The Gospel According to Sandra: Day After Superbowl

If I were given a trivia on the sport of American football, I would probably fail. You would not know that if you had seen my reactions during the Superbowl game yesterday. I cheered, hollered and hooted with the rest of the group as we watched men run around in tights chasing each other and a ball. I must make a confession, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the game more when the Seattle Seahawks were in possession of the football. If you watched the game, you would understand my disappointment due to the final results of the game. We all saw it. At first, I blamed Russell Wilson, the quarterback, until it dawned on me...

Russell Wilson did not make the decision that cost the Seahawks the Superbowl game. The decision was made by his coach. His coach who has authority over him. Inside I applauded that young man for honoring his coach. Mr. Wilson simply did something that we all have been faced with or will be faced with sometime during our life. To obey those in authority over us, even if the cost is great. I am certain for a brief moment the quarterback questioned the coaches decision in his mind, but without hesitation, he obeyed. He honored the man whom had authority over him.

"Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, 

because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account."

-Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

By now you are probably saying this is another post about submitting. Well, yes, it is. I am not saying that you have to submit to everyone who has a title and abuses others in the name of that title. However, I am saying that submitting to those in authority over you is not a bad thing. Submitting to proper authority protects you. The situation between this quarterback and his coach is a great example. According to reports I read via the media outlets, the coach has taken blame for the call that resulted in the loss of the Super Bowl game. What a great coach/leader for taking the blame. What a great football player for doing what was asked of him.

Often times when being told to do something that we prefer not to do results in the battle of the wills. The will of our coach, boss, pastor, husband, ect. is meet with resistance when it does not fit in with our will. Let's face it, we all want to have things go our way. When things do not go our way, we know how to make others around us feel uncomforatable. All it takes is a little passive aggressive know how. After a while, we get what we want. Think about it, what husband would not give in to what his wife wants after she has withheld herself for a long period of time. We see it all the time on a sports team when the athlete plays halfheartedly because he/she is upset with the coach. Even within the church we have a tendency to not give as much as we can because we do not like what the pastor is doing.

"Football is a lot like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, 

hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority."
-Vince Lombardi

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I desire to pattern my life after His. If asked whether trying to live your life the way Jesus did was difficult, I would be the first to raise my hand while saying yes. Especially after I read the passage of Scripture found in Philippians.

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself 

by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross."

-Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

One thing for sure, I am filled with joy knowing that I do not have to die a physical death to be obedient. I do, however, need and should die to my selfish ways. By doing that, I will continue pursuing my goal of living in harmony with those around me.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires 

that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but 

you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because 

you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with 

wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

-James 4:1-3 (NIV)

The Radiator, Submission and an Unexpectant Blessing

What does a radiator and submission have in common? Nothing really. Unless, you consider the fact that through a broken radiator, I had to decide whether or not I was going to submit my will or His.

Early one morning my husband came home and informed me that something was wrong with the car. With a big heavy sigh, I asked him if he let the car warm up. Then I proceeded to tell him 101 reasons why he should have let the car warm up. 

During the night we had one of the coldest nights thus far. The last thing we needed was a car that was broken. We had just brought it. Things were perfect because I was just issued my driver's license after not driving for some time.

Why would this happen?

Surely, if I get up and go down there the car would start. Yes it started, but idled high and over heated right away.

Don and I talked about what we were going to do. We looked at the money we had in the "car" envelope and there wasn't much there. We didn't know what was wrong with it. He had an idea that it was the radiator. Sure enough, it was.

I asked him if he wanted to have it towed somewhere. He said that wouldn't be necessary because he was going to fix it if I would hold the flashlight.

I just stood there. Outside on a cold November morning watching everything encircle me as I played those words over and over again. My husband has never fixed a radiator, at least I didn't think so.

I opened my mouth to ask him if he had ever fixed a radiator, but before I could finish my sentence, he said, "Honey, because you tell me all the time that I can do anything, I believe I can fix this radiator."

*Side Note: Ladies, please tell your husbands how much you believe in them. Other people can tell him that, but what really matters to him is if you believe in him.

We ordered the radiator. The part came in the next day.

We spent the following morning taking the old radiator out. It was a grueling task. I took the word helpmeet to a whole new level. I did manage to keep my cute skirt clean in the midst of it all.


On the third day, we spent another cold morning installing the new radiator. Got it in but the car wouldn't start. By this time, I was cold, tired and frustrated. Surely he would have someone to come fix it or have it towed.....

We came in and talked about our next move. I had a solution to the car problem. The neighbor next door had just gotten her car fixed by the mechanic down the street. She raved about him. A sister from church highly recommended her mechanic. She really trust him.

I presented my solution to take it to either one of these mechanics. He said no because there's no more money left in the car envelope. That was fine because we could use credit. I don't know why he didn't think of that. If only he would really listen to me. Our car problem could be solved in one day.

My husband said no because he felt that wasn't the answer. That was a quick fix and would put us in debt.

At this point not only did God had to control my tongue. He had to control my neck too. I'm a sistah girl from the ghetto. I know how to roll my neck and tell somebody off. I was very good at it BC (Before Christ).

He asked me to trust him in this situation. I panicked on the inside. I did manage to control my tongue and my neck! My flesh hurt though because I wanted to give into it and usurp his authority as head of our home.

