Sunday, April 20, 2008

A Little Romance




So, how is the romance in your life? Well, as many of you know, I have committed to make the effort this year to put, shall we say, a little sass-a-frass back into my marriage. And, how is it going, you ask? rrrrRRRRrrrr!!!! (hee-hee!) So well that uh- I forgot to post all about it last month. Seriously, I've been a little too busy living it, to write about it. But I've got a little time to share-so let's get started. This has been such a great challenge. Thanks Maria! I must say I have been pleasantly surprised and I can't wait to see where this takes us as the year goes on.


I have prayed for the Lord's blessing on our marriage. I have gone before Him, daily in praise for the gift Hugh is to me. I ask the Lord, everyday, to make me worthy of my role as wife and mother. I ask for His continued guidance and protection (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.) And I ask that I might find favor with Hugh. That his heart would continue to be open to me, and that we would treasure one another and the covenant of our marriage. I have also committed myself to studying the "art and beauty of marriage" biblically. This is what I have learned, and begun to put into practice....


I can love my husband more deeply by showing my respect and reverence for him and his role in our marriage.


I respect him by submitting to his authority and leadership of our family.

I show my submission by deferring to his judgment in making decisions for our family. In this way, I am showing him respect and my trust in his knowledge and opinions.- Let me say that this has not been an easy thing for me to practice, especially when I think I'm right. But, I know in my heart that if I am to be pleasing to my Lord, then I must trust Him in this matter, and do what he has asked of me. I must trust His design and plan for my marriage if I want it to be all it can and if I want to be truly happy and fulfilled.

I show my love for my husband by doing all I can joyfully and with a servant's heart. The Lord is looking at not only what I do in obedience to Him, but, also my heart's motive and attitude. This, by far, has been the hardest to practice, if I am totally honest.- The flesh side of me doesn't want to be a servant or slave. The "worldly woman" in me wants to be adored, pampered and romanced. My mind and mouth say, "I am a valuable person too. I need someone to care about my thoughts, opinions and needs too. Well, you know what I found to be true...I didn't lose myself or any of the things that I need. The Lord has supplied my needs and the desires of my heart, because I chose to seek His kingdom first. Yes, that's right...I tested it and found His promises to be faithful and true! While I was busy fruitlessly squandering my time and energy on worrying about me and what I'm going to get out of it all- He picked me up and lovingly shook me out of my pitiful, self absorbed state.

He quieted my anxieties and gently placed this promise in my heart. Tiffany, I AM taking care of you. I AM loving you with the deepest love possible. I AM giving you my best , my all, because I want every good and wonderful thing for you. And He continues to quiet my fears with His love. (See Zephaniah 3:17 and 1 John 4:18.)

Hugh has been more gentle and tender hearted towards me. Our communication is more open and honest. He has been more complimentive and thoughtful in his words and actions towards me. He really listens to me, giving me his time and attention. Which in itself means the world to me.The effort is not only there, but we are growing! We are building a healthy, Christian marriage, one romantic gesture at a time. And in doing so we are honoring our heavenly father, and drawing closer to His heart!- Thank you Lord Jesus, from the bottom of my heart!

8 comments:

Sharon Brumfield said...

I think most women can identify with your post.
Needing security so greatly sometimes I demand something from my husband that like you said--God is to supply.
It is so much easier I think sometimes to walk by sight rather than by faith. By faith God supplies my security so that I don't end up putting ungodly pressure on my husband.
I loved your thoughts here--they are truths that will set us free and bring unity and romance to our marriage.
Good stuff here girl.

Melissa said...

Wow, thanks for your honesty! Like Sharon said, most of us can identify. I heard Beth Moore say a long time ago that when we look to God to fill our cup first, whatever anyone else (husband, children, etc.) gives us is purely overflow. I try to remember that, but it's hard to put into practice sometimes!

I've noticed when I make even a small change, my hubby notices and responds by changing, too.

Denise said...

May your marriage always be sweetly blessed.

She Rose Up said...

Tiff, what a beautiful post! So much truth and light! Isn't God so gracious and outrageuosly good to us, to gift us with each other through marriage? It occurred to me this weekend, that there is so mcuh about love, about HIS love for us, that we would not understand without marriage, and without the parent child relationship...it takes the WHOLE family unit to help us get just an IDEA of His love for us! PLUS Godly friends to boot!

And, I have to share this, about 2-3 weeks ago, Sharon posted about submission & yielding...and how yielding is when our heart buys into the whole thing, in other words, inward as well as outward...and I knew God was calling me higher...bc He had ALREADY being dealing with me about it...since then I have been greatly challenged...at the whole heart yielding thing...nothing major that anyone else knew, but me and God, we knew...so I can relate...

Hope you continue having a blessed and romantic week!

xoxo,
Maria

luvmy4sons said...

"...and wives should respect their husbands." We can't over state that! Good job!

Kimberly said...

This is such a beautiful post! I especially love the things you are praying about daily!
Blessings,
Kimberly

Christy said...

I really needed this post today. Moving has put a lot of strain on our relationship this week because I want to control EVERYTHING

Jess said...

Thank you, Tiffany, for reminding us to serve our husbands with humility and a grateful heart. This is something I work on daily and I truly appreciate you posting this.