FIREPROOF anniversary!

Yesterday was my 1st year anniversary of having seen "FIREPROOF" for the first time. Since then, (as most of you know), I have loved "FIREPROOF", have considered it my all-time favorite movie, and have collected things related to it (the Sherwood Productions movies as a whole).

Well, the other day, my brother commented, "So, Raquel, you have just about everything from 'FIREPROOF' don't you?"

I stopped and ticked off the things that I have regarding the movie. Yup! He's just about right! :)

Of course, the first thing I got was

the movie! :)

For my birthday (two months after seeing the movie), my family gave me salt and pepper shakers - probably one of the best presents they could've given me! :) And it's a set that I've told my Mother that I've been wanting to add to my hope chest. :)

A little later, I bought the soundtrack (at the most expensive price that I've ever paid for a CD: $14.99! :) at Target.

Not too long after, I was able to receive autographed photos from three Sherwood actors: Alex Kendrick (also a director), Tracy Goode (who plays in "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants"...I think he's most known for his part as "Brady" - in "Facing the Giants"), and Jason McLeod ("Brock" - in "Facing the Giants", and "Eric" (the rookie :) - in "FIREPROOF"). Those photos are now pasted into my autorgraphed photo scrapbook. :)
The last thing that I added to my "FIREPROOF" collection was the book, that I got at Goodwill for $1.99! :)

The only thing that I am missing from my collection IS...Yup, "The Love Dare". :) My Mother and I were thinking of purchasing a whole bunch of them and just having them on hand for couples who we know. I think that would be a good idea...

When I "announced" :) to my family that it was 1 year ago that I watched "FIREPROOF" yesterday, they all kind of just looked at me. "Okay, Raquel," they all said, kinda with that "whatever!" tone of voice. :)

Some people may think I'm a little overboard with how much I love this movie, but to tell you the truth, this movie impacted my life in a very large way. No, I'm not married, thus, I don't have any marriage problems. But, I watched this movie a little after I rededicated my life to God and they made the movie so real - the *story* so real - that to see the hand of God in all of it, just made me bawl. Yes, seriously, every time I watch it, I cry. I even cried while reading the book! Now I don't know if you've seen this movie yet (most of you probably have) or don't like it all that much or whatever, but today, I'd like to ask you to take a moment and just pray for all the couples out there who are struggling in their marriage. Just right now, set aside whatever you're doing (obvisouly you're reading this post :), and just close your eyes and ask God to heal all those marriages that are failing. Ask Him to save the couples who aren't believers. Ask Him to be with the spouse who is doing The Love Dare on his/her spouse.

I once read the testimony of a man who said that he did The Love Dare THREE times before his wife began to realize that he wanted to make their relationship better. Pray that God will continue to encourage spouses to keep on striving with The Love Dare...trying to make their marriages better.

The Love Dare isn't the key, though.

The key to a good marriage is to know what *true love* is all about. To love one another, unconcditionally. Be willing to lay your life down for another. For husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. For wives to love and respect their husbands. To know that love - that *true* love - that Christ had for us, when He came - willingly! - and died for us on the cross.

I'm praying for those couples right now. I hope you take a moment to do so, too.

Blessings,