How Much Do You Value Your Kids? Are they a Blessing or a Bother?

This past weekend, a friend was visiting. She told me about the Backpack for Kids program the Rotary Club is doing. Apparently, not only do schools provide breakfast and lunch for under-priviledge kids, but now the school sends home a backpack each weekend full of food in case the parents don't feed them!!!!!!

During the summer, parks all over the nation host breakfast and lunch programs to feed kids who may not get fed at home.

When did it become O.K. to have kids and not take care of them???
More and more people are relying on the government to take care of their kids.
I'm appalled to find out some people who get Medicaid and Food Stamps, and other government assistance, spend the money on everything but their kids, and then expect the government to feed their kids, clothe their kids, provide school supplies and Christmas presents for their kids.

The GOVERNMENT is not helping these people by doing everything for them!
There creating Human Sponges. No wonder America has lost it's sense of morality and values.
Why should anyone care anymore? The government will come in and help when things get bad, who cares?
__________________________________________________________________________

God Cares.

God loves us very much and desires fellowship with each and every one of us.

TEACH THIS TO YOUR CHILDREN EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!!

Psalms 127:3-5 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Tell your children that they are blessing from God, gifts to Mommy and Daddy.
Let them know you believe God has entrusted you with their care.
Let them know you love them and are trying to care for them to the best of your ability.

Values and Morals are taught by example.
You are the example of Christ love to your children.
Let them see His Light SHINE in you.

Let children know God has a purpose and a plan for each and everyone of them.
Teach children that you believe it is your responsibility to instruct them and care for them and provide for them, equpping them to the best of your abilities to eventually serve Him.

The Government which was first created on the belief of, "In God We Trust," is now "In the government we trust."
No one is going to teach your children God's love, morals, values and compassion for others.
That must come from you.
If you don't teach them this at home, you are adding to the deterioration of society as a whole.

Stand up for Jesus!
Take a stand against all the government programs that giving people excuses to be lazy and not do their part for society, for their families, for their children and for themselves. Here are two sermons and articles about Proverbs and what the Bible teaches against laziness. Don't condone. Don't put up with it. Read Here, and Here

Don't get me wrong. There are people  who truly need our help. People need help learning to read and write. People need to learn job skills. People need help finding jobs. Some need help finding a place to live and a way to afford it. Some need dependable transportation.
Many people need free medical care.
A few need help with buying clothes and food.
I recognnize this, and for those people, truly in need, I'm all for helping them out.
I believe everyone of us would empty our pockets, our closets and our pantries to help a person truly in need. And, if we can't do it on our own, our church families and local non-profit organizations should help.

But expecting the government to take care of everybody, that was never in God's plan.
Teach your children to value helping one another and to care for one another.
Teach your children the value of work and everyone doing their part.

We are all one big family in God, brothers and sisters in Christ. You would never let a family member go without. If they need education, it's provided. Transportation, yes you're there. Medicine or medical care, yes,  everyone chips in. Clothes? Food? Absolutely!

We shouldn't see it any different for a neighbor, a friend or a family on the street living in a box.
Start teaching your children this concept now.
Education, (social, moral and values education), is the key to making America great once again.

Teach people how to get up and work to help themselves and others.
Quit letting the government teach them how to sit and hold their hands out!

Remind every parent out there how blessed they are to have children.
So many of us have learned the hard way to value life.
Some have not been given that gift, for whatever reason, they don't have the priviledge of having children.

Some, have been given the priviledge and lost children, for whatever reason, our children wait for us in heaven.

On Earth and in Heaven, in Life and in Death, Children are a Blessing, A Gift from God.
Rejoice in that gift,
Thank the Lord  everyday for the Gift of Motherhood,
and for goodness sakes, feed your kids, teach your kids, provide for your kids,
and most of all...........
Love your kids.

All You Magazine 2 yrs, 24 issues for $20 - Had to SHARE!!

