Tag: Happy Home

‘Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. ‘ 1 John 4:7(NLT)

Do you know your partner’s love language? When I was courting Jo Beth prior to our marriage, we did not know the term, “love language.” I wish we had; but I could begin to see what outward expressions of love worked with her, and she began to understand how I received love. In his widely read book, The Five Love Languages, Dr. Gary Chapman has deciphered the language of love into these categories. They are: 

1. Words of Affirmation 

2. Quality Time 

3. Receiving Gifts 

4. Acts of Service 

5. Physical Touch 

Make it a point to find out what language your mate is speaking. Many times I see couples who are struggling in their marriage because they do not know how to interpret their partner’s love language. This language is easy to learn once you investigate it with your spouse. As an exercise today, ask your mate which of the five love languages speaks most clearly to him/her. Then begin to practice, practice, practice your spouse’s native love language. If you already know it, don’t forget that practice helps you become fluent! 

Pray for the Lord to guide you in deciphering your partner’s love language. Ask for the Lord to help interpret and guide you in expressing love to your spouse in a language other than your own.

from Happy Marriage, Happy Home

‘Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine. How pleasing is your fragrance; your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. No wonder all the young women love you! Take me with you; come, let’s run! The king has brought me into his bedroom.’ Song of Songs 1:2-4(NLT)

Sex can just be sex, or it can be a thousand times better when based on emotional and spiritual intimacy. Spiritual intimacy is a divine mystery. But just as emotional intimacy takes work, so does physical intimacy. I read a funny quote by a small child who said, “King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 porcupines.” 

Well, I imagine with that many women all needing one man, they may have felt like porcupines. But aside from Solomon’s disobedience to God in taking on foreign wives, he wrote a book that the Holy Spirit inspired. It’s a love song, and at least in my opinion, he is very specific on how to become a good lover to his wife. 

His wife also writes about how to make love to her husband. Many of you are reading this thinking, “I can’t believe this is in the Bible.” Well, read it for yourself. It’s all in there. Part of what you will find is a romance that is gentle, sweet, respectful, and sensual. 

Here’s an exercise for you: take the next few days and read Song of Solomon to each other. Men, you read the king’s part. Ladies, read the part of the wife. 

Remember, when Solomon was made king, God asked him how He could bless him. Solomon asked for wisdom. Within this book, you will find wisdom for a loving and fulfilling marriage bed. 

Ask God for emotional, spiritual, and physical intimacy in your marriage.

from Happy Marriage, Happy Home

‘In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.’ Ephesians 5:28-30(NLT)

A commercial for a vacation destination showed film footage of happy people in beautiful surroundings. The announcer said, “Enjoy the warm, welcoming hospitality of our people. Come relax, unwind, and enjoy. Once you experience it, you’ll want to return over and over again.” I could not help but think to myself, “That is what I want my home to be!” 

Jo Beth has made our home a destination. Whenever I travel or have to be away for any period of time, my heart longs to return home. Home is where she most desires to be as well. Our home fits the ad. It is warm with welcoming hospitality. She serves me, and I serve her. We work at making sure we demonstrate “hospitality” to each other. It is a place we can relax, unwind, and enjoy. We have fun there. 

Parents and spouses, it is vitally important to make your home not only a haven of warmth and security, but a fun place to be. 

Biblically, it is my responsibility to set the tone of love and warmth in our home. I know most people think that task belongs to the wife. She is responsible for certain aspects, but do not miss the fact that the man’s responsibility is to set the tone. If I am loving my wife as I love my own body – making sure she is fed physically and spiritually, rested, secure, cherished and cared for – then the right tone will be set. A beautiful and enjoyable destination will be established, a place worth returning to over and over again! 

Pray for God to help you establish a warm and welcoming destination in your home. Men, ask that the Lord lovingly show you how to love your wife as you do your own body.

from Happy Marriage, Happy Home

‘In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.’ Ephesians 5:28-30(NLT)

Is your home a happy place? Often, home is viewed as the place to sleep, but not a true desirable destination. There is no laughter, no joy, no feeling. Usually when we see this scenario, the emotions have gone because the husband has not loved his wife as Christ loves the Church. Men, we are to love our wives as we love our own bodies. We don’t pick out a deformity in our own body and call attention to it all the time. Quite the opposite. Psychologists say we compensate for any shortcomings we feel we have. Compensate is just a fancy way of saying we build up other areas. You’ve seen the little guy who becomes a muscle-bound bodybuilder.

It’s the same with your wife. Too many times I have heard a man say, “Well, let me tell you what my crazy wife did.” He would then proceed to tell a story that was demeaning and embarrassing to her. Are you building her up or tearing her down?

As you strengthen your love for your wife, you will be strengthening your marriage and your home. My bet is joy, laughter, and emotion will return to your home, and it will be a much sought-after destination for your entire family!

Pray for God to increase your ability to set a harmonious and loving tone in your home, and for Him to help you build up each other, rather than tear down.

from Happy Marriage, Happy Home