Dare #20 - Cook Green

So in keeping with out GREEN challenges in July, this week we are aiming to avoid single use plastics (like disposable coffee cups, plastic bags, cling wrap, straws and buying water in bottles) and trying one recipe from a list of plastic free choices.

Here's the list: and it's a long one with some weird things :)

The dare is easy.....choose and make one plastic free recipe this week.

If you are like me, doing this challenge in the first 8 days of July is really making me conscious of how much single use plastic we use and throw away. I have been trying to make some fairly small changes, mostly in recycling bags and the like, storing left overs in Tupperware and using homemade baby wipes. It feels good to be doing even something little to help the planet, and after all, God charged us with being 'benevolent caretakers' of this planet, so I had better take that job seriously.

What can you add to your list this week to help you be GREENER? 

Kirsty

Dare #19 - Go Green!

Hi readers!
Today I am wearing blue...the sky is blue...my favourite eye colour is still blue...and the dares for all of July will be about being GREEN!!!

I am making life a little easier on me and linking in with http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/index.html. The challenge this month is to go plastic free...single use plastic that is. Check out the page on the link to discover more....or just keep checking out my Facebook posts on I Dare You to have a go at the weekly challenges.

I have registered online at http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/index.html to avoid the Top 4 single use plastics for all of July. I can't guarantee 100% success, but I am having a go. Are you daring enough too as well?

If so, then click on the link above and register....like me and my cousin Jo!

Okay...it's time to get started.

So this week I will look for alternatives to single use plastics....or at least I will be a lot more conscious of my plastics use....

When you visit the 'how to' section on the plastic free page and check 'alternatives' they provide you with the A-Z of avoiding single use plastics. So many great ideas. Here's a few to consider for the next week...how many do you think are do-able??

Single-Use Plastic Option Bin liner (plastic bag) Deodorant  Doggy doo bags Coffee cup (lid) Gladwrap / cling film Hair brush Pasta Plastic bag Plastic drink bottle Plastic straw Sanitary pads Shampoo Toilet paper Toothbrush Toothpaste

Alternative Line your bin with several layers of  newspaper. Learn how. Make your own (see our recipe) Folded up newspaper Request no lid / take a reusable cup Reusable container / aluminium foil /  fabric wraps Keep an eye out for wooden/bamboo  hairbrushes Make your own, buy in bulk or look for  Barilla branded pasta Arms / reusable bag Reusable drink bottle Lips / metal or glass straw Make your own or buy washable pads online Lush sell hard bar shampoo Look for toilet paper wrapped in paper Look for wooden a toothbrush from  Environment Toothbrush Make your own (see our recipe)

Dare #18 - Cull it!

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To me, the quote above speaks volumes! And makes me smile at how silly we sometimes are.

That said, I am the first to acknowledge that wearing clothes is a good thing! But I sometimes wonder if we need as many as we have. Do our cupboards and walk in robes and drawers need to be full to over flowing? Do we need to keep everything we are not likely to wear again? Do we need to hit the shops - again - to buy more, even though we already have more than enough?

I spent in a year in Africa and saw some interesting clothes situations. One poor crippled man who roamed the streets all day bent almost in half, wore the same brown trousers and shirt every day. And the shirt was literally in tatters. I stopped the bus one day and ran out and have him 2 men's shirts I had bought. He wouldn't take them, so I left them in a bag at his feet saying 'God bless you.' (One of the crazier things I have done but I do hope they blessed him.)

I also met children who had 1 school uniform, 1 set of everyday clothes and 1 Sunday best outfit and you know what...they were still very happy!

So as I look at my over flowing walk in robe at the moment (and yes, the problem is exacerbated by being just out of maternity clothes but still not quite into my 'normal' clothes) I am challenged to clear the clutter. To cull the unnecessary clothes and to pass them on...perhaps someone else needs them, or maybe I can simply pass them on to the op shop so they can sell them and make a few dollars to help charity.

Either way, I am suggesting this new dare be about us taking stock of all that we have (clothes and maybe something else you know needs decluttering in your house - toys is another one for me - not my toys though of course!)...and then spend 10 minutes every day this week sorting through a little pile or drawer or rack and disposing of things we don't wear or need or like. And secondly, let's make a dare to NOT shop for clothes for the rest of June and through until July 24. That's a big one considering the sales that are coming up, but I reckon you can do it!

Pass them on....sell them...I don't mind, but let's just try to travel a bit lighter through life this week and into July.

Come on...I dare you!

