Hats

HATS by Rachelle Phipps

When you see me in town, then hear about things I do at home, well, it creates a lot of mystery. I kill opossums under my chicken coop one day, holding them up for the world to see on Facebook, and then show up in heels and skinny jeans the next. I'm really not who I seem to be, because I have to wear a lot of hats. I'm wearing the hat of an army wife and have been for over a decade, so I have to be resourceful and resilient and forgiving and sexy (more on that later) all at the same time. I say sexy, because that's how I maintain my sanity and it's a survival mechanism for feeling like I have it all together (plus I believe we should be good-looking for our men -more on that later). The more I look put-together and fashionable, the more you can bet, that it has been a stressful day and I honestly took 18 minutes to do something for myself, for once... As an army wife, my other survival mechanism is ferociously cleaning two days prior to my husband leaving and for a week after he leaves. I've come to realize it's the only thing I feel I have control over in this lifestyle.


I wear the hat of a veteran homeschooling mom and that one is quite puzzling. I'm never sure exactly how I feel about it because some days are amazing and grace-filled and perfect, and some days it feels like a Wild West show in which I created the performers. It's worth it though, especially on the days that I internalize the fact that my five kids are learning more than just academics, but life skills, ability to interact with any age, and a great work ethic (yes, I know they can learn those things in public school too, but let me just have this moment). Mostly, I'm just happy that I get to spend my whole day with them. Honest truth. ‪#‎phippsfamilyhomeschool‬



Speaking of the five children (and maybe more in the future), that's my other hat. I wear the hat of mom to a tribe of quirky kids who detest the questions I get from strangers: "don't you know how that happens?" or the questions they get from strangers: "Is that your sister or your mom?", (speaking of me) and "Why aren't you at school?" I like this hat though; I always wanted 6 or 8 kids and God's been good to us. Being a mom is fantastic work and I can honestly say I love every moment of it. Really. I was only supposed to be the mom of three but now I get to be the mom of five so I cherish every part...every season...every day. ‪#‎soblessed‬


My other hat should be labeled "network marketing enthusiast", because seriously, I wish I could join them all! I dabbled around in two network marketing companies before I found "my people" and "my thang". Yes I said thang, not thing...a thing is something you just do because you have to...a thang is something you're passionate about and good at. So I do my thang and love every minute of it. It's not going away any time soon!! ‪#‎plexusforlife‬
Another hat I wear is "small farm owner" but the farm seems really big when I'm trying to take care of it by myself. This is the hat covered in grass from weed-eating, dirt from gardening, and horse hair from riding bareback on the mare that I've owned since I was 10...I don't like to ride other horses; just her. The kids and I sell chicken and duck eggs on Sunday. Chickens have always been a passion of mine but owning ducks has turned out to be my niche so the "duck-girl" hat isn't getting discarded any time soon, either. There's too much to mention with this farm-woman hat. It encompasses my life...hence the reason I feel the need to dress up, even to church and Awana, or the grocery store. I'm a hillbilly bum, the rest of the time, so that's my only time to feel like a lady! ‪#‎hillbillycharm‬ ‪#‎kybluegrassgirl‬ ‪#‎thatduckgirl‬



One hat that confuses the hell out of me is my "Lover" hat. I'm a wife to someone who is incompatible with me but completes me in every way. Later you'll hear about a hat that is the epitome of antithesis (you know...the opposite of what you would think) and this one is like that hat, except I call it the epitome of contradiction. Everything I am that is good and worthwhile is not what he is. Everything in me that I am terrible or useless at, he excels at. Everything in him that is wonderful and true and pure, I am not even close to being. Everything in him that is undesirable, and worthless, I have an easier time with. Marriage was not created to make you happy. It was created to make you holy and IT WILL, IF YOU LET IT. The marriage hat is the hat I could pull my hair out along with, but I don't. To me, the marriage hat is as serious as the next one I'll be talking about. The commitment hat is what this marriage hat should be called...not always...but always when it can be. It should be sexy too, when it can be. Not always, but when it can be. Not when you're pushing an 8-pound human being into the world, but all other times. Sexy and committed. That's what I try to be. I think those two things will have you covered. You're not going anywhere and you look amazing where you're not going. Done deal. I need a hashtag for this area of my life...how about ‪#‎sexyandstaying‬ Cooking is important too, but I learned the hard way that it's not the most important. Sexy while cooking is snazzy though. Just don't fry bacon naked.



