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Brand New Ebook...
FEARLESS TEMPLATE TINKERING
A Guide For the Faint of Heart
By Carrie Rella
$6.95/ebook
If I can learn how to create and tweak templates without any technical training or knowledge, you can too! It's fun and easy! I'll show you how! Includes lots of
online and periodical resources, HTML coding and other aid.
From My Family To Yours...
"FEEDING YOUR FAMILY ON LESS
How To Cut Your Grocery Bill By At Least Half
Without Sacrifice Or Discomfort"
By Carrie Rella
$5/ebook
Learn how I am able to keep costs down for feeding our family of ten to under $150 bi-weekly. It's easy! Includes several helpful printables for your own personal use.
On Our Menu...
Thursday's Meals
Breakfast: Pancakes, milk
Lunch:Ham salad sandwiches on my whole wheat bread, sliced cantaloupe, iced water
Supper:Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, corn muffins, iced water
Friday's Meals
Breakfast:Cornmeal mush, milk
Lunch:Ham & Bean Chowder, sliced wheat bread, iced water Supper:Skillet Scramble, lettuce salad, iced water
Saturday's Meals
Lunch:Order in (Saturday treat!) Supper:Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches on whole wheat, carrot sticks, air-popped popcorn, iced water
Remember! You can eat well on a small budget! Your family's health is worth it!
Cape dresses, infant items, headcoverings/hanging veils, handmade washrags, greeting cards, and more!
NEW STOCK THIS WEEK: Modest girls' dresses, Hair bun tool, more sewing patterns,and crocheted newborn booties in a variety of colors and styles!
If you have any experience with miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death and would like to share your story with others, please contact me. I am looking for contributions
for a (publisher printed) book I'm working on. I will be happy to send you the outline if you're not sure your experience would be a "fit". Thank you in advance!
"Lo children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..."
Psalm 127:3-5a
There is no doubt about it. It is the Lord that controls the womb. It is He that opens and closes it. Not man.
Genesis 20:18
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
Genesis 29:31
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 30:22
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from thewomb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Truly, children are blessings. Gifts from God Himself!
Genesis 28:3
And God Almighty bless thee, and make theefruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
Psalm 128:3
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalm 127:3
Lo, children are anheritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
There are many families, today, that have decided to allow the Lord to plan the size of their family.
Many have found their own attempts at controlling the number of children they have to be ineffective, anyway -- or even futile. Even with "birth control", children have come into being.
Some families never use any form of birth control, and have one child. Perhaps, even none.
Other families are so fruitful... that their quiver overflows!
A woman's body was created to produce children, unless God has allowed her to be barren. Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, natural events. Beautiful experiences. Times of rejoicing!
But, ultimately, it is between a couple and God, alone, whether or not to continue openly allowing pregnancy.
The Lord has blessed man greatly. He has given him the capacity for much knowledge and learning. Medicine has come such a very, very long way! It's made almost frightening strides forward. We're so much safer today than our ancestors, even one hundred years ago, were.
I know.
It is only because of the hands of the medical profession's expertise that I am still here, today. I know that God can work through doctors and nurses and others in that field.
It is thrilling to see the movement toward greater trust in regard to leaving one's fertility and family size in the hands of the Lord. It's a magnificent trend, indeed!
So many couples are learning that children are, indeed, a blessing. They're no longer trying to bar the gifts God wishes to give them.
But, I believe there is a danger, Christians.
Any time we begin to see our way as the only way, we are walking a very tight rope. And it's hung high above safety. We must be certain our measuring stick is God's. Not our own.
To allow God to plan the size of one's family is not a salvation issue. God alone knows the hearts of the individuals involved.
I believe it is quite wrong to decide to have more children when the woman's health is very poor. If God should intervene and bless her, that is beautiful. But to put yourself in the middle of a busy road... and "try" the Lord is wrong.
Matthew4: 5-7Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Our bodies are God's temple. If we know that something will harm or hurt us, we must abstain from it. This is just one of the reasons why Christians avoid things such as alcohol and cigarettes. It is also why we try to groom ourselves neatly, eat well and exercise. We wish to keep good health.
