14 Day Love Challenge Devotional by Healing Place

Day

Love challenge

We believe that God designed and created marriage. He uses marriage to multiply our effectiveness, establish families, raise children, enjoy life, and bless us with relational intimacy. Even more than these, marriage can be a tool God uses to make us more like Him. With the help of our spouse, we are confronted to grow and deal with the issues in our own heart. As Paul describes in Ephesians 5, the union of marriage is a great mystery. Just as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her, we are faced with the same challenge to love our spouse, an imperfect person, unconditionally. It is the most complicated and amazing thing any of us will ever do. This 14 Day Love Challenge is about learning and daring to love your spouse unconditionally. As you read through this book you will notice three important parts: First, each day you will read a short devotional that will focus your mind and your heart towards your spouse. Second, you will be instructed to perform a specific “Love Challenge” for your spouse. Some of them may be easy, but some may be extremely difficult. Commit yourself to the challenges regardless of your initial reaction. Remember that each challenge is designed to challenge your love and bring you to another level of intimacy with your spouse. Third, there is a notes section for you to answer any questions posed to you at the end of each challenge. Take the time at the end of each day to journal about your experience that day, your spouse’s reaction, and how the two of you are growing in love. We pray that God uses this book as a tool to strengthen and develop your marriage. May you be blessed as you take the journey. Let the challenge begin!

DAY

Little Things 1

We are the image of God and (I believe) we will do more for each other when we see our spouse in this light and not just as a man or woman! A great year is made of great months, which is made of great weeks and great days that are ultimately found in incredible moments. It’s in our commitment to these little moments that we discover our destiny. Many couples start out with BIG dreams of what married life should be, only to be disappointed because they neglected to do the LITTLE things necessary to keep love alive. Small things are a big deal. Take a tiny pebble, put it in your shoe, and walk on it all day… it will shut down your entire world. Text your spouse in the middle of your workday, “I miss you like crazy”… it may open up a whole new world! A group of men were challenged to text their wives in the middle of a Bible study, and three men left early because of the response they received. It’s amazing what a card, cup of coffee, smile, compliment, lunch, or encouraging word can do. Can you think of a time when you overlooked something small and it cost you - big time?

“It’s amazing what a card, cup of coffee, smile, compliment, lunch, or encouraging word can do.” Small things are a big deal to our Savior. Just ask the widow woman who put two pennies in the offering plate, or the servant who buried his one talent. Jesus said in Matthew 25, “If you are faithful in the little things, I will make you ruler over many.” Don’t let small foxes spoil marriage vines of opportunity this year. Make a daily commitment of excellence to the little things, and you may experience the best year of your life!

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Do something small for your spouse today - something that will be meaningful to him/her. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What did you do for your spouse? How did it make you feel? What was the impact? Did it motivate you to do more?

NOTES

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Compliments 2 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” - Genesis 1:27 NKJV “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” - 1 Corinthians 14:12 NKJV

To compliment is when we give an expression of praise or admiration. It is to show kindness or congratulations with a gift or fervor. You may also know it as the Love Language, Words of Affirmation. Expressing love through compliments or praise is the result of seeing your spouse for who they really are. If you see them only as a man or woman, and not for whom they really are, you will not be able to love them the way God intended. This is a new dimension of love. These are three things to think about today as you express this in your marriage:

1. Love each other as the image of God. We are created in the image of God. Seeing each other in

this dimension and continuing to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into His image will allow us to be Christ to each other. We are the image of God and I believe we will do more for each other when we see our spouse in this light and not just as a man or woman.

2. Love each other by manifesting the image of God (Christ) to each other. You are God’s greatest asset because you are the image of God. Only the image of God can manifest God. The creations of God show visible proof there is a God, but nothing God created can manifest God except His image. Revealing God to each other allows you to fulfill your purpose of existence.

3. This Love creates an environment of God. By accepting Christ and seeing each other as the Image of God and manifesting God, you create a new environment in your home. Now in His image you manifest love, compassion, praise, admiration, kindness, edification, acceptance, affirmation, sensitivity, long suffering, forgiveness, mercy, and abundant grace. Who would want to leave that environment? Seeing each other as the likeness of Christ and then manifesting Christ to each other is the greatest compliment you can give your spouse.

