Never, Never, Never Give Up!

Hi standers!  Here's a devotional written by Charlyne Steinkamp, the author of Charlyne Cares of  Rejoice Ministries. Stay encouraged!

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"The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." Lamentations 3:25-26

Are you discouraged because of your circumstances? May I suggest you go worship and praise your Lord this Lord's Day. Do you feel that you cannot keep standing because it is too hard? Go get your Bible and start reading the Psalms out loud. Yes, read the Psalms until the Holy Spirit starts touching and healing your wounded, rejected and abandoned heart. Never, never stop believing in what your Lord can do for you!

"The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit--a wife you married young, only to be rejected," says your God. "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back." Isaiah 54:6-7

"Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults." Isaiah 51:7

I know personally, years ago when I was going through our marriage problems and divorce, I would have said, "You do not understand! You do not understand how I hurt! You do not understand about all of my circumstances, my unpaid bills and my children!" Yes, I do understand. But even greater your Lord God understands about everything that you are going through at this very difficult time in your life. He knows about your marriage, your spouse, your children and all about the decisions that you have to make alone.

"I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.' You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.'" Lamentations 3:55-57

My prayer was for Bob to repent and turn back to his Lord. May that be your prayer this Sunday for your husband or wife. Are you facing court issues and many legal matters? I know even if you are divorced, there still may be court battles or strife regarding finances or other issues.

"Lord, remove the strife now in the Mighty Name of Jesus and may You give Your supernatural peace within this dear stander's heart and in their beloved husband's or wife's heart. Lord, resurrect this dead marriage suddenly in the Name of Jesus. Amen."

Never forget to turn to your Lord for His guidance and direction and for Him to be your Advocate and Defender. Expect your lawyer and judge to think and do things that they never planned as your Lord will touch their hearts and minds, giving them wisdom, knowledge and understanding from on High.

"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me." Psalm 35:1 (KJV)

You may be going through difficult times for other reasons in addition to your many different marriage problems, such as physical problems or your children may be rebelling in different ways. Often the enemy stirs up dissensions and problems all around you. Do you feel like you are in the middle of the Book of Job? I learned that if I continued to have bitterness, anger and unforgiveness in my heart, I was only hurting and destroying myself and the ones around me. (Could that be your children or your parents who are trying to help you?) My husband and the other person really did not know or care. Let your Lord God be the One that you turn to for help.

"O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause! You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me. O LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me- what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long." Lamentations 3:58-62

"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 12:19

Let me share an illustration that I could use every day. May I remind you of Winston Churchill who showed such perseverance during World War II. After the war, Oxford University invited Mr. Churchill to give a commencement address. He stood up, gazed intensely at his audience, and began; "I have only three truths to impart to you today on the subject of that virtue which makes a man. Let me begin by saying: Never give up. Let me continue by saying: Never, never give up! And in conclusion, I say to you: Never, never, never give up!" Then he sat down.

If I had room in each devotional, I would have this quote at the bottom or at the top. It is such a powerful statement and truth for you as a stander. That is my prayer for you today; that you will never, never, never give up on your spouse or your Lord God.

Yes, the world, your friends, your pastor or counselor and even your family are going to say "Get on with your life. What are you waiting for? You are too young. The Lord has someone else that will be better for you." Yes, you are getting on with your life by you praying for your Lord God to touch and transform your own husband's or wife's heart to become a new creature in Christ. May you show them your patience and perseverance in waiting for the Lord's perfect time in restoring your marriage. May you never give up on God or on your spouse who is blinded and deceived by the evil one at this moment.

Let the Lord turn your circumstances around like He has done throughout the Bible. May we pray for all the men of God to speak and teach the Word of God boldly every Lord's Day. Let us pray for a mighty harvest of souls today, every day and every week thru Resurrection Sunday which will include your spouse and thousands of other prodigals around the world.

