These are indeed exciting times for all of us who have been blessed to witness the great and mighty ways God has been working in the lives and hearts of so many of the FAM Fellowship members, especially in the past few weeks! So I want to share some of the most recent praises and testimonies from the private website to encourage others as a reminder that WHEN WE DO WHAT GOD’S WORD TELLS US TO DO, WE WILL GET HIS RESULTS AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WILL BE GLORIFIED!!!

After being separated for over fourteen months, and really struggling with understanding that God has to do a work in her heart BEFORE marriage restoration is even remotely possible, one of our newest members posted the following earlier today in response to “I Can’t Thank God enough!” (posted by another FAM member and included below, and there were several other powerful responses to that testimony as well):
“MNO (member name omitted), WOW! Your testimony has been such an encouragement for me. I am still struggling with letting go and letting God. When I think I have let go, I really haven’t and as Linda had to point out to me, I still had anger, resentment and bitterness in me toward my husband. And although I have been trying not to say anything to start an argument when he comes around, my body language speaks volumes (which also had to be pointed out to me). I have admitted some of my faults in our marriage crumbling, but focus
more on his. So I THANK YOU for this post because it touches on so many areas I have been struggling with lately and what Linda has been witnessing to me. I thank God that you shared this, because it came at a time when I really needed it, as well as a confirmation as to what I need to do!

God bless you! And please continue to trust in God, for He is doing AWESOME wonders in your life.”

And then that member posted the following response later today:
“MNO, I assure you that it has not been easy; I have to attribute a lot of it to God Almighty and to the FAMM family. Sometimes you know what you need to do, but you just feel like nothing is ever going to work. The enemy has deceived us into thinking that God cannot heal and restore because things have gone “too far” this time. But that is not at all the truth. God is ALL powerful and able to do whatever he needs to do when we let go and let him do it; when we stop trying to change them ourselves. The more
I tried to change SNO (spouse name omitted) and “make him come home,” the further from home he actually got. In essence, sometimes we can drive them away with our nagging and pressing them. Remember, their hearts are with us and not the NCP (non-covenant person). The NCP is actually a poor substitute for what they really want with us, and GOD eventually shows them that’s not what he has for them.

I understand the anger, resentment and bitterness you have felt. I felt it too; toward SNO and God. But we have to let GOD heal us in those areas because when they come home, if it is not healed, it will fester and come up again. I ask God every day to help me to forgive SNO, and him me, because it is hard in and of ourselves. Our natural flesh wants to hold onto the hurt because we feel that we have been done wrong, but it is not our natural flesh we should follow. When we hold onto that, it makes us a VICTIM and not a VICTOR. I refuse to be a victim; it is not in my personality so I have to let go of ALL past hurts from my marriage and whenever else I was done wrong to be able to heal properly. That’s where my controlling ways started, so I have to go back in the past and forgive even before SNO and let GOD heal it. Another one of my problems was that I didn’t have patience, and letting go developed patience in me. I wanted it fixed and fixed now and if it wasn’t, I was going to dabble in it to fix it myself or I had to say something about it. I wasn’t patient to let GOD fix it and fix it “right.” And now I know that we can talk too much and talk our healing away from us. But I thank God for all I have learned and that he is teaching me.

You can do it; just pray and trust God. I ask God to teach me to have a quiet and gentle spirit. And that is not normally my nature either; I am a communicator and I like to talk about things and have very strong opinions that I think are right, but I have learned just because I think that way does not mean it is correct and I am learning that being quiet is not soo bad. Sometimes it is best because we say things we can’t take back and “I’m sorry.” doesn’t always work. So sometimes silence is grand.
MNO, Girl, you’ve got this, and God has your back and your marriage. Be Blessed!”

After being separated for over two years, and divorced for several months, one of our members posted the following praise two nights ago:
“Oh, Praise God! … My heart is just bursting with joy today, and I just want to praise God for all that He continues to do for my family and me! Although this may seem like a small praise, it is HUGE for me, and it is all God’s doing! My husband has been on a business trip this week, and since being away from home, he has very rarely contacted me when he is away on business. Well, PRAISE GOD! Of the three days that he has been gone, I have heard from my husband on two of those days! Last night I received an unexpected text message that was longer than usual, and he let me know that he was on his way to dinner, that his project was going well, that he would be traveling to another city the next day, and that he would call me today. At that moment, I just felt so strongly in my spirit that my husband’s heart has turned! And tonight, he called! Although he sounded a bit tired, he also sounded so much like himself! It was so awesome to hear his voice and to find out more about how his project was going and to support and encourage him. And we made plans for him to come to our home on Sunday to work around the house. He even invited me to text him before then in case he needs to bring anything out before he comes! That invitation alone is HUGE, since he has seldom invited me to call or contact him. But God is making all things new! All praise, glory, and thanks to our Lord for ALL that He is doing! The mountain is crumbling, and restoration is on its way! Be encouraged and stay ready, everyone! God is moving mightily!”

