HOPE, REDEMPTION, and RESTORATION

Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs are marriage partners for the second time.

Their writings include the well-known book “I Do Again,”  their 30 year story of marriage, betrayal, infidelity, divorce, emotional damage and scarring, forgiveness and re-marriage. This remarkable and life-changing story has been featured on The Today Show and Focus on the Family besides other TV programs.They share their love story of Hope, Redemption, Restoration, and God taking hold of their lives.


Jeff and Cheryl are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries. Their ministry includes sharing God’s heart for marriage and relationships through professional counseling and speaking. They passionately seek to help make marriages whole in His power. Jeff and Cheryl are intimately familiar with a marriage focused on the principles of the world, the sting, heartbreak and pain from a divorce, and the deep rooted hope and joy of a fully restored marriage centered on God. It is this unique perspective and experience that they obediently share in counseling and with audiences nationwide. Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs offer several services when it comes to ministering to individuals and couples concerning Marriage and Leadership in the home, their family, and their relationships. Their remarkable story offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages

GOD'S PERFECT TIMING

Loved, Cherished and Safe in Darryl's Arms

Lynne Stringer shares:

"At the age of twenty-six I decided God didn’t want me to get married.

I’d never had a boyfriend. All my friends were settling down. I’d tried not to give up, but all the time I wondered why there never seemed to be anyone for me.

My father advised me to carry on as if I was going to be single, and if God had someone for me, he would come at the right time.

Yeah right, I thought.

About then, my brother introduced me to internet chatrooms. He’d discovered a Christian one and I thought it sounded interesting and gave it a go."

Lynne goes on to explain that she met Darryl there but he lived in Melbourne over a thousand miles away. In time, while looking for work, he moved north to Brisbane where Lynne lived and they met face to face.

"Although I knew I was attracted to him, I didn't know if what I felt was love. It didn't feel like the way I had imagined it to feel. I didn’t go weak at the knees when I saw him, but having him around seemed natural and right. We started dating and he was reluctant at first. He didn't want to start a relationship that would end with us both getting hurt. So he prayed about it, asking God what he should do.

'You know that you've been praying for your wife all these years, God said. You've always asked me to help her do well.'

'Yes?' Darryl replied.

'That's her.' 
It took God a little longer to convince me. But when I looked at my list of what I wanted in an ideal man, I quickly found every point being filled.

Someone who was a strong Christian.

Someone who didn't go along with the crowd.

Someone who would think about issues with an open mind.

Someone who wasn't a party animal.

Someone who wanted to explore the word of God with me.

After we'd been going out about a month, Darryl turned to me and said, 'Do you mind if we have a weekly Bible study? I think it's important that we study the Word of God together so he can direct us.'

Aha, but then there was my most difficult requirement to fulfill …

Someone who would read me poetry.

One evening I happened to say to Darryl, ‘Oh, how I love thee, let me count the ways …' And he proceeded to recite the rest of the poem from memory.

Then I went weak at the knees!

Darryl and I married on 13^th May 2000. I had no hesitation in marrying him, because he was everything that was right for me. He complements my own character, as I complement his. We enjoy spending time with each other and have many similar interests. God has blessed us by giving us a beautiful son, and I cannot fault God's timing, not to mention his attention to detail. He gave me both what I needed and what I wanted. I am truly blessed."

Lynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life. She has written a YA sci-fi romance novel, The Heir, which is scheduled for publication in June 2013. This novel is the first in a trilogy.

She was the editor of The Queensland Baptist newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, and during her time there won the ARPA award for Best News Item and a highly commended for Best Reporting in a Magazine. 

Lynne currently works at Even Before Publishing.  And is a professional editor and proofreader. 
Thanks for sharing your personal story with us Lynne.

Maybe Not Quite Normal

Sharon Hincke shares:

"My favorite college theatre role was in an opening monologue where the character prays, “Please, 

God, please. Don’t let me be normal.” 

I think God answered my prayer…

"I fell in love with my husband Ted when he threw seaweed at me during a class picnic when I was fourteen. While Ted and I were in grad school, 

our car was shot at (we weren’t in it at the time).

"During the rehearsal for an outdoor production of 

West Side Story that I was choreographing, the 

police barreled into the parking lot responding to 

a call from neighbors that gangs were fighting. 

I told the dancers to drop their chains and knives 

and start singing. None of us were arrested!"

Sharon’s undergrad degree is in education, and she earned an M.A. in Communication from Regent University in 1986. She spent ten years as the artistic director of a Christian performing arts group, CrossCurrent. That ministry included three short-term mission trips to Hong Kong. She has been a church youth worker, a choreographer and ballet teacher, a home-school mom, a church organist, and a bookstore clerk. One day she’ll figure out what to be when she grows up, but in the meantime she’s pouring her imagination into writing. She’s published dozens of articles in magazines and book compilations, and released her first novel in 2006. In April, 2007, she was named “Writer of the Year” at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

Sharon writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include 
contemporary fiction such as The Secret Life of Becky Miller, Stepping into Sunlight and TheRestorer’s Son–Expanded Edition.