Blessings -
K

Dare #17 - Accessorise!

Belt....jewellery....scarf....handbag....shoes....beanie.....coffee - what do these all have in common?

Yes, as far as this little non-fashionista knows, they could all be categorised as 'accessories'....well maybe the coffee thing is a little bit of a stretch.

This week's dare is all about adding one to your collection, but in a way that blesses someone else. (BTW, if you don't need another accessory, buy one as a gift for someone else this week.)

But in your buying, purchase something from an organisation that aims to help others so your hard earned (and spent $$) goes to a good cause.

Like...Destiny Rescue.  Check out their shop for some lovely jewellery, hair wear, scarves and coffee too!

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Or...Watoto. Jewellery, bags, dolls...you name it, they have it.

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Both these organisations help children in trouble, DR rescues girls from the sex trade and Watoto gives the vulnerable children of Uganda (in particular) the opportunity of a loving family and more.

You probably know of other organisations who sell accessories to help fund their projects. If so, let us all know through a comment on the blog or Facebook page.

So once again, the dare is....buy a accessorising product this week from an organisation that helps others...treat yourself (or someone else) AND be a blessing! Love this dare!

Blessings -
Kirsty

PS. Hopefully you will continue with Dare #16 right through June and be 'dressing' every day in the things that matter most - compassion, humility, kindness, forgiveness, patience, love, etc...

In every woman's wardrobe, there are certain accessories that cannot be separated from their back stories.  - Sloane Crosley

Dare #16 - Get Dressed

So this morning at 4am.....I did not have a baby.

But I did win the June round of 'pinch & a punch.' I AM BACK in the GAME! (After losing many a month already this year)!

However, more importantly than my win, the June dares are due for release!

On the Facebook page this week I hinted at dares revolving around our wardrobe...be it clothes, accessories, styles. I am still not 100% sure where these dares will take us because as most of you know, clothes and style are not my strong suit.

But as a starting point, I want to get priorities right. So here's a 4 fold dare to get us started out on the right foot as we head into month 6 of this great year...already??

Dare A....read Colossians 3:12-14 in the Bible. Whether you are an avid Bible reader or not at all, these words will resound with anyone who values the finer things in life, the qualities that will enhance our relationships:

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

J and I had these verses at our wedding and the message delivered by the pastor who married us revolved around them. I believe they are essential verses to live if you want to do life well.

Dare B....learn these verses this week so you can say them without sneaking a peek. Commit them to memory.

Dare C....write the verses out, or make/print a version of this:

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And stick it somewhere close by your clothes. 

Dare D....Each day, as you physically dress yourself this week, make the conscious decision to dress yourself in these qualities. You might even like to ask God for His help to be all these things this week. Then set about your day wearing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. 

Will these dares CHALLENGE us? DO they have the potential to CHANGE us? If we accept the dare, will we BLESS others by living this one? You bet! 

So my friends, get out there and get dressed!

Blessings - 

Kirsty 

Dare #15 - Daring Friends

Just a really quick post to encourage those of you daring to try something new this month to keep on keeping on. What has worked for you? One of my best things has been doing the Joy Dare in photos and also committing to reading the Bible every day. Seeing benefits in doing both these things.

And of course just because May is over on Friday, doesn't mean you can't keep spicing up life with some new and different experiences and habits throughout the year.

My cousin has had a brilliant idea of asking friends to write her dares to complete over the next year, in lieu of presents for her birthday. She's preparing a dare tree to hang the dares on and has even challenged her friends to be brave and have a go at them with her throughout the year. She wants to start pushing herself beyond her comfort zone...truly admirable I think!

So if you feel like your well of inspiration is running dry, how about enlisting the help of a few good friends or family? Maybe a dare from 6 people to complete over the next 6 months will help keep life fresh for you.

I am thinking of tackling that as my last week in May dare....I dare myself to find 6 people to dare me to do 6 new/different things over the next 6 months. 

Any volunteers???

Blessings -
Kirsty

Dare #14 - Do Something NEW

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Time to mix up the year a little. We are heading into the 5th month....definitely time to get out of any ruts you may have fallen into in the past couple of months.

So the dares this month are really up to you, although I will make some suggestions and share my plans.

I have been thinking about trying a few new things, so that's what we are focussing on in the May dares. Call me crazy that at 8 months pregnant I have decided to make some changes, but maybe it is a form of nesting? And in all honesty, most of the things I want to try don't require to much effort or energy, just time really.

