musings on love...

So... it's been almost three weeks since the "I do's" and I've learned a lot about love since then... not that I understand anything I've learned or anything though. I suppose I could fit it into a 3-point sermon though if it pleases you...

1. TAKE IT ALL TO GOD. This is one I was assumed to have learned a while ago. Well, guess what. I didn't! This relationship/love thing can get pretty foggy sometimes and being young and trying to figure out the world and who I am makes matters worse. If you don't keep a close eye out you'll find yourself hopelessly lost and confused not knowing which way to go. But every time I've found myself there, God has been beside me. Everytime I look to Him my fear melts away, the deeper issues of my heart get addressed and I find that I'm right where I need to be once again: in His counsel. (Which reminds me... I still need to spend some solid time in the Word today)

2. PRAY FOR YOUR SPOUSE. There's this little book called the Power of a Praying Husband. It was written by a woman so it carries more weight for me than if a man had written it. In the book it outlines some basic items to cover in prayer regarding your wife. I find that if I pray for Shannon a lot of good things start to happen. 1) Shannon feels more loved either because of the power of the prayer or simply because she knows I'm praying for her. 2) My heart becomes connected to Shannon. I begin to see her more clearly through God's eyes and I find myself drawn more to her side. 3) You begin to fight the lies of the enemy. I don't think this topic is specific to women only; we all hear lies from the devil. As we live with our spouse we begin to hear the same lies they hear whether because our spouse self-actualizes them (yeah physch!) or else because we're afraid they might happen. Either way, praying for your spouse gives you authority over the lies they deal with. And husbands, probably the biggest lie you'll face is that your wife is demanding (aka: high-maintenance, bossy, a "nag", etc.); it's not true: she only needs to be loved. 4) You begin to care more about her needs than your own. This is a big one and leads me to the last point.

3. LOOK NOT TO YOUR OWN DESIRES BUT THOSE OF YOUR SPOUSE. Yesterday, I spent a lot of time on the computer. Most of it was just wasted time. Some of it was trying to make this post. Anyway, I could have been cleaning up the house and making it look more welcoming for her when she came home from work. When she did come home, the living room was untouched from this morning, the bed was unmade and some dishes I had missed were laying on the counter. And Shannon was tired to boot. Now, I'm still kind of unclear on what expectations are legitamite, but one thing I am certain of is that if I want to show her I love her, then I'll clean the house and make her feel welcome when she comes home. That may mean staying off the computer the rest of the night, making a meal, etc.

I realize that most men come home to their wives and yes, I am soon to get a job of my own (I interviewed yesterday at Alvarado Hospital for a Patient Care Assistant position). But I'm sure you can all figure out a way to apply this to your own life as we all vary in specifics but all made of the same spiritual fiber having been made by the same God.

Well, that's one lesson for today... I have a lot more posts in my head, but I'll let them ooze out it due time. ~Michael