Stories, testimonies, advice, prayer and encouragement.

[Niki]

Unity, Faithfulness and Divorce

Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7-8 and Ephesians 5:31 all say that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. Cleave means to be united, to be joined, to hold fast. A man should be closer to his wife than to his own parents.

Wesley's Notes say this: "The virtue of a divine ordinance, and the bonds of it, are stronger even than those of nature."

In Matthew and Mark, Jesus goes on to say that what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. (In other words, don't get divorced.) And also, if a man or woman puts away (divorces) his or her spouse, unless it's because of adultery, and then marries someone else, they have committed adultery. Why? Because in God's eyes, you are still married to your first spouse (unless the divorce was caused by adultery), even if you are not according to "the law of the land". These two are one flesh.


I Corinthians 7:27 says in the NIV, "Are you married? Do not seek a divorce."

In the New Living Translation, "If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage."

In the American King James Version, "Are you bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed."

Bible in Basic English, "If you are married to a wife, make no attempt to get free."


Malachi 2:16 says, "For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away." Remember, "putting away" means divorce. God hates divorce.

In verses 13 and 14, God said that He would refuse the offerings of those who have "dealt treacherously" with their wives. "She is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant." Covenant being the marriage covenant, the marriage vows. A covenant is sacred and should not be broken. Romans 1 says that "covenantbreakers" are worthy of death.

Dealt treacherously means (according to various interpretations): have broken faith with, have been unfaithful to, have despised.

Men should be faithful to their wives, keep their vows and love their wives. Otherwise God will not accept their offerings or answer their prayers. Not until they repent and make things right with their wives.

Galatians 5 says that those who commit adultery "shall not inherit the kingdom of God".


Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

A man should only lust after his wife. This is why porn and strip clubs are so wrong. It's a sin against God's Word and a betrayal (cheating) against a man's wife. Any man who's having a problem with this needs to stop and he needs to ask God to help him. God will always help you do the right thing if you sincerely want it and if you ask Him to.


Ephesians 5:32, (after it saying in verse 31 that "they two shall be one flesh"), compares marriage to Christ and the church. In verse 25, husbands are told to love [verb; requires action] their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.

Think about that for a minute. A man is supposed to love his wife the way Jesus loves us. He's supposed to give himself to her and for her completely. Do you think Jesus wants to be separated or divorced from His church? Marriage is supposed to represent that covenant. It is sacred and precious and should never be broken.

Proverbs 18:22, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord."


Ephesians 5:33, "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence [respect] her husband."


Sex

I Corinthians 7:3-5 says in the New Living Translation: "The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

I think that's pretty self-explanatory. :-)


Duties and Position

Colossians 3:18-19, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love [verb; requires action] your wives, and be not bitter against them."

Why should wives submit? (Besides the fact that God said so.) Because the husband is the head of the wife. [I Corinthians 11:3] He represents Jesus in the marriage (as marriage compares to Jesus and the church) and the wife represents the church, the bride of Christ. Who has the authority? Jesus or His people? Jesus is the head of the church.

A body can only have one head. And just as the body (wife) can't do without the head (husband), the head (husband) can't do without the body (wife).


Genesis calls woman man's helpmeet. [Helper; female helper; relief; aid.] Ladies, our men need us. Whether they believe it or understand it or agree with it or not. We are here to help them.

"Be not bitter against them" means "never treat them harshly". Husbands should be kind to their wives.


I Timothy 5:8, "But if any [man] provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

Any man who does not provide for his wife and children is worse than an unbeliever. He is worse than someone who doesn't believe in God. A man must love his family, be affectionate with them, spend time with them, support them financially and lead them spiritually as he is supposed to be the spiritual leader of the home.

This doesn't mean that a man who loses his job is doing wrong. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. But he should do his best to provide for them. And if he trusts God and serves Him, God will provide and will supply all your need. Including a job. You've just got to trust Him and serve Him.



To be continued...

~

[Niki]

Titus 2:3-5 says that women should "be sober [wise]", "love their husbands", "love their children", "be discreet [sensible; self-controlled], chaste [morally pure; clean in heart], keepers at home [housewives; busy at home; manage their households; work in their homes; workers at home; homemakers], good [kind; gentle], obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed [maligned; discredited; shamed; reviled; dishonored; exposed to reproach]."


**Notice that anytime scripture tells husbands to love their wives and wives to love their husbands, there are no conditions attached. No list of unlesses. It doesn't say husbands/wives love your wives/husbands unless they hurt you or unless they disagree with you or unless you don't share every hobby/interest or unless they make you angry or unless they walk out. Or whatever. God commands unconditional love.

