Images Used by Permission via Fireproof Press Release

Christian Marriage: What Romance Looks Like

“You never, ever leave your partner, especially in a fire.” ~ Caleb Holt, Fireproof

That is one of the first lines in one of the first scenes from the movie, Fireproof.  Kirk Cameron’s character, Caleb Holt, was referring to a standard rule in a fire fight, but his passion for this rule proves powerful in marriage as well.  The rest of the film builds on this truth.

Marriage is hard even in the best of circumstances.  Even the strongest Christian marriages are not immune from destructive influences.  In fact, Godly homes are a threat to the devil, so he will most certainly try to destroy them.  In the movie, Caleb and Catherine Holt are ready to end a marriage destroyed by internet pornography, materialistic selfishness, and temptations of adultery.  Catherine wants out of the marriage and that is fine with Caleb

Caleb’s own parents have endured their own marital problems, but one of them came to know Jesus and God led the couple through something called the Love Dare.  Through the Love Dare, couples learn to nurture their marriages by honoring God first and then loving one another selflessly.  Caleb learns about the Love Dare and then, half-heartedly at first, begins his 40 Day journey.

As a fire-fighter, Caleb knows the life-saving value of sticking with your partner in a fire fight.  He knows this rule is vital for survival and if abandoned, can result in the death of the abandoned fire-fighter, permanently ending the partnership.  Caleb learns to apply this truth to his failing marriage and he is resolved to “never leave his partner, especially in the middle of the fire.”

I don’t want to give away too much for those who have not seen it, but when I was asked to participate in a collaborative post effort about Biblical marriage and what romance really looks like, I could not think of a better example than the one given in the movie Fireproof.

When we think of romance, we tend to think like teenagers.  We associate romance with flowers, candy, and surprise date nights.  Those things are wonderful and as a wife of almost 24 years, I love those things but I’ve also learned that romance is much more than that.

Honestly, sometimes romance within the boundaries of Biblical marriage is nothing like that at all.

Romance within a Biblical marriage sometimes means doing the hard thing.  It means we realize that love is not just a feeling, but also a commitment.

So to answer the question, what does romance look like in the context of a Biblical marriage?

It is a decision to remain committed through better or worse.  It is a decision to love intentionally, unconditionally, and selflessly, like Christ loves His church.  It is a decision to show that love even when it is hard.  It is a commitment.  It is a covenant before God to be protected and honored, not a contract to be broken simply because life together gets tough.   It is a resolution to never, ever leave your partner, especially in the middle of the fire-fight. When married couples learn to love in this way, the candy, flowers, and surprise gifts and date nights are more fun and meaningful than ever before. - The Love Dare

I know that sometimes, in spite of all their efforts, some couples choose to end their marriages.  Sometimes couples have Biblical grounds to do so, but sometimes they just give up because their idea of romance is out of touch with reality, leaving them hopelessly disappointed.  If you have not watched Fireproof or have not been introduced to the Love Dare, then I encourage you to view the following official trailer and clip, then see the film and go through the materials offered after the videos.  The truths presented about marriage and romance will change your marriage and your life.  I promise.

Enjoy the official move trailer: 

How do we show love to someone over and over and over again who constantly rejects us? We have a good example.

Bible Verses Concerning Marriage 

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, ‘ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. ~ Genesis 2:22-24 

Haven’t you read,”that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” ~ Matthew 19:4-6 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.- 1 Peter 4:8 

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12 (The third cord represents God.) 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14

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Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

Mema’s Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

No one could make desserts better than my grandmother (we called her Mema).  I am blessed to be the first of fourteen cousins and when we were younger, we all gathered at Mema’s house often.  At Mema’s house, we could always count on lots of food including the best desserts ever made.  One of my favorites was her chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies.  It is a simple recipe with no secret ingredients, but it does take a little bit of practice to get them just right.
 

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Stick Butter
1/4 Cup Cocoa
1 and 1/2 Cups Quick One-Minute Oatmeal (I use Quaker)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Flavoring
1/4 Cup Peanut Butter

Directions:  In a boiler, add sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa.  Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.  Once the mixture reaches the boiling point, reduce heat from high to medium-high and continue stirring for another 1 min. 30 seconds.  At the sound of the timer, remove from heat and add peanut butter immediately.  Stir in the peanut butter quickly.  Add vanilla.  Then add the oatmeal.  Stir quickly as the mixture will begin to harden immediately. Spoon onto aluminum foil and allow the cookies to cool.  Enjoy with a tall glass of cold milk.

