The Balcony View
The Balcony View
Steve and I just returned from speaking at F.O.M. at Ridgecrest, North Carolina. I sit in amazement and almost feel guilty that I'm amazed at God's overwhelming outpour of himself on us. Steve and I spent a year in prayer over this weekend but could have never imagined the anointing he would have placed on us, as well as, his personal touch on every couple there. In order to give you a perspective on the weekend, we have asked our daughter who joined us to give you her vantage point.
"I have sat in many marriage conferences listening to my parents speak on marriage and family. Each time I do, I am proud and awestruck at God's touch on their lives. But none of the prior conferences could have prepared me for the view I was blessed to witness from the balcony. I am convinced that I was privileged enough to watch heaven take place on this earth. I love to observe people and try to 'figure out their world' from a distance. As I began to observe couples on Friday night, I was saddened at the distance in the pews between many of them. As a single person, my thought was, 'if this is what marriage looks like, wow, I'm not sure I'm interested'. Friday night ended and while the conference was amazing, nothing could have prepared me for the transition that would take place on Saturday night. Saturday night's conference was on 3 of the 6 mosquitoes that my parents teach (Busyness, Irritability and Drifting). Drifting was the final point before couples renewed their wedding vows and that mosquito ended by talking about the fact that in each marriage, no matter what stage the marriage was in, that God, who began a good work, would be faithful to complete it. (Phil 1:6) As if, that fact were not enough to begin breaking down walls between couples, what happened next will forever reign in mind as a picture of God's unending love and commitment for marriage. My Dad asked the husbands to snuggle up next to their wives and pray over them and then asked the wives to snuggle up close to their husbands and pray over them. It was the most incredible sight I have witnessed. Couples snuggled up close and there was hardly a dry eye in the room. When they were done praying, they took one another's hands and for many of them, I think it was the first time that they truly understood and grasped what those wedding vows really meant. On Sunday morning the pews seemed so much emptier because God had closed the space that was so evident on Friday night and it became that for the first time in a long time, God was going to get to be in the middle of 600 marriages. At the end of the conference, an invitation was done and while I didn't think there could be more rejoicing than what I had witnessed in 48 hours, over 60 hands went up to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts. All I can say is WHEW, GOD IS GOOD!"
As we close this blog, we want to thank Mark Satterfield and Lifeway for working diligently to provide marriage weekends such as this. I think the words to a Charles Billingsley song sums it up for us:
The church is empty but I just can't go home
So I linger for a moment in the dark all alone
And I'm so overwhelmed at how your spirit moved
I'm just glad
I was in the room
So many stories and no one knows but you
The silent prayers answered tonight in these pews
And I don't understand how you do what you do
I'm just glad
I was in the room
Great God in heaven
How wonderful you are
Oh you're still changing lives
And it humbles my heart
That you would allow someone like me
To play a small part
So tonight as I stand here I'm reminded once more
That when any good happens it's not about me Lord
It's enough that I stand in the shadow of you
I'm just glad
I was in the room
Comments (2)
The conference was AWESOME! I'm just glad I was in the room, too. Steve and Debbie have been such a blessing to my marriage. They have opened a wounded heart to love again. I could never repay them for their counsel and encouragement. Thank you Ridgecrest for the opportunity to reconnect in such a deep way every year. Steve and Debbie - Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! Bless you both! Tanya
Posted on November 13, 2008 2:27 PM
Tanya,
thank you for your words of encouragement to Debbie and Me. Isn't God good, wow, that was an exciting weekend. Sorry for just now being able to post your comments. Have a blessed day. Steve
Posted on January 22, 2009 1:52 PM