Thursday, June 24, 2010

My Family

God answered my prayer!

David and I are expecting a new member in our family this coming February. We are ECSTATIC. Under the circumstances, I thought I would sideline from my regular posts and talk about family, and why ours is still growing.

After Logan (our second) was born, we discovered that I cannot do birth control. I am a danger to my children and myself when I am on it. No LOL's here, I am serious. We discussed the matter, prayed over it, and finally, went to the Word of God to see if God has an opinion on the subject. As it turns out, He does.

In a christian society where everyone seems to have conformed to the world's view on children, we found something quite different in the Bible. We found dozens of scriptures showing God's love of children. Here are a few:

The first commandment ever given to man is found in Genesis 1:28, "Be fruitful and multiply..."

Psalm 127:4-5, "As arrows in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..."

I Timothy 2:14-15, "...the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing."

Throughout the Bible, barrenness was seen as a curse, and a shame. The one place where birth control was practiced, the man was struck dead for his sin. Leviticus 21:20 states that a man with reproductive problems could not serve in the priesthood. (Please, those that cannot have children, read Isaiah 56:4-5. God has not deserted those who "choose the things that please me". He has a blessing for you, too.) Elders in the New Testament not only had to have children, but those children had to be obedient.

The point is, God has blessed us with the ability to have children. He shows in His word that large families are a blessing. Who decided that 2-3 children was the maximum any family should have? If that was God's intention, wouldn't He have made us a little less fertile?

Interesting sidelight: Birth control pills became standard right about the same time women stole pants from men. The world tells us we must use both, and I try to hide the fact that I refuse to use either. Well, I'm tired of hiding. I love my children, and I love my skirts, and I love the way my life unfolds when I line up with the Word of God. I don't try to make anyone else live my life, but I wish people would quit condemning me for living it. I wish my friends and loved ones would be happy when they hear the news - instead of sarcasting asking, "Don't you know what causes that?" YES! I KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT AND I DID IT ON PURPOSE!
In case you haven't noticed, I am married - that makes sex legal. The same God that designed sex designed children as the result of sex. Children are not a curse - only the pain of childbirth is.

I apologize for the rant, but I'm tired of being called judgemental for trying to live what I see in the Word of God. Please, I have enough to keep me occupied without trying to live your life, too. I love my people. I accepted a long time ago that everyone has to follow their own path, and no one in my circle of friends and family understands mine. That's o.k. I don't ask you to -- but I do ask you to be happy for me - and let me be weird - I'm happiest that way.

10 comments:

  1. Julie & David - Congratulations on your new bundle! You know that my only concern is that you are healthy the whole time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julie,

    Well said...that is awesome. Congratulations! I enjoyed reading this post. I agree with you when you say "everyone has to follow their own path". You live the life "you" want to live. I'm so happy that you are happy...sometimes that's all that matters.

    Send love to your family! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julie,

    Congratulations! I'm excited for you. I know I was one of the people who asked you, don't you know what causes it. I meant it as a joke. I'm sorry to have been one of the ones to be so insensitve! I was so happy to have met your children and am amazed at how you can do it and how well behaved they are. I can't imagine having more than two children but I planned for and had the two that I do have. And love them for their unique qualities. I keep thinking it is so great that you have found someone who accepted you for who you are to be your life partner and not someone who would want to change you. You have the perfect life, Julie! God has truly blessed you.

    I love you and your family.
    Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  4. Whoopee!!! I'm gonna have another niece or nephew!! I'm so glad I decided to read this post today, instead of waiting :-)~ I'm sorry you feel that no one understands you - sounds to me like you're doing just as you should be. I hope that I am not one you get that impression from - I think it's wonderful to live the way God wants you to...it's not always an easy thing, finding His will for us. I love you, sis - can't wait to meet sweet Elizabeth - and the new baby! So glad David posts pic's now & again :-)~

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello my dear sister. Congradulations, I always enjoy seeing you and your family. I feel like one of the family....I'm happy for you both. You always told me that you wanted to have a large family. My husband would have loved to have a large family but we were told to stop at 3, back then if you in the ministry it was better not to have alot of kids cause to have the time to give them was hard. Everyone in the church wants a part of your time. Anyway, some time out in the future we will meet again. Love you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Julie! So excited and happy for you and your family. I am so glad you are living your life to the fullest you and David can live it AND loving it. I went on birth control for about 1 month before I got married and quit two weeks in. It was not the right decision for me either. I love your honestly and clearly God has blessed you with another bundle of joy. I don't understand critisism for a large family either. Those people aren't walking in your shoes and therefore their opinion on what is right/wrong for you is just that...an opinion.
    Love you and God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jessica - you said what you did before I knew I was pregnant. If I'm honest I have to admit that I would get a lot less of those comments if I would quit cringing about what others think and be bold about what I believe. I don't have a problem speaking my mind in other areas! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bro. Green has been talking about worry. Often "worry" stems from fear, one of our biggest fears being, "what will others think." Not being afraid of speaking our mind is good, if the spirit and motive is right. Speaking out for righteousness is good but our motive in speaking out must also be righteous. Too often many speak out in their own "righteousness" and their motive negates any of their words. For you, you may have heard remarks about excessive childbirth. I will never forget the words that have haunted me ever since, "When will you get in order and do what God meant for you to do?" followed up with remarks about sacrificing childbearing for my career. For once in my life I spoke up for myself and said, "When God decides to heal my body." The words spoken to me were harsh, hurtful and mean-spirited, and I give him the benefit of the doubt he was not aware of my infertility. However, I regret my hasty retort which was said in anger with the intent to make sure that person was put in their place. He might have been wrong, but my spirit of retaliation was wrong. Congratulations on another baby Streit running around the planet.....hope it's a girl! Laura Burnich Fernsler

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie - I thought you'd love this blog! http://toomanykidsinthebathtub.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Way to go Julie.Mo.

    ReplyDelete