Declare It Every Day

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 96, and I can tell you from personal experience, it is life changing.

Verses 1 & 2 are a key that empowers us to make those positive changes. “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.”

Did you get that part about the new song? No more, “poor me, I can’t, I don’t know how, etc., etc., etc.” “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me,” is the new tune we’re singing. We can, and will proclaim His salvation day after day, by sticking to those standards and boundaries. We’ll proclaim it by making it (salvation from those old ways, etc.) a priority; top of the list.

Now we’re going to get to God’s sanctuary, and our sanctuary. We’ll find this in verse 6: “Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty fill His sanctuary.” Do you know that your space(s) is your sanctuary? Your home, your personal space-like your bedroom, your office cubicle, etc., are all your sanctuary. When we make those spaces like God’s sanctuary, we get the same effect-splendor, majesty, beauty, and strength. That splendor is the peace and joy within, resulting from knowing who and whose we are. The majesty is the authority we have over our spirit, and over the spirits; the authority we have over any and every circumstance, and over our personal spaces/sanctuaries.

This is why we strive to make our spaces strengthening, by keeping them orderly and clean, peaceful, and conducive to productivity and progress. And, in case you didn’t know this, progress is also destressing and taking that breather in your space, that helps you shift gears and get on to the next task. -Like that cup of Chai tea upon your arrival back at home from work. LOL

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Saturday Silly – May 8 2021

“Have you talked to your mother lately,” my brother asked his wife? “Yes,” replied my sister-in-law. “As a matter of fact, she’s coming to dinner tonight. What made you think of her,” my sister in law asked. “Today is National Windmill Day,” replied my brother. LOL ! I hear he’s coming to spend a couple of weeks in town with us.

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Increasing Your Days

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 61. it’s a psalm of King David’s, and a short one, so I’ll post the whole thing for you.

(Psalm 61 -ESV) “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day.

The NIV reads: Increase the days of the king’s life. I like that word better than “prolong.” Here’s the reason: Increase also means to make greater in size, intensity, or degree. This tells me that I don’t have to live an ordinary, or humdrum life. When we allow God to lead us to that rock that is higher than we are, we can increase in every way. -Dear Jesus, I do not need to increase an;y more in size, by the way. Jesus said, “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 3:31)

King David prayed that he might be enthroned before God forever. This is what Paul meant when he said, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24) In this way, we are truly enthroned before the LORD, because He sees our striving and serving.

When we allow steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over us, and to guide us, we learn to go the extra mile; we learn to give that extra whatever it is that makes for excellence. An example would be not only doing the dishes, but drying them and putting them away, cleaning the sink, sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor, etc. for Mom or Dad, or for your mate. That’s an increase in your thoughtfulness, in the quality of your work, and in your sense of self-worth-because you’re striving to do an excellent job. This is growth on your part. Can you see the increase? When we make a habit of following the path of love and faithfulness, we increase our days with so much love, peace, and joy. And in a family, we actually increase everyone’s days.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

A Good Day Starts In The Morning

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 59. King David, once again, is entreating the LORD because Saul’s having his house watched, so that he can kill David. The psalm ends up with a couple of key verses.

Psalm 59:16 & 17 – “But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.” (BSB) Not only does this speak to us of the importance of stirring our spirits up in God’s love and devotion, and praising Him. It speaks to us of stirring our children’s spirits up in our love and devotion for them. Not only that, but of singing their praises; of building them up in their spirits. This builds their confidence and readiness to face the day. A good day always starts first thing in the morning.

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Your Story’s Just Beginning!

Happy Resurrection Sunday! And Happy Easter, one and all! I spent all day Friday thinking about the disciples and the women with Jesus, waiting, holding their breath, unsure and afraid. Peter, especially, was on my mind. This song by Casting Crowns come to mind as I did. Peter was probably sure he was a complete failure to the Lord. I can almost hear the enemy taunting him. But Jesus has a surprise for the enemy, didn’t He? Yes! Peter’s story was really just beginning. Thanks to what our Lord, Jesus did for us on Calvary, and then in Hell when he stripped Satan of his power, and the keys to death and hell…in front of all the principalities and powers…everybody’s story was just beginning. Your story really is just beginning when you come to the Lord. He takes everything behind you, and paves the road ahead of you with it. That’s the road to glory; His, and yours! “Today, when you hear His Voice, don’t harden your hearts.” (Isaiah 40:10) “Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.“

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Every Day Bless Him!