Mommy Snacks is raising money for a local football team in her town.
She's got a great offer 24 issues of the All You Magazine for $20.

You will receive more than that in return just in coupon savings alone.

All You is a magazine only sold at Wal-Mart but is loaded with great information and even greater coupon deals.
Go here for the info!
http://mommysnacks.net/2009/09/all-you-magazine-24-issues-for-20-support-a-team/

Target and Kroger Deals Week of 10/19

Thanks to It's Hip to Save for posting this weeks Target deals. Click Here

I'm still not thrilled with the sales yet. I'm only shopping about once a month, and won't be mega shopping again until the middle of November, but I'm still watching the sales, just in case. They've got to get better.

Mommy Snacks post the Kroger Deals. Thanks so much. Click Here for Kroger.

Follow my articles on Suite 101, Topics So Far Include : Weight Loss, Insomnia, Low Progesterone, Women's Health and Christmas Shopping Ideas

Last month, I began writing for Suite 101 as a contributing writer. Each day, I write informational articles about anything and everything. It's fun!
Sign up to follow my daily articles HERE, or check back often.

Today's article was all about Christmas shopping for free or almost free.
http://family-budgeting.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_christmas_shop_on_a_tight_budget

A series I just completed is related to Women's Insomnia and isuues associated with sleep deprivation like low progesterone.
http://womenshealth.suite101.com/article.cfm/insomnia_as_a_result_of_low_progesterone_levels

For a list of all the articles I've written so far: weight loss, shopping, insomnia and women's health issues, please go HERE

Have you tried Ebates? Get Cash Back for Shopping Online.

I heard about Ebates on TV and my newest article on Suite 101 is about Christmas Shopping for free or almost free, so I looked into it.

Most of the BIG Online sites give a percentage off when you shop their sites through Ebates.
Last night I went looking for winter clothes for the kids and a few grocery coupons for the kids. I will receive 2% back in cash from Ebates for shopping for things I needed at Ebay. It's not much, but every little bit helps.

Sign up and shop your favorite online stores through Ebates, get cash back! Your helping me earn too!
Please use this link


http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=rXD4tDOgWHH%2FgDLx2zy7IA%3D%3D

Walgreens and CVS Deals 10/18 Christmas Shopping Has Begun - See Articles

Starting Sunday Oct 18, CVS and Wal-green Deals, not too good this week.
Go to Deal Seeking Mom Click Here

Have a good weekend,

I've written a series of articles on Suite 101 to help you pick just the right Christmas Gift for Everybody this Year. Check out my articles, Here.

Weekly Grocery Deals October 11-17, 2009: Target, Kroger, CVS, Wal-Greens, Albertson's

I'm a few days late on this, but here are the deals I'm finding out there. If you don't mind, to save time and effort, I'm simply going to point you to others who have already done all the work for us. Go to their sites and print coupons as they lead you to.
Happy Shopping!

Target - Target is running some good sales, not great, but good. Check with Money Saving Mom by clicking HERE for the all the great Target deals this week.

Krogers, CVS, Walgreens , I'm going to send you over to South East Texas Deal Seeker. Click Here. Karen has it going on over there. I signed up to follow her.

Albertsons - The Krazy Coupon Lady let us know there's a big 3 day sale at Albertson's Starting today. Click Here for details.

Today is Double SWAGBUCKS day. For those of you that don't now, Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you with online "swagbucks," for searching using their sites. These SWAGBUCKS can then be exchanged for Gift Cards. You also earn SWAGBUCKS for referring friends. So if you will please help me earn gift cards of my own, if you haven't joined SWAGBUCKS please use this link below to do so now.
Thank You!

SWAGBUCKS Click here to join: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/awingfield

Growing With Christ, Becoming Christ-Like, Having the Heart of Christ, You May Not Be Prepared For It, The Journey Continues

This past summer I read Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth E. Prentis. In the story, the young woman's mother was always reading Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ. The young woman found it odd. That was a book that was so boring and such a hard read, how could her mother find such comfort in such a thing.

