Question

How do you vote?

I always vote the way my husband votes. I do a lot of the research behind the candidates and present it to Dh. He then decides how we will vote. He is the head of our family. Our spiritual leader. We vote as a family. We discuss candidates and issues with our kids. I am teaching my sons and daughters that as a family unit we should one day vote together. When they get married of course they should vote with their husband and my sons should encourage their wives to vote with them. Dh and I have decided that's a personal choice for them, but its what we are teaching and encouraging now.
Personally, I could care less that women have the right to vote. I exercise the right as helpmeet to my husband. When I vote with him it furthers his vision for our family. I'll probably get rotten tomatoed over that thought, but its the truth.
But, what if you don't agree with his pick? So. Showing my husband respect as the leader of our home is far more important in eternity than who runs the nation, state, city... today.
I figure if I am to be subject to him in everything I might as well be subject in who I vote for by voting with him. (Eph. 5:24) I respect him and trust him enough to make spiritual decisions for our family why should I not respect him enough to make political decisions as well? Which is more important in the long run?
This is something I will be putting into practice BIG TIME with this election. I have made it clear how I feel about the VP pick and I have always thought McCain was too liberal for my conservative blood. But my husband will vote that way. I'm sure. With a smile and a prayer I will follow. And in 100 years it won't matter that I voted for people I did not believe in. It will matter that I voted with someone I do believe in.

So, what do you think?

An oldie...

I wrote this post in June of 2005. All day I have been thinking about women in the home. I know I mentioned that I wanted to discuss this a little more, but then I thought of this old post and thought...well that about sums it up. So here ya go!

Defining Roles

Today was nice. I went out with some ladies from church to breakfast and we had a great time. SO guess what subject came up?? Come on guess? S-U-M-B-I-S-S-I-O-N. My favorite subject. :) I was able to share some really neat things I have learned from Debi Pearl's book Created To Be His Helpmeet. Hubby and I had a long talk when I got home about what society says is right versus the Bible. I think we have strayed so far from the Bible and its core truth that we dont know right or wrong anymore. We find ourselves looking around church and saying oh well everyone else is doing it so it must be ok. But what does the Bible say?Ok example we spend so much time on God's love and mercy that sometimes we forget there are other sides to God. The other day in my Sunday School class (3-5 grade) one of the girls found a verse that talks about fearing God. Well that cant be right this sweet girl declared. God does not want us to fear Him. I explained that it was a healthy fear. When we sin we should be fearful. We should drop right to our knees and ask forgiveness. Dare we tempt God and think oh He wont care this time or this time. God does care. I explained to the girl that as a parent when my child does something wrong I expect them to be afraid of consequences. You see God forgives but we still have to pay the consequences. When my children do wrong they are still my children and I still love them dearly BUT there are consequences. We MUST MUST MUST respect God. We must fear him, reverence Him, stand in awe of Him. Without this healthy dose of fear in our lives we will live however we want.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
This brings me to another point. I believe that God has His plan for your life mapped out in the Bible. If you dont follow the map you may not reap punishment BUT you will miss out on the full blessing for your life. For instance, I think that men's roles and women's roles in the family are established. We as society have tried to redefine these roles to the point where its the "norm" for women to leave thier children and go out and have a career instead of being "keepers at home "Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed and "guiding the house"
1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Are there instances where the wife has to go to work? Absolutly. I grew up in that house. My dad was severly disabled and my mom had to work full time. But women dont need to "define" themselves through career. They need to look and see how the Bible defines them. Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother. Both of my little girls want to be mommy's when they grow up.. oh yeah and marry daddy's. :) I encourage them in this. When someone tries to tell them they can be a mommy but what else do they want to be I gently cut the person off. Why do they need to be more? The Bible says that children are a heritage from God, children are a blessing, Psalm 127:3-5 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate he maketh the barren woman to have children Psalms 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Nowhere does it say earn your law degree and turn your children over to someone else. Of course Im going to take it a step further. I think married women in general should be home. We as women are designed to be nurturers and caregivers. Ok young wife you say oh but my work is done by 10am what do I do the rest of the day? Learn a new homemaking skill, volunteer at a nursing home, help a young mother with many children, help at the church, extend hospitality to neighbors and people from church, have a Bible study... oh the choices are endless. Dont spend all day away from home of course but if you dont have children yet and your house is in order and your husband approves find something BIBLICAL to do. I feel so strongly about this that I cant seem to not write about it. I think we as women are being decieved and losing out on such a wonderful blessing by not following God's plan for our lives.

