I'm curious how many people here are religous and how was your walk of faith through your marriage, troubled time, separation, divorce and post-divorce?

I, myself, was raised as a non-practicing christian. Through childhood I only went to church when I started dating a preachers daughter. She moved away and mysteriously I started dating another preachers daughter. I was married young and didn't have much involvement in the church. Through the 1st half of our marriage we only went to church to baptize kids. Then we made an effort to go in the second half of our marriage. I found religion but hadn't found my Saviour. As I got more involved with the church I noticed my X getting less involved (she later told me that she viewed church as a social occasion).

Through our troubled times, 6 months pre-seperation, I really questioned my faith. The night of separation, I truly did walk with the Lord. Since I accepted my saviour I was able to go through my divorce with dignity. I've walked with Him ever since. The bitterness replaced with forgiveness and the hatrid replaced with understanding....

Since my divorce I have walk well with the Lord. I am involved in teaching Sunday School, teaching Vacation Bible School, scripture reading in church, and recently started a young teen program. My church is also sending me to Lay Ministry classes so that I can conduct services in the absence of our minister who is in the Military reserves and is absent once a month.

Just curious...

<small>[ February 11, 2003, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: LostHusband ]</small>

Hello,
Yes, I am religious also, and that has been part of my struggle with divorcing. I thought I had found that Christian man I wanted. He still goes to church and pays tithes, but now I see him more as someone who does that but is only doing that for his family's sake (they are very strong Christian people and his choices recently have devastated them-especially his mother). I hesitate to call him a hypocrit, but he sits in church and hears the lessons regarding adultery, yet has committed adultery and continues to do this with a married woman. (We have been separated for 5 months, he began EA 2 years ago and PA 8 months ago--right before I found out). Maybe he doesn't feel the sin applies to him because he thinks he's in love with her and not me. Anyway, personally, I feel completely at ease and at peace with my Saviour. I know I did everything I could to save my marriage and I will be taken care of. I'm walking by faith, also. Since the separation, I have been working 2 jobs most of the time (I'm a high school teacher and waitress some in my family's restaurant), so I haven't been able to attend service as I'd like. However, I have a relationship with the Lord like I've never known before. I feel comforted by Him.

Just my thoughts. THanks for giving me a chance to express them. Good luck to you and your situation.

In my own case, I was raised Catholic and hadn't practiced since I graduated from high school.

I met my wife at work, and she is the daughter of two Baptist ministers. We became fast friends, and we fell in love. I felt it was the greatest love of my life.

Since she was a Baptist, I started going to her parents' church. When we married, we went regularly for about three years, but for the most part, I went out of loyalty to her father, who was a good friend of mine. I was intellectually engaged in the Word, but I hadn't felt any of yet. In my spiritual immaturity, I looked to my wife as my savior, and she would prove to be inadequate for that task.
Once she became a police officer at a neighboring agency, our schedules became busy. I became focused upon building a future, and our time together dwindled. We bought a condo, upgraded to a house -- the typical Leave it Beaver neighborhood. Great neighbors, too -- more like family. Then I went back to school finish my degree.

Well, my wife, who is quite beautiful got recruited into narcotics and vice details as decoy. She got enamored with that lifestyle and she began enjoying being at work much more so than being at home. I expressed my concerns, but she was enjoying things too much.

All the red flags were there for an A, but I wanted to trust my wife, who had entered into an EA with a co-worker. They became best friends, but I never she never mentioned her relationship was that close. I even know the OM.

This last year, I withdrew from her, since it seemed that I was busting my hump for us, and she didn't care to be home. Resentful, I stopped going to her parents' church. She systematically began complaining about my withdrawal to her family, without expressing her concerns to me. There was a general lack of communication, exacerbated by the schedules and deployments.

When she walked out on me in huff, she never really looked back. I felt that I needed to lean on the Lord, so found a great church with an awesome Pastor and a Christian Mens' Support Group.

As I started attending these functions, I noticed God's strength in people at church, and I started feeling the Word in my heart. As it was breaking, I found God's love filling it. It wasn't long before I surrendered to God and put all of my faith in his hands.

I recently learned that the secret EA had turned into a secret PA, and that my precious wife had been hiding everything for the last year. Her irresponsible behavior -- late nights, last minute job needs, and of course, lies to be confirmed later. As I said, all of the red flags were there, but I wanted to trust her.

