I especially appreciated Bob Steinkamp’s message today, because I can SO relate to a lot of what he said! I just wish there was some way to help everyone standing for the restoration of their marriages understand that there’s just NO way we can ever know what God is going to do or when He’s going to do it…BUT HE WILL RESTORE OUR MARRIAGES IF WE STAND ON HIS WORD IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE!!! And we have to believe that NO MATTER WHAT WE SEE OR HEAR, from our spouses or anyone else!

It just so happens that we have a perfect example of that in the FAM Fellowship. Two Saturdays ago, I spent the better part of the day talking to one of our members who had just been given settlement papers by her husband, who had already served her with divorce papers. Despite being very confident that the Lord would prevent the divorce from going through, she was upset by the papers and she still had to deal with the legal issues and come to an understanding of what her husband was proposing. So we spent a lot of time trying to understand what he was offering, how it would work for her, and what kind of counter proposal she could offer. When she was served with divorce papers, she chose NOT to get an attorney, and she asked her husband if he would sit down with her instead so they could work out the details. Up to that time, he wouldn’t talk to her at all, and the only communication they had was by very limited email, and at that time he was involved with an NCP (non-covenant person). Meanwhile, since her husband had left home about nine months earlier, she got saved and the Lord changed her radically, but her husband had not had an opportunity to see that…until they started meeting to work out the details of their divorce settlement! And it seems he must have really liked what he saw! Because it wasn’t too long before the NCP didn’t seem to be around anymore and he started calling and coming by the house for no apparent reason. Then she received the settlement agreement two weeks ago and they spent the following week trying to work out some of the more minute details of the agreement. She made it clear that she didn’t want the divorce, but she was not going to stand in his way or try to hurt him in the process. So she went along with all of his requests; like trying to put the mortgage in her name only; only to find out it wasn’t possible, because she didn’t have enough income. And he asked her to put the utilities for the house in her name too. But then they got a very high and unexpected bill for closing out the other account, because they were on a special payment plan and there was a deficit at that particular time! Her husband wanted to get his name off of things so he could qualify for a loan on his own for a home or whatever. But during that whole process, he just seemed to get more and more confused and started seeking out her company much more than before; but continued moving forward with the settlement agreement talk and plans. Then, out of the blue, in the middle of last week, he actually asked her to go to lunch with him this past Saturday, even though he knew her sister was flying in to spend the weekend with her! He said he wanted to talk about “stuff”, which was interesting since that’s all they had been doing for the past two weeks! And since he was leaving the next day to go out of town the following week on business, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that was a very good sign…and it was! What he wanted to talk about is how things would be if he came back home and what everyone would think about it! They actually moved his “stuff” into the garage, because he’s supposed to be moving at the end of the month, but he will be out of town when the new apartment comes available. Hmmmm…I wonder what the chances are that he’ll ever make it to that new apartment!!! Not very good, I’d say! BUT…if anyone had tried to tell her that was going to happen two weeks ago, she never would have believed it! So that just goes to PROVE that we do NOT know what God is doing, how He is working behind the scenes, and when He will bring everything into perfect alignment for HIS perfect plan of restoration to come to pass! And, just like Bob, I have no doubt that way too many people give up just before their breakthrough is about to be manifested! So please read Bob’s Charlyne Cares message for the day and be blessed and encouraged!

“On Tuesdays Bob shares from the prodigal perspective, over 19 years after his remarriage to Charlyne. Bob’s many books to help men and women praying for marriage restoration God’s way are available in the Stop Divorce Bookstore.

YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE!

