Day 9 Crisis Corner

Day 9
Crisis Corner...

but first a Restored Marriage Testimony

 

Restoration in Alabama

A home school mom noticed that a women she had seen before at their monthly meeting had lost a lot of weight. However, when she complimented her, she broke down in tears, saying it was because she “couldn’t eat.” Her husband had left her and her six small children six weeks before! The home school mom had heard about a “book” from another home school mom who was now in a restored marriage. She told her to ask her friend for it.

When she saw the “paper-clipped” pages the friend handed her, she doubted that anything could help her. However, when she read through it, she found that it answered all the questions she had with strictly Biblical answers. In the past she had often tried to “fix” the troubles with her husband based on other marriage books she read or advice from her friends. She said that “everything that she tried made things worse.” She was so desperate for the truth, but when she read all the verses, she knew she had finally found it.

She said it didn’t take long to read through the book several times; each time she said that she became aware of something new. She stopped “trying” to get her husband to come back, but concentrated on the verses of Scripture that she highlighted in her Bible.

In less than three weeks, when her husband finally came around to see the children, he was amazed at the change in his wife. She had lost over 50 lbs. since he had left over two months earlier! But the most amazing change was her countenance and personality. The once angry contentious woman was now sweet, gentle and kind to him even though he had left her without even a good-bye!

After a full day of observing her, he decided to stay the night. Her husband never left again!!

One Sunday morning the home school mom, who had told her about the book, saw the entire family of eight eating breakfast at a local restaurant. They were attending a new church (her husband chose) and she said the entire family looked so different—they were happy!

~Patrice in Alabama, RESTORED

The home school mom was actually Erin Thiele! And Patrice was the woman whom God used to get the paper-clipped papers to be published! Patrice came to Erin’s house and refused to leave until Erin promised to take her “book” to a publisher, Mt. Zion publishers because Patrice knew the pastor. In order to get dinner on the table for her family, Erin agreed, she said, because it was the only way to get rid of her.

Dan agreed that she should at least call, so Erin did and made an appointment to meet the pastor Patrice knew so well. The day of their meeting Erin woke in the middle of the night and felt she was supposed to insert the "Contentious Woman" chapter, even though she felt it was too last minute.

When Dan and Erin arrived at the publishers they were informed that the pastor had been rushed to the hospital that morning, but told Mike (his head man) to take the meeting for him. Though Dan said he was disappointed, Erin sensed it meant something was about to “happen.” Mike listened patiently and bit disinterested, then stood to thank them. That’s when he said, “Is that your manuscript” that Erin was holding. Erin said she didn’t even know that was the name, but shook her head yes. Mike asked if it was okay if he read it, and began to look through it and stopped when he got to the "Contentious Woman" chapter and sat back down—everything changed in an instant.

Mike read through the first few pages and then shared about a woman he had helped whose husband had left her. He was shocked that these were many of the same verses he had given to this woman whose husband had come home too.

Dan and Erin left, and two weeks went by when Erin got the call that would change her life. The pastor called who had also read the book (due to Mike raving about it) and told Erin, “We want to publish your book.” Erin was trembling when she put the phone down and told Dan and their children. Though Mt. Zion published 600 books, Erin’s book How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage became their best seller outselling ALL their other books combined! The elderly pastor became Erin’s spiritual father, she said, until his death in 2002. Two years earlier he suggested to Dan that they begin their own publishing company (NarrowRoad Publishing) to keep up with the ever growing demands that their presses could not keep up with.

And there is more. "Restoration in Alabama" that you just read is the testimony that Michelle in Alabama read when she made the claim that this marriage would NOT be the only one restored in Alabama! Hers would be too—and it WAS! Michelle submitted "He Called Me Beautiful" that I hope you each read after you submitted your Marriage Encouragement. CLICK HERE if you've never read it.

Make the same claim that Michelle did each time you read a restored marriage! Then couple it with the obedience each of the women made—all based on falling in Love with the Lord!

 

Crisis Corner

Have you found yourself in a sudden crisis? Or do you just find yourself down, crying a lot and are just depressed?

We hope that this lesson will teach you how to be led by the "still waters" where the Lord can "restore your soul." 

Take a minute to LISTEN ☊ to His Promises to help calm you if you're in a Crisis.