After being separated for two years and sharing that she and her husband (who not all that long ago told her that he didn’t love her anymore and wanted a divorce) are actually discussing plans to go look at homes so they can move to another state and how they spent an evening together that was so much like they used to be (even with him cooking dinner and falling asleep on the sofa), and later initiated a time she described as being like teenagers necking and petting”, one of our members posted the following testimony two nights ago:
“I Can’t Praise God Enough!!! … I just thank GOD so much for everything. Just five to six weeks ago, at least once a week, we would have an argument because I would call him and even though I knew it would turn to an argument, I would ask, poke and prod him about “When are you coming home? Your kids need you.” Of course, he would just feel pressured and say whatever he needed to just to get me off of his case, and I would walk away from the conversation feeling “We will never work out.” He would be angry and I would be hurt. And one day right before I “came out of the closet” on this site, I just decided to do what everyone here had been saying and that was to “let go.” I said “Okay, God, I am not going to be a part of this tug of war any longer. I am not going to call him, text him or question him about any of this anymore. God, I let go to let you do what has to be done.” Believe me; it has not been easy. There were times when all I wanted to do was pick up the phone and hear his voice or I wanted to make a comment about our relationship and his intentions, but I started talking to GOD instead. I then realized that just as Linda and everyone else says, when I stopped calling him, he began to call me to see what I was doing or what the kids were doing and things began to change. I began to focus on me and the kids and what I needed to fix and not so much what he needed to fix. I asked God to help me be the wife I needed to be for him and to help me love him as God loves him. Slowly the anger started to melt and my attitude started changing from “He messed up our marriage.” to “God, I messed up our marriage.” I am so glad I “came out of the closet and let go.”

I came out because I started seeing that the ones who were getting results were the ones participating with the family and encouraging each other. And it has felt so good ever since I started participating instead of just watching from the background. I have learned to thank GOD for the little things and not always be so focused so much on the “BIG” thing of him coming home. I have been a Christian for a long time and read the bible every day, but I have learned to trust God more and to apply what I read to my situation. I had really begun to not trust God because of all that had happened and I actually thought “God, you were supposed to protect me and not let this happen.” But God already knew that all of this was going to happen; it did not take him by surprise and he knew my attitude as a wife was STINKY!!! And he already had a plan for this detour. I appreciate all of the encouragement from everyone here and the camaraderie. BE BLESSED!!!”

After seven months of separation, one of the FAM members shared the following in a praise testimony two nights ago:
“It’s Turning Around! … I have to say that I thank God for His faithfulness. I cannot remember the last time SNO and I had a conversation that wasn’t strained, awkward or hostile, but since I apologized to him, it seems as if he’s let his guard down, and so have I. Last week, a few of my family members planned a night out to see a new movie. In order to go, I had to secure a babysitter, which I was unable to do until three days before the movie. Just before I had my cousin purchase my ticket, I decided to let SNO know about the outing as he was always included in things like that before, and I knew he would enjoy the movie. In the past, he would say that he didn’t want to go – he used to say that he wasn’t big on movies. But I knew that really meant that he didn’t want to go with me. I asked anyway and he surprised me by saying yes. When I gave my cousin the go ahead, she informed me that the tickets were sold out. I told SNO and he said “Well, okay.” and that was that, but I was so disappointed. I hardly ever get a babysitter, especially for a Saturday night. So for the first time in I don’t know how long, my husband wanted to go out with me and now it wouldn’t happen. I finished my shift at my internship and when I got out I checked my text messages and there was one from my husband, asking if I wanted to go see the movie at another theater. Praise God!!! I couldn’t believe it. Well, that night I met him and we drove over to the theater and sat together, and we sat pretty close; so that our arms were touching, which was a vast improvement as we haven’t touched each other at all in a long time. I placed my hand on his and he didn’t pull away. And he put his hand on my lap and held my hand too. It was like we were teenagers but I think I was the only one that was a little nervous. And when the movie ended, we ate and talked for awhile, and then he dropped me off. He told me he was glad that I enjoyed the movie, and I secretly hoped for a goodnight kiss, but it didn’t happen. And when I got inside, I called and thanked him for taking me out and he said “Oh, any time.” And then he sent me a text message letting me know that he’d arrived home safely. I was so happy.

So I was reminded that God is in total control of everything and he orchestrates my circumstances and “coincidences.” I thought I had lost out on my chance to be with him, but God worked it out so that we could not go with the group and he put it in my husband’s heart to ask me to go with him alone.

