Allies Til Death, Part Two

for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

2 Corinthians 7:1-4 "1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction."

What does this have to do with marriage?
Plenty.

Who else? Above all other humans, who else? In all relationships in my life, none other should characterize this kind of supercharged dedication more than my relationship with Delighted Husband.

So lemme just say it right here and now: "Baby, you are in my heart to live together and to die together. I choose you above all other humans. We are Allies Till Death."

This is where the sweet abandon in the bedroom comes from. We don't just like each other. We're not just attracted to each other. We don't just tolerate each other. We don't just love each other. We are allies till death. This kind of supercharged dedication is the mattress we rest and play on. This is where nudity becomes the sacred naked. When each touch, every whispered scream, each sensation is an affirmation and celebration of our alliance, that's when God's glory falls all around us, turning our bedroom into a cathedral built for two. -SW

Desire Defined (and validated even!)

So much has happened since I wrote Desire (Un)Defined. It's a case of hunger and thirst and then you get filled. I had to admit my need to God, myself, and to another human being
First of all, Dena hon thank you from my heart for being so persistent in telling me about this book. Everybody has a thing they recommend and sometimes I feel a bit jaded about recommendations but your persistence was a gift straight from the heart of God. Thank you my persistent buddy!

My initial takeaways:
*profound comfort
*a deep knowing that everything will be alright
*knowing God and being known by God
*the simplicity and beauty of the Trinity
*which gave me the grace to embrace the relational aspect of my nature as a birthright from being made in the image of God instead of a weakness to be overcome through self-reliance
*I no longer treat my relational nature as a spiritually immature stepchild who will one day get it together and only need God and no other people

I first talked about this just a few days ago on Friday. I was really wrestling with the idea of...

Quote:

The paradox between needing God and needing other people. I understand the bit about not putting your confidence in man. About not making idols out of people and expecting them to be your God. However, another truth is steadily attempting to grab my attention and that is: that not everybody is called to go live in the relational wilderness like Grizzly Adams saying "I can get whatever I need just me and God".

Reading The Shack taught me that my desire for relationship is right as rain. It's part of my birthright for being made in the image of God. For God is in constant relationship in the Trinity.
I'm an offspring of the Trinity and the Trinity is in constant loving relationship with each other. So my desire to connect with and interact with other believers is not some weakness to be overcome it's my spiritual family resemblance showing! This truth alone will have huge ripple effect in my life. -SW