Eve - Define "Cellulite"...

Genesis 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

There were nearly 11.7 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2007, as reported by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). 11.7 million! The two most common types of surgery were liposuction and botox. So it's not like these statistics include someone who suffered a skin loss or disfigurement. We're not talking skin-graphs here.

The money brought in on these surgeries? Over $8 Billion dollars.

Why do people spend this type of money on unnecessary surgeries? Because they are unhappy with their bodies. Anorexia this year alone has affected Seven million women and One million men. All segments of society are affected: Men and women, young and old, rich and poor, all ethnicities, all socio-economic levels. (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa)

What does this have to do with Genesis 2:25? How much better would our intimate relationship be with our spouse if we were happy with our own bodies? This all changes when sin is entered into the relationship. When we let the sins of jealousy and greed and sloth and pride work its way into our relationship- it's no wonder we have problems reaching the original state of bliss that God intended in our marriage when we carry all this baggage of our own making.

Eve - Monster-in-Law

Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.


How many Christian wives have thrown this verse in their husbands face when their mother-in-law has gotten on their last nerve? When the concept of annoying mothers-in-law come up, my mind often wanders to Ray Barone and his poor wife on "Everybody loves Raymond". So many jokes are made about the mother-in-law that many comedians have set their career paths along that line.




This verse was written before Adam and Eve had kids and since they did not have earthly parents - why is this scripture right here? Not only does it foreshadow the questions that will be raised when children marry, but also how a marriage is to work and what the parents are to expect.

Marriage is a new journey - a new start in life. It is NOT an extension of living with mom and dad. The newlyweds must know that they have full responsibility for surviving with each other. House payments, car payments, job finding, house cleaning, lawncare, child-raising, cooking, health issues etc. etc. These are things that the two will need to figure out together how they are going to handle. What does this mean for mom and dad? It means mom and dad are no longer responsible for making sure junior is fed and bathed and clothed. It is a time where they should be able to see all their training actually show up in their child. That doesn't mean that the parents should not be there to help out or offer advice when needed or be a big part of the newly married couples life - it just means that they need to acknowledge that this is a new step in their childs life and God has set it up for them to do it with their spouse. God makes this guideline in the very beginning when marriage is first established - between one man and one woman.

Eve - Pregnant Man?

Genesis 2:22-23 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,'for she was taken out of man."

"When a woman has a baby, bonding with that baby is probably one of the most pleasurable aspects. You can begin by cradling your baby and gently stroking him or her in different patterns. If you hold and touch your infant frequently, your little one will soon come to know the difference between your touches. You should also take the opportunity to be "skin to skin" with your newborn by holding him or her against your own skin when feeding or cradling." This was an excerpt from an article written through Nemours Foundation. It talks about the wonderful bond between a mother and baby and how to nurture that relationship.

It's natural to understand why mothers and their babies are so close, but husbands and wives? Here in the beginning, it happened the same way. Eve came FROM Adam. It tells us right here in scripture how attached he was to her right from the beginning. "Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh". I can imagine how their bonding experience went: Adam longed to touch her hair and be beside her and feel her skin. Eve must have hung on his every word and enjoyed the safety of his protection in his arms. They played in the garden and ate and swam. It was like a never-ending sleep-over. Do we think of our spouses in this manner? Do we look forward to playing with them and sleeping with them and talking to them? I am guilty of letting my relationship with my husband slide. With the pressures of work and family and the daily grind, that bond that God gave to us as husband and wife, isn't nearly as enjoyed as God meant it to be.

Satan is so sneaky - we'll talk about how sneaky he was in the garden, but even in our daily lives of not realizing the importance of our spouse. Not appreciating the partnership that God has made for us. God has so many things that He has created just for us - and marriage, God's way, is one of those special gifts.

Samson - Pre-Conceived Notions

Judges 13:6-8 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he said to me, 'You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.' " Then Manoah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."

My husband would be the first to tell you that I have problems with "submitting". I was independent for some time before I married my husband, so I was used to getting things done all on my own. Very slowly, I've tried to give way to his authority - and it does turn out for the best (most of the time). God has marriage set up a certain way - and when we don't follow that set-up, things tend to go awry. Does that mean Susie Q can't get a job - no, It just means that we are to fall under our husbands' authority and they are to fall under God's authority. That's a big responsibility for a husband to have - and that's the way God intended it.

