Prayer and action. This idea has surfaced several times in my life recently. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been spending more time intentionally praying for people, while also planning times to get together with those people.

Prayer and action.

It also hit me one night while taking care of my daughter. I often pray for her. I pray she’ll be safe and happy. I pray she’ll grow and learn well. And most importantly, I pray she’ll come to know Jesus as her savior at a young age.

Then I thought about all the things I do for her. I rock her back to sleep when she awakes in the middle of the night. I play with her and do whatever I can to make her smile and laugh. And I would do anything to keep her safe and protected.

Prayer and action.

Faith + Good Works

I realize prayer and action aren’t anything new. It’s similar to the concept of faith and good works. We’re all probably somewhat familiar with the verse in James that says, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” James‬ ‭2:26‬

One sign that our faith is genuine and alive is the good works we do.

• Do we pray for people to know Jesus? And do we take action to share the Good News with them?
• Do we pray for the poor and helpless? And do we take action to feed and help them?
• Do we pray for our enemies? And do we take action to show that we truly love them?

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Prayer and action.

Our lives should consist of faith and good works — prayer and action. If we want to see people come to salvation, we obviously need to pray for them. Because changing hearts is something only God can do.

But if we only pray for people, is that enough? Or what’s our part? Paul says it this way, “And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” Romans‬ ‭10:14‬b

And let’s not forget John’s simple call to action when he says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John‬ ‭3:18‬

The Bottomline

So we have a part to play. We have actions to take. If you’re praying for a friend to know Jesus, are you also spending time with that friend? Are you taking them to coffee or lunch? Are you actually sharing your faith with them?

Prayer is powerful. No doubt. I would argue that good works (actions) are also powerful. So link them together and what do you have? An incredible pairing that’s sure to change lives. Not only the lives of those around you, but yours as well.

So let’s commit ourselves to prayer and action. Pray for those who need Jesus. Pray for the poor and oppressed. And take action to love well, make friends, and share the Gospel. Souls are depending on it.

Prayer and action.

Let’s face it, you probably have a kitchen junk drawer. Most people do. If by chance you don’t, perhaps you have another place in your home that acquires junk.

Before I continue, let’s address the definition of “junk.” According to Google, junk is, “old or discarded articles that are considered useless or of little value.” While that definition works, to me, something can feel like “junk” when it’s not in its proper place. So if an item isn’t where it belongs, it can become junk.

The kitchen junk drawer may not be filled with literal junk. The items in there may not be useless or necessarily old. Although some of it may be junk. For example, my junk drawer contained tape, glue, wall hangers, a lighter, and door pads. But it also contained keys to who knows where, some random pick thing, a broken laser pointer, and an old pair of glasses.

One day, I realized that I could get rid of this junk drawer by moving its contents to different places. This may sound like spreading junk around, but it’s actually converting those items from junk back into normal, useful items that are in their proper place.

The problem with the junk drawer is that it becomes a catch-all for random items. So I decided to put an end to that. It was a fairly simple two-step process.

Step 1

Put useful items that you will actually use where they belong the best. For instance, I put tape and glue in my tool drawer, and toothpicks went in my clip drawer. For other items, I made my best guess on where was the best place for them. Sometimes this ends up being a trial and error process. Put item 1 in place A, live with it for a while, then if it isn’t a good fit, move it to place B. And so on.

Step 2

Throw away everything else that isn’t useful and won’t actually be used. Half of the items in my junk drawer were “just in case” items that had been there for years that I hadn’t used in years. So I said my goodbyes and haven’t thought about those items since.

What’s the weirdest thing you found buried in your kitchen junk drawer?

The Question

The other day, I was thinking about the classic question, “With all I’ve done, how could God love me?” Or to word it another way, “I’m such a sinner, how could God possibly love me?” Or “There’s no way God could love me, I’m unlovable.”

If you’ve ever had a thought like this, you’re not alone.

The Answer

While reflecting on this, a somewhat different answer came to mind. How could God not love me? Let me explain. 1 John 4:8 makes it clear that “God is love.” And 2 Timothy 2:13 says, “He cannot deny who He is.” God loves because God is love, and He can’t not be who He is. I love the way Romans 8:38–39 puts it, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Oh. My. Goodness. That love. God’s love. Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

One of my favorite Bible verses is 1 John 3:16, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” This is a simple and profound explanation of what real love is. Jesus gave up His life. Not just in death, but while He was alive, He gave up His entire life for us because He loves us. That astounds me.

