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

The Good News

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

Today marks the opening session of the Covenant Keepers "Families are Forever" annual conference. Our very own Charlyne is speaking at this opening session. For over 20 years she has been proclaiming that God does heal and restore hurting and broken marriages. Now hundreds of others get to hear her words as she speaks about what the Lord has done for her marriage and what He wants to do for ours.

Charlyne often tells us that the Lord is no respecter of persons. What He has done for her and Bob, He wants to do for us. What's that you're saying? Bob and Charlyne are special; God had a call on their lives; He knew He would raise them up to be leaders in a marriage ministry? Both of them will be the first to tell you - they aren't very special. (Sorry, Charlyne. :) They are just two people being obedient to what the Lord has called them to do.

Look at the disciples that Jesus chose to tell the Good News to the world. Tax collectors, fishermen, tent makers. Nobody special. What made them special was their faith and their willingness to obey. And that's what makes us special, too. In spite of the world's acceptance of divorce and remarriage, in spite of the doubt and the head-shaking, in spite of the circumstances and the angry words, we are willing to be obedient.

"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." Isaiah 1:19

The best from the land. Who doesn't want this? We could go the way of the world and accept what it has to offer. And maybe we will be happy. Maybe we will find security for ourselves and our children. Maybe we will find what is good. But will we have what is best?

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

Charlyne could have continued to listen to worldly advice and not forgiven Bob or repented of her own part in the marriage problems. Bob could have taken a different exit off the interstate and gone on to the other person's home and on with another life. But both were willing to be obedient. Both were willing to wait for God's best.

In a long out of print booklet called "Expectation Corner" written by Emily Steele, it tells the story of a king who constructed a warehouse where everything his subjects needed would be supplied if they just watched for the messenger who brought it. One subject, Adam Slowman, had no faith and he never expected to get what he asked for. He never watched for the messengers. Eventually he was led into the "Delayed Blessings Office." There was housed all the things that people had prayed for that God had delayed until the right moment to send them. And there was row after row of blessings for Adam that he never received because he was not willing to wait for them.

Where are you residing today? Is it in the "I'm no one special; God doesn't have any plans for me; I don't expect to be blessed" department? Or are you out there waiting for your messenger to bring your blessing; scanning the horizon eagerly anticipating God's best for you and your family? God's plan is so much better than anything you or I could come up with on our own. The good news is that Jesus Christ died to free us from our bondage to sin. And He is no respecter of persons. He died for us and He died for the ones we pray for. He longs to be gracious to us and wants us to share the news that He can and will heal, reconcile, and restore broken and dead marriages. He wants everyone to be saved.

"Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed." Nahum 1:15

Where would you rate on your faith-o-meter today? Are you like Elijah hiding out in a cave until the trouble passes? Or are you listening to God who is telling you to "Go out" and go back to the work you have been called to do? Are you out there expecting your blessing, knowing God's best for you is just around the corner? Are you telling everyone the good news - that with Christ there is hope? You don't have to wait until your marriage is restored or your family is healed to share this good news with others. Go out and spread the news and praise Him for the blessing that is already on its way.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3a

God bless you,
Kim, standing in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/kim.html

Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA
http://rejoiceministries.org 

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.