Sunday, December 25, 2011

A Very Blessed and Joyous Christmas to You!

Matthew 1:23

New International Version (NIV)
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Christmas Play


A Blessed Christmas to everyone! You can see videos and read an excerpt from our recent Church School play, "Yo, Holmes! Christmas Ain't Your Birthday!" at the Mt. Moriah Web site, select "Ministries" followed by "Church School" for a link to our online Church newsletter:
http://mountmoriahchurch.org/

Friday, December 23, 2011


Need a good chuckle as you do final prep for Christmas? Enjoy my son's site and today's Viral Video, "A Monkey Riding a Dog at Half-time" But Wait! There's More! You'll also get "Chad Ochocinco Riding a Bul"l...sort of : )  Enjoy!
http://veryviralnews.blogspot.com/2011/12/monkey-riding-dog.html

Friday, December 16, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 40 of 40: Love Never Fails


Scripture:

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we conclude our 40 day devotion with verse 8, "Love never fails."

Question for Reflection:
What do you love most about your spouse?

Discussion:
Well, you made it to the final day of our devotional! Congrats! : )

Simply put, I thank you for reading this devotional, whether it was just one entry, or the entire series.

I thank Mr. Harris, from our Bible Study group, for being the inspiration for
this devotional.

I learned a great deal while writing each entry and hope all of you did as well.

Please read the all of 1 Corinthians 13 to get the full context of Paul's letter to the Church at Corinthian. In sum, Paul was told the church that although many of them were using their spiritual gifts, all of those gifts were nothing without love.

Also read the King James Version of this chapter as the Elizabethan language used is poetic and beautiful.

Homework: 
The work doesn't end here. Take all that you've learned over the course of 40 days and make a point to apply what works.

Free Gift:
You are invited to download a free PDF of our devotional booklet,
Love Never Fails.

Click Here to reach the download page
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Continued Blessings and Success to You!
--Steve Kendall


















































Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 39: Perseverance

Scripture:

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we conclude our discussion of verse 7, with "Love ...always perseveres."

Question for Reflection:
Will your love for your spouse persevere?

Discussion:

"The course of true love never did run smooth."
  -William Shakespeare
          A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Act i. Sc. 1.

Several translations of verse 7 above use the word "endures," a synonym for persevere. Love can endure many things. There will always be ups and downs in any relationship, but true love has the power to overcome the valleys in our romantic lives.

When things don't go as planned, remember that love always endures as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth above.

Homework: 
Tomorrow marks Day 40, the last day of our devotional. Review the various romantic gestures and dates you carried out during this time. Make plans moving forward to use what worked. Plan a date that celebrates the completion of your 40 day journey.

As I reflect back over our 40 days, I'm thankful for the unplanned times that we ate out and the new things we tried, like going to a comedy club.

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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day!
--Steve Kendall



















































Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 38: Hope



Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we continue our discussion of verse 7, with "Love ...always hopes."

Question for Reflection:
What do you hope for in terms of romance and your spouse?

Discussion:
"Love always hopes." What a positive affirmation of love and it's power in our lives. When one has love, one has hope and where there is hope, you'll typically find faith.

All of which reminds me of Hebrews 11:1:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Homework: 
Our Question for Reflection merits repeating: "What do you hope for in terms of romance and your spouse?" With just a few days remaining in our devotional, continue to look back over what works and project forward and think about what you hope to accomplish moving forward.

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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day and a wonderful week!
--Steve Kendall




















































Monday, December 12, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 37: Trust


Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we continue our discussion of verse 7, with "Love ...always trusts."

Questions for Reflection:
Do you completely trust your spouse?
Does your spouse completely trust you?

Discussion:
If your answer to either question above was "no,"
then it is highly likely that your romantic life together has no hope of longevity.

Trust, in a marriage, is a vital, core principle upon which almost everything you do together will build upon. Without trust, one cannot fully realize a true loving relationship.

Homework:
Pray for guidance, then proceed with a plan to restore, or gain the trust of your spouse. Remember that we need God's wisdom and guidance. Prayer is our prime opportunity to communicate with the Father and ask for His help.

Dr. Charles Stanley, of InTouch Ministries, provides an excellent sermon on the topic, "The Thrill of Trusting God."

If you are lacking trust in your marriage, Dr. Stanley's message may help you on the road to recovery.

Click Here to watch the sermon and/or download notes.
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day and a wonderful week!
--Steve Kendall





















































Friday, December 9, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Days 34-36: Protection


Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
This weekend we begin our discussion of verse 7, "Love ... always protects."

