​A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder.

The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry but you scared the daylights out of me."

The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.

The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years."

Melvine Stewart Morgan, 85, of Winder, GA, entered her heavenly home on January 17, 2020 at 4:49 p.m. She was born December 16, 1934, in Leaksville, NC to the late Russell Holbrook and Mary Frances Shropshire Stewart.

Melvine was preceded in death by her parents and her younger sister, Ann Russelline Stewart Fulcher, a son, Christopher Todd Morgan, a miscarriage, Julia Frances Morgan, a still born, a daughter, Stephanie Ellen Morgan, who died on August 3, 2012, Lawrence Fulcher, brother-in-law, R. H. McDuff, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Mary Evelyn Morgan McDuff.

She is survived by her husband, Hugh Holmes Morgan, and her son, Gregory Holmes Morgan, as well as a number of cousins, nephews and nieces and their families.

Melvine graduated from Morehead High School, in Eden, NC in 1953.  She attended and graduated from Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC, in 1956 with the Bachelor of Sacred Literature degree.  She then received the bachelor of arts degree in education in 1958 from High Point University.

Melvine began her teaching career in Draper, NC, in the graded elementary school there. 

She was an active member of the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church teaching Sunday school, youth leader, singing in the choir, trios, as well as solos. She was known as a Gospel singer.

She met her Prince Charming, Hugh Holmes Morgan, at a revival in Appomattox, VA in October 1957. They were married August 13, 1960 at the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church.

After their honeymoon they moved to Wilmore, KY, where Hugh enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary where Hugh graduated in 1963 with the Master of Divinity degree. Melvine taught elementary school while Hugh attended seminary.

Upon graduation from seminary, they accepted their first pastor at the Brownville Pentecostal Holiness Church near Evergreen, AL. Once again, she taught school in Evergreen in the public school there.

In May 1965, Hugh was called to be an Air Force chaplain and served on active duty for 11 years. He was asked by his denomination to become the third president of Southwestern College in Oklahoma City, now Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK. He served as president for two years. He resigned as president and was called to become the pastor of his home church, Good Shepherd Church, in Birmingham, Alabama. Hugh and Melvine served that church for nine years. In May 1986, they accepted the call to become the pastor of Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA. 

Hugh was able to enter the Air Force Reserve and retired in November 1991 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In January 1995, they were called to be the pastor of the Richmond First Pentecostal Holiness Church. They pastored the church until 1997. Hugh was asked to serve as the director/endorser of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC, and served in that position for almost 16 years.

In every church, as well as in the Air Force, Melvine taught Sunday school. She was a gifted and talented teacher of the Bible.

While serving the chaplains of his denomination Hugh began a newsletter called Hugh’s News. This year of 2020 is the 23rd year Hugh has served as the editor and publisher of this newsletter that serves IPHC ministries and the body of Christ worldwide.

In every ministry God gave to Hugh and Melvine, Melvine was the backbone of Hugh’s Ministry. In all probability you would not have heard of Hugh Morgan if it were not for Melvine.

Hugh and Melvine were happily married for more than 59 years, and served faithfully in their assigned ministries.
God blessed them with two adult children, Gregory Holmes Morgan and Stephanie Ellen Morgan.

They were both school teachers. Stephanie died on August 3, 2012. Greg came home from teaching music in the Thomson McDuffie Middle School at the end of last year to help his parents due to his mother’s diagnosis of stage 3 ovarian cancer.

A Memorial Service will be Tuesday, January 21, at Christian Life Worship Center, 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, GA at 11:30 a. m.  Visitation will be at 10 a. m. Pastor Terry Kesling will be in charge of the memorial service. Guest ministers will include, Bishop Tim Lamb, the Rev. Mr. Wesley Russ, Bishop Harold Kelley of the Church of God, the Rev. Mr. Wayne Butler, who will sing, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow," and Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham, General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, with church offices, called General Ministries Center, located in Bethany, Oklahoma.

A graveside service will be conducted following the memorial service at Athens Memory Garden in East Athens, 5195 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 (US Highway 78, East).

You may Click Here on this hyperlink to see the beautiful website of Lord & Stephens' Funeral Home in East Athens.

