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Issue 33 - June 2008 June Greetings From Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
Ask Shannon: "What is a Committed Husband To Do?" "My wife and I are married with two children. We are both saved and have been involved in church ministry since we were dating. I'm in the military, and recently returned from 6 months of combat deployment - to tragedy. My wife had been very distant and non-communicative while I was gone, so I knew something was wrong. All truth came out when I returned. After I left, my wife traded in her minivan for a jeep, had an affair, left the church, cut relationships with our Christian friends and family, fell in with the single crowd, started drinking, etc. The great deceiver snatched her up, told her I would probably not come home alive, and that she should just respond to that dirtiness she has been burying. I've also found out that my wife was molested and raped as a child, which she's never told me in all the years we've been together. She says she's always felt incredibly dirty on the inside, and doesn't know how to make that feeling go away. All this has devastated me, especially since she says there is no hope for her. She thinks she's gone too far and is too dirty, and wants to leave because she feels I am too good for her. There are four generations of this kind of sexual sin in her family (rape, molestation, abortion, promiscuity, lesbianism, etc.) so she feels 'destined' to live out this lifestyle. I am very committed to helping her put the pieces of her life back together, but I don't know where to start. How can I help her recover from all of this? I'm willing to do anything to help my precious wife." -AnonymousDear Anonymous, First of all, my heart aches for you as I read about your situation. I'm well aware of your wife's feeling that she is "too dirty" and "doesn't deserve a good guy like you." It's a lie the enemy uses often. I always thought that if I was unfaithful to my husband, he'd finally take the free "jump ship" pass and find someone good enough for him. But thank God he never did! And I applaud your courage in refusing to jump ship as well. Only unconditional love will heal this wound in your wife's heart. I recommend the following things:
-Shannon 
Are YOU Ready To Be A Sexually Confident Wife? Loving Jesus Without Limits Audio Books Do you prefer listening to books rather than reading them? Do you have a long commute each day, or are you planning a long road trip? If so, you'll be glad to know that the entire Loving Jesus Without Limits series is now on audio book format! You can now order the lead book or any of the four devotionals at www.shannonethridge.com. As our gift to you each month, we'll be sharing one reading from each devotional in every newsletter this year. Click here to learn more about our Wise Counselor from Day 3 of Completely Loved.
Mark Your Calendars - Shannon Is Coming To... Garden Valley, TX - July 15, 2008Shannon leads sessions at Teen Mania's EXTREME Summer Camps. Contact Nate Clingman at Nathan.clingman@teenmania.org for more info. “Land Down Under” Speaking Tour - August 1 - 17, 2008 Shannon and family will be touring the Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast area on a mission to impact Australian teens and adults! If you are interested in having her speak at your church or school, please contact John & Judy Bradford at jjbradford@westnet.com.au. Current dates are:
Sterling Heights, MI - October 16, 2008 Ladies Banquet at Community Christian Church. For more
info contact terese.rea@cccsterling.org. Women’s Journey of Faith Conference at TCU Place. For more
info contact jodi@wjof.com.
The Next Generation Team Leadership Experience. For more info contact
David.Growden@teenmania.org.
Shannon & Greg will be leading a “Taking Your Marriage Over the Top” one-day conference on January 5th (open to the public) followed by several sessions on January 6th for the National Conference on Youth Ministries (NCYM) for the Churches of Christ. Contact Mike Brown at mike.brown@lafayettechurch.org
for more info. Sail with Shannon’s family and other speakers on a Premier Christian Cruise from Mobile, AL to Cozumel, Mexico! Mark your calendars now. Mother/Daughter Banquet at Friendship Christian School. For more info contact Brooke Akin at brookeakin@friendshipchristian.org.
We love hearing from you about what God is doing in your life as you read! Listen to these cool testimonies from all over the globe, and praise God with us…
Lindsey writes: “I just finished reading Every Young Woman’s Battle and doing the Workbook, and I just had to email you to say THANK YOU! I loved it so much I’m craving more! It’s brought me so much closer to God. I feel that you literally wrote that book just for me to read. Every bit of information given helped me 100%. I feel so much more confident about myself and it’s so exciting to know that there are other girls out there with the same problems. I’m doing a book report in front of my whole class on it, and I’m so excited to see how God’s going to use me as I share about this book with my classmates who don’t know Christ.”
Jamie writes: "Thank you for your courage, strength, and love for Christ and for others. I am a Christian father who had been suffering for years of drug addictions, sexual immorality, and many internal issues. My whole life I've believed in God, but within the last 4 years have come to know Jesus personally and have given my life to Him. I have 3 wonderful, beautiful Christian daughters --ages 13, 16, and 27. I prayed to Jesus for help, strength, and guidance in raising them as a single parent. He answered me loud and clear with you. I heard you on a Christian radio talk show. Christ touched me through your testimony and I’ve begun to understand my own downfalls, and I’m letting go of guilt that never was mine to begin with. Thank you for your courage to share your life and wisdom. I am sharing all you have to offer with my daughters to strengthen them for their future. I want to give your books, DVDs, and tapes to every woman I know. You will never really know the blessing and answer to my prayers you have been. I trust with all my heart and soul that God will continue to bless me and my family. I pray He uses me in way's to help others as He is using you. GOD BLESS!!"
If God’s doing something in your life, marriage, family, or ministry as a result of reading one of Shannon’s books, let us know so we can praise God with you!
If you have a prayer request we can lift to God on your behalf, please let us know by clicking here.
You can also click here to post prayer requests or connect with other readers on the Every Woman’s Battle Message Board.
We appreciate your prayers and encouraging support for the staff and volunteers of Shannon Ethridge Ministries! |
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