“There is no area that is more important than this. It doesn’t take long to realize that you have married a sinner, and what you do when you make this discovery will determine the character and quality of your union. You will only respond in a way that is right, good, and helpful to your spouse’s sin, weakness, and struggle when you are celebrating the transforming grace of an ever-present, always-faithful Redeemer” (Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make, Paul David Tripp, p. 42).
This past weekend, Denise and I had the privilege of leading the Barnhardt Baptist Church, Goodview, VA, Couples’ Retreat. For the past three years they have used the facilities at the Hilton Garden Inn as well as various attractions in Bristol, VA.
As we navigated through the theme of “Marriage on the Gospel Highway,” we watched the Word convict, encourage, strengthen, and change marriages for the glory of God!
We played some crazy games and laughed as couples worked together to win various prizes (restaurant gift cards, candy, Escape Room admission).
Friday night after the first session, a trip to Blackbird Bakery topped off the evening!! There we had the blessed privilege of counseling with a precious young couple who had some well thought out questions about marriage!
Saturday morning, breakfast afforded another opportunity to converse with a couple about marriage and life on the Gospel Highway. After breakfast, Denise and I led split sessions. This room created a warm, intimate setting to gather around the Word. This is one of the many joys the Lord gives us through D & D Ministries!
After a break and checking out of our rooms, we closed out the morning with a final session. How blessed to have a part in seeing couples desire to intentionally grow their marriages in and through Christ on the Gospel Highway!
“So, in your marriage, God will find ways to drive you to the end of yourself so that you will put your hope and strength in him. Your moments of weakness are not the bad moments of accident or bad luck. No, moments of weakness are there because of divine intention. They are the delivery system of glorious forgiving, empowering, and motivating grace. God is using them to rescue you from you and to make you a person who, in marriage, really is committed to love you as you have been loved” (Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make, Paul David Tripp,p. 319).
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