A Memorial Service for Melvine Stewart Morgan will be Tuesday, January 21, at Christian Life Worship Center, 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, GA at 11:30 a. m.  Visitation will be at 10 a. m. 

Pastor Terry Kesling will be in charge of the memorial service. Guest ministers will include, Bishop Tim Lamb, the Rev. Mr. Wesley Russ, Bishop Harold Kelley of the Church of God, the Rev. Mr. Wayne Butler, who will sing, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow," and Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham, General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, with church offices, called General Ministries Center, located in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Hugh and Greg Morgan will be there to greet each of you would will come to honor Melvine. We deeply appreciate your love and acceptance of us. Greg and I will speak briefly in the memorial service prior to Bishop Doug Beacham preaching.

A graveside service will be conducted following the memorial service at Athens Memory Garden in East Athens, 5195 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 (US Highway 78, East).

You may wish to Click Here and go to the website of Lord & Stephens' Funeral Home.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Melvine's favorite Old Testament Scripture verse
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; 
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight. 
NIV
​+++++
Proverbs 3:5-6 This Proverb was a life Scripture for Melvine Morgan's life. She wanted
God's Way to be her way in everything she did. And she accomplished that desire by
​the grace of God.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
KJV

Yogi Berra Quotes

Once, Yogi's wife Carmen asked, "Yogi, you are from St. Louis, we live in New Jersey, and you played ball in New York. If you go before I do, where would you like me to have you buried?" Yogi replied, "Surprise me."

"Do you mean now?" -- When asked for the fifth time.

"I take a two hour nap, from one o'clock to four."

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough in the second half you give what's left."

"90% of the putts that are short don't go in."

"I made a wrong mistake."

"Texas has a lot of electrical votes." -- During an election campaign, after George Bush stated that Texas was important to the election.

"Thanks, you don't look so hot yourself." -- After being told he looked cool.

"I always thought that record would stand until it was broken."

"Yeah, but we're making great time!" -- In reply to "Hey Yogi, I think we're lost."

"If the fans don't come out to the ballpark, you can't stop them."

"Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel."

"It's never happened in the World Series competition, and it still hasn't."

"How long have you known me, Jack? And you still don't know how to spell my name." -- Upon receiving a check from Jack Buck made out to "bearer."

"I'd say he's done more than that." -- When asked if first baseman Don Mattingly had exceeded expectations for the current season.

"The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."

"He can run anytime he wants. I'm giving him the red light." -- On the acquisition of fleet Ricky Henderson.

"I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat, and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?"

"It ain't the heat; it's the humility."

"The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase."

​Obituary and Memorial Arrangement for Melvine Stewart Morgan

Melvine Stewart Morgan, 85, of Winder, GA, entered her heavenly home on January 17, 2020 at 4:49 p.m. She was born December 16, 1934, in Leaksville, NC to the late Russell Holbrook and Mary Frances Shropshire Stewart.

Melvine was preceded in death by her parents and her younger sister, Ann Russelline Stewart Fulcher, a son, Christopher Todd, a miscarriage, Julia Frances, a still born, a daughter, Stephanie Ellen Morgan, who died on August 3, 2012, Lawrence Fulcher, brother-in-law, R. H. McDuff, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Mary Evelyn Morgan McDuff.

She is survived by her husband, Hugh Holmes Morgan, and her son, Gregory Holmes Morgan a number of cousins, nephews and nieces and their families.

Melvine graduated from Morehead High School, in Eden, NC in 1953.  She attended and graduated from Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC, in 1956 with the Bachelor of Sacred Literature degree.  She then received the bachelor of arts degree in education in 1958 from High Point University.

Melvine began her teaching career in Draper, NC, in the graded elementary school there. 

She was an active member of the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church teaching Sunday school, youth leader, singing in the choir, trios, as well as solos. She was known as a Gospel singer.

She met her Prince Charming, Hugh Holmes Morgan, at a revival in Appomattox, VA in October 1957. They were married August 13, 1960 at the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church.

After their honeymoon they moved to Wilmore, KY, where Hugh enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary where Hugh graduated in 1963 with the Master of Divinity degree. Melvine taught elementary school while Hugh attended seminary.

Upon graduation from seminary, they accepted their first pastor at the Brownville Pentecostal Holiness Church near Evergreen, AL. Once again, she taught school in Evergreen in the public school there.

