There are times in all of our lives when we need to confront. For some, confrontation is easier than for others. Francis Schaeffer said, Truth carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation, but confrontation nevertheless. If our reflex action is
always accommodation regardless of the truth involved, there is something wrong.” Confrontation often has a negative connotation, but biblical confrontation, done in love, can be the greatest platform for change and influence.

Here are eight principles that will help you when you need to confront in love:

1. Anything and everything can be worked out.
2. Deal with the issues at hand, then forgive and forget.
3. Keep a low tone of voice and speak slowly.
4. Depersonalize everything.
5. Remember that there are two sides to every story.
6. Ask for forgiveness. Even if you believe you were right and the other person was wrong in a disagreement, you can certainly say with sincerity, “I’m sorry if I upset you. That was never my intention.”
7. Never discuss issues of intentional conflict on the phone or via email.
8. Never talk about anything important when you are tired.

Good words to consider. These are taken from Am I Making Myself Clear? by Terry Felber — quoted in Leading With Billy Graham by Jay Dennis — Baker Books

“When you take your stand on the finished work of God in Christ, and begin to drink at the River of Life and eat the Bread of Heaven, and KNOW that you have found the end of all your longings, you only get HUNGRIER for God. The more satisfaction you experience from God, while still in this world, the greater your desire for the next. For as C. S. Lewis said, “Our best havings are wantings.”

The more deeply you walk with Christ, the hungrier you get FOR Christ . . . the more homesick you get for heaven . . . the more you want ‘all the fullness of God’ . . . the more you want to be done with sin . . . the more you want the Bridegroom to come again . . . the more you want the church revived and purified with the beauty of Jesus . . . the more you want a great awakening to God’s reality in the cities . . . the more you want to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ to penetrate the darkness of all the unreached peoples of the world . . . the more you want to see false worldviews yield to the force of Truth . . . the more you want to see pain relieved and tears wiped away and death destroyed . . . the more you long for every wrong to be made right and the just and the grace of God to fill the earth like waters cover the sea.

If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. God did not create you for this There IS an appetite for God. And it can be awakened!”

from the pen of Dr. John Piper in his powerful book, A HUNGER FOR GOD, published by Crossway Books.

“As a disciple I must be rightly connected at all times with my headquarters. Paul gives the location: ‘Seek those things which are above . . . Set your affections on tings above’ (Colossians 3:1-2). Heaven is the nerve center of everything that controls my life, or the life of the church, or even the life of the world. Just as a soldier ‘lives’ in the mind of his commanding officer, so I must live in the mind of Jesus Christ. Phrases like ‘independent operation,’ ‘unilateral action,’ and ‘self-devised plan,’ never occur in the vocabulary of the military man. He waits for the signal from the proper authority, then he moves.

My failure in many areas of my discipleship stems from misinterpreting the signals from my command post. Sometimes I have read my own desires into the command and acted as if the command were mine. Sometimes I simply could not hear the signal because it was drowned out by the interference of the world! There is only one cure for failure: STAY CLOSELY TUNED TO YOUR COMMAND POST! I must not be distracted by earthly activities, rumors, or fears. I even must not let frontline action dictate my next move.

If I live in my headquarters, that is, keep my mind in heaven and what is going on there, it will make a vast difference in my behavior on earth. I wonder how many ‘important things’ on earth are really important in heaven? How many things that I consider essential are really peripheral? Does heaven worry about the things that vex and worry me? Are they top priority with God? If I could only visit my command post and visibly see what is top drawer to my Commander, I think I would come back with a complete reversal of my priorities. This I must do, for I am a man ‘under authority,’ the authority of my Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ.”

Good words from the pen of Pastor W. Glyn Evans in his daily devotional, DAILY WITH THE KING, published by Moody Press

Your feed back is important. I’d love to hear how Freedom Fighters is encouraging you.

