Hello Friends!

Last month I shared the very first Titus Two Tuesday post which was a Q&A with Mrs. Pat Fry. Judging by the comments and the feedback, you all enjoyed that post very much!

Today, I have a new Titus Two post to share with all of you. This Q&A is with a missionary wife I had the privilege of meeting just last year. Mrs. Whitener and her family are missionaries supported by our church and came to be a part of teen activity we had at our church last Fall. Amanda was kind enough to answer some questions for all of us and I’m excited to share her answers with all of you! I’ve enjoyed getting to know this sweet lady and I know you will too. Let’s jump right in!

Titus Two Tuesday | A Q&A With Mrs. Whitener

Meet Amanda Whitener

Mrs. Amanda Whitener and her husband Zach have two daughters. They are a missionary family living in Dunedin, New Zealand and have been there since this past February. Here’s a little bit more about Amanda in her own words… “I love coffee. I enjoy the outdoors. I like to read, cook and bake.  I have dabbled in a few hobbies, such as photography, embroidery, and kombucha brewing. Most of my time is invested in homemaking, and mothering my two lovely daughters.”

I sent the following questions to Amanda, and here’s what she has to share with us!

What’s your favorite passage of Scripture and why is it special to you? 

I have two. 🙂 The first one is Isaiah 26:3 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

I run to this portion of Scripture when I am seeking peace. I am reminded to focus on the sufficiency of my eternal God and to trust in His ability to take care of any problem I could encounter.

The second one is 1 Thessalonians 5:24 – Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. When I feel overwhelmed by the task before me or unable to meet the demands placed upon me, I remember this verse. I am comforted by the fact that as I rely upon the Lord, he will accomplish his will in my life.

What does your typical “quiet time” or Bible study look like?

Now that my girls are 5 and 7, I find it much easier to have a regular quiet time each morning (that wasn’t the case when they were much smaller). I get up before everyone else and make a cup of coffee, sit in the recliner in front of the window and spend time with the Lord before the day begins. I am reading through the Bible in a year, chronologically. I have found it helps me stay focused to listen to the Bible on an app as I read along. I found that it is easier for me to do actual studying of the Bible in the evenings after the girls are put to bed, typically that is my best opportunity for reading helpful books and for studying.

What piece of advice or encouragement would you like to share with single young women?

I would like to encourage single young ladies that may be struggling with being content while single. I would tell them they are not incomplete being single. Rather, they have a fantastic opportunity to grow and prepare for whatever ministry the Lord has for them in the future. Getting married would not ‘make them happy’ or guarantee they will never be lonely. The Lord is the only one who can truly fulfill us. I fear it is so common for many to get married for what they feel they will gain from marriage, instead of the desire to give of themselves to their spouse. That sets things up for disappointment. My advice is to grow close to the Lord, be sensitive to His leading and do your best to sharpen your skills and talents, because you never know how the Lord desires to use you.

What piece of advice or encouragement would you like to share with other married women?

Something I have learned about marriage is that God desires to use marriage in the sanctifying process. He wants us to become more Christlike as we learn to minister the love of God to our spouse. God has told us in His Word that husbands need to be respected and followed. In doing so, wives will be cherished and loved. When both are happening God is glorified and He can bless the union. My desire and goal for my marriage is that it will be what God intended for marriage, a picture of Christ and the church. I want my marriage to glorify God and accomplish all that He desires from it.

How would you encourage wives to “love their own husbands”?

The most meaningful way a wife can love her husband is by respecting him and by following his lead. She can learn what it means for her husband specifically to feel respected, it is sometimes different for each one. Usually he will tell you, if you listen to him, you’ll know. 🙂 Many things women wouldn’t think of can come across as disrespect to men such as interrupting, doubting /questioning or arguing. Some small ways to show love to your husband: whenever you have opportunity, smile at him. That shows him your are happy, he wants you to be happy, so it will make him feel at peace. Another one is to listen to him. Give him your complete attention. That shows him he is important to you. Ask him if he needs anything, let him know you are there to help him. Ask him how you can help, then follow through quickly and efficiently. These are very basic things, but it is really all about the small things. One more thing, PRAY for him. Pray for him often throughout the day. Lift him up to the Lord as you go about your tasks, asking God to bless him, draw near to him, lead, guide and direct him. Pray protection from the enemy around you husband and pray for your marriage.

How would you encourage moms to “love their children”?

Several key words come to mind when I think about how to love my children. Kindness, connection, gentleness, determination, affirmation, encouragement and laughing. It is so easy to get caught up in the responsibility of correcting wrong behaviors that you miss out on strengthening the relationship you need to have with your children if you will make progress in training them. Say two positive things for every correction you give them. Look them in the eyes. Smile at them. Tickle them. Drop everything to snuggle or read a book or listen to them. Don’t be too busy for them, or when they are teenagers, they will be too busy for you. They grow up so fast, we need to cherish the moments. Another part of love is having the determination not to allow them to get way with wrong doing. For their own sake they need to learn consequences for their actions and that can take a considerable amount of effort and patience at inconvenient times. Holding them accountable for their actions combined with grace and gentleness speaks love to your child.

What’s your favorite thing about homemaking and why?

My favorite thing about homemaking is the fact that my work creates an atmosphere of comfort and solace for my loved ones. I get to be the one to make it feel like ‘home.’ 🙂

What’s your best homemaking or time management tip?

I am the sort of person that cannot function well when things are not tidy. For me, it is really helpful to have a place for everything and clean as I go. I am not able to rest well with things out of place, so I tend to be constantly maintaining for my own sanity’s sake. I am not good at having cleaning/cooking/chore schedules, it just isn’t in my personality.  Routines yes but schedules, no! If I notice something needs to be done, I try to do it right away, if I can’t, I put it on my list. I like lists, even more, I love crossing things off my list. 🙂

Are there any books that have had a big impact on your life that you would encourage other women to read? 

I would like to recommend The Surrendered Wife By Laura Doyle (a secular book, but I found it very impactful nonetheless), The Peaceful Wife (April Cassidy), and Families Where Grace is in Place (Jeff Van Vonderen).

Any final piece of advice you would like to share?

Not so much advice as a final comment. As ladies, no matter if you are single or married, a mother or not, we need to remember that we are loved so perfectly by the God of all power who always does right. We are safe in His love for us. He is in complete control and His ways can be trusted.

Final Thoughts (From Rebekah)

I hope you enjoyed this post from Mrs. Whitener! I was so encouraged by her willingness to share this with us… and it was all so good! Thank you, Amanda! ♥

What portion of this post stood out to you most? What did you learn and what did you NEED to hear? I would love to hear your answers in the comments! ♥

Personally, I loved it all – but I especially appreciated the two verses she shared at the beginning as well as the reasons why she loves them. Those reminders were needed!

Once again, I hope you enjoyed this post, and be sure to keep your eyes out for next month’s Titus Two Tuesday post!

Until Next Time,