Monday, February 16, 2009

Day One "Love Is Patient"



Ok Ladies here we go.....Day 1

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
Ephesians 4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Love is life's most powerful motivator!
Love changes our motivation for living.
Love is built on two pillars: Patience & Kindness
Love will inspire you to become a patient person.
Patience brings an internal calm during an external storm.
Patience stops problems in their tracks.
~Quotes from The Love Dare

www.fireproofmymarriage.com


What To Do Today

"Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the conditions of our heart. Today resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything.
It is better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret."

1 Thessalonians 5:15And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.

Questions At The End Of The Day
Did anything happen today to cause anger toward your mate?
Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?

If you would like to share, then share in your blog, and leave a note in comment section, and link back to my blog. If you want to keep it personal then that is fine too :)

Make sure you have the book! I believe they sell it at Walmart, Target, or on-line at www.fireproofmymarriage.com. The book has space for you to keep track of your journey through each day.

8 comments:

Peggy said...

Hi Brandie! I would like to share my experiences right here on your site if you don't mind. I don't want to post my daily challenges on my blog, as I don't want my husband to read them. He can read my notes in my book at the end of the challenge. May I add your "dare to love" button on my blog? I am proud to participate and I would love a button on my blog:)
The first day was a little bit challenging. I have to work on ME and biting my tongue. This book has been helpful already! This paragraph speaks to me: "Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment or grief. You don't get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows out of your own selfishness, foolishness, or evil motives." I have been selfish. I am going to learn a lot!

GraceFromHim said...

Yes, feel free to share here! That is what this is for!
I am sharing as well. You are so right Peggy, it is hard to hold back from sayings things we should not. It stems from our thoughts...that is why I love the verse in Phil 4:8. There it is specific about our thoughts and what we need to judge them by. Can I encourage you and others to make a verse poster this week and post this verse somewhere in your house so that you can remember it? This verse has been life changing for me as I struggle in this area as well. What is in your heart will come out! My son did a sermon for Junior church awhile back and he talked about the similarities of a tea bag and your heart. The tea bag has flavour, the flavour is what comes out of the tea bag when it is in the hot water. When situations arise and the hot water (life's trials)
come, what comes out is whatever is in that tea bag (your heart). Did that make sense. I am telling you, lol I am not a writer and never will claim to be lol. So forgive me for any grammar mistakes! But its a great illustration and boy, if we could only grasp this concept and apply this verse it would transform us, I'm convinced! We are so bombarded with the world view of what marriage is and we need to transform our minds to what is right in God's eyes.
Thank You for sharing Peggy! I am so thankful we can go through this together and encourage/pray for one another!

Isabel said...

Hi! For me it's not biting my tongue which is a challenge, but the looks I give him when he does or says something I don't like! I think it will take 40 years for me to grow out of this! But I'll try with God's help.

live8love5laugh said...

I am a big fan of the movie "fireproof". My husband is a professional firefighter like Caleb and we are having a lot of marital issues. I have read the "love dare" and understand what needs to be done but my husband has moved out and we aren't really talking. We are starting marriage counseling this Monday and this will be the first time really talking after I received the papers. He said he is willing to try to fix things but I am not sure how to do this when we don't see eachother. Any suggestions from anyone who has done the "love dare challenge"?

Mizpah said...

live8love5laugh
I just saw Fireproof in my home. In 1997, married for 24 years, my husband told me that he was seeing a counsellor and requested that I go with him. At the first session together, my hubby sat at the other end of the couch. The counsellor mentioned 'divorce' several times and red flags went up in my head; I replied that 'divorce' wasn't in my vocabulary and I was married for life. I was under the impression that we were going to resolve issues and make our marriage work. I talked with my hubby and told him that I was willing to continue the sessions, but that they'd have to be with a Christian counsellor. I sought out friends to pray for me as I searched for a Christian counsellor. Even through all the counselling sessions, my hubby left.
Shortly afterwards, driving and shedding tears, I had thought of suicide but came to realize that my children needed me and the Lord would help me through this tough time.
I got a support team together; three women that would be there for me if I needed to cry or talk, anytime of the day or night.
It was suggested that I go and see a Lawyer about steps I needed to take to be prepared if I was handed Divorce papers. I began to copy everything financial in the filing cabinet, Mortgage papers, pay slips, investments etc. I also called to see what Government help there was available, if needed; I hadn't worked since I had my first baby.
I read my Bible asking the Lord to speak to me, to give me guidance and strength as I wanted to be the Godly woman He wanted me to be. I kept a diary of my day; what the Lord had done for me and the Bible verses I read. My Journal was a great encouragement to me through this time as I could go back and see God's loving hand upon me. Some days I couldn't even pray; I just bowed my head and cried. I would sing choruses and hymns to help me get to sleep.
Dobson's book 'Love must be Tough' was a real help to me. In it, Dobson suggested to write a letter. I did write a letter to hubby stating that I never twisted his arm at the altar, it was his free choice; I wasn't about to twist it now to keep him at home with us. I also wrote that I still loved him.
Every time my husband came to the house I prayed for God's strength, put a smile on, spoke graciously, asked how he was doing & was there anything he needed. When he left, I always gave him a hug and said, "I love you, I truly do. I'm praying for you." This was very hard for me to do.
I knew that this being a Covenant Marriage I was married for life, even if hubby divorced me. I knew that I couldn't 'fix' my hubby or our marriage. I gave it all to the Lord.
The relationship with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ grew so much that He was all that I needed. With Him always beside me, I could make it through life even with out my hubby.
After six months out of the home, my hubby finally came back.
The road hasn't been easy. I trust God that if my heart ever gets broken again I know He's there with me through it all. PTL
I'm going to purchase 'The Love Dare Book' hoping that I'll be able to find new ways to show my hubby that I love him even more today.
Hoping my story will bring encouragement to you. The Lord is your strength, you can depend on Him.

Anonymous said...

Hello!I am a Paratrooper returning home from Afghanistan to a wife that is tired and wants a divorce!it hurts PPL...like nothing I ever experienced before but God is my strength and my light...I trust him to deliver my marriage from divorce, this life ain't easy but he loves us.I will be home in a few hours and will start day 1;surrender everything to him and love will prevail. God has given me a new heart, i know he can give her a new one...pray for me and my wife....Love is patience!!!amen

GraceFromHim said...

Dear Anonymous...

Praying now,
Dear Lord, I thank you for those who are willing to work on their marriage. I ask now that each person here working on these steps that you would give them the courage and strength to follow through each step. I pray that our spouses would see and know there is a difference in us, that we are willing to work at it. I pray you would open their heart to see that the marriage commitment is one we made for life. Thank you for your instruction book so we KNOW where we have HOPE in our marriage. I pray now especially for this man who has come to ask for prayer regarding his marriage. Please be with this dear family as he comes home. Bring him encouragement through others to stick and stay the course. Show his wife your grace through him. Work this marriage out so that others can see you are in the business of healing a marriage. I thank you for this mans service to our country. I pray these things in your precious sons name,
amen

Anonymous said...

Hi. i have seen Fireproof and i love the lessons in that movie. Though i am not married, i have a boyfriend for 4yrs but he just broke up with me and said that he dont love me anymore ;( I still believe that our relationship can be saved. Pls pray for me and my boyfriend. i love him so much and he's the one i want to be with til the end.