The World Of Chelle'

Revelation Song...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:01:00 +0000

I just HAD to post this in the event you haven't heard this song... particularly this rendition!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6392LoZ9XJg

(I've been off blogger so long I don't know how to embed the video so you can watch it here...)

A "First" We Could Have Lived Without...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:07:00 +0000

I woke up this morning to the headline, "First reported US death due to Swine Flu". I caught my breath. What terrible news. News that I thought couldn't get any worse. Until I read on.

A 23 month old toddler that had recently traveled to Mexico with family... fell ill and died of complications of the flu virus.

I don't know about you but my heart is broken. And at the same time, I'm wondering if this could actually become a pandemic as the CDC cautions.

The thing about a pandemic is that it really can't be stopped right? I mean, think about it. People are still traveling. Kids are still in school. Moms are still grocery shopping. Dads are still working. And families are still attending church. This thing takes 5 days to incubate. Meaning- we are exposed and feel fine for almost a week before the symptoms set in. For that week we are coming and going and playing and hugging and sharing sodas etc.

I am not trying to strike fear into the hearts of those that read this. I am simply calling us all to PRAY!!! A toddler has already died from this. 68 people in the US are confirmed to have this. Schools in New York City are already closed due to the "liklihood" of 75 infected children.

Something... SOMEONE is going to have to intervene here because this thing has the potential to GO HUGE.

All this to say- I'm praying!! I hope you are too!

I was lost...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:04:00 +0000

I've never been away this long. Right about now, the three of you that are "following" me just looked on your blogger notification board and wondered what the heck "The World of Chelle' " is. It's just me friends. Stopping in to say hi.... two months after my last post. TERRIBLE I KNOW.

It's been a hectic few months. To be quite transparent- things have been a little overwhelming since the miscarriage in November. I didn't do well with that. It became obvious. In my family. In my marriage. I stopped making the choices God desired from me. I no longer desired to do what God wanted me to do regardless of my husband's actions. (Good or bad) I became distanced. And angry.

God is dealing with me. Still. But things are much better. I continue to learn that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. That trusting Him doesn't mean following Him only when the outcome is as I would have planned but that knowing NO MATTER the outcome He is who He says He is and He is trustworthy.

I think I will always REQUIRE a thorn in my side. I don't want to have to defend that last comment. It is more emotional than theological. But I do think I will always require a reminder. Something that keeps me completely dependant on the Lord. My tendancy is to revert to my power, my ability, my sufficiency. I am neither powerful, able nor sufficient so I'm amused by my actions everytime I find myself trudging through of my own volition and/or functioning in my own abilities (0r lack there of). You'd think I'd have this worked out by now.

My Lyme Disease is back. I've been off meds since the pregnancy. I really thought I'd kicked it. That HE'D kicked it. I thought I was through being a slave to this disease. And I was doing great. No meds. No muscle weakness. No muscle shaking. Few muscle twitches. No exhaustion. No swallowing issues.

Well- that was then...

Two months or so back I got meningitis and since then the symptoms have shown themselves more and more each day. I need to get an appointment for my Lyme Dr. and get back on a good protocol of oral and IM antibiotics. And I need to hurry before it becomes the saga it was 4 years ago.

Pray for me. Mostly that I would be focused on God and not this disease. That I would see the opportunity He has to show Himself in my weakness. That I wouldn't judge the circumstance as His lot for me but that He is my source as this circumstance occurs. The enemy can be brutal in times like these so I suppose the biggest prayer I have is that I would take captive EVERY thought that goes against God's will for me... that I would capture any thought that isn't good, right, true, noble, pure, excellent or praiseworthy. And that in ALL things, this included... I would PRAISE HIM!

Life happens. Lyme happens. God is still who He says He is. And we are still who He says WE ARE!

Today...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:42:00 +0000

Today, when faced with the opportunity to choose what I know to be right over what I feel... I chose what I feel.

Confirming what I suppose I knew all along... I love myself more than I love God.

A Visit with Baby Kaia and Charlie...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Yesterday I FINALLY went to my friend Tara's house to see Charlie and Baby Kaia. Kaia just turned a month old so it has been killing me that I've not seen her. The entire time I was there... snuggling with her, the talk centered on how very big she'd gotten. I suppose there was some truth to that as she is 13 pounds now- but in my arms, she was so very small.

She owned me upon arrival. (Which might technically be a lie as she owned me from the moment she was born even though I was not able to visit her until yesterday.) I took a few pictures while there... but not many as I refused to multitask while holding her and playing with Charlie.

Charlie was amazing with his sister. Though, he is a busy 19 month old. Tara has her hands full tending to the wee ones. I brought a little wooden bowling set to Charlie that we opened while I was there. I realized quickly that a toddler shouldn't be given a heavy wooden ball because it quickly became an aerodynamic weapon!! I can say with almost 100% certainty that it was packaged up yesterday never to be seen by Charlie again. (Sorry Tara)

By the way- it was so great to see Tara. She looks amazing, which was not unexpected. You can hardly tell she recently delivered a baby... via C-section none the less. I have a picture of her with Kaia but for some reason it didn't download. I'll work on getting it up on the blog later today.

You can't tell this but Kaia is wearing a blanket from her "Aunt Chelle'"

Notice Charlie grinning as he PINCHES his sister!

Notice Charlie caressing his sister after getting CAUGHT!

See! I told you I snuggled with Kaia.

Is she not just the sweetest, dearest baby??

Devotions for a Deeper Life

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:46:00 +0000

I read this devotional last night before bed. I think it is applicable to Christians everywhere so I am posting it here. I would love to hear your thoughts...

He that judgeth me is the Lord (1Cor. 4.4b)

We dare not judge one another, and certainly not ourselves. When the Bible exhorts us to "walk in the Light," it does not mean the light of our own convictions, but the light of the Lord. The Light of the world is Jesus, and one's own point of view is darkness.

