Married4Life's Blog

This year was quite a year with some jaw dropping answers to prayer and a miracle! God's goodness is overwelming!!!



FINANCIAL FREEDOM!

We had a financial break through July 27th! It just took our breath away! After 4 months of praying for financial relief, it came in an amazing way! The story of how it happened, is so much fun to tell! It involves Doug's parents and you couldn't ask for better! They have been such a blessing!

We're now 100% debt free after surrendering our finances to God, really, 3 years ago for the first time ever, living for "Him" with our money in all areas of our life. The answers to prayers these last 3 years have been jaw dropping and then after 4 months of praying for relief in a different way, God decides to "knock our socks off"!The blessings really do fall from heaven when your obediant to Him! When you prove to God that you can handle a little of His money and further His kingdom with it, He'll then bless you with an abundance of it!

Please, anyone struggling with finances, just open up to Christ and ask Him to change your heart! We asked Him to please "change our hearts" because we wanted our motives to be pure! He did! And oh my, the things that have happened since then, have literally blown us away! Thank you Lord for financial freedom!!!!!



GOD'S HEALING TOUCH

I was so sick back on Tue. October 21st and thought I was going to possibly be hospitalized that night. Doug went to OC to his mothers birthday and I stayed home. I felt horrible!

I had what felt like, a blow to my kidneys! The pain was then going up my back, across my shoulder and up my neck. I started to run a fever and had a hard time breathing. I was going to call Doug to come home late afternoon, because I felt like I was going to pass out. But my daycare parents would be here soon, so I stuck it out. I took some Penicillin in the cupboard that was about 5 years old, hoping it might help.

After praying from 5:30pm until 7:30pm, IT WAS TAKEN FROM ME! I WAS COMPLETELY HEALED! JUST LIKE THAT!

I fell to my knees and cried like a baby I was so overwhelmed once again, because of what had just actually happened! I was in awe of God and couldn't stop thanking Him! The tears of happiness just flowed!

I'm still a sinner, yet wanting and trying my hardest everyday, because of my love for God, to be obediant to Him and live for Him.

Thank you Lord for your healing power and touch and answering my prayers!!! Not just for today, but for everyday!

The only person I told right away was Doug. I didn't think anyone else would believe me. So many people doubt and really don't believe in miracles and amazing answers to prayers. I GUESS THAT'S WHY GOD WANTS US TO TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT THEM! HE DOES WORK MIRACLES AND ANSWERS PRAYERS IN JAW DROPPING WAYS, BESIDES EVERYDAY WAYS!

It's still interesting at times, seeing and hearing peoples reactions when you tell them about the miracles and answers to prayers. Many don't know what to say or even how to react, because they really don't believe it could happen! They say something like "Wow, you were lucky!" or "What a coincidence!" There is no such thing as luck or coincidence! Everything is planned and allowed to happen by God!

I pray that people will come to a point in their life, where He reveals Himself to them, so they'll then be able to see the "truth of God!" GOD DOES ANSWER PRAYERS AND HE DOES WORK MIRACLES!!!!! You've got to believe before you can recieve!



SAFTEY!

Our son Jesse was saved from getting bit in the face this summer, by the most poisonous rattle snake in the United States! The teenager who saved him from harms way, was the most unlikely of all people to do it. Which makes it that much more special. Not only for Jesse, but for this boy who was so self centered. All he ever thought and cared about, was himself! Not anymore!

We always pray for saftey for our kids! THANK YOU JESUS FOR KEEPING JESSE SAFE!





MIRACLE!!

It was April 19th, 2008 (Sat.), eight o'clock in the morning and we're driving down highway 75 heading to Akron Iowa. We were putting on a marriage retreat at "The Hole in the Wall Lodge".

Doug suddenly started feeling ill. Hinton was only a few miles away. He remembered thinking, that he thought he could make it to Hinton and that then, he was going to tell me he wasn't feeling well and ask me to drive.

We were up all night with only 2 hours of sleep, so I was trying to nap as we we're just leaving Sioux City.