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------See your spouse as the image of God, and manifest Christ to your spouse by saying something nice or giving him/her an encouraging word. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What did you tell spouse today? Did you see a change in your environment? What was the change?

NOTES

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Prayer 3 “Deep calls unto deep…” - Psalm 42:7 NKJV

What does the word “unity” mean in your marriage? When you said your vows and rode off into the sunset towards your honeymoon destination, you and your spouse truly became unified or ONE in God’s eyes. There is no better way to experience the awesomeness of unity than by praying consistently with your spouse. The power of prayer in a covenant marriage is God’s perfect example of unity in the Body of Christ. God has so much for you as a couple to tap into if you would simply take the time to pursue His presence, together as ONE. There is nothing more beneficial in a marriage than prayer... not even the best date night can compare. However, many Christian couples find praying together hard to do. They are not accustomed to praying together and even find it a bit embarrassing or uncomfortable. But once you experience the power and intimacy of praying with your spouse, you realize one of the greatest tools that God has given us. When you pray together you are building trust and intimacy in your relationship and you will begin to sense a deeper respect, love, and appreciation for each other. You may also experience increasing confidence as you and your spouse seek God’s will in decision making. So many times, the issues within marriages automatically work themselves out when prayer is priority. Praying together provides greater accountability to God and each other. Praying with a spouse can also help both the husband and wife become more of a Christ-like servant to each other and their family. So, how do you get started? Here are a few easy tips: First, pray. Ask God to give both spouses the desire, determination and commitment to pray together. If need be, establish a specific time of the day to pray and then guard that time at all costs. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

Start simply. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Focus on God’s promises of forgiveness, strength, and peace. (Luke 12:12 NIV) Pray Scripture verses. The Word of God is your most powerful ally. You will unlock a powerfully deep message when you pray out Scripture with your spouse. (Mark 11:24 NIV) Be honest with God and each other. Pray from the heart. Include confession in your prayers, and assure one another of God’s forgiveness. (Matthew 5:8, Hebrews 10:22 NIV) Pray for family members by name. Come before God with specific praises and requests for each of them. Allow God to work in His time and His way, but don’t hesitate to bring some of the same requests to God again and again. (Genesis 25:21 NIV) Enjoy each other and the presence of the Lord. Your sense of romance, intimacy and overall strength of marriage will definitely benefit from being in the presence of the Lord together. (Psalms 84:10 NIV)

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Spend at least ten minutes in prayer today with your spouse. Pray over each other by name and present specific requests to God for them such as safety, wisdom in all situations, favor at work, patience, peace, etc. You may also find a scripture that you and your spouse can focus on throughout the day. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What were your prayers for your spouse today? How did God answer your prayers today? Spend a few moments thanking Him for His faithfulness throughout your day.

NOTES

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Greatest Needs 4 There was a story about a newly married couple. The young husband asked his new wife, “Baby, which household chore do you dislike the most?” Her response was immediate and emphatic: “Cleaning the bathrooms!” Eager to serve, he volunteered. “I want to take that responsibility off your plate,” he said. “You will never have to worry about that one again.” She was pleased - the issue was solved. In over 12 years of marriage, she has not cleaned their bathrooms even once. Neither has he… they’re disgusting!! Ha! A great relationship is the union of two people who seek to serve one another. Paul said in Philippians 2:2-3, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” The chemistry of a powerful marriage is found when both husband and wife understand the needs of their partner and choose to put those needs first. Remember, it’s not about you - it’s about speaking love in a language your spouse can understand.

“A great relationship is the union of two people who seek to serve one another.” Selfishness has a subtle way of creeping into a marriage and slowly eroding its soil until nothing can grow. You can add tremendous value to a relationship when you consciously ask yourself, “What is my spouse’s greatest need? How can I help serve that need today?” Sometimes we don’t even entertain that thought because our own needs have gone unmet for so long. We run into a brick wall - we fail to serve because we haven’t been served. The only way to get through walls like that is by taking the initiative and serving - removing it brick-by-brick. Unselfishness is the tool that will build bridges and break down walls.

