Until The Aroma Permeates Your Life

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we can sing, even in the darkness, just like Paul and Barnabas did.  We are bid to stay strong, be of good cheer, and be courageous.  We’re bid to turn to the Lord, always, even in the darkness.  I would say, especially in the darkness.

Mark 14:3 is referenced by the message: “While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.”  I hope you’ll read the message @ twolisteners.org, because it’s awesome.  When I read the message, I thought about “monster spray.”  Monster spray was my perfume.  I sprayed it in the kids’ closets to keep the monsters away at night.

When that woman poured that Spikenard perfume on Jesus’ head, I bet the whole room was filled with the aroma.  That stuff was the very best gift the woman had to give.  Our trust and love for Him, is the very best gift we can give Jesus, and our Heavenly Father.  When we turn to the Lord, praise the Lord, pray to the Lord, and walk with the Lord, we are getting that perfume, that aroma, all over us.  Remember when Mom hugged you and you could smell her perfume on you?  That’s what faith does for us.  That living with the Lord infuses our lives with that same aroma.  That aroma brings joy, peace, comfort, power, and love, doesn’t it?  Yes, it does; just like Mom’s did.  Just like the monster spray did.

When that aroma fills your life, it permeates even the darkness.  It’s our favorite scent; but it is to the forces of evil, like the scent of a snake to a rodent.  The aroma of the Lord’s love and presence is an awesome thing.  You can’t smell it with your nose, really.  But you sure can pick up that scent, ever so faintly, in your spirit.  And, it really does dispel the power of the darkness to disarm fear and doubt.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 7, 2019, 2:36 p.m.

Rejoicing In Your Weaknesses

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.  (2Cor. 12:9)

There was a time when I believed that was some mystical event that happened; that by some miracle, God would infuse me with supernatural strength.  Over the years, I’ve learned just how much of a naturally occurring result of my accepting, or acknowledging that weakness-(truth), seeking the way to overcome it-(way), and rising up to walk in that way (life).  Are you getting a picture of how simple it really is?  Jesus said, “I am the truth, the life, and the way.”  He is that in every situation.

Acceptance is the key to the whole thing.  We all too often try to deny the weakness, or to fake our way through it.  Notice the two words, “our way.”  That’s what it is that gets us into trouble.  If it’s your weakness, it’s obviously not the way to go, is it?  Accepting the weakness empowers you to seek the way(s) to overcome it.  This opens the door for God to work, and opens your mind and heart to receive insight, inspiration, and instruction.  What went wrong, why, what’s your part in it, what can you do to fix it, or improve it, etc.  These insights inspire ideas and creative energies.  Then, the instruction(s) bring us up to the next level; to overcoming power, and to progress.

God is a creator, we are created in His image, after His likeness.  Therefore, we are creators, and creative beings.  We can resurrect, rebuild, restore, etc.  That’s the power of God being perfected in us, in our weaknesses.  This is why we are told to rejoice in our weakness; to see it as an incentive and an opportunity to rise to an even higher level.  We aren’t to walk in denial, deception, depression, and all the other stuff that comes on you when you’re trying to fake your way through.  Just be you; be the best you you can be.  Accept yourself just as you are, and work from there.  You can only work with what you’ve got; and, as they say, “God don’t make no junk!”  Celebrate every step forward, every step upward, every step taken.  God does; because He loves you!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 3, 2019, 11:15 a.m.

Nothing…I Know Nothing

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are little children in the Kingdom of Heaven.  I had an experience during praise and worship one afternoon, in which I saw myself as a toddler being scooped up by the Lord, and held in His arms.  His face was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.  No features, just pure radiance, pure love.  I’m getting chills as I write this.

The message bids us to cling to Him, as a child clings to his/her parent.  We’re asked the question that, if we would hardly fail that child, how then, could our Heavenly Father fail us?  We’re bid to trust, to know that God’s love for us is as strong as ever.  Know that there is nothing He cannot accomplish, in us, for us, through us.  Nothing!