The Proof

God proved His great love for us by sending Jesus to die. Romans 5:8 makes this clear, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” To top that off, God’s great love is so great, that it’s too great to understand fully (Ephesians 3:19).

Jesus loves us so much that He died to take the punishment for our sins. And what was that punishment? The full force of God’s wrath, the guilt and shame of sin, and complete separation from God the Father. God turned His back on Jesus and forsake Him because Jesus bore our sins (Matthew 27:46).

The prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse into the torture that Jesus went through. In chapter 53 verse 5 he says, “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” If that’s not a clear view of what real love is, I don’t know what is.

So how could God love you?

Because His great love is far greater than we could ever understand. Because He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the full extent of sin’s consequences, the consequences we rightfully deserve because of our rebellion. Because the core of His very nature is love. Because He defines what real love is. Because He is love.

Our thanksgiving from Thursday shouldn’t stop because it’s Friday. Thankfulness should be a daily, moment-by-moment attitude. I wanted to take a moment to share what I’m thankful for, even in 2020.

What is Thanksgiving?

To start, let’s define Thanksgiving. According to Google, “Thanksgiving (noun): the expression of gratitude, especially to God.” Think about that definition for a second. Expressing gratitude, especially towards God. Despite everything going on, we have a lot to be thankful for. I know that probably sounds cliché, but hear me out.

I’m Thankful for My Breath, Heart, and Soul

I’m thankful to God Almighty, the Creator of everything for the life He gave me — little ole me. He created me intentionally with a purpose and a plan. The breath in my lungs, the heart in my chest, and my eternal soul — God made each of those, and He holds them all in place. That alone is truly amazing.

God, thank You for creating me.

I’m Thankful for Jesus’ Suffering

Despite my sin and rejection of Him, He chose to die for me to restore my relationship with Him and give me a brand new life. Honestly, it blows me away every time I think about all the suffering Jesus went through because He loves me. In addition, anytime I think I’m going through something difficult (e.g. 2020), I think about Jesus being whipped, beaten, abused, and crucified — guys, He was so disfigured that He was barely recognizable (Isaiah 52:14). After thinking about this, my circumstances don’t seem near as bad. I am so very thankful for all that Jesus went through to save me.

God, thank You for saving me.

I’m Thankful God is with Me Always

God promised to never abandon me (Hebrews 13:5). He is with me through it all — through struggle, through happiness, through doubt, through uncertainty, through 2020…need I say more? His love is beyond comprehension, His mercy is new every morning, and His Good News is for everyone (John 3:16). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. My hope is in Jesus and Jesus alone. He is the one who truly satisfies, never changes, and is completely dependable.

God, thank You for being with me.

I’m Thankful

That’s it y’all. I’m thankful. I hope you are too. If you need help or just someone to talk to, I’m here for you. Happy Thanksgiving (every day)!

—Love, Peter

1. Clean the Toilet

If your wife never has to clean the toilets because you just do it proactively, that would be awesome. Most ladies probably think toilets are somewhat gross, even if they won’t admit it. Also, dudes, let’s be real, the messiness of the toilet is probably mostly because of you. So when you notice it’s dirty, just clean it. It takes like 21 seconds.

2. Wipe Your Beard Hairs Off of the Sink

For those who shave, chances are you leave behind a million teeny tiny hairs all over the sink after you shave. So just wipe those up right away. And while you’re at it, tidy up the rest of the bathroom sink area. Your wife may not say anything about it, but she will appreciate it. Plus, you aren’t doing this to hear her praise. You’re doing it because you love her.

3. Do the Dishes

There’s not much that makes my wife happier than kitchen counters and a sink that are free of dirty dishes. It’s a weird phenomenon, but I think she finds me the most attractive when I’m in the kitchen doing the dishes. So I try to do the dishes any chance I get!

4. But Also Don’t Do the Dishes

This might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes you shouldn’t do the dishes. Your wife needs more than your service, she needs your time and presence. She needs you. If you’re always so busy doing the dishes, cleaning the toilet, and wiping up your beard hairs, you might end up depriving your wife of the quality time she desperately needs. You need to be aware of her needs. Know when it’s time to do the dishes, but also know when it’s okay to leave that mountain of a mess right where it is so you can devote all your attention to your wife. So do the dishes for her, but also don’t.

