An Unexpected Date Night

My unexpected date night came with an unexpected phone call. I was told that I had won tickets to the Kelly Clarkson Concert!

A few days later when our tickets arrived in the mail the excitement grew.

I would not only get to see an amazing artist but also have a quiet car ride to and from the show toddler free.  Our son was left with amazing babysitters  (thanks again ladies!) and off we went toward Durham NC.

On the road trip to the concert the sky was filled with the most amazing sunset with deep purples and pinks.

We were able to talk about some important topics that will be happening in our lives over the next couple of months.

When we got to the concert we had to rush inside and find our seats. Soon the music began and we were able to have a couple of fun, no stress, no decision, no schedule, no worries hours.

As the rest of the theater snapped pictures, took videos, facebooked, and tweeted around us we just sat there and enjoyed the moment.

This unexpected date night allowed us to not only enjoy Kelly Clarkson and her upbeat and fun music but also to reconnect as a couple.

Other reasons date night can be an important element in marriage is because it creates bonding time with your spouse, allows you and your spouse to continue learning about one another through new experiences, as well as creates excitement in your marriage. Planning date night will allow you and your spouse to have something to look forward to together.

Date nights don’t have to wait until you win a contest! Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling for your next date night!

100+ Great Date Night Ideas

Marriage has many instances that it is fun and fulfilling. Marriage is also a labor love, it takes work, time, and commit to allow it to grow.   I hope you are able to use these insights to create and/or maintain your "Loving Lasting Marriage". In addition, Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your Loving Lasting Marriage.  If you have any insights on this topic please share ! 

Shalasha

Book Review : The Five Love Languages : The Secret to Love that Lasts By : Dr. Gary Chapman

Ch 2- Keeping the Love Tank Full

This chapter aligned with a post a few weeks ago. Love fills a both an emotional and physical need.  Many people fill that Love can fill a emotional void and rush to fill that void. In many instances in that rush a wrong decision about Love can be made.

I advised my readers to find the roots of your emotional reasons and work to fulfill those needs yourself. When you are happy you can then make others happy.

Dr. Chapman described our emotional need for love as a  “love tank”. This “love tank” is something that can be filled and emptied. Positive things we do for our spouse including spending time with them, listening to them, and speaking their love language can fill this tank. Where as negative things we do such as not speaking their love language, hurting their feelings, or even cheating on them can empty their love tanks.

Ch 3- Falling in Love

In this chapter, we meet a person who has fell in love. Many of us have experienced the falling in-love stage. Butterflies, endless thinking of that 1 person, doodling hearts and their name.

In your experience, does this  euphoric   feeling last forever? Well you are not alone! Dr. Chapman includes a scientific study that proves that “the average life span of a romantic obsession is two years. (p.22) ”

Have you ever met someone who just loves the “feeling” of “falling in love” and jumps to the next relationship when this feeling fades?

Dr. Chapman encourages us to focus and nature the “real-love” with our spouse.  His advice is to maintain those “love-tanks” to ensure that both you and your spouse feel loved.

If you would like more details I encourage you to pick up the book and read along! Next week I will be reviewing Chapters 4,5,and 6. If you have not already done so, you can find out your spouse and your love language on the Official Site for this book. 

Shalasha

Chapman, G., & Chapman, G. D. (2010). The 5 love languages, the secret to love that lasts. Northfield Publishing.

Allow God to Guide You

This marks my One Month Anniversary for my blog !  I would like to give God the glory for an awesome first month in the blogging world.  I have had such great feedback, connected with new and amazing people, and most importantly followed what God laid on my heart to do. To help myself through helping others create and/or maintain " A Loving Lasting Marriage".

When we listen to God and follow his command, things always work out for the best. God allows our hearts and our minds to comprehend his true message but we must be prepared to fulfill the task at hand. Our hearts must be obedient with God in order to be able to fulfill the works he has in store for us. Do you have an obedient heart?

I was able to participate in a wonderful bible study, David: Seeking a Heart Like His , by Beth Moore a year ago at a local church. In this in-depth study of David, I realized that when God asks us to do something, he already has a well thought out plan for us to succeed. When our hearts align with God’s and we are obedient in the following God’s words we will overcome any obstacle any time.

Sometimes we are scared to follow God’s messages and path for our lives because we do not understand how we will be able to accomplish the task. Having 100% Faith in God is easy my friends. A God that created this universe will surely allow you to accomplish his works. Do not worry about how you are going accomplish that goal just take a step on faith.

Have you been called to do a work for God? You may think that your work that God has laid on your heart is small and unimportant but each work is just as important as the next.

I encourage you to have an obedient heart, take a step of faith, and begin your journey to fulfill God’s works.

I would love for you to share your personal works for God with us.

Bible Scriptures for an Obedient Heart

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 2:9

For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.

Luke 5:1-39 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ...

I normally advise you to Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”. Today I would like to ask you all to say a Prayer for myself as well as one another, that we may all be courageous and obedient to begin or continue our works for God.

