“Many Are the Afflictions of the Righteous

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” ~ Psalm 34:19

We are not told that we will have a carefree life when we live for Christ. In fact we are told, “many are the afflictions”. It seems like I’ve experienced more than my share of afflictions lately.

We have endured a very rough couple of months. Now I know there are people who are enduring much more than we have even in these difficult times for us, but it has still been very hard for us. I admire those who are suffering more than us as they continue to not only survive, but flourish amidst their circumstances.

I wrote last month about going through a difficult time with some things. We are still dealing with those issues as well as another blow. While I thought about not saying anything at all or even mentioning it, but not going into details (as I have in the past), God laid it on my heart to be open and honest. It is by not only being open and honest that I might bring healing to my heart, but it may also be an encouragement to others and let other women know they are not alone.

Late last week I suffered my first miscarriage.

Only a handful of people even knew I was pregnant as we hadn’t even told our girls yet. I was two months along. We had only told the few people whom we knew would be happy for us and not offer us rude comments, silence, or fake congratulations. We hadn’t told the girls yet because we know they are not as discreet when it comes to sharing information.

Suffering the miscarriage was hard enough, but it seems as if I miscarried twins. Since this was my first experience with miscarriage, I was unsure of what to expect or what to expect my body to be able to handle. I threw myself into work after I initially miscarried because I was trying to avoid thinking about it. This was not helpful as it stressed my body more than it should have been stressed.

Even after I realized that I was going to need to rest to recover, I kept my mind busy by watching Road to Avonlea episodes. I lost myself in the lives of the characters instead of dealing with my own pain. It was only after I had finished the final season that I allowed myself to think about what happened for more than a few minutes. I spent time in my Bible and found comfort in God’s Word.

While I have been telling myself from the beginning that it was God’s will and that He knows better than I, I was having a hard time truly believing that in my heart. I kept wondering what I had done wrong to cause the miscarriage. I wondered if it was because I have been praying for a boy so much and the babies I miscarried were girls. I wondered if I have been a bad mother to the children I have and that is why God took these new lives. I wondered if it was because I hadn’t taken good care of my body and it wasn’t fit to carry life. I wondered if it was because I have often thought that I couldn’t care for a special needs child and maybe one or both of the babies would have had special needs.

I wondered a great number of things, but the TRUTH is that God has a plan for my life. His ways are different than my ways (Isaiah 55:8). I have already seen him use my sufferings to help others and I know He will use this for His glory as well. It might be by my being able to comfort someone else enduring a miscarriage or it might just be by expressing my love of life—any life.

I am sure I will still have moments where I question God’s decision. I am sure I will still have moments where I just break down in tears. I know I will think more about the consequences of my decisions even if it is as simple as eating something that I know I really shouldn’t. I know I will spend more time in His Word instead of escaping into fictitious world. I know I will continue with my “Blessings Book” (which I started after reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Read about my thoughts on the book here.).

I pray and hope that anyone who has experienced a miscarriage would comment here and share your thoughts, experience, encouragement, etc. with others. I pray that those who have never experienced a miscarriage but would like to express their words of comfort and encouragement would leave a comment. I pray that those who feel the need to leave a rude or hurtful comment would chose to keep their fingers silent and not comment.

I leave you with the following scripture as encouragement.

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angle of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him ,

And delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

There is not want to those who fear Him.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger,

But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. . . .

. . . . The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

~Psalm 34: 1-10; 17-18

Why Have Babies

Why Have Babies-- A Look at Chapters 17 & 18 of Be Fruitful & Multiply: Why Parents in the Twenty-First Century Love Having Children & What Do Children Say?

                                                         

Both of these chapters give exact quotations from real people as to why having more children is a blessing. While there are 101 reasons from parents, here are just some of them that I can definitely say I agree with!

“We love receiving gifts and blessings from God.”

“I’d love another baby because to choose not to is like saying “no” to God. I want to say “yes” to God and His will for my life.”

“I love to see the faces of my children as they see a new brother or sister for the first time.”

“Children brighten up the home. They make life interesting.”

“More children give us the opportunity to have our faith increased as we see God meet our daily needs.”

“Having children helps to develop in us the godly character of servanthood.”

“My children help me surrender the selfish desires of my flesh.”

“Parenthood allows us to experience the kind of love our Heavenly Father has for us.”

“Babies remind us of how wonderful and how creative our God is.”

“Babies are a lot more entertaining than television.”

“We’re helping to build the kingdom of God.”

“Children teach me to become a servant, and that’s what Jesus wants us to be. Jesus Himself said He came to serve rather than be served.”

“The more children we have, the more we will be blessed when we are older. Instead of being lonely, we will have many children and grandchildren around to entertain us, to bless us, and to care for us.”

“Raising up a godly seed is laying up treasure in heaven.”

“Having children causes us to depend on God moment by moment!”

Some six year olds said:

“Because I love babies.”

“Because I want to hug another one. And I could babysit at home.”

“I could make him laugh and teach him how to do tricks and how to play games.”

When I asked my own girls why they wanted me to have another, I got the following responses:

“I just love babies.”

“Because they always grow up and I like having a baby around.”

“I want a brother so I can play tricks on him.”

Children are truly a blessing and reading and studying this book and the scriptures it brought to light have only made that more evident for me. I pray this series of posts has been a blessing to at least one other person.

