Charlyne Cares Daily Devotional - Helping Stop Divorce God's Way

A Holiday Weekend! 

Happy Fourth of July early! July 4th is a legal holiday in the United States, called Independence Day. Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of many concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

Today, our Nation is still fighting for our freedom. Today our Nation and many other countries around the world are fighting against terrorism and tyranny. You and I need to pray regularly for our freedom and for our independence. Pray for our Nation and all the other countries who have terrorists trying to destroy people's freedom. Let us continue to pray for all our leaders to have God's wisdom, knowledge and understanding in knowing how to keep our freedom.

May each of us pray for God's protection for our servicemen and servicewomen who are protecting our freedom as well as fighting for other people's freedom in so many different countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Let us pray for their families and loved ones who are sacrificing their own lives by not having their loved ones home this holiday. Let us pray for the many wives, husbands, children and parents who have paid the ultimate sacrifice of losing their spouse, their parent, their child or a loved one by them dying for our freedom.

You may be feeling sorry for yourself today, but remember all the military that are fighting for our freedom in the war zones. Today pray for all the many different people in the military that protect us and thank the Lord for our freedom.

If you have an American flag put it up. Our American flag is up and an afternoon picnic is planned with our family. If you have your children with you this weekend, please make this a special holiday of memories by taking them to some place that will be fun and free. I hope you have a city that is close to you that have fireworks so you can enjoy in celebrating America's Independence Day.

If you are home alone, go see the fireworks in your area, as you will not be alone there. This weekend may be difficult for you as you may be alone one more holiday weekend! Everyone leaves work excited about having the long weekend for their special projects, their barbeques and planning to see the fireworks. Does your husband/wife have the children this weekend? What are you to do? Yard work? Housework? What about painting a room?

This weekend will you start thinking about all the different ways the Lord has directed your steps, spoken to your heart through His Word and shown you how to stand for the restoration of your marriage. Then write down the whole list in a notebook or in your journal. Date the events if you can. Pray about your list and ask the Lord if you have forgotten any special signs that the Lord has done for you to show you are on the right road of marriage restoration.

You may not be seeing any evidence that anything is happening in your husband or wife's actions, as we did not see improvement for a long time in Iraq, but decide this weekend to wait patiently for your miracle. Your God is always working.

"...But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:24-25

This weekend be sure to spend time with the Lord. Tell Him how you feel. Be honest with Him how you hurt. Admit your fears, frustrations and anxieties. He will meet you right where you are.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Thank the Lord for this special weekend alone with Him. Ask Him what He wants you to do. Turn on your praise music and spend time worshiping and praising the Lord, for who He is. Then spend time growing in the Lord by reading the Word and read a Christian book you have been wanting to read. If you need to increase your faith, then listen to one or many of our online messages, then spend time just listening to the Lord's voice. After you have done all this, ask the Lord to speak to your heart a special word for you this July 4th holiday weekend.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

One way for you to feel better is for you to be active. Go to the beach or the lake or cut your grass and work in your flower beds. Take a bike ride, a walk or a jog. You will be amazed how your problems and circumstances will shrink in size when you are doing something outside and seeing all that the Lord has created.

I know at times you feel like there is no hope. You have a choice; give up or believe in your Lord. Trust Him. He loves you so much. He parted the Red Sea at the right time, and He will change your circumstances at the right time.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil." Proverbs 3:5-7

Bob and I will be praying that this weekend will become a very special one for you with the Lord. May the Lord meet you right where you are emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Have you made Jesus Christ Savior of your life? Will you let Him become Lord of your life?

You can have a blessed weekend if you will ask the Lord, "What do you want me to do? How can I become the husband or wife and mother or father I need to be and become more like you? Lord, change me now, I am willing. Then Lord, go touch and change my spouse's heart giving them freedom from the bondages of sin. Nothing is too hard for you!"

God bless,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA
http://rejoiceministries.org  (Ministry web site)
http://rejoiceministries.org/r.php?num=tizwl  (Bookstore)
http://rejoiceministries.org/r.php?num=1qrwh  (Radio 24/7)

Devotional Copyright© 2010 Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

Scripture quoted by permission and are from the Holy Bible; New International Version® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.