Besides all that I've mentioned and the ones I don't have time to mention, like: sister to three amazing people...friend to many (though I seriously suck at this one)... lover of all things Dwight Yoakam (most of my life- goals revolve around something to do with Dwight ‪#‎timedontmattertome‬ or the TV show LOST)...daughter of two fine people... hater of Pinterest (seriously, I hate Pinterest)... housekeeper (if you know me, this is one thing I do excel at...if nothing else...at least I've succeeded at the cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness thang-->notice I said Thang) ...amateur writer who struggles with security, competency, and capability issues, not to mention...finding the time to write and avoiding dangling modifiers (I definitely had to edit one sentence up there that sounded like I was selling chicken and duck eggs along with my children)...and many other hats that aren't worth listing, my last hat is who I really am under all the fluff. It's the hat that really defines me. I don't think many people know who they really are. They don't know the hat that really defines them. But I do. It's holey, its worn, its the opposite of everything you think it should be, it's been with me since I was 19 and selfish and proud and mean-turned-redeemed. It has stuck with me when I was self-righteous and judgemental and when I didn't deserve to wear it. It hung topsy-turvey, holding on by a thread, when I was heart-broken and desperate for real love and acceptance. When everything else was stripped from me, and I had nothing left to cover the humiliation and nakedness of a raw heart, I wore it because it was all I had left to wear. Even when I had to pin it, to keep it in place, this hat convinced me to keep it on; that it was worth it. When I went through circumstances that would cause most to throw this hat in the air and high-tail it outta there, this hat promised me it would never forsake me, so I didn't forsake it. This hat has seen nights of depression and desperate fighting down in the muck, for my place and purpose...valleys of disappointment, betrayal, confusion, cuss words in my journal, teardrops on the pillow... This hat has been to the mountains of promises fulfilled many times over, blessings bestowed on my undeserving life, the sewing and binding up of a wounded heart, extreme victories over captive, pet, and even non-conscious sins brought to the light. This hat is the real me. This is the hat that Christ himself gave me to wear. The other hats I chose to wear. This hat I chose, but it was also chosen for me in some weird, predestined, theological, way that I can't explain. There's this balance between laying your whole life down and giving up everything, but at the same time taking up something that's being freely given and placing it on your head and the only reason you are wearing it is because Christ chose to put it right there in your path. Christ predestined my path and where it would lead and he placed that hat there for me to find, and there in the slum of life, in the dirt of a twisted trail, I desperately gave up everything (just like I do to this very day), and I chose to place that hat on my head. I choose this hat everyday, but it also chose me. And it's white....Good thing.

Valentines Day 11: Common Interests and Being Mentioned Together...or Mentioned Apart.

