As I sit here writing this tonight, I am so overwhelmed with emotion and so much in awe of my wonderful Lord and Savior that it’s not easy to put into words! However I will try to share a little about my personal situation to explain some of the total wonder and amazement I’ve just experienced. Even though I had another post almost ready to publish, it will have to wait, because if I don’t testify about God’s awesome faithfulness, it would be total disobedience, and I’m sure this will bless many others as much as it has me!

Anyone having read my testimony About FAM’s Founder, may recall that on the very day I went to sign bankruptcy papers at a legal aid lawyer’s office two years ago, I heard from my husband for the first time in almost nine years when he called and left several messages on my answering machine. And then in the coming months, he paid off the credit cards I wasn’t able to keep up with, in addition to providing financial support for most of the year. Needless to say, that was really wonderful and something I was very grateful for and truly appreciated. But there was an unexpected downside to the blessing. Since I’m legally blind and meet the income requirements established in my county, I have not had to pay property taxes for a number of years, but the support I received in 2005 disqualified me for the exemption in 2006 and now I have a tax bill due and don’t have the money to pay it. I managed on what I received during that time until this past June, and even had the money needed to set up the ministry websites, etc., but would not have been able to continue the ministry without additional financial support, which my husband agreed to start providing again in June. Then when I found out about the tax bill coming due this month, I mentioned it to him and he indicated that he might be able to help pay it.

Well I got the bad news concerning the shortage in my mortgage escrow account today and passed it on to him. I reminded him that he had indicated that he might be able to help, but told him not to worry about it if he couldn’t, because that just meant the Lord had something else up His Almighty sleeve! His reply was that he could send a little more than half of it, which at least covers the part that HAS to be paid this month. But if the rest is not also paid this month, my mortgage payments will go up significantly. Then as I was writing to express my appreciation and affirming my confidence that the Lord would be faithful to provide the rest, I couldn’t believe it, because the Lord was REALLY pressing me to read Small Straws by Marsha Burns…and it was like “Right now!” Well, when the Lord is that persistent, what else can we do! And I was TOTALLY, TOTALLY blown away! I’ve been reading Marsha’s messages for some time now, but she’s NEVER done anything quite like this in all that time, and the appropriateness of this, and how it so specifically applies to SO MANY situations and circumstances in my life and walk with the Lord right now are just too many and great to write about! But in addition to my obvious financial situation and need, there’s at least one other amazing aspect of this awesome and timely word from the Lord I feel led to share.

For many months now, I have been resisting something I knew the Holy Spirit was leading me to do, which was to establish a FAM Fellowship for men. Instead of going into all of the reasons I was convinced I COULDN’T do that, let it suffice to say that when the Lord wants us to do something, He has a way of getting us there, no matter how resistant we are. Of course, all of my reasons were sound doctrine, or so I thought, but they were still TOTALLY contrary to what I was absolutely CERTAIN I felt the Lord was leading me to do. So I kept trying to figure out how it was possible and wondering how the Lord was going to work out all of the obvious problems and resolve the apparent conflicts, but I never in a million years could have imagined His reply when He finally gave it to me. Due to circumstances that only God could have orchestrated on December 28, 2006, I made a split second decision NOT to resist what I knew in my spirit the Lord wanted me to do, and decided to respond to a man’s questions. Then I started praying for the Lord to help me; reminding Him of what I thought correct doctrine was and how that conflicted with what I also KNEW HE wanted me to do, and just asked Him to cover me since I didn’t have the covering of a husband. I didn’t have much time for a long prayer since I was expecting a call from the man at any minute, but I’ll never forget the Lord’s reply…it was one of the clearest things I’ve ever heard Him say! He simply said “I am your husband.” It was almost more than my mind could handle, but I knew immediately that it was true, because I knew the Bible said that the Lord would be a husband to those without husbands…I just never thought of it in that context before! I couldn’t wait to run to check it out, but I couldn’t find the specific passage I had in mind, and found Hosea 2:15-16 (NLT) instead, which says I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt. When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’ Then one of the FAM Fellowship members led me to the passage I was looking for, which was Isaiah 54, and when I read it, no words can express the total amazement and awe I felt! And then I discussed it with my pastor, who agreed that the Lord had given me the release to go forward. So last Friday, the private FAM Fellowship website for men was officially launched, and we started out with three members, including two who had signed up months ago! And then today, through another set of circumstances that ONLY the Lord could have orchestrated, I was called on to minister encouragement to a young pastor who I have a great deal of respect for, and even though the Lord has used me to minister encouragement to several women who are also ministers and pastors, that was the first time it was a man! And after our conversation, I was in total amazement at how the Lord had orchestrated it and how I wouldn’t have felt released to do it without what had happened in the past ten days!