Well, as I continue on my journey, I'm beginning to find the same thing. There are seasons in my life when the Words of God are too complicated for my child-like mind to comprehend, and yet other times it's as though the Lord God is holding me in His lap and explaining it all.

Below is an excerpt from Chapter 37 of Thomas a Kempis book The Imitation of Christ,

"At times, God will withdraw from you; at times you will be troubled by your neighbor, and, what is more, you will often be a burden to yourself. Neither can any remedy or comfort bring you relief, but you must bear it as long as God wills. For God desires that you learn to bear trials without comfort, that you may yield yourself wholly to Him, and grow more humble through tribulation. No man feels so deeply in his heart the Passion of Christ as he who has to suffer in like manner. The Cross always stands ready, and everywhere awaits you. You cannot escape it, wherever you flee; for wherever you go, you bear yourself, and always find yourself. Look up or down, without you or within, and everywhere you will find the Cross. And everywhere you must have patience, if you wish to attain inner peace, and win an eternal crown."

Ok, I'm right there this week. I understand this. I feel this. It's as though God is saying,"Ok Amy, you're learning, let's take it a step further."
For those that have been following my journey, you may remember I began caring for my two neices this past spring. Due to some family circumstances beyond our control, we have stepped up to home-school these two little girls, ages 6 and 4, and help out wherever we can.
In the beginning, I wasn't too happy about the situation. I felt it was thrown upon me. I didn't want to raise these two girls. It seemed so unfair. Why me? ( I told you many times, I tend to feel and act like a child myself.) I just didn't want to do it.
The little one is 4.5 years old, but mentally she's a 2-3 year old. We are hoping that she is just a little behind and will eventually catch up, but we are all beginning to realize that may not be, and God may have very special plans for this child and for us as we walk this journey together.

Today, I did something I was dreading. Today, the opportunity presented itself to tell this child's mother that we may have to have her tested at the beginning of the school next year if no improvement is seen this year.This little one may need to be taught in a special school. I may not be capable of meeting her needs. I have already spoken with her grandparents who are helping to raise the girls too, and I spoke with her teachers at church, but I didn't want to hurt her mother. What mother wants to hear that there may be something wrong with their child? What pain!
I shared that pain with her this morning, as we talked, I found myself grieving and crying right along with my sister-in-law. Where did that come from? What's happening to me? A few months ago, these were children and family members I didn't want to deal with. I felt burdened by.

This past Saturday, I informed my husband that I would be hosting both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day at our house from now on. In years past, I have avoided extended family interaction as much as possible because of the difficulties of dealing with each individual's special needs and personalities. My way of dealing with such things is not dealing with it at all. But I'm convinced God my Father is teaching me that is not His way. His way is LOVE and COMPASSION, unconditionally.

This past Sunday, two dear friends, brothers in Christ, gotten into a bitter quarrel. Words and actions of great pain and sorrow were exchanged. My heart GRIEVED. I literally shook with anger and tears of frustration to see two brothers in Christ be so unloving to one another. Why? Why do I care so much? These are just two men in my church that got into it with each other? What is happening to me?

You know I'm usually an NIV person. I have a hard time understanding KJV and usually think versions like the Message paraphrase too much, but look at how the Message put Ephesians 4:15

Paul says,"God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love - like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do."

and here too Mark 3:31-35 (MESSAGE)

Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him. He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, "Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you." Jesus responded, "Who do you think are my mother and brothers?" Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, "Right here, right in front of you - my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Ok, let me explain where I'm going with this. God is obviously teaching us through our trials and tribulations

One more time, one more scripture from the Message translation.

James 1:2-5 (MESSAGE)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.

Could it be spelled out any clearer than these three passages? We are all one big family in the eyes of God. God is our Father, our loving, protecting, caring, compassionate Father. He desires a relationship with us. He wants us to seek him out and ask questions like: "why?" "how come?"