Valentines Day 11: Common Interests and Being Mentioned Together...or Mentioned Apart. February 11, 2014 at 7:21am In May 1982, two babies were born. A little boy weighing 8lb 4oz was born into a soldier's family on the 5th, and a little girl weighing 8lb 1oz was born into a soldier's family on the 24th. They were born across the country from each other but born into one family: the United States Army. Eventually, they went to school together, became friends later because of a common interest in horses, found out their dads worked together in the same unit, and as they grew up they discovered many other common interests between them. Many have changed since then, but not all. They both work really hard and enjoy working. One works hard supporting his country, going to war whenever he is asked, and returning stateside where he works equally hard and does his work exceedingly well. The other works hard supporting her country by supporting and encouraging her soldier; not complaining about their duty station, not complaining about long hours, and the many schools, and the other TDY's. She doesn't freak out about his deployments, or ruin his career with her selfish desires. Her husband trusts her and the decisions she makes while he is gone. She seeks to make his stress, less, by not putting her stress on him, but putting it on God. He can focus on his job because he's not focused on stress at home. This is what makes an army husband and wife, a GOOD TEAM! The army has been in their blood since birth. It's obviously a common interest but even more-so, it is the avenue by which God is weaving a crazy tapestry of trial and triumph, pain and joy, making mistakes and learning, knowing apathy and by it, knowing passion, seeing weakness and being made strong, breaking and being healed, and knowing about God and knowing God....a story which could be over but is still being written. Glory. I wonder if Priscilla and Aquila (Acts chapter 18) have a tapestry anything like mine and James? I wonder what their life together was like, before Christ? Did you ever stop to wonder how they became the most dynamic duo in scripture? People don't just start out like that. They grow into it. I wonder what their testimony is. I wonder what mistakes they made. I can't wait to meet them in heaven. ***rabbit trail ahead*** I understands exactly how you could "spend eternity in heaven".... Meeting all the glorious people of scripture, hearing their stories, asking them my questions, seeing each and every tapestry right before my eyes, worshipping God through what he did in millions and billions of other people's tapestries. If you think worshipping God in heaven will get old, I'm not sure you have the right idea of how you will be worshipping him. Worship isn't just singing and bowing down. Worshipping God is praising him when you see your whole tapestry in front of you and you see exactly why things happened like they did. Worshipping God is praising him when Priscilla and Aquila show you their tapestry and tell you what God did to develop them into the best husband and wife team of the Bible. Worshipping God is asking to be introduced to Noah's wife and finally finding out what her name is and praising God for leaving her as a mysterious example to us, in how to be an excellent wife. Worshipping God is hearing and marveling as Job tells us the story of each of his tears and exactly why each one fell. If you think the stories of the bible get old and boring, you are missing out on so much that God has for you. If you aren't in love with the Word of God, if reading it isn't like sitting at a four course meal, if you don't long for God's Word, and you don't wonder about things in it, maybe your spiritual life isn't what God could make it if you approached His Word like a little child. <3 ***Rabbit trail finished*** Did you know that Priscilla and Aquila were always mentioned together? You never see one or the other named in scripture, alone. It's always, "Priscilla and Aquila did this"...or, "Aquila and Priscilla did that". What an amazing concept, not seen anywhere else in the Bible. What if when God tells our story in heaven, he says, "and James and Rachelle did this and James and Rachelle did that and James and Rachelle went here and then they went there and I was with them the whole time....and this is why they went there and this is why that happened and this was all for my glory and all because James and Rachelle didn't give up and they trusted in me". Priscilla and Aquila risked their very lives for Paul (Romans 16:3-5). They came together in their strengths and common interests (both Jews, both Tentmakers, both hospitable, both helping each other to run the church that was in their home (l Corinthians 16:19), both concerned for Paul, and both effective in ministry, especially with Apollos) and served God together to form a united team. I pray that marriages, especially my own, would capitalize on common interests for the Glory of God, and that husbands and wives would be "mentioned together" and not "mentioned apart". I pray that God would be allowed to capitalize on their strengths and common interests, and that husbands and wives would have open, willing, pliable and teachable hearts and hands, so that the message of Christ is not hindered. And I pray that one day, in heaven, your tapestry will be rolled out in front of you and other curious believers, and it will read just like Priscilla and Aquila's, with you and your spouse's names always together! "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. "(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NASB) http://youtu.be/WnDTDLOM0rY