Defining Roles

Today was nice. I went out with some ladies from church to breakfast and we had a great time. SO guess what subject came up?? Come on guess? S-U-M-B-I-S-S-I-O-N. My favorite subject. :) I was able to share some really neat things I have learned from Debi Pearl's book Created To Be His Helpmeet. Hubby and I had a long talk when I got home about what society says is right versus the Bible. I think we have strayed so far from the Bible and its core truth that we dont know right or wrong anymore. We find ourselves looking around church and saying oh well everyone else is doing it so it must be ok. But what does the Bible say?Ok example we spend so much time on God's love and mercy that sometimes we forget there are other sides to God. The other day in my Sunday School class (3-5 grade) one of the girls found a verse that talks about fearing God. Well that cant be right this sweet girl declared. God does not want us to fear Him. I explained that it was a healthy fear. When we sin we should be fearful. We should drop right to our knees and ask forgiveness. Dare we tempt God and think oh He wont care this time or this time. God does care. I explained to the girl that as a parent when my child does something wrong I expect them to be afraid of consequences. You see God forgives but we still have to pay the consequences. When my children do wrong they are still my children and I still love them dearly BUT there are consequences. We MUST MUST MUST respect God. We must fear him, reverence Him, stand in awe of Him. Without this healthy dose of fear in our lives we will live however we want.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
This brings me to another point. I believe that God has His plan for your life mapped out in the Bible. If you dont follow the map you may not reap punishment BUT you will miss out on the full blessing for your life. For instance, I think that men's roles and women's roles in the family are established. We as society have tried to redefine these roles to the point where its the "norm" for women to leave thier children and go out and have a career instead of being "keepers at home "Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed and "guiding the house"
1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Are there instances where the wife has to go to work? Absolutly. I grew up in that house. My dad was severly disabled and my mom had to work full time. But women dont need to "define" themselves through career. They need to look and see how the Bible defines them. Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother. Both of my little girls want to be mommy's when they grow up.. oh yeah and marry daddy's. :) I encourage them in this. When someone tries to tell them they can be a mommy but what else do they want to be I gently cut the person off. Why do they need to be more? The Bible says that children are a heritage from God, children are a blessing, Psalm 127:3-5 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate he maketh the barren woman to have children Psalms 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Nowhere does it say earn your law degree and turn your children over to someone else. Of course Im going to take it a step further. I think married women in general should be home. We as women are designed to be nurturers and caregivers. Ok young wife you say oh but my work is done by 10am what do I do the rest of the day? Learn a new homemaking skill, volunteer at a nursing home, help a young mother with many children, help at the church, extend hospitality to neighbors and people from church, have a Bible study... oh the choices are endless. Dont spend all day away from home of course but if you dont have children yet and your house is in order and your husband approves find something BIBLICAL to do. I feel so strongly about this that I cant seem to not write about it. I think we as women are being decieved and losing out on such a wonderful blessing by not following God's plan for our lives.

