For this book reading, each day will contain three very important element;
First, a unique aspect of love will be discussed.
Second, you will be given a specific dare to do for your spouse.
Last, you will need a journal to log what you are learning and doing and how your spouse is responding by answering the 'question of the day'. These note will record your progress and should become priceless to you in the future.
The entire book will not be published but every chapter will be
previewed and I strongly recommend that you get a hard copy for future
references.
Ensure that you do not miss any part of this book reading. Enjoy!
Ensure that you do not miss any part of this book reading. Enjoy!
Introduction
Now this three remain:
Faith, Hope and Love.
But the greatest of these is
Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
The Scriptures says that God designed and created marriage as
a good thing. He uses marriage to help us eliminate loneliness, multiply our effectiveness,
establish families, raise children, enjoy life, and bless us with relational
intimacy. But beyond this, marriage also shows us our need to grow and deal
with our own issues and self-centeredness through the help of a lifelong
partner. If we are teachable, we will
learn how to do one thing that is most important in marriage-to love. This
powerful union provides the path for you to learn how to love another imperfect
person unconditionally. It is wonderful. It is difficult. It is life changing.
This book is about love. It’s about learning and daring to
live a life filled with loving relationships. We dare you to think differently-
rather than follow your heart, choose instead to lead your heart towards that which is best in the long run.
Then Love Dare journey is not a process of trying to change
your spouse to be the person you want them to be. Rather, this is a journey of
exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when your desire is dry and your
motives are low. The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling. It is
selfless, sacrificial and transformational. May God bless you as you begin this
adventure.
DAY 1: Love
Is Patient
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another
in love.
—Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Love changes our motivation for
living. Relationships become meaningful with it. No marriage is successful
without it. Love is built on two pillars that best defines what it is. Those pillars
are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of
these two attributes. And that’s where your dare will begin. With patience.
Love will inspire you to be a
patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in a positive way to
a negative situation. Patience brings an internal calm during an external
storm.
Anger almost never makes things
better. But patience stops problems in their tracks. As sure as lack of patience
will turn your home into a war zone, the practice of patience will foster peace
and quiet. “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a
dispute” (Proverbs 15: 18). Patience is where love meets wisdom. And every
marriage needs that combination to stay healthy.
Patience helps you give your spouse
permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is
made, it chooses to give them more time than they deserve to correct it.
This Love Dare is a process, and
the first thing you must possess is patience. Think of it as a marathon, not a
sprint. But it’s a race worth running.
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 not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue
than to say something you’ll regret
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Did anything happen today to cause
anger towards your mate? Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to
let them come out in words?
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