Valentines Day 12 ~ The Mysterious Lady and the Patient Man

Valentines Day 12: The Mysterious Lady and The Patient Man *Disclsimer: this devotional contains some dramatization* She isn't named in scripture. She's one of the only women in scripture who is part of a huge story and isn't named. She and her husband's story take up four whole chapters in Genesis...Genesis 5:28-9:29...the story of Noah and the flood. Remember I mentioned in day two that some people's stories are so special that maybe only their name is recorded in scripture? Their special story is reserved for "storytime" in heaven, and we are left to wonder. Noah's wife's story must be extra special, then, because we aren't even given her name, or any details about her. The only thing we know about her was that she was Noah's wife and she was one of the only 8 people saved from the worldwide flood. Or is it? It's really not. She was a mother to three sons, who were righteous, hard-working, faithful men. Answers in Genesis, says that the maximum years it took to build the ark was 75 years. For possibly 75 YEARS, Shem, Ham, and Japheth worked faithfully alongside their father building an ark...an ark that was nowhere near water....an ark that likely caused much ridicule from others. And yet, they built, and God saved them and their wives. Noah's wife HELPED RAISE STRONG, COMMITTED SONS! Noah was the only one to find favor with God. Scripture says he walked with God and was righteous. He is in Hebrews 11, because he was full of faith in God. He very likely led his wife and sons well. Noah's wife was "led". Let's put it this way: Noah's wife allowed herself to be led. She was probably submissive and respectful. While other wives likely be-rated and teased her for "following her crazy husband", she respectfully obeyed him! She didn't leave, so it shows that she also trusted her husband, and that takes respect. Noah's wife was RESPECTFUL AND SUBMISSIVE! Noah's wife likely gathered food and preserved it for the time they would be in the ark, helped bring tools and nails for Noah, and she very likely brought her husband water and his meals every day for 75 years, while he built the ark. She helped him build a humongous ship. The path from their house to the ship was likely worn into ruts! Noah's wife was HELPFUL, THOUGHTFUL, and STRONG! She was his perfect helpmate. Only the 8 people who God initially said could be saved in the ark, were saved. This means that for 75 years, Noah and his family probably begged and pleaded for people to listen to them, and no one did. On the flip side, for 75 years, people likely ridiculed, teased, and spoke badly of Noah's family, persecuting them with their words. Imagine Noah's wife, working in her garden and being approached by other women, and being told such things as this, "Why are you wasting your time? How can you follow your weird husband's ideas? Don't you think you could use your talents in a better way? What if the flood never comes, won't you feel like an idiot? ...you ARE an idiot!" Noah's wife KNEW HER IDENTITY, and showed FORTITUDE, and strength of CHARACTER. She was full of DETERMINATION and PERSEVERANCE. Three other women were saved in the ark. Surprisingly, (but actually NOT surprisingly) their names are not listed either. They were much younger than Noah's wife. I can imagine them all in the garden together and Noah's wife saying, "Girls, don't listen to them...we are following our husband's lead and we are trusting God. Don't let anything they say, cause you to take your eyes off The Lord. We are going to work hard and we will learn many lessons through this. It will be worth it." Think a little deeper...these three women had parents...they had sisters and brothers...they had friends. They all DIED in the flood. Without Noah's wife, those women would have likely caved under the pressure of their families and friends. Noah's wife was a ROLE-MODEL, a MENTOR, a GODLY OLDER WOMAN!! Imagine the day that the flood started coming. First a little rain. No big deal. But by the second or third day there are hundreds of people who are getting concerned. God has shut the door of the ark. Inside, four women huddle up. Four men are there with them. The men look at each other as they hold their sobbing wives. Outside people are