[LITB]

Outstanding! By all I have read now the real work begins. Congratulations!

Thanks JS. I gather the same thing.

My W will be seeking therapy on her own. We also discussed couple's therapy. There are some benefits of her living in NM and me living in California. It allows us to take things slow.

I had an interview while I was down there on Friday, so I might be moving down there in the next month or so. We shall see.

[adinva]

So happy for you!

What was the prayer Starsky shared with you?

[LITB]

So happy for you!

What was the prayer Starsky shared with you?

Thank you. I appreciate it.

This is what Starsky shared with me after I was granted an ex parte to keep my children with me, which later got reversed.

LITB,

"Congratulations" somehow seems like the wrong word, so I'll just say that I'm happy for you.

For some reason, I wanted to share with you a prayer of mine that a friend used to use when he was going thru his sitch. Maybe you can get something from it.

Peace,


Starsky


MY PRAYER FOR MY MARRIAGE:



Father, thank you for my family.
Thank you for giving my children to me to care for, and (wife's first name) to me to help.
Forgive me for the times that I haven’t appreciated them, and done my very best.

Father, I lift up (Wife) to you and ask for you to protect her today.
Protect her from physical and emotional harm, and from the enticements of this world.
Strengthen her to be the godly woman and strong mother that you want her to be.
Give her encouragement that there is hope for her marriage, and that her efforts can result in a better, happier life for her, me and our children and grandchildren someday.
Please open her eyes to the painful realities of divorce and separation and infidelity, and give her wisdom to make good decisions.

Lord, I acknowledge that you gave us all Free Will, but I ask for your extra grace for (Wife) during this difficult time.

Father God, I lift up myself to you, and ask for you to give me strength today.
Give me the strength to do the daily work that needs to be done to restore my marriage, my family, and my finances.
Give me the wisdom to make good decisions, and please give me the godly discernment to detect potential danger to my family, and give me the courage to be vigilant and do what’s necessary to protect my wife and my family.
Lord, give me the PATIENCE to keep working at this, and help me put my faith in the substance of things HOPED FOR,
And in the evidence of things NOT YET SEEN, instead of in appearances and the seeming hopelessness of a given situation.

Father, help me restore my marriage.
Help me to be a better father, a better husband, and a stronger example to my children, especially my young men.
Help (Wife) to be a better mother, a better wife, and a godly example to our children, especially our young women. Help her display, in her daily life today, the balance between strength and independence of a confident woman, and the humility and godliness that you require of her, and let that be an example to our daughters.

Lord, help me get thru this day, and live it in such a way that if it were to be the last day of my marriage,
That you would be proud of the effort I gave, and the example I led.

I pray in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

btw, my friend just celebrated the birth of their first grandchild (a little girl), 25 years of marriage, and fully four years since reconciling their marriage. They still struggle with things, especially financially, but he credits this prayer with holding thier marriage together.

[adinva]

Beautiful. I was looking for something and really liked two parts of that:

help me put my faith in the substance of things HOPED FOR,
And in the evidence of things NOT YET SEEN

and

Please open her eyes ... and give her wisdom to make good decisions

Thank you & Starsky

[LITB]

Here are some words out of a meditation book that I read that really hit home. Perhaps it will help someone else.

MENDED HEART

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Few people pass through life without feeling the sting of betrayal, the loss of friendship, or the failure of important relationships. At those times, you may feel that the pain of a broken heart will cling to you for the rest of your days and that you will never be whole again. Sometimes you may even wonder if God still loves you.

God does love you, purely, simply, and unconditionally. Even if your pain is the result of your own actions. God’s love does not condemn you. It urges you forward, calling you to forgive yourself, make amends, and become a better person. His love is constant and predictable. And with the assurance of his love comes hope - hope that you will love again, trust again, offer your heart again.

My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Thank you, God, for the promise of your constant love and the hope it brings to my life. Amen

[MrBond]

Great job!

[2stepboogie]

This is great news indeed! From the ashes comes success to those who refuse to be defined by failure.

Excellent news

[jbnati]

LITB - this is GREAT news!!

I am extremely happy for you!!

You're heading in the right direction. You're well aware of the work involved.

18 months is quite a haul!

I have the, I call it the "Starsky prayer" saved off and use the elements that resonate with me. (Thanks, Starsky! I think I was meant to read that, too, for some reason)

Praise the Lord!

[alamo76]

Nicely done, LITB. Keep us posted when you can. You're doing us proud, buddy! (And thanks for reposting the marriage prayer.)

[LITB]

Thanks Bond, 2step and JB. You 3 helped me out tremendously along the way. I am forever grateful.