The Wife and The Rib--Modern Day Rib in Action

I have to say that I never really gave much thought as to why woman was created out of mans rib. Sunny did a fantastic job of explaining how it is a symbol of being created to walk beside a man and how we were created to protect him. A husband needs his wife's love and admiration and appreciation. He needs her support. He needs to know that no matter what she is on his side.

A thought to ponder:

There is no one or no thing in all the earth God has created that God gave the ability to either be the most injurious or that provides the greatest blessing and strength to a husband than his wife. How will you use the "power" God gave you today? (From A Wife's Biblical Submission)

What a responsibility we have as wives! We can destroy our husbands or we can build them up. I know that none of us want to destroy our husbands (at least I hope not!) but sometimes we do little things that we don't realize are harmful! I used to have a very selfish and negative attitude. I used to talk about my DH to my BFF. We would talk for hours on the phone justifying each others gripes. As some of you may have read in a previous post, my husband and I separated for a year and a half. During that time God really took hold of me! He showed me how I had single handedly destroyed one of the most precious gifts He had ever given me, my marriage. During this time I read many, many books, and looked up every scripture I could find about being a wife and about marriage. I started writing myself motivational notes and reminders, and I learned to pray scripture. This weeks study & thought to ponder reminded me of some of those notes and I wanted to share a few of them.

First off, I ask these questions EVERYDAY:

Lord, what can I do to bless my husband today?

What can I do to help him?

What can I do to show my love for him (actions speak louder that words. I was always telling him that I loved him, but my actions and attitude were SCREAMING something else!)

What is it like being married to me?

What is it like hearing the words that I say?

What is it like living with my attitude?

What can I do to make things better?

How can I change?

No one is perfect. We are all the same. We have strengths and weaknesses. If we are to have good relationships with each other, we must think on the positive and forget the negative.

My husband has deep needs even if they are hidden. It is up to me as his wife to pray for wisdom to know what to do to touch those needs.

If we don't take care of what God has given us, we lose it!

I will use the power that God gave me by remembering to keep a good attitude and ask God to watch over my words and actions. I will use my words and actions to build my husband up, to affirm him, to respect him, and to show him that I am his biggest fan!

Heavenly Father, I pray that the women in this bible study will hear your words, and those words will take root in our hearts. May our actions and words towards our husbands be like apples of gold in settings of silver. We want to be the kind of wives you created us to be. I pray that we will all be blessings to our husbands. I pray that we will all have marriages that Glorify you . In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN

(note: The questions that I ask myself were questions from books that I have read...I believe some were from Elizabeth George -After God's Own Heart Series. A lot of the books that I have read have had the same principle, so I am not 100% sure.)

Marriage Notes

Give him PRAISES

P--Pray for him
R--Respect him
A--Adore him
I--Initiate untamate friendship with him
S--Safe guard your marriage
E--Encourage him
S--Sexually fulfill him

Give him your BEST

B--Bless him
E--Edify him
S--Share with him
T--Touch him

Be a great WIFE

W--Warm up his life with your love
I--Improve his life as a helper
F--Follow his leadership with a willing heart
E--Esteem him highly with utmost respect.

(Note: These are notes from books I have read.)

A Wife's Biblical Submission

I just signed up for an online bible study I found. It is called A Wife's Biblical Submission. I am excited about this study. Not only am I going to learn more about being the best wife I can be, I am also going to meet other women that hold their positions as wives important. I am a SAHM and Wife. I am on my second marriage. I have 3 boys ages 11-16 and my husband has 1 boy-20 and 1 girl-19. I was raised in a home where my Dad was married several time and non of his wives were submissive. (My mother passed away when I was 2) All my Dad's wives were disrespectful and rude. They had smart mouths and they were manipulative. I grew up this way and learned this behavior. I have been married twice. I know that I acted in ways that I am not proud of. Those are not the reasons the 1st marriage didn't work, but i know that they didn't help the situation. Although I grew up in a home that wasn't the greatest example, I always new in my heart that my attitude and behavior was wrong. I always wanted more out of my family life than what it was; I just didn't know how to get it. I always wanted to be a mother and a wife from the time I was a very little girl. I never wanted anything more. So when I married the second time to a completely different kind of man I just knew that my dreams were going to come true. I was going make a wonderful, happy, loving home where everyone felt secure and safe. Everyone would love being there and my children and husband would rise up and call me blessed. WRONG! Although I married a wonderful man, we had problems. Of course, I started feeling as if I had made yet another mistake when choosing a husband and stepfather for my 3 children. After a couple of years, we separated and life was unbearable. I had failed again! It was then that I picked up my bible and started reading it. I mean REALLY reading it and praying to God to show me what went wrong. Well, what he showed me was not what I expected, and I didn't like it one bit! I was a bitter, disrespectful, manipulative, ungrateful nag who did whatever she wanted! OUCH! To make a long story short, I spent the next year reading and praying that God would change me. I stopped asking him to change my husband. I learned how to put things in God's hands and stopped trying to do everything myself. It took a year and 3 months, but my husband and I are no longer separated and I have committed myself to learn everything I can about being a Godly wife, mother, and woman. I was thrilled when I was searching the CWO Blogroll and found a link to this study.