Michigan Camp Meeting 2017

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Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Marriage Heart to Heart

Alane Waters

Tom Waters

1. An Enduring Commitment

2. Please Understand Me

3. Malfunction to Miracles

4. For Our Love

Father in Heaven, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity we have this afternoon to hear about your plan for marriage.

Thank you for each person that is here and each couple that is represented, whether their spouse is here or not.

Lord, we know that the devil has been very busy and he's out there trying to destroy us, destroy our relationships and our marriages, but our homes, but we know that you're stronger and more powerful and I just ask that as Tom and Elaine share that you would just so fill this room, that your presence will be here in a powerful way, that you will work miracles in the lives of those of us who are needing that.

And Father, we just thank you so much for this opportunity to be here at camp meeting.

And again, we just thank you so much for loving us and that you're gonna be coming soon to put an end to all of this mess down here.

So thank you and we love you in Jesus name, amen.

So I'm just gonna let them take over from now and...

All right, so they told me at the soundboard that since whoever had opening prayer, so we're good to go, right?

Well, it's delightful to be here with you and for me it's an an added joy because I went to school when this school was Cedar Lake Academy.

So you can find his pictures out there in the archives of the class of 1974.

Yes, and fortunately, We had enough other things happening because when my wife saw that picture out there she said I want you to tell me what girlfriends you had while you were here.

And he said girlfriends and I said yes you were here for 2 years 2 to 3 a year that would be 4 to 6 girls I should see their pictures of right I said it wasn't like that I said was it more and he didn't answer like no but we have been busy ever since so anyway Maybe we'll have a chance to look through those pictures as well.

So today, it is a delight to be with you, and we're looking forward to what God has in store for all of us.

1 of the greatest blessings that we have as we minister in many places in the world is that what we share is a blessing to us as well as you.

Because what we share are not just topics about marriage.

They are what has helped us become more like Christ and have a greater love.

And so we're not just sharing something for you, we're sharing something for all of us today.

And today what we're going to be talking about is an enduring commitment.

Can I give a couple other things before we get going?

Before we actually get in the topic of today, at the end of each day, we're going to do a drawing, OK?

And so when you came in, you were asked to put your names on paper and put it in a little box or something back there.

If not, we'll give you permission to slip back there and do that.

Now, if you are the person who wins the drawing today, then tomorrow and the remainder, please don't put your name in the box, okay?

Because we want to give somebody else an opportunity to take away something that's a little bit more memorable from this seminar.

And also at the end of each presentation, maybe we'll do it today, but for the rest of the week, the last 10 to 15 minutes, we are setting aside for question and answer.

So there's also some papers on that entry table that you can write questions on and just make sure they get to us and we will answer them.

I mean, we don't mind taking a hand, you know, 1 of these kind of questions, but sometimes the questions are of sensitive nature and you may not feel comfortable being the 1 to raise your hand and have the other 100 people turn around and see you ask your question.

So we try to be sensitive to that, because we know this seminar is designed to bring our marriages closer in love with 1 another and closer to the love creator Christ our savior.

So we will talk about some of those more sensitive topics throughout the seminar.

Not today, so those of you who brought your children, you're fine.

But we will let you know when those topics are going to come up.

And lastly, my husband did bring ties, okay?

And he was getting ready to put it on, And Gail said, you don't have to wear that.

Is that okay with you guys, he doesn't have to wear it?

We just came from our California family retreat.

We flew out yesterday from California, and it was nearly 100 degrees.

And my husband, it was Sabbath, so he had his tie on.

And I started sweating just looking at him because his collar was going wet and the beads of sweat was coming down and the air conditioner could not keep up with the volume of people packed into the auditorium.

So anyway, I said, honey, I thought it would be okay.

So I'll be cooler and he'll be more comfortable, so we'll do good together.

When we made our vows together as husband and wife, Did we do that as a disposable contract?

We were making vows, we were making a commitment that was to endure at least in 1 phrase of the vows when we did it.

I'm not sure if that's changing, but it was until death do us part.

We live in a society today where that commitment in many people's thinkings and it's kind of scary because you know by beholding we become changed and what we behold today in much of the world is going downhill very quickly and there is an intentional agenda, and I'm sure most of you know this, if not all of you, an intentional agenda to destroy the marriage that God sanctified.

And to say that not only does marriage not matter, but, you know, it doesn't even matter that we're made in the image of God anymore because we can just be whatever we want to be.

I saw something recently that was shocking.

A person who decided they wanted to be a dog.

I don't know if any of you have ever seen that.

But they decided to be a dog and now they go around as a dog.

They have special, I mean, this world is unraveling, but our marriages don't have to unravel with the world.

And so we made a commitment, for better or for worse, and all those things that was going to endure.

You know, we also, when we said those wedding vows, we made that commitment, we also got a certificate, right?

That our names are inscribed on, and the pastor or whoever did the service that their name is on.

And do you know, how many of you know where that marriage license is, marriage certificate?

Ours is still hanging on the wall, 37 years, hasn't faded out yet, we try not to put it in the direct sun, but it's more than that document, it's more than a piece of paper.

It is what we have committed to, to love 1 another and before God.

It is an eternal contract because it was signed and sealed in heaven, this earthly marriage here.

So for too many of us, and no matter how great your marriage is or how stressed your marriage may be, for all of us, we still find times that sometimes marriage can be challenging, right?

For honest, I mean, anybody married more than 40 years?

Because we just read something recently that says now within this new generation coming, that don't be surprised all these people living to 100 plus years old, right?

So wow, I said, with that, we can bump up our expectation of how long we get to live happily ever after.

So we're shooting for 85 and maybe more, should the Lord linger that long.

But All of us have times when our self gets in the way of that enduring commitment.

And our self is what helps to create the conflict that sometimes leads to misunderstandings and maybe pain and disappointment, discouragement.

Series

Marriage Heart to Heart

1. An Enduring Commitment

Transcript

Parent Series

Parent Conference

Sponsor

Recorded

Relationship Revival

1. Are You All In?

1h 13m

Biblical Relationships (Afternoon meetings)

Preparing to Tie the Knot (Part 1)

29m

To Have and to Hold on

Holding On - Part 5

1h 13m

Reviving Your Devotional Life

50m

Phil Mills Sr., Israel Ramos, and Judy Ramos ~ Date of Destiny: Finding and Keeping Your Love

Secrets To Staying Together

59m

Finding Your Life-long Friend

1h 16m

SWYC 2009 Breakout Sessions

Seventh-day Activism

42m

To Have and to Hold on

Ten Relationship Challenges and How to Meet Them - Part 2

1h 14m

Christian Business

Christian Business- Part 1

57m

Dating Isn't For Cowards

Dating Isn’t For Cowards- Part 2

51m

ISIS Crisis & Last Day Events

ISIS Crisis & Last Day Events- Part 1

1h 6m

How to Work Together as a Couple or Family in Ministry

1h 48m

Sound Doctrine