So jump on board with me and dare to do things differently or NEW this month. Choose 1 thing and do it for 30 days to make a new habit. Check out Matt Cutts' great TED talk here. Take just 3 minutes of your time to see what he did and be inspired to have a go.

Or choose a few little things ('small and sustainable') and implement the changes throughout the month...maybe try a new recipe every week of May?

My list is quite long, so I will stagger these ideas in terms of when I do them and also when I share them. But here's my first 4:

DO:
1. Read the Bible EVERY day - I get so distracted in the normal day that by the end, I often find that I have not talked to God, or more importantly, listened to Him. So a more concerted effort is needed. Surely helps, as evidenced by a change in my mood yesterday after reading just 1 chapter of James. I was reminded that I need to dwell in His grace and share it, something I wasn't doing. I realised again that all that I need, He can provide...so I prayed for a clean heart, patience, a right attitude and a voice that matches that. And then whack! Look at James 4:17 - If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them. That was me in a nutshell, until I had a chat with God. So more listening needed in May.

2. Declutter our stuff by removing 2 or 3 items/day - I don't think our place is a mess but it could certainly do with a bit of 'thinning of the unnecessary'. So if I don't love it or use it, I am going to try and get rid of it. Freebies anyone??

3. Exercise for 15 minutes/day...obviously there won't be too much strenuous cardio exercise going on here (although a walk to the letter box sure gets the heart rate up and the lungs stretched at the moment), but a little walk or swim each day is surely do-able.

DON'T:
4. Facebook before breakfast or after 8.30pm. Sadly, I can be a bit obsessive about FB, so limiting my times on it will be helpful. Just so long as I don't start getting up super early so breakfast time moves into the 5s or 6s!

Anyway, enough about me...what about you? Who is in? What are you going to do? Doesn't matter if you miss starting on May 1 because May has 31 days! So spend today planning, make a list and then prioritise. What is the one or 3 or 7 NEW things you could realistically implement throughout May? Then...go to it! Change yourself....challenge yourself and maybe along the way you might even bless others!

Blessings -
Kirsty

Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have. - Anon.

Dare #13 - Free Coffee

"A little kindness from person to person is better than a vast love for all humankind."  - RD

So this week's Deliberate Act of Kindness involves $5 and a coffee....or tea...or other hot drink. But it's not about YOU drinking it.

Such a simple idea and easy enough to both do and afford....so I hope you will have a go.


Thanks to my sister-in-law Tati, this is Dare #13 for the year.

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Translation of the photo: "Once in Naples, in the Sanita' quarter (suburb), when someone was happy, because something had gone well, instead of paying for one coffee they payed for two and left the second coffee, the one that was already paid for, for the next client. The gesture was called "the suspended coffee". Then, once in while a poor person would appear to ask if there was a "suspended". It was a way as another to offer a coffee to humanity. ~ Luciano de Crescenzo"

I had a good friend do this a week or so ago and she simply said to the barista...."Here's money for another coffee. If you see someone who looks like they need it, can you please give them a freebie?" Easy!

I know there are others already on board with this idea...check out: Suspended Coffee Australia

So this week....get out, head to a cafe/coffee shop (have a cuppa yourself, or not) and then leave a gift of suspended coffee behind. It may not go to someone homeless but it will surely be a blessing for the one who does receive it.

Blessings -
Kirsty

Dare #12 - The Freebie DRAKS

"Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your modus operandi and change your world."  - Annie Lennox

Well here we go into the 3rd week of Deliberate Acts of Kindness. Hopefully your awareness of deliberately acting in a kind way has increased and more than that, you are seizing opportunities to be kind...to all sorts of people in all sorts of ways.

Last week's book dares may have been a little challenging...how did you go? I loaned a book or 2. Have a small pile of picture books to donate early this week. And left a book of inspiring photos and quotes on a bench in a public place with a note to 'enjoy'.

This week let's try and do some freebie DRAKS...that is, things that don't cost a cent.

The first one....smile. LOTS and LONG and WIDELY. Smile at those you pass, those you greet, those who serve you, those you serve. Start each day this week my smiling at those in your family, no matter what time they wake you up! Smile at strangers and friends. Costs nothing in terms of your hip pocket, but might cost a bit emotionally. Still, SMILE!

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The 2nd one....let others go first. If there is opportunity to let people go ahead of you in the grocery/library/bank line, let them. Let people merge in front of you in the car. Wait at the door for others to pass through before you do. Don't be about getting somewhere first, put yourself 2nd this week.

