Monday - "Distractions"

"If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman, follow the trail of my flock, and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents. You are as exciting, my darling, as a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions. How lovely are your cheeks; your earrings set them afire! How lovely is your neck, enhanced by a string of jewels. We will make for you earrings of gold and beads of silver."
Song of Solomon 1:8-11 (NLT)

This week, we're going to talk about romance... You know, the kind of stuff that we are really good at until we get married and then stop... If that doesn't describe you, then good job! Romance is something that we should continue even after the ring is on the finger... Want to know some simple ways to be romantic? Read on!

One of the easiest ways to be romantic is to just be attentive. Pay attention to only him or only her... your entire focus is on the person that you are spending time with. Look at today's verse...the writer of this passage is pointing out the details..the jewelry on the neck...the woman's cheeks...even her earrings! He is paying attention to just her...every detail of her.

I struggle with this sometimes.

I mean, I really want to focus only on my wife...but when I feel my cell phone vibrate and I check it...or I yell answers to her from another room instead of coming to talk to her face-to-face...or I fail to mention when she changes something about herself... I am missing the boat. Romance isn't just about coming in on a white horse with a rose....it is about making the person you are with feel like they are the only one on earth in your eyes. Your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend all deserve your undivided attention. What could be more important than what they are saying or doing?

The huge mistake that many of us married-folk make is that we think that it is ok to let this slip when we get married. This is not the case. Is what your wife is now saying or doing any less important than it was when they were your girlfriend? Is what he is saying worth less than it was now that he is your husband? Of course not...we just figure they'll put up with it.... wrong! Even though it is not always verbalized...people get hurt when they feel like they are put second.

How about you? Anything distracting you today from focusing on the details and desires of the one you love? If so, it is my challenge to you today to reset your priorites...

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian