When Marriage Becomes an Idol

Marriage is wonderful. Like most girls growing up, I dreamed about love and living happily ever after. Now that I am married, I often look back to my single years and, while I rejoice in the faithfulness of the Lord and the beauty of a pure past, I can see several pitfalls I wish I would have avoided. I pray you can benefit and learn from my season of singleness....
   

Today I am honored to be a guest post for Megan in her new series, Singleness Saturdays. Continue reading over at He Will Be Faithful.

My "Love Dare" For You

Those of you who have seen the movie, Fireproof, may have recognized the title. In that movie, Caleb, on the brink of divorce, is given a "dare" by his father. The dare shows Caleb what marriage is and, ultimately, leads him to the Cross on the way.
 

Well today is Valentine's Day and, as I type this, I am watching the Tweets and the Facebook posts from people all over. They are posting about flowers, candy, date nights, love letters, their significant others...or their "woes" about being single on this "lover's holiday." As I blogged the other day, Valentine's Day has a pretty rotten origin. And as a Christian, sometimes it's not so simple to know exactly how you ought to respond. My husband and I talked about it again this morning. We don't want to be legalistic but we do want to live righteously. With that being said, I have my own little "Love Dare" for you today. Actually....I have two. :)
 

If you are single...
 
I dare you to draw nigh unto God...(James 4:8)
  
I dare you to trust in Him, with ALL your heart...(Proverbs 3:5)
   
I dare you to let Him show you how to love...(1 Corinthians 13:4-8; John 13:5)
   
I dare you to see HOW MUCH in love He is with you!....(Jeremiah 31:3; Hosea 2:19-20; Romans 8:38-39)
  
I dare you to walk in wisdom, in love, and in purity....(Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:2; Matthew 5:8)
   
I dare you to let Him lead you in everything...(Proverbs 3:6)
 

If you are married...
   
I dare you to love each other as Christ loves you...(1 John 4:7)
  
I dare you to put one another above yourself....(Philippians 2:3)
  
I dare you (wives) to be your husband's help meet....(Genesis 2:18, Titus 2:3-5, Proverbs 31:10-30)
  
I dare you (husbands) to be your wife's protector and leader...(Ephesians 5:23-29)
  
I dare you to be kind, patient, and servant hearted with one another...(Galatians 5:13; Galatians 5:22-25)
  
I dare you to let God build your life, your marriage, and your family...(Psalm 127:1-5)
   

On this "day for lovers," I challenge you to fall more in love with our Lord and Savior. Because if HE is the all-complete lover of our souls, then all else will fall into place and into perspective.

Top 10 Courtship Pick-Up Lines

I saw this and thought it was halarious! Even though my courtship has ended and I am now married, I am still becoming more and more inclined toward courtship and the more purity-based way of doing things. This is a fun little "Top 10 List" for all you likeminded readers out there!



10. "So I talked to your dad last night..."

 9. "I lost my phone number. Maybe through a purposeful relationship, we can find out if I'm supposed to have yours."

 8. "Your Bible...or mine?"

 7. "We're perfect for each other. Our parents have so much in common!"

 6. This one comes right out of the book of Song of Solomon, "You're so, so, how can I say this biblically? Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing...Your hair is like a herd of goats running down a mountain!"
 5. "Do your feet hurt? 'Cause you've been running through God's plans for me all eternity long!"

 4. "Let's get our siblings together and go out sometime."

 3. "I can't wait to see what you look like at 50."

 2. "Your modesty's showing."

 1. "My parents are back in town. Wanna come over?"