The Art of Manliness

This is a re-share from a Blog THE ART of MANLINESS

A post under the category of, 

"Dating, Marriage, Relationship and Family".

"How To Give Flowers Like a Victorian Gentleman" 

I thought it excellent enough to share on MY BLOG! 

I hope you enjoy it as well and maybe even get a little "romance" out of it!

How to Give Flowers Like a Victorian Gentleman

Women often complain that the men in their lives are not romantic enough. But men sometimes have trouble expressing their feelings, often resorting to cheesy Hallmark cards or pricey bejeweled baubles to do the job for them. But there is a far better way to be romantic and it doesn’t involve spending a fortune or even opening your mouth.

In the days before courting consisted of hanging out and getting drinks, courting was a formal and dignified endeavor. Symbols were used to express feelings and thoughts deemed too special for mere words. During the Victorian Era, a whole romantic language developed around the giving and receiving of flowers. Everything from the type and size of the flower to the way it was held or presented conveyed layers of meaning and communicated a gentleman’s feelings and intentions. Each bouquet contained a secret message for a lady to eagerly interpret and endlessly dissect.

These days giving flowers has become a somewhat ho-hum cliché. Resurrecting this Victorian tradition will infuse the gesture with new life and romance and bring back some of the subtly, mystery, and fun of courtship. Your lady will swoon that you put far more thought into your selection of flowers than grabbing a bouquet out of the case at Wal-Mart. You’ll come off as a real gentleman and a hopeless romantic. It can become an amazing tradition you’ll both enjoy. Seriously. Women eat this stuff up.

Of course, even women nowadays have forgotten the meanings of flowers. So buy your lady a flower dictionary like this one. And keep a copy for yourself (it’s important that you both use the same reference, as the meanings were never set in stone and can sometimes vary from book to book). Then, each time you present her with a bouquet, she can search the volume to find what secret messages you have embedded in the flowers.

There are even bouquets that convey rejection or unrequited love, but having your soon-to-be former flame eagerly search through a book only to find out she’s been dumped is just plain cruel.

Here’s a partial list of flowers’ meanings to help you get started. Follow them, and you’ll be reviving throngs of women with smelling salts as they swoon for you.

Carnation- Fascination

Chrysanthemum- Friendship

Daisy- Loyal love

Orchid- Love and beauty

Lily- Purity and sweetness

Red rose- Romantic love

Pink rose- Secret love

Yellow rose- Friendship

White rose- Innocent love

Rose, Yellow & Orange -Passionate thoughts

Forget-me-not- True love

Baby’s Breath - Happiness

Lilac, Mauve - “Do You Still Love Me”

Honeysuckle – The Bond of Love

Ambrosia - Your Love is reciprocated

Camellia, red: You’re a flame in my heart

Camellia, white - You’re adorable

Forget-me-not - Faithful Love, Memories

Hibiscus -Delicate Beauty

Hyacinth, purple- I am sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow

Oleander - Beauty and Grace

Periwinkle, White - Pleasures of Memory

When to Give Flowers

Once you are versed in the language of flowers, you’ll be able to create bouquets that will add meaning and significance to any occasion. Here are some times when you’ll definitely want to warm your true love’s heart with flowers:

Her Birthday. It’s her day. Make it extra special by buying her a bouquet of flowers. It doesn’t have to be to elaborate.

Your Anniversary. Women associate flowers with weddings. You can’t go wrong with buying your wife a bouquet of the same type of flowers you had at your wedding. The very sight of them will create a wave of warm and fuzzy memories. And the fact that you remembered the right flower will send her heart aflutter and score you major romance points.

Valentine’s Day. My wife and I have this shtick. Every year she tells me she doesn’t want anything for Valentine’s Day. And like a sucker, every year I don’t get her anything. Come Valentine’s Day, I have an unhappy wife on my hands. I’ve finally learned my lesson. When women say they don’t want anything for Valentine’s Day, it’s actually a secret code. Buy her flowers. You’ll be glad you did.