I was just doozing off when I felt the rivets on the side of the road. I sat up and looked out the window in my side mirror, thinking maybe emergency vehicals were coming and that's why we're way over to the side. The lady we had with us, Kristin Anderson, was in the back seat of our pick-up, and said later, that she also was thinking the same thing. Yet neither of us looked at Doug to see what was up! Crazy, huh!

Well, we rode perfectly on the rivets on the side of the road for a good amount of time, then we finally came to a complete, soft, STOP!

I then looked out my window again, in the side mirror, but still didn't see anything. So I looked at Doug. He's bent over to his right a little, (that's my way), looking at something on the floor it seemed. At least he went as far as his seat belt would let him go. I gave him a little push with my elbow and said, "DOUG! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" My push made his head go back and I could then see that he was gone!

My first thought was, HE'S HAD A HEART ATTACK AND HE'S DEAD! His color looked terrible! I was terrified immediately that I was in this kind of a situation with Doug! I was shocked to say the least!

I said to Kristin, "He's passed out (but that's not what I meant! I really thought he had stopped breathing!) I asked her if she knew CPR??? She said, "No, but what do you want me to do?" I told her to call 911!

I had just taken a course in CPR last year and I knew I had to do something, so I jumped up on Doug and gave him 2 rescue breaths to get some air in him. THAT WAS DUMB! He's not dead, he's still breathing! We laugh about that now!

So I'm going to get out of the pick-up to run around to his side and the pick-up starts going! Of course, it's not in park! I stepped back in and jammed it in park right before his foot hit the gas pedal, HARD! That sound was horrible, thinking of what could have just happened!

Thank you Lord that the pick-up didn't take off when I was all the way out of it. Or even running in front of the pick-up could have been deadly if it had started to go at that time. Thank you God that the pick-up started to go "right when I was getting out", so I had time to step back in quickly and jam it in park!

Well I got around to Doug's side and finally, after a very hard time of it, got his seat back. He's been passed out for so long now it seemed, but once I got his seat back, he came too immediately. He sat up fast, grabbed the wheel and started shaking violently, making a horrible sound! His eyes were as big as silver dollars and he couldn't hear a word I was saying. This lasted for a good minute or so. That freaked me out more then the passing out did!!

He finally relaxed and came out of it and it was like someone poured a bucket of water over his head. He started to literally drip with sweat, but what a relief to be finally talking with him! He was sick to his stomach and very tired. His clothes, which were taken off in the hospital, were drenched in sweat.

Kristin has been on the phone with 911 this whole time. Thank you Lord for putting her in the pick-up with me, (really at the last minute), when she asked Friday night if she could ride with us.

There is no such thing as "chance". She was put there by God for Doug and I! When I think of how terrifying it was at that time, I can't imagine being there alone on the highway with all that was going on. Thankgoodness God put her in the back seat to help out. To have another person there with me, was helpful and calming to a certain extent, even though the situation was terrifying and intense.

The sad thing was, that not one person on the road that day stopped to help us and soooo many went by. I believe that's another reason why God put Kristin in the car with me that day. Nobody cared enough to actually stop and see if we needed help, but I had a person in the car, who did! I will never forget her as long as I live! I have thanked God for her so many times already and will continue to do so!

Doug couldn't even get out of the pick-up on his own he was so sick! They had to put him on a stretcher and take him by ambulance to the hospital. He was released 4 hours later.

The only thing the doctors could come up with, was that it was a Vasal-Vagel Syncope. His blood pressure plummeted after taking his daily medication along with some other cough medicine, all on an empty stomach. His body was exausted from hardly any sleep. He had a bad cold and cough and and had been up all night.

When you think of "WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED", while heading down the Hwy, going full speed, passed out and "WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN", "BUT WHAT DID HAPPEN, WOW"!!!!

God gets us to the side of the road perfectly. Rides along side of the highway with us for a while. He gets us to a complete, soft, STOP, all while Doug's passed out and Kristen and I don't even know yet what has happened!