Around the House:
Today was a non day for me pretty much. I went to breakfast with the ladies and came home and settled in with hubby for awhile and then later on we went to some friends house for dinner. Now the children are getting ready for bed and I am working on the computer. We had a nice day. Still nothing new with my uncle. We are everyday being told it could be today. Its a rough situation to be in. Yesterday I had to take my new little guy C to see his mom. She is really nice I think she will do what she has to to get him back. It surprised me how much of my day it took up though. I was able to get a load of dishes in the dishwasher and I think even a load of clothes on to wash. But other then some other general chores thats it! I was disappointed. I forgot to mention that today someone from our LIFE group dropped off a BIG toy box! YEAH! I was just putting down on paper some different things I wanted to do to make the house more "efficient" and some shelves and a toy box were definatly on that list! PRAISE THE LORD!!
Well I need to go help tuck the kiddies into bed.

Maturity

Its been a good week. I am sitting here waiting for hubby to get home from a men's retreat he went to this weekend. Oh how I miss him. This is only the second time in 4 years of marriage that we have been apart overnight. I checked Mary Poppins the movie out from the library last night and after dinner out with a friend the children and I watched part of it. We were up late watching it and the children took a 3 hour nap today. We were up around 8:30 to go have breakfast with a couple of other ladies from church whose husbands were at the retreat.
An interesting remark was made by a woman I know today. She mentioned that since the preacher has been preaching about men being the head of the family that her husband who has not taken a leader role in the past all of a sudden wants to exert control. She is not comfortable with this and resents the way he is trying to "yank" the control from her. I can see where she is coming from. Submission is not easy and it was such a casual conversation and the subject was changed quickly afterwards so I did not get to give my submission lecture. (Drat!) :O) I was thinking about loaning her my copy of Power of A Praying Wife by Stormie O Martin. This book helped me a lot to stop trying to change my husband and ask the Lord instead to work on me.
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I have been in 6 churches in my life. In everyone of them I have gone through rough times with the congregation. Although I dont remember much about the first two I remember greatly the third one. I was in fifth grade when the Pastor left. My family soon followed along with many other families. I went to the next church til I was a Senior in highschool. Then my whole world fell apart when the Preacher at that church informed his wife he did not love her anymore and walked out on her and thier young son. I was devestated as I was best friends with his neice and was a part of this family. I started going to another church and was accused of leaving for all sorts of reasons by "friends" from the other church. It was not pretty and I determined at this new church I was going to sit in my little pew every Sunday with my best friend and a few other friends and not get involved in the church or with the people. HAHA! Little did I know if you arent going to serve the Lord He is not going to bless you! Lesson learned. I became involved in that church and once again formed a relationship with the Preacher and his family .There were some problems at this church but we survived, lost some members but hey the church kept churning out the Gospel and the Preacher stood strong. I left that church about a year or so after we got married. Dh and I wanted a church that was ours and plus we wanted one a little closer to our new house. I still love and respect that Preacher and his wife. At my church now we do things a little different. We have a praise band and powerpoint and something called LIFE groups. Our LIFE groups are based on Acts 2:46 and 47 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. We have three groups that meet during the week together and go over the Preacher's sermon from the week before. We fellowship together and take care of each other. We are forming lasting bonds with these people and also using this as opportunity to bring our lost neighbors in since we rotate houses. I love this.
Why do people have such thin skin? My feelings have been hurt numerous times, sometimes by the same person but I chose to go on with my life. I wish we in the body would realize that it is up to us to show maturity. We cant always count on it from the other guy (or gal). It would also help to remember that we wont be held accountable for the what they say to us or how they behave towards us but we will be held accountable for how we act and what we say.
I have sat broken hearted as the preachers that I know and love were torn down by people, I have closed my eyes and prayed for everything to be over in business meetings where people (supposed brothers and sisters in Christ) called each other out to the parking lot. I still tense when I hear the words business meeting. Do you believe I actually went to a church one time that argued over whether to have a program to help some homeless families??? How sick is it that these people were ready to leave the church and string the Pastor up because he supported this program? Im happy to say though through all these trials and tribulations I have grown so much in my walk with God. I am finally at a point in my life where I realize that the Pastor is chosen by God and that I have no authority over him. I also realize that in a church there are sometimes people there planted by Satan to undermine the Holy Spirit. Spiritual warfare has become a real thing to me.
I guess in this sense God has worked all things together for the good because I would still be immature in this area had I not had my heart broken so many times.