Some women learn that they have a health issue that would cause hurt to herself or her baby.
Surely, God can work a miracle in any difficult situation. But to expect one, and walk into it in this mindset is in error! You are testing the Lord, just as Satan attempted to get Christ to test God.
I'm afraid some quiver-minded Christians have completely missed the mark. They have turned on their fellow believers and have begun lashing out in judgment against those who have found that, due to medical reasons, having more children is not in their best interest.
Every couple's quiver is of a different size and capacity. Some might hold three blessings, some twenty. Still other couples might find their quiver empty, without attempting to keep it so. God might mean for some of these folks to adopt or otherwise minister to other children in order to begin to fill that quiver.
I have recently noticed a "tear" in my own quiver. My other arrows are threatening to spill out of the rip if I attempt to place another in.
Is it sin to refrain from conception, naturally?
I strongly believe that it would be a sin to put one's self in danger's path. Someone called it "suicide". Suicide, obviously, is wrong biblically.
The plot thickens, though, in the case of a couple who disagree in this matter.
1 Peter 3:7 reads: "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."
Ephesians 5:28: So ought men tolove their wives as their own bodies. He thatloveth his wife loveth himself."
Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it"
Some women can sail through pregnancy problem-free. Others grow weaker and have great difficulty.
A husband must take his wife's own peculiarities into consideration. He must dwell with her "according to knowledge" and love her as he does his own body.
Sacrificially, protectively.
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
A wife must also realize her husband is her head, and the final decision-maker.
Women, examine your hearts. Where do they lie? In truth? Are you open to the blessing of more children or are you trying to escape the burden of them?
Do you have too many bills already? Another child would only leave less money. Perhaps you'd need to purchase a different vehicle or change your lifestyle to suit.
Do you and your husband need your time alone? Without interruption, added responsibility, etc...
Is pregnancy not enjoyable for you, and the discomfort annoying?
Do you fear the pain of labor/birth?
These are all examples of "excuses" that arise from self. They are wrong reasons to avoid having children.
Do you have a health issue that is presently dangerous without the added stress on your body that pregnancy would bring?
If so, is it not yet under control?
Could pregnancy exacerbate your condition?
Would it have negative consequences for your body's ability to function? Care for the baby within? Care for your husband and the children you already have? Put either of your lives at risk?
These are all examples of things that should bring both you and your husband to the Lord in prayer. They are all acceptable reasons to abstain from having more children.
Doctors are not gods. They cannot know the future. But Goddid allow them to obtain learning about the human body. God can and does work through the hands of doctors and other medical professionals. We would be very foolish to disregard everything that they advised.
There is no one right answer to the question, "How many children shall we have?" It is as individual as each couple.
Please, husbands and wives, take the Bible literally in relation to your marriage. Nurture it and one another.
Some day, you will both be answering before a just God for how you chose to move forward.
Psalm 26:2
Test me, O LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind
But I sure would love to see some Scripture on God's Forgiveness to those who seek it. I didn't know all of this information when I had my tubal. I didn't even know God.....
I know NOW how He feels and what He says about life, children, and all........but I didn't know then, and it's too late to reverse.
I know there is no condemnation in Christ, but it's hard not to 'feel' this way when you never see the Scriptures about His Forgiveness!!
Thanks
Laura
I agree wholeheartedly with Laura. I was a young Christian when I had my tubal done. My youngest is now 12, and I am a grandmother. But if the Lord would bless me with another child, I would gladly take it!
I tried to counsel my sweet DIL just last week when she had an appointment to get her tubal done. She cried and said she didn't "feel right". I told her that if it "didn't feel right, then it obviously wasn't right". But she did it anyway.
God bless you Carrie, and all you do. Thank you for having the courage to step up and take a stand on a subject that many are afraid to touch these days!