While neither of us looked at him immediately, IS CRAZY! Normally I would have, but then "I" would have grabbed the wheel, stopped the car on my own, you name it! "I" would have done it (that is, if I would have woken up before we crashed)! God's greatness was then shown by all the incredible things that happened! I STILL STAND IN AWE OF GOD'S GREATNESS AND I'M AMAZED!!!!!

TALK ABOUT JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL! There's no other explanation!

Yet still at times we don't think that the Creater of the Universe can help us with our problems!

Please believe that He's bigger then that and that "HE CAN DO ANYTHING"! He's the God of "EVERYDAY HELP" and "MIRACLES"! He can do ANYTHING and HELP ANYONE at ANYTIME! Just believe it!!! Don't doubt anymore! He can keep you safe in any situation! Believe that "HE IS, WHO HE SAYS HE IS"!

When you believe, His blessings will HUNT YOU DOWN!

Thank you Jesus for letting us be a part of "YOUR MIRACLE"! IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU LORD! I GIVE YOU ALL THE HONOR, PRAISE and GLORY!

Lawson only comes to my home twice a week so we don't get to see him as often as we'd like. But I've been waiting for him to make a comment so I can put him on my blog like my other daycare kids.

This was adorable when it happened the other day.

Lawson loves to hear Toby Mac sing and asked if he could watch the DVD. So we put it on and even tho the whole DVD glorifies God greatly and is so awesome, he aways wants to go straight to his favorite song "Lose your Soul".

The kids had been playing with some paint brushes and Lawson still had a great big one in his hand. When the song was over, Lawson stands up, raises his hand with the paint brush in it and says with great Joy, "YES, GOD IS THE REAL KING OF THE WORLD"!

Does that not say it all, or what? Lawson is very soft spoken, but what a bold statement that was.

I gave him a big hug and a kiss and told him never to forget that!

What a joy Lawson is to have around!

My birthday is Feb. 20th. My friend Ann, who was in my womens small group, gave this verse to me as my birth verse. It means so much to me! Galations 2:20 It's on my profile page. This is how you find your birth verse. You look through every book in the Bible and go to the number of the month (example = Feb. is the 2nd month, so you look at the 2nd chapter of every book) and then look at the day of your birthday,(if your birthday is on the 20th you look at the 20th verse) to see which verse fit's you the best. It's amazing which one does or will in the future. This is fun to do for your whole family.



A.W.Tozer

God never uses a man greatly, until He allows him to be hurt deeply.

Before you get planted you get plowed. Then you get fertilized and it seems to get worse. But then you get watered and it gets glorious.

When God comes to plow your world, He's preparing you to become a fruitful christian!

First of all, I want to thank you dear Lord Jesus for loving me so much! I deserve death because of my sin, yet you love me unconditionally and have given me your grace so I can have eternal life. I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!

Thank you for the testimony you've given to Doug and I! While we are so sorry for the sins we have committed in our marriage and have asked You for forgiveness dear Lord, our marriage is living proof of the beauty that comes out of the ashes! Your the only one who gets all the credit Lord! IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU!

And second, I want to thank my husband Doug, whom I also love so much! Can't imagine life without you! You've helped me so much in my walk with the Lord! We've found such joy out of our tragedy!! When that had finally happened, we knew we had gotten it completely right! LIFE IS TOTALLY ABOUT CHRIST! Every breath we take, we take because of Him and for Him!

This is the order in which life should be. God number one! Your spouse number two! Your kids number three! And your church number four! Everyones on their own with their own order after the first four. Choose wisely though, your not on this earth very long. "Time", really matters!



TESTIMONY



I can't ever remember not loving God. I grew up in the church and remember at a very young age loving Jesus so much. I made profession of my faith publicly in 8th grade after a mountain top experience in our church with our youth group. I tried to live a good Christian life after that, to honor God because I loved Him and I knew He died for me personally.

