The Love Dare Challenge

I decided it would be fun to go through the The Love Dare book by Stephen & Alex Kendrick. Not because my marriage is having problems or anything but because I desire to be a better wife to my husband and what marriage is so perfect that it couldn't use a little improvement? Is there anyone else going through this book too? Please let me know--maybe we can encourage each other. :) By the way, if you know my husband, don't ask him about my progress as I'm trying to keep it a secret that I'm going through this book. Thanks! :)

I am so glad that my church is doing the FIREPROOF smallgroup studies for couples. I think this helps me in my endeavor to strengthen my marriage. It is so neat to see how God has turned some really terrible situations around for His glory. If any of you out there are from my church and would love to share please do!! Last week was our first week and I'm looking forward to getting to know the other people in my particular small group for the next five weeks...

I'm trying to do the Love Dare book daily--but am not keeping up with it as well as I'd like... I purchased this book Feb. 3 and should be on Day 12 but am only at Day 5!!! :(

I justify this by saying I'm working really hard on the first five days. :)

DAY 1-- Love is Patient
DAY 2--Love is Kind
DAY 3--Love is not selfish
DAY 4--Love is thoughtful
DAY 5--Love is not rude

I'm going to try to keep up with my progress through this book on this entry. We'll see what happens...

Today's assignment: Ask my spouse to tell me three things that cause him to be uncomfortable or irritated with me. I'm supposed to do this without attacking him or justifying my behavior.
Then according to the book I'm to journal how I handled hearing it. And what I plan to do to improve these areas?

I think that's enough for now. After all, today is Valentine's Day and I need to go practice what I've learned so far about love... :)

Matters of Salvation

I thought it would be a good idea to lay a foundation of my understanding of what the Bible teaches so that all future readers would know where I'm coming from biblically. I think this is the most important topic of all and is one I pray every reader would consider as their eternal destiny is at stake.

I will let the Word of God speak mostly for itself. The following verses are taken from BibleGateway.com. I used primarily the New King James Version. This is by no means a complete list but it is a good start. For any readers who may be new to the Bible I invite you to read the book of John as a good starting point for finding out more about this Jesus person.

• The Bible was inspired by God and is his very words to man. It is what He wants us to know about how we are saved.
  

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)

THE BAD NEWS

• We are all sinners and deserve to die.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

THE GOOD NEWS

• 
  Because God loved us He sent His Son to die for us.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (John 6:37)

40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ( John 6: 40)

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

• JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AS A RESPONSE TO THE BAD AND GOOD NEWS

• I cannot do enough good things to earn my way to heaven it is only through believing in God's grace that I am saved through faith.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

• I must ask God to forgive me for my sins.

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (Acts 3:19)

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)