Now, with all of that in mind (and there REALLY is so much more), just imagine the feeling of amazement and confirmation, not to mention incredible excitement, I felt as I read the following Small Straws message from Marsha Burns today (which you can read and sign up to receive by email at the previous link). And I pray that as you read it, you will receive it in your spirit and be blessed and encouraged, because it truly is an amazing word from the Lord!

January 8, 2007: We will begin to demonstrate the kingdom of God by recognizing problems and needs and appropriating the power of God through His Spirit to meet the needs and bring solutions to problems. We have needs, and we face problems every day, but we also have the power of the Holy Spirit available to us if we will only believe. Trust the Lord!
The world is about to experience its greatest turmoil in the history of man, and you can expect to see extreme volatility with regard to all natural and human resources.
But herein lies a great mystery of My kingdom. There is a division and widening chasm between My kingdom and the kingdoms of the world. Those who put their trust in the political and economic systems will find themselves on a roller-coaster ride with many ups and downs, and many will be ruined beyond recovery on this wild ride.
But, even in the midst of wars and rumors of terrorism, you will find more peace than you have ever known as you draw near to Me and abide in Me, says the Lord. You will find your stability and hope in Me and will not be afraid.
Many will be tempted to go back to old, familiar and comfortable places and seek worldly comfort instead of moving forward in the Kingdom of God.
Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!
As I began to seek the Lord for the coming year, I remembered the word He gave me, “Old ceilings will become new floors as we rise to new levels.”
Looking back, I can see that we have achieved new levels of things like faith, of warfare, of prayer and intercession, of revelation, of perseverance, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, etc. And that will continue in 2007.
We saw an elevation and breakthrough at the Feast of Trumpets 2006 in two areas — healing and deliverance. I believe we will continue to mature and stabilize in those areas as we have opportunities to put this new level of efficiency to use. In fact, one of the earmarks of this year will be maturity and stability in many areas of our lives.
However, I also have been aware of a move of Almighty God through the Holy Spirit to soften the grounds of our hearts to fall in love with Him all over again. This will cause us to instinctively walk in freedom and be blameless before God as we set a watch over our mouths and hearts. Our hearts are being prepared again for new seeds to be sown that will take root and bring forth a new harvest.
Don’t forget that we still need to consciously release ourselves to the Holy Spirit, to His fruit and gifts so that we take every opportunity daily to defeat the works of the devil as they manifest.
You have often and repeatedly defined yourself by the things you are not good at. But, now is the time when you can change your focus to see yourself as I see you, says the Lord. Because not only you, but many like you will be able to see with the eyes of My Spirit if you will yield yourself to this great work. The results will be astounding, for this work will begin at the very core of your being and will manifest outwardly as My glory.
Your achievements have come with a lot of hard work, diligence, and great difficulty. Not much has come to you without extreme effort. But, you have turned a corner in
your life, and you will now be able to go forth without the pressures and stress that you have experienced in the past. I will open your eyes to see, and I will give understanding and make known to you deep mysteries of My Kingdom. Enjoy the anointing of ease. You have come to a higher plateau or platform from which you will launch out. And, you will find greater freedom of expression and creativity than ever. Your sensitivity to My Spirit will bring deep revelation, and the gift of discernment will be ever present – no longer something that you experience in extraordinary moments, but it will be the supernatural invading your natural existence.
Release yourself to receive all that I have to give you. Give yourself some slack, for condemnation has been a thief and a liar, a formidable foe. Receive My word, not as a tool of chastening only, but as a witness of the work of My Spirit in you to reveal My great love for you. Let go of all reproach, and move forward in mercy and grace.
As you listen for My still, small voice, I will give you wisdom in every situation and solutions to difficult problems. Never doubt that I am with you. I have never forsaken you even for a moment. Life is a dance, and be assured that I have choreographed every step. Just follow Me.
You have successfully survived yet another attack of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy you. Even though you thought you came through by the skin of your teeth, I tell you that the enemy never had a chance against you when you rose up in faith and with courage to go forward. And, you are about to come into a place of greater power in warfare as you become as bold as a lion against the devil.
I see your heart that desires to know more of Me and to move in the power of My Spirit with great discernment. Know that I always hear and answer your desire for more
of Me, says the Lord. You will not be disappointed. I satisfy the hungry soul.
You have come to this place with many challenges and great difficulty. Things have not been as you had imagined. And yet, you have trusted Me and not given up. Even now, you face things that create fear and anxiety. But, I say to you, that I will bring you through every situation and circumstance in victory. You are about to rise up to new levels of faith in warfare that will make you even more effective against the schemes of the devil.