In May 1965, Hugh was called to be an Air Force chaplain and served on active duty for 11 years. He was asked by his denomination to become the third president of Southwestern College in Oklahoma City, now Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK. He served as president for two years. He resigned as president and was called to become the pastor of his home church, Good Shepherd Church, in Birmingham, Alabama. Hugh and Melvine served that church for nine years. In May 1986, they accepted the call to become the pastor of Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA. 

Hugh was able to enter the Air Force Reserve and retired in November 1991 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In January 1995, they were called to be the pastor of the Richmond First Pentecostal Holiness Church. They pastored the church until 1997. Hugh was asked to serve as the director/endorser of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC, and served in that position for almost 16 years.

In every church, as well as in the Air Force, Melvine taught Sunday school. She was a gifted and talented teacher of the Bible.

While serving the chaplains of his denomination Hugh began a newsletter called Hugh’s News. This year of 2020 is the 23rd year Hugh has served as the editor and publisher of this newsletter that serves IPHC ministries and the body of Christ worldwide.

In every ministry God gave to Hugh and Melvine, Melvine was the backbone of Hugh’s Ministry. In all probability you would not have heard of Hugh Morgan if it were not for Melvine.

Hugh and Melvine were happily married for more than 59 years, and served faithfully in their assigned ministries.
God blessed them with two adult children, Gregory Holmes Morgan and Stephanie Ellen Morgan.

They were both school teachers. Stephanie died on August 3, 2012. Greg came home from teaching music in the Thomson McDuffie Middle School at the end of last year to help his parents due to his mother’s diagnosis of stage 3 ovarian cancer.

A Memorial Service will be Tuesday, January 21, at Christian Life Worship Center, 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, GA at 11:30 a. m.  Visitation will be at 10 a. m. Pastor Terry Kesling will be in charge of the memorial service. Guest ministers will include, Bishop Tim Lamb, the Rev. Mr. Wesley Russ, Bishop Harold Kelley of the Church of God, the Rev. Mr. Wayne Butler, who will sing, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow," and Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham, General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, with church offices, called General Ministries Center, located in Bethany, Oklahoma.

A graveside service will be conducted following the memorial service at Athens Memory Garden in East Athens, 5195 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 (US Highway 78, East).

​Author: Daneel le Roux 
Our hearts are broken from the sad news of Melvine's home going. You are constantly in our prayers and thoughts. God bless you and give you comfort and strength and God bless the memory of Melvine. Daneel

Author: Mary Belle Johnson
During this transitional farewell may you WALK by the RIVERS of PEACE. REST on THE CLOUDS OF COMFORT and LIVE in the RAINBOWS of HOPE. Lovingly and prayerfully I care.

***Melvine, an amazing lady, beautiful in character, laden with wisdom. given to hospitality, bathed in love, walked in integrity, influential Godliness and leaving a legacy for all to admire. What an inspiration! To know her was to love her - our friend eternally.

Authors: Ben and Beverly Rose
We are sad because of the many times we had together Melvine was such a great person but we also realize that she has it made.

Author: Rodney Callahan 
Please accept condolences from Caroline and me. We have been praying for Melvine and you daily. I will continue to pray for you and Greg. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," The Holy Bible.

Author: T. Elwood Long

Greetings and condolences, Dr. Morgan and Greg. I know from experience the homegoing to heaven of my mother, my father, and my first wife, Sylvia. I grieve with you at the homegoing of your dear wife, Melvine, and mother of your children. However, as we know, all these persons whom I have mentioned and the saints of the ages are at rest in the eternal joys of heaven.  Then, our eternal joys forever will be joining our Lord and loved ones who have finished their eternal journey. God bless you and Greg in every way you need!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Melvine's favorite Old Testament Scripture verse
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; 
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight. 
NIV
​+++++
Proverbs 3:5-6 This Proverb was a life Scripture for Melvine Morgan's life
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
KJV

You might like to recall...October 3, 1950 "Peanuts" first debuted in seven newspapers under the United Features Syndicate. Developed by Charles M. Schulz, who was raised Lutheran in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, "Peanuts" ran for nearly 50 years and was published in 2,600 newspapers, 75 countries and 21 languages. That is a lot of love. Here is a gem of wisdom from Charles Schultz about our departed loved ones:

Charlie Brown is looking up at the star studied heavens and says,

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."

