Spiritually Unequal Marriage

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Weekend Worship – Prisoners of Hope

Happy weekend, my friends! First, I want to thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement and prayer on my Wednesday post. I am so thankful for this community that…

831982_hopeHappy weekend, my friends! First, I want to thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement and prayer on my Wednesday post. I am so thankful for this community that supports and encourages each other. It all points to God and His amazing presence here. You give Him great glory.

I don’t want to make this post about my daughter’s situation but will just say that we know it’s supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and is very treatable and not uncommon. If I may, I ask only for your prayers that she press into her faith in a deeper way and that she be delivered of all fear. As her mama, I want to see my girl walk into the fullness of the life Jesus has for her. I bet you can relate to that. If I can pray for in like manner for one of your kiddos, leave a comment. That would bless me to pray for you.

Yesterday I stumbled (i.e. God led and I followed and read) on a verse that just ministered to my heart right now in a big way.

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. – Zechariah 9:12 (NLT)

The NIV refers to those Zechariah is speaking to as “prisoners of hope,” but I love the New Living translation of this verse because of the clarity it gives the repayment of our troubles. Zechariah is speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem who had returned from their captivity in Babylon.

What touched my heart about this?

Wow, now that’s the kind of hope that exceeds anything the world can offer us. And I’m standing on this promise. I’ve prayed it over myself and my family, and I am praying it for our SUM community too. I believe Abba not only will but wants to do this for us. That is His great big Daddy-heart for every one of us.

My friend, if you’re struggling to believe this, that’s okay. I do at times as well. God doesn’t expect us to believe perfectly. He wants us to believe He is perfect and can do all things. He is our greatest promise and hope.

Lord, forgive our unbelief and help us believe You and Your promises. Let our lives bring You great glory. In Jesus’ Holy Name, amen.

Have an amazing weekend full of God’s rest and love.
Love you dearly,
Dineen

Comments

25 responses

  1. Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    Prisoners of hope.
    EXACTLY my situation. Yes. Indeed! Locked into Babylon with a God given dream. The future of waiting for this to unfold had some light shed on it yesterday which only frustrated, upset and worried me as to my stamina in it? Physical AND emotional!
    Driving home I get reminding myself….
    BUT GOD
    BUT GOD
    BUT GOD
    He’s got stuff going on behind the scenes that I CAN’T see. I have to trust and believe things ARE changing and changing for MY good because His plans are NOT my plans and I KNOW because I am a MOST RIGHTEOUS child of God He will not abandon me in this situation to be used in the way the human plan is unfolding.
    My Father has a GREATER plan and in human thinking, human unbeliever thinking, it is impossible BUT as WE WHO BELIEVE KNOW…
    God always does things in a significant way that always reveals His hand in the entire situation so that when we get to tell our STORY…
    people marvel because they have to SEE how God DID VERY APPARENTLY WORK this AAAALL OUT!
    For His Glory and His Name are more Powerful than ANYTHING on this earth!
    (whisper) Even bosses who think THEY are in charge. (wink)
    The path we walk gets to be a REAL STRUGGLE at times and we even question whether God is concerned or seeing us in it but we HAVE to stop. Breathe. Focus on the cross. Read His Word. He will tell you EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED to hear.
    People can lift us with their words but God’s Word have healing in them at the same time.
    STAY STRONG my SUMITE FAMILY! STAY STRONG!
    WE BELIEVE!!!
    AMEN!!!

    Reply
  2. Martha Bush Avatar
    Martha Bush

    So thankful that Leslie’s health problem is treatable, and I know that she will take another step in faith and growth during this time.
    As for the hope, I was brought back to Habakkuk early this morning probably because I was a little discouraged that “certain things” in my life were seemingly being drawn out beyond my time period. And as in times past, once again, I had to write the vision down, make it plan, and know that it will come at God’s appointed time. I came away with my hope restored.
    Thanks for your encourage words from Zechariah this morning, Dineen.

    Reply
  3. gilly Avatar
    gilly

    Hi Dineen, so pleased that your daughter’s problem is treatable. Praying that the Lord will keep her strong in Him, that she will know His abiding presence and that He will speak to her heart through her situation. Love and blessings, Shalom.

    Reply
  4. Lynn Avatar
    Lynn

    Lord, forgive our unbelief and help us believe You and Your promises. Let our lives bring You great glory. In Jesus’ Holy Name, amen.
    Amen… Amen… AMEN

    Reply
  5. gilly Avatar
    gilly

    Amen

    Reply
  6. Carol Pady Avatar
    Carol Pady

    Amen Dineen! I stand with you waiting for the blessings, all in My Heavenly Father’s perfect timing!

    Reply
  7. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    Wow what a verse! It is going on my meditational index cards. I will be going with a team April 4th – 11th. Here are some requests I would ask prayer for: Here are a few of our requests:
    *That we would glorify God in everything we do
    *That God would prepare the hearts of the people we will be ministering to, that He would grant us many opportunities to share the love of Jesus with them, and that He would draw
    them into a deeper relationship with Himself – that souls
    would be saved!
    *That God would open and prepare our hearts for what He wants to do in us; that He would cause His anointing to rest upon each of us
    *That we would work and minister in unity, sharing a good working relationship and clear communication with the missionaries, each other, and everyone we meet
    *For health, safety, and protection as we travel and minister
    in a foreign country and for our families at home
    Thank you all for praying! This is my first time. I want the Lord to work thru me and I’m asking Him to change me.. so I will not be the same wife, friend, teacher, sister, or witness for Him.. I want to draw so close to the Lord thru this!!

