What do my children see?
In me?
How do I wear my Father’s love?
Do they see real love? (Love not in word only, but in deed and truth.)
My daughter needs a drink of water…seems she needs a lot of drinks of water.
Do I stop what I’m doing? Is it a bother? She’ll know.
I get up from my chair. How could I perceive it as an interruption? God forgive me.
“Here my love”…(even a cup of cold water in My name will be rewarded.)
He was right.
That smile…the reward I see.
And maybe one I can’t.
To those few who remain unwilling to admit the epidemic of our anti-child culture, I submit exhibit A…
A as in Abercrombie & Fitch…the leading brand clothing for teenagers. Do you wonder why I rant on and on about this subject? If they’re advertising like this, we have our work cut out for us. (I wonder if Planned Parenthood has anything to do with this?) Thanks Katherine for the link!
I challenge you to ponder this message a bit…what effect does it have on its customers? Promiscuity that is advertised? Meanwhile the “experts” ranting about how to curb STDs and teenage pregnancy.
Will the message change after they are married? Think about that one. Do you just shift gears? Isn’t this really the message being sold to everyone–married or single?
Isn’t that really what the birth control industry offered? See how the dots are connected?
Guess what happened to the fidelity rates within marriages after the birth control pill was publicly accepted? How did the ability to now be able to separate the pleasure of the marriage bed from procreation change the lifestyle of people? What do you think of the results of that? Has it brought other curses? Does it matter? Ponder….
Invariably, this birth control topic really opens a can of worms. It’s impossible to address just one aspect; there keeps occurring a new path, a different thought, and we must keep pushing to the ends of the unknown trails to be able to step away with a full, thoughtful conclusion.
The term “Quiver Full Movement” has been used a few times here, mostly in a derogatory way. I was thinking that, of course, “quiver full” came from the Bible. QF is not a movement at all. Mankind was born in QF default mode, if you will. I don’t imagine Adam and Eve were sitting over dinner wondering how many kids they were going to be able to afford. I know, I know. They were supposed to be “filling the earth”…of course they weren’t thinking about birth control.
So, when did the earth get full? I don’t envision any New Testament couples having BC conversations either. But that’s another trail.
So, my challenge to you is, do you think there even exists a real “movement” called QF? Or do you think it would be more accurate for us to distinguish the groups by a term like, “Birth Control Movement”…or “Child Limiting Movement”…or “No More for Me Movement”. (Don’t get mad, I’m just joking.)
But do you get my point? I’ve always found it interesting that women who do not generally practice birth control are the ones put in a class; “those people”…”those QF people”. I find that odd. Women whose bodies are doing what they were created to do have to explain why they aren’t taking a synthetic drug that alters its normal function? Does this not seem odd?
See, it’s not me standing in judgement of those who practice birth control. I have no desire to make people feel condemned or less spiritual. Please don’t think that!
I want us to operate from a crystal clear understanding. That’s why I dig into the subject.
Imagine a person walking up to you at the store and saying, “Oh my goodness! You’re having s*x with your husband just for pleasure? You are purposely preventing conception? Only two children? Do you not want any more?”
How offensive! But can I say this gently…that is more accurate than what so many who know the sting of being questioned about a larger than normal family is.
I find it a wee bit offensive to be labeled as part of a movement. I didn’t join some new regime of people who see how many babies they can have in a lifetime. I don’t belong to a group that teaches how to stop nursing so you can conceive again quickly (???) It’s no group at all. It’s just believing that the principles in Scripture point to a sovereign God–even over the womb. If that is not the path you follow, it is no condemnation from me. But I think the pro-birth control position would more suitably belong in the “explanation please” category, in the case people feel the need for explanation.
For centuries, couples have been pretty much having children every few years. Yeah people avoided certain times of the month, I’m sure, but the whole concept of just using birth control to stop after a child or two has been completely FOREIGN to the world until around the 1960’s. So why is that group now the normal group, and the other group is “cultish” and weird?
Someone has asked why I don’t believe the womb can be compared to a field with the applicable “Sabbath rest”. (Which, to restate, by all means, let a couple faced with a difficult health issue prayerful consider God’s leading!) But go back to Scriptures…why would God have asked couples to abstain after a monthly cycle for 13 days, and resume their relations on the 14th–THE most fertile day of the month? God went to great pains giving the Israelites specific instructions about the details of their lives. He told them how to handle mold, for crying out loud! Why would the Sabbath rest for the womb not be brought up among those instructions? Or maybe, here’s a thought, the Sabbath rest was already built into the nursing practices of women. Just asking you to think.
Am I missing something?
In the case someone feels offended by this post, I assure you I am not condemning anyone at ALL. I’m not enemies with people who use birth control! I realize in some recent posts, that it is automatically assumed that if I say I believe God’s best for His people is to accept the children He gives them, then I am condemning those who don’t.
