The Wife on Fire Challenge is all about creating and strengthening a faith-founded and grounded marriage.
With that thought in mind, we took some time to select a Marriage Mission Verse last week. This week we are going to look to the greatest example of love, God, to show us what unconditional love looks like.
God is Love
What is this verse from 1 John saying?
Well, when I read it, I think of the example of love that God is to all of His children. And I see my husband, not only as my mate, but also as a child of God.
This verse also tells me that if I desire to grow closer to God, I must live in love. Where better to start living out love than in my own home and in my own marriage?
Ok, but, let’s be real for a moment.
Is Wildland Man always easy to love? Well, no. He does, in fact, have grumpy days.
As do I. Probably more than Wildland Man if I’m being honest with myself.
Does God love me when I’m not so easy to love? When I’m doubting or messing up His plans? Do I have to meet certain criteria, do I have to be perfect, in order to receive His love?
No, far, far from it actually. God loves me as His dear, sweet daughter. Even when I’m not being very sweet at all.
In fact, God loves every single one of His children. Even those that haven’t found Him yet. His love is there, waiting to be received if only we will accept it.
Ok, I can imagine what you are thinking…
“But God, is God. His love is awe-inspiring, and amazing, and all encompassing. Of course He is capable of loving me despite my sinful nature and mistakes. You don’t honestly expect me to be able to love my imperfect husband unconditionally, do you?”
The honest answer? No.
Because you, too, are an imperfect human being. You will feel hurt and pain and hold grudges and be mad about something stupid for longer than you should. You’ll bring up past errors and struggles in the midst of a nasty argument. You’ll demonstrate a lack of trust in your husband for the future. You’ll doubt and have expectations broken down.
But, so will your husband.
You are two imperfect, sinful, fleshly-desired humans. But just because unconditional love may feel out of reach, it does not mean that we can’t at least strive for it.
Why not use God’s love for us as an example for how to better love our spouse?
If you fall short of perfect unconditional love, you’re still making the effort. You’re still doing better at trying to love your spouse, flaws and all, than you did yesterday. You’re learning. And your marriage relationship will benefit in the process. If you just sit back and say unconditional love isn’t something you are capable of, then you’ll see no improvement.
If you want to be a Wife on Fire for your marriage, you need to be a Wife on Fire for your husband.
You have to do the hard work. You have to take on the challenge.
Wife on Fire Challenge – Week 2 Intentional Effort
Are you committed to having a Marriage on Fire? Join us with this year’s Wife on Fire Challenge! I will be challenging you to make intentional efforts for your marriage on a weekly basis throughout the month of August.
Just hang around here at CWC for the next few weeks to help encourage other wives in making intentional efforts in their marriage. Let’s build one another up this week as we seek to love our husbands as God loves us.
Here’s your Challenge for Week 2:
That’s right, this week should be an easy one. Dig out your wedding album and go through your memories of that special day, preferably with your husband if he is willing, but if not, it’s not a deal-breaker.
The goal here is to let the many wonderful memories of your wedding day and honeymoon remind of why you came together in love in the first place. Wherever your marriage is at today, take stock of how far you’ve come. Look back on those first memories as a unified couple with joy and cherish those memories written on your heart for all time.
Let this brief look back remind you of your deep love for your spouse and be the springboard to doing your very best to love him as God loves you. Don’t put any conditions on him, just love him, right where he is at, as the child of God that he is.
Recognize your own faults and flaws. Realize that you aren’t so easy to love all the time either. If you don’t feel like your husband loves you unconditionally, recognize that he is an imperfect human just as you are. All it takes is one person to set the example. One person to forgive the wrongdoing. One person to let go of the grievances.
Then, pray…ask God to reveal to your husband your efforts in loving him unconditionally. Ask Him to allow you to lead your husband in unconditional love and pray that he might, in turn, do the same for you.
A marriage built on a love like God’s is a marriage built on a rock solid foundation of faith.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to sign up as a subscriber to Country Wife Chronicles below. It’s the best way to stay in the know for all things CWC and this year’s Wife on Fire Challenge.
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And be sure to check out all of CWC’s social media pages for more encouragement in being a Wife on Fire!
My hope is that slowly, with time and repetition, the small efforts you are making through the Wife on Fire Challenge will fan the flame in your marriage.
**Giveaway is Closed**
Oh, and did I mention that we are doing another giveaway this year? Woot! Woot!
You know I’m in love with the book, The 5 Love Languages. It is my go-to newlywed gift and it was foundational in my own marriage as a newlywed. It opened my eyes to a whole new way to love Wildland Man, as well as understand where he was coming from in his love toward me.
If you don’t have a copy yet, now is your chance! I’ve got the newest edition of The 5 Love Languages in hand and will be sending it out to one lucky reader of Country Wife Chronicles!
The Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 Giveaway is officially open!!!
**Giveaway is Closed**
Here’s the deets on how to enter…and by the way, it’s super easy.
Simply comment on this (or next week’s) blog post before August 24th!
Yup, that’s it, you just need to post one comment on today’s blog post and you will be entered into the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 Giveaway drawing!
And if you want to boost your chances of winning, you can head over to any of the CWC Social Sites to share/like/comment on any Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 related posts for an additional entry in the drawing! (See below for the specifics)
**Giveaway is Closed**
So, just to be clear, here’s how you enter the giveaway drawing:
- Comment on Week 2 OR Week 3 of the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 blog posts by August 24th.
For an optional additional entry in the sweepstakes you can do any one (1) of the following by August 24th:
- Comment on Week 1 of the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 blog posts.
- Like AND comment on any of the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 tweets here.
- Retweet AND comment any one of the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 tweets here.
- Share one of the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 blog posts on your Twitter profile (be sure to tag @countrywifeblog to get credit for your tweets).
- Like AND comment on one of the Wife on Fire Challenge 2018 Instagram posts here.
- Sign up for the Country Wife Chronicles email subscription by entering your information below.
By clicking subscribe, you understand that you are submitting personal data to Country Wife Chronicles. You can read through our Privacy Policy for details on how your personal information will be stored and used.
Oh, and sorry about not being able to include Facebook into the mix with this giveaway. The Facebook Terms of Service don’t allow me the option to have you share and/or comment for an entrance into this sweepstakes. But you can still share anything we are posting to Facebook if you want—there’s just no additional sweepstakes entry in it for you.
**Giveaway is Closed**
Now, since this is an official giveaway, there a few legalities that need to be addressed. So, let’s just get that out of the way here:
Disclaimer: This Wife on Fire Challenge giveaway is a promotional drawing in which a prize will be given away at no charge to participants. A winner will be selected at random by the luck of the draw. Up to two entries possible per participant. Giveaway begins August 13, 2018 at 9:00 AM CST and closes on August 24, 2018 at 11:59 PM CST. Open to Legal Residents (18 years of age or older) of the United States only. Information provided to enter the Giveaway is not shared or sold and will only be used for the purpose of contacting and announcing the winner. For more information on how personal data is used by Country Wife Chronicles, please visit our Privacy Policy. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. No purchase necessary.
By participating in this Giveaway you are acknowledging that you have already read and understood the terms and conditions stated in the Official Rules.
The giveaway officially kicks off with this blog post and goes through most of next week. So, keep hanging around Country Wife Chronicles and enter for your chance to win The 5 Love Languages!
**Giveaway is Closed**
And in the mean time, love on your hubby and be a Wife on Fire for your Marriage!
Start the conversation by commenting at the bottom of the page:
What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?
What’s the best gift your marriage has given you over the years?
Are you committed to having a Marriage on Fire?
Be Still & Know…
