A Weekend To Remember Part 1

Way back in October, Troy and I went to a marriage conference by FamilyLife called A Weekend to Remember. It was awesome! We both would highly encourage all married couples to do it at least once!

"What you and your spouse will hear during the Weekend to Remember® is the result of more than three decades of biblical research by a team of men and women who distilled what it takes to have a successful marriage and family.  Our mission is to effectively develop godly marriages and families who change the world one home at a time."

Woven into all FamilyLife outreaches are four core biblical messages God is using to transform families:

Your personal walk with God--challenging you to daily experience God's presence and power.

Your marriage covenant--encouraging you to keep your lifelong commitment to your spouse and experience the marriage relationship God intended.

Your role in the family--helping you to embrace your unique responsibilities and live according to biblical standards.

Your spiritual legacy--equipping you to leave a legacy of godliness to the next generation.

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We just had a great time investing in each other and learning all the truths God designed for marriage. After all, marriage is the GREATEST earthly relationship we have!

And yes, I was double-fisting Saturday morning's session...thanks to the Hollenbecks who attended all weekend, too! Click here to read Whitney's thoughts of the weekend :)

Some of my favorite quotes/points from the weekend:

(I'm only going to share a little bit and have another post later :) )

-When difficulties come your way, your spouse is NOT your enemy.

-In regards to communicating with your spouse--always believe the best. It could be just a misunderstanding! Focus on what is being said, not the way it is being said.

-"People don't believe the Bible, not because it contradicts itself; People don't believe the Bible because it contradicts their lifestyle."--love that!

-Marriage was designed by God and is defined by God. It is at the center of God's purpose for mankind. (I think we so easily forget how significant marriage is... it isn't just something you do as the "next step" in American culture... it has a divine purpose!)

3 Purposes of Marriage:

1. mirror God's image--"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" Genesis 1:27 God joined a man and a woman together so that together they would mirror His image. He called this union marriage. Their oneness reflects the character and unity of God. Their oneness is a living picture of this intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and His followers. Their oneness is expressed within a lifetime commitment to each other.

2. mutually complete one another--"It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

3. multiply a godly legacy--"And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." Genesis 1:28

Couples who pray together have a less than 1% divorce rate.

The first responsibility is to establish independence from your parents. The second responsibility is to establish commitment to one another. The third responsibility is to establish intimacy with one another. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24

"So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Genesis 2:21-23

Some of my favorite points from that passage:

Notice, Adam was in a deep sleep when God created Eve for him. This means Adam had NOTHING to do with it! It was a total God-thing... God creating for Adam just what he needed. In this passage, God illustrates a cornerstone principle for marriage: we must choose to receive our spouse as God's perfect provision for us. <----- LOVE THAT!

Adam enthusiastically received Eve because he knew and trusted God, not because of Eve's performance. 

When you reject your spouse, essentially you're rejecting God who gave you your spouse!

Okay, if I write any more, I feel like no one will read :)

I'll make another post with some of my favorite points and big take-aways.

Again, Troy and I both loved our weekend... you and your fiance/spouse should make plans to attend, too! It's coming to Franklin March 28-30, 2014!