Mom was minding her own business doing the laundry when she heard her kids yelling,
"Mom, come look at the kittens we found!"
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Simply Funny
This was in an email I received and had to share.
Mom was minding her own business doing the laundry when she heard her kids yelling,
"Mom, come look at the kittens we found!"
Mom was minding her own business doing the laundry when she heard her kids yelling,
"Mom, come look at the kittens we found!"
Monday, May 19, 2008
Joseph's 8th grade banquet
Here are some photos taken of Joseph, just before his 8th grade banquet. He's my last one in Jr. High and now this school year is almost over. Their banquet was formal, so everyone dressed their best. Some boys got tuxedos, but Joseph opted for the semi-formal look. They had a dinner catered from Antonio's, music, dancing and some door prizes. It lasted from 6-10, then they went to a friends for an afterparty in the pool. A great way to end the Jr. High years.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Anger
How many times in the course of a day do you lose your temper? Or say something hurtful to the ones you love? They are an easy target, because you know them well enough that they will probably forgive you. But harsh words still hurt and even though you may have received forgiveness for your loss of temper or angry words, they still leave a mark. Once uttered they cannot be taken back. Let's remember to think before we speak. Here is a story about a bad tempered boy and the wise advice of his father.
NAIL IN THE FENCE
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, and the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when he did not lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy
now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails
were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence
will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Proverbs 29:11 (New International Version)
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 12:18 (New International Version)
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Lighthouse
This is from my friend Jackie. And I thought it good for all moms to read. May we never be too busy with stuff that we put our children second to “things”. And if we do, hopefully this reminds us what is important. I know it is a good reminder to me! Forget the dishes, go play baseball with the kids or kickball. Much more fun! We have been blessed with the best job there is, yet most challenging-motherhood! I like this line: If you are going to be there: be ALL there-mind, body, and soul. Hope you had a blessed Mothers Day
Moms Standing Guard....by Sharon Jaynes
"She watches over the affairs of her household..." (Proverbs 31:27 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I have always seen a mother as a lighthouse, or beacon in a child's life. Think about it. A beacon is a landmark that her children can always count on. She shines the light of Christ at night and she serves as a landmark by day. She is watching out over the sea of faces to protect her tiny fleet. Like the Proverbs 31 woman she "watches over the ways of her household." She is present. She's available. And she's on guard. The words "watch over" mean "to hedge about as with thorns," much like a mother bird might do to protect her young. These same words are also used in the Bible as a military term, such as to watch over a city. Can't you just see it now: the lighthouse standing tall, not tossed by the surf, guiding her children safely to shore? But this beacon watches out for more than the physical safety of her fleet. She watches out for their spiritual and emotional needs as well.
Her gaze is not a casual glance. She doesn't just give her children a "once
over" before they rush out the door to make sure their hair is combed and their socks match. This mother actively guards, protects, saves, guides, and attends to
those precious to her. When children approach adolescence, they desire Mom to be less visible. However, they want to know the sentinel is still available. Being available for that teen after school is paramount. They need a refuge, a safe harbor after a day of social combat. Who will they turn to? Whoever is available and willing to listen. If it is not you, it will be someone else. And just who that someone could be is a scary thought. Studies show the highest time of sexual activity among teens is between three and five P.M. and it occurs not in the back seat of a car, but in the teens home before the parents get home from work.