Number 3....send a free e-card to someone this week. I like to use dayspring.com. There are friendship, encouragement, get well, missing you, birthday, back to school, love and romance, praying for you cards and more to choose from. If you are getting really good at this DRAK thing, then send one a day for the next week....to different people or the same lucky person :)

And finally, a 4th bonus dare....visit this article 10 Free RAKS You Can Do Online. Read it and choose to do 1, 2, 6, 10 of the things Angela suggests.

Hop to it friends! There are people waiting for us to do DRAKs for them, whether they know it or not. And in the process, may a little bit of the love and joy and kindness you are sharing spill over onto you!

Blessings,
Kirsty

Dare #11 - Book DRAKs

Our month of Deliberate Random Acts of Kindness continues. Are you in?? How did you go completing one of last week's 3 challenges?

I baked and shared the spoils. And printed little inspirational quotes and left them in random places in the grocery store, at church, in the library and in public restrooms. Not sure I consciously did an act of service, but I guess a wife and Mum's life involves doing lots of Acts of Service each day.

This week I am suggesting three more DRAKs and you are free to join in by completing one or more or coming up with your own. But please, do comment on the blog or the Facebook page I Dare You if you do something. Feel free to add a photo or quote to inspire us too:)

All the DRAKS revolve around books this week....why you may ask? No other reason except that I love them and I think they can be a great gift to give. So here goes....

1. Donate a book.....buy a new one that inspires and give it to the local library or local school. You could even donate it to a particular classroom teacher. Or go through your collection and make a donation of some of yours to a retirement home or homeless shelter or women's hostel or...

2. Join (for free) and have a go at giving books online. This great organisation let's you read kid's books online and then choose a charity to help donate real books to kids in need all around the world.

3. Loan a book....find one that has helped or encouraged you and loan it to a friend - without expecting it back.

4. And for those into the truly random, here's a bonus dare of leaving a book in a public place with a note to the 'finder' to read and enjoy and then pass on. I am going to try this with a book of beautiful photos and inspirational quotes.

So there you have it...4 DBRAKs (Deliberate Book Random Acts of Kindness). Happy sharing!

Dare #10 - RAKs

A lovely friend did a DRAK for me last week. She made and delivered me a meal...mains and a dessert. She said she wanted to give my 'pregnant self' a break. So kind and thoughtful. And so yummy! And so nice having a meal that I didn't have to plan and cook...I could just heat and enjoy!

Random Acts of Kindness have been requested by a few different people as dares on this page. So....I am listening!

April is going to be RAK month, but even more than that, we are going to be incorporating DELIBERATE RAKs.

Often the opportunity to do a RAK for someone rears its beautiful head and we can spontaneously show thoughtfulness and kindness. But I would like to encourage everyone to plan and carry out at least one RAK each week in April. No, I dare you to do a deliberate RAK each week in April...that's 4, maybe 5. I think you can handle it.

I will be suggesting 3 DRAKs each week for you...some 'borrowed' and some original, if I can stretch my brain that far. I dare you to accept at least one of the dares each week, as well as trying to come up with and carry out your own RAKs. Would love to hear what you choose and do....so leave a note on the blog or our FB page 'I Dare You' and no! I won't think you are blowing your own trumpet.

I found a great website http://www.randomactsofkindness.org that lists a mega number of RAK possibilities so for extra reading, I dare you to check it out sometime this week.

Let's get this show on the road....
Suggestions for DRAKs for week 1 of April:

1. It's a holiday today, so spend some of your free time in the kitchen. Bake some cupcakes or biscuits or something else yummy and then deliver them tomorrow to someone as a DRAK. Maybe share around at work, or school. Maybe give to a charity or service you appreciate. Maybe pass on to friends in need of a little cheering up.

2. Costing even less than a batch of biscuits, have a go at Random Acts of 'Love Notes'...see this page for more. You can go the whole hog and link into their social media or just do it....and post a picture on I Dare You on Facebook.

3. Do an act of service for someone this week....at home, work, school, a club, at the shops.... Ideas might include: return their trolley, clean the toilets, clean up the lunch room, carry the teacher's bag/box, tackle someone else's chores.... Feel free to make more suggestions.

Okay so away you go...start on April 1 and go for it this month - I dare you!

"We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness."  - Charlie Chaplin

Blessings -
Kirsty

Dare #9 - A BLESS Dare

Sacrifice....an inescapable part of the Easter story, particularly if you are someone who considers the price paid on Good Friday.

