So what do men REALLY want?

Hmm...

More time to piddle work in the shop?

Childless trips to Home Depot on the weekends?

The grass mowed, the car/truck washed, the bed painted? (inside joke bw hubby and I).

A well-dressed, perfectly groomed wife?

A spotless house?

Or maybe it's simply...

TRUST.

Proverbs 31:11-12 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

Can our husbands trust us with their heart? I don't think this verse is limited to fidelity issues. What other areas do our husbands wish to trust us with?

Finances--"...so that he shall have no need of spoil." Can a husband trust a wife who makes unwise financial decisions or sneaks around and spends his money behind his back? I have to admit, there's been times when I've found a REALLY good deal on something. When the truth of the matter was, there's no money left in the budget for that kind of purchase. But it's SUCH a GOOD deal!! Mm-hmm...you've been there too, haven't you?

Decisions-- I think I have mentioned before, that my husband likes to take us on Friday evening outings. More often than not, I have no clue where we are going to eat, or shop, or whatever he has planned. This is REALLY hard for me because I like to plan ahead. But my husband, he wants me to sit back, relax, and just wait and see what he is going to do for us. He wants me to trust in his ability to give us an enjoyable evening. Put him in charge!

Conversation-- Ok, it looks like I am about to air some dirty laundry here. A couple of weeks ago, we had company over for dinner and games. Now, I am definitely the more outgoing person in our marriage. If there is a lull in the conversation, I feel it is my responsibility to fill it. Aparantly, I filled in a little too much that evening. My husband asked me afterward, "Do you have to tell everything?" I think he was a little uncomfortable with my chattiness that night. I apologized, and Lord, please help me not to do that to him again. I want him to trust in my conversation, not be ashamed of it.

It always amazes me at how the picture of Christ and the church models how things should be in our marriage. Christ wants us to trust him completely with every area of our lives. God made Adam in His likeness, and so men have the same in-bred needs to be the leader. Although it's hard, it brings forth much fruit when the men hold the reigns and can trust us wives not to try and take them away.

I'm not claiming to be an expert, people, I'm just amazed that I never stop learning about marriage and what makes it successful. And boy, do have a LOT more to learn!

Valleys & Mountains

We all go through seasons in our life, and in some aspects, seasons change more than they should. Spiritually, we go through times of tests and trials. It seems I'm either about to enter a valley, in the middle of one, or just coming out of one. It's this process that teaches me to depend on God more than anything. And every now and then He gives me a mountaintop, and I stand there, arms wide, the wind blowing through my hair, viewing in awe the breathtaking view of the sky above and the earth beneath. From way up there, I can even see the beauty of the valley that seemed so dark and desolate as I was passing through it. This is the moment when I wonder why in the world do I question God's perfect plan, His infinite wisdom, His unfailing direction? He told me in His Word that His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. From way up on that mountaintop, I can see His view of the valley. And I hope and pray, that when it comes time to go through the next one, I'll remember what it looked like, and I'll thank Him for it, and I won't take a step through it without consulting Him. Because the peak of the mountaintop is much smaller than the slope of the valley, and so it takes longer to make it through that valley than it does to pass over that majestic peak. We can't stand on that mountain forever, we have to keep going, to move on to the next season.

Right now, I am on a mountaintop in my marriage. God has given us a renewal of consideration and appreciation for one another. Our looks are more tender, our words more carefully chosen, the tone of our voice softer than ever before in our relationship. This is a mountaintop I do not want to come down from! ;). As a matter of fact, I think it's probably something that should be permanent. And people, I am willing to fight for it! It's evident that as I grow closer to the Savior, that intimacy spills out on every other aspect of my life. Oh, I want more! I want more of Him. I want to see what else He will make richer and sweeter.

Looking around at the state of the world around us, the uncertainty and the change crackling in the air, it makes me want to hold onto what I know is real and solid. My relationship with my husband and my Jesus are the two most important ones, the ones that will be my strength in the months to come. I sense that the results of this election will bring on a valley of enormity such as we have never, ever experienced, as a country and as Christians. It is frightening, yet exciting! I truly believe, with all my heart, that we are the generation that will be raptured in the second coming of Christ. WOW! That is HUGE! Can you really grasp that? We will experience the rapture of the church! We will hear the trumpet sound, and in an instant, we will be in Paradise, gone from this world, no more flesh to battle. That will be the biggest mountaintop of all, my friends, and the end of all valley trials.

This will be my train of thought this week, as another Monday rolls around. Live every day the best I can. Slow down. Give Him a chance to show me what He wants for me. Get to know Him better. Apply it. See the results. Praise Him.