Since God commands husbands to love their wives as Jesus loves the church, and His love is unconditional ("who can separate us from the love of God?"), then a husband's love for his wife must also be unconditional and never ending.


I Peter 3:1-2, 7, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection [submit] to your own husbands; that, if any [husbands] obey not the word, they [husbands] may also without the word be won by the conversation [behavior; lifestyle] of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [your pure, reverent, holy lives] coupled with fear [of God]...Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them [your wives] according to knowledge [with understanding; in an understanding way], giving honour [respect] unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel [delicate partner; female; friend; helper], and as being heirs together [equal partners] of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

Geneva Study Bible says that husbands should have "an honest care" for their wives and their wives should not "be neglected".

It also says that "All fighting and rebuking must be avoided, because they hinder prayers and the whole service of God, to which both the husband and wife are equally called."

Matthew Henry Commentary says, "...giving due respect unto her, and maintaining her authority, protecting her, and placing trust in her."


A word on submission.

Submit: "to yield oneself to the authority or will of another; to defer to (respectfully submit to) or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another."

In order to submit, there must first be disagreement. ("You can't submit to someone you agree with. There's nothing to submit." -- Bro. Jack Cunningham.) What I mean is, it's fine and normal for wives to disagree (respectfully, of course) with their husbands on some things. But then the wife must submit to the husband's decision.

The husband should listen to his wife, care about her opinion and view on things, no matter how different from his own, and be man enough to agree with her and do what she wants if he sees and believes that she's right. But the decision is ultimately up to him. And if he makes the wrong decision, it will be on him, not the wife. That's a lot of pressure. I know I wouldn't want that on my shoulders.

You should also understand that submitting doesn't mean you do what your husband wants you to do if what he wants you to do requires you to disobey God.


Submission is something most women hate. Submitting to our husbands has been unpopular for a long time. Probably since Adam and Eve sinned. But especially, it seems, since the middle of the 20th century.

But God is the final authority. He will judge. I know for myself, I want to do things His way. His ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts.

I'm not saying I always like submitting to my husband. But, as I said, I want to do things God's way. He knows what's best. He set up the chain of authority the way He wanted it to be. But don't forget that I Peter 3:7 says that husbands and wives are equal partners of eternal life. The husband is the head, but he is not better than her or smarter necessarily. He shouldn't be a tyrant or rule with an iron fist. Remember, a husband is supposed to be kind to his wife, honor her, love her and respect her.

He will not have a higher place in heaven, as husbands and wives are equal partners spiritually. We have different roles in marriage and in our homes, but neither is better than the other.


Anyway, this is all just how I understand things and how commentaries and concordances and various Bible translations explain things.


"A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' come together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences." -- Dave Meurer

"The secret to having a good marriage is to understand that marriage must be total, it must be permanent and it must be equal." -- Frank Sinatra

"The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior. But from the side to be equal, under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved."

"Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." -- Robert Heinlein

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. It's what you are expected to give - which is everything."

"Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own." -- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

[Babs]

excellent post nikki! 

[Melody]

There's more to the story of Leah.  I heard an amazing sermon about how in the end it was Leah that Jacob came to truly love.  1 significance is that she was buried with him in the family tomb.  All the embalming knowledge they could have buried Rachel with the family, OR he could have been buried w/ her.  But her true colors showed over the years, that she was more like Jacob, and Leah was more like Israel.  


Gen 49:31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

Gen 50:13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

[The Cold Water Kid]

Rude post removed. Actually this was more of a personal attack.

[nwlife]

I had decided not to post again, but this brought me back out one last time.

1. Nikki was hurting, and trusted us to talk to help her through a very difficult time.
2. Yes, her husband is hurting as well, and she is frustrated in trying to figure out how to reach him. And face it, most pastors don't know how to handle situations like this.  We do have people here that are councelors who have had training, people she can trust to hear her out and pray with her. Bro. Scott, the head admin, is one of those.
3. you were right she needs to stand as a protector of him, but without knowledge of how to do so, and people to help her pray when you are at wit's end and frustrated enough she can't think clearly.  How can she do so.
4. it is very hard to turn to the local church at times without judgement.
5. She counts many here as close friends and was asking for their thoughts and prayers, as she knows many here will not judge the situation lightly or on first glance, but truely pray.  That I have found to be true myself, even with the vast differences between myself and many here, I know if asked, they (especially the long term members, and even those I argue with) will pray!!!
With that, I fade back out.

