PUT LOVE INTO ACTION!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Do you believe that “love never fails?†I believe that if every pastor would spend four weeks every year teaching on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we could slow down or stop divorces in our churches. Just imagine if every church would have a group of prayer intercessors praying ahead of time for the pastor’s messages. I believe that many hurting or hardened hearts, lives and marriages could be transformed. Let’s pray that pastors will become burdened about divorces in their churches and teach about 1 Corinthians 13 as love never fails.
The famous Love Chapter in the Bible is a beautiful explanation of what every spouse should continuously strive to show their spouse, true agape and unconditional love. Every husband and wife needs toput love into action. Can you imagine how many marriages could be resurrected from the dead, if every spouse would actually put 1 Corinthians 13 into action? Try it. As far as it depends on you, when you see or talk to your spouse, start putting 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 into action. May I also suggest you pray the scripture above with both of your names in it. I did and Bob came home. A few years later, Bob wrote a book based on 1 Corinthians 13.
I believe that you are showing your spouse the ultimate in agape love by you standing, praying and fighting the spiritual battle for your marriage in your prayer closet every day. Only when your spouse comes homes, saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit will they be able to say to you, “Thank You for not giving up on me!â€
I know you feel hopeless regarding your marriage. I understand all your circumstances that you are facing. Looking at or listening to your spouse, it seems impossible that the Lord could ever change their hardened heart or mind. But God! I am always wanting to write back and say, “Never give up on your spouse! It does not matter what they are saying and doing! Believe and trust in the power of your Lord God!†Instead, I pray and ask the Lord to speak faith and hope to your heart and mind, giving you the encouragement that you need to be able to see God's divine plan for your marriage. Never give up on God's future for your marriage!
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18
How much do you love your spouse? Are you willing to pay the price of the sacrifice by waiting on the Lord's timing in restoring and rebuilding your marriage? You may ask, “How do I know the Lord is going to rebuild our marriage?†The answer is by seeking your Lord's face, asking Him to speak to you in a very unique and powerful way. God does speak to you as a stander in many ways, showing His perfect plan for your marriage.
“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’†Jeremiah 33:3
We hear from people around the world who type the words stop divorce in their computer while they are crying out to the Lord asking Him what to do since their spouse has told them they want a divorce. Suddenly, our Web site came up. A coincidence? No, a God incidence! Is there any doubt that the Lord was speaking and directing their heart and mind to marriage restoration in the darkest hours of their life? Can you see how the Holy Spirit has been speaking to your heart? Are you listening and watching out for His special messages of direction for your marriage? Will you stop doubting as you remember all the different signs and scriptures that the Holy Spirit has been revealing to you?
Another question that you may ask is, “How long do I have to wait?†Abraham and Sarah would have liked to have asked that question in Genesis 18. I believe you are putting your love into action when you are faithful to your wedding vows with God. I believe you are showing your unconditional love as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a:
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.…
May I challenge you every day to never stop loving your spouse unconditionally. Is this not how our Lord loves you and me every day even when we fail to obey His instructions or commands? Our Lord is always right there trying to get our attention if we start to go on a detour road or stop talking to Him or reading His Word daily. He is calling our names, wanting us to have that personal relationship with Him every day.
Are you loving your spouse with tough love or with unconditional love? I know from personal experience that I used “tough love†28 years ago. I chose not to listen to my Lord’s soft voice regarding our divorce. I wanted to retaliate. I was hurting and wounded. I wanted our marriage restored, but I did not believe in my Lord's power, nor did I have any faith. Where are you today? May I urge you to choose to believe in the power of your awesome mighty God!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Instead, I tried to control Bob's sinful nature by giving him ultimatums and boundaries. Little did I know that is exactly what the enemy wanted me to do in our marriage as Bob then had the perfect opening and reason to pack up and leave, which allowed the enemy to tempt Bob to fall deeper into Satan’s trap of adultery.
I did not understand nor was I told by anyone that our marriage problems were a spiritual battle between darkness and light. I reacted and lived by my emotions and feelings. My own hurt and pain turned into anger, hatred, self-pity, and bitterness, wanting to take revenge for Bob's behavior and unfaithfulness.
Due to my own lack of knowledge, I chose tough love instead of my Lord’s example of unconditional love that He has for each of us as taught throughout the New Testament. I did not understand that my Lord would deal with my husband in His own way. The Lord wanted Bob and I to turn to the Lord for His help in restoring our marriage and to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives. The Lord wanted us to put His love into action in our marriage.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19
Yes, you have a choice on how you will handle your marriage problems or possible divorce or not giving up after your divorce. Never forget that is when the Holy Spirit touched and changed my life forever. I started standing after I divorced Bob in my anger. Your spouse can be touched at any time! Trust God!
You are putting love into action by forgiving your spouse at the end of every day for all that they did or did not do that day for you and your children. There is no greater gift that you can give your spouse every day of your life than by loving your spouse unconditionally, waiting for the Lord to heal and resurrect your dead marriage. Suddenly your spouse will come home and the Lord will reignite His agape love in each of your hearts forever!
