Relationship Series: 8 Stages of A Relationship Stage Two: Anticipation

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          Anticipation - What can I get from what I can see?  When anticipation comes to mind, I think of Valentine's Day.  Both parties are waiting and anticipating something, but both have different expectations of what the day or evening will entail.  
          Now women anticipate Valentine's Day to represent gifts such as jewelry, cars, etc.  And on the bottom of your wish list is intercourse, (usually).  Women love the attention because they know before the day even gets started, that their Spouse is stressing about what the right gift will be?  Men know that the right gift will produce the right results later.  LOL.  It's really a game, like if you try hard, you will obtain a prize.  Remember when you two were dating; How everything seemed to go perfectly?  (Again with anticipation but with two different views.)  The Music seemed to be playing the perfect tunes.  The Dinner was perfect and the Look of each other was Flawless. Both Secretly looking for the Prize.
          Coming from a man's point of view, we are thinking of one thing.  We view everything from a Physical perspective.  You know what's on our mind before, during and after Valentine's Day.  And when you are married, the Anticipation is greater.  Greater because no matter how long you have been married, you get use to one another, you know one another.  Both of you know what it takes to have a very happy ending to the evening.  Whether it's expensive gifts, jewelry, candy, lingerie or even the "blue pill" and a warm bath.  You both already know.
          It's all a game nonetheless, but through the eyes of flesh.  Anticipating deals with what I see and what can I get?  My flesh needs to be satisfied and we will go to great measures to obtain that goal.  No matter what, there will always be a drive to try to please the flesh, but it will never be satisfied.  Whether it's work, home, money or prestige, the desire will never be fulfilled.  That's when we start having fantasies about how we anticipate our flesh will be satisfied.  Anticipation are just like fantasies, not real.  Thirst always attracts Thirst.  Running around with Dim Lenses.  It's all about me and mine.  Romans 8:13 NIV says, "For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live."
          When you add Jesus to the equation, only then will you add the Ultimate Thirst Quencher.  The anticipation does from what will I get if I do? to What can I do for you just because I Love You?  Jesus said that with His Water, we will never thirst again.  (Incidentally, water is a natural Thirst Quencher.)  We progress from sacrificing just because.  Marriage has many ups and downs and short and long  term anticipations, but only what you do for Christ will Last.
          The commercial says, "Stay Thirsty My Friends."  Jesus says, "Don't worry, I GOT You" my Brothers and Sisters.  Anticipate Love for each other, but expect nothing and all these things will be added unto you.