I already thought I was a pretty good person. I didn't smoke, I didn't drink, I wasn't having !%@, I had a good relationship with my parents, I was well liked, I did ok in school, I didn't have problems with authority. No real troubles. Life was cool. I loved Jesus and I knew I was heaven bound.

But the problem was, I didn't go on and mature "MY" faith. Didn't really understand that there was truly more to it than just loving Him. I didn't go on and find true satisfaction in my Lord.

I think that's why at times, I felt I doubted things. Take prayer for instance. I knew it worked, I had had answers to prayer in my life. Yet at times I would pray and in my mind I would really be thinking, "that's not really going to happen. How can it? It would take a miracle!" Never in my life, had I really ever thought I saw a miracle until my faith changed. But now that I finally really truly see God in everything and everywhere and really "get it", (that He is, who He say's He is), oh my, the miracles and the ways God has shown Himself to me, have literally blown me away!

After my life change, my spiritual gift is now "faith"! If you tell me, in your life, that that can't or won't happen, well, you've got a fight on your hands with me! I finally truly believe in my heart, that all things are possible with God! It's one thing for you to say it, but it's another to really feel it in your heart. Matthew 19:26 means so much to me. "WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE"!

We're the perfect examples of people who grow up in a small christian community. Christ is in front of you all the time and you believe in Him and accept Him, but the problem is, so many don't pursue Him DEEPER and PASSIONATELY! You don't see people ON FIRE FOR CHRIST, living only for "HIM"! Showing others, that everything has to do with "CHRIST"! EVERYTHING! That's one of the dangers of growing up in a christian community or attending a christian school or college, etc. The foundation that is laid is HUGE! But the problem is, so many just stay on that level ground without soring above.

God wants so much more from us then that! He wants us to live our lives for Him with "FIRE and PASSION"! TO be a "JESUS FREAK" so to speak! It's awesome tho when you do see people who have lived in a small christian community forever, passionately seeking God. But the danger is, you can get stuck in such a big rut. God wants you HOT or COLD! Not just existing in your nice little warm enviroment like we had been for years. Check out Revelation 3:15-16. It says it all!

I met Doug when I was 14 1/2, but I couldn't date until I was 16. A week earlier, I had just told my friends that I was NOT going to be one of those girls who dated the same guy all through high school! "Mark my words on that one", I said!

I prayed to God quite often about finding the right christian guys whom I should date. The dating game really scared me because I HATED conflict! The thought of turning someone down, hurting their feelings, really bothered me! I hated the thought of dealing with dating issues like that. Sounds so miner. But to me, it was huge!

Anyway, the next week I met Doug. Before I even got to know him, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me. I knew that Doug was going to be my husband! I said to my best friend, "Do you remember what I said last week about NOT dating the same person all through high school? Well, I can't explain it at all, but I know in my heart that Doug's the one I'm suppose to marry". Absolutely could not explain it! Didn't even want that to happen so early in my life. But I was so wanting to live for Christ at such a young age already, that nothing else really truly mattered. God had presented to me, exactly whom I had prayed for and Doug was my pick! A good christian man, whom I had so much in common with.

After 5 years of dating, we got married and had 3 boys. That was another wonderful answer to prayer. I had wanted 3 boys soooo bad! I talked with God about that a lot! Three boys, who I prayed would eventually become great men of God! I also asked God for the blessing, of them being very good friends.

The most important thing in life at that time, was raising my family for Christ. During these years, I loved Jesus so much, but I knew something was still wrong with "MY" relationship with Him. I was so into raising my kids to be good christian kids, that so often as a mother, you let yourself go. You'll take care of yourself later, when there's time.

We went on and got involved in everything. We wanted to do Gods work, but also set a good example for our kids in doing God's work. We taught Sunday school, youth group, my husband was a deacon and usher, we greeted, made coffee and punch for visitors, small group leaders. You name it, we did it. We cared, but we didn't do it with PASSION and being ON FIRE FOR CHRIST!. It was more like caring Christians doing God's work because that's what Christians do.