Question for Reflection:
Is the love in your relationship protected?

Discussion: The passage of Scripture above states that "Love always protects," which is true if we don't allow outside influences to enter into our romantic lives.

Homework:
Over the course of this weekend, think about the time you spend with your spouse. Make an honest assessment about your time commitment and determine if you need to carve out more.

Protect the time you spend with your spouse. Are there activities, or events that you could sacrifice in an effort to increase your quality time together? If so, make that sacrifice and thus, add protection to your romantic life.
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed weekend!
--Steve Kendall





















































Thursday, December 8, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 33: Truth

Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we conclude our discussion of verse 6, "Love ...rejoices with the truth."

Question for Reflection:
Are you completely truthful with your spouse?

Discussion:In the Book of John, 8:31-32, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth will indeed set you free.

If you are not being truthful with your spouse, this will become a roadblock with regard to romance.

Homework:
Pray for guidance, then proceed with a plan to be truthful with your spouse. Sometimes the truth can hurt others, which is why prayer is so important. We need God's wisdom and guidance. Prayer is our prime opportunity to communicate with the Father and ask for His help.
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day!
--Steve Kendall






















































Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 32: Dealing With Temptation



Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we shift our attention to verse 6, "Love does not delight in evil...

Question for Reflection: 
Do you provide opportunities for evil, worldly things to enter into your relationship with your spouse?

Discussion:
It is difficult to have love in a place where evil exists. If you find that your focus is not totally on your spouse when it comes to romance, (for example, maybe you think about or lust after someone else), then evil has entered into your thinking and therefore your relationship.

We can fight temptation with God's help and keep evil out of our romantic life. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

Homework:
Are there times when you're tempted to look at someone other than your spouse with lust in your heart and mind? If so, make the effort to pray about it whenever this situation arises. 

Use an index card, or piece of paper to write down 1 Corinthians 10:13 and keep it with you for reference whenever you feel tempted.

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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day!
--Steve Kendall















Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Online Bible Study: The Book of Job

Join us for our Online Study of the Book of Job @
http://biblestudyofjob.blogspot.com/2011/12/opening-remarks-about-our-online-bible.html

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 31: Record of What's Right


Topic:  Record of What's Right

Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we continue our focus on verse 5, where love, "keeps no record of wrongs," but this time, we'll concentrate on what's right in your romantic relationship with your spouse.

Question for Reflection: As we begin Day 31 of this devotional, think back over the past month and compose a list of things that have worked well in terms of romance.

Discussion:
Now that we're approaching the end of our devotional, I want to make sure that upon completion, we each have proven romantic gestures that we can both repeat and build upon.

Homework:
Begin to think creatively about a "culminating activity" for this devotional. What I mean by this is that I want you to plan a date by the end of this 40 day devotional which reflects everything you've learned about your spouse in terms of their romantic needs.

Again, it need not be expensive, but you should put prayer, creative thought and energy into planning something special. 
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day!
--Steve Kendall
















Monday, December 5, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 30



Topic: Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we focus on verse 5, where love, "keeps no record of wrongs."

Question for Reflection: Do you keep a mental list of wrongs you believe your spouse has committed?

Discussion:
Whether we admit it, or not, we sometimes maintain "mental lists" of things. For me, before I was married, I kept a mental check list of the type of woman I wanted to marry. 

Perhaps you have a mental list? If it's a list of wrongs, it's time to erase that list. Move forward with truly trusting your spouse, which should allow your mutual love to flow freely without mental road blocks.


Homework: 
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day!
--Steve Kendall

















Friday, December 2, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Days 27-29: Love Is Not Easily Angered

Devotional Weekend Edition


Topic: Love Is Not Easily Angered

Scripture:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
 --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Our Focus:
Today we focus on verse 5, where love, "is not easily angered."

Question for Reflection: Does anger ever get in the way of romancing your spouse?

Discussion:
I heard someone once say, "In relationships, we all carry baggage. Some of us have more than just carry on luggage to deal with."

Yep, we all have baggage--stuff we carry around that we probably should just unpack and leave behind. Anger about past issues in a relationship can stunt the growth of true romance. 

If we have trust, or other issues with our spouse, how can we truly have the faith necessary to love them with all our heart and soul?

Use Christ's love for us as the example of how we should love our spouse. He wipes clean, the slate of our past when we accept Him. 

Homework: This weekend, make a list of issues/problems you have with your spouse. Then, destroy the list. 

