Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

14 Ways to Love Your Husband – Part 1

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Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.  This week and next, I’ll share with you some suggestions I’ve learned over the years for loving your husband.  I’m not perfect at this. Matter of fact, this post originally published in 2015. I’m bringing it out of the archives, dusting it off, and sharing agin, mainly as a reminder to myself: These are things I need to put into practice, or continue practicing, in my marriage.

1. Respect

In her book “What Men Need Most,” Shaunti Feldhan states “The most important aspect of demonstrating respect: It is a choice.  A choice we make out of reverence for God and love for our husbands. Just as men can choose to demonstrate love toward us even if they don’t feel it at the moment, so we can and should demonstrate respect toward them.”  Choose to respect your husband. Hold him in high esteem. Respect his leadership in your family (1 Cor. 11:3). Respect his provision for your family. Decrease the complaints and increase the compliments. Show respect to him with your body language and actions. Do you roll your eyes when he makes a comment? Do you slam a door or throw things when you’re angry (yes, I have). Let’s stop. Let’s show more respect to our husbands.

2. HUGS, hugs, hugs! Hug your husband frequently! 

3. Listen

In my opinion, this shows the highest respect.  When someone looks you in the eye, and focuses on you while you are talking, you know they care.  Take time to listen to your husband. Listen with your ears, your eyes and your body language.  Show him you care.

4. Encourage

Give your husband some encouragement. Be his biggest cheerleader. He works hard. Give him a standing ovation when he comes home from work. Tell him what a great job he does with repairs around the house. If the yard looks great after he mows and trims it, let him know. Acknowledge his job well done. When you admire what he’s done or how he’s handled a situation, be sure you tell him. These words will go a long way to lift your husband’s spirits: “Honey, you handled that so well!”

5. Pray

Prayer and respect should always be at the top of your list of ways to love your husband. Lift him up in prayer.  His spirit needs reviving as much as anyone’s. Ask him how you can pray for him. Then do it.  Right then (I’m sorely lacking in the ‘pray for him now’ category!). Pray for strength as he leads your family.  Pray for his spiritual growth. Pray that he would be a man after God’s own heart.

6. Hold Hands. Bring a little bit of first love back into your marriage by holding hands.

7. Leave him a love note. Hide it in his computer bag or his sock drawer. What a sweet surprise! 

Be sure to come back next week for seven more helpful hints!

Grace be with you,

Ellen

Do you know Jesus?

The Love Language of Cooking

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Today’s guest writer is my friend Mitzi Neely from Peacefully Imperfect. I love how Mitzi weaves tales of love and faith in with her oh, so good recipes! AND: We are “twinsies” who share the same birthday! Enjoy!

As a little girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. Besides telling stories and sharing giggles, much of what we did was centered around faith, family, and food. My sister and I used to say that our school cafeteria would have the best food in the world if our grandmothers were the chief cooks! Can I get an amen? 

As I reflect on my time with them, I remember my grandparents as a great source of joy. They lived simple, productive lives and were strong people, rooted in Jesus. They distanced themselves from drama. They were frugal and didn’t spend what they didn’t have. And they loved their family and their neighbors. 

Those time-honored qualities are laced in legacy. My grands may have had less on the material side of things than some, but the formula for creating a godly family was more important. With each one, it was always God first, family second, job third, and so on. They possessed beautiful, giving hearts and had spirits to match. More than anything, I saw them model extraordinary love and kindness to everyone they met. I’m thankful for their influence in my life.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Some of my earliest memories in the kitchen were helping my grandmothers make a dewberry cobbler, banana pudding, or meatloaf. Along with my mom and mother-in-law, they had a huge influence on my life, both in the kitchen and as a wife and mother. They were models for Christ-like living, savored the family unit, and taught me that cooking was more than combining ingredients. For me, cooking is a language of love, an act of service, and a space to create comfort on any given day.

Photo by James Besser on Unsplash

I am an avid cook who loves to bring joy to others through a good meal. I appreciate my time in the kitchen and consider it a sanctuary to restore, refresh, and refuel my soul. When it’s filled with the hustle and bustle of family and friends, it’s the perfect place for genuine fellowship where memories are created and time treasured.  

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash 

As a way of sharing those memories, I am pleased to announce a new project, Zizi’s Kitchen, to be published in late October 2021. Zizi’s Kitchen was designed to help you create your own special moments around your table. It’s a place where hearts gather in faith-full fellowship alongside amazing recipes to build lasting memories with those you treasure most. I pray you enjoy your time together and whisper your thanks to God for His abundant love and unfailing promises. 

Blessings to you, 

Mitzi 

To speak her Love Language to us, Mitzi is sharing one of her favorite recipes! Enjoy!

PARTY POTATOES

1 bag 32 oz. Southern Style Hashbrowns (little cubes, not shredded)

1 pint whipping cream

2-3 cups Colby/Monterey Jack grated cheese 

Salt and pepper

Parsley

1 1/2 sticks melted margarine

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13 casserole with Pam on bottom and sides of dish. 

Place potatoes in dish; pour whipping cream over top of potatoes; sprinkle salt and pepper over potatoes, and grated cheese. Pour melted margarine over cheese and sprinkle with parsley. 

Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes covered; cook uncovered for another 30-45 minutes until done. 

Absolutely delicious! Always requested! Subject to rave reviews! ENJOY!

Mitzi Neely is known for encouraging and inspiring people of all ages through her teachings on grace, love, joy, and peace.

Her primary goal is to use her gifts and talents as God leads, always waiting patiently before turning to the right or to the left, listening for His voice saying “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Mitzi’s heart is to lighten your load, while conveying her message that nobody’s perfect. Her desire when she speaks, sings, creates, or instructs is honesty and transparency, such that God receives glory and honor. She is the founder and ministry leader of Peacefully Imperfect and is the author of A Thankful Heart: 30 Days to the Grateful Life, Dwell in the Psalms, and JOY for Everyday Life. Mitzi is also the assistant superintendent of an East Texas school district.

She and her husband, Jerry reside in Longview and enjoy their family and friends when they aren’t working on the farm or tending to school.

Follow Mitzi at peacefullyimperfect.net because the joy of the journey is learning His word together.