In Bill Bennett’s bestselling The Book of Virtues, he lists work as one of the top ten virtues. Most historians agree that Western culture was built on the work ethic. In the family, much work needs to be done. Clothes must be washed, beds need to be made, food has to be prepared, trash must be stashed. Animals must be fed, cars must be washed, and grass must be mowed.
Who does all of this work in your family? Ideally it is shared by the husband, wife, and children. But the more important question is “With what attitude do you work?” If the road to greatness is serving others, then such work gives me a chance to aspire to greatness.
The Desire to Serve
In a healthy family, members have the sense that as they do something for the benefit of other family members, they are doing something genuinely good - almost noble. Individuals have an internal desire to serve, and an emotional sense of satisfaction with a job done for others. In a highly functional family, there develops the sense that service to others is one of life’s highest callings.
I believe that such an attitude of service must begin with the parents. If Dad is doing things to make Mom’s life easier, and Mom is serving Dad, it won’t be long until the kids want to get in on the fun. For those who don’t know where to start, let me suggest the following question: “What could I do for you this evening?”
The Hallmark of Greatness
In every vocation, those who truly excel are those who have a genuine desire to serve others. The most notable physicians view their vocation as a calling to serve the sick and diseased. Truly great politicians see themselves as “public servants." The greatest of all educators seeks to help the student reach his or her potential.
It is no different in the family. It is in giving our lives to each other that we all become winners. The scriptures say, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” They never say, “Demand and people will do what you demand.” The fact is, most people do not respond well to demands. But few people will reject loving service.
The hallmark of greatness is not the accumulation of wealth, nor the gaining of powerful positions. The hallmark of greatness is service to others.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from The Family You've Always Wanted: Five Ways You Can Make it Happen by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
God Speaks: Physical Touch
The language of physical touch demonstrated by Jesus and His followers did not end with a physical healing. The physical miracle was to validate Jesus’ claims and convince people to respond to His love—-to establish an eternal spiritual relationship with God. This is evidenced by what Peter said after the crippled man was healed. He urged his listeners, “Repent...and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—-even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything.”
Glowing From God's Presence
Moses also encountered God in a way that affected him physically. When he descended the mountain after God had given him the Ten Commandments, his face was radiant, although he didn’t realize it. But it was clearly evident to other people—so much so that he had to place a veil over his face.
Jesus' Public Ministry
The biblical account of the life of Jesus shows that He frequently used physical touch as a love language. As He taught in the villages, parents would bring little children to have Him touch them. His disciples first rebuked the people, thinking that Jesus was too busy for children. But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Then He took the children in his arms and blessed them. It has always been true that some people are skeptical when others claim to be “touched by God.” But the greatest skeptics become the greatest believers when they personally experience God’s touch.
After Jesus returned to His Father, God continued to work through the believers in the early church. They gladly carried on the serving, touching, and healing ministry of Jesus. Since the first century, thousands of men and women have been touched by God. They, in turn, have touched others as representatives of Christ. They work in hospitals, giving baths and wiping fevered brows. They are in rescue missions, kneeling beside the homeless with an arm draped around the shoulder of a needy person. They serve as “greeters” in their churches to smile, extend a hand, and give an affirming pat on the back as people enter the house of worship. They are channels of God’s love, speaking fluently the love language of physical touch.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Glowing From God's Presence
Moses also encountered God in a way that affected him physically. When he descended the mountain after God had given him the Ten Commandments, his face was radiant, although he didn’t realize it. But it was clearly evident to other people—so much so that he had to place a veil over his face.
Jesus' Public Ministry
The biblical account of the life of Jesus shows that He frequently used physical touch as a love language. As He taught in the villages, parents would bring little children to have Him touch them. His disciples first rebuked the people, thinking that Jesus was too busy for children. But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Then He took the children in his arms and blessed them. It has always been true that some people are skeptical when others claim to be “touched by God.” But the greatest skeptics become the greatest believers when they personally experience God’s touch.
