Story of Hope and Restoration--Part 4

Some things I learned:

1. By having the revelation of the character of God, which only comes from having studied it, word by word from His word--especially His love, His Justice, and His faithfulness.  I really learned a lot about His love and faithfulness.

2. We need to discipline our thoughts to keep focusing on the Lord Jesus through the day.

3. Praise and worship God vocally as a way of life.

4. Engage in spiritual warfare as directed in Ephesians 6:10-18.  The kids and I put on our armor EVERY DAY, and I started putting the armor of God on Josh as well.  We were two but one flesh; how could I NOT want him protected. I did what I could.   I never prayed harm on him, because how would I want harm on my own body?

5. It is important to pray regularly for others who are suffering, and to keep obedient to all the priorities God shows us.  Deut. 28:1-15

6.  Realize we can't go through the fiery trial without the help, prayers, encouragement, and comfort of others.

7. To survive the fire and not be burned, keep in God's precious Word.

8.  When we are hurting the most, and there's liitle or no change and the temptation to discouragement is strong, we can always cry out to God for a special Rhema word of encouragement. 

9. If it's a testing of faith, believe that God is in control of the flames. 

10.  God's timing!!! His delays are NOT His denials.


Psalm 118  God's mercry endureth forever. 

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.  God gave me a promise that if I didn't give up I would have my husband returned to me. 

In the natural, things only seemed to be getting worse and worse. BUT with God NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.  

I had to let Josh go.  I let him go in God's hands.  HE was much safer in God's hands than in mine.  Josh was still staying in the garage; he was coming in and out.  He treated me like a babysitter, and sometimes it infuriated me.

For a long time I allowed him to freely go in and out of the house, because I wanted him to know what he was missing. 

It was very odd for me not to have the man who locked doors for me, built the fires, killed mice and frogs.  Josh offered frequently to do all of those things, and I would remind myself that it was the part of him that KNEW it was his job. 

I stopped preaching at him about all the things he should have considered. I wanted him to SEE it, to GET it, to UNDERSTAND...I limited my preaching.  

After he moved to the garage I moved ALL of his things into a box. I couldn't deal with it! I was so upset.  GOD would soon be working on me through all of this....it's amazing to see how HE can change a heart that is headed for bitterness.