The Beauty of His Love

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Happy Birthday, Oma! My grandmother is celebrating her 120th birthday in Heaven today. She was, is, and always will be the greatest lady I’ve ever known; my hero. She also exemplified today’s message in every aspect of her life here on Earth. The beauty of the Lord’s love was in her nature, and in everything she did.

Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that beauty is not necessarily that which the eye can behold. It isn’t according to the Kingdom of Heaven, anyway. We are bid to seek more to know the Lord, and to seek to know more of Him. Know His character, His heart, His spirit. And then, the message bids us to seek much more to see and know the beauty of His love. When I read that part of the message, I thought of Jesus’ words about the two greatest commandments. “Love the LORD, your God with all your might, you heart and your soul; and love your neighbor as yourself. All the commandments are summed up in these two.” That sends me back to the gospels with a magnifying glass in hand. I don’t want to miss a thing about His relationship with our Heavenly Father. And I want the same relationship with them both; Jesus and our Heavenly Father.

When I read the scripture about loving my neighbor as myself, I think about how much time I spent operating under the assumption that loving my neighbor was an act of Christian charity or Christian conduct. It is, but only to a degree. You see, it should be second nature to us to love our neighbors as ourselves. I think about Peter asking the Lord how many times he must forgive a brother who offends him. Jesus told him, “seventy times seven,” or in other words, until it becomes second nature to you and comes as naturally as breathing. The problem is, you cannot give what you don’t have; and what’s inside is all that will come out. Therefore, you must love yourself first, last, and always. That means if it feels like it’s wrong, love yourself enough not to do it. If all your better judgment is screaming, “No, no, no”, don’t go. Be kind to yourself, exercise patience with yourself, create joyful moments for yourself, etc. When you do that, it causes you to stop for a second and think about the interaction that’s taking place between you and your neighbor. That empowers you to choose love; the same love you would show yourself. The next thing you know, you are surrounded and infused by and with the beauty of real love. God’s love for us is written all throughout the Bible, but Jesus is the manifestation of that love in the flesh.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 26, 2018, 12:42 p.m.

The Steps Become Visible When You Get There

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that we may plan our ways, but the Lord orders our steps. We may not always see where the steps are leading, but the message tells us that we will see the pattern and purpose of the pathway when we look back.

In looking back, I can recall many times I asked God why, times I obeyed-none too happily, and times I ended up going round and round the same mountain until I finally got it. When I asked why, God asked why not. When I grumbled and pouted and shouted, God laughed and said, “you’re cheating yourself out of joy.” And when I went round and round and round and round that mountain, I’m sure God took some Dramamine, shook His head, and said, “maybe this time she’ll get it.” You know what? Nothing changed! God did not relent! That path and those steps stayed right there waiting for me…until I walked them out. And guess what else. When I finally got there and looked back, I was overjoyed and thanked God for His persistence-because I saw how the beauty of my life had grown with each step.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 10, 2018, 12:32 p.m.

Keeping the Pipe Clear

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that self, or ego, blocks the channel through which the Holy Spirit flows. By that, I mean that when I doubt anyone will care, there’s crud building up in my little channel. When I fear that I’m not good enough, there’s a dam manifesting in the middle of the river. Attitudes can be stumbling blocks, or they can be stepping stones. You get the picture, I’m sure.

One of the things I found to be most helpful is to begin my day with gratitude. When I wake up, it’s a good day, and I’ve something to thank God for. I made it a goal some time ago to have an attitude of expectancy; joyful expectancy. That means I’m looking forward to what the birds will have to say this morning, instead of waiting for the one that might poo on me. I’m waiting for the next blessing, rather than for the other shoe to fall. Just that attitude change changed my whole life. Day by day life became less and less complicated, and more and more joyful, regardless of the circumstances. To me, that’s what that scripture about treasure in the darkness and streams in the desert is about. It’s God’s promise to give His very best, so I don’t have to have any attitudes except one of gratitude and joy. When we live with those attitudes, truly, nothing shall be impossible for us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, November 7, 2018, 2:33 p.m.

