Date Your Spouse!

For the past 15 years at our house, Friday night has been date night. We protect it at all costs because we know that spending one on one time having fun together is key to sustaining our friendship in marriage. If you haven't done so already, select a day and time that works for your family and stick to it. Don't make excuses but rather make the investment that will reap longlasting dividends.

 For some great and affordable date night ideas, head on over and see what date night ideas The Dating Divas have to offer this week. www.thedatingdivas.com

It was one of those days when I was in a cranky mood and it seemed as if my husband could nothing right. If he washed the dishes, I told him how to do it the way I did. If he helped the kids with something, I felt like he should have helped differently. Honestly, if the poor man breathed, I would have said that he was doing that wrong! He just could not win.

Instead of reciprocating to me what I'd dished out to him, he looked at me and said these words. "Raquel, I know your day has been difficult and you're not in the best mood, but I'm trying. Could you please extend me some grace?" 

Well, let me tell you, this woman felt a wave of shame and conviction overcome me. I was so consumed with my feelings, my day, me...me...me, that I really didn't pay attention to how my actions were affecting him. But Artie was patient with me, making allowances for my moodiness. 

In order for there to be unity and oneness in marriage, we must do what Ephesians 4:2-3 says. Otherwise, we will be on an endless cycle of criticism, character assassination, discouragement and defeat. When we allow the Spirit of God to live this out through us, true oneness can occur.

I had to apologize to my husband for my less than stellar disposition and ask God to forgive me as well. I am so thankful that even when we don't extend it to others as we should, God is still gracious to us.

Tenacious Tuesday...I Meant What I Said!

It's been a week since I've posted but what a week it's been. I've seen God's hand at work in so many ways and am so grateful for the awesome privilege to serve Him!

This past Sunday, the Youth Pastor at our church, Alf Clark, brought the message for the morning entitled, I Meant What I Said. However, before the sermon he and his wife renewed their wedding vows as it was their 18th wedding anniversary. Some may have wondered why they chose to renew their vows at 18. Well, as Alf explained it, he met his wife, Carrie when he was 18 years old, in a math class at Grand Valley State University. He'd spent the first half of his life without her...not knowing her. This anniversary was significant because he'd spent the second half with the love of his life, his wife. As my husband read their vows, Alf and Carrie reaffirmed the vows they'd made to one another 18 years ago.

I, take you, to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

In honor of Alf and Carrie, today is Tenacious Tuesday! Tenacious means not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds. So today, recommit to the vow you made on your wedding day. Hold tight and don't let go! 

Take Time With Him Tuesday

Ever have a day where Murphy's Law reigned supreme? A day where it seemed like you were more of an octopus than human? The kids are bickering, the house is a mess, you still have to cook dinner, the laundry has piled up, you had a bad day at work and the dog is barking incessantly? Then to top it all off, your husband comes home from work and wants your undivided attention! Trust me...I have been there too! Quite often!

As much as we have a commitment to do all these other things, we must make time for our husbands as well. My husband often reminds me that he feels like he doesn't matter when I consistently put him off to handle other things around the house. We can get so caught up in these things that our husband wanting our attention becomes an inconvenience rather than something we look forward to. 

Why not have a designated time when the two of you can sit down after a long hard day where you can both decompress and just "be" together?  Protect this time at all costs. Taking this time with your husband will reaffirm to him that he matters to you and that you enjoy being with him. 

The Power of a Praying Wife

One of the best things you can do to be a great help to your husband is to commit to praying for him on a daily basis.

If you don't already own it, The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian is an excellent resource to get you started. If you don't know how to pray for your husband the book has prayers to help you get into the habit of praying for him. Today, choose to take time to lift your man before God. #hishelpmeet #prayingwives

Motivate Him Monday!

It's Monday and here at www.helpmeethis.blogspot.com that means it's time to get to motivating our husbands! I am so excited to see what God will do not only in the lives of our husbands as we commit to this, but in us as wives as well. Whenever we set out to be an encouragement to someone else, we are always blessed as well.

So, how can we motivate our husbands? By encouraging and affirming him. With all the things our man has coming at him during the course of a day, he may lack motivation to do anything, be anything or even aspire to anything. However, when his queen comes along side him and begins to affirm his manhood and character, that stirs something up in him to want to do better and be better.

Here are some practical ways to motivate your man:

1. Pray for him. Don't let a day go by without lifting your husband up before the Lord. Covering him in prayer helps to protect and shield him from the attacks of the enemy. Your praying for him on a daily also helps to shift your focus and perspective of him. As you pray for your husband, your heart will begin to soften towards him in areas where it may have hardened. 
2. Fix him breakfast or a cup of coffee. Send your man out the door in the morning with a full stomach and a kiss...a 15 second kiss! I know you have a lot to do as well, but taking time to care for your husband says to him that he matters to you and that you enjoy taking care of him.
3. Send him a text, email or call him during the day to check in with him and see how his day is going. If he is having a rough day, offer him some encouraging words or offer to pray with him. 
4. Write your husband a "love note" listing all the things you love about him. Leave it on his pillow or wherever he will notice it.
5. Men love bed ministry...yes...bed ministry! Our husbands feel loved when they feel wanted by us. So, take a nice shower or bath, put on something cute (not your big terry cloth bathrobe!) and snuggle up to him tonight. 

You get the picture. Motivating your husband is really ministering to his needs. As you begin to be intentional in looking for ways to affirm, encourage and motivate him you will begin to see your husband walk just a little taller, his chest stick out just a little further because his queen thinks he's special!