I have to be honest as to why these days have taken me a while to write. It is an uncomfortable place to be in. In the last year I have grown in my faith and relationship with God. However, I haven't really acted on it or take a step to profess my faith. I feel uncomfortable typing out some of these thoughts because I have never shared my thinking in this way. I've always been concerned about what others would think if I started 'talking like this.'
But, I realize that through this uncomfortable feelings, God has a plan for me. If I can never profess my love and devotion to him anywhere else than during my quiet time, than am I really in love with Him? And how can I ever reach others for Him if I never talk about Him? I know I can't do it alone, but with God's help, I can get past my insecurities and fears about what others think. Because they don't matter anyway.
Day 20 - Love is Jesus Christ
While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. --Romans 5:6
True love is found only through Christ alone. You must know Christ and accept him as the Lord of your life to live fulfilled with His love and joy.
Jesus is the key!
Day 21 - Love is Satisfied in God
The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire. --Isaiah 58:11
How do we know God's desires and guidance for us? Prayer and reading the Word. You can't grow if you don't know what He wants for you. In both cases, God reveals things to us to help us learn, love, and grow. If you don't put yourself in a situation to receive that information, you will never be able to love those around you. Because it is God' love the ultimately makes all things possible for us.
We are nothing without Him.
Day 22 - Love is Faithful
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord. --Hosea 2:20
Love is faithful, no matter what. Even in difficult times, love holds on. Just as God loves us, we are called to love others. Particularly those who do not always love us back. This can be especially challenging, which is why we need God's love through us to be able to do it.
We can do nothing without Him.
It is an interesting turn The Love Dare is taking. By focusing my time on knowing how much God loves ME, allows me to be able to love those around me better. I still have work to do, but basking in His love is a glorious thing that I would never want to give up.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Day 18 - Love Seeks to Understand
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the main who gains understanding. --Proverbs 3:13
It is important that you know every little detail about your spouse. Having knowledge and wisdom about our partner helps us to understand them and love them that much more. Asking questions and seeking answers in a non-judgmental way is the way to true understanding. Don't forget that last part - non-judgmental. If we show judgment, who would want to tell us anything? Accepting and loving are what God calls us to do. Once we have a complete understanding of our spouse, we can truly show them the love of God.
It is important to do three things: ask questions, listen, and ask God for discernment. Through those three we are able to come to know our spouse better so that we can love better.
Today's dare was to get to know Seth better. I thought this was an interesting dare since I've known him for twelve years, however I was surprised by something he said yesterday, which made me realize there is still a lot more to know. I still remember early on in our relationship we would play 'The Question Game' and ask each other millions of questions to get to know each other better.
One day in particular stands out to me. He had sprained his ankle in a basketball game the night before, so I came over the next day to hang out with him while he RICE'd his ankle (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation - still have my training skills!) Since we couldn't do anything, we just started asking each other questions about our inner-workings. That was a pretty intimate moment in our relationship and we haven't had many like that since then. So, that was my inspiration for the dare today.
I asked all my questions on the way to and from Ames and I learned quite a bit. Not what his favorite color was or anything like that - I already know it's blue :) - but more about our future together and what he sees in store for us. It was really intimate, even though we were surrounded by corn fields and rolling hills. It made me wonder why I don't ask questions like that more often. It's nice to know those things.
It is important that you know every little detail about your spouse. Having knowledge and wisdom about our partner helps us to understand them and love them that much more. Asking questions and seeking answers in a non-judgmental way is the way to true understanding. Don't forget that last part - non-judgmental. If we show judgment, who would want to tell us anything? Accepting and loving are what God calls us to do. Once we have a complete understanding of our spouse, we can truly show them the love of God.
It is important to do three things: ask questions, listen, and ask God for discernment. Through those three we are able to come to know our spouse better so that we can love better.
Today's dare was to get to know Seth better. I thought this was an interesting dare since I've known him for twelve years, however I was surprised by something he said yesterday, which made me realize there is still a lot more to know. I still remember early on in our relationship we would play 'The Question Game' and ask each other millions of questions to get to know each other better.
One day in particular stands out to me. He had sprained his ankle in a basketball game the night before, so I came over the next day to hang out with him while he RICE'd his ankle (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation - still have my training skills!) Since we couldn't do anything, we just started asking each other questions about our inner-workings. That was a pretty intimate moment in our relationship and we haven't had many like that since then. So, that was my inspiration for the dare today.