Increasing Jesus is What That Means

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Just took this yesterday. Got myself a new little cart for my “homeless holiday.” Happy Birthday, Casey James and Katrina! Love you and wish you both a beautiful day!

Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us (me, anyway) of Matt 6:33, where Jesus tells us to “seek first His (God’s) kingdom of and His righteousness”, and all the other things will be added unto us. The message is about increasing Jesus and decreasing self, or flesh, or the limitation of being in the flesh.

As I read the message and the scripture, I thought about the times I had to pray for the strength to get up out of my bed. I thought about the prayer I prayed the night before I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I had asked God to show me what I was dealing with, and to help me overcome it. I’m still here, thanks to God’s faithfulness. He answered me through a friend who would babysit for me that morning. Through a talk-show she watched that very morning, we learned that that particular disease could cause the problems I had been having. I mentioned it to my doctor, and sure enough, that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

I also thought about all the times I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know how I was going to manage or what I was going to do in different situations that presented themselves. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” “Look up for your redemption from the limitation you feel right now is very near.” Both are as near as your seeking and believing it. Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood that her faith had healed her. He also said to one, “be it unto you as you have believed.” (Mark 5:34 & Matt 8:13) Whether it’s learning or relearning and reestablishing the daily routines that promote order and keep us sane and functioning, or some project, or situation we must deal with, God’s wisdom never fails. When we turn to Him, it’s like turning on a light within that reveals ideas, dispels darkness (thoughts, feelings, doubts) and infuses strength, peace, and joy, and our Lord, Himself, right there with us. He promised never to leave or forsake us; and He never will. To me, increasing Jesus within, and decreasing the limitation of being human and in the flesh, means seeking Him first-and then doing it His way. He is, after all, the truth, the life, and the way.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Aren’t You Glad He’s Jesus?!

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s will and His workings in our lives are really glad surprises. We are bade to anticipate those surprises, rather than resign ourselves to what we perceive or feel to be some undesired and/or undeserving decision rendered on His part. Jesus said, “If you, who are evil know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13) I quoted that one to reminds you that we need help seeing things clearly once in awhile, and to remind you of this one: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Again, I’m living proof. The night after my birthday, I was setting up my little spot on the sidewalk. A car pulled up shortly after I’d arrived there, and someone handed me a meal in a to-go container. I thanked them and blessed them, and they went on their way. I opened that meal container and found one of my favorite Chinese food meals, Mongolian Beef. What a wonderful surprise! I hope that person is reading this; and I want to say thank you again, and God bless you.

Sometimes life gets hard to bear, and we can get feeling like we’re stuck on a vicious treadmill or merry-go-round. If we keep in mind and heart that our Heavenly Father loves us and is working everything together for our good (Romans 8:28), we can anticipate the joy to come, instead of resigning ourselves to drudgery. It’s a long walk we’re on, but it sure can be a joyful one if we allow it to be.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 28, 2018, 12:01 p.m.

Hearing God’s Answers

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that God’s answer to every prayer has been there from the beginning. The message tells us the answers are in eternity, awaiting our cries; that our failure to listen or heed God’s answers is what keeps us unsaved by them. Obviously, we can’t be helped by them if we don’t listen or heed them.

My own experiences with this have proven God right-naturally. Every time I don’t listen, or don’t heed, I end up being sorry for it. One day I finally figured out that I was praying for the wrong things, crying over the wrong things, and almost always in much too great a hurry to just get out of the discomfort I was being caused. It occurred to me that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to spend some time in that furnace walking with the LORD! He was the fourth one in there with them. I’ve gotten much better over the years. I still don’t like the discomfort zone. But, it sure is better than the “Twighlight zones” I’ve found myself in because I jumped out of the furnace and straight into another hell. You see, in hell your flesh just burns all the more. In the furnace, all the hell is burnt off of your flesh, and your spirit and faith become like tempered steel, gleaming and ever stronger for the fire.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Failure? The Next Step Is Glory!

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that our Lord and our Heavenly Father, both know the pain of loneliness, and of failure. God never fails and Jesus doesn’t either, but our failure to recognize their love for us, our faith falling short, and our desertion(s), all are grievous to them both.

The message is encouraging, because it tells us that we can’t learn true humility until we fail. So, that failure is the door the lessons of humility opening for us. Jesus tells us that whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matt. 23:12) Isn’t that the greatest news you’ve heard today?! There you are, sitting right in the middle of some “failure,” and it’s actually the door to your exaltation; to your glory! Let me tell you something about our eternal God. Everything about Him is eternal! That includes the glory. That means there’s glory in everything-because He’s in everything. So we go, from strength to strength, from glory to glory. (Psalm 84:7, 2 Cor. 3:18)Well, don’t just sit there! Get up! Get up! Praise God! Go through the door and learn and grow in the humility. The next door is Glory!! Praise God!

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 18, 2018, 10:18 a.m.

Seeing Him In Yourself

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Happy Birthday, Ms. Bonnie! Praying your day is filled with all things wonderful and the coming year is your best one yet!

Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, goes hand in hand with yesterday’s message. We are reminded that we do have the perfect example in all things, at all times. We are bid to look at Jesus’ patience when we lack patience, His courage when we fear, His compassion and mercy when we are wont to turn away and turn our backs, etc. In looking at Jesus, we become more and more like Him. As we put His patience, mercy, love, peace, joy, grace, etc. into practice, our own short-falling endowments begin to disappear, and those of the higher and better way become more and more our nature.

Speaking from personal experience, it is absolute joy and such freedom within -from frustration, fear, resentment, etc., and strife in general when I walk and operate with His power working in and through me, as opposed to trying to do it in my own feeble strength. The more I grow in this, the more freedom I have in everything. “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Seek First The Kingdom

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that we are never powerless, never completed depleted, and never alone. The message speaks of the imprisoned God within us needing to be released in and into the circumstances.

The first time I read this message, I thought about releasing God, Himself from within me. Some time after that, I realized, you can’t imprison God. I thought, “Now why would He say I need to release Him when He knows He can’t be imprisoned. He brought to my memory that verse in Genesis, where He tells me that I am created in His image and after His likeness. I had to laugh at myself.

What the message essentially is conveying is that, just as God is infinite and limitless, we are limitless as well. Yes, we’re in human form and subject to the limitations of human endurance in some things. But, we are creatively and spiritually limitless, and infinite as well-as long as we are living. To seek within oneself to find the hidden treasures (gifts, talents, knacks, the joy, laughter, etc. -even compassion, grace, and such are gifts at times), this is what it is to release the imprisoned God within us. He has endowed us with all we need, and then some, by creating us in His image and after His likeness. That also gives another dimension to what Jesus said to us about His being in us, and our being in Him. Everything about Him is accessible to us. I believe as we praise the Lord and enter into His Presence more and more, more and more of His being in us begins to manifest and reveal itself to us.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 16, 2018, 5:35 p.m.

Ruler Over Many Things

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Today’s message from God Calling -A.J. Russell, reminds us that Jesus takes great joy in our faithfully doing our daily tasks; living our daily lives faithfully, and full of faith.

The message speaks to us of the parable of the talents. To the one who doubled his talents, the master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

The lesson I learned from this some years ago, is that as you begin to be disciplined and persevere in the one or two things you can tackle right now (making the bed, cleaning the kitchen after dinner, etc.), you begin to gain insight as to how to deal with more, and things begin to fall into place more easily for you. I used those two examples because they’re pet peeves that just discombobulate me-but you know what yours are

There is a strength and confidence to be gained in persevering through to the end; in being faithful, and faithfully doing the right thing, or the required thing. Frustration gets weaker and weaker, and fearlessness becomes a robe to you. I say fearlessness because it is doubt and/or fear of rejection or failure that often prevents us from trying. Doubt and fear would keep us confused about our authority and capabilities. Sometimes the trunks so full, you need to break the load down to get it where you want it, right? Faithful over a few things soon makes us ruler over many.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu