A few weeks ago my wife and I attended the Art of Marriage Beach Retreat that our church sponsored.   It was held in a beautiful location.  There was great food and fellowship.  In addition, I learned much that has already helped me become a better husband.  At the end, I’ll tell you about my dream for the 2015 Art of Marriage Beach Retreat.

Take just a minute and think through some of these questions.

• Does your marriage ever have conflicts?
• How do you deal with conflict in your marriage?
• How would you define your role in your marriage?
• Do you desire more intimacy in your marriage?
• What kind of legacy are you creating?

I think if you are honest, you will admit that you have wrestled with at least one of these questions.   During the retreat, there were videos, discussions, and even reading assignments that helped us provide Biblical answers to each of these questions.

Key Takeaways

Let me share with you some of the key lessons that I learned throughout the weekend.

• My wife is a gift to me from God.  I did not magically ‘find’ her.  God gave her to me.
• All marriages have conflict.  The root cause of all conflict is sin.  My sin is the cause of conflict in my marriage.
• Marital conflict has to be dealt with appropriately.  Conflict exists.  When conflict arises, my wife and I have to work through it in a way that honors God.  We cannot ignore it.  Most of the time resolving conflict starts with me either seeking or granting forgiveness.
• God created men and women with “equal worth but different roles and responsibilities in marriage.”  My wife and I are equal, but God has given us different roles and responsibilities.  My role is to love and lead.  I am to love my wife and I am to lead her.  If I spend the rest of my life constantly improving in these two areas – I will do a great service to my wife.
• Physical intimacy is directly linked to Spiritual intimacy.  God created and designed sex.  So, as we improve our relationship with God; as we draw closer to Him; we will also draw closer together intimately.
• I am an ancestor to someone.  Many years from now, my children and grandchildren will look back and evaluate my life.  I need to think about what kind of legacy I am leaving for them.

Take action

In our country, Biblical marriage is under attack.  We must fight to protect our marriages.  Let me leave you with two specific ways that you can take action.

1. Attend the Class or Retreat.  Our next Art of Marriage class will be starting at church on January 12th, 2015.   This class meets at the church on Monday nights for six consecutive weeks.  You can also attend the next beach retreat.  It will be held in September 2015.
2. Provide a Scholarship for another couple to attend next September’s Beach Retreat.  The retreat was tremendous for my wife and me.  However, retreats like this are often difficult for young couples with children to attend.  Often the couple has to take time off work.  They have to work out childcare.  Then, they have to come up with the almost $400 to pay for the retreat.  This year, someone anonymously paid for my wife and me to attend.  What an unexpected blessing that was!  It was tremendous.  (If our ‘sponsor’ is reading this – Thank You!)  My dream for next year is this – Imagine if Pastor Osborne were able to approach 10 couples and inform them that funds are available for them to attend the Beach Retreat Free of Charge.  So, would you be willing to help provide a scholarship for a married couple in our church?  If so, contact either Pastor or Jill Osborne.  What a blessing you would be!  You would be directly involved in strengthening the marriages of FBC.

That’s all for today.  Happy Friday.

Stephen