She had tried to conceal this email, but through the Lord's work, she'd forgotten it had been automatically forwarded to her home account. I knew something was up.

Even with this betrayal, the Lord brings me peace and happiness. Not that long ago, had I learned about the PA before finding Jesus -- there is no doubt my reaction would have been violent. Since the Lord has perfect timing, I accepted her adultery without much pain. I had let the matter go to God several weeks prior.

My WW is of course upset that I read her email, as if she had any privacy with that account -- and is adamant that she will go through with the divorce as if I betrayed her trust by reading her email.

I've been a cop too long, so when I suspicions were raised about her behavior I'd been checking for some time. I finally received definitive proof four days ago. I notified my Pastor, went to my group meeting, and still did not feel rage.

As she contemplates telling her parents of this adultery. It seems very sad, as I suspect they will find a way to support her, even though the Bible is very clear that she has no grounds to file, and her PA is occuring while still obligated to God and to me.

I now view these events as Satan attacking the family, since if he can sway a minister's family -- that's a big score for Ol' Nick. As such, I pray that they receive the strength they need to what is right, rather than rationalize this behavior for a family member. If W fails to confess, repent and forgive -- I don't see how God will forgive her.
Failure to discipline this congregant will have a deleterious effect on the credibility of that church. It also explains why it has dwindled to virtually nothing.

Rather than pray for marriage restoration or my W to return (truth be known, I have no desire for her at this time), my brothers and other prayer warriors will focus their prayers on my W accepting God. The template for repenting is very clear here -- confess, atone and do God's will. It seems to me that she has rejected God at this point, as has gone completely wild. She is 180 degrees from how she used to be. She's become extremely selfish, which is the root cause of divorce.

I am uplifted by the power of the Holy Spirit. His descent upon my heart convicted me as to the sins I had committed to my wife, none of which merits a divorce.

Regardless of the outcome, I know that God has great plans for my growth. This is the first time 39 years that I have felt this peace. There is little rage left in me. I recognize now that the mistakes I have made in the past are due to my pursuiing my own way, instead of God's way.

When we strive to follow God's lead and check the Scripture first, we are automatically rewarded by this obedience, and we know we are doing the right thing.

Since my W is in the military, she was deployed two days after she filed, postponing further proceedings. Again, the Lord's timing was superb.

It won't be easy doing the Hosea approach during her deployment (until Jan. 2004), but I am comforted knowing I am doing God's bidding now, instead of pursuing matters for my own weak humannes. I am currently in Plan B for as long as she carries on this long distance A with OM.

Everyday I pray for WW's salvation and that of her family's. It is a coup for Satan to take down a Christian family. I feel that fallen Pastors are sent to special ring in He**, maybe this unfortunate divorce is a catalyst for other great works -- including bring me, WW and her family back to God.

God is good. We must put on the armor of God to conduct spiritual warfare.

Bless you!!

Kimmy:

I am sorry this has happened to you, and I shall pray for you to accept this ordeal regardless of the outcome. The Lord doesn't always give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need.

Does the bible say you can get a divorce because you don't love someone? I don't think so. Your husband has committed adultery.

If he fails to confess and repent, which includes reconciliation to you -- he cannot receive God's forgiveness.

Real Christians cannot commit these sins and feel no remorse. Without the atonement, he cannot truly call himself a Christian -- as he is not obedient to Scripture. All subsequent affairs in his life will be adultery until he atones to you.

That's my take biblically, anyway.

God Bless You and your family.

Only Satan rends families. It is an attack on the family that he relishes.

I'm not really sure if I should answer this, but here goes...

I'm not religious at all. In fact, I've never been to church apart from weddings and a recent funeral. If I had to describe my beliefs, I'd call it agnostic/secular humanist.

In my marriage, it became a liability. Although I thought we had "agreed to disagree" about religion (she's a non-practicing Christian), it DID turn out to be an issue, and she eventually admitted (after we were separated) that she couldn't stand the fact that I didn't share her beliefs. Though she's never gone to church or cracked open a bible since I met her, she had some very deep-seated prejudices against non-Christians.

During the separation and divorce, I think my non-religious upbringing may have actually helped. I've noticed that when faced with difficult times, people who have been raised in a certain religious tradition often have a "crisis of faith."

Not having any faith to lose or gain, I didn't have to worry about a spiritual crisis, and that was one less thing to think about.

