Practicing The Presence Of It

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that God is a good God.  He is also eager to share His Goodness, and all good things, with us.  We are bid to taste and trust that goodness, and to hold fast to it, even in times of trouble.

When I read about God sharing His Goodness with us, I think about things like the fruits of the Spirit-because God is Spirit.  I also think about His love for us.  He gave His only begotten Son to save us.  That’s a pretty extravagant gift; don’t you think?

So, in order for me to experience and grow in trust, or faith, and intimacy with God, I must practice the presence of His Goodness.  I must receive it within myself; cultivate it in my life, my home, my relationships, etc.

That means, first, I recognize that I am worth dying for.  I am worthy of the best.  That means I will make good choices for myself, I’ll go the extra mile-(put that vase of flowers on the dinner table, or light that candle, etc.).  I will also be deliberate about creating my spaces, my surroundings, when possible.  Look at the way God created the planet, the Garden of Eden, etc.  The Bible says God devises ways to restore us to Himself.  That’s a clue on how we ought to view our relationships with one another.  We’re also told that God blesses us richly, and adds no sorrow to it.  (Proverbs 10:22)  -“The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”  I like the Berean Study Bible version; it says the blessing of the LORD “enriches…”

When we seek to enrich our daily living experiences, even something like just a meal, we can turn it into a feast for the soul.  God seeks those who worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth.  It stands to reason then, that God would love to enrich our soul, our spirit.  When we seek to do the same to others, life takes on a much more beautiful hue.  As we practice the goodness of God within, and bring it out around us, trust that God’s Goodness is always present becomes solidified.  Before you know it, nothing can shake it.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 19, 2019, 2:59 p.m.

 

The Truth About Joy & Vice Versa

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that the truths Jesus taught/teaches bring joy to life.  In those truths, we find forgiveness, healing, peace, power, freedom, and joy.

What we don’t often think about, is how much joy empowers those truths.  I’m talking, now, about the joy of the Lord; which is the knowledge of God’s love for us, and knowledge of our place, or authority in this world.  That’s the stuff nobody can take away from you.  It’s the stuff that will defeat your strongest enemy; even when your strongest enemy is you.

When we cultivate that joy, and hold fast to it, forgiveness-letting go, is easy.  Healing flows from and through that joy.  Peace is made possible through it.  Power flows from it.  Freedom is empowered by it.  And, even the joy, itself, is magnified by and through it.

This cultivation of, and holding fast to the joy of the Lord, goes hand in hand with creating your sacred space and your boundaries.  That joy is watered as we cultivate ourselves and grow in, and into, the beauty and grace of the Lord.  This joy it is, that has us singing praises to the Lord from the hospital bed…”Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death…I will fear no evil…Jesus, Himself, gave, and gives us today, that joy.  True joy is dependent on, and empowered by truth.  Truth is a joyful gift to have, in every area of life.  No, it isn’t always a joyful truth; but it’s always joyful to know the truth we need to operate by.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 18, 2019, 3:04 p.m.

It’s About Welcoming The Divine In You

eden08122015

I chose this beautiful song to go with today’s post.  I hope it inspires you to welcome and honor the divine within you…and to create a welcoming sacred space to dwell in.  What a beautiful way to drive home…Pastor Benny Hinn, thank you for your faithfulness to God, and to us all.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 18, 2019, 3:16 p.m.

Start Where You Dwell

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to dwell in the secret place of God’s Shadow, or Spirit.  I’ve written before, about entering into that place through praise and worship.  I’ve written about making time to spend time alone with God.  The message bids us to make that dwelling place our home; and not to merely visit there fitfully, when it all gets to be too much for us.  “Dwell there,” we’re told.

Some years ago, I made the connection between the dwelling place of God’s Presence, and my own dwelling place.  There’s a place in the book (God Calling), that talks about homemaking in the spirit.  Jesus said, “the kingdom of Heaven is upon, or within you.”  That means God’s there.  So, how do we translate that into daily living?  We do that by homemaking for our spirit, and our soul…This message ties in well with the one about cultivating ourselves.