We so regret not setting that example for our kids in how important it is to mature and nurture your OWN faith, because YOUR relationship with CHRIST is number ONE! That's what was missing with us. We helped in bringing everyone else to Christ and in nurturing their faith, but didn't nurture our own faith like we should have been.

Bible studies are a huge way to mature and nurture your faith and love for God. Didn't happen at our home because we were too busy doing His work. Important, Yes! But not as important as taking the time to develop a close intimate relationship with YOUR GOD, YOURSELF!

After about 12 to 13 years of having a good marriage, our marriage SLOOOOWLY started going downhill. Busyness and finances were a big factor, but the number one thing that got to me was the anger Doug was starting to have and it was flaring up more and more. I kept telling myself negative things like, "he's changed so much from the man that I once knew and married".

After years, now and then, I started to hate Doug! Now he was starting to direct his anger not only at me when things didn't go right, but also our boys. He was trying to dominate me at times and this about drove me nuts!

I remember saying to Doug, "I AM MY OWN PERSON! I AM NOT YOU! I don't think, talk or act like you! I have my own ideas! Why can't you even consider what I'm trying to say to you?" I had no clue how to be a submissive wife and his dominance made it that much harder to be one. I felt so justified in my horrible feelings towards Doug during the last few years when we lived on our acerage. Plus the couple of years we lived in town before moving to Sgt. Bluff.

We didn't live this way everyday in conflict and anger. We had a good marriage for years and conflict was only now and then. Our kids didn't even know we had any problems. But slowly over the years we eventually grew so far apart. Whenever there was conflict, IT NEVER GOT RESOLVED! We never worked out ANYTHING! We swallowed it, shoved it down and moved on! I can't think of anything worse to do then that! We buried everything alive!

You always think in the back of your mind that eventually it will get better, later on in life, even if you're still doing the wrong things! I'm here to tell you, that unless you turn around and decide to walk in a different direction, you won't find your way back! We didn't and about a year or so after we moved, we "let" our life distroy us!



MOVED TO SGT. BLUFF



A different town, meant you could really be yourself. No one knew you, so there were no expectations anymore to be a certain way, or act a certain way, etc. You could just be yourself and that wasn't good, because we had been heading down the wrong road for so many years already. It's a slooooow fad just like the song of Casting Crowns says.

We eventually became emotionaly divorced. We didn't even talk to each other anymore. If I had to talk to Doug about something, I just left a note on the kitchen table and went for a walk to get out.

NOW, because of his anger and dominance, I JUST WANTED OUT! After 5 years of dating and 24 years of marriage and never working out any conflict, it felt like my head was going to EXPLODE when I did have to talk to him.

I never "REACTED" to Doug in the right way. I just followed my feelings and never did what was "right" instead. I now finally get it, that as a christian your suppose to do what's RIGHT and the RIGHT feelings will then later follow. Even if it takes a little while for that to happen, IT WILL HAPPEN, as long as your doing what God's word says to do and remaining in a close intimate relationship with Him.

IT'S ALL ABOUT OBEDIANCE TO CHRIST EVERYONE! In other words, I didn't do it "God's Way"! I did it "MY" way!

I wasn't even praying in the right way. My prayers were only "help me, I'm hurting so bad, CHANGE DOUG!" It never occured to me, to also be praying "DEAR LORD CHANGE "ME", so I can react to Doug like a godly women should. Then Doug will be able to see "YOUR LIGHT", SHINING THROUGH ME!"

Back then, the wrong thinking would have told me, "Are you kidding! It is simply all "his" fault for acting this way and taking his anger out on everybody he's suppose to love." This is what satan wants you to believe! Satan wants you to hate your husband, blame him totally and then "you" also, keep doing the wrong thing! Everyday you're either walking hand in hand with Christ, or with the devil. It's that simple! There's no middle ground! It's either or! What are you doing at this time???

I should have treated Doug, like I would have treated Christ and then trusted in God during this time, to soften Doug's heart so he "could" change. But I was so caught up in the "poor me" syndrom. Self pity just destroys a person!

