July 2016 Prayer Letter

Houston WTR Events

             In spite of all the rain and severe flooding we had good turn outs for our Houston events in June. We were devastated to see how widespread the flooding was when we drove from San Antonio to Houston and drove over the Brazos river. Though the freeway was open, many of the off ramps were underwater. The river had spread across several miles in some places. 

             Everyone seemed to know someone who had been affected by the floods. Even the head of banquet staff we worked with at the hotel in the Woodlands had his parents living with him. Their home was flooded with 3 feet of water and it was going to be weeks before they could even return to assess the damage.

We were encouraged to see many still turned out for the Weekend to Remember events. There were 22 salvation decisions indicated. Here are a couple of comments. The first from the Woodlands and the second from Sugar Land.

We’ve been separated for close to 4 months.  We’ve been seeking counsel since the separation but are still unable to communicate.  It wasn’t until the middle of the second day that we broke through our walls.  There’s still much work to be done.  But this was close to ending.  There is a feeling of new life again.  Wanting to build a new marriage more suited to God’s plan for oneness.  Thank you.

Husband, Married 3 years

It was life-giving, encouraging, difficult, and challenging at the same time.  The fear I experienced going into the first session – that I would be blindsided by all that I do wrong – quickly vanished as hope crept back into my heart and mind.  Very well done, FamilyLife team! Husband, married 13.5 years

Understand that God is using you to help draw people to Himself and restore marriages!

June 2016 Prayer Letter

Update from Dallas (Frisco) Weekend to Remember

              We had 554 guests attend the event. 19 of them became Christ followers during the weekend! Here are just a few of the comments we received.

              This is my fourth WTR, and I thought I already knew it all. I came with a bad attitude and arrogantly assumed I didn’t need any help. I was dead wrong. I may have had the head knowledge, but my heart needed rejuvenation and re-focus to love my wife in a Christ-like manner, follow God, and be a man of integrity. I strongly encourage coming to the WTR well over and over again. Husband, Marital Health 5 to 9

We came here hopeless, discussing divorcing, not knowing how our marriage could be restored. Through the grace of God and this ministry we have committed to God and one another to make it work. And we now have the tools to equip us. Wife, Married 14 years, Marital Health 1 to 8

The effect was amazing. Being high school sweethearts we’ve always struggled. We renewed our vows in 2013 due to us going outside our marriage, looking for companionship (not sex). Two weeks ago my husband came to me telling me he wants out of this marriage; he had developed feelings for someone else. We both agreed to attend the WTR. Friday night after the first meeting, my husband woke up in tears. He said, “God visited me, said ‘No more.’” My husband woke up a different man, a new man, better than the man I married a second time. He asked sincerely for forgiveness. The weekend getaway will be forever a weekend to remember. He told me once again that he’s falling in love with me. I know he has just by the way he looked at me. Thank you!! Wife, Marital Health 2 to 9

A final word about the book “A Praying Life” by David Powlison. Yes, my friend and I are still working through the book. Please don’t judge, we’re older now and read slower-ha!

              We all have times when we feel the Lord has abandoned us. Sometimes He seems so distant, often when we are going through trials.

David maintains that God is weaving a story in our lives. To live in the Father’s story we need to remember these three things. (The following is a direct excerpt from his book.)

1. Don’t demand that the story go your way. (In other words, surrender completely.)

2. Look for the Storyteller. Look for his hand, and then pray in light of what you are seeing. (In other words, develop and eye for Jesus.)

3. Stay in the story. Don’t shut down when it goes the wrong way.

Sometimes when we say “God is silent,” what’s really going on is that he hasn’t told the story the way we wanted it told. He will be silent when we want him to fill in the blanks of the story we are creating. But with his own stories, the ones we live in, he is seldom silent.

We do carry this book at Familylife. If you would like a copy, please let us know. We would love to send you one at no cost. It is one way we can thank you for your prayers and support.