[The Cold Water Kid]

Your gentleness is much appreciated nwlife. Maybe it's OK to vent our frustrations with people to family and friends... I could be wrong.

[myhaloisintheshop]

Without going into detail there was a time where my husband told me he didn't love me any longer.  Was it true? no.   He was going through a spiritual battle and felt like me and my kids deserved better.  He felt like if he TRULY loved me that he would automatically be a better husband and leader. 

I never was hateful with him.  It broke my heart but i fought for my marriage and husband with prayer.  I kept it in the back of my mind that in the end no one will change my husband BUT him.  God gave us free will for a purpose and sometimes people fight against Godly things and I HAD to prepare my heart in case he went totally astray.

I trusted God would be with us no matter what happened--God would keep me if he DID leave or He would restore our family if my husband was sensitive to God's will.  No family should be seperated but people make mistakes and make decisions that aren't wise.

It may be a slow process but hold on....reassure him that no matter what--you are willing to fight for him.

[Niki]

Nwlife,
I haven't been here since my last post. Been busy being a mom and homemaker. So I missed whatever was said. I appreciate what you did though.

On the subject of protection. I actually wrote a poem about that. I tend to write poetry when I'm going through something either emotionally wonderful or emotionally awful. Anyway, I wrote the poem to my husband, though I haven't shared it with him and probably won't. In the poem, I told him how that in spite of how he's hurt me, I still want to protect him.

When people say negative things about my husband (mostly my mom as she's almost the only one I talk to; she is the only one I've talked to in months), I defend him. I give him the benefit of the doubt and try to come up with some explanation for why he said what he said. In my defending him and professing my love for him, my mom has come to see things differently. She's less negative and more encouraging. She's still angry with my husband (more than I am), but her anger has lessened.

There was another group of ladies I talked to briefly. I gave them very little detail about what was going on, but it was enough to make them very angry. I should've known better. I'll admit that. They're "Christians", but not Holy Ghost-filled. Again, my mistake. But in my defense, it was in the early days of this situation, when I was in a dark place. I soon quit talking to them about what was going on and eventually left the group completely. Negative talk, name-calling and trying to tell me to do things I know aren't pleasing to God (get a lawyer, kick him to the curb) are not things I need or want to hear. I cut most of those ladies completely out of my life. Though I did leave a message thanking them for caring and letting them know that I wasn't angry with them. That I understand why they felt the way they did.


Halo,
I have told him exactly that. That I'm fighting for him and our family in prayer. That I love him no matter what. And that I will be here waiting for him whenever he decides to come home. The door is opened wide for him.


~

[iridiscente]

Praying for you today.

[Niki]

Thank you.

[YooperYankDude]

Just came in to say that I'm praying for you Niki and your husband...

*Shakes head and sighs @ another...*

*Leaves without any other words*

[Niki]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tQBdrwj7ko

Chorus:

I want it all back.
I want it all back.
I want it all back.
I want it all back.

Verse I

You may have thought you won that last round.
You may have laughed ('cause) I almost fell down.
Maybe you think I give up easy,
But it's not over. I got more in me.
You thought I stopped, you thought I sat down.
But I am standing. You made me mad now.
You got some things I think you owe me.
I've come to get back everything that you stole.

Chorus

I want it all back.
I want it all back.
I want it all back.
I want it all back.

Verse II

You hit me hard, I should be knocked out.
Things I've been through, don't even wanna talk about.
You crossed the line (this time), you violated me.
I want revenge (I want everything back from), A to Z.
The battle's not mine, the battle is the Lord's.
In the name of Jesus, I'm taking it by force.

Chorus

I want it all back.
I want it all back.
I want it all back.
I want it all back.

Bridge

If you only knew what I was gonna be
After the storm, you wouldn't have even bothered me.
If you only knew what I was gonna be
After the storm, you wouldn't have even bothered me.
If you only knew what I was gonna be
After the storm, you wouldn't have even bothered me.
If you only knew what I was gonna be
After the storm, you wouldn't have even bothered me.

(But now I'm) stronger.
(And I got more) power.
(I'm a little bit) wiser.
(And I got more) strength.
(I got the) anointing.
(Got God's) favor.
(And we're still) standing.
I want it all back.

(Man, give me my stuff back.)
Give me my stuff back.
Give me my stuff.
Give me my stuff back.
I want it all.
Give me my stuff back.
Give me my stuff.
Give me my stuff back.
I want it all.

What about the peace he took? (I want it back.)
What about your strength he took? (I want it back.)
What about your power he took? (I want it back.)
What about your love he took? (I want it back.)

