Family Size ~ Leaving it up to the LORD - some excellent articles

The following are some excellent articles written by Steve Maxwell regarding how the LORD put it on he and his wife Terri's heart to put the size of their family back in the LORD's hands. Mr. Maxwell's articles beautifully show the blessing it has been as they have trusted the LORD in the area of family size. He tells how the LORD has been their provider and how they have learned to trust HIS plan in all things. The third article addresses the deception that has entered Christian circles in regards to children. I highly recommend these 3 articles. Thanks to Terri Maxwell for sharing these with me when I began praying on this issue!


We've reversed a bad decision by Steve Maxwell

The greatest earthly gift by Steve Maxwell

Protecting against deception by Steve Maxwell

As a Christian do you support life?

I have been reading "Lies Women Believe" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. She so boldly put together the following words (from pg 169 of her book) that I'm sure has satan and feminists cringing:
"Abortion infanticide, and homosexuality are examples of life-destroying practices that have become widely tolerated throughout our culture. Bible-believing Christians are generally quick to refute such blatantly evil practices. However, the evangelical world- including many outspoken "pro-lifers"- has come to accept a number of philosophies and practices that are subtly "antichildren" and "antilife." One of the fundamental tenets of feminist ideology has always been the right of a woman to determine for herself if and when she will have children and how many children she will have... The Christian world has been unwittingly influenced by this way of thinking, leading to the legitimization and promotion of such practices as contraception, sterilization, and "family planning." As a result, unwittingly, millions of Christian women and couples have helped to further satan's attempts to limit human reproduction and thereby destroy life."
Quoting Mary Pride from her book "The Way Home":
"Family planning is the mother of abortion. A generation had to be indoctrinated in the ideal of planning children around personal convenience before abortion could become popular. We Christians raise an outcry against abortion today, and rightly so. But, the reason we have to fight those battles today is because we lost them thirty years ago. Once couples began to look upon children as creatures of their own making, who they could plan into their lives as they chose or not, all reverance for human life was lost..."

I challenge you to think on these things. As a Christian do you truly support life or have you unknowingly been influenced by the thinking of the world in regards to children?

Joanna

Our Quiverfull Story - Part 6, the reversal

The Reversal
We had planned a trip to visit my husband's brother and his family at their home in Texas. The Lord planned it perfectly that we already had that trip planned when He put it on my husband's heart to get a reversal. For we live in Indiana and the Dr. my husband felt good about was in Arkansas - right along the way to his brother's house!
It was a blessed day. Right away walking into the waiting room at Dr. Stanton's office I could sense the presence of the Lord there. The walls were covered with plaques with scripture. He had my husband and I come in together and talk with him before the procedure. He wanted to make sure we were in agreement and hear our story of what had brought us to this decision. He is a godly man who does reversals at a very reduced cost. The Lord put it on his heart to do this as a ministry. He was a blessing. He made sure we understood what was to take place and spoke of how he was simply an instrument, it would be up to the Lord if He chose to give us more children. He prayed with us before I went out. The procedure went well. My husband would tell you it was more unpleasant than the original surgery though! That night we headed on to his brother's house, without them even knowing he was having this procedure done! (He did decide to tell them that night and it was a very special time to reflect on how the Lord had led both of us). That Sunday we went to their church with them and what did the Pastor speak on? He spoke on that God said for His children to be fruitful and multiply!!! You can't tell me that was coincidence. I felt the Lord was smiling on us.
The whole experience was so beautiful to me because I knew it was God ordained. I saw His hand in it all. I remember seeing my husband's entire abdomen black and blue from the bruising. My eyes filled with tears. I was full of admiration for my husband. He did this for the LORD! There is nothing more beautiful than a husband surrendered to whatever God asks of him. Within the weeks following the procedure I stood in awe of how the Lord took my husband from adamantly saying "The Lord must be gonna wipe me out and give you another husband because I am not getting a reversal!" to shortly after the procedure hearing him say "I figure we could fit 12 children in our house."

Naturally, I hoped I'd get pregnant right away. Well, in early May I realized I had been pregnant when I had a very early miscarriage. It was not upsetting though. I was in awe of the reality that I had conceived and so quickly! I felt like the Lord was saying to me "See, I put your husband back together! Now trust me for my timing."
At this time, to my knowledge, I am not yet pregnant. I don't doubt the Lord will fulfill His promise, in His perfect way, and in His perfect timing.
Another special thing is that our oldest daughter has been praying for a year that the Lord will give her another baby sister! Her prayers began before the reversal even occurred! Actually her request is twins! LOL! We do hope the wait won't be long as we want her to see for herself that God does hear and care about the desires of our heart. God is good. His plan is perfect.


Joanna