gifts

gifts- Not only flowers (store bought or wildflowers) and candy and jewelry but little things too- a special hot chocolate packed in your husband's/child's lunch or a new toys/trinkets/pencil. The point here is not the amount of money that you spend, but considering what the person might like while you were out. Some of my best gifts were picked up at yard sales, flea markets and second hand stores.

Prov. 18:16 Giving a gift works wonders; it may bring you before important people!

A special note.
My friend's sister, Sarah Gardner passed away yesterday, and her passing made me think about how our very lives are a gift. I didn't know Sarah well, but I've been following her fight against cancer via caring bridge. I am praying that her family would find comfort in the sweet memories they've shared and even more solace in baby Caroline. There are no guarantees that we will be here tomorrow, so take time to communicate love to your friends and family each day.

quality time

The whole point of targeting the area of quality time is to focus on getting to know your loved one better and truly enjoying the things they like to do. Even if a certain activity is not your preference, your child/friend/spouse will be blessed by your time spent with them when done out of love. Again, this list is just a starting point to give you some ideas.

quality time- for kids-special “daddy-daughter dates” / “daddy-son outings” play dates with friends, going to the park, family meals, outings and vacations.

for the guys: camping/fishing/hunting/ hiking/playing sports or going out for a meal,

for the girls: going to the spa w/ a girlfriend (or doing some spa treatments together at one of your homes), walking together, conversations over coffee, tea, ice-cream or lunch

for couples: date night, couch time, trips

Time spent in prayer together is always quality time. 

Gal. 6:10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

encouraging words

Our God is very creative, so please do not think that there aren't other ways to express affirmation for those you love.

words of encouragement- cards and letters are a great way to start. Also consider giving specific verbal praise for jobs well done and complimenting them to others, write a song/poem about them (kids love to hear their names in silly songs), leaving little notes in lunch boxes or random places where they will be found at odd times. Writing out a Bible verse that reminds you of the person or a situation that they are going through can be very encouraging as well.

Prov. 15:23 A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time – how good it is!

touch

This list is by no means exhaustive, but use it as a spring board to get ideas for the people in your life whose primary love language is touch.

touch - games for babies might include: head shoulders knees and toes, naming body parts as you rub lotion on them following bath time, holding them while reading a story, cuddling; for babies and most everyone else: massages, kisses, hugs, tickling, holding hands, high-fives, pats on the back/head/or bottom - if you're in a ball game evidently :) shaking hands, hand squeezes, scratching back, brushing hair, and for your husband/wife: all of the above plus, foreplay, and sex.

2 Cor. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

love languages

I read Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages over the summer and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Now, in light of what is going on with Sarah Gardner, I'm thinking about how to better express love to those around me each day.  It is important to know your own love language and there are links on-line to help you figure it out, but it is critical to show children all five on a regular basis.  Over the next few days, I'll talk about each and give ideas of how to express love in each of the areas: touch, words of encouragement, gifts, acts of service and quality time.

1 Jn. 4:11 Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.

discipline

It takes effort to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  As I am training my daughters not to be self-centered, I am learning more and more how God wants us to live. That discipline is loving and training is beneficial not fun in the midst of it, but the long-term rewards out weigh the pain in the moment.

Heb. 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

clap your hands

Did you enjoy the game last night? Colts over Redskins.  Were you more emotionally involved in the game than you were at church or in your private time of worship? God deserves that kind of emotion, praise, exaltation. He invites you to dance before him.

Ps. 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!