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Find out what your spouse’s greatest need is and make it your assignment to serve that need. It may be serving around the house, affirming words, or physical intimacy. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What was your spouse’s greatest need? Did it surprise you? How difficult was it for you to be unselfish today? What would your marriage look like if you built this practice into it on a consistent basis?

NOTES

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Bible Reading 5 “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” - Psalm 119:36 NIV

Every family has that special set of china they pull out for the guests. It is beautiful and makes a great impression, but it is not that useful on a daily basis. Our Bible cannot be like that - something that is pulled out on special occasions, but is not useful on a daily basis. God’s Word has to be the compass that is used every moment to keep us moving in the right direction. Reading the Bible, as a family or a couple, keeps everyone moving in the right direction. We all have a natural pull toward selfishness. When families fall apart it is because selfishness has crept in somewhere. It starts small, but it can destroy a home. Reading the Bible together brings everyone back to the same path. Each family has a set of values. Those values came from somewhere - our families, our friends, media, etc. The cornerstone of our family values should be God’s Word. It is the only foundation that can keep our families from crumbling. This begins by husband and wife accepting God’s Word as their values and speaking with one voice to the rest of the home.

“God’s Word has to be the compass that is used every moment to keep us moving in the right direction.”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Read scripture together as husband and wife. It may seem awkward at first, but keep going. If you don’t know where to start, then read I Corinthians 13. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What scripture did you read today? How did it speak to your heart personally and how did it give direction to your marriage and family?

NOTES

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Remember 6 “Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God—the only God you’ve ever had, or will ever have— incomparable and irreplaceable.” - Isaiah 46:9 MSG

In the midst of the everyday management of marriage and family, it’s hard to savor the moments. Babies cry, laundry piles up, dirty dishes stick together in the sink, work never ends, and the phone keeps ringing. Somewhere under the piles of laundry and stacks of bills is the memory of two young hearts who joined together all those years ago and created this thing we call “our life”. Suddenly, no matter how long you’ve been married, you look up and think, “How did we get here?” The magic in our marriages can get lost in busyness, and if we’re not careful we can just become two people sharing a house and not a home. How do we keep that sparkle and joy in our marriages despite the never ending house work and schedules? The Bible gives us a tip in Isaiah 46:9. God tells us to remember our history. Take time to remember how you met, your first date, and the first time you kissed. Remember your wedding, and how she looked as she walked down the aisle. Remember the way he looked at you as he said “I do.” Remembering our past can help us to appreciate our present. God continues on in the Scripture to not only remember our history, but to remember that He has been part of our history every step of the way. We are reminded here that God has been in our past, He is in our present, and will be in our future. God remains God no matter if we’re newlyweds, raising children, empty - nesters or loving on grandchildren! No matter what stage of life you and your spouse are in God wants you to remember all of the good things He has done for you. This is how you maintain the magic, sparkle and joy in your marriage. Long to-do lists will always be there, but if you allow God to be the Lord of that to-do list you’ll be able to face it with excitement and peace. If you and your spouse have been serving God during the course of your marriage, it will be easy to remember all the many ways He’s blessed you in the good times, comforted you in the hard times, and given you joy in the mundane. If you and your spouse have just begun walking with the Lord, allow Him to begin writing your long and rich history together, today. Or maybe you’ve been on the journey together for many years and need to allow Him to pick up your story where you left it - it will be incomparable and irreplaceable.

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Surprise your spouse and dig up an old wedding photo, frame it if you can, and put it in a place where your spouse is guaranteed to see it! If you are truly daring, dig out that wedding video, pop some popcorn, make hot chocolate, and have a movie/snuggle night! __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What was your spouse’s reaction to today’s challenge? What feelings were evoked towards your spouse as you took your walk down memory lane?