For two days now the following verse has appeared in my daily quiet time readings . . . “Great peace have those who love Your law, and NOTHING causes them to stumble!” (Psalm 119:65)

I thought that it was interesting that these two verses came up after our Supreme Court made the decision to not allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed at various places in our country. Unfortunately this is another step indicating the dangerous path we are walking as a nation. God help us!

David gives us to precious promises to anchor our lives on in relationship to God’s Word. He promises GREAT PEACE and the ability to live VICTORIOUSLY in this ever-changing, crazy world. The Psalmist doesn’t say we just have PEACE — we have GREAT PEACE. The peace that He gives is not explainable by the world. It is the peace that gets us through the difficult circumstances in our lives. Many of you have experienced it — PERFECT PEACE in the midst of a storm in your life.

Can I remind you this morning that

He is the LORD-Of -PEACE (Judges 6:24)

He is the God of all peace (Romans 1:7; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20)
He loves to bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:11)
He gives PERFECT peace (Isaiah 26:3)
He gives peace that TRANSCENDS all human understanding and comprehension (Philippians 4:19)

No wonder David wrote that we those who love His law (Word) has GREAT PEACE. And that WORD will KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING . . .

Good words to ponder today.

Dr. Nathaniel Branden, a California doctor, suggests that there are seven keys to a happy marriage:

1. Frequently say, “I love you!”
2. Be physically affectionate, holding hands, hugging, cuddling.
3. Express your love sexually.
4. Verbalize your appreciation and admiration.
5. Share your thoughts and feelings, learning to self-disclose what’s on your minds and hearts to each other, confiding in each other.
6. Express your love materially, giving little gifts to each other.
7. Create time alone together.

from Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes by Morgan

So how do you rate your marriage this morning? Purpose in your heart to work on one of the seven keys.

Have a great day!

By Philip Atterbery

1. Listen to what is being said rather than planning the next statements you intend to make.

2. Eliminate distractions such as loud noises, the telephone, the TV, or computer.

3. Repeat what has been said. This helps your wife know you have truly understood what she said and meant.

4. Ask questions if you need something clarified.

5. Stay on the issue being discussed rather than making it personal. I Corinthians 13:5 declares that love keeps no record of wrongs. That means a loving spouse does not bring up old arguments or issues to use in an attack. Statements such as, “There you go again!” or “You always . . .” only create hostility and defensiveness.

6. Remember that love always hopes for the best (I Corinthians 13:7). It assumes the best. Assume that your wife is concerned about what is best for you and herself.

7. Use “I” centered messages. Make statements such as “I feel discouraged,” rather than “You make me so mad!” Center upon you own emotions and feelings, but remain on the real issue. The use of “you” during an argument may cause the listener to be defensive and feel
personally attacked.

8. Remember that love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4). Wait for the most appropriate time to bring up an important issue. Introducing a big issue when your spouse first comes in the door from a long day at work or after a hectic day of running errands is simply not a good idea.

Practical Tips on Listening and Speaking

Romancing Your Wife … A Little Effort Can Spice Up Your Marriage by
Debra White Smith and Daniel W. Smith published by Harvest House

Good words for your consideration on this 27th day of June, 2005.

Lord of reality
make me real
not plastic
synthetic
pretend phony
an actor playing out his part
hypocrite.
I don’t want
to keep a prayer list
but to pray
nor agonize to find Your will
but to obey
what I already know
to argue
theories of inspiration
but submit to Your Word.
I don’t want
to explain the difference
between eros and philos
and agape
but to love.
I don’t want
to sing as IF I mean it
I WANT TO MEAN IT.
I don’t want
to tell it like it is
BUT TO BE IT
like YOU want it.
I don’t want
to think another needs me
but I need him
else I’m not complete.
I don’t want
to tell others HOW to do it
but to do it
to have to be always right
but to admit it WHEN I’m wrong.
I don’t want to be a census taker
but an obstetrician
nor an involved person, a professional
BUT A FRIEND.
I don’t want to be insensitive
but to hurt where other people hurt
nor to say I know HOW you feel
but to say GOD KNOWS
and I’ll try
if you’ll be patient with me
and meanwhile I’ll be quiet.
I don’t want to scorn the clichés of others but to mean everything I say including this!
from Joseph Bayly, PSALMS OF MY LIFE

