Couple's Retreat

Well, since I'm WAY overdue for a new post, what a better time than now to express what a fabulous time Mike and I had at the Couple's Retreat in Townsend, TN. It was held at the beautiful Valley View Lodge which was about 20 minutes from the main drag in Pigeon Forge. I liked it a lot better than the last location...more of the "country" setting. God is SO GOOD to make a way for us to go, through the financial help of

some precious saint(??) We wanted to go SO BAD, but funds are limited with me out of work. The devotions and services presented a great challenge for all 39 couples to "Grow Together in His Love" as our theme stated. If the church's foundation is made up of strong, healthy marriages how much greater things can we accomplish for the Lord and His church? I am SO THANKFUL for my husband's leadership and sincere desire to be faithful to God and to me. The special visitation by the Holy Ghost on Saturday night was certainly the highlight of the weekend. Only God knows the healing and restoration that took place that night as God used Sister Sharon Griffin (our guest speaker) to deliver a very timely message to the couples. One thought that stuck out in my mind, is how we must learn to recognize the enemy's attacks on our marriage and say "NO DEAL DEVIL"! Also, Bro Jeremy and Sis Emily Wallace shared an outstanding devotion on how God is "fusing" our spiritual bones together throughout the different stages of marriage. I wish every couple in The Church of God could come to a Couple's Retreat, just to take a weekend away from the cares of this life and focus on our marriage.

The couples in the pic were those that had been married less than a year (some less than a week:) Two of the couples are members at our local church and what a blessing they are! The other pics were the splendid surprise the Lord gave us Sunday morning! Although it wasn't much, it was the most snow I've seen all year. It was the kind I like, beautiful on the trees, but none on the roads, thank the Lord. Eventually, there will probably be more pics posted on the VA/WV regional website http://tcogvawv.com/as they come in to my husband. He has really enjoyed putting it together, although it's very new and still under construction.