If you have been encouraged to read this book on your own, reconsider more children, study the scriptures more yourself, or something else because of this series, please leave a comment below!

No One is Perfect

I get comments all the time about being "Super Mom". I feel bad every time I hear that name because I am far from it. Here is a post that talks perfectly about being imperfect.

We're All Imperfect

I Apologize!

I really need to apologize! I haven't been posting any of my own thoughts lately because of a busy home life. We had a sickness go through the family a few weeks ago that affected everyone except me (thank goodness!). Then it was trying to play catch-up. Then the holiday was spent with extra time with Daddy home. Now we are getting ready to attend Bible Bee Camp for the next three days. Of course, after some time away, I'll probably be busy catching up again (not doing laundry for three days is really going to hurt!). I am really going to try to get back into posting next week.

I truly hope everyone has enjoyed the links I've been posting and will come back when I get back to regular posts!

God Bless!

The Great ‘Making Babies’ DVD and Book Giveaway ~1st of 3

I looked at a friends copy of Making Babies the other day and it made me want it even more than I did before I looked at it! You can enter to win a copy of the book and DVD by visiting the website below!

The Great ‘Making Babies’ DVD and Book Giveaway ~1st of 3

Home Cooking for Body and Soul

I was featured at At the Well yesterday with lesson #8 for Home Cooking for Body and Soul. Join me there to check it out!

I’d Like a Word with You—The Resolution for Women

God’s Word was written just for us. It is like a love letter from God. We learn much from reading it and we experience His great love for us.

“ . . .like a radiation treatment on a cancerous cell, His Word is actively renovating us even when it seems like nothing unusual is taking place. His Word . . . . It’s life. It’s love. It’s living truth, solid as granite yet soft as a baby’s skin.”

Today I would like to share some of my favorite verses with you. Some of these I have memorized word for word. Some of them I know the verse, but not the reference (without looking it up). Either way, they are like carrying God’s love letters with me wherever I go! I’m also sharing some I would like to memorize.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ~ Philippians 4:13

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who have been the called according to His purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” ~ Psalm 127:3-5

“For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” ~ Psalm 139:13-14

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” ~ John 10:10

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall down, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” ~ Psalm 37:23

This ends the section of Faithfully His. I signed the resolution that,

I will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His Word.

Do Not Deprive—A Look at Chapter 16 of Be Fruitful & Multiply

“When we refuse to have more children, we deprive many people.”

Have you ever thought about it that way or not? Many people will tell you that not having children or more children is their choice and it doesn’t matter to anyone else what their decision is. In actuality, it does affect others.

You deprive God of someone He had a plan for.

You deprive yourself of a blessing (or blessings) that God had in store for you.

You deprive your parents (that child’s grandparents) of “glory and honor” (Proverbs 17:6.

If you already have children and choose to not have more, then you are depriving your children of the blessing of a sister or brother.

You deprive the church of not only someone to minister to, but of someone that can help further the gospel message.

You deprive the world. That child you chose not to have could have been who the world needed to turn people back to Christ. You never know the power of raising godly seed.

Your decision to not have children (or more children) definitely has an effect on more than just you and your spouse. So many people will miss out on blessings because you choose to deny a blessing that God has planned for you.

Truth

Handling Opposition—Lessons from Nehemiah 6

I am constantly amazed at how much we can learn about living life from the Old Testament. I hear people all the time say how the OT is irrelevant and that we no longer need to live by it because Christ came to defeat the law so it is now not applicable. That has to be the farthest from the truth! God gave us His whole Word. If it wasn’t pertinent to us, then He wouldn’t have had it written and combined with the New Testament for us to read. Just taking the time to study the book of Nehemiah has opened my eyes to the vast amount of knowledge and wisdom for us to learn.

Chapter six of Nehemiah continues to show the opposition he experienced when rebuilding the wall. He was doing what God called him to do and Satan didn’t like that so he sent many people to try to stop him. People spread rumors about him and threatened him. We can learn much by how he handled the opposition.

When we are living for God, we will be attacked! If you are living a carefree, easy life, then you might want to worry about whether you are living right. If you are living for Christ, then Satan will want to ruin your testimony and break your spirit and will try to deter you from living for Him. (8-9)

This reminds me of the website that is out saying that someone will pay one million dollars to whomever can provide photographic proof that Tim Tebow is not a virgin. Just because Tim is influencing many young people for Christ, they want to bring him down. They are doing everything in their power to ruin his testimony. How sad is it that some people have nothing better to do with their time and money than to attack Christians?

Commit your accusers and their accusations to the Lord. Nehemiah just calmly stated that what they had heard was not true and then took it to the Lord. He prayed for strength to continue on with the work and to withstand the accusations. (9)

Stand fast! Do not let false accusations and those who fear what you are doing stop you. Stand up to them and do not be moved. (11)

Seek wisdom. Nehemiah could have easily been deceived into doing the wrong thing. One of his own people had turned against him and was trying to help those who wanted to stop him. God granted him the wisdom to perceive what was going on (12)

Give God the glory! When you succeed in God’s plans, make sure you give God the glory. When we are able to accomplish much more than “should” be accomplished, people will know it is because God was on our side, but we still need to make sure we give Him the glory and not try to take it for ourselves. Our goal should be to live our lives in a way that all we do directs people back to God. (16)