A God who sacrificed His Son...for us.

A Son who sacrificed His life....for us.

A season of sacrifice....to bring us life.

I wonder if we could engage in a sacrifice dare to bless someone else this Easter week/end?

“Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.”  - Mitch Albom

Perhaps you could sacrifice some of your precious time to help someone else out? Is someone moving? Newly home with a baby and you could offer to do washing? Under the weather - maybe you could mow their lawn?

Perhaps you could sacrifice some $$ to give a money blessing? A friend who has a particular need? A stranger who needs some extra $ to pay for an operation? A chaplain who has worked so hard this term who might just need a little anonymous $ gift in their mailbox?

Perhaps you could sacrifice a favourite TV show this week to use that time to bless someone with a phone call of encouragement? Or an hour of writing letters - to your sponsor child, your grandparents, someone who has blessed you this year?

Perhaps you could sacrifice a day of meals and donate that $$ to a charity who works with those who have little food?

What other creative, generous, sacrificial ideas can you come up with??

And remember some of the greatest, most meaningful sacrifices might actually be made very close to home, within your own family. Yes you're tired and it's been a long day, but maybe you could still give that back rub? Or play that game of hide n seek? Or....?

And I guess part of the dare is not to say anything about what you are doing. To make the sacrifice of acknowledgement and pride too.

God bless you as you seek to bless others this Easter.

K

We were the recipients of generous sacrifice last weekend
when 5 great men arrived to help us lay our new turf.
What a blessing that was, as many hands truly do make light work.

Dare #8 - A CHANGE Dare

Dare #7 CHALLENGED us to read a chapter of the book of Proverbs every day this month. Are you doing it? What are you learning? I am appreciating the reminders to live a life of good old fashioned common sense. The kind of wisdom that God gives freely. Those wise actions enhance our lives...every part, but in particular, our relationships. And I am appreciating the extra insights being added to the I Dare You Facebook page by wise readers.

Dare #8 is all about CHANGE. Can you make one change to your life (for the better) in the next few days and keep it going? Try thinking for just a few quiet moments about 1 or 2 things you don't like about yourself or your life. Then, rather than dwelling on it and getting depressed, come up with a simple action plan to make a CHANGE.

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Here's a few of my personal thoughts....

I didn't like how much money I was spending. There always seems to be something 'fun' but mostly 'unnecessary' to buy. Be it stuff for little j or for the house or for me. Photo books, toys, more clothes, baby stuff, craft supplies..... I actually have plenty of all of these and need to focus on what I have (and actually use and enjoy it) rather than always be looking for something more. To me, my spending was signalling a sense of dissatisfaction in a life that I am actually very blessed and very satisfied in.

So at the end of February I made the decision to implement a 'no-spend' month in March. Sounds great in theory but as we all know, there are some things you just have to buy...food and fuel (and bill paying) amongst them. So with those as the essentials, I am trying to not be in the habit of buying something every other day - almost what I was doing. It is admittedly a fairly big shift in thinking, and in what I do with my time (as I'll explain soon) but the benefits have been less time in cyber-space, less fixation on money, forced creativity as I rely on what I already have rather than taking the easy option of buying something new.

That said, I have had a lapse or 3 with things that seemed just too good to pass up - but what I have bought so far this month has all been on sale (ebooks) or 2nd hand (op shops and 2nd hand pages on-line) or for someone else. I also had/have my parents' 40th wedding anniversary, a friend's 50th birthday, a new nephew/niece to be born and an engagement party and accompanying costs (a good reason to cut back on the spending I was doing...presents needed!)

Another change I have made is spending less time on-line. Last year I did a Lent fast from Facebook and it was great. This year, I am trying to cut back on the amount of time I spend on ebay and FB sale sites - the classifieds and MCN buy/sell pages have taken up way too much of my time and attention and downloads in January and February. So my change in March was to not visit these pages...at all. I am also trying to check FB just a few times a day...morning and afternoon....and maybe evening. Sure beats the ridiculous 14+ log-ins/day that seemed to be taking over my life :(

Maybe the things you'd like to change are very different to mine. Maybe they involve...fitness, growing better relationships, getting more sleep, reading more and watching less, speaking more positively, being more 'focussed in the the moment', healthy eating, being in touch with friends (hey..these are ALL changes I need to make!)....  But will you join me in making some new habits in the last couple of weeks of March?

A change is as good as a holiday they say. So maybe March can be a break from our 'norms' as the start of a new-improved you (and me) in a couple of small ways.

