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"My husband called me to see if he could pick up some things at the house. He stayed for five hours. I even got the privilege of fixing him supper. We had an enjoyable evening. I also got to give him his Valentine's gift. I thanked the Lord for allowing the time with my husband." (Kentucky)
"I was the prodigal at first, but now I am standing for our marriage and my wife is not sure she wants the marriage to work. I prayed and asked Jesus to stop the court date this week. Praise Jesus, my wife has backed off everything and now is trying to work on the marriage. She also emailed and thanked me for the flowers I sent her. He has started his work on her and I will continue to stand." (New York)
“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” James 2:5
“Today was my dreaded court date, but I had no fear, for my Father was with me. It was what happened after, that shows just how much God is in control. As I turned the corner of the building, my husband was there and he wanted to walk me to my car. He said that he had done a lot of thinking over the weekend and had to tell me some things. He said that he was sorry for all of this and to know that I did nothing to cause any of this. More was said, but the important thing is that God gave me the exact words to say. I was able to tell him that I forgave him a long time ago and that I will always love him. When we parted ways, he asked for a hug. It was a genuine, loving, God-filled hug. To God goes all the glory. My restored marriage is around God's corner.” (West Virginia)
"Mother's day, my son handed me a dozen red roses and a beautiful Christian card my husband and son had chosen. The flowers were wrapped in a yellow scarf similar to the one I have tied to my door knob, awaiting my spouse's return. My prayer that morning was for the Lord to reveal if my spouse's heart is softening. Praise You Jesus." (Illinois)
"I thank the Lord for what He is doing in my life. My husband and I were not in talking terms. Last week I emailed him and he responded positively by calling. Now we communicate every day. I pray for God to complete what He has started." (South Africa)
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"I just want to praise God for the work He is doing in my life and my marriage. He is good, no matter how it appears in the physical. Praise be to God." (Zimbabwe)
"My husband wrote our son telling him everything currently going on in his life and explaining that he loved me and always will. God is working." (Illinois)
"When my husband and I separated, I happened to be at my in-laws' house. I thank my Heavenly Father for what my mother-in-law said that day. She asked me how I had put up with all the crazy ideas (husband) had come up with over the years and I was able to tell her it was because I loved him and right then it all clicked in her mind. Since that day, we have been much closer. I am so thankful for that one moment. It was a release of so much anguish in me." (California)
"After years of my being divorced and standing, our pastor taught on asking for forgiveness to all whom we had wronged, hence I decided to call my husband. On the same day my co-worker witnessed on how she had been praying for her parent's marriage restoration for years and at last God has answered her prayers. It really encouraged me." (Tanzania)
"I praise the Lord Jesus my Savior. My prodigal called me for Mother's Day. I ignore what is on the other side of the mountain. God is in control. My husband asked about my health. I praise the Lord. God is good." (Mexico)
"I received a notice that my husband had divorced me by default in another state. I was devastated. I had been keeping my lips zipped the last few months on urging from the Lord. Yesterday the Lord led me to write my husband a long letter sharing my heart. He called me last night and we had a beautiful conversation for several hours. God is moving and I praise Him greatly." (Arizona)
"Once again, your message, 'God Will Take Care of You,' reflects God's perfect timing. I wrote last fall, after I received a refund from my mortgage company, due to overpayment of my tax bill. I just left the refund sitting in my savings account, despite having bills that were slowly being paid off. I continued to squeak by each month. This past week, I had to have the water line to my house replaced and it cost me a tad more than the refund I received last fall. I didn't have to go further into debt. Praise our loving God. He surely provided for me in this, and is now challenging me to depend totally on Him, since I now have no cushion. I told Him that it's all His, anyhow, to do with as He wills." (New York)
“As I was standing for our marriage, I was not active in church except to regularly attend service. I felt I had such huge personal problems because of our marriage problems that I had no business in any type of church work. One day I decided that I was going to begin to serve God in any way he opened the doors. I began writing letters to prisoners. For over the last ten years I have taught Children's church and Sunday School for children. For a season, I also got to go to the prison and share my testimony of how God has kept me and my children. God touched many lives. I've also lead many child to the Lord for salvation, rededication, and encouragement. It has been a joy even though the devil would scream about who did I think I was with my messed up life doing this. But lives have been changed because I was willing to share.” (Illinois)
"My prodigal spouse picked up our young daughter. She asked to be excused to use the restroom and went into a stall and prayed rather than using the restroom. She came home asking if God would be mad at her for telling a fib to her dad about using the restroom. I responded in tears that God would never be mad at her for praying. God is working in our lives, and I am so blessed that my precious daughter is praying for her father and restoration for our family." (Kentucky)
"Four years ago I felt very led to volunteer for a local Promise Keepers conference. This year I volunteered again. They offered me a much heavier role this time. I have been going to weekly meetings with the Volunteer Team for months. They even asked if they could join me in the prayer for my prodigal husband and our restoration. They set a ticket aside for him to come with my son if he would. The team also asked my daughter to volunteer and this weekend the three of us will be working for that conference, sewing much seed into the spiritual growth of these men and boys." (Tennessee)