1Kings 3:7 is referenced by the message: “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”  Do you know that it’s alright to tell God you don’t know what you’re doing?  I have to laugh as I write this, because there are so many times I finally said that to God…and I swear I almost heard Him laughing.  “It’s about time,” He probably was saying.  “Now I can help you.”  The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that the longer I know God, the more I know that I know nothing.  It’s just best to get His take on it all first anyway.  I’m so thankful for His patience and grace.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 2, 2019, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday Silly – October 5, 2019

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Dad had been gone all week on his sales trip.  He arrived home bright and early Saturday morning.   The kids were all in the living room watching television, but Mom was nowhere in the vicinity.  “Where’s your mother,” asked Dad.  “The poor battered woman is in the bathroom cleaning herself and the two year old up,” answered Stephanie, the oldest of the children.  “Battered woman?  What? What are you talking about, Stephanie?  Did something happen to Mom,”asked Dad, now alarmed.  “I’ll say,” said Tommy, the second oldest child.  “Little Mike got so excited about pancakes for breakfast, he grabbed the bowl of batter, and threw it up in the air.  He got batter all over himself and Mom.”  Isn’t motherhood awesome?!  I think so; and I mean that with all my heart.  LOL

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Please encourage a survivor, and let a victim know she’s not alone, or, that he’s not alone.  Please light a candle for all the victims who did not survive, but lost their lives to this.  Thank you to all those who stood beside me.  I am eternally in your debt, and eternally grateful for your help. From a survivor … Yes, you will laugh again, my dear…keep fighting!  You’re not alone.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 1, 2019, 12:32 p.m.

It’s About The Beauty Of The Lord

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that everything we need can be found in our Lord, Jesus Christ.  That statement carries the most powerful revelation you’ll ever get in this life.  Ready?

God is love. (1John 4:16)  Jesus said, “when you see me, you’ve seen the Father.” (John 12:45, 14:9)  Thus, Jesus is LOVE, personified.  Everything love is, is Jesus. (1 Cor. 13:4-13, Gal. 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:8-10)

Psalm 27:4 – “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”  This Psalm is referenced by the message in the book.  All of the above scriptures tell me that love is my most crucial need.  It tells me that love is my most powerful weapon, tool, medicine, nourishment, shield, comforter, and inspiration.  It’s all I need, and the rest will follow.  (Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these shall be added unto you as well.) – Matt 6:33  And, all the other things of the Spirit, can, and will be found by you, in Christ Jesus, as well.

That’s the revelation.  Seek Him first.  Seek out everything about Him; all He is and all He has.  That’s what you are meant to be, were created to be, and what you have, and have had from the beginning.  It is rightfully yours as a child of God.  Take it, hold fast to it.  Don’t let go of it, no matter what.  Just like he did with Adam and Eve, Satan is trying to get you to turn loose of it.  They already were like God.  “Let us make man in our image (LOVE), and after our likeness (LOVE).” (Genesis 1:26)  Once you see, and experience the beauty of love, as it is meant to be, there is nothing more desirable.  

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 1, 2019, 11:25 a.m.

Blessed Assurance Is That Peace

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are to seek peace; to pursue it.  We are told that blessed assurance, that calm, knowing that God is God, is what brings about true success.  Only when we attain this calm, can true work be done, and body, mind, and soul be strengthened to achieve the victory.

Isaiah 32:17 tells us that “The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (NKJV)  This tells me that my work, as a child of God, is to seek peace in everything.  It is to bring peace to all situations; inner peace and peace round about.  This peace-making, bringing, and keeping, is righteousness.  (Matt. 5:9) -“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.”  This assurance is the result of a deep trust and certainty in God’s love, His promises, and His Word.  This is that calm, the peace, that we need to fight for.  This is the peace we must protect, at all costs.  By that, I mean, sometimes you need to walk away from things, or even people, if they are destroying peace in your home, your life, your heart.  I don’t mean just one or two events.  I’m talking about someone who chooses this havoc wreaking as a way of life.  That’s a coat you need to take off so you don’t drown in the pool kind of thing.

When we strive to bring about peace within, we are better equipped to establish and maintain peace in our surroundings, our relationships, our daily living.  That’s why the commandment says, love your neighbor as yourself.  It’s you first, then your neighbor and all else follows…often without struggle.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 30, 2019, 12:22 p.m.