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 34; written by King David. David sure knows how to stir himself up int he LORD, doesn’t he? That’s one of the reasons Psalms is my favorite book in the Old Testament. The very first verse of the psalm ties right in with Friday’s message: Every day, bless the LORD! Every day, Praise the LORD! Every day rejoice in the LORD! (Remember how David danced before the LORD when He was bringing home the Ark of the Covenant?) When we fix our heart, or affix our heart to the LORD and His heart, life becomes a dance. “Maybe God doesn’t want me to have it.” NOT TRUE! “whatever you ask in my Name will be done for you.” (John 16:23) *I know that Lamborghini is on its way! LOL When doubt tries to creep in, we need to oust it by speaking The Word, which is the Truth. David recites a long list of blessings (God’s goodness toward us)

Verse 21 of the psalm not only empowers my faith, but it also sobers me a little bit. “Affliction will slay the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.” (ESV) Do you suppose this is the very reason we’re to pray for our enemies and bless them? It’s not God’s will that any should perish. That causes Jesus’ words to echo so loudly in my heart. “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

I think this song is appropriate here. Thank you Carrie Underwood! Such a beautiful rendition.

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Saturday Silly-March 20, 2021

OMG! I don’t know who the heck came up with this holiday, but he, or she is not very smart, if you ask me! It’s National Proposal Day…Okay, first, you cannot tell people when they’re getting married! Secondly, Polygamy is against the law! Thirdly, (I’ll use myself as an example) thirdly, if I married all the single men in America, there wouldn’t be any left for you. Gee whiz, what an idiot!

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Your Holy Attire

Today’s message comes to us from Psalm 29. Verses 1&2 “Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. *(or, in holy attire)-(ESV) The whole Psalm is beautiful; written by King David, of course.

When I think about holy attire, especially on Sunday, when we gather to worship the LORD/Lord, I’m looking at my heart. I must admit that my heart has not always been right before the LORD, in church on Sunday morning. Praise and worship poured out of my mouth; but my heart was far from Him; more times than I can count, I’m afraid. I had to actually go before the LORD/Lord, and ask Him to give me His Heart. I’m so thankful for His mercy and grace. He is so very patient with us. Yes, He answered that prayer for me. I still ask for His Heart; every morning! Believe me; it helps tremendously; and on a daily basis!

The rest of the Psalm speaks to us about God’s Voice. Verses 5-8 are really awesome, and touch on exactly what I was talking about above. “The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.”

Think about your hardened heart, on a Sunday morning, maybe after an argument with your mate, or fighting traffic all the way into town, etc. Sometimes, everything that can go wrong does, doesn’t it? There you stand…going through the motions…JESUS, HELLLLPPPP! Am I right?! He steps right up, and speaks to the storm; doesn’t He? Fire purifies and that wilderness just vanishes. When I think of that wilderness, and how it took them forty years to make a three day journey…I think I’m pretty sure that I’m gonna holler right away, Lord! I want to hear that “Peace be still!” The LORD’s voice is stronger than COVID! Have a beautiful day!

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Saturday Silly-March 13, 2021

The things we celebrate…March is packed with some good ones. March 13th is Smart and Sexy Day. My cousin loves these holiday things, and said this one was right up her alley!! Her husband likes it when she dresses for dinner; so last year, dressed in stockings, garter,panties, bustier, and 5″ stiletto heels, my cousin served him “Lasagna Popsicles” for dinner. It’s also National Frozen Food Month, and she fancies herself to be a chef.

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I Was

I wrote this psalm last Sunday, after a day filled with Bible study. I thought I’d share.

Were you there at Calvary: when Jesus died to set us free? Whenever I get the victory, I was.

Were you there when He hung on the cross; separated from God to save us lost? The day I realized what that cost, I was.

Where you there when they laid Him in the tomb? When He went to Heaven to prepare a room for you and me? Whenever I look up and see there’s yet a horizon, I was.

Whenever I look into those eyes, and Jesus’ love dispels the lies I used to live, I remember everything the Beautiful One gave that day; and still gives today. I see myself on Calvary, in His Heart.

Were you there that day on Calvary, when His blood covered every sin conceived? Oh, when I think of Jesus love for me, I was.

Thank you Lord, for loving me.

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, February 28, 2021, 1:24 p.m./Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, March 6, 2021, 2:45 p.m.