Kristi and Co.

Name: Kristi
Marital Status: divorced
Children: Kylie, Sara, Hannah, John, Bethany, Amanda, Mercy, and Caleb.

Favourite Scripture Verses:
“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him – that I may progressively become more deeply acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection, and that I may share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness…” Philippians 3:10 (Amplified)

“May Christ through your faith actually dwell – settle down, abide, and make His permanent home in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love…That you may really come to know – practically, through experience for yourselves, the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience; that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God….and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself…” Ephesians 3:17, 19 (Amplified)

My Story

I met my husband a little over twenty years ago. When I met him, I knew there would never be another man for me. We were married a little less than four months later. We found out I was pregnant on our first anniversary. For the next fifteen years, we were blessed with a child every 15 -21 months. We moved shortly before the birth of our eighth child. Our son was born with some respiratory issues that kept our sleep to a minimum at nights. My husband had started a new business after we moved. As job pressures, medical bills, personal issues and a death in the family added to the already high stress load, pressure began to build. Instead of trusting in God, I began to complain and put more pressure on my husband, leaning heavily on him for financial, emotional & spiritual support. It was too much for him and he began to break under the load. Then I found out I was pregnant again.

My husband ‘knew’ divorce wasn’t the answer, but he needed to do something to try and get out from under the tremendous pressure he was feeling. A few weeks later I miscarried, or so we thought. But several weeks after that I started having severe pain and bleeding and became very ill. I went to see my doctor who did a sonogram. It was a tubal pregnancy that had ruptured three to four days earlier. They did not know if I would live through the day. They rushed me across the street to the hospital. I did live. My husband moved out the day after I came home.

A couple of months later, I was out running when God told me my husband was going to serve me with divorce papers that morning. I was not to argue with him or fight him on this. I was to show him unconditional love and respect, give him more than he asked for, and bless him. I was to take God as my Husband and trust Him to meet my every need while my husband was gone. He told me that He would heal and restore our marriage, and when my husband returned home, it would be better than anything I could think or imagine. There would be days I felt forsaken and feel that God had left me….it would not be true. He would NEVER leave or forsake me.

Well, I ‘knew’ my husband would never file for divorce, but told ‘God’ that IF this was Him, and IF what He was saying was true, I needed a HUGE ‘fleece’….as this sounded totally crazy and different than anything I had ever heard! Two hours later, my husband called and asked me to meet him at the sheriff’s’s department to serve me with divorce papers. I did….and God met me there in an incredible way. He filled me with a joy, and I was able to sign the papers not only without tears, but with overflowing joy inside. My fleece was ‘fulfilled’ above and beyond what I asked for. A little over six months later the judge signed the divorce decree.

The first year, my husband sent support regularly, and paid all of our bills. Then he lost his business…and the income decreased. So did support. He went through a time of unemployment and temporary jobs. Through this, God taught me that He alone is my provider…and He could meet every need. My husband is currently employed. The salary is less than before, and he is taking night classes to be eligible for a higher paid position. Due to high living costs where he works, he has significantly cut our support and is encouraging me to get a job and put the children in school. Our house is in foreclosure and has been for over a year….yet God has protected us each month and we still have a roof over our heads.

Over the years, God has provided for us in an amazing and miraculous way. I am grateful our children have been able to see His hand in such a real way. He has been SO faithful. Had I known this journey would go on for over four years, I don’t think I would have made it. But looking back, I can be grateful for this valley and the things God has taught me through it. My God IS all I will ever need….my only hope and desire.

I do NOT like being a single mom, and I really don’t like to see my children hurting and growing up without their dad….but I do know that I would do it all again in a second for what I have learned, and the intimacy and relationship I have found with my Savior and Lover of my soul these past years. He does all things well. I will serve and praise Him all my days. Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever….It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all His works. (Psalm 73:25-26,28)

One of my current favorite Scriptures (they change with my circumstances Ü):

“But now, thus says the Lord, He Who created you, and He Who formed you..:Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame consume you, For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;…..you are precious in my sight and honored…and I love you…Fear not, for I am with you.” Isaiah 43:1-5

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