    Reply
  8. Bunnyb1802 Avatar
    Bunnyb1802

    Joanne,
    Your comments leapt out at me as a springboard from Dineen’s post.
    Only today God was reminding me, as I lamented the seemingly impossible of my husband ever coming into a relationship with Christ, that HE is in charge, HE has a greater plan, HE will do things in his time and not mine, HE will move on my behalf but it won’t always be, in fact rarely, in the manner I expect him to.
    I’m to hold on in faith, in trust, allow Him to work on MY heart, look to him for MY strength and remember, remember, remember…”BUT GOD”!
    Thank you my friend.
    God bless you

    Reply
  9. Teresa T Avatar
    Teresa T

    Thanks for the uplifting words and the reminder to hold onto and live out our hope. Let my actions show my belief.
    Thanks for sharing your family with us. So glad for the good news.

    Reply
  10. Julianne Avatar
    Julianne

    Isn’t it true that we’re ok with whatever God calls our children to walk through IF we can believe He will use it to bring them into the ‘fullness of the life Jesus has for’ them. And He promises this is so in Romans 8:28. So I pray and thank God right now for what He is doing in your daughter’s life Dineen, that she is in a safe place and that one day He will restore to her double for her troubles! I pray for you Dineen for the faith to hold onto His promises even though its so hard to see any good in the moment of our childrens’ pain. I thank God immeasurably that He loves our children more than we do, that He placed them in our care in His perfect and deliberate plan and that all the promises we hold onto for ourselves are available for each of our children as well. I pray that your daughter will now move from having inherited her Mum’s blessed faith to having a real and deeply rooted faith of her very own!

    Reply
  11. Dawn B Avatar
    Dawn B

    Dineen,
    I’m so glad to hear Leslie has answers and can be easily treated. I believe God is using this to do the very things you are praying, strengthen her faith in Him and lovingly show her to press into Him. You made my day with one of my favorite scriptures. I knew what it was when I read the title. It’s the second time I’ve seen it this week, so I’m feeling extra loved and hopeful. Thanks!!

    Reply
  12. Lisa MacFarland Avatar
    Lisa MacFarland

    Said a prayer for your daughter this morning and I so can relate when you watch your children struggle with things in their life without the trust and hope of truly serving God. I have 4 children: 3 young adults now but all who were raised in church. Yet as they became old enough to start making their own choices started dabbling in what the world offers. Sometimes I want to shake them and ask why do they want to learn things the hard way? It pains me to watch them suffer through situations. But I know and believe God has a bigger plan but a mamas natural instinct is to protect so letting go has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

    Reply
  13. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Hi Dineen,
    Might I please ask your prayers for my hubby, recently diagnosed with a serious and long term lung disease?
    I pray that your little one will soon be well and rejoicing with her mama and our dear Lord in her double portion of health!

    Reply
  14. Noz Avatar
    Noz

    Hello Dineen, we pray for Leslie’s complete and utter healing in the name of Jesus, by Jehovah Rapha. By His stripes she is healed. We pray that she overcomes the fear because she has been given a spirit of power, love and a sound mind not fear. May she walk in a deeper faith and embrace the love that Jesus have for her.
    I ask that you help me pray for my daughter that in every situation I learn to teach her more about God. She’s 4 years old and I feel she might be at high risk of being influenced by the world as my hubby and I might divorce(he has said he wants to do it as soon as possible) and I am afraid we might be stuck in our own pain to really love her.

    Reply
  15. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Hugging you, Martha, and praying Abba keeps you filled with joy and hope.

    Reply
  16. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Thank you, Gilly! Hugging you, my friend. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Amen, Carol, Love you! Thank you for your prayers.

    Reply
  18. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Kathy, lifting up you and your team to be a mighty force of God’s love and presence as you travel and minister. This is a transforming journey, for you and your group and all those you minister too. Looking forward to hearing about it when you get back. Hugs!

    Reply
  19. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Love you, T. So appreciate you, my friend.

    Reply
  20. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Amen, Julianne! Thank you! Hugs!

    Reply
  21. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Dawn, you are so precious. I count myself blessed to know you, my friend. Praying for you and your precious family.

    Reply
  22. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Thank you, Lisa! I prayed for you and your family this morning and Proverbs 22:6 came to mind that our children will return to what they have been taught. We can trust God to bring them back to them in His timing. That’s the hard part, the waiting, but we can trust Him to keep His promises for sure. You’ve poured much into your children in faithfulness to God. He will be faithful to you too. And remember James 5:16! Hugs!

    Reply
  23. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Thank you, Noz! Praying for you and your daughter and hubby. Praying for restoration and strength. Praying that God’s love and presence will bring you all you need. (Phil 4:19) Hugs!

    Reply
  24. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Hi Michelle, praying for you and hubby, my friend. Praying Abba will turn this long term diagnosis into a short term one and bring complete healing to Him. Praying for strength, peace and joy for you both and for God’s presence to be more real than ever as He brings you His comfort. Comfort, Lord Jesus. Bring Your great comfort to them. Amen!

    Reply
  25. blizzardfrisbee Avatar
    blizzardfrisbee

    Thank you!

    Reply

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