Friday, February 11, 2011

LOVE DARE #39

Day 39: Love Endures

SPEND TIME IN PERSONAL PRAYER, THEN WRITE A LETTER OF COMMITMENT AND RESOLVE TO YOUR SPOUSE. INCLUDE WHY YOU ARE COMMITTING TO THIS MARRIAGE UNTIL DEATH, AND THAT YOU HAVE PURPOSED TO LOVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT. LEAVE IT IN A PLACE THAT YOUR MATE WILL FIND IT.

It's hard to believe we're down to our last two LOVE DARES. We've prayed for you continuously throughout this journey. So, how's it going? We've heard wonderful stories, but what about you? Are you feeling you've given it your "all," but to no avail? Your spouse is not responding - standing alone -rejected? What do you do now?

You continue to love. Why? Because love endures; love never fails. Peter told Jesus, "I will never fall away.... Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You" (Matthew 26:33,35). Within hours of Peter's promise - as well as promises from the other disciples - they failed Him. Yet, Jesus never stopped loving them. In fact, He continued to forge ahead to the cross - to die for them.

Love as Jesus loved; love your spouse - even when it's not received. Love as you promised - until death. (Don't get any ideas here.) Love that is from God is unstoppable - it endures.

VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: If your spouse walks away and your marriage fails, let it not be because you didn't do your part - gave up, stopped trying or stopped loving them. Love refuses to give up.

As we approach Valentine's Day and our final LOVE DARE, we want to remind you that Dale and I are teaching the "Championship Marriage" session this Sunday, February 13 at College Church of the Nazarene (Olathe, KS) in room K-102 at 11:00 am. We would love for you to join us. In fact, we "DARE" you!

Blessings for an "unstoppable" day,
Dale and Susan Crook

(Want to take it a step further? Purchase the “Love Dare” book by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick for additional information and to record your results.)