You are standing on a new foundation of maturity and responsibility. Things that would have brought you down in defeat even a year ago no longer have the power to subdue you. You have come to a new height, and life will never be the same again.
You are about to come into “your own.” To become very useful or successful in particular situation. Stability is something that has seemed to evade you at critical times in your life, but your continuing to seek My face and to desire My presence has brought and will continue to bring you to a place of divine stability. Not a stability based on your emotions or your finances, but a strong endurance based on your faith and relationship with Me, says the Lord.
You are about to graduate with honors. Your education and training are not over, but will be on a higher level. Greater revelation and insight will be required in this new course of study. You cannot stay in the old, comfortable classroom; it is time for an elevation, new challenges and new horizons. Do not be afraid to rise up and meet the demands of this season.
Your times of refreshing come from My presence, and you must take time often to be refreshed and renewed because the demands on your time and energy will only increase in this season. However, I am preparing those who you will be able to trust to share the load and ease the burden. Have confidence in your discernment and instincts to know who can be trusted, because the enemy will do his best to create confusion in your ranks. Follow your heart.
You have stepped onto a new platform of effectiveness in My kingdom. Your effectiveness will not come through outward achievement as much as deeper revelation of My word and a greater ability to communicate what you see, hear and understand by My Spirit.
The fallow ground of your heart has been plowed up, and your love for Me and My people will take on a depth and significance unparalleled in your life.
My joy is your strength. Difficulties in your life have often sapped your strength because you have lost your joy. But, I have gone before you to make a wide place for you to stand and be yourself without condemnation. You will stand in this place with greater confidence than you could have imagined in times past, and in this place you will be a witness and example of My mercy and grace.
You have recently questioned whether you are actually up to the tasks and demands on your time and energy. Disappointment is a powerful enemy. But, I tell you that I have anointed you for such a time as this. I have equipped you to deal with every situation and circumstance according to My word and will. Refuse to allow the enemy to question your effectiveness. I am with you, and will give you all the wisdom necessary to complete the good work that I have started. The devil is a liar!
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. Conviction is a work of My Spirit to bring knowledge and understanding through love, but condemnation brings death and darkness. Refuse to allow the enemy to bring you down with guilt and condemnation. Come boldly before My throne. I delight in your worship.
You will continue to become more effective in intercession and warfare. Your fearless courage and undaunted faith and faithfulness are pleasing to me and powerful in the realm of the Spirit. I will bless you abundantly.
You have yielded to the moving of My Spirit and have sought My wisdom in all things.
You have already accomplished more than you ever thought was possible, and as long as you continue to seek My face and hear My voice, you will be astounded at all that you are able to do.
You have been faithful and diligent in all things, and I honor you in that, says the Lord. Do not grow weary in your well-doing, for the seeds that you have sown and continue to sow will yield an abundant and satisfying harvest. Rejoice in My goodness!
Refuse to become discouraged in this time of transition. The challenges you face are merely opportunities to grow in grace and strength. You are on a fast learning curve, and in the future when you look back at this time, you will remember it as bitter sweet and a time of acceleration.
You have been in a rather long season that has caused you to redefine your life in every aspect. Your priorities have been rearranged, and relationships have taken on new meanings, some closer and some more distant. Now you will have opportunities to settle yourself and find a new level of comfort and stability as I lead you into the next phase.
Look back and see how far you have come. You spent a good part of your life without root or stem, but now you have both put down roots and have produced fruit. It has
been a stretch, but the fruit will continue to be maturity and stability.
What I have built I will not break down, and what I have planted I will not pluck up, says the Lord.
You have endured the most difficult time in your life and have fought a battle with almost impossible odds. Yet, because you have continued to trust in Me, you have gained the victory. The battle is not over, but neither are you, for I have called you to persevere as a mighty warrior in My kingdom. My strength is sufficient for you to maintain victory and achieve peace.
Your breakthrough is within reach. You have worked long and hard to overcome with what seemed like little progress. Now you will be able to see a light at the end
of the tunnel. You won’t necessarily be at the end of the long, dark tunnel, but you will be able to see and have hope again. My word to you is to press on and remember that I am with you to bring you through.
I will give you the strength and guidance necessary in the next phase of transition. Every step will be illuminated before you, because I have indeed gone before you to make crooked places straight and to break down every barrier and hindrance so that you can fulfill My purposes for you. I have already prepared the way for you to move forward, says the Lord.
You have stayed the course in the face of discouraging opposition and difficulties.
You have shown faithfulness, honored your commitments, and have not given up. Your heart of integrity will reap its reward in due season. Don’t lose perspective.