Some people think it’s God’s best for us to exercise; but they’re not accused of being judgemental towards those who don’t…same thing with eating healthy, being in debt, the list could keep going. Do you understand what I’m saying? In fact, I’ve said before, I have a great deal of respect for people who just say, “I didn’t want anymore children because I like to go on vacations”…or whatever else. Honesty is great! NO…I’m not opposed to those who use birth control. I’m opposed to the notion that to NOT use it is weird and irresponsible.
My only reason for posting about what I believe about fertility is to challenge you to rethink it yourself…when I was using birth control, I had not given it a second thought. I as so glad I was challenged to question WHY I chose a certain practice.
Last year I told about how a family I knew growing up had so influenced my life and planted seeds that have greatly impacted my husband’s and my family choices. (I looked endlessly for that post and can’t find it!)
I told of how they were the first and only family at the time I ever knew that did that weird thing called “homeschooling”. And then, I found out they didn’t let their kids date. And the more I discovered, the more certain I was that they were going to ruin their children. But I was terribly wrong.
And through it all, as I lived a few houses down the road steeped in rebellion and wickedness, they loved me. They lived…quietly, with unwavering convictions, firmly planted and trusting the Lord for strength to make some unpopular choices.
Later, you may also remember I posted of their only daughter’s wedding HERE.
I found out that the wife of that family I had left unnamed will be featured on the Nancy Leigh Demoss‘ radio program “Revive Our Hearts” Monday and Tuesday of next week (14th & 15th).
Don’t miss it! You can listen on line if you can’t hear the show. Here is the link with all the details and broadcasting times.
http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/roh/future.php
Mrs. Welch is dear to my heart and I promise she will be a blessing to you! The topic of the show is: “Healing from Bitterness/Exhaustion”
I thought this information from Mrs. Sara worthy of notice. (I don’t mean to be “a lazy and unscholarly student” 😉 So maybe this helps some of you who also do not have the time to do any extensive research at the moment on the abortifacient properties of birth control pills.
Thanks Mrs. Sara!
“I’d like to point out that you don’t have to go far to find out if the pill is abortifacient or not. I’ve actually held a box of chemical contraceptive in my hand, taken out and read the sheet of medical indications for the drug, and found that RIGHT IN THE BOX they tell you exactly how the contraceptive is abortifacient.Since I no longer have the box, I’ll quote from the website for Yasmin:
“Combination oral contraceptives (COCs) act by suppression ofgonadotropins. Although the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation, other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus (which increases the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus) and the endometrium (which reduces the likelihood of implantation).”
This info can be found at the following link:http://berlex.bayerhealthcare.com/html/products/pi/fhc/Yasmin_PI.pdf
…My point is that in order to find out if a chemical is abortifacient, it doesn’t take looking at an actual medical study. The manufacturers of the pill have done the medical studies, and by law, they have to disclose how their product works….
The only way you can really argue that chemical birth control isn’t abortifacient is if we have a differing view of what abortion is. If we do, we can definitely discuss that. “
This subject, from the angle I’m writing, could really be separated into two categories: the birth control industry and accompanying mindset, and the careful, prayerful fertility life of a couple.
While I may have my personal practices and opinions about fertility, I’m not posting about this matter to convince every couple that they should never ever space their children or consider certain, unique situations in their lives. That is not the aim here.
But rather, that people would think about their fertility in a light perhaps they never have before. The BC industry has a destructive, anti-life agenda. There is a plethora of proof for that.
And since they have crusaded for so long to brainwash the masses, I believe with all my heart that Christians need to be talking about a different angle. We need to be speaking about the sacredness of life, and Who is really in control, etc.
Let couples make their personal decisions before the Lord with fear and trembling. But not until their thinking is right…”and how will they know unless someone tells them?”
(Addendum)
The last comment “unless someone tells them” is not meant to imply that I’m trying to assert my personal opinions about BC. The thing I’m referring to that they need to be “told” is the basic, undeniable truth about the sacredness of life. “For YOU have formed my inward parts…I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” From Psalm 139
Not an opinion…just truth.
Inevitably a hot topic. When I post about this topic, it really makes me think deeply. Sometimes I let doubt creep in, because I am so passionate about it, and I would hate to be passionate about something that doesn’t matter. Sometimes I think, “Maybe God doesn’t really have an opinion about this at all. Maybe He has left it completely up to us to decide.”
And then another thought…
God not have an opinion? You mean, indifference toward life? What am I? A Life? Does He have an opinion about me? Was it such a strong one that He sent His only Son to be a ransom for my soul? My immortal, eternal soul?
Life…immortal…eternal…HEAVY.
Do I really believe God doesn’t have an opinion about the way we handle life? Do I count a fertilized egg as a scientific blimp that I *forgot* to prevent? Do I consider a baby in my womb another “decision” to make…or avoid?