5. Make Her Food

I don’t know about you, but my wife is a much better cook than I am. And I love that! One of the things that makes me happy is to have a home-cooked meal simply appear before my eyes without me deciding or doing anything. That means my wife cooks a lot more than I do. So when I offer to make her breakfast in the morning, she lights up. When we’re sitting on the couch in the evening and I offer to go to the kitchen and get her a snack, she smiles. Especially right now since while she’s pregnant!

What are some simple things you do to make your wife happy? Let me know in the comments below!

Intro

For the last eight years on my birthday, I’ve looked through the Bible to find my age in verses that are numbered my age. For instance, this year I found 24 verses that are each verse 24 in their respective chapters. I’ve enjoyed this tradition quite a lot. I love God’s Word and this is a special way to connect His Word to my birthday.

I thought I would share all the verses from the last eight years in one place. So as a fair warning, this post will be fairly long. I hope you’re encouraged and drawn closer to God while reading these verses. And maybe on your next birthday, you might want to do the same.

Twenty-Four

1. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts‬ ‭20:24‬
2. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans‬ ‭3:24‬
3. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Galatians‬ ‭5:24‬
4. The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs‬ ‭20:24‬
5. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians‬ ‭4:24‬
6. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews‬ ‭10:24‬
7. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:24‬
8. No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew‬ ‭6:24‬
9. Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault. Jude‬ ‭1:24‬
10. Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Matthew‬ ‭7:24‬
11. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:24‬
12. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me. Matthew‬ ‭16:24
13. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. Luke‬ ‭9:24‬
14. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. John‬ ‭4:24‬
15. O Lord, what a variety of things You have made! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your creatures. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭104:24‬
16. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:24‬
17. He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:24‬
18. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24‬
19. And gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:24‬
20. And He said to them, “This is My blood, which confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. Mark‬ ‭14:24
21. Your laws please me; they give me wise advice. Psalm 119:24‬
22. Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. Proverbs‬ ‭11:24‬
23. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us. ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:24‬
24. I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John‬ ‭5:24‬

Twenty-Three

1. Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the Good News that He saves. 1 Chronicles 16:23
2. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23
3. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
4. He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:23
5. “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23
6. Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
7. Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. Proverbs 19:23
8. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. John 4:23
9. Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them.” John 14:23
10. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23
11. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me. John 17:23
12. God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 1 Corinthians 7:23
13. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself. Ephesians 1:23
14. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Ephesians 4:23
15. Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. Proverbs 23:23
16. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23
17. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
18. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 3:23
19. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Hebrews 10:23
20. God alone understands the way to wisdom; He knows where it can be found. Job 28:23
21. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God. 1 Peter 1:23
22. And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 1 John 3:23
23. I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. Jeremiah 10:23

Twenty-Two

1. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Romans 3:22
2. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to Me, for I have paid the price to set you free. Isaiah 44:22
3. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:22
4. “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to Me and I will heal your wayward hearts.” Jeremiah 3:22
5. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 1 Corinthians 15:22
6. Let all the world look to Me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. Isaiah 45:22
7. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Lamentations 3:22
8. But the Lord is my Fortress; my God is the mighty Rock where I hide. Psalm 94:22
9. Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22
10. How great You are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You. We have never heard of another God like You! 2 Samuel 7:22
11. Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. Colossians 1:22
12. The stone that the builders rejected has now become the Cornerstone. Psalm 118:22
13. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:22
14. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 1 Peter 2:22
15. Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. Matthew 6:22
16. For the Lord is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King. He will care for us and save us. Isaiah 33:22
17. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. Psalm 33:22
18. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22
19. Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22
20. The Lord formed me (wisdom) from the beginning before He created anything else. Proverbs 8:22
21. The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22
22. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Twenty-One

1. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Philippians 1:21
2. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21
3. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21
4. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21
5. Praise the Lord, for He has shown me the wonders of His unfailing love. Psalm 31:21a
6. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:21
7. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
8. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21
9. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. James 1:21
10. And His name will be the hope of all the world. Matthew 12:21
11. Through Christ you have come to trust God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great glory. 1 Peter 1:21
12. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
13. Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. Luke 12:21
14. Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them. John 14:21
15. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21
16. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21
17. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:21
18. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Psalm 33:21
19. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:21
20. Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21
21. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 1 John 5:21