It is not obedience to a standard that matters to God, but the fulfillment of the highest standard by the Spirit that is within. Holiness and purity are not obedience to an actual law, but the unconscious natural characteristics of the indwelling Holy Spirit. No one can imitate either. This is why so many who have never experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit are so stern and unchristlike, and such sticklers for obeying the letter of the truth. These carnal Christians are not spiritual in God's sight.

What a man is- not what he does or has done or hopes to do- will be the standard of judgment on the Judgment Day. There will be no acquittal or appeal.

We are the ChampYINZ!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0000

HECK YEAH STILLERS!!!

10 of the 26 that attended the Superbowl Party...

Kylee in her Superbowl Garb...

Kylee and her new "BFF" MacKenzie...

Cade and Iggy...

Kylee in a wagon... (Not sure how that factors into the celebrations)

A survey...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Would you think I, and 4 other moms, would be crazy to take these children to the movie theater?What about these?

Little Girl No More...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:43:00 +0000

I have just one picture to prove my claim!

Introducing Kaia Joy...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:35:00 +0000

No need to yell at us Kaia.

We're aware you're here!!!

And we're all so grateful!!

Happy Birthday!

I have to tell you a little story... I sent this picture text message to Tara after reading that she was going in for a C-Section when an OR could be acquired. The note took me a little while to "manufacture" because I could only find sharpies that were thin tipped so I got worried my text would be lost in all the chaos of welcoming a new baby. (By the way, I'm not a psychic... I had a heads up on her name)

Come to find that when they announced Kaia's arrival about an hour later on Tara's blog ... my picture text had missed the baby's time of birth by only 9 minutes.

That's some pretty good timing huh?

(Hey Mari and Kerry... thanks for visiting and encouraging Tara on her blog today. She really appreciated every bit of encouragement she received!!)

Say a Prayer...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Hi friends. My dear friend Tara is in her 29th hour of labor with her daughter. This is her first delivery as her first child Charlie, was delivered via surrogacy. She has been on pitocin since this morning and has had her water broken.

This has been a challenging labor thus far. Could you please remember her in your prayers throughout the day? She is so grateful to be delivering this little girl that I know she isn't complaining about the pains or discomforts.
Her sister has been handling the blog updates... look how sweet she is here with her husband. (The running joke while she walks the hall has been her belly- she has a monitor on her that makes her belly look big... she is a tiny little thing.)

Feel free to link over to her blog to offer her a word of encouragement.

Thanks so much!!

The truth about Santa...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:49:00 +0000

There's a dirty little secret in the "W" house. It surfaces every year sometime after Thanksgiving and remains in the air till early January. It's particularly controversial in Christian circles... and the perpetrator of said secret- my 4 year old daughter.

KYLEE BELIEVES IN SANTA!

There, I said it!It's an ironic turn of events.

There are two children before her... neither of which believe now, nor ever believed, in Santa. And rightly so, as Paul and I decided early on in Brenden's life, to exclude Santa from our Christmas beliefs and traditions. We never wanted our children to believe in something that wasn't true and then come to us at some point with the question, "Well, if Santa wasn't real... does that mean Jesus isn't real either?"

Kylee, against all familial input and direction, has decided that Santa does indeed exist and is worthy of all hope and love. And I will admit, her zeal for Santa is adorable.

But it got me to thinking...

How many of us believe with everything in us, in something UNWORTHY of belief? or hope in something that is hopeless? or truly wait for the arrival of something that doesn't exist?

I know I have. And do. I could write a long list of areas where I believe, hope, love... foolishly. Believing I will become who I am supposed to be without investing time and or treasure into the kingdom of God... hoping to be a size 6 without dieting or exercising... waiting for my relationship to become that of Cinderella and Prince Charming despite the fact that storybook endings are unrealistic and damaging to actual relationships.

I wonder what would happen if we put the zeal we have for our "Santas" into our relationships with God. If we believed, hoped, loved... God the way we do the things not of Him that yield minimal returns...

Just a thought...

Praying we place our faith, hope and love not in the things of this world but in an eternal God who loves us with an unfailing, never-ending, hope-filled Love.

Happy 2009 Friends!

Christmas According to a Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:44:00 +0000

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1. 26-38)

I wonder what Mary thought when the angel approached her, informing her that she was to conceive a child of the Holy Spirit. What ran through her mind when she was told that she was to name him Jesus and that He would be the son of the most High. That His kingdom would never end? What could her thoughts have been at the age of 16- young and unwed?

I know she ultimately said, “Be it unto me as you have said”. An amazing response that I find that to be extremely significant… knowing that it was not ok to be pregnant before marriage in the Judaic culture, knowing that her fiancé had never touched her intimately and wasn’t the father and knowing how it would sound to announce that her baby was in fact Jesus, the Messiah, the incarnate of God… she responded in sheer surrender and obedience. Do unto me as you’ve planned!

But before she responded in that Godly manner… she hesitated. She feared. She questioned. Just like you and I would have. After all, she was a 16 year old girl engaged to be married. I don’t know about you but when I was 16 it was no walk in the park. I can still remember highschool and the trials of fitting in. I remember being disliked for the day if my hair wasn’t ‘just right’ or if I didn’t wear the right clothes. It was a time where fitting in meant everything and I did whatever I needed to keep the social status. But here is, Mary- being told she was about to go against everything the traditions of the day stated. What could she say? Who could she tell?

I like that, in her confused state, she asked Gabriel how this could be as she was still a virgin. I like that Luke included her questioning of Gabriel in his account. It confirms to me that for a moment, she was in fact a confused teenager in need of some answers. I like that in that moment… Mary is not some elevated figure to which to pray or praise but a girl I can relate to. Though I would venture to say that were the account in Luke to have included the name Chelle, it wouldn’t be a sentence… it wouldn’t be one question… but a chapter. And it likely would’ve started with, “Are you freaking KIDDING me? Clearly you have the WRONG virgin”

Surely my similarities with Mary end with her fears and uncertainties… No chance I would have responded to an encounter with God’s will in the manner she did. No chance I would have been able to acknowledge a situation I could hardly understand and instantly respond, “Be it unto me as you have said” But as I’ve pointed out, that is no doubt why Luke recounts the story of Mary and not Chelle.

