Fabulous Marriage Retreat if your married and near Rome, Georgia
Sunday 1st October, 2006This past weekend, my wife and I had a
fabulous time at a marriage retreat. Late last year my wife was searching
for something on the internet (we can't remember what she was actually
searching for) and by accident came across a website talking about marriage
retreats. The retreat was located in North Georgia near Rome. Well,
at first glance, I was skeptical and didn't think much of it. After
looking into it, I realized the place was worth checking out. So
my wife and I booked a weekend and was it well worth it.
The place is called WinShape. You can find it at www.winshape.com and click on the "Winshape Marriage" link. My wife and I did what was called the "Romantic Adventure". At first I thought - Great, rose petals and candle light and some guy telling me to listen more closely to what my spouse was trying to say. Truth is, it was nothing like that. The director of the Winshape Marriage is Shawn Stoever. Him and his wife were excellent and what they spoke about was something I've never heard before in a marriage training event.
The principle was based on the scripture Mark 12:30-31:
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
So many people focus on the loving God and then on the Love your neighbor and they forget the next two words, "as yourself". Even before loving God, you have to first take time to love yourself in order to share that love with God and your neighbor. He doesn't tell you to love God, then love your neighbor as you loved God, but love your neighbor as you love yourself. We must love ourselves by focusing on the four areas that God wants us to love him.
Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength
If we fail to take care of ourselves Emotionally (Heart), Spiritually (Soul), Mentally (Mind) and Physically (Strength) we are unable to Love God as he commanded us, and then we are unable to love others.
Needless to say, for me this all boiled down to the reason why I wasn't able to take care of my wife as I wanted to, because I wasn't taking care of myself first. Not to mention my walk with God has been slipping and not as stable as I want it because I'm not taking care of myself Emotionally, Spiritually, Mentally and Physically.
Well, this is the short and to the point version. I would highly recommend if you are married to take a weekend and spend it at WinShape. Even if you're not married, before you get married take WinShape's "Prepared to Last" event for engaged or considering marriage couples.
For those engaged or considering marriage, I would also suggest some good friends of ours, Bill & Bridget Dunk
The place is called WinShape. You can find it at www.winshape.com and click on the "Winshape Marriage" link. My wife and I did what was called the "Romantic Adventure". At first I thought - Great, rose petals and candle light and some guy telling me to listen more closely to what my spouse was trying to say. Truth is, it was nothing like that. The director of the Winshape Marriage is Shawn Stoever. Him and his wife were excellent and what they spoke about was something I've never heard before in a marriage training event.
The principle was based on the scripture Mark 12:30-31:
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
So many people focus on the loving God and then on the Love your neighbor and they forget the next two words, "as yourself". Even before loving God, you have to first take time to love yourself in order to share that love with God and your neighbor. He doesn't tell you to love God, then love your neighbor as you loved God, but love your neighbor as you love yourself. We must love ourselves by focusing on the four areas that God wants us to love him.
Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength
If we fail to take care of ourselves Emotionally (Heart), Spiritually (Soul), Mentally (Mind) and Physically (Strength) we are unable to Love God as he commanded us, and then we are unable to love others.
Needless to say, for me this all boiled down to the reason why I wasn't able to take care of my wife as I wanted to, because I wasn't taking care of myself first. Not to mention my walk with God has been slipping and not as stable as I want it because I'm not taking care of myself Emotionally, Spiritually, Mentally and Physically.
Well, this is the short and to the point version. I would highly recommend if you are married to take a weekend and spend it at WinShape. Even if you're not married, before you get married take WinShape's "Prepared to Last" event for engaged or considering marriage couples.
For those engaged or considering marriage, I would also suggest some good friends of ours, Bill & Bridget Dunk
[3]