Tips:  These cookies can be tricky.  If they turn out too firm, try adding less oatmeal.  If they don’t harden at all, add more oatmeal.  If you still have trouble getting them to turn out just right, adjust the amount of peanut butter.  They also turn out differently, depending on the humidity.  The trick is to experiment with the recipe until you get it just right.

Enjoy!

Need a visual?  This lady might do things slightly different but this is a great video to show you how it’s done.

Remember, humidity can make a big difference so you might have to play around with the recipe a few times until you get it just right. 

If you like this recipe, you might also like this chocolate cobbler recipe. It won't disappoint! 

Chocolate Cobbler Recipe

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove) 

Quiet Time: What Does Personal Bible Study Look Like?

Why should Christians spend quiet time every day in personal Bible Study?

As Christians, we value church attendance.  We are likely active in Bible Fellowship classes, the new name in many churches for what we always knew as Sunday School.  We attend Bible study classes on Wednesday nights perhaps, or maybe other times throughout the week.  We study our Bibles in worship services and small groups on a regular basis, but it is also important to spend time alone in God’s Word.

 God’s Word is Personal

We should spend time alone in God’s word every day because His Word is personal.  The Bible has been referred to as God’s love letter to His children.  God speaks to our hearts – personally – when we spend time alone in His Word, without the distractions of everyday life.   God tells us in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart.”  Our Father knew us before He formed us in our mother’s wombs and He has a special plan for our lives.  He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a future and a hope.”  God knows us personally and has a plan for us.  When we spend time alone with Him, He reveals Himself and His plan for us.  We can hear Him more clearly when we are free from distractions.

We Remember What We Were Taught

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. ~ 1 Timothy 3:14-17

We should spend time in Bible Study each day so we are constantly reminded through God’s Word the values we have been taught.

 That We Might Not Sin Against God

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.~ Psalm 119:11

When we spend quiet time in God’s Word and we allow Him to speak to our hearts, our relationship with Him grows more deeply, that we might not sin against Him.

 What Does a Quiet Time Look Like?

The best time to spend quiet time in God’s Word is in the morning, early, before we do anything else.  This sets the mood for the day.  When we begin our day in the Word, with God’s personal message to us on our hearts and minds, we start our day off in the best possible way.  Then, when life wakes up and our day transforms into our crazy normal, we can handle life’s challenges more gracefully.  However, the important thing is that we spend this valuable personal time with Him.  I know mornings are the best times, but my personal quiet times often look different from one day to the next.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

When I spend time in Bible Study in the mornings, it looks something like this.  Usually, my bed is unmade and I’m still bundled up under the covers but I spruced up the scene a bit for you.  Sometimes I simply open up the Bible and read it, randomly.  Sometimes, I use a devotional as a guide and go through a series on a particular Bible study topic.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

When the house is quiet and I am the only one home, I might choose to spend my quiet time alone in God’s Word in my living room.  On a nearby table are two very old Bibles.  One belongs to my great grandmother and one belongs to my husband’s grandmother.  The one in this photo belonged to my great grandmother.  She wrote notes all throughout the Bible and inside the cover is a message she wrote about my upcoming birth.  Occasionally, I use her old Bible to compare her old King James translation to my New American Standard translation.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

Sometimes life gets crazy before my day even starts or maybe the craziness is left over from the day before.  Sometimes the house is a mess and the only quiet place I can find is on the floor, but God speaks to my heart during these times too.  When I must choose a spot on the floor because the furniture is piled up with laundry and toys, I prefer a spot by the fireplace.  I prefer a spot by the gas fireplace in another room, but our new electric fireplace works too.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

When the weather is warmer, another place I like to go to spend time in Bible study is the back deck.  Back there, the view of the North Georgia mountains is beautiful.  As I read the Bible, I like to look up and reflect on God’s beautiful creation.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

Just last week, I managed to capture this beautiful sunrise from my front porch.  In the summer time, this is another nice place for personal Bible study.  This is a particularly good outdoor spot for morning Bible study because the sunrises are almost always gorgeous.  This place provides the perfect atmosphere for starting the day with a personal quiet time.


You'll find this post and other great posts here at the Faith 'n Friends Friday Link-Up. Come check out all the great posts!

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