Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal by Lensey and Lacresha Hayes
Title: Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal
Authors: Lensey and Lacresha Hayes
Publisher: Living Waters Publishing Company
ISBN: 978-0-9814532-3-1
Publication Date: December 2008
Page Count: 180 pages
Price: $19.99
Truth and Intimacy fosters closeness and understanding between couples, helping them to overcome common marriage issues for a longlasting, healthy and happy marriage. With interactive activities, this book will become a close companion for you and your spouse.
Excerpt:
Sexual Intimacy
One of the most sensitive subjects to talk about in the body of Christ is sex. That shouldn’t be so because sex is a major part of intimacy. In fact, it is the place where all that you’ve built outside of the bedroom culminates, whether good or bad. From the beginning of time until now sex has been in the mainstream of all human existence. We must not be shy when it comes to learning more about the purpose of sex. It was designed as an act of worship, reproduction and unity for married couples. God told man to multiply and replenish the earth. How? They had to be intimate. The word “knew” in the Old Testament speaks not just of a man having sex with his wife, but exploring the depths of her innermost being. God knew that it would be pleasurable. I doubt that was an accident.
Because sex is an act and symbol of worship between two people and God, because it is an act of obedience, God wanted us to experience the beauty and grace of what it is to worship Him. Though our society has made sex like a walk in the park that everyone can do, this is not the plan of God. Casual sex will never compare to the fullness of married sex, to the freedom a couple can feel knowing that God has smiled upon and blessed their sexual union.
Maybe you were active before marriage and have lost the beauty of sexual pleasures, but you need to realize that sex before and sex after marriage is two different things altogether. It may be the same movements and actions, but inside a person it is not the same thing. Sex before marriage is fueled by lust and selfishness. Sex after marriage should be fueled by love, understanding, trust and intimate relationship. Sex before marriage is all about you. Sex after marriage needs to be all about your spouse and God.
Intimacy and sex, while two different things, are closely related. They are siblings in the marriage relationship. You need them both, but sex without intimacy is like a cheap date whose name you don’t remember the next morning. Remember that building the right kind of relationship doesn’t happen overnight. Build it. Don’t throw away any opportunity to show your spouse how much you love them, how concerned you are for them, and anything else they might need. Don’t quit if it seems like the sharing and caring isn’t working right away. Nothing worth building can be built in a day, including an understanding and close marriage. You only need to know that it can be done, and that you’re able to do it. Build your intimacy, your sexual life and your friendship. Then, your marriage will be successful.
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
(1 Peter 3:1-4, 7)
Reviews:
“This book is a jaw-dropper from start to finish because it directly attacks the misconceptions of marriage and sets the record straight with biblical and real-life examples.”
- Brian Robertson, MN
“Exceptional, first-rate book of the role of unity and trust in marriage.”
- Sharon Phillips, VT
"Superb writing and inspirational true stories set this book apart from all the rest. With scriptural references and an interactive section, this book has everything all in one."
- Carter Phelps, CA