This blog is brought to you today by Martha Bush
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” [Mark 10:9]
And with that final scripture spoken over us, we kissed and ran down the aisle to start our new life together. Yes, the bride with teased hair and the groom with a crew top, wearing a white sports coat is Mr. and Mrs. Glen Bush. (60’s style fashion)
Never would either of us have thought on that blissful day that the time would come when, what God had joined together, would be disconnected. No, not by way of divorce; we are still hanging in there 46 years later. But, a disconnection whereby we were no longer “united as one” emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
The disconnect came in various ways, but the one who brought the biggest disconnect was none other than GOD. Well, maybe God didn’t directly cause it. But you see, I was a little confused on how to share my faith around my unsaved husband.
For example:
- “I bought you a Bible, sweetheart. Read it, so you can learn more about Jesus.”
- “Would you please straighten up your language! And, for goodness sakes, put that cigarette out. The Bible says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
- “Please don’t turn off my Jesus tapes; I’m worshipping.”
- “You want sex tonight? Oh, I’m sorry, sweetie. The Bible says a couple can refrain from having sex when fasting, if they both agree. You will agree to refrain while I am on this 3 week Daniel fast with my church, won’t you?”
Finally, one day my husband said to me: “I want my wife back!” “I want a friend and lover, not a mother!”
OMG! I had been on such a spiritual high to save his soul and help him be able to wear a halo like mine that I had totally disconnected from him. He no longer knew me.
Changes had to be made. I decided that if I wanted to Stay Connected with the love of my life, I’d better INTENTIONALLY take a closer look at what love, “God’s Way,” was all about.
Beverly, Jennifer, Donna, and Sara have painted a beautiful picture of love, “God’s Way” that is sure to help us all Stay Connected with our man as outlined in Chapter 3.
Let’s review their points.
Monday: “Love is For a Lifetime – –As Beverly pondered what she could possibly share about “love being for a lifetime” one word within a sentence on Pg. 56 in our book caught her eye. “God is freely giving us the secret to a long and joyful marriage.”
The word that stood out to her in that sentence was secret. From that word, God showed Beverly that the secret to love for a lifetime is in the seven C’s.
Commitment Compromise Communication Courtesy Charity Courtship The last and best “C” is Christ
Beverly said that a surefire way of maintaining these seven ”C’s” is to: pray together as husband and wife on a daily basis. Don’t let busy schedules, the TV, work, or the internet crowd this out. Make it your highest priority to “stay connected” and you will have a prosperous marriage journey that will “last a lifetime”
May we do likewise.
Tuesday: “All Things Are Not Equal” – –Jennifer poured out her frustrations about love and staying connected to her spouse. No doubt, Jennifer’s frustrations are embedded in many of our hearts.
- Why do I always have to give and give without ever getting anything in return?
- Will I always live in this continual bout of frustration?
- Why won’t my husband ever see that I am hurting?
- Why won’t he anticipate my needs?
- Why do I have to cater to HIS needs while mine remain unmet?
- Why won’t he help me in my times of need?
Yes, we often find that All Things are Not Equal in our dream world of having an equal partnership. So, what is the answer to our frustrations?
Jennifer summed it up this way: With God’s help, we can love without expectation. God knows our every need. God knows every ache of our heart. God knows every desire of our soul. I am here to tell you, as hard as this is to grasp, God is the only one who can meet your every need. If you continue to rely on your husband to meet your every need, you will always be disappointed, because your husband is not God.
May we do likewise.
Wednesday: “Bring on the Bedroom” —Donna brought out that the God-given pleasure in staying connected is: Intimacy in the Bedroom.
Yes, intimacy is a gift from God for a husband and wife, that brings us pleasure. But, Donna points to the fact that, life gets in the way, and intimacy goes on the back burner, thus robbing us of this pleasure. She then challenges us with this statement: We need to make the effort.
Donna shared a few ideas from her own marriage that has kept intimacy between she and her husband alive.
- Prayer Picnic
- Texting/calling at work Candles (Christi’s choice)
- Write notes to view at work Reserve room at hotel
- Buy a new negligee Vacation together
- Plan a date night Attend marriage seminars
May we do likewise
Thursday: “When You don’t Agree” – – Sarah confirms to us that “intimacy in the bedroom” is God’s idea of staying connected by pointing us to The Song of Solomon. This book is dedicated to the story of pursuing love, expressing love, and enjoying love…being able to abandon ourselves to our husbands wholeheartedly and with passion, holding nothing back. God is not a prudish God. He definitely wants us to enjoy sex!
