Blessings In The Battles

Acc ording to Jimmy and Karen Evans marriage and family experts and founders of Marriage Today,(1) "Security is the number one need of a woman." They go on to say, "There is nothing that makes a woman feel more secure than a selfless sacrificial male." Solomon shows his sacrificial security for his bride in Song of Solomon 2:3-6.   In these verses we see him provide security with sustenance, shade and support. Solomon's bride says she, sat down in his shade, that he sustained her with cakes of raisins and supported her with his left hand under her head (2).   For men, providing sustenance--"bringing home the bacon" is something we naturally want to do for our wives but it is only a small part of making them feel secure in a marriage. A good husband will also provide shade and refuge for his wife from the harsh elements of the world.   Life isn't always a walk in the park on a perfect spring day.   So, when life gets hot or storm...

"I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley" (Song of Solomon 2:1).   Rose of Sharon   is a  common name  to several flowers with onion like flower bulbs.  The phrase applies to several different species of flowering plants but each species is highly valued throughout the world.   "Recently, some scholars insist on translating (the hebrew phrase "rose of Sharon") as "a budding bulb" (1) instead of the rose of Sharon   because no one can agree on the exact species of flower the author of Song of Solomon is referring to.  The meaning is clear, Solomon's bride felt as beautiful as a rose, she was starting to bud and blossom as a young lady. French Novelist Marcel Proust said we should, "Be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."   I believe Solomon's bride is starting to feel like a budding rose because of the love he showed her ...

In Last weeks blog I wrote about Dr. Gary Chapman's book, " The Five Love Languages " and the importance of showing love to those in our lives through THEIR love language.  No matter how much we love someone, sometimes we will encounter what I like to call, "Love Language Barriers." The Most Common Love Language Barrier is not knowing the primary love language of your spouse, (or anyone else you are  trying to show love towards).  Finding out their primary  love language is crucial to our loved ones  feeling loved.  M y primary love  language is Quality Time.  I love to go to dinner with my wife, sit and watch a movie together, or just lay in bed and talk and laugh together.  When we first got married, I knew Alana loved me more than anything in the world but she tried to show me love by making sure the dishes and laundry were done and the house was clean.   She would wear herself out trying to show that she loved me by doi...

"ich liebe dich", "te amo,"  S 'agapó̱ If I were to say, "I love you" to my wife in another language it would literally be "Greek to her."  She wouldn't understand a word I was saying.  Likewise, when we "speak" love to our partner in a love language that doesn't make them feel loved, it doesn't do any good. Our family used to joke that Joel's love language was food because I used to sneak him food so he would love me the most.   Gary Chapman coined the phrase, "Love Languages" with the publication of his book, "The Five Love Languages", several years ago.   I have learned more useful advice from this one book about show love to my wife, my kids, my friends, and family than any other single book I have ever read on love, relationships marriage or parenting.   I will not reproduce the manuscript of the book in this blog (#1 that would be plagiarism & #2 I don't have that much time) b...

I interrupt this blog to make a statement... I am so honored to be married to such an amazing man!!! I fall in love with him more when I think about the time and dedication he spends learning and studying how to be a Godly man!  He is an AMAZING husband and daddy!  God has shown His Grace to our family, and even when we make mistakes, He shows us that if we choose to make our lives right, and follow Him, that He will bless us!  And He has!!! Every day he shows me how much he loves me, with his words and with so many actions!!! He tells me I'm beautiful but most importantly letting me have lots of "beauty" rest :)  He does so much around the house; laundry (starts, dries, folds and puts away), dishes, amazing dinners, desserts (chocolate chip cookies), vacuuming, cleaning up the kids toys, crafts and trash!  I cannot even write all the things he does around our home!!! He teaches our boys to be Godly men that treat women (Mama and sisters) with respe...

The words, "You look beautiful," are music to every woman's ears!  Have you said them to your wife lately?  I know I don't say them often enough.  When she takes the time do do her hair and get all dressed up for a night out, that is your clue to give her a compliment on her beauty.  I have learned the hard way that if she has to ask, "How do I look?" or "Do you like my hair?" you have missed the opportunity to show her how beautiful she is to you.  We should compliment our wife's,  girlfriend's, and even daughter's beauty because it makes them feel loved. Listen to some ways Solomon tells his Love she is beautiful throughout the book of Song of Solomon (NLT): "What a lovely filly (horse) you are..."1:6 "Your eyes are soft like doves..."1:15 "A lily among thorns..."2:2 "Your voice is pleasant and you are lovely..."2:14 "Your hair is like a flock of goats..."4:1 "Yo...

What Women Want Part 3:  Song of Solomon 1:3 In the blog two weeks ago we established that King Solomon obviously knew how to treat women right if his love said he was, "more wonderful than any other." (Song of Solomon 1:1 NLT) If we as men and boys want the ladies in our life to think we are more wonderful than any other we  must have three things: a personal relationship with them, pleasant hygiene, & a pleasing name. We have already taken a look at the first two things on the list, a personal relationship, and pleasant hygiene.   Today we will look at how " pleasing his name " was (Song of Solomon 1:3) In the first century a name was chosen to identify your character it wasn't something that was chosen from a book of names or because the parents say it on a sign and thought it was "cute."  Which I have to admit is why I chose my son Jackson's name.  Are you interested in what your name means?   Click on thi...

What Women Want Part 2:  Song of Solomon 1:3 In last weeks blog we established that King Solomon obviously knew how to treat women right if his love said he was, "more wonderful than any other." (Song of Solomon 1:1 NLT) If we as men and boys want the ladies in our life to think we are more wonderful than any other we  must have three things: a personal relationship with them, pleasant hygiene, & a pleasing name. We have already taken a look at the first thing on the list, a personal relationship, and today we will look at the second thing--pleasant hygiene.  In Song of Solomon 1:3, Solomon's love says his cologne or ointments smell good or pleasant . If advice from one of the wisest men to ever live isn't good enough, here is some advice from Ben in Grade 6, "Personal hygiene is very important because no-one likes to be close to a person who stinks and is dirty.  So, whoever you are and wherever you go remember:  Wash you...

What Women Want (Song of Solomon 1:1-4) I n our study to treat women right we will take an in depth look at the life of King Solomon and the Love of his life.  It was the relationship of these two people who inspired the book in the Bible called Song of Solomon.  King Solomon obviously knew how to treat women right if his love said he was, "more wonderful than any other." (Song of Solomon 1:1 NLT) or as Mel Gibson might say after his movie in 2000, "What Women Want." Attention all boys & men!  If you want the ladies in your life to think you are more wonderful than any other you must have three things: a personal relationship with them, pleasant hygiene, & a pleasing name. At first glance, these things don't seem like that big of a deal but sometimes it's the small things that make a lasting impression on a woman. There is nothing complicated in these three things, nothing exceptionally difficult. But the things on this list...