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Post by Eric W. on Sept 12, 2018 16:42:26 GMT -5
So I don't know how many of you know this but I am located in North Carolina. A bit south of Fayetteville, NC and Hurricane Florence is looming on the horizon. Please pray for those in the path. It's not looking like this is going to be over quick.
God has this all in the palm of his hands. We trust him to guide and direct us through the storm of our lives and marriages, we have to do the same for the literal storms in our lives sometimes.
With love your brother in Christ!
Eric
Ps
Adrienne, I think you are in NC as well though not sure what part. If you haven't evacuated be sure to seek shelter sister.
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Post by Adrienne on Sept 13, 2018 9:07:02 GMT -5
Eric, you read my mind. I was just thinking of you while reading some new forecasts, because I remembered that you are in NC too. I’m a bit farther west, in Greensboro, so I will not be evacuating but I’ve stocked up on supplies in case there’s a power outage.
I do have family on the coast who has not evacuated.
It looks ugly but God is bigger. I am praying for everyone involved, including first responders. May God cover this region with His grace!
Take care Eric. I’ll be checking the news regularly to see how things are going farther east, but let us know how you’re doing when you can.
God bless!
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Post by Adrienne on Sept 14, 2018 12:37:10 GMT -5
I hope you’re doing okay, Eric!
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Post by Eric W. on Sept 15, 2018 16:00:04 GMT -5
I am doing well. Impatiently waiting for power to come back. It sounds like our biggest concern at this point is flooding as it continues to rain over the next few days...
I would ask that you all pray with and for me. Thursday I went over to ride out the storm at my prodigals house. Along with her first husband and my stepdaughter (his biological daughter). Nothing was wrong or even said untoward but I felt very out of place. To the point I went back to my rental this afternoon.
I have struggled the whole time with standing for our marriage or their's... They grew up together and have a history that I can't go back and be a part of. I ask you to please pray with me for guidance and direction.
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Post by Adrienne on Sept 20, 2018 22:21:18 GMT -5
I’m praying for you Eric. I can empathize with your situation because my husband was also married before and has a child from that marriage. I struggled with the same doubts but always felt a certain firmness in my heart that I was doing the right thing by standing for our marriage. Nowadays what with our separation and how hard it has been for multiple years now, I feel more doubtful about everything. I know that uncertainty is painful. This isn’t an easy answer to what you are struggling with, but brother, you and I both need to remember that our certainty, our number one truth as it were, has to come from God. God first, and our marriages after. (It’s crazy, being so distant from God myself right now, to see myself writing that to you- but I know it in my hard to be true, no matter how hard it is sometimes to live it). I’ll continue to hold you and your family up in prayer, brother.
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Post by Adrienne on Sept 20, 2018 22:22:07 GMT -5
Back on the hurricane topic- how is the flooding in your area? Has electricity been restored?
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Post by Eric W. on Sept 21, 2018 3:10:50 GMT -5
I am good. Power was restored late Tuesday, so I have AC, and the ability to cook. There is devastation all around me. The news and weather Channel have both featured stories on Lumberton, NC. This is about 10 minutes south of me and actually the town where I work. There is still widespread flooding and areas without power that it may be the middle to end of next week to get back on from what I am hearing.
I haven't seen it first hand either. Lots of roads are still closed or compromised, and they aren't letting anyone into town unless they can prove residence via ID or work. Trying to keep roads clear for emergency rescue and power crews.
Extensive flooding and damage to the east of me in Elizabethtown, and north in Fayetteville as well. With the damage to I95 north and south of us it's slow getting resources in as well.
My church canceled service for Wednesday night and the Community College where I work has closed all of this week. The public school is out all of next week as well. I haven't heard about work for next week yet though.
Please keep my community in your prayers. There are still many families who are still reeling from Hurricane Matthew 2 years ago and now this...
May God guide and bless you all!
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Post by Sharon on Oct 4, 2018 8:38:44 GMT -5
I love you both so much and have been praying for North Carolina. I didn’t realize you both lived there! My step daughter is in North Carolina too. I’ve been praying. Are you both well?
Guys, I want to remind you about something! When Jesus was asked about marriage in heaven, specifically a woman who married one brother, then when he died married the next, and so on through 7 husbands. They asked who’s wife she would be in heaven. The answer was none of them. She is Christ’s bride. Marriage isn’t supposed to be for us to place our love on display. Just like ministry isn’t supposed to be me showing my strength and power and faith. The Pharisees sang their own praises and we know when we are putting God on display in our lives, it’s so others can see Him, not us. It’s the same in marriage. It’s not here so we can show our love to the world, but Christ’s love for the church.
So all of that being said, if God has given you the direction to stand for YOUR marriage, it is because he intends to restore YOUR marriage. Not the next one or the last one. The one that you are Covenanted to, because you are the one the God instructed to stand. This isn’t easy. For me personally, this is the most difficult trial I have ever experienced. But Charlyne said something I’ve taken to heart and decided to make the same promise. She said she would have sat on her rocking chair until she was 80, waiting for Bob to come home. It wasn’t because she trusted Bob. It was because she trusted God. She knew that He was strong enough to make a beautiful display of her marriage and that God called her to the stand. Brothers and sisters don’t let the enemies doubts creep in and distort the truth. Regardless of earthly circumstance, look at the God we serve. He is powerful and mighty and God is impossible and he called you to this stand. Regardless of previous marriages or current marriages. Regardless of what your prodigal is doing. This is about what you are doing. God called YOU to stand, so stand. He will make it right.
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Post by tkk2 on Oct 9, 2018 4:38:45 GMT -5
Perfectly said, Sharon. I will admit i have doubted what God spoke to me about my stand a time or two. And then he always reconfirms it...he is so gracious with me.
Thinking of you all!
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Post by Sharon on Feb 17, 2019 3:20:26 GMT -5
Hey Eric, just wanted to check in. Haven’t heard from you in a while but I’m praying for you and you’ve been very heavy on my heart the last few days.
Brother I’ve met Standers of all kinds and I know that it troubles you that your wife is speaking to her ex and it causes you a lot of doubt, but it suddenly occurred to me tonight while I was praying for you that this is an excellent tactic of the enemy to try to make you back down from your stand. I mean really the only thing that would deter you is if it wasn’t from God and so of course the enemy would bring her ex in to try to make you doubt that your marriage is legitimate and that maybe the previous one was. No. All of the covenants are broken brother. There is none that remains. But God, who is not constrained to time, has seen the future and prepared the new covenant between you and your wife and you are not standing for your previous marriage. You are standing for your future marriage. Regardless of who she sees right now, she will marry you. I know it without any doubt brother and I hope and pray you do too. You are the man God called to stand. He is God and this is His purpose for you. What an honor it is to be called to such a purpose as the one God has given us Standers. Even if we never see our desires fulfilled, still I want to stand because God called me to it and He is the only thing that matters in this life. Brother He has called you to stand and He is so good. He has called you to stand because He has plans for your wife’s future and for your future and He has seen the future already that you both have together. I just wanted to let you know all of this. Keep standing brother
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