Awake,
Thank you so much for replying to my situation. I have truly struggled with this for so long. Most everyone who knew us through high school and the early years cannot believe how much my WH has changed. They can't believe we are going through this. However, Satan is on the attack, and how better to get souls than to attack families. I have heard OW is not a Christian, and I just don't understand why WH believes she is just the greatest thing when he was such a believer previously. He is one of the few folks that i know who aren't preachers who have read the entire Bible through twice. However, I know that knowing the Bible is different than practicing what it says. I also pray for him and his family. I want my H to have salvation. I even pray for OW, for her to be returned to her family and have salvation. This is difficult for me, but I know that I have to do this to be truly considered a Christian.
Your story sounds very similar to mine about how your WW has turned 180 degrees from the person she used to be. My WH has done exactly the same thing. people who haven't talked to him in a few years can't believe how much he has changed. What's worse, he still feels he is okay in what he is doing. When I asked him about what the Bible says about adultery, and what he feels about it, he says he will work that out on his own. I know if he truly comes back to God, then I will hear from him, even though I feel pride will prevent him from coming back to me. He may apologize, but I'm working on forgiving him now so that it will already be done later.
I'm expecting papers anyday now, and I've accepted there are worse things than being divorced.
I will move on eventually.

Kim

Hi,

I hope I'm not hi-jacking this thread, but I think I need some input from some strong christians on this mess.

I became a Xn at age 23, through a young adult group I joined. Immediately became active in that church, SS teacher, Evanglizing, etc. Was even Youth Group leader for teens (although I was barely a "babe in Christ" myself at that time! If I were to look back at it, I really didn't have a very deep relationship w/CHrist at that point, but I certainly would have said I was saved. Still believe I was, tho much, much deeper relationship now (but I'm jumping ahead of myself now).

OK, so I met H through church activities, after he had been M'd and div a couple of times (all very short-term M's, but one had produced his two sons), & had tried to commit suicide. Basically, we both felt he had "hit bottom" and the Lord lifted him out. He "found himself" had turned his life around (no more drugs, or alcohol), was working for Youth For Christ and then we met (I am always skeptical of those who get "saved" while dating, so I wanted to clear that up).

We dated for a year and a half, went to church faithfully, and he worked for another church org. after the Youth for Christ job ended....THEN just as we were about to Marry, we were asked to leave the Youth Group we (really - I) led. We never really found out why, but it soured us on church and we left and never really got involved in a church again. We attended several churches through the next 10 years or so of our M, but never found a "church home" and never joined another one, or got involved in volunteer work again.

Oh, let me back up, and say that H's FOO were charter members of the church I joined after being saved, and very active, although to this day, I doubt ANY of them is really saved! His dad is a long-time adulterer, and his sister is very "free", his brother is a liar and a swindler. I'm not saying anything my H doesn't know, or wouldn't admit to himself, so no secrets here. Anyway, since I knew his family, I knew what they were (although at the time, I believed they were all saved), but I could see my H had truly turned himself around, and he wasn't like ANY of them! (Still isn't).

SO, to try to continue (and shorten this), we never really got totally involved in church again, and I know it hurt our spiritual lives, as well as our own intimacy. There were certainly other issues, as well, SF, for instance (MY issues), and as such, this led to unmet EN's, and consequently, H's abandonment (that's what I see it as now).

He proceeded with the Div. and is now living as a single man. But before he left, he made a strange comment to me. He said, "We really need to start going back to church." I just turned, looked at him, and said, "I agree." Then I went back to whatever I was doing at the time, and we never spoke of it again (I think I was expecting HIM to lead us to this, but it didn't happen....he left about 10 days later).

My take on this was that he was being convicted of his future sin of abandonment, which HE knew he was contemplating, but I was unaware of at that time.

Soooo, my question to you all (yes, there really was a point, if you're still reading) is this: Wouldn't you agree that this is a man who God is "chasing" and that I must continue to pray for him to come back to God? I personally believe that God TRIED to get us to Himself personally many times in our (individual) lives as well as together (after our "problem" in our church, at which time satan succeeded in pulling us away from God). I know God has gotten me to where He wanted me all the time. I am there now. I know you all know what I mean....going through something like this will do that to you. I see my H as a true "prodigal" - gone, running from his "home" and yet, will slop with the pigs and end up coming back home. I pray for his soul most of all, as I know He has been called by God, and I don't want to see him lost and suffering in hell forever just cause he believes everything his family tells him!

See, I've come to the same conclusion as someone who quoted from Romans 8:28, "...all things work together for good to those who love the Lord....and are called according TO HIS PURPOSE."

Thanks for listening.

met H at church one easter day, thought I had met a good christian man. After we were M, H had nothing good to say about going to church. Little things like peachers talked too long, they sang too long, they ask for too much money. H thought I was seeing other men at church. to keep peace I quit going. got back into the church after H left me for MOW. I owe God for helping me get through the bad times. When I feel down, all I have to do is turn on the TV to a church channel. It helps me find the peace that I need to make it through the day. I dont pray for X to come home anymore. I know that God has other plans for me. Both me and our 13 yr old son pray every night that X & OW give their life to God and find a church to take her 3 children to. We hope that they find the peace we have.

m-17 1/2 yrs
me-49, x43
c-13, 29, 8 gd
d-5-02

ow-32
c-3 under 11
m-10yrs
d-7-02

It is so sad to me that Satan has attacked families as he has in this day and age. I fully believe that is what he is doing. How better for him to take souls from Heaven than to try to destroy what the Lord ordained...families! I am so saddened to read about the adulterous affairs on this site and how many people have a total disregard for marriage. It really scares me about moving on. I don't know if I can ever trust another again. I even doubt I will ever totally love another man as I have my soon to be XH. And, the thing is, it is amazing to me that Satan has accomplished so much--I was willing to work this out with my WH, if he wanted his family, but he has no desire to work it out and is proceeding with divorce! And he doesn't truly have "grounds." He, a self proclaiming Christian man, admits the adultery, and admits it continues. Not only does he admit to straying outside his marriage, but he's also sleeping with a married woman!! A double whammy!! What is a woman to do? He doesn't want forgiveness, nor does he want his family unit back. I feel sooo rejected, although many have told me that he is losing a lot more than I am. I am a well liked high school math teacher, and I'm not a total dog, although my WH had led me to believe I was--he is quite handsome--kind of resembles "superman". My self esteem is rising, though, since I have had 4 nice, good looking men ask me out since all this has come about in the past 5 months. (No, I'm not ready to get involved with someone yet, but it is flattering). So now I know that my WH attacked my self esteem and I let him bring me down farther than I realized.
Anyway, I suppose I have to move on, and I believe, though sometimes I struggle, that the Lord does have something good in mind for me. I feel he will lead me somewhere, but I don't know where yet. I'm totally scared, though, because my WH is the only man I have ever KNOWN, in the Biblical sense (or any sense for that matter--he was my only boyfriend as he was my first date at age 15). I feel like a teenager again, not knowing how to begin or how to trust another person again. I realize I need more time, but I know I don't want to be alone.
Thanks for letting me vent. I just never ever ever wanted to be in this situation. I know no one ever does, but I sometimes can't stop feeling like a lost puppy sometimes. But when I do, I always feel better talking it over with God.

<small>[ February 11, 2003, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: kimmy2 ]</small>

I meet my H in high school although we both dated other people. We broke up, got back together, broke up, got back together....he always came back to me, time after time....I was raised Catholic, he was Protestant.

I was very involved in my church, but he would not consider getting married in the Catholic church, so we married in his. It took a long time, lots of prayer, Bible study, contemplation, but I grew in the Protestant faith and feel I was blessed by this. I still strongly respect my Catholic roots and many of the things that church stands for, just can't embrace all the doctrine any longer.

My faith and trust have truly grown in the last few years, for many reasons, while my H who was once an Elder in his church, has grown more and more distant, with his own "take" on what it means to be a Christian. Basically, he feels God wants us to be happy and has given us whatever tools or circumstances we need to do this. Regardless of cost, God does not want us to be unhappy or stay in any kind of unhappy situation....my take on things differs greatly.

Promises are promises, The right thing to do is always the right thing to do and your heart knows it. God intends us to live according to his basics - the 10 Commandments. As someone once told me, they aren't the 10 Suggestions!!

My H chooses not to. He resents and sometimes mocks my faith. It truly hurts me when he does that. I remember many Sunday mornings when we all went to church as a family and I can still feel him squeeze my hand and look down at me with a geniune smile and his eyes were so happy and peaceful...this is a true memory, not some fanciful one. We brought our children up with strong religious beliefs - our oldest daughter is a pastor - and I sincerely believed that my H would always hold those beliefs.