Let me know what you are thinking and planning and how you are doing.

"A year from now you will wish you had started today." - Karen Lamb

Blessings - K

Dare #7 - A Challenge Dare

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This is a blog (and Facebook page - I Dare You') to encourage us to LIVE and LOVE. I aim to post monthly tasks that hopefully challenge us, change us and bless others through us.

With that in mind, we are doing 3 distinct challenge...change...bless dares in March. Are you ready???

Here's the CHALLENGE dare:
The Good Book's book of Proverbs was mostly written by a man considered to be the world's wisest. Surely he has a bit to teach us. Covering moral, social, work, rest, play issues, this Biblical book is a must-read (and follow) for living well.

Our BIG dare this month is to tackle one chapter of Proverbs every day. So on the 1st of March, read chapter 1, on the 2/03 read chapter 2...and you get it, easy...

As you read consider which proverbs speak most to you and please join in the conversation. Post a comment to the blog or FB page that simply tells us which verse has impact.

If you don't have a Bible, read online here.

So March 1 is tomorrow....get ready to read Chapter 1.

Blessings.
K

Proverbs 1

New International Version (NIV)

Purpose and Theme

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple,^[a]
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.^[b]

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools^[c] despise wisdom and instruction.

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
⁹ They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.
¹¹ If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot”—
¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
¹⁶ for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.
¹⁷ How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!
¹⁹ Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.

Wisdom’s Rebuke

²⁰ Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;
²¹ on top of the wall^[d] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

²² “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge?
²³ Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
²⁴ But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶ I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
²⁹ since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.
³⁰ Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
³² For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
³³ but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

(Thanks Biblegateway.com)

Photo Source

Dare #6 - Love Mini-Dares

Photo Source

So this month we have let those who love us know that because they do, they have made a huge difference in our lives. Who did you tell?

Then, during Valentines' week we made and gave hearts of encouragement to others. What did that look like for you?

Since we are focussing on love for the month of February, I have put together another couple of mini-dares for you to combine as Dare #6. Pick and choose or do them all. Remembering that the Good Book tells us: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Dares: 
i) Look beyond your immediate family and friends, make a list of the ways you could show love to 'others'...now put one into action every day. 

ii) Make a love jar....get your husband or other family members to write what makes them feel loved on pieces of paper and put them in the jar. Then draw one out every second day and bless that person with the loving action they would like.

iii) The Bible's love passage in 1 Corinthians 13  is world famous...and a challenge to do. Read it, memorise it, live it!

iv) Post an encouragement to love every day on Facebook this week....what the world needs now is  LOVE sweet Love. Find images, quotes, verses, poems that will encourage those who read to put love into action and post them. (Make sure you acknowledge where you got them from...give credit where credit is due:)

v) Speaking of love in action, give to a charity to end the month. $$ to one of the organisations that endeavour to show love to the unlovely (those with leprosy, fistula problems, in jail, living in slums, etc...). Or goods/food donations to local charities. It doesn't matter if your gift is $5 worth or $500 worth, just give out of a heart to show love and kindness to others.

The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 145:8 (so should we be)

Blessings - 
Kirsty

Dare #5 - Happy HEART Week

Where there is love, there is life. Ghandi

How would it be if you could bring a smile, a lightness, some joy or even life to someone during Valentine's week? Wouldn't that be a dare worth taking?

I am posting this a couple of days pre-Feb 14th as you need to get ready for V Day Week if you are accepting this dare.

You get to be crafty, messy and thoughtful in this dare...enjoy!

Task 1 - make a few hearts....you can do it out of paper, card, pretty magazine pics...whatever! I think these symmetry hearts are cute and fun and clicking on Photo Source below will take you to how to make them.

Photo Source

Task 2  - write a message on the back of the heart. It could be a quote about love or kindness. A Bible verse. You might write a specific 'I love you because...' if you want to give one to someone in particular or you might like to keep it general, so you can give the hearts to random people you meet this week.

Task 3 - carry the hearts with you and hand them to people:) Like I said, people you know, or people you don't.

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. CS Lewis

Is this not a dare that does all 3 things we are hoping our dares will do?? Change us (get us looking out for others rather than so often having our eyes on ourselves)...challenge us (hmmmm...giving a heart to a stranger is a little challenging)....bless (it's almost guaranteed that out thoughtfulness in sharing an arty little message of love will have a positive impact on those we hand-deliver our hearts to....well that's what I am hoping for.)

Blessings - Kirsty