Day 40 - Love is a covenant

Ah...the end. We have completed this journey together. Or have we? For me, the Love Dare has truly just begun. I have learned some real world techniques and approaches that will strengthen our marriage because I have been strengthened. I am more in tuned to my thoughts and actions, including how they impact William. I am more convinced that I have to deal with my own behavior to have the relationship I want. So here are my renewed vows:

1. I promise to love William no matter what. For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Until death parts us.

2. I promise to nip 'crazy' in the bud. I will not allow foolish things to get in the way of our love. My ego, pride, and other life complications will not cloud my ability to love William and treat him with care and concern.

3. I will cherish William. I pray for and with my husband daily. I am seeking ways to fulfill his dreams. We are one and his happiness is my happiness. His peace is my peace. His joy is my joy.

4. I will think and believe the best for us. My thought life drives this marriage. I speak favor, prosperity and health over my marriage and over our lives.

These vows capture the essence of my learning from the 40 days. I am so blessed to have this blog to remind me of the awesome journey we have been on and what I have learned. I pray that this adventure has been amazing for you also. Please continue the Love Dare with your spouse as I am confident that it will allow each of you to have a more fulfilled marriage.

Be blessed!

Day 39 - Love Endures

My dearest William,

I LOVE YOU ALWAYS - no matter what.

I could go on and on about why this is true but none of that matters.

I just want you to know that my heart chooses you.

My mind chooses you. My soul chooses you. My God has chosen you.

So, when you are feeling loved, I love you. When you are feeling hated, I love you. When we disagree, I love you. When you hurt me, I still love you. When you are sick, I love you. When you are on top of the world, I love you. When you are angry with me, I love you. When you hurt my feelings, I love you.

God placed you and me together and that's it. Nothing else matters. Nothing will change that.

So, I pray you feel safe and secure and energized and passionate and loved in my love.

Because I love you....always...forever.

Marchoe

Day 38 - Love fulfills dreams

What are my husband's dreams? What can I do that would make a real difference for him?

These are questions that I desire to answer and make come true. Right now, my husband would love a new camera. Specifically, he would want a Canon 5D, which costs about $2500. He also would want my help in getting his business off the ground. We have a plan to achieve both of these goals.

I want to make his dreams come true. I want to travel the world with him. I want him to know at all times that he is my top priority, as shown by my words and deeds. I want him to have everything he could ever want. Not because he deserves it. Frankly, none of us do. But, because we serve a God that desires that we seek Him first and He said that all these things will be added to us. I want all of the blessings God has for William to manifest themselves in his life. I want all of the blessings God has for us to come to fruition.

We are in the midst of fulfilling one of our big dreams. We are before God asking Him to make it happen. We will keep you posted as God brings it to the present. Keep seeking Him the more for yourself and for your spouse.

Be blessed.

Day 36 - Love is God's Word

God's word is a wonder. So many times, the word of God has convinced me of which way to move in my life. And it has always worked.

I have to be honest. Tonight, I am feeling God's urging in a part of my life - but it scares me. I can't even say that it's scary as much as its unknown. And its been a while since I have had to step out on the unknown and really trust God. For a good stretch, about 18 months, my life has been pretty straight forward. I ask God for something or rather God plants something in my spirit and I have been open to being used. Now, God is calling me to do something NEW. He is asking me to step out on him and just trust. He is looking to take us to a new place and frankly, we've gotten comfortable in this place.

His word says in Deuteronomy 6:5-12

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

¹⁰ When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ¹¹ houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

This is the scripture for this season of my life. I need to:

1. Love the Lord with all of my heart, mind and strength

2. Teach Kendall to do the same

3. Take every occasion to tell others about God

4. When the Lord blesses me, don't forget about Him

The Lord is looking to take us higher and I say, thank you for being so mindful of us. We accept the challenge. I accept it, not because I am afraid of being disobedient, but because I want everything God has for me. I am in a season of prosperity, of health, of joy and of peace. I accept God's blessings for me and my household. In Jesus' name.

Day 37 - Love agrees in prayer

William and I have been inconsistent in having a joint prayer life. However, today's dare is the beginning of our consistency. One of the things that the Love Dare has shown us is that everything on my to do list is on William's to do list and vice versa. He can't be successful without my prayers and I can't be successful without his. Therefore, its important that we touch and agree daily in prayer, putting our petitions before the Lord.

We have agreed that an area of focus for us in the short term is taking William's business to the next level. We have a list of 5 things to do in the next 30 days to work towards that end:
1. Purchase new equipment (camera + lights)
2. Website up and running
3. Begin preparations for a new studio
4. Marketing communications developed and sent
5. Secure consistent daycare for Kendall

An area where I need William's help is in identifying how to bring my ministry vision to life. I have a strong desire to help the body of Christ put the word of God into practice in our lives. The things we will do are:
1. Stay in prayer
2. Meet with others who may have a heart for this ministry
3. Put together an action plan on where to go next

I hope that you have agreed to pray with your spouse. I am so excited for this!

Be blessed!

Day 35 - Love is Accountable

Today's dare is one that I have a lot of heart for.

It's all about getting around the right people to keep your marriage on track. Honestly, William and I have good friends that we hang out with and that help to keep our marriage on track. We lack a mentor, however. We have committed to praying and asking the Lord to reveal who should be our marriage mentors.

We have some good candidates around us. So now, we just need to ask someone to invest in us in that way.

I hope that you have the right folks around you to keep your marriage in tact. Its critical to have the right people speaking the right things over your life.

Day 34 - Love Celebrates Godliness

Will truly walks out his faith everyday, so this was an easy dare.

Today, we saw a member of our church that we hadn't seen in several weeks, in passing, while in the car. We waved and blew our horns as we passed by. Immediately, Will used it as an opportunity to encourage him, by calling him on his cell phone. I know that Will had called him many times before, without ever receiving a call back, but he wasn't discouraged by that. He knew that since he saw him this time, it was a great opportunity to connect and they did.

As they chatted by phone, I thanked God for my husband. If it had been me in that situation, I likely would have waved as we passed by and that would have been it. I would have felt like I had done my part previous to seeing them by calling and leaving messages. But Will was truly focused on the result, not just giving a cursory effort. I thank God for his example to me. I thank God for his hunger and thirst to see the people of God live prosperous lives.

This is only one example. He sent out a text message to our church family yesterday, seeking prayer for our sister that's in the hospital with double pneumonia. He was so touched that so many church members, including the teens, wrote him back committing to pray for Lisa. It's easy for folks to connect with Will, because he truly is committed to Godliness. So today, I celebrate my love for my husband. I celebrate his godliness.

Be blessed!