This was so big for me when ever Doug would hurt my feelings. I couldn't get my mind off of myself long enough to do the right thing. I now know, that it was because I was not close enough to God, to be able to do the right thing. Even if your very close to God, it can be VERY DIFFICULT to do the right thing. But the neat thing is, it's VERY POSSIBLE to actually do it, with God's help!

"His" way is always the best, yet we try to do things on our own. Your headed for a disaster when you try to do things on your own. Once your a christian, God won't let you do anything on your own! YOU WILL FAIL, IF YOU TRY TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN!

Your marriage mirrors your relationship with Christ. Chances are great, that if your marriage is hurting, then so is your relationship with Christ! We got to the point of being emotionally divorced. I was just putting in time. As soon as our youngest son graduated from high school, I was going to be gone. I was thinking this, even though I knew divorce was wrong. God HATES divorce! But I was miserable and I did not think God would want me this unhappy. SATAN WILL TALK YOU INTO ANYTHING IF YOU LET HIM!

Well, I was at home hating my husband, but someone at work thought he was pretty special. After a 3 month friendship, an affair happened for 2 months. He then, for the next 7 months tried to escape from this women, without me finding out.

I was DEVASTATED to say the least when I did find out! I was so stressed out over this, that I lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks. My hair started falling out. I broke out in hives 3 times. I actually fainted once when getting some news that I couldn't accept. My balance was way off. I had foot and back pain. My vision was blurred. All the pain that was going on in my head was coming out through my body in so many ways. It was horrible for a good amount of time in 2002, (during my year of healing.)

But this was the time I needed Christ in a different way. I finally reached out to Him like I should have been my whole life, with open arms and total surrender! I WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN! Felt like I couldn't even go on living anymore, but He showed me that I definately could!

Now I was finally starting to get it! Life was NOT about ME and MY SELF-PITY, but it was all about CHRIST and my relationship with "HIM". I had been wrapped up in my self-pity and pride for soooo long, I had to be completely broken for me to finally look up and need Christ passionately like I never had before, yet always wondered why not? Because I was a christian who was once again, so full of pride and self pity. When you have those two traits together, well read on. Their deadly to your personality.

PRIDE is a killer! This was such a problem for me! My pride kept me from ever asking for help in any area of my life. I always thought that I could handle everything on my own, because god forbid that someone might judge me or think bad of me because I had any problems. I could never open up to ANYONE about ANYTHING because of my PRIDE. I now see how this just destroys a person inside and out! I pray alot for people who deal wih pride! It keeps them from doing what's right, because of what others might think. ONLY GOD CAN TAKE THE "PRIDE" and "SELF-PITY" AWAY! THERE'S NO OTHER WAY! NONE!

I didn't have any christians in my life back then, ever asking me how things were going in any area of my life. We, as christians, need to be asking people the simple question, "How's it going? Lifes tough! If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here"! Don't assume people are doing fine just because it looks that way on the outside. Extend your hand out to them and care enough to actually take the time and ask.

Once Doug and I totally surrendered to Christ and finally got close and intimate with "HIM", WE THEN FELL DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER ALL OVER AGAIN! It was even better the second time around because of the fire we went thru. The fire burned out all the impurities and we now have a holy marriage that glorifies God every day.

God even gave me the ability to love this other women and give her grace, through "HIM". I have totally forgiven her and actually love her in Christ! I pray that she finds Jesus and is in heaven with me someday. She's a creation of God! To hate her, would mean to sin! LOVE THE SINNER! HATE THE SIN!

When you finally realize that you yourself are the biggest sinner in the world, yet God gives you so much GRACE (and you truely then feel it), you can't help but give GRACE to others who have hurt you.

Once I then trusted God with my marriage COMPLETELY, He took my husband and molded him into one of the greatest men I know. Not perfect of course, but very godly! Doug sets such a good example for me in his walk with the Lord. Doug gives me so much direction during the times when I need it. The wisdom he has taken from God's word and has passed along to me, the christian music, CD's, DVD's and books he keeps around the house to listen to, watch and read, have helped me to grow spiritually by leaps and bounds! I love Doug more then words can say! I thank God for him so often and for him helping me in my walk with the Lord. To be evenly yoked with your spouse is always the way God wants it! No wonder it's an incredible ride when that happens!!!!!!!