And yet, here we are 2000 years later, like Mary, encountering God’s will daily. We are given opportunities every day to choose our responses. And though no encounter with God’s will that we will face will ever be as dramatic as what Mary faced with the birth of Jesus… ONE choice we make is equally significant. One encounter with God in our lives as important and life altering. The moment where we are confronted with accepting or rejecting that Son born to a virgin 2000 years ago.

I don’t know where each of you stands with God today. But in this moment, right now, His desire is to know each and every one of us personally. And His plan to accomplish and restore that relationship includes His son, Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus was not an ordinary baby. Out of God’s great love for us, out of our need for a savior, Christ came to this earth and became a man so that He could reunite mankind with God.

He lived a sinless life on earth and paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. Three days later, He rose from the dead—proving that He is God. All who trust in Him and believe in His death, burial, and resurrection have access into Heaven and an eternal relationship with the Father. That’s why He came and that’s why we now celebrate His birth at Christmas—because "a baby has been born to us. He is Christ the Lord" and "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

I pray this Christmas that you would know God in this way. That if you haven't already, you would receive Christ into your heart and walk in the knowledge that your future in Him is certain.

If your desire is a relationship with God- this short prayer, or one like it in your own words will guarantee you just that. “Lord Jesus, You came to Earth, in human form 2000 years ago because I am a sinner. I know that You are God and that You died to pay for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead, proving You are God. Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me. Right now, in the best way I know how, I ask You to be my Lord, my Savior, and my God. Help me now to live for You. Amen.”

A Baby Changes Everything...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:27:00 +0000

It's been a rough couple of weeks around the "W" house. I'm sure you've noticed based upon my frequent absences from the Love Dare. I apologize by the way.

A couple weeks ago we found out we were expecting baby number 4! A baby. Due July 24th. It was a surprise to say the least and we had mixed emotions. Our youngest is nearly 5. We have been planning to move. P's company, National City was just bought out by PNC.

Well, a week after we found out, I went in for a generic appointment with generic "baby" labs, only to hear back days later that my numbers were "low". My Dr. wanted to know if there was any chance the baby could have been conceived later than reported. I knew there wasn't. Particularly because I received a positive test fairly early.

They sent out repeat labs. The hope was that the HCG levels would double. The catch was that it would take three days to get the results. And if that wasn't hard enough- I'd have to wait for the results while attending a baby shower for a dear friend.

God was gracious. Over those three days I learned, quickly, how to pray for His will. I really felt like it was the first time that I couldn't pick a way to pray. I couldn't slant my prayers one way or the other. I never would have planned to be pregnant... but I certainly wouldn't wish one away either. I prayed often, "Be it unto me according to YOUR WILL". I suppose I figured... it worked for Mary...

All along, I thought for sure that I would get a phone call confirming that our numbers had doubled and that the baby was fine. I wasn't sure where we would put him/her, or what we would name him/her, or what other people would think about us having another him/her... but I thought for sure we'd have to figure all that out over time.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. We are no longer pregnant. And to my amazement, as the pregnancy was unplanned, my heart hurts.

I heard this song over the weekend... Faith Hill put it out on her Christmas Disc Joy to the World. It's called, "A Baby Changes Everything." I had a word or two with the Lord over the irony of the song in the midst of my situation. But He seemed to settle my heart, calm my hurt, and show me just how much THE baby, 2000 years ago, changed everything. Especially as He granted me the opportunity to receive peace and comfort in the midst of my sadness.

I pray this Christmas, that you too would access the Love, Peace, Joy, and Comfort given you from the Father through a precious baby, born to change everything!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8illRJRmN8

Love Dare-Day 32!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:34:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: Is there a "leaving" issue you haven't been brave enough to conquer yet? Confess it to you spouse today, and resolve to make it right. The oneness of your marriage is dependent upon it. Follow this with a commitment to your spouse and to God to make your marriage the top priority over every other human relationship.

Love Meets Sexual Needs

The husband my fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 1 Corinthians 7.3

The Bible has a great deal to say about sex and the blessing it can be for both husband and wife. Even its boundaries and restrictions are God's ways of keeping our sexual experiences at a level far beyond any of those advertised on TV or in the movies.

In Christian marriage, romance is meant to thrive and flourish. After all, it was created by God. The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love story describing, in poetic detail, sexual acts between a husband and wife. It shows how each one responds to the other and expresses how honesty and understanding in sexual matters lead to a life of confident love together.

It's true that sex is only one aspect of marriage. But as time goes by, one of you will likely value its importance more highly than the other. As a result of this, the nature of your oneness as man and wife will feel threatened and endangered.

Again, the biblical foundations of marriage were originally expressed in the creation of Adam and Eve. She was made to be "a helper suitable for him" (Gen. 2.18) The unity of their relationship and physical bodies were so strong, they were said to become "one flesh". (Gen.2.24)

The same oneness is a hallmark of every marriage. In the act of romance, we join our hearts to each other in an expression of love that no other form of communication can match. That's why "the marriage bed is to be undefiled" (Hebrews 13.4) We are not to share this same experience with anyone else.

But we are weak. And when this legitimate need goes unmet0 when it's treated as being selfish and demanding by the other- our hearts are subject to being drawn away from marriage, tempted to fulfill this longing somewhere else, some other way.

To counteract this tendency, God established marriage with a "one flesh" mentality. "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (1 Cor. 7.4)

Sex is not to be used as a bargaining chip. It is not something God allows us to withhold without consequence. Though there can certainly be abuses to this divinely designed framework, the heart of marriage is one of giving ourselves to each other to meet the other's needs.

Sex is the one God-given opportunity to do that.

So "stop depriving one another" the Bible warns, "except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" (1 Cor. 7.5)

You are the one person called and designated by God to meet your spouse's sexual needs. If you allow distance to grow between you in this area you are taking something that rightly belongs to your spouse. If you let your mate know- by words, actions, or inactions- that sex needn't be anymore than you want it to be, you rob from them a sense of honor and endearment that has been set in place by biblical mandate. You violate the "one flesh unity of marriage.