☊ Promises in a Crisis

Read along:

“...but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...” Philippians 3:14

“When you lie down you will not be afraid and your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:22.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3

“Though they intend evil against Thee, and devise a plot, they will not succeed. When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before Thee. Thou hast blotted out their name forever and ever. The very memory of them has perished. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more. And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” From Psalm 21.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace shall be with you." Philippians 4:4-9

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

"So shall My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void [empty], without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

"No trial has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live..." John 11:25

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” Psalm 100:4

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me..."You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever." Psalm 23: 3-6

 

The first question is:

Who do you usually run to when a crisis hits? The phone, the internet, in order to get help or encouragement from a friend or family member?

If you have NOT gone to the LORD first, THEN STOP RIGHT NOW and get alone with Him. Cry out to Him and repent of Him NOT being first in your life. Make a commitment to Him NOT to talk to anyone BEFORE you talk to Him FIRST. Remember, Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

A “Sudden Crisis” is from the Enemy

After you repent and are committed to going to the Lord FIRST, next you need to understand WHERE a sudden crisis comes from.

When, all of a “sudden” a crisis hits it's something the devil has stirred up in order to STEAL your PEACE. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But RESIST him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you"—1 Peter 5:8-10

You can see that if you RESIST the enemy because you are firm in your faith—because you run to the LORD FIRST—then the enemy cannot run you off a cliff, again. How many times has he succeeded in destroying you again and again all because he was able to create a crisis that caused you to run to someone other than the Lord, and it all turned out horribly?!?! 

It is your faith in God, not faith in yourself, not faith in your friend, not faith in your pastor, not faith in your husband or boyfriend, not faith in your circumstances—but FAITH IN GOD—that will prevent you from doing something that you will REGRET. Remember this verse the next time you run to do something to remedy the crisis the enemy stirs up, She "who makes haste with [her] feet errs”—Proverbs 9:2

When a crisis hits, now that you know WHERE the crisis is coming from: DON’T MOVE, DON’T CALL or TALK TO ANYONE and NEVER MAKE ANY DECISIONS until you are calm and there are NO EMOTIONS attached to the event.

How?

How can there be no emotions attached to it? 

Go to your prayer closet (anywhere that is quiet where you can be alone: a restroom or loo, your car, a closet, your bedroom or office). Establish a "prayer closet" at home and at work, then go THERE and pray until the anxious feeling you are experiencing are gone and you are instead flooded with HIS peace.

And when I say pray, I mean simply talk to God just like you would talk to me or your friend and tell HIM everything. Then sit quietly and try to HEAR what He is saying. You can begin to ask Him a question, then EXPECT to HEAR from Him.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me"—John 10:27

"Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left"—Isaiah 30:21

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight"—Proverbs 3:6

"Acknowledging the Lord" means to realize He is right there with you to help you, to bring you peace, and to guide you to know what to do. The main thing is to do NOTHING at all if you are NOT absolutely sure it's the right thing to do! Acting too quickly will most certainly bring about MORE hurt and MORE damage than the initial crisis or attack. And so often you will find out that when you wait, the situation resolves itself!

Let me share an example of moving too quickly during a crisis:

When my boys were quite small, my mother and I discovered BIG, THICK, BLACK MARKER scribbled all over the front of a very expensive and deeply sentimental antique dresser (my parents bought on their honeymoon while driving from New York City to Hollywood in the 1930's).

When I saw it, I instantly ran down the stairs, praying along the way for the Lord to help me know what to do. When I got to my cleaning cabinet, I felt the Lord tell me to bring window cleaner; however, when I got up to my room with the window cleaner, my mother had already removed one of the circles with FINGER NAIL POLISH REMOVER! Yes, it worked to remove the marker, but it also left a HUGE white circle on the wood (a mark that is there to this day more than 25 years later). I sprayed the window cleaner on the remaining marker scribble and wiped it off—all of it off no trace of the incident! Though it's sad that this piece is forever damaged, I use it as a reminder of this principle. Every time I see this dresser, the Lord continues to remind me of the consequences of reacting in haste!

Your focus on your Restoration Journey has to be to learn to WEATHER the storms of your life as a true and mature believer. Proverbs 3:25 tells us: “Do not be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” God tells us in Psalm 55:22 to: “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will NEVER allow the righteous to be shaken." 

Going Ahead of You

I found that when I was faithful to stay close to the Lord that He always PREPARED me for what HE KNEW was about to happen. It happens even now more than two decades later. I am never shocked by anything that happens. I am surprised, yes, but immediately He will remind me of what He told me or showed me AHEAD of time. He doesn't say exactly what, but I know something is coming. Often it is like understanding that wind precedes a thunderstorm, so when the rain pours down SUDDENLY, I am ready with my spiritual umbrella opened.