NOTES

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Surpise, Surpise, Surpise 7

The Bible is full of surprises. Imagine Isaac waking up and realizing he married the wrong sister - there’s a surprise! What about the surprise Nebuchadnezzar had when he looked into the fiery furnace and saw a fourth man in the fire when they had only thrown three men in? Then there’s Moses, walking around in the back side of the desert, when all of a sudden a bush becomes a bonfire that talks to him. How about the surprise Mary Magdalene felt when she realized she was holding the feet of a resurrected Jesus in the garden? Don’t you think that Adam was at least a little surprised when he saw Eve for the first time? Yeah, our Father in heaven loves to give us a good surprise sometimes. There was a show on TV years ago called “Gomer Pyle.” Lots of us grew up with it, but I know many of you missed out on it. Gomer was a private in the Marine Corps who was from Mayberry (yep, he was a friend of Andy, Barney, and Opie). He was a country boy to say the least. When he enlisted, his commanding officer was Sergeant Carter. Sergeant Carter and Gomer made quite a pair. Gomer loved to surprise the sergeant but Sergeant Carter didn’t really care so much for it. It kept everything interesting though. He’d holler in his very country accent, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” and just keep repeating it. Well, my friends, it is time to surprise, surprise, surprise the one you love. Whether you like surprises or not, there’s nothing like a good surprise to keep things fresh, fun, and on fire. Do something unexpected - something unpredictable - for your spouse. Do something that will blow their socks off. Think, imagine, let your creativity soar. Hear Gomer’s words echo in your heart, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Plan a surprise for your spouse today. Here are some suggestions: prepare a new meal, pick up their closet, get them a snack they love, rent a movie they would enjoy, even wear something different to bed. Yeah, I suggested that - nothing like a view from the love department! Go for it, have fun, keep your spouse guessing! __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. How did you surprise your spouse today? Reflect on this experience and the joy that it added to your marriage.

NOTES

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Intimacy 8

“And the Lord God said It is not good that man be alone, I will make him a help meet for him.” - Genesis 2:18 NKJV “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” - Genesis 2:24 KJV “And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And herefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.” - Malachi 2:15 KJV “Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled; but whore mongers and adulterers God will judge.” - Hebrews 13:4 KJV

When God saw everything He had made God said it was very good, then God said it is not good for man to be alone. God then took that which was in him; a rib from man’s side and made woman. Now man could be complete and now man and women could fulfill the command to be fruitful and multiply. This is the one command that man was ready to implement and obey. Woman was taken out of man now comes back to man to be one flesh and spirit to produce a Godly seed after it’s kind reproducing not just a child, but the very image of God. Intimacy is not man’s gift to woman or women’s gift to man, it is God’s gift to man and woman. This gift of intimacy should not be given early or late, but at God’s right time. God’s right time is when a man and a woman establish a covenant relationship with each other and God. The covenant relationship as husband and wife is the hinge that opens the door to intimacy that is Holy, sacred and safe. Fellowship before a covenant relationship is the back door and results in sin and shame. God’s way is love, relationship, fellowship, complete, content, pleasure and life. After the marriage covenant ceremony then there can be consummation of the marriage when two become one flesh and one spirit in Christ. Now you understand why you are complete in Christ and there is nothing beyond to be desired or hoped for, you are content due to your completeness in Christ. The pleasure God gives you in intimacy is the greatest of all and is Holy. Intimacy is not only for completeness, contentment, and pleasure, but also to reproduce a Godly seed which is the image of God. Mutual consent and surrender, laying down your life is the key to pleasure and giving each other life when you do not reproduce life. Here are some essential elements to experience true intimacy: • Covenant Relationship • Commitment • Consideration • Communication (If most men knew that intimacy is the highest level of communication they would talk and listen more.)

• Cooperation • Compassion • Consistency • Communion with the Cross This may lead to consummating that is God’s way, Holy, Pure and Sacred!

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Plan an intimate night with your spouse. Make sure there is consideration, cooperation, communication, compassion, and commitment. Make it special, fill it with love, pleasure, and life. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge.

