There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that many people standing for the restoration of their marriages would be greatly blessed and encouraged, and find it much easier, if they could truly grasp why we stand. So I was thrilled to see the following Heart To Heart message posted by one of the ladies yesterday on the private website. And I know Thursa and Diane won’t mind me sharing what they wrote here, because it is bound to bless and encourage anyone who reads it and understands it. Remember, there is ALWAYS a godly purpose for the stand we’ve taken against the world and the gates of hell for the restoration of our marriages, even if we can’t see or figure out what it is.

Just to use myself as an example to help make the point, if the Lord had not put it in my heart to honor my marriage vows over fifteen years ago now, and then more recently, taught me what it means to stand in faith and obedience on the power and promise of His Word for marriage restoration, FAM Ministries wouldn’t exist today. Do I believe God will ultimately restore my marriage, which certainly looks impossible and totally unlikely in the earthly realm? Yes, I do. Do I know when or how? No, I don’t. But that doesn’t matter, because more important than that is the indescribable joy and blessing God has brought to my life and the lives of countless others as a result of my stand and my willingness to allow the Lord to use my experience and what He has taught me for HIS glory! And as the result of my stand and prayers, I’ve been blessed to see my husband saved, and I’ve actually witnessed the amazing God glorifying changes I longed for being manifested in his life as he grows in his walk and relationship with the Lord. And now he has a powerful testimony of restoration and renewal of his own, which I have no doubt the Lord always intended to be a powerful weapon against the wicked works of the devil too. And in just the past two months, we’ve seen five FAM Fellowship members’ marriages restored, and now we’re being blessed to witness the amazing work of full and complete renewal and restoration, as the Lord’s plan is fully manifested in their husbands as well. And we’ll never know the full impact of their restored marriages, because it will go on for generations as a result of the effect it will have on their ten children…and their children after them!

So we really need to get it…our stand for marriage restoration IS NOT ABOUT US! It’s ALL a matter of fulfilling God’s divine purpose for our lives, which is always for the praise, honor and glory of Jesus Christ. And as Thursa so eloquently states, NO ONE ELSE CAN FULFILL THAT PLAN BUT US! So instead of thinking of our stand for the restoration of our marriages in terms of ourselves, we need to be a whole lot more focused on God’s purpose and what HE wants to accomplish by it. And many times that includes the salvation of our mates, and even our children; not to mention how our stand and testimony will be used to impact the lives of everyone around us. Just remember that the more impossible and hopeless the restoration of our marriage looks, the greater the opportunity for God’s glory! And that’s EXACTLY what Jesus was saying in Matthew 19:26, which says Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So instead of thinking it can’t be done, we need to realize that God HAS called us for such a time as this for that very purpose, and because there’s something that ONLY we can do for His glory! So we need to learn to praise God for the more impossible our circumstances look instead of crying and being discouraged by them; because God has specifically chosen us to bring even more glory To His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and He equips us with EVERYTHING we need to walk out His plan right into the victorious restoration of our marriages. So get that and be blessed and encouraged!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

I’ve been reading a book by Linda Dillow called Calm My Anxious Heart. And a couple of days ago, I read part of it that really put a familiar thought in a different light for me. Here are the paragraphs:

“How does this apply to us? It means that the Almighty Creator of the universe prepared a purpose for us to walk in. God acted with definite purpose when He created you because He had a plan for you to fulfill. How loved and unique you are! All of your abilities - and your disabilities - were created to fit the unique plan God has for you. No one can fulfill your purpose but you. And God’s plan for you and His plan for me embrace far more than the events or circumstances that happen to us. They also embrace what God wants us to be and do and what He desires to do in and through us.

In his book Trusting God Even When It Hurts, Jerry Bridges says that verses 13-16 of Psalm 139 must be taken as a unit.
God created our inmost being and fashioned us in our mother’s womb so that we might be equipped to fulfill the plan that He set out for us even before we were born. Who you are is not a biological accident. What you are is not a circumstantial accident. God planned both for you.

