Day 7: Love Believes the Best
FOR TODAY'S DARE, GET TWO SHEETS OF PAPER. ON THE FIRST ONE, SPEND A FEW MINUTES WRITING OUT POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE. THEN DO THE SAME WITH NEGATIVE THINGS ON THE SECOND SHEET. PLACE BOTH SHEETS IN A SECRET PLACE FOR ANOTHER DAY. THERE IS A DIFFERENT PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR EACH. AT SOME POINT DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY, PICK A POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE FROM THE FIRST LIST AND THANK YOUR SPOUSE FOR HAVING THIS CHARACTERISTIC.
The response to the "40 DAY LOVE DARE" emails has been beyond what we ever could have imagined. God is at work and apparently, so are you! Obviously, you want the best for your marriage, but - do you believe the best - do you do your best?
As I look out the window (behind my computer screen), fresh snow is covering our backyard. It looks like God laid an enormous white blanket over all the muck and mud. The running creek is now frozen - the previously brown and lifeless backdrop sparkles a glistening white!
Is your marriage lifeless - full of muck and mud - frozen in the past? Why not sparkle? You too, can cover your marriage with fresh positive thoughts - freeze the negative - ditch the dirt - and blanket your spouse with love today.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "Love believes all things, hopes all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Develop the habit to rein in the negative thoughts (pray) and focus on the positive attributes of your spouse. Believe the best!
Make this your best snow day ever,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
LOVE DARE #6
Day 6: Love is Not Irritable
CHOOSE TODAY TO REACT TO TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUR MARRIAGE IN LOVING WAYS INSTEAD OF WITH IRRITATION. BEGIN BY MAKING A LIST OF AREAS WHERE YOU NEED TO ADD MARGIN TO YOUR SCHEDULE. THEN LIST ANY WRONG MOTIVATIONS THAT YOU NEED TO RELEASE FROM YOUR LIFE.
Yesterday's LOVE DARE may have prompted a bit of irritation. After all, who wants to hear about those "issues" that need improvement? The person who wants a "Championship Marriage" does! By the way, it's probably about time to increase your prayers for protection because Satan's loading the ammunition. Yes, that's irritating, but remember - we're not to be irritable.
We have a rule in our house - no "discussions" after 10 pm. We're tired, we're worn out, and too deficient to hold a "constructive conversation." It usually ends with a cranky, tired, cantankerous, and irritable spouse (the one with the longer hair) apologizing. Set perimeters, plan to talk soon, and don't hold a grudge.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city." (Proverbs 16:32).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Strive to remain calm and patient, restrain your temper, exhibit self-control, and keep the molehill - a molehill. Make love the "mountaintop" experience in your home!
Blessings for a non-irritating day,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
CHOOSE TODAY TO REACT TO TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUR MARRIAGE IN LOVING WAYS INSTEAD OF WITH IRRITATION. BEGIN BY MAKING A LIST OF AREAS WHERE YOU NEED TO ADD MARGIN TO YOUR SCHEDULE. THEN LIST ANY WRONG MOTIVATIONS THAT YOU NEED TO RELEASE FROM YOUR LIFE.
Yesterday's LOVE DARE may have prompted a bit of irritation. After all, who wants to hear about those "issues" that need improvement? The person who wants a "Championship Marriage" does! By the way, it's probably about time to increase your prayers for protection because Satan's loading the ammunition. Yes, that's irritating, but remember - we're not to be irritable.
We have a rule in our house - no "discussions" after 10 pm. We're tired, we're worn out, and too deficient to hold a "constructive conversation." It usually ends with a cranky, tired, cantankerous, and irritable spouse (the one with the longer hair) apologizing. Set perimeters, plan to talk soon, and don't hold a grudge.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city." (Proverbs 16:32).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Strive to remain calm and patient, restrain your temper, exhibit self-control, and keep the molehill - a molehill. Make love the "mountaintop" experience in your home!
Blessings for a non-irritating day,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
Saturday, January 8, 2011
LOVE DARE #5
Day 5: Love is Not Rude
ASK YOUR SPOUSE TO TELL YOU THREE THINGS THAT CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE OR IRRITATED WITH YOU. YOU MUST DO SO WITHOUT ATTACKING THEM OR JUSTIFYING YOUR BEHAVIOR. THIS IS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE ONLY.
