What does love look like in your home ? ~ Speaking eachother "Love language"~

When this meme came to my attention.. I took an look more purposefully. 
How do i show love to my kids and hubby...
How the kids show love to us and eachother...
What do i appreciate or know it is the way how my hubby shows love......
Well it is in the simple acts....
When hubby makes coffee for himself he ALWAYS makes for me the same with breakfast....
Sunday morning breakfast is always made by my husband.
Mostly an "Nigerian breakfast"
This would be a typical Nigerian breakfast.

To replicate, here's what you'll need:

2 ripe plantains
2 eggs
1/2 s/ yellow onion
4-5 small grape tomatoes
1 can titus sardines
1 clove garlic
Ginger (same size garlic)
Salt
Black pepper


Cut tips off plantain at both ends
Slice down center
Peel and remove outer covering
Slice (diagonally or rounds) in bowl
Sprinkle pinch of salt, work into plantain
Deep fry till golden brown (about 15 mins)

Break eggs into bowl
Slice garlic, ginger, onions and tomatoes into eggs
Mix, then add sardines (drain the oil)
In a frying pan, heat 2 tbsps canola oil (use medium heat)
Add egg mixture
Let underside set, then flip and scramble
Let other side cook
Once cooked, spoon over plantain



This is my coffee first thing first
I am not so an breakfast eater. But the kids love to "digg-in" with there dad especially on his free days from work...We prepare Nigerianstyle food and eat together " Nigerian style" ( with hands out of one plate/bowl)
So we keep them used to the customs of there dad's country!



I was thinking about our "Love Languages"
The kids there's is Gifts and Physical Touch and Words of Affirmation 
They love to make all kind of present for us and for sure receive presents......
I LOVE to get presents....creativity art schoolworks. I love to stroll around on markets and shop for gifts with or without the kids

Girly things and boy things.....
 
This is what my son loves best all about soccer and sweets

To jump in our bed and sleep or look together TV or "chat along"
I was thinking how come this is the kids fav thing to do....and i remember them doing it since......
baby/toddler...even midnights they crowl out of there bed and jump in ours....Next morning we woke up with sleeping with 4 in our bed.
I guess we learned them  this when they where infants.......and it was\is the easiest way to five Physical touch ...We are not so "hugable"...LOL...
This cartoon made me smile.....

My "Love-language" is Acts of Service and Gifts
My husband is Words of Affirmation  and Physical Touch

If you watch our different "Love languages" and combinations.......
We as parents needs to work contiousely towards our kids on words of AFFIRMATION and giving gifts and Physical Touch  in all kind of forms......Some come easier than the other....

Opposite  the kids need to work more on Acts of Service and be aware what fills there dad's love thank better than mine......


Speaking eachothers " Love Language" to fill eachother "tank" is the clue
I'm learning it and be AWARE of it since i encoutered some years ago this book

Dr. Gary Chapman, Christian counselor and author of The Five Love Languages
I forgot an little to be consciouse bussy with it in our family but this meme made me remember it again.......
( For more of this book ) 

WFW ~ GOD'S VOICE....~

Only those who listen to God's Voice will live!

John 5:25 - And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice-the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 







The devotion  "Confusing One-liners"  at "the Internet Cafe" made me reflect on God's Voice and find an graphic. If you missed the devotion give it an read!
Blessings. and Happy "WFW"

"Dance and be happy"

( picture from this website)

Their lives will be like a well-watered garden,
   never again left to dry up.
Young women will dance and be happy,
   young men and old men will join in.
I'll convert their weeping into laughter,
   lavishing comfort, invading their grief with joy.

Jeremiah 31:13 (The Message)

Praying for my BIL

 

I posted an PRAISE REPORT on the 4th of June in my Fearless Friday post, and wrote

“I want to post an praise today for an in-law ( due to privacy i can't post names) who came out of bondage just before our leaving...........God is so good to show us month's ago this will happen and we did not know this was an mission for our visit to Nigeria...
And we can say mission accomplished and prayers will keep on going up and i ask all of you to help me keep on praying for full recovery and staying on-the straight ways of the Lord!
So one day God willing i can post the whole testimony story of my in-law......
I think you can tell i am beyond happy and can go on.......”

I am still happy he is FREE to make choices of his own…
To follow the Lord freely out of his own choice…
I hope and pray he still is doing it…
Why i say i hope is because we lost contact with him……
He left the family house without giving any life sign already for weeks……
We heard he is probably seen in an neighbour country he lived before…but we are not sure…When we hear his voice one day we know he reached there…..
There is an good change he is there and is not lost in Lagos somewhere in the millions of people…..
When i had an short talk with him about his life in the neighbour country of Benin….He said he loved the beach and working on the beach selling things and helping the fisher men…..
So i pictured him today sitting there on this picture i found on one of the beaches in Benin and i remember him for the 2 days we met and he was playing soccer with my son.
Friends help me cover him in prayer that he will be save and protected and on the road the Lord wants him to be!
Thanks and God Bless.

UPDATE monday July 19
An phonecall came in from the family-home to say my BIL came home to say everything is allright....
He went back to Benin  and lost his mobile-phone.....
Now he came back home to "pack his load" and go back there to settle.....
My SIL said he looks fine and good so we are praising God for his life and kept him protected!!
I wanted to post this update of praise and answering of prayer to get an "life-sign" of him
But help me keeping him covered  in prayer for the 'journey in life" he has ahead,,,That his life will become an testimony to the Lord and that he will testify about it and bring more souls to the Lord as an witness of God's Grace and Mercy
Thank You for praying!

Message Monday.` You Are Not Alone `

Meet Me In The Meadow: You Are Not Alone

You are not alone—

For God is with you.

You are not defenseless—

For God is your protector.

You are not inadequate—

For God is your sufficiency.

You are not useless—

For God has a purpose for your life.

You are not worthless—

For God sent His Son to die for you.

You are not without hope—

For God has a place prepared for you.

You are not unloved—

For God loves you with an everlasting love.

You are not rejected, or abandoned—

For God calls you His own.

“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

Book of Isaiah

Verses from the bible are my favorite to post on my blog....
So the opportunity to link-up in an blogpartyparty to share verses untill today i do not want to pass by.
So here are verses out of my fav book of Isaiah who always spoke volumes to me and install hope and trust in the Lords leading in my life!

( pic found on this blog)
“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” Isaiah 40:4

“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight…….” Isaiah 45:2

. 

Today I'm linking with Cindy from I Owe it All to Him. Please go visit the others who are sharing their favorite scripture verses. Join in if you like. We'd all love to hear your verses.

    

                                       

Fearles friday

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” ~ Psalm 112:7-8 NLT Friday, July 16


Psalm 85:8-13
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:13; Luke 9:28-36

Bless God in the great congregation. Psalm 68:26

Day by day, as all who believed spent much time together in the temple,
they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous
hearts, praising God. Acts 2:46

Loving God, help us all to find a spiritual home: be it in a church, a
fellowship group, or a prayer circle. Help us to reach out and include
others in meaningful ways and help us to glorify you through our
service, worship, and friendships. Amen.(Moravian dailytexts)

" Wash ME I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW"!

Whiter than snow lyrics

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole
I want Thee forever to ransom in my soul
Break down every idol, cast out every foe
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow

Refrain
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat
I wait, blessèd Lord, at Thy crucified feet
By faith, for my cleansing,I see Thy blood flow
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow

Lord Jesus, Thou knowest I patiently wait
Come now, and within me a new heart create
To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow
=============================

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt,O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice,or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

W.O.W

with

ONE HEART

MAY YOUENJOYA
SPIRITUAL SUNDAYwith Charlotte and Ginger
and of courseTHEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAYwithAmy at Signs, Miracles & Wonders

andEACH ONE of the GREAT
PARTICIPANTS!
LINK UP or JUST ENJOY andBE BLESSEDAS YOU ENTER into WORSHIP

THANKFUL THURSDAY ~ Being an "city tourist " in AMSTERDAM this summer around!~

I was biking early this morning bringing my son to his week summer soccer camp.

I felt free like an bird...lol...no jacket on,flipflops on....the sun was shining.......
Biking through an neigbourhood with so much nature beauty's and still being on short distance of the heart of Amsterdam.....

