.  See where this is going?  We are to trust that every promise God has promised us is kept for all time!  When doubt tries to creep in, “It is written!”  If you have to post a list of those promises on the bathroom mirror or on your bedside table, and read them daily, do so.  Do not give doubt or fear a foothold.  The same goes for feeling as if Jesus is near us.  He is!  Staunchly refusing to give in to fear or doubt-and believe me, looking stupid to the onlooking crowd of nay-sayers is no fun…but, you aren’t living for them… You are living for the Lord, and the Lord is living in you.  Refuse to give in to any fear or doubt.  I learned something about silence some time ago.  Sometimes, nothing, is the most powerful thing to say.  Just putting your head down, setting your jaw, and going forward-deliberately, step by step, gets you there.  And, lo and behold, guess where you’ll find Jesus…right there waiting to congratulate you for a job well done, in cultivating your faith and confounding fear and doubt.  Pretty soon, it never even occurs to you to check for a sign, or a feeling.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 26, 2019, 11:54 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that simplicity keeps our lives truly lives of well being.  The things that facilitate simplicity can be found in Jesus’ teachings, and in 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter.  The fruits of the Spirit also empower simplicity and well being.

We are bid, by the message, never to allow riches or ease to entice us away from our glorious calling in Christ Jesus.  I have to say something here, about being called to work for the Lord.  Wherever  you may find yourself as a child of God, is where you are called to work for the Lord.  “…whatever you do, do it as if unto the Lord.”  When we make this our banner, and keep this mindset, we will never be at a loss for something to do.  I found, when I put this into practice, that even your home life changes.  One finds an endless path filled with opportunity to create beauty, bring comfort, share joy, cultivate peace and love, etc.  That spills out into the community around you.  I saw some of that in the people who came out just to let the homeless community know that we are not invisible and forgotten by them.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 26, 2019, 11:38 a.m.

Thank you, to all of the beautiful people who brought food and gifts over the Christmas holiday.  It’s so wonderful to see the love and caring shown to the homeless community, by the community around us.  God bless you all richly with every good thing from His Hands.

Okay, now I want to apologize for the Christmas Eve song mix up.  Someone apparently thinks they’re being funny, hacked into my account, and changed my song post.  Yes, the attacks continue.  I have been invited to file a formal complaint with the library district, and also reported to the police; actually emailing one of the detectives there.  I hope to have this heinous and cowardly onslaught by this sewage under the guise of humanity stopped asap-FINALLY!

So, here’s the song that I wanted to share with you on Christmas Eve. It’s called the gift, and it’s one of my very favorites.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 26, 2019, 11:27 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the world’s definition of wealth is not the same as ours.

There’s a powerful revelation in (3 John 1:2).  Health and wealth are both within. Health is a manifestation of wealth.  Wealth is a manifestation of health; health within, that is.  Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts, for the issues of life flow from the heart.

As I’ve said before, there is a difference between hoarding and laying up money, and things such as property, etc. for the future, and for your children’s future.  Proverbs 13:22 tells us that a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.  We should prepare for our golden years, as the world is an unstable place.  Nobody wants to be a burden.  God, also does not intend for us to have to be beggars. Psalm 37:25 tells us the righteous are not seen forsaken, nor their seed, or children, begging bread.  Verse 26 -“they are generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.”  This is all part of good stewardship over our finances.  But, we are to keep our lives free from the love of money, and be content with what we have. (Heb. 13:5)  We are to trust God to supply all our needs, and then, we are to be good stewards of what He gives us.  Jesus illustrated that in the parable about the talents.  That tells me that I’m not to pursue money to the point that it consumes my life.  That’s a form of greed that comes out of fear.  However, I am to, and am able to (because if God expects you to, He will empower you to), cause it to multiply, and manage it wisely.  That was illustrated when Jesus talked about the unjust manager in Luke 16:1-11.

In order to be good stewards of worldly wealth, we must have wealth within.  Wisdom is inner wealth; so is integrity.  These two, together, bring peace and joy-more wealth.  Can you see where this is going?  Yes, it is true.  The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.  Now, think about what Jesus said about laying up treasure in Heaven.  That treasure might include education, spiritual guidance, artistic creativity, etc. -things that nurture and prosper our souls.  True wealth is having the health, wisdom, and treasures within to serve and honor our Lord with our worldly wealth.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 18, 2019, 5:16 p.m.

 

Glory to God in the Highest!  Peace on Earth, and Goodwill Toward Men!  That’s the message the angel proclaimed at the birth of our Lord, Jesus.  May your Christmas day be blessed with peace, joy, love, and laughter, and every good thing from God’s Hand.

Here’s the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with a wonderful rendition of Joy to the World.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 18, 2019, 4:14 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that our first encounter with Jesus, is with His humility.  (Philippians 2:5-6)  That alone has the power to bring me to my knees!  To think that Jesus loves me so much that He would cross eternity to be with me; to walk the earth wearing flesh like I do.  He took on our form, so we can take on His.  (Romans 8:29-30)  The next worship is that of repentence, when we realize we need to be saved from our sins.

The message bids us to share in Jesus’ life here on Earth, leading us through the steps of Christian life: Humility, Service, Worship, Sacrifice, Sanctification.  It is in these that we find our glory, because it is in, and through these, that God’s glory shines.  (Matthew 23:11)  I hope you’ll read the message on the twolisteners website.

I’ll be lighting my traditional Christmas Eve candle this evening at dusk, and singing praise to the Lord, as always.  As I read today’s message, I thought of this beautiful Christmas song.  It’s called The Gift, and Garth Brooks did such a beautiful job with this.  This is done as a tribute to Garth Brooks.  It illustrates this message perfectly.  Her gift to the Lord, was her care for the little bird…and the glory of the Lord, in that little bird-God’s gift, was the beautiful song it sang.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 18, 2019, 4:06 p.m.