Since then we’ve been having much better conversations. We can even make friendly eye contact with each other now. The hostility and awkwardness is fading and I’m so grateful to God for making this happen. At first, I didn’t think this would ever happen, but now I see that it can and is starting already. Praise be to the almighty God. I hope I’m not jumping the gun, but I have already told someone that I know SNO and I will get back together. I know that if I continue to be obedient to God, He will work a miracle in my life. And I know that this miracle will far exceed my expectations and imagination.”

After being separated for over eight months, with a divorce process under way, and posting a prayer request because her father was taken to the hospital, one of our members shared the following praise testimony three days ago (and that after she and her husband had already started acting like to lovesick teenagers!):
“Another Prayer Request and More Praises Too! … I have another praise to report about SNO too. I told my daughter to call her dad to tell him about my dad and within minutes he called me and asked what had happened. I told him I wasn’t sure but I was heading to the hospital. He said “If you really need me, I will be there; I will leave everything here (at work) and come to be with you.” He then explained that if I didn’t need him right then, he really needed to stay because he had over two hundred people that he had to cook burgers for and he was cooking alone; his day was already running behind and kind of messed up. My mouth about dropped to the floor. I told him that was fine and to stay at work and we would see what was going on with dad first. Never in a million years would he have ever even suggested doing that (leaving work) even if it was just seventy-five people! A few years back, he didn’t show up for my MRI test results because he had an outing of only thirty and said he was too busy. And by the way, my normal response would be to get mad and complain that he wasn’t there with me, that his priorities were screwed up. So this is a HUGE change and softening of the heart for him, and me too, I guess.

For the four hours I was with dad, I stayed in touch with SNO by texting, and that way he didn’t have to stop to answer his phone. He also called once and said “I have thirty seconds; how is he doing?” I am so amazed by how God is working in all of this. He really is turning things around and working in all areas of our lives. I even made sure my mom and dad knew what SNO had said, and they were happy to hear it. I have had a lot of medical issues going on in my family within the last few months, with my mom’s cancer, both of my grandmas and now dad. But this has caused SNO and me to communicate more in these last few months and communication was our biggest problem. God knows what he is doing. He is working all things out for the good. I lift these events all to the glory of God!”

After seven months of separation, one of our newest members was able to share her marriage restoration testimony ten days ago, and the following is an excerpt of what she wrote:
“Our marriage is Restored! … I would like to thank all of you for the prayers and encouragement you have offered up on my behalf. And know that this is not the end for me here; it’s just the beginning. I am just amazed that I have only been here for less than a month; yet Linda and you all have poured so much insight and godly wisdom into my life. And I thank God that I was open and receptive to receive all God had and has for me. But most of all, I am amazed by the transformation that has taken place in my HEART and MIND!

Linda, please move us to the restored marriage list! All Praise and glory goes to GOD Almighty!”

Also ten days ago, I received phone calls early in the morning from two other FAM Fellowship members with wonderful praise reports! The first was to let me know that after being separated for two years, her husband, who had returned home two weeks earlier only because he had nowhere else to go, had recommitted to both his marriage and to the Lord the previous night! And the other was from a woman who had also been separated for two years, and she called to tell me that totally out of the blue and unexpectedly (especially since things “appeared” worse than ever!), her husband had invited her to his apartment and they shared a wonderful night together, which she said was better than ever before. And everything he shared with her proved why God tells us not to lean on our own understanding, because everything she thought he felt and wanted was totally wrong! I cried upon hearing both of these testimonies, especially the last since that call came in while I was still on the first one! I was just so overjoyed, because both men were in ministry when they got involved in adultery; one was an evangelist and the other actually pastored a church that went under as a result of his behavior. But their wives stood on the power and promise of God’s Word and He did what He ALWAYS does when we just trust and obey!!!

And in addition to these praises, we heard from two of our members with restored marriages last month about how their husbands’ hearts have truly turned to the Lord and how their marriages are by far so much better than before! And of those who have been acting like teenagers and sharing intimacy for the first time in as much as two years, they all are amazed to see how much better things are than ever before! So God has indeed made their marriages and relationships NEW! And one of our other restored members shared the wonderful ways the Lord keeps working in their marriage and lives as well; they’re building a new home together, their last two children at home are moving out this month and they are on vacation together for the first time in ages, and for THREE whole weeks! So we’ve also been blessed to see how God’s love and faithfulness continue to work even after marriage restoration!

And, finally, the last testimony I want to share was posted by one of the FAM members three weeks ago, who has had a bitter divorce process in the works for over seven months…BUT GOD!!! Since her testimony pretty much speaks for itself, here it is:
“Praise HIM for the Little Things … I have been praying the scripture from Jeremiah 33 that says, “Call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know.” I had been praying that God would show himself to my family and they would see things they have never seen before. Little did I know how God would answer and show ME things I have never seen before.

Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “You can’t see the trees because of the forest.” When you are in the midst of the storm, it is hard to see past the end of your hand. So it is good to take a look behind you at times by reading your prayer journal and seeing how God has brought you through. The battle rages, but I am still standing. I couldn’t see it at the time, but when I look back, I can see how many decisions were divinely orchestrated by God. There was no way in my finite mind I could have conceived or knew to make some of the decisions I have made.

I had requested prayer about a month ago for our first court hearing (all previous hearings had been postponed), and God answered that prayer in a way I did not expect. The bottom line was that the judge ruled one hundred percent in my favor, which was a total miracle. But my God did exceedingly and abundantly more than I asked when my husband told me he was putting things on hold after that hearing! It wasn’t because he had a change of heart about me as I would have liked, but nonetheless, it was being put on hold!

I called you, Linda, and we spoke briefly so you probably don’t remember me, but you told me, “It sounds like you don’t like your husband too much.” I didn’t like to hear it but I gave it a lot of thought and there is a lot of truth to that. I love my husband with all my heart but I didn’t like him or respect him. So I began to change my prayers for him. I started praying for him from a new perspective. I’ve been praying Ephesians 2 and 3 over him and Colossians 1; that he would be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power for all patience and longsuffering with joy. I’m asking God to let me see him as He sees him and to teach me to honor and respect him.

I wrote my husband a text message (he doesn’t like to speak to me) and told him that I was sorry that I judged him and should have been praying for him to build him up. Surprisingly, I received a message back that said that he might forgive me, but he could never live with me again. The words that he could never live with me again stung, and I almost overlooked the part that said he might be able to forgive me.

This is what I mean when I say that we must not overlook the small things. I am starting to see the “little things.” We cannot be so focused on looking for that BIG miracle that we overlook the little things.

I had company a couple of weeks ago and made up a big dinner. I texted my husband and asked him if he would like some of the food. Again, he surprisingly accepted and came to pick it up at my office. And even more surprisingly, later that night, he sent me a message and told me it was really good and said “Thank you.” And that is a BIG thing because he has had very little communication with me.

My grandson’s birthday is coming up, and I had been praying that God would allow me to see him for his birthday. (My daughter has shut me out of her life since my husband left.) I was willing to accept it if I could not see him, but the Bible also tells us, “You have not because you ask not.” So I asked. Well, God answered that prayer too! And I was able to see my grandchildren this week. I was disappointed that my daughter would not see me, but again, I almost overlooked the great miracle of answered prayer in seeing the grandchildren!

When my husband left, our family was torn to shreds, including our two grown children. I have often heard of couples being separated still seen each other because they had children to share custody with. Well, our children are grown and very fractured right now and there was really no reason for my husband to have any communication with me. But God has His ways. Little did I know that God was going to use our Dog. My husband has now been requesting that the dog come to visit. So this is his third visit now. On a humorous side, I had been reading a testimony from Covenant Keepers about how a woman allowed her little girl to visit her husband’s apartment over the weekend and how God used their little girl to speak to her husband’s heart. Well, I was praying the other day that God would use our dog to speak to my husband’s heart. And then God dropped it in my spirit that He used a donkey to speak to a man before, so he can certainly use a dog. So this morning, I sent our precious dog on a missionary trip to my husband!

The other night as I was driving home from work, I began to reflect on some of the things that had been happening. These are little things, but God dropped it in my spirit about how Elijah proclaimed it would rain again after the drought. He sent his servant to look out to the sea for a sign of the rain. He went out there six times and saw nothing, but on the seventh time, he reported that he saw a cloud the size of a man’s hand! Think about it; a tiny little cloud in the sky. It certainly wouldn’t look like you’re ready for a gully washer with something like that! So God began to remind me that these little things I have been seeing are like the cloud the size of a man’s hand, so get ready and begin to proclaim that the rain is coming.

But one of the biggest things I see is the change in me. I am beginning to see things in my marriage and our relationship in a whole new way. Our relationship has been very dysfunctional due to drug and alcohol abuse for many years. But I truly believe that God has allowed it to be torn to the foundation and now He is rebuilding it and starting with me. God is going to use this to bring about His plans and purposes in each of our lives, and I can’t thank God enough.

So today, I look through the eyes of faith and I thank God for those little things along the way and know He is faithful to perform all of His promises.”

So, as Thursday’s Seeds Of Faith post pointed out; it just takes one; one man or woman willing to stand on the power and promise of God’s Word for the full and complete restoration of his or her marriage as they trust and obey; allowing the power of God’s Word to change HIM or HER first! And when we get that, we will indeed be blessed and encouraged because we will see the mighty hand of God moving in our lives and marriages in ways beyond ANYTHING we could ever ask or imagine! So I thank all of the above FAM Fellowship members for permission to share the word of their testimonies here so the devil can and will be totally defeated and overcome as he comes to kill, steal and destroy even more marriages and families!

The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. (Psalm 18:13)

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:10-12)

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (Psalm 108:4)

Posted Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm in Seeds Of Faith.