He knows you don't understand. So He teaches and He guides along the way. We are His children. We are not perfect and we are going to make mistakes. And when we do, He picks us up, loves on us and sets back on the path where we need to be.

We are all His children, one big family. And the closer we geet to God, the more we learn to be like Him, the more we understand that concept.

This morning it hit me, if this is what it feels to be like Christ, to feel great love and compassion for others, to grieve and hurt when others grieve and hurt. If this is just a small taste of what it's like to be Christ-like, can you imagine the grief God feels for us when we suffer and when we sin? How much pain do we cause Him? Oh Lord, how deep and wide is your love for us.

I posting a link to a sermon I found concerning being Christ-like. I encourage you to print it out and read it. Click Here.

The author tells us we learn to become more Christ-like as we go through trials in life, but the key to all of it is our attitude. If our heart is not ready, trials will only bitter, not better. He quotes Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

He says and I quote, " How you view your experiences will often determine what you gain from them. We will grow in Christ if we view troubles as opportunities to learn to trust God."

AMEN.

There's not much else to say. Trials come our way: death, miscarriages, family circumstances, health issues, conflict. With each step, I'm learning to walk closer to closer to God and never leave His side. I am not prepared for the journey, but I'm learning to TRUST. He loves us and he provides for us and He'll guide us each step of the way.

May you be blessed,

Amy

Called to be Momma, Experiencing Burn Out - How Do We Cope? Needing Encouragement, Rest and Understanding, Please Respond Back

Hello everyone,
It's been awhile since I wrote personally.
So much is going on right now.

I sold Another Blessing on September 15, and took a writing job with
 Suite 101 the end of September.
It was my intention to simply slow down a bit, down size, and write a little bit everyday for Suite 101 and my blogs, build a new income source and spend more time with my husband and children. I need rest.
I'm homeschooling all 4 of my children and 2 neices year round without a break, while still continuing to write and work from home, and manage the home. I'm working on losing weight and improving my health and yes, I'm hoping the Lord will bless us again with another child. It all adds up. my days are full. You know you've had enough when you just want to crawl in bed and be left alone. It shouldn't be like this. It's bad to get to this point, and once you're there, something is gotta change.

I enjoy writing, but I don't want to self promote. I'd like to just write and if they read, they read. If you read something you like, please share with others, let them know I'm here, but I just don't want to self-promote.
For 6 years, I built and ran Another Blessing as a business/ministry, but in order for it to be a success, I was constantly on Yahoo Groups promoting it to moms. I spent hours everyday reading and answering emails about home-schooling, quiverfull, being a stay at home mom, pregnancy and fertility issues. I dealt with controversial topics and personal convictions, and legalism on a daily basis. I don't want to do that anymore.

I am quiverfull. I will not deny that. In fact I'm a very outspoken person on the subject, GOD IS IN CONTROL! But if you've kept up with my blog over the last few months, you know that two months ago when we lost our little Hope.............. everything changed for me.

I know many of you have written to me letting me know not to blame myself, that God could have stopped the miscarriage, that this baby just wasn't meant to be. Maybe, only God knows for sure.
But in my heart I feel it was my mistake. one I paid for dearly. Instead of trusting God to meet that desire for another little one, I took matters into my own hands. I researched ways to increase ovulation and lengthen my fertile time. I took Vitex and used Progesterone Cream. I was eating spinach and yams in hopes of conceiving twins and took every vitamin I read would help with fertility.

To be quiverfull means to trust God with your fertility, and I didn't trust him to fix things, I took matters into my own hands. I immediately got pregnant, just as I hoped, but I made a big mistake. See I didn't know that if you are using Progesterone and conceive, you need to continue using Progesterone for about the next 14 weeks of pregnancy. At that point, the body starts producing it all on its own. Without a stable level of Progesterone in the body, the body will start a monthly cycle. I learned this information too late. I learned that Progesterone cream could help you in the conception process, but once I found out I was pregnant, I stopped using it thinking I would harm my precious baby. If I'd only known, maybe just maybe I'd still be pregnant today.