Twenty

1. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
2. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
3. God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days He has been revealed for your sake. 1 Peter 1:20
4. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20
5. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
6. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20
7. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, You make righteous judgments, and You examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Jeremiah 11:20
8. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20
9. Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death. Psalm 68:20
10. As He spoke, He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! John 20:20
11. Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. 1 Chronicles 28:20
12. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 10:20
13. Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” Luke 9:20
14. And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life. 1 John 5:20
15. Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. Proverbs 16:20
16. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20
17. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20
18. For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
19. And through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:20
20. You will show us Your faithfulness and unfailing love as You promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. Micah 7:20

Nineteen

1. We love each other because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19
2. For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ. Colossians 1:19
3. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with You, O God? Psalm 71:19
4. But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” 2 Timothy 2:19
5. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:19
6. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:19
7. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19
8. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s Light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the Light, for their actions were evil. John 3:19
9. And I give Myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth. John 17:19
10. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19
11. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
12. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19
13. How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31:19
14. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. Psalm 34:19
15. He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:19
16. By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding He created the heavens. Proverbs 3:19
17. Godly people find life; evil people find death. Proverbs 11:19
18. Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. Psalm 68:19
19. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:19

Eighteen

1. Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
2. Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18
3. No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what My Father has commanded. John 10:18
4. But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. Psalm 33:18
5. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18
6. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Romans 6:18
7. Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested. Hebrews 2:18
8. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
9. He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession. James 1:18
10. The Lord will reign forever and ever! Exodus 15:18
11. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. John 1:18
12. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Romans 5:18
13. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. Ephesians 3:18
14. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. 1 John 4:18
15. So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18
16. Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything. Colossians 1:18
17. For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 1 Peter 1:18
18. I am the living One. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18

Seventeen

1. This is My command: Love each other. John 15:17
2. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17
3. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:17
4. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
5. Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
6. Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. Proverbs 11:17
7. Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Romans 12:17
8. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. James 1:17
9. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:17
10. A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17
11. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
12. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:17
13. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. Colossians 1:17
14. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:17
15. And this world is fading away, along with everything people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:17
16. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 1 John 4:17
17. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

So, it’s date night, but what do you do? And what even is a date? Well, since we live in a world with the internet, let’s start by asking Google what a date is.

“Hey Google, define date.”
Date definition (noun): a social or romantic appointment or engagement.
Date definition (verb): go out with (someone in whom one is romantically interested).
“Thank you, Google. That gives us a starting point.”

When communicating with pretty much anyone, it’s usually a wise idea to define terms. So before your next date night (or date morning or date afternoon since there isn’t a time of day requirement for a date), have a conversation with your significant other about what a date is. This is a good exercise to help understand and set expectations.

For us, we’ve come to realize that a date is simply spending time together where that is the primary purpose. This could mean a dinner date night, going shopping together, or even an evening at home if we’re setting aside specific time to just be together.

Here are 13 date ideas to help you plan your next date night!

Dinner at a Restaurant (Obviously)

This is the classic “date night” experience. Of course, this is a good option for a date, but don’t feel like you have to get all dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant to have a good date. Fancy restaurants are fine, but so is fast food. Time, budget, and preferences are all factors in deciding where to dine. Here’s an idea to mix things up:

Sit next to each other instead of across from each other. We prefer sitting next to each other wherever we go. We find it’s easy enough to turn and look at each other, and when there are quiet moments we can just look around at our surroundings. It’s neat to share the same perspective with each other. If we’re at a restaurant that has interesting items on the walls, we can easily point things out and make comments to each other. In addition to sharing the same perspective, we enjoying sharing a plate or bowl. There’s something sweet and quaint about sitting next to your special person while eating from the same plate.

Go to a Movie

Before we dig into more unique ideas, let’s get another classic date night option out of the way — going to the movies. However! Let me throw in an idea to make this outing more fun and memorable, find a small theater. You know, one that looks like it’s straight out of the ’90s. For all the people reading this in the Rogue Valley, we suggest the Ashland Varsity Theatre. Pro tip for the Tinseltown theater in Medford, the armrests fold up! You’re welcome.