It's easy to submit when you agree. It's when you don't agree that shows what you're really made of. I had to decide if I was going to practice what I teach other women to do. Submit, even when you don't want to or when you feel your husband is wrong. During these times, what's in your heart is really exposed.

Was there something in me that needed to be exposed? I had to step back and pray.....

Day four: We went out there trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. I had to remind myself to not only watch what I said, but my body language. (Note: A whole lot can be said without a spoken word. The body language will say it all.)

Day five: We went out there trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. Car didn't start. I suggested that maybe we should have someone come here to look at it verses towing it to a shop.

He looked at me and said, "That's a great idea."

Our friend couldn't come for another 2 days.

He came. He couldn't figure out what was wrong.

I wanted to bring up having it towed again. I heard a still small voice say, "Shhh....."

Laid down that night later than usual. We all had to get up early and ride in my sons cars to church.

My silent prayer, "Lord you said that if we would be faithful, you would open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that we won't have room to receive. You said that men would give unto us. You said that I'm to reverence my husband and submit to him. I really don't understand, but I trust You."

I kept saying, "I trust You...."

I had to go back home. On my way back to church, Don called me and said a couple wanted to talk to us.

When I arrived at church, Don and I talked to the couple. They had just gotten a new car and wanted to give us their old one.

Our mouths dropped! Tears started to flow.....

They gave us a car! No strings attached. A nice car too.

Had I not come under the submission of my husband, even when I didn't agree with him, I would have missed out on what God was trying to teach me. He was teaching me to trust Him. Trust what the Scriptures say about my role as a wife.

Also, one can say that my husband should have just taken it to the shop. He decided to trust what God said in His word to owe no man nothing.

As a wife to my dear husband, I can trust him as head of our home because God is his head. There's safety in and submission. The rewards are great. Just look at my new car.

By the way, I named her Ginger because she's golden and very pretty!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the dealer where we brought our car from is sending their mechanic to our house to look at the broken car. I'll keep y'all updated ;)

I've Tapped Into Something and It Works!

I really can't tell how it happened or when it started to happen because it's been going on for years. I don't even know what I did to make it happen in the first place. All I know is that it happens and I love it! There are these random words of expression that comes from the mouth of my dear husband. These words cause me to melt like a popsicle on the sidewalk in the middle of January.

He tells me all the time that he reads about me in the Bible. Then he'll proceed to read the Scripture to me and explain why it's talking about me. As I sit there like a school girl blushing gazing into his eyes, I can't help but to wonder what did I do to deserve this.....

Society tells me that I'm not what a man wants in a woman because I'm overweight. That theory was blown out of the water when my husband said the reason why he loves my stomach and can't stop touching it is because I carried his children in it.

Even today the children are still amused when their dad comes into the kitchen and loves on me. They may say things like, "Ewww get a room." Or, "That's gross. Don't be kissing mom while she's cooking." All the while they are beaming at the sight of their dad loving their mom.

Did I tap into something that caused him to openly express his love and affection for me that so many women desire? I'm not sure. I've tried answering this question so many times. I'm a simple girl living a life of simplicity. I dress simple. There's nothing extravagant about my hair. My makeup is little to none. My nails are.....well, let's not go there.

What could I have done to cause him to follow me around the house just because he "wants to" be in my presence? What caused him to put me so high on the pedestal? I often tell him that I'm not perfect and I'll fall off. His response is that he'll catch me and put me back up there.

Could it be that just maybe following Scripture and totally abandoning myself to God's will and not my own cause such a reaction? Have I tapped into something in the Word of God and embraced it with every fiber of my being? I don't know, but whatever I've tapped into works so I'll keep doing it.

Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Getting Settled

On June 30th we set out on a new adventure. We were so excited because it meant that things had fallen into place for the move. We were transitioning from Idaho to the state of Washington.

On June 29th, we started loading the big yellow Penske truck. We were so blessed to have people there to help us, especially the teenagers that had frequented our home on many occasions. It was bitter sweet for me. I love the people in Idaho and will never forget them. Some friendships that were made there will last a lifetime.

We love our new place. It's better than I could have possibly imagined. Don had talked to me about what we could afford before I started looking. In the back of my mind I was thinking, "It sure would be nice if he could add a little more $$$ to that figure." He expressed his desire to continue having me keeping our home and being here with the kids even though they are getting older. As always I trust my husband because I know he will always do what's best for us. I wanted to honor him and my Lord by coming under his submission.

God came through in a big way for me. We found this place by "accident" but we know it was God ordained. It's only 2 years old. In a gated community. On the very outskirts of town which is where we wanted to be. Granite counter tops with stainless steel appliances with tile flooring. The balcony is to die for with a view of beautiful evergreen trees. They painted accent walls with the colors of my choice. There's a pool and a gym. This place will be our home for the next year at least.

So we are getting settled. I can finally see the carpet on the floor. The boxes are quickly vanishing away. My kitchen is as cute a button with all my cow stuff and farm animals. I love walking by the curio cabinet and looking at my collection of porcelain dolls. I love this place and I'm content with the simple things in life.

Throughout this time I learned that by honoring my husband, God will honor me with the desires of my heart. I'm constantly redoing this lesson over and over again. Maybe it's because submission is not an easy thing to do. I have to deny my flesh sometimes and not tell the brother what I really think. So that means I have to watch my tongue and guard my heart. When I speak words, whether good or bad, they go into eternity and I can't take them back. I want the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart to be acceptable in His sight.