Ask the Lord to give you the perseverance, courage and faith that you need for this new week. Now start reading the Psalms today. Start with four of my favorites: Psalm 34, Psalm 37, Psalm 51 and Psalm 91 as they will strengthen your faith in your mighty awesome God. I personally have been living in the Psalms for the past three months and they will minister healing to you. Just imagine if I had given up on Bob where would I be? I am praising the Lord for the eternal results and blessings that the Lord has given our family because I chose to follow my Lord forever for His will and way. Will you?

PS: Friday evening I had finished this devotional. I went to check the email for the final time and we had received the testimony below. I felt this explains what I have been trying to say. Thank You, Lord for sending it in Your perfect timing.

"I have been a stander for several years now. Although by mortal eyes it would seem that things are still the same if not maybe worse with my prodigal, God has shown me in many ways that He is in control and has provided for me and my children abundantly. Yesterday I survived another company downsizing. He gave me Jeremiah 29:11. He has been my Husband for this season, and I have lacked nothing. For Christmas He gave me the opportunity to purchase my first new car. I will wait on His perfect timing even if it takes all my mortal years. I will be faithful to my God!" (Florida)
 

 

TSMSS - Nothing is Impossible

Facing an impossible situation? Be encouraged --- Nothing is impossible with God!

For more great music, link up with Amy over at Signs, Miracles and Wonders.

The Big Splash Will Come

Hello fellow standers!  Here's another devotional which I hope will encourage you today as you wait for our Lord's perfect timing.  This was written by Nancy from Texas.  

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"So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.'" Mark 11:22-26 (NKJV)

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.'" Mark 10:27 (NKJV)

Charlyne has recently taught on "The 18 Hindrances Of Prayer", and she teaches consistently about the Lord's appointed time. If you know you are not on a detour road but healing doesn't come, do not despair. Remember that time is not the enemy as Charlyne reminds us and God's Word teaches, and God is working even if you cannot see the mountain of separation, divorce, another person, circumstance, etc. move yet.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

The Saturday Testimonies bless and encourage standers so much, but remember that not all marriages are healed and restored the same way. Many are quickly and suddenly, praise the Lord, but others are slow and a long time coming. In the last year of my own stand with the Lord for the miracle of restoration, I have been blessed to be able to see and hear the mountain trembling. I am so grateful to the Lord for those blessings but I also began to get discouraged as the rumbles continue but the mountain has yet to throw itself in the sea. Then last week, in the Lord's infinite love and mercy, He sent me this passage of scripture.

"They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." Mark 8:22-25 (NIV)

The blind man, after being touched by Jesus the first time, went from blindness to blurry vision. He was better, but not healed. The very nature of God and Jesus, being God's son, could not possibly mean that Jesus had failed to heal the man the first time. So what happened? Why the second touch to restore the blind man's sight where he saw clearly?

The scripture is silent as to why but I believe that Jesus knew the blind man and his heart, needs, and mind the same way the Lord knows and loves each of us. I trust that Jesus knew what was best for the blind man and his healing and therefore must trust that the Lord knows what is best for my marriage and the process of healing and restoration.

As the mountain continues to rumble without seeming to move, or moving at a glacier pace, do not lose heart. Even if you have yet to see anything happening, trust that it is. The Lord knows what He is doing, and right now our marriages are being healed, in the Lord's time and His way, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. For some of us, this miracle will manifest quickly and suddenly in that Damascus road experience. For others our prodigals may spend a season with blurry vision first. Either way, we can trust that God is doing what is best for His glory, our marriages, our beloved prodigals and for us.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

"Dear Lord, forgive us when we doubt Your will and Your timing. For the stander who has yet to hear or see their mountain of circumstance rumble, strengthen them to believe in faith that nothing is impossible with You. Thank You for those whose mountains are in the sea, who share from their heart to encourage us and give You all the glory God. Let our prayers for salvation and healing be manifested for Your glory God, and let our praise to You be constant even while we wait. Amen."

