Reading Books in the Bathtub can be Good for your Marriage

Cracked me up! 

 This morning a young mom thanked me publicly for the impact of  my book Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives in her parent's marriage. She gave the book to her mom who loves baths. Her dad found her mom in the bathtub reading Drained Wives.  Observing that the first reflection was titled "My Wedding Began in a Church —  My Marriage Began in a Bathtub" he hopped into the tub with his wife!

Oh my!

The daughter reports that was the beginning of their reading Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives every night together in the bathtub.

Well, I never intended that scenario when I wrote "My Marriage Began in a Bathtub." But, as my lawyer son would say, "It's legal!" And as my Pastor husband would say, "It's commanded!"

"The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time. . ." 1 Corinthians 7:4-5

 

 

A writer never knows how or WHERE her words will work in a life. This I do know: A good number of wives bought Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives this morning.  I'm making no assumptions. I'm just sayin' there are some hubbies who might want to grab a towel! Wink!

 

You can order autographed copies of Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives at the bookstore on this website.

 

 

 

I'm not sure this was a splash of serenity, but it sure was a splash that made me laugh!

 

 

Rock Solid Husbands Talk About Rock Solid Marriages

Thank you to Diane Markins' mention of We All Married Idiots in her Bold Living radio show! You can listen above as she speaks to two rock solid young husbands and hears from them what makes a rock solid marriage.

This Easter week, let's remember that God forgave us and Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Three days later God resurrected Jesus from the dead.

No matter what you and/or your beloved have done, God forgives and He commands you to forgive any who offends you. Look up and let God take your dead life and your dead marriage and make it alive again. I know He can do this, because He did it for me. This I know: We have a ROCK SOLID SAVIOR in Jesus Christ!

Blessed Easter, my friends! The greatest splash of serenity of all comes in the peace Jesus brings to a life and a marriage surrendered to Him!

3 Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and 10 Things You Can

What a blast I had last weekend speaking on marriage at the Big Flats Wesleyan Church.

"In the Beginning God Created ... Sex" was the topic Saturday night. Couples strolled into the sanctuary having no idea what this old woman was going to teach them about sex. We had fun as I explained what the Bible says about sexual intimacy within marriage. Soon the couples were laughing and at ease with this subject knowing that sexual intimacy was God's first blessing and His most obeyed command. Genesis 1:28 says, "then God blessed them and said, 'be fruitful and multiply...." Yes Sir, God blesses sexual intimacy in marriage.

After the teaching, the couples had two hours of free babysitting (great idea, Big Flats Wesleyan) to enjoy a date night. These hours were given for the couple to enjoy going out to dinner, but at least one couple eagerly announced to the group: "We're not going out to dinner. After that talk, we're going home!" Woo Hoo!

The next morning I delivered my message, "3 Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and 10 Things You Can." You can listen to it here: http://www.sermoncloud.com/bfwc/20130317-3-things-youll-never-change-about-your-marriage-10-things-you-can/

What joy filled my heart (and God's too, I'm sure) when nearly every couple came to the altar to seek God's best for their marriage, to repent of sin in their marriage, and to dedicate their lives to each other before God.

If you would like more marriage help, I suggest you read my marrige  books.

Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives is available on this website, and contains the reflection, "In the Beginning God Created . . . Sex."

We All Married Idiots contains the Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can. Also available on this website or on Amazon or B&N or ChristianBook.com and on Kindle and Nook. See http://www.amazon.com/We-All-Married-Idiots-Marriage/dp/0984765522/ to order on Amazon.

I hope you listen to my talk and allow God to bless your marriage with splashes of serenity like you've never known before. Afterall, He wants to give you a marriage greater than you ever imagined!

Ten Ways to Glorify God in Your Marriage Bed

My book's title, We All Married Idiots, grabs people's attention. But the meat of this book is found in the sub-title, Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can.

Using the chapter titles of the Ten Things You Can, I hope you enjoy my spin on the ten ways you can put more love and more life into your love life. Have fun!



1. Loosen Up! Ask someone what first attracted them to their spouse and the answer may be, "Their smile." So loosen up! Laugh! Smile! Nothing says "Kiss me!" more than a happy face.

2. Strip Down! Oops! Did I say that? No. God did. In Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) He says,

 ". . . let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up."

We need to strip ourselves of sin that makes us unattractive to God and to our lovers. Sins like grumbling, lust, anger . . . all sin; you name it, keeps our bedrooms from being the happy place God intended.

3. Let Go! Thoughts of  laundry to do, Billy's homework isn't done, what should I make for dinner, problems at the office, all can occupy our minds during love making.  Don't bring your "to do" list to the bedroom. I guarantee while making love, you won't be able to do any of it. So, let go of these thoughts, concentrate on your lover, and enjoy!

