Hi Everyone,
So, it’s kinda weird for me to listen to myself talk on
radio.
But it’s even weirder to listen to myself talk on the radio
with my husband standing right next to me. Sheesh! But, my guy did listen to
the portion of the broadcast where Dennis spoke to him over the airwaves.
Dennis said something like, “Hi Mike. It’s pretty cool that
you are not threatened by your wife’s faith.”
Then Dennis followed up with a few more statements. As I
watched my husband’s face while Dennis was speaking, I felt strange. So, I
stopped the recording and asked, “So what do you think about what Dennis said
that there is a book titled Winning Him
Without Words and that “him” is you?”
Well my low-key husband replies, “Well it certainly is much
better than badgering me.”
Vintage Mike Donovan, folks!!!!
I just had to laugh. I then pressed a bit further and asked
him about where he is on his faith journey. THAT is always scary and I rarely
ask. And as you might imagine I received a non-committal shrug.
Ugh!!!!!
This journey of the unequally yoked is sure an emotional
one. Some days I’m convinced it’s only a matter of hours and then some days,
his salvation is way, way off in the distance.
It’s a back and forth between convinced hopefulness and
disappointment.
And I’m finding I’m not alone in all this…. There are those
who have emailed me recently who are so discouraged by the victories they read
about in other’s marriages. Then there are those who have emailed me recently
who are discouraged because they are not reading about many victories in other’s
marriages.
I understand both and I want to hug every one of you. I
think at SUM we must be real enough about the real struggles and yet we MUST
continue to focus on the victories. We need people who are finding power and
authority in Christ to lead us forward. In this place we will always have some
at both ends of the spectrum.
For example, a few weeks ago Dineen shared a wonderful story
about her family Thanksgiving. For her it was as if she was able to catch a
glimpse, a reward, for all of the hard years of pouring into her children. She
experienced a new level of peace and love with her husband. Well, honestly,
that was difficult for me to read. And you know why, because after my son left
on Wednesday, Thanksgiving Day dawned and my husband and I launched into a
fight, complete with me screaming and lots of tears. Sheesh!
I have to say that it’s been a long, long time since we have
struggled in that kind of a conflict. It surprised me. It hurt. It was awful.
Thankfully, we’ve moved forward.
Anyhow, all this to say that there is a place here for all
of us. Dineen and I are far from perfected. We still struggle with our
marriages, with raising our kids to faith, even in our own faith journeys at
times. But, it does get easier. The pain doesn’t last as long. Mistakes are forgiven
more quickly and more than anything we learn to love better, deeper through the
power of Jesus Christ.
So, today I want you to receive this special encouragement.
I want you to own it. To KNOW it. To let it live inside of you with such truth
and passion that the fiery darts of the enemy just bounce off because of it.
Say this with me now:
I am treasured by God.
I am beautiful to God.
I am loved by God, His son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
God always has His best for me. I will lack nothing. I will
rise above all things and soar on wings like eagles. I will taste of the good
life just because I am His. I will live in victory, love, peace and will
fulfill my purpose and His plans. I will be happy and will proclaim the gospel
is the living hope of the world.
My friends, we are so loved by our Lord. And I’m convinced
that we must truly KNOW this in our bones. So, for the next few weeks we are
going to be talking about love. It is a power that can conquer all things and
we have it within us.
Come back Monday because it’s time to talk about an area so
many of us struggle with. How do we love ourselves? Ooooooh, it’s going to be
good. Because when we figure this out, our husband’s unbelief loses all power
and authority over us.
And then stay tuned for January because we are going to be
on the F.B.I. watch list…. *grin* More to come on that. You will love it.
I love you my warrior friends. Choose love this day and tell
someone you love them. Hugs, Lynn
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