Blessings In The Battles

In Last weeks blog I wrote about Dr. Gary Chapman's book, " The Five Love Languages " and the importance of showing love to those in our lives through THEIR love language.  No matter how much we love someone, sometimes we will encounter what I like to call, "Love Language Barriers." The Most Common Love Language Barrier is not knowing the primary love language of your spouse, (or anyone else you are  trying to show love towards).  Finding out their primary  love language is crucial to our loved ones  feeling loved.  M y primary love  language is Quality Time.  I love to go to dinner with my wife, sit and watch a movie together, or just lay in bed and talk and laugh together.  When we first got married, I knew Alana loved me more than anything in the world but she tried to show me love by making sure the dishes and laundry were done and the house was clean.   She would wear herself out trying to show that she loved me by doi...

"ich liebe dich", "te amo,"  S 'agapó̱ If I were to say, "I love you" to my wife in another language it would literally be "Greek to her."  She wouldn't understand a word I was saying.  Likewise, when we "speak" love to our partner in a love language that doesn't make them feel loved, it doesn't do any good. Our family used to joke that Joel's love language was food because I used to sneak him food so he would love me the most.   Gary Chapman coined the phrase, "Love Languages" with the publication of his book, "The Five Love Languages", several years ago.   I have learned more useful advice from this one book about show love to my wife, my kids, my friends, and family than any other single book I have ever read on love, relationships marriage or parenting.   I will not reproduce the manuscript of the book in this blog (#1 that would be plagiarism & #2 I don't have that much time) b...

I interrupt this blog to make a statement... I am so honored to be married to such an amazing man!!! I fall in love with him more when I think about the time and dedication he spends learning and studying how to be a Godly man!  He is an AMAZING husband and daddy!  God has shown His Grace to our family, and even when we make mistakes, He shows us that if we choose to make our lives right, and follow Him, that He will bless us!  And He has!!! Every day he shows me how much he loves me, with his words and with so many actions!!! He tells me I'm beautiful but most importantly letting me have lots of "beauty" rest :)  He does so much around the house; laundry (starts, dries, folds and puts away), dishes, amazing dinners, desserts (chocolate chip cookies), vacuuming, cleaning up the kids toys, crafts and trash!  I cannot even write all the things he does around our home!!! He teaches our boys to be Godly men that treat women (Mama and sisters) with respe...

The words, "You look beautiful," are music to every woman's ears!  Have you said them to your wife lately?  I know I don't say them often enough.  When she takes the time do do her hair and get all dressed up for a night out, that is your clue to give her a compliment on her beauty.  I have learned the hard way that if she has to ask, "How do I look?" or "Do you like my hair?" you have missed the opportunity to show her how beautiful she is to you.  We should compliment our wife's,  girlfriend's, and even daughter's beauty because it makes them feel loved. Listen to some ways Solomon tells his Love she is beautiful throughout the book of Song of Solomon (NLT): "What a lovely filly (horse) you are..."1:6 "Your eyes are soft like doves..."1:15 "A lily among thorns..."2:2 "Your voice is pleasant and you are lovely..."2:14 "Your hair is like a flock of goats..."4:1 "Yo...