4. Hold On! Your honey wants to get frisky, but your honey's character flaws turn you off. No one is perfect. Don't let thoughts of your sweetheart's failures enter your mind while making love. This is the time to hold on to the good and remember all the wonderful traits you love about your spouse.

5. Settle Down! Angry? Well, settle down. Anger has no place in your marriage bed.  Sexual abstinence will not solve your marital difficulties. Settle anger outside the bedroom walls because your bedroom is reserved as your play ground not your boxing ring.

6. Make Nice! Making nice is foreplay for the night ahead. No one wants to make love with a mate who makes mean. Remember, your lover desires to be treasured, not trampled.

7. Cheer On! If you want an example of cheering on your lover during lovemaking, read Solomon's Song of Songs. Wow! For example, "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant." Song of Songs 1: 15-16. Words of affection and affirmation do much to cheer your honey on toward sexual pleasure.

8. Sit Tight! There really are times your beloved has a headache. Understanding and treating your love  tenderly during "headache" days will reap future rewards in your love life. Sit tight, be patient, and wait for a better day.

9. Give up! There will be days you won't desire your spouse, but your spouse desires you. I suggest you give up and ask God to give you passion for your husband or wife.  God says, "Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's sexual needs . . . Don't withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together. . . " 1 Corinthians 7: 3, 5. Prayer is an amazing power God gives to us. As we pray and invite God into our bedroom, asking The Almighty to help us respond to our lover's desires, we may be shocked at His answer. Prayer before and during lovemaking is the best foreplay of all. God wants to bless your marriage bed. He really does! Just ask Him.

10. Look up! The sparks aren't flying. There's no desire at all. Now what should you do? Look up! Ask God to help you and your beloved enjoy sexual intimacy as He planned for a husband and a wife. Loosen up, strip down, let go, hold on, settle down, make nice, cheer on, sit tight, give up, and look up. I suspect God will give you a marriage relationship better than you ever asked or imagined.

I have a passion for marriages, which is why I love promoting my book, We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can. Available wherever books are sold and on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/We-All-Married-Idiots-Marriage/dp/0984765522/

Splashes of Serenity and joy prayed for you and your beloved!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Elaine and Dan

In the Beginning God Created . . . Sex

I love a blizzard! Others do too. Afterall, there will be a baby boom  in nine months because tonight all of the Northeast USA is snowed under. What could be more romantic than the snow falling, the streets closed, and no chance of anyone surprising you at your door.

Plus, we're less than a week from Valentine's Day. Love is in the air.

Praying your love life will Flourish this weekend and forever. Why not check out the Love and Sex issue of Flourish magazine. It's FREE at www.FlourishLiving.com.

 

 

Enjoy the article written by me to you in hopes the sexual intimacy between you and your spouse will flourish! It's all right to enjoy this time with your beloved because we know that in the beginning, God created . . . sex. God created the snow and He created us to enjoy our marriage. He blessed a married couple's intimate relationship. It's all right! Enjoy!!! Have fun!!!

 

"Then God blessed them [Adam and Eve] and said, 'Be fruitful and multiply. . ." Genesis 1:28

 



 

Snowflakes and love are in the air! May your love flourish as God blesses your marriage bed with Splashes of Serenity!

It's Time for Christians to Take Back Their Bedrooms!

Love and sex?  Shhh! Christians don't talk or write about such things. Well God certainly did!

Hollywood has us believing that sex is a dirty topic.

 Let's remember that the sexual relationship between husband and wife was the first blessing in the Bible. In Genesis 1:28 ". . . God blessed them [Adam and Eve] and said, 'Be fruitful and multiply." Woo hoo, God! Thank you for this blessing.

God instructs further in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 "Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's sexual needs . . . Don't withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together. . . " What can I say? 

What God meant as sacred, the world has made sleezy. What God meant as pure, the world has putrified. Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus said it well in their powerful book, Intimate Issues.

I think it's time for Christians to take back their bedrooms!

Dan and I teach marriage retreats. "Please teach us about sex" is the number one request received from Christian couples. Wow! That's an eye opener not to be ignored.

I fear Christians are believing  the Hollywood lie and bringing that distorted and disgusting influence to their marriage bed.

Flourish Magazine dedicated their January/February issue to Love and Sex. This fine Christian magazine blessed me with a request for an article.

Here's the great news: IT'S FREE! The Love and Sex Issue is available on-line at no charge. Check it out at www.Flourishliving.com.

My heart is for marriages to flourish. The sexual relationship between husband and wife is a gift from God to you. Open your gift and enjoy God's blessing on your marriage.

My books Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives (available for order on this website) and We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can will also help you enjoy marital intimacy to it's fullest!

May God splash serenity on your marriage bed!