I Thank God for You

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.”—1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NIV)

How often do you tell your spouse how thankful you are for them? It’s easy to casually tell them you love them. We say, “I love you,” when we leave the house, end a phone call, or when saying goodnight to each other. But we tend to forget to express deep thankfulness for one another. Sometimes we just don’t know what we are really thankful for—a thankful heart takes practice . . . and practice makes perfect!
 
This month, the Married Couples ministry would like to challenge you to express thankfulness for one another. How? Well, that’s the challenge! It can be as easy as thanking your spouse for making your coffee every morning or leaving notes throughout the month expressing how thankful you are they’re in your life. So, put on your thinking cap and let the thankfulness begin.  

Date Night Ideas for November

Challenge 1: The Couple that Serves Together Stays Together
Instead of having a traditional date night, how about volunteering together to help those in need? You’ll experience each other’s gifts and talents while using them to serve others. Volunteer to help those who went through a crisis, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or hand out bottles of water to the homeless. At the end of the day, treat yourselves to a nice meal and share something new you learned about your spouse and how thankful you are for it. 

Challenge 2: A Thankful Date
Plan a date one week in advance and make it a “thankful date.” What is a “thankful date” you ask? For one week, you’ll write down everything you’re thankful for about your spouse. Then, read your lists to each other during your date. You’ll feel surprised about what they say! Just hearing words of thankfulness can make you fall in love all over again. Be still my beating heart!
 
Challenge 3: Acts of Gratitude
If your spouse’s love language is acts of service, this is the challenge for you. This month, express your thankfulness through actions. Think of a way you can show your spouse how thankful you are for them—this is where your creative juices kick in. If your spouse is a sports fanatic, take them to see their favorite team play. Or, if your spouse loves art, take them to visit an art museum! It doesn’t have to be anything fancy—even taking them to their favorite ice cream parlor can feel super thoughtful. Let your imagination run wild to see how creative you can be!  

Did you take advantage of one of these ideas? We want to hear from you! Share your dates on social media by using the hashtag #SoFloDateNight and tagging @CCFLCouples. You can also e-mail MarriedCouples@CalvaryFTL.org about your date night story! 

Do you want to hear about upcoming events and news from Calvary Couples? Make sure you opt in to receive text messages from us! We want to stay connected with you, so you don’t miss any opportunities for you and your spouse! To sign up, simply text “MARRIAGE” to 91868.