pounding on the door. Some of them are the families of the three women. Some of them are friends of the eight people in the ark. The women are crying, but they know they cannot open the door. The people must die because of their choices. As the tears and sobbing begin to subside, an elderly man and woman are the ones who guide and comfort the other 6 people. They allow everyone to grieve. They set their chins, and keep their eyes on God. They pray. And in time, those 6 people realize the wisdom of Noah and his wife. Noah's wife COULD CONTROL HER EMOTIONS AND WAS LOOKED UP TO AS A TEACHER. SHE WAS LIKELY RESPECTED BY ALL. The 8 people spend over 190 days in the ark (some bible believing scientists say it's possible that they were in the ark for a total of 370 days). They shovel manure out of a back window. They feed and water animals (these are just my thoughts and I could be wrong, as God could have supernaturally cared for all of them in miraculous ways ---no feeding and watering and manure shoveling, necessary). They make meals in a smelly boat. They get irritated with each other. They get "ark fever". With time they learn to live with one another in peace. Noah's wife NEVER STOPPED GROWING. She never stopped LEARNING. But all this, however great it makes Noah's wife look, isn't all I want to share. Noah's wife wasn't perfect, just like each of us aren't perfect. Think of some things she may have struggled with. Maybe she struggled with doubt, great fear, and likely weariness, exhaustion, and impatience. "How long is this boat going to take...how many more meals must I bring for these men...how many more snide remarks must I hear from other women....? I'm going crazy....Lord, please help me!!" But there was this man. A good man. A righteous man. A man who walked with God. And lucky for Noah's wife, she got the blessing of being married to him. If Noah's wife showed any of the qualities I listed above, Noah showed them in greater measure. If there's a man in scripture that I would label as a "husband who sanctified his wife, and cleansed her with the washing of water (no pun intended!) with the Word, and presented his wife spotless and blameless (Ephesians 5:25-33) it would be Noah. No woman could have done what Noah's wife did, without a man like Noah must have been. But his greatest quality, I believe, is shown when the flood waters started receding. It is the quality I believe, that nurtured and cultivated the greatness of Noah's wife. Noah opened the window and sent out a raven and dove. There was nowhere for the dove to land so she came back (the raven never came back into the ark. He continually flew back and forth, likely resting on the ark---there is likely much symbolism with the raven and dove but I don't have time to research it). Noah WAITED seven days, then sent her out again. Then Noah WAITED seven more days and sent her out again. And this was after WAITING 40 days and nights while the earth flooded and 150 more days while the water stayed on the earth (and could have possible waited a total of 370). If it had been me, I would have been opening the window daily, and very impatiently! Noah was patient and I believe this is why his wife became excellent. Carefully, precisely, accurately, and patiently, Noah spent 75 years of his life building a boat, perfectly. Patiently, he oversaw the work of his three sons. Patiently, he encouraged his wife to keep going EVERY. GRUELING. DAY. for 75 long years. Quietly, calmly, faithfully Noah led a family in a boat for many, many days. Patiently, Noah told them, "we will wait seven more days and then open the window...occupy your minds, find something to do, and stop complaining". And then one day, 8 weary survivors stepped out onto dry land, alive....but also wiser, with many life lessons under their belts. Noah walked with God. Noah BUILT with God. Noah BUILT not only a boat, but a family, a legacy, an example for us, and he sanctified his wife. She was excellent because of him. He was excellent because of her. He was patient with her and led her rightly. She helped him, supported him, encouraged him, fed him. At the end of the day, maybe he hauled and heated her some bath water. Maybe at the end of the day she massaged his weary muscles. http://youtu.be/i6X71sXagUY

