The word virtue has been so blessedly impressed upon my heart as of late. It reveals so much and removes so much confusion.

I have often heard the word ‘sheltered’ when referring to people who don’t engage in certain cultural norms… especially with children. I have been told many times over the course of my life that we need to expose children to as much as we can, because they are going to see it at some point in their lives and it is better to expose them in a controlled setting. 

I think this advice is misguided. 

See, God is good – and to want God — is to NOT want the things that aren’t good. These judgements are not based on my feelings but on the Holy Spirit – His Spirit alive in me… and when something is revealed to me as not being pure and good and honorable (Philippians 4:8) – I can’t pretend that it is ok. I’m not sheltering myself or anyone I love – I’m just choosing to not make a concession for that action or thing that has been revealed to me as not pure.

I love what is good because I love God. I trust Him. I want Him as close to me as humanly possible. I don’t want anything else as much as I want that… This also brings light to discernment. I have one Master, my Lord Jesus Christ. Paul sums it beautifully, “As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgement on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.” -1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLT)

Here is an absolutely beautiful collage of excerpts from ‘The Peasant Girl’s Dream’ by George MacDonald – They are from separate pages but beautifully interwoven – enjoy the Scottish accent 🙂

Pg 189 ‘Cause it would show ye’re no a man yet! A man’s a man that does what’s right, what’s pleasin to the very heart o’ right. Ye’ll please me best by no tryin’ to please me. And ye’ll please God best by doin’ what he’s puttin’ into yer heart as the right thing, and the bonny thing, and the true thing. Tell me what ye’re thinkin’ o’ doin’.

Pg 190. Man, did ye never once in yer life think what ye ought to do – what ye HAD to do – what was given ye to do – what is was yer duty to do? Do ye think only o’ appearances and never o’ what’s the right and honorable thing.

Pg 195 The caterpillar is passing into the butterfly. It is a change in which God is the potent presence, but which the man or woman must will into being or remain the jailer who prisons in loathsomeness how own God-born self, and chokes the fountain of his own liberty.

Pg 197 What added to the bitterness of this preliminary war was that the very nature of the contest required actions that seemed unbecoming and even disgraceful. There was no pride or pomp of glorious war in this poor domestic strife, this seemingly sordid and unheroic, miserably unheroic, yet high, eternal contest. 

But now that Francis was awake to his duty, the best of his nature awoke to meet its calls, and he drew upon a growing store of love for strength. He learned not to mind looking tyrannical, selfish, and heartless in the endeavor to be truly loving and lovingly true. He did not have Kirsty to support him, but he went to the same fountain from which Kirsty herself drew strength.

Pg 201 the desire of his heart was to help her become a free woman.

Pg 215 I ken ye noo for a man, Francis Gordon. Ye has set yersel’ to do his will, and no yer own, to serve another, no yersel’. For that, ye’re a child o’ the King, and a king yersel’, and for want of a better crown, I crown ye wi’ my own two hands.

We are children of the King! And He is good. Love what is good. 

Also, a video from our family adventure last week: Praise God for life and blessings and the pruning and strengthening.