The level of discouragement expressed by some of the Fam Fellowship members in the past few days has been surprising, so I thought taking a look at its root cause might help. And while no one wants to hear it, there’s ONLY one reason for discouragement, and that’s unbelief, because IF we truly believed in the word of God; IF we truly took Him at His word and believed in His power to bring every word He speaks to us to pass, we’d be filled with peace and joy, because we’d know what He promised, HE WILL DELIVER! And the saddest and most ironic thing about unbelief is that it is the ONE thing that CAN keep God from doing what we’re so afraid He can’t or won’t do! That’s just one of the strange mysteries of God, but Hebrews 3:19 makes that very clear because it says So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. So God’s CHOSEN people couldn’t take hold of His promise and enter into the PROMISED Land, JUST because of their unbelief. And the same thing will happen to our restored marriages if we insist on letting the human frailties and weakness of our spouses overshadow the glory and power of God! Unfortunately, the dangerous and destructive power of unbelief couldn’t be more clearly spelled out than it is in Matthew 13:58, which says And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. That’s why Satan spends so much time and effort trying to make us focus on everything BUT the glory and might of God and His omnipotent power to bring every word and promise in the Bible to pass! And even though we’ve experienced the greatest miracle of all, which is the miracle of our own salvation, we tend to be just like the Jews mentioned in John 12:37, which says Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

On the other hand, when we make an intentional and deliberate CHOICE to believe in God and take Him at His word, we will be like Abraham, and have the same kind of faith described in Romans 4:19-21, which says Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. And Hebrews 3:5-6 tells us Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. So we just have to hold on to the hope we have in the word of God. But we will struggle with that too if we don’t fully understand that god ALWAYS has a purpose and that He will ALWAYS do whatever it takes to make that purpose come to pass. So maybe the following verses will help us understand that, and help us realize once and for all that God DOES have a plan and purpose for us and for the restoration of our marriages and families, and that HE will do what it takes to accomplish that purpose:

Acts 13:36
“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.

Romans 9:10-12
Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

Psalm 57:2
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.

Isaiah 49:4
But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”

2 Corinthians 5:5
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Colossians 2:2-32
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

Revelation 17:17
For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.

It’s SO natural to want what we want when we want it, and it’s easy to feel frustrated when we think we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and the Lord doesn’t appear to be doing His part. Of course, that’s not true, because God even has a purpose in all that too! so I hope the following poem and verses will be helpful the next time you struggle with discouragement or when you’re just tired of waiting. Unfortunately, I don’t know where the poem came from or who to give credit for it, but I’m sure the author would be pleased to see it used to offer the comfort and encouragement so obviously intended, so be blessed and encouraged!