Valentines Day 13 ~ Apple Trees and Lilies

Valentines Day 13 ~ Apple Trees and Lilies. February 13, 2014 at 7:21am In a farming community about 60 miles from Jerusalem, a young, low-class, peasant woman tended a vineyard that belonged to King Solomon. The king saw her and couldn't get her out of his mind. He disguised himself as a shepherd and returned to the vineyard to win her love. Eventually, this young king revealed his true identity and brought the young Shulammite to Jerusalem, to be his wife. It's such a tender story and it's likely true that this low-class woman was not Solomon's first or only wife (as indicated in Song of Solomon 6:8-9), but she was his one true love. The first thing you notice when you read the Song of Solomon is that this woman was very insecure in her beauty. Her skin was dark from working out in the sun, while women of Jerusalem had light, delicate skin. She claims that she "had neglected her own vineyard", which indicates that she thought she could be more attractive if she had the time. She likely didn't have the time or resources to make herself as attractive as the other women she knew and saw. She even likens herself to a Rose of Sharon and a Lily of the Valleys, very common flowers of Israel, indicating that she felt she wasn't anything special. The young king is quick with a response saying that she is like a lily among thorns, to indicate that he thought she was extraordinary. From the very beginning, she as well, is quick to distinguish how special Solomon is by saying that he is like an apple tree among a forest of ordinary trees. As the Song of Solomon progresses, you see the king build this insecure woman up, until her confidence oozes from every verse of this exquisite and provocative book of the Bible. It's a beautiful story and God includes it in scripture because marriage, sex, and standards of beauty are important to him. It is also an allegory of how the Lord views us, his Bride. There is much spiritual symbolism, which I don't have the time to go into. Standards of beauty are not what they should be, today. A pendulum swings either too far to the left or the right. In the past, the standard of beauty was thinness. Recently, the standard of beauty has dismissed thin women, calling them a range of horrible bad names as well as stating that they are unhealthy. The standard of beauty now, is you must have a lot of curves and thickness, or you are not a real woman. There's no in between. There's no break for the naturally thin woman who is healthy, and no break for the naturally heavier woman who is trying to stay healthy. This standard of beauty also affects men. Some men are tall and thin, some are short and heavier, some are more muscular. Hollywood is very clear on what makes a man sexy. He must be tall, dark, muscular, and highly sexual. Virtuous men and women are not considered valuable, anymore, by today's secular society. Today, sin is prevalent, accepted, tolerated, and even encouraged and glorified. But, even Solomon himself stated, "There is nothing new under the sun." The very same sins that affect us today, are the same sins of biblical times. Solomon's downfall was, in essence, a loss of his previous standard of beauty, which resulted in lust and idolatry. The young Shulammite woman, his perfect one, his dove, was no longer enough for him. He formed alliances with foreign nations by marrying foreign women. The alliances gave him power but even that power wasn't enough. The foreign women pulled him into idolatry, which weakened his once strong relationship with God, until his loyalty to God was obsolete. It can happen to anyone, even the wisest man who ever lived. The man who asked for wisdom above all else....the man who wrote over 3000 proverbs, including one which states, "to rejoice in the wife of your youth, and be satisfied with her only" (proverbs 5:16-19), and warned us over and over about committing adultery, even giving us the consequences of it....committed spiritual adultery, and likely physical adultery, as well. It cost Solomon his relationship with God, probably the relationship he had with the Shulammite (if she was in fact, a real person), and it cost him the slow collapse of his kingdom. But before we go dismissing this king, as good-for-nothing, a disgrace, or a failure, let's remember that some time elapsed between the time he wrote the Song of Solomon and Proverbs and the time that he wrote the beautiful book of Ecclesiastes; one of my favorite books of the Bible. Solomon didn't go to the grave still sinning, still worshipping idols, still seeking power, and obsessing over women. When everything around him started collapsing and he was left with the consequences of his actions, a repentant attitude began to take root in his heart. A sadness began to overtake him. A book of the Bible that holds many lessons for us was written. Something beautiful came from the ashes of his life of vain pursuit. The melancholy tone of Ecclesiastes, lends to his feelings of repentance, humility, and gratefulness to God. He couldn't escape the consequences of his actions, but he could warn others, and that is what makes this king very endearing to me. At the end of his life, he reflected on all that he had done and said all of it was meaningless, without a relationship with, and fear of God, and an obedience to his commands. Solomon's sin started with discontentment, selfishness, and a covetous attitude. In Ecclesiastes, you can almost hear the sadness when he states, "Enjoy life with the woman whom you love, all the days of your fleeting life" (Eccl 9:9). It's almost as if he regrets not being able to do just that. He regrets not being able to enjoy that one woman he loved and letting her set his standard of beauty. I think she was the Shulammite, but by this time, it was too late for him to make it right. He wrote Ecclesiates out of the bitterness of his heart, so people would seek true happiness in God first, for he knew that in doing so, all other things would naturally fall into place! Please set your spouse as your standard of beauty. Let no one or no thing be more beautiful than her or him, except God himself. If you haven't done this in the past, and you are still breathing, you can still heed the advice all through Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and you can take lessons in how to build your spouse up, from the Song of Solomon. You have time. Solomon didn't. Tell your wife she is beautiful, this Valentines Day and everyday after. Tell your husband he is handsome, this Valentines Day and everyday after. Let nothing come between you two. ~ •~•~•~•~•~•~ If you have been wounded and your self-esteem crushed, and you see no way out of the mindset you have about yourself or how others view you, the first place to start is to discover what God's Word says about you. If you don't have a solid foundation about how God sees you, there will be no launching pad, to later see yourself accurately. There are many verses where you can start, like Psalm 139, and First Peter chapter 3. If no one has helped you to rightly view yourself, but instead they have hindered you, forgiveness is in order, but mostly I would suggest to you, to let God set your standard. He created you and loves you and sees you as his perfectly beautiful creation!! <3 This woman overcame being viewed as the ugliest woman in the world. As I watched this, she became more and more beautiful to me, and I'll always love this video! http://youtu.be/R0OV92Yyl20 Dove Beauty Sketches, another video I love to watch now and again: http://youtu.be/litXW91UauE Just for fun: http://youtu.be/oartIE7rKuM Sobering song from Natalie Grant, that shows what happens when a woman becomes wounded, but how God can heal it: http://youtu.be/i6RezoHKni0 The truth: http://youtu.be/p9PjrtcHJPo