Go on a Walk

This one is nice because it can start right at your front door. Go for a loop around your neighborhood, or for those living in the country, go for a stroll around your property. Use this time to talk about whatever, take photos of cool things you see (and each other), look around and explore, and simply breathe and enjoy God’s wonderful creation.

Get Takeout, Find an Empty Parking Lot, and Eat in the Car

The title of this one is pretty self-explanatory, and this is inspired by COVID-19. But we’ll probably keep this in mind long after The Rona has passed. This is a fun way to be alone. Typically at a restaurant, there are waiters coming and going as well as other people dining, but in your car, it’s just you and your honey! Our go-to is Chipotle (we share a bowl, naturally) and then we find a parking spot with few cars around so we’re more alone. We sit, eat, and talk, and when we’re done, we just buckle up and head home.

Go on a Picnic

There’s a park close to our house that we’ve nicknamed “Our Picnic Park” because we’ve gone on quite a few picnics there. It’s special to have a physical location that we feel is “ours” because we’ve made so many memories there. For this picnic, you could cook a meal at home and take that to a park, or you could simply pick something up (Chipotle or Panda Express anyone?). And of course, parks aren’t the only picnic location, feel free to head to the lake, go for a hike, drive out in the country somewhere, or even your own backyard!

Go for a Drive

Speaking of driving in the country, do that. Just go for a drive through the countryside. Turn on your favorite music, roll the windows down, and make it up as you go together. We love discovering roads we haven’t been on before. It’s a simple, fun way to go on an adventure together.

Tennis (or Something Similar)

This is a new favorite of ours. I’ve had two tennis rackets for years that I’ve never used. So we decided to head down to the tennis court and test them out. By no means are we phenomenal tennis players, but we have a blast trying to hit the ball back and forth. We laugh, make silly faces at each other across the net, take fun photos of each other, miss the ball, and get a little workout in. You could substitute tennis for ping pong, badminton, or even pickleball!

Root Beer Floats

This one is a nice follow-up for your tennis date. Oh yeah, back-to-back dates, that’s a thing! One night, two dates. Ice cream is pretty much always a great complement to physical activity, especially in the summertime. Pro tip, right now this summer Arby’s has $1 root beer floats. You’re welcome. If root beer floats aren’t your style, feel free to switch this out for Cold Stone ice cream, an açaí bowl from Yumberry Bowl, or froyo from Yogurt Hut.

Shopping

Before all of you guys out there groan about how much you dislike shopping, hear me out. First, if your wife likes doing something, even if you don’t like it, it’s good to do that with her. It means a lot to her and makes her feel loved. Second, just give it a shot and try to have fun! Willpower goes a long way in changing our attitude. Your wife probably just wants to spend time with you, so if that means walking around Target for 3 hours, then do that!

People Watching

Before you start thinking that this is weird or creepy, it’s not. Everyone does it whether they admit it or not. This can be done almost anywhere since all you need to people watch are people. One of our favorite locations is the mall. Sometimes we’ll go there, walk around for a bit, and then find a bench and simply watch people. We have fun with it — making up stories about what we think people might be thinking. It can be quite entertaining. And it’s free!

Plan a Fun Evening at Home

Sometimes you may not feel like leaving home, or you may not be able to (especially if you have kids). While there are many things you can do at home to spend time together, we found it to be special and fun to be intentional about it. Sometimes I’ll give my wife a note at some point in the day with a detailed list of the evening plans. It might look like this:

1. Have dinner
2. Talk about our day
3. Play a game while listening to music (Dutch Blitz is a favorite)
4. Watch a movie while eating popcorn and ice cream
5. Lay on the couch together and talk
6. Go to bed

Obviously, you could put whatever you want on your list, but we’d encourage you to be detailed and specific. This is a way to express creativity in your love for each other. Plus, it takes some decision making out of the evening, which for us can sometimes be the hardest part of a date.

Work on a Project Together

When we were first getting to know each other, this was one of the things on our list of ways to spend time together to get to know each other better. And it only became more and more prominent after we got married. After all, we are constantly building our life together, which is the biggest and best project to work on. But throughout the long-term project of life, we like working on smaller projects together, such as painting our interior house doors and trim, working on our backyard, organizing our garage (yes, I love organizing!), babysitting for family and friends, writing blog posts, making short films, etc.

