Believer,
Your last post was what I wanted to say. No, you're not dragging anyone down. Instead, you are allowing yourself to be lifted up.

Remember when a Christian couple enters into marriage, it isn't two at the altar but three. Where is the Lord? He is the other wounded spouse in this, He knows your pain. He hasn't forgotten you or considered your problem insignificant. Instead,it is His problem.

MM

Believer,
Your last post was what I wanted to say. No, you're not dragging anyone down. Instead, you are allowing yourself to be lifted up.

Remember when a Christian couple enters into marriage, it isn't two at the altar but three. Where is the Lord? He is the other wounded spouse in this, He knows your pain. He hasn't forgotten you or considered your problem insignificant. Instead,it is His problem.

MM

Believer, I am a man of little faith. I have always envied folks with great, confidant faith in God. God always sems to have given me 'enough' faith rather than so much that I feel utterly justifiably confidant to throw any problem at His feet and smile awaiting His resolution.

I always had a problem with the unequivocal nature of scripture - that 'pray in Jesus name and belive you have recived it' thing. There's no 'unless', or 'but' in there that bears out most people's experiences. I KNOW God DOES answer prayers and intervene, but he don';t do it for everyone and everything, and I am yet to see the 'get out cluse' in scripture. This doubt led me to lave out church a few years ago and we never got round to finding another.

Yet through all that, all legalistic bindings and pretence was stripped away leaving me with a bare, but earnest hope in God's care for us.

Now in previous life crises, the heavens have appeared to be brass to my prayers, but we all stumbled through them.

In THIS situation, this horrible Affair, Gods intervetion in MY life has been obvious and dramatic enough to make a GREAT witness once this mess is over.

Believer, I cannot advise as a wise and faithful Christian, just a poor, weak one but I will only say that while God does not always respond as we would wish, or as we would understand, He is there, He cares, and he knows a lot more about the bigger picture than we do.
I will add my clumsy prayers to your cause , dear B.

Remember even JESUS felt abandoned by his Father and he is part of the trinity of being of the Godhead ! Doesn't mean he WAS abandoned...

All blessings...

belever....hugs to you, first and foremost. Regardless of race, creed, sex, etc. you are such an ideal human being, it's hard not to imagine you are not an intent of God's plan--for the rest of us.

I was sure something had been "wrong" in the last few weeks, just due to the nature of your "matter-of-fact" posts and length of them (short.) I was really hoping "Ladies only please" "snapped" you out of it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by scotty:
God's timing is not the same as ours.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by jph:
God always answers our prayers. It's either yes, no or not right now.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">There are so many lessons we learn from God's teachings and his own army of angels (you included.) Those two above are my favorites--besides the fact that I know God loves us unconditionally.

We don't need to understand why. But it's human nature to ask "Why?"--just like our emotions, including your emotion of anger.

I can picture God Plan A'ing all of us. He is the Perfect reverse-babbler. (Sorry Orch and Pep! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> ) This is what faith and trust is about, right?

Just like this site...you have received three pages of responses telling you of personal stories, relationships, variations of beliefs, from all denominations, both male and female, opinions varying, etc. Funny, though, that we're all here for the same reason.

Just like all of us. Funny, though, how we're all here for the same reason--because man is "human" and sins.

You asked one original question:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">So where is the Lord in all of this?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">He is always with you believer. It's your perception that He is not and hasn't been for some time now. My perception? (Allow me to answer this one!)
It is my perception that He continues to be with you--it is with your eloquence of words; your humor; your stability and strength; your kindness and soft "caresses"; your truthfulness that I know He has not left you wayward.

Don't forget: it is a *choice* and free will that He himself has given us to become a wayward spouse to our own marriage with Him.

After all that you have done for so many of us--myself and brown absolutely included--I ask of one thing from you: save this thread.

Thanks, believer. It's all in a name!

