December Date Night Challenge

‘Tis The Season to Be . . . 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”—Romans 15:13 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but the month of December can feel very stressful. With Thanksgiving lingering through the house, just the thought of having to plan for Christmas can put you in an un-jolly mood. That sort of attitude has a way of always spilling over into our marriages. 

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time as we celebrate our Savior’s birth, but when all the activities of the season become overwhelming, it can steal our joy. So, the question is, how do we hold on to our joy? Romans 15:13 (NIV, emphasis added) says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.” There’s the answer! Trust in Him. As we learn to put our trust in Him, the stresses of the season will not overtake us. He gives us the gift of peace and hope, which will overflow into our marriages. Then, when the stressful times come, we will deal with our spouse in love rather than from a place of frustration. It will give us the opportunity to pass on His gift of peace and hope to each other. 

This month, the Married Couples Ministry would like to challenge you to love each other better by gifting each other with the present of peace and hope. We wish you a blessed and very merry Christmas!

Date Night Ideas for December

Challenge 1: Ugly Christmas Sweater Date Night
“You’re not going to wear that, are you?” Those are some of the most dreaded words we can hear. This time you can say, “Yes I am!” Plan an ugly Christmas sweater date night with your spouse. Christmas can be so formal and dressy, so why not lighten it up by wearing a fun, “ugly” sweater? Spend an afternoon shopping for ugly Christmas sweaters (Hint: Goodwill has some great ones for just a few dollars!) and then plan a night on the town. Enjoy all the laughs and smiles you’ll receive.  

Challenge 2: Christmas Lights Sightseeing
Plan an evening around going to see nearby Christmas lights with your spouse. You can travel to different neighborhoods or just walk through your own. Make it more festive by drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies as you experience the beauty and wonder of Christmas in your neighborhood.  

Challenge 3: Christmas Movie Date Night
There is something magical about Christmas movies. Plan an evening to watch a few of your favorite Christmas movies together. Make plans to get the kids out of the house for a few hours or for the night, and make it a romantic evening by having cozy pillows and blankets—or build a blanket fort together! Stock up on your favorite hot drink, pair it with cookies and appetizers, and spend the evening cuddling up together in front of the TV.  

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.