Spiritual Intimacy with your spouse

Can spiritual intimacy with your spouse be attained?  I think so, assuming of course that you are both like minded in what you believe. Marriage between man and wife, is a reflection of man and God. Imagine soul to soul closeness, I think its the deepest level of connection one can have with another human being. Spiritual intimacy occurs when you completely give yourselves and your relationship over to God. Your relationship grows as you live by his will and your goal is to please him.
Living and loving in a biblical way is a joy, its not a sacrifice. Its a easy yoke and not a burden. Life always happens, no matter what you do. If you have a strong foundation in Christ, then it seems the issues that people face now with relationships wouldn't happen. Of course, you would still have hurdles to jump occasionally. Things wouldn't be perfect, But divorce would never happen and people would learn to get along and love each other, or die miserable. The difference in a Biblical marriage and today's marriage is, its not about you. Its about your spouse and the two of you as one.  Today's marriages are sometimes selfish. There's not that bond that is stronger than the problems folks face. Society views marriage today as a test drive, If this one doesnt work out, I can remarry and be happy. Selfishness has no place in a marriage. Its about serving God by serving each other.

Joy

There are so many things in life that happen that can get us down, and frustrated. No matter if things are big are small, its easy to become frustrated or worried. So many things in the world are joy killers, or at least they are potential joy killers. Our joy can't be taken from us, unless we give it up of our own free will. I'm learning to keep my joy no matter what happens in life. Things happen, and sometimes the timing is horrible. I try to remain focused on the fact that regardless of what my circumstance is I have a real reason to be joyful! I have a promise from God, that he will never leave or forsake me. Things in this world will pass, but I have a promise of eternal life with Christ. Perspective is a good thing to have. When things aren't going in a way in which I think they should, I look around at all that is going right. I realize then that all is well. I really have nothing to worry about! So I hold onto my joy and continue to praise him through the storms of life and wait for the rainbows to appear.

Isaiah 55:12 - "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

I have been reading in the book of Luke this week. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. In Luke chapter 15 verses 11 through 32. Jesus tells the parable of  the lost son. As a person who lived in sin, I can relate to this parable. I have left to live my own live apart from God. At some point I have woken up in the proverbial pigpin of life, squandered my  treasure and turned my  back on our heavenly father. When I realized what a mess I had made my life, I turned to Christ.
 In this parable, the father shows real forgiveness and love. He would have been right to bring his son back as a slave or servant, or to turn him away. He didn't, he was so grateful and ecstatic that he threw a big celebration and welcomed his son back with open arms. He showed so much forgiveness and love. Thats the kind of father I have. I was so lost, and now I am found. He showed me mercy when I did nothing to warrant it. God has forgiven, when I couldn't forgive myself. But after awhile I realized that in order to move forward with his will that I had to forgive myself to begin to fulfill his will in my life.

Romans 8:39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love

Its Sunday morning, Im getting ready to take my three kids to church minus my husband who is in Okinawa Japan. I miss him. At this point in our marriage we have an Interfaith relationship. I am a disciple of Christ, he is deistic. For a long time, it broke my heart that he didn't believe the same way I did. However for many years I did not conduct myself like a christian is supposed to. He bares more "good" fruit than the majority of people I know. I have learned so much from him. I have learned how to love him. He has loved me when most people could not. He has forgiven so much. I am eternally grateful and completely in awe at his capacity to love. For that I am so in love with him. I am delighted and happy that he prays and seeks knowledge. Even  if we don't have the same beliefs yet, we have the same values, the same desire to be more than just a couple who sits back and lets the world float by. I love him for who he is.

My crazy family

 My kids are my best source of entertainment and my number one source of aggravation. They have a tendency to think I have the secret mystical bag of holding that I fill every night with there shoes, or homework or book bags. It never fails, the first thing I hear in the morning as we are scurrying around in preparation for school is "MOM WHERES MY_________????? What do I look like? Your personal assistant? Do I wear your shoes?

My wonderful husband is very much like my lovely kids with regards to considering me the general lost and found at the house. "Sweetie" Wheres my pants, underwear, shaving kit, socks boots...etc?? My general response to him is close to the same...Darling, I didn't wear your pants, or your underwear, or your socks.

They must have a switch implanted in there bodies somewhere that they have to turn on, but don't turn on until after breakfast. This elusive switch must enable them to be responsible for there grooming habits and there ability to find there own things. Yes, I know that if every thing had a home things would be easier to find. How am I the one who gets this job of finding homes for there misplaced items? I DON'T USE THE STUFF!!

Yes, I know I am the mother, so the job description states that I am in charge of all domestic work, but this clearly isn't a monarchy like I so often thought. I am not the queen, I have been overthrown by a small group of revolting rebels, led by a uber deadly, highly tactical meglomaniac....my two year old son. He looks sweet and innocent, but behind those dimples and chubby cheeks is a Diabolical mastermind bent on total household domination. He has this super power that even works on men of steel....cuteness.

 I'm not worried though. Time is on my side! He will grow out of this stage. I will be waiting for the day he does. He will rue the day he dethroned me! On that wonderful day, when his cuteness has no power over me, I will give him a chore. He will be the one responsible for finding the lost shoes, book-bags, pants, underwear (well maybe not that).
Until that day, I'm bidding my time.

Total Surrender your treasure

.Leviticus 27:30 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.


This was Gods way of blessing his children. By entrusting a percentage of your income to the Lord he is able to multiply it and bless you.  God is a multiplier, but he has to have something to work with. If your not going to entrust him with the tenth he commands us, then its hard for him to really bless you the way he wants too.