However, Sarah points us to the reality that we all might have face answering some tough questions about what goes on in the bedroom with our spouse. In short, how far is too far?
Sarah came into agreement with Lynn, our author as to how to answer some of those tough questions. You need to talk about setting boundaries. Your husband married you because he loves YOU, not what you can do for him sexually. He needs to respect your wishes and you need to do the same for him. But he can never expect you to do things you feel are inappropriate or make you feel ashamed. If you sit down and talk about what you are both comfortable and not comfortable with, there can be no misunderstandings. The marriage bed is supposed to be a comfortable and enjoyable place to be. Without setting boundaries, you won’t be able to relax and enjoy love making with your husband and that is not what God wants for you.
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Christi added another line of questions that we might be faced with in regards to sexual intimacy.
- What about couples who have sexless marriages due to physical problems?
- What about those women whose husband has no sex drive?
- What about the couple that realizes that physical problems prevent them from having sex, but they are okay with it? They love each other anyway. Is that sexless marriage okay?
- If, a sexless marriage is truly acceptable to both parties, is this something God would approve?
Christi suggested a list of books that would help us answer the tough questions we might have. But, she concludes with: Whatever you do, PRAY! Pray the Word of God over your marriage, over your bedroom, over your bed, over your husband’s pillow. As Sarah suggested above, take the book of Song of Solomon and pray it over you and your husband in 1st person. If you have to, read it out loud when you go to bed together!
Friday: Discovery/Prayer: Father God, no doubt as was Esther, we, too, have been brought into the Kingdom for such a time as this. You have called us to a high calling: “Being a Wife.” I ask you, in the name of your son, Jesus, to help each of us Stay Connected with our husband, and to live out our life according to 1 Peter 3 before him. The truths you have revealed to us this week are priceless. Help us walk them out. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
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Remember sisters when the world shows us what they believe are "beautiful" people coming together in perfect harmony with all their aides it is a deceitful picture!!! Life is reality. There are days when Viagra alone will not work!!! We need to press on and lean in and ask God to show us how to be real. Sure I'd love to say my marriage is perfect but the reality is I am a human married to a human so things are real and not perfect but by showing him the God who dwells in my heart loves me enough to teach me how to love him we can preserver and make it through life. And yes my prayer us that my husband & I will serve The Lord and I try to live each day believing this to be true. Not by nagging him into the Kingdom but by winning him in by demonstrating the agape love which fills my heart.
Pondering much today, thank you ladies for sharing!
Yes, a lot to ponder, Cheri. I think all of us are doing the same thing.
Thanks Martha for this wonderful summary of our week. I think I am gonna print this out and have it handy as daily reminders for me to STAY connected to my man as we don't need to just read these but DO them and if its in FRONT of my face constantly then things WILL change. Have a great weekend Martha!
Great idea Bev!!! Love this!
That is a good idea, Beverly. I think I will do the same.
This has been such an amazing week! So very much to consume and appreciate about our relationship with our hubbies. God has created such an amazing act of love through lovemaking! He knew exactly what He was doing when He created man and woman. I am more and more in awe of Him, and what He has for us, each and every day! Thank you for this wonderful REVIEW Martha!! I LOVE the wedding picture!!!! 🙂
As I read your comment, Christie, I was reminded of the scripture in Joel 2:25 – – I will restore the years that the locusts and cankerworm has eaten up. I recently heard a minister say that restore does not mean put back the way it was; it means put it back the way God intended it all along. So, I pray that any problems that have come about in lovemaking within any of these marriages, that we can rest assured, God will do what He said He will do, as we commit that area of our marriage to Him. We may just put Solomon to shame. lol I am sure the younger women are having a good laugh with my 60's wedding picture today.
Yes! God will restore what the locusts have eaten!!! Praise God!
Great summary & nblog today Martha!! Love the picture!!!
Outstanding Martha and I LOVE the photo… Well done.
Thanks Lynn. You taught me everything I need to know about what to do with that man I am walking down the aisle with in his white sports coat!
Love your heart, Martha, and so does God. You are so precious!
Love you, too, Dineen. As I replied to Lynn, you two are teaching me. You put the joy back in my life.