According to Ephesians 2:10, you and I “are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” When I’m not pleased with the talents, gifts, and abilities God gave me, I remind myself that He is the Blessed Controller of all things (1 Timothy 6:15). If I believe this, I also must believe that God is the Blessed Controller of my “all things”…my appearance, my personality, and my gifts and talents. In my heart of hearts I long to please God, and it pleases Him when I am content with how He created me.”

I think most of us know and realize that God has always had a plan for us, including being chosen by Him to stand for marriage restoration. But after reading this portion of the book, the concept was really brought home to me; NO ONE can fulfill my purpose but me…WOW! Putting that into application in our marriage; NO ONE can fulfill my purpose of being SNO’s (spouse name omitted)life mate, the one that God made a tri-fold bond with when He witnessed our marriage vows. And now, my role in the plan has changed from being wife to that of being a wife standing in the gap for my husband and our marriage. God chose ME for that role and NO ONE else can fulfill the purpose God has for me to stand for my marriage…NO ONE! God ALWAYS knew His plan for me to become a stander; He brought about all the circumstances prior to this time in my life, so I would be prepared and know how to stand as part of His life plan for me! So you see how He chose us to stand as part of our life plan, and how NO ONE else can fulfill that purpose? Wow, I’m just in awe. I don’t know if it connects as much with you as me right now, but I am just blown away! Every single circumstance that occurs, God has already taken the time, energy and LOVE to think through my plan and your plan. NO ONE else can fill the divine shoes God constructed just for us!!! AND NO ONE else pleases God and makes Him smile with our love, obedience and praise but US! So let’s put a smile on our faces and a kick in our steps, because we’re walking out the plan God cared enough to make just for us!!!

Response by Diane on July 3rd, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Amen, Thursa, it has such an impact when you look at it that way. God picked us and He had faith in us and no one else. We can do this, because God knows we can and that is all I need. God could have picked someone else for this job and SNO’s wife, but He didn’t; He picked me. That is big and I will walk out the plan God chose for me. Thanks for this. Diane

As we celebrate our nation’s birthday on July 4th, which brought our independence, let us be mindful of the many freedoms that we enjoy as citizens of the United States. As Americans, we have many rights and privileges that aren’t enjoyed in other countries. But our freedom came at a very high price, because many people lost their lives in the process of getting it, just as men and women continue dying to maintain those freedoms, which we still enjoy today; some 200 plus years later. So it was not easy to gain our freedom, just as it’s not easy to keep it from being taken away or exploited today.

Along with freedom comes responsibilities. And if we choose to ignore or disobey our responsibilities and the law, we risk losing those freedoms. But we often lose our rights and privileges because of the actions of those who do not respect the rights of others. In fact, many of our laws and regulations were created because someone took advantage of their freedom and hurt others. And when our freedoms are seen as infringing on the rights of other individuals, they are abolished or adjusted. Obviously, that means that our freedom as Americans is tenuous at best.

So as we celebrate our countries independence and freedom, I suggest we look at the freedom that is afforded to us by our God through Jesus Christ. That’s freedom that can never be taken away from us, regardless of what anyone else does. It is guaranteed on earth and in heaven. Now, that’s something that calls for some celebrating and fireworks!!

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NLT)

When we submit to our Heavenly Father; when we say to the Lord, you are God and we are not, that is when we discover true freedom. Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. He clearly shows us the way to eternal life with God. Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all God meant for us to be.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, Psalm 95:6 (NLT)

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11 (NLT)

In his book, He is God, We are Not, Ray Pritchard shares that people who rebel against God, usually do so in the name of freedom. They want freedom to go their own way; to follow their own desires; to do whatever they want, when they want, with anyone they choose. Ironically, that sort of “freedom” leads only to slavery. These individuals end up enslaved to sin, chained to addictive behaviors; locked in a personal prison of unrelenting guilt and shame. There is no freedom in rebellion against God. There is only slavery.

