Friday, April 23, 2010

Cultured Pearls



There are several older women at my church that I absolutely love. They are in their mid-forties to late fifties and they have qualities that I want when I get to that stage. Poise, class, spunk, vibrance, humor, warmth, humility, holiness. They are involved in ministry. They love their children. They HONOR THEIR HUSBANDS. Actually, I don’t want to be like that when I turn 45; I want that now! I don’t look at them in envy, nor do I condemn myself because I may not be all that they are. I just find that I feel encouraged being in their presence. I encourage you to find an older married women who has her stuff together and spend some time with her. You might find that she has a few pearls of wisdom to share.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.  Titus 2:3-5

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Love in the Forest


Married ladies, what does your bedroom look like? Is it a cozy retreat for you and your husband, or is it a storage area/dumping ground for toys, papers, unfolded laundry, and the kids’ junk? I will be the first to admit that our bedroom is not a retreat, but I really want it be. It is my goal to create that type of environment because I need it, and I will go out on a limb here and say it’s biblical.

"...And the bed we share is like a forest glen. We enjoy a canopy of cedars enclosed by cypresses, fragrant and green." Song of Solomon 1:16,17  The Message

I love this verse because it tells me that an element of physical intimacy with my husband is creating an environment that facilitates that. This verse makes me think of a calming space; a retreat. Sure, he might not care, but every little bit helps, and honestly, I don’t need any extra destractions.