DO NOT FEAR , FOR I AM WITH YOU; <P>DO NOT ANXIOUSLY LOOK ABOUT YOU, <P>FOR I AM YOUR GOD,<P>I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU,<P>SURELY I WILL HELP YOU!<P>ISAIAH 41:10<P>[This message has been edited by POGP (edited February 15, 2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by POGP (edited February 15, 2000).]

Thank You I think I needed that scripture today. What a blessing.

I needed this one too very much. Was starting to feel anxious about H coming home since his response to my boundary setting enrages him so much. Been reading the book Boundaries and realizing how ungodly it is for me to not set boundaries, to allow my h to sin against me and for me to stay and take the abuse. Pretty enlightening. Anyway, I will take those prayers please tonight, that I can clearly state my limits and to not react when he is verbally abusive and to respond with the quiet and gentle spirit that God gave me.

I needed to hear this again. I needed to get my head back in the right place. I slipped this weekend. It just creeps up on you. I want to soly seek my Lord.<BR>Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind!

I needed that this am, my husband let me sleep this am and didn't wake me to say goodbye and it was bothering me a little, it's about the only hug of the day I'm allowed to have, thanx for these words of truth

Regina, this is so funny -- my husband left early for work the past two mornings and didn't wake me with a kiss as he had been doing. It started me worrying. <P>Then last night we were watching Law and Order and the murder was over an affair. My h. started talking about betrayers...joking about how they sometimes get defensive and self-righteous. <P>I responded by falling into an old bad habit and probing about his thought life; "Do you still want to see her or call her?". H: "I'm not doing either of those things, that's what matters, so that is my answer: I'm not doing anything."<P>This really sent me into a funk, saying "Why don't you just let me go if you can't love me like I need....etc etc." He was really patient, and simply said "Look, I am here. I don't want to lose you. I'm not going anywhere unless you ask me to leave. If you need to go, then do what you must...<P>I keep thinking about how blessed I felt just a few days ago...and that I screwed up. We are going on a family ski trip this weekend, and I need to apologize to him today for trying to monitor his feelings...<P>so, I guess I posted this scripture for myself and just didn't realize it would be needed so soon.<P>lizzie<P>------------------<BR><BR>"I have found the Pearl of Great Price"<BR>

I needed this scripture too! I know God has a plan. I just need to be strong, not chase him, pray for my marriage, and learn to be my own person. <P>By the way, POGP's advice to not push and to not chase is just what I needed to hear. I thought that if I just gave my husband love deposits over and over, he would come back. I know now that it is not the time for that. I slipped on Valentine's Day and ended up sleeping with him. It felt right at the time, but I'm giving him his cake and letting him eat it too. I have realized that unless he chooses to work on the marriage, I can't let him have all the power! <P>Thanks for the advice!

Lizzie, thank you so much for posting this verse! I also needed to hear this. Been faltering pretty bad lately, and I don't really know why. I guess it's because my husband doesn't show affection or emotions, and still speaks of things in the "I" mode instead of the "we" mode. That really bothers me. Plus he's been on the subject of selling our house again; the last time he wanted to do this was a year ago, when he started his affair and was thinking of divorce. He says he thinks about selling it because property values here have gone up so much and we could make a lot of money if we sell it now. Last night I told him exactly how I felt about this, that it scares me when he says he wants to sell the house because the last time he wanted to, he was wanting a divorce. He didn't respond to that, until this AM. He said that if we sell the house we would build a new one together. Lord, PLEASE help me learn to trust my husband.

Just bringing this passage up as a reminder to all my dear friends here!<P>Update on us: Things are good -- no big Easter miracle of repentance before God, but we had a great conversation about the Easter sermon. <P>My h's friend who is one of our pastors called yesterday to get his work #, so he will be meeting with him sometime soon if h. agrees to see him. <P>I know the pastor wants to to discuss h's spiritual life and informally ask him not to take communion if he hasn't repented. This may not sit well, as my h. hadn't been taking communion since his confessing his affair to me, but did partake on at the special service before Easter. I asked later if he took part in communion for the benefit of our kids, who sat with us. He said "No, I took it because I FELT LIKE IT." <P>In light of the other things he said about not having enough proof of the resurrection to really believe, I am confused about where he stands spiritually. Our pastors both think that he claims to be an unbeliever to deal with the guilt of the adultery. It makes alot of sense to me now -- less is expected in terms of holiness if you claim to be an unbeliever! <P>Rest in this scripture passage, God loves each of you and your families!<P>liz<P>------------------<BR><BR>"I have found the Pearl of Great Price"<BR>

I really do like this verse very much, especially the part that says "do not anxiously look about you". How often with my hypersensitive Spirit did I find myself "looking" to see what mood he was in, making quick decisions about whether I needed to be walking on eggshells, etc... This verse just reminds to not even look, to just keep my eyes on the Lord and to keep doing what I hear Him telling me to do.

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The day you posted this verse Liz, I printed it out and put in on my puter. Each time I read it, I smile and am comforted. My H's conditions this AM for remaining in this marriage are highly conditional, conditions that I believe are contrary to the Word. I have told him to do whatever it is that he needs to do. He insists it is a choice that I am making.<P>I guess as I think about it, perhaps that is true. I do choose honoring God over all others. I do choose not to deviate from the truth of the Word. I do choose to love the unloveable because God loves him. And even at that, he isn't really unloveable, for God has given him some wonderful gifts. <P>That he has yet to understand that God allows circumstances and tribulations in our lives so that we can cling to what is more valuable and grow beyond anything we can imagine just increases the period of hardships so that he can learn what God has for him to learn. That I have become aware of how I have been enabling his torture by trying to put bandaids on oozing, weeping sores rather than allow the debriding (sp? the surgical removal of dead skin to promote new growth) of his wounds so that he can wholly heal brings me to my knees and I beg forgiveness for such.<P>I am at peace this morning, though my world may be falling apart. Jesus said "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." <P>Please continue to lift up my husband's mind and emotions, that God shows me how to be as respectful as David was towards Saul even though Saul sought to kill him. Pray that my husband will release his desire for happiness, wanting what he cannot have, and to be filled with contentment, wanting what he does have. And in all things, pray that God receives the glory due him as we travel the path before us.<P>Thanks.

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