Todays’ message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Satan still prowls like a lion, seeking whom he can devour.  We’re told to expect temptation, especially as a child of God.  Jesus did say that in the world, we will have tribulation.  He also told us to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world.  That means that we can too.

As I read the message, I think of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt.  He told them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  (Gen. 50:20)  There’s a really powerful revelation in that statement.  First, God intended something for good.  Secondly, there’s someone who intends to harm us.  Thirdly, God will use your tribulation for His glory, and yours.

When we think of temptation, we usually think of big stuff; like the “other” man or woman type of encounter, theft, and other “real” sins, right?  But, in reality, everything that pulls us out of the Way, and away from God is sin.  To sin means to miss the mark; to err in judgment and action.  There’s a list in Galatians 5:19, of the works of the flesh.  Satan knows if he can get you to operate in the flesh, you will distance yourself from the Holy Spirit.  It’s not that the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, but our eyes, in essence, are closed to Him.  Flesh doesn’t want to see God, does it?  Just like Adam and Eve, we tend to want to hide from God when we’re operating in the flesh.  But God tells us not to do that!  We are to come boldly to the throne; to run as fast as we can to our refuge and strong tower; which is God.

We are to disassociate ourselves from the temptation.  I am a child of God; I’m not a smoker.  I don’t need to get blind drunk to deal with my frustration; I can go to God.  “I am THAT I am!”  The urge to light up a cigarette, has no power over me-I have mastered it.  I have mastered my frustration, anger, disappointment, heartache, etc., etc., etc., and it has no power over me anymore either.  Disassociating ourselves from those temptations involves stepping up and into our authority in this world, over the things of this world.  You see, from the time God created man to inhabit the earth, Satan plotted and planned to destroy man off from the earth; and if he can’t destroy us, he’ll destroy the earth.  Isn’t it ironic that it is man who, in his carelessness and selfishness, is himself destroying the earth?  That’s why we need to be good stewards of all that God gives us; including the earth.

Okay, so we’ve stepped up and into our authority.  Quoting, now directly from the message: “Then when these little temptations, or big ones come, you will recognize them as planned by evil to thwart Me. Then for very love of Me you will conquer.”  I hope you’ll visit the twolisteners website and read the entire message for yourselves.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 3, 2019, 11:51 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the divine law of supply is to give.  It follows the sowing and reaping principle, just as all else does.  What you sow, you reap.  So, if you need it, give it.  But, giving on a higher plane, on the spiritual level, must come first.  Otherwise, all the material things really don’t mean a thing.  “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”  (1 Cor. 13:3)  God is spirit, God is love.  So, in order for the material things to truly be blessings, they must be inspired by and given in the spirit of love.  There’s more to this than just a spirit of love, though.

I was blessed with my little daily prayer some time ago.  I had a list about a mile and a half long of people I wanted to remember in prayer.  When I asked the Lord to help me get everybody prayed for, He answered my prayer by giving me that prayer.  I lift everyone, including myself, up to the Lord/LORD.  He knows our needs before we do.  He knows exactly who needs correction and how to go about it.  He knows who’s hurting, and why and where.  I’ll repost that prayer as a bonus post on Saturday.

One day, I saw a woman with a couple of small children.  They all three looked tired and a little forlorn.  My heart went out to them, and I wanted to pray for them right then and there.  God, true to His promises, again gave me a little prayer of blessing for them.  I say that prayer quite often, and especially when I see a family.  I’ve spoken that very prayer over this whole city.  I said all that to let you know that you don’t have to have a thing to give on the material plane, and you can still bless someone.  Don’t ever discount the power of a praying heart; even it’s unvoiced prayers are heard by our Lord, and by our Heavenly Father.  Quoting directly from the message: “The first law of giving is of the spirit world. Give to all you meet, or whose lives touch yours, of your prayers, your time, yourselves, your love, your thought. You must practice this giving first.”  I hope you’ll read the entire message at twolisteners.org; it’s awesome.  I’m going to post my little blessing prayer here too, for those of you who’d like to pray it.  When you start making a habit of praying blessing over others, your life becomes so enriched.

Heavenly Father, bless this (person/family) with every good thing from your hand, pressed down, shaken together, and running over; from the roots of their hair to the soles of their feet, according to the riches and richness of your glory.  And, may they never know a day of lack or sickness from today forward.  I ask it and receive it in Jesus’ Name, and I thank you for it.  Amen. 