Valentines Day 14 ~ House of Cedar, Rafters of Fir

February 14, 2014 · Happy Valentine's Day ~Day 14~ House of Cedar, Rafters of Fir ***warning: this devotional contains sexual content :)*** There are hundreds of beautiful and provocative word pictures in the Song of Solomon, that average people miss, including myself. I understand some of the word pictures because I've studied the bible quite a bit, but I'm sure that I miss all kinds of things. The average American would read the Song of Solomon and scratch his head when he reads such phrases as, "Strengthen me with Raisin cakes", "The mandrakes send out their fragrance", or "His body is like polished ivory decorated with sapphires". The imagery is very interesting, poetic, and beautiful when you understand the culture. Raisin cakes were thought to increase fertility and were considered Aphrodisiacs, so when you read chapter 2, verses 3-6, you might raise your eyebrows a bit, now that you know why raisins were considered so special. Mandrakes are a very poisonous plant from the nightshade family but they are mentioned in 7:13, because their aroma has 55 odiferous constituents which create bizarre chemical aromas, which heighten sexuality, indicating that even in that culture certain scents were used and enjoyed to enhance sex. Some of the descriptions used when the Shulammite or Solomon compliment each other's body, don't mean what we think they mean. In the original and/or poetic language, it actually means something different. In 5:14 where Solomon's body is mentioned as polished ivory, it's not talking about his body. This is a reference pulled from where ivory comes from (the elephant's tusk), thus she is complimenting his male genitalia. She adds that his polished ivory is decorated with sapphires (which are almost always blue), clearly referencing his testicles. Many prudish commentators dismiss these references saying that Solomon wore a white garment with jewels on it. Umm...I highly doubt clothes were even on the radar when Solomon wrote this. Chapter 5, verses 10-16, clearly progress from his head all the way down to his feet, and back up to his mouth. If Solomon was writing about clothes, he would have stated so. The Shulammite is clearly complimenting every part of his unclothed body. God meant sex to be beautiful, erotic, and provocative. That's why he included the Song of Solomon in His Word. God created sex and designed it to be just how Solomon described it. It should be enjoyable, passionate, satisfying for both, interesting, creative, sometimes spontaneous, and there should be variety, quality, and sufficient quantity. Sex is one wall of the protective fence around your marriage, meant to help protect the marriage from outside influences. My most favorite word picture in the Song of Solomon is found in chapter 1, verse 17..."The beams of our house are cedars, our rafters are fir." In the original language, fir would be translated as Cypress, the strongest wood available at that time. Cedar trees are humongous trees, with pleasant-smelling wood, bark, and needles. If you have ever been to North Idaho, you know the absolute pleasure of resting under a huge cedar tree. The smell is intoxicating, the size absolutely breath-taking, and the protection, perfectly adequate. Animals consistently seek out Cedar trees in rainy and snowy weather, for shelter. The feathery leaves of the cedar tree and the thickness of the foliage creates a wonderful canopy and umbrella-like shelter. We always fed our animals their hay under the cedar trees, and I remember on more than one occasion running under cedar trees when an unexpected rain storm hit. You can stay completely dry under a cedar tree. Cedar trees are also highly resistant to rot. Sex in marriage is meant to be like a home made of the strongest wood available, and like the protection of a cedar tree. Sex in marriage should strengthen the relationship but also be as intoxicating and protective as the cedar tree. The