Special Edition
Stephanie Morgan reports on her recent hip surgery
& Commentary
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Stephanie Morgan expresses her appreciation for your concern and prayers for her prior to and during her surgery
The Scripture reading for today is recorded in Psalm 139 inThe Living Bible
“God’s Masterpiece is Awesome!”– a poem by James Gamble
“You are only bound by what you confess” – Dr. Edwin Louis Cole
Two significant breakthroughs for Chaplains Ministries, IPHC during this quadrennium
Will you receive the Benediction?
Stand by for Today’s News . . .
Stephanie Morgan expresses her appreciation for your concern and prayers for her prior to and during her surgery
Stephanie Ellen Morgan
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for your prayers, encouragement, flower and fruit arrangements, cards and gifts. I am overwhelmed by the love and concern of so many on my behalf. It was what I needed during this time to keep me uplifted and positive.
It's hard to believe a week ago my family and I went up to spend the night in a hotel near the hospital. I was so ready to get this surgery over with that I actually could relax and enjoy my last few hours with my family, including having a lovely dinner meal at Red Lobster. In fact, the next morning in the pre-surgical unit the nurse, Carline, asked me if I were apprehensive at all. I told her that I had perfect peace and knew that God would bring me through it. She said she couldn't believe how relaxed I was, and that this only comes from the Lord. Praise the Lord, she is so right!
Everything went better than expected. My surgery only lasted two hours instead of four. Dr. James Roberson, the leading orthopedic surgeon in the nation, said that he could find NO CANCER in the hip bone that had been filled up with cancer just a few years ago. He stated that the new stem was a perfect fit and would do the job and more of a regular hip replacement. I now have a better, solid hip replacement. I can feel it too. The only pain I am experiencing is the pain from the eight to ten inch incision in my left leg. I am walking very well with my walker and all the physical therapists are amazed at my quick recovery. Hey, what can I say? It's God!!!!
My Dad brought my mother and me to my parents home last Thursday, June 4, 2009. I want to thank my Mom who stayed with me day and night through the hospitalization. I am blessed to have a caring and loving mother. A physical therapist is coming to our home to do the therapy.
God bless you all,
Stephanie
Editor’s Note: Stephanie was assigned Suite 16 (Suite 2016) when she returned from the recovery room following surgery. Not bad for a young lady who resides on Princess Drive in Winder, GA. Her surgery was done at the new Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital in Tucker, GA. We are grateful for the favor and success God has given to Stephanie, our daughter. Greg, our son, was with us to add his support to his younger sister.
The Scripture reading for today is recorded in Psalm 139 in The Living Bible
The editor’s outline of Psalm 139 – “The Presence of God”
There are seven (7) paragraphs in this Psalm about “The Presence of God.” This was the Scripture God gave me when I made the decision to resign my regular commission as an Air Force officer and chaplain to go to Southwestern College (now Southwestern Christian University) in 1975. That was one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make. It meant giving up a career as an Air Force chaplain as an active duty officer. However, God opened up the door for me to enter into the Air Force Reserve to complete my career for retirement.
God used a Catholic chaplain, Chaplain, Major General Henry Meade, Chief of Air Force Chaplain Service, to grant me a waiver to leave the Air Force and transfer my commission to the Air Force Reserve. From the day I began the paper work for out-processing, it took only 30 days to complete the mission even when people in personnel said it would take a least a year to finalize. God gave me favor and success.
Prior to Stephanie’s surgery I shared with her the outline I made of the seven (7) paragraphs in The Living Bible. I want to share them with you. Whatever you may be facing this day, just remember God is still Lord, and He will not abandon you. He has charted your life and is working out everything for your good and the glory of God.
Psalm 139
Titles for each paragraph in The Living Bible
God gave me this Scripture and the outline when I was considering making a decision to resign my commission in the Air Force, and become the third President of Southwestern College in 1974.
Dr. Hugh H. Morgan
The Searching of God’s Presence
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. 3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. 4 You know what I am going to say before I even say it. 5 You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.
The Scope of God’s Presence
6 This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! 7 I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. 9 If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. 11 If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. 12 For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.
The Satisfaction of God’s Presence
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!
