Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that it is joyful prayer that is most powerful.  That’s because joyful prayer rises from a heart that knows God, and has that quiet assurance within regarding all His promises.  It takes time to develop that kind of relationship with Him; but it’s so worth it.

As I read this message, I recall when I felt that my prayer life was really lacking.  I had a list of names a mile long, and all kinds of different needs I was praying for, etc.  I really didn’t feel like I was getting through.  I know that God hears every cry.  But, I think my heart was really distracted those lists…all those different people and all those different needs, and “God, I know you already know them all, so…”  So, I began praying prayers of thanks that God knows everyone and everything and has it all under control.  Before I knew it, God gave me the little prayer I pray daily, lifting everyone up into His hands.

Here’s the part about the joyfulness.  There are days when I have to determine to pray joyfully.  Some days don’t start out so good.  Stuff happens.  But, when I sit down to pray, I determine that it will be in the spirit of thanksgiving and joyfulness in and for God’s promises and His awesome love toward me.  That’s where praise and worship come in.  Sometimes you have to change the atmosphere around you-remember the spiritual hosts of wickedness.  Definitely, sometimes you have to change the atmosphere within you.  Regardless of what’s going on, God is good all the time…and all the time, God is good.  So, there’s reason number one to praise Him and thank Him, and to be joyful.  Focus on the result and not on the problem.  Focus on who and whose you are; not on the circumstance you’ve found yourself in.  You’re God’s child no matter where you are!

I said once that it is a privilege to pray; to have a God to pray to; one who does hear, and does listen, and does answer.  We can’t always be joyful in the circumstances we’re praying over.  But we can always be joyful over the One we’re praying to.  The more we get to know God and His love for us, the easier it is to be joyful- not only in God and His promises, but in all things.  That’s what it is about.  Thanksgiving and joyfulness go hand in hand.  As we thank Him, we are reminded of His love toward us, and His power around us; His protection over us.  Our spirits respond to that with joy.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2019, 1:10 p.m.

Thank you, Golden Angels, for your beautiful rendition of “Thy Word is a Lamp Unto my Feet”.  It goes with today’s post perfectly, doesn’t it?  Still one of my favorite songs.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, goes perfectly with yesterday’s post.  Two Listeners  I hope you will all read the message for yourselves; it’s awesome.

We’re told that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our paths.  We are also told that we live a this present darkness.  How awesome, then, to have the two-edged sword that sheds light for us to see more clearly with; that’s filled with power.  Ha! Darth Vader had nothing compared to this!

How awesome that God not only has the Word, but that God is the Word.  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among men…”  That’s a powerful revelation.  When we take God’s Word into our hearts, it comes alive in and among us!  When we take God’s Word, receiving it in our hearts, we are empowered to light up the darkness for others, as well.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 29, 2019, 12:41 p.m.

I love this song!  Thank you, Angie Primm and the Gaither Family, for a beautiful rendition of this song.  I’ve chosen it to go with today’s post.  I hope you all out there are as blessed by it as I am.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 29, 2019, 10:57 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the waiting is the hardest part.  I have to agree.  I also have to tell you, that I have waited, waited more, and then ended up waiting again-because instead of standing, I walked away, or threw it all away, just giving up.  I’m happy to say, I’m now standing and waiting more…even when I’m waiting still, and waiting still more.

The message bids us to turn to the Lord in our waiting; to cement our friendship with Him during this time.  Israel was in the desert wilderness forty years, and all because they couldn’t wait.  I believe someone said the whole trip would have taken about a week, had they not kept testing and trying God.

When I read this, I think about Jesus in the wilderness for those forty days.  I think about the temptation when Satan came to Him.  And, I remember what Jesus said.  “It is written!”  The word of God is alive and filled with power; and does divide bone from marrow (which is the difference between existence and life-because the life is in the blood, of which the marrow is the source).  God turned to Himself while He was waiting.  Does that give you an idea of how powerful His Word is?  That’s one place we get the knowledge, intimate knowledge of Him.  The other is in praise and worship and prayer, and entering into the presence of the Holy Spirit.  In the Spirit, is where the hugs are, the beauty is revealed, the ties strengthened.  And then, the waiting becomes a beautiful part of the big picture that’s coming.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2019, 12:34 p.m.

Here’s Jason Crabb with the song I chose to go with today’s post.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 29, 2019, 10:48 a.m.

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are not to worship money.  It is necessary to have it in this world.  It is pavement down here, just as much as it is in Heaven.  But, it is only pavement.  Money is not God.  Although, we all too often can end up slaving away for it…only to give it to another…

To a child of God, money is of no value emotionally or spiritually.  It shouldn’t be, anyway.  Money is not even wealth; not true wealth.  True wealth is the knowledge of God.  It is wisdom to rule over yourself and your household justly, kindly, righteously, etc.  True wealth is strength in your mind and body, as well as your soul and your heart.  True wealth is peace within and round about you.

I told someone just the other day, that they were a poor person with a lot of money.  Jesus told us the parable of the rich farmer who hoarded all he had, in fear of not having it when he needed it.  He died after spending his whole life working to fill those barns, and worrying, I’m sure, about how to keep thieves and robbers out.

Jesus also said that the love of money is the root of all evil; that we cannot serve both riches and God.  That’s because the fear of losing those riches, and the need to get more riches will bring all kinds of “fleshly things” into our spirits, hearts, and minds.  Greed can lead to workaholism, overwhelming debt, stinginess -(the rich man and lazarus), cold-heartedness and callousness, and all manner of evil thoughts and practices.  That’s why we have to be very careful how we view our money.  It is supposed to serve us.  We are not to serve it.  When we practice good stewardship, keeping it in it’s rightful place, we can serve God, and ourselves, much more effectively with it.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2019, 12:21 p.m.

I am enjoying Jason Upton’s worship music today.  I chose Psalm 23 to go with today’s post.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2019, 12:05 p.m.

When I think of where I was…and where I am now in comparison…I can’t help but think of this song, and sing at the top of my lungs!  Thank you, Christ Tomlin.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 24, 2019, 11:28 a.m.