I should have just left it all in God's hands to begin with. I love watching the Duggar family, and the main reason why, they put it all in God's hands and welcoming everything that comes with it. What trust and faith they have. Why can't we be like that? I should be like that. I should be studying my Bible daily and praying throughout my day,

"Lord guide me. Show me how to do what it is you want me to do, and show me how to truly trust in your provisions. You know my heart's desires, but you also know what's best for me. Help me be at peace and find contentment in all that is mine today. Help me  be thankful and glad and to rejoice in what has been given to me instead of reaching for what I do not have." amen.

Dear readers, I'm tired, and I think I'm tired because I'm trying to do too much. I'm trying to do so much in my own strength when I should just be crawling into Savior's arms and letting Him who knows me best meet all my needs.
I'm going to keep Called to be Momma going, but I'm going to combine Coupons for Mom and WebWorking Home on the sidebar here somehow. I think maybe twice a week, maybe on Monday and Wednesdays, I'll run shopping deals on here. I'll post CVS, Walgreens, Target and Kroger deals for you to follow. I'll put the online coupon sources on this sidebar and you can still print coupons online from my site. On Tuesdays, I'll post Work at Home opportunities for those of you looking for online jobs. Then Thursday - Sunday or as the mood hits, this is still a place for encouragement and inspiration to all who feel the Call to be Momma.
I want to keep it going, but I need to simplify and I'm asking for you the readers to do the promoting. Please just let me write, and if you like what I write or think it can help someone, you are welcome to share it with others.
Thank you for helping me. I love the fact that I can write to express my thoughts and know someone is listening and reading and responding. We're helping each other.

Right after the miscarriage, on the Yahoo Groups, I was flooded with emails after emails from readers who had gone through miscarriage too, some many times. I'm not at a place in my life where I can accept my miscarriage was God's will. It was my mistake. Even Michelle Duggar only speaks of one miscarriage out of 20 pregnancies! Only one, and it was due to being on the birth control pill. Again, taking matters into one's own hands. She and Jim Bob grieved at that mistake and turned everything over to God. Look at what God's done in their lives!!! They are blessed immensly and the blessings just keep coming. Every personal or financial need they have is being met through God's provisions and they give God all the Glory. They are beautiful to watch and learn from, because I see them doing what I should be doing. Trusting and Walking with God my Father in Faith, Joy and Happiness.

I can't keep going at the pace I'm going.
I like writing for Suite 101, and I plan to continue doing so. I hope to eventually gain a following and replace the income I was earnning with Another Blessing.

I'm going to drop all the Yahoo Groups today except for the coupon trains, freecycle and my local homeschool group and my group Biggest Loser Mommas. I think eventually, I'll drop the coupon trains as well, I just can't keep up with all of it.  I need to slow down and trust God will meet all our needs and he knows the desires of my heart.

Maybe you have felt this way too, now or in the past. We're home-schooling, managing the home and paying bills. Some of us are working from home too. Some of us are battling health issues, or spiritual issues, or both.  How do you deal and cope with all that is on your plate? Who do you talk to? Who listens? Who helps? For me, I've found in most cases I can't find anybody but God who understands.
I started this blog a year ago in hopes of finding others who could relate, who would understand, who I could talk to. I started this blog a year ago to hopefully get my friends here to read and understand me better, but the truth is, most of those people I hoped would read my blog, don't. They still don't understand, and probably never will. I know God does though, and some of you do too. Thank you.
May we continue to help each other.

For now I leave with this,
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Feel free to email me or leave a comment,
Amy
wingfieldfamily@gmail.com

Congratulations to Josh and Anna: Mackynzie Renee Duggar is Here!

