The Titus 2:4 Project

I knew that title would get ya!  Who doesn't want better sex?  First disclaimer...God intended sex to be within the confines of marriage.  The best sex you'll ever have is with your spouse, because that's the relationship blessed by God. Ok, now that we've got that straight... let's talk. So many  things keep us from enjoying a good, healthy sexual relationship...stress, finances, exhaustion, the kids among others.  Assuming those other things aren't physical or emotional damage that is truly inhibiting us, then let's call ourselves 'normal' (for the sake of this discussion)...and before anyone gets upset with me, I'm not saying that someone with physical or emotional problems isn't normal...I'm just not sure how to get my point across without using common language, so if you would, please show me some grace as we approach this subject.  Deep breath...ok, so I'm not sure where we (my husband and I) learned these things - I beli...

What are you called to do?  Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." To do good works.  God didn't prepare us in advance to complain, gossip, act selfishly, promote negativity or to live in a constant state of drama-induced exasperation.  No!  He prepared us for good works.  And as far as I can tell - every single good work mentioned in the Bible hinges on ONE WORD.  LOVE. According to Romans 12:6 - 8 we all have different gifts.  Some people might use the term 'calling'.  "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (7)  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; (8) if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of other, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern...

Nothing makes me more frustrated...well, almost nothing...than walking into a fast food establishment (pick one), with my mouth watering for a particular food... I place my order and anxiously wait... When what to my wondering eyes would appear - a pile of something that barely resembles the colorful, delicious looking photo hanging over head!  How do they sleep at night? To be fair, it's not just the fast food joints that are guilty of this crime.  It's also a common practice of many grocery store items, especially the boxed variety.  I mean, let's face it.  If the photo on the box looked like the reality of what you'll be eating, you probably wouldn't have purchased it in the first place, right? It just doesn't seem fair that we should be tricked into purchasing something that is so much less that what we expected.  Whether it's food, or a pair of shoes that's supposed to make our tooshie firmer, or a shampoo that is supposed to make our hair look...

Today is not my day. Not because things are going wrong...But because I'm dedicating this day to my husband, who has taken a vacation day to get things done around the homestead.  He's a hard working man - and while his job provides a means by which to live for our family, our homestead is a source of peace, comfort, escape and pride for him.  It's Memorial Day weekend and an old Army buddy and his wife are coming to stay the weekend with us.  So naturally, my husband wants to have things looking nice.  There's trash to burn, (we live in the country...don't judge) weeds to pull, grass to cut, flowers to water, metal to recycle, landscaping to finish, etc.  I'm certain that his mental "to do" list is a mile long and looks nothing like mine... "get the pool ready, sit by the pool, read a book."  Nope.  No rest for him until the work is done. (Which usually doesn't happen until 'dark-thirty'.) But to honor my husband as the hea...