God somehow always comes through with sustenance, hope and encouragement. I never had the courage before but today I was given the opportunity to share books with my prodigal husband, including Bob's 'Finding the Way Home.' Perhaps I just needed to wait for God's perfect timing. My husband said he would read them. God is restoring our marriage. Praise the Lord." (Vermont)
“Due to circumstances, I have been questioning whether I am to continue standing for my marriage. Two nights ago, I was watching a TV program about a house that was being restored. The host walked out of a doorway and there was the name of the construction company, which just happened to be my prodigal's first name. The Lord truly gave me the answer I was praying for. Praise His Name.” (California)
"Praise the Lord. Yesterday my prodigal called to tell me that he is going away for one week and that he had asked our son to check on his apartment while he was away and that he had also informed our daughter The ice is breaking, praise God." (Dominica)
"The Lord is faithful. I was reunited with my prodigal after not seeing them for years. God went before me and leveled the mountains. God's timing is perfect. Thank You Jesus." (Tennessee)
"My husband came home last night after moving out. He wants to work on our marriage. We will be going away to celebrate our wedding anniversary this weekend and he is looking forward to it. God has been dealing with him. This happened suddenly and in a way I did not expect. I know that there is still a lot of work to do, but he is home, praise God." (New York)
"I am still waiting and praying for my husband to come home. I haven't heard from him in a while, but that is ok because when I did, he was still drifting, as I read in Charlyne Cares. I have Charlyne Cares mail in a folder and in another I have more letters of encouragement. Whenever I get discouraged about my spouse not being home (yet), I can go back and read these and be lifted up again. I also keep a daily journal and a daily Joy Journal. I keep a record of each day's happening in the diary, and I put one blessing each day in my Joy Journal. All of these have helped me get through this time." (Arkansas)
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"Our daughter had a dance performance at her school. My plan was to sneak in to see our daughter perform and sneak out unnoticed by my husband's non-covenant. God had a very different and much better plan. When I arrived I found my husband and son saving seats near the front of the auditorium for my husband's non-covenant and her daughters, not for me. My husband invited me to sit with him. Praise the Lord, his non-covenant never showed up to steal this family memory." (Colorado)
"My wife, daughter and I got together to celebrate my birthday at a restaurant. I teased her asking if she had a present for me. She smiled and said I would get my present by the weekend. We had a stranger take our picture on the sidewalk arm in arm." (Colorado)
"My wife was struggling with having contact with the other person and God worked it out that the man has been ordered by the court not to have contact with her for six months. What a blessing. God has a way of doing things in a way that is unique and creative." (Missouri)
"I have been fasting. After weeks with no contact, my husband called me today. He said he wanted to let me know if anything ever happens to him that he is sorry for what happened with us. Thanks to Bob's teachings, I know this is 'Prodigalese' for 'I'm sorry and I don't really know how to bring myself to say it.' Thank You, God for fighting my battle." (Louisiana)
"My wife has not had much communication. She has agreed to go to counseling and we have been twice. Today in church we talked and she held my hand and squeezed it a long time. God is working on her. 'Charlyne Cares' has made the difference in my life as a stander. You encouraged me to stand and I am standing till restoration." (Illinois)
"My prodigal texted me and said that he wants me back, but just didn’t know where to start because he knows he messed things up. I know it won't be long until the false start is a complete restoration. My Lord has shown me that I also need a lot of work." (South Africa) PS-Bob wrote "Finding The Way Home," his book for prodigals, for people just like this man.
"God answers prayer. Last week my brother-in-law was in critical condition in ICU with blood clots in his lungs. The doctors called in his family and said he might die. It is one week later and he is home! Only Jesus could heal him so quickly with no serious permanent damage. To God be the glory." (Iowa)
“My husband suddenly left the other woman yesterday. He asked me if I could store some of his personal items and signed himself into a men's shelter in hopes of getting help to put his life back together Please pray for him to make Jesus his Lord and Savior.” (Illinois)
"My husband who does not live at home right now, brought a Christmas tree over while I was at work. I already had our old tree up, so he took the other one back. He was thinking of our family. I needed this at an uncertain time." (Iowa)
"I have been praying for a sign from the Lord if He still wants me to stand for my marriage. This morning at the gas station there was a truck with the words 'Damage Restoration' on the side. That was my promise from God. He is the ultimate damage restorer." (New Hampshire)
"The judge said there was no grounds for divorce and did not grant it at the trial this morning. Praise God it was not final. Praises go to Him." (Arkansas)
"My spouse called Wednesday night to see if I was making pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. He could hear our girls in the back- ground. He said to save him a piece. I have been asking God to show me a glimpse of the other side of the mountain. I could see how he was thinking about previous Thanksgivings and missed us. Thank You, Lord for the chance to see what You are doing." (Washington)
"After a few months of no communication my husband called me to take him to work. When I picked him up, he changed his mind and said he was not going in because he was tired. He didn’t want to go back home to the other woman. He chose to spend the time with me. He also revealed that within the last few weeks he got saved, joined the church he goes to with the other woman and got baptized. God is moving. Thank You Jesus." (Georgia) (PS from Pompano - This should encourage every stander who is concerned because their spouse attends church with another person.)