I am a wife and a mother!

I am a wife to a wonderful godly man. We met on the internet at ChristianMatchmaker.com about 6 years ago next month. We have been married for four years. He is my Mr. Steady and I love him for it. About two and a half years ago I decided I wanted to be a foster parent. He grinned and agreed. My Mr. Steady. We worked on paperwork and classes and homestudies for about 4 months and we were ready to go. Unfortunatly due to high turnover at the agency, lost paperwork, privitization, and just plain incompetance it took us a year and a half to get licensed. The day after we got licensed we got a little boy. He was 13 months old when we got him, he is now 22 months old. He has blond hair and blue eyes and because of confidentiality I will have to call him A on the blog. He is so smart and happy and friendly. We could not have asked for a better child. We almost got to adopt him but things happen and now his parents are working on their case plan. They still have about 6 months - a year to go so you never know what will happen. We might still get to adopt him. Its all in God's hands. In September of 2004 we got two little girls. They were sisters, 1 and 2. The one year old had little blond curls and was always smiling and wanting to be held. She was an angel. The 2 year old had brown hair and the most amazing blue eyes. She was so very very smart it was amazing. They went to live with their grandparents in October. The day they left I called placement and said I needed them to fill the two beds that were just vacated. Sure enough I got a phone call for three little girls. I could only take two so they brought me the younger two. K is 4 almost 5 and has blond hair (almost frosted looking the kind people pay good money for) she is so incredibly beautiful. T is 3 years old and has light brown hair and blue eyes and a smile that would knock you down. She is so cute! Their sister K is 7 almost 8 and has brown hair and dark brown eyes. She is so pretty. She lives in a different foster home right now because we dont have room in our car for her. We are praying daily for a minivan. The girls will probably go up for adoption sometime this year we so would like to adopt them but have not even mentioned it because we have not been able to move the older girl over yet. They will have to be adopted together. I would not have it any other way.
I tell you all that because I want you to know how happy I am. Since I was 4 years old I always knew I wanted a lot of children. I think when I was 11 I decided 10 would be a good number. I always knew I wanted to marry my prince charming and on December 15, 2000 I did. I desperately want a baby of my own to hold but God has not blessed us there yet. He has however given me many children and I believe the promise of many more.
I love being a wife and mommy but I always have to remember that first I am a child of God.
You see my God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) He wants me to put NOTHING ahead of Him. I have to remember that as I rush around in the morning forgetting prayer and Bible reading. My husband can not come before God and neither can my precious precious children.
Another thing I need to remember, and I learned this before I even got married, my husband is number 2! Not my children. Not my friends. Not my church. Not my family. And most assuredly not myself. I heeded the teaching of older wiser women in the Lord who chastened me to always put my husband before my children. You see one day your children will be grown and gone and you will still be looking across the dinner table at the man you married. Don't let that man be a stranger. The Bible tells us that woman was made for her husband (1 Corinthians 11:9). Not for her children. Please dont neglect your children. God does not want that either. Titus 2:4 tells us we are to love our children. But neither should you neglect your husband for your children. Im trying to think of an example and I asked Prince Charming, "What is something I do to make you feel like you are a higher priority than the children?" His response, "Everything you do." Any doubt why I love this man?? :) Ok here is a small one. Say your child asks to have spaghetti for dinner and hubby asks for meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh baked bread. You would rather cook one pot spaghetti! Come on admit it...... ;) But you should cook the BIG meal hubby wants. Its just the right thing to do. But do have spaghetti one night soon for your child.
My third priority is my children. Those three little angels who sometimes try every bit of patience I have. Last week in particular seemed to be a trying week. Because we are foster parents we have people in and out of our house all the time to see the children. The house was a wreck, the baby was sick, and I was on the phone with the girl's Guardians Ad Litem ( two of the sweetest people in the world) who wanted to come out and visit. So K and I ran around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to get at least the living room and the foyer looking decent. We did and I even had time to sit down and breathe before they came. Everything went great. The baby and I had many issues this past week though. He was sick and very whiny and wanted to be held. Now here is something about me that a lot of people might not know, when we take those spiritual gifts tests I always come in lowest on M-E-R-C-Y. My little guy obviously did not know that. For his safety and my sanity he spent a lot of time sleeping while he was sick... :) Im not a completly awful mommy I did hold him a lot but when I just could not take it anymore he ended up in bed where he promptly went to sleep. So it was all good. I believe that being a mommy is a special calling. I always feel like I am somehow missing something and striving to be a better mother. I know that I know that I know that I want my little ones to have a spiritual foundation and I strive every day to bring that about. They are fascinated with God and Jesus and enjoy just sitting down and flipping through their Bibles. The girls enjoy looking at the Bible so much they each got their very own for Christmas. We have nightly Bible reading and prayer as a family and the girls are in the Cubbies program with AWANA and we go over the Bible stories in thier Cubby books every morning. I have also found a Protestant catechism that I want to start the 4 year old girl and possible my three year old girl on. I also do the majority of the discipline since I am home all day with them. Prince Charming has delegated this duty to me and I strive to do a good job so that he can always trust in me. (Proverbs 31:11) I have a verse printed on my heart and when I look at my children I whisper this verse to myself. 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. This is what I desire for my children. That they walk in truth.
Well that is a little about me and my family. I hope that you will tell me about your families and what you are doing. I am always looking for wisdom for my role as a wife and a mother