I asked all my questions on the way to and from Ames and I learned quite a bit. Not what his favorite color was or anything like that - I already know it's blue :) - but more about our future together and what he sees in store for us. It was really intimate, even though we were surrounded by corn fields and rolling hills. It made me wonder why I don't ask questions like that more often. It's nice to know those things.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Day 19 - Love is Impossible
Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. --1 John 4:7
We cannot love without the love of God within us. God's love fills us up and bubbles over to those around us. It is only because of this love that we are able to love others. There is nothing we can do to earn that love or show God we are worthy. We aren't. So it is solely because of God that we can live in love.
Loving is a difficult thing to do, and we need God's help to do so. It comes first with knowing that God loves us. How deep, how wide, how long. Once we are secure in God's love, we are then able to love those God has put around us. God promises to dwell in our hearts through the love of Christ and the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:19). God's love is always available through the Holy Spirit whenever we choose to submit to it (Romans 5:5).
Today's dare was a reflective one that starts with me. Looking back over the days, some were definitely more of a challenge than others. But had I submitted to God, I know that his love through me is what blesses Seth. In fact, the sermon from church this weekend revolved around squaring up with God and living in his love for me before I love others. Every piece of scripture was reiterated to me a few times from The Love Dare, the sermon, or a song I was listening to. That is not coincidence. God plans these moments to draw us nearer and rekindle that love so that we can show His love to others.
Ultimately, we can't live without Him and can't love without him either.
We cannot love without the love of God within us. God's love fills us up and bubbles over to those around us. It is only because of this love that we are able to love others. There is nothing we can do to earn that love or show God we are worthy. We aren't. So it is solely because of God that we can live in love.
Loving is a difficult thing to do, and we need God's help to do so. It comes first with knowing that God loves us. How deep, how wide, how long. Once we are secure in God's love, we are then able to love those God has put around us. God promises to dwell in our hearts through the love of Christ and the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:19). God's love is always available through the Holy Spirit whenever we choose to submit to it (Romans 5:5).
Today's dare was a reflective one that starts with me. Looking back over the days, some were definitely more of a challenge than others. But had I submitted to God, I know that his love through me is what blesses Seth. In fact, the sermon from church this weekend revolved around squaring up with God and living in his love for me before I love others. Every piece of scripture was reiterated to me a few times from The Love Dare, the sermon, or a song I was listening to. That is not coincidence. God plans these moments to draw us nearer and rekindle that love so that we can show His love to others.
Ultimately, we can't live without Him and can't love without him either.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Day 17 - Love Promotes Intimacy
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. --Proverbs 17:9
Being in a marriage is the most intimate relationship we can have this side of Heaven. It is an important one that we need. Within that relationship lies an inner circle of trust and love. Those two elements must be there to cover and help deal with the secrets and dark places of our lives that need light. Without the security of intimacy, people will seek to find it elsewhere - often with another or a distraction like work or a hobby.
Building intimacy in your marriage takes a long time and is very delicate. Who wants to expose EVERYTHING about themselves? But that is what a true marriage is built on. Your partner knowing every little detail about you.
I think Seth and I are pretty fortunate in this department because we have been around each other for almost 12 years, there aren't many secrets we don't know about each other. And it also means that there is A LOT we know about how each other works.
I still struggle with revealing my true feelings at times because I don't want Seth to think less of me, but I realize that he can help me get over them and deal with them if I let him in. For example, being pregnant has brought on a lot of thoughts, changes, and questions. Since he has a lot of knowledge in the area of pregnancy, it can be both a blessing and curse at times. I realize that I need to share all those pieces with him because he will want to help me.
So what does this come down to? Prayer. Listening with a gentle heart. Ultimately loving above all else.
Being in a marriage is the most intimate relationship we can have this side of Heaven. It is an important one that we need. Within that relationship lies an inner circle of trust and love. Those two elements must be there to cover and help deal with the secrets and dark places of our lives that need light. Without the security of intimacy, people will seek to find it elsewhere - often with another or a distraction like work or a hobby.
Building intimacy in your marriage takes a long time and is very delicate. Who wants to expose EVERYTHING about themselves? But that is what a true marriage is built on. Your partner knowing every little detail about you.
I think Seth and I are pretty fortunate in this department because we have been around each other for almost 12 years, there aren't many secrets we don't know about each other. And it also means that there is A LOT we know about how each other works.
I still struggle with revealing my true feelings at times because I don't want Seth to think less of me, but I realize that he can help me get over them and deal with them if I let him in. For example, being pregnant has brought on a lot of thoughts, changes, and questions. Since he has a lot of knowledge in the area of pregnancy, it can be both a blessing and curse at times. I realize that I need to share all those pieces with him because he will want to help me.
So what does this come down to? Prayer. Listening with a gentle heart. Ultimately loving above all else.
Day 16 - Love Intercedes
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. --3 John 2
Pray for your spouse. You can't change anything about them, but God can. This is an especially important one to me as prayer has become more of a focus and connection with God in my life. I really enjoyed this one and I'm happy to say, have already made it a part of my life!
Pray for your spouse. You can't change anything about them, but God can. This is an especially important one to me as prayer has become more of a focus and connection with God in my life. I really enjoyed this one and I'm happy to say, have already made it a part of my life!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Day 15 - Love is Honorable
Live with your wives in an understanding way... and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life. --1 Peter 3:7
To honor someone means to give them respect and high esteem, to treat them as being special and of great worth. How often do we honor our spouse? According to this definition, I'd say not as often as I should.
Today's challenge was to do something to show Seth that I honor him above my normal routine. So this morning, I made his lunch. It wasn't anything special. I just put the leftovers in a microwaveable bowl, put some trail mix in a baggie, and a few Sweet Tarts for desert. He doesn't usually bring his own lunch, but since we had delicious leftovers, he decided not to eat the cafeteria food.
He was on call tonight, so I talked to him around 9 and asked about his lunch. He said he hadn't eaten it yet because it was a very busy day. I was a little disappointed, mainly because I knew he would enjoy the Sweet Tarts. But then he said, "The nuts and Sweet Tarts were awesome though." So at least he did get a little enjoyment out of the meal.
It was definitely something out of the ordinary!
To honor someone means to give them respect and high esteem, to treat them as being special and of great worth. How often do we honor our spouse? According to this definition, I'd say not as often as I should.
Today's challenge was to do something to show Seth that I honor him above my normal routine. So this morning, I made his lunch. It wasn't anything special. I just put the leftovers in a microwaveable bowl, put some trail mix in a baggie, and a few Sweet Tarts for desert. He doesn't usually bring his own lunch, but since we had delicious leftovers, he decided not to eat the cafeteria food.
He was on call tonight, so I talked to him around 9 and asked about his lunch. He said he hadn't eaten it yet because it was a very busy day. I was a little disappointed, mainly because I knew he would enjoy the Sweet Tarts. But then he said, "The nuts and Sweet Tarts were awesome though." So at least he did get a little enjoyment out of the meal.
It was definitely something out of the ordinary!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Day 14 - Love Takes Delight
Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life. -- Ecclesiastes 9:9
Life is short. Delight in it while you can. And delight in the one you share it with.
Today's challenge was to not do something I would normally do in order to do something with Seth that he wants to do.
So I left all of my school work at school - didn't even bring my computer home! Seth got off early, so I left and met him home. We were going to go to the dog park, but there ended up being a tornado warning, so we decided to stay home. Eventually, the skies cleared as quickly as they had clouded over, and we went to out to dinner. We ate a late meal at Cool Basil, a Thai place in Clive. On the way home, Seth said, "Why don't we stop at Granite City, for old times sake?" We haven't been there in a while, really since I got pregnant, so I figured this was my opportunity to do something Seth wanted to do. So I responded, "Sounds good!" Which I'm pretty sure caught him off guard since that hasn't been my normal response in about seven months.
We hung out for a while and Seth had a beer. We sat close and talked about the basketball games on TV. On the way home he thanked me for being flexible and staying out.
I re-learned that we can have a great time just hanging out. And school can wait.
Life is short. Delight in it while you can. And delight in the one you share it with.
Today's challenge was to not do something I would normally do in order to do something with Seth that he wants to do.
So I left all of my school work at school - didn't even bring my computer home! Seth got off early, so I left and met him home. We were going to go to the dog park, but there ended up being a tornado warning, so we decided to stay home. Eventually, the skies cleared as quickly as they had clouded over, and we went to out to dinner. We ate a late meal at Cool Basil, a Thai place in Clive. On the way home, Seth said, "Why don't we stop at Granite City, for old times sake?" We haven't been there in a while, really since I got pregnant, so I figured this was my opportunity to do something Seth wanted to do. So I responded, "Sounds good!" Which I'm pretty sure caught him off guard since that hasn't been my normal response in about seven months.
We hung out for a while and Seth had a beer. We sat close and talked about the basketball games on TV. On the way home he thanked me for being flexible and staying out.
I re-learned that we can have a great time just hanging out. And school can wait.
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