Giving Thanks @ Thanksgiving!
Lynn Donovan
November 24, 2008
There is a passage in Luke that always stirs my heart. It is a story about a kid with an attitude. It's also about a father's forgiveness and love. Luke 15: 11-32 Jesus tells the story of The Prodigal.
I am that child. I am a prodigal daughter.
In 1999 I married my best friend. We married during a time I was far away from God. As a typical young person, I wanted to take on the world and live on my terms. I had little regard for the teachings of the Bible. I believed I was saved; however, I lacked a vibrant, personal relationship with Christ.
Three years into our marriage the Lord began to woo me, calling me to return home. Living the way of the world was proving shallow. I felt lost and desperately unhappy. Jesus beckoned to me and I heard his voice. I returned to the faith of my childhood.
The prodigal daughter came running home to her Father. I arrived dragging my unbelieving husband kicking and screaming all the way. He wasn't happy about the new Man in my life.
Through the years of our marriage, my faith has grown while my husband has remained a nonbeliever. We are spiritually mismatched. Our marriage has been a wild, fantastic journey, completely unexpected. It is just like God to surprise both of us with more than we could ever dream. We are enjoying the abundant life God promises even though we remain unequally yoked. We have found peace and a profound love for one another through the life-changing power of Jesus Christ at work in our marriage.
Today I devote my time to my family and ministry. I serve as a Bible study leader at Sunridge and help with Women's Ministries. I also am a freelance writer and speaker. Prior to my writing career, I worked in Corporate America for 23 years. I retired as a banking executive in 2003.
I meet many believers who also find themselves on the road behind me in an unequal marriage. It has been a humble privilege to offer hope and encouragement to them through my online ministry, Spiritually Unequal Marriage.
My marriage is the cradle where God grew my faith. The Lord has done amazing work in my soul and character through my unbelieving spouse. I am deeply grateful. I am also a spectator in the grandest drama of life. I have a front row seat where I watch God Almighty pound on the door of my husband's soul.
I am that child. I am a prodigal daughter.
In 1999 I married my best friend. We married during a time I was far away from God. As a typical young person, I wanted to take on the world and live on my terms. I had little regard for the teachings of the Bible. I believed I was saved; however, I lacked a vibrant, personal relationship with Christ.
Three years into our marriage the Lord began to woo me, calling me to return home. Living the way of the world was proving shallow. I felt lost and desperately unhappy. Jesus beckoned to me and I heard his voice. I returned to the faith of my childhood.
The prodigal daughter came running home to her Father. I arrived dragging my unbelieving husband kicking and screaming all the way. He wasn't happy about the new Man in my life.
Through the years of our marriage, my faith has grown while my husband has remained a nonbeliever. We are spiritually mismatched. Our marriage has been a wild, fantastic journey, completely unexpected. It is just like God to surprise both of us with more than we could ever dream. We are enjoying the abundant life God promises even though we remain unequally yoked. We have found peace and a profound love for one another through the life-changing power of Jesus Christ at work in our marriage.
Today I devote my time to my family and ministry. I serve as a Bible study leader at Sunridge and help with Women's Ministries. I also am a freelance writer and speaker. Prior to my writing career, I worked in Corporate America for 23 years. I retired as a banking executive in 2003.
I meet many believers who also find themselves on the road behind me in an unequal marriage. It has been a humble privilege to offer hope and encouragement to them through my online ministry, Spiritually Unequal Marriage.
My marriage is the cradle where God grew my faith. The Lord has done amazing work in my soul and character through my unbelieving spouse. I am deeply grateful. I am also a spectator in the grandest drama of life. I have a front row seat where I watch God Almighty pound on the door of my husband's soul.
My husband and I share a rich life together and are completely head-over-heels in love. With his permission and encouragement, I write to encourage believers so they also can thrive in marriage. More importantly, I am able to do nothing apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for Him that I live.
My life verse: John 15:5b apart from me you can do nothing.
My life verse: John 15:5b apart from me you can do nothing.
"This week, many of us bloggers have devoted a special post in which we are sharing our personal testimonies of the Lord's work in our lives and/or that of our families. Our collective prayer is that this sharing of our testimonies will not only encourage each other and give Glory to our Lord, but also show the love of Christ to those who happen upon our blogs. To enjoy many more testimonies like the one you've just read please visit us at "Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving.""