Rhonda,

What a wonderful testimony of God's grace, love and provision.  That's great that you and Ben are going to be able to have that celebration.  Thanks so much for sharing it with us.


Vicki & Yellow Lab Guide Dog Elway
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rhonda Partain 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 8:13 PM
  Subject: [ECHURCH-USA] 25th anniversary coming up soon


  Ben and I will cellebrate 25 years together on January 26th 2010. He asked 
  me if I would like to renew our vows.  Here is a message I sent to our 
  pastor when he replied to me that he would be honored to help us do just 
  that.
  I am sure some of you may remember the rough season Ben and I had about 8 or 
  so years ago.

  You can't possibly know how wonderful it is to have Ben want to renew our 
  vows, to have him going to church with me, He said he would never.....ever 
  go
  to a church again!
  I remember many nights crying myself to sleep asking God how in the world I 
  could possibly reach Ben, he seemed to be growing more and more distant each
  day. He had computer friends and didn't seem to need me. I remember telling 
  God that He showed David how to fight the giant, he showed him which stones
  to use. What was I to use? I felt God saying I should just love Ben.....not 
  the answer I wanted. not an easy thing to do......what I wanted was 
  permission
   to leave my marriage. to just end it all, this was just too hard and 
  certainly not what I had signed up for. But memories of my wedding vows came 
  to mind,
  for better or worse....this was worst all right.....words of being faithful, 
  and true. I knew I had made a promise not just to Ben but to God as well.
  If it had been a promise to Ben only I think I might  have more easily 
  broken it, but then there was God right there in the middle of  all this 
  anger,
  hurt, and disappointment! I am sooo glad God wouldn't give me what I wanted, 
  but insisted I stay!
  I am truly blessed and as our 25th year together comes to an end I realize 
  more and more how wonderful the love of God truly is! just as God directed 
  David
  in choosing the five  stones, so too He directed me in loving Ben when that 
  was not what I wanted to do.
  I couldn' understand why God would want me to stay in a situation where I 
  was  so hurt, where angry words  criticised everything I did or 
  said......why???
  But God can see the future, and He knew if I would only stick it out, be 
  strong through the rough patches I would have what I had prayed for  such a 
  long
  time for, a husband who loved me, who used his words to encourage and 
  support me, who talked to me about everything, someone who held me close and 
  made
  me feel loved and secure.
  Thank You  Father....for your love that is soo much greater than mine, for 
  never giving up on your children, even when we have temper fits!
  for showing me how to forgive and how to love again!
  This is truly a beautiful picture of what your love can do.
  I thank you for Ben, for his lovve, and that he stayed too when I wasn't the 
  most aggreable to live with. We are so blessed to have a marriage of three!
  Rhonda


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