New Baby/Mother’s Day Your wife just went through 9 months of pain and discomfort to bring forth your progeny. The least you can do is buy her some flowers. Plus, flowers are completely appropriate for a new birth. Flowers represent new life and you’ll be cradling new life in your arms. Later on, show your wife your appreciation for all the work she puts into mothering by buying flowers each Mother’s Day. (Note: Flowers aren’t sufficient by themselves for Mom’s Day. Mothering is hard work. She deserves something extra too.)

Get Well. If the woman in your life is sick, nothing will brighten her days and cheer her heart like flowers from the man she loves.

Saying I’m Sorry. You screwed up and now you’re in the dog house. If you want to stop sleeping on the couch, bring flowers along with an apology. The extra effort may show the lady in your life that you’re really sorry. But make that apology sincere. A bunch of flowers with only a weak or non-existent apology will backfire; your woman doesn’t want to be bought off with cheap gestures. Note: Don’t bother with flowers if you’ve been caught cheating. There aren’t enough flowers in the world to cover the stench of a douche bag.

A special date. Whether you are still dating or have been married for years, making time for special dates is essential to keeping your love burning brightly. When planning those romantic outings, put buying flowers on your list of preparations. There’s no better way to set the mood for a special night out then to show up at the door with a beautiful bouquet. She’ll melt.

***Surprise her. Who says you need a reason to buy the woman in your life flowers? Surprise her! Make it habit to stop by the florist on the way home every now and then to pick up some flowers for your lady. Trust me. The investment will definitely pay off.***

***If I had to choose (as a woman) which one of these was my favorite (and most effective in the romance department) I would say this one by far!

Great job Brett and Kate McKay!!

What's it Worth to YOU?

 "Anything of value is worth paying for."

Truth....still.

"Anything priceless or one of a kind is worth all you have in exchange."

Yeshua explains to us  just what we are capable of doing when we find something of value that we desire to possess. (*scripture below from Mathew) 


I have seen these actions played out in my own life on several occasions Sad to say they have not always been in line with God's best interest for me or those closest to me. Thank the Lord for his immeasurable grace and mercy.


My prayer is that we all follow the Lord's heart and will for our lives - and with passion!


Here is a *truth nugget* I will share with you. Something I have learned to  keep me grounded when I seem stuck or in a quandary of sorts. It helps me decide whether or not I choose door #1 or door #2.


" Don't ever DO or NOT DO anything OUT OF FEAR."


This assuredly will keep us from the Lord's will in our lives. Because fear is NOT from God.


The fruit of righteousness is peace. 

Just wanted to share. 


Be blessed and know that you are truly loved of God.



44 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. 46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it.





You are loved

Don't Ever Doubt

The Love of a Mother

You know, I am a lot of things in life, true enough.

However none of these things closer or dearer to my heart than being a Mother.

I remember even as a child that was all I aspired to be. Oh I know in these dark days so many look down at this vocation as "ONLY" a Mother. Personally I think of it as one of the highest callings in life!

I remember my own Mother saying to me, "All I ever wanted to be was a Mother." I also remember how it changed our then strained relationship and my life. 

She too was many things in life. Mostly because life demanded she be. Isn't that true these days as well? Aren't all Mother's  true multi-tasker's? 

A full time Mother is a full time house cleaner. A full time baby sitter/nanny, chef, taxi driver, counselor, best friend and drill sergeant all rolled up in one to her kids. While at the same time a lover and best friend to her husband and the list goes on.....

Still we Mother's are not perfect. We try . Give our best. We get it wrong. Well, in the sense that we call our kids by the wrong name when we are upset. We can never remember the right  way to say things to not upset them and of course, not keeping up with the generational verbiage. (boy can that  be embarrassing!) On a more serious note, yes there are times when Mother's fall short. When they do things that hurt children. I can neither understand nor excuse a  Mother's actions that are incomprehensible.

However, when it comes to a life of raising children. Day by day. Loving and giving of yourself. Everything you have. Putting your children before everyone else. 
No one loves like a Mother.
I agree.
As the saying goes,
"Don't get between a Ma'ma and her baby!" 
Believe me that is true no matter the age of the child.

I guess what I am saying is. Don't ever question your Mother's love for you.
Especially if you have a relationship with her.

Talk to your Ma'ma

She loves you 

If We Only Knew

If we only knew and if we only really believed.

It's been 40 years this June since I began my incredible journey with G-d.

Wow.