NOTES

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Write a Card 9 When reading though the Bible there are many times that we see the words, “God spoke” or “He said”. For instance, God speaks to people of Israel, the Lord speaks to Moses from the flaming bush, Jesus teaches in the synagogue, and He instructs the disciples… there are so many instances when we see God speaking. But have you noticed that there are only a hand-full of times that the Bible shows us an instance when God writes. Here are some important ones to remember: In Exodus and Deuteronomy God wrote the Ten Commandments on the stone tablets, in Daniel 5:5 God wrote on the wall, and in John 8:6 Jesus stooped and wrote a message in the sand. Each one of these accounts was memorable and got the attention of the people in a powerful way. Throughout our days we speak so many words to our husband/wife, and because of the amount of communication with one another, it is inevitable that some of our words have been forgotten. You may even have times within one conversation that you forget what your husband/wife told you. All of us desire to make our words, feelings, and thoughts memorable to our spouse. Just as God got our attention by writing, you may make a powerful impact on your love by writing them a letter or a card. Many of you may have saved a letter your spouse wrote to you in the past… little do they know it is something that you cherish and will never forget.

“Just as God got our attention by writing, you may make a powerful impact on your love by writing them a letter or a card.”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Write a card or a letter to your spouse. You may want to write to remind them of a memory that you cherish in your relationship, to tell them of your love and affection, or to share with them a dream you have for your future together. You may even have something that you have wanted to tell them, but haven’t had the time or the right moment. Today is your day. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What did you write to your spouse? What was your spouse’s response? How was this a meaningful exercise for your marriage?

NOTES

DAY

Conflict 10 One day a husband and wife were so upset after a big argument that they refused to speak to each other. That night, not wanting to be the first to break the awkward silence, the man left a note on his wife’s side of the bed that read, “Wake me up at 6 o’clock in the morning.” The next morning, by the time the husband woke up, it was already eight o’clock. Furious, he roared, “Where is she?” and was about to chew out his wife when he found a note on his side of the bed: “its six o’clock; time to wake up!” When couples begin dating, it is easy to develop some unrealistic expectations of what a good marriage looks like. And at first, you pride yourselves in the fact that you have never had a disagreement, and your plans continue as you ride off into the sunset of eternal marital bliss. Disney may be to blame for putting these ideas into the minds of so many little girls: “One day my prince will come, and he will be the answer to all my prayers.” But it doesn’t take her long to start saying another set of prayers! If love is blind then marriage is definitely an eye-opener. Handling conflict is such an important skill in navigating a relationship. All couples fight, but good couples fight fair. Husbands and wives that embrace conflict and learn to manage it well can actually build respect for each other and even grow stronger. Those who can’t work together to solve problems eventually find themselves stuck and looking for a way out. Listening, owning your mistakes, offering mercy, and taking responsibility are all important parts in guiding a relationship through turbulence. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

“All couples fight, but good couples fight fair.”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Identify conflict that may be unresolved in your marriage. Make a list of things that are bothering you and present it to the Lord. Ask Him to soften your heart and speak to you about your role in those issues. When the time is right, talk to your spouse for the purpose of reconciliation __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. How easy was it for you to make your list? What did God speak to you concerning your responsibility in it? What things did your spouse point out to you that need your attention? How did you handle hearing it? What is your plan of action?

NOTES

DAY

Eliminate Hindrances 11 “. . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us.” - Hebrews 12:1 NIV

No matter how gifted an Olympic track star is, they can be beaten by anyone if they have too much to carry. When you are moving forward extra weight is a bad thing; too much weight and not only will you be slowed down, you won’t be able to finish. Marriage is the same way. There are weights that we carry that keep our marriage from being all it could be and may keep us from finishing the race together. These weights could be big issues or small things that keep us from moving forward. If we want a strong, enduring marriage we must always look for things that we are doing that keep our marriage from being all God has in mind. It always begins with looking at ourselves not our spouse - and ends with us making the painful decision to change. We may have to give up something we like for the person we love. We may need to admit some self-destructive habits in our life that are hurting those around us. We change so we can enjoy what we love. It is not about changing to fit the mold our spouse wants. It is about becoming more like Christ everyday so we can be the person God’s created us to be. That is the person our spouse desires.

“It always begins with looking at ourselves - not our spouse - and ends with us making the painful decision to change.”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Tell your spouse about something you will let go of for them. Ask them to give you grace as you grow. You won’t be perfect, but you will ask for God’s help to change. If you are not sure of what to change, ask your spouse for suggestions. They won’t need to think long. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What are you letting of? What are some practical steps that you can take to make this happen? How will this help your relationship to your spouse?