Wait…
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, ‘My Child, you must wait!’
‘Wait?’, you say, wait!’ my indignant reply.
‘Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
‘My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.
‘And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry;
I’m weary of asking I need a reply!’
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, ‘You must wait.’
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, ‘So, I’m waiting…for what?’
He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, ‘I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want–but, you wouldn’t know ME.
‘You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint;
You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
‘You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save…(for a start),
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of my heart.
‘The glow of my comfort late into the night.
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
‘You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss! if I lost what I’m doing in you!
‘So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though oft may my answers seem terribly late,
My wisest of answers is still but to WAIT.’
–Author Unknown

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 38: 15
I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalm 135:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:34
Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

James 5: 7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

This will probably come as a surprise, but I’m not entirely convinced that it’s necessarily a bad thing to hear someone standing for marriage restoration say “I can’t do this anymore…the burden is just too much to carry.” My unexpected reply is “Good.” And that’s because when we get tired of the burden we MIGHT FINALLY “let it go” and GIVE it to God! The restoration of our marriages and the deliverance of our spouses is NOT our burden and it’s NOT our battle. That’s why the Bible tells us in so many places that our battle belongs to the Lord and why it tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us; that No wisdom, NO insight and NO plan can succeed against the Lord. And 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 makes it VERY clear that when our unbelieving spouses leave (and if they leave, they ARE unbelievers), we are supposed to LET THEM GO…and then LIVE IN PEACE. But if we’re holding onto marriage restoration as a burden, we have NOT let our spouses go, and we’re NOT living in peace. That’s because we still think there’s something we can do to make it happen, even though there’s NOTHING we can do to bring about the change in our spouses’ hearts and the restoration of our marriages! BUT the GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD CAN AND WILL! And we know that based on Proverbs 21:1, which says The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

ALL God wants US to do is focus totally on our walk and relationship with Him, because He promises in Matthew 6:33 that IF we seek Him and His righteousness FIRST, THEN HE WILL GIVE US EVERYTHING ELSE…AND Psalm 37:4 promises that IF WE DELIGHT IN HIM, HE WILL GIVE US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS! And when we start focusing more on Him and NOT on our circumstances, just like when Peter walked on the water, we won’t even notice the burden of standing for marriage restoration, because it becomes almost unimportant in comparison to the wonder of an intimate love relationship with Jesus! And in John 14:15 Jesus said “If you love me, you will obey what I command. So standing for the restoration of our marriages HAS to be something we do in obedience to the Lord, because if we stand for ANY other reason, we won’t be able to stand for the duration, and in Matthew 11:30 Jesus promised For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” That’s why we have to find that place of knowing that God has ALREADY DONE IT, and now we’re just waiting for HIM to reveal the time and circumstances under which it will be manifested, as stated in an earlier SOF post, The Battle IS Already Won! That’s what faith is ALL about. We HAVE to take God at His word. He’s not a liar. Satan is the liar.

Many of the FAM Fellowship members seemed to be a lot more depressed and discouraged on New Years eve and day than Christmas. Perhaps that’s because that’s more of a couples’ time than Christmas, and maybe it is because the thought of standing for another year is very discouraging and painful. But the bottom line for ALL of us is that we have to decide whether we believe God and what He promises in the Bible or not. And if we don’t, we really should give up, because He can’t work on our behalf if we don’t believe in Him and trust Him, if we don’t have faith in His ability and/or willingness to restore our marriages and families. And that’s based on Matthew 13:58, which says And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

However, I am curious to know just what giving up on the Lord and the restoration of our marriages leaves as an option, because IF we know the Lord has asked and called us (any of us) to stand for our marriages, and we don’t, we’re being disobedient and we will not be happy with the consequences that brings into our lives. God has a plan and purpose for all of us, and if He’s called us to stand for our marriages, He’s not just going to let us walk away from that, and more than likely, everything else we try to MAKE happen, won’t work or turn out the way we want, hope or expect. So, in the end, we have to give our burdens and cares to the Lord, and remember that as long as we remain IN Him and Him IN us, we CAN do ALL things and bear MUCH fruit; it’s when we’re apart from Him that we can’t do it, just as John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. And how it must break our Lord’s heart when we won’t take Him at His awesome word and promise in 1 Peter 5:6-7, which says Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. So when the devil tries to overcome us with thoughts of discouragement, it’s VERY important to take those thoughts captive and make them obedient to the word, which reading and putting Philippians 4 in to practice makes possible. Then the Lord will be blessed and we will be encouraged as we stand in faith and obedience to the Lord for the restoration of our marriages and families!