Josh and Anna Duggar welcomed their first child, a girl, Mackynzie Renee Duggar , born Thursday at home with Michelle, a midwife and a doula helping. She's a healthy one, 8 pounds, 19.5 inches, and she wasn't due until next Sunday!
The birth will be on TLC Tuesday night, October 13, 2009. 8P Central time.

Quiverfull Sharing : When only one of you is QF by Louis Comus

Hello all,
I am a subscriber to the Quiverfull Digest at Quiverfull.Com
We received a post that I have asked permission to share with you.

In these hard economical and political times, it is hard to keep the FAITH and continue to take a STAND.
Louis reminds us all to Give It All to God.
If you stop to think about it, He's been in full control this whole time anyway.
He doesn't need our help, only our Trust and Faith.

May you be blessed.

From: Louis Comus

Subject: Re: When only one of you are QF minded

"As I've recently asked the members of this forum a very similar question (and have been receiving several GREAT replies, both on and off-list), I write as one who, by admission, do not have all the answers on this subject.
I will, however, pitch in my "two cents' worth" on the issue of how "quiverfull" reliance on God to plan one's family (as distinguished from deliberate prevention of pregnancy) ought to relate to bad political situations. In addition to our fellow forum member's mention of sociopolitical dark clouds in South Africa, I've heard a similar concern expressed by a member of my wife's and my own US church, that increasing society-wide immorality and potential increases in anti-Christian legislation, possible nationwide economic deterioration, and the like might be good reasons for them to avoid having another (in that family's case, a third) child.

When I heard that concern from our church friend, the thought immediately came to my mind that the situation of Israel in Egypt must have been, in many respects, the same as what my friend feared (and, probably, much worse.) Exodus chapter 1 lays out the scenario: the former political ally of God's people had died, and with him had died the earlier Pharaoh's at-least-slight openness to God's influence and messages (you'll recall that the Pharaoh in Genesis 41:38-49 gives a remarkably-receptive hearing to the message God sent him through Joseph, to the point that Pharaoh allows Egypt's public policy to be swayed, very significantly, by input from Joseph and Joseph's God) (even though not to the point of mass conversion, apparently.) Under a later Pharaoh, this is reversed--to the point that the later Pharaoh orders mass infanticide of Israel's children. This will later be followed (Exodus 5:6 and following) by a drastic and deliberate increase in Israel's workload.

This is not a good social or political environment in which to raise children, from an earthly perspective! You've got the obstetric community under orders to kill the male children; you've got a future in which the workload will be deliberately increased to cut back on the people's religious practice. From a merely-earthly, economy-driven, how-much-spare-time-do-we-have perspective, it sounds like as good a time as any to bring on the birth control pills and limit kids to a maximum of one per couple. Hey, at least they'd have more time to make their quota of bricks without straw; they'd deprive the Egyptians of slaves; and they'd be in a better position to hide the kids they had--less noisy crying to give them away, etc.

So what does God do in this situation? Rain down birth control pills on Goshen in place of manna? Reveal to Israel how to make condoms and spermicide? Command vasectomies instead of circumcision?

Nope. God makes them "fruitful"; they "increased greatly, and multiplied, and becme exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them." (Ex. 1:7) In fact, the Hebrew women prove to be very vigorous and healthy in their birth-giving, such that the Egyptian midwives can plausibly say that the Hebrew women give birth without their assistance, and too quickly for the Egyptians to carry out their ordered infanticide. (Ex. 1: 15-19.) We're not told just how much of this excuse was true, and how much false--though I do note that one way a woman can get very fast at having babies is to have had a lot of previous babies. (Personal experience here!) In short, we see that God responds to the horrible socio-economic situation of His people that existed both at the time of Moses' birth, and which God foreknew would be the case somewhat later (the "no-straw-for-bricks" situation that was to come later, in chapter 5) by making His people extremely fertile and extremely obstetrically healthy.

