Marriage Monday - The Love Dare

Three and a half years ago I was introduced to a movie that very quickly became a favorite.  I have seen the movie more than a dozen times now, and I am deeply touched each and every time.  Not only is it my favorite because it has a favorite childhood actor in it, but also because of the message it presents.  The movie I am talking about is none other than Fireproof.

Along with the movie came a new marriage devotional, The Love Dare.  This devotional is a book of forty love dares to enrich your marriage.  I did the dares on my husband, without him knowing though he later found out.  As much as doing the dares blesses your spouse and your marriage, it blesses you.  It opens your own eyes to your spouse and strengthens your love.

Each week I pray about what God would have me write about for Marriage Monday here at Woman to Woman.  The past few weeks I have felt God leading me back to The Love Dare.  Therefore, I am going to do the Love Dare on my husband once again.  But not only will I be doing it on my own, I am inviting you to do it along with me!  As I mentioned, The Love Dare has forty dares, so the next forty weeks, each Marriage Monday we will work on a Love Dare {unless God instructs me to do something different one week}.  If you have the book, great!  You can pull it out and follow along.  If you do not have it, that is no problem, please join us anyway.  I will post each dare for you.  I am truly excited to go through this Love Dare in 2012 with you sweet ladies!

So, ladies, let's get started!

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, baring with one another in love."  Ephesians 4:2

The Love Dare tells us that love is built on two pillars that best define what it is.  Those two pillars are patience and kindness.  When your husband offends you or hurts you, is your default setting to become angry and bitter, or do you show love by being patient and kind?

Proverbs tells us that whoever has patient has great understand, but one who is quick tempered displays folly.  1 Corinthians tells us that love is patient and kind.

A lack of patience can turn your home into a war zone.  Think about that for a moment. Every time your patience wears thin, if you do not get it under control, you get angry, you yell, you fight, and your home is now in war.

The practice of patience will foster peace and quiet.  When we are able to control that anger and practice our patience and kindness, war does not break out.  We are able to bring in peace.  Who doesn't want a peaceful home?

Today's dare:

The first part of this dare is fairly simple.  Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart.  For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all.  If the temptation arises, choose to not say anything.  It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

If you would like to purchase the Love Dare to follow along, please check out this link:

The Love Dare By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick / B & H Publishing Group

If you have not yet seen Fireproof, I greatly encourage you to check this movie out!  You will be blessed!

Fireproof DVD with The Love Dare CD Pack By Provident Music Distribution

Be sure to join us over on Facebook...there might just be a Love Dare giveaway today...

Be sure to comment on the post today for a chance to win Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts!  The winner will be announced on Thursday.  This book will change your life!  For details go here.

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Sweet Blessings~