2004
We attend Pastor Leo Godzich's Sunday school class. He and his wife Molly, are the founders of the National Association of Marriage Enhancement, N.A.M.E. here in Phoenix. This is an international ministry. There is free counseling available, seminars, workshops and an annual conference, usually at the end of September thru the first of October. This is a powerful ministry, aimed at keeping marriages healthy and together with Biblical standards.

Truth be told, we splurged and paid the conference fees and only went to only one class. I was pretty much at my wits end. We had been to 5 counselors in 5.5 years. We had separated for 6 months, in our 3rd year of marriage. This was sanctioned by God. Yes folks, God can and does tell some people to separate for a time, with conditions that must be met. Quite honestly, I didn't think this conference would help. Steve had been told everything he needed to do. Ditto me. However, in our vows that we wrote, I had promised to seek counseling when we had problems. So counsel we got!

There are some people that hear good words but only take them to heart for a few days. Our marriage had been like that since day one. You know how some people say when women marry they change? This wasn't the case in our marriage, the shoe was on the other foot. Steve changed. Drastically. What I thought I was getting before we were married, a talkative, adventurous, want-to-go-places-and-do-things, communicative guy turned into the opposite once the bands were on.

So quite honestly I didn't see the use in going again. We listened to one speaker tell us to say to the other in a bright way, 'OH! you are VALUED'!. This didn't seem to 'take' with Steve, no matter how often I said it to him. Somehow he grew up thinking saying anything sweet or nice sounded 'stupid'.

My husband and I were blessed to be able to attend one of the workshops in Casa Grande this year, 2004. Some things God had been telling me, were confirmed. Some things I had been telling Steve, finally 'got through'. [Why is it that some men only listen to other men? Why does it take some men a LONG time to learn to listen to their wives? Wives have a lot of God-given sense & knowledge]

One of the biggest things couples need to do is pray for each other, together. Below is what Pastor Leo taught us one Sunday in May. I hope and pray that this will help all who read it. I also hope to see you at the N.A.M.E. conference this year!

These prayers are what Pastor Leo taught us. I added the blessings from what visiting Pastor Kilpatrick taught us at our home church, Church for the Nations.

Steve has a hard time inserting names and such. If you are like him, tending to read only what's on the page, do a cut and paste of the prayer at the bottom and put it in Word. Do a 'replace' and replace his name with the name of the person[s] you are praying for.

If you are praying this together, like we do, insert their name, make it personal.

Pray for spiritual understanding -

Pray for them to know the will of God in their life -

Pray for a lifestyle that is fully pleasing to God -

Pray for a walk worthy of the Lord -

Pray for the favor of God -

Pray for making the right choices -

Pray for productivity, to be proactive -

Pray for vigor & vitality in emotions, in the physical -

Pray for God's strength in our spouse -

Pray for patience, for endurance w/joy -

Pray for them to see life as an adventure -

Pray for understanding of their heritage, their inheritance -

Pray for a revelation of who they are in Christ -

Pray for joy in this life -

Pray for the power of agreement in our marriage, strength & direction

When praying together -
Ask the Holy Spirit to speak - stop and take enough time to listen

Ask what is the next level for us


bless them with wisdom and an open heart to God
bless with Spiritual understanding
bless with a sense of adventure
bless with patience, bless with joy
bless with favor
bless with strength & the indwelling of God
[According to the power that works within us, that's God in us]
bless with willingness to change
bless with a willing heart to grow
bless with favor
bless with health & self discipline
bless with energy, drive, God's purpose, God's ambition
bless with wisdom to do the right thing at the right time
bless joy into their life

***********************************************************
Lord I pray for spiritual understanding for Steve -
I pray for him to know the will of God in his life - I pray for a lifestyle that is fully pleasing to you God - I pray Steve's walk will be worthy of you Lord -

I pray Steve makes the right choices according to your will in his life Lord -
I pray for the favor of God for Steve -

I pray for vigor & vitality in Steve's emotions, in the physical -
I pray for productivity, to be proactive -

I pray for your strength God, in Steve -
I pray for patience for Steve, for endurance w/joy -

I pray for Steve's understanding of his heritage, his inheritance -
I pray for Steve to see life as an adventure -

I pray for all Spiritual wisdom for Steve -
I pray for complete mental and physical health for him

I pray for a revelation of who he is in Christ -
I pray Steve has joy in this life -

I pray for the power of agreement in our marriage, strength & direction

BLESSINGS

I bless Steve with Spiritual wisdom and an open heart to God -
I bless Steve with Spiritual understanding

I bless Steve with a sense of adventure -
I bless Steve with patience

I bless Steve with energy, drive, God's purpose and ambition
I bless Steve with favor

I bless Steve with strength & the indwelling of God -
[According to the power that works within us, that's God in us]

I bless Steve with a willingness to change -
I bless Steve with a willing heart to grow

I bless Steve with health & self discipline -
I bless Steve with favor -

I bless Steve with wisdom to do the right thing at the right time
I bless Steve with joy



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