NOTES

DAY

Small, Kind Words 12 “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” - Proverbs 16:24 NLT

Think back when you were dating… notes on his or her car and messages that say “I’m thinking about you”. You did anything to woo him or her your way. Then, you get married and the wooing seems to diminish. You have them now, so there no longer seems to be a reason to send the note or leave a message. We forget about letting our spouse know that we are thinking about them. We forget about the significance of a thoughtful note. Notes, messages, and in today’s world, texts, are simple ways to let your spouse know you are thinking about them. It is a simple way to encourage. As you go throughout your day, a text simply says to your spouse that they are on your mind. Something so small and takes a few seconds tells your spouse that during your busyness you have stopped to let them know how much you mean to them. There was a wife who wanted to do something special for her husband. His Love Language was Words of Affirmation. So as an anniversary gift she wrote over 300 encouraging, thoughtful, love-filled words on over 300 different pieces of paper and put them in a piece of pottery that sat on her husband’s office desk. He called it, “the bowl of affirmation” and loved to read the personal thoughts from his wife. Every time he would read one he would have this awesome sense of value knowing his spouse would take time to write each thought down. In short, he felt loved. The small notes to him “were like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” It is crazy how something as simple as words on a piece of paper, a text or a message can communicate so much.

“Notes, messages, and in today’s world, texts, are simple ways to let your spouse know you are thinking about them.”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Take time today to send your spouse a kind and encouraging word or a thought about him or her. Let them know you are thinking about them. You may want write down a prayer for your spouse to take with them throughout their day. Today, communicate how thankful you are for them and how much you value them. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. How did it make you feel when you received the message from your spouse? Knowing that it probably made your spouse feel the same way, what would be the result of making this simple addition a regular part of your marriage?

NOTES

DAY

Gift Giving 13 I don’t believe there’s any greater example of gift-giving than what is described in Philippians 2:1-11. Jesus gave, the Father gave, and we are told how to give - not looking to our own interests, but in those of others. Philippians 2:1-11 NLT

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 NLT

For some of you, gift-giving is your love language. You love the joy that even a small gift can create. So today, stop and think… think of something that isn’t necessarily expensive, or that you have just wanted for yourself, but think of something that for your spouse has some great meaning - something significant to them - a gift that says, “I could not get through this day without getting you something that says ‘I remember, I knew, I took notice, and I want to bless you with no strings attached.’“ See, pure and true love has to be expressed sometimes through generosity.

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Go get your love something today. Get them a gift that will express your love to them… no strings attached! __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. What did you get for your spouse? How did it bring joy to your husband/wife and how did it create joy in your heart as well?

NOTES

DAY

Date Night 14 One of the keys to a successful and productive life is “keeping the main thing, the main thing.” Of course, God is the center of the home, but outside of that the main thing is the marriage. The most important relationship is that between husband and wife. If this falls apart, everything falls apart. If kids, jobs, ministry, anything begins to tear down the relationship between husband and wife the whole home will begin to lose its foundation. Because life just naturally pulls away from the main thing to trivial things in every area of our life, we have to be intentional about getting back to the main thing. The best way to do that is carve out time to make the main thing, the only thing. In marriage this means getting away from cell phones, kids, chores, etc. and spending time together, just husband and wife. Too often the husband/wife relationship becomes purely functional and not emotional. You have to talk to work out bills, chores, schedules, decisions about kids, etc. Unless couples spend time together, they lose the feeling of loving and needing each other. Getting away is the only thing to rekindle that flame. You might just remember why you fell in love in the first place.

“Unless couples spend time together, they lose the feeling of loving and needing each other.”

love challenge

Challenge: ›- - -Today’s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Go on a date night. Make plans for the kids (or dogs) and go do something you both like. It’s okay to talk about the kids, but don’t talk about any business. Focus on how much you love your life and try to act like you did when you felt so lucky that they were even spending time with you. __________ Check here when you have completed today’s challenge. Journal about your experience tonight, how did you spend your time and what did it mean to you and your spouse? Since this is the last day of the 14 Day Love Challenge, take a few moments to write about the experience as a whole and the impacts it had on your marriage. Think about what positive changes have been made in your relationship and how you make those changes last.

NOTES