BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROMISES
"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,) "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord", and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Luke 2:21-24
Do you believe in the promises that your Lord God has given you regarding your marriage? Christmas is over. Did you spend Christmas without your beloved spouse for another year? Are you discouraged and ready to give up on your precious spouse and marriage? I pray that you will continue to seek the Lord's will in your life and marriage every day and always believe in God's promises regardless of what you see with your physical eyes. Only your Lord knows His plan and future for your marriage. Seek Him only for His specific directions.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
How are you feeling today? Yes, we know you are fighting many emotions and you may be feeling discouraged, frustrated, and possibly doubting that your marriage will ever be restored. You may have not seen your spouse this Christmas or maybe you saw your spouse with the other person as they were picking up your children as you split up your time for the holidays.
Separation and divorce are very painful for the wounded victims left behind. You, and especially the children, are the ones who are having to live in two different worlds. Your children have to smile and continue to get good grades in school as they go back and forth between two homes and two different lifestyles. May you and I continue to hate what God hates, divorce.
First, do not give up because the holidays are not over. Please continue to fast, praying favorite scriptures with your spouse's name in them, as well as praying for all prodigal spouses around the world. Remember, I am suggesting that you fast one meal a week or even one meal a day as you continue to pray until you personally receive a spiritual breakthrough of your circumstances. God's time table is not ours.
Always keep your eyes focused on your Lord. Read and study God's Word daily. You must make time to pray daily. Choose today to be the best parent that you can be for your children. Yes, many people will say you are sacrificing your life for your children, as you wait for your spouse's return, but know that your children do not have to fight for your love or attention by you desiring to replace their father or mother by bringing a step-parent into your home. Your Lord will bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
For the past several weeks, we have talked about our Lord's birth, regarding Mary being obedient to God's perfect plan for her life. Joseph also listened and obeyed what the angel of the Lord told him to do about Mary. We have seen the shepherds and the wise men go and seek the star in Bethlehem. My question for you today is, "Have you been seeking your Lord through this Christmas season?"
Let me finish with the last story of baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem to present baby Jesus to the Lord with a humble sacrifice as they were considered to be poor in their country.
There was a man called Simeon, who was a righteous and devout believer who had been given a word by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen God's anointed King. Mary and Joseph had gone into the temple courts. At that same time, Simeon went into the temple courts and he saw baby Jesus. Simeon knew that the Lord had answered his prayer and his promise had come true. He had seen the Messiah.
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him." Luke 2:25-33
"There was also a prophetess, Anna...She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36, 37-38
God had delivered His promise to two of His devout people of God. May you never doubt that your Lord will bring to fruition what He has promised to you as He did to Simeon and Anna. Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna all had received special messages from their Lord God. Each one had to choose whether they would listen, believe and obey God's instructions.
How are you doing in believing and following God's instructions in your marriage? Imagine if I had not listened and obeyed my Lord's instructions in repenting for my sins of giving up on God and on Bob. I had divorced Bob due to his unfaithfulness. But God had a bigger plan and spoke to me again about repenting of my divorce and standing for my husband and marriage forever. This was not a short term assignment. Where would Bob, I and our children be today if I had disobeyed or quit standing during my spiritual journey?
That is why Simeon and Anna are such important examples for you and me as they waited for their Savior all their lives. Can you not wait on God's perfect timing for your marriage to be restored?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20
I pray that you will see with your spiritual eyes and know in your heart what the Lord has promised to you, He will bring it to fruition. Allow your Lord to guide and direct your every footstep. Ask the Lord daily to guide you and show you which way you should go, to the right or to the left. God does speak to His children.
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,) "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord", and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Luke 2:21-24
Do you believe in the promises that your Lord God has given you regarding your marriage? Christmas is over. Did you spend Christmas without your beloved spouse for another year? Are you discouraged and ready to give up on your precious spouse and marriage? I pray that you will continue to seek the Lord's will in your life and marriage every day and always believe in God's promises regardless of what you see with your physical eyes. Only your Lord knows His plan and future for your marriage. Seek Him only for His specific directions.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
How are you feeling today? Yes, we know you are fighting many emotions and you may be feeling discouraged, frustrated, and possibly doubting that your marriage will ever be restored. You may have not seen your spouse this Christmas or maybe you saw your spouse with the other person as they were picking up your children as you split up your time for the holidays.
Separation and divorce are very painful for the wounded victims left behind. You, and especially the children, are the ones who are having to live in two different worlds. Your children have to smile and continue to get good grades in school as they go back and forth between two homes and two different lifestyles. May you and I continue to hate what God hates, divorce.
First, do not give up because the holidays are not over. Please continue to fast, praying favorite scriptures with your spouse's name in them, as well as praying for all prodigal spouses around the world. Remember, I am suggesting that you fast one meal a week or even one meal a day as you continue to pray until you personally receive a spiritual breakthrough of your circumstances. God's time table is not ours.
Always keep your eyes focused on your Lord. Read and study God's Word daily. You must make time to pray daily. Choose today to be the best parent that you can be for your children. Yes, many people will say you are sacrificing your life for your children, as you wait for your spouse's return, but know that your children do not have to fight for your love or attention by you desiring to replace their father or mother by bringing a step-parent into your home. Your Lord will bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
For the past several weeks, we have talked about our Lord's birth, regarding Mary being obedient to God's perfect plan for her life. Joseph also listened and obeyed what the angel of the Lord told him to do about Mary. We have seen the shepherds and the wise men go and seek the star in Bethlehem. My question for you today is, "Have you been seeking your Lord through this Christmas season?"
Let me finish with the last story of baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem to present baby Jesus to the Lord with a humble sacrifice as they were considered to be poor in their country.
There was a man called Simeon, who was a righteous and devout believer who had been given a word by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen God's anointed King. Mary and Joseph had gone into the temple courts. At that same time, Simeon went into the temple courts and he saw baby Jesus. Simeon knew that the Lord had answered his prayer and his promise had come true. He had seen the Messiah.
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him." Luke 2:25-33
"There was also a prophetess, Anna...She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36, 37-38
God had delivered His promise to two of His devout people of God. May you never doubt that your Lord will bring to fruition what He has promised to you as He did to Simeon and Anna. Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna all had received special messages from their Lord God. Each one had to choose whether they would listen, believe and obey God's instructions.
How are you doing in believing and following God's instructions in your marriage? Imagine if I had not listened and obeyed my Lord's instructions in repenting for my sins of giving up on God and on Bob. I had divorced Bob due to his unfaithfulness. But God had a bigger plan and spoke to me again about repenting of my divorce and standing for my husband and marriage forever. This was not a short term assignment. Where would Bob, I and our children be today if I had disobeyed or quit standing during my spiritual journey?
That is why Simeon and Anna are such important examples for you and me as they waited for their Savior all their lives. Can you not wait on God's perfect timing for your marriage to be restored?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20
I pray that you will see with your spiritual eyes and know in your heart what the Lord has promised to you, He will bring it to fruition. Allow your Lord to guide and direct your every footstep. Ask the Lord daily to guide you and show you which way you should go, to the right or to the left. God does speak to His children.
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
