Product Details
• ISBN: 1857566284
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 7/27/2011
• Pages: 228
• Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 0.69 (d)

First Chapter
The Power Of Submission
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By Kim V.E. Sands
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Kim V.E. Sands
All right reserved.
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Chapter One
The Feminine Dream
For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. Revelations 19:7
The clear sky blazes a rainbow of brilliance as the morning sun peaks over the earth. Birds are singing, and a gentle breeze perfumes the air with a blended fragrance of spring flowers. It is the dawning of a bright and beautiful day. Outside the church, a lovely young bride ascends the high steps, and enters through the broad wooden doors. Lively bridesmaids eagerly assist with her train of white pearled satin that trail royally behind on her way up the church steps. She cradles a bouquet of fresh cut red roses in her arms. A delicate pearl and diamond crown sparkles atop her perfectly coifed hair. Nestled in a soft, white, puffy veil of netting it covers her head and shoulders. She is a princess of regal beauty on this very special day.
Inside, she steps through the decorated doorframe of the sanctuary and takes her father\'s arm. The organ music begins; the guests\' stand and turns in unison, all eyes now beholding the gorgeous bride. She lifts her eyes to the pulpit to see her groom waiting. His eyes alive with excitement as he watches his wife-to-be begin her journey down the aisle. Her heart races as she realizes that from this day forth, she will be with him for always, and together they will live happily ever after. This is the feminine dream.
Every woman at some point in her life, dreams of the day when she would find the man of her dreams and get married. From a very young age my mom would often speak of the day when we would grow up and be married as a special day to look forward to. My day began on a quiet morning on February 9, 1985. My mother awoke me at 4:30 a.m. to prepare for the 8:00 a.m. ceremony that would usher me into marriage. Twelve months before, I became engaged to a man I believe God brought to me and immediately began planning my wedding and building my hope chest. We had met in a bible college class six months earlier and knew right away that our future involved each other. This morning, I was excited that my day had finally come! As I stepped into the bathtub filled with warm water, bath oil, and scented soaps, Mom said to me, "Just relax, I will be back for you." I settled back and began reflecting on the eighteen months leading up to this day. I thought of how mom tried to talk my husband into a longer engagement. She wanted to have all her daughters around for a few more months. I smiled to myself. However between the two of us, we felt strongly that this was what we wanted to do. Neither of us wanted a long courtship, so we decided to get married and begin the process of getting to know each other after the wedding. This was our day!
The house was abuzz with activity. The young women that would stand beside me in my wedding were all at the house. Mom\'s hands were full. About thirty minutes later she was back with a lush white towel for me to step into. Then the real dressing began! There was the skin care, the hair designer, the photographer and videographer, shoes and clothing were everywhere. I was being adorned to meet my husband. Next, the dress was brought in - a pure white, satin gown that mom and I had designed together. Finally, when I was dressed, a white limousine awaited me outside my parent\'s home to take me to the church I grew up in. I was ready and on my way to be married.
Later, I watched my bride-maids walk up the church steps, while inside, the congregation prepared for the entry of the bride. The two trumpeters at the front of the sanctuary sounded their instruments announcing my entry as my father escorted me to meet my groom at the altar. I dreamt of this day for as long as I could remember, and it really turned out to be \'a dream come true.\' Together, my husband and I had planned for months, to this very moment when everyone would see us, not as two, but as one. As we stood before God and our witnesses, my heart pounded within my chest, yet there was peace. I believed that I was ready to move from the protection of my parents and accept the headship of my husband. I felt assured that this was indeed God\'s will for my life. Yet with all that had taken place thus far, it was not until we accepted the responsibility of the covenant that we were divinely joined together by God. Caught up in the excitement and festivity of the occasion, we made our vows, signed the marriage license and were pronounced husband and wife as the congregation cheered. My husband and I individually made a vow to God that we would be one with Him until death. We were no more twain, but one flesh, husband and wife. Today, I look back and smile at the innocence and faith that propelled us forward.
As we walked out of the church, not much had changed physically, but everything was different spiritually. Two hearts and two very different lives were now one. I was not aware of it at the time, but my wedding day changed my life forever.