The Security of God’s Presence
17 How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
The Severity of God’s Presence
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, Lord! Away, bloodthirsty men! Begone! 20 They blaspheme your name and stand in arrogance against you-how silly can they be? 21 O Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate you? Shouldn't I be grieved with them? 22 Yes, I hate them, for your enemies are my enemies too.
The Supplication of God’s Presence
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. 24 Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
TLB
“God’s Masterpiece is Awesome!”
By Jim Gamble
“I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul
knoweth right well” (Psalms 139:14, KJV).
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
This is what the Psalmist said.
An awesome mystery on God’s part.
God’s masterpiece right from His heart.
The designer had an intricate plan
When He saw my whole life’s scan.
No finger print compares with mine.
My genetic code is His design.
No one sings or speaks like me.
Or color hair or eyes that see.
No history like mine in time or space.
I’m one-of-a-kind in the human race.
No one has gone where I have gone.
No one has done what I have done.
No one has said what I have said.
No one has read what I have read.
God’s masterpiece, as I look around.
No duplicate on God’s planet found.
The Master Designer knew HOW I was made.
But WHY I was made He also has said.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 is a “YES WE CAN!”
“…. for this is the whole duty of man.”
Fear the Shepherd of the sheep.
And His commandments you will keep.
“You are only bound by what you confess” – Dr. Edwin Louis Cole
Malcolm Burton, Senior Pastor, Northgate Family Church in Spring, TX, wrote in his daily Bible reading and devotional message via e-mail, “Edwin Louis Cole, the father of the modern men’s movement, made a statement at his first meeting at Hofheinz Pavilion on the campus of the University of Houston in 1985, that changed his world.” Here is what Ed Cole said:
“You are only bound by what you confess.’
That is a powerful statement. We know from Scripture that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21, NKJV).
Someone asked Pastor Burton about what he thought about positive confessions. He responded by saying, “Honestly, I do not believe everything we say comes into being. But, I do believe the words we speak create a climate in which we will either thrive or strive.”
The Psalmist is retelling the story of the Israelites in their wilderness journey wrote, “ . . . they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 78:41, KJV). They were guilty of unbelief – that God could not provide for their needs. Far too often we tend to doubt God’s ability to supply our needs. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, KJV).
I am convinced that the ghosts of doubt and fear, and focusing on what we have lost is a deterrent to victory and success. I believe God desires to grant us favor and success. It is so easy to nurse and rehearse our hurts and disappointments. We need to let go of them. Jesus told Peter and the disciples that instead of focusing on the dried up, dead fig tree, to have faith in God (Mark 11:22). There are things we can’t do anything about. We need to grow up and mature as Christians and people of faith. In other words, “Just get over it.”
Paul wrote to the Christians at Colosse these powerful words that I have memorized and I confess daily.
"May everything good from God our heavenly Father be yours" (Colossians 1:2, The Message, Eugene H. Peterson).
Two significant breakthroughs for Chaplains Ministries, IPHC during this quadrennium
Two major breakthroughs for Chaplains Ministries, IPHC have happened during the last four years.
First, for the first time in our history we now have our own Masters degree program at Southwestern Christian University that meets the educational requirements of all three branches of service including the Department of Defense.
Second, we have established an endowment scholarship fund for fully qualified military chaplain candidates attending the graduate school at SCU. One of the greatest investments you and I can make is that of investing in the education of our youth. This kind of investment will outlast time itself.
Contact the Graduate School at Southwestern Christian University by calling: 888.418.9272
Will you receive the Benediction?
1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24,
“May God Himself, the God Who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One Who called you is completely dependable. If He said it. He will do it! (The Message, Eugene H. Peterson).
--
Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh Holmes Morgan
The Reverend Dr. Hugh Holmes Morgan
Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired
Director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC
Vice Chairman, NAE Commission on Chaplains
Chairman, Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy
Ex Officio Member, Executive Committee, National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces
CEO, Founder, President, Editor of Hugh's News & Commentary
President, Hugh Holmes Morgan Education Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Pastor Emeritus, Christian Life Worship Center (formerly Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA)
Member, Board of Trustees, Holmes Bible College
17 Sweet Apple Lane
Winder, GA 30680
Tel. (770) 725-1757
Fax: (770) 725-2707
E-mail: hugh@hughsnews.com
Website: http://www.chaplains.iphc.org
Hugh's News website: www.hughsnews.com