“At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:20

You would not believe the messages that come to Pompano Beach each week. As many of you know, we receive more email that two of us can possibly answer. In addition to that, the Post Office box is often full of letters and the fax machine stays busy. Each Monday we hear local reports in person, as well as telephone messages all week. You would not believe what we hear. Each week we hear that:
* Another mate has left for the far country.
* That relationship with a third person has been discovered.
* Someone has filed for divorce.
* A prodigal attempts to legalize adultery by “marrying” another.
* Someone has taken a stand with God for restoration of a marriage.
* Someone is up.
* Someone is down.
* Someone has great financial needs.
* A prodigal mate is in the far country living like royalty.
* A prodigal’s own children are being ignored.
* A stander with a broken auto needs a job.
* A stander’s needs are met in a way that could only be the Lord.
* A child is born in a prodigal’s non-covenant relationship.
* A stander gives up and decides to “go on with life.”
* God has shaken a stander and they are back on track with Him.
* A stander is blessed by a church they thought did not understand.
* A stander or a family member is attacked by illness.
* A stander has a close relative come to the Lord.
* There has been a death in someone’s family.
* The tape we sent arrived on exactly the right day.
* Someone stops standing (again).
* The Lord has given someone a glimpse of hope.
* Someone is back on the stander’s track (again).
* Things look hopeless to a stander.
* Someone tells us, “It would take a miracle for mine to come home.”
* A stander is angry because someone else’s marriage is healed.
* Someone receives a miracle and it came through their prodigal.
* A stander has repented for the side trips they have taken.
* A family member or church leader has challenged the right to stand.
* God gave a stander the words and scripture to defend their stand.
* Hopeless and weary best describe someone’s spiritual battle.
* God has used two separate means to confirm what He is doing.
* A stander realizes how much they, not their prodigal, have changed.
* Unconditional love has become a way of life for someone.
* A hurting prodigal reaches out for help.
* A stander finally understands real forgiveness.
* The stander’s “friend” wants the prefix “boy” or “girl” added.
* Big guns of the enemy just about blow away a stander.
* A repenting prodigal spouse has suddenly come home!!
* The Lord has touched a returned prodigal.

Yes, you would not believe what we hear. The comments above are the most common. In fact, most of these are voiced by every person who has stood with God for their marriage. Each time we hear or read one of these, we are encouraged that another marriage is on that often painful progression toward healing. If a hand full or so of these sound just like you, rejoice, for your marriage is on the way!

There is one other comment we hear from time to time; “My returned prodigal died. I am so thankful that things were right with the Lord and with our family, because I did not give up when it seemed that I should.” If the one you love were to die today where would they spend eternity? Our Mighty God has not given up, so why should you? A returned mate coming to Jesus Christ, is what we want to hear about most of all.

May I ask you another question? If you gave up your stand with God for a healed marriage today, what would be different about your tomorrow? Your marriage situation will not change because you stopped standing. Your finances will not automatically be better tomorrow, nor will your job situation and personal relationships improve because you stopped standing. The only thing you would be giving up is your hope. The only way to proceed here is straight forward. Most people who threaten to give up their stand, whatever that means, have their eye (or their heart) already looking at someone else. Please do not allow Satan to take you down the dead end drive of conjuring up what kind of spouse someone else might be. You are married!

Sadly, most people who email us about “giving up” are saying, “I Am so tired of waiting that I want someone else.” They are not giving up on a spouse, but are, in fact, giving up on their miracle-working God, and are willing to exchange their hope for a restored marriage for the possibility of another relationship, often steeped in sin. Where is your prodigal spouse left, if you give up on their waywardness and stop praying for their coming home to you and home to Christ? Did you realize that you may be the only person praying for your spouse’s salvation-and you are thinking about giving up. You are saying, “Satan, they’re all yours. Neither God nor I can do a thing with them and I refuse to wait to see who wins this spiritual war.”

I have a couple more “You would not believe” statements for you. First, you would not believe how close victory is for some of the quitters. Second, you would not believe the letters of heartache we receive from many people who have “gone on with their life.” You would not believe what God can do. Hang in there, standing strong, and watch what happens in the days ahead. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7

Jesus is moving,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.®
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA
http://rejoiceministries.org
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Posted Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 at 7:14 pm in Seeds Of Faith.