This could be a painful dare. Can we really listen to what our spouse has to say without defending ourselves? Are we tough enough, confident enough, love enough to take on this challenge?
Have you ever heard "someone else" yelling at the top of their lungs when the phone rings? Suddenly their tone is as delightful as can be. You hear a chipper, perky voice answer, "helloooo." Sometimes the politeness we show strangers or friends is much different than at home.
Genuine love minds its manners, avoids sarcastic remarks, and doesn't act unbecoming (spiteful, malicious, wicked or nasty - or disgusting - or nauseating). Love exercises self-control - even in small matters. Love practices the Golden Rule.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him." (Proverbs 27:14).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Would your spouse say, "You're a blessing" or, ”Sometimes you’re a teeny, tiny bit rude when…”? Starting today - we take it to a higher standard!
Blessings to you,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
ASK YOUR SPOUSE TO TELL YOU THREE THINGS THAT CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE OR IRRITATED WITH YOU. YOU MUST DO SO WITHOUT ATTACKING THEM OR JUSTIFYING YOUR BEHAVIOR. THIS IS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE ONLY.
This could be a painful dare. Can we really listen to what our spouse has to say without defending ourselves? Are we tough enough, confident enough, love enough to take on this challenge?
Have you ever heard "someone else" yelling at the top of their lungs when the phone rings? Suddenly their tone is as delightful as can be. You hear a chipper, perky voice answer, "helloooo." Sometimes the politeness we show strangers or friends is much different than at home.
Genuine love minds its manners, avoids sarcastic remarks, and doesn't act unbecoming (spiteful, malicious, wicked or nasty - or disgusting - or nauseating). Love exercises self-control - even in small matters. Love practices the Golden Rule.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him." (Proverbs 27:14).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Would your spouse say, "You're a blessing" or, ”Sometimes you’re a teeny, tiny bit rude when…”? Starting today - we take it to a higher standard!
Blessings to you,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
Friday, January 7, 2011
LOVE DARE #4
Day 4: Love is Thoughtful
"CONTACT YOUR SPOUSE SOMETIME DURING THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY. HAVE NO AGENDA OTHER THAN ASKING HOW HE OR SHE IS DOING AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU COULD DO FOR THEM."
Remember when you first met your spouse? You could not stop thinking about him/her! You wondered what he/she was doing, reminisced about the previous time spent together, even laughed at their jokes! Socks on the floor? "How cute. I'll be able to help this person!" Then... (hear the Jaws theme song?) the signing of the notorious marriage license. Not so funny anymore.
Life got busy - work, kids, romance sizzled out along with a few unmet needs and expectations. You've been disappointed, hurt, and possibly angry - or really hacked! Time to make them pay, right? Not so fast (the patience thing). Love requires thoughtfulness - yes, even when undeserved. Love calls us to meet in the middle, respect, appreciate, and help our spouse.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "How precious also are Your thoughts to me... How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand." (Psalm 139:18).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Communicate your concerns, forgive the past, focus on good thoughts today. Today's thoughts can affect tomorrow's outcome. Make that call!
Blessings,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
"CONTACT YOUR SPOUSE SOMETIME DURING THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY. HAVE NO AGENDA OTHER THAN ASKING HOW HE OR SHE IS DOING AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU COULD DO FOR THEM."
Remember when you first met your spouse? You could not stop thinking about him/her! You wondered what he/she was doing, reminisced about the previous time spent together, even laughed at their jokes! Socks on the floor? "How cute. I'll be able to help this person!" Then... (hear the Jaws theme song?) the signing of the notorious marriage license. Not so funny anymore.
Life got busy - work, kids, romance sizzled out along with a few unmet needs and expectations. You've been disappointed, hurt, and possibly angry - or really hacked! Time to make them pay, right? Not so fast (the patience thing). Love requires thoughtfulness - yes, even when undeserved. Love calls us to meet in the middle, respect, appreciate, and help our spouse.
VERSE FOR TODAY'S DARE: "How precious also are Your thoughts to me... How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand." (Psalm 139:18).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY'S DARE: Communicate your concerns, forgive the past, focus on good thoughts today. Today's thoughts can affect tomorrow's outcome. Make that call!
Blessings,
Dale and Susan
(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.)
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