My wife finds find me waiting at the dining room table.

I've cooked a five course meal from scratch - salad with homemade dressing and Roma tomatos, fresh-baked rolls, almond-crusted tuna with garlic mashed potatos, and for dessert, a stack of oreo cookies and homemade icecream. (The cookies are one of her favorites - and saved me time in the kitchen.)

There are scented candles burning and our son is with a babysitter for the night.

I pull her chair out and, in a terrible French accent, say, "Madame, ze dinner is zerved."

Depending on the family situation, a wife under these circumstances might think one of the following:

1) "Oh no. What did he do?"

2) "Not tonight. I have a headache."

3) "Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?"

4) "Yes! Yes! Yes! I love it!"

But regardless of the wife's response, if his motives are to show affection, do you think a husband who did this would be having fun? Think he's stirring up his own romantic juices?

Can we all agree that doing something like this would, in general, bring out excitement in the man toward his wife?

The reason I ask is, I think we can carry this mentality into other relationships, not just the married kind. And specifically, into our relationship with God.

Yesterday afternoon, hot weather was subsiding and a breeze was blowing through our backyard. Our back deck is one of my favorite places in the world. It's private - mostly screened from the neighbors by trees and bushes. It's also just nice. My wife keeps a lot of potted plants and we've managed to wrangle some great patio furniture.

So I grabbed my Bible, a book on conversation with God, and my journal. I also snagged some fresh-picked blackberries we bought from a road-side vendor, sprinkled some sugar on top, and filled a cup with ice-cold water.

I then spent about 40 minutes reading, writing, eating, and relaxing. The time was dedicated to experiencing the presence of God and making myself open to Him. It was great. Yes! Yes! Yes! I love it!

See, my wife and I eat fast food sometimes. Maybe once a week, she'll come home for lunch and I'll have heated up leftovers or made a pot of tuna mac-and-cheese. But shouldn't we, in a good marriage, have a special meal now and then? Shouldn't I go out of my way to create an environment that stirs things up?

Some of the best times I can remember with God were times in college when my friends were all going out and I chose to stay in my dorm room and curl up on the couch with hot chocolate, classical music, and my Bible.

Of course we should have routine "meals" with Jesus - times of devotion, reading, praying, etc... But we should also do something special now and then.

For a change, try creating an environment you really enjoy and dedicate some time to Jesus. Make room for the occasional time of devotion you can get really excited about. Stir yourself up. I promise, His response will be #4.

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it." Nicolas Herman (Brother Lawrence)