I love the idea of "quiverfull" it was MY hearts desire to have as many blessings running around our home. My dh was opened minded to it, though as we had our third and we sat and talked about our future blessings I could see the stress that my husband was feeling. I could see that $ was his main concern. I could see that everyday he left for work he was PRAYING for overtime. I did not want dh to leave everyday feeling stressed. I was doing my part as far as watching the spending ect..... I turned this situation over to the Lord, if MY defintion of "Quiverfull" only means 3 then I feel blessed. Maybe "quiverfull" means different numbers to different people. Oh, I still desire more but, I know I am blessed!
I appreciate your writings!
Rachelle
You know I certainly agree ;o)
Miss Emily is to be our last arrow in the quiver that makes up our family...at least from a pregnancy stand-point. Perhaps she is the final for us personally, but there are many blessings ahead of us with grandchildren (not expecting any yet!) and others that enter into our family gathering.
Our last 3 pregnancies ended a bit earlier than planned, but no one paid attention to any reasons as to why. When Emily arrived far ahead of time, my doctor here noted some things about my cesarean...one important thing was that my uterus walls were becoming wafer thin. It was a blessing and miracle we were able to have Emily. The Lord knew, I fully believe, and that is why she arrived early and smaller. Had she been larger, as were my other babies, my uterus would have most likely ruptured and we would have lost her, and me as well.
It was advised, strongly, and almost out of our hands, that we have my tubes tied. Oh, how I struggled with this! We prayed over it during the entire pregnancy, finally finding comfort in the fact that if it was to be, The Lord would make it clear to us. He certainly did.
I am allowing The Lord to control our family size. He has given us our answer. It's sad for me, from a flesh heart side, to know there are to be no more babies, but my soul heart knows that He knows what is best for us. Were we to have carried another baby, it would have put not only the baby at extremely high risk for death, but myself as well. I am needed to be a mother to my other children, a wife and helpmeet to my husband. It would be totally selfish of me to have another baby knowing the high cost it would most likely cost our family.
Thank you for sharing...and for the reminder to everyone that there is no 'set' or 'correct' size for a quiver. Some hold by one arrow...others hold several. The Lord alone determines the quiver we will carry in our Walk.
Deanna
Thank you so much for this thoughtful commentary. This is always on my mind. We had three children and were going to stop, but the Lord kept working on my heart. Our reasons for not having more were from your first list of reasons you listed. We prayed for a couple of years. We decided to leave it to the Lord and now have two more blessings.
Now I near 40 and would love more, but my last was 10 pounds with all 5 being at least 9. My weight gains have been from 40 to 80 pounds and I am normally not all that big of a person. I have severe swelling while pregnant and was having a hard time during the pregnancy as far as functioning in the home. So now, I feel this may not be in the best interest of my health. My husband who is in health care agrees.
Like you I am thrilled that Christians seem more willing to accept blessings. However, sometimes I feel that certain "quiverfull-minded" do not feel it is okay to consider the health issues involved, saying things like, "You need to trust more." Your wording provided some clarity for me. Blessings.
We have 3 daughters... then lost a son to a heart condition at birth which was due to an auto-immune disorder they discovered I had at that time (and still have). We should have been content with our daughters....but I had such a strong and unsettling desire for more....I thought I was being selfish, because the child could also have the same heart defect. But the unsettlement wouldn't go away. I trusted the Lord in that it was a sign to proceed. Eleven years later, we had a son and 2 1/2 years after that we were blessed with another son. Both healthy! Not only did the Lord bless us with these babies...He actually gave us sons in additon to our beautiful daughters.
We chose not to have any more children because of these health issues I had. I think I will always want babies....but I feel that I would be truly testing the Lord by doing so, as I really felt His divine hand in bringing our two sons to us!
This entry was really what my heart needed to hear...thank you.
Joanne
FREE DEVOTIONAL FROM STILLWATER MINISTRIES
Not only does Still Waters offer practical, godly devotions for every day, you'll find their booklets extremely helpful in reading your Bible through in one year.
Their plan is easy and fun!
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