After Jesus returned to His Father, God continued to work through the believers in the early church. They gladly carried on the serving, touching, and healing ministry of Jesus. Since the first century, thousands of men and women have been touched by God. They, in turn, have touched others as representatives of Christ. They work in hospitals, giving baths and wiping fevered brows. They are in rescue missions, kneeling beside the homeless with an arm draped around the shoulder of a needy person. They serve as “greeters” in their churches to smile, extend a hand, and give an affirming pat on the back as people enter the house of worship. They are channels of God’s love, speaking fluently the love language of physical touch.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Worship Conference on 25 July (Sat)
9am - 2pm
RM15/pax (include 118pgs handbook, lunch & other material)
Breakout classes offered - Five classes for musicians:
> Worship Keyboard
> Wind Instruments
> Drums & Percussion
> Worship Vocals
> Acoustic Guitar
* Music Theory Made Easy - beginning music reading crash course
* Worship Software – exploring free software for use in worship
* Bible Study for non-musicians
(For those who accompany a musician friend/spouse that have no interest in the musical/technical classes)
* Q&A Session hosted by Senior Pastor, Tim Stutts and Worship Pastor, Kenny Lamm (Particularly for worship leaders and pastors.)
* For those who come with spouses/friends,you can choose to buy 1 handbook and your spouse only need to pay for the lunch RM6!!
Choice of fees with handbook (RM15) OR lunch only (RM6)
We look forward to see you soon!!
Please contact Bro Peter Long by this Sunday 19 July 2009
WFA is sponsoring - especially those who are still studying..
If you are willing to pay your way, do inform us..
.
RM15/pax (include 118pgs handbook, lunch & other material)
Breakout classes offered - Five classes for musicians:
> Worship Keyboard
> Wind Instruments
> Drums & Percussion
> Worship Vocals
> Acoustic Guitar
* Music Theory Made Easy - beginning music reading crash course
* Worship Software – exploring free software for use in worship
* Bible Study for non-musicians
(For those who accompany a musician friend/spouse that have no interest in the musical/technical classes)
* Q&A Session hosted by Senior Pastor, Tim Stutts and Worship Pastor, Kenny Lamm (Particularly for worship leaders and pastors.)
* For those who come with spouses/friends,you can choose to buy 1 handbook and your spouse only need to pay for the lunch RM6!!
Choice of fees with handbook (RM15) OR lunch only (RM6)
We look forward to see you soon!!
Please contact Bro Peter Long by this Sunday 19 July 2009
WFA is sponsoring - especially those who are still studying..
If you are willing to pay your way, do inform us..
.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
God Speaks: Acts of Service
God expressed His love for humankind by sending His Son, Jesus, who in turn expressed His love by the supreme act of service: giving His life for people’s sins. When Agnes Bojaxhiu responded to that love as a young teenage girl, she began a life course of faithfulness and distinction. Her transformation into Mother Teresa seems incredible to many people, yet the God she worshiped is more than capable of such a change. The Bible declares Him to be “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He fluently speaks the love language acts of service.
Jesus' Life as Service
Clearly, the God of Israel expressed His love by acts of service to those who called upon Him. And while many people accept this fact about God, a significant number are reluctant to believe the same about Jesus. Yet when we examine the life of Jesus of Nazareth, we find Him identifying with the God of Israel. The claims are so clear and so woven into Jesus’ concept of Himself that many have found them incredible and have concluded that Jesus was a man with delusions of grandeur, one not to be seriously considered as a creditable religious leader.
Jesus' Miracles as Service
The miracles that Jesus performed were never capricious. They were always expressions of His love for people. Healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, calming the storm, casting out demons—those were not only supernatural feats that identified Him with God, but also expressions of His love. On three occasions He even brought a dead person back to life. Such acts of service were reflected in His statement, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”
Jesus' Death as Service
Jesus framed His own death as an act of service when he said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” His love was further evidenced when He said from the cross as He was dying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
For all who examine the life of Jesus, He becomes a fork in the road of life. Many choose the path of submission—they bow the knee, submit the heart, and arise to walk humbly as His servants.
Many testify that what ultimately won their hearts was His love expressed by miraculous acts of service, from the humility of His human birth to His sacrificial, voluntary death that paid the penalty for their sins. And serving a God who speaks through acts of service is ample motivation for them to serve one another as well.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Jesus' Life as Service
Clearly, the God of Israel expressed His love by acts of service to those who called upon Him. And while many people accept this fact about God, a significant number are reluctant to believe the same about Jesus. Yet when we examine the life of Jesus of Nazareth, we find Him identifying with the God of Israel. The claims are so clear and so woven into Jesus’ concept of Himself that many have found them incredible and have concluded that Jesus was a man with delusions of grandeur, one not to be seriously considered as a creditable religious leader.
