Normally, I wouldn’t post this type of “rant” on this blog, but I need to vent just a wee bit. I read several blogs at HomeschoolBlogger.com and I came across a post this afternoon that produced feelings of confusion as to how this could happen in the state of NC. Since I do live in this state, I am very concerned as to where this is all leading.

The post brought attention to an article in the News & Observer stating that “the morning after pill will now be sold over the counter in NC”. This in itself is troublesome, the thought of it being so convenient for people to use this as a form of birth control is just mindboggling. But I think what was even more troublesome was the callous attitude toward human life of some of the women being interviewed in support of this action.

“We encourage people to keep [emergency contraception] on hand in case of mistakes,” said Paige Johnson, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, which operates in Chapel Hill and Durham. “When people understand how it works, it’s an ‘aha’ moment. This prevents pregnancy.”

Rebecca, a 24-year-old Raleigh woman who asked that her full name not be used, said she is grateful Plan B was available as a prescription drug a few years ago, when she and her boyfriend had to decide what to do after the condom broke. They went to Planned Parenthood for a prescription. Now it will be easier for women and their partners to have peace of mind if they have unprotected s*x, Rebecca said.
“It’s another preventive step you can take,” she said.

I’m sorry, but wouldn’t a “preventive step” be to abstain? Pregnancy is not a disease or medical condition that we have no control over. We do have a choice in the matter. If you are going to make that choice that coulld produce any doubt that you could become pregnant, then shouldn’t you be responsible for the outcome? Here is yet another reason for women and men to release their responsibility to choices they have made and place their trust in a pill.

What if it doesn’t work? What if the drug has not been researched fully? How could it actually harm the mother and fetus? Could it cause birth defects if it does not work as intended? If so, wouldn’t this produce a whole new set of issues?

This post is really not intended to be in opposition of abortion or birth control, although I do not support them either. My concern is that women are relying on a pill to provide them with the protection and security they believe they need. They are putting their bodies in harm’s way and are tossing aside a life as if it has no meaning. How can we place a creation so wonderful in our own hands?

It makes me sad to realize also that the attitude of our culture is leaning in the direction of taking less responsibilty for our actions. I am trying to raise my son to be responsible and yet the culture is screaming “less responsibility is better”. What do I do with that?

The other thing that troubles me about this attitude is the fact that my husband and I have been trying to conceive a child for the past 2+ years with no results and yet there are people that will toss aside an opportunity to conceive. This is a problem. How many women would love the opportunity to conceive a child and yet, other women are given the control to end a life before it even starts. This is a problem. How can we as a culture, promote or allow this type of behavior?
If I could say one thing to a woman who thinks that this is a good thing, I would say:

Trust God, He is your protector, He will lead you into relationships and choices that honor Him. I know, He did just that for me. There was a time when I would have not given this issue a second thought. God’s grace is there. He wants to offer it to you. It is free and comes with such freedom.

HT: Tami

I have come across several writings this week and they all had much to say on the subject of struggles, pain and healing. A huge amount of focus was given to struggles and pain, while unfortunately, not enough emphasis was given to the subject of healing. There also seems to be a common theme among popular christian speakers and artists that place an emphasis on struggles as a christian. (Please understand I am not talking about christians being persecuted for their faith)

Each time I hear this message in a song or hear it spoken or written, it seems to give me an uneasy feeling. Why is this? Why do I feel an urge to scream when this message is taught?

After being brought out of slavery, the Israelites were grumbling because they could not find any water to drink. Moses cried out to God and He provided sweet water from a piece of wood that was thrown in with the bitter water. Then, God told them:

“If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
Exodus 15:26

Then, the Israelites were brought to Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees. Remember, they were in the desert! God provided what they needed at that time and more. He kept them from being thirsty and also provided a cool place to camp. How can we ever doubt God’s desire to provide everything that we need, mind, body and spirit, after reading this incredible story?

I have had my own share of challenges lately, so I am not writing this as someone who doesn’t understand what it means to be in pain or to suffer. I have felt it! But what I am to focus on? The pain, the suffering? I can’t.

Jesus told the parable about the shepherd and his flock:

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:1-5

Then Jesus said to them:

“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thiefs and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate, all who enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:7-10

This passage reminds me to cling to Him, not the pain, not the struggle, but to Him. It is only through Him that I will have the life that has been provided and have that life to it’s fullest. When we cling to the struggles and then speak only those things that pertain to the struggle, are we not placing ourselves in a position of making it difficult to turn away from it and in the end, be healed? If we have created an identity with the struggle, will we even want to be healed?