Godly wisdom is something most of us probably never think about, even though it is very important to us as Christians, and even more so to us as we stand for the restoration of our marriages. Wisdom is what it takes to make good, God glorifying decisions, which is so important, because our lives are the literal bi-product of the decisions and choices we make. When we make poor decisions and choices, we’re not exercising godly wisdom and the consequences are not likely to be God glorifying. Yet, when we make decisions and choices based on the word of God, they’ll always be good, and God WILL always be glorified.

Reading Proverbs 4, makes it very clear why godly wisdom is so important to us as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, especially when we see the benefits and blessings of wisdom, knowledge and understanding as described in verses 5-13, which say:
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

While these are certainly wonderful benefits and blessings, and what we all need and want as we stand against the wiles of the devil for the restoration of our marriages and families, the key word is “get”. Obviously, there’s something we have to DO to “get” wisdom, and the ONLY way to get it is through SERIOUS Bible study, but most of the Christians I know, even those standing for marriage restoration are a lot less than serious about Bible study. But if we don’t get serious about it, we can’t count on getting much godly wisdom, which the following verses make very clear, because all wisdom, knowledge and understanding comes from God:

Colossians 2:2-4
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Joyce Meyer’s TV broadcast this morning, Wisdom And The Blessed Life, was an awesome message about the importance and consequences of the decisions and choices we make, which I strongly encourage watching with pen and pad in hand to take good notes! And be blessed and encouraged!

Since I agree that there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, as the song says, than to trust and obey, and since that’s the only assurance we have of receiving all of the promises, protection, provisions and blessings of the Lord, which we certainly need as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, I was thrilled to see Joyce Meyer begin the New Year with messages about the importance of obedience. Then, out of curiosity, I decided to look back to see how many articles I’ve written about it myself, and much to my surprise, it looks like I’ve done a pretty good job of resisting my natural inclination to harp on it! So since I’m very busy working to get the new Men’s FAM Fellowship website up and running, I hope everyone will bear with me and not mind too much if I provide links to some previous SOF posts, and Joyce’s awesome TV broadcast messages from yesterday and today, which I strongly recommend taking the time to listen to, with a note pad and pen in hand to take notes.. And even though I refer to them so often, please keep the following two passages of scripture in mind as you listen to Joyce and read the previous SOF posts, because they can easily be translated into “Trust and obey, for there’s NO other way”…which is WHY I refer to them so often! But this time they’re from The Amplified Bible:

Psalm 37:4-6 (AMP
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Here are some previous SOF posts about the importance of trusting and obeying the Lord, especially as we stand for the restoration of our marriages (Note: Some of the links may no longer work.):

Trust And Obey Or Feed Your Flesh

Do You Love The Lord?

When You Want To Give Up

The Protection And Blessings Of Obedience

The Blood Of Christ Is NOT A License To Sin

Living In The Power And Peace Of God

Overcoming Confusion And Uncertainty

Trust And Obey

Here is Joyce’s message from yesterday and today…and tomorrow’s is going to be great too!
The Number One Hindrance To Being Blessed – Part I

The Number One Hindrance To Being Blessed – Part II

Also, I want to express my appreciation for everyone’s patience as changes are made to the websites and ministry in the coming days and weeks, which I’m sure will be more than worthwhile in the end. And the Lord’s put a LOT of interesting things on my heart to share, which I can’t wait to get to, but there’s also some great messages coming this week on TV, so there may even be some “extras” stuck in here and there as I find the time! I’m truly looking forward to all the awesome things, GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, we’re all going to see the Lord do this year too, so BE BLESSED AND ENCOURAGED!