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

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  II Corinthians 12:9-10

In 1964, as a 19-year old kid, I left home for the first time to attend mortuary science college in Cincinnati, Ohio. More than once during those first months I gave serious thought to loading up my red VW, withdrawing from school and heading south. I felt so alone.  How I longed to be back in Pompano Beach.

There is a diploma that has hung on our wall for over 40 years, even through divorce and  remarriage, certifying I successfully completed school in Cincinnati. I refused to give in to my feelings and quit. That diploma allowed me to serve people most of my life as a Licensed Funeral Director.

For the past ten days my wife, daughter and granddaughter have been in Cincinnati for Ashley's medical treatment.  How I have longed to be back in Cincinnati.  Instead of a small red VW, it is now a big gray van that I have wished could be heading north so that I could be with three of the ladies I love.

When I was starting school in Cincinnati, one of our professors made an odd statement in orientation. Even though it has been over 40 years ago, I can still quote his words; "This is going to be the best time of your life, but you will not realize it until about ten years after you graduate." When that comment was made, a corporate moan came from those new students. There could be nothing good associated with being away from home, family and friends, in the structured environment of classes and homework, all the time struggling to pay tuition and get by on limited funds.

This week, as I served as the GPS (that's Grandpa's Positioning System) for three generations of ladies, helping them to get around Cincinnati, suggesting where to find the best Cincy chili, and even helping my daughter to navigate in snow for the first time in her life, I realized again that my school time up there had been some of the best time of my life. I have so many good memories as I recalled my days at school.

Way back then, God put me in Cincinnati and I longed to be in Pompano with my family.  Now, God put me in Pompano and this week I longed to be in Cincinnati with my family.

I wonder if my school time was not much like Charlyne's standing.  We both thought that we were miserable, but we were both learning.  Every time my wife says, "I would not have passed up my time standing for anything," she hears "Amen's" from every other restored marriage stander in the room.

May I paraphrase Professor Nichols' comment as Charlyne might say them?  "Standing is going to be the best time of your life, but you will not realize it until about ten years after your marriage is restored."

I am alive today because my wife learned how to call on God during her stand for marriage restoration.  The fervent praying Charlyne is doing for Ashley this week is possible because my wife learned to trust God when her marriage depended on it.

May I ask a pointed question?  Where are you today in your stand for marriage restoration?  Are you learning well that God is a promise keeper, and fully trusting Him for your marriage to be healed?  Could you be more like that immature kid with a red VW, refusing to endure the discomforts of this season of drawing close to God in a relationship that will endure beyond the rest of your life? Are you ready to withdraw from standing and retreat into the world, seeking its temporal comforts?  If you do, you are going on what my wife calls a "detour road."

Men and women around the world, whose marriages have been restored can testify to their spiritual growth while standing.  Granted, it is a frightening and lonely time, but God is working in your life each and every day, as you surrender to Him.

May you and I learn to praise God for where He has each of us today.  When we do, God is at work in our lives and in our marriages, making us all we can be, and most of all making us people who understand God answers prayer, regardless of circumstances and regardless of location.     

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."  I Corinthians 16:13-14

 

Sunday night was going along just as planned. We had arrived home from church, all the kids were ready for bed and two of them were already half asleep.

Ryan had asked if he could stay up for five minutes and play with Ashley. She was deep into a block building project that he wanted to be part of. I told him that I would set the timer on the microwave and when he heard it go off, it was time for bed.

I followed Scott into our bedroom and we started folding laundry. I heard a strange beep and even stopped for a minute to listen more closely. About 30 seconds after the "strange beep" Ryan comes running to the bedroom shouting, "fire, fire, fire."

Scott and I go running towards Ashley's bedroom in search of the "fire." About the time we rounded the corner in the kitchen, we noticed the glow of flames shooting out of the microwave. Apparently, Ashley wanted to make sure Ryan followed the five minute rule, so she attempted to set the timer on the microwave for 5 minutes. Great idea, only instead of pressing "timer", she pressed "start" and proceeded to cook the bag of potato chips that we store in the microwave.

Being one that remains calm in an emergency (ha, ha), I lovingly beckon Kayla and Kyle from their beds (OK, I was yelling) and I gather my off-spring and head for the door. I then realize that I should call 9-1-1 in case Scott can't get the lovely flames to stop. I couldn't find a phone. I don't know about you, but I spend the better part of my day searching for my cell phone or the cordless phone.

As soon as Scott hears me lovingly instructing the children to find a phone so we can call for help, he chuckles (is this a time for laughter....I think not) and tells me to calm down. He was able to put the fire out with lots of water.

It took quite a while for the smoke to clear. It took even longer for the big kids to calm down enough to fall back asleep.

I'm telling you, we live an eventful life. Never a dull moment. In case you are wondering, bar-b-que chips are flame resistant. Interesting........


Lori

There is an anecdote to our December 1 Rejoice Pompano Bible study that we thought you might enjoy. The people who attended were certainly blessed by what happened.

Bob B. Is one of our local male standers. We have known and respected him for several years. In addition to being a stander, Bob B. Is also active in ministry to other men at a large Fort Lauderdale church. We do not get to see Bob B. Often because he is a long distance trucker.

Last night was one of the limited Monday evenings when Bob B's truck was idle and he was in town. Before Rejoice Pompano, some of the other men arranged to meet Bob B. For dinner.

During Bible study Bob was telling about his work as a truck driver. I joked with him, "Maybe you need to go to work for Covenant Transport."

"That's who I am working for now," Bob B explained.

Bob's B's Covenant Transport rig was parked just a few miles away from where we were meeting. On this Monday morning he anticipated the company dispatcher calling him to pick up a load, which could be going to anywhere in the United States. By their choice, Bob B and his fellow team driver will be on the road for several weeks, transporting loads of products all around the nation.

If you have been with Rejoice Marriage Ministries for a while, you might have heard about the times that God has used one of more than 30,000 Covenant Transport trucks to encourage a stander to fight for their covenant marriage. Charlyne even has a model Covenant Transport truck in her office.

The next time you pass a Covenant Transport truck, anywhere in the United States, it could be driven by one of your fellow standers, straight out of Rejoice Pompano.

I can't wait to remind my wife that thanks to CD, she might be teaching right now in the cab of a Covenant Transport truck rolling across our country.

You can read more about standers and what Covenant Transport trucks mean to them by visiting - http://rejoiceministries.org/covenant_transport.php

Blessings,

(That's Bob the ministry guy, not Bob the trucker!)