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.

Saturday Silly – January 9, 2021

My cousin’s wife has been wanting breast implants for about the last three years, now. He said it’s all he hears about. My cousin is kind of a smart aleck, so when he saw this certain billboard, he couldn’t resist. The billboard read: “Growing healthcare options right in your own backyard.” He called his wife on his cell-phone, and asked her if she’d like him to pick up a pot of breasts. Needless to say, he was in the dog house with his wife. When he told me what he’d done, I said, “Gee, I should see if they have some teeth.” My cousin replied, “you better wait till you have a home again. Now, you’d have to carry them around in your cart; and they’d be rattling all the time over the bumpy sidewalks. Besides, that, there’s not much room in your little “tent.” They might bite you in the butt.”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

He Speaks In The Stillness

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that we need to, sometimes, just wait quietly before the Lord. We need quiet time with Him as much as a child needs quiet time with Mom or Dad. Do you remember holding your child to calm him/her down?

My oldest son would get over-stimulated and upset during big gatherings. I would have to take him to another room where it was quiet; just the two of us, and let him calm down and regain his composure. We all feel that need to walk away to a quiet place and just regroup at times. When I began to expect God to show up for morning coffee with me, He surprised me by doing just that. It’s my way of just getting in a little quiet time with my Heavenly Father, so that I can focus and get myself centered and ready to take the day on.

It’s amazing how much of a difference that few minutes makes. Spiritually, I feel more alert and stronger. That peace within, I know, is stronger because of that time. And, as I “see” my Father’s face, the love, compassion, joy, etc., those things rise up within as well. That time empowers our daily life with, and for, Him.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

It Must Come Out First

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that this walk with Jesus is a lifelong journey. From my own experience, it’s the journey of a lifetime.

The message tells us that we can only proceed upward step by step and stage by stage. “And we all having been unveiled in face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18) No journey is taken in one step; but step by step.

When I read this message, I think about Psalm 23:5 -“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Being transformed into God’s image and likeness involves constant intake of His Divine Nature, His Word, His Love for us. However, as we fill up with it, we must make room for more. (Proverbs 25:16) That’s why we must be doers, and not only hearers of the Word. In the hearing, we are being empowered with truth and wisdom. It’s in the doing, however, that our faith and character grow. Our spirits are strengthened, our hope is renewed, and joy rises up within us over our growth in Christ Jesus, and the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Romans 2:13)

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

It Helps Us To See Their Hearts

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J Russell, reminds us that we must not dwell on our failures, or those of others who have failed us. Philippians3:13-14 is referenced by the message. That scripture tells us that we are to forget those things which are behind us, and press on to the the goal that lies ahead. That’s the Kingdom of Heaven; it’s the freedom we have in, and through, Christ Jesus.

This message builds a little on yesterday’s post. When we become able to see ourselves the way God sees us, and love ourselves the way He loves us, we will be able to better see the hearts of those who have failed us. My mother was a vicious drunk. When she started drinking, people found places to go, or tip-toed as if walking on eggshells. She had her favorite “sparring partners,” (aka) also known as victims) too. There were words that stuck with me for years, pain that brought blinding tears to my eyes with each remembrance of past hurts, and a whole lot of confusion, as well.

Let me tell you what Jesus did for me, in regard to all that. He helped me to see myself, my connections, my failures and falls through His Eyes. That’s the Holy Spirit empowering us by shedding God’s love abroad in our hearts, to help us see ourselves the way He does. Then, as I began to heal from my own failures, I was able to get past my mother’s failures. I was able to put both behind me. Recently, I had occasion to think about my mother. There was not a night I worked late, that Mom didn’t leave dinner warming in the oven for me. There were times she sneaked into my room when I was sick, to check on me-during my teens, and when I was an adult. And, when she talked about me to others, I was a jewel in her crown of motherhood. She was always proud of me; those people have told me.

Whenever I read the story of the woman at the well, I think about my Mom, and myself. That woman asked Jesus is He was greater than Jacob, whose well He was sitting at. Jacob, who drank from that well, as did his sons, and their sons, and so on, and so on…Jesus told her, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never thirst. The water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Generational curses come through the Jacob’s wells in our lives. The wellspring of God’s Word, of His love, and His peace, breaks the generational curses off of us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Break Through The Bars

Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, speaks to us of the imprisoned God. Praise, we’re told again, brings God on the scene. Praise opens the doors to the throne room of God, giving us a glimpse of who He is, who we are in Him, and all that He has put inside of us. I hope you’ll read the message for yourselves at twolisteners.org -this is one we all need from time to time.

When I read the message, this scripture comes to mind: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10:12) We often don’t reach our full potential in things because we’ve imprisoned the son of God within us. I’m not talking about Jesus; I’m talking about you and me. Although, we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. We’re created in God’s image and after His likeness. That means we can be awesome when we’re working with God, instead of against Him. (Psalm 139: 13) tells us: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God knows each and every one of us, our strengths, weaknesses, gifts, favorite things, things we don’t like, etc. He knows us intimately; even better than we know ourselves.

Here’s where that fallow ground comes in. Quite often we are, from birth, guided and led, coaxed and cajoled, and yes, often coerced into becoming people we really don’t want to be. We end up becoming people pleasers, suffering from anxieties, harboring resentments , and living bitter and unfulfilled lives. We spend most of our lives trying to become someone else’s version of awesome. When we sow righteousness for ourselves, we’re sowing God’s thoughts about us, and His Word to us into our hearts. We reap His steadfast love within us. We grow in His love for us, and we learn to love ourselves like He does. The Word of God, and His love will even break up all that fallow ground (hard, unplowed), if and when you can’t do it yourself. Breaking it up involves tearing down the strongholds and wrong attitudes and thoughts that we’ve been fed. Then, God can come in and rain righeousness on us.

Here’s a short list of some bars that surround us and keep us locked away from our full potential: “You’re never going to amount to anything.” “You can’t do anything right.” “Your brother’s/sister’s the smart one.” “I don’t know why I bother; nobody cares anyway.” “It’s too late in my life.” “I’m too old, young, shy, stupid, fill in the blank.” Are you getting the picture? These all come back to that fallow ground; to the lies we’ve allowed to be covered over, and allowed our potential to be packed down under.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

The Cure For Envy

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Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, bids us to “never be satisfied with a comparison with those around us.” -quoting directly from the message at twolisteners.org. I hope you’ll read the entire message for yourselves-it’s awesome.

We’re told to review our character at least weekly, and to compare it to Jesus’ character instead. We’re bid to imitate our Lord, then. “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father in Heaven is perfect,” He said. (Matt. 5:48 – NIV)

When you remain mindful of this, you begin to check yourself whenever you feel yourself slipping. Spiritually, this is a very empowering thing. You begin to walk more securely in God’s ways. You become less and less insecure in regard to your “popularity”, and what others think of you. And, you get so busy growing and discovering all the wonderful things God put inside you, that there’s no room for envy. There is now only room for celebration and celebration with others over their triumphs, gifts, and talents, etc.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

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