Category: romantic fiction

Yet To Be #133

Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.

Prayer Warrior Watches

Be on the alert.
As we wait for Him to answer, to accept our praise, our thanksgiving, we are to watch for Him, to look to Him.
Not waiting with anxiety but remaining positive.
There should be anticipation in our eyes and our words as we talk with him.
He is our friend, our guide, our master.
Not to be commanded by us.
Not to be persuaded by well-designed words.
He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities and knows all things.
Thus, he cannot deny himself the compassion he has for his children.
Knowing this, we need to wait in simple faith and take heed.
Lest a little slumber, a little sleep our confidence begins to dwindle in quietness.
Our eyes can skip off from him.
Temptation can loom large before our sight with the lazy smile of seduction.
Without a doubt, we can slip, lose our stance and stumble headlong into the trap of the enemy.
Best to remain vigilant with our eyes fixed on Him, always alert and on the lookout knowing with all confidence and certainty, he answers all our prayers.

Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

My Ode to Romance – Happy Valentine’s Day

Make this day special…

#14 of 14

Valentine’s Day

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?

Books, Old, Romance, Literature, Used, Historically

 It is universally known as a day when couples celebrate their love.  But for others this day is a day to show kindness and compassion. 

Sharing a friendly word or doing simple acts of kindness is the key. 

For example: making that extra run to the grocery store for a family member or neighbour, holding a door for someone coming up behind, nodding a hello, making a call to an old friend or going down memory lane with a sweet smile by yourself, makes all the difference.  Make this day special for others or just for yourself. 

Happy Valentine’s Day.

“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2 verse 10

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Eat, drink and be merry.

13 of 14 The Origins of Valentine’s Day

Anthonis van Dyck 001.jpg
Cupid and Psyche – Anthony Van Dyck

February 14th was first a pagan feast day which was later changed by Pope Gelasius 1 in AD 496 to a Christian feast day to honour Valentine. There are many legends surrounding this day claiming Saint Valentine as a priest who was martyred in AD 269 for his kindness and love to the persecuted Christians in Rome. Then later in the 14th and 15th centuries, Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love.

“Because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry.”  Ecclesiastes 8 verse 15

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

love suffers long and is kind

12 of 14 Characteristics of Love

Love suffers long and is kind;

Love envies not;

Love vaunteth( boasted about) not itself;

Is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not

Her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

But rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,

Endureth all things.

Love never fails. ( 1 Corinthians 13 verse 4 to 8)

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

The 5 Love Languages

#11 of 14 Touch

Physical touch – being close to and caressed by your partner (Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages) Romantically, touch is a way of giving and receiving love.

Touch is a fundamental form of non–visual perception, one that plays a crucial role in nearly all of our sensory experiences (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2021)

“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved.” Song of Solomon 2 verse 17a

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me

#10 of 14 My Favorite Love Poems

“I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me” – Song of Solomon 7 verse 10

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.  Love is not love which alters when it alternations finds” – William Shakespeare (Sonnet 116)

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Sonnet 43)

“Grow old along with me the best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made” – Robert Browning

“O my Luve is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve is like the melody that’s sweetly played in tune” – Robert Burns

“Drink to me only with thine eyes and I will pledge with mine or leave a kiss within the cup, and I’ll not ask for wine” – Ben Jonson 1616

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave” Song of Solomon 8 verse 6

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

setting a romantic mood to a memorable evening.

#9 of 14 Setting the Mood

Setting a romantic mood to a memorable evening can consist of wine, chocolate and candlelight. All three of these items separately or together make an evening light and full of love.  Wine brings a couple joy as they set aside time together.  Chocolate is a natural sex enhancer as it promotes blood flow to the sexual organs, increases sensation, satisfaction and desire because it contains a certain amino acid called L-arginine. Candlelight or dim lighting dilates the pupils very similar to the reaction experienced when two people are attracted to each other.  

“but I found him whom soul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go.” Song of Solomon 3 verse 4

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Many waters cannot quench love

#7 of 14 Love

Ophelia

Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure.[1][2] An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment.[3] (Wikipedia.org 2021)

“Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8 verse 7

My Ode to Romance Countdown to Valentine’s Day

Attraction means a person or thing that draws, allures

#6 of 14 Attraction

Romantically speaking, a person can be attracted to another person by the way they look, how they move, how they smell, what they say and even how they say it. For example, when meeting someone for the first time, the senses are immediately invoked and heightened, leading to the creation of either a positive or negative assessment. 

Attraction means a person or thing that draws, allures or entices and scientifically speaking, there is such a thing as an magnetic force where opposites attract.

“Draw me, we will run after thee.” Song of Solomon 1 verse 4

My Ode to Romance Countdown To Valentine Day

Chivalry is still alive today

#2 of 14 Chivalry

“Love suffers long and is kind” 1Corinthians 13:4

Tristram and Isolde, 1916 - John William Waterhouse
Tristram and Isolde by William John Waterhouse- 1916

In medieval times, acts of chivalry were used by knights to demonstrate commitment, respect, compassion and trust as well as to show noble bravery to a lady when pursuing an honourable relationship with her. 

Chivalry is still alive today and can be seen in acts of kindness such as opening a door, pulling out a chair or as simple as returning a warm greeting.  Valentine’s Day supports a somewhat chivalrous behaviour by the giving of flowers, chocolate, having a candlelight dinner or showing love and compassion to others in kind words and deeds.