Here is a testimony when I first began to realize that the Lord would prepare me for what was up ahead.

It was at the very near end of my trial with my marriage, one afternoon I found myself sitting on the floor of a dressing room at a major department store, very close to tears. It was nothing major that had happened, it was just that all day long I had one “mini” trial after another! Things that were just unnerving—everything was going wrong! So I knew I needed to find a "prayer closet" and when I asked the Lord, He turned my gaze to a dressing room in the store. It was there that I found my PEACE again and as I prayed, the Lord “directed my paths” in a miraculous way, away from a CRISIS that was SUDDENLY about to hit.

When I felt overwhelmed, I sent most of my children out a particular door with my mother (saying I had one thing to try on) so I had only my oldest son by my side. Almost audibly, I heard the Lord say “turn right!” I instinctively took hold of my son’s shoulder and turned him right, down an aisle. What was just ahead was my husband and the OW, whom I had shielded the children from for months (they knew nothing about her)! If I hadn’t had this series of trials, which instinctively brought me to my prayer closet so I could “be still” before the Lord, I would not have been able to discern the Lord’s still, very small “voice.” The Lord had been faithful, once again, to shield my children from any knowledge or exposure to this person in the company of my husband (their father)! And at the exact moment I turned, I was able to signal my husband that my son was there who quickly RAN out an opposite exit! This, too, was miraculous and made the OW furious who had been begging to meet his children.

Remember, "Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left"—Isaiah 30:21 when you find your PEACE and go to HIM first.

Here is another example of how the Lord will use “mini” trials to prepare us for a greater crisis that the enemy wants to bring on SUDDENLY in order for you to run off a cliff.

One evening my children and I were coming back from a rural area just outside our city. The car began to sputter and slow down. Immediately, I told the children to pray and we all prayed out loud. It kept the car going, but only about as fast as we could walk. Then we began to sing “praise songs.” The car instantly picked up speed, but if we stopped singing, so would the car. For almost an HOUR we sang praises to the Lord non-stop that finally brought us home. The children were exhausted (because I made them sing loud, lol) and they headed straight up the stairs to get ready for bed— when SUDDENLY there was a knock at the door.

When I opened it, there stood the sheriff who asked if I was Erin Thiele. When I answered, “yes” he stretched out his hand with papers and said, “You are being sued for divorce... Please sign here.” My knees felt weak, but my spirit was full of strength and peace from singing praise music to guide us home. AND even more importantly, my children were NOT there to witness this frightening experience. The children always answered our door! Had He not been there to guide us with this pretrial, they would have gotten caught in the crossfire!

Had I stopped to call for help for our van, God would not have completed His perfect plan for what HE KNEW was up ahead. This is the main point—WHO but the LORD knows what's up ahead? That's why it is FOOLISH to speak to anyone else or listen to anyone else when the LORD knows what is about to happen! He knows what's going on (so don't listen to rumors that are usually, if not always, from the enemy to terrify you so you will do something stupid).

The Lord has also used illness more than once, especially the illness of my children, to cause me to “be still” or to “lie down by the still waters” after a major attack—in order to HEAL. This means, don’t thwart (prevent from accomplishing a purpose) times of crisis, but praise the Lord instead. If you remain faithful to Him, as His bride, He will be faithful to you and one way will be to teach you “His Ways.” Isaiah 55:8 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. LEARN His ways and you will walk through things unscathed!!

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you"—Luke 10:19

He Humbled Me

A month prior into my RJ, I started a semester to get my Masters degree. I thought how wonderful it would to have another degree and get paid more. Well when my storm began with my marriage, not only did my EH sit me down to tell me he had an OW, but he felt it was time to introduce the kids to her because on a night i was attending class she happened to be "around". After about another month of attending classes, I was SG and He spoke to me very clearly. "Lota, do you want a degree/higher title or a restored marriage". I thought or spoke to Him saying of course I want a restored marriage but going to school will better myself to be a better person, besides my earthly dad had paid all this money to attend and I had my EH support. They would be upset if i quit now. He spoke again, "if you want to better yourself, study Me, learn about Me, spend time with Me". 

I started to cry uncontrollably and it still brings tears to my eyes writing about it years later. Knowing how we tend to complicate or busy ourselves and all He wants is our time spent with Him. When I told my dad and EH that I had decided to stop my studies in the university, both said OK, just like that, no questions, no emotions. That was all Him. Soon after there was no OW and my marriage was wonderfully restored.