Is not tithing a sin? I don't know? A sin is not upholding the laws of God. A sin is to miss the mark. Many people, even theologians argue that because we are under a New Testament we are free from the law. In that being said, we may be free of the law, but its still a sin to kill someone, its still a sin to steal. I personally think it is a sin to withhold your tithe. Your not robbing God, Everything of the earth and all within it is already his. However your robbing yourself of his ability to bless you abundantly.


LUKE 6:38
Give and it shall be given back to you, a good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.


2 CORINTHIANS 9:7
 Each one must do just what is purposed in his heart. Not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

You do have to surrender, but you don't have to give up!

 There is an order to life. God is a God of order, not chaos. When our lives fall out of order and our priorities shift, an opening is made for trouble to come take its hold. The order goes, God first, spouses second, children third. I mean lets face it, Our heavenly father is completely organized he demonstrates this with the physical laws of the universe:
  This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD Almighty is his name. "Only if these decrees vanish from my sight," declares the LORD, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me." (Jeremiah 31:35-36


We have reliability because of Gods order. If we decide to manipulate the order by which we are to live( God 1st, spouse 2nd, etc) and change it, a big gaping hole starts to develop


 We at some point in time have messed with the order of our lives. I have been seriously guilty of being consumed by selfishness . I choose to prioritize things in a way that suited me best, I affected the balance of my life in such a way that the outcome was shame, guilt, pain, and betrayal. I not only turned my back on God because of my re prioritizing, I hurt many people and damaged whatever testimony of how a Christ like person was supposed to be. The order of my priorities had given sin an open door to reign.
 Sin did reign. It controlled by mind, my actions, my thoughts. Sin had its snares deeply embedded in every aspect of my life. I lived a dual deceitful life. I had affairs, lied to my husband, my children, my family.


 My mind was a scary place. I had no peace. I was so miserable. I hated everyone, including myself. Finally, I was caught in my web of lies and my husband found out about the affairs, the lies and all the deceit. I stayed and tried to work it out for a couple of months, only to leave again. Only this time I was leaving him for good. I was so confused, I couldn't think straight anymore. Yet, through out it all, he still loved me. He still wanted me, even when I hated him. I had to hit rock bottom. I turned to God, and I surrendered my life, my guilt, my iniquity. God had found me were I was at. It was a life changing, humbling experience that has completely changed me to the very core of who I am.
 I begged for his forgiveness. It took me along time to forgive myself, when I did, My priorities started to come into balance.  God first, husband then kids and family. I have such gratitude, it overwhelms me at times. I am thankful for my Gods mercy and grace. I am thankful for my truly amazing husband. I am so thankful to have a clear mind. I can think and live without guilt and I can sleep at night knowing that the lord continues to restore my life and my family.
 I have learned so much. I have learned to love, to have real faith. I have learned humility and that it's a wonderful place to be. I have learned that Love really endures all and it can overcome anything.  This experience has left me with a compassionate heart. I am eager to help others,  I can relate to most struggles that people face. and I hate to see a marriage end over anything. Its worth saving. I have had to surrender. By doing that I learned to never give up.

Total Surrender

This is a hard one for most people,especially me. By completely surrendering yourself to God, you are giving up everything that is you and replacing it with what is good and pure and right. We have gifts and talents that we horde and do not use for the glorification of Christ.
 I didn't really know what my talent or gift was. In fact while writing this, I was stuck on that very thing,.What is my talent? I decided to step away from the computer and really get into the word of God. I was reading in the book of Luke, Chapter 7 verses 36 through 50.
 Jesus goes to a pharisees house named Simon to have dinner.While there a woman, who had lived a sinful life kneels before him and starts kissing his feet and pouring on purfume, she even cleans his feet with her tears. The Pharisee was thinking to himself, if Jesus knew the type of women that was washing his feet he would be rethinking this whole situation. Well, of course Jesus knew what the guy was thinking, and he told Simon about  two men who owed a certain moneylender. One guy owed 5 hundred denarii and the other owed him 50. The moneylender cancelled both the debts. Jesus asked Simon, which one do you think would love him more. Simon said well the one with the larger debt. Which was the correct answer.
 Jesus goes on to say, since he stepped into Simon's house, Simon hadn't offered him any water, yet this women wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. He continued saying , you didn't put oil on my head , but she has poured perfume on me feet. Her  many sins have been forgiven for she has loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little, loves little.
  I am Hosea's Gomer, I am the women at the well, I am this women at Jesus's feet. I have sinned much and have been forgiven much. I was the chiefest of sinners. I have done horrible things, that are common place in this day and age. My testimony is my greatest gift. Its also one of the more difficult things for me to talk about. This is where God takes me out of my comfort zone. I have to share my testimony and how God has forgiven and restored my life. This is my gift.

Intentional Intimacy

It is so easy to let life get in the way of our pursuit of intimacy with God. I have found myself often thinking, not now. I cant pray or read the bible now. I have to do laundry, or mop the floors etc..  Communication and intentionally spending time with God shouldn't be a chore. We get to spend time with God!! The creator of the universe seeks after us! The one who has created all good things in this world wants our attention!!! That makes me feel so loved and humble.
 I want this relationship to grow. Like any relationship though, it takes work for both parties involved. Jesus had already done his part. He has already laid down the foundation for this life changing relationship. He is constantly seeking after my attention and affection.
 As I continue to spend intentional time with  the Lord, I see my life change, my spirit renewed. It is a blessing to be in his presence. Its an honor of which only by Christ's doing am I even worthy. Its a real relationship that is above all others. My relationship with my God is a building block for the rest of my relationships in life.