| | | LIVE IT WEEK 2
STEVE AND LORNA'S STORY:
"THE 'D' WORD"
Too many awesome, Catholic couples find themselves a ways down the road of marriage, facing real challenges, vulnerable to the unhealed past ever nipping at them. And in a bout of frustration, the "D" word is uttered.
That's where Steve and Lorna were a few years ago.
Let's back up. By estimation of all, Steve and Lorna were exemplary Catholics. They have six, beautiful children. They were active in their parish, St. Peter, Huron. They regularly participated in IGNITE. And when their pastor, Fr. Jeff McBeth, challenged families to more fully "live it" using the LIT Guide, they readily accepted (GO).
But like many, under the hood they were struggling.
Let's note here that struggle is the nature of a godly marriage. Even more, battle. Selfishness versus selflessness. Adam's way versus Jesus's way. Sacrifice of other for self versus sacrifice self for other. Marriage is a battlefield for eternal life. There's nothing Satan hates more than God, and therefore marriage... God's preeminent means to make Himself known, His means of sanctifying spouses and the entire world.
How does the Enemy work? In short, he knows our weaknesses. To our unhealed spaces he constantly whispers things like Selfishness, Hurt, Resentment, Jealousy, Control, Anger, Lust... and, ultimately, Divorce. He wants to see God-in-man broken and shattered. He wants to undermine belief in God's powerful presence in this world.
Accordingly, Steve and Lorna were vulnerable and under fierce attack. They needed greater healing. They needed grace to overflow in more than fleeting moments, but as a way of life. They needed to be conquered.
Things were in a very fragile place when they "had a horrible argument... that started over Christmas lights on the floor...." The "D" word was uttered. But "where sin abounds, grace abounds more"! (Rom. 5:20) Our loving God is always fighting for us, if we let Him! Not knowing their battle, Fr. Jeff invited Steve and Lorna to join the parish's Core LIT Team (GO). They said "yes." There they found the loving support, encouragement and challenge of a community united in mission, not simply to become disciples, but to make disciple makers.
In this context they discovered the central truth that we're never closer to God than in our brokenness, that God's grace pours through brokenness, that while "hurting people hurt people", "healing people heal people"... that God is always pressing in on us with the mighty force of the Niagara Falls, we just need to get the debris out of the way.
Along with some good counseling, Steve and Lorna had a chance.
Now, a couple years later, Lorna reports:
"It was through the LIT Guide, the Ignite, Core Mission and Ablaze! events that we opened our marriage up to the Holy Spirit and true healing began. That's when I alone attended a Praying with Fire Conference. I was so overwhelmed with healing that Steve joined me at the next Ablaze!
"Christ undeniably worked a miracle in our lives. He saved our souls. He healed the brokenness and resentment, saved our marriage, and saved our precious family. We are still a work in progress but we are focused on serving our glorious Lord however he can use us."
Recently, with other priests and leaders, we featured Steve and Lorna in a short video giving testimony challenging us all to Build the Kingdom Here. (GO) Over the past years they have come full circle. Steve and Lorna now regularly lead groups in their own home. The "D" word now means "Dynamic Disciple." God has taken them from victim to victorious.
This is what Jesus does. This is what He wants to do for us. It's Lent.
What are we waiting for?
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| | EVENTS COMING UP
IGNITE Radio Live!
TUESDAY, 8-9pm
Annunciation Radio
GUEST: Dr. John Wood
Release of his new book and upcoming "Entrusted" event!
CALL IN: 877-275-8098
IGNITERadioLive.com
(weekly podcast with all past episodes)
EVENTS
LIT Groups SEASON 1
With 4 other couples in your living room. Find out more. GO
Week 1 (beginning 2/4) Week 2 (beginning 2/11)
Week 3 (beginning 2/18)
Week 4 (beginning 2/25) Week 5 (beginning 3/4)
Week 6 (beginning 3/11) Week 7 IGNITE: LENTEN EDITION - ALL WELCOME!
Tuesday, March 20, 6:15pm | LOURDES UNIVERSITY (Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel - Sylvania, Ohio)
IGNITE St. Peter - Huron | Tue. 2/20 6:30p
IGNITE Most Blessed Sacrament | Wed. 2/21 6:30p
IGNITE Holy Trinity - Assumption | Wed. 2/21 7:00p
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| | IGNATIUS PRESS and EXTRAORDINARY MISSION PRESENT: |
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"Many have been raving about the Netflix series, 'Stranger Things.' With all due respect for a number of wonderful, genuinely faith-filled friends, watching the second episode had the effect of my cleaning house. DVDs like "Titanic" are now on their way to the incinerator.
"Here's how it played out."
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