Jesus' Miracles as Service
The miracles that Jesus performed were never capricious. They were always expressions of His love for people. Healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, calming the storm, casting out demons—those were not only supernatural feats that identified Him with God, but also expressions of His love. On three occasions He even brought a dead person back to life. Such acts of service were reflected in His statement, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”
Jesus' Death as Service
Jesus framed His own death as an act of service when he said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” His love was further evidenced when He said from the cross as He was dying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
For all who examine the life of Jesus, He becomes a fork in the road of life. Many choose the path of submission—they bow the knee, submit the heart, and arise to walk humbly as His servants.
Many testify that what ultimately won their hearts was His love expressed by miraculous acts of service, from the humility of His human birth to His sacrificial, voluntary death that paid the penalty for their sins. And serving a God who speaks through acts of service is ample motivation for them to serve one another as well.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
God Speaks: Gifts
Throughout the Scriptures, from beginning to end, God reveals Himself as a giver of gifts. Moses said of God, “He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.”
Throughout history, thousands of individuals whose primary love language is gifts have been drawn to God because He stands not as a judge to condemn, but as a Father who bestows forgiveness and eternal life to those who will receive His love.
True Joy
The message of Jesus was clear. One of the ways of expressing love to God is by giving gifts to those who need them. It is this truth that deeply motivates followers of Jesus. As one man said to me, “I never feel more joy than when I am giving to others. I feel like this is why God has given to me, and it is the way I can express my love to Him.”
Receiving to Give
How does someone receive God’s gift of love? Some gifts are given indiscriminately by God to everyone, such as the rising and setting of the sun, the gentle rain, spring flowers, and the seasons. God’s abundant gifts to us are yet another expression of His love, and we reflect that love by loving others. We receive the gifts of wisdom, insight, experience, expertise, and material possessions to enrich the lives of other people. God’s gifts are never given because we deserve them; they are given as expressions of His love for us. Thus, our gifts to others are not based upon the person’s performance or what the individual has done for us, but rather flow from our love for the person.
Ministry to Others
In a proper relationship with God, our desire is to receive gifts from Him that will enable us to give to others. Thus a pastor asks for wisdom in shepherding his flock; a parent asks for emotional and physical strength to support his or her children. If we ask for material possessions (which is not discouraged in the Scriptures), it is for the purpose of using them to enhance our ministry to others. Sincere followers of Jesus always ask, “How may I use what God gives me to minister to others?”
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Throughout history, thousands of individuals whose primary love language is gifts have been drawn to God because He stands not as a judge to condemn, but as a Father who bestows forgiveness and eternal life to those who will receive His love.
True Joy
The message of Jesus was clear. One of the ways of expressing love to God is by giving gifts to those who need them. It is this truth that deeply motivates followers of Jesus. As one man said to me, “I never feel more joy than when I am giving to others. I feel like this is why God has given to me, and it is the way I can express my love to Him.”
Receiving to Give
How does someone receive God’s gift of love? Some gifts are given indiscriminately by God to everyone, such as the rising and setting of the sun, the gentle rain, spring flowers, and the seasons. God’s abundant gifts to us are yet another expression of His love, and we reflect that love by loving others. We receive the gifts of wisdom, insight, experience, expertise, and material possessions to enrich the lives of other people. God’s gifts are never given because we deserve them; they are given as expressions of His love for us. Thus, our gifts to others are not based upon the person’s performance or what the individual has done for us, but rather flow from our love for the person.
Ministry to Others
In a proper relationship with God, our desire is to receive gifts from Him that will enable us to give to others. Thus a pastor asks for wisdom in shepherding his flock; a parent asks for emotional and physical strength to support his or her children. If we ask for material possessions (which is not discouraged in the Scriptures), it is for the purpose of using them to enhance our ministry to others. Sincere followers of Jesus always ask, “How may I use what God gives me to minister to others?”
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
God Speaks: Quality Time
The idea that the eternal God desires to spend quality time with His creatures is one aspect of faith unique to Christianity. The gods who have been created by the imagination of human minds have always been far removed from people’s daily lives. The gods of the ancient Greek and Roman myths had to be placated or feared. The idea of having a close personal relationship with those deities did not exist.
Jesus' Prayer
Jesus indicated that the desire of the entire Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—was to “abide” (make a home) with anyone who responds to God’s love. Jesus promised never to leave His followers, and told them that He would be with them forever. In one of Jesus’ prayers, He said, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” Clearly, Jesus desired quality time with all of those who responded to His love.
Love Expressed
The Psalms often speak of God’s love for those He created and His desire to draw near and spend quality time with them. For example, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” The New Testament describes a similar relationship with God as James promises, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Do You Desire Quality Time?
When someone’s primary love language is quality time, uninterrupted times of communion with God are not difficult, but joyous. They are not burden-causing, but burden lifting. Recently a woman told me, “I feel closest to God when I have my daily quiet time with Him. It is the most important part of my day. When I miss that time, my whole day seems empty and I don’t feel as close to God. It is in those personal times with Him that I feel His love.” Not everyone would echo this woman’s sentiment, but it is certainly true of those individuals whose primary love language is quality time. Those who seek time with God will discover that He is ready and waiting to meet with them. Quality time is a love language that He is always prepared to speak.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Jesus' Prayer
Jesus indicated that the desire of the entire Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—was to “abide” (make a home) with anyone who responds to God’s love. Jesus promised never to leave His followers, and told them that He would be with them forever. In one of Jesus’ prayers, He said, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” Clearly, Jesus desired quality time with all of those who responded to His love.
Love Expressed
The Psalms often speak of God’s love for those He created and His desire to draw near and spend quality time with them. For example, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” The New Testament describes a similar relationship with God as James promises, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Do You Desire Quality Time?
When someone’s primary love language is quality time, uninterrupted times of communion with God are not difficult, but joyous. They are not burden-causing, but burden lifting. Recently a woman told me, “I feel closest to God when I have my daily quiet time with Him. It is the most important part of my day. When I miss that time, my whole day seems empty and I don’t feel as close to God. It is in those personal times with Him that I feel His love.” Not everyone would echo this woman’s sentiment, but it is certainly true of those individuals whose primary love language is quality time. Those who seek time with God will discover that He is ready and waiting to meet with them. Quality time is a love language that He is always prepared to speak.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
God Speaks: Words of Affirmation
Reuben taught his congregation the love languages. He taught that giving gifts to God (tithes, offerings, our time and skills in service) is one expression of love, and that people show love to God by serving others. He acknowledged the discipline of meditation and prayer in which one spends quality time with God. But for Reuben, the most natural expression of his love to God was using words both to affirm God and to encourage others.
Are Reuben’s experiences with God unique? Not at all. The Bible is filled with illustrations of God speaking words of affirmation. The Bible itself is often known as the “Word of God.”
God's Words to Us
The God of the Bible is characterized as the God who speaks. The Scriptures consistently declare God’s words of encouragement:
All of these words from God affirm the worth of human beings.
Words to Praise Him
Many individuals testify that a “God connection” resulted from reading the Bible. As a young monk, Martin Luther sought to find peace with God. Sitting alone in his room, deeply concerned about his relationship with God, Luther opened his Bible and began to read Paul’s letter to the Romans. When he came to Romans chapter 1, verse 17, he read, “The just shall live by faith” (KJV). He paused and pondered. Then unspeakable joy flooded his heart.
Thousands of contemporary followers of Jesus can identify with him. Their hearts have been captured by the words of God, and they reciprocate His love by expressing words of praise. They feel closest to God when they sing praise to Him and during praying. Their prayers flow with praise and thanksgiving to God, telling Him how much they love Him.
But for another significant group, their method of worshiping and expressing their love to God does not focus on words, but on quality time. We will turn our attention to that group next time as we examine another love language of God.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Are Reuben’s experiences with God unique? Not at all. The Bible is filled with illustrations of God speaking words of affirmation. The Bible itself is often known as the “Word of God.”
