I was talking with my brother recently. He was reminiscing about his wife, and told me about a dream she had. Now, my sister-in-law was just a little off her rocker at times. My brother told me she woke up laughing out loud one night (while she was still alive, or course). He said, “she starts telling me about the dream she was having, and says this bear was chasing us because he wanted our fried chicken. We couldn’t climb the tree because I (my brother)was being a limp-wristed sissy.” “Really?” “Yes,” my brother said. He continued with the story. “She said, we were running as fast as we could, and then it dawned on us that we came up there in the car. We managed to get to the car and just barely escaped the bear.” My brother said, “she looked me dead in the eye and said, “I sure hope he doesn’t recognize the car if we go back there.” He said, “I said, Honey, there wasn’t really a bear, though.” Then he laughed and laughed for about five minutes, and finally said, “She got this strange look on her face and said, “Really, then what was it?!” Yeah, I’m still laughing. God bless them both!
Love you from Café du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 30, 2022, 11:04 a.m.
I bet you’re all wondering where I went. I’m sorry; I was attacked midweek last week, suffered a head injury, and needed to take a couple of days to rest. This all happened on the Nellis Bus going North, in the evening. You people think your little “pest control” devices, or “dog whistles” are funny. They’re not! They’re cowardly, heinous, and will get you life in prison. You can cause a stroke or heart attack with those, and kill someone. My face is a little puffy, and I’ve got a bit of a shiner, but I think I’ll live. The picture below is me in my new summer hat; taken just a day or so before.
Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 78. I’m going to use the first four verses of it. It’s a very long Psalm, recounting a lot of history. When you get the chance, I hope you’ll read it for yourselves.
“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” (ESV) This sends me straight to the gospels and Jesus. He is the Word, made flesh.
I used to tell my children that Jesus was going to make their medicine work, when I had to give them medication. Thankfully, we didn’t have but short bouts of flu or an ear infection or two while they were growing up. When my car needed work on the carburetor, and my dad (my mechanic) couldn’t get to it for awhile, my oldest daughter learned the value and power of prayer. It never failed that clunker would be flooded and I’d pray, “Lord, please make the car start.” Sure enough, I’d turn the key again, and “vroom,” it would turn right over. My daughter was riding with her aunt one day, and auntie’s car didn’t want to start up. My daughter asked her if she wanted her to pray, because Mommy always does, and it works. LOL See, this is stuff that we don’t even realize we’re teaching our children when we’re doing it. Imagine how important it is to teach your child the promises of God, who he, or she is in Christ, and the standards and boundaries that God has put in place for us. What we neglect to tell and to teach our children, is like giving them a bowl of Spaghetti, and not giving them the fork or spoon to eat with.
There’s a saying that we live what we learn. In light of the recent attack on me, which includes the person who drove by this morning and yelled that remark out the window at me, I have to wonder: What did you learn? Who raised you and forgot to give you your fork or spoon? And what did they feed you? What are we feeding our children? What are we teaching them, either directly, or indirectly? Imagine if all we taught our children was to love, to be kind, considerate, and to do good things. Imagine if everyone chose to do the good thing, instead of the bad?
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, May 17, 2021, 1:40 p.m.
Hmm…on this day, in 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Murdock became the first to travel across the country in a car. They traveled in a Packard, from LA to New York City. It took them 32 days, 5 hours and 25 minutes. Today is also Pig in a blanket day. What does one have to do with the other? Well, as I’ve said before, I’m an Army brat, and my family did some travelling. I was just thinking, and thanking God, I didn’t have to spend more than, oh, probably seven or eight days on the road with my brother and four sisters…the little pigs in a blanket. LOL And, speaking of pets, we traveled from Virginia to Montana with a poodle and a parakeet-all in that old station wagon. Now, can you imagine doing that in this old Packard? It’s a 1908 Packard Model 30. OMG! That box on the back is NOT big enough to put a kid in! Thank God for whoever invented the trunk. I never did go back and find the sandal I lost on that trip.
This pic is from classicdriver.com. Thanks to them for sharing. I love old cars, by the way!
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, April 23, 2021, 3:55 p.m.
My goodness, what a week it’s been! I had my cardiology appointment; hit the floor running to make it on time. I don’t know why, but it seems as if the buses are crawling along at fifteen miles an hour whenever you need them to hurry. Then, some of them go at breakneck speed, only to jump on the brakes with both feet and all their body weight behind them. Passengers and baggage come up out of the seats. LOL I think they need to serve cocktails on some of those buses, just like they do on airplanes. Speaking of airplanes, I was on a bus the other day, and there was a car wash just short of the stoplight. This guy was out front waving a white rag like crazy. I couldn’t figure out if he was trying to flag us down, or land a plane…we are right by the Air Base.