So whether you perceive yourself as being on the deprived end, or you would admit that you are the one depriving, know that God's plan for you is to meet in the middle and come to a place of agreement. But also know that the path of getting there will not be accomplished by sulking, arguing, or demanding. Love is the only way to reestablish loving union between each other. When the love of Christ is the foundation of your marriage, the strength of your friendship and sexual relationship can be enjoyed at a level this world can never know.

"You have been bought with a price," God has declared (1 Cor 6.20) He set His affections on you and went to every length to draw you into desiring Him. Now it is your turn to pay the loving price to win the heart of your mate. When you do, you will enjoy the pure delight that flows when sex is done for all the right reasons. You will also have the opportunity to "glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6.20) How beautiful.

Today's Dare

If at all possible, try to initiate sex with your husband today. (And all the lurking husbands said, "AMEN") Do this in a way that honors what your spouse has told you about what they need from you sexually. Ask God to make this enjoyable for both of you as well as a path to greater intimacy.

Love Dare- Day 31!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: Did the Lord open your eyes to anything new that might be giving fuel to this point of disagreement? How do you intend to respond? What do you hope to see God do in your spouse as well?

Love and Marriage

A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. -Genesis 2.24

This verse is God's original blueprint for how marriage is supposed to work. It involves a tearing away and a knitting together. It reconfigures existing relationships while establishing a brand new one. Marriage changes everything.

That's why couples who don't take this "leaving" and cleaving " message to heart will reap the consequences down the line, when the problems are much harder to repair without hurting someone.

"Leaving" means that you are breaking a natural tie. Your parents step into the role of counselors to be respected but, can't no longer tell you what to do. Sometimes the difficulty in doing this comes from the original source. A parent may bot to release you yet from their control and expectations. Whether through unhealthy dependence or inner struggles over the empty nest, parents don't always take their share of this responsibility. In such cases, the grown child has to make "leaving" a courageous choice of his own. And far too often, this break is not made in the right way.

Are you and your spouse still living with unresolved issues because of a failure to cut the apron strings? Do either of your parents continue to create problems within your home- perhaps without their even knowing it? What needs to happen to put a stop to this before it creates too wide of a division in your marriage?

Unity is a marriage quality to be guarded at great cost. The purpose of "leaving" of course, is not to abandon all contact with the pat but rather to preserve the unique oneness that marriage is designed to capture. Only in oneness can you become all that God means for you to be.

If you're too tightly drawn to your parent, the singular identity of your marriage will not be able to come to flower. You will always be held back, and a root of division will continue to end up new shoots into your relationship. It won't go away unless you do something about it. For without "leaving" you cannot do the "cleaving" you need, the joining of your hearts that's required to experience oneness.

"Cleaving" carries the idea of catching someone by pursuit, clinging to them a your new rock of refuge and safety. This man is now the spiritual leader of your new home, tasked with the responsibility of loving you "just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" Ephesians 5.25 This woman is now one in union with you, called, "to see to it that she respects her husband" Ephesians 5.33

As a result of this essential process, you are now free to become everything God meant when He declared you "one flesh."

You are able to achieve oneness in your decision making, even when you begin from differing viewpoints.
You are able to achieve oneness in your priorities, even though you've come together from backgrounds that could hardly be more different.
You are able to achieve oneness in your sexual affections toward each other, even if either or both of you have memories of impurity in your pre-marital past.

God's decision to make you "one flesh" in marriage can make anything possible.

If this is not how things are going in your home right now, you're unfortunately in the majority. It's not out of character for couples of all kinds- even Christian couples- to ignore God's design for marriage, thinking they know better than He does. Genesis 2.24 may have sounded nice and noble when it was wrapped around the sharing of vows at the wedding. But as a fundamental principle to be put into place and practiced as a living fact= this just seems to difficult to do. But this is what you must make any sacrifice to reclaim.

It's hard= extremely hard= when the pursuit of oneness is basically one sided. Your spouse may not be interested at all in recapturing the unity you had at first. Even if there is some desire on his or her part, there may still be issues between you that are nowhere close to being resolved.

But if you'll continue to keep a passion for oneness forefront in your mind and heart, your relationship over time will begin to reflect the inescapable "one flesh" design that is printed on its DNA. You don't have to go looking for it. It's already there. But you do have to live it, or there's nothing else to expect than disunity.

Leave. And cleave. And dare to walk as one.

Today's Dare

Is there a "leaving" issue you haven't been brave enough to conquer yet? Confess it to your spouse and resolve to make it right. The oneness of your marriage is dependent upon it. Follow this with a commitment to make your marriage a top priority over every other human relationship.

Love Dare- Day 30!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Followup: How will this change of motivation affect your relationship and reactions? What does this inspire you to do? What does it inspire you to stop doing?

Love Brings Unity

Father keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. -John 17.11

One of the mot impressive things about the Bible is the way it is linked together, with consistent themes running throughout, from beginning to end. Though written over a span of 1,600 years and composed by more than forty writers of various backgrounds and skill levels, God sovereignty authored it with one united voice. And He continues to speak through it today without ever going off message.

Unity. Togetherness. Oneness.

They are the unshakable hallmarks of our God.

From the very beginning of time, we see His unity at work through the Trinity- Father, Son, an Holy Spirit. God the Father is there, creating the heavens and the earth. The Spirit is "moving over the surface of the waters" (Gen. 1.2) And the Son, who is "the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature" (Hebrews 1.3), joins in speaking the world into existence. "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" (Gen. 1.26)

Us. Our.

All three are in perfect oneness of mind and purpose.

