It's day 26 - "love is responsible". Today's message really hit home with me. There were several parts that made me really think about my relationship with Dale. "Love is not nearly as concerned with its own performance as with others' needs. When love takes responsibility for its actions, it's not to prove how noble you've been but rather to admit how much further you have to go." The passage goes on to ask "how deliberate are you about making sure your spouse's needs are met?" I have to say that I've been very "me" focused lately, and making sure I take care of Dale hasn't been a huge priority. Even though I'm doing the Love Dare, I'm doing the challenges for each day, but not really much more than that. I really need to make a concerted effort to make Dale more of a priority. Today's challenge is to identify areas of wrongdoing, then admit them first to God, then to your spouse and ask for forgiveness. I'm really going to have to have a heart-to-heart with Dale when he gets home and tell him how much I realize I've been neglecting him.
Today's Bible verse is Romans 2:1: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." I have to wonder, how often am I guilty of thinking how Dale should do more for me, when in reality, I should be doing more for him and not worrying about what he's doing for me. It's definitely selfish thinking and something that needs to be prayed on.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Love Dare Day 25 - Love Forgives
On day 25, "love forgives". I actually find this to be a fairly easy day, although the chapter warns that it might be difficult. The challenge is to forgive your spouse for whatever wrong they may have caused. I don't really have anything in my life that I need to forgive Dale for. I don't really feel like, to this point in our lives, he's ever wronged me. So, today was actually an easy day.
Today's Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 2:10: "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake," I do have one person in my life who wronged me that I still, to this day, have a hard time forgiving. I pray about it often and ask God to help me move past it. It's still painful to think about at times, but I know God can heal all things.
Today's Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 2:10: "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake," I do have one person in my life who wronged me that I still, to this day, have a hard time forgiving. I pray about it often and ask God to help me move past it. It's still painful to think about at times, but I know God can heal all things.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Love Dare Day 24 - Love vs. Lust
In day 24, we look at "love vs. lust". The message today is that we lust after things in this world, both sexually and materially and that lust is really "a misguided thirst for satisfaction that only God can fulfill." So the challenge today is to "identify every object of lust in your life and remove it." I think this one is easier said than done because lust is an emotion that comes from thoughts in your head. And once a thought enters your head, it's not easy to erase, if that's even possible. But I do find that the more I'm in God's word studying and spending time in prayer, the less "lustful" I am and the more focused on God and Dale that I am.
Today's Bible verse is 1 John 2:17: "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." I want to be grounded in the knowledge of my eternal salvation and I know that part of that is living for God and doing his will, rather than focusing on the will of the world. I just hope that I'm doing that somewhat successfully (i.e., living for God) and showing a good example to my children.
Today's Bible verse is 1 John 2:17: "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." I want to be grounded in the knowledge of my eternal salvation and I know that part of that is living for God and doing his will, rather than focusing on the will of the world. I just hope that I'm doing that somewhat successfully (i.e., living for God) and showing a good example to my children.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Love Dare Day 23 - Love Always Protects
I'm slowly making it through the 40 days and I'm on day 23 - "love always protects". Today's challenge is to remove anything that's hindering your relationship. While I can't say that I have anything that's really hindering my relationship right now, I know I have to watch my level of social activities that don't involve Dale. I have a very active group of girlfriends who invite me to all kinds of things and if I'm not paying attention, I can go through a whole week of leaving Dale and the boys at home and not spending any time with them. So that's something I definitely need to be cogniscent of as I go through my weeks.
Today's Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:7: "[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I know that it's impossible for me to "always" love in this way, but I have to continue to strive to put my faith in God and ask his help to be the love in Dale's life that God wants me to be.
Today's Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:7: "[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I know that it's impossible for me to "always" love in this way, but I have to continue to strive to put my faith in God and ask his help to be the love in Dale's life that God wants me to be.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Love Dare Day 22 - Love Is Faithful
Day 22 focuses on "love is faithful". Today's lesson REALLY spoke to me. It paraphrased the story of Hosea and talked about how Hosea's unfailing love for Gomer reflects God's unfailing love for us. I've never really paid attention to the story of Hosea before, but today I really related to it. More precisely, I really related myself to Gomer based on my struggles lately. If it weren't for Dale's unfailing love in our marriage, there would have been several times where I think I would have cut bait and run, but his resolve keeps us together and reminds me of how much our marriage vows mean. Today's challenge is to tell your spouse that you love them, even if they don't love you in return. For me, I think the challenge is really learning to always accept Dale's love, even when I want to turn it down.
Today's Bible verse is Hosea 2:20: "I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord." This verse didn't really speak to me today, which is odd because I've gotten something out of all the verses so far. I'll have to focus and pray on it a bit and see if it guides me.
Today's Bible verse is Hosea 2:20: "I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord." This verse didn't really speak to me today, which is odd because I've gotten something out of all the verses so far. I'll have to focus and pray on it a bit and see if it guides me.