This interaction between Samsons' mom and dad I found to be quite funny. As soon as the Lord leaves her, Samson's soon to be mom runs to her husband and tells him what had happened. What does Manoah do? He asks God to send Him again - he wants to make sure his wife got the story right! Maybe, just maybe, his wife was okay with this because she was so flabbergasted the first time around that she really didn't pay close attention - or maybe she was livid because he didn't believe or trust her to tell him everything that happened.

Either way, it was a good idea to get some questions answered in preparation for their son - maybe questions that didn't come to mind at the first hearing of the news. How do we treat our husbands? Do we get angry because we think they've offended us - or do we see the wisdom behind their choices and put our feelings on the back burners.

I struggle with this on a daily basis. But, humility is the mark of a servant. Being a servant to Jesus is a far better calling than any here on this earth - I think I can use the practice, so I'll try a little harder with my husband.

Esther - Smart Gal

Esther 7:1-6 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther, and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted." Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman."

Bom bom boooooom...

And there we have it. Now while we can see these passages as the "closer" to Haman's villainous treachery - there's actually something completely different I'd like to look at:

Esther has been told by the king - once again - to tell him what she wants. It could be anything, up to half the kingdom, and she could have it. I don't know about you, but I might've been tempted to stutter-step here a bit. Maybe a new room with a nice king-size bed and a dishwasher that actually works and a refrigerator whose door closes all the way. A personal trainer for this insidious cottage cheese that keeps appearing on my thighs - oh the list goes on. But not Esther, she did not falter, she did not stumble, she kept true to her mission.

How about the way she convinced her husband - hmmm? First she says "If I have found favor with you, O king" - In other words - 'Honey, I really do hope that I make you happy because I love you so much'. Then she basically states that because someone is trying to kill her, it will take away his happiness that she is wanting him to have - how sly is that?? Then as an afterthought - oh, and my people too. She goes on to tell him that if it was just something else that would cause her alone pain, that would be fine because he was too important to be bothered with that. Can't you see how this way of wording might work with a spouse? First - let him know how important he is and that you want him to be happy because you respect him. That you want to be the reason for his happiness. Second, let him feel that he is the one making the decision- less stress on us anyway - right?

How angry the king got - who was this man who was trying to hurt his queen (and in essence, him)? God has given us such wonderful guidelines to follow - through people and direct rules. What a wonderful story to know that all things work for the glory of God, if we just trust Him.

Esther Cont. - Bye Bye Vashti

Esther 1:13-22 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom. "According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her." Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.' This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord. "Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest." The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.

A couple once came to my counter where I worked, the husband was buying an item for the wife and then proceeded to pick up the same item to purchase for himself. She looked at him and said, "What are you doing? We can't BOTH afford this... Fine, I just won't get mine." She proceeded to put hers down and cross her arms. The poor man looked like a wounded puppy dog. He simply took his item back, returned to the counter and purchased just the one item, for her. He may have, in private, chose to stand his ground and argue - but in light of the fact that he was in public, he decided to give in - so as not to make a scene.

This was the predicament that King Xerxes was facing. Queen Vashti had embarrassed him by refusing to come, could he sheepishly back down to avoid further conflict? Not according to all his counsel that gathered around him. They urged, persuaded and prodded him to get rid of the Queen - who did this 'woman' think she was - disrespecting her husband like this, who was the King, no less. This certainly gives us a look at the social standards of these days - women, even the queen, did as they were told by their husbands.

We can be appreciative of how good we have it today: to be expected to be treated with respect as a woman. If my husband and I lived in those times - I would've surely been kicked out by now. Thank God for a patient and gracious husband.

So, the only alternative left for the king was to get rid of Vashti - and that's exactly what he did. Of course, since it was sure to spread through the gossip grapevine that this had happened, he then had to send out a letter to everyone in his kingdom announcing her punishment. See if Vashti will ever work in that town again.

This is a reminder to us about how God is good. As Christians, even when we do things that are displeasing to Him, even when we make a bad decision and embarass Him, He will never kick us out - we are forever in His kingdom, and we will always have a job to do...