[Insert Your Date Idea]

It takes effort to have a good relationship. People put lots of hard work and creativity into their work, and they should put even more into their relationships! So this 13th and final date idea is up to you to come up with. We’ve given you 12 other ideas to kickstart your creativity. Now think of a new date idea that’s different than the ones mentioned above. Maybe you already have a go-to date idea that we didn’t mention, and if not, that’s fine, we believe you can come up with some great ideas!

Leave a comment below with your date idea. We’d love to have some new ideas to try, and I’m sure others reading this would love it as well.

Be creative, have fun, and enjoy your dates!

Growing up, my mom “made” me and my siblings do chores. Chores like vacuuming, taking out the trash, and doing dishes. Did I always like doing chores? No. Did I learn to love them? Yes. I didn’t get paid to do my chores because they were part of my responsibility to take care of the house I lived in. I had daily chores, weekly chores, and monthly chores. Throughout the years, the way in which my mom scheduled the chores and who was responsible for which chores changed, but the responsibility of doing chores remained.

There is one chore that stands out above the rest that has actually had a significant impact on my life — dishes. Cleaning up the dishes in the sink at the end of the day involved rinsing and scrubbing dishes, loading the dishwasher, washing any pots and pans by hand, and then wiping and drying all the counters. In reality, it isn’t the biggest deal and it doesn’t take too much time, but when both sides of the sink are overflowing with mountains of dishes, the task can seem impossible, especially when it’s late and you’re tired from the day.

It’s in this moment, when it’s late and I’m tired and I do the dishes anyway that integrity and character is developed.

So Mom, thank you for “making” me do the dishes. It helped shape me into the man I am today. I love you.

The Best Cure for Hiccups

Without a doubt, there is a long-standing discussion on how to get rid of hiccups. Do you hold your breath? Eat peanut butter? Have someone scare you? Drink water upside down? The list goes on. But do any of those really work? From my experience, not usually.

That’s why I need to share this new simple method my wife taught me. It really is the best cure for hiccups! Okay, here it is. Drink 9 sips of water without stopping. That’s it. It works pretty much every time!

Put Water on Rice in the Microwave

I’ve been microwaving food my whole life, and it’s always been a struggle to microwave rice and have it turn out as soft and moist as fresh rice from the rice maker. Usually it’s fairly dry and kind of hard. But my wife taught me to drizzle some water on the rice and then cover it with a silicone cover thing.

But don’t stop there! There’s one more piece that makes the difference. Microwave it for twice as long as you normally would. That way the water and cover partially recook the rice. It makes it so soft and yummy — just like freshly cooked rice.

Folding Clothes

Being the perfectionist that I am, I have a tendency to allow that nature to affect most areas of my life. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes striving for perfection is good, but it can often be a hindrance and a waste of time.

Folding clothes is one of the areas where striving for perfection can be a waste of time. Growing up, I would always fold my pants in a very specific way — align the button and zipper, fold inward, fold exactly in half, and then exactly in half once more.

One day while watching my wife fold pants, I realized something. Does it really matter how pants are folded? Like really?! They get folded and put in the closest, just to later get unfolded, worn, washed, and refolded. Over and over this cycle repeats. She simply folded them in half, button out, and then in one quick motion, folded them in half twice lengthwise. It takes her like two seconds to fold a pair of pants. Whereas when I fold them in my “perfect” way, it takes like nine seconds. Nine seconds! For a pair of pants.

Now it may seem like I’m making a big deal about this seven second difference, but over time, it adds up. And it’s the principle really. Do I want to waste my time folding pants “perfectly” when there are way more important things I could spend my time on?

I’ve used this as a learning opportunity for me. Where else in my life do I strive for perfection when it isn’t necessary? Let me go ahead and answer that to drive my point home.

Loading the Dishwasher

I used to think there was a “right” or “perfect” way to load the dishwasher — an optimal way to load the dishes to fit the most in while also making sure each dish gets clean. But really? Dishes?! They get used, rinsed, loaded in the dishwasher, put back in the cupboard, just for that cycle to repeat. Over and over and over again.

These two areas have taught me to be mindful of how much time I spend on various tasks. I try to spend less time on less important things, and more time on what really matters.