There are some characters on the buses, too. We passed a construction site, and someone asked what they were building there. A lady on the bus said, “Its an Amazon Warehouse.” “Oh,” replied the guy, “what’s if for?” “It’s where they’re going to lock up all the strong and angry women,” replied the lady. LOL
I got my ID renewed recently. I couldn’t believe it when I got the new card. My goodness; I need to get some good facial serum and face cream. My grandbabies will be calling me Grandma Sharpei. Sure enough, I sent a friend a selfie – of myself, and he texted me back: “Can she sit up and beg?” Hmm, maybe I could get one of the kids to take me to the dog shows; I could use the money. Ah, never mind…I can’t wag my tail like that anymore. Besides that, I’m not going to sit up and beg for anybody!
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, January 15, 2021, 12:43 p.m.
Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we walk the same path Jesus walked while on Earth; and still does today, really. I encourage you to read the message yourself, at twolisteners.org – Let your spirit absorb all that it means to have that closeness with the Lord. It really does make living for Him sublime.
The longer we walk that path with the Lord, the more beautiful those tender lights and restful shades become. I find myself caught up in them more frequently as the years go by. I shared a beautiful praise song with you recently. “Show Me Your Face,” is the name of it. You all know that I’m homeless, right? Actually, I’m only houseless. Anyway, one morning last week, after I’d put my bedroll together, I said my morning prayer, and sang my Hallelujahs to the Lord, as usual. And then, I sang just the first line of that beautiful song…”Show me your face, Lord, show me your face. And then gird up my legs so I can stand in this Holy Place…” I’d no sooner sung that line, when a man came around the corner, drove down the street. And, turning around, he pulled up right where I was sitting, and handed me a twenty dollar bill. He said, “God bless you, Sister.” He wished me a good day, and drove away. Ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t think I was basking in those tender lights of Jesus’ love just then…
Same day, a little later, and I was waiting for the bus. I’d been waiting for quite awhile, and I do try to keep a sense of humor. “Oh, Lordy, I’m in fear of that blister, and I can’t walk very far…Oh, Lordy, please have mercy on this sister; send the bus or send a car…” I kind of rewrote a couple of lines from the Renegade song. (It’s an old rock song). Then I said, “Uncle Pete, please turn on the fan and give that bus a tail wind. Please send that bus now. In Jesus’ Name, I ask it. Please, and thank you, Lord.” I looked up, and the bus came around the corner just then. I couldn’t help but laugh…and I could almost swear I heard someone laughing far away, up above me…LOL
That secret path is the one on which all those little joys and treasures, and intimate moments with the Lord are to be found. I wouldn’t want to walk any other path on Earth…and I’m so grateful that He loves me enough share that path with me.
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 25, 2020, 1:23 p.m.
First, I want to say, I am so thankful to all you wonderful folks who give of your resources and time, and come to make sure the homeless people don’t go hungry.
I was sitting, doing my Bible study recently, when a car pulled up, and a lady handed me a sack lunch. I thanked her and she drove off. As I was looking through sack, I came upon a can of Vienna Sausages. These are not one of my favorites. “Oh, man,” I thought, “yuk.” Then I looked up to Heaven and said, “Okay, Lord, I”m offering up my suffering for my new house.” “That’s a pretty steep bargain,” I heard in my spirit. So I answered, “Don’t look at me; you’re the Jew. You taught me how to bargain.” Then I laughed. I thanked the Lord for my lunch and for the generous lady, and ate. Fortunately I had some bread left to wrap the sausages in.
I finished my Bible study after lunch, and decided to go to the store. As I came around the corner of the block, this truck came down the street, with a dog house in the back. Again, in my spirit, I heard laughter, and then, “You’re not the only who’s funny.” LOL…and I’m still laughing. Oh, how I love Jesus!
*That last part I worked into the story. It came to me yesterday while I was on the bus. But, Jesus really does do stuff like that.
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 11, 2020, 11:31 a.m.
Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to ask ourselves whether we are serving God, or serving money/riches. Mammon, it is called in the Bible.
As I read the message, I recalled a conversation I had recently, about someone being refused a meal because they wouldn’t give up their personal information and register. They were told the reason was that if they didn’t register, the church couldn’t get paid for the meal by the government. Jesus tells us, in Matt. 6:24, that we cannot serve both God and money. Either we will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. This is very true. We prove it. I don’t think there’s a Christian that hasn’t experienced this conflict in one way or another. And, the love of money will definitely cause conflict in your life. With it comes debt, deceit, stress, all kinds of stumbling blocks.
