day 1 ~ meeting His strength in my weakness

well girls...monday tried to kick my butt several times over the past 12 hours {toddler mega-meltdowns, 100 degree heat while running errands, diaper blow-out...i won't bore you with the other grueling details} but i fought hard and won the battle.  yes, there is a tutu and a dozen other random items laying on my family room floor.  and, yes, there are dishes and clothes stacked and yet to be put away.  and, yes, my floor {which my kids routinely eat off of} is filthy, but...i got 3 loads of laundry done, served 3 balanced meals, had fun with my kids, and kept my cool all day long.  the good news is my daily dare was fulfilled.  the bad news is i don't have much left in the reserve tank to write an incredibly thoughtful post.  but...here goes...a few observations to kick off our 40 day challenge!


(1)  :: strength in numbers ::   
there are several of us {myself included} who have attempted the love dare in the past and fallen short.  i am committed this time but just in case my commitment might start to wane i asked you gals to jump on the train with me because i could flake out and cause my own train wreck but i wouldn't dare get this thing off track knowing that the rest of you are precious passengers!  your accountability is invaluable to me...thank you sisters!


(2)  :: a habit ::  
here's one of the main reasons i am totally committed to seeing this thing ALL the way through...i want to form a habit.  there is gobs of research out there on forming habits and from what i've read folks believe it takes anywhere from 21 to 66 days for something to really become ingrained...i figure 40 is a darn good start.  the habit i want to form?  ~loving well~  the focus of this particular journey is our husbands but my hope is that in learning to love my husband well i will also begin loving my children, my parents, my friends {and even that annoying driver that just cut me off} well, too.


(3)  :: hitting me where it hurts ::  
day one...patience...seriously???  couldn't we just ease into this thing???  when i began to read today's entry i almost closed my book, waved the white flag, threw in the towel...  there is something you should know about me - on most days i am a ticking time bomb.  my impatient (and anything but 'gentle') flesh has gotten the best of me so many times and is one of the greatest battles that my heart faces on a daily basis.  at first i was overwhelmed to face this facet of love for my first challenge but quickly my fear turned to gratitude and hope.  for me, personally, there really couldn't be a better place to start.  if there is anything that i need a FULL 40 days to practice it is patience.  and if there is going to be any major breakthrough in my ability to love it must start with patience.  and anyways...God reminded me yesterday, before i even cracked this book, that He would provide me with the strength i would need to face this challenge and all the other ones that come my way.  this is where he led me...


from isaiah 40 ~He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak...those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


OK girls...here we go...praying daily that each of you would embrace His strength in your weakness as we face this worthy challenge of loving well...


let me hear from you...