Looking at my life now and looking back at my life 10, 20 and 30 years ago. I see the power of prayer at work. I see the hand of G-d moving. I also see my faith where it was then and where it is now.

My words were so FULL of empty passion when I was first saved.

Oh I had zeal. No doubt. I am not saying it wasn't with merit. I was truly lost and truly found. It is the years of substance that I was lacking that have found me some 40 years later. These years of heart ache and betrayal. Years of fortune and famine. Years of sickness and sadness. Years of total utter dependence upon my creator for everything for my survival. My time in the desert. These years that have brought me to where I am today.

So for all who have asked.

This is how and this is how  long it took me to become who I am today.

It truly is nothing of my doing.

I would not have chosen this path for myself. Though I am glad I have walked it. I truly feel Yeshua
has carried me most of the way.
Every day I strive to be more like him.


I recently had a revelation during a prayer time with the LORD. I was asking him "how you do it?"

You know? He lived his life here the whole time as G-d and yet never gave up and left us. He followed through with his plan to lay his life down. Sacrificed his own life for us so we could have eternal life with him. ....Incredible!... I know "I" would not have been able to follow through, just sayin'.

Lord....I want to live a life like that...like you...I want that kind of love...selfless love.

Anyway, as I was talking to the LORD that's when I realized it..... Yeshua not only was forsaken by all he forsook all as well.

There were two parts to it.

My whole life I had always heard and read just one part. That I needed to forsake everything and follow Yeshua.

Well suddenly my heart leaped outta my chest as I realized what the last 40 years in my life has all been about. Or perhaps has not been about.
It wasn't just about me. (like the enemy would like me to believe) Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit has been working in me all along.
In order to make me more like my Master, my LORD, my Messiah, my G-d....I needed to share in his sufferings also. 
All along my G-d was answering my prayers!

"Rather, to the extent that you share the fellowship of the Messiah’s sufferings, rejoice; so that you will rejoice even more when his Glory is revealed."  1 Peter 4:13

"Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death." Phil 3:10

*Oh I was so excited you have no idea!*

You see, with Yeshua it's opposite of us so we don't think of it quite the same so it's easier to oversee it as a necessary step in becoming like him. 

However

Make no mistake it is  necessary to be forsaken by all if we want to be like him.

Yeshua, forsook all  when he left his crown on his throne in heaven to come to earth and live as you and I do. To give his life as a sacrifice for us so we would not have to die but live! And live eternally with him!

This is not easy nor fun. It is in fact painful. Just take a moment to think about all that Yeshua left behind to come into this world. Be born, raised as a human, then go through all he went through. Tempted in everything yet never having sinned. Then beaten beyond human recognition and then nailed and hung on a tree in the hot sun to die. (this is putting it lightly)
Yeshua, was G-d. (is G-D) He left his throne of his own choice. He could have chosen  NOT  to have gone through with all of this. Instead he chose to. For us. Out of love. He forsook his divinity. His Godliness and his Heavenly Father turned away from him. His own father forsook him.

Yeshua gave up everything. Everything. For us. And everyone turned their backs on him. everyone. Still, he followed through until the end spending three days in hell with HaSatan. So he retrieve the keys to death, hell and the grave so anyone who believes on him could would not have to die but have eternal life through and in him. Instead of being utterly destroyed. Which we so deserve.
click here  for full verse >---->John 3:16

Let us all make no mistake. There is a choice to be made.
Follow Yeshua/Jesus. Or not. 
From his mouth,
"Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering."
Matthew 12:30
There is no middle ground.
"So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth!" 
Revelation 3:16


Well Yeshua DID say -

 “Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it;  but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it." 

Matt 7:13-14

My last 40 years Tough...and FaNtAsTiC !

The reward, however, is beyond compare!

Both here and in the life to come! Though I did not choose my path, had I to do it over?
Knowing what I know now, I would.

“But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father.  For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noah.  Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noah entered the ark;  and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes.  Then there will be two men in a field — one will be taken and the other left behind. There will be two women grinding flour at the mill — one will be taken and the other left behind.  So stay alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come.  But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him."
Matthew 25:36-50

So live each day as if it were your first and last in the fullness of the Shalom and love of Yeshua!

Blessings!