THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012
Leah's Guide to Pure Romance
I walked by an SUV this morning and noticed that the back hatch had a beautifully scroll letter sign on it. The letters were encased in 2 pink hearts but the first line is what really grabbed my attention. It read “Pure Romance by Leah” ha! I thought well, isn’t that funny as I had just been thinking on pure romance myself…J It had contact info and phone numbers and also read “Yes, my wife does THOSE kinds of parties.”
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For those of you who aren’t familiar with the new company that started here in Cincinnati, (by a divorced woman I might add), it is a business that sells it’s products through home parties much like Mary Kay or Tupperware, but instead of makeup or cup measurers they sell “intimate items that will spice up the bedroom.” Now, to me, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING romantic about talking about what to do in the bedroom with a bunch of women and there is certainly nothing PURE about needing things that come in plastic bottles or smelly things to give your marriage “spice”. Plus, it’s costs money! J
Listen, God is the BIGGEST ROMANTIC SAP EVER! He CREATED ROMANCE, He CREATED THE RIGHT KIND OF SEXUAL PLEASURE- the kind that is had between one woman and one man who are perfectly matched by God. When two people are matched by THE GREAT MATCHMAKER- they are given a NEVER ENDING SUPPY OF FREE, ON DEMAND PURE ROMANCE PRODUCTS- they don’t cost a dime, are SUPER fulfilling, and lead two people closer and closer together until, when the time to part comes, they will be as close and in love romantically as is ever possible to obtain on this earth.
The problem with most people is they DON’T KNOW WHAT TRUE ROMANCE IS! They think they know what having sexual relations with someone is- but most people in today’s society will never experience true romance or anything beyond, (to steal a line from one of Matthew’s Sermons), “lusting after themselves unto homosexuality…” “Whoa whoa, wait a minute,” you say-“ I’m TOTALLY into the opposite sex.”
“ Really?” I ask. I beg to differ. When you are TRULY attracted to the opposite sex, you will allow God to show you how to bring about a wonderful, romantic relationship- AND- your “sexual feelings” will not come out until you meet your one true match! “Wait, wait,” you say… “what am I feeling now, then?” Well, the Lord has been showing me that people think they are being turned on by the opposite gender, when, in reality, they are just lusting within themselves and using the other person as an outlet to “relieve themselves,” as a TOOL. They use terms like “I love you.” But what they really mean is “I love the way you make me feel.” Which is totally different then TRUE LOVE AND ROMANCE- which puts the other person first.
No- most people- even Christians are merely using one another as tools. “I need it now…” Instead of “I truly love you, I want to be with you, just holding your hand gives me tingles all over my body, and draws me closer to you and God.” One is a force within yourself that you have with NO ONE around- or when someone comes on the TV you find attractive or in magazines or online- or even a co worker or married friend you know you can’t have. Those are NOT TRUE SEXUAL FEELINGS- but a form of the dreaded word Christians and non-Christians alike hate- Masturbation… Yuck!! I really do hate that word and I shall only use it once for people to see that unless they do romance and marriage God’s way, the “feelings” they have are not really sexual, which, even in nature is between 2 animals- but you are merely “lusting after yourself” and care very little or nothing at all for the person you may be with or thinking about. Therefore, you cannot be fulfilled with or grow closer to your spouse in any kind of real romance.
LEAH knows Pure Romance- ha ha- if ya’ll want to, guy and girl, we can have a Pure Romance Party!! But the things I can show you will require hard work, patience, and time, but in the end will result in the most ROMANTIC, OVER THE MOON, CINDERELLA ROMANCE OF ALL TIME- and EVERYONE CAN HAVE IT!!! J
A true, Godly marriage that is ROMANTIC LOOKS LIKE THIS IN 1 PETER 3
3 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
It’s so important for men and women to understand that their conduct and speech should be holy and pure. Women are not to be alluring in the physical sense to try to put a spell on men. I braid my hair but what this verse is talking about is spending a long amount of time on the outward and very little on the inside. True romance is when a man and woman look at each other without the “lures” of the world- they see them in their natural form, which to others may not be appealing because it is not worldly or sensual. But if your husband looks on you as the most beautiful woman in the world without all the outward perfumes and expensive garments- he truly sees YOU as beautiful and not your clothes. It is fine to dress nice, but we must make sure the beauty we set forth as an example for others is the inward beauty of right living.