Submission....again?

This was supposed to be my Feb 2 blog but I forgot to post... so here it is now! :)

So... last night was my sewing class. We are on week 3 (wow seems like a lot longer!) and we finished up these little stuffed ????? (someone mistakenly called them bears but I dont see it) and started our pillows. Well we started measuring and cutting the fabric for our pillows. I am taking a sewing class with my mom for many reasons. The top one being although I went to a great college preparatory highschool they forgot to teach us how to sew so that our daughters would not look like 4 year old tramps. If you know not what I speak of you obviously have not tried to find your very tall 4 year old clothes. I was embarassed at the selection and dont get me started on the WalMart Mary Kate and Ashley line UNBELIEVABLE! So I am on a journey to learn to sew. I have had my sewing machine for over a year now and I believe that instead of being in the way it should be useful. Im happy to report that after three classes I can SEW A STRAIGHT LINE! WooHoo! I can not however measure and cut fabric..... tonight I was trying to measure and cut a 17" x 17" square and no matter what I did I kept cutting it 17" x 16" or 16" x 16". *Sigh* The instructer ended up measuring my poor little squares before I could run out of fabric. So much for that college prep school!
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I am reading a book right now called Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. I have been really enjoying it but last night I ran across a chapter that disturbs me a little. It is a chapter on submission. I know I know I just gave my soap box speech on submission yesterday BUT I was not expecting this chapter so now I must address it once again. Mrs. Peace says that women are to be submissive in everything as outlined in Eph. 5 BUT she also adds the dreaded clause.... unless he asks you to sin. Im a little torn here but two of the examples that she used I know I dont agree with. One is if your husband tells you not to go to church... well the Bible says, "forsake not the assembling of yourselves with others." (Heb 10:25) Yes dear lady but it also tells us to submit to our husbands in everything and in 1 Peter 3 it tells us if our husband is an unbeliever you should keep silent....... let me touch on the other "sin" I dont agree with. If the husband forbids you to tell your children about God.... she says (and the Bible says) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Here, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching... " (Proverbs 1:7-8) I say again submit in everything and be silent. Now, I just had this argument with my mom so Im ready! Do I think that you should just say, "Well ok I guess thats that. Might as well start living like the world because hubby wants me to have nothing to do with church?" Nooooooooo I do believe however that this may be something you have to concede to if only for a short while. Why do I say a short while? Well my dear sister I believe when your husband tells you not to go to church that you should RESPECTFULLY tell him how much you enjoy church and that you feel it is your duty as a Christian to attend if he still says no then nod your head put on a smile and then HIT YOUR KNEES! Pour your heart out to Father. He will listen and comfort you. I honestly believe that you will be back in church in no time. And because of your obedience to God's word concerning your husband that sweet man you married MAY be sitting right beside you.
Now I must say I dont know what its like to have an unbelieving husband. (Only by the grace of God because I sure dated a number of unbelievers) I have read the scriptures though and think it says clearly that we obey no matter what. I was talking to my husband about this last night though. What if (VERY REMOTE CHANCE OF THIS!) your husband wants you to kill someone? I have really thought about this... (my husband would not ask me to kill anyone so dont worry! :) ) but come on what would I do???? I think that I would begin praying and fasting because my God can do ANYTHING and HE will make it so I dont have to murder anyone. That much I know.
Lastly if you are in an abusive relationship I dont think you should stay there and be abused. But I do think you should seek help for your husband (and yourself).
*Sigh* I pray I have said everything right. It is such a touchy subject but one that God has so clearly laid on my heart. I learn new things every day about Biblical submission to my husband. I just cant wait to share them with everyone!
By the way I really do like the book by Martha Peace just not this chapter. I just cant wrap my mind around..... "obedient in everything BUT....." its just not in the Bible.