Prayers Needed

***UPDATE***

It's March 12, 8:29 p.m.  Just got home from church service.  Thank you for your prayers.  Everybody here is safe.  Thank you, God!  Let's continue to pray for the nation of Japan and its people.

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Tsunami alert is up in the Philippines after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the northern part of Japan.  Earthquakes are also expected to occur in the different parts of the country anytime according to the PHILVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology).  Evacuations have already begun in some provinces, especially those residents living in coastal areas. 

My mom had called me for like three times now in 30 minutes telling me to stay alert and be safe because I live in a high rise building.

I have a friend in Tokyo, Japan.  According to her, phone lines are still dead and tremors can still be felt every now and then.  We get updates from her through FB.  Thank God for Facebook!

Please join me in prayer for all countries on alert for tsunamis and earthquakes around the Pacific Region.

WFW - Deuteronomy 7:15

Hop on to Lori's for more WFW entries. God bless!!!

To Cry Or Not To Cry

Before heading home from the office this afternoon, I decided to stop by the salon to get a manicure and a pedicure.  That was around 6 p.m. Around 7 p.m. I was almost done and I was thinking of grabbing something to eat first before finally heading home.  I got out of the salon around 7:30 p.m.  Just a few steps from the door (my mind was already flashing pictures of food I wanted to get),  I tripped!  I didn't notice the concrete step in front of me. 

Ouch! That hurts!!! 

What was I thinking?!  Oh yeah, food.

I knew... No, I'm sure my polish peeled off.  I headed back to the salon to have it fixed.  Good grief!!!  I don't remember applying red nail polish...   

Ohhhhhhhhh!  My toe nail!!!

Don't get grossed out, but I took a photo of my left foot when I got home.  

Nasty!

And it hurts!!!

Now I really feel like crying.

TSMSS - Thank You For Loving Me

We sang this song in church a few times and every time we did, it never failed to make my eyes sweat.  This touches my heart deeply and the word "unconditional" seems to take a new meaning. This song embodies how grateful I am for everything He has done because of His love for me (for us).

O God thank You for loving me

When on the cross You made history...

O God thank You for choosing me

To be Your child and bear Your name...

What love the Father has lavished on us

That we should be called His sons and daughters

Precious in His sight

Greater love this world had never seen

When He hung on that tree

O why would He do such a thing

For dirty sinners like you and me?

O God thank You for loving me

When on the cross You made history

Lord You died for me

Forever my praise will go to Thee

O God thank You for choosing me

To be Your child and bear Your name

O Jesus I will never cease to sing Your praise

Your love is patient and humble and kind

It's greater than all my sin

It always protects and trusts and hopes

And will have no end

It's Your love that lifted me up from the depths

Set my feet on a solid rock

With a firm place to stand

Lord I always will trust in Your loving hand

How wide how long

How high how deep

How endless is Your love for me

How wide how long

How high how deep

How endless is Your love for me

For more great music, link up with Amy over at Signs, Miracles and Wonders.

Sparkle

That's the theme of our Sun Life's President's Awards Night last January 24, 2011 at the Rizal Ballroom, Shangri-la Makati.  This was the result of a three-month (October-December 2010) effort and attaining our individual targets.  And, woohoo! I hit the Bronze level.

I'm happy that I was a medallion qualifier. But Bronze wasn't enough to have my photo published in the newspaper like in the August Championship last year when I hit the Gold level.  That's alright though.  I did my best and that's all that matters.  Next time. I'll do better.  Although I didn't have my photo published, my name made it to the newspaper anyway.

Philippine Star, February 28, 2011

Here are some of the photos during the event.

Red Spruce Medallion Qualifiers

L-R: Dar, Henson, Kat, Cymbee, me, Tin, May, Shirleen, Aileen, Enoch & Alex

me!

I didn't enjoy the food (I never liked hotel food), but I totally enjoyed the company of my colleagues.  Here's looking forward to more awards this 2011.  Thank you, Lord!