You Have HOW Many Children???

During the 1800's American families had an average of seven children. Today, the average has fallen just below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per family.  Have you ever wondered what happened?  In past generations many mothers and fathers understood the value of a God centered family life.  Children were taught to honor and respect their parents and love their brothers and sisters.  The fathers role was to provide for and lead their family while a mothers role was to embrace the high calling of motherhood and delighted spending their days at home caring for their children.  The family that put their trust in the Lord knew that He would provide for them no matter how many children He gave them.  Families worked together, played together, stayed together.  Families valued life.  Over the years humanistic philosophy began to redefine family values.  Instead of seeing children as a blessing families were told that children were an inconvenience and that they should be "responsibly" prevented.  Women were told that instead of embracing children and family life they should embrace their careers and freedom.  People began to exchange the truth of God for a lie.  This lie would change Gods plan for family life and reek havoc for generations to come.

In 1953 Katherine McCormick donated $2 million dollars to create the birth control pill.  In 1960 Dr. Gregory Pincus was one of the inventors of that pill. 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill.  This pill was created as a result of the efforts of a leading feminist, Margret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, the world's largest abortion provider.  Her goal was to free women from the "bondage" of childbearing. 1.5 million babies are surgically aborted each year.  Tragically, as a result of the abortifacient effects of the pill and other "contraceptives," an additional 8-12 million babies are chemically aborted each year in the U.S. alone.  This is a quote from Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, "The most merciful thing that the family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

When Mike and I were first married we were not followers of Christ and we already had a 5 week old daughter together.  About 3 years later we had another beautiful daughter and 3 years after her our first son arrived.  Mike was content with having 1 more for a total of 4 children.  Which to the world and most people is a large family.  Thankfully, just months later  God opened our eyes to His truth and we started seeing several areas in our lives that we had been deceived.  One of them was in the area of children.  How is it that if we are going to submit our lives to Christ that we can be "in control" in this area?  We cannot.  God's word makes it abundantly clear that it is HE that opens and closes the womb.  Surprisingly, even the church we were in at that time was fine with birth control and surgically altering your body as to prevent children from being born.  God led us to several Godly, likeminded families that had also been convicted of the same thing. 

Many people have been deceived that having many children will not give the husband and wife enough time together.  We have found the opposite to be true.  Mike and I have weekly dates and spend much time together.

Malachi 2:15
Has not the Lord made them one?  In flesh and in spirit they are His.  And why one?  Because He was seeking Godly offspring. 

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.

Pregnancies have been, for the most part, uneventful for me.  But I definitely go through the first trimester with morning sickness and fatigue.  All 4 of our son's have weighed 10 or more lbs.  With the last 2 born at home weighing just under 11 lbs!  With God's help, I am not going to let these earthly discomforts prevent me from allowing God to be in control of this area of our lives.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.    

 

The children that God gives us are for His glory and purpose.  Not every couple that submit family size to the Lord will have 12 children.  Some will have 2 or maybe 4.  It is whatever God sees best for each family.  Years ago we were told by a well meaning couple that they felt that God was speaking to them that their family was complete and that the husband had plans to go and surgically alter his body to prevent any further pregnancies.  I remember Mike and I looking at each other thinking ~ Well, if it is truly from the Lord that couple could still be intimate as husband and wife and they would not conceive.  God does not say one thing in His word and then speak something differently to us. We have also been told by Christians, that if they are on birth control and God seeks for them to conceive that they will.  Of course God can do that!  But why not submit that authority to Him in the first place?  The fact is that if we trust God to be the opener and closer of the womb, as scripture states, then we can fully trust Him and not have to go and take matters into our own hands. 

God made our bodies in an amazing and miraculous way.  His intention was to allow Him to have authority over His own creation. 

 

The world tells us that pregnancy past 35 years old is "high risk".  This is an out right lie.  If God wanted women to stop having babies at 35 years old He would have had us go through menopause around that age.  God knows best.  Do we believe that?  Eventually, our fertility slows down and naturally babies won't come as close together as they used to.  I will be 38 years old next week and we are joyfully 2 months pregnant with baby #9!!  It is no coincidence that women who bear many children have numerous health benefits.  Just one of those being a huge reduction in all reproductive cancers.  That includes breast, ovarian, cervical, and uterine.  God knew exactly what He was doing (as always!) when He created our bodies for this purpose.  He always blesses those that are in obedience to Him.  On the flip side, men who have vasectomies have much greater incidence of prostate cancer and other health issues as well.  A direct result in the curse that cutting off childbearing is.  I have often heard people say that they regret not having more children but never have I ever heard anyone say that they had too many!!

 

 

Children are precious gifts and when we turn that away we are ultimately telling God, "No, thank you."  God already has a plan for each family.  The question we must ask ourselves is this ~ Will we submit to that plan or decide that our plan is better than His?

 

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it...."

Children are so expensive, you say?  Yes, they are if you are planning on giving them all this world offers.  God provides for EVERYTHING He gives.  All true needs are provided for.  Our children do not need to be in a bunch of extra curricular activities to be well rounded or happy. There are many sacrifices we have made but the Lord is faithful and we have always had enough. We believe the greatest gift we can give our children is another sibling.  A new baby brings joy, responsibility, selflessness, and love into the home. 

Philippians 4 :19
 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

It is so wonderful that we can rest in the Lord and have peace that He knows what is the very best for us. 

Psalm 127:3-4
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.

There are some couples that have very valid medical concerns that would make having children or more children risky to the mother's and/or baby's health.  Only God knows the heart of a couple and that is where our faith comes in.  Will we choose to trust Him completely or lean on our own understanding?

Proverbs 3:5-6  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.