My Spiritual Marriage
As wonderful and memorable as my physical marriage was for me, equally glorious was the experience of giving my life to Jesus Christ. I was in the highlight of my teenage years and like most young people, I found myself searching for a personal identity. During this impressionable stage of life, I constantly battled against the powers of the flesh. I thought of doing some of the things that my friends were doing or experimenting with, yet at the same time, I wanted to live a life that would please the Lord. But I could not have it both ways. I could not hold onto my foolish desires with one hand and Jesus Christ with the other. Yet the tug of war continued and I battled with the fleshly desires and convictions of my heart. Thoughts that opposed God\'s Word were constantly seeking to dominate my youthful mind and I didn\'t understand God\'s purpose for divine order in my life. I remember in my early teens dreaming of how I would someday be on my own. I would have my own home, two beautiful children, and I would run things my way. There would be no husband because I did not want anyone to "rule over me." Then I surrendered my life to Jesus a few years later, met a young man that I thought would be my husband, and everything changed. At that point I now wanted a husband, but not one that would take away my individuality.
Today as I look back, I thank God for his divine destiny being fulfilled in my life. I now know that an independent heart will fight against the obedience of God. Obedience, which is the key to God\'s heart, matures into submission, and without submission, I could not fulfill the will of God for my life. It was a crucial part of my life, and ministry. Eventually, through the avenue of marriage, I would come to the point of understanding the need of dying to self so that God could minister to others through me.
One evening I had a dream that caused me to come to a definite conclusion of what was important to me. My heart was convicted and I surrendered my life to the Lord. That day Jesus Christ became my personal Savior. I will never forget the peace that filled my heart when I made up my mind that, no matter what happened, for better or worst; I wanted to completely surrender all to the Lord. Over time, I was able to turn away from what I thought was best for me and trust Him completely.
For each one that comes to Christ the circumstances may be different, however, one thing is certain, faith becomes a necessary requirement. Through the years Jesus Christ revealed himself to me as friend, brother, protector, provider, my lawyer, my doctor, the lover of my soul, and King. I understood that it was no longer my will, but his will being done in my life that would ultimately bring fulfillment. When I accepted Him, it required faith to believe that Jesus forgave my sin, and cleansed my life, and that He loved me more than life itself. I knew that if there had to be a parting between us, I would have to be the one to walk away, because He said, "He would never leave me or forsake me." I believed His word and accepted it.
In the physical marriage, even though I did not know everything about the man I was about to marry, by faith, I believed that when we made the vow to God, we were joined as one forever. I was in this for the long haul. I was committed for life. He was mine, and I was his. We both understood that what we were committing to was lifelong union dissolvable by physical death.
In the spiritual relationship, this everlasting commitment was dissolvable only by spiritual death, not that the Lord would ever depart from me, but spiritual death will occur if I turn away or spiritually rejected him. To make it through either relationship, my humble obedience was crucial to the strengthening and endurance of both. Upon making the physical or spiritual vow of commitment, I was entering into a covenant with God that required total submission. The very basis of submission is found in the foundational scope of the institution of marriage. When we understand the purpose and depth of the marriage relationship, and the responsibility of the man and wife, then we will understand why the breeding ground for submission is nestled in the marriage.
What Is Marriage?
Marriage is a divine joining, welded in the spiritual, modeled in the flesh. It is holy, sacred, and it was established by God. Marriage is also the foundation of a brand new family. When God instituted this unique and powerful experience, it existed with a man and woman coming into covenant with Him. The man of his own will and the woman likewise accept a vow that would bring them into a covenant agreement with God. It is God who in agreement with the couple cements them together and ordains them husband and wife. He joins them as one, and only he can truly separate them again. The commitment of marriage takes a lifetime to fulfill.
When we think of marriage, we envision romance and beauty. We imagine flowers, soft music, beautiful attires, a ring, and a lovebird or two. These are only physical things that enhance the surrounding. The physical paints an awesome picture, yet it minimizes what is accomplished in the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm reveals to us the importance of a covenant.
There is a physical platform, but there is also an actual spiritual event that is not seen with natural eyes. Both platforms are essential to the marriage. It is not possible to partake of marriage and leave God out of it, because he is the only glue that can seal a marriage covenant. There are however, relationships that are not sealed by God, but band by civic law or the will of man.
