Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that self blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit.  We are channels for that Spirit to flow through to the world around us.  When we get selfish, self-seeking, and self-conscious (the three biggies), we become blocked channels.  In essence, we’re dammed.

There’s an interesting statement in the message: “Many think it is humility to say they do little, and are of little value to My world.  To think that is pride.”  The message goes on to say that we need to shed this kind of thinking, because Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches.  Therefore, it isn’t really us and our “doing,” that brings life to the “fruit.” (the souls we’re in contact with, and hopefully, helping)  We are the branches, or channels, through which the life flows to those souls.  Remember Jesus’ words: “I am the truth, the life, and the way.”

Selfishness comes through our attitudes…”I deserve it, Why is it always me, Maybe I don’t want to, etc.”  Self-seeking is destructive to all of God’s work, because it isn’t you or me who’s supposed to get the attention; it’s God.  So often we do the right things for all the wrong reasons: promotion, attention, competition, privilege or entitlement, etc.  Lastly, and this is a really insidious thing; self-consciousness.  Self-consciousness fosters doubt about God’s love and intention(s) toward us, about others’ perceptions and opinions of us, and about our own knowledge of us.  It undermines self-worth and self confidence, and destroys inner peace.  Then, it keeps us from stepping up and stepping our for God; in reaching out to others.  See how silently and sneakily that works?

The easiest way to combat all of this is with three little words: “It Is Written.”  And what’s written is alive and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, and NEVER RETURNS TO GOD VOID.  That means that when God tells you others will be blessed through you, it MUST come to pass.  So now, you can push that doubt OUT, and just be the perfect you God is creating, knowing that He is reaching others through you.  Never discount yourself; never!  When  you do that, you’re discounting the Divine One in you, and robbing Him and yourself of power.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 5, 2019, 1:08 p.m.

I’ve chosen Hillsong’s “Depths” to go with today’s post.  When I think about how much closer I feel to our Heavenly Father, God, all because Jesus cares enough to show Him to us…excuse my tears…and be as blessed by this as I am…

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 6, 2019, 2:32 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that power is God in action.  Hence, God is the power in our action…or should be, anyway.

As I read this message, I thought about me before I’ve had my morning coffee.  I am like a stumbumbling weeble some days before I’ve had my coffee.  I just can’t get it together.  I’m usually fine once I have my coffee.  That’s sort of what happens with us sometimes, when we’re trying to do it in our own “power,” or according to our own “wisdom.”  The Bible says the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom. (1Cor. 1:25)  “The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against God,” says Proverbs 19:3, according to the New American Standard Version.

So often we rush into action…only to find out we forgot the nails that are needed to hold the dog house together…LOL Yep, been there; and I was with that fella that went back to the store to get his nails, too.  Now, you see, God would have laid out the plans and made a list…and went along accordingly.  That’s the difference; the peace, the order, the purposeful planning that brings power to our action.  When we stay focused on God’s will and purpose for our lives, we begin to practice this awareness daily.  As we do that, our actions are more and more God inspired, God centered, and God infused.  As a result, our lives become much more powerful spiritually; and that’s where it really counts.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 5, 2019, 12:30 p.m.

The truth will also set Jesus free in you…I chose Matthew West’s “Truth Be Told,” to go with today’s post.  I think it’s important that we all touch on this truth from time to time: We are all works in progress; and all loved just exactly as we are, exactly where we are at any given moment in time.  We all have some rough days, where we need to just turn to God and let Him take the reins.  Reign/Rain first in me, LORD; then, through me…This is an awesome song, and I hope it blesses you as it does me.  Another one that comes to mind is that oldie but goodie: The Air I Breathe, because Jesus’ presence is the breath of life to our souls.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 5, 2019, 12:19 p.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to allow God to work through us.  We are bid to give ourselves unreservedly to our Lord and His cause (I came that they might have life abundantly).

“I do not delay my second coming.  My followers delay it.” -quoting directly from the message.  When I read this, I think about Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”  The message admonishes us to live for Him, in Him, by Him; and to allow Him to live in us.  As I read that, I think about the two greatest commandments.  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

That tells me that I must allow Jesus to live in me, first.  I must bid Him to come to me, first of all.  When we apply that to daily living, and to adversities, crises large or small, doesn’t that feel like a powerful tool in your hand?  That’s like dialing 911 in an emergency.  That’s what Jesus is there for!  When we do that, He naturally overflows from within us, into the situations and circumstances, and our daily dealings with others in the world around us.  Unfortunately, we tend to delay His coming to us -2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on…whenever we don’t stop and look for, and to Him, trying to do it ourselves.  That’s a panic reaction.  We need to get into the habit of planned action-or action plan…because that’s what a king or queen would do.  As we live and grow in these things, our faith grows, our relationships, and hopefully, our influences in the world grow, and before you know it, we’ll hear that midnight cry, calling us home.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 4, 2019, 11:36 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus is ever present with us.  The message bids us to speak His Name often, because in speaking His Name, our eyes are cleared to allow us to see Him.  He is in all, and is all, after all.