We later see Jesus rising from the water of baptism, as the Spirit descends like a dove and the Father announces over this majestic scene. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3,17)

Jesus later says, 'I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6.38). His desire to answer His followers' prayers is "so that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14.13) He asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit, knowing that the Spirit will faithfully testify about the Son He loves, for "no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God" (I Corinthians 2.11)

Father, Son, and Spirit are in pristine unity. They serve each other, love each other and honor each other. Though equal, they rejoice when the other is praised. Though distinct, they are one, indivisible.

And because this relationship is so special- so representative of the vastness of God- He has chosen to let us experience an aspect of it. In the unique relationship of husband and wife, two distinct individuals are spiritually united into "one flesh" (Gen 2.24) And "what God has joined together, let man not separate" Mark 10.9

In fact, this mystery is so compelling- and the love between husband and wife so intertwined and complete- that God use the imagery of marriage to explain His love for the church.

The church(the bride) is most honored when her Savior is worshiped and celebrated. Christ (the bridegroom), who has given Himself up for her, is most honored when He sees her"as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5.27) Both Christ and the church love and honor the other.

That's the beauty of unity.

What would happen if you made it your mission to do everything possible to promote togetherness of heart with your spouse? What if every threat to your unity was treated as poison, a cancer, an enemy to be eliminated by love, humility, and selflessness? What would your marriage become if you were never again willing to see your oneness torn apart?

The unity of the Trinity, as seen from beyond the reaches of history past and continuing into the future, is evidence of the power of oneness. It is unbreakable. It is unending. And it is the same spiritual reality that disguises itself as your home and mailing address. Though painted in the colors of work schedules and doctor visits and trips to the grocer, oneness is the eternal thread that runs through the daily experience of what you call "your marriage, " giving it a purpose to be defended for life.

Therefore, love this one who is as much a part of your body as you are. Serve this one whose needs cannot be separated from your own. Honor this one who, when raised upon pedestal of your love, raises you up too in the eyes of God, all at the same time.

Today's Dare

Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and look on today as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness with your spouse. Pray that He would do the same for them. And if appropriate, discuss this matter openly, seeking God for unity.

Love Dare- Day 29!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:32:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: How much of your mate's stress is caused by your lack of concern or initiative? When you expressed a desire to help, how did they receive it? Are there other needs you could meet?

Love's Motivation

Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men. -Ephesians 6.7

It does not take much experience to discover that your mate will not always motivate your love. In face, many times they will de-motivate it. More often than you'd like, it will seem difficult to find the inspiration to demonstrate your love. They may not even receive it when you try to express it. That's simply the nature of life, even in fairly healthy marriages.

But although moods and emotions can create all kinds of moving motivational targets, one is certain to stay in the same place, all the time. When God is your reason for loving, your ability to love is guaranteed.

That's because love comes from Him.

We are not meant to be in a battle with flesh and blood authorities. Not parents. Not bosses. Not enforcements. God is to become our driving motivation. Pleasing Him is to be our goal. Consider these areas :

Work: "Do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than men. Colossians 3.23

Service: "Obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely serve men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord" Colossians 3.22

Everything: " Work hard at "whatever you do... knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord whom you serve." Colossians 3.23-24

Marriage: "Wives, be subject to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord" Colossians 3.18 "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her" Ephesians 5.25

The love that's demanded from you in marriage is not dependent on your mate's sweetness or suitability. The love between husband and wife should have one chief objective: honoring the Lord with devotion and sincerity. The fact that it blessed our beloved in the process is simply a wonderful additional benefit.

Love motivated by mere duty can not hold out very long. And love that is only motivated by favorable conditions can never be assured of enough oxygen to keep it breathing. Only love that is lifted up as an offering to God - returned to Him in gratitude for all He's done- is able to sustain itself when all other reasons have lost their ability to energize us.

If you are committed to giving your spouse the best love you possibly can- you need to shoot for love's highest motivation. Love that has God as its primary focus is unlimited in the heights it can attain.

Today's Dare

Before you see your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs. Whether it comes easy for you or not, say "I love you" then express love to them in some tangible way. God to God in prayer again, thanking Him for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person- unconditionally, the way He loves both of you.

Love Dare- Day 28!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:10:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: When you place high expectations on your spouse that they don't feel internally motivated to attain, what does that tell you about yourself? What are some better ways to deal with these disconnects?

Love Makes Sacrifices

He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3.16

Life can be hard. But what we usually mean is that our life can be ha rd. We're the first to feel it when we're the ones being mistreated or inconvenienced. We're quick to sulk when we're the ones who feel deprived or unappreciated. When life is difficult for us, we notice.

But too often the only way we notice that life is hard for our mate i when they start complaining about it. Then instead of genuinely caring or rushing in to help, we might think they just have a bad attitude. The pain and pressure they're under don't register with us the way it does when it's our pain and pressure. When we want to complain, we expect everyone to understand and feel sorry for us.

This doesn't happen when love is at work. Love doesn't have to be jarred awake by your mate's obvious signs of distress. Before worries and troubles have begun to bury them, love has already gone into action mode. It sees the weight beginning to pile up and it steps in to help. That's because love wants you to be sensitive to your spouse.

Love makes sacrifices. It keeps you so tuned into what your spouse needs that you often respond without being asked. And when you don't notice ahead of time and must be told, love responds to the heart of the problem.

Even when you mate's stress come out in word of personal accusation, love shows compassion rather than becoming defensive. Love inspires you to say, "no" to what you want, in order to say, "yes" to what your spouse needs.

That's what Jesus did, "He laid down His life for us" to show us that 'we should always lay down our lives" for other. He taught us that the evidence of love is found in seeing a need in others, then doing all we can to satisfy it.

Love is willing to make sacrifices to see that the needs of your spouse are given your very best effort and focus. When your mate is overwhelmed and under the gun, love calls to you set aside what seems o essential in your own life to help, even if it's merely the gift of a listening ear.

The words"How can I help you?" need to stay fresh on your lips.

The solutions may be simple and easy for you to do or they may be complex and expensive, requiring time and energy. Either way you should do whatever you can to meet the real needs of the one who is a part of who you are. After all, when you help them, you are also helping yourself. That' the beautiful part of sacrificing for your spouse. Jesus did it for us. And He extends the grace to do it for others.