Being physically present is not the mother's primary goal. Having the greatest possible impact on her home is. You can be physically present and still not make a positive impact. You can be there, but not be all there. You can become so wrapped up in other pursuits, so focused on relational struggles, so preoccupied with keeping the castle clean and checking items off your "to do" list, so engrossed in television or a good book, that you are oblivious to the chubby fingers tugging on your skirt or the teenager who has become withdrawn and sullen. If you are going to be there - then be all there - mind, body and soul. Being a landmark doesn't end when a child goes off to college. The farther a ship goes out to sea, the more important the landmarks become. One day in the Sunday school class I attend, 150 parents of teenagers sat with an air of foreboding filling the room. Just the day before, many of them had seen their children off. It was the Sunday after many students had made their exodus to that wild, frenzied world of academia,
experimentation, and freedom -- their kids had gone off to College. Grown men were weepy, sharing their battle wounds of dropping their baby girls off at tiny, stark dorm rooms. Moms were unashamedly crying,and many were speechless for the first time in their lives. Nancy and Bill Hall were there that day. Their son, Jordan,a rising sophomore,was visiting our class and witnessed these blubbering parents.In an attempt to encourage everyone, our teacher asked,"Jordan, since you haven't gone back to school yet and already have one year under your belt, can you share some words of wisdom with the class about what you feel your parents did right during your first year of college?" With that, Jordan rose, faced the class,and replied," I would like to take this time to publicly thank my parents for the strong moral upbringing they gave me. I want to thank them for the way they gave me my freedom when I went off to college. But more importantly for the way they let me come back home. They were always available when I needed someone to talk to,and they've left the lines of communication open. They have been great parents and I like to publicly thank them for all they've done." When Jordan sat down, everyone was crying, even those who did not have children leaving for college. He had risen and called his parents blessed. His mother was a beacon. A faithful landmark that kept her light shining, welcoming him home, but directing the way so he could leave and sail out to new horizons. Their childhood goes by so quickly yet we can never turn back the clock as this poem expresses.
My hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
The little games you asked me to,
I didn't have much time for you.
I'd wash your clothes.
I'd sew and cook,
But when you'd bring your picture book
And asked me please to share your fun,
I'd say, "A little later son."
I'd tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light.
Then tiptoe softly to the door...
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play.
No good-night kisses, no prayers to hear,
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands once busy, now are still
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.
(Author Unknown)
Moms Standing Guard....by Sharon Jaynes
"She watches over the affairs of her household..." (Proverbs 31:27 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I have always seen a mother as a lighthouse, or beacon in a child's life. Think about it. A beacon is a landmark that her children can always count on. She shines the light of Christ at night and she serves as a landmark by day. She is watching out over the sea of faces to protect her tiny fleet. Like the Proverbs 31 woman she "watches over the ways of her household." She is present. She's available. And she's on guard. The words "watch over" mean "to hedge about as with thorns," much like a mother bird might do to protect her young. These same words are also used in the Bible as a military term, such as to watch over a city. Can't you just see it now: the lighthouse standing tall, not tossed by the surf, guiding her children safely to shore? But this beacon watches out for more than the physical safety of her fleet. She watches out for their spiritual and emotional needs as well.
Her gaze is not a casual glance. She doesn't just give her children a "once
over" before they rush out the door to make sure their hair is combed and their socks match. This mother actively guards, protects, saves, guides, and attends to
those precious to her. When children approach adolescence, they desire Mom to be less visible. However, they want to know the sentinel is still available. Being available for that teen after school is paramount. They need a refuge, a safe harbor after a day of social combat. Who will they turn to? Whoever is available and willing to listen. If it is not you, it will be someone else. And just who that someone could be is a scary thought. Studies show the highest time of sexual activity among teens is between three and five P.M. and it occurs not in the back seat of a car, but in the teens home before the parents get home from work.