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Do you believe that “love never fails?†I believe that if every pastor would spend four weeks every year teaching on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we could slow down or stop divorces in our churches. Just imagine if every church would have a group of prayer intercessors praying ahead of time for the pastor’s messages. I believe that many hurting or hardened hearts, lives and marriages could be transformed. Let’s pray that pastors will become burdened about divorces in their churches and teach about 1 Corinthians 13 as love never fails.
The famous Love Chapter in the Bible is a beautiful explanation of what every spouse should continuously strive to show their spouse, true agape and unconditional love. Every husband and wife needs toput love into action. Can you imagine how many marriages could be resurrected from the dead, if every spouse would actually put 1 Corinthians 13 into action? Try it. As far as it depends on you, when you see or talk to your spouse, start putting 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 into action. May I also suggest you pray the scripture above with both of your names in it. I did and Bob came home. A few years later, Bob wrote a book based on 1 Corinthians 13.
I believe that you are showing your spouse the ultimate in agape love by you standing, praying and fighting the spiritual battle for your marriage in your prayer closet every day. Only when your spouse comes homes, saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit will they be able to say to you, “Thank You for not giving up on me!â€
I know you feel hopeless regarding your marriage. I understand all your circumstances that you are facing. Looking at or listening to your spouse, it seems impossible that the Lord could ever change their hardened heart or mind. But God! I am always wanting to write back and say, “Never give up on your spouse! It does not matter what they are saying and doing! Believe and trust in the power of your Lord God!†Instead, I pray and ask the Lord to speak faith and hope to your heart and mind, giving you the encouragement that you need to be able to see God's divine plan for your marriage. Never give up on God's future for your marriage!
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18
How much do you love your spouse? Are you willing to pay the price of the sacrifice by waiting on the Lord's timing in restoring and rebuilding your marriage? You may ask, “How do I know the Lord is going to rebuild our marriage?†The answer is by seeking your Lord's face, asking Him to speak to you in a very unique and powerful way. God does speak to you as a stander in many ways, showing His perfect plan for your marriage.
“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’†Jeremiah 33:3
We hear from people around the world who type the words stop divorce in their computer while they are crying out to the Lord asking Him what to do since their spouse has told them they want a divorce. Suddenly, our Web site came up. A coincidence? No, a God incidence! Is there any doubt that the Lord was speaking and directing their heart and mind to marriage restoration in the darkest hours of their life? Can you see how the Holy Spirit has been speaking to your heart? Are you listening and watching out for His special messages of direction for your marriage? Will you stop doubting as you remember all the different signs and scriptures that the Holy Spirit has been revealing to you?
Another question that you may ask is, “How long do I have to wait?†Abraham and Sarah would have liked to have asked that question in Genesis 18. I believe you are putting your love into action when you are faithful to your wedding vows with God. I believe you are showing your unconditional love as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a:
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.…
May I challenge you every day to never stop loving your spouse unconditionally. Is this not how our Lord loves you and me every day even when we fail to obey His instructions or commands? Our Lord is always right there trying to get our attention if we start to go on a detour road or stop talking to Him or reading His Word daily. He is calling our names, wanting us to have that personal relationship with Him every day.
Are you loving your spouse with tough love or with unconditional love? I know from personal experience that I used “tough love†28 years ago. I chose not to listen to my Lord’s soft voice regarding our divorce. I wanted to retaliate. I was hurting and wounded. I wanted our marriage restored, but I did not believe in my Lord's power, nor did I have any faith. Where are you today? May I urge you to choose to believe in the power of your awesome mighty God!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Instead, I tried to control Bob's sinful nature by giving him ultimatums and boundaries. Little did I know that is exactly what the enemy wanted me to do in our marriage as Bob then had the perfect opening and reason to pack up and leave, which allowed the enemy to tempt Bob to fall deeper into Satan’s trap of adultery.
I did not understand nor was I told by anyone that our marriage problems were a spiritual battle between darkness and light. I reacted and lived by my emotions and feelings. My own hurt and pain turned into anger, hatred, self-pity, and bitterness, wanting to take revenge for Bob's behavior and unfaithfulness.
Due to my own lack of knowledge, I chose tough love instead of my Lord’s example of unconditional love that He has for each of us as taught throughout the New Testament. I did not understand that my Lord would deal with my husband in His own way. The Lord wanted Bob and I to turn to the Lord for His help in restoring our marriage and to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives. The Lord wanted us to put His love into action in our marriage.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19
Yes, you have a choice on how you will handle your marriage problems or possible divorce or not giving up after your divorce. Never forget that is when the Holy Spirit touched and changed my life forever. I started standing after I divorced Bob in my anger. Your spouse can be touched at any time! Trust God!
You are putting love into action by forgiving your spouse at the end of every day for all that they did or did not do that day for you and your children. There is no greater gift that you can give your spouse every day of your life than by loving your spouse unconditionally, waiting for the Lord to heal and resurrect your dead marriage. Suddenly your spouse will come home and the Lord will reignite His agape love in each of your hearts forever!
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