For a man, this means, making yourself into the Abraham of a man he has called you to be- in that, like Sarah, your wife will call you lord, (little ‘l’ there, not big ‘L’ cause only God gets that title!) When you are that Man Up man- you will be the strongest, most attractive, manly man your woman could ask for and she will willingly submit to her SuperGodMan- her Godly superhero.
But both must conduct themselves outwardly with purity of thought and deed, keeping what should be between them and God, ONLY WHEN THEY ARE MARRIED, just between them and God.
Another way to be romantic is to keep things between your wife and you. I have known men and women to talk about what goes on in their or someone else’s bedroom, body parts being mentioned. THAT IS NOT GOD and is NOT romantic. The Bible is very clear about the PRECIOUSNESS of the marriage bed
Hebrews 13:1-6 says
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
"Let marriage be held in honor among all." The word for honor really means precious or something held in Honor. It's the word used in 1 Corinthians 3:12 where Paul speaks of "gold, silver, and precious stone." It's used in 1 Peter 1:19 in reference to the "precious blood" of Jesus. It's used in 2 Peter 1:4 to refer to the "precious and very great promises" of God.
So when Hebrews 13:4 says, "Let marriage be held in honor among all," we should think of these most precious things and to let marriage always be thought of as precious. Let it be treasured like gold and silver and rare jewels. Let it be revered and respected like the noblest, most virtuous person you have ever known. NOW THAT IS ROMANTIC!! J
YOU WANT ROMANCE? Check out the wedding vows I found in my grandma’s old Catholic Bible!
Okay, so if you can read the above text, the first things will notice is WHO YOU CANNOT MARRY…IE, the Marriage has to be VALID, and in order to be VALID, it cannot violate several impediments. There are 2 groups- if you marry someone in one group- NO GO ON THE MARRIAGE-OH! J
§ Antecedent and perpetual impotence
§ Consanguinity to the fourth collateral line (1st cousin), including legal adoption to the second collateral line (don’t marry ya cuzin!)
§ Prior bond (marriage before)
§ Disparity of cult (one party not being baptised a Catholic, or at least into one of the Christian denominations; though there are many ceremonies where one party is not a Christian- basically, God wants us not to be “unequally yoked with unbelievers” "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14, KJV).
§ Abduction- (cannot be forced to marry)
§ Crimen- (someone just waiting for their current spouse to die so they can marry someone else. I see this as people who don’t take care and love those who may be sick and just turn their back on them)
So, then there are the reasons why you can marry but it’s still sinful- and those are marrying someone you’ve already “been” with or marrying a non-Christian. These two things don’t call a marriage completely invalid in God’s eyes but a sinful one and therefore you don’t receive the full blessings of the Almighty and therefore not the full Romance Package!!!
When a woman gets a God Superman who has waited for her and built up his spiritual house with his buddy Christ- he’s got himself some physical and spiritual MUSCLES going on. Ladies THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT!! He is beautiful to look upon as he is strong and mighty like David, but his heart is pure and looking to God like Christ.
Men, your lady is a prize!!! Inside and out!
Genesis 2:18, 22-24 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Ladies, you need to let the Lord, “fit you out” for your future husband. That means NOT GOING FULL OUT IN A CAREER! But, instead, realizing that your true calling is within the home as a wife and mother.
Proverbs 31:19-13 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Genesis 12:11, 14 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance … When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
Genesis 24:16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. (Jacob’s wife Rebecca)
Esther 2:7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Esther 2:7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Song of Solomon 4:1 Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead.
1 Samuel 16:18 Then one of the young men said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him."
2 Samuel 14 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight. 27And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
Daniel 1:3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good looking in appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldean (this one is talking about DanielJ
Song of Solomon 1:16 Look at you! So handsome, so pleasing, my darling! Our bed is the greenery
OOKKAAAY, so listen up, ya’ll who want to go sleeping around and hooking up with non Christians or someone the Lord hasn’t matched you with- or going too` quick into the romance zone before God is allowed to take and mold your special person… DON’T JUMP AHEAD OF the game or you’re going to miss out on the MOST WONDERFUL, MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOST HANDSOME MAN OR WOMAN IN THE UNIVERSE…FOOT NOTES…to you…. J
That part is important. See, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder and if we allow God to get control of our eyes- and our own bodies WE WILL BE LIKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN THE BIBLE TO OUR HUSBANDS AND OUR HUSBANDS WILL BE LIKE THESE MOST HANDSOME OF MEN!