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 3, 2019, 11:12 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus knows intimately, every heart…and every heartache.

When I think of moments that my heart went out to someone who was hurting, I can’t even begin to imagine what our Lord must feel; the magnitude of it all.  There is so much pain in our poor world.  I also remember times when, as a child, I would run to my room in tears, sobbing, and heart just breaking.  There seemed to be this bright, warm light…it wasn’t visible, but it was present; I could feel it.  It didn’t dawn on me until years later, after I got saved, that that light was Jesus.  Some would say it was the Holy Spirit.  Maybe it was both.  The Holy Spirit is called the comforter.  And Jesus promised He would never leave or forsake us.  Anyway, I’ve come a long way, baby, since those days.  My heart laughs most days…at least over me and my life.

As I’ve walked with the Lord, my hand in His, my heart has been empowered.  My heart has been assured of His love for me, and His promises to me.  My heart has been strengthened and, really, all fear is gone; especially as far as spiritual things go.  My heart has been sealed; I know I am His child.  I know whom, and whose I am.  More than anything, my heart has been softened; I’ve got that heart of flesh that God promised He would give me.  I am able to see past the end of my own nose and, pardon the expression, “give a damn.”  That last part’s a tough one, because we do live in the world.  It’s getting darker and darker.  But, with His hand holding mine, my heart can see, a little more clearly, what His heart sees and feels in regard to my fellow man.  When we lose that, we lose our own light, I believe.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 2, 2019, 12:11 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we’re not going to get all the answers we think we need down here.  A better way to put that would be that we’re not going to get them while we’re living the “flesh life,” or life in the flesh.

Proverbs 4:18 is referenced by the message: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (NIV)  We’re also reminded of Jesus’ words to the disciples: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”  The message speaks to us about walking in faith as we journey with the Lord/LORD.  As we go along, faith gets stronger, flesh has less power, and spirit becomes more powerful.  As we grow in spirit and spiritual things, more and more things are revealed to us…things that concern spirit and spiritual life.

This is why we are to regularly seek out time alone with our heavenly Father and with our Lord, Jesus.  We are admonished not to fret ourselves with puzzles we can’t solve.  In other words, they’re things that don’t apply to our present life, or we aren’t ready for them because we’re still operating too much in the flesh.

Quoting directly: “Only step by step, and stage by stage, can you proceed, in your journey upward.”  John the Revelator was alone on the Isle of Patmos when he received the revelations regarding Heaven, the churches, and the end time.  No bills to worry about, no “impressions” to make on anyone, no time clock to punch, etc.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 2, 2019, 11:56 a.m.

Oh, as I hear this song, I’m thinking of some of the storms in my life.  This is an awesome song to go into spiritual battle with, don’t you think?  I do.  What a great way to start the week!  I think I’m starting every day this week with this song.  Thank you, Demetria Stallings and Jim Rodriguez.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, December 2, 2109, 11:42 a.m.

 

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is the one, and the only one, who is to have any ideals for anyone.  We’re bid to learn of His heart when we feel failed and/or let down, disappointed by our fellow man.

Once I got this lesson, my life got so much happier, so much less stressful.  You know why?  I wasn’t trying to do God’s job anymore; that’s why.  Letting go of any ideals (ideal man, lover, husband, wife, friend, children, neighbor, life, home, car, etc., etc., etc…) frees us and the other people in our lives.  As long as we hold on to ideals in regard to them, we’re holding them, and ourselves prisoner.  We also are undermining their faith.  Quoting directly from the message: “Draw nigh in the utter confidence that is the sublimest prayer.”  Our ideals may be causing someone to be fearful of going to God; of drawing near to Him.   We’re to build one another up in faith.  We’re not to judge; and holding someone to our own ideals is a form of judgment, actually.

People are who they are; each one of us unique, special, precious and honored in God’s sight.  Learning of Jesus’ heart, in adverse situations, helps us to see His love and compassion toward them.  It reminds us of His compassion toward us.  It empowers us, hopefully, with the grace to allow God to do His work in them, and to just lift and encourage them.  Losing my ideals wasn’t easy.  But, oh, the joys I’ve found in my life as a result!  Happy, happy, surprises all around I’ve found.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 25, 2019, 1:21 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that sympathy is not enough.  Where your heart goes, your hands, feet, mind, mouth, and strength must go as well.

