The Answers Are in The Book!
Saturday, November 26, 2005
This morning I was getting off work and ran into an acquaintance. I was sharing with her about the things God had shown me this week. She was sharing how after her divorce and remarriage she is still troubled by the scripture that talks about leaving one spouse, marrying another, committing adultery. I'm sure you know what I am talking about. She said, I don't think He will forgive me and let me in. She wanted to know what I thought.
She then shared with me how her new stepson is fourteen and she was telling his father he needs to have him read his bible at least thirty minutes a day. So I asked, "Do you read your bible everyday?" She replied, "No, I don't, I know I need to, but I don't, I just don't know why." I then said, "If you want this boy to read the Word, you have to lead by example, because he won't hear what you say, he will see what you do.
Then I asked, "do you have fifteen minutes a day you could spend with the Lord, because it takes about that much time to read a chapter of Proverbs." I then challenged her to start on Dec. 1st with Proverbs 1. December has thirty one days and Proverbs has thirty one chapters, if you start on the 1st, you will finish it on the 31st.
It's the 31 day Challenge!! I think I will read it again too, so let me know if you think you will and also I would like to know what you would've told her about the Marriage and Adultery issue.
She then shared with me how her new stepson is fourteen and she was telling his father he needs to have him read his bible at least thirty minutes a day. So I asked, "Do you read your bible everyday?" She replied, "No, I don't, I know I need to, but I don't, I just don't know why." I then said, "If you want this boy to read the Word, you have to lead by example, because he won't hear what you say, he will see what you do.
Then I asked, "do you have fifteen minutes a day you could spend with the Lord, because it takes about that much time to read a chapter of Proverbs." I then challenged her to start on Dec. 1st with Proverbs 1. December has thirty one days and Proverbs has thirty one chapters, if you start on the 1st, you will finish it on the 31st.
It's the 31 day Challenge!! I think I will read it again too, so let me know if you think you will and also I would like to know what you would've told her about the Marriage and Adultery issue.
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 9:45 PM
16 Comments:
I was in a marriage for 15 years..one I should never have been in, but when you are 16 and get pregnant and your Mother says you will get married...you do since you already have been disrespectful...(my thinking way back then). I found the Lord at the age of 16 (before I got pregnant). My Husband and I infact met in church. I know in my hard that God forgave me for having premarital sex and all that went with it at the time. Our marriage was a constant struggle and I firmly believed in marriage vows and wasn't getting out for any reason...after all they are till death do you part and for better or worse...right???? I didn't mean to have the affair...it just happened. We tried to work things out and for about 9 months I think we did. I have never proven the fact that he also had an affair or affairs but everything I "found" indicated as such. I knew that in the bible somewhere it stated that God acknowledge divorce for just this reason...(or something similar as I confess I rarely read my bible). I prayed to God to ask his forgiveness for my affair. I know in my heart he has forgiven me. I also believe with all my heart in the union of marriage. It has to be of God or it won't last..(a firm belief of mine). I have no clue why your friend had her divorce from her 1st husband. I'm not sure how I feel about what God honors in getting remarried and that "being an act of adultry" since she was previously married. I do know from my own experience that it took me 5 years after my divorce to even date again because of fearing how God would react to me doing so. In my heart I believe that when you ask God to forgive you for a sin...no matter that sin, he forgives you and wipes it clean. We have a hard time forgiving ourselves for things and carry this guilty conscious around all the time.
I like your 31 day challenge and I am going to do it as well. I'm sure I'll learn way more than I know and think I know and I'm positive I'll be listening to God when he talks to me. Most of the time I'm just confused on what I hear...anything that gives me huge doubt or seem negative I tend to avoid. I'll be the 1st to admit I walk around lost most of the time.
RTFM - Read The Flamin' Manual! God's word is FULL of helpful advice. It's not a set of rules but more a book of guidelines.
I've started reading the gospels... 2 chapters a day... early in the morning. I'm summarising what I read and am really enjoying my time with the Lord. I look forward to it.