Still conflict at times? You bet! That's life on this sinful earth. But we now care with a servants heart and know without a doubt that Gods way is the best and we follow "HIS" lead. He created marriage and He has all the answers. If you don't do it His way, it won't work.

We were both so selfish and not servant like at all, at least not during the times when things were tough. And those are the times when your true colors show!

We wouldn't change a thing, because God let us go as far as we needed to go, "TO GET IT"! We needed all that pain to change our lives forever and never go back. Do we wish we could have gotten there any other way? Absolutely, but we couldn't because of our selfishness and pride.

Some say "Do you really think you were saved", and I say "I loved Jesus, I knew He died for me, and I raised my family for Him". You can make up your own mind whether you think I was or not. I think I was a disobedient Christian when it came to being a godly wife, and when you're that, you're going to pay the price with some pain and consequences, until you get it! It's NOT about you! It's all about "Christ"! And when it's all about "Christ" you can't help but become a godly wife to your husband no matter how he's treating you, BECAUSE YOU DO IT ALL FOR CHRIST!

We're here to tell people, that the HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST IS REAL! If your going through tough times, don't ever give up or throw in the towel, because if you look to "HIM", the plans ahead He has for you are going to be GREAT! The life change is going to be GLORIOUS!

We can now say, that we really know how joy feels! We thought we did before, but we didn't have a clue. Your heart tells you everything and when God comes to change your heart, your world then, is finally all about "HIM"! THAT'S WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE PURE JOY!

The purpose of marriage, is to "glorify God!" That's the whole purpose, cut and dry! Not to "complete" each other and all the stupid little comments that people put with marriage, to make it sound romantic, etc. You should be "complete", BERFORE you get married!

Marriage is meant to make you Holy, through God! When your marriage is all about "HIM", you can't help but become that way! Marriage is not about yourself! It's always about "the other person". Marriage is meant to have a servants attitude!

Pick someone who possess all the "Fruits of the Spirit" and your marriage will be incredible! Galations 5:22 "The Fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control."

We now teach marriage classes, "Marriage on the Rock", at the Rec Center in Sgt. Bluff. Most christians don't even know how to do marriage God's way, so to teach them, is awesome! God has given us an unquenchable thirst for marriage and we're drinking from His cup constantly! THANK YOU JESUS!

Matthew 19:6 says it all! "NOW THERE ARE NOT TWO ANYMORE, BUT ONE! GOD HAS JOINED THESE TWO TOGETHER, LET NO MAN SEPARATE THEM!" Do not take this verse lightly! It says exactly what it means! DIVORCE IS NEVER AN OPTION! NEVER!!!!!!!!!

Divorce is man's ending to the story. You need to let God put the ending on your story! The reason you never divorce (possibly separate, but never divorce) is because there's always hope that God will step in and heal the day! THERE"S ALWAYS HOPE! YOU WAIT ON GOD!

He's one brilliant little boy! Now and then he thinks he's right and when he's not, we need to set him straight. But later on in life, I'll guarantee you, when it's a fight for Christ, he won't back down. There's no doubt about that! And at age 4, he's already showing great strength in the Lord!

One day we're playing in the toy room and Brayden, his little friend, falls down and starts crying. As I'm tending to Brayden, Collin says, "Kath, our friend is hurt! We need to stop and pray for him!" I was in awe! Collin was 3 years old at that time. So we stopped playing and I asked him if he wanted to take over. "Ofcourse" he said. Collin prayed, "Dear God, Our friend Brayden just fell down and got hurt. He's crying. Can you make him better? We love you dear Jesus! Amen." I had to fight back tears of joy! When someone was hurt, the first thing he thought we should do was pray. May God Bless Collin as he grows up to be Gods Warrior!