Books are doing strange things to people nowadays. Recently, I came across a new fad of a...uh...romance book, if you can call it that. My knowledge of a certain romance book is limited. After hearing references to the book on television, the internet, and even from some people, I did what any intelligent person would do - I googled. Then I promptly washed my eyeballs. Apparently, "Christian" women are reading this kind of stuff! Ahhh! Just stop...please.
Let's put away fantasy and lust and take up a godly replacement to focus on what is right. Let's grow our marriages for the glory of God. Although marital intimacy is not the only reason to seek marriage, nor the most important, I will focus on it since this seems to be the driving force of slipping away from Truth. So here you go, 50 praise of marital intimacy ...okay, it is really just 10 not 50. But, they are a heavy, punch-packing 10 that might feel like 50:
- Marital intimacy is a display of Christ and the church and of meaningful covenant. Family and friends benefit from your healthy, godly marriage and you glorify God.
- Marital intimacy is not shameful. God created our
bodies and within those bodies is the capacity to experience feelings and
sensations that only exist within sex. God could have made procreation happen in any way but
He designed it with man and woman becoming one and He made it pleasurable.
- Marital intimacy celebrates God's Word, especially Genesis 2. In it we see that Adam wanted what he saw the creatures had and what he experienced with
God - someone like him that also offers companionship,
comfort, love, and ultimately intimacy. We can nurture this by asking, "how can I serve my husband and please God?"
- Marital intimacy is surprising and exciting. When Adam awoke to find a custom built creation just for him, he was so enthralled that he lost all thought and immediately staked his claim on this amazing creature. God could have created man and woman at the same time and they just awaken together. Instead He created man, exposed a desire in him, and before Adam could become dissatisfied, God caused him to rest in His care. You can imagine that he explored this creation and how God made her fit him so perfectly.
- Marital intimacy is a secret of two people becoming one. I cannot think of anything more intimate than two people sharing everyday life. You know each other's struggles, pains, heartaches, and weaknesses. But, also all of your body is solely his and his body is solely yours. Your work will only get a limited part of you, even your child will get a limited part but when you come together with your husband as God first put man and woman together - au naturale, it's an experience of your whole being. Do you really need a fantasy book???
- Marital intimacy requires learning to love as Christ. It is a loving of the image from which one is created and goes beyond physical. Why would you want to distort it by welling up desires for something you do not have?
- Marital intimacy is a glue that bonds together. Have you ever met a couple that no longer shares a room and rarely talks to each other? There is an obvious gap and a sadness. Do you know of a couple that has been married for eons and they still smile at each other from across the room? You can feel their connection and joy. It speaks volumes to all around.
- Marital intimacy makes us grow, particularly in the fruits of the Spirit. God definitely can use marriage as a means of sanctification. Depravity has little room to hide when you spend time together and even more so when you bring infants into the picture. You must grow.
- Marital intimacy grows deeper and stronger the more you grow in the Lord. It may seem strange that the you more you love God above all else, the more you love your husband but it is one of God's amazing works.
- Marital intimacy is joyous and fulfilling. Don't believe me? Live life with a husband for 5 years, 10 years or more while serving the Lord, you'll see. It becomes a precious blessing on earth.
Ladies, be strong and persevere. You want to spice up your marriage? Seek to understand the wondrous creation that God intended it to be. Ask God to do a work in your heart, do not seek a work that is built on sand. The Author of life, intimacy, sex, and all other creation knows best. Learn what He has to say. Trust Him and then teach the younger women so that they understand that looking
outside of what God has given us stirs up a discontent, a drawing away
from holiness, and weakens the desire for what we have been given.
May it be that the only shades of gray in our lives are that which has brought wisdom, the ones that naturally appear on our heads. If you find yourself in other gray areas, get in the Word and also let others pray for you and keep you accountable. Challenge yourself to come up with 50 praise, pull out Titus 2 and 1 Timothy 2 and live it.
Philippians 4:8-9: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if
there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think
about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
In my long absence from the blog, this little piggy has been at work and sometimes just wallowing. Once again, God has vividly reminded me that He is in control and I do not have to be anxious over anything.
The "farm" is growing. We lost one chicken this winter to a hawk, we think. We lost some trees in a hard freeze but we also planted 2 more apple trees, a plum tree, 2 blueberry bushes, and ordered bees that we will pick up in April. This month we also acquired 3 ducklings. It seemed like a good idea. They eat lots of bugs and lay lots of eggs but, right at this moment, their benefits seem less valuable in light of their aroma and mess. I am counting down the days until they can go outside. God made ducks to be in the great outdoors for sure.
In my herb searching, many nifty and cheap ideas for cleaning have come across my path. Vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are my new found cleaning weapons. Black tea and orange essential oil are the go-to for wood floor cleaning. Vinegar and tea tree oil are knocking out the mold that was pre-existing in our shower when we moved in. I made my own little piggy labels for the bottles of my creations. It is exciting to see something you made work and do the job really well. Of course, all credited goes to God because essentially, He made the tea, baking soda, and well...everything.
I have this very vague idea of somehow incorporating all this into my study on Proverbs for women. It is fueled by my passion for Titus 2, of course. Spring is more than just cleaning my house. It really is more of determining how God wants to use me and preparing myself to be used. Examining our hearts is much more profitable than dusting the fan blades and washing the drapes (although do not neglect these chores too long). There is nothing more important than spreading God's glory and it should consume us.
If you are interested in spreading God's glory to women you come across, try teaching some skill you have or sharing some talent. Women today, particularly younger women, need older women to come along side them, encourage them, and teach them. Meal planning and living on a budget are two things that younger women get really excited about learning...at least the women I have come across do. In my next posts I will share some of my new secrets and you can share them with someone else.
Please do NOT think that I am super Susie Homemaker, far from it. Sometimes I do things and they do not go so well and when I fail, it is always giant. Take for instance this morning. My daughter is up at 7:30...never happens. She wants donuts and not just any donuts but donuts like Krispy Kreme. This is no easy feat in gluten-free form. We found a recipe guaranteed to work and it was intense. It took lots of our gluten-free mix and 2 hours of rising. Two hours later though they had only risen a tiny bit but we tossed them in the oil with high hopes. Nope. What came out looked like deep-fried pineapple rings and they tasted (oh yes, we did try to eat them anyway) like glazed rocks. Not particularly what I wanted with my cup of coffee. Needless to say, my daughter was unsatisfied as well and reminded me that she had not a real donut in over a year. Poor kid.
Yes, I have gotten on this soapbox before but it is sooooo important. If you do not believe that this is your job just read Titus 2 or look at the story of Ruth and Naomi. Some things men are just not experienced at because God made them different, i.e. birthing children, breastfeeding, how to be a wife. In our culture today, these skills are not being taught a lot of times.
Step up ladies. Sure you may have things in your life that aren't so pretty, like stinky ducks and failed donuts, but use it for the glory of God. What can be gained from someone thinking you have a perfect life. Women need to know how to deal with life's situations in a Christ-like manner. Live out your relationship with Christ for all to see. It can be done.