I'm gonna take up your challenge too and start Proverbs 1 on THURSDAY, 1 Dec. I have done that in the past. But I'm sticking with gospels as well because that includes reports on what JESUS SAID... and I figure I always wanna be reading that.
Let's see how we all go eh?
What a lovely idea! I think I will take you up on the 31 day challenge myself. You know by taking your challenge you can create a new "habit" that you could carry throughout the year. Great idea!
That's an excellent challenge. :)
Learning from David (King David), we are not x'd out because we make mistakes. We're in when we repent and follow Jesus, and while we're still alive, it's never too late to ask for forgiveness and be completely forgiven. If she feels badly about her divorce, then prayer will help her.
Proverbs in December--sounds like a good idea. Count me in.
Proverbs is a wonderful book. So many life lessons can be gleaned.
About the divorce thing... God forgives.... period.
I read through the Bible every year, so I've already been through Proverbs several months ago.
But that's a great challenge! I'll mention it to the Bible study class I teach at church.
I agree with Jamie Dawn ~ God forgives, period. One just has to ask..... right?
I've tried to read the Bible for years but end up getting confused & frustrated. I purchased a book recently on how to understand the Bible. I'm trying to read that at least 30 mins a day; but I like your challenge. I think I'll make a point to start there on December 1st. =)
Thanks for stopping by my site. I'll certainly be back to yours. jamie dawn said it all about divorce - no sense repeating.
Ralph
I went through the same feelings when my first husband and I split up, before he committed suicide. He had many, many problems including violence and alcohol. All the religious people I talked to told me I would be sinning if I left. Eventually, I did leave, because I came to the conclusion that I’d rather stand before God and account for my divorce than to stand before Him and account for letting my child grow up in that environment. I don’t know the circumstances of this woman’s marriage and divorce, but I know that our God is gracious and does not intend for us to live in misery.
You are a SMART lady!! The word does not return void.
I agree with all your commenters - God does forgive. We all make mistakes, we're human... The main thing I believe is to keep the main thing - the main thing and that's the Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, who lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and went to heaven to prepare a place for us. He only had to die once, that was the point. He was the perfect sacrifice. We are not expected to be perfect, yes, we must strive to follow in Christ's footsteps, but perfect is not possible. If it were, Jesus would not have had to die. I believe that sin is sin, and they are all forgiveable with the exception that Jesus spoke of - blasphemy - which in my opinion is rejecting His Spirit when you hear Him knocking.
I could go on and on, don't know what got into me there....
Love you mom!
What surprises me - commenting on your entry - is the lack of consideration people pay to the idea of marriage, divorce and remarriage even being bad. Like, it says in the Bible that it is. (Hope you can understand my California accent.) But nobody I know seems compelled by those verses. Maybe we are like, who was it, Ezra? You know, when the people were re-building in Jerusalem and realized they intermarried with all of the foreign women and needed to repent. People in California-Christians - don't even hesitate to remarry after a divorce. Never have I ever met anyone - except my non-Christian mother, btw - say they were not thinking of dating or remarrying because they were divorced and they thought doing so was wrong. Never heard anyone hesistate. I've heard Christians say regarding their prior divorce, "I couldn't see myself living with that person any longer. He was just so...(whatever)" Then they say about the future, "Maybe the Lord will bring someone into my life..." Yeah, maybe that was the last one he brought into your life. But they can not see how that it can be God's will to be with someone that is negative, or has a difficult personality or whatever. And, yeah, we wonder why there's no power in the church in America, or love, or self-denial or.... (I'm not saying I am perfect, but to ignore the sin of this age, of this culture is just ignoring the obvious.) We put a dollar in the Salvation Army can and think we're okay. Oh, BTW, God bless Sammy! (Last entry of yours-love your commitment!God bless you!)
Hey Mom! I whipped up something different for you for Christmas - classic, simple. I tried to find a cool picture of Jesus in a manger, but I haven't found the right one yet.
Anyway, I hope you like it. I love you!
I love it Eddo, you always surprise me, you are awesome!!
bbsgirl,
wow you have gone thru alot, thank God He has been there with you during all those times. We don't always make the right choices!
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