What about your family and all your self-esteem, even your destiny? (I want it back.)
What about the joy you tasted & the time you wasted, do you want it back? (I want it back.)
What about your place in God & all your faith in God, even the ways of God? (I want it back.)
What about your hopes & dreams & your communities, even your kids and teens? (I want it back.)

What about the love he took? (I want it back.)
What about your strength he took? (I want it back.)
What about your joy he took? (I want it back.)
What about the power he took? (I want it back.)

What about your family and all your self-esteem, even your destiny? (I want it back.)
What about the joy you tasted & the time you wasted, do you want it back? (I want it back.)
What about your place in God & all your faith in God, even the ways of God? (I want it back.)
What about your hopes & dreams & your communities, even your kids and teens? (I want it back.)

I want it all back!

~

[Geri]

Niki, I am praying for you and your family.  Being a strong-willed person, my first reaction would have been to say "good-ridance" and trash all his stuff(which I'm sure would be regretted later). I think that I takes a lot of faith in God, and maturity to handle the situation as you have, and your kids are going to benefit more than you will ever know by seeing your example.  I have no advice for you, and even if I did, am in no way qualified to offer it. I just wanted to add my voice to those who are praying for you and believing with you that God can work miralces. Whether that means miracles in your husbands life, your life, and/or your children's lives, only He knows, but He has his hand on you. Don't be discouraged by those who would disagree with your attitude/beliefs/faith. God has provided a cloud of witnesses to edify and stand with you in this season.  Stay strong, keep the faith, God will bring you through.

Geri

[Niki]

Thank you, Geri. I really appreciate it.

Believe me, I was tempted to throw out everything of his that's still here. Just as I've been tempted to yell at him and call him names and so on. But when I think about what the results of such actions would be, I hold my tongue and try my best to speak kindly and with love. I know that if it weren't for God, if I weren't Holy Ghost-filled and trusting Him, I wouldn't be able to be so patient. It's still hard, but it would be much worse if it weren't for God.

[Niki]

I've said here a few times that I pray that God gives me something to hold on to that will help me to keep hoping, to keep my faith strong and to not give up. As recently as a few days ago, I prayed that again. But then it felt like God spoke to me and showed me that it doesn't matter if He does that or not. I'm not going to stop praying for Him to save my husband and bring him home. So I've quit praying that prayer. lol


I try to picture my future (in a very non-psychic way; I don't believe in that stuff) with my husband and without him. When I do, picturing him in my future feels more right. I acknowledge that that could just be because that's how it used to be (him being here) and is how I want it to always be. Thinking about how things currently are, it doesn't feel permanent. I've written here before that I know we're not supposed to go by feeling, so I'm not taking my feelings as "gospel". But God hasn't said anything contrary to what I'm feeling. Believe me, I try to keep my spiritual eyes open wide and my spiritual ears perked up in case He chooses to show me something or tell me something. So far, nothing beyond what He's already told me. He hasn't told me to give up on my husband or that things are over between us. And, as the song says, it ain't over until God says it's over.

So, I'm just living my life as it is, taking it day by day, as I wait on God to move my husband and set things right.

~

[Niki]

As I come across articles and blog entries about marriage that I think have wisdom and right teaching in them, I will share them here. I found this one a few months back. http://www.victoryinjesus.net/love.htm


"Love is a CHOICE.  Even though we are commanded in the Scriptures to love, it is still a conscious choice we must make because there are many times when we don't "feel" like loving.  Honest, sincere love can only be exposed after we have accepted the love that only Christ provides to us. Jesus' love is a love so profound that He died for us - took our place on the cross. And we didn't even deserve it!

"How many people would you die for? Until we can grasp this love of our Father, we are not capable of truly loving another.

"If you love someone, you give them room to grow, but human love is selfish. It is expressed with expectations of a return.

"Real love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person. Most of us wait for the feeling of love to come upon us before we act on that feeling. But right thinking produces right behavior - the feelings will follow. Choose to show the other person love, even if you don't feel like it. The feelings will come!

"Human love is different than God's love. Human love depends on: 1) how you feel at that moment, 2) what your circumstances are, and 3) how the other person responds to you. God's love is totally unconditional. No expectations! No demands! When the words and actions of another rip at our heart, we are called to love.

"As we seek to know God, and seek the presence of Jesus in our own lives, HE fills us with the love for others.  If you don't "feel" that love, go to Him. Be open and honest with Him. He'll fill you with His love and you won't be able to stop that love from spilling out into the lives of others.

"True love is what is left in a relationship after selfishness is removed."


Song Of Solomon 8:7 - Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Isaiah 54:10 - Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Colossians 3:18-19 - Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

~

[Niki]

I hope some of y'all will read this tonight.