May 2016 Prayer Letter

 

Check out this new book from FamilyLife

 

Barbara & Dennis Rainey, the co-founders of FamilyLife have been married over forty years. Barbara’s new book, Letters to my Daughters: the Art of Being a Wife speaks from those many years of marriage. She is very candid in sharing their struggles, disappointments, mistakes, and tells how and why their love and joy has endured through the years. This is a great resource for any married couple.

Here is a description of the book:

Marriage is a complex work of art, and the callings of husband and wife are important individually but must work in harmony to create a beautiful whole greater than the sum of its parts. Throughout this lovely, gift-worthy book, Barbara uses the arts--painting, dancing, gardening, etc.--to reveal this truth in a wise, insightful, and visually captivating way.

If you would like to have this book, please let us know. We would be happy to send it to you at no charge. It is one way we can encourage you and come along side of you just have you have done for us. We so appreciate your prayers and financial support! Perhaps there is another book you would like that you see on our website:  shopfamilylife.com  Please let us know. Again, we would love to send it to you at no cost to you.

Happy Mother’s Day!

           We wish all you moms a wonderful mother’s day. For all the sacrifices you make for your family remember they have not gone unseen. The Lord sees and knows each and every effort you make for others. This side of heaven there may seem little acknowledgement, but it does not go unnoticed by our Heavenly Father!

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.

Billy Graham

April 2016 Prayer Letter

Update from our first Weekend to Remember

              It is always good to get the first Weekend to Remember event completed. It is surprising how “rusty” we get being off for a few months. As each season begins there are always new processes, products, responsibilities. Fortunately there is a great team of people back in Little Rock that does its best to help us be successful working the events.

Of course the most glorious thing is that in spite of our mistakes, problems, and issues, God still works in a mighty way! How awesome it is to join Him where He is working. The first event in Rockwall (a suburb of Dallas) was no exception. We had 514 in attendance. There were 22 salvations.

Here is a snippet of how He worked in the lives of the unsaved, pastors, and military:

 Couple, Married 12 years

We registered last minute because we were looking for one last tool to see if something or anything could help our struggling marriage. We came broken, having hit rock bottom and hoping that maybe this could help. We entered as two separate people fighting about everything, and have left as a couple, who have for the first time in 12 years of marriage truly understanding oneness and how God has a plan for building happiness, love, and a lasting marriage! Thank you! You have saved our marriage! Wife, Marital Health 2 to 8 (but working to a 10), Salvation

Saved us!! We were headed the wrong way! Made the u-turn!!! Thanks! Husband, Marital Health 2 to 8, Salvation

Pastor Couple, Married 36 years

Good to get away and spend this time to invest in ourselves. We’re always giving ourselves away into others’ lives. A great re-charge! Husband, Marital Health 10 to 10

Reiterate how to be a godly wife and support to my husband, as well as help other young wives and mothers in this journey. This is our 6th WTR (we think). The first one we attended was in 1990. We also have paid the way for both our children after they married because of the difference it made in our lives. Wife, Marital Health 10 to 10

Military

I just returned from a deployment, and my wife tells me she signed us up to attend this getaway. I was upset because I had planned on filing for divorce the following week. (She was not aware of this.) The love letter exercise put me in a vulnerable position where I needed to be honest about my feelings. My wall came down, and I broke down emotionally. My wife accepted my feelings and actually listened openly. We received an amazing breakthrough and we are now on the path of healing. God used this getaway to save our marriage! Husband, Married 22 years, Marital Health 1 to 10 

Another Thought on Prayer

              Yes my friend and I are still working our way through Paul Miller’s book: The Praying Life. In it he reminds me that “praying with God should be just like having dinner with an old friend; you love being with Him, you don’t have an agenda, and you can talk about anything.” I hope that thought encourages you in your prayer life. It certainly has encouraged me. Instead of seeing time in prayer as drudgery I look forward to time to connect with my dear friend.