Three little words

I have been pondering lately three little words found in a Bible verse. These three words have changed my way of thinking and my way of life. They are found in Ephesians 4:24. The words are : "in every thing." Who knew what a difference those words would make to my marriage.
Here is the whole verse in context with two other verses: Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Do you see a clause that says .... "in every thing as long as the wife is in agreement and as long as the wife thinks it is the best decision and if......: If you see that clause in your Bible get to the nearest Christian bookstore and buy another Bible and try not to rewrite the scriptures this time. Yes, I too enjoy writing in my Bible and making little notes BUT we should not be changing the verses! :)
This all came about when I heard of some women friends of mine struggling because thier husbands wanted them on chemical birth control. Many Christians believe that chemical birth control causes abortion, and while I am not a big fan of the stuff, I dont know this for 100 % so I stay out of the argument. These women suffer mightly at the hands of our own sisters, but to them I say be subjected to your husbands in EVERYTHING. Oh but what about the wife of the unbelieving husband. Surely she should make her own decisions regarding this. Nope.
1 Peter 3:1 tells us : "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; "
Tell me ladies which do you think would win the lost husband to the Lord... the nagging wife who is a constant drip (Proverbs 27:15) or a submissive, obedient, chaste wife?
I have asked my husband to hold me accountable. If he catches me complaining or murmuring or being contentious I have asked him to call me on it. As a matter of fact a few nights ago I was upset about something and I was murmuring. He jokingly asked if I was murmuring against him. I started to snap at him but caught myself and with a deep breath said, "Yes I am and I am sorry." He reacted with, "WOW!" which made me smile. See this is not normal for me. He thought for sure when I asked him to hold me accountable he was actually taking his own life in his hands. I have worked very hard this past week to be completly obedient to him and while I have slipped a few times and even surprised myself at the grace of God a few times I have to say our home has been more pleasent.
I want to mention one more thing about this subject. Although Im sure it wont be the last... someimes I tend to be a "soapbox" queen. Take a moment and read through the Gospels. Notice if you will that God informed Mary through an angel that she would bear Jesus. BUT after Mary and Joseph got married all of Gods instructions were sent to Joseph. So wives if you are itching to find a new church and hubby says no stop for a moment and ponder: "Has God given my husband information that I dont have?" I firmly believe that if you are in the wrong church but hubby says stay that you will be more blessed obeying him then going off into your little corner and pouting about it OR worse yet going to another church without him.
This is just an example I hope that you will take it and apply it to other areas of your life as well.