Good morning from Rock Hill, SC where we spent last night, on our way to Lynchburg, VA for another Rejoice on the Road meeting tonight. Before dawn today, working (very slowly) from a laptop in a hotel room, I added a couple of photos to our online ROTR gallery. One depicted Charlyne praying with two standers, holding hands in front of a Denny's during morning breakfast rush hour in Jacksonville yesterday morning.
There was a day when this would have embarrassed me. That was what Satan wanted me to believe. People do all sorts of things in public, so why should praying to our Lord God with two standers, when the situation warrants, make anyone uneasy: in truth, it should not.
When my wife was praying me home, she had taken a bold stand. Not offensive, but bold in every way. Those around her knew her goal, and what God had promised. As a result, I also knew right where I stood in my wife's mission to see a family put back together again. I never had to question if she was still standing or if I was still welcome at home. I knew, and others knew also.
This evening, in Lynchburg, and before our meeting, I am certain there is dinner with a stander. I am also certain my wife's black Bible will go to the restaurant with us, and will occupy a place on the table. At some point, the stander we are with will ask a question, and the woman I love will open that Bible and share a scripture. I am also certain that Charlyne's voice will get a bit louder than it should, and people at the next table will be eavesdropping (that could be someone's prodigal God placed there).
There was a day when meeting in a restaurant like that would have embarrassed me, but not now. My wife's bold stand is what God used to bring me home.
I challenge you to become a bold stander. Let others know where you are on your journey toward a healed marriage. Remember, being bold is not being pushy, nor is it being offensive. It is, well, it is being bold. Once you are living a consistent bold Christian life, your spouse will take note.
Tuesday night in Jacksonville we met an elderly stander. I told her she reminded me of my grandmother. That dear lady brought four other people with her to our meeting. Had she been a closet stander, those other four, and many more, could miss out on hearing that God heals hurting marriages.
Be bold,
Bob Steinkamp
