(posting early) Day 14: Love takes delight

Today's Dare: Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they'd really like to work on. Just be together.

God's Word says: Enjoy life with the wife (husband) you love all the days of your fleeting life Ecclesiastes 9:9

Day 13: Love fights fair

Today's Dare: Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own rules to "fight" by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.

God's Word says: If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Mark 3:25
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1
Be of the same mind toward one another Romans 12:16

Day 12: Love lets the other win

Todays Dare: Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to gie in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

God's Word says: Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
The wisdom that is from above is first pure, than peaceable, gentle, willing to yield. James 3:17

Day 11: Love cherishes

Today's Dare: What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, " I cherish you" and do it with a smile.

God's Word says: Answering him, Jesus said, " What do you want me to do for you?" Mark 10:51
Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. Ephesians 5:28

Day 10: Love is unconditional

Today's Dare: Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse-something that proves (to you and to them) that your love is based on a choice and nothing else. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

God's Word says: God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Day 9: Love makes good impressions

Today's Dare: Think of a specific way you'd like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.

God's Word says: Greet one another with a kiss of love I Peter 5:14

Day 8: Love is not jealous

Today's Dare: Determine to become your spouse's biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

God's Word says: Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire. Song of Solomon 8:6

(posting early) Day 7: Love believes the best

Today's Dare: (LOVE THIS!) 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.

God's Word says: (Love) believes all things, hopes all things. I Corinthians 13:7
If there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Day 6: Love is not irritable

Today's Dare: Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

God's Word says: 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

Let's Take it to the Lord!

... and then you can post your frustrations here! This post is for you to comment if you are frustrated and need to "talk" about it with us!! But remember to pray about it first!! AND this is not a place to vent about your hubby. Even though you fell he is the reason for your frustrations. I know I fell better if I talk about the situation that happened and it makes me realize how I could have handled it better. Type away dear friends.
~and just to be clear this is for non-dare frustrations/situations

Day 5: Love is not rude

Today's Dare: 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.

God's Word says: He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14
The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious.Ecclesiastes 10:12

Day 4: Love is thoughtful

Today's Dare: 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.

God's Word says: 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 139:17-18

Day 3: Love Is NOT Selfish

Today's Dare: Whatever you put your time, energy, and mind into will become more important to you. It's hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says " I was thinking of you today."

God's Word says: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, give preference to one another in honor. Romans 12:10
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

I don't think the world would have a divorce rate problem in the Christian community or otherwise if people actually lived out Phil 2:3!

one question

Ladies,
Do you want me to post the "Day 1, 2, 3..." and dare info the night before or the morning of? Just want to make it most beneficial for everyone to see.
Also, here is a thought I rec'd from my lovely SIL today. Maybe we need accountability partners to help us press on through these 40 days, it will get harder as it goes on.

Thanks!

Day 2: Love is Kind

Today's Dare: In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

God's Word says: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

Day 1: Love is Patient

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 not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

The Bible says: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love Ephesians 4:2

One of my favorites...

This is one of my favorite verses and always seem applicable so I thought I would add it on here.

Jerem 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Talk to you gals on start day...one week!

ok, trial & error

Ok ladies, this is our blog. If you want to change anything do it-if we end up with a different background everyday that's great! Whatever you guys want. I'm setting up the first stuff, but you all are welcome to change it. That will make it fun and interesting and unique each time you come to talk or leave a post.
Remember, Monday February 15 and get your books.
Hugs,
Davelyn