Dude, let me tell you, if you wait until God’s perfect timing, (timing key here) with God’s perfect match- it’s the da gum 4th of July when you look at each other- man oh man oh- that woman was created just for you and you see her as such and she goes all goo goo eyed for you and you both go goo goo eyed being goo goo eyed at- and that, my friend… is God’s romantic plan to bring 2 into 1 and bring forth a Godly Seed- Which is what Marriage is all about.
Let us cont…
So, going on with the ROMANTIC WEDDING VOWS- we’ve all traditionally heard these, but what stuck out to me was what the priest says to the woman about her ring, as traditionally it was just the woman who wore a ring.
“Bless, o Lord, this ring, which we bless in Thy name, that she who shall wear it, keeping true FAITH to her spouse, may abide in Thy Peace and in obedience to Thy will, and EVER LIVE IN MUTUAL LOVE through CHRIST OUR LORD!”
WOWZAS!!! This is so awesome- so, the girl gets God’s peace as she WEARS HER WEDDING RING- why? Cus she’s MUTALLY IN LOVE!!!!
Okay, so we could spend an eternity in Song of Solomon but for these purposes we’ll try to keep it as clean as possible- I think the rest of the book is to be read mostly on our own or with our spouse after we are married as that seems a fitting God’s Pure Romance Tool- AFTER ya’ll are married… Let’s keep it Kosher now till then! J Women, don’t seek to be romantically woed with these kinds of words just yet- for stirring up love before it’s time is like picking an unripened fruit- men, please keep your wooing on the brotherly love/friendship level so as not to stir up emotions in her that she may not be able to handle or allowed by God to have just yet.
Song of Solomon 8:4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.
Love has a perfect time… when it comes, IT’S AWESOME… but permission from the girl’s family and the man “building his house with Christ” and “ripening his wheat” comes first…
Mutual Love…the ring… wow, read on!
10 My beloved speaks and says to me, Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
11 For, behold, the winter is past; the rain is gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree puts forth and ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. [a]Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 [So I went with him, and when we were climbing the rocky steps up the hillside, my beloved shepherd said to me] O my dove, [while you are here] in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret place of the cliff, let me see your face, [b]let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
15 [My heart was touched and I fervently sang to him my desire] Take for us the foxes, the[c]little foxes that spoil the vineyards [of our love], for our vineyards are in blossom.
16 [She said distinctly] My beloved is mine and I am his! He pastures his flocks among the lilies.
So, yeah yeah yeah… lots of singing, loving, praising God. “I am my beloved’s and he is mine!” Most marriages ARE NOT LIKE THIS- why? Because they either stirred up love too soon and didn’t let it ripen or they got the wrong fruit in the first place- or, they are treating their fruit like it’s rotten. But, GOD’S WAY, did ya’ll just read what I read… how ROMANTIC! I HEAR THE AWWS COMING ON- WHO WOULDN’T WANT THIS? It’s totally God’s PURE ROMANCE way to use nature and growing things as things that stir up love.
I know for myself, I feel something like God’s love when I’m outside, in nature, in the garden, growing things- with my animals. I can see myself running to see if my trees are ripe with my love and expressing my love for nature and this man together- HOW ROMANTIC! No dinner and a movie- NO products to buy- just Nature- mountains, the clefs of a rock- a singing voice… ALL FREE AND FULFILLING IN GOD FOR 2 MARRIED PEOPLE!
However, WORD OF WARNING…The romance can’t really start until the father (or guardian) gives the woman away and says “now, son, this is your girl, take care of her.” Until, then, guys, remember, that girl is not paid for, so you have to watch your words and actions- and girls, you are not that man’s car yet- he doesn’t have God’s Insurance Plan for you yet- you are still under your family’s insurance plan and they are responsible for your health and safety, so that guy has to be super, duper careful not to put an emotional, physical, or spiritual ding on you. That is why it is called “Giving the Bride away…” and not giving the groom away.
