A Love Language Minute

The good new is, all 5 love languages can be spoken long distance. Expressing them verbally or in written form can communicate your love while separated.

What is the greatest commandment of all? - to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. We love God because He first loved us. And God has expressed His love to each of us in our own primary love language.

It's easy to love someone who's lovely, but not so easy when they are unlovely. Jesus said we are to love and bless our enemies.

Why do Christians some times criticize each other? The way we express our love for God is usually different from the way someone else does. It's an indicator of what our love language is. Neither is right or wrong - just different.

Second marriages are difficult, especially when your new spouse has children from a previous marriage. Until that child becomes an adult, your spouse will always have some contact with the mother of that child.

Wouldn't it be easier if couples shared the same love language? Yes, but there are often dialects within the same language. So although you share the same love language, you still need to learn the nuances of each other's love language.

God uses people to reach people. He has demonstrated His love through Christ's sacrifice for us. But He has also chosen you to express His love to others in their own love language.

Listening to each other is critical to a healthy marriage. A spouse might often say something but mean something else. Ask questions. Their response to your questions might clarify what they really meant.

How do you know God loves you? In human relationships, we feel loved when the other person speaks to us in our love language. The same is true with God. Learn more by reading Dr. Gary Chapman's book, God Speaks Your Love Language.

All couples will have conflicts. Learning how to solve conflicts without arguing is key. It's essential for a healthy marriage. Learn how to listen to each other with empathy and respect.

You've discovered that your husband has been using drugs and gambling. Now what? Confront your husband with tough love. Let him know that you love him too much to allow this to go on. Seek counseling for him if he's willing.

It's amazing that God would want to have a relationship with us! God expresses His love for us in our own love language so that we'll know in our hearts that He loves us.

Prayer is an effective communication tool in a marriage. When married couples pray together, they're drawn more closely to each other and to God.

When your child becomes a teenager, it's time to stop preaching and start teaching. Teach your teen in a conversational style because it's much more effective than preaching at them. Preaching at your teen will drive them to go elsewhere for advice.

A long-term dating relationship may fail. Why?, because the "in love" feelings wear off. Dating couples should learn to speak each other's love language in order to keep their love alive.

Domestic abusers often blame their spouse. Scripture teaches us to love our enemies. However, love can be expressed by saying "I love you too much to allow you to continue this abuse". Move out if necessary until the abuser gets their anger under control.

Listen to your child's requests, and you'll discover their love language.

If you're frustrated about the lack of good communication with your spouse, ask them if they would be willing to read a book with you about how you can improve communication between the two of you.

What do you do when your husband's love language is physical touch but he's currently deployed? Look for creative ways to give an emotional touch while apart.

How do you learn your child's love language? - observe how they express love to others. Children love others in the language they wish to receive.

When one spouse talks all the time and the other spouse rarely talks, good communication won't happen. Listening to each other is just as important as talking.

One of the most important goals in parenting is to make sure your children grow up feeling loved. If your children are secure in your love, they'll be far more responsive to your teaching and training.

Your child drives you crazy. What can you do? The very first thing you can do is make sure they feel loved. The only way they'll feel loved is if you show them love in their own love language.

It's not appropriate for a husband to make comments about other beautiful women in front of you. Remind him that he's married to you and his attention should be focused on you.

What makes one child feel loved doesn't necessarily make the other child feel loved. Each one has an emotional love tank. One has a larger or smaller tank one than the other. Spend the appropriate amount of time to fill each love tank to the brim.

If communication between spouses is practically nonexistent, make an effort to talk to your spouse about things they're interested in. Often times, they'll begin to open up.

How do you teach your child obedience? State the rules clearly, and explain the consequences clearly. Then, in kindness and firmness, administer the consequences.

Having a growing marriage is extremely difficult when their work requires being separated for long periods of time.

Will premarital sex help a couple in the dating phase of their relationship? NO. If either of them breaks off the relationship, they'll be left with extreme emotional pain and guilt.

When Christian couples walk out on each other, it stems from one of three problems: 1. Lack of an intimate relationship with God; 2. Lack of an intimate relationship with your spouse; or 3. Lack of an intimate understanding and acceptance of one's self.

You waste your energy when you argue, trying to convince the other person that you're right and they're wrong. That will never work. Instead, try to find some middle ground where you both can agree.

In this busy world, many parent find it difficult to spend quality time with their teenagers. Without focused attention, a teenager experiences increased anxiety because they feel everything else is more important that they are. That leaves their love tank empty.

When your spouse refuses to apologize, it makes it difficult to deal with the hurt. The Bible teaches that when someone sins against you, confront them. If they repent, forgive them.

Couples that live together before getting married are no better prepared for marriage than those who did not. In fact, their divorce rate is even higher.

Separation doesn't necessarily lead to divorce. Separation forces us to admit we have serious problems. When we examine divorce, we realize that divorce doesn't solve anything. In fact, it creates more problems. The best of our options is to seek reconciliation.

Since every married couple has different thoughts and feelings, there will be barriers to good communication. The best way to break down those barriers is to Listen!

What can you do if you're married but can't get rid of the memories of your premarital sex? Confess your past sin to God and your wife, then picture the blood of Christ flowing over your sin and hiding it from your sight.

It's not unusual for a spouse to be an alcoholic but doesn't think they have a problem. Are you in this situation? Choose to show them your  tender love. At the same time, you can exercise tough love by insisting on seeking out good counseling.

Does Separation equal Divorce? Not necessarily. Separation can be a time of tremendous growth. Take this time to consider the choices and actions that caused your separation and choose to make the necessary changes. With God's help, this might lead to reconciliation instead of divorce.

Listening is the key to good communication. If you listen to your spouse and try to understand their thoughts and feelings, your marriage will thrive.

If you have a silent husband, have you ever wondered why? If you're quick to criticize his ideas, he might just shut down. Your criticism will strike at the heart of his self esteem.

You and your fiancé want to get married and are applying for grad school. This might pose some challenges to your marriage. Dr. Gary Chapman recommends postponing your marriage until you both accomplish your academic goals.

Are you and your spouse the products of divorce? Having experienced growing up in a home where your parents divorced, your goal should be to never put your own children in that same situation. The key is to get a clear picture of what a healthy family looks like.

Behind every verbally abusive tongue is a person of value. If you can focus on their worth rather than on their abuse, perhaps you can be God's instrument to bring healing.

There's something about the way we're made that cries out for intimacy. God designed marriage to be the most intimate of all human relationships.

Those who verbally abuse their spouse are saying more about their own needs rather than their spouse's character.

Are there fireworks in your marriage - the fireworks of romantic love? When you speak your spouse's love language, you'll touch their heart.

Our mission is to make disciples. The best method to use is to love them.

If you're married, it's never wise to try to reconnect with your past girlfriends. You'll be jeopardizing the commitment you made to your spouse.

We often connect past relationships to the music of that era. If you're married now, it's probably wise not to listen to that music any more. Then you probably won't relive those memories and be drawn away from your spouse.