Accept your spouse as they are. Wipe the slate clean. Unpack the anger and issues--and you won't be charged hidden baggage fees! : )
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed weekend!
--Steve Kendall


















Thursday, December 1, 2011

Online Bible Study: The Book of Job

Join us for an Online Bible Study of The Book of Job:
http://biblestudyofjob.blogspot.com/

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 26: Love Is Not Selfish

Topic: Love Is Not Selfish


"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails." --1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (from the NIV: New International
Version of the Bible)

Today we focus on verse 5, where love, "is not self-seeking."

Question for Reflection: Are you ever "self-seeking" aka "selfish" when it comes to romancing your spouse?

It is actually possible to be selfish when trying to romance your spouse. Sometimes, we're more focused on our own needs when it comes to romance. Even when we think we're doing something romantic for our spouse, we're really thinking of ourselves and what we want.

To break out of this mold, we really have to put ourselves in the shoes of our spouse. Ask yourself, "I'm I doing this for them, or for me?"

Homework: Review the romantic gestures you've made toward your spouse thus far during the course of this devotional. What worked? What didn't?

Focus on what worked, and continue those efforts, but also examine what didn't work and why
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Thanks for reading this devotional.

Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed first day of December!
--Steve Kendall



















Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Romance Devotional will Continue Later this Week

Hello to everyone reading online and via email/text subscription.

Our Romancing Your Spouse devotional will continue soon. I usually write a new one each day after prayer, but today, I had to attend to other business.

I have an entry to post, that came to me after prayer time, but unfortunately, I need more time to type it up for our devotional.

I hope to resume tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

Steve Kendall

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Support Family Movies: Go See The Muppets This Weekend


Saw The Muppets with our goddaughters. A great time at the movies. Nice to finally see a G rated movie again--it was PG because of the fart jokes, but really, a G film overall. Take your family. Let Hollywood know you support movies like this. My fav song was, "Are You A Muppet or a Man?":


Good NPR interview w/Jason Segel, (How I Met Your Mother), the actor/fan who rebooted The Muppets. 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

"Give thanks to the LORD Almighty,for the LORD is good; his love endures forever."
Jeremiah 33:11


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Days 21-25:Thankfulness



Romancing Your Spouse-Day 20


Topic: Thankfulness

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
--1 Corinthians 13:4 (from the NIV: New International Version of the Bible)


Homework:
On this Thanksgiving Eve, I want you to make a written list of reasons why
you're thankful for your spouse.

When you're finished, share and discuss the list with your spouse.

Also, for the remainder of this week, and beyond, thank God several times a day for your spouse and the love you share.


We're at the half-way point in our devotional. Review our previous
blog posts and reflect upon how you handled certain situations.
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We will return next Monday:
We'll see you again on Monday. Until then,
thanks for reading this devotional and have a blessed,
safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

--Steve Kendall

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 20: Pride



Romancing Your Spouse-Day 20


Topic: Pride

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
--1 Corinthians 13:4 (from the NIV: New International Version of the Bible)



Question for Reflection: Do you ever take the love of your spouse for granted?


Pride:
When I think of the passage above, "...it does not boast, it is not proud,"
I remind myself to never brag, or take the love of my spouse for granted. As we approach Thanksgiving Day, I'm especially thankful I have a wife that I'm in love with and can honor with romance.

Love is something we really shouldn't take for granted in this fallen world.

For example, last night, as I drove my wife home from work, she noticed a small sports car on my bumper. "Oh, my goodness, they're trying to go around us!" said my wife. I didn't want the driver to go around me as I could see oncoming traffic approaching.

I pulled over to the side of the narrow, two lane road, and let the extremely aggressive driver speed ahead, up a short hill and into a parking lot... turns out, the driver lives in the same building as us.

The driver quickly parked and exited the car. My wife was surprised to see that the driver was a young woman. I wasn't. I had encountered her before...

One morning a few months ago, a beautiful, sunny morning, I recall-- while leaving the parking lot, there was a nervous driver ahead of me trying to make a turn. The traffic coming down the hill was a bit heavy and I could tell the driver was nervous about making a quick turn. Instead, she waited patiently for a break in traffic.

Well, the aggressive driver behind me honked her horn and did it several times and made the nervous driver flinch. As I looked at the angry driver in my mirror, I wondered, "How could someone be so impatient this early and on such a beautiful morning?" We weren't waiting very long, but just the fact that this driver was in such a bad mood at the outset of the day was troubling to me.

Long story short, I wonder about the aggressive driver and the role love plays in her life. If someone truly loved her and provided her with romance, would she be so angry both at the beginning and end of her work day?