Compared to this, the worries about the U.S. situation seem kind of pale, don't they? I can't speak so much for our sister in Africa, but I like to think things aren't quite as bleak as in Moses' Egypt there. Not to minimize what I'm sure is a dangerous and worrisome situation there! But--do you see what I'm saying?

Fast-forward to Luke, chapters 1 and 2, and Matthew, chapters 1 and 2. Here we have conception and birth stories for both John the Baptist and Jesus. We know John's parents are old. Can you imagine God telling Zechariah to abort if it turns out the alpha-feto-protein test comes out looking disturbingly positive? We know--and God knew--that John would have about the worst possible conflict with the government that could be imagined. Herod is going to have John's head cut off, ultimately as a consequence for preaching the truth. This is a favorable situation into which to birth a baby? With Mary, it's even worse. She lives in Nazareth. She's going to have to travel WHERE? At HOW MANY MONTHS pregnant? And give birth WHERE? And that Herod guy is in charge--have you heard about how many people he's killed even in his own family? And the Romans are in charge of the whole thing--that empire run by homicidal polytheistic deviants!

Forget the Romans for a moment--what do you think Herod is going to do if he finds out that someone with kingly aspirations is born in Bethlehem? With his track record, he's likely to kill off all the babies born within a year or two of this new baby's birth! How can one call conceiving a baby under those circumstances socially responsible? For the good of all the other kids in Bethlehem, she'd better not get pregnant. Right?

And that's putting aside the minor point that, as Mary points out, she hasn't even got a husband yet. Kind of a prerequisite, no? What will conception under that situation do--for her? For her family? For the community? For the child (Jesus) Himself? Nah--better at least wait, until the marriage has happened, the economics improve (remember, Mary and Joseph didn't have the financial resources for more than the poor people's dove offering); and until the political situation improves. The world would at least suggest that Mary wait until after the honeymoon, after the money gets built up a bit, and after she and Joseph had had a chance to get to know each other better and get accustomed to married life.

Again, nope! God had other plans. And we're all glad Mary went along.

Just a few random thoughts. Finding times and situations in which the future looks worrisome is not hard to do--indeed, it may be virtually impossible. Yet God seems to work quite eagerly through people conceived and begotten under very adverse circumstances. So: though I have my deep concerns about my country's society, morality, economic situation, etc., etc., I look at the Biblical precedents, and suddenly my concerns seem to pale a lot in comparison.

Again, just thinking, and just addressing the "our situation is bad today" concerns.
Thanks, again, to all of you for your prayerful and wise input!"

September Book Giveaway Winner - Congradulations Jen McCreary ! - Family Unplanning by Craig Houghton

Give God everything. He gave up everything for you.
Why do we let Him lead and some areas of our lives and try to take control in other areas?

Wonderful Couselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Abba, Father
Are we not God's Children?
Shouldn't the Father know more than the son and thus lead the son?

It's a hard concept to grasp, especially in some areas of our lives like family planning and fertility.
God is our loving Father. He does have great plans for us. Jeremiah 29: 11-14 (NIV)
He knows and supplies our every need before we even know we need it or express the need.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

Everyone who left a comment in September was entered into a random drawing to receive a signed copy of

Craig Houghton's Family Unplanning 

And the Winner is............
Jen McCreary from East Berlin, PA



Jen will receive a personally signed copy of Family Planning from Craig Houghton in a few weeks by mail.
A personal Thank You to Craig for allowing me the priviledge of sharing his book.

Many of you know I believe in giving God everything. It's a constant struggle, but I truly believe if we give it all to Him and allow Him alone to receive the glory.................
Great Things Will Happen.

May you be blessed,

OCTOBER BOOK GIVEAWAY- The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright, a wonderful book about overcoming obstacles, serving one another, loving one another and forgiving one another.

If you would like to win your own copy of this book, just leave a comment anytime during the month of October. Winner will be announced November 2, 2009.