Part of cultivating ourselves, is tapping into our creativity, embracing our loves, likes, passions, and joys.  It involves managing our dislikes, and eliminating all sources of discord.  This works at home, at work, at church, in personal schedules,etc.  However, we’re talking about home.  When I think about that, I remember when I had to settle for freebies, bargain basement, mismatched, eclectic stuff.  Not that I wasn’t grateful; but, oh, the difference in emotional ease and joyousness of spirit, mind, and soul, when you get to purposefully pick and choose.  You get to choose; you’re the designer.  You are the creator of your sacred space.  This is the place where your body, mind, heart, spirit, and soul dwell.  Do you know there’s a difference between a dwelling and a residence?

To dwell suggests being connected, being a life-force in that place.  It suggests a warmth, and a joyful habitation.  It’s where we stop, stay, rest, linger, live, abide.  To reside suggests a mere being there, without a real connection, or warmth.  There’s really no life-force or joyful habitation.  No engagement with or in the place.  It is what we occupy, are placed, are found, and, are situated.  Can you see, and feel, the difference?  The bottom line, is that your surroundings affect your spirit, mind, and soul; and your heart, as well.  After you design, or create, your sacred space, the chores, the schedules, all the daily living issues, etc., need to be addressed, so all discord is eliminated or brought to a bare minimum.  What a wonderful difference, to walk into a welcoming home that wraps you in everything you love.  How wonderful to feel the peace settle over you as you enter.  Your home is sacred space.  Be purposeful, be deliberate when you create it.  You’ll soon find that God’s Presence dwells there with you.  What you surround yourself with will be absorbed by your heart, mind, and soul.  Let it be God’s Presence.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 17, 2019, 3:25 p.m.

Yea, Tho I Walk Through The Valley…

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are human, fallible, and that our steps will falter at times.  When I read the message, I thought of Peter walking on the water.

If Peter had never taken another step, his life would never have turned out the way it did.  Before his life was over, Peter’s mere shadow falling on someone was powerful enough to heal them.  Then, there was Peter, denying Jesus.  He betrayed the Lord just as much as Judas had.  Judas killed himself…never too another step.  Peter wept; his heart wrenched with the pain of his cowardice and shame.  Then, Peter jumped out of the boat to swim to Jesus on the shore.  He was filled with joy at the Lord’s presence.  What a beautiful moment!  Breakfast with Jesus; I can’t even begin to imagine what that joy bursting within Peter might have felt like…after all that stuff…Wow!  Peter might never have known that joy, had he not taken another step after those faltering steps on the water.

The message is that the 23rd Psalm is so very true.  The Lord does lead us beside still, or peaceful waters.  He does restore our souls.  He does lead us in paths of righteousness.  His rod and his staff do comfort us when our steps falter.  Faltering steps are found in the Valley of the Shadow of Death-especially in the spirit.  The shadow is the temptation to quit, to give up, to curl up, and to end up right back where we started from, or someplace even worse.  Judas is the prime example.  But Jesus is faithful to forgive us when we confess our sins.  His strength is made perfect in, and through our weaknesses – when we allow Him to save us and bring us through.  Remember Peter’s words?  “Lord, save me!”  We can do the same thing, and boldly; because there is now no condemnation in Christ.  We need to take a hint from that.  There should be no self-condemnation in us then, either.  Remember Jesus’ words to all he healed, and to the woman he save from being killed?  “Go in peace.”  Go means take steps; keep heading for your horizon, your goal.  You are on your way to somewhere, because this is not your home.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 16, 2019, 1:23 p.m.

Know That You Know, That You Know

eden08122015

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we, not only have the right to live in peace and joy, but also, the responsibility to.

There’s a very powerful statement in the message: “Success is the result of work done in peace.”  That tells me a couple of things.  First, it tells me that I have to be at peace within, if I want to make real progress outwardly.  By that, I mean manifesting positive change outwardly.  If I am not happy with myself, if I am hurting or confused, or angry within, etc., I’m not in a state conducive to positive change.  Secondly, it tells me that I must work to bring peace to another, if I want to truly help them.  First peace, then process, then, progress.  Finally, it tells me that I shouldn’t measure success by the wrong things.  There was a time in my life when just making the bed daily was a victory, a success.

Anything that brings peace, as long as it isn’t compromise with evil, is a success; it’s progress.  Of course, peace with evil, isn’t really peace, is it?  We have to be careful what we’re making peace with, also.  Sometimes, what we mistake for peace, can actually be compromise in the wrong direction, or even surrender.  Never surrender your peace, and the joy arising from true peace, to anything or anyone except the Lord, and the Word of God.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 16, 2019, 10:57 a.m.