It So Desires

It is one of the most erotic pieces of literature in the world, this romance novel. But you won't find it on the shelf of a used paperback book store. It's in the Bible. It's called the Song of Solomon or the Song of Songs. Our boy King Solomon wrote it for one of his 700 wives (yes, 700, the crazy man). She was the daughter of a prince, a dark-skinned Shulamite who cared for vineyards. And Solomon was obviously deeply in love and lust for this woman. So much so that he wrote eight chapters of mushy love in the form of a play or dialogue between himself, his bride and friends. And boy oh boy is it sexy. Now scholars will tell you this is a symbolic representation of Christ and the church - and perhaps it is - but you cannot hide the sexually suggestive verbiage. Here's a few just to give you an example:

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." 1:2
"My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts." 1:13
"His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me." 2:3
"How beautiful you are my darling! Oh how beautiful." 4:1
"Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let me lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits." 4:16
"My lover thrust his hand through the latch opening; my heart began to pound for him." 5:4
"His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely." 5:16
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." 6:3
"Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, 'I will climb the palm tree; and take hold of its fruit.'" 7:8

I mean, hubba hubba. Hard to see the Christ/church representation in that. It's romantic, sexy love right there. You want to turn on your spouse, just read a few of those! Daddy likes to listen to the Bible when he's going to and from work. He says if he's listening to the Song of Solomon, it makes him want to rush home.

Now there are a few verses that I have to giggle at, simply because they aren't quite as romantic as the others, like: "Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep, just shorn," (4:1-2) That won't get you panting. But they make for good comic relief in an otherwise "better take a cold shower" poem tucked in the center of the Bible.

We bring the Song of Solomon up for a couple of reasons. First, to show you how exquisite these words of love are found right in the pages of Scripture, thus of great importance to our Father; and second, for you to remember how beautiful sex is in a marriage. This is divine guidance at its amorous best. So delight in God's words through Solomon. It's part of the Bible for a reason.

And with that, I'm going to go find my beloved. I have some Scripture to read to him.

Discussion: What do you think of the Song of Solomon? If this is a representation of Christ's relationship with the church, can you point to a few verses in the Song of Solomon that describe this?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for your beautiful creation of marriage and love making in it. May be always delight in one another ... and in your Word. In Christ we pray, Amen.

Not The Sweatpants

I love it when a show can make me laugh out loud, and I did that yesterday afternoon while watching a DVR'ed episode of Duck Dynasty. Jase and Jep Robertson, brothers, were competing for something. When Jep lost, he compared losing to his brother to driving to Chick-Fil-A on a Sunday and finding it closed. Or "hoping to get lucky with Jess [his wife] ... and she puts on the sweatpants." I laughed heartily because it's something I could see Daddy saying. This could be one of those devotion posts where my kids do an "ewww," because the parents are talking about sex again, but since it's such an important part of marriage, we certainly don't want to skimp on this. But let's face it, if Brad is any indication of what the male libido is like, then men want to have sex every single day ... several times a day if possible. Now there was a study once that said men think about sex every seven seconds, but that's probably well blown out of proportion. WebMD says men think about sex at least once a day and for women once every other day. So based on that, men think about sex twice as often as women do. But to me the key part of that article is the language of intimacy. It said that women need to have a connection emotionally before they can have sex, and for men, sex is the connection.

You want your husband to be happy? Have sex. Nice and simple. And have it often. You hear the old cliche "Not tonight, honey, I have a headache," but know that when sex is denied, that emotional connection, that intimacy men crave, is lacking. So what women want in romance (date night, flowers, caring, snuggling) men want in sex. Just like a woman laments if her husband slumps in the romance department, so men lament women slumping in the sex department. Thus, when Jess Robertson dons the sweatpants, according to Jep, she's telling her hubby in a subtle way, "Not tonight, honey." Now I've never done the sweatpants thing, but you can see Brad's heart sink when he says, "You're putting on those pajamas," which must be anti-sexy. But trust me - and he can speak for this - I can even rock those slumpy jammies so they don't instantly send the anti-sex signal. Which is funny, cause then the next time I wear those jammies, Daddy's all "oooo, those jammies!"

I have many friends who have told me they rarely make love. One once told me it had been seven years. Seven! Others have told me once a week or every couple of weeks or even once a month. Say what?! Why? Barring physical issues, something is breaking down in these couples romantically and passionately. Both parts are equally valuable. So couples, get to know each other intimately. Find out what brings the other pleasure both physically and emotionally. Make it about pleasing your spouse and not yourself. It comes back in spades anyway ... a true win-win situation!

So girls, watch what message your are sending your fellows sex wise. And fellows, romance, romance, romance those girls. I promise you it will reap benefits. Have sex and have fun (we know, weird advice coming from your parents) - of course, remember, after the wedding. And maybe skip the sweatpants in the bedroom.

Discussion: Ask your fiance what they find sexy. Ask your fiance how often they think of sex? What is their idea of romance or intimacy?

Prayer: Lord God, how blessed we are they you have created love making for married couples. We thank you for this gift and pray we can delight in it often, lovingly, romantically and passionately. In Christ we pray, Amen.

Simply Irresistable

Brad has gorgeous big, blue eyes. He's an amazing tan year round. His legs are long and muscular. I could go on, but suffice it to say he is a truly sexy guy. I would love to watch him play sports cause I could get to watch him flex all those muscles. But let me tell you something, there is nothing sexier than a man on his knees in prayer to the Father. Hands down. And when that man is your husband, wow. I think it's because men have been taught to be so tough, in control of everything and even braggarts when it comes to one-upmanship with other men, that when you see one humbling themselves before the Almighty, it's beautiful to behold. What woman wouldn't be attracted to the man who realizes Who is the most important in this world and loves Him desperately, a man who goes to the Creator for advice and guidance, for forgiveness and praises Him. I remember the first time I caught Brad praying on his knees. It took my breath away.

We bring this up because we want you both to know that. For Rob to know how amazing and reassuring it is to a wife to know her husband is going to the Father regularly and for Ayla to look on that petitioning and worship time as sacred and, well, sexy. If people would ask me today what I find attractive about my husband, his bowing before the Great I Am is at the top of the list, even with all his many other obviously qualities.

The Master is at work, and Brad says, we need to go to Him continually to make sure we are aligning ourselves to His will: "As a man, the whole point is for you to be the spiritual leader of your house. If men do not go to him, they're not leaders at all. There is nothing you can ever do that will every justify you being right by your family if you don't go to Him. You want to do what's right, you want to be in charge ... you give it to to God."

Brad says every man should have two books by their bedside: the Bible and The Resolution For Men. Between the two, he says, those two books teach men how to be Godly leaders. Brad has read many books on leadership, fatherhood, marriage and the like to learn all he could about what God requires of him, and of all of them, those two books above are his go to books. He has handed out probably 100 copies of the book The Resolution For Men, because he believes that much in its ability to educate men about their responsibilities. And keeping God at the forefront is number one.

So Rob, pray. Often. And both of you, remember, it's not the physique, the clothes, the hair, the cologne, the voice or the swagger. Nope, it's the acknowledgment of Who is King and submission to His direction that will be irresistible. Trust us. (wink, wink).

Discussion: What do you find attractive about each other? Have you ever caught each other in prayer? What books have you read to learn about being a leader? Have you read The Resolution for Men?

Prayer: Lord, it is important for a man to know what his responsibilities are to his wife and family. We pray, Father, that Rob always remembers where to go for advice and direction, humbling himself before you. We pray Ayla sees the beauty in those moments. We love you, Lord. In Christ, Amen.