Today's Dare

What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life right now? Is there a need you could life from their shoulders today by a daring act of sacrifice on your part? Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.

Love Dare- Day 27!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:16:00 +0000

I'm here everyone. Forgive me as I haven't been feeling that well recently. Hopefully I'm on the flip side...

Friday's Followup: What does your mate need to see in order to believe that your confession was more than just words?

Love Encourages

Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Psalm 25.20

Marriage has a way of altering our vision. We go in expecting our mate to fulfill our hopes and to make us happy. But this is an impossible order for our spouse to fill. Unrealistic expectations breed disappointment. The higher your expectations, the more likely your spouse will fail you and cause you frustration.

Divorce is nearly inevitable when people refuse to allow their spouses to be human. So there needs to be a transition in your thinking. You must choose to live by encouragement rather than by expectations. The way your spouse has been for the last ten years is likely what he or she will be in the future apart from your loving encouragement and an intervention from God. Love puts the focus on personal responsibility and improving yourself rather than on demanding more from others.

Jesus painted a picture of this when He talked a bout the person who saw the "speck" in his brother's eye but didn't notice the "log" in his own. "How can you say to your brother,'Let me take the speck out of your eye' and behold, the log is in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Matthew 7.4-5

Does your spouse feel like they're living with a speck inspector? Are they routinely on edge, fearful of not living up to your expectations? Would they say they spend most days sensing more of your disapproval then your acceptance?

Perhaps you'd respond by saying that the problem is not with you but with them. If your mate doesn't want you to be so critical, they need to realize that the issues you bring up are legitimate. You're not saying you're perfect, by any means, but it does seem like you should be able to say what you think. Right?

The problem with this attitude is that few people are able to respond to criticism with total objectivity. When it seems clear that someone is unhappy with you- whether by direct confrontation or the silent treatment- it's hard not to take their displeasure personally. Especially in marriage.

After all, unlike any other friendship, your relationship with your spouse began with both of you bending over back wards to please the other. You could almost do no wrong. Your life together was much easier. You never expected that this man or woman who promised to love you could get to where they didn't even seem to like you.

So when this stark contrast becomes a living reality, your natural reaction is to resist it. Where you may have been more inclined to listen and make subtle changes during the early day of marriage, now you find your spouse's disapproval tends to entrench you. Rather than making you want to correct things, it makes you want to dig in even deeper.

Love is too smart for that. Instead of putting your mate in a position to rebel, love teaches you to give them room to be themselves. Marriage is a relationship to be enjoyed and savored along the way. It's a unique friendship designed by God Himself where two people live together in flawed imperfection but deal with it by encouraging each other, not discouraging them.

The Bible says, "Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble" (Isaiah 35.3)

Don't you want married life to be a place where you can enjoy free expression of who you are, growing with a safe environment that encourages you even when you fail? Your spouse does too- and love gives them that privilege. Make a commitment to daily let go of unrealistic expectations and become your spouse's greatest encourager. And the person they're created by God to be will begin to emerge with new confidence and love for you.

Today's Dare

Eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations in your home. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you're expecting too much, and tell them you're sorry for being so hard on them about it. Promise them you'll seek to understand and assure them of your unconditional love.

Love Dare- Day 26!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: What did you forgive your spouse for yesterday? How long have you been carrying the weight of it? What are the possibilities now that you've released this matter to God?

Love Is Responsible

When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you the judge do the same things. - Romans 2.1

Today is about personal responsibility. It's something we all agree others should have, but we struggle to maintain it ourselves. More and more people seem less likely to acknowledge their own mistakes. We see it in politics. We see it in business. We see it in celebrity headlines.

But this is not just a problem with the rich and famous. We are so quick to justify our motives. So quick to deflect criticism. So quick to find fault- especially with our spouse, who is always the easiest one to blame.

We tend to believe that our views are correct, or at least much more correct that our mate's. And we don't believe that anybody, given our same set of circumstances, would act much differently than we have. As far as we're concerned, we're doing the best we can. And our spouse just ought to be glad we're as good to them as we are.

But love doesn't pass the blame so easily or justify selfish motives. Love is not nearly as concerned with is own performance as with others' needs. When love takes responsibility for its actions, it's not to prove how noble you've been but rather to admit how much further you have to go.

Love doesn't make excuses. Love keeps working to make a difference- in you and in your marriage.

That's why the next time you're in an argument with your spouse, instead of working up your comebacks, stop and see if there's something worth listening to in what your mate is saying. Love is responsible and is willing to admit and correct its faults and errors up front. Are you taking responsibility for this person you chose for yourself as the love of your life? How deliberate are you about making sure your spouse's needs are met? Or are you only concerned with your mate fulfilling yours? Love calls us to take responsibility for our partner in marriage. To love them. To honor them. To cherish them.

Are you taking responsibility for your own faults? Have you said or done things to your spouse- or to God- that are wrong? Love desires to have a right relationship with both God and your mate. Once that is right, the stage is set for other areas to fall into place.

A real heart of repentance may take a while to grow in you. Pride is a very resistant to responsibility, but humility and honesty before God and your spouse is crucial for a healthy relationship.

In order to walk with God and to keep His favor, you must stay clean before Him. That doesn't mean that you can never stumble but that you confess it to God and ask for forgiveness when you do.

Can your spouse say that you have wronged or wounded them in any way and never made it right? Part of taking responsibility is admitting when you've failed and asking for forgiveness. It's time to humble yourself, correct your offenses, and repair the damage. It's an act of love. God wants there to be no unresolved issues between the two of you.

The problem is, to do it sincerely you must swallow your pride an seek forgiveness regardless of how your spouse responds. They should forgive you, but your responsibility does not lie with their decision. Admitting your mistakes is your responsibility. If they have wronged you, leave that for them to deal with at another time.