Melvine Morgan's earthly life came to an end on Friday, January 17, 2020. She breathed her last breath in the presence of her husband, Hugh Morgan, and her son, Greg Morgan, and Bonnie Bender, a retired nurse and a dear friend who ministered to Melvine until her death.

Melvine went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ at 4:49 p. m. on Friday, January 17, 2020, in our modest home in Winder, GA. She was officially pronounced dead by a hospice nurse at 5:54 p.m. 

A one point during the day, Melvine opened her dark brown eyes and looked straight at me. She said, "I love you, Hugh." And I responded by saying, "Melvine I love you too, and I am glad you are my wife."

God gave me grace to release Melvine's soul and spirit from her body to go on to heaven and let her know how much I love her for her love, affection, faithfulness, and loyalty all the years of our marriage, 59+ years.
​
Coming to minister to us shortly after Melvine's death was our Hospice chaplain, William Collier Cato, and Pastor Terry Kesling, our pastor at Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, GA. Later, Joyce Hawkins, a public school teacher friend, and a committed and loyal member of our church, came to be with us and offer her assistance.

Two nurses from St. Mary's Home Hospice Care came to officially certify and register Melvine's death, to prepare her body for the funeral directors who came to take Melvine's body to the funeral home, Lord & Stephens' Funeral Home, 4355 Lexington Road, GA 30605 (US Highway 78), 706.546.1587.

On Thursday, our pastor, Terry Kesling and his wife, Pam, were at our home, along with some ladies from our church, in addition to Melvine, Greg and me. Bonnie Bender was ministering to Melvine as a nurse. Bonnie started singing the chorus, "Jesus, there's just something about that Name." We all joined in with her in singing, and our pastor helped us to sing better with his beautiful tenor voice. When we finished singing that glorious song, Melvine burst out in adoration, praise and worship as she spoke fluently in a heavenly language, or praying in tongues/praying in the Spirit, that lifted our spirits to an even higher plane of worship. That spiritual moment caught our attention and we were all amazed as Melvine poured forth her highest praise and worship to God in a language only God could give her to prepare her for her departure from this life to heaven a day later.

Greg and I along with our pastor, Terry Kesling will meet with our funeral directors on Saturday afternoon to plan the funeral service. Melvine and I have already selected the caskets we want and have paid for them. We are not sure when the memorial service will be, but we are looking for it to happen on Tuesday. It will be at our church, Christian Life Worship Center, located at 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, Georgia 30607 (706) 353-1978.

When the final plans are settled, I will inform you.

Melvine will be laid to rest at our family cemetery plot at Athens Memory Garden, 5195 Lexington Road, Athens, 
GA 30605 (US Highway 78, East). That is where our Stephanie has been buried.  All of our names are engraved on the granite tombstone. Right now, it has the date of our birth, and we will have Melvine's date of death to be added as Stephanie's birth and date of her death that are engraved already.

I have asked Bishop Doug Beacham to preach Melvine's funeral. I felt it was fitting for our Presiding Bishop to speak at Melvine's Memorial Service because of her varied roles of leadership in the IPHC as a pastor's wife of four prominent Pentecostal Holiness churches (Brownville, Good Shepherd Church, Tarkenton Memorial Church, and Richmond First Pentecostal Holiness Church) in Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia, at Southwestern College as the president's wife, and the wife of an Air Force Chaplain, and of course for her love and respect for Bishop Doug Beacham.  Our family is highly honored to have our General Superintendent speak. He spoke at our Stephanie's memorial service, on August 7, 2012, at Cornerstone Church of God in East Athens, about 2 miles east from the cemetery we have chosen for our burial until the rapture.

Revelation 14:13

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."

"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.
NIV

[Editor's commentary: This Scripture verse from the last book in the Bible has come to pass for my dear wife, Melvine Stewart Morgan, 85, who departed this life and arrived in heaven on Friday, January 17, 2020, at 4:49 p.m.
when she breathed her last breath, and was in heaven at that very moment.

The Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ, answered my prayers concerning Melvine. I asked the Lord to allow me to keep her at home through her sickness with stage 3 ovarian cancer. She lived for sixteen months, and the last 4 months I was able to get her on Hospice Home Care. Of course, Dr. Jane Huang, Melvine's oncologist made the referral that made it happen. What a blessing St. Mary's Hospice Home Care was for Melvine. God gave us nurses, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, certified patient assistants, and a chaplain. What an outstanding team they were to Melvine, Greg, and me. We couldn't have asked for any better people to care for our cherished first lady in our home, my faithful and loyal wife, the mother of our children, and my partner in a life of ministry in the church, the Air Force Chaplaincy, the wife of a college president, president of Women's Ministries in Georgia, and a Gospel singer. We have so many wonderful memories of our family, the church family, the college family, and the Air Force family.

Time will reveal the blessing Melvine was to so many people, especially young people. Melvine was a marvelous pastor's wife whom God called her to fulfill, a gifted singer and a talented teacher who made learning a lot of fun and filled with laughter.

Melvine is resting from her labor and her many deeds will now follow her.

A police officer found a perfect hiding place for watching for speeding motorists.

One day, the officer was amazed when everyone was under the speed limit, so he investigated and found the problem.

A 10- year-old boy was standing on the side of the road with a huge hand painted sign which said “Radar Trap Ahead.”

A little more investigative work led the officer to the boy’s accomplice: another boy about 100 yards beyond the radar trap with a sign reading “TIPS” and a bucket at his feet full of change.

​

It was at 4:15 a. m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, I heard Melvine asking for help. I have been sleeping in my recliner chair since my total knee replacement surgery. I immediately got up, went to check on her, and told Melvine that everything will be okay, and I went to get Greg up in his bedroom, across the house.

Greg got up and came to the rescue. He gently, but firmly lifted Melvine up from the floor, and placed her in her chair. He allowed her to rest for a bit, and put her on her rollator and took her to the bathroom.

After she finished there, he took her back to our bedroom, and got the oxygen machine, and hooked it up, and gave Melvine oxygen. She has shortness of breath. He then placed her on her side of our bed, and I got in bed, to lie there beside her to comfort her and give her assurance that I was there.

The decision was made for me to call Ken Phillips to come to our home and take me to my appointment for physical therapy at St. Mary's Outpatient Physical Therapy. After the strenuous therapy, Ken drove us to Freddie's to get ice cream. I got a double vanilla ice cream cone, and Ken got a small milk shake. Oh, how good it tasted.

Melvine's tech, Crystal. came while I was gone and gave Melvine a bath. Melvine has a few bruises, and is all stove up, as my grandmother would say. We are trying to get protein in Melvine. So, we are giving her Atkins, with protein and vitamins. Her appetite is not good.

Then, we came on to our home.

Continue to pray for us.

We love you all.

Our mailing address is:

Hugh & Melvine Morgan
17 Sweet Apple Lane
​Winder, GA 30680

The latest edition of Encourage, the monthly digital magazine is now available for you to download from our church (IPHC) website: IPHC.org

This blessing or benediction was my mother's gift to me when I told her I felt God calling me to preach.

Daniel 12:3-4  God has called us to win souls to Christ and His Kingdom
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 
NIV

So an older couple is discussing the inevitable matter of death. The wife asks her husband, "If I die before you do, will you remarry?" To which the husband replies, "Well, I don't want to be lonely for the rest of my life, so yes."

The wife then asks, "What about the house? Will you live in the same house?" And the husband says, "Well, I suppose, I mean, it's already paid for."

The wife, getting a little protective, asks, "And what about my car? Will she drive my car?" The husband says again, "Well, it's already paid for..."

​The wife, annoyed at this point, shoots, "What about my golf clubs?!?" And the husband says, "Oh, no. She's left handed."​

Many of you are wondering why is Hugh doing fewer newsletters these days.

May I remind you I have become a caregiver now for about 16 months. Greg has come home from his teaching career in music to help his mother and me. What a blessing he is to us.

Right now, I am having to deal with our federal and state income taxes, and renew Hugh's News registration with the State of Georgia as a non-profit corporation, and get together tax materials for our CPA to file with the IRS for Hugh's News. There is more to doing Hugh's News than one might think. Pray for me for patience and confidence that I can accomplish all I have to do.

