Continued from Abiding Branch!!!
But the biggest thing ever, did I say ever? I meant EVER!!!!!!RRRRR!!!!!
My hubby and I attended the Family Life Conference called A Weekend to Remember!!!
No, as so many have asked...I did not drag him there! It was HIS idea!! Yep! (heart string strung! ***insert harps and violins***) tee hee
It was Valentines Weekend!! And we stayed at the Gaylord Texan! Beautiful and wonderful!
The best way I can describe any of this is that when you choose to love your husband in the same way Christ loves you it means more than you can imagine.
But the biggest thing ever, did I say ever? I meant EVER!!!!!!RRRRR!!!!!
My hubby and I attended the Family Life Conference called A Weekend to Remember!!!
No, as so many have asked...I did not drag him there! It was HIS idea!! Yep! (heart string strung! ***insert harps and violins***) tee hee
It was Valentines Weekend!! And we stayed at the Gaylord Texan! Beautiful and wonderful!
The best way I can describe any of this is that when you choose to love your husband in the same way Christ loves you it means more than you can imagine.
(side note: If you are in a relationship where your life is being threatened please understand that Christ took that so you would not have to. When the world and its evil ways are taking your life and trying to steal your very soul that is another thing all together.)
God has called me to this man and this is where I will find my joy and peace. When you are abused there is no peace in that home but you can have peace within. Hang in there. You can seek help and even safety without divorce if you can't bring yourself to divorce. God did not intened for you to be a punching bag or piece of merchandise. He loves you so much! And God is the best husband you could ever have!!
1. You trust God in all things!
2. You learn to love with the Love of the Lord - unconditional.
3. You forgive! (FUDGE Forgiveness Under Divine Guidance Everyday)
4. You learn grace!
5. You die to self!
(not necessarily in that order.)
A couple of things I noticed about myself: I had begun to protect myself from being hurt, which led to isolation. You know the story, "I am so lonely yet I am married." God showed me I was not dying to self in the Name of the Lord! I was so focused on forgiving him and protecting myself that I kept my heart to myself. He could have my forgiveness but not my heart? That won't do;
1. You trust God in all things!
2. You learn to love with the Love of the Lord - unconditional.
3. You forgive! (FUDGE Forgiveness Under Divine Guidance Everyday)
4. You learn grace!
5. You die to self!
(not necessarily in that order.)
A couple of things I noticed about myself: I had begun to protect myself from being hurt, which led to isolation. You know the story, "I am so lonely yet I am married." God showed me I was not dying to self in the Name of the Lord! I was so focused on forgiving him and protecting myself that I kept my heart to myself. He could have my forgiveness but not my heart? That won't do;
I was not fully trusting God!
I withheld a natural tendency toward affection, not even knowingly most of the time. I was not living to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! Not to mention squelching the Holy Spirit!
While whining about his walls of independence, I was building some of my own called preservation - self preservation! ***see the pattern***I don't know about you, but that to me is the opposite of dying to self. I was hanging on to my own life for dear life.
While whining about his walls of independence, I was building some of my own called preservation - self preservation! ***see the pattern***I don't know about you, but that to me is the opposite of dying to self. I was hanging on to my own life for dear life.
Jesus said that who ever would seek to save their own lives, would lose it. Whomever lost their lives for His sake would live! I was dying a little each day!!! Not a good place at all!!!
I needed restoration in a big way!!!! I mean huge! Life gets in the way and people just get tired. Now, I know it is not all mental, I have physical reasons for feeling so tired too!! (the health concerns in my previous post)
On Saturday, we were to write a love letter to one another. I wanted to approach the Throne Room first and visit with my DAD. So, I asked Him for the advice I needed as a woman and I opened my Bible to Psalm 86. The Words were the balm of Gilead to my heart and soul!
We needed restoration. Both of us had some repenting to do. I had prayed and prayed for a marriage that would stand the test of time and endure all things. Sometimes you just don't know what you are praying for, and you had better be ready for the answer.
I needed restoration in a big way!!!! I mean huge! Life gets in the way and people just get tired. Now, I know it is not all mental, I have physical reasons for feeling so tired too!! (the health concerns in my previous post)
On Saturday, we were to write a love letter to one another. I wanted to approach the Throne Room first and visit with my DAD. So, I asked Him for the advice I needed as a woman and I opened my Bible to Psalm 86. The Words were the balm of Gilead to my heart and soul!