I look at cars around packed to travel for an holiday to other European city's....Morocco,Turkey,Spain,France.....name it.....
My mind wanted to go to another realm of comparison....."You have to spend your holiday in Amsterdam....and see how you get through the days with the kids......There is no extra money to spend than for daily living"
But i said BE THANKFULL look around you God gives you you beautiful summer weather and beautiful surroundings.....You can bike and swim and BBQ alongside the canal or in the park....
You can even camp with the kids not far from your house.......
You had and have 'free fesivities"
Be an tourist in your own city!

So today i am THANKFUL for living in Amsterdam and the beautiful summer weather we get already for weeks indeed an exception for Holland where it is mostly rainy and cloudy......

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Lynn over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. 
Blessings and have an great day in the Lord!

WFW ~ Admiring the beauty of God~

Genesis 2:8 (New International Version)

 ⁸ Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Psalm 50


1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.

3 Our God comes and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.

I didn't plan to post this week an "WFW" but i noticed i missed not joining in the fun to share God's word with pictures.....
I came accross those pictures and they made me admire God's beauty and the fun my kids had..
So here is still an WFW
For more WFW, visit the cafe by clicking the button below:

Just back from this CELEBRATION!

Foto: Richard Mouw

Foto: Robby Hiel

Foto: Robbie Hiel

Foto: Hans Peters

Foto: ANP

Bommetje op de Brouwersgracht. 


Me and the kids where biking along side those canels and watching the boat with the Orange" World Cup soccer players on there way to "Museum Square" to be part of the celebration Amsterdam gave to them
180000 people where on the square....... We ended-up at the square and watch them from far on a screen...
It was an beautifull celebration for "OUR CHAMPIONS" no matter the 2nd place........

In Other Words Tuesdays ~WRITE WITH US Mom failure versus God's Touch~~

If you would like to participate in this week's quote, please visit the hostess' blog. If you would like to know more information about this group of Christian writers, click on In Other Words

“Like any mom, at times I’ve felt like a failure.
And other times I’ve felt as if God reached down and added an extra touch of sunshine to the day.”

By author Tricia Goyer

 

This quote is so true as an wife ,mother of two ; my daughter age 11 and son age 9 and in my walk with the Lord.
Often i remember when they where toddlers and even now i feel overwhelmed or i question myself if i am consequent enough when i am disciplining them....f.e.
I am not an perfect mother i fail terrible.....just how i am "an work in progress" my kids also are...... They must become an man and woman in this world and want to follow the instructions of God by following His SON JESUS Christ......

“You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

 
We all must partner "form an team "with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ......
In my raising up my kids as an parent i try to realize especially in the moment i feel like these two pictures.........1 Balncing Life
2 Feeling overloaded........; down,depressed,irritable...seems like nothing is working....
THAT GOD IS THERE HE wants to partner with me with us!
That are the moments of sunshine in an day....
* When we share love with eachoter...( Love your brothers as youreself)
*When i hear my daughter singing praise songs in the morning under the shower before going to school
*When we talk things over realizing we all are sinners and can ask for forgiveness
* In the mids of life and the hustle and bustle  to know that He takes care of eachone of us....We can give eachother to The lord in prayer.....


I want to share an story with you about

God is always around us

She was feeling down & depressed as nothing seemed to be working the way she had thought they would. The smallest things used to upset her. Nobody seemed to care for her because everyone was too busy with their own lives.
She cried out in desperation, "Why is this happening to me? God, please help me, speak with me"..........And a
cuckoo sang, but the woman did not seem to hear.

She cried out in desperation, "Why is this happening to me? God, please help me, speak with me"..........And a cuckoo sang, but the woman did not seem to hear

 Again she yelled "God, speak to me" .... All of a sudden, there was thunder & lightning across the sky.

The woman still did not pay attention. She looked around and said, "God, why am I unable to see you? please let me see you."
And then, a star shined brightly. Yet the woman did not see.

Now the woman shouted, "God, show me some miracle".... At this point, in her neighbour's house, a life was born. This woman was so deep in his miseries that she did not notice the cry of a newborn.

 So, the woman cried out in despair, "Touch me, God, and let me know you are here".... God reached down and touched the woman. But the woman brushed away the butterfly and walked on...........