Some of us who have held down two, and sometimes three jobs, just to make ends meet, know what a cruel Lord money can be. Work, work, work; and there’s still nothing left over, and still no chance of getting ahead. Some of us have fallen into the prestige and power trap. We sold ourselves to the “up and coming crowd;” the “Haves.” Some of us got caught up in the money trap because we tried to replace our self respect and/or dignity with stuff, stuff, and more stuff. We have to be very careful with our attitudes about money/mammon, because mammon is a very sneaky adversary. I say that, because the spirit behind it and the world’s ideas of wealth, are at work for the powers, principalities, and hosts of spiritual wickedness in the heavens. In reality, it is only sidewalk. It’s what the streets in Heaven are paved with.
Solomon said that money answers everything. It does. It pays the rent, puts food on the table, fills the car with gas, etc. But, money is to serve us; not vice versa. Keeping our attitudes about it in line with God’s Word, and practicing good stewardship/management, are the keys to staying free of bondage to it. There’s also that checklist of things like pride, fear, greed, and the like, to reckon with. We can easily fall into the money trap by way of these.
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 8, 2020, 12:19 p.m.
Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that nature is filled with healing power for us.
I don’t think I’ve posted this story before; although I’ve told it at least a hundred times. When I lived “out in the country,” I had a beautiful little Border Collie. Emma was her name. She actually was the kids’ dog, but she and I were kind of like Thelma and Louise. She was beyond spoiled.
One day, I had two five gallon jugs of water in my car when I came home. I opened the back door of the car, took the two jugs out, and headed for the house. I’d left the back door of the car open; I guess I just wasn’t thinking. Anyway, I set the two jugs down on the porch so I could unlock and open the front door.
I no sooner opened the door, and Emma rushed past me. She ran right to the car, and jumped into the back seat. I took the jugs into the house and headed back out to the car. Try as I may, I got nowhere with her. Emma refused to get out of the car. She was bound and determined to go for a ride. Finally, I shut the car door, and got in the driver’s seat. I started the car, backed out of the driveway, and pulled right back in. (I didn’t have the gas to drive around; I needed it to get to work) I shut off the motor, got out, and opened the back door for Emma…who promptly got out of the car, tail as high as she could hold it and wagging triumphantly, and -I swear-this hilarious self satisfied smile on her face. I almost doubled over laughing!
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, August 17, 2020, 10:47 a.m.
Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us of God’s promise that our faith will be rewarded.
As I read the message, in the midst of the Corona Virus pandemic and everything that’s been affected by it, I must say some thank yous. Thank you, Lord, for keeping us in the palm of your hands; first of all. Thank you, to all those who keep right on giving, right on caring about the rest of the world, and right on doing your best to help everyone get through this thing. I’ll never be able to express how much I appreciate you, and how deeply grateful I am to you.
I also think about Noah, Abraham, Moses…and our Lord, Jesus. What awesome faith they showed us! I’m always blown away when I think about Jesus; about the strength of His faith; and His love. He could have called the whole thing off at any given point in time. But He didn’t. And when I think about that, I think about the times I’ve trudged onward. I don’t know how I got through any of it, except by God’s grace strengthening my faith as I went along. The Bible does say we reap what we sow, right? Yeah, that little faith seed becomes a beautiful and majestic tree over the years, doesn’t it? Faith is its own reward. Isn’t it cool how God works all that stuff out so perfectly?!
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, July 28, 2020, 11:30 a.m.
So, I there I was, in the ladies room at the courthouse, when I heard this lady singing, what I thought, at first, was Blessed Assurance. But she sang, “Triple insurance, the Countach is mine…I’m a rich woman, because you crossed the line…I got your mansion, the boat, and the car…Oh, thank you, Jesus, it’s been a good day so far…” I almost laughed out loud, but I managed not too.
I don’t think she knew I was in there, because she went on to pray. “Thank you, Lord, for blessing me so richly today. But, Lord, when you said blessings would overtake me, I sure didn’t think you meant that guy would almost run right over the top of me in that intersection. I’m just glad I had the car in park, or I might have rear ended someone too. I almost choked on my handbag! It was the only thing I could find to stuff in my mouth, so she wouldn’t hear me laughing. OMG!!!!!
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, September 19, 2019, 3:13 p.m.
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