God's Words to Us
The God of the Bible is characterized as the God who speaks. The Scriptures consistently declare God’s words of encouragement:
* “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
* “For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
* “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
* “For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
* “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
All of these words from God affirm the worth of human beings.
Words to Praise Him
Many individuals testify that a “God connection” resulted from reading the Bible. As a young monk, Martin Luther sought to find peace with God. Sitting alone in his room, deeply concerned about his relationship with God, Luther opened his Bible and began to read Paul’s letter to the Romans. When he came to Romans chapter 1, verse 17, he read, “The just shall live by faith” (KJV). He paused and pondered. Then unspeakable joy flooded his heart.
Thousands of contemporary followers of Jesus can identify with him. Their hearts have been captured by the words of God, and they reciprocate His love by expressing words of praise. They feel closest to God when they sing praise to Him and during praying. Their prayers flow with praise and thanksgiving to God, telling Him how much they love Him.
But for another significant group, their method of worshiping and expressing their love to God does not focus on words, but on quality time. We will turn our attention to that group next time as we examine another love language of God.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Friday, July 3, 2009
God Speaks Your Love Language
After almost forty years of counseling couples and families, I am convinced that there are five basic languages of love. There may be many “dialects,” but only five languages. Each person has a primary love language, which means that one of the five love languages speaks more deeply than the other four on an emotional level. When someone speaks my primary love language, I am drawn to that person because he or she is meeting my basic need to feel loved.
The five love languages are more fully explained in my previous books, but let me briefly review them:
(1) Words of Affirmation
(2) Quality Time
(3) Gifts
(4) Acts of Service
(5) Physical Touch
Feeling God's Love
Susan was my first appointment of the day, and I felt like crying when I heard her story. Her father had committed suicide when she was thirteen. Her brother was killed in Vietnam. Six months ago, her husband had left her for another woman. She and her two small children were living with her mother. I felt like crying...but Susan wasn’t crying. In fact, she was vibrant, almost radiant.
Later the same day I had an appointment with Regina. Her parents had divorced when she was ten years old. She saw her father only twice after the divorce: once at her high school graduation and again at her younger sister’s funeral. Her sister had been killed in an auto accident. She was in my office because she was contemplating a fourth marriage. “I don’t want to grow old alone, but I don’t have a very good track record with marriage. My mother keeps telling me that God loves me and has a plan for my life. Right now I don’t feel God’s love, and I think I must have missed the plan. I’m not even sure there is a God.”
Two ladies, each having experienced enough pain for a lifetime. One feels deeply loved by God; the other feels empty. Why do some people claim to experience God’s love very deeply, while others feel so distant from God that they are unsure God even exists? I believe the answer lies in the nature of love itself. Love is not a solo experience. Love requires both a lover and a responder. If God is the divine lover, why do not all of His creatures feel His love?
God's Languages
God Speaks Your Love Language (to release February 2009) builds on the concepts from my previous books and considers the love languages of God. It is my premise that the love languages observed in human relationships all reflect various aspects of divine love. If people are indeed made in the image of God, and if people have five distinct love languages, then we would expect to find all those love languages expressed in the character and nature of God. Indeed, God speaks every language, so it is not surprising to discover that He communicates fluently through each of the five love languages. In the weeks to come, I'll discuss each of these.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
The five love languages are more fully explained in my previous books, but let me briefly review them:
(1) Words of Affirmation
(2) Quality Time
(3) Gifts
(4) Acts of Service
(5) Physical Touch
Feeling God's Love
Susan was my first appointment of the day, and I felt like crying when I heard her story. Her father had committed suicide when she was thirteen. Her brother was killed in Vietnam. Six months ago, her husband had left her for another woman. She and her two small children were living with her mother. I felt like crying...but Susan wasn’t crying. In fact, she was vibrant, almost radiant.
Later the same day I had an appointment with Regina. Her parents had divorced when she was ten years old. She saw her father only twice after the divorce: once at her high school graduation and again at her younger sister’s funeral. Her sister had been killed in an auto accident. She was in my office because she was contemplating a fourth marriage. “I don’t want to grow old alone, but I don’t have a very good track record with marriage. My mother keeps telling me that God loves me and has a plan for my life. Right now I don’t feel God’s love, and I think I must have missed the plan. I’m not even sure there is a God.”