"The Lord answered my prayers and our divorce petition was dismissed. I am praying scriptures daily and thanking the Lord for a restored marriage. My daughter and I were in the church Sunday where my husband is a musician. He looked at us and I could feel the warmth. He kept looking and I looked back at him. With God all things are possible." (Illinois)
"My husband has decided to work on our marriage. But as I have been learning, unless I continue to stand, pray, and put God first, things could go backwards." (California)
"My prodigal dropped by today unexpectedly to spend time with me. He knew our daughter was not home. It was a divine gift from God. I know God will restore our marriage in His perfect timing." (Oklahoma)
"I destroyed my relationship with my in-laws by failing to keep my lips zipped after my husband left and before God got hold of me and I began to stand. I repented and no longer speak out of hurt and anger but, I was not sure how the Lord would ever be able to restore our marriage when my in-laws were so upset by the things I said to them. I have not seen my father-in-law in years. I had been praying for a chance to fix the mess I had made. Praise God, my son made the football team and my in-laws and I have spent almost every Friday together. It has been wonderful. I have been able to show them how sorry I was for my words and how much I love them. God is so good." (Texas)
“We were divorced after years of marriage. Yesterday my husband told me he has turned his life over to the Lord. He cries when he speaks of Jesus and he says he wants to rid of all sin, all lies, all deceit, all hurting of people out of his life forever. He prayed in a group last night and the elders told him there is a calling on his life to preach. What an awesome God we serve.” (South Africa)
"Yesterday, my prodigal spouse told me that she is uncommitted to her move across the country. She planned on moving to another state to start a new life. I've prayed that she reconsider the move. Almighty God does listen, and does act. I am only now, as an adult, learning to walk and talk with God. He is all powerful." (New York)
"I wanted to let you know how blessed I was to receive the Bible calendar last year. I am now only weeks away from having read the whole entire Bible in one year! The experience was life changing. I cannot tell you the times the Lord spoke to me through the Bible teaching assigned to that day. I now can hear a sermon and know exactly what story or historical background the Pastor is referring to. I will be purchasing many 2007 booklets to give out as gifts. Thanks again for leading me to study the Word and be changed forever by such." (Georgia)
"There were arguments between me and my husband and he started seeing someone else. I skipped breakfast, fasted and prayed for 40 days. My husband reconciled with me and his behavior changed totally. Praise God for hearing our prayers and helping us." (India)
"I praise God for His faithfulness. He has given me the strength to stand for my marriage and persevere for the past nine years. I wish I was able to list all the ways God has blessed me and changed me. As each year passes, I tell more people of my stand. I am amazed at the encouragement I receive. I thank God for each person believing with me, including my parents and sisters. I thank Him for the peace that surpasses understanding. I look forward to the return of my husband. 'The old has gone, the new has come.' 2 Corinthians 5:17'" (North Carolina)
"Praise the Lord for doing great things in my life and family during separation. I'm standing on God's Word and He is teaching me. My job is going well. I've got many prayer partners. I'm drawn closer to God, learned to use His Word, which has become alive to me. I am depending on it instead of circumstances. I walk by faith, not by sight. God confirms His love, He hears, answers me, and blesses my husband too. Soon we'll see the manifestation by sight of God's promises in my marriage. The enemy loses this fight and many more in Jesus name! Glory be to God." (Norway)
I received a call to give testimony in a church about my stand for my marriage. The pastor is going to be preaching that week on how God hates divorce. I am so excited. I couldn't be more thankful. (South Carolina) - - - - - My absent husband attacked me for not informing him enough of our daughter's health issues. Anger filled me up and I bit my tongue. He hung up on me and I hit the prayer closet. Then God showed me how I would be able to get through my husband’s return home. God will be teaching me, one step at a time. (Canada)
"Thank you for your daily devotionals. It seems day by day you are writing to me. Everything said in today's devotional touched very closely to home. It has helped restore my faith in my situation and has given me a renewed desire to keep standing. You speaking of Saul and your experience with Bob moving on mirrors my current situation to a tee." (Florida)
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