When my son was a couple of months old my husband told me that he wanted a divorce. He said that separation was no option. I was crushed. We planned this pregnancy and I knew things were not perfect, but I thought we would stay together forever. This was my second marriage and I never wanted to divorce again. Our union was not one that honored God in the beginning. I spent those years thinking God was punishing me for how my husband and I got together.

I went to a Divorce Care group where they quoted scripture from Malachi, where God says he hates divorce. I could not believe it, God wanted this marriage to work? I became convicted that He did. I concentrated on being obedient and learning His ways. I really sank everything I had into God. I began Reconciling God's way, a program I received from Live the Life Ministries and this showed me that I needed to focus on God and not my husband.

Ten months after our separation we got back together. It was a miracle. I should be happy, right? Well, I cried to God why did he bring him back? I was doing fine without him, keeping a neat house, losing weight and was looking forward to a future godly husband. Staying in the marriage was no longer what I wanted. However, God convicted me that He wanted our marriage to work. I spent a lot of time complaining that I seemed better off without my husband, but then God showed me something. My unhappiness and lack of fulfillment had nothing to do with my husband. It had to do with my relationship with God. When we got back together, I stopped spending a lot of time with the Lord and I pulled away from Him. Therefore, my focus was on my husband and not on the Lord. I did not love my husband the way Christ loved us and tells us to love. I wanted him to be the way I wanted him and that is not love. We should love others for who they are because God made them. This doesn't mean we have to love all that they do, but we must love them. It is amazing, when we change ourselves, we change our whole relationship with other people.

I first met my business partners, Debbie Leonard and Sharon Crews, while I attended a Mom's Bible Study group at our church. During this time, my marriage was in jeopardy. Through a referral from a Divorce Care counselor, I met Lynette Tanace and Richard Albertson at Live the Life Ministries. I began to study the Reconciling God's Way program that they offered. Part of this program included having at least two Christian support partners. After knowing them less than one month, I asked Debbie and Sharon if they would be willing to go through this with me. There was no hesitation from either of them and they stuck true to their word. As a result, our partnership started.

The next year, after reading The Power of a Praying wife by Stormie Omartian, I became convicted about praying with Debbie and Sharon on a weekly basis for our marriages, our spouses, and for each other. We have been prayer partners for almost three years. Sharon brought the Christian resource directory to us for prayer. We prayed for God to open this up for her to do. Sharon has been the main researcher and planner for this magazine and through prayer Debbie and I became involved as well.

During this same time, I had been praying for God to help me set my priorities his way. Shortly thereafter, I became an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Their motto is God first, family second and career third. At the time, I thought God was providing a way for me to earn extra income while working as a full time police officer with the Tallahassee Police Department. Later, God revealed that I should resign as a police officer and continue with Mary Kay Cosmetics as well as become involved with the Christian resource directory.

I am still married to my wonderful husband Bill. He has been my biggest supporter and I am still awed by his willingness to take this leap of faith with me. We have a five-year-old son and this change in our lives will provide me with more time to spend with my family. I am so grateful that God reveals only what we need to know at the time and that it is our job to trust and listen. Many times God has led me to Proverbs Chapter 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." It is with this in mind that I take on this new venture and am excited to see how God will be glorified as we seek to unify the Body of Christ.

Christina Brannon, Christian Connection