The Blessing of Children: An Introduction

There is so much in the Bible about children being a blessing. It's hard to deny that God loves children with verses like:

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. -Matt 19:14

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. -Psalm 127:3 

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. -Matthew 18:10

I've been praying for a heart for the things God has heart for, and I've been led to begin a series on The Blessing of Children. I'm not sure how long this series will last because this is being done totally of the Lord's leading. While I understand that not everyone agrees on this matter, it's something that I would like to share with you all.

God loves children so much that He calls them a "reward"! I don't know about you but I'm not looking to turn down any rewards from God. Psalm 128:3 says:

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

So not only are children a reward but God says that a wife should be like "a fruitful vine" and that children should be like "olive plants round about thy table". Have you ever seen an olive tree? Those things grow like crazy! Now that's not to say every family should, or even will, have 20+ children. The point is to accept what ever it is that God gives you. Whether that is no children, one child, or 20. the point is to trust God no matter what. If we trust Him to save our souls, how much more so should we trust him with out lives?

Through out this series there will be encouraging messages, interviews with families that are trusting the Lord with this area of their lives, and a giveaway or two. So stay tuned! (the easiest way to stay up to date is by following this blog, either through google friends connect or by email)

To begin here is a video of one of the most well known moms of a large family, Michelle Duggar, talking about birth control and the early years.

If you'd like to participate by guest posting, being interviewed, or sponsoring a giveaway please contact me at hereinislove@gmail.com

Encouragement

Tuesday night I watched the season finale of 19 Kids and Counting. For those that don't know it's a reality show about a Christian family that has 19 children. The mother Mrs. Duggar just recently lost her 20th child at around 18 weeks gestation. 


This episode showed when they found out and the days leading up to it, as well as the days following and the funeral. It was all very, very sad, but I didn't walk away from the episode sad. I walked away so encouraged.

When they found out they lost the baby, Mrs. Duggar's reaction was the most amazing image of faith, and trust in God. The ultrasound technician told her there was no heart beat and she was shocked and said "oh no". Then when the technician was explaining what that meant and what she saw Mrs. Duggar said "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the LORD!" 

After that they prayed, thanked, and praised the Lord for giving them the time that they had and for the children they have. She had a previous miscarriage over 20 years ago and she thanked the Lord for having that baby in heaven to be with this baby. It was all just so incredibly moving.

To see someone genuinely trust God that much encourages me to surrender the areas that I hold on to. To just put it all in His hands, because ultimately He knows best. 

Building On The Rock

Lately children and family have been on my mind a lot. I've been in prayer for my girls that they would have hearts that are like the good ground (Mark 4:8) and the Lord has been just revealing different areas that I need to work on so that I can raise my girls to achieve what He has planned.

I think the most important lesson is that I can not do it alone, or in my strength. If the foundation of how I raise my children is me then we have a shaky foundation. We have a foundation made of sand. But if instead the foundation is built on God then our foundation is built upon the Rock!

When it comes to houses the foundation is everything. A poor, or weak, foundation can cause your house to come tumbling down. The same is true about our life and our desires. If we don't have that strong foundation we built everything for nothing. It was all in vain! So as I prayerfully train my girls in the way they should go I am mindful to ask God to show me what it is He would have me show them. My aim is to point it all back to God. Whether we are outside blowing bubbles, or reading our scriptures for the day, it ALL points back to the Father.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: - Matthew 7:24

Here is a post I wrote last year in July about the what happens when we build on the Rock.

Because It Is My Life

The Prodigal Daughter by Charlie Macksey

I'm back! When I started my break I didn't know how long I would be gone. I didn't know what would become of me. I even started another blog that was private just to sort out my thought and even with that I couldn't keep it up. I've been in a place where I was trying to get to the Meat when what I really needed (and still need) was the Milk. {1 Corinthians 3:2}

HaShem has opened my eyes to so many things and with each new discovery I found myself wanting to know everything. I would stay up late and be digging and searching. My husband said several times that I was acting like I had to have all the answers right then and there. I wasn't letting the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) guide me. I was guiding me. But then one day something changed. I don't know what it was, all I can do is say that it was God, because it makes no sense. It's like one day I just woke up. I realized I can't have ANY ANSWERS until HaShem is ready for me to. I can look and look all I want but I'll only go around in circles. I realized I had lost my joy, my hope, even my faith. I was looking ahead to emptiness. And that's when out of my darkness and frustration I was called back home.

I was up one night and I decided I need to open up my Bible. I don't know why or what it was but some how I came across 2 John. Well the whole chapter just spoke to me, I was practically in tears as I felt my Abba calling me home, but what stood out to me the most was this: Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. -2 John 1:8


"That we lose not those things which we have wrought"... That pierced me like a sword. I had been on FIRE for YHVH, speaking His word every chance I got. But something squelched that fire in me, my desire to know facts and live by the law left me with out the Spirit. I was in jeopardy of loosing the things that I had wrought! But MY Abba (yes, I know He's yours too but I'm having a moment) called me home!

I was once again reminded that I needed spirit and truth and that this walk does not fit into a little box of facts. There is no little box to check off that says I am a Torah Observant follower of Yeshua HaMoshiach (Jesus Christ) and I live a set apart life. There's either Christian or Jewish and by many standards I fit neither box. I tried to make the box fit, I tried hard, and finally I am ok with not having a neat little box to place myself in. I'm leaning on the Word, walking in the Spirit, facing the world, and shouting from the roof tops: IT IS MY LIFE!

...Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life... -Deut 32:46-47