Merry Christmas

One thing I have loved over the years is sending out a Christmas picture with our family.  As the years have gone by and as life has gotten a little more complicated, we've had to resort to snapshots to get all of us on one card!  

We do pray that you've had a blessed Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior and are looking forward to what the New Year brings! 

Blessings from our family to you! 

A New Addition

We didn't lose a daughter, we gain a son-in-law! 

Early in December Courtney married Juan Jose in Peru.  

They got married at the municipality and will have something special back here once they return to the states.  

This is a picture of them after the ceremony with their niece. 

A celebration with family and friends 

 Here's a picture of Courtney and Juan's parents (and their niece too).  

Courtney is wearing a traditional Peruvian wedding dress in this photo that was rented for the day.  (She said it was very heavy!) 

 Courtney sent me this photo too.  This is the location where they are going to build their house.  Since Juan is a teacher and school ends for the year in December, he is planning on spending all of January building the house and hopes to have it all built by the end of the month!  

Clifton Family 2016 Update

Guatemala Bound

The Three Amigos will be heading to Guatemala June 12-21

We are so excited to be able to go and share the love of Jesus to the children in Palencia, 

at the medical clinics,

delivering water filters,

in children's ministry,

and in praying 

for the beautiful people of Guatemala.  

Stayed tuned for how you can be praying for us.  

Boise Weekend to Remember

Last weekend Tom was able to help out at the Boise Weekend to Remember.  It such an amazing thing to read about the work that God did in the lives of people throughout the weekend.  Here is just a glimpse of the life change stories from the weekend...

Boise Top Ten Comments

February 27- March1

Attendance: 645

Those indicating decisions 

Salvation: 63

Holy Spirit: 150

Recommit Family: 117

Coming in we were fighting not speaking at all night one. By break of second day we went to our car, cried and asked for forgiveness, held each other and made a commitment to start fresh and do everything this conference was telling us. We are very appreciative for this fresh new start. 

Wife, married 10 years

The event has given my fiancé and I things that you may not think of before.  Also it has given us tools to strengthen our marriage.

Engaged man

It helped my fiancé and I to mentally prepare for marriage and to learn how to fireproof it before it begins.

Engaged woman

We are currently legally divorced since December but came to conference to see if we can work on getting back together. This conference has shown us 16 tools to at least begin this process again. Thank you. 

Wife, divorced

Although we had a very good relationship prior to our coming to this weekend, it did help us open up and be honest about an area of weakness we had not talked about before and that was our sex life. 

Wife, married more than 19 years

I was not happy at all to come. My attitude was one of giving up. My husband pointed that out to me. We had a huge fight after the session and then again on the way Saturday morning. I even was looking for ways out of the building. I took the dare of Bruce to write a prayer request. Filled with rage and bitterness toward my husband practically set the pen and paper on fire. Seemed like right after I put the request in the box God began to speak to me and showed me things and began to answer the questions that I had specifically about me and my choices that I was or wasn’t making in our marriage.  He changed my heart and mind. I confessed and my husband started to see the wrongs that he was doing. We are looking for a marriage mentor to train us to continue God’s path for marriage.  I stand amazed at how big God is. 

Wife, married less than 5 years

I have been struggling in my marriage relationship for about 4 years now. Nothing said at the FL weekend to remember was really new to me, however, it affirmed and clarified the truths that I had come to know through a very long and painful process. I wish I had the opportunity to attend years ago, to receive these truths all together without all of the painful struggle and study I have endured. Secondly, for the last 4 years I felt alone in my quest and struggle to improve my marriage. I see the light that has clicked on in my spouse. She has now committed to join me in the 100/100 plan. And now, for the first time in my 11+ years of marriage I feel that I have a partner. That I am not alone in this world. Thank you. 

Husband

I had many different feelings about this trip.  Part of me was excited and the other part was nervous because of the reality check we were about to get. I never thought I would ever think about divorce. Recently it was all I could think about. I wanted to give up. I went and talked to a friend. She recommended this trip and went on to tell me how much it saved their marriage. I can’t explain how thankful I am that we pursued this. We came in this with hopes, ears open, and hearts ready. I can officially say it saved us. I’ve learned so much. My spouse is not my enemy now. I love this man. Now I know I won’t give up.  I will keep pushing! Thank you!

