Marriage Anchors

I love her. I don't know how else to say it. Barbara is everything to me! I would be completely lost without her. My first wife, Julie, died over 20 years ago from a long battle with cancer. I was suddenly alone with 4 relatively young children. I was devastated, lonely, and utterly spent.  My world was shaken.

Although God clung to me and helped to strengthen my faith, I admit I was emotionally destitute. My nerves were shot. I know I was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress. The Migraines became like hammers. The minutes passed like days.

Each night after getting the kids in bed, I would retreat to my upstairs bedroom. The loneliness was unbearable. It was a type of pain I had never felt before.  A few times, I sobbed and wailed so hard that I started to actually "soul groan". It is a gut-wrenching cry from deep within my chest....the kind that I would almost pass out from.

Out of necessity, I began to beg God. I begged Him for mercy and nothing else. I had never begged anyone for anything up until this point. What I learned during those lonely nights at my bedside was that begging is done by beggars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone who resorts to begging has become destitute. His or her pride is gone. He or she no longer cares what people think. Beggars are unable to right themselves. Friends, although this is a truly painful place to arrive at, it became the best place for me. I knew the only One I could turn to was the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every night for at least a month, I would pray to the Lord, seeking His face, and begging Him for mercy. I read my Bible and looked up Old and New Testament references where the word "mercy" was used. I met weekly with my Prayer Buddy, Tim Flynn. He prayed with me often over this.

In the New Testament,  Blind Bartimaeus  (Mark 10:46-52) cries out for Jesus to help him. "Son of David, have mercy on me!" (verses 47 & 48)  Bartimaeus knew no one could help him but God Himself. When you are destitute, you don't have the luxury of doubting. Neither did Bartimaeus. Jesus asked him what it was that he wanted. Bartimaeus simply said, "Rabbi, I want to see." (verse 51)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In verse 52, Jesus says, "Go, your faith has healed you."

One day, Tim, my Prayer Buddy, told me he had a very recent dream about a single mom whose name was Barbara. She happened to be his child's Kindergarten teacher. He asked me if I knew of her. I said, "No." He then said that he and his wife Sue felt that perhaps God wanted them to mention Barbara to me.

After singing "Match Maker, Match Maker, Make Me a Match", I patiently waited for 20 minutes, then I called her. The rest is history. What is amazing is that God knew I desperately needed mercy. I begged Him for mercy. God gave me Barbara!

 

 

 

Trust me, friends. The God of the Bible is real! Jesus is alive and He answers the sincere cry of those who know they are destitute. Psalm 102:17 says, "He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea." He moves swiftly to those who realize they, in and of themselves, have nothing to offer Him...nothing that would impress Him.

With Jesus, sincere, lowly beggars are always welcome.

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May God bless you as you learn to love, follow, and obey the Lord Jesus!

Beggars Welcome

Sincerely,

Jim & Barbara Grunseth, Cru

P. S.: If you would like to learn more how to become a Follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, please click on:  Your Anchor: Don't Leave Port Without Him

Also, a good website to help you grow in your faith is: http://www.startingwithgod.com/

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Jim’s iphone & Text: 262-745-4160           

 

Jim's Email:   [email protected]

 

Jim and Barbara’s Ministry Website including free ebooks: marriageanchors.com

 

Online giving to our ministry:   https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0139150
Our Cru donor account number is #0139150

 

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Click to get our newest free E Book: 7 Glues for your Engagement & Marriage: Book:  http://www.cruresources.com/3/post/2012/07/marriage-mentors-and-authors-say-there-are-7-glues-that-help-hold-relationships-together.html

Click to get our free Marriage Anchors E Book:     http://www.campuscrusade.com/promos/MarriageAnchors.html

Click to get our free Rekindling Your Faith E Book:  http://www.campuscrusade.com/promos/RekindlingYourFaith.html

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Our Passion:

To help marriages, families, and individuals find lasting hope and a future in the Lord Jesus Christ.                    Jeremiah 29:11-14,      Deuteronomy 31:8

 

Our Prayer:

For God to raise up Hearts and Homes to be Gospel Lights to the Nations!      Matthew 5:14