OK, everyone, we know God heard us last night. Let's hear some praise reports, please. I know I can sure use one right about now!!<P>I know Faith posted this morning about her WH wanting to "talk" sometime soon. This is a positive first step.<P>Last week, WAT (Dave) reported that his WW was willing to be "civil" after we prayed for them...THAT was definitely a step in the right direction.<P>I have nothing to report myself. I am not seeing anything one way or the other. Just feeling really, REALLY down tonight. Well, I've felt this way ALL DAY. It started shortly after our prayer time last night. BIG TIME Satan attack. I KNOW God is working just because of this. I've just got to believe He is. He didn't promise me He would heal my M just to let me down, now did He? <P>Lupo

Lupo, I just love you. Don't feel down. You are not alone right now - I'm online too and God is here with all of us. Do the steps you need to do to make things right. (I'm still behind on my closets but I did get 3 done ;-) )<P>Take care, sweetie! xxxooo

thanks, lupo!<BR>Yes, I know my H's desire to talk is a result of our prayers here. thank you everyone. Lets keep these prayers going. Satan is making some serious attacks on all of us. he's so dumb to think he even has a chance!!!! Lets remain gathered together (where two or more are gathered... ) and pray to keep these families together. <P>I have no idea what he wants to talk about. SO I still need prayers for my peace and comfort until then, and then for wisdom and guidance during the "talk".<P> <P>------------------<BR>Faith1<P>"Then Jesus answered, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.'"<BR>Matt 15:28

Still hinting for a heart or rose emoticon for times like these!<P>Lupolady, you are a lovely lady. You are there for so many others. You are right: God didn't bring you to this place in your life to let you down...He is with you, in the UPS and DOWNS we all experience. Hugs and love enfold you tonight. (or whatever time it is when you read this!)<P>God is good. He gives new mercies each day...some days require a little more searching under places than others. <P>H is not receiving the direction to minister with no pay for our church but knows we will soon be approached about membership. <P>God is blessing me at work still. He is doing a major healing these days--I was molested as a child and it's incredible the healing. One thing I've felt since my earliest childhood memories is a sense of drowning nearly--trying my hardest to keep my head above water in the ocean while people don't notice I'm a poor swimmer. God is really lifting that defeatist negative cloud off. He is showing me to face things down--those I can control anyway and He is there with me. <P>I read the neatest idea today...similar to Practicing the Presence I suppose...to invite God to every part of your life....instead of talking out a problem, tell Him; when you are near people in a crowd softly whisper "Jesus" and look at a person through His eyes..it's not a new concept but hit me in a whole new light..seems to be going on a lot.<P>Praying we will see you soon feeling better and encouraged and posting a praise report.<P>Love to you!

1. They created a director position, combining 3 centers and requiring a bachelors degree (I don't have one). TODAY I got a call from the VP and he said he will upgrade my position from entry to intermediate, and after 6 months will create a permanent position that I can compete with the general public for. (I already am over qualified for the intermediate, so this is workable.) My best friend does the exact same job that I do, but instead of higher-ed it is K-12. She will apply for the director of the 3 centers. If she gets it we will be an awesome team - to bring resources and social change to our little community! This is awesome. I am accepting of the intermediate position, even though it is not a director. God is good.<P>2. My mother went to her regular doctor today and it sounds like her leg is healing. I have not been able to talk to her directly, but this sounds like good news. It is beginning to sound like a miracle to me! God is good.<P>3. My husband's work prospects are not in our area, so the workforce center would like him to re-train. Back to school. God is good.<P>4. Our real estate agent held an open house tonight, and we had a lot of buyers come to see the house. The real estate man was surprised there were so many people on a Thursday night. (Tongue in cheek: GOD IS GOOD!)

lupolady- I firmly believe that my H's journey toward reconciliation with me was directly related to my prayers about it. I even saw IMMEDIATE results a few times when we were going thru the worst of our problems when he refused to end contact with OW. One night we fought and he was sleeping on the couch downstairs saying he definitely wanted a divorce- that our marriage was hopeless and counseling wouldnt help- and I prayed most of the night with the book The Power of a Praying Wife- the next morning he started to cry( he NEVER cries!) and hugged me and told me he was confused. Other books that helped me include Calm my Anxious Heart and Hope for the Separated- have your read those? The Bible says God will never give you so much to bear that he wont provide a way to cope with it. Try to remember that. Also I found alot of comfort in the Psalms and Pauls letter to the Romans. Be sure to focus on those. Psalm 34 helped me when I felt really crushed about our marriage. I have never been stronger in my faith and more in touch with the Bible as when I have been going thru the last 6 months.I had to learn to let God take control of thedirection of our marriage and not be impatient- that was REALLY hard. I actually came to the point with Him that if H had divorced me against my will I finally felt I could cope with it with God's help. But fortunately we are in recovery instead. Your friend in faith- lifeismessy ( nancy!)

Hi All,<P>It's cool to read how God has worked on specific problems in your life, knowing that these were specific things I remember praying about 2 days ago!<P>One of my prayers was answered with reference to my Job. I have been asked to keep silent for the time being about this, but trust me it is very good news! Thank you Lord, and thank you all here for praying for me.<P>My wife just phoned me, I know she's with the OM. She has been staying with the OM and his parents for a week now. It bugs me that the OM's father is a church minister, but I guess it's not my problem and I should ask forgiveness for resenting him.<P>My wife is in the process of finding a place in another town with the OM and his 4 friends. It feels like Satan is trying to use my wife to break me. I know my wife isn't well, I can just hear in her voice that things aren't well with her. She has had various health problems since the start of the affair, and it makes me sad because I care and I don't want to see her ill despite everything. My wife is good at making herself busy and puting on a good face, even though underlying this things are far from well. I just pray that the Lord will bring her close to him, otherwise I'm sure she will just destroy herself.<P>To be honest I know I'm really being battered by Satan sometimes. But now more than ever I feel it doesn't matter, God is right there behind me all the time. I just imagine this giant big brother figure is always looking over my shoulder, watching my back! In fact I imagine this big brother keeping guard over me with a big stick!!<P>My prayers are with you all.<P>Plec.<p>[This message has been edited by plecostomous (edited August 31, 2001).]

<B>She has had various health problems since the start of the affair, and it makes me sad because I care and I don't want to see her ill despite everything</B>[/QUOTE]<P>Oh! This cracks me up!! I'm sorry, Plec, for the health problems your W is experiencing, and I'm not meaning to make light of them, but this sounds just like my H!! He's unemployed, working daily labor-type construction (this is a 58 year old man with bad back, knees, hands, eyes, etc!!) and has health ins. through MY work, but has put himself OUT THERE so can't (won't?) take advantage of the benefits available to him!! The consequences? He's in pain and misery most of the time, probably 24/7. Oh yeah, he FIXED his problems. Yeah! Right!<P>Trying, You are so right! I looked around this place today, and realized that there's still plenty that I can be doing...and this is the perfect week-end to work on those ignored projects!!!<P>BTW - this brings up another thought, one I've struggled with for many weeks now.....If H thinks I can do all this without him, WHAT would he think I "need" him for?!?!?! My H stated to me (after he moved out) that he knew "I'd be fine on my own" and didn't need him. Well, if he thinks THAT, what do I accomplish, except prove him RIGHT when I can get the lawn done, the dogs cared for, the plumbing fixed, the bills paid, the car in for service, the garage cleaned out, the trash to the dump, etc.....you get my drift? Where to draw the line about what we "NEED" them for (other than emotionally, and even that is sometimes tied to the overwhelming amount of "stuff" to take care of...)<P>Faith, Just remember - NO EXPECTATIONS!! <P>FS, I will try your suggestion the next time I am "out in public." I like it!!<P>Trustntruth - Now HERE are the "answered prayers" we've been waiting to hear about!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!<P>Lifeismessy, I'm glad to hear how prayer figured in to your recovery. Your story ALWAYS lifts me up, and gives me hope.....it is such an inspiration. I always look for your threads and your answers to other people's threads. I hope I can do that to others someday......<BR><B>Calm my Anxious Heart and Hope for the Separated-</B> Uh, I've pretty much spent my allotment of "book money" for the next century this summer!! LOL<P>Plec, Just take it one day at a time....just one small step at a time. We're all in this together.....IF OM's family is christian, YOU KNOW conviction will happen eventually. Just pray - let God work on them.....<P>Thanks, everyone. I am most definitely in a better place tonight. I had a rough couple of days.....LOTS of temptations by Satan, had a couple of BIG GUNS thrown at me, too!! For the first time since this started, BEST friend turned on me and started telling me to "give it up" and "your H is moving on....." all this on top of the other miserable stuff I was enduring from the enemy. That's why I'm convinced the miracle is just 5 minutes away!! Satan always comes creeping around RIGHT before God moves in.....Satan WANTS us to give up just 5 minutes before the miracle. BAM!! He wins another one....I'm not nibbling on this bait. It's too important to me NOT TO GIVE UP NOW!! I have peace now, and I know God is still in control.<P>Thank you, everyone for your words of encouragement. I love this place! I love you guys....just keep remembering WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER IF WE CONTINUE TO HOLD EACH OTHER UP....This <B>IS</B> God's will for us, for our Marriages.<P>Lupo

The Lord has answered many of my prayers recently. Just what im seeing here are many answers to prayers. Praise Jesus. Many here need to plead mercy and ask for forgivness for their Wayward Spouses. The Lord will humble them, and it can be harsh. My wife payed a high price for her waywardness. She has Hepatitis C and gets very sick at times. The enemy deceives them into thinkin God winks at their sin. Well He dont. King David learned some hard lessons and they had lasting implications although he was humbled before the Lord and forgiven. God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The laws of judgment are like the laws of gravity. What goes up, must come down. If one exaltes themselves and lives in their selfish desires apart from Gods will, there is a price to pay. <BR>Thats why God wants us to be obedient. He doesnt want us to suffer more than we have to. I myself was a prodigal son for years and there was a time that i was as bad as my wife. I have a bad heart, and stomach ulcers from my drug days. I myself overdosed on drugs more than once and should be dead. I took Gods grace for granted and im here to say personally for myself that it wasnt worth it.<P>Dear Lord, I lift our Prodigal mates up to you. Lord they are deceived by the serpent and think they can live like heathen, when many are your children Lord. I plead mercy for them Lord, for they know not what they are doing, or how much they are hurting you Lord, and their mates and children. Open their eyes and heart Lord, and humble them and turn their hearts back to you and their mates and children. Turn the ones that dont know you Lord to you thru their waywardness. Turn all our situations around on the enemy. The enemy may have caused our situations for evil, yet i know Lord you have allowed it all for your glory and will frustrate the enemies efforts in the end of our trials. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen<BR>Mark

Hi Lupo / Mark,<P>I'm not sure really what I want to say ... just thanks! I needed some encouragement tonight, and your words encouraged me greatly. Lupo, I love the 5 mins thing ... sometimes I just loose my focus and get flustered by everything around me. I forget God is right there and I should focus on him.<P>I ask for your prayers right now, if anyone is about. My W is with me at home tonight and I'm finding it tough. She pretends she's fine ... but I feel like she's keeping me distant and communication is stifled!<P>Plec.

Hi, plec! I'm here, and praying for you. Relax, enjoy your w's presence, and rely on God to lead you in every step.<P>Lostpup, bless you. Thank you for your strength and beautiful prayer.<P>------------------<BR>Faith1<P>"Then Jesus answered, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.'"<BR>Matt 15:28

Well, answered prayers. My husband and I have had 2 heated phone hang up conversations the past 3 days. Then yesterday he came by,sat down,and talked about an hour about us. It was not all I wanted to hear. <P>However, he somehow managed to clear up a lot of the painful evil things he had said to me the past few months. He also managed to give me some hope. To seek to understand to be interested in what I was saying. and I (only by the grace of God) was able to match him quite well with peaceful positive conversation. (I did not scream,yell, or go off once-which can only be through God's grace). <P>Then later last night my son's friends Dad called (the guy who has been spending a lot of time with my son) and we talked. He had told me earlier yesterday that part of the reason they have been going over board including my son in their activities was that they thought maybe h would see and take note.<BR>!!!<BR>So this guy called and we have talked briefly before on the situation but he told me a story.<P>Apparently, in college he was playing defensive back (I think) and was chasing this guy down the field for the ball.<BR>A big,very fast guy. He was being laughed at by his teammates as he is small and was losing ground rapidly. No chance of getting this fast guy. Feeling rather low and so on. Then just before the guy with the ball gets to score he turns,falls,drops the ball which defensive line was able to get and return with a score. Awesome play. <P>(I don't understand football very well at all so this might not be a very accurate tale.) However, the message is never give up.<BR>Never give up. <P>That's what he called to tell me.<P>I said,Of course not. We only have everything to gain. <P>Isn't that just lovely.<P>And one more.<P>This story reminded me of the past spring when we were having one of those few months of tight money. Scary situation,etc. So I prayed for help.<BR>You know, over the course of a few months. Checks just started to appear. <P>A refund for this. A rebate on that. And of all things to happen: I had a major mechanical problem with my van. Which wasn't warrantied. Chrysler and the dealership and several men I work with told me (in a nuthshell) this is how it works,they won't cover it,let it go. Well I did. I forked over for the repair(which by the way didn't cost the thousands initially suggested!) and a few months later a check came in the mail from Chrysler repaying me for the repair-in full.<P>Yesterday we got notice that a big check for a situation that has been on the back burner for almost 2 years will be in our hands in about 6 weeks.<P><BR>For those of you who don't know. Early on I prayed for help financially. I'm not broke as such. but the situation could be pretty horrid. Money is tight. I honestly felt that when I prayed about it that the Lord was telling me to not worry that he would take care of it. So I have tried not to worry.<P>God is good. God is great.<P>God will bless us all indeed.<P>LKD<P><BR>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lkd:<BR><B>My husband and I have had 2 heated phone hang up conversations the past 3 days. Then yesterday he came by,sat down,and talked about an hour about us. It was not all I wanted to hear.<BR> <BR>Never give up. <BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Thanks, LKD, I wondered what you had been up to lately! I'm so glad to hear there's "movement aboard the mothership." I had a really horrible couple of days. The day we prayed last, was it Wednesday? Well, about 45 minutes after the hour we prayed, I began being "attacked" BIG TIME by Satan. In my mind, of course, that's where most of my attacks come. BIG TIME> All thoughts of "H's not coming home, he's never coming home, why keep this up....blah, blah." You know the drill. Well, it kept up all the next day too. In fact, it was so bad, I was soooo down that I cried through most of the day at work. Haven't done that AT ALL since I went back to work. A colleague gave me a copy of "Prayer of Jabez" and I came home that night determined to get out of the funk and started reading it! While I'm reading it, my g/f called to tell me she had spoken w/my WH and she asked him if "he was OK" - he said, "Yes." So she proceeded to tell me, for the next HOUR that "HE WAS OK" and I would have to let him go now!!! HUH?!?! He's "Moved on to a new chapter" and let him go!!! Well, I won't go into all of it, it's on another thread somewhere, you can search. The bottom line for me is that I believe Satan attacked me ALL NIGHT AND DAY after we prayed, and it had a little effect, then, the next night ATTACKED with the BIG GUNS (using my friend, whom I trust), trying to make me GIVE UP!!!<P>That makes me think there really IS something in the wind....something getting ready to break. THAT's usually when Satan attacks the hardest, just before he's about to lose a major battle.....<P>Why am I wasting your time telling you this? Because I believe that is why you and your H are having your "heated phone hang up conversations" !! He's having convictions....hang in there!! It's close to a break-through.<P>5 more minutes before the miracle.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>A refund for this. A rebate on that. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Also wanted to commment on this. I had prayed to the Lord, told NO ONE about my financial situation since H left. I wanted to have only the Lord take care of it, and trust Him. And He has done EXACTLY the same thing for me!!! <P>HE REALLY IS AWESOME!!! PRAISE HIM!!!!<BR>Lupo<P>

Lupo,<BR>Sorry about your attacks. I have had a lot myself. I have also had numerous attacks from "friends" who say get on with your life cause he has. Or the standard issue "maybe you can be "friends"!<P>It's very hard to address that cause it hurts so bad. But stick with it. and hang on. As my son's friends Dad said yesterday <P>"You have nothing to lose. and everything to gain. So hang in there."<P>The kids and I just returned from disney in Florida. We had an awesome time all things considered!!<P>H was supposed to have kids this weekend for at least some time. Yesterday he talked about me asking him to take the kids. That I ought to yadayadayadayadayadayad..............<BR>then proceeded to say he had to work this am and mon am in order to make up for lost part time. So can't have kids but will next weekend. <P>Then a few minutes are this and then moaning about how awful he felt,tired,swollen lymph glands,exhausion WHEW!<BR>said yeah friend *&*&*& is having a bbq tomorrow (today). I don't know if I'll make it or not. (of course he will)<BR>I am fighting right now not to tell him how HORRIBLE it is for a man not to spend more than 10 hours with his kids over almost 2 months but fight exhaustion to hang out with his pals.<BR>EXCUSE ME?????<BR>But guilt will never work. I'm just mad because sooner or later the kids will and honestly have put him on the back burner. He just doesn't know it yet or maybe he does and can't cope with it.<P>I honestly believe that God is showing him only he just doesn't know it yet. <P>Yes indeed God is awesome. <P>Oh God WILL bless us all indeed.<P>

yes, there is movement on the mother-ship indeed. My lunch talk weith my H today was enlightening. I'm very thankful to have spent time with him, and some communication was opened up. He still thinks he wants legal separation and divorce. But we had a nice talk - he loves me and doesn't want to hurt me, and at the end of the talk, actually seemed like he's still on the fence and wants to think about it some more. So, more time to Plan A, pray, and let GOd work on him.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>He still thinks he wants legal separation and divorce. But we had a nice talk - he loves me and doesn't want to hurt me, and at the end of the talk, actually seemed like he's still on the fence and wants to think about it some more. So, more time to Plan A, pray, and let GOd work on him. [/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Hi, Faith, I've been waiting for word of how it went. Well, it sounds to me like he's extremely sorry for what happened, and now cannot seem to forgive himself and figures that d is the only way to "pay it back to you."<P>I actually had a "vision" last night about asking my H's fogiveness for my part in the break-down in our M, and then telling him that I had forgiven him.....I wonder if this is what's missing. If they feel SOOOO terrible - angry at themselves, really - that they can't imagine being forgiven for what has happened. What do you think of this "theory?" <P>Lupo

hi, lupo! I haven't been to gq yet this morning to see if you've been there, but I posted a more detailed synopsis ther .<P>I thnk your theory is VERY valid. Just not in my case because I have already forgiven him. I DO think it's necessaary in their healing and facig reality. I forgave him a while back in a letter, then in person a couple of times. I forgave the OW ina letter aswell. I know that vengence is not mine. I told them I was deeply hurt, but that God would help me with my pain. I didn't expect wnything from my H, but that I knew I had to forgive him in my heart, or else I would e hurting myself with anger and blame.<P>He agreed to take more time to "think". I just pray and hope that he listens to God during this time. He thinks what he is doing to me is ok. He doens't understand that God hates divorce .<P>Thanks, sis! We'll make it!<P>------------------<BR>Faith1<P>"Then Jesus answered, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.'"<BR>Matt 15:28