Love Dare Day 20 & 21
Love Dare Day 20 – I don’t want to give away too much with this Love Dare, but let’s just say that day 20 is extra special.
Love Dare Day 21 – Love is Satisfied in God
Day 21 is “love is satisfied in God”. The focus is on having God be your endless supplier for all your needs. Today’s challenge is to try to “be intentional… about making a time to pray and read your Bible.” I’ve been really good the past few weeks about getting into my Bible and praying regularly. I’ve had a lot of challenges going on in this department: the Love Dare, a new Bible study I started with some other ladies, doing Experiencing God for Couples with Dale. So I’m getting very inundated with the word here lately. I just need to be consistent and keep up with it. My motto has been “God will sustain me” and so far, he hasn’t dropped me.
Today’s Bible verse is Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” I don’t look as often to the Lord for guidance as I should. But I’m finding more and more, as I take on more and more things in my life, that I do need him to satisfy my needs and strengthen me. This verse is so appropriate for what I’m going through lately.
Love Dare Day 21 – Love is Satisfied in God
Day 21 is “love is satisfied in God”. The focus is on having God be your endless supplier for all your needs. Today’s challenge is to try to “be intentional… about making a time to pray and read your Bible.” I’ve been really good the past few weeks about getting into my Bible and praying regularly. I’ve had a lot of challenges going on in this department: the Love Dare, a new Bible study I started with some other ladies, doing Experiencing God for Couples with Dale. So I’m getting very inundated with the word here lately. I just need to be consistent and keep up with it. My motto has been “God will sustain me” and so far, he hasn’t dropped me.
Today’s Bible verse is Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” I don’t look as often to the Lord for guidance as I should. But I’m finding more and more, as I take on more and more things in my life, that I do need him to satisfy my needs and strengthen me. This verse is so appropriate for what I’m going through lately.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Love Dare Day 19 - Love is Impossible
Day 19 focuses on "love is impossible". By "love", it means "agape" love, the perfect love of Christ. The lesson for today focuses on ensuring that you have Jesus in your heart. The challenge is to ask God to "show you where you stand with him". I know I'm saved and my eternal destination is with God in Heaven, as is Dale's. I just hope that I can raise my kids to know God and to know that they too have a place in Heaven.
Today's Bible Verse is 1 John 4:7: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." While I know that love comes from God, I have to ask myself if I'm displaying the love of God to others. A commentary says "For because God is love, love must characterize those who claim to be born of God or to know God". I just don't think that love characterizes me as much as I'd like it to. This is definitely an area I need to pray about and work on.
Today's Bible Verse is 1 John 4:7: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." While I know that love comes from God, I have to ask myself if I'm displaying the love of God to others. A commentary says "For because God is love, love must characterize those who claim to be born of God or to know God". I just don't think that love characterizes me as much as I'd like it to. This is definitely an area I need to pray about and work on.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Love Dare Day 18 - Love Seeks to Understand
It's day 18 and the theme is "love seeks to understand". The focus of today's challenge is getting to know your mate. You're supposed to have a dinner with them and try to get to know them better, but now that dinner's over, I'm going to have to try to get to know Dale a bit more before our Bible study this evening.
Today's Bible verse is Proverbs 3:13: "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding," In general, I find the lessons in Proverbs about wisdom to be a little daunting because I'm always on the wrong end of what ever the lesson is. If it says the wise keep their mouth shut (Proverbs 15:2), I'm always talking. If it says the wise have great things to say (Proverbs 10:32), I don't. I could keep going, but it would just be embarrasing. So, the lesson here, learn to keep my mouth shut and my ears open.
Today's Bible verse is Proverbs 3:13: "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding," In general, I find the lessons in Proverbs about wisdom to be a little daunting because I'm always on the wrong end of what ever the lesson is. If it says the wise keep their mouth shut (Proverbs 15:2), I'm always talking. If it says the wise have great things to say (Proverbs 10:32), I don't. I could keep going, but it would just be embarrasing. So, the lesson here, learn to keep my mouth shut and my ears open.
Love Dare Day 17 - Love Promotes Intimacy
Day 17 is about "love promotes intimacy". Today's reading talks about creating an environment where your spouse feels safe in sharing who they are, their worries, and their secrets and being accepted. The challenge for the day is to "guard your mate's secrets" and "to pray for them." This theme of prayer in my Bible study and in my Love Dare stuff the last few days is really starting to hit home. God wants me to talk to him, way more than I do. I just need to heed that call and respond.
Today's Bible verse is Proverbs 17:9: "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Forgiveness here is the key, and looking past your spouse's mistakes is so important because they are the closest friend you'll have here on Earth, apart from God.
Today's Bible verse is Proverbs 17:9: "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Forgiveness here is the key, and looking past your spouse's mistakes is so important because they are the closest friend you'll have here on Earth, apart from God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