Ask God to show you where you have failed in your responsibility, then get right with Him first. Once you've done that, you need to get right with your spouse. It may be the most difficult things you've ever done, but it is crucial to taking the next step in your marriage and with God. If you are sincere, you may be surprised at the grace and strength God gives you when you take this step.

Today's Dare

Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing. Ask for Gods forgiveness, then humble yourself enough to admit them to your spouse. Do it sincerely and truthfully. Ask your spouse for forgiveness as well. No matter how they respond, make sure you cover your responsibility in love. Even if they respond with criticism, accept it by receiving it as counsel.

Love Dare- Day 25!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: What did you identify as an area of lust? What has this pursuit cost you over time? How has it led you away from the person you want to be? Write about your new commitment to seek Him- and to seek your spouse- rather than seeking after foolish desires.

Love Forgives

What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ. -2 Corinthians 2.10

This may be the toughest dare in the book. But if there is to be any hope for your marriage, this is a challenge that must absolutely be taken seriously. This is the most complex problem of all, a rupture that is often last to be repaired. It cannot simply be considered and/or contemplated. It must be deliberately put into practice. Forgiveness has to happen, or a successful marriage won't.

Jesus painted a vivid image of forgiveness in His parable of the ungrateful servant. A man who owed a sizable sum of money was surprised when his master heard his appeals for mercy and totally canceled his debt. But upon being released from this enormous load, the servant went to another man who owed him a much smaller amount and demanded immediate payment. When the master heard of this, "His lord moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him" (Matthew 18.34)

When you think of unforgiveness, this is what your mind should come to, for Jesus said, "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart" (Matthew 18.35)

Imagine yourself in a prison setting. Around you there are multiple cells filled with friends and family that have wounded/wronged you over the years. Friends, enemies, family, even a parent or two... locked up in cells. Now imagine Jesus standing not to far away, extending you a key that will release every inmate.

The prison, is a room in your heart. A chamber that exists in you everyday.

But you don't want any part of releasing them. These people have hurt you too badly. They knew what they were doing and yet they did it anyway- even your spouse, the one you should have been able to count on most of all. So you resist- you turn away. You're unwilling to stay here any longer- seeing Jesus, seeing the key in His hand, knowing what He's asking you to do. It's just too much.

But in trying to escape, you make a startling discovery. There is no way out. You're trapped inside with all the other captives. Your unforgiveness, anger, and bitterness have made a prisoner of you as well. Like the servant in Jesus' story, who was forgiven and impossible debt, you have chosen not to forgive and have been handed over to the jailers and torturers. Your freedom is now dependent on your forgiveness.

Coming to this conclusion usually takes a while. We see all kinds of dangers and risks involved in forgiving others. For instance, what they did was really wrong, whether they admit it or not. They may not even be sorry about it. They may feel perfectly justified in their actions, even going so far as to blame you for it. But forgiveness doesn't absolve anyone of blame. It doesn't clear their record with God. It just clears you of having to worry about how to punish them. When you forgive another person, you're not turning them loose. You're turning them over toe God, who can be counter on to deal with them His way. You're saving yourself the trouble of scripting any more arguments or trying to prevail in this situation. It's not about winning and losing anymore. It's about freedom. It's about letting go.

That's why you often hear people who have genuinely forgiven say, "It's like a weight being lifted off my shoulders." That's exactly what it is. For the first time in a long time, you feel at peace. You feel free.

But how do you do it? You release your anger and the responsibility for judging this person to the Lord. "Never take your own revenge but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" says the Lord" Romans 12.9

How do you know you've done it. You know when the thought of their name or the sight of their face- rather than causing your blood to boil- causes you to feel sorry for them instead- to genuinely hope they get this turned around.

Great marriages are not created by people who never hurt each other, only by people who choose to keep,"no record of wrongs"(I Corinthians 13.5)

Today's Dare

Whatever you haven't forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Let it go. Just as we ask Jesus to "forgive us our debts" each day, we must ask Him to help us "forgive our debtors". Unforgiveness has been keeping you and your spouse in prison too long. Say from your heart, "I choose to forgive."

Love Dare- Day 24!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:01:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: What did you throw out first? Are there others that need to go as well? What do you hope the removal of these things will do for you, your marriage, and your relationship with God?

Love vs. Lust

"The world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2.17

We've been supplied with everything we need for a full, productive , enriching life. The Bible says that having the basics of food and clothing, we should be content. And Jesus promised that these two things would always be provided to God's children. (Matthew 6.25-33)

God's blessings, however, go so far beyond these fundamental needs, we could rightly say that we want for nothing. Yet, like Adam and Eve, we still want more. So we set out eyes and hearts on seeking worldly pleasure. We try to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. For some, it means viewing inappropriate images to satisfy a s*xual need. Once our eyes are captured by curiosity however, our hearts become entangled. The we act on our lust.

We can also lust after possessions or power or prideful ambition. We see what others have and want it. Our hearts are deceived into saying, "I could be happy if I only had this." Then we make a decision to go after it.

Lust is in opposition to love. It means to set your heart and passions on something forbidden. And for a believer it's the first step out of fellowship with the Lord and with others. That's because every object of your lust- whether it's a young coworker or a film actress or coveting after a half-million dollar house- represents the beginnings of a lie. This person or thing that seems to promise sheer satisfaction is more like a bottomless pit of unmet longings.

Lusts always breeds more lust. "What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the craving s that are at war within you?" (James 4.1 HCSB) Lust will make you dissatisfied with your spouse. It breeds anger, numbs hearts, and destroys marriages. Rather than fullness, it leads to emptiness.

It's time to expose lust for what it really is- a misguided thirst for satisfaction that only God can fulfill. Lust is like a warning light on the dashboard of your heart, alerting you to the fact that you are not allowing God's love to fill you. When your eyes and heart are on Him, your actions will lead you to lasting joy, not to endless cycles of regret and condemnation.

"His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2 Peter 1.3-4)

Are you tired of being lied to by lust? Then begin setting your eyes on the Word of God. Let His promises of peace and freedom work their way into your heart. Daily receive the unconditional love He has already proved to you through the cross. Focus on being grateful for everything God has already given you rather than choosing discontentment.