On with the show!!
Wow, can ya’ll read that- on the right there? Ha! This is an AWESOME PRAYER! Asking for God’s help out of Zion- to defend them from the enemy! Then the whole congregation prays for them
“Protect, this, Thine ordinance, whereby Thou hast provided for the PROPAGATION OF MANKIND, that they who are joined together by THY AUTHORITY may be preserved by THY HELP, through Jesus Christ!”
Wow, ya’ll-see, this here is where it talks about marriage being for bringin’ on the chillins! Okay, children, and there again, two people can really only be brought together by God!
Mark 10
6 But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.
7 For this reason a man shall leave [behind] his father and his mother [d]and be [e]joined to his wife and cleave closely to her permanently,
8 And the two shall become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has united (joined together), let not man separate or divide.
You are not TOGETHER until that preacher says “you may now kiss the bride,” ya’ll need to remember that when you are along or talking sweet nothings. You haven’t bought the cake or ice cream yet- it might be on order when you get engaged- but you can’t dive in or lick it until it’s paid in full! But once together, it’s no longer “me and so and so…” that is why you take the same last name.
Brought together by God’s authority… now that’s just awesome and something to smile about! How Romantic is that!? J
Now, this is the ULTIMATE of romance right here folks. I’ve covered this before in depth, but for all others, let me just say, When a man TRULY grasps the part he is to play as a man of God- loving his wife SOO much that like Christ, he would give his life for her. When he provides for her, protects her, seeks God for her healing and health, and fertility- to keep her holy and without spot or blemish…This is what really makes a woman fall in love with a man-this is romance on both parts. In one, the man is strong and feels like a man as the woman submits to his God given authority and feels so much love from his wife honoring him. The other, the woman feels completely head over heels in love for the man who is not just talking the talk, but in his simple, everyday actions is walking the walk. More than just taking out the trash, or helping her around the house, or even praising her for all her Prov 31 ness- being interested in the day to day activities she does, however mundane, he is honestly interested like Christ is honestly interested in us- it is in the small communication that they grow close. He wants to know about her day like he does his own- how can he help her, encourage her, lift her up- then she can honor and respect because she can see in the little things that he is loving her like Christ- THIS IS ROMANCE! In this Blessed Sacrament which means marriage is holy, SACRED, before God.
Psalms 127:3 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]
Psalms 128
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!
God’s purpose for marriage is for a husband to take a wife and bring forth children. A blessed marriage is one that is FRUITFUL! A man of God knows that to be happy and blessed by God- he’s got arrows and if he’s called by God to marry, then, man, he wants to use them and he wants them to “hit the target” if you will, and bring him a Godly seed!- a wonderful, beautiful CHILD! J
PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE PAGE UNTIL YOU GRASP IT’S MEANING! Cause if you do, man, you and your future spouse are on the right track to TRUE LOVE AND ROMANCE FOREVER!
GOD ordained marriage- it is Holy Sacrament to him. Woman, born of man to forever be his helper, formed from ONE substance- He creates MYSTERY in making 2 one flesh – for a partnership- and in this prayer here- it asks for GOD’S PROTECTION ON HIS HANDMAID, and that marriage would be a yoke of love and peace for, until she is married- until that day- she is to serve the Lord without distraction- DON’T DISTRACT HER GUYS!- by getting her mind on what you’d like to do with her once you get her! She can’t seek the Lord that way. It just takes a few words of bodily praise in a sexual manner- and BAM! That girl wants to give to you what you want- cause she feels it’s the right thing to do. Today, especially, guys know just what to say to a girl to get her to “give it up.”- take her tender fruit- take WHAT GOD HAD PUT TOGETHER AS A FORESHADOW OF CHRIST WITH THE CHURCH! J That is her virginity, she wants to give to you- but WAIT- wait to make her want to give it to you! Wait for her proper timing-which is her wedding night- and she will lovingly and willingly give to the one she is called by God to marry.
It goes on to say “may she be faithful and chaste (body and mind only for her husband) and may she always be an imitator of holy women…
Listen, girls (and guys, you want a girl who whose heros are those faithful women of faithful men in the Word of GodJ ) It doesn’t matter how long you know someone- for years, or days- God is going to show you the person you are supposed to marry- the one God has for you. You, in turn, have to be open to his leading and be very wise.