I used to pray daily that God would restore our marriage and give my H back to me. I still do, but now I realize that first my H has to find God again, for the peace he is seeking everywhere else but thru Him. I too doubt that even if he did renew his relationship with God, that he would "come home" - he too has too much pride. He can't admit to a mistake that big. But it would give me peace to know that God was first in his life, and that he would be alright.

So yes, I guess I have strong religious beliefs that have been made stronger through all this. I understand those who don't share these beliefs and I would hope I don't come across as a "Bible-thumper". That is not my intent. But my faith is a big part of my life, and will be a part of all my actions and decisions. I struggle everyday, and lots of times my anger and hurt win out. I hope those times are fewer and fewer as we move through this.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by lupolady:
<strong>Hi,

I hope I'm not hi-jacking this thread, but I think I need some input from some strong christians on this mess...my question to you all is this: Wouldn't you agree that this is a man who God is "chasing" and that I must continue to pray for him to come back to God? I personally believe that God TRIED to get us to Himself personally many times in our (individual) lives as well as together. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Would you accept some input from a non-Christian?

IMHO, if God were "chasing" your XH, then I would guess that he would have been caught by now! And if God "tried" to get you, your XH, or both of you to do something, then I would guess that He would have succeeded! I can't imagine God "trying" something only to fail.

The way I see it, if God (being a supreme being) WANTS something to happen, it WILL happen in short order...right?

So for whatever reason, I would guess that perhaps God doesn't want your XH to "come to his senses" at this time.

Or perhaps God has another plan for you that you cannot fathom at this time.

Just a thought...

Kimmy:

You husband is not a Christian. If he thinks God wants us to be happy, he should read the Book of Job. God doesn't want us happy necessarily -- crises sometimes occur to bring us closer to the Lord -- he wants us to be obedient, and thus, be righteous. It's a tall order sometimes.

The way I understand it, obedience to God brings righteousnous, and ultimately, peace and joy. Both of those are better than happiness. Smoking crack might make you happy -- but you won't EVER feel joy by doing it.

C-jack:

For a non-Christian, you have intuitively asserted what many Christians know: God does not chase. God does not try -- He creates. Finally, God does what He does on HIS schedule, not ours.

Too often, we struggle because we are trying to control or obtain what WE want. If we seek to find and do what GOD wants us to do -- He rewards our submission and obedience with peace and joy, which are generally infinitely better that what we thought we wanted in the first place.

God doesn't always give us what we want, but He always gives what we need.

God Bless you and yours!

"Even sheep not of my flock belong to me."

Praise the Lord!!!!!

Thank you all so much in responding and yes (cjack) you are more than welcome some of my best conversations come from non-believers. I love hearing about beliefs and life from all points of view. The only reason I posted was because I was getting down about the seeming lack of compassion on the site as of late and y'all recharged me.

If anyone would like to discuss theology and interpretation that would be awesome. When reading the book of Revalation I came across the following passage, I'm curious as to what you think the seventh trumpet symbolizes:

Revelation 10: 4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." 5 And the angel whom I saw standing on sea and land lifted up his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there should be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God, as he announced to his servants the prophets, should be fulfilled.

((((((((((ALL))))))))

Wow, awake, you are certianly making me think. I have had others say that they don't think he's a Christian, but I know the person he used to be, and he used to consider that life very important. I can't undersand how he feels he will be atoned for this since he is continuing his actions and plans to be with this woman. Maybe he feels God will overlook this since he thinks he's in love. I don't agree with him, but I'm trying to understand him. I feel he will be convicted, I just don't know when. I'm waiting on God to deliver me peace in this. It's so true...God may not grant what I want (which is his return to our family) but Hhe will grant what's best for me if I'm in His will.

No I’m not religious. But I do have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know that sounds like a sound bite, but I truly believe there is a difference. Because it is a relationship, it has to be nurtured, just like any relationship does to get better and stronger. Any one who neglects a relationship will never experience a truly fulfilling one. That is why you will always see people at different levels. A person can be a stranger to Christ; they can be just an acquaintance, good friends or intimate friends. Christ always chooses to be intimate with us. We all have the ability (free will) to choose our intimacy level with Him. Cjack, God will never go against our free will. If he would, then we all would be robots, blindly follow Him and have no choice in the matter. Instead, He may turn up the heat on us to see what our hearts are made of. Just like heat reacts differently with butter verses clay. Heat will make butter soft and easy to use, but it will make clay hard, inflexible and unable to change. Are our hearts like butter or like clay when God turns up the heat and chases after us?