Marriage Monday ~ Blessing our Parents............~

At Chrysalis is asked
Show of hands please…
How many of you were raised in Christian homes? Let’s define that. Both of your parents were believers, you were active in church and ministry, and a biblical worldview was upheld and promoted.

OK, how many of you were raised in a home where only one of your parents was a believer, they took you to church, and tried to raise you according to biblical standards.

Now, a show of hands from those of you who were raised in a secular home. You came to Christ through a ministry such as a youth group or a Christian friend. As an adult you’re considered an oddball in your extended family; Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually uncomfortable affairs.

Most of us fall into one of these three categories—or some variation. We were either strongly influenced toward faith in our family, somewhat influenced, or not at all.

The joys or difficulties of upholding the values of a Christian marriage go back to our childhood. Unless they've had a conversion experience (or fell away) later in life, the kind of support we experience from our parents today, is no different than it was in our formative years. Along with a host of other in-law issues, the expression of faith in our marriage can create ongoing conflicts.
Q & A

Q. How should we respond to our parents’ well-meaning attempts to offer marriage and parenting advice that's not based on a Christian worldview?

A. The short answer is based on simple good manners—and comes straight from Scripture. We must honor our mother and father (Eph 6:2-3). Thank them for their kindness and concern. However, we can choose to respect the person, and not the message. We can use our spiritual discernment to determine how much of our parents' advice really lines up with God’s Word. One good ol' southerner (USA) summed it up this way: “Takin’ the advice of our elders is a lot like eatin’ fried chicken. Chew up the meat, but spit out the bones!”
Q. What’s the long answer?




Choose a Title for Your Post
Choose One topic

• Long-Distance Grand-parenting: What Works for Us
• The Wisdom of Our Elders is Welcome (in Small Doses)
• Tips for Caring for Aging Parents
• In-Laws & Outlaws: My Story of Forgiveness

Last week i encountered already the topic of this Marriage  Monday....
July’s topic, “Blessing Our Parents” taps into the joys of extended family. How are we incorporating the older generation into our married lives in healthy ways? And what are the issues we're struggling with?
 And was thinking "shall i shall i not"? "How must i put my thoughts down be honest and still respecting my parents and in-law privacy"?

I see myself and my husband struggling in our married lives with each of our in and out laws......
But on the other hand i see Gods Power of
* Healing
* Restoration 
* Salvation
In our relationships and in our marriage and indivudual relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ


In fact we are in the middle of the proces
For myself i can say i came an long way in the healing process the moment i start forgiving my parents for childhood issues and others going into adulthood and around our marriage!
It brought me this year to be able to make an "Fathersday blogpost" where i felt since long i can let go of some feelings

For our marriage life we have circumstances what gave strain but also "road-block" to build-up easily healthy ways for relationship with our in-laws

We live on 3 continents
My parents live in South-America
My in-laws in Africa
And we life in Europe
There are beside spiritual issues, also language and different customs and cultural influences......
You can imagine HUGE BARRIERS of comunication issues...explaining our motives, try to place ourselves in the shoes of the other ........and FORGIVENESS and ACCEPTING eachother for who he or she is and learn to RESPECT and HONOUR eachother with our words and actions.....

Looking back ...I can see that we where so in love with eachother and where SURPRISED that those "roadblocks" need to be taken by us and would affected our marriage if we are not aware of it.....
BUT GOD HE KEPT US and learns us how to respect and honour our parents and the same time  works on each of us spiritual growth.....He learned me to PRAY and witness answered prayers a long those years and that gave me confidence to keep on TRUSTING and hoping the best for our relationships....

Recently my mother in-law passed away and i am so thankful we could bring her honour as an family to attend her funeral....
The memories we made with her when she was a live can't be taken away from us....
She welcomed me in her family as an daughter the 1st time ( and only time) i visit my in-laws in Nigeria. She appreciated us that we where able to let her come two times for vacation to Amsterdam....She came to know our living-circumstances and our life....She met her grandchildren,was witness of there baptism.....God prepared it that the same time my MIL came over  my mother had to travel for an "socialorganization" to Europe......
We combined that both grand-mothers could meet and be on the baptism of both there grandkids....
Awesome memories who i know in my heart where God ordained and answers to prayers.......