I'm with Bill on this one. It seems like you need to reflect on whats going on and get some biblical counceling by someone you can trust like a pastor whomever u trust of that nature to help you sort where God is in all of this. I have felt like this too. The thing is I'm not mad at God, I know deep down he is here, but I'm just taking my anger out on I guess who I trusted to keep me from danger. Unfortunatly we sinned and severed that direct link with God.We have to pay for our sins unfortunatly. I know God was there trying to help restore your marriage. He didn't want to listen, he decided to be blind to his heart and concience, God grants us all free will and that is what he chose. One thing you might want to check on as well in the Bible is that it says if the spouse is committing adultry and refuses to stop then you should divorce him so he doesn't continue in sin becouse of you. I know that's harsh, but for your own sanity you need to draw a line as to how far you are going to go with this?

jermemia 29
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!


I know that God lives. I know it. I know that Jesus is the Christ, our savior.

I say as did Job - (Chapter 19)

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

I commend you for the peace you have published. I think you will feel that he is there. I pray for your success. I request that you continue to seek his face, and suggest that someday you know the answers to all your questions.

Finally, this last benediction.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

May your heart find peace tonight, may you sleep well, may you find joy in the morning.

SS

<small>[ September 18, 2004, 01:46 AM: Message edited by: still seeking ]</small>

Dear Believer,

I'm glad you are feeling better. Just wanted to give you my 2cents.

I think many of us really feel God is like a father. Not The Father, but a father. We want Him to reach out and take away all the bad things. We believe Him to have great powers (all powers, really), so why doesn't He wave His magic wand and restores everything? Some instant miracle? We have sacrificied so much (we think) so where is the reward??

Well.. it doesn't work that way. It's not like we can invest with "sacrifice, duty and love" and then collect the "intrests" in the form of some miracle or just not having anything bad happen to us.

When we think we "sin" we don't expect any miracles. We have been "bad" and we need to be "punished". When we are "good" we expect to be "rewarded".

I think we basically need to grow up. A good father or mother doesn't take all obstacles out of our path so we won't hurt ourselves. They give us the chance to learn. Why did we chose a H that was too immature to keep the vows he took? Our H need to grow up too I guess. And so do we. We are not powerless, waiting for the big ol' Guy to solve our problems. In our prayers we can ask for the strength to take the right decisions, to be able to remain loving and to accept what we cannot change.

God isn't Santa Claus. He (or She <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) is always there, at all times, waiting for us to come home and hold us in His/Her embrace.

I too have had miracles happen to me. But they always happened when I bowed, when I accepted, when I trusted, never when I was angry and resentful.

I like to think of this - if you squeeze to hard to get something out of tube, it just could be that you are actually blocking the flow.

Brown - Thanks. Why are you up so late? And why aren't you keeping your husband off the "ladies only thread"?

Hi Believer,

due to different time zones it's actually noon here <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> .
And it's Brownhair, not Brown.. my H isn't posting on this website... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Hey believer!

It sounds like you are in a better place today. Keep your head up. Sometimes you need friends to show you the faith and trust you really have!

Oh, and that comment? Just was making sure you read my post! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I love this thread so much because it really shows the incredible amount of love and caring on this board. It's really overwhelming and makes one proud to be here <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Believer, I too have lost much in my life mostly to death, but also have lost love. My faith has been tested many times, once so bad that I actually yelled at our Father, called Him every swear word in the book, even said I hated Him. I think He just laughed because He knows me well.

What my question to you (and also what Jesus's question is I know) "what is it that you desire?"

Once you have the answer to this, it will be yours. Jesus meant it when He said, "Ask and it shall be given", but first you must be clear on what you want.

I say this because it is not clear here if you want you WH back or just want to move on. Bat me if I have misunderstood, but sometimes I think you still love him and just are very discouraged.

The only advice I can really give is check out the book, "The Holy Longing" by Dr. Connie Zweig. It helped me a lot regarding the "God" issue. If you're near a public library, they may have it if you don't want to buy it (just in case you feel it's not for you.")

All the best.

Thanks all. I do not want WH back. I don't care about him, other than someone I once knew. And I was just going through a pity thing. Feeling sorry for myself. I guess it is all part of recovery.

I have many, many things to be thankful for, and am hoping to realize that more and more. And one of the top things I am grateful for, is all of you here. We have never met, and never will, but I feel like the Lord is speaking to me through all of you.