Tuesday, February 2, 2010

On-Purpose Living

This past weekend Brad and I had our annual "Marriage Maintenance" retreat. I so look forward to this yearly getaway for many reasons but mostly for the opportunity to have extended, deep conversation that is *uninterrupted* !!
HUGE thank you to Grandma Jan and Granddaddy for keeping our little interruptions for us!

What amazes me is how naive I used to be (and still am) about how a marriage and family works. It doesn't just HAPPEN.
I'm convinced that making a marriage what you want it to be takes work, time and investment. I'm equally convinced that raising a spiritually strong family takes just as much work and investment.

This weekend is one of our investments.
It sounds so nerdy but we go stocked with books, notebooks, worksheets, and pencils ready to figure out our marriage and family goals for the upcoming year and we evaluate ourselves and each other in how we did accomplishing our last years goals. Ok ok..laugh all you want but it works for us. ;-) (and just a side note, we have plenty of fun and games too ;-)

It was a great time of connecting and seeing how we've each grown in our walks with the Lord lately. Such an encouraging and renewing time for us.

There are SOO many great, Bible based books that are out there to help us in this journey. There are a few we use...
I hope none of this sounds like we "have it all figured out"! Hardly! Maybe we need more help than the average person which is why it takes us a whole weekend away! ;-) The great thing is- if we are believers in Jesus Christ we all have the same purpose- to bring honor to Christ. How we go about doing that -in our marriages, in our families- all looks different and while it is great to get ideas from those who have 'been there done that' it's important to keep in mind that WHAT you are doing is not nearly as important is that you are DOING something!
I'd LOVE to hear how you are working at living on purpose!

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the word of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

2 comments:

BeckyG. said...

You are great encouragers in your marriage walk! You show everyone that a good marriage is possible if it is focused on Christ and maintained through weekends away!

Anonymous said...

We try to do the same thing! I have to check out a few of those books! :-)

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