sexual relationship should be one area that helps weather storms in life, not an area that creates storms. Pornography, extra-marital affairs, sex-trafficking, and abuse create storms in the sexual relationship, in the view of sex, and in the marriage relationship. Sex is meant to be an oasis in the marriage; the shelter we can run to when we are sad, stressed, and weary....where we can find refreshment, rest, and love. The sexual relationship should be protected at all costs. Sex is the gift God gives at marriage. Sex is the avenue that a husband and wife become one flesh. Sex is how God chose to seal the covenant of marriage, through consummation. Sex is to be taken very seriously, not treated as a casual pleasure. The beauty of this gift from God is absolutely astounding. Only a creative, loving, caring, fun-loving God could create a male and a female, with body parts that perfectly suit each other. Only a God who desires intimacy with his creation could create this kind of intimacy available to man and wife. Only a God who loves children could give us this most pleasurable means of having them. If God looked at everything he had created, including sex, and said it was good, then it is truly good. If God can create funny animals like kangaroos, the platypus, and walruses, then he must have thoroughly enjoyed making them and laughing at them, as we do. God enjoyed creating this world and all that is in it, thus he enjoyed creating sex, and we should enjoy it, too. If God is pure and holy, then his creation of sex is pure and holy. Please don't ruin it. Solomon ruined it (see day 13), and regretted it the rest of his life. I pray that this Valentine's Day you would come to have a right view of sex, and enjoy it fully, the way God intended. I pray that you would protect it's sacredness, and cultivate it in your marriage just like you would cultivate a garden, if you want to get something out of it...with care, diligence, and attention. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* When Valentine's Day rolls around, don't approach it with dread, casualness, or apathy. In doing a brief study of St Valentine, I discovered three things we can apply to sex and marriage and can actually celebrate and remember in February! 1: Sex and marriage is holy, pure, and right. 2: Sex is one way that helps protect our marriage 3: We will be persecuted for our correct and biblical view of sex and marriage, but God will be with us. Legend has it, that St. Valentine was sought after by soldiers because he would perform Christian marriages for them. Soldiers were prohibited from marrying in Valentine's time, because people thought marriage would distract them from their job. But somewhere deep inside all of us, including those soldiers, is the desire to be holy, pure, and right. St. Valentine gave them a way to enjoy marriage and sex in the way that made them holy, pure, and right. Another legend says, that St. Valentine wore an amethyst ring, and the soldiers would look for the man who wore that ring, so he could perform their marriages, secretly. Amethyst was thought to be a protection against intoxication, but not only that; a protection in battle. Marriage is a battle and is under attack. Sex is one way that helps protect our marriages from the enemy, people, or things that wage war against it. There's no mystery in why Amethyst is the birthstone for February; the month we celebrate St. Valentine. St. Valentine helped persecuted Christians. We will be persecuted and made fun of, for our biblical worldview and biblical view of marriage. St. Valentine was martyred for his faith. Would you be willing to be martyred for yours? Would you lay down your life for Christ, the one who gave you life? You can begin by laying down your life for your spouse....by making marriage a picture of Christ....by treating sex as holy, and protecting it. These things could change the world. <3 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! <3