Being physically present is not the mother's primary goal. Having the greatest possible impact on her home is. You can be physically present and still not make a positive impact. You can be there, but not be all there. You can become so wrapped up in other pursuits, so focused on relational struggles, so preoccupied with keeping the castle clean and checking items off your "to do" list, so engrossed in television or a good book, that you are oblivious to the chubby fingers tugging on your skirt or the teenager who has become withdrawn and sullen. If you are going to be there - then be all there - mind, body and soul. Being a landmark doesn't end when a child goes off to college. The farther a ship goes out to sea, the more important the landmarks become. One day in the Sunday school class I attend, 150 parents of teenagers sat with an air of foreboding filling the room. Just the day before, many of them had seen their children off. It was the Sunday after many students had made their exodus to that wild, frenzied world of academia,
experimentation, and freedom -- their kids had gone off to College. Grown men were weepy, sharing their battle wounds of dropping their baby girls off at tiny, stark dorm rooms. Moms were unashamedly crying,and many were speechless for the first time in their lives. Nancy and Bill Hall were there that day. Their son, Jordan,a rising sophomore,was visiting our class and witnessed these blubbering parents.In an attempt to encourage everyone, our teacher asked,"Jordan, since you haven't gone back to school yet and already have one year under your belt, can you share some words of wisdom with the class about what you feel your parents did right during your first year of college?" With that, Jordan rose, faced the class,and replied," I would like to take this time to publicly thank my parents for the strong moral upbringing they gave me. I want to thank them for the way they gave me my freedom when I went off to college. But more importantly for the way they let me come back home. They were always available when I needed someone to talk to,and they've left the lines of communication open. They have been great parents and I like to publicly thank them for all they've done." When Jordan sat down, everyone was crying, even those who did not have children leaving for college. He had risen and called his parents blessed. His mother was a beacon. A faithful landmark that kept her light shining, welcoming him home, but directing the way so he could leave and sail out to new horizons. Their childhood goes by so quickly yet we can never turn back the clock as this poem expresses.
My hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
The little games you asked me to,
I didn't have much time for you.
I'd wash your clothes.
I'd sew and cook,
But when you'd bring your picture book
And asked me please to share your fun,
I'd say, "A little later son."
I'd tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light.
Then tiptoe softly to the door...
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play.
No good-night kisses, no prayers to hear,
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands once busy, now are still
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.
(Author Unknown)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A How To...For Life
How to live a life with purpose. I received a copy of Rick Warren's interview and thought I would share this with you. You think Oprah, or those who have chosen to follow her lead, might read this? It's worth a shot.
Rick Warren (REMEMBER HE WROTE 'PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE')
You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren,
Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be
with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body -- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self- centeredness,'which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. (passages in full at end)
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
SCRIPTURES MENTIONED ABOVE...
2 Corinthians 9
1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Sowing Generously
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."[a] 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Psalm 72
Of Solomon.
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will [a] judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.
5 He will endure [b] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River [c] to the ends of the earth. [d]
9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
Rick Warren (REMEMBER HE WROTE 'PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE')
You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren,
Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be
with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body -- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self- centeredness,'which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. (passages in full at end)
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
SCRIPTURES MENTIONED ABOVE...
2 Corinthians 9
1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Sowing Generously
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."[a] 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Psalm 72
Of Solomon.
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will [a] judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.
5 He will endure [b] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River [c] to the ends of the earth. [d]
9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Your Love Language
The book - The Five Love Languages - has been out for quite a while. I, however, have just started reading it, it's our study this time around in our home bible study group. It's interesting to know that people give up their marriages, most times unknown to them, because their "love language" is not being spoken to them. One man in the book was on his third marriage and things had again fallen apart. He didn't understand why. He was always telling her that she was beautiful, did good at her job, always praising her. Yet she was growing more and more negative. Problem being, he wasn't speaking her love language. Words of affirmation are nice, but if your love language is quality time, then you're missing the mark.
We learned this last week of keeping your "love tank" full. And that of your kids. A question was asked, how many problems with our kids could be averted if their "love tank" was full? Kids need attention and they will seek whatever kind is available. Positive or negative. If we as parents keep their love tank full and give them the positive attention needed, then we can keep the negatives to a minimum.
It's not that hard to figure out a love language. People speak their language to you. If your child always wants your attention, maybe his/her language is time. If they make or give you things, it's probably gifts. If they do for you, it's probably acts of service. We know our own love language, we "speak" it daily even if we don't have a name for it. Watch, pay attention. What is your child or spouse giving or doing for you? That is their language. Speak it back, by giving or doing for them. Fill each others "love tanks" and we can have much happier homes. Relationships with our spouses and our children will be better if we take the time to understand each other.
The five languages of love are:
Acts of Service - doing something for them
Words of Affirmation - Build them up, praise for a job well done
Quality Time - spend time with them, doesn't really matter about what you're doing
Gifts - doesn't have to cost, children like to pick flowers, that counts
Physical Touch - holding hands, hugs, a kiss, sitting close on the couch
What's your Love Language?
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