Ah...Good Cologne--Song of Songs 1:3

When I was in Brazil if they want to honor you with a greeting, they come and sniff you at the neck. 

But the best is to sniff and smell a good cologne or perfume.  It's always a surprise in its sublety.  Here the Lover takes the time to put the final touches on attractiveness.  He is scented in a pleasing cologne.  The woman takes pleasure so much so that his name, not just his fragrance is as perfume.  He is pleasing.  No wonder this man has all the ladies' interests.  He takes time to care for himself, make himself attractive and create desirability.  It's hard for a woman not to be attracted to one like that.

Better than Wine--S.S 1:2

"for your love is more delightful than wine."

A person who drinks does so because of the way it makes them feel.  We love to feel good and a glass of wine can help someone do that.  Although the feeling fades when the wine does.  Love can also make someone feel really good.   A sour, unkind person can turn into a sweet, happy individual when they fall in love.   It’s a sight to behold.  But who wouldn’t?

What is more encouraging than to look into someone’s eyes and see them looking at you with tenderness, admiration and respect?  What is more restorative than to see in someone else’s eyes their tremendous value and appreciation for who you are? 

We often value ourselves based on what we see in the eyes of others.  If we see disappointment, kindness, rejection, acceptance dislike, etc… it dictates how we feel about ourselves.  This is shaky ground because the Lord has made us unique and it changes based on the people we’re around.  Culture’s solution is to tell us to look within ourselves to find our value and worth.  The only problem is that when we fail to do something we know is right or we stumble in a big way, we know who we are and again our self-respect crumbles.  Still others will try to find this love in a spouse.  But when familiarity and problems dull that look of love, disappointment and frustration can set in.  Our only hope is a consistent looking into the eyes of another who look back at us with respect, love and dignity.  But who?

It is HIS eyes.  This is the look of a perfect Father who while we were still enemies, smiled on us with fierce love.  This is the look of a perfect Savior whose eyes on the cross see us with joy because we’re worth His extraordinary suffering.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit whose grace and patience never ends as He makes us into who we are.

“Those who look to him are radiant” (Ps 34:5). Those who look to him are radiant.

It matters immensely how we see the Lord seeing us.  If we look and see tenderness, dignity, respect,appreciation, kindness, gracious, jealousy, fierceness, loyalty, mercy then we see the love that secures us.  Anything less is a projection of a human authority onto Him.   His love continually lifts us if we only look at him looking at us.  It's way better than wine because it never fades, even into eternity.

Kiss me--SS 1:1

When you want someone to kiss you, you want someone that is clean, well-showered, teeth taken care of and most especially, someone you are attracted to.  Someone you love. 

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth."

The beloved is receptive, willing, longing and even inviting the pleasure of her man's advances.  What love-sick lover would not be drawn in?

The Lord chooses those who chose Him.  He is a perfect gentleman, author of romance and does not force himself on his bride.  Nor does he beg and grovel for her love.  Yet he demonstrates the depth of his love, initiates the invitation, then waits on her receptivity.  Her responsiveness to him is more powerful than the earth's strongest magnetic field.  Irresistible.

So am I receptive?  Willing?  Longing?  Inviting?  Do I come near with anticipation and invitation?  Love begins with an openness of the spirit and the soul.  The vulnerability to intimacy is a necessary prerequisite.   Yet our longing is a point of undeniable attraction to Him.  It is holy, clean and pure.  No weirdness.  Just Jesus and His Church.

Looking at you--Song of Solomon

Close your eyes.  Not right now.  After you read this.  :)  And in your mind's imagination picture how he is looking at you.  Not how he SHOULD look at you but how you feel like he's looking at you.  Are his eyes looking at your sad, disappointed, frustrated, angry, happy, welcoming, loving, respectful or how?  Honest.  How is he looking at you?