If you will read today's benedictions, you will gain a bigger picture of what is happening in Melvine's life. She appeared to be improving, and I wanted to report every positive thing that was happening. However, in the last several weeks things have taken a turn for the worse. However, our trust is still in God, and He has given us a courageous faith, one that believes the promises of God and that He is able to perform everything He has promised.

We love you all and thank you for your prayer support and hundreds of cards and letters.

Words are inadequate to express our gratitude.

Continue to pray for us.

If you so desire, we would appreciate a card or a note from you.

Our mailing address is:

Hugh & Melvine Morgan
17 Sweet Apple Lane
Winder, GA 30680

Or, your may write me at my email address:

hugh@hughsnews.com

​A Prayer for Bigger Worldview

Author Kristen Welch

"Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).

Nothing shakes your world like returning from a third world country that is riddled with disease and poverty. Nothing makes you question yourself, your motives, and your own sanity more than trying to blend your old worldview with your new. Nothing makes you want to raise compassionate children like meeting people the world has forgotten.

I have amazing kids. They are sweet and well-behaved (most days), but they are typical American children. They have too much. They want things instantly and easily. They think about themselves first.

They look a lot like their parents.

After returning from my heartbreaking and hopeful trip to Africa, I knew I had to change the way we lived. I wasn’t motivated by guilt; I was moved by compassion. My kids love to play follow the leader. They follow their parents. We’ve just been showing them the American view: bigger houses, nicer cars, more toys, and fitting God into all that stuff.

On a Saturday, I explained to my kids that we would be giving up the occasional house cleaner who made our life easier. I taught them to clean toilets. “Why are we doing this again?” my daughter asked. I pointed to the faces of the four children we were sponsoring through Compassion International, smiling down from their pictures on our refrigerator.

She wiped a strand of hair from her eyes, nodded, and went back to scrubbing. She stopped and said thoughtfully, “Mom, I’d like to fill the front of our refrigerator with pictures of children from all over the world.”

It turns out my children were just waiting for their leaders to show them the world. They love praying for a new country at dinner every night. They can’t wait to write to the kids we sponsor. They understand the choice to buy secondhand clothes and less stuff so that we can make our money matter more.

I thought the changes we made in our home would be hard for my kids. I thought there might be resistance. But they love the view and the pictures on our refrigerator.

Prayer

Lord, I love you. I want to be like you. I want my children to love others. I want them to be compassionate people. I know that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our works, but I pray that my works are evidence to the world of what you are doing in me. My children are following me; please help me lead them to you. Amen.

[Editor’s Note: Content taken from Kristen Welch's book Don't Make Me Come Up There!(c) 2011 Abingdon Press. Used with permission.]

​God's Kingdom Rule 

Author: Tony Evans

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels . . ." (Hebrews 12:22).


This progression of blessing is laid out beautifully in Psalm 128. In verses 1–2 we see the blessing that comes from personal responsibility or self-government: “How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you.”

Then the blessing moves to the family: “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table” (v. 3). When you become responsible for yourself, your mate and your children flourish.

Next in line is the church. “The Lord bless you from Zion” (v. 5). Zion was the place of worship where the temple was located. The church—the people of God, the spiritual community—is blessed when God’s government operates the way it should, since it is the New Testament expression of Zion (see Hebrews 12:22–24).

Then what happens when the individual, the family, and the church get it right? The government of the nation experiences blessing: “May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!” (Psalm 128:5–6).

When people govern themselves under God, you have peace and blessing. Are you governing your life according to God’s Word and His principles of government? If you are, you can expect God’s blessing. But if you aren’t, then don’t blame anybody else.

Are you governing your family under God’s kingdom rule? If you are, there’s blessing waiting for you again. But if you aren’t, don’t complain about the church or the government.

Reflection: Do you sense God’s blessing on your life and your family? In what ways is God opening the door for you to bless others outside your family? Pray that God will open opportunities for you to bless your family and others.

Lord, grant me the legacy of Psalm 128. Where I have failed, forgive me. Where I can change, show me. Let my life be a living testament of what this passage proclaims.


Listen to Dr. Tony Evans Online Broadcasts at OnePlace.com.