Prayer is the least, and the most powerful thing one can do.  When we pray, we’re taking it to the top!  But, after that, whatever is within your power to do to alleviate the problem, to make things better, etc., you  must see as your divine call.  Then, and only then, can we truly make positive strides and change things for the better.  This isn’t to be a matter of occasional events of mercy and grace.  It is to be our way of life.  When we live our lives this way, I believe, the effect is an infectious spilling over of mercy and grace, leading to greater peace and unity among all.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 25, 2019, 12:45 p.m.

Today, in history, is the day that The United States of America, and Great Britain signed the peace treaty that ended the Revolutionary War.  For those of you who don’t know this, the Revolutionary War was the war we fought to gain independence from Great Britain.  The exact date the treaty was signed is November 30, 1782.

I was discussing this with an acquaintance as I was preparing my posts for the week.  She didn’t know the war had been about our independence.  When I told her that, I jokingly said, “I sure hope nobody breaks that treaty, because, have you seen the next generation of Royals?  Yeah, I sure don’t want to tangle with any one of them!  They don’t look like anybody you want to be boxing with.”  This woman got this serious look on her face, and asked me, “Do you mean if we break that treaty, we’ll all lose our independence?”  Oh, God, please help me-my sides hurt from laughing!

PS -I love you ALL, Royals!  I mean that with all my heart!  Hugs and Kisses by the ton!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Coyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 25, 2019, 1:37 p.m.

I wrote that title the way I did for a reason; you’ll see.  Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need a place where we can get away from ourselves.  How hard is that to do?!

I don’t even know how I drank as much as I did at times and lived.  Thank you, Jesus, for your grace and mercy.  That’s all I can say about it.  -with tears in my eyes.  The message tells us that we can escape the noise of the world around us, in the quietness of our inner selves.  But, where do you escape to from your inner self?  No, dear, it isn’t the D’evil; it’s the life you’ve live’D.  Whether it’s the echoes of long ago, or the day you’ve just had, it’s the toll life takes on us.  That’s a good reason to go to church and get filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.  Whether you’re in church or not, though, you have a strong tower, and refuge, to run to.  God is that tower and refuge.

The Word of God washes the world away.  Ephesians 5:26 speaks about husbands sanctifying their wives, cleansing them by washing with water through the Word of God.  Water came gushing out of Jesus’ heart when the soldier pierced His side.  That’s what happens when we go to God, for He is our sanctuary, our refuge in the storms-in the world around us, and within us.  In His presence, we find peace, encouragement, strengthening of our spirit, etc.  And in His Word, we find the promises that reassure us of God’s love and caring, of His protection over us, and His plans for us.

Again, I have to address generational curses here.  Addictions, dysfunction, dis-attachment, all those things, are lives we’ve lived, and things we’ve learned to embrace as coping mechanisms.  This refuge, this strong tower (God), is exactly where we need to run to.  You can unlearn the old stuff and learn anew, all the right things.  It’s a powerful tool.  (Colossians 3:10)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 12:35 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that where two or more are gathered together in Jesus’ Name, He is in our midst.

The message touches on the power of agreement-not only when it comes to praying for a thing, but also in regard to the wisdom of the thing itself…or of desiring it.  Then, there’s the wisdom involved in going about doing the thing, or getting the thing-the methodology.  Imagine if, when building a house, one or two try to cut windows out before the walls are up…or build the roof before the rest of the house is up.  It could be that one thinks the door frames should be 3/12 feet wide, and the one making the doors thinks the doors should be 4 feet wide.  Oh, oh!  See how crucial and powerful communication and agreement are?  This, really, is – or should be, a daily habit.  Imagine how much time could be saved.  Imagine how many relationships could be saved by this one principle.  Even just agreeing to disagree peacefully and respectfully could be a powerful deterrent to the havoc wreaked otherwise.

Coming from a family with a history of generational curses, I have to say that two or more agreeing, and coming together in regard to breaking those curses off of our families and giving the next generation a better chance, means everything.  When everyone is aware that we’re going to war, and everyone agrees to fight the battles to defeat those things, they’re much easier to win.  There’s much more integrity in communication and interaction.  Also, much more compassion and caring, and encouragement in the ranks.  And this is a powerful, powerful weapon in the Spirit.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 25, 2019, 12:12 p.m.