The point of sharing this is not to make our spouses “look bad” or bring condemnation, but to see and understand how important it is for us to pray for them and lift them up to our mighty and powerful God, who can do the impossible. Most of us would pray for any person who was caught in slavery to their rebellious ways; so how much more important is it for us to pray for the one we love so much!

Father God, You know what binds our spouses to their chains. I pray that You would remove all obstacles and hindrances that prevent them from breaking those chains and surrendering to You. If there are feelings of guilt, shame, unworthiness, arrogance, pride; Lord whatever the cause of slavery and captivity is, I pray that You would remove it, so that our spouses can become the person in You that You want them to be. Lord, give us strength and understanding to pray with confidence, perseverance and boldness; knowing that you are the only way out of bondage to freedom. I praise You and thank You for the faithfulness You demonstrate to all of us and may we each glorify and honor You for who You are and what You are doing in our lives and our marriages. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

A few weeks ago, one of our restored members shared with me a word of knowledge her mother-in-law believed she had received from the Lord. But at that time, she didn’t know who it pertained to or what it was about. All she received was July 3rd breakthrough.” So I began sharing that with our members to claim, and then on June 25th, she received further clarification, which Alex shared on the ladies’ private website as follows:

“My mother-in-law, who has been standing in prayer with me all these years, heard in her spirit the date July 3rd. I told Linda about this and I know she’s encouraging everyone to claim that date. My mother-in-law has sometimes received prophetic words, much along the lines of Marsha Burns-though not as often. In her prayer time today, this is what she heard, and I wanted to share it with everyone: “Restoration has begun and will continue in my people with great healing in familial relationships. This will continue and on the 3rd will bring about a decision of all people as regarding their faith in a personal God and a certainty of their relationship to me.” Now that encourages me so much when I apply it to the members of this fellowship. We see the restoration and we know more is coming. We see the healing taking place and we know that God’s ultimate message to each of us is that He loves us, will provide for us and just simply wants us to be in relationship with Him. God is doing a mighty work and this fellowship provides a clear window for the world to see that. Hugs, Alex”

Needless to say, I was indeed thrilled and excited to receive the following message of confirmation from Bill and Marsha Burns in my inbox this morning! And I’d encourage everyone to sign up to receive the Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin by email, at this link, where you can check out the rest of the Spirit of Prophecy website as well.

The Trumpet by Bill Burns
“– July 1, 2007: In a dream last night I was telling someone that this will come to pass when the sign of the seven sheep appears. This morning, the Lord said to me that the sign of the seven sheep is here. I asked the Lord what the seven sheep were, and He showed me that there were seven people in church today who don’t attend regularly. The Lord said when this sign comes I am going to bring My church to a point of breakthrough regarding all adversity. There will come an overflowing tide of victory in the lives of those who receive this sign and believe that it is for them. I am the Lord of the Breakthrough, and I will bring tremendous victory, says the Lord.”

Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
“ - - July 2, 2007: Beloved, I am bringing correction to a specific course that began three years ago, which has been a transitional time in which you have had to make an extreme effort to stay in the divine flow of My purposes for you. Many times the battle became so fierce that you would have lost heart unless you had seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). You have been in the Valley of Weeping. I have seen your tears and have been your only help in times of trouble. Now I have opened a door of hope where you will have breakthrough and rejoice in the progression of victory. I am giving you new strength for the journey before you, says the Lord.
Hosea 2:13-15 I will punish her For the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; but Me she forgot,” says the LORD. Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor (trouble) as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.”

Dear Lord, we thank you for your love and faithfulness, and we thank you for those you have chosen to speak to us through the gifts and anointing you have bestowed upon them. Now, it is my heartfelt prayer that thousands and more, who are standing in faith and obedience to your word for the full and complete miraculous restoration of their marriages and families, will receive the power and promise of your word today, and walk into the victory of restoration! We praise your Holy name, and give you all honor and Glory as we claim a tide of restoration and breakthrough by the power and authority of the name of Jesus Christ, our beloved Lord and Savior. Amen.