(I believe that Phyllis was contemplating suicide prior to God changing everything from being completely hopeless to hope filled. - Ed Wrather)

Phyllis Phillips shares:

Here is a praise report for you. In December, I wrote to you to ask that you take me off your prayer list because there was 'no need' to pray for my husband and I, as he had suddenly decided to leave me out of the blue (we were not having marriage problems that I knew of), I had just learned that I may have cancer and needed surgery, and I no longer wanted to live. You kept me on your prayer list, and even had some of your prayer people write to me...please thank them for me, and let them know that God heard them, and answered.

My husband, although he believed in God, was unsaved, and I had no idea what was going on, as he would not tell me, but within a period of three weeks, he went from being a kind, gentle, considerate man to one that threatened to kill me, left me, and immediately filed for divorce. I was stunned. This was the guy I thought the most wonderful man on the planet. He immediately filed for divorce, and began to do every evil, vile thing he could do to me through his lawyer...everything from trying to take my home (that I had years before I met him...we have been married for almost two years now), my car, and even tried to get me to pay him alimony when he works, and I do not (at his request). I was busy fixing his credit, running his side business, and had just purchased him a brand new harley on my credit, as his was not in good enough shape to do so on his own. Yet he stuck me with all of our bills, the bike payment, and everything else, and took off. The court date for the divorce was for this month.

I began to pray. Constantly. Others prayed. I know that God gives free will to all, but He also says that we can ask anything, and as long as it is in align with His will, and we believe, it will be given unto us. Well, I knew it was not God's will that my husband and I get divorced, so I claimed that. I also knew that God said "if ye believe, ye shall be saved, AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD", and though he was not saved, my husband was still the head of my household, so knew he would be saved. I began to claim God's promises. Though I had no income, just a lot of bills and needed to sell the motorcycle (not easy in the winter...pretty impossible actually), I believed God would restore my marriage, even if my husband was acting as if he was satan himself, and doing all these horrible things to me. I hired an attorney, and kept on praying.

Well, here it is, March 15th. The praise? I sold the motorcycle within 24 hours of asking God to provide a seller. Money came in from the strangest places as it was needed (although it will be a while before I pay off the attorney fees). My husband asked Christ into his life in February, and is now back home. We attend Church together each week, we listen to marriage builder tapes by Jimmy Evans every night (one side of a tape each night), and we try to catch Charles Stanley or Gregory Dickow on the local Christian tv station...the change in my husband is nothing short of miraculous. Oh, and I had the surgery I needed...and the results just came back....negative for cancer. Its amazing what God can do, when we do not limit Him, and trust Him to do what is best for us.

We still need prayer, of course, satan does not like my husband being saved (and I think new Christians have to be prayed for just as much after they are saved as before they were saved, and I will continue to do so, and fight the battle, because that is what it was/is...a battle for my husbands soul)...he is the only one in his family that is saved now, and has influence in his family, and he has contact with a lot of people through his work. But, I am praying Psalm 91 each day, and God is so good to us.

What happened to my husband? He had begun a new job, and as he is a hard worker to begin with, he pushed himself even harder for the new company, working 70+ hours each week, and doing side jobs as well. I asked him to slow down, and he had started to do so, but he was already burnt out. He could not sit down without immediately falling asleep. His blood pressure was up, and he was gaining weight. He was physically exhausted, but was working with me to read the Bible, and when he ended up not having time for the Bible reading due to work (and it was interesting the way each time we tried to read the Bible, the telephone would ring, or someone would show up at the door, or other numerous interruptions each time we began to read together), I finally asked him to go to Church with me...he immediately agreed, and within two weeks, he had a total personality change and within three weeks, threatened to kill me, left, and filed for divorce. I am positive that satan saw my husband was close to accepting Christ into his life, and used his weakened physical, mental, and emotional state to prevent it. Praise God, for overcoming the world!

Words cannot begin to express my gratitude for your prayer, your faithfulness, and your willingness to listen. Thank you for being there, and doing the work that you are doing. It does touch many. I have several favorite Bible verses now...a lot actually, but I think the one I prayed the most was Luke 10:19. I still say this verse out loud each day. God does what He says He will do, and when we do not limit Him, but just believe His Word, miracles happen, and quickly. I am living proof of that.

Thank you again for your prayers, and faithfulness.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Phillips
pjdphillips@msn.com