Hi Folks,

I expected this to go to the list and it went to Matt instead.  Sorry, Matt,
wasn't singling you out, honest!

**   **   **

I wrote:

Those of us with good marriages certainly have a lot to be thankful for.  I
praise God for my Mike and ask that I may not take him for granted.  We also
need to pray into our marriages, watching out for the enemy with each other,
and that can be difficult when you start to dare to pray about growth and
giftings for the other.  We sometimes also talk about the strains and
stresses others have in their marriage and are thankful that we have not
been put in some of those positions.  If we had we can't say we'd have been
any better than they are.  The marriage relationship is something that
certainly the enemy hates and God loves!

The realisation that the strong couples are often those who have been
through a lot of ups and downs together (particularly the "downs") causes me
to pray for us as a couple.  We have been through some real bad family times
(my famly that is) and Mike has stuck with me but one time, in my depression
and sadness, I even wanted to walk out on him.  At the time I couldn't even
bear for him to be kind to me.

God has been good to us, though, and pulled me up pretty hard on one
occasion specifically, and I realised how near we had come to disaster!

We need to pray for each other in our marriages and I say here and now that
there's no shame attached if you're falling down and going under.  If you
want to come out with God in the midst then I for one am committed to pray
for your (I mean whoever you are in your marriage, anyone's) marriage!

--
Carol

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt" <
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To: <
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Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 1:48 AM
Subject: watching divorce destroy

> Hi all,
> This is a sad thing in our lives just now.
> We are currently watching 3 different couples, one from each of our
families
> and one a couple of friends, go through the beginning stages of divorce.
> Two have not filed yet, as far as we know, and the other is fighting over
> custody of kids and separation of material goods.
> What can we do but to pray and offer our knowledge on marriage?
> I try to keep this stuff out of my head since it just drags me down but I
am
> finding it hard.
> In two of the cases I don't like at least one of the spouses and I can see
> why the divorce might happen but still, that's my own selfish thoughts and
> in truth these are people who loved each other enough to marry at one time
> or
> another.
> In two of the cases there are kids involved.
> Those are really the saddest.
> Does anyone know of any scriptures which might comfort me?
> I mean, things like, what a wonderful thing it is to be married, count
your
> blessings every minute of every day or something like that?
> I know that sounds self centered.  hahahahahah
> But, that's where I find myself.  Very grateful for my marriage and for a
> wife who is working with me and who discusses with me when other women in
> other couples have wrong thinking concerning their marriage or men in
> general.
> Hah, just had a thought.
> Think I'll send my wife roses next week.
>
> Take Care,
>
> Matt
> Matt
>