Thank you for your support, please continue to share this blog . You can share this blog by clicking on the facebook or twitter link at the bottom of this post.  You can also become a follower by clicking on the “join this site” link in the right tool bar. If you have a perspective, experience, or just an opinion, please share. You can contact me at Shalasha_sun@yahoo.com !

Shalasha

Have you ever considered Divorce ?

I am sure you are reading this because you are head over heels in love with your spouse and you don’t have ANY problems, right?

Have you and your spouse ever considered Divorce?

Did you know?

Divorce statistics in the United States

To avoid divorce we must understand the reasons behind divorce.

The Top 10 Reasons People Divorce

As you read the #1 reason for Divorce is Financial Reasons!  

How do you and your spouse handle financial issues?

1.                    Is it Yours and Mine or Ours? :  How do you view the money that is brought into your household.  Viewing the income you both bring to your family, as “ours” will eliminate some of the division of money issues.  

2.                    Are you on the same page?:  Do you and your spouse have common financial goals ? Communicate with your spouse your financial desires and stick to your agreements.

3.                    Seek Professional Guidance: In these tough economical times sometimes finances are a huge issue. If you have major issues with your finances seek help with a financial counselor or debt consultation firm.

4.                    Communication: With any martial issue communication is key. Talk and listen to what your spouse has to say and take steps to compromise.

5.                    Pre-Marriage Debt- Many times people get married and are aware of financial issues that already brewing. If you married someone who already had financial issues ranging from school debt, credit card debit, or even child support payments you cannot expect these debits to disappear.  Be supportive and help your spouse concur their debt so that your marriage can continue to grow.

Here are some biblical views of divorce:  Divorce and Remarriage

With any issues that cause you and your spouse to consider Divorce, remember that positive communication is needed. If you and your spouse reach a point that you are considering Divorce don’t give up on your relationship. Seek Guidance from a professional, a church leader, or marriage educator. Remember that marriage is a Labor of Love. Most importantly Pray together and seek God together if you are seeking your “Loving Lasting Marriage”.

Shalasha

Book Review : The Five Love Languages : The Secret to Love that Lasts By : Dr. Gary Chapman

Ch 1- What Happens to Love after the Wedding

         

This chapter gets straight to the point! Do you feel that “Love” changes once you get married?  I feel that many people have so much fun with the thought of marriage, planning a wedding, and planning their honeymoon that they focus on “getting” married and not the actual Marriage. 

Once the whirlwind of getting married has died down and you and your spouse are your normal self’s focusing on normal events, problems, and just life. Sometimes people feel that the Love has changed.

Dr. Chapman points out that the fundamentally issue is that   “ People Speak Different Love languages.”

He then concludes that there are Five Love Languages. According to Dr. Chapman the Five Love languages are:

Words of Affirmation

Quality Time

Receiving Gifts

Acts of Service

Physical Touch

Have you often wondered why your spouse does not show you that they Love you like you “imagine” they should? In turn has your spouse ever said why don’t you do X to show me you love me? This is a case of differing Love Languages!

This is a great opportunity to communicate with your Spouse! Often times we forget that our spouse is different than us and has different emotional needs.

Which of these languages do you need Love to be shown to you? Which of these languages do you think your spouse needs to be shown?


My language is Physical Touch.  A hug can make my whole day better and just make me feel better. However, I know that my husband is not . He would rather hear that he is doing a great job, that he is appreciated and loved, so his love language is Words of Affirmation. Allowing each other to express and receive love in our own language will ensure that both of our emotional needs are met. I think that will practice and thought this can be easily applied. 

Do you want to strengthen your communication of Love with your spouse? Have you experienced a rough patch in your marriage where you thought Love was lost?  Or as the man in Chapter 1 experienced even a divorce due dissolving love? I want to encourage you to join me in exploring this book, The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman.

You can also visit The Official Site for this Book and learn more about each love language as well as take assessments to find more about your love language.

Next week I plan to discuss Chapter 2 & Chapter 3. I hope you join me!

Shalasha

Chapman, G., & Chapman, G. D. (2010). The 5 love languages, the secret to love that lasts. Northfield Publishing.

Wednesday Spiritual Encouragement

Children are a Blessing Unto our Marriages and Life

This week I have decided to allow the scriptures to speak for themselves on children being a blessing ……

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

John 16:21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Matthew 18:10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 17:6  Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Through these scripture you can capture that one of God’s greatest gift to us are our children. I hope that these scriptures bring you some encouragement this week.

Shalasha 

GiveAway #2 - 3 Scensty Bars

I have teamed up with a great friend to offer you all a wonderful giveaway! Follow the directions and be entered to win 3 Bars of this great product. Visit my friends Scensty page on facebook if you are interested in buying this product. Hope you enjoy entering the giveaway! 

You must "like" Bobbie Jo Parnell~Independent Scentsy Consultant Page on Facebook

And

Become a Follower of this blog by " joining this site" or by "Following by e-mail" in the right tool bar for your entry to count. Click on the green rectangles for you to receive your entry.

Shalasha &