When marriage was instituted in the Garden of Eden, it became a symbol of the Godhead, His image and His likeness. The Godhead consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one God, three functions. Marriage is also made up of three as one; the man, the woman, and Christ. In the family, likewise; we can see three functions, the father (the head of the home), the mother (the divine assistant), and the children.
To look at what the marriage was created to be, we can look at the Godhead and receive a better understanding of a union or a united force. To look at marriages today, it might be difficult to truly understand this concept in light of the selfishness, division, and lack of commitment that plague so many relationships. Nonetheless, when we understand the love that Christ desires to share with his people, the relationship between a husband and wife becomes a spiritual symbol of this love. It is the kind of love that will solidify a union. A marriage between a physical man and woman is only as strong as the spiritual relationship between these individuals and God. This requires much more than a feminine dream.
The wedding day is one of the most exciting events in the life of any woman. Many women enter into marriage without realizing that they are entering a completely new runway of life. Without proper preparation and guidance the demands of married life will soon become a struggle. Indeed, there is a vast difference between the single life she has left behind, and the married life she has just entered.
The life of the single women, once symbolized an individual life that is devoted to God - one that embraces chastity, purity, and innocence. It demonstrates a life that is singled out and set aside. When the woman weds she takes on a completely new identity, one that will be symbolic of her devotion to God through the presentation of herself to her husband. It is identified by devotion, sobriety, humility, and unselfishness as her life becomes a demonstration of the joys and distresses of a life shared. Her devotion will bring fulfillment to her heart, satisfaction to her husband, and ultimately, glory to her God.
So many young brides enter marriage caught up in a world of fantasy and physical desire. Looking forward to spending the rest of their lives with the man of their dreams, few consider the seriousness and responsibility that comes with the covenant. All they can see is the "ship of love" waiting to take them to that joyful land of "Happily Ever After." Thus, they embark on this new journey with the misguided notion that their passionate love will conquer all, and that their marriage will be different from all others that have detoured off the path. To naive young lovers, marriage is a fairytale come true; it is Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty all wrapped up in one.
The climax of their dreams is being whisked away to "Never, Never Land of Love" by their own Prince Charming. Of course, the beautiful brides-to-be never see the sequel to these fairy tales. They fail to realize that Cinderella had to run an even larger household than the one she left, and that her handsome prince became demanding and expected her to share in the responsibilities of running the castle - something she thought she was finish with. The stories never told how Snow White lost her figure and put on a few pounds after giving birth to her babies. When the prince began to object, she felt as if she was living with the varied characters of the dwarfs all over again. As for Sleeping Beauty and her prince, they had their first fight shortly after the honeymoon because he accused her of being lazy and sleeping too much.
Fairy tales rarely convey the reality of married life. In all reality marriage requires a leap of faith; it is a major faith walk. Anyone who has been married knows that being married is not a piece of cake. We are never told that our lives will change dramatically after the wedding and that for better or worse we must prepare to make major adjustments for many years to come. Nor are we told that marriage requires more "give" than "take." It is not until we enter the land of matrimony and that first overpowering rush of romance begins to wear off, that we truly realize the depth of marriage and how much more there is to ensuring marital success. Along with the love, there must be faith, devotion, trust, commitment, and more faith. These essentials make for a firm foundation. When we truly understand what God instituted through the marriage relationship, we will realize that the strength of the physical marriage (man & wife) is determined by the depth of the spiritual marriage (Believer & Christ).
From the beginning of time God admonished men of the importance of keeping a vow. Ecclesiastes chapter 5:4 states;
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; For he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel, that "it was an error," wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also diver\'s vanities, but fear thou God. (KJV)
This powerful passage of scripture shows us the importance of making and keeping a vow or covenant. In the physical marriage, a man and woman are joined in a public manner. Here two individuals come together as one for a shared purpose. The spiritual marriage takes place when man becomes one with Christ through the born again experience. It is through the physical realm that the spiritual realm is often understood or revealed. In other words, the physical (that which is visible to the natural eye) is an indication of the spiritual (that which is visible in the spirit realm). In the spiritual marriage the bride is neither male nor female, but divine. Both types of relationships begin with a mutual agreement and divine acceptance.
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