My choice- To cling to God, no matter what occurs. I would much rather live a life believing for the miraculous touch of the hand of God, than believe it is His will for me to live a life of pain and suffering.

The thief steals. Jesus Christ came so that I might live!

There once was a little lamb who, as much as she tried, could not seem to fit in with the other little lambs in the flock. She sought to be accepted and loved, but everything she attempted to do was just not enough for those in the flock.

One day she came across a charming lamb, or so she thought, and she drew closer to him, she realized that he was standing in the most glorious patch of grass, greener than she had ever seen. She was so intrigued by this lamb and his grass that she moved even closer until she was right beside him. She lowered her head down to taste the grass, because she just couldn’t resist it. At first, the grass tasted so succulent and moist, she thought she would never get enough of it. Then she began to have a strange sensation and looked upward, as if contemplating her next move. The grass began to taste very bitter in her mouth. At this point she looked down again and the beautiful grass that had intrigued her so, had turned brittle and brown right under her feet.

She was confused. How could this glorious, green grass just disappear in front of her, and to be replaced by this substance that no one would want! It seemed too much to bear. In her mind, she had finally found a lamb that could offer her something worthwhile. At that moment, that lamb that she thought was bringing her something of great value, slowly turned to her and grinned. It wasn’t a comforting smile. It was as if he had something to do with all this deception. That grin made her feel an unexplainable sadness.

Then she glanced to her right and standing beside her was a shepherd. He was tall and strong. His strength was comforting. It was the first time ever that she felt loved, protected and safe. Was this feeling real? Was this shepherd real? After the experience she just had, she wasn’t quite sure.

Sensing her reluctance, the shepherd calmly said, “Come, my little lamb, follow me. Turn away from your sadness and follow me. I will show you love, joy and peace that you have never experienced before this moment. You will eat of the greenest grass and drink of the most refreshing water. All you have to do is follow me.”

The lamb thought this was too good to be true. How can I have all that this shepherd promises? I have never had this before. How can I possibly have it now? I have just resolved to a life of rejection. How can I expect any different?

Deep inside herself, though, she had desired that love, joy and peace that this shepherd is claiming she can have, if she only follows Him.

In an instant, she gathered all the strength that was in her and walked toward the shepherd. She knew that she was taking a chance, a risk even, to follow Him. She did it anyway, she walked closer to the shepherd as she gave the lamb one more glance. What she saw made her blink several times. She saw the lamb very frightened, a contrast to the cunning grin she witnessed earlier. As she moved further away from him and closer to the shepherd, she began to see him disappear. He was no longer there! How could this be?

She glanced back at the Shepherd, who at that moment was looking into her eyes with such love and compassion, she knew what He had to offer her was real. He didn’t need to say another word. There was no doubt or question in her mind that what he promised her would become a reality.

She would follow Him.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

I’m continuing to read the book that I mentioned in the previous post. To be honest with you, the last several chapters have been extremely hard to read. Stories of GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) that are used on many of the foods that we consume every day, but we don’t know it because the USDA does not require any labeling to alert consumers of this organism. Stories of animal factories for chickens, pigs and cows that are treated in truly cruel ways, not to mention the chemicals that are being placed in these animals to produce more growth. Do we really know what all these things are doing to our bodies? It really is enough information to produce an enormous amount of fear. In fact, after reading this before I go to bed at night, I am having a difficult time winding down enough from all the emotions that surface from trying to digest all the details included in this book.

This book is not written from a spiritual perspective. So, I have had to take what is good from it and ignore the rest. But as I read, I became rather sad just realizing that many people come from the perspective of relying on someone (or the government, in this case) for our security. When reading about all the wrong things that are happening in regard to the food that we consume, it does create a sense of wanting to make better choices in what we intake. For that reason, it is helpful to gain this knowledge. Where I believe it does a disservice, is when it creates fear in what we eat, offering no possibility of hope for our future.

Jesus said:

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink’ or ‘What shall we wear?’. For all the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Matthew 6:31-34

This gives me the assurance that Jesus is aware of our needs and He will guide us in the direction of what foods to eat and to drink. We must listen to His voice and act upon His leading into those choices, but when we do, we have the assurance that He has guided us there and therefore, we have no need to worry of the outcome.

How do we act upon his leading? Some people might ask, “How do we know it is God that is leading us?” I believe that we know our Savior’s voice. When we are intimate with Him, we have no need to doubt whether He is leading us or not. We will know.

I believe this can be attached to many things in life, not just what we eat, but in many situations that we may be wondering which way to go.

Seek intimacy with Jesus. He will guide you and show you His love.