Bob & Charlyne's Blog - from the heart of a restored marriage

It is a Sunday afternoon, and all is quiet around our home. Bob is taking an afternoon nap. These last two weeks have been very busy with my birthday and Thanksgiving and with me having Bronchitis. I get Bronchitis easily, as I have had Asthma since childhood.

The night before Thanksgiving, I was at our favorite shopping place, the pharmacy at Walgreens. (They know us by name!) There were three people in front of me, so I just decided to not be in a rush. The man in front of me was obviously in a hurry. In fact, when the clerk said, "Next", he attempted to go ahead of the first man in line. When that did not happen, he turned to me and said, "I feel so lousy, I just want to get my prescription and go home to bed." I just smiled and made small talk.

I then heard the man in front of me say, "I need help. I need my prescription. I was here earlier and I brought back all the money I could find." He then emptied his pockets with nickels, dimes and a few quarters, totaling a little over $6.00.

He asked the clerk to ask the pharmacist to give him a few pills to get him started on the medicine. She was surprised by the question and did not know how to answer or help him. I started thinking, "What would I do without my medicine?" That is when the Holy Spirit said to me, "Tell her to give him the prescription and you will pay the difference."

I started thanking and praising the Lord for putting me at the exact place to be able to help this possible prodigal man who did not have enough money for medicine. The man was speechless as was the cashier, until I explained again. "It is a gift from God. Jesus loves you, go home and start feeling better. Have a Happy Thanksgiving."

At first I was not going to tell anyone about this encounter. It was between me and the Lord. Yesterday, as Bob and I were sitting on our porch looking at the manger scene in our front yard, I then told him the story. I asked Bob, "What would you have done?" He said, "The same thing." Then he reminded me of his experiences, where he has helped people, who would have never expected it, at God's opportune times.

Today I had to go to Walgreen's, to pick up another prescription, and went through the drive-thru, as I always usually do. That Wednesday evening, we needed a couple of extra things, so I had gone inside. I felt so humbled that my Lord chose and allowed me to bless someone that I do not even know. I also thanked my Lord that I did what I knew that I should have done. I did not tune out my Lord's voice.

December is almost here. There may be an opportunity for you to help someone. Tell the Lord, you would like to do this for someone. How many times have you gone to the grocery, where someone is buying a few groceries, but does not have enough money. They say, "Take out this."

Suggestion, you pay for that item, and tell them, "Jesus loves you." Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see God-ordained opportunities that are from your Lord to help someone who needs help and hear some Good News, "Jesus loves you. This is a gift from God." As I was driving away, the Golden Rule came to my remembrance as did the following scripture scripture:

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35

Lord, may You use each of us, in our everyday walk, to share Your love this Christmas.

My birthday is over and I was blessed. I received email and cards from around the world. As I was reading them, I kept thinking, "Never would I had dreamed what the Lord's purpose was in my life." It is such an honor and privilege to write devotionals from God's Holy Word. I am so humbled that the Lord chose me to share from my mistakes and failures in our marriage to help others know that God gives us second and third chances and He can heal your marriage.

This birthday only made me more determined to continue to share from my heart and God's Word. Imagine me helping someone from across the United States, Singapore, Africa, Australia, United Kingdom and so many other countries that I will never see personally, but be able to minister faith, hope and encouragement through our ministry on the Internet. I love teaching men and women to believe in the power of their Lord God to restore and rebuild their marriage on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Wow! God is awesome!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Have you ever had a child, spouse or loved one who is sick and you have cried out to your Lord for His mercy, grace and healing touch for that loved one? Wednesday, I checked in with Tim, our oldest son, in his fourth day in bed. I them gave him a mini sermon that the Enemy was trying to steal the victory that he had walked out of the hospital 36 hours after his serious car accident.

I asked Tim if he still had a copy of our "Be Healed." book. I had given it to him when he had Melanoma three years ago. He said Yes. I suggested he read several scriptures claiming and standing on the promises of God. I reminded him to keep praise music on. I told him that we had a lot of people praying for him. I then prayed for him, binding the enemy and asking the Lord to reveal to Tim His presence and His mighty power.

That afternoon, I received a telephone call from our daughter, Lori. Tim's wife had driven him to his office for a while. I then shared with Lori what had happened earlier and how for the next several hours, I kept praying healing scriptures with Tim's name in them and asking the Lord to touch Him, showing His mighty power.

Today, Tim continues to improve. He saw another specialist who gave him a new medication. The good news is that the doctor did not think this Tim's problems was complications from his head injury, but a virus or food poisoning due to the Hurricane. I have been just praising my Lord for His faithfulness, love and mercy.

I am so thankful that I am able to share about this. You may be sick, or have a sick loved one. If so, I strongly suggest you find, claim and stand on the healing scriptures that are in the Bible. I know I did this for myself in 2001 when the doctors said I needed a heart transplant and they thought I was dying.

Nothing is too hard for our Lord. May you come to know my Lord Jesus as the Great Physician. Oh, that you may learn the power of prayer for everything!

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:13-20

Who said life is easy? Bob got his hair cut today by a homeless barber! The barber's home was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma, and he is living in a shelter. The man opened his shop today for the first time since the hurricane. His wife is staying at a friend's apartment with several other women. The good news for our family is that both our daughter and son got their electricity back yesterday and today, respectively.

We are hearing about families who are having their apartments, condos or homes condemned because of hurricane damage to the structure. These people then are having a difficult time finding a place to live within their finances. More private and public schools are hoping to open on Monday if the majority of them get electricity. I would say life is still not back to normal in Florida, but Bob and I are so blessed.

Tonight, since I am not having to cook for our children or extended family, and our three house guests are not eating at our home, we are going to get take out food and have a quiet evening at home.

This week has been a week, where I have gone to the Word, claiming and standing on the promises of God. Perseverance is a key to standing. Many people say you must be strong-willed to stand. I do not believe that. I believe that you must fear God and the consequences of being disobedient to the Lord's will and way in your life. Regardless, I choose every day to stand firm in the Lord, holding up my shield of faith and blocking the fiery darts of the evil one. I know that I must persevere if I am to be a child of God following my Lord Jesus Christ footsteps. How would you rate your perseverance?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything....Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:2-4,12

Time has been flying by this past week. Our children and extended family still do not have electricity, so we have been the headquarters for showers, washing clothes, and feeding extra people at dinner time. Bob and I are so blessed to have electricity and feel blessed beyond words for our family.

Sunday I went to the church where our Bible study meets and the Pastor had a sermon on Philippians 4. That we all must "rejoice" in the midst of our trials and tribulations. We all sat in the Chapel with no air conditioning and with a hole in their sanctuary. Florida was truly spared compared to Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. I knew the Lord had me there to remind me and everyone down here, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

As I drive around our city, I keep praying for all the people. I pray that while we are getting our lights more each day that every one will remember how dark it was a week ago. I pray that we will have a revival in South Florida by people praying for each other, talking and meeting neighbors that you have not seen for awhile, talking about how God spared us.

I hope that we will learn to never forget to make time to look up and see the stars in the sky. We all need to remember to be thanking our Lord every day for all that we do have and take so many things for granted. Look around, what have you been taking for granted? May we thank our Lord for all that He does for each of us.

Got to go, just found out we have three house guests for a few days. :)