I am not worthy. I am not qualified. I am functionally celibate. However, here goes.<P><B>1. Do you feel your sexual relationship with your husband is good, not good, or somewhere in between? Why? Regardless of what it is now, write a prayer asking God's covering over it and blessing on it.</B><P>Not good. I am wrapped in selfishness. My pains, discomforts and rapid-fire repeating yeast infections this summer have me sleeping on a recliner rather than in the marital bed. He wants to snuggle and I have no space in my couch or my heart.<P><I>Dear Heavenly Father, <P>Forgive me for being a pig! I have sinned against my husband and against thy will. Please soften my heart to perceive my DH's feelings and generosity of spirit that is growing within his heart. Give me a desire to be close to him. <P>Help me to overcome the heartburn and other physical discomforts long enough to provide physical and emotional and sexual comfort to him. Thank you for our usual robust health and energy. <P>Please bless our sexual relationship that it will lead us to more intimacy, greater love, and emotional and spiritual growth. And please bless our bodies that they will function as they were designed to do. <P>In Jesus' name, Amen</I><P><B>2. How would you like to see your sexual relationship with your husband change? Explain. Write a prayer asking God to make it what you want it to be.</B><P>I want us to be kind and close. I am the one preventing it at this moment. Probably still subconciously angry that he got me pregnant with a dangerous, complicated and tragic pregnancy. He is closer to intimacy these days than I am. And he did finally go have the vasectomy he promised years ago! He doesn't deserve my distant treatment.<P><I> Heavenly Father, Thank you for the mighty work thou hast been doing in my H's heart. Please lead me closer to thee that I might be sweet and gentle with all people, and especially compassionate with my husband. Help me to fulfill his need for intimacy, emotional closeness and bonding through our sexual relationship. In Jesus' name, Amen.<BR></I><BR><P>------------------<BR>A true friend is one who not only is willing to love us the way we are, but is able to leave us better than he found us.

I think you are right. We want to move right up to addressing his Affections, his Anger Management, his Money issues etc, and not deal with sexuality at all. We have been so hurt in this area over the years it is hard to gather up enough compassion to pray for him.

LOL, you two are something else! I have to admit that I had hoped Karenna would skip this one and go to the others, so that once God dealt with me in those areas, I could have some compassion to come back to this area. <P>This area involves trust, a connecting of hearts in a unified spirit, of love pouring out unselfishly so that the union is mutually satisfying. In my marriage, we aren't there yet, so in my desire to not trash my man, I have difficulty answering these questions. <BR>Dogbert, lots of the ladies can't answer the questions 'cause their man isn't in the house, so that makes it equally painful to address. Please dont generalize about evangelical circles. That isn't always the case.

Sexuality is an ever changing thing. Like everything else in our lives we hopefully are growing and maturing.<P>Over the past 3 years since my h and I have been in recovery we have grown much closer in understanding of each other as well as pleasing each other.<P>We just finished the "5 love languages" by Gary Chapman and were blessed with a new understanding of the importance of physical touch. <P>1. My sexual relationship with my husband is very good and I praise God for I know it is because of His restorative power that I can say that.<P>2. In regards to change I just would pray for a continued sensitivity to each other and our individual needs. I see no need for change. <P>Lord, thank you for the freedom we have in You to learn and grow and enjoy the pleasure of physical touch.<P>"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For behold the winter is past, the rain is over and gone." Song of Solomon 2:10-11<P>The winter of my discontent is over the tears are over and gone. God is restoring my marriage and I am blessed.<P>Taj<P>------------------<BR>"Perfect love casts out fear" I John 4:18