I told my wife I would say something to the woman about her driving the next time the opportunity presented itself.  My wise wife told me to pray about it first, which I have now done and will rely on the Holy Spirit when I see the driver again. You never know what's going on in someone's life. I get the sense this woman is troubled and may need help. For now, the Holy Spirit is directing me to ask her, "Are you okay? Do you need any help?  I've been praying for you."

Homework:
For the remainder of the week, thank God several times a day for your spouse and the love you share.
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Thanks for reading this devotional.
Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed day!

--Steve Kendall

Monday, November 21, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 19: Envy


"Love is patient, love is kind. Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy..." 1 Corinthians 13:4
(from the NIV: New International Version of the Bible)

Envy:
Today we'll deal with envy portion of 1 Corinthians 13:4 when it comes to romance.

Question for Reflection:
Do you rejoice in the accomplishments of your spouse, or do
you sometimes harbor envy toward what they've achieved?

The Matthew Henry Commentary has this to say about
1 Corinthians 13:4 and envy:
"If we love our neighbour we shall be so far from envying his welfare, or being displeased with it, that we shall share in it and rejoice at it. His bliss and sanctification will be an addition to ours, instead of impairing or lessening it.

Envy is the effect of ill-will. The prosperity of those to whom we wish well can never grieve us; and the mind which is bent on doing good to all can never with ill to any."

Homework:
Read the commentary above again and ask yourself, "Does envy prevent me from fully supporting my spouse?"

If the answer is "yes," then think about how you can remove these potential roadblocks in your relationship so that romance is natural
and never awkward, or forced.
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Thanks for reading this devotional.
Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed, wonderful start to your week!

--Steve Kendall

Friday, November 18, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Days 16-18: The Yoke-Continued

"Love is patient, love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4 
(from the NIV: New International Version of the Bible)

A Week of Kindness:
Today is day five of our kindness week. As we approach the weekend, I will continue our discussion of "The Yoke" from yesterday.

Question for Reflection:
Today, like yesterday, I'd like for you to reflect on the following passage of Scripture...
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV: New International Version of the Bible)

Bearing One Another's Burdens:
Today I want to focus on the second and third sentence of the scripture above:
  Jesus says to us, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This weekend, think about the whole notion of learning from Jesus when we take His yoke upon us. How can you apply that to your relationship with your spouse?

Also reflect on being "gentle and humble in heart" when it comes your romantic life. Really focus on that "humble in heart" portion. How can, or does that apply to you? 

Use this weekend to review where you are romantically with your spouse. Begin to plan the way forward in terms of what you'll continue and what you'll stop doing.

Remember, Our Time on Earth is Precious--don't waste it: 
Making the effort to be kind is so important as only God knows how much time we'll have down here until His Son, prayerfully takes us home.

Homework:
1) In addition to our ongoing assignment below (#3), invite someone to attend worship service with you and your spouse this weekend.

2) Find Scripture that you can share with your spouse. Pray about it first, then look for passages which perhaps express your love for your spouse.

3) Continue our daily assignment for the week:
Make an effort to do some little kind thing for your spouse--without spending any money. I'm not asking you to be as frugal as me. : ) I just want you to put some thought and planning into this assignment.

4) If possible, practice a random act of kindness to someone you encounter each day this week and observe how it influences both of you and the results thereof--in other words--how the act affects and effects both of you.

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Thanks for reading this devotional.
Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed, wonderful weekend!

--Steve Kendall

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse: Day 15-The Yoke


"Love is patient, love is kind." 
1 Corinthians 13:4 
(from the NIV: New International Version of the Bible)
A Week of Kindness:
Today is day four of our kindness week. 

Question for Reflection:
Today, I'd like for you to reflect on the following passage of Scripture...
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV: New International Version of the Bible)

Bearing One Another's Burdens:
I like to think of the passage above, from Matthew 11 whenever my wife is tired. When she stays up late to work, I resist the temptation to ask, "What the heck are you working on until 2 a.m.?" Instead, I try to make her burden lighter by taking up more of her side of the yoke by offering gestures of kindness.

Making your spouse breakfast, or packing their lunch can ease the burden of the simple things they may not have time to do when their schedule gets hectic.

Remember, Our Time on Earth is Precious--don't waste it: 
Making the effort to be kind is so important as only God knows how much time we'll have down here until His Son, prayerfully takes us home.

Homework:
Continue our daily assignment for the week:
Make an effort to do some little kind thing for your spouse--without spending any money. I'm not asking you to be as frugal as me. : ) I just want you to put some thought and planning into this assignment.