“How quick we are to question the motives of others, yet we are so slow to question our own! When others harm us, we may assume the worst of intentions. When we are guilty, we even excuse our offenses, concluding that others are far too sensitive! Regardless of how we monitor our motives, God weighs them in His scales of righteousness. It is futile to try to deceive God with our pious justifications, for He sees our hearts.

Is it possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason? Of course! You can attend worship services with a heart that is far from worshipful (Isaiah 1:10-17). Could you show concern for the poor and yet have a heart that is opposed to God? Judas did (John 12:4-8). Could you make
bold statements of love for Christ and actually be aiding the work of Satan? Peter did (Matthew 21-23). Could you offer sacrifices to God and be in total disobedience to Him? King Saul did (I Samuel 13:8-9). Could you pray with the wrong motives? James said you can (James 4:3).

Many things cause us to do what we do. We can be motivated by good things, such as love for God, compassion, generosity, and faith. Our actions can come from unhealthy motives such as pride, insecurity, ambition, lust, greed, guilt, anger, fear, and hurt. It is even possible to do the best things based on the wrong motives. When the Lord measures our motives He looks for one thing: love. All that we do should proceed from our love for God and for others (I Corinthians 13). Take time to look past your actions to what lies behind them. Ask God to show you
what He sees when He examines your motives.”

from Henry Blackcap’s EXPERIENCING GOD Day-by-Day

“In this modern day we are, more and more, turning from GOD-APPOINTED means of intercessory prayer and adopting, instead, merely natural agencies for carrying on His work. Intercessory prayer has been shelved. For some reason it is out of date. Our methods, we say, are better, our plans more successful, and so we adopt natural means to bring to pass
the supernatural.
My brethren, it can never be done. We may appear successful; the crowds may come, the altar may be full night after night. Reported results may be broadcasted everywhere. Whole cities may be stirred and mightily moved! And yet when it is all over and two or three years have passed, how little will be found to be genuine! And why? Simply because we have been satisfied with a superficial, spectacular work, brought to pass by natural means. Consequently the truly supernatural has been largely lacking. Oh let us get back to intercessory prayer, the highest form of Christian service, and give God no rest until we have a spiritual outcome.”

Oswald J. Sanders

“At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to God’s Word (Luke 8:5-18). If your heart is like the trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you will be unable to accept a message from God. Though you heart the words of the message, you will remain unchanged. If your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a rock, you will accept God’s Word in your mind, but the truth will not penetrate your heart to make a difference in your actions. A heart like thorny soil is a life that is distracted by the cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly pleasure prevents God’s Word from taking hold and producing righteousness. The heart that is like good soil received a word from God, applies it, and brings forth fruit in due time. This is the heart that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit will be a Christ like life.

Any time you hear a word from God, whether through Bible reading, prayer, or worship, the WAY you respond will depend on HOW you have cultivated your heart (Hosea 10:12). How do you develop a heart that is good soil? Repent of ANY bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness that is
hardening your heart. Meditate on God’s Word until it enters deep into your heart and not just your mind. When you read or hear a word from God, apply it to your life and let God bring His word into reality in your life (Galatians 6:9). Protect your lifestyle. See that you don’t
devote all of your energy to worldly concerns, rather than to pursuing your relationship with God. The condition of your heart will vary, depending on HOW you cultivate it. If it was receptive to a word from God yesterday, this does not guarantee it is receptive today! DAILY
prepare your heart for the word God has for YOU!

Good words from the daily devotional EXPERIENCING GOD DAY-BY-DAY by Henry Blackaby