Or do I look at life as eternal, immortal–the way God looks at it. And if I see life for what it is, doesn’t that change drastically the way I handle it? Think about it? Treat it?
It’s time to revisit this topic…it is such a deep affliction to me when I see the world’s attitude toward children. And not just children, but toward our smug ability to “control” them. (The very word “control” reminding me of using pesticides or something.)
And I think this is why I’m so black and white about birth control. I really don’t mean to be. I really try to stick to the positive side of the issue…and only talk about the blessing of children through God’s eyes.
I know all the side roads…”what about a mother’s health?” and “I have this friend that had as many children as God gave her, and she died with the last one and left her husband with 17 to raise”…and the other 1 in a million such stories. But those stories don’t justify the much worse dilemma: our culture’s hatred of children.
Here’s the crux: when someone calls me in tears expecting her third child, and I ask, “why are you crying” and she tells me of the mistreatment from friends and coworkers and how “out of control” it all feels, and how her world seems upside down, what am I left to conclude about the supposed “neutral” issue of birth control?
I know not every situation is as extreme. But think with me honestly…if birth control is neutral, just an option, why are most women made to feel like they’ve grown two heads if they have more than 2 children? Or if they somehow were so “irresponsible” to let one slip by? WHY???
How can we embrace the right, and the necessity, and the “privilege” of preventing children on one hand, but still be completely delighted for those who would accept more than 2 children from God on the other? Or be thrilled to learn we are expecting, even though we were trying to prevent it? The two seem diametrically opposed.
I know a few people who are not there. I have friends who have personally chosen to stop having children, who, (at least to my face 😉 are so excited for us when we announce we’re expecting. I’m so grateful for those friends.
But that isn’t the reception I’m running into in most places, INCLUDING the church. And it’s not the stories I’m hearing from others.
I just want to stand on the roof and say:
“WE DON’T MAKE BABIES!!! WE CAN ONLY PREVENT LIFE. IT IS GOD WHO CREATES LIFE. GOD SAW FIT THAT A WOMAN SHOULD GENERALLY HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN IN HER LIFETIME. GOD DECIDED THAT SOMEWHERE AROUND THE AGE OF 45 WAS A GOOD TIME TO STOP.”
And here’s where we are…we are SO arrogant that because we CAN prevent children, that because we think we are in complete control of our lives, no one gives God even a smidgen of glory when He overrides our decision and blesses us anyway! We stomp and fuss and say “it’s not fair” about the greatest gift a human can receive.
How did we get here?
I read about an experiment on human behavior. A control group was instructed to get on the same elevator at various floors, and turn around to face the back of the elevator. By the 5th or 6th floor, the people not in on the experiment decided to turn and face the back as well! As ridiculous as the act was!
Do you know what a serious statement this makes about our nature? And do you know how it applies to many other choices we make in life? There is simply something about feeling alone. We don’t like it!
“If God saved mankind through one man’s obedience, He is still in the business of honoring the remnant!”
How many times did your mother ask: “If Billy jumped off a cliff would you?”
The absurdity of the statement isn’t as extreme as you may think.
Ever heard of a Lemming? While I’m not sure how true it is, it is said that lemmings, (a type of rodent) will run together in packs and plunge into the ocean because, well, “everybody else is doing it”.
We have to be so careful to scrutinize the choices we make, and be certain that we are not just going along with the crowd.
Sometimes I think about certain things that we do or don’t do, that are not only considered normal, but you are abnormal if you are doing something different than the norm. Practices we’ve let others dictate for us, without giving any thought to the reasons or consequences.
Buying bottled water…a minuscule example.
I know, I’ve bought it too! But who would have ever thought, in the days of our grandparents, that you could make a lucrative business bottling and selling water! Over and over it is reported that the bottled water is no cleaner, or healthier than tap water. WHY ARE WE BUYING IT??!!
In short, because everyone else is. Because we allowed someone (media, advertising) to convince us that it was healthier, or trendy, or convenient. And so, we took their word for it and now it’s big business. We spend millions of dollars buying tap water. (BTW, guess what the most popular brand, EVIAN, is spelled backward?) Naive.
(Hmmm…the entrepreneur in me is thinking….air? Could I sell bottled air? 😉
But more serious than water drinking are many other things we’ve just adopted as normal, giving them very little thought. I could list a bunch, but I’d make a lot of people mad 🙂
We are no longer a “thinking people”…to our detriment. Just tell us what everyone else is doing…surely a bunch of people can’t be wrong!
Noah walked a lonely road. When God told him to build an ark, his obedience separated him from every other human being on the planet. NO ONE was believing it was going to rain. It never had. Noah and his family were totally alone. And remember, it took some 120 years for Noah to see the truth that God promised Him.
Has God asked you to build an ark? Are you willing to build in faith? Even if you’re alone? If God saved mankind through one man’s obedience, He is still in the business of honoring the remnant!
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Copyright ©2023 Generationcedar. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Duke