In addition, if possible, practice a random act of kindness to someone you encounter each day this week and observe how it influences both of you and the results thereof--in other words--how the act affects and effects both of you.

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Thanks for reading this devotional.
Please feel free to share and pass along to others.

Have a blessed, kind, wonderful day!

--Steve Kendall


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse: Day 14--Green Light. Red Light



"Love is patient, love is kind."
1 Corinthians 13:4 (New International Version)

A Week of Kindness:
Today is day three of our kindness week. 

Question for Reflection:
What do you do, in terms of kindness, when things aren't going well with your spouse?


Perhaps one, or both of you are tired after a long day at work and your spouse becomes short-tempered over something. Those are the times when I find it best to stop myself from saying too much.

Red Light. Green Light.
I try to visualize a traffic light. I don't want to hurt the feelings of my spouse, so, to exercise kindness, I think, "Red Light. Come to a stop. Don't go forward. If you go through this light, both of you are going to collide and someone may get hurt. Just be patient and wait for it to turn Green."

Next, like any quarterback who throws the ball to the wrong team, I try to forget about the bad move on my part, get back in the game and wait for a better opportunity to show kindness to my spouse.

Simply put, sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is to do nothing and say nothing and let our spouse have some space and time to themselves.

What I wrote yesterday holds true every single day: 
Making the effort to be kind is so important as only God knows how much time we'll have down here until His Son, prayerfully takes us home.

Homework:
Continue our daily assignment for the week:
Make an effort to do some little kind thing for your spouse--without spending any money. I'm not asking you to be as frugal as me. : ) I just want you to put some thought and planning into this assignment.

In addition, if possible, practice a random act of kindness to someone you encounter each day this week and observe how it influences both of you and the results thereof--in other words--how the act affects and effects both of you.

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Thanks for reading this devotional. I feel blessed that folks take the time to read it and offer feedback to me. Please feel free to share and pass along to others.


Have a blessed, kind, wonderful day!

--Steve Kendall

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Romancing Your Spouse-Day 13: Presence & Absence:


"Love is patient, love is kind."
1 Corinthians 13:4 (New International Version)

A Week of Kindness:
Today is day two of our kindness week. 

Question for Reflection:
In terms of time spent with your spouse, how does your presence and absence impact your relationship?

I thought of this question last night while reading the liner notes of the wonderful album, "Unforgettable," by Natalie Cole. There are several pictures in the companion booklet to the CD where Natalie points out that her father was often away. She cherished those few childhood memories of time spent with her dad as he passed away when she was still young. 

Given Natalie's discussion of her father, Nat King Cole, apparently, he understood the value of maximizing every moment he spent with his family. 

Making the effort to be kind is so important as only God knows how much time we'll have down here until His Son, prayerfully takes us home.

Putting Kindness To Work:
So, how's it goin' with this whole "Random Acts of Kindness" campaign we started yesterday?

Was it difficult to find the right moment, or situation to exercise a kind gesture yesterday?

This morning, as I was throwing out some trash, a neighbor passed by, someone I've never seen before. As I entered the trash room,  I tried to make eye contact and said, "Good morning."

Perhaps he didn't hear me as he kept walking--and avoided eye contact. "Good morning!" I said cheerfully. The man seemed reluctant, but replied, "Good morning."

It's unfortunate that something as simple as "Hello" or "Good morning," has become the exception in some places, instead of a given, that your parents taught you in terms of manners. In today's fallen world, stuff like that shouldn't surprise us. 

Let's continue to be the light that draws others to Christ by 
the example we set with kindness.

Homework:
Yesterday, I asked the following of you:

Every day this week, make an effort to do some little kind thing for your spouse--without spending any money. I'm not asking you to be as frugal as me. : ) I just want you to put some thought and planning into this assignment.

In addition, if possible, practice a random act of kindness to someone you encounter each day this week and observe how it influences both of you and the results thereof--in other words--how the act affects and effects both of you.

Today, I want you to really think about the time you spend with your spouse. How can you maximize that time? If you don't spend much time together, kindness is crucial. Who wants a bunch of negative time together? 

Be in the moment with your spouse. If possible, let them do most of the talking. Don't try to solve their problems unless they ask. Sometimes, a spouse just wants to decompress and vent about their day and not have someone try to fix it when they get home.

I learned this the hard way as I would constantly offer my wife suggestions for work related problems she discussed. She told me flat out once, "Don't try to solve this. I just want to vent right now." Nuff said. I got the message and a valuable lesson about when to offer help.

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Thanks for reading this devotional. Please pass it along.

--Steve Kendall