Editing When Families Fall Apart
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Matt and Laurie both came from broken homes. Both went careening off into drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity early in their teens as their families were split apart. And, like many couples today, nor had any idea how to "do marriage." At the start of their marriage, the fissures began to grow. Matt rapidly recognized the things that he thought will make him complete … money, respect, drugs, and alcohol. He set out on a no-holds-barred pursuit of these four idols, at the same time wrecking his marriage, his family, his life. In a desperate attempt to get noticed and valued, Laurie focused on slimming down. If she can only look more attractive, she believed, things might change. They didn't. And there was no peace for Matt and Laurie. Life has been rotating out of control-fast. After many years of foolhardy behavior, empty promises, and failed attempts at rehab, Laurie threw Matt out the front door. He was not just an addict; he was a threat to her as well as their children. However God appeared during Matt's pain. He has been offered a scholarship to rehab and decided to give it another try. Matt cried out to God and his life started changing. But the marriage was still fallling. Despite a year of sobriety, Matt and Laurie looked at each other and realized they had nothing in common-nothing to hold them together. They discussed divorce since there was no trust, only continuous fighting. After all they had been through, was this as good as it gets? At their church they heard of an upcoming Weekend to Remember marriage retreat. Matt grabbed a brochure and asked Laurie if she desired to go. She was shocked that he was really interested. By the grace of God, that weekend they started to fit their fractured lives back in place. That weekend break, Matt and Laurie got plugged into Jesus, plus it made all the difference. They experienced real forgiveness and authorized themselves the freedom to love each other again. Plus they discovered that God had a plan for their marriage. He doesn't make mistakes, and their family was no exception. God is in the "fix it" business I reveal this story for 2 reasons. First, it is vital to remember that, when families fall apart, God could put them together again. He is in the "fix it" business. Every time a husband and wife come to God in true humbleness, walk in obedience to His Word, and permit Him to work in their lives, He'll heal them. And that applies to every other family relationship. Second, there are fractured and hurting families all around you, and God can use you to reach out to them. Consider the people in Matt and Laurie's church who promoted the Weekend to Remember [http://www.nexopia.com/users/ricestage8/blog/5-when-families-break-apart christian marriage conferences]. They had a vision-that folks from their church would experience God's best in marriage. They were faithful to encourage couples to go to a life-changing conference, and God blessed that faithfulness. Check around you. Do you know a Matt and Laurie? I'm ready to bet that you do. Is there a way you can encourage them … by enticing them to a married couples retreat … by including them in a HomeBuilders Couples Series group … or simply by offering them some much-needed friendship? God is the only one who can switch a human heart, however He uses individuals like you as His ambassadors. And when you partner with Him, worthwhile and incredible things are going to take place.
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