Always Learning: The Power Of Silence

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Power Of Silence

She bubbles with the joy of the Lord. She quotes scripture as if she has memorized the whole Bible. She is madly in love with Jesus.

I had my Bible study group over for a luncheon. We were sitting around my table sharing our lives together. A very special time! One of the woman shared her life and I thought you'd love to hear it...

She was raised in a Christian home. Her parents were madly in love with each other and with Jesus. She knew the right way to live.

She met a "hunk" when she was 18 and fell head-over-heels in love with him. She was pregnant two months later. He wasn't a Christian, but she married him anyways. She knew she could convert him.

She preached to him constantly. He would be eating his sandwich at work and bite into a Bible tract. The next day he'd find his napkin with these words on it, "Repent or you will burn in hell!" Then she would have a big kiss on the napkin from her lipstick.

He would use the restroom and on the toilet paper would be scrawled, "Jesus is coming soon...Repent or you will suffer eternal damnation!" She wanted him to be saved so badly.

Seven years after they were married when she had two children along with a baby in her arms, he came home and said to her, "I don't love you anymore. I'm having an affair."

The Holy Spirit spoke to her right then and told her, "Stop preaching!" So she went about her life without saying a word to him. She was determined to win back his love. She still desperately loved him.

He was an alcoholic. He drank until 2:00 a.m at the bars every day.

One day she was washing the dishes and he came to her and said something like, "I was reading in your Bible about lost sheep and needing salvation. I want to be saved." Right then and there, she led him to the Lord. He hasn't had one drink since then which was many years ago.

The power of winning a husband without a word...the power of silence...God knows what He is talking about. His ways are good.

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation {the way you live your life} of the wives.

I Peter 3:1

Comments (19)

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Michelle · 695 weeks ago

That is amazing. It's so hard to be quiet sometimes!

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Emily · 695 weeks ago

AMEN!

1 reply · active 695 weeks ago

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Dawn · 695 weeks ago

Praise God. Grateful for His mercy AND His ways!

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Mellissa · 695 weeks ago

What a great reminder of the power of silence! It is hard for me, to remember sometimes, that it is not ME that can convert someone to Christ- it is only THEM and the power of the Holy Ghost, if they choose to allow it to guide them. Thanks! I saw you on Women Living Well, and thought I would visit- so glad I did! God bless!

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bluecottonmemory 55p · 695 weeks ago

I love stories with endings like that - and God so wants us to have those endings. I'm working on ministering to mom sons through silence - it's hard. But I am learning my prayers can go places my words cannot!!!!

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Erica · 695 weeks ago

The power of silence! So true! Too often we think power is in our words, when its really in Christ. Thank you. I loved this story.

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Jacqueline · 695 weeks ago

Thank you for your wise words. I love hearing the truth. I also need reminders and this is applicable! Dear Lori, could you please link back to my blog so many more can read wonderful words of life? I thank you for your consideration :) Blessings, new friend!

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Angel · 695 weeks ago

I have heard God speaking to me clearly, telling me to hush, at times in my marriage. Once when I was very angry.. God not only told me to be kind to my husband... but to make him a sandwich. I fought and tried to reason with God over this.. I find it funny now.. but I DID make that sandwich. Before I walked out the kitchen holding it, God told me to not only bring him the sandwich, but to bring it to him with a glad heart... He sure knows how to humble his sheep!

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Elizabeth · 695 weeks ago

Thanks for sharing!! Great insights and wisdom!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving the encouraging comment!

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PJB · 695 weeks ago

I love the ending of this story.

I love that this woman was working in her situation to provide a gospel ministry to her husband under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I am, however, deeply cautious of any attempt to make this sort of outcome seem normal. Normally, abusers continue to abuse, addicts remain addicted, and adulterous people continue to have affairs -- regardless of how the people around them choose to behave. There aren't any rules about how to do this kind of marriage-ministry in a one-size fits-all way... so I'm very uncomfortable with 'examples' that might be taken as recommendations.

I'm especially uncomfortable when the one-size proposed is the plan that is most likely to wreak ruin on many lives -- the plan that a woman would living with an abusive adulterous addict while raising a family, and not even having a voice in the situation, due to a sensation of being 'desperately in love' with him.

There are many aspects of a Christian wife's 'way of life' that may be 'winning' ways. It's not often preaching that works, nagging is a really bad plan, and brimstone threats are not often effective for anyone... but there's no reason that this verse should mean that personal boundaries, self respect, taking sin seriously, protective measures, separation... or many other 'ways of life' are not a part of the equation of winning an unbelieving husband by one's way of life. A Christian way of life includes these things. It is fictional to imagine this verse implies that only suffering sweetness is the winning formula.

Silence is not always the answer (though according to this verse it MAY be)... obeying the Spirit is always the answer.

1 reply · active 695 weeks ago

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SPA · 695 weeks ago

I totally agree, PJB. Well written.

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kelli Adventurez · 695 weeks ago

I was talking to my boys today about the "umbrella of protection" that God has prepared to keep us in His blessings. They understood, "children obey your parents" but - sadly, it took some explaining on my part for them to grasp that I am under the authority of my husband. Wide eyes and confused faces spoke volumes about an area that I obviously need to improve upon! Thank you for the reinforcement! :) note to self: shut my mouth!

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thefisherlady · 695 weeks ago

it is hard to be quiet but the fruit of living our faith quietly, speaks more loudly...
great post

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celebratingeve 1p · 695 weeks ago

Amen! Thank you for sharing this. It is so much more important for God's life to shine through ours as opposed to us grasping. He is more powerful than we could ever be. What a beautiful story.
--Kerry-Ann

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Pat Ready Mallett · 695 weeks ago

I wonder if I could be this strong and steadfast. I hope so.
I’m hopping around from Katherine's Corner.
Hugs, GraceinAZ

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Katherine · 695 weeks ago

What a beautiful post ( and that photo is perfect) Sometimes His whispers are heard only with our heart.Thank you for joining the hop this week, please let me know if you'd like to co host some time. Did you remember to add your wonderful blog to the blog list page? Big Hugs and have a happy weekend!

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craftythriftydecoratingwifemom 39p · 695 weeks ago

Thank you so much for sharing your friend's story. It is a beautiful and supremely important reminder to us all that silence truly is golden. Praise God!
Janet

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Jenn · 694 weeks ago

I found your blog through Ann's. I was surprised at the ending. I thought her words would have pushed him away. but so glad that her silence won him over. This is a beautiful testimony of the power of saying nothing at all. Sometimes we think forceful action and lots of words equal power when our loving actions (and loving silence) are able to accomplish more than we can imagine.

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KEITH RAY ELAM · 688 weeks ago

I POSTED YOUR PHOTO ON MY WEBSITE, ALONG WITH YOUR WEBSITE LINK. IF YOU WANT ME TO REMOVE YOUR PHOTO, EMAIL ME, AND I WILL REMOVE YOUR PHOTO AND WEBSITE LINK. THANK YOU....

KEITH RAY ELAM, FOUNDER OF HEMP PUBLISHING COMPANY

SILENCE….

I want to live back in the black and white days!
I want to live back in the 20’s so that I can not hear what they have to say!
For in the Silent Movies,
You can only read what they had to say!
And as I want to travel back in time,
I also want to live like in the past!
Where horses were used so that you can travel,
And barely see the World that we have!

POEM TOO LONG, VISIT: http://www.hemppublishingcompany.com/index_sub310...

WRITTEN BY, I....

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