Two ladies, each having experienced enough pain for a lifetime. One feels deeply loved by God; the other feels empty. Why do some people claim to experience God’s love very deeply, while others feel so distant from God that they are unsure God even exists? I believe the answer lies in the nature of love itself. Love is not a solo experience. Love requires both a lover and a responder. If God is the divine lover, why do not all of His creatures feel His love?
God's Languages
God Speaks Your Love Language (to release February 2009) builds on the concepts from my previous books and considers the love languages of God. It is my premise that the love languages observed in human relationships all reflect various aspects of divine love. If people are indeed made in the image of God, and if people have five distinct love languages, then we would expect to find all those love languages expressed in the character and nature of God. Indeed, God speaks every language, so it is not surprising to discover that He communicates fluently through each of the five love languages. In the weeks to come, I'll discuss each of these.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from God Speaks Your Love Language by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about his resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Balancing Work and Family
Is it possible that we may be working so hard to support our families financially that we end up losing our families? Then money becomes empty compensation. This week we’ll talk about the issue of money and marriage.
What is most important in life? If we are given stark choices, the issue becomes clear. If someone offered you one million dollars for your child or your spouse, would you take it? Any sensible parent or spouse would say, “No”. But do we not sell our families for much less when we spend all of our energy working for money and have no time left to enjoy our relationships?.
Balance
Work is a noble endeavor. In fact the Bible says that if a man will not work, neither should he eat. But can we work too much? Is vocational success worth losing a marriage? The Scriptures teach that life’s meaning is not found in things, but in relationships. It is found first in a relationship with God, and then with family and others.
Family relationships are always in process. If we want to keep our marriages alive, our families healthy, then we must find ways of balancing work and family. Thousands of men and women are finding that a growing marriage and a healthy family requires readjusting schedules from time to time. The key question is, “How does my work affect my marriage and family?” Once I answer that question, I will know if I need to change my work patterns.
Integration & Time Management
The answer is not always less work. Sometimes it is integrating the family into my work. For example, does your work allow the opportunity for you and your spouse to have lunch together from time to time? Such lunches can be an oasis in the midst of a dry day.
If your work requires travel, could you take your spouse or one of your children with you? This allows a mini-vacation which you might not otherwise be able to afford. It also exposes your family to your vocation and gives them a little more appreciation for what you do.
Less work and more time at home is not necessarily the answer. Better use of time at home may make all the difference. Do something different tonight with your spouse or with a child. Get out of the routine. Minimize the television and maximize activity and conversation. Keep your marriage alive and growing.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from Dr. Gary Chapman on the Marriage You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
What is most important in life? If we are given stark choices, the issue becomes clear. If someone offered you one million dollars for your child or your spouse, would you take it? Any sensible parent or spouse would say, “No”. But do we not sell our families for much less when we spend all of our energy working for money and have no time left to enjoy our relationships?.
Balance
Work is a noble endeavor. In fact the Bible says that if a man will not work, neither should he eat. But can we work too much? Is vocational success worth losing a marriage? The Scriptures teach that life’s meaning is not found in things, but in relationships. It is found first in a relationship with God, and then with family and others.
Family relationships are always in process. If we want to keep our marriages alive, our families healthy, then we must find ways of balancing work and family. Thousands of men and women are finding that a growing marriage and a healthy family requires readjusting schedules from time to time. The key question is, “How does my work affect my marriage and family?” Once I answer that question, I will know if I need to change my work patterns.
Integration & Time Management
The answer is not always less work. Sometimes it is integrating the family into my work. For example, does your work allow the opportunity for you and your spouse to have lunch together from time to time? Such lunches can be an oasis in the midst of a dry day.
If your work requires travel, could you take your spouse or one of your children with you? This allows a mini-vacation which you might not otherwise be able to afford. It also exposes your family to your vocation and gives them a little more appreciation for what you do.
Less work and more time at home is not necessarily the answer. Better use of time at home may make all the difference. Do something different tonight with your spouse or with a child. Get out of the routine. Minimize the television and maximize activity and conversation. Keep your marriage alive and growing.
There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from Dr. Gary Chapman on the Marriage You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
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