Also set your heart and eyes on your spouse again. "Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth... Be exhilarated always with her love. For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner? For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths." (Proverbs 5.18-21)

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2.15) Lust is the best this world has to offer, but love offers you the best life in the world.

Today's Dare

End it now. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it. Single out every lie you've swallowed in pursuing forbidden pleasure and reject it. Lust cannot be allowed to live in a back bedroom. It must be killed and destroyed- today- and replaced with the sure promises of God and a heart filled with His prefect love.

Love Dare- Day 23!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Yesterday's Followup: Why is this kind of love impossible without the love of Christ beating in your heart? How does His presence within you enable you to love, even when it's primarily one-sided?

Love Always Protects

(Love) always protects - I Corinthians 13:7

Marriage is made up of many things, including joys, sorrows, successes, and failures. Many of us wouldn't include the word battleground but there are some battles we should be more than willing to fight. These are battles that pertain to protecting our spouses.

Our mates and our marriages need constant protection from things like:

Harmful influences. Are we allowing certain habits to poison our homes? Internet and television can be production and enjoyable additions to our lives but they can also bring in destructive content and drain precious hours from our families. The same can be said for work schedules.

Unhealthy relationships. Not everyone has the material to be a good friend. Not every man you hunt and or fish with speaks wisely when it comes to matters of marriage and not every woman in your lunch group has a good perspective on commitment and priorities. In fact- anyone who will undermine your marriage does not deserve to be given the title of "friend".

Shame. Everyone deals with some level of inferiority and weakness. And because marriage has a way of exposing it all to you an your mate, you need to protect your spouse's vulnerability by never speaking negatively about them in public. Generally speaking, love hides the fault of others. It covers their shame.

Parasites. A parasite is anything that latches on to you and your spouse and sucks the life out of your marriage. They're usually in the form of addictions, like gambling, drugs, or pornography. They promise pleasure but grow like a disease and consume more and more of your thoughts, time and money.

The Bible speaks plainly about this protective role, often using the analogy of a shepherd. God warned, "My flock has become a prey... food for all the beasts of the field." How so? "For lack of a shepherd." Not because these men were too weak to perform their duties but because they didn't pay attention. Instead of watching to make sure that the sheep weren't being picked off by predators, "The shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock" (Ezekiel 34.8) They took extra good care of their own needs and appetites but gave little thought to the safety of those under their supervision.

WIVES- You have a role as protector in your marriage. You must guard your heart from being led away through novels, magazines, and other forms of entertainment that blur your perception of reality and put unfair expectations on your husband. Instead you must do your part in helping him feel strong, while also avoiding talk-show thinking that can lure your attention away from your family. "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14.1

Today's Dare

Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influence that's stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.

Love Dare- Day 22!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle') — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:39:00 +0000

Saturday's Followup: How do you think spending time with God daily will change your situation and perspective? How can you make Him a bigger part of your day?

Love is Faithful

"I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord." -Hosea 2:20

As Christians, love is the basis of our whole identity. Our spiritual rebirth came about because, "God so loved the world that He gave His begotten son" (John 3.16)

When asked to clarify the greatest commandments, Jesus responded, "Love the Lord God with all your heart...soul... strength...mind... and love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10.27)

Our love for each other is supposed to be how people distinguish us as a disciple of Jesus Christ. (John 13.35) It is the root and ground for our existence. (Ephesians 3.17) It is meant to be expressed with passion and fervency. (I Peter 4.8) It is a quality we are to abound in more and more ( I Thes. 3.12) We are always to get better at love and become increasingly defined by it.

If love is what we were created to share, then what are we to do when our love is rejected?

The account of the prophet Hosea shows what Heaven's unconditional love looks like towards us. Against all logic and propriety, God instructed Hosea to marry a prostitute. Hosea's union with Gomer produced three children, but as expected, this woman who had long made her living in immorality was not content to stay faithful to one man. She was disloyal and adulterous, rejecting him for the lust of total strangers.

Hosea had loved her, but she spurned his love. He was left to deal with a broken heart and the shame of abandonment. But God spoke to Hosea and told him to reaffirm his love for Gomer despite her unfaithfulness. To do this Hosea had to buy her off of the slave block- but Hosea paid the price for her redemption and brought her home. She had dealt treated his love with contempt, dealt treacherously with his heart, but he welcomed her back expressing to her an unconditional love.

What a picture of God's love for us. He showers His on us without measure, though in return we've often acted shamefully and treated His love as an intrusion- as if it's keeping us from what we really want. We've rejected Him in many ways, even after receiving His gift of eternal salvation, and yet He still loves us. He still remains faithful. In Him we have the model of what rejected love does. It stays faithful.

Jesus called us to this kind of love in the passage known as the sermon on the mount. "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6.27-28)

From the vantage point of the wedding alter, you would have never imagined that the person you married would become someone you'd need to love as an act of total sacrifice. And yet far too often in marriage, the relationship dwindles down to just that- even to the point of betrayal, or sadly, unfaithfulness.

For many, this is the beginning of the end. Some respond by rapidly moving toward divorce. Others, more protective of their reputation than their happiness, decide to keep the charade going- but they have no intention of liking it, much less loving one another again.

This however, is not the model for a follower of Christ. If love is to be like His, it must love even when its overtures are returned unwanted. And for your love to be like that, it must be His to begin with.

You can give undeserved love to your spouse because He gave undeserved love to you- repeatedly- enduringly. Love is often expressed the most to those who deserve it the least.

Ask Him to fill you with the kind of love only He can provide, then purpose to give it to your mate in a way that reflects your gratefulness to God for loving you. That's the beauty of redeeming love. That's the power of faithfulness.

Today's Dare

Love is a choice, not a feeling. It is an initiated action, not a knee-jerk reaction. Choose today to be committed to love even if your spouse has lost most of their interest in receiving it. Say to them today, "I love you. Period. I choose to love you even if you don't love me in return."