I've not visited here prpeorly for the last 4 months or so but please know I am still STANDING for my marriage to be restored
ST, you're an inspiration AND and encouragement to MANY people here, thank & BLESS you
A message I received today:
Quote:
Hello everyone!
Happy New Year!! May 2009 be a year full of marriages restored, and spouses coming home and God's will being accomplished!
We start this New Year's Day with a note from Ronnie in Louisiana. Even though he wrote it to my yesterday, on New Year's Eve, it still is relevant today!
Here's Ronnie:
During the holidays people tend to get and send out many greeting cards. If you go to any greeting card store you realize that the card industry has printed cards for every topic and occasion you can think of. There are cards for Christmas, New Years, Birthday, Get well I even saw one congratulating someone on the results of their new plastic surgery.
Well with the card industry trying to make money with every topic I found it kind of strange that not even Hallmark has a card celebrating divorce, adultery, or walking our on your family. Now if the money hungry greeting card industry doesn't even want to mention these topics can you imagine how God looks at it?
Think about it. There are no, "congratulations for abandoning your spouse and children" cards. There are no, "you are a great person to have fun with in secret but not good enough to be seen in public" cards.
No "Happy anniversary for the day I first cheated on my spouse and started living in sin and shame" cards.
Most of the greeting cards celebrate the family. The Spouse. The Mothers and Fathers. The Children. The anniversary of your wedding. It's kind of refreshing to know that in a money hungry, extreme liberal, "any topic for money" industry like greeting cards, that even they respect the sanctity of marriage and family.
Now even though today's message was meant to be light hearted, the praying for the restoration of our marriages and families is not light hearted. God has called us to stand for the sanctity of what He put together, for the salvation of our spouses, and to trust in Him for our every need.
Today is the last day of 2008. Let's remember to use this day to praise our Lord for all the blessings we received this past year regardless of the hardships. Let's remember that just because we didn't receive the specific blessings we prayed for doesn't mean we have been denied those blessings.
2009 is upon us. Let's start the year off strong believing that our miracles are still coming from the Lord and our spouses are on the way home.
Stand. Fight. Pray.
Oh by the way, 2008 is still here for another day. Lets all pray in agreement on this last day for our spouses salvation and restoration of our marriages. You never know, 2008 may just go out with a miracle.
Ronnie
I also want to share with you the daily devotion I read last night from the Our Journey Devotional from Walk in the Word. I'm sure it will bless you as it blessed me!
Here it is:
Wednesday, December 31st You're Not Forgotten
Luke 1:6-10 (ESV): And they [Elizabeth and Zechariah] were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Life was just unfair for Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were good people - but childless. They should have been at the front of the line for collecting God's blessing, but they lived their entire lives hoping for, yet never conceiving, a child. They were godly, but with empty arms. And now they were old.
You can't help but think they felt forgotten. There they were living righteous lives, praying about one thing, and God seemed to have overlooked them. Do You even see us over here, Lord? How many times they must have examined their hearts, making sure there was no sin or pride blocking their prayers. Then, having done all, they entrusted their lives to a sovereign God who it seemed simply said no to their request.
Perhaps you can identify with this faithful couple. Have you prayed about something for years and God has been silent to your request? Do you feel overlooked and forgotten in the private places of your heart?
That's how Zechariah must have felt stepping into the Holy of Holies that day in Luke 1:8-13. His day to serve in the Holy of Holies (an opportunity of a lifetime!) had come, but he was in for a huge surprise. Imagine this shocker when he walked in that holy place:
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (vv. 11-13, emphasis added)
God dispatched an angel to tell Zechariah personally that his prayer had been heard. You are not forgotten, Zechariah.
This same God who delivered a miracle baby to that shriveled old couple is the same God who hears your prayer today. He is a God of comfort, His faithfulness is personal; He knows what causes your heart to ache. Yes, God works His will, but He never forgets you! And when God acts, hurdles like age or circumstances are just not a factor! The angel promised "joy and gladness" (v.14) for this couple. It's what is ahead for you, too, as you wait on the Lord.
- James MacDonald walkintheword.com
Journal:
What parts of the Christmas season tend to stir up feelings of being forgotten? How will I handle those feelings this year?
Use Psalm 16:11 as your daily prayer this week. Seek His presence and the feelings will take care of themselves.
Lord Jesus, this season I won't let my feelings have the last word, but I’ll let them point me to You as the One who can fill me with joy! Amen.
That's all for today - be blessed and be a blessing! Happy New Year!!!
Love & hugs,
Ruth Anne Hope For Hurting Marriages Ministry
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. ~ Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)
