Submission

OK, here's where some of you are going to write me off as a kook. At least I'm a Biblical kook. ;) 

Beth Stauffer wrote yesterday a very good piece in her blog about a woman's submission to her husband. This is a big topic with me after reading several books on marriage and this topic specifically. I wanted you to read her blog and my response (below): 

Beth,



I'm so glad you brought up this subject. It has been a source of major revelation to me over the past couple years.



I would recommend to anyone the book "Fascinating Womanhood," which goes into great detail the practical ways that we women can and should submit to their husbands. And I have found it true, there is GREAT power and liberation in submission!



The biggest fallback I see from other women (and I have managed to keep my mouth shut) after reading this is the way they speak to their husbands. He married you to be his helpmeet, not his momma, nag, or boss who's smarter than him. 



Sometimes it takes YEARS of letting a man make mistakes to reap the blessing. But it's soooo worth it. 

I'm still working on this, big time, but what I've learned to implement has been a great blessing in our marriage.



Kudos to you for bringing this up!


-Christie

Photos, From a Child's View

It has been a couple weeks, for some reason, since we had uploaded our photo card to the computer. Joe did it Saturday so he could show his mom some photos when she came by.

I had forgotten about these that I had actually let Morgan take herself, while we were baking cookies before Christmas. (Eeek, careful with that camera!) Enjoy.

 

Update & House News

Sorry for the long delay in postings, for all the two people who might read this. ;)

I've been wrapped up in a few things, plus not feeling very well due to a flareup of fatigue and muscle pain. No biggie, just have to take it easy for a few days. I haven't been able to do that, though, so I totally crashed tonight and didn't make it to the Sunday night revival meeting. I knew it would be awesome, and Joe said it was. I just started feeling really sick and overwhelmingly sleepy while at a baby shower this afternoon. I got the kids in bed early and I'm going to BED at a reasonable hour today.

I haven't been able to take good care of myself just because of everything that needed to get done the past few days, mainly get the house clean for an open house that was today. Because I hadn't been feeling well, the laundry was waaaay backed up, and it was all I could do to work a bit on that and take care of Benjamin each day. Also, I've had to work around some plumbers who were here Thursday and Friday basically replacing every toilet, faucet and valve in the joint, as well as the water heater and pressure regulator. (Can you say, overdue jank?) This was done by Master Plumbing (Formerly $50 Plumbing), run by an old family friend who used to work for Joe's dad. They did a great job and NEVER quit working the whole time they were here, almost two whole days. My apologies to our other friends in that business, but he's a very special old friend.

So the past couple days were CRUNCH TIME for cleanup. Joe and I were up until 11 p.m. last night mopping, scrubbing, etc. 

The open house apparently went well, which is good. Even better, our plumber friend is interested in our property we're selling (the house isn't ours), so we may be able to buy our new house very soon!!! YAY!!!

I've also been in heavy prayer the past few days for a specific few individuals who were on my mind, some for obvious reasons and some just randomly laid on my heart. You might know who you are, if you're reading, or maybe you don't! I know you will receive victory, those of you who are wondering.  (We just sang a song in choir, "There's gonna be a vic'try, like there's never been!")

As usual, sorry this is so long. I just wanted to post and catch up a bit. More soon on the house. I can't wait to have a big victory party at our new place!!!

Enough about Me -- Others to Pray For

Yes, the blog thing is a fun way to brag on your family, talk about all our fun adventures, show off our Christmas goodies...nothing particularly wrong with all that.

But I also want to share a few stories here and there that will take the emphasis off ourselves and put it on someone who is deserving of our prayers, or some sort of additional, specific needed ACTION we can take. Our Sunday School class got to do this with our Giving Tree family (more on that later), and it was a lot of fun.

Yesterday I got all the standard "Happy New Year" emails from family and friends all over. But I also got one from Terry & Nan Williams, missionaries in Africa who are connected with another Southern Baptist church in our area where my parents attend. I don't know much about them other than these occasional emails, which I receive for my parents who don't have email. Please be in prayer for their requests, and maybe drop them a line of encouragement to their email below. 

The email:

Dear Prayer partners,

We want to wish you all a happy new year, but ask you for some specific prayer requests this week.

Please pray for a very dear friend of ours, Demetria Manoni and her children Clara, Mpelwa and Danieli. Her husband, Joseph, died on Saturday, the 29th, with pneumonia, a complication from tuberculosis, the funeral will be tomorrow, January 1st in Mwanza. We, along with missionaries Jimmy & Diana Bledsoe will be going to the funeral. Joseph was a fine Christian man, a pastor and airport manager.

Pray for one of our workers, Danieli. His wife's father has come and it appears trying to break up the marriage. He has bought his daughter a sewing machine and told her she can make her own living (when she learns to sew). They have three children, Amina, 10, Paulo,4, and Salome,2. Please pray for God to work in the father-in-law's life and heart and Suzana, Danieli's wife, to remember her marriage vows to Danieli.

Also, please pray for the situation in Kenya. The presidential election was last Thursday and on Sunday a winner was declared, but there is much rioting and problems in the city of Nairobi as well as elsewhere. The Bledsoe's are to go to Kenya next week for a home school workshop, pray for peace to be restored and safety for all.

Thank you for your continued prayers, the bible says, "...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16.

In His Service, Nan & Terry Williams

stfwill@africaonline.co.tz