72. STUDY THE WORD–SAVE A MARRIAGE

Dear Grandma Donna: Every day brings news of another marriage breakup. Sadly, in many cases children are involved who love both mom and dad. Something needs to be done about this heartbreaking problem. Love, Savana

Dear Savana: I have an idea that you and I could share with couples we know. “True love that comes from our Creator in the hearts of estranged husbands and wives could reunite broken marriages.” 

These couples usually find themselves bound up by human feelings of total dislike for the one they at one time loved and adored. They need a miracle. Here is the simple recipe: Bible study!

The Bible is no ordinary book. It is not only the best-seller year after year, but millions will testify to its power. The characteristics of the Bible that will work the miracle to save marriages are in its power to bring salvation and the love of God.

“We are born again by the Word.” 1 Peter 1:23

“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.” Romans 5:5

This last verse states that love comes from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in the Word, as John 6:63 reads: “The Words I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are life.” Placing the Word in the mind brings the serious reader to salvation and fills the heart with Holy Spirit power, which brings the love of God.

As we place these promises together, we envision the miracle needed to make marriages like new. The husband and wife cannot get along. Then they are led to seriously study the Bible, which brings them to conversion and fills their hearts with the love God. The fussing and fighting ends as new thoughts fill minds. The marriage becomes like new! With that possibility, Christians must be more active in challenging troubled couples to study the Word of God.

I know one beautiful example: David and BJ Lawson were on the verge of divorce. While she was gone from home for a few days, he felt led to go to church. That very day he walked to the altar and gave his life to Christ. In his newly converted state, he came home with two resolves: 1. save his marriage. 2. study the Bible.

The miracle of salvation and the love of God made David a new man, who BJ fell in love with all over again. He influenced her to study the Bible, which drew her to a born again experience. Their marriage was saved. They became active in promoting Bible study.

This simple message is nothing new—every true Christian knows of the power of the Word to perform miracles. The problem is that we have been too silent in our witness. How this message needs to be proclaimed to our world where one out of two marriages is on the rocks!

It only makes sense that our Creator, who brought into existence both human beings and marriage, has given us a perfect marriage manual in His Word. He intended marriage to be a source of happiness.

This can be our witness to couples involved in a failing marriage: “Select a book of the Bible. (A book of the New Testament would be preferable.) Take turns reading the verses of the first chapter and discuss. Close the study with prayer. This will become your daily routine as you continue with chapters, then begin a new book. Soon you should witness dramatic change—

“THE MIRACLE OF LOVE MELTS COLD HEARTS!” Grandma Donna

VEGAN LENTIL LOAF
2 c cooked lentils
1 small diced onion
2 carrots diced
2 celery stalks diced
1/2 c red bell pepper diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 T tomato paste
2 T ground flax
1 T parsley
1/2 t salt
1/2 c quick oats
1/2 c ww bread crumbs
1 T olive oil
pinch brown sugar
1/3 c healthy ketchup
1 T olive oil
Saute onion, carrots, celery, pepper and garlic in oil until tender. 
Mix all ingredients except ketchup and sugar together. Bake
at 350 for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and pour the  
ketchup over the top and sprinkle with sugar. Place back in
the oven for 10 minutes.