Saints

I have thought long and hard about this day and have sought God's will in prayer often. I am a private person and have struggled with the fine line of asking for prayer in regards to one's needs versus airing out one's own or one's family's dirty laundry. In probably having erred to the side of over-caution I feel released to ask for this from you all.

On the frirst of April, while I was in the middle of the audit preparation and not getting here to the board too much, my wife of ten years (Dena) decided to pack and leave. You might recall in the past that I have asked for ambiguous and generic prayers for her as she was having unnamed struggles. All those requests essentially were in regards to her situation.

She has succumed to a lie, not her fault, but still under it nonetheless. She believes that God wants her to move on so she can be happy. The why's and wherefore's of why she feels that she cannot be happy around me are much to complicated to just type out. I will (and have) confess that in 1996 I allowed the door to sin to be opened into my home and am responsible in that regard. Just as Adam was guilty for letting sin into the garden by not keeping the snakes out and for leaving his wife alone with the snakes, I did not keep my garden clear and sin came into my home.

Be that as it may, she is gone and unless God intervenes in her life directly she is in the process of anchoring in choices that will be impossible for me to undo. Naturally the tragedy is not my marriage, though that is at stake. The tragedy is that there are three children who are/will be caught up in the mix.

Please send up your prayers that

1. She will have a dynamic and life changing moment with God.

2. She will be repentant and surrender her life completely to God.

I have the utmost confidence in the promises of God and in His ability to restore her and heal her. I simply pray that she have an open mind and soft heart to receive Him when He knocks.

I know someone will ask because you guys and gals are great! I am fine, really. If it were not for the fact that I serve and love an awesome God and that I rest in His grace and His mercy, I am quite sure things would not be so peachy. I can tell you that the peace of God that passes understanding is real because I have it. (that or I am clueless as Embie is quick to point out roflolol) Truly though, it is atainable here on earth and if there is any good that can come through this then perhaps it is that show of God's mercy on my life.

Thanks for being my friends and thank you for interceding with me for her.

God bless you
Steve

(ps anyone know where I can get good furniture REAL cheap?? roflolololol really do ya?)

Steve... sorry to hear that brother. I haven't been married but have witnessed the same circumstances in both brothers and sisters in the past - it's a difficult time for the children. I'll be sending up prayers daily for you guys until I hear differently from you.

I'm sorry Steve, I will pray.

...without ceasing my friend...

also put it out to the team....

God is Good! /

Thank you so much for your intercession!

(adding this to the list, naturally if I need fixin' that God would take care of that as well!)

Hey nobody answered the furniture question......

Try IKEA why don't ya

I'll pray for you two and your children.

aleina

I have a couch/sleeper sofa you can have. It's not the newest/best quality, but you are definitely welcome to it.

I may take you up on it bro'

I am trying to take it slow and see what God has behind every corner. I would hate to rush out and fill the place up with furniture then have her repent and reconcile....... I will keep your offer in mind but for now I am just waiting on God's timing

(And thanks!)

no problemo.. got some other stuff too... just know it's available when you need it.

Sorry, Stevey... I'll pray too.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Ashley:
Sorry, Stevey... I'll pray too.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">that is worthy of a praise report... good to see Ashley, you've come a long way in the last few weeks. It's good to see you in better spirits

It has been a month since I posted this.

We are not yet back together, but know that God has His hand in the mix! Everything is not coming up roses, but God is reaching out to her and she is reaching out to Him. We are and have been on excellent terms. I have had the joy of being invited over several times.

Go God!!!

That's some progress, Steve. I'll pray for the two of you.

I will pray for you too. As for the furniture, we got a leather couch at a Salvation Army place. They have them all over, surely where you are. Call and find out. I think we paid 200 bucks for it or less!

Another month has passed.

We are still good friends and I am there almost every day watching the kids. That is the good part. Unfortunately she has started putting up walls, not anger or hate, but just forcing a gap between us.

Please renew your prayers for me now that Every decision I make is what God would have me to do. Over the next month or so I will be facing some tough decisions!

Thanks my friends!

Will do Bro... call me if you need to talk.

Thanks you may yet hear the phone ring one night. I am just taking it a day at a time and trying to focus on Gods wants, not mine!

OK this may not sound much like a request but here goes!

I have felt God in this situation from the beginning, not that He authored it but that He was ministering throughout it. Like standing over an underground river, you can feel the rush but you can't see anything. I have had God's peace thought this whole situation as well. There have been ups and downs and false starts and frustrations, but never have I felt God's hand leave.

This weekend and the first three days this week I packed everything I own and moved in with my wife again!!

God is SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now for the request. Dena and I need your fervent prayers. As what we have done is a decision to conciously move closer to God we have effectivly put on bullseyes and the enemy is lining up to fire. I have no doubt in my mind that we will come under assault and heavy at that. We are going against every thing that the world says and does and the enemy is not happy. Please pray that we have srength enough for the battle and keep our hearts on God through out. Also that we work concertedly on the restoration part of our marriage as this is just the first step, not the last and there is a long road ahead and we can only make it with God at our front!

!!!ALWAYS!!! GIVE PRAISE AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Thanks and God bless each of you who have replied and or prayed!

Splendid, Steve... Splendid. Hope it works out.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Steve:
Please pray that we have srength enough for the battle and keep our hearts on God through out. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">will do!

i'm so happy for you! Praise be to God!!!