We needed restoration. Both of us had some repenting to do. I had prayed and prayed for a marriage that would stand the test of time and endure all things. Sometimes you just don't know what you are praying for, and you had better be ready for the answer.
It is a good thing though, because HIS ways are not our ways! If we knew what He would use in and through us for His glory, we might not take that path. Glory to God! We should be joyful in our trials and consider it an honor to die to self even for our spouse! It is a privilege we take too lightly, at least I have.
I knew the God Who Restores could do anything He wanted to!!! But the word restore is a word that implies the re-breaking of a bone to restore it fully! God had been doing some re-breaking!!! But the pain had long passed. As a matter of fact, it was hard to feel.
Bottom line is that all this time I had felt a numbness that I could not explain. But when all the walls had come tumbling down I felt the weight! But I felt!!! I had been in a body cast of sorts and God wanted my husband to remove the bandages like a veil on a wedding day! God healed me and my husband was able to reveal me. My veil was torn!!!
God offered a new path, a new season in our lives together. He provided an unhindered path to approach one another. Choosing to be true always and forever is not what this world would have you do. But this is a choice that you have to make. This choice will change your attitude but more so it will penetrate your heart! Our choices led us to this weekend we will always remember!! And to a vow renewal ceremony we would not forget!
The renewal of our vows seemed sweeter to me than the vows on our wedding day! This time we actually knew each quite well and did it anyway! lol We knew each other 3 months before we wed! SERIOUSLY! But this time we had shared half our lives together and still said, "I do"!!!
I am choosing to act the way I want to feel and not act the way I feel! We have been married almost 17 years and we are fighting to keep what the entire world would destroy!
When was the last time you sat down with the God Who Restores?
Do you need to pray for your marriage to honor God no matter what it takes? Be ready this prayer works!
I promise you one thing you can't do this! This was WAY more than I could handle, alone that is. I said I couldn't do it and God said I was right. I could not and you cannot do it without HIM!!! One thing I have learned the hard way, get-out-of-the-way and let God do HIS job. When you get out of God's way there is no telling what He will restore.
I am praying a restoration for you too in whatever area you need it in your life. If it is God, a friend, a relative, a parent, or a spouse, whomever you need restoration, you have my prayers.
I want to hear how God is revealing Himself to you!! Please share!
In Christ,
Chel
I knew the God Who Restores could do anything He wanted to!!! But the word restore is a word that implies the re-breaking of a bone to restore it fully! God had been doing some re-breaking!!! But the pain had long passed. As a matter of fact, it was hard to feel.
Bottom line is that all this time I had felt a numbness that I could not explain. But when all the walls had come tumbling down I felt the weight! But I felt!!! I had been in a body cast of sorts and God wanted my husband to remove the bandages like a veil on a wedding day! God healed me and my husband was able to reveal me. My veil was torn!!!
God offered a new path, a new season in our lives together. He provided an unhindered path to approach one another. Choosing to be true always and forever is not what this world would have you do. But this is a choice that you have to make. This choice will change your attitude but more so it will penetrate your heart! Our choices led us to this weekend we will always remember!! And to a vow renewal ceremony we would not forget!
The renewal of our vows seemed sweeter to me than the vows on our wedding day! This time we actually knew each quite well and did it anyway! lol We knew each other 3 months before we wed! SERIOUSLY! But this time we had shared half our lives together and still said, "I do"!!!
I am choosing to act the way I want to feel and not act the way I feel! We have been married almost 17 years and we are fighting to keep what the entire world would destroy!
When was the last time you sat down with the God Who Restores?
Do you need to pray for your marriage to honor God no matter what it takes? Be ready this prayer works!
I promise you one thing you can't do this! This was WAY more than I could handle, alone that is. I said I couldn't do it and God said I was right. I could not and you cannot do it without HIM!!! One thing I have learned the hard way, get-out-of-the-way and let God do HIS job. When you get out of God's way there is no telling what He will restore.
I am praying a restoration for you too in whatever area you need it in your life. If it is God, a friend, a relative, a parent, or a spouse, whomever you need restoration, you have my prayers.
I want to hear how God is revealing Himself to you!! Please share!
In Christ,
Chel
