Dave and Penny's Story
Many times, one’s mission in life comes from a painful situation.
Our life has been filled with joys and sorrows, blessings and battles, along with growth and some set-backs. From the beginning, we professed faith in Jesus Christ and we desired to live for Him. At a young age, Dave had favor in his work and accelerated very quickly in position and compensation. As the years went on we were pulled in two directions. One was to follow the ways of Jesus, and the other, the ways of the world. Ultimately the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the deceitfulness of riches, and the boastful pride of life was the catalyst for driving a rift between us. The void in our lives just grew deep and wide.
In my heart, I knew there was something more. While attending an event I heard about being set free from things that control you. It was evident I had many things controlling my life, namely fears and insecurity, and I desired greatly to be free, and live fully for Christ. I also wanted to be a good wife to Dave, but I needed God's help. Through the counsel, prayer, and training of a few trusted advisors, my life began to change. I was invited to be trained and serve in a freedom and reconciliation ministry. While the void in my life was closing and I was helping others to reconcile unhealed hurts, and unresolved issues, Dave and I could not seem to find our own breakthrough. It was destroying our marriage and family.
One night, in 2006, Dave showed me papers, mapping out a separation. I felt terror, not fear, but spine-tingling terror. I prayed quietly and asked Jesus for help. Then I confronted Dave, “I don’t want this”. He asked in return, “Why do you want what we have….after all we are like oil and water and do not mix?” Out of my mouth came these
words, “Because you bring out the best in me.” Those words were not my words, but from Jesus. We know this because of what happened next is nothing short of a miracle. Dave asked me, “Will you kneel with me?” As we knelt he ripped up the separation papers and threw them into the trash. Then he opened his heart to me and said, “Pen we need a clean start. We have so many wrongs written on the blackboard, and we keep holding them against each other, and it’s killing us. Will you stay here on our knees with me until we repent of every wrong word, every hurt, every way we have cursed our marriage and one another?" Together, we asked Jesus to wipe the slate clean. I agreed, so we knelt there and prayed for what seemed like through the night. This was a new beginning, but Jesus knew we couldn’t develop new ways of living on our own, so he sent Pastor Bill and Pastor Carol Mantel. Bill and Carol opened their hearts and home to us as mentors, coaches, and shepherds. They spent countless hours with us discussing, praying, and looking to God's word for direction to our next steps. Their "up north" cabin became a retreat for intensive weekends. These times together continue to this day and have changed our hearts toward one another and our future.
One day in prayer, I heard in my spirit, "Out of a united marriage will come the outflow of ministry”. To understand this, we were led to Ephesians 3:14-21. Here we learned our Heavenly Father knows every family by name. His intent is to preserve marriages and families. He gave us the power of forgiveness and reconciliation, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Here, we are promised, Jesus will ground us in love and give us hope for our marriages and children. He also promises in scripture that Jesus is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we know to ask or imagine. This is where the name IMAGINE BEAUTIUFL originated from.
As time went by, we continued to pray and ask what this word meant for us. Jesus has called us to pass onto other couples the same courageous care and commitment provided for us. Having this vision in mind, we now strengthen and encourage couples by facilitating Marriage Summit Retreats, workshops, and speaking events.
Hebrews 13:4 tells us marriages are sacred partnerships, to be held in honor by all. It is precious like a most rare jewel. Jesus won the battle for our marriage. A courageous couple fought for our marriage. And now it is our turn to fight for your marriage.
If your marriage needs help, hope, and healing, pray about spending a weekend with us to work on your relationship. One weekend to pray, discuss life matters, repent and allow The Lord Jesus Christ to make it right. It is what God used to change us, and it has been transformational for other couples who have taken part in a Marriage Summit™ Retreat. Our Heavenly Father knows your family by name. Jesus wants to do exceeding abundantly more than you know to ask or imagine in your life. It can start right now --- IMAGINE BEAUTIFUL. Call us today: 612-735-0705
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen - Ephesians 3:14-21(NKJV)
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." - Hebrews 13:4-5 (NIV)
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! - Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)