Rebecca had to be wise as she had to discern whether to follow Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, back to his land
Isaac and Rebekah Genesis 24
God had really blessed Abraham but he was getting pretty old so he had his truest servant swear an oath before God that he would go and try to find his beloved son, Issac, a wife. He made this vow and Abraham told him to go to his old homeland as there were no fit women in Cannan where they lived.
The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.7 The Lord, the God of heaven, rwho took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, s‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ the will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, thenuyou will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant vput his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
So the servant took Abraham’s camels and all sorts of wonderful gifts and when he got to the city of Nahor he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well in the evening, the time when xwomen go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O Lord, yGod of my master Abraham, zplease grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, aI am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. bBy this2 I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of cMilcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young woman dwas very attractive in appearance, a maiden3 whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a heavy gold ring and two hefty bracelets for her arms 23 and asked whose daughter she was “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?” 24 She said to him, e“I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” 26 fThe man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “Blessed be the Lord, gthe God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken hhis steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord ihas led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.” 28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.
29 Rebekah had a brother, Laban who ran out toward the man, to the spring. 30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.31 He said, “Come in, kO blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave lstraw and fodder to the camels, and there was mwater to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.”
34 So he said, “I am Abraham's servant. 35 The Lord nhas greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master's wife obore a son to my master when she was old, and pto him he has given all that he has. 37 qMy master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, 38 but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 But he said to me, ‘The Lord, rbefore whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and sprosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house. 41 Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’
42 “I came today to the spring and said, t‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you sare prospering the way that I go, 43 behold, I am standing uby the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” 44 vand who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.’
45 “Before I had finished wspeaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ xSo I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 yThen I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, tthe God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way5 to take zthe daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you are going to ashow steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot bspeak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, cas the Lord has spoken.”
52 When Abraham's servant heard their words, yhe bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. 53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, d“Send me away to my master.” 55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.”58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and eher nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
thousands of ten thousands,
61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
62 Now Isaac had returned from hBeer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 And Isaac went outito meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was jcomforted after his mother's kdeath.
Okay, so here is the ultimate of PURE ROMANCE, GOD’S WAY!!! TWO PEOPLE, TRUSTING GOD WITH THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. What great faith and wisdom on Rebecca’s part- and the best line of all AND HE LOVED HER!!!! HOW ROMANTIC! – God’s One True Match!!
We should also pray to be long lived and faithful like Sarah, and cling to the faith and ten commandments!! We are weak but should protect that weakness with discipline, be modest, and have a firm grasp of the Word of God..
Below, you’ll read
BE FRUITFUL IN OFFSPRING!!!!
And the final benediction is repeated for man and wife and show the ROMANCE OF LONG LIFE AND GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND EVEN GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN!!! What a blessing to see your union, beginning on your wedding day, produce person upon person upon person- from your love, your PERFECT MATCH BY GOD!!!
This is PURE ROMANCE, Leah style. Time would forbid of talking more of Ruth who trusted her mother in law to give her instructions on gleaning in Boaz’s field and then again in lying at his feet as that was the Jewish sign of asking if he would redeem her, a relative, for a wife. This was BY FAITH as she knew him to be a kind man that favored her but that was all. She married him and they loved each other.
Esther was sent to live among 100’s of women to be given bath salts and oils and spend one night with the king until he chose a wife. She submitted to her uncle, Mordecai, as he knew God had a plan to save the Jews from the plots against God’s people by a servant in the king’s confidence. Esther risked her life to save her people, and as the fairy books go, even though this is real “they lived happily ever after.” As God’s people were saved, the bad servant put to death on the gallows meant for Mordecai and Esther and their people. And the king loved Esther!
This is love- this is PURE ROMANCE- letting God bring you to your one true match, guys, and girls, being wise and faithful and when he comes, recognize what God’s game plan is in the situation. Be about your family’s work- gleaning fields or collecting water, however the Lord asks you to do. Just today Michelle says “Yup, I’m going to be shoveling this manure and my true match is going to come by and say “Yup, that’s her, the one in the POO!!!”
Doesn’t get any more romantic then that folks!!!!
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