Thoughts on Love, Peace, Grace & Glory

Difficult person?

God's Word says to love one another. That seems pretty straight forward.
So why is it we somehow can't figure out how to love when loving them means we might have to give up what we want?
Why do we waste so much time being selfish?
If we were wise, we'd see how important it is to quit pursuing our desires and simply pursue filling their need as our service to Christ. And isn't that sacrifice? Isn't that the whole essence of true love?
Love is: giving of myself to meet another's need whether they deserve it or not and expecting NOTHING in return. It's coming along side another when they need me there. It's giving, supporting, and sometimes giving up my need or wish in order to meet their need.
The Bible doesn't have to have a chapter and verse for every aspect of our lives or every circumstance. But it does seem to have all the answers!

The Bible commands we love. It's up to us to know how to show each individual love.

An important point not to miss is that when possible, live at peace, but always LOVE. Show grace, but not at the expense of God's glory. Yes turn the other cheek, but walk away if it will result in God's glory being stolen.

DavidJeremiah.org – Radio - What About the Children?

DavidJeremiah.org – Radio - What About the Children?

True or False

Exodus 23:1 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."

This verse stood out to me so strongly when I recently read it. It was as if the Holy Spirit turned the page blank except for these words. It was an answer to prayer I needed and came from an unexpected text. Like God had said, "Behold! Pay attention!

We don't have to have a text tell us to avoid falsehood, wickedness, maliciousness. Most of us want to avoid that naturally. But there it is. God says it anyway. I think it is interesting that this is worded differently than other texts that say "do not lie". God wasn't just talking about speaking the truth. There is responsibility, honest actions, and warning against secret agreements implied as well. The NKJV says, “You shall not circulate a false report." One commentary described the duty to uphold truth and justice, walk in integrity and consideration for all men, and never be in collusion with one who had raised a false report.

Chapter 23 is full of specific examples of dishonesty, and stealing. Maybe because there are so many who think the phrase "do not lie" doesn't apply to their situation. After all, they didn't actually say an un-truth exactly.
Or in Psalms 1:1, "Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners". This verse and many more throughout God's Word give the same message, don't follow counsel from someone who has done wickedly.

"Well, God. I know I'm not supposed to lie, or align myself with those who lie or are being dishonest or have done wicked things....but....I need to keep appearance, or need their advice, or want their approval"
OH HOW FOOLISH!

The Wycliffe commentary says, "To do such a thing puts one in opposition to a Holy God who will not justify wickedness."

Oh God, give me wisdom to keep far from unrighteousness and the strength to uphold truth.

FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT and BE RESCUED!

Lately I have been reminded of ways God has rescued me.
Psalms 18:16-19 has become my go-to verses recently.
16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
David wrote these words when he was being surrounded by Saul who sought to kill him. He had to run away from his enemy on several occasions. 1 Sam 23:15 says, "And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hands." David even hid out in a cave in the wilderness with his men until the enemy gave up for a time or was stopped.
The thing that stands out to me in this story is that Saul was once David's friend, became jealous of the success of David, and was angry that the Lord was with David and wanted him dead.
What an awful experience for David to go through. He constantly was oppressed by his own king. Someone he once obeyed and had pledged allegiance to, he now had to fight against and run and hide from. Oh, and did I mention... during this time, Saul became his Father-in-Law! Fight or flight? David chose flight on many occasions because he couldn't reason with Saul, it was safest to get away, and it gave David time to call on God for strength and guidance.
Something else I liked in this story is that God continually appointed David's protection. His brother-in-law and good friend, Jonathan gave David a heads up about Saul's evil desires. He encouraged David to go find a secret place of safety. Saul's daughter (David's wife) helped David escape, and David's men stood on guard to watch out for the enemy. David obviously needed that support. His enemy was too strong for him, but not for God! The Lord, through people who loved David, continued to be the support he needed.
The instinct of fleeing an enemy, the safety of escaping the enemy, the space and distance required to find rest and security from the enemy...all of this God ordained for David. The NIV says that God brought David into a spacious place. That was part of God's plan to rescue David from his enemy.

At the beginning of the relationship between David and Saul, we read how David helped comfort Saul when Saul was having some kind of mental stress or sickness. We read in I Samuel 16:23, And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him." While this is very mysterious to me, it is clear in God's sovereignty that His "big picture" purpose was at work. At the beginning of Saul's pursuit of David, it was that same music playing that ticked off Saul and the harmful spirit would return. God knew all of this, and God had a plan.

And why did all of this happen? Why this relentless, exhausting battle? What was the good in this familial feud? That is the beautiful part of the story.

God was orchestrating events in the lives of both Saul and David. He was strengthening David's character, and giving others in David's life opportunity to come along side him and support him. I think God was revealing Himself to David in fresh ways, preparing him for battles still to come. This was really God's rescue story in David's life. God wanted David to know how much He cared for him, how much He delighted in him, and how much He was lovingly watching over David's life.
David's confidence in God challenges me. He wrote in Psalm 31:7-8
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
The cross reference to this verse is Ps 18 where we started out.