I won't go into details or anything, but please help me pray that my husband does what is good and what is right. I'm trying to get my family back together. I'm praying God softens my husband's heart and that he will come home for good tonight or at least this weekend. Please help me pray.

[awilkes05]

Sorry, I didn't get a chance to read this until this a.m. I am still praying though.  Did he stay?

[Niki]

He didn't even come by. I know he's close by somewhere. Probably at his camper (wherever that is) or maybe his sister's house in Raleigh. (I've been to her house once, but I don't remember where it is or how to get there.) He says he wants to see our kids and I told him to come on. But when the kids and I got home from being out, he wasn't here and he hasn't come by.

I really don't understand how a person can choose not to do what's right, denying themselves blessings (and blessings for others), all for what? Pride? Stubbornness? I don't know.

I've been praying almost constantly that God would soften his heart and that He would either allow something to happen to my husband or send someone to speak to him so that he's moved in the right direction. I'm praying he comes home today. And even better, that he goes to church with us tomorrow. I'm praying for a miracle.


***edited in***

I just wanted to add that I've tried to make it as clear as possible to my husband that our home (and my heart) is open to him. That I love him no matter what. I didn't tell him to leave (I never would) and I haven't told him to stay away. As far as I know, I didn't do anything to drive him away either. Believe me, I've racked my brain (which sounds like medieval torture, when you think about it) trying to think if there was anything about me that would cause him to leave. (Not that it would be okay, according to God.) But I can't think of anything.

I've said it here before, at the time that he left, I was a better wife and mother than I was in the first years of our marriage. (Because of maturity-level and experience.) And yet he leaves when I'm at my best, not when I was less mature, selfish, inexperienced and lacking understanding of what God wants me to be as a wife and mother. I have a greater understanding now than I ever have before about my wifely duties and about finances and various other things associated with being a wife. And it's when I'm much better at being a wife that he leaves. *shaking my head* I really don't get it.

I better end this post now before I ramble on even more.

~

[awilkes05]

Aww I'm sorry Nikki *hugs* 

I don't consider your posts as rambling at all!

[Niki]

Y'all please pray. (I hate sounding so needy.) God knows the situation. It's similar to that recent situation. I need God to work a miracle. Otherwise, the truth is going to come out and my kids' hearts will be broken. There will be no avoiding it if things go wrong. We need this miracle by Friday afternoon.

[iridiscente]

Praying.

[Niki]

I posted this in my status at Facebook:

"Went to the doctor today. They did the usual tests and ultrasounds. Took 6 vials of blood. Have to wait on the results of that and another test. The ultrasounds (no, I'm not pregnant) looked okay. I never like going to the doctor, it's always painful, but I believe God spoke to me while I was there. Yeah, at the doctor's office, of all places.

"In the changing area of the exam room, there was a poem taped to the mirror called 'Don't Quit'. I don't remember how it goes, but it said things like 'don't give up, just take some rest' and 'what you need is near, though it looks far'. While waiting in a chair after my ultrasounds, a song was playing on the radio in the nurses' station. The line 'it'll all get better in time' jumped out at me. Then in another exam room, there was a picture on the wall of a kneeling soldier with an angel next to him and underneath were the words 'Not Alone'.

"I hope this means that things are going to get better soon. Hopefully I will get that miracle I need this week.

"I had to fight tears a lot while there and thinking about the messages I was getting."


This is the poem I saw:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

[Niki]

I posted this at my blog, where I keep things as vague as possible.

"Still praying for a miracle and/or intervention from God tomorrow. Things could get ugly if He doesn't step in. Though when I imagine things playing out the way I don't want them to, I can see how it could ultimately have a positive effect. I'd just hate for there to be tears, even if good can come of it, if it can be at all avoided. I'd rather good things happen without the tears if possible."


While I'm praying for a miracle and am nervous about things, I'm not really afraid. My mom's all "What if he takes the kids and doesn't bring them back?" *sigh* She's all about the fear and even the anger. But God has given me peace about the situation. After the messages I got from Him at the doctor's office and feeling His touch at church, I feel good about the future. Hopefully it's the near future.

I'm praying that God changes my husband's heart - softens it. That things work out in such a way that he either decides he wants me to go with him and the kids tomorrow to his sister's house for the weekend, or that he just decides to stay home with us. I'm also praying that if this isn't going to happen, that he gets sent out of state today or early tomorrow, to spare my children's hearts. Though I still want God to work on my husband even if he does have to leave the state for work.


I appreciate your prayers.

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