"Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason. There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.

You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.

Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated." 1 Peter 2:14-20, 25, 3:1-6 (The Message)

Submission is so great, Lord. Thank You for instituting that. I adore my husband and he is awesome to submit to anyway because he takes his job as leader very seriously. He treats me as equal, listens to my thoughts and feelings, and makes the best decision with all available information - including insights God gives only to him because of his role in our family. We have seen time and time again that when we follow his spiritual instincts (moral compass, leading of the spirit, etc), we are very blessed. And the great thing is that even if he makes the wrong decision, if I have expressed my opinions and then submitted to him, HE is responsible for the outcome, not me! I am responsible for the daily tasks of a wife, mom, and house caretaker, but I can't tell you how good it feels to leave other responsibilities up to him! What a load off! Sometimes when I get overloaded, he takes on some of my stuff, and sometimes when he gets overloaded, I take on some of his stuff.

So I say it again. Submission is great! Wonderful! Relationships are about serving, aren't they, Lord? There is not one person I will meet that I'm not called to serve. I submit myself to husband, kids, friends, family, strangers. And the joy that comes! It isn't real love if I don't humble myself and look to the other person's best interest. Even You humbled Yourself and served! Of course - because You are Love itself!

What an awesome God I serve! I confess I don't serve You as I ought. But You are working on me! And You forgive me! And You love me! And You have a special purpose for me! Ah. The peace, hope, and excitement that comes being part of Your family! I can't wait for Eternity so that I can look back on all of this as a necessary and interesting part of my life, but being grateful that it is over!!! Thank You for the promise that it will come to pass! I can't wait to see You as You REALLY are, worship, rejoice in Your presence, and fellowship with You and other saints in perfect love for infinity!