What???

We are a group of girls (and maybe others) who want to have an IMPACT. We want to live EXTRAORDINARY lives. We want to show and share LOVE and CARE and JOY with those around us and have FUN doing it. Are you like us? Then...join us:)

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]
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

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
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)

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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Dare #6 - Love Mini-Dares

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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

Saturday, February 9, 2013

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.
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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

Monday, February 4, 2013

Dare #4 Inspiration - Lollipop Moments

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Check out this great Tedx Talk Tedx Talk and consider Drew's point....there are people that impact us even in small ways in our lives and we need to say thank-you. And we need to remember that the impact we can have on others, even in the little things we do, can be profound. Make sure it's a positive profound though okay?

Blessings - K

Friday, February 1, 2013

Dare #4 - Because You Loved Me

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. (Anon.)

Ahhhhhh....February! You are the month of 35+ temperatures, of long school days and of l-o-v-e!

Yes whether you are a Valentine's Day supporter or not, Darecember/I Dare You is taking you into the realms of love this month in our 3 (maybe more) challenges.

Considering all we have seen on our TVs in the past few nights, love is needed out there....in really practical ways. So we are going to aim to love others well this month, something I am sure you already do.

But let's begin with a song ..... click here...IF YOU DARE!

So Celine Dion may not be everyone's cup of tea, and maybe sappy songs aren't either. But I think this song does highlight the fact that we stand tall in our lives because there are people who love us and have sacrificed for us and who encourage us.


So Dare 1 for February 2013 is to think about that person/those people in your life who inspire and encourage, who make your world a better place.

Got them in mind? Now....do something to let them know that their love has been a great blessing to you. Maybe it's your husband (you don't have to wait until the 14th to let him know you are thankful for him)....maybe your parents who have done so much for you....a friend who is a great blessing.....a colleague who inspires....a child who loves you unconditionally.... a thorn who is refining you...a....????

Write them a note, make a call, give a gift, visit, say 'thank-you'. (you can choose one or more of the previous options:) Bless them today with words that express your gratitude and let them know that who they are and what they have done has made a positive difference in your life.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Leo Buscaglia 

Blessings to you all -
Kirsty

PS. On the 'I Dare You' Facebook page I issued the challenge at the end of January to do something to help those in need during/after the floods. That's a dare that continues in the background throughout February. Maybe you have $$ you can donate...maybe you could buy toiletries or tinned food to pass on...maybe you could collect spare linen, clothes, toys to give to an appeal for flood victims. But whatever you do, DO SOMETHING! Thank-you.