One of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of working in marriage restoration ministry is the opportunity to witness the changes God is making in the hearts and lives of the men and women He brings to FAM Ministries. Seeing the awesome transforming power of Jesus Christ at work really is an amazing and incredible experience, especially since most of our members are pretty lost and in a great deal of pain and distress when they first come to the ministry. But they’re just like the rest of us – foolish builders who built our homes and families, even our lives on sinking sand. Instead of building them on a foundation of solid rock by putting the words from Jesus into practice, we heard His words and didn’t take them to heart, much less put them into practice. So our lives became a living testimony of the truth and reliability of God’s Word, especially the parable of “The Wise and Foolish Builders”, from Matthew 7:24-27, which says:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Since Luke 6:46 introduces the parable of “The Wise and Foolish Builders” with “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?, our goal is to focus on putting the Word of God into practice so we can reap the bounty of it’s harvest in our lives; particularly in the restoration of our marriages and families by rebuilding them on The Solid Rock – Jesus! Unfortunately, when we hear the Word and don’t PRACTICE the Word, we are deceived, which James 1:21-25 makes pretty clear by warning Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. So the good news is that we can change our situations and circumstances by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and the transforming power of His Word as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, families and lives. God is certainly true to His Word and He is more than able to bring it all to pass and HE WILL bring the restoration of our marriages to completion too if we just put our faith and confidence in Him and the power and truth of His Word as we PUT it into practice! And the following verses confirm that the completion of everything we want and stand for is possible through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His Word:

Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

James 2:22
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

1 John 2:5-6
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

What a wonderful blessing it is to know exactly what Paul meant in Philippians 1:4-6, when he wrote In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And I truly do know that, because the Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful men and women in this ministry, and I can’t help feeling like a proud mother many times when I see the personal growth of our members, especially when they so sincerely minister to each other, just as two of our ladies have done today by sharing a little of what God is doing in their lives. And I thank both ladies for permission to share their posts here on the public website, because what the Lord is doing in them is the same work He longs to do in all of us! So read the following messages from Jenn and Mindy and be blessed and encouraged as you remember to be WISE BUILDERS!

I want to hear from you….

“Good morning everyone!

I think I am finally catching up now that I have had a few days of rest after my trip with my son. This trip, even though it was so wonderful to spend alone time with my son, also took a huge toll on me physically. However, yesterday as I was trying to function I clearly heard the Lord say, “I want to hear from you.” Due to my physical tiredness, I have been lacking in reading the word and praying. But when I heard his voice, I instantly started feeling rejuvenated.

This morning he led me to the book of James, chapter 1 and verse 25, which says “But if you keep looking steadily into gods perfect law- the law that sets you free and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” We need to keep in the word daily. I believe God was reminding me of that. Not only do we need to keep in the word, but we need to do what it says and pray without ceasing. God wants to hear from us – not only by him listening to us read his words, but by watching our actions as we try to implement his laws into our lives. If we back up a few verses in the book of James, he reiterates that in verse 22, which says “And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself.” I personally do not want to be a fool anymore in my life. I was a fool to listen to Satan’s whispers that drew me away from God and away from my family. I know now that if I listen and obey Gods word, I have so much Joy that I am obeying my father. And out of that Joy comes peace. I want to live my life for God; not for just the moment, but for a LIFETIME. And he wants me to talk to him. God wants to hear me read his word and watch me walk that narrow path.

Have a blessed day…
Jenn”

Miss Fit or Not!!!

“The root of ‘misfit’ has the basic meaning “miss”. “Miss the mark” or “go off the path.” In relationship to human behavior as determined by divine commandments, it refers to engaging in behavior that “misses” Yahweh’s standards. Thus, in most cases, it can be translated to “sin”.

I don’t know if anyone else has ever felt out of place; not included in the click, but I recently found my self feeling like I was the only human on the earth, though many walk by me and life seems so busy. But I realize that no man can feel our void. Even when I am lonely, I hear the Lord and He is not boring; quite funny in fact! Yet I still cry and hurt, and still miss. So I have really been thinking; if I completely trust God and truly believe, what in the world am I crying about? More tears – more blessings? Meaning, since I know God gives back for our tears, am I trying to earn myself more blessings? LOL I realized God grieves with us as Jesus did with Mary and Martha at Lazarus’ tomb. But God is not moved by tears, but by faith and action, BELIEVING, TESTIFYING, AND SHOWING IT IN OUR ACTIONS (OBEDIENCE). Now, don’t get me wrong; He will throw a golden nugget, as I call it, to get us back up – to move us along on His path.

Then I was thinking about how I always felt I did not belong; I was always wanting to fit in and be accepted – wanting that complete family; not realizing I am complete in Him. Well, I was just self centered; the ME ME ME. Truly, I was being moved by man and not God. I realized now that I was a people pleaser and not a God pleaser. But when it all comes down to it, who will I face once I die and re-open my eyes? Who really judges me that will count? I see now that everything I do is either for God or against Him. My decisions to forgive, hate, lie, judge, be angry and bitter, jealous, etc., are all either for Him or against Him. So I am saying “Lord, I get it now; Help me Please.” You see God loves a broken and contrite spirit. He can work with that, because at that point we are so down in the dumps that we say “Whatever, Lord”, without giving him lip. I really was a wild horse that needed to be tamed. I am so glad He is purging me. But please don’t pray “Purge me like hyssop; make me whiter than snow.” if you don’t mean it. He will do it.

I have pretty much been threw it all. I see now that it’s been for Him to testify and let people know God can and will deliver us. Nothing, I say NOTHING, is too hard for Him to fix. I thought I would die when my oldest daughter was molested; and then my son ended up in a mental hospital and I was told he has bi polar or schizophrenia. As a single mom who works and does everything without much help, it is a miracle I am still here! No joke! And that I’m not locked up in a mental ward myself! It’s just God’s grace! He truly is a husband/wife when we don’t have our spouse. He even helped me forgive my husband. And Boy was I angry when I was in the hospitals alone with my son – two daggers! Him and me. But the Lord purged it out. He will take our mind set and get it in line with His. We will see and feel as He does. We CAN forgive the abandonment, loneliness, adultery, betrayal, emotional/physical abuse, and rejection. BUT ONLY THROUGH JESUS, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

God will speak to you too, so this is for the one wanting to hear from God so badly. He will answer, but sometimes God plays hard to get. How long did you ignore Him?
He wants to know you are serious and you are not using Him just for your miracle; that you truly want your father and that relationship He so yearns to have with you. Think about this for a minute; we are made in His image. How do you feel when you are ignored by your spouse? Or when you waited all day to hear about their day and they come home and go to bed without a word, how do you feel? Or when you want to tell them something no one else knows and they brush you off, how do you feel? Well God has feelings too. It hurt me deeply when I thought about His feelings. Then for the longest time I thought that God is too busy and He isn’t personal; Gods too busy making scientists look stupid by changing Pluto to a star – the planet that no longer exists. But He showed me He is LOVE AND VERY PERSONAL. He created us for His pleasure and loves to spend time with us and bless us. I cannot go a day without talking to Him. Once you start, you truly cannot go back.

So I pray that all will take a closer look at our Father in Heaven, because He’s LOVE; really unconditional unshakable true love. We should look closely at our motives and ask Him to help us get right with Him and to stand for His Glory and for opportunities to witness to others about His amazing Grace, His Mercy, His forgiveness, His love that will blow their minds. I can truly say no one loves me more. I cursed my husband out and he took off. I cursed God and He held me until my anger was all gone. I ignored my husband and he took off looking for another. I ignored God and He stood by my side. My point is that God will never leave or forsake us. He will get our spouses right with Him, but we are first in line. Remember, how can we receive if we are not right with God or ready to receive. God is not in the destroying family business; He is in the Restoring family business, just like Isaiah 44:26 says: who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be built,’ and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’ And Isaiah 61:3 says and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

God Bless all. Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to really evaluate our relationship. Use this, my testimony, Lord to get your people right with you and healed. Heal them and then build them back up. Lord, renew their strength, joy, hope, and love. Through you, God, all is possible and we can trust as we trust unto you. Thank you, my Lord. Encourage all! Love your daughter, Mindy
The fire is awesome when you get out with out a burn mark or the smell of smoke – all for His Glory. Thanks, Jesus!!”

Posted Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 at 6:58 pm in Seeds Of Faith.