As I read this message, and the two scriptures referenced by the message, I think about little silly mockingbirds and their antics, little pigeons and their antics.  I had one sneak up onto my cart Saturday morning, and watch me as I was working on a crochet project.  I don’t know how long he was there, but when I noticed him, I asked him what he was doing on my cart.  He didn’t answer, but he gave me an approving look before he flew off.   I think about soft breezes that kind of tickle my neck and the strange, warm feeling of love that accompanies them.  I also think about little flowers that bring tears to my eyes, so intense is their beauty…and the peace and joy that seems to emanate from them.  Those things are all Jesus with us.  They are things He created for us to enjoy; things that make life a little more bearable, and sometimes, even sublime.

Psalm 61:11 is one of the scriptures referenced today: “In your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand, pleasures forevermore.”  The other scripture referenced is Psalm 51:12: “Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.”  We almost always think of being upheld as being kept unspoiled by the world; protected.  But, when the Lord lifts you up, it is to a better and more beautiful place.  That is, I believe, how these two scriptures fit this message.  As we remain ever conscious of our Lord, Jesus, we become increasingly conscious of His love toward us, in and through, all of creation.  He sets our spirit free to enable us to see Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 4, 2019, 11:16 a.m.

I chose the Gaither Vocal Band for today’s musical post.  It goes with the messages from the weekend, and with today’s message, as well.  God is so unlimited in His love, grace, and mercy toward us.  And that empowers us to be unlimited in the same ways toward others.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 4, 2019, 11:04 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we mustn’t limit God.  We all too often do.  It ties in with Saturday’s message about spending unreservedly.

We’re bid, in that message, to give and to keep “ever empty vessels” for the Lord to fill.  That tells me that I must keep an open heart.  One that’s always ready to receive from God.  It also tells me that I have much more to give than meets the eye.  We don’t realize how much the smallest thing might mean to someone.  We all too often discount the little things in life.  But watch a little bird with a few crumbs of bread.  I put down some birdseed for some once, and they actually lined up outside my window to thank me.  I’m pretty sure God whispered something in their ears about manners.  LOL

As we use our wealth, and our money and other material blessings, to help others, we are increased.  I’ve found that the increases come in the very ways in which we give. Pray for a few, God will have you praying for them all.  I’m smiling as I write this.  Feed one, God will have you feeding many.  That’s sowing and reaping principle.

Today’s message speaks of being unlimited.  As I think about that, I think about how different plants need different lengths of time to produce fruit.  The farmer knows when he plants that seed, that the harvest will come.  That’s what our focus should be on: the harvest is coming.  We limit God when we worry about how or when, etc.  God owns the earth and the fullness thereof.  That’s all we need to know; it’s what we need to fast to.  That’s a done deal, settled forever.  James tells us that we have not because we ask not, or because we ask amiss.  Jesus tells us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can do anything.  I believe the key, then, to being unlimited, is to lift our eyes, to look further, to reach higher, to step up and out toward better and better-within and in the outside world.

There’s also that thing about one sowing and another reaping where they didn’t sow.  So, if you don’t see the harvest right away, don’t sweat it; it’s coming.  We have to remember that God is dealing with things spiritually.  He’s concerned about spirit above all else.  Often times, we’re looking for a material increase, when we need to be looking at the spiritual one.  Maybe you’re looking in the wrong basket.  How awesome are the changes in courage, in perseverance, in boldness, in faith, in strength of spirit, that happen right within our own hearts?

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2019, 1:26 p.m.

Oh, my!  That little homeless woman had some company for dinner the other evening.  She and a friend were eating their dinners, when a young man came by.  He was pushing a woman in a wheelchair.  As they went by, the young man dropped a tin of something.  It was some white hard pieces that went everywhere.   Everything was all over the ground.  He stopped and started to pick the things up, but the woman in the wheelchair told him to leave them there.  “Hurry up,” she said, and off they went toward the store.

Looking over at what the young man had spilled, the homeless woman said, “Gee, I hope those aren’t her teeth.” (that’s what those white things looked like)  The little homeless fellow that was dining with her, looked over at them and took another bite of his sandwich.  A couple of minutes later, the little man said, “I wonder if there are any molars in there.”  Hmmm…

And then there’s me…hoping my few remaining teeth will last until my 120th birthday…cuz dentures are expensive!  I’m going to start eating dinner with that homeless lady.  Maybe I can get some new teeth too.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2019, 1:47 p.m.

Oh, Jeremy Riddle…Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord!  We’ve posted this one before…but what a great way to start the month!  It goes perfectly with today’s post.  I think we should wake up to this song every day!  Don’t you?  Joyful praise, then joyful prayer…

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 29, 2019, 2:46 p.m.