My wonderful hubby and I celebrate our 12th Wedding Anniversary today. We have spent most of the day separated, sadly, but ministry has had other pathways for us. Still, we get to celebrate with a meal together this evening after the children have gone to bed.
As we celebrate I am reminded about Peter and Sally. Peter came to visit us in our meeting hall one Sunday. He was very drunk and he was quite vocal about Simon's sermon. He heckled Simon with cheering and clapping. He encouraged Simon and told the rest of the congregation that they were really boring!!! At the end of his message, Simon invited people to come and pray at the Mercy Seat and Peter did. He wanted more for his life. Simon invited him to surrender to Jesus. Peter said, he knew Jesus once and would like to know him again so Simon prayed with him and Peter invited Jesus back come into his life.
We didn't expect to see Peter again because he had been so drunk. But he returned to worship the following week. After a couple of weeks, Peter bought his wife, Sally, and his best friend David to the meeting. It was wonderful getting to know them and seeing these people come alive as they started to hear about Jesus.
Sally was invited to attend Alpha. Sally was a little worried about attending as she couldn't read or write. We encouraged her and told her that it was not a problem. David or Peter did not attend with her. After a week of attending Alpha, Sally asked for a Bible. Some time later we noticed her taking notes. We asked her about the note taking and she told us that she had asked the Holy Spirit to help her! Sally, with the help of the Holy Spirit alone, began looking at the Bible and learnt to read! That was the beginning of an amazing journey.
We went to visit Peter and Sally as they were new christians that needed nurturing and discipling. They lived in what could only be described as squalor. Their home was a very old council flat. The hot water was heated by a coal fire. The wallpaper, very discoloured and hung off the wall. The flat was dark and dingy. Clothes were hanging from the bathroom ceiling over a hot bath so that the steam could clean and dry them. (No means in the flat for a washing machine and certainly no means to afford a launderette).
We had a cup of tea, the cups not being the cleanest but we knew that their wonderfully warm hospitality was costly. As we talked with them it became clear that their story was altogether weird!!!! Peter and Sally were married, but Sally shared the marriage bed with David, whilst Peter, the husband, slept on the sofa! We kind of looked at each other with very wide opened eyes and nearly choked on the tea that was given to us. After praying with them, we left and went home discussing what on earth we were going to do.
We knew that people were going to find out about the home situation. They were new christians and we knew that religious folk were going to expect us to talk to them and tell them that they had to get it sorted as it was not a right way of living! We prayed, and we prayed hard. We both felt that God was telling us to leave it to Him. We carried on praying, making sure that this was not our flesh dodging out of the hard choices. We were absolutely convinced that we were to say nothing. The Holy Spirit would do the convicting. If we went in heavy handed we would lose them and lose them for the Kingdom!
Within a couple of weeks Sally came to see us, and told us that she really felt convicted that she needed to put her marriage right. She really believed that Jesus wanted David out of the house and Peter put in his rightful place as husband. We were astounded! We wept with joy. A few weeks later just before Christmas we were able to hold a renewing of vows ceremony and the Corps held a faith lunch as a reception.
Boy, did we learn some serious lessons. There are times and seasons to say things, and times to discern the Holy Spirit's voice. As far as we know, Peter and Sally are still happily married. Not worshipping at the Army but together. The last we heard Sally had a powerful ministry to the homeless and jobless. Peter found a job and they continued to grow in Christ together.
Back to my marriage, we might not have had much time together today, but we know that our marriage is strong because it has Christ in the centre. As long as we continue to be in Him we continue to celebrate year after year, after year.
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