For every woman

I've never been the sort to read men's books. Such things I thought were just,.. well, not for women.
But the John & Stasi Eldredge book combines both the Captivating (for women) and Wild at Heart (for men) books in one volume and sits right on my table.

I would be too rude to refuse.

Wild at Heart is incredible and is God speaking.
And if you read Captivating, you would know the reason God created women, how we bear the image of God, how precious and worthy and longing God's heart is to love us. If you read Wild at Heart, it still speaks to how important and breathtakingly captivating you are to God and to the warrior God has called to love you.

I like this,
"But Stasi married a frightened, driven man who had an affair with his work because he wouldn't risk engaging a woman he sensed he wasn't enough for. He wasn't mean; He wasn't evil. He was nice. And let me tell you, a hesitant man is the last thing in the world a woman needs. She needs a lover and a warrior, not a Really Nice Guy. Her worst fear was realised - she will never really be loved, never really be fought for. And so she hid herself some more.

Years into the marriage he found himself blindsided by it all. Where is the beauty he once saw? What happened to the woman he once fell in love with?
He didn't really expect an answer to his question. It was more a shout of rage than a desperate plea. But Jesus answered him anyway, 'She's still in there; but she's captive. Are you willing to go in after her?' He realised that he had - like so many men - married for safety.
He married a woman he thought would never challenge him as a man. Stasi adored him; what more does he need to do? He wanted to look like the knight, but he didn't want to bleed like one.

If the man refuses to offer himself, then his wife remain empty and barren. A violent man destroys with his words; a silent man starves his wife.

Most men want the maiden without any sort of cost to themselves. They want all the joys of the beauty without any of the woes of the battle. This is the sinister nature of pornography - enjoying the woman at her expense. Pornography is what happens when a man insists on being energized by a woman; he uses her to get a feeling that he is a man. It is a false strength because it depends on an outside source rather than emanating from deep within his center. And it is the paragon of selfishness. He offers nothing but takes everything.

Why don't men offer what they have to their women? Because they know deep down in their guts that it won't be enough. There is an emptiness to Eve after the Fall and no matter how much you pour into her she will never be filled. This is where so many men falter. Either they refuse to give what they can, or keep pouring and pouring into her and all the while feel like a failure because she is still needing more.
The barrenness of Eve you can never hope to fill. She needs God more than she needs you, just as you need Him more than you need her.

'What if the relationship doesnt work?' he asked. So many men are asking the same question. Work for what? Validate you as a man? Resurrect your heart in a day? Do you see now that you can't bring your question to Eve? No matter how good a man you are you can never be enough. If she's the report card on your strength then you'll ultimately get an F. But that's not why you love her - to get a good grade. You love her because that's what you are made to do; that's what a real man does."

Ladies, only a champion may win you; only the most valiant, daring and brave warrior has a chance. Just as Jesus has won your heart, so shall the man worthy of you.

Discover and rest in the love of God. We are His beauty and the princess in the tower waiting for the rescue in our fairy tale : )