I was brought to tears when I read this text-the last verse especially.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

God has taught me to see the beautiful sovereignty of HIS story in my life through affliction and distress. I have seen how God brought me through battles and relentless struggles that have lasted years. And how He brought me into a spacious place protected from the enemy, gave me protection, and built up a support system around me. He rescued me because He delighted in me and He has a "bigger picture" plan in store for my life.

O,Lord I say, “You are my refuge. Your steadfast love alone sustains me. What can man do to me? When men may fail me, you are for me."

Sometimes we have to fight, sometimes it's best to flight, and sometimes, many more times than we may even know, we are being rescued!

April Morgan -- one in whom God delights and who has been rescued!

From Him, through Him, & to Him

Romans 11:36
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever."
The other day someone asked me to tell her how I was feeling. It's not often we make time to ask that of others, to listen to each other, to care. It's even less often that we find the time to answer that question. I know I don't often stop and think about how I feel emotionally, spiritually, or even physically unless things are really going well, or things are going really bad. The answer is always, "oh, uh...fine!, Thanks. How are you?"
But this day was not an ordinary day. And circumstances in my life weren't necessarily ordinary at that time. There were unseen forces at work in my life. More like "at war" in my life. When I took the time to stop and think about my answer, a floodgate opened. Events in my past were fresh on my mind. I gave the honest ugly answer, but God knew I needed that time to release it and get out from under that grey cloud.
God has recently helped change my opinion from "Unfortunately, we cannot change our past" to "God I know that all circumstances in my past have come thru your perfect hands".
The Holy Spirit is helping me understood afresh what it looks like to have joy in all circumstances, to be thankful in all circumstances, and what it means to live "all things to His glory." I mean I am at least really trying to live this out today. Forgive my fickleness, Lord.
I am thankful God brings the caring people in my life right when I need it and so glad my friend gave a listening ear. Maybe you need to be listened to today. Go ahead, share. Give it a try! Or maybe you need to ask that question with readiness to listen. I know God uses both!

Always Something to Celebrate

With the exception of my youngest son, whose birthday is in August, we get to celebrate everyone's birthday during Autumn. I love any reason to celebrate...days off, holidays, early outs from school (which is up to me now!), days Scott gets to come home, birthdays....you name it. There is always always always something to be thankful for, so it has been said. Therefore, there is always always always something to celebrate!
Laura, seen here with her butterfly wings, had her 2nd birthday earlier this month. Two weeks prior, my oldest became a teenager. I reached 33 this year on 11/11/11. That was fun. Scott had his day in September. Each year we get older we have more to celebrate.
Homeschooling is still proving to be fun for all. We are all learning so much about each other with our extra time together. There has been some fun projects going most weeks. Joel built a ship like one Columbus would like, Eric has been busy creating movies that correspond to science and history. From Creation vs Evolution, to Reincarnation-eyes are being opened to the world around us all.
Our schedule seems to keep busy, and the days and weeks are quickly passing. Joel, seen skateboarding here, practices as often as Mom allows. Theres lots of fun and laughter to keep us going. Toddlers to teens, all at the same time! It's quite a fun mix at our house.
October and November taught us many lessons:
- Don't come between a princess and her candy!
- Broken dishwashers aren't the end of the world
- Feet and frosting don't go together....well. And,
- Jesus sticks closer than a brother.
Now that's something to celebrate!

Half the summer; all the fun

With summer half over, I think it's time to start having some fun! We are planning some family time in August-- so we look forward to that. Next week is a trip to KY for some cousin bonding for my kids. We still have a Cubs game to go to, annual camping trip to fit in--once the heat wave leaves, and a trip to the local water park. Eric has college for kids, while Joel is busy showing off for the neighbor girls! Both boys (&Dad too) received their Tae Kwon Do BLACKBELTS'!!!!!! in June. Eric is going for the 2nd time this summer to get X-rays. That blasted trampoline and scooter! I started the summer with a broken toe-that blasted trampoline again! We have had two garage sales already...Scott has been busy training a sales rep to service his Michigan accounts with the hopes of traveling more close to home-thank you God! Laura says more and more things to make us all laugh everyday. Lately, besides singing her version of the "ABC's", she sings the opening line to the song Clementine: "oh my darlin', o me darlin, o me darlin- Laura Gwace"!!!! So so so cute! She recently enjoyed getting her toenails painted for the first time, and everyday wakes up....looks at her toes, and says "Laura toes still pritty!" I love what each of my children bring to my life! Scott had been building/painting/preparing a classroom for the kids as we will start homeschooling in September. I have been reading like crazy this summer and preparing to be teacher-mom! We are all actually looking forward to our new adventure together. As fast as June and July have gone, I know Fall will be here faster than I can ready myself for it. You better believe the next 6 weeks are gonna be packed full of fun at the Morgan house! Hope your remaining summer days are funtimes too!