We as Christians can become the prodigal and choose to abandon our relationship with Christ. During that time we will sin and begin to show less and less remorse. Which brings us to only sin that is unforgivable: Grieving the Holy Spirit. A condition in which a Christian can find themselves in when sin has become their way of life and they are unrepentant at the time of death. We always have until our last breath to return to our Father. He’s attributes show us that he gives everyone (not just Christians) 100% of His attention, 100% of the time. So whenever, wherever, we are ready to freely be in an intimate relationship with Him, He is ready. Ready to be our best friend, our counselor; the Daddy (Abba) we really should have had and our Savior.

He has given us marriage as a picture of what our relationship with Him should be. That is why He hates divorce so much. And why infidelity is the only reason he allows for divorce. Ideally since He will always be there for us, he wants us to be there for our spouses. That is why Satan attacks marriages so hard. He doesn’t want anything that resembles a relationship with God.

So I believe, the better our relationship with God, the better ALL of our relationships will be. We are still humans and we will still make mistakes and sin. But if our relationship with God is good and our spouses relationship with God is good, then there is little the enemy can do to tear our marriage with God, or our marriage with our spouses apart.

All other good relationships will be a byproduct of a great relationship with God. My marriage is living proof of that. We still have a way to go, but then so does our involement with our R with God.

God bless you all, thanks for your input cjack.

Remember every Wed. we fast and pray for the people here at MB. http://www.marriagebuilders.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=34;t=008337. Come join us.

S&C

I am not religious. I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus did not care for "religious people". Religion is based on what we do religiously. As S & C said, it is all about our Relationship with Christ.

We can have our doubts that someone is truely walking with the Lord, but that is between God and the person. Just as our walk is between God and us.

Lupo ,yes I believe God wants you to pray for your husband. God is more concerened about our salvation than He is our comfort.Remember it is in God's time not ours. So just becasue it hasn't happen doesn't mean it will not happen or that God doesn't desire it to happen. We are told to have faith and WAIT on the Lord.Jesus told us to pray for those who hate us or attack us.

We are here to serve the Lord and His purpose.It took me 40 years to get this, and praise God I did finally get it. This is where our freedom comes from, by being a servant. It is the only way to be free.I am thanful to be free from this world and all the religious stuff.

gentle

<small>[ February 12, 2003, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: gentle ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"><strong>IMHO, if God were "chasing" your XH, then I would guess that he would have been caught by now! And if God "tried" to get you, your XH, or both of you to do something, then I would guess that He would have succeeded! I can't imagine God "trying" something only to fail.

The way I see it, if God (being a supreme being) WANTS something to happen, it WILL happen in short order...right?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"></strong>

<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Lupo ,yes I believe God wants you to pray for your husband. God is more concerened about our salvation than He is our comfort.Remember it is in God's time not ours. So just becasue it hasn't happen doesn't mean it will not happen or that God doesn't desire it to happen. We are told to have faith and WAIT on the Lord.Jesus told us to pray for those who hate us or attack us.

We are here to serve the Lord and His purpose.It took me 40 years to get this, and praise God I did finally get it. This is where our freedom comes from, by being a servant. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">It seems to me that both Gentle and cjack answered my question exactly the same way!!!

Interesting, isn't it?

Cjack said basically "God is omnipotent, can do anything...."
Gentle said, "God's timing isn't ours, BUT God always has His way IN HIS TIME.

Cjack, there's the answer to your ?, btw. God DOES have His way. Always. Just not in our expected time table. After all, God has no time table....all the time in the universe belongs to Him. "A day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day."

Well, this is the thing....I basically started rambling (could you tell?) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> and didn't really ask the question I meant to ask.

Here it is:
I beleive God is going to work this out toward restoration of our M. I believe God wants us both back with Him. I believe my H has committed himself to God, and belongs to God and therefore, GOD WILL HAVE HIM BACK TO HIMSELF ONE DAY. Period.

But here's the thing: If I believe this, why would I need to continue praying? Why not just say "Thank you, Lord. YOu are working all this out." and go about my life AS IF it were a done deal (basically is what I am doing).

WHY continue to beseech, beg, plead, ask, search, etc. if I believe it is coming? Just hasn't come yet. Isn't it the same as expecting a package in the mail? Once you KNOW it was sent from the sender, don't you just wait till it gets to you?

God Bless you all.

<small>[ February 12, 2003, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: lupolady ]</small>