I love Sharon's dry sense of humour. This is one lady with real depth and we're sure to hear of many more of her stories being published.

Thanks for sharing with us Sharon. We wish you God's richest blessings.
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DEVOTED COUPLE work together on THE BIBLE

Married couple Mark Burnett & Roma Downey openly confess their deep love for each other. They both came from poor backgrounds and became US citizens; Mark from Britain and Roma from Ireland.

Roma is a talented  actress and Mark has been involved in the film business for years and produced many popular TV series, including The Voice and Survivors. 

As committed Christians they had a burning desire to reach a new generation of people who had never read the Bible, nor heard anything of the wonderful history and true life stories contained there. That's when they began the long process of searching out scriptwriters, actors and technicians and the country that looked much as it had thousands of years ago.

The series, simply called The BIBLE has just finished its run of ten full length films. It was seen by millions of US viewers to rave reviews. The last segment showed the crucifixion and the resurrection. Many viewers shed tears as many admitted they never had any real idea what Jesus suffered to pay the penalty of mankind's sins.

We look forward to it being shown to countries world-wide. DVD's will also be available.

JESUS' LAST WORDS

He is a forgiving God. He would rather forgive than punish us.
The first words of Jesus on the cross were, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do."

Two robbers hung there also. One believed, saying "You are truly the Son of God."

And Jesus said to Him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."  This shows that anybody can be saved if they believe. 

Jesus showed love for His mother for as first born son it was His responsibility to care for her.  "Woman, this is your son." Then He said to His disciple: "This is your mother."

The full force of God's righteous anger at the sin His son bore in our stead fell on Jesus. This awful separation from His father was the greatest suffering of all. Jesus cried out, "MY GOD, MY GOD, why have You forsaken me?"

Then he gasped, "I thirst." Because of this human side, we know that He understands when we suffer.  Then when Jesus received the wine He said, "It is finished; and He bowed His head and handed over His spirit." The darkest day for Jesus became the hope of all mankind.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit."

 
 EASTER says you can try to nail TRUTH to a cross, and hide it in a grave. But it won't stay there. 

You can wrap it in winding sheets and shut it up in a tomb, but TRUTH, like JESUS, will rise! 

 Jesus is my Saviour, My Lord, and my friend. You can find peace and a new beginning when you ask Him to come into your heart.

You can pray this simple prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying and taking God's judgement from the sins I have committed. I am sorry for the wrongs I have done and for the good I should have done.  Please cleanse me and come into my life and please guide me from now on. Amen.

 



 

RELATIONSHIPS

A few tips to keep that special relationship healthy.

* Money is key contributor to relationship failure with many couples.   Why?  Money is the most difficult conversation for people to have.  People are afraid of talking about money, about budgets, about financial planning, etc.  For the relationship to work, you must learn how to get comfortable with talking about money and spending.  You should meet at least once a month to review your outgoing expenses and income as a couple for the long term health of your relationship. 

  *  Communication is vital to all healthy relationships. Listen to each other – hear each other out without interrupting. Talking things over can help you to both have a deeper understanding of each other.

  * Maintain a balance of dependence and independence with each other.  Do not depend on your partner 100% of the time because that can be suffocating to your partner.  On the other hand, don’t allow your partner to think you don’t need them, by going or doing things without them. Do your best to keep a healthy balance between the two.  Again, communication is key.  You both should know what is stifling to each other and areas where you both want to depend on each other versus areas in which you both need independence.  Balance between the two is important and the best way to find balance is to share and discuss what works and does not work for both of you.

 *  Another vital tip that has worked in many couple's lives is this:  
Those who pray together, stay together.  Holding hands and praying to God about what most  affects you in your daily life cements a relationship.

BRIDES and BRIDESMAIDS

"Always a bridesmaid, never a bride."
So the saying goes, But it was never true with my bridesmaids. Every one of them married fine Christian men.

This Victorian era painting is called, "The Reluctant Bride". Her bridesmaids seem to be comforting her and assuring her that she'll live happily ever after.

Somehow I don't think they convinced her. And I can't help but wonder why she seems so uneasy about her coming marriage. It looks to be only an hour or so away because she is already dressed, and the young girl is trying on her bridal headgear. And that is usually made of fresh flowers.

Was the marriage arranged? Was it a case of pre-wedding jitters? Whatever the case, I was touched at the sad expression on her face. Marriage is supposed to be a uniting of two souls to become one flesh as the Bible states so beautifully. In those days marriages were often forced upon young girls, and this is so in many cultures today.

If this were true in this young girl's situation, I would counsel her to ask God to give her the grace to love and honour her husband with her whole heart and mind and soul. Love is not just a feeling. Feelings come and go. Marriage is a commitment and even if pushed upon a young woman, if she makes up her mind to love her husband, it will only cement their relationship. "Love begets love" is a truism. And asking the Lord Jesus to come into her new life with her husband will both comfort and strengthen her resolve.