Wife

Great focused opportunity to reevaluate where our marriage is.  So thankful for passionate openness, transparency, and wisdom for men dealing with correct physical temptations.

Husband, married 6 years (military)

[My wife] and I are very busy with various ministries and this weekend gave us the opportunity to reconnect, relax, and enjoy on another without the stress of outside pressures.

Pastor, married 10 years

Guatemala Mission Trip

Seattle Weekend to Remember Comments

Such a blessing to hear about how God impacts lives through the Weekend to Remember.   Here are a few comments from the weekend.

Seattle (Bellevue), WA Top Ten Comments

April 12-14, 2013

Attendance: 621

Holy Spirit: 115

Recommit: 103

Salvations: 11

My husband is leaving for active service in the US Navy. So we relished the opportunity to spend a weekend together, working toward oneness before this long separation. This weekend has been the definition of quality time. We both committed our lives and family to Christ a few months ago, but his weekend we asked Jesus into our hearts and did it together. We will take on our next journey united as Christians for the first time.

Wife, married 3 years

My husband and I are separated.  We are here because of our youngest son who asked us if we were coming after he saw the promo video.  I feel this weekend God has opened a window.  I am so open to God changing me and then seeing what he does in our marriage.  

Wife, married 15 years

I came with no expectations, but desiring to see God move through our lives, marriage. I am leaving with hope and faith.  We received tools, love and time to be "one".  That so often gets placed on the back burner.  I came with the man I call my husband, I leave with my best friend.  

Wife, married 3 years

It was a complete turn around.  We were on the verge of a divorce, this was a love effort by our pastor which has paid off.  We are committed now more than ever to make our marriage work.  We have decided that our love and family with God can and will survive.

Husband, married 6 years

Before the weekend we thought we had a good marriage but not great.  We saw this as a maintenance or a check-up.  We didn't realize the things, hurts, lies, bitterness that had come to effect our marriage.  This weekend provided us the culture and environment to be honest about our failures and ask for and give forgiveness.  This enabled us to trust each other again at a deeper level.  Our marriage relationship has gone to the next level and has been rejuvenated! Thank you!

Wife, married 6 years

We were pretty much at the isolation stage of our marriage.  This weekend has opened the doors of communication and physical intimacy.  Thank you!!!  I have been very bitter in our marriage we had a lot of forgiveness this weekend.  

Husband, married 16 years

Wife’s comment below

We had drifted toward isolation for years.  Daily life demands had steamrolled us and pulled us apart as a couple.  Almost all of our communication related to the business of running our household, but never was deep or with affection.  While we had read a ton of marriage books over the past 16 1/2 years, nothing has stuck and truly changed habits.  We feel encouraged that we have been equipped to make a change that is permanent and impactful.  

Wife, married 16 years

Becca and I experienced a level of transparency and intimacy that we have not experienced in years.  I was empowered to repent and confess extramarital sins of the heart (i.e. lust, fantasies), and we committed to a life of prayer and encouragement, in order to overcome the things that hinder our spiritual/emotional/marital life together.  We have been deeply blessed. I am inspired to become a man, and to leave a godly legacy for my children.  

Husband, married 4 years

Help melt my hardened life, a life consumed with hate and satan controlled.  My life has been changed by information I already know/had!  This is not about a slide of hand or smoke in mirrors, its about reconnecting with God!  It's truly that simple.  Thank you for leading my back to the light, we were about to end God's reunion known as God's gift.  

Husband, married 1 year; together 6 years

Wife's comment below

I am so thankful to God for bringing us here.  We put our house for sale last week and divorce were almost done.  This weekend fell in our laps...everything...date, location, cost.  I knew it had to be God's will that we attend. I didn't feel certain it was His will that we stayed married.  For the first time in six years we prayed together.  That is because of God and all you do to teach us and to help us get better perspective. Because of what we heard, learned and open our hearts to this weekend, we have decided to not get divorced, and to try living our life God's way instead of our fleshly, selfish way.  It will not be easy to rebuild what we have demolished...with God all is possible.  Thank you God for those you have sent to share your work and through that